Networking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Networking - Essay Example Portfolio 2 Activity 1 - Addressing Scheme (The packet tracer) No Subnet First host Last host Broadcast Subnet mask 1 192.168.10.32 192.168.10.33 192.168.10.62 192.168.10.63 255.255.2555.224 2 192.168.10.64 192.168.10.65 192.168.10.94 192.168.10.95 /27 3 192.168.10.96 192.168.10.97 192.168.10.126 192.168.10.127 255.255.2555.224 4 192.168.10.128 192.168.10.129 192.168.10.158 192.168.10.159 255.255.2555.224 5 192.168.10.160 192.168.10.161 192.168.10.190 192.168.10.191 255.255.2555.224 6 192.168.10.192 192.168.10.193 192.168.10.253 192.168.10.254 255.255.2555.224 Activity 2 – Cabling The link between the two routers (Vetinary and Rincewind) is a serial cable – one side has to be the DCE, meaning that it will provide the clock rate. Connect the DCE side (should be labelled as such) to Rincewind. Routers are specialised computers and as such, a crossover cable must be used for a direct computer to router connection (such as the one between Host 2 and Rincewind). Activity 3 - Basic router commands Command Function 1 logout Exit from the EXEC 2 ping Send echo messages 3

Lord Raglan’s & Hercules Essay Example for Free

Lord Raglan’s Hercules Essay Lord Raglan’s gave Hercules an outstanding 17 points on his hero scale pattern. This scale classifies the parallel characteristics of most mythical heroes. Overall, the similarities of Hercules to other heroes is the fact that he is the son of a god, there was an intent of killing him during birth, he once wandered in a place away form his family, and won battles with abominable creatures (Raglan, 1998). William Burkert, in years of evaluating mythical heroes, found a pattern on the makings of a fictional icon. Particularly the idea of a hero being a master or mistress of animals has won over the side of hunters which is possibly of a Paleolithic origin. In the story of Hercules this is apparent in most of the Twelve Labors he battled. Hercules’ first task is to kill the Nemean Lion and to bring back its skin. He later found out that arrows are useless in fighting the mighty beast. With his pure strength, he grasped the lion with his own bare hands and choked him to death. His second labor is to slay the Lernaean Hydra, a monstrous snake with nine heads living in the murky waters of Lerna. Every time Hercules got the chance to cut off one head, another one will grow in its place. He them commissioned the help of Iolaus in holding a torch every time Hercules cut off one head. Then after, Hercules finally disposed of the monster for good. Other examples of Hercules as master of animals can be stressed in the third to eighth labor, as follows: †¢ Capture the Ceryneian Hind †¢ Capture the Erymanthian Boar †¢ Slay the Stymphalian Birds †¢ Capture the Cretan Bull †¢ Steal the Mares of Diomedes In Greeks official religion, this may be deemed as somehow similar to folklore. Burkert detected a recurrent pattern in some of the actions and behavior of Greek heroes. This particular pattern includes youth, defloration, threat by a close relative, finding a partner, giving birth and finally, retribution. Another pattern is a relevant scapegoat in most hero storylines. (Burkert, 1979) Hercules (also referred to as Herakles and Alcides) was a Roman-Greek hero popular because of his strength and bravery. He is the half-god, half-mortal son of the powerful Zeus (Jupiter) and the Alceme. This identity of Hercules is similar to Catholic patron God, Jesus, who is also both human and divine. When Hera, Zeus’ goddess wife, heard about the birth of Hercules she was madly jealous about him. She sent two serpents to kill the young Zeus in his crib. Exhibiting valor and incredible strength, even as a child, Hercules killed the serpents all by himself. This display of power can be compared to the Bible hero Samson. Unlike Samson, who gains his vigor with his long hair, Hercules has an inherent strength that is within him ever since his first breathe. During his youth, an important decision during his lifetime is choosing between the life of virtue and the life of pleasure. A hard question posed to him by the goddess Aphrodite and Athena. The young hero decided to lead a life of virtue. This is a unique path to lead. This is in contrast to revered Indian icon, Gautam Buddha, who lived the life royalty and pleasure in his father’s palace when he was a child. Hercules welcomes struggle and hardships of life, with a strong belief that glory and true happiness comes along with it. Hercules then married Megara and the fruit of their love gave them children. Hera, still enraged about the very existence of Hercules, used all her powers to drive Hercules mad. In his insanity, he unknowingly killed his children and wife. Once he regained his insanity, he asked Oracle and Delphi on how he can compensate for what he did. He was instructed to serve the Eurystheus, the King of Tiryns, for twelve years. He is then ordered to carry out Twelve Labors to attain a peaceful soul again. During his quest, he was endowed with the virtue of courage, strength, and wisdom. His journey was quite similar to the long and tedious adventure of Odysseus. Traveling different land and voyaging the waters. He completed his tasks and redeemed his integrity and good soul. With such an exemplar accomplishment, he was then crowned a seat in the place of gods in Olympus. In his ascend to Olympus, he left all his mortal characteristics on earth and was born again with all divinity. Hercules the reconciled with Hera and lived peacefully as a family with this divine father, Zeus (Loewen,1998). Works Cited Burkert, Walter. Structure and History in Greek Mythology and Ritual. University of California Press, 1979 Loewen, Juvenile. Hercules. Capstone Press, 1998 Raglan, Fitzroy Richard. The Hero: A Study in Tradition, Myth and Drama. Somerset: Courier Dover Publications, 2003

The Great Gatsby: The Integrity of Nick Carraway :: essays research papers

The Great Gatsby: The Question of Nick Carraway's Integrity In pursuing relationships, we come to know people only step by step. Unfortunately, as our knowledge of others' deepens, we often move from enchantment to disenchantment. Initially we overlook flaws or wish them away; only later do we realize peril of this course. In the novel "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the journey from delight to disappointment may be seen in the narrator, Nick Carraway. Moving from initial interest to romantic allure to moral repugnance, Nick's relationship with Jordan Baker traces a painfully familiar, all-to-human arc. Nick's initial interest in Jordan is mainly for her looks and charm. Upon first sight of her at the Buchanan's mansion, he is at once drawn to her appearance. He Notes her body "extended full length" on the divan, her fluttering lips, and her quaintly tipped chin. He observes the lamp light that "glinted along the paper as she turned a page with a flutter of slender muscles in her arms." He is willing to overlook her gossipy chatter about Tom's extra- marital affair, and is instead beguiled by her dry witticisms and her apparent simple sunniness: "Time for this good girl to go to bed," she says. When Daisy begins her matchmaking of Nick and Jordan, we sense that she is only leading where Nick's interest is already taking him. It is Jordan, then, who makes Nick feel comfortable at Gatsby's party, as we sense what Nick senses: they're becoming a romantic couple. As they drive home a summer house-party, Nick notes her dishonesty but forgives it, attributing it to her understandable need to get by in a man's world. She praises his lack of carelessness, tells him directly "I like you"--and he is smitten, After Jordan tells him the tale of Gatsby and Daisy's past, Nick feels a "heady excitement" because she has taken him into her confidence. Attracted by her "universal skepticism" and under the influence of his own loneliness, Nick-- overlooking this time her "wan, scornful mouth"--seals their romance by planted a kiss on Jordan's lips. But the attraction can't last and is, by summer's end, replaced by repugnance. The smallest of details, at first, heralds this falling-apart: "Jordan's fingers, powdered with white over their tan, rested for a moment in mine." Here Fitzgerald has dropped a subtle hint that their liaison is to be the matter of only a moment, and that Jordan's "integrity" may be a matter of mere cosmetics. But it is Jordan's failure to feel the gravity of the real falling- apart--among Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby--that most rankles Nick, and he reacts with

A Woman Made a Yemeni Future

A woman made a Yemeni future The Republic of Yemen is one of the poorest countries in Arab world. Recently, Yemeni politic was rule by plain dictatorship for a long term. The economy is poor and corruptions were rampant in Yemen. Hence the Yemeni people made a decision to stand up to establish a democratic government. The Yemen uprising was up on January 2011 in Sana'a University which is in Yemen's capital. The leader of the protests was Tawakel Karman from Yemen. This essay will explain who Tawakel Karman is and why her accomplishments were recognized to the Nobel Peace Prize committee.Tawakel Karman is one of the greatest political activists in the world. She was born in 1979 in the port town of Taiz, which face with the Red Sea. She has been active  in searching for  freedom of expression  and  women rights in the Arab words. At the same time, she is a journalist and  a member of the  Al-Islah, which is  the largest  opposition party in Yemen. Tawakel and the prot esters   shouted ‘Day for rage’ among the troops and armed government officers at the seaport of  Aden  in northern  Yemen.?She is one of the three persons who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 and became the first woman from Arabia to be awarded the prize. She has  continued to regularly partake in protest  activities to  insist on  freedom of expression  and women rights  over the past five years. The Nobel Peace Prize  Committee  in Norway admired  her achievements of â€Å"seeking  full  attribution  to the society,  claiming the  safety  and rights  of women  without violence†. In the social background of the affair, there was huge discontent towards the long term dictator government in the Arab worlds.?Thus, she decided to lead not only the victims of ‘The Arab Spring’ but also all the people who deserve better human rights. Thus, Tawakel Karman’s achievements have brought great changes not just in Yemen but in many other Arabian countries too. There are three reasons why Tawakel Karman's achievements were deserving for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. First, she made contributions to improve Yemeni human rights and freedom of expressions, which were in a nonviolent way.Despite of the Yemeni dictator Saleh resorted to arms, she pressed for the improvement in social affair, which were great things. For example, she led a huge number of the Yemeni people and chanted their slogan in chorus again and again. Those incidents were broadcasted all over the world and aroused sympathy from many people. She indicated the Yemeni people's strong intensions through an interview. ‘We Yemeni people do not yield the dictator-ruled government and we want freedom in a peaceful way. ‘ Second, she insisted that the Yemeni woman should be liberated from Yemeni traditional dress codes.For example, by taking off her headdress and showing her face, she insisted that the dress code is enfo rced not by Koran, but by male-dominated Yemeni society. Her smiles were different from what we Japanese are used to have seen, she looked very confident. However, if she did not insist the importance to break away from such a bad custom, Yemeni woman still could not share their real feelings. That is to say, they would be forced to un-sensitive communication. If I were a Yemeni woman, I could not stand such a small world and might have gone insane at least.Finally, she co-founded the human rights group ‘Woman Journalists Without Chains' to make the Yemeni woman belong to all of the Yemeni society with safety. For example, she made full use of social network like a mobile phone to share her opinions and activity to the world. The Yemeni dominated social network looked like the Japanese painted textbook; General Headquarter censored and painted out the Japanese publications to hide the information, which they did not want to be known after World War 2 was ended.If I could not e xpress what I want to say, nobody would understand myself. For the each reasons I stated above are about Tawakel Karman's achievements to break away from the Yemeni social pressure in an amicable way. There is no Yemeni happiness without her achievements. Consequently, Tawakel Karman is indispensable for the Yemeni people and that is why her accomplishments were recognized the Nobel Peace Prize committee. (721words)

Bad effect of modern technology Essay

Introduction: Metamorphosis is the only thing that is constant in this world. Everything is subjected to change, whether it’s small or huge. And these changes have its complementary effects, either good or bad. Technology is a concrete example of those things that are undergoing a huge change. It came from the Greek words: (1.) Techne, which means â€Å"Art, skill, cunning of hand†; and (2.) a prefix â€Å"-logia.† This only means that technology is a scientific progression and modification of tools, machines, techniques, systems, and methods of organization which helps in solving pre-existing problems of humans. Background of the Study In the era where in modern technologies still don’t exist, students rely mostly in educational materials such library, observations, notes, books just to review and study their lessons. They put a lot of extra efforts in order to gain information. Students are more focused and motivated in studying in order to attain good grades and better education. According to Daniels, 2002; Ganske et al., 2003; Harvey, 2002, technology motivates students to in having a choice in their assignments, see the relevancy, or can assess the teacher’s feedback intertwined, student motivation increases. Along with the rapid growth and change of modern technology, students become more dependent to electronic gadgets around them. Because the students believe in the power of gadgets, they all rely their works in them. As a result, they forget to be responsible in their own way and let themselves be controlled with by all the comforts that the gadgets give them. Unlike before, they allot less ti me in studying and putting more time in using the gadgets because they have this idea that doing researches and assignments can be easily done because of it. Modern technology causes great distraction in the study habits of students. Statement of the Problem 1.) What products of technology are affecting the students’ study habits the most? 2.) How often do students use the electronic gadgets? 3.) What are the advantages and disadvantages of modern technology to the studying habits of the students? 4.) How often do the aforementioned advantages and disadvantages occur to them while using these gadgets? 5.) In general, what is the effect of the advancement of technology to the studying habits of the students? Is it essential? Or detrimental? Hypotheses The following hypotheses will be tested for acceptance and approval: H0 : There is no significant effect of modern technology to the studying habits of the students of the selected students of Far Eastern University. H1 : There are significant effects brought by modern technology to the studying habits of the selected students of Far Eastern University. Scope and Limitation This research study gives emphasis to the possible effects modern technology to the studying habits, as well as the performance, of the selected students of FEU. The researchers conducted a survey through a questionnaire to the 100 students, randomly selected, who often use e-gadgets llike iPad, laptop, cellphone, etc. This is to verify their standpoint regarding the effects caused by technology to their performance in school and to obtain data that can be used in this study. This study will no longer altercate the new innovation. Although this can be a source of information which can be adapted to profound and maximize the use of e-gadgets. This study is focused on how modern technology affects students’ compliance to the requirements of their course description and relevant actions to determine how to efficiently use the e-gadgets. The effects that the researchers presented are either dreadful or valuable. Significance of the Study The Students a complete, balance, and proper usage of the gadgets they have. Through these, students can allocate their time more appropriately and they can prioritize the degree of importance of their tasks. The Teachers a  background on why the certain students are not able to accomplish their work. The Parents ideas on how are they going to minimize the bad effects brought about by these gadgets and through this, they can guide their sons and daughters on the limitations they should build to avoid addiction to these gadgets. Furthermore, this study will serve as a theoretical model for future studies of the same nature if ever the existing problem has penetrated in this case will exist in the future. Future researchers will benefit from this study, and it will provide them the facts needed to compare their study during their respective time and usability. Definition of Terms Technology is the making, modification, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems, and methods of organization, in order to solve a problem, improve a pre-existing solution to a problem, achieve a goal, handle an applied input/output relation or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, including machinery, modifications, arrangements and procedures Study Habits is a schedule in which you consistently use and perform for learning process. Gadgets are small specialized mechanical or electronic devices; a contrivance. Electronic Gadgets are the instruments which can perform many activities at a time with vast speedï  ¶ & makes the hard work efficient one Laptop is a portable personal computer with the same features with a desktop computer. It is lighter, smaller and cheaper compared to computers. iPad is a line of tablet computers designed and created by Apple Inc. it can shoot videos, take photos, play music, can install games, ebooks, etc. and it can perform internet functions like surfing the web and emailing. It is very handy, touch screen and has a light weight. iPod Touch is commonly known as iTouch stylized and created by Apple Inc. It is a handheld device that allows you to play music, take photos, shoot video, download apps, connects you to your email and is capable of wireless connection to the internet which enables the users to directly buy or download software. Smartphone is a mobile phone designed built on an operating system. It has a more advanced capability and connectivity. It is handy and convenient to use. Its functions are portable media player, high end cameras, GPS, high resolution touchscreens, and web browsers. Ex: Android, Apple, Blackberry,  Lenovo, Nokia etc. Ebook is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, readable on computers or other electr Sonic devices. Social Networking site is a platform to build social networks or social relations among people who, for example, share interests, activities, backgrounds, or real-life connections. A social network service consists of a representation of each user (often a profile), his/her social links, and a variety of additional services. Far Eastern University in the University Belt area, West Sampaloc, City of Manila, is a nonsectarian, private university in the Philippines. Created by the merger of Far Eastern College and the Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance, FEU became a university in 1934 under the guidance of first president Nicanor Reyes, Sr. It has been noted as the leading proprietary (for profit) university in the Philippines. Wi-fi is a popular technology that allows an electronic device to exchange data or connect to the internet wirelessly using radio waves GPS is a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. Computer an electronic device for storing and processing data, typically in binary form, according to instructions given to it in a variable program. Apps are software applications designed to run on smartphones, tablet computers and other mobile devices.

How the Ethiopian health care system and the implementation of an increased user fee for health services in governmental health institutions The WritePass Journal

How the Ethiopian health care system and the implementation of an increased user fee for health services in governmental health institutions Introduction How the Ethiopian health care system and the implementation of an increased user fee for health services in governmental health institutions Introduction1. Dinition of User Fee2. Aim of the Essay  3.  Ethiopia backgroundEthiopiaUser fee in Ethiopia  Positive ArgumentCounter ArgumentRecommendationsRelated Introduction 1. Dinition of User Fee User fee health care defined as the mandatory and voluntary levies imposed on   a person for consumption of goods or services in governmental or private health institution .In other words it is the amount of money levied on individuals for the use of goods and services from which they receive special benefits (Duff, 2004). 2. Aim of the Essay The aim of the essay is to show briefly the Ethiopian health care system and the implementation of an increased user fee for health services in governmental health institutions. The secondly, I will mention some points in the importance negative and positive effect of user for Ethiopian health care. Finally, I will mention some recommendation that the Ethiopian government should incorporate in the national health care plan of the country. Back ground Information   Global History The Private or voluntary health insurance first started in Europe in the early eighteenth century. In the nineteenth century, private insurance had expanded throughout Europe and spread to North and South America. The social or compulsory insurance was introduced in Germany for industrial workers in 1883, building on the existing voluntary procedures coverage was later extended to family members, their employees and pensioners. Payroll –based social insurance system developed steadily in Europe, and later in Latin America and Asia. The current health finance system in African countries highly related to the health care finance system of colonizing country in the past. Epidemiological health transition from communicable disease to non-communicable disease, 56% of all deaths in the world was from non-communicable disease. These are unevenly distributed among different social classes. None communicable disease was account for 34% of the deaths in the poorest 20% of the world population as compared to 85% among the richest. This indicates that inexpensive effective interventions against communicable diseases still have a high priority in improving the health of the poor. Recessions: the negative effect of structural adjustment program , rising international debts resulted in severe resource shortage for health care systems in many low-income countries in late 1989(Yates 2009), public budget cut , decline in quality and quantity of health   care ,   underpayment of staff and patient dissatisfaction. Prevalence of malnutrition increased in most developing countries and infant mortality rise despite steady improvement during the previous decade (Stewart 1989). In 1987 UNICEF and WHO launched the Bamako initiative , a strategy aimed to improve maternal health and reduce infant   mortality in low income countries through a re-organization of primary health care system and drug distribution (Kanji 1989). World Bank in 1987 financing health service in developing countries: Agenda for reform which is based on introduction of user fee to cover 20% of health expenditure. The revenue will be used to improve health service, as a means of additional revenue generation, to reduce unnecessary demand , to increase peoples responsibility for   their health and to increase rural health care for marginalized population by the revenue.   3.  Ethiopia background Ethiopia Ethiopia is one of the least developed countries in the world with low developmental indicators even the least from in sub-Saharan countries. Ethiopia is 171th out of 182 countries in the world with a value of 0.414 human development indexes which is a composite measure of three dimensions of human developmental indicators:   life expectancy, education and GDP per capita.   According to 2009 UNDP estimate, 44.2 percent of the population lives below the poverty line of under $1.25 per capita per day (UNDP 2009). The number of people living under poverty is expected to rise due the progressive global economic crisis and the country`s increasing population growth. Ethiopia has the worst health outcomes in the world with high under 5-mortality with a value of 166 per 1.000 and maternal mortality rates with a value of 850 per 100,000 (WHO 2009). User fee in Ethiopia Ethiopia health care has been predominantly public until recently with the change in the political policy of the country as democratic and free market. Currently almost half of the health care institutions are privately owned hospital and clinics. Until recently the cost of health care user fee in governmental institutions from out pocket was only 15% but now the cost is increased to 85% of total cost an individual health care consumption .The democratic government has under taken important steps to improve the population`s health status and to make health care more efficient and accessible for everybody. Some improvement in population health indicator such as immunization coverage and slight decline in malnutrition rates since 2006 the protection of basic services program. Nevertheless per capital public spending for health remain far below the average from sub-Saharan Africa. Insufficient equipment and a shortage of health a workers plus strong biases towards curative services and little involvement from the private sector and NGO. The condition further exacerbated by high population growth with an annual growth rate of 2.7 %( 2005-2010 , UNDP 2009). User fee at health care facility thus remain an important feature to generate resource from heavily underfunded health sector. The minister of health is currently considering   national health care scheme.   Positive Argument Ethiopia has been using user fee for health care service many decades to share the cost health care at least 15% of an individual total cost of health care. Since the last decade due to global economic inflation and lack of resources to cover the cost of public health care cost , the government increased the health care cost to 75%. This is very important to increase economic efficiency where by scarce resources are allocated to their most valuable uses both within the public sector and between the private and public sectors. The levied charge enhance the accountability of public sector , making it more responsive to differing preferences and changes in the demand for publicly provided goods and services as well as cost recovery and increased equity . The idea of benefit taxation is applied based on the principle of fairness as every payer pays only for the goods and services that they use. A case of efficiency can be made if the revenue from user fee are channelled into provision of good quality care, increased availability of drugs , and prompt services which should mitigate the negative effects created by lack of access to quality care . Implementation of user fee has a minimal undesirable effect but these could themselves reinforce the adverse effect of user fees which is suffered by the poor. In Africa specifically, the bulk of the problem is financing health care for the poor and predominately rural dwelling. The poor are more sensitive to price changes but not to say health care should be free. In competitive market every economic agent should face their marginal cost of their action. In case health care, health care is a right, a necessity and has externality. The use of community health insurance or prepayment schemes have been found to be viable even from experience in parts of Africa , further viable into the broader perspective of national health insurance schemes or microfinance institutions . The idea of universal coverage likely to increase access of the poor to health care most especially when cross subsidization is possible. Internal private bargain such that achievable the Coase theorem such that demand for heath care does not depend of the distribution of income. This is more related to social solidarity which is very likely to produce valuable results in the African setting. Non-monetary access costs such as travel time are important determinants of health care choices. The geographical distribution of services may make access more difficult for some groups. The revenue can be re-invested to reduce non-monetary access costs and consequently minimize consumer’s welfare loss. The elimination of user fee in some African countries was driven by political motivation for vote maximization (William Nordus submission). Counter Argument Experience in some African countries such as Uganda, user fee abruptly removed in 2001, South Africa in 1994 during the period of transition to democracy has led others similar countries such as Rwanda , Zambia , Brundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger to implement similar reforms though on selected facilities or services showed increased utilization of public services and women are also likely to benefit from reduction in user fees. The implementation of user fee may impose heavier burden on the poor who are most likely to face a higher burden of disease (Nyanator 2009 and Kutzin). It contradicts the very purpose for which public provision was intended and budgetary flexibility will be limited where revenues are ear marked to health expenditure on the publicly provided health services from which the revenue are derived . The presence of user fee can cause sustained decrease in health care service utilization by the poor and middle income family. The attitude individuals towards user fees can adversely impact on government revenue as well as their political viability. The economic theory based on efficiency, marginal value of user fee in public must exceed private(Duff,2009). In early 1980 studies showed that price may not important determinant of demand late studies showed prices may have a significant negative impact of demand for health care especially in developing counties and on the poor. The poor are very sensitive to small changes to price even for health care . Strong link between health and poverty which could lead to medical poverty trap phenomena. The poor who already cannot afford to use private health care services due to high cost can no longer afford to use public . This leads to untreated morbidity, reduced access to health care, longer-term impoverishment and irrational drug use. Evidence further showed increased inequalities associated with user fees. The actors of Ethiopian health care system are the World bank , WHO, UNICEF , the people, government , NGOs, , community leaders, politician and others. Ethiopian government health care has been using very low cost sharing 15% user fee for long period of time but recently due to the structural adjustment program most of the government health care units increased their user fee to 70% from the total cost. The government only covers 30% of the cost of health by covering only the salary of the health worker. All governmental health institutions charge 70% of the total individual health care cost which used as revenue to improve the quality of care and buying medical equipment and other running cost of the health institutions. The user fee in governmental health care units as expensive as the private health care cost which has maginillized the poor and rural dwelling people. The effect of user in poor society has been worse specially for mother and children as they are frequent user of t he health care. Recommendations Health care financing remain a challenge in most low and middle income countries where disease burdens are high due to HIV/AIDS and rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases, scarce resources and constantly competing priority on the public budget (Gottret and Schieber 2006). Out of pocket payments for health care continue to be an important source for revenue for underfunded health system in many developing countries like Ethiopia. Ethiopia has a long history and tradition for user fee for health services and it is in this aspect very different from most of the developing countries that introduced fees in the 1980s.Most of Ethiopian have never experienced free health care in their adult life. . User fees are seen as a financial barrier to healthcare usage, especially by poor households. Delayed or no medical care-seeking behaviours or inability to undergo the recommended hospital care due to high cost in government or private hospitals. The government should try to encourage already existing social sickness fund system which traditional called â€Å"Eders†. In traditional Eder , the members will pay monthly fee which will used if someone lose his family by death for grief and financial stability. Sickness fund(Eder) is another type of social insurance system which is accepted and sustainable method if it is given special focus by the government in controlling how it works and expanding nationwide to protect household from impoverishment in case of major health events. Another alternative is Ethiopia should develop national health insurance system by means health tax from individual household.

buy custom The Cooperative Food Businesses Group essay

buy custom The Cooperative Food Businesses Group essay Introduction The Cooperative Food Businesses Group is a consumer owned company that presently dominates the convenience food market segment of the food retail industry in UK. As the economic conditions in the country seize to improve, the company is faced with immense challenges. The report analyses these challenges together with the companys ability to utilize its internal capabilities to counter them and move towards a profitable future. The tools such as PESTEL Analysis, Porters Five Forces Analysis, SWOT Analysis and Competitor Profile Matrix are made of use of in the strategic analysis. External Environment PESTEL Analysis Political The government has increased the Value Added Tax to VAT 20 per cent that has increased retail prices of food products tremendously. This has pushed away consumers from heavy spending in food shopping. The Increase in fuel costs by the government has forced producers to charge more for their products that cost more to produce now (BBC 2007). The economic turmoil in UK has produced a drastic fall in the consumers disposable incomes. The wage has increased by only 5 per cent. The Customers have become more price sensitive as a result and have shifted towards cheaper food brands and cheaper food retailers (Clark et al 1994). Customers have also shifted to less expensive restaurants. Retailers are trying to steal the restaurant spend by offering Dine in for two deals. The convenience segment of food retailing is comparatively flaring well. The sales value of the convenience market segment is expected to grow by 2 per cent per annum in the next 4 years. The market is expected to grow in size as the population continues to grow to 67 million by 2020. This will produce an increase in single occupancy rate, and thus, increases spend her head. On the other hand the trend of aging population which is reliant on a smaller number of employed workers will move the customers further towards price sensitivity. However, cultural diversity in UK is increasing which has allowed retailers to enter into specialist segments, such as ethnic food. The Internet has become a powerful selling channel in the West. It is predicted that by 2011 online retail sales in Europe will have reached Euro263bn, with British shoppers accounting for more than a third of all revenue (Myers 2004). The Internet accounts for 8 per cent of the amount spent in advertising globally. This percentage is growing rapidly. Around 70 per cent of the households have PCs and internet which has given rise to online shopping (Graiser Scott 2004). At present 4 per cent of the food sales are made online. Customers still choose to physically see products before they purchase. However, the trend towards online shopping for grocery is expected to increase, forcing the retailers to equip their supply chain to meet the changes in the industry. Where at present, consumers are concerned with price sensitivity, in future, their concerns for wealth, sustainability of food and well being will grow and retailers will have to address these. Waste management presents another dilemma for companies as well as criticism in adding to CO2 pollution. Environmental protection, child labour and consumer protection laws are the main legal forces acting on retailers. As consumers get more aware of their rights and litigious, the risk of being sued increases. Owing to the intense rivalry in the industry, and a large number of players continuously engaged in battling with each other for higher customer and market share, the industry has been the attention of competition commission which closely monitors their competitive strategies. Competition in the retailing sector is extremely fierce. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that companies are trying to diversify into non-core fields thus creating additional competition. In the mainstream food retailing segment that constitutes super markets and hypermarkets, there are four major retailers in the industry that have fortified market positions. These are Tesco, Sainsbursy, Asda and Morrisons. These retailers account for nearly 65 to 70 per cent of the total food sales in UK. Tesco is leading the market with 27 per cent market share, where the rest have 14 per cent, 15 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. The Cooperative Food Business is the fifth largest food retailer behind the big four. The level of rivalry is intense which has been further increased as companies have faced financial challenges during the economic slump. The four giant retailers battle for market share and customer share. They attract consumers through price comparisons and value offers. Cooperative Food Businesses dominate the convenience segment of the market. The four retailers upon sensed the market potential have recently entered in the convenience segment, where their positions are relatively weak at present. Marks and Spencer and Tesco have 13 and 11 per cent market shares in the convenience segment which are largely behind Co-op Groups 27 per cent market share. The bargaining power of the suppliers is low. The main suppliers of retailers are food manufacturer such as Nestle, Kraft, Unilever, Kellogg, Danone, Proctor and Gamble and General Mills. These food manufactures have to compete against each other to occupy shelf spaces of the four giant retailers. This has given retailers high negotiating power with the suppliers. There is a big threat of substitute food products, having numerous food suppliers in the industry. There is also a big room for innovations in the food product category. Economic Social Technological Environmental Legal Porters Five Forces Industry Rivalry Bargaining Power of Suppliers Bargaining Power of Customers The bargaining power of customers is high. The concentration of buyers is high and they therefore can dictate their rules/tastes. Customers are less brand loyal, there are plenty of alternatives and switching costs are low. All of these factors place the bargaining power in the hands of the consumers. The slow recovery in the economic conditions in UK still continues to affect retail sales as consumers choose to buy less and buy cheaper in order to make ends meet (Graiser Scott 2004). Similarly, as peoples incomes become more uncertain, they will shop around more (Flavin et al 2002). Threat of Substitute Products Threat of New Entrants Threat of new entrants is low. This is because it takes enormous capital investments to set up a successful chain of stores. The market is mature and an entrant would need to offer something radically new, which is rather difficult to do in food retailing. All major retailers have strong established brand nams and so enjoy customer loyalty, which becomes increasingly important in homogenous markets (Flavin et al 2002). The incumbents are firmly holding their market shares and would utilise all means to counter any new entrants, including litigation (Graiser Scott 2004). Importantly, absence of experience and knowledge of operating in these markets - especially for foreign companies - would be a barrier to any new entrants (Doyle 2002). Competition Analysis The Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM) identifies a firms major competitors and its particular strengths and weaknesses in relation to a sample firms decisions. Following is the competitive profile matrix of Cooperative Food Business Group compared with Marks and Spencer and Tesco (Dess et al 2004). Table 1: Competitive Profile Matrix of Cooperative Food Business Group Critical Success Factors Weight Marks and Spencer Cooperative Food Business Group Tesco Rating Score Rating Score Rating Score Advertising 0.20 3 0.6 4 0.8 4 0.8 Product Quality 0.10 4 0.4 4 0.4 4 0.4 Price Competitiveness 0.10 2 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 Management 0.10 3 0.3 4 0.4 3 0.3 Financial Position 0.15 3 0.45 4 0.6 2 0.3 Customer Loyalty 0.10 3 0.3 3 0.3 2 0.2 Market Expansion 0.2 3 0.6 4 0.8 3 0.6 Market Share 0.05 3 0.15 4 0.6 2 0.1 Total 1.00 3.1 3.6 2.2 The competition matrix clearly identifies the areas which give the company the competitive advantage. Each of these areas is linked with the three aspects of the business identified earlier: finance, human resources and production. Strategic Capabilities Resources The Cooperative Food Business Group is registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts of 1965 and 2003. Its resources are entirely different from those of the competitors. Its human resource comprises of 110,000 employees. It operates close to 5000 retail outlets that allow it to serve 17 million customers per week across UK. 3000 new stores will be opened by 2013 which has created new job offers for potential competent employees. Value System The value system of the organisation is closely tied with social values and social benefit. This is due to the fact that the Group is owned by consumer members. The values that provide the foundation of the management and business philosophy of the Cooperative Food Business Group are: self help, self responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. Core Competencies The core competencies of the Group stem from its financial position, its business model, strategy of partnerships and acquisitions and its workforce (Johnson Scholes 2003). Business Model Its business strategy and business model are closely tied with social responsibility and social values that provide it a completive edge in the market and allow it to run a business that is socially appreciated and well accepted across the UK by the consumers. The business model allows consumers to attain the power. Consumers having power to influence prices, management and marketing of retailers is a challenge for competitors, the Group sees this as its biggest strength. The consumers are more driven towards spending more on a retailer that they know will give back to the society and cares for them, rather than the exploiting giants that are now struggling to sustain customer share. Financial Position 13.7 billion profits were obtained in 2010 by the Group which is attributable to the financially sound condition of the company. However, the acquisitions posed a financial burden on the company but because of the annual profitability, it was able to curtail the short term turmoil effectively and continued to expannd. This financial position has allowed the company to invest heavily in stores, hire more employees and enter into new product categories. Cost Leadership Cost leadership is where companies compete on the basis of their production costs and profit gains in returns. Such production cost reduction is received from economics of scale and extensive marketing and operational efficiency. The large supermarket chains which have access to fewer threats from high prices of suppliers are enjoying this cost leadership. The Cooperative Food Business Group follows the competitive strategy of cost leadership. Because of the benefit of this, the group charges comparatively cheaper prices to the convenience food products which attracts and sustain customers. Human Resources People culture prevails in the company. Bureaucratic structure with centralised decision making allows the owners to curtail a complete customer-centred approach in management and performance. Employees are regularly trained in order to be infused with necessary skills to counter competition. The centralised management style allows infusing and practicing the value system effectively and in a controlled fashion. Partnerships and Acquisitions The Cooperative Food Business Group has taken the acquisition strategy to expand in the UKs retail industry. This strategy has produced fruitful results for the company in the form of improved profitability and enhanced its resource capability to enter into new markets and product categories. The expansion in resources through acquisition will allow the Group to move towards an effective and cost efficient value chain which is essential to enter into many new markets and countries, without any fear of losing out due to competition, because the company has to offer several value added services backed with competencies that are not found in other competitors. SWOT Analysis Strengths The Cooperative Food Business Group is the fifth largest food retailer behind the big four. IT dominates the convenience segment of the market. Acquiring Somerfies 778 stores has infused strength in to the groups ability to counter competition and expand its market share and profitability. There is lack of innovation in the services that the Group provides that gives it little differentiation against competitors, and weakens its otherwise fortified market share. The management system is potentially weak to cope with the challenges of integration and acquisitions. The structural integration needs to be improved. Geographic as well as product category expansion are two opportunities available to the Cooperative Food Business Group at present. Using the online selling channel and expanding in the online food retailing is another option. Economic downfall has hurt consumer spending and has reduced the sales of the Group. Its financial turmoil is partly attributable to the incompetency of the company to bear the financial burden of the recent acquisition initiative. The entry of the big four along with Marks and Spencer in the convenience market segment is a threat for the Group. At present the Group holds market dominance but in the near future, as the retailers continue to occupy market space and consume more customer share, the sustainability of the Group in the market can be seriously threatened. The giants have a bigger pool of resources to combat the Group. The Group will have to invest in introducing new innovations in services and expand into new product categories in order to sustain competitive advantage. Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Strategic Options and Evaluation Two strategic options that the Cooperative Food Business Group have are: (1) Expansion into the Financial Service Sector; (2) Entry into the online food selling market. The strategic options are evaluated based on the criteria of consistency, consonance, advantage, and feasibility. Expansion into the Financial Service Sector Following the lead of Tesco and Sainsburys and other big four retailers, who haves set their foot in the financial services sector, the Group is considering taking up the challenge to service this sector as well. Consistency the strategy corresponds to the expansion strategy of the business. It will need to use acquisitions strategy to enter into the financial services sector. Consonance because of the economic turmoil, the retailers that are in the financial services sector have suffered in terms of profitability. This is something that the Group needs to consider. The economic situation is expected to improve and the Group has optimistic performance and profitability forecasts. However, the industry poses a big risk. Advantage Expanding into a new market would allow the Group to further strengthen its market leadership and increase customer share and profitability. Feasibility The Groups existing resources will not be sufficient to back this expansion strategy. Considering its recent financially troubling situation resulting from the integration with Somerfields stores, it is only evident that in terms of resources, this option is less feasible (Arnold 2002). Entry into the Online Food Selling Market The online food selling market is in its introductory stage and is growing. Asda and Tesco are successfully running online food divisions (Doyle 2002), and it is only time that Cooperative Food Group enters the market before it hits maturity and barriers to entry increase. Consistency the strategy corresponds to the expansion strategy of the business. It will allow the company to increase its customer share and market share. Consonance this will be a proactive strategy on part of the Group allowing it to enter the market that is in its introductory stage and holds potential for massive growth in the future. Advantage The entry would allow the company to provide multi-channel buying opportunity to consumers, and thus, enable it to make use of a new competitive advantage. Feasibility The strategy is feasible as the company has use its existing resources to implement it. Recommendation and Conclusion Cooperative Food Business Groups recent acquisition strategy to expand in the industry has allowed it to create an effective and cost efficient value chain and has enabled to enter into many new markets and expand its resources without any fear of losing out due to competition. The company has to offer several value added services backed with competencies that are not found in other competitors. Online food retail industry is a viable strategic option open to the company that it can enter into without challenging its management to cope up with as well as benefit from in terms of increased profitability, market and customer share. The tools used in the strategic analysis, such as, PESTEL Analysis, Porters Five Forces Analysis, SWOT Analysis and Competitor Profile Matrix proved to be quite effective in aligning the challenges, strengths and capabilities that paved way for strategic routes for the future to be developed. 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Understanding Delphi Class (and Record) Helpers

Understanding Delphi Class (and Record) Helpers A feature of the Delphi language added some years ago (way back in in Delphi 2005) called Class Helpers is designed to let you add new functionality to an existing class (or a record) by introducing new methods to the class (record). Below youll see some more ideas for class helpers learn when to and when not to use class helpers. Class Helper For... In simple words, a class helper is a construct that extends a class by introducing new methods in the helper class. A class helper allows you to extend existing class without actually modifying it or inheriting from it. To extend the VCLs TStrings class you would declare and implement a class helper like the following: type TStringsHelper class helper for TStrings public function Contains(const aString : string) : boolean; end; The above class, called TStringsHelper is a class helper for the TStrings type. Note that TStrings is defined in the Classes.pas, a unit that is by default available in the uses clause for any Delphi forms unit, for example. The function were adding to the TStrings type using our class helper is Contains. The implementation could look like: function TStringsHelper.Contains(const aString: string): boolean; begin result : -1 IndexOf(aString); end; Im certain youve used the above many times in your code - to check if some TStrings descendant, like TStringList, has some string value in its Items collection. Note that, for example, the Items property of a TComboBox or a TListBox is of the TStrings type. Having the TStringsHelper implemented, and a list box on a form (named ListBox1), you can now check if some string is a part of the list box Items property by using: if ListBox1.Items.Contains(some string) then ... Class Helpers Go and NoGo The implementation of class helpers has some positive and some (you might think of) negative impacts to your coding. In general you should avoid extending your own classes - as if you need to add some new functionality to your own custom classes - add the new stuff in the class implementation directly - not using a class helper. Class helpers are therefore more designed to extend a class when you cannot (or do not need to) rely on normal class inheritance and interface implementations. A class helper cannot declare instance data, like new private fields (or properties that would read/write such fields). Adding new class fields is allowed. A class helper can add new methods (function, procedure). Before Delphi XE3 you could only extend classes and records - complex types. From Delphi XE 3 release you can also extend simple types like integer or string or TDateTime, and have construct like: var s : string; begin s : Delphi XE3 helpers; s : s.UpperCase.Reverse; end; Ill write about Delphi XE 3 simple type helper in the near future. Wheres MY Class Helper One limitation to using class helpers that might help you shoot yourself in the foot is the fact that you can define and associate multiple helpers with a single type. However, only zero or one helper applies in any specific location in source code. The helper defined in the nearest scope will apply. Class or record helper scope is determined in the normal Delphi fashion (for example, right to left in the units uses clause). What this means is that you might define two TStringsHelper class helpers in two different units but only one will apply when actually used! If a class helper is not defined in the unit where you use its introduced methods - which in most cases will be so, you do not know what class helper implementation you would actually be using. Two class helpers for TStrings, named differently or residing in different units might have different implementation for the Contains method in the above example. Use Or Not? Yes, but be aware of the possible side effects. Heres another handy extension to the above mentioned TStringsHelper class helper TStringsHelper class helper for TStrings private function GetTheObject(const aString: string): TObject; procedure SetTheObject(const aString: string; const Value: TObject); public property ObjectFor[const aString : string]: TObject read GetTheObject write SetTheObject; end; ... function TStringsHelper.GetTheObject(const aString: string): TObject; var idx : integer; begin result : nil; idx : IndexOf(aString); if idx -1 then result : Objects[idx]; end; procedure TStringsHelper.SetTheObject(const aString: string; const Value: TObject); var idx : integer; begin idx : IndexOf(aString); if idx -1 then Objects[idx] : Value; end; If youve been adding objects to a string list, you can guess when to use the above handy helper property.

Work Place Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Work Place Analysis - Essay Example Work Place Analysis Business organizations have been established to serve varied purposes. Financial enterprises, of which one belongs and works for, served the needs of diverse clientele and stakeholders. Since more organizations have opted to become global, competition becomes fiercer and stiffer. Clients are able to differentiate on various financial institutions that apparently offer similar services in terms of three relevant factors: organizational culture, management and leadership style, and ethical considerations. In this regard, the current paper aims to present a more in-depth analysis of one’s work place in terms of these three factors and how the presence or absence of these crucial ingredients affect the attainment of organizational goals. An organization’s culture was learned to comprise of a set of symbols and components which include the company’s observable atmosphere, shared values, common assumptions, stories-rites-rituals-symbols, and cultural roles. As a financial organization, one’s work place defined in mission and vision statements as follows: ‘to become a consistently excellent leader in providing varied financial services to a wide array of clients and that which caters to their distinct and specific needs’. Given this statement, the financial organization had developed a recognizable behavior that exudes focusing on providing customer satisfaction through the training and development of its human resources. Thus, the organization has been noted by customers to provide excellent customer service through the exemplary behavior and conduct of all personnel they get to interact with. The behavior that exhibited conformity to ideals of providing excellent customer service incl udes sharing the following corporate philosophy: Values for Customer Service: Being attentive to customers’ needs and demands; Exuding a happy and optimistic disposition while attending to customers’ needs; Offering personalized service; Finding out other products and services which could be extended beyond what is being asked for; and Surpassing the customers’ expectations for services rendered. Likewise, the organization has also recognized that a fully motivated staff and personnel would be able to deliver the expected values for customer service if and when they are duly trained and develop to respond to the customers’ varied needs and demands. As such, the values for employees are hereby part of the corporate philosophy: Values for Employees The organization recognizes the crucial role and importance of human resources towards delighting the customers and achieving organizational goals; Regular training and development programs that focus on customer service, performance of responsibilities; and preparing for advancement are frequently scheduled and conducted; and Employees are to be provided with incentives and benefits with include promotions, bonuses, as well as acknowledgements to reward exemplary performance in providing excellent customer service, as well as in contributing to the achievement of organizational goals. Given the shares values, it is therefore part of the organization’s culture that the following common assumptions are adhered to: integrity, honesty, commitment in one’s performance of duties and responsibilities, professionalism, respect for authority, and conformity to the code of discipline and work ethics as stipulated in the organization’s policies and procedures. It is therefore a familiar practice to encourage customer feedback through brief customer survey forms that are provided by the bank tellers and front desk personnel to encourage solicitation of information from the

A ban on the wearing of items of clothing and other symbols of Essay

A ban on the wearing of items of clothing and other symbols of religious significance - Essay Example These Islamic dresses have raised various questions related to gender equality, freedom of religion and liberalism, and currently these issues are under serious contentions in Western Europe. Within this atmosphere of hot debate, France, which has around five million Muslims (the largest in population of Muslims in Western Europe), has taken a ?rm stand and became the first nation to pass a legislation that banned both headscarves and full veils (BBC News, The Islamic Veil Across Europe, 22nd September 2011). As per the legislation which became effective from 11 April 2011, it is now illegal for women in France (French or foreign), to leave their homes with their face covered with a veil, and women found flouting rules are liable to pay a heavy fine. UK, which promotes multiculturalism, have not imposed any ban on clothing or other accessories with religious significance; however, schools are allowed to establish their own dress code following a 2007 court directive (BBC News, The Is lamic Veil Across Europe, 22nd September 2011). However currently in UK, Face Coverings (Regulation) Bill 2010/11 brought in by Mr Philip Hollobone is under consideration, which proposes to ban the covering of faces in public spaces (Face Coverings (Regulation) Bill 2010/11, 2011). ... Russian Supreme Court had ordered a complete ban on use of veils in public spaces and offices, which is however not followed in Chechnya. In Germany, even though the court ruled in favour of a teacher wanting to wear a scarf to school, there are provisions for modifying laws locally, and many states have imposed a ban on Islamic veils. Austria and Switzerland are also considering a probable ban, in case there are too many women wearing the veil (ibid). From a scholarly viewpoint, even though the hijab and the niqab may have various cultural and religious connotations, but in the context of present debates over issues of gender equality and tolerance, there are claims that Muslims often tend to use veils to make their presence felt in the European countries (Teitelbaum, 2011). It is owing to such suggestions that the issue of wearing veils has currently taken a political shape, and many citizens and politicians view Islamic veils as a sign of radical Islam or fundamentalism. In the co ntext of the current debate, that questions the reasoning behind implementing a legal ban on wearing of Islamic veils, there are varying viewpoints. According to the Commissioner  of Human Rights (Council of Europe) Thomas Hammarberg, this ban on veils would not help to achieve the desired effects of gender equality or end oppression of Muslim women. Instead, he claimed, â€Å"Prohibition of the burqa and the niqab would not liberate oppressed women, but might instead lead to their further alienation in European societies. A general ban on such attires would constitute an ill-advised invasion of individual privacy. Depending on its precise terms, a prohibition also

Educational Reform from a Personal Perspective Essay

Educational Reform from a Personal Perspective - Essay Example That is, I plan on becoming a better person so as to facilitate the introduction of a better educator that I believe I can become given the opportunities and challenges that are certain to come my way. For the next few years I will strive to apply the proper level of knowledge in creating different approaches in teaching that are constructive and applicable to my students. I will endeavor to incorporate technology and current trends in carrying out my academic goals and will constantly be on the lookout for current and up to-date methodologies and tenets in teaching. I will be more conscious to differences in culture, levels of perception, behavior and other factors that mark the individuality of a student and will be more receptive and responsive to the needs that such distinction may call for. Most importantly, I will work hard to prepare my students to think critically and take on responsibilities in the context of life in general and not look at the school as an indispensable ins titution that must be hurdled as an entry-way to life, but as a celebration that will mark their readiness to take on a more complex journey. †¢ What steps are necessary to get you to your goals? What obstacles might you foresee and how will you overcome them? For the following years, I plan to develop a personal teaching style that would integrate cultural, academic and behavioral diversity by establishing a learning environment that highlights personal dignity and acceptance. That is, this method would take into consideration the geographic communities around the school and will engage the students in a multi-faceted education which would bring about character formation and social awareness (Dana 2009). This method would likewise teach my students to be conscious of verbal, non-verbal, as well as verbal underpinnings in communication so as to attain a more open and interested schoolroom where the students will be conscious of their peers which would foster community collabora tion and peer support (Dewey 1997). I want to be able to establish a teaching method where the classroom is a place where the students learn and not just from their teachers, but from themselves as well. I am envisioning a transformation of the schoolroom from a place where the teachers teach and the students listen into a ceremony where everyone will take part in the teaching and everyone will benefit from learning. †¢ What is one principle from the INTASC Principles website that you feel you must improve the most to be effective in the education profession? What existing professional development programs might you pursue to address the need to improve in this area? The tenth principle under the Interstate New Teachers Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) stresses the importance of fostering interpersonal relationships in order to promote the well-being of the students and place them healthier environment that would facilitate a better academic and personal growth. I hav e always believed that learning is a process more complex that having to listen and perceive (Dana 2009). I have always believed that several factors affect learning ability and that it could not be blamed solely on state funding, federal government priorities or even the quality of the educators (Gorton 2008). After all, the government may devote billions of dollars to education and the

Classical Mythology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Classical Mythology - Essay Example Fans of a particular stable/faction identified themselves with their stable colors in those race competitions. The stables encouraged this loyalty by establishing an equivalence of â€Å"clubhouses† in Rome to entertain their fans. This trend later spread to other cities as chariot racing grew. Charioteers who rose to heroism and some to freedom after they died had their victories written on their gravestones. Charioteers with decorated careers had monuments erected with engravings of their victories and achievements either by themselves or by others (Roberts, p150). Historical evidence indicate that, almost all the charioteers came from a very low social class (slaves) with exception of a few. The charioteers started very young, rose to fame and eventually died while still young. From the evidence, Roman charioteers lead a similar life path. A majority rose from slavery, started racing very young, bought their freedom and finally died while still young (most died before attaining thirty years). From sources 2, 3, 4, and 7, the charioteers started their racing careers young and met their demise before their thirties. Source 2 describes the life and achievements of Fuscus. He was 24 years old and a driver for the Green Company. He won 53 times and was the first driver to win on the first day of racing. A pillar was erected in the consulate of Gaius and Marcus Servilius and curved with his achievements. Source 3 does not provide the name of the driver as his name was not engraved on his gravestone. He died at the age of 25 in the consulate of Appius Annius. He was a driver for the blue stables. Crescens was born in Mauritius (evidence suggests that, he was of an African origin). He started racing when he was 22 years in the consulate of Lucius Vipsanius. He was a driver for the blue faction. Just like the other drivers he died before reaching the age of 30 years. Finally, Marcus Aurelius. He died at the age of 29 years. His career

The use of undrained triaxial test Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The use of undrained triaxial test - Lab Report Example The graph for normal stress against a shear stress is gives a straight line from the origin. This insinuates that for both shear stresses, an increase in normal pressure applied leads to increase in shear stress. Further, from the graph it is obvious that shear strength yields a greater frictional angle and failure envelope than that for the residual strength as expected for soils.With application of the masses, shear stress initially increased rapidly upto a certain point, after-which the increase reduced. Generally, this shows that with increasing loads, the shear stresses also increase. As shown in the graph, there is a strong positive increase observed in the value of shear strength upto the peak point where the slope starts to decrease into a shallow gradient. It is at this point that the residual stress is observed. The range for effective angles of friction range between 35 degrees for dense sands and 27 degrees for loose sands (Helwany, 2007, 107). Our results fall into these values that gives a medium density outcome for our sample. Consequently, the results are in line with the expectations that the peak strength should be greater than residual strength of the soil.Even though the experiment was successful in meeting its objective, there might have been sources of errors leading to slight deviations witnessed. Most obvious source is human errors arising when taking the readings from the instruments used. Further, there might have been mistakes when setting up the apparatus such as the shear box.

International marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

International marketing - Essay Example The primary objectives of the organization, as per the website of the organization are to provide support and advice, notify interested businesses of overseas investment opportunities and to provide assistance in exporting goods. These objectives are moved further by the activities of the organization which include trade exhibitions of Australian goods around the world, locating and screening on business partners internationally and by the provision of research data on the viability of other markets. These support services are established through the governmental planning of exports and through the export network which Austrade has in place (Austrade, 2007). The primary purposed of Austrade is to provide information and one of the easiest methods available to a small business while seeking information is to use the internet (Levy and Powell, 1998). Austrade certainly does not disappoint in this case since even a brief overview of their website presents a wealth of information for anyone who seeks to conduct business outside Australia. For example, the website provides detailed information about countries where Austrade operates and it is easy to see that the data about these countries can be very helpful for an exporter looking to sell Australian products abroad. For any exporter who is just coming into the export business, a service such as TradeStart becomes invaluable. This is a network of offices which are spread across the country and assist local businesses with free services under the New Exporter Development Program. Primarily, these services consist of advice and information about the product requirements from different countries and how the product can be sold to another nation. The network also provides on the ground assistance in foreign lands where Australian businesses may not have a level of familiarity or local expertise (Austrade, 2007). As reported by Bartlett &

The use of undrained triaxial test Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The use of undrained triaxial test - Lab Report Example The graph for normal stress against a shear stress is gives a straight line from the origin. This insinuates that for both shear stresses, an increase in normal pressure applied leads to increase in shear stress. Further, from the graph it is obvious that shear strength yields a greater frictional angle and failure envelope than that for the residual strength as expected for soils.With application of the masses, shear stress initially increased rapidly upto a certain point, after-which the increase reduced. Generally, this shows that with increasing loads, the shear stresses also increase. As shown in the graph, there is a strong positive increase observed in the value of shear strength upto the peak point where the slope starts to decrease into a shallow gradient. It is at this point that the residual stress is observed. The range for effective angles of friction range between 35 degrees for dense sands and 27 degrees for loose sands (Helwany, 2007, 107). Our results fall into these values that gives a medium density outcome for our sample. Consequently, the results are in line with the expectations that the peak strength should be greater than residual strength of the soil.Even though the experiment was successful in meeting its objective, there might have been sources of errors leading to slight deviations witnessed. Most obvious source is human errors arising when taking the readings from the instruments used. Further, there might have been mistakes when setting up the apparatus such as the shear box.

FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR VODAFONE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR VODAFONE - Essay Example Vodafone will have to deal with increased completion in the near future as more telecommunication companies come up. To understand how this will affect the company in the next ten to fifteen years, it is important o look at the issues that have emerged in the last ten years. As William (2009) says, since the globalization of mobile networks ten years ago, it has become explicit that that every year that passes by the telecommunication industry is changing. Those companies that entered in to the industry in early 1990s no longer have the monopoly that they used to have in the past. In the earlier years, licensing for telecommunication companies was very expensive and prohibitive for new and small entrants. However, this has changed and it is now easier for such companies to come up with a way to enter the market with minimum cost. This has increased the risk for bigger and older firms such as Vodafone and they are at risk of being drowned by the new entrants. In this regard, the main issue that Vodafone will be facing in the near future (by the year 2020) is the problem of increased competition. This will be more so in the developing countries such as China and many African countries (McKenna, 2011). Vodafone has a number of networks in threes developing countries and these networks are becoming a major aspect of the Vodafone business and network. As these networks continue to be attacked by smaller newer networks, the firms will have a crisis by the time it reaches 2020. A good example is in Kenya where Vodafone owns forty percent of the largest telecommunication network called Safaricom. While this Safaricom has been the largest and the most profitable network in the east African region, it has become very clear that the network is losing its mighty and power to newer and upcoming network. The network was launched in Kenya in the year 2003 and by the year 2006, it had managed to scoop over 80% of the telecommunication market share. It also had a very fast grow ing network subscription over the last ten years. However, this has been seen to change over the last three years. Subscriber loyalty has decreased and now more subscribers are more willing to go to newer networks. This was not so in the past as more subscribers were loyal to the Safaricom network. The same is happening everywhere in places like China where the local telecommunication companies have grown very fast and are taking over the industry (Westen, 2009). As this continues, it will become very difficult for Vodafone to maintain its strategic leadership and this will become a very major issue for the firm. The other thing that has affected the firm is the reduction of licensing fees for telecommunication companies. Many governments have realized that licensing many firms is a benefit to the economy as it increases completion and reduces monopoly in the telecommunication industry. As a result, the hefty licensing amounts that were charged to telecommunication companies in the earlier days are no longer there. In this regard, it has been easier for new and smaller telecommunication companies to enter the market and thus bringing more competition for the older and bigger firms like Vodafone (McGreggor, 2010). Vodafone seems to be the most affected because it seems to not have prepared for such an eventuality. As Vodafone grapples with these issues in the short term, there are other problems looming in the long term. With the expectation that there will be a technological singularity by the end 2035, it is expected that the way people communicate will change over time. Personal computers are changing the way people co

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin Essay Example for Free

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin Essay The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin explores the sense of liberation for social forces that holds the character down and focuses on the feminine gender’s side of such struggle. Caged in a patriarchal society, women have been rightfully fighting for a life worth living. Born in such a society, women are often aware of their right to happiness. In this story, it takes an accident, particularly her husband’s death, for Mrs. Mallard to realize her self-worth. Mrs. Mallard symbolizes women’s situation with respect to her role in society. Her husband represents the patriarchal mindset of culture and society and it is in a sense ironic, that Mrs. Mallard’s sense of awakening, her â€Å"birth,† was made possible by the death of her husband. In the same way, that her new-found freedom is cut short by her demise. Writers are known to apply aspects of their life into their writings and works. Some literary critics may view such process as insignificant, citing that any analysis of such works in literature must concentrate mainly on the work body rather than any external consideration outside the work. The mention of Mrs. Mallard’s health condition at the very onset of the short story paves the way for the consistency of the story’s ending. The simplicity of the setting indicates less the material sense of the story. For everything is much a personal sensing and contradiction of the main protagonist. In fact this particular part in the story is significant. She writes, â€Å"She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life.† Sensory images flood her being and all of a sudden the vision of the window means a lot to her. These nostalgic sensory images are an onset of Mrs. Mallard’s new sense of liberation. The vision through the open windows means a fresh perspective into her life. The husband may have treated her wife fairly as dictated by social norms of the time. Mrs. Mallard utterance of those words was not an implication of an unhealthy and brutal marriage but was more a declaration of Mrs. Mallard new found sense of independence, a sort of unbinding from the social chains of familial duty. The closing of the door and the opening of the window was very much symbolic to Mrs. Mallard’s closing of one aspect of her life, her marriage, and an advent of life of new possibilities. In a sense, it was a certain kind of freedom from a socially-imposed â€Å"prison.† As she imagines life without her husband, she embraces visions of the future. She realizes that whether or not she had loved him was less important than this possession of self-assertion she now feels. Marriage for women at those times was more of a one-sided arrangement in favor for the male species. Although one might argue that, at present, this is less prevalent. But the fact remains that gender bias is still incorporated into society in much subtle ways. This is very much how Mrs. Mallard felt towards her marriage. Her happiness was much subordinated by her sense of duty. Duty was highly regarded in Victorian view of morality. The symbolic travel is Mrs. Mallard’s personal journey of liberation paved by a sense of foreboding and tinge of sweet joy. Chopin uses parallelisms between her real life and that of her character Mrs. Mallard in the story. These are the death of her husband, the train wreck and issues on personal freedom. As recorded in her biography, the author Kate meets a Louisiana native, Oscar Chopin, a cotton broker. We see glimpses of her relationship with him by the way she follows her husband wherever he hauls their family from one place to another. At some time during their marriage, they establish a new home in New Orleans while waiting for their first child. However, her husband’s brokerage business fails in 1879 and again he decides to move north to his family plantations in Natchitoches Parish. We see Kate here, subservient as any woman of her time, following her husband wherever he summons herto follow. Author Wyatt posits that Oscar was â€Å"by all accounts, he adored his wife, admired her independence and intelligence, and allowed her unheard of freedom† (Wyatt). However, one is not sure if this was a real freedom she experiences from her husband because it is also told that â€Å"After their marriage they lived in New Orleans where she had five boys and two girls, all before she was twenty-eight.† (Wyatt). Having five children before one is twenty-eight years of age means that she bore these children practically one after another. Thus, how could a woman who possesses a freedom of her own give birth one after the other? In much the same way, The Story of an Hour tells of Mrs. Mallard as she learns of the death of her husband from people who even exercise great caution not to tell the bad news to her right on since â€Å"Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husbands death.† It is the next few scenes that give us an inkling as to how she really views this death because she retreats to her room and instead of grieving, ponders on her life now that she had all the freedom in the world. Even the train wreck is replete with vignettes from her own story. Kate has her own share of â€Å"train wrecks† in life. The deaths of her loved ones within a short period of time prove disastrous for her and derail her life. In a similar vein, for Chopin ‘s character, Mrs. Mallard, the train wreck her husband figures in signifies not so much as a tragedy but as the beginning of freedom for her. Chopin points out that Mrs. Mallard actually disdained her husband as she pens, â€Å"And yet she had loved himsometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! What could love the unsolved mystery, count for in face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being!† The character was portrayed in an understated state of joy amidst the apparently bad news of her husband’s death. Reading Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour inspires driven women to write many literary pieces on the issues at that time. Change is highly valued by women today who feel that they are incorporating the best of the modern world into their lives. Open to ideas and innovation, women are receptive to those who can explain how change will benefit them, just like Louise in Kate Chopin’s work. They now walk a narrow bridge between the past and the future. They will reject visions of the future that only repeats the past. Indeed, the theme, the setting and the characters and some events of this story may well derive more from her own set of personal experiences translated poignantly in a short yet memorable story. WORKS CITED Henry, S. The Deep Divide, Why American Women Resist Equality. The Macmillan Publishing Co: New York. 1994. Kate Chopin The Story of an Hour The Norton Introduction to Literature (eight edition) Real Life: Katherine Chopin. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998. Wyatt, Neal. â€Å"Biography of Kate Chopin.† Retrieved March 8, 2007 at: http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/eng384/katebio.htm

Food: A Link in African American Culture Essay example -- essays paper

Food: A Link in African American Culture Four different people, four different lifestyles, all with at least one thing in common—their races (or so we have yet to discover). I began my interviews wanting to show the similarities and differences in eating habits and traditions with the African American perspective in mind. Although race is used as the combining factor in this situation, each individual’s lifestyle, cultural behavior, and even eating habits are all very unique. My interviewees consisted of four Americans, as mentioned before all of same race, with similar yet very distinct backgrounds. They range from a black Jew, to a â€Å"Jamerican,† to what I would call a â€Å"traditional southerner†, right on down to a modern day Muslim. They all agreed to fill me in and reveal to others the details of their personal history and family backgrounds. Geography, family tradition, and religion all play factors in what they eat as it always has dating back to ancestral times. I began with à ¢â‚¬Å"JJ Alex;† a 20 year old African American male from the east coast. He is a middle class college student. JJ Alex sounds like your typical college student but he is far from typical. What singles him out from many of his other peers is his religion. You might ask, â€Å"How would his religion relate to his eating lifestyle unless he’s a Muslim?† â€Å"He couldn’t possibly be Jewish—or could he?† A black Jew—better known as a Seventh Day Holiness. His great grandfather was a Rabbi and the basic teachings in his religion are as followed: his faith believes the Sabbath (day of rest) to begin at sunset on Friday lasting until sunset on Saturday; some worshippers wear Yarmulke; his faith also follows the Old Testament of the Bible; and they wear the Star of David. These beliefs in the Judaic way of life absolutely affect the food that is prepared in his house. JJ Alex mentioned that in Judaism one does not eat of unclean animals, which of course entails the meat of a pig or even fish with no scales. So right away he totally disbanded the myth that all people of African American decent eat pork. He also excludes anything from his diet that contains any pork-derived ingredients. â€Å"Not in my house!† he says. Although he does stick to his Judaic diet, JJ Alex and his family do enjoy other foods as well. His mother does most of the cooking in his home. He says they try to ea... ...iday Thanksgiving. On regular days, he does eat a lot of â€Å"soul food† which includes the collard greens and candied yams. Throughout all four interviewees I realized many foods that are common in the African American culture. In my home, although I choose not to eat pork, we do eat collard greens and sweet potatoes. Coming from a multicultural background that includes African American, Bajan, and Japanese, I also enjoy many other dishes ranging from Asia to the Caribbean. I also have family from the north as well as the south so I understood all the aspects my interviewees were throwing at me. Although each subject is from completely different backgrounds, whether they be geographical or religious, they each share likeness in many different aspects of their lives. Showing the similarities as well as the differences in their eating habits can create a cultural map tracing each individuals food choices back to one source. In this case, the source may be the continent of Africa where many of these foods are eaten today. In West Africa, the yam is a very popular vegetable. This just goes to show how food can be the missing link of different cultures throughout the world.

The Future Geopolitical Role of Canada :: Economy

The Future Geopolitical Role of Canada Canada is currently sitting in an economic catastrophe, our unemployment is high, production low, and our deficit is increasing at a rapid pace. We are one of the few first world countries, and we need to strengthen our economy. Once we fortify our economy, our geopolitical role will increase. Geopolitics is defined as the study of a two-way relationship between political beliefs and actions on one side and any of the usual concerns of geography on the other. As we move into the future, our geopolitical role may be broken down into many groups. As we can tackle the burden alone, we must join forces, and increase our geopolitical role. As we administer towards the future, the concept of acting locally has slowly dissipated, and acting globally has emerged distinctly. "One word constantly encountered in any decision about the 1990s is 'global'". (Toronto Star, 09/11/89) We must all work together by shattering the trade boundaries, and acting as one. Currently, we are seeing concrete steps forward, as Mexico, United States and Canada are almost finished the signing of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). With this trade agreement, all three countries (Mexico, United States, and Canada) will virtually become one of the best trading partners in the world. With the vast differences that exist in the demographics, all three countries will find that trading with each other will bring prominent economic reform. Canadian and American capital, technology, and management expertise, will create many jobs for everyone, hence raising the standard of living. The Canadians speciality in financial services, software, and infrastructure will have wondrous impact on Mexico. With the Americans and Canadians help in vitalizing Mexico, l strongly believe we will all become one single country in the future. Since the United States is the strongest of all three, the new country will be named the United States of North America. Becasue the United States is currently the biggest and only superpower of the world, the addition of Canada (vast resources and open land), and Mexico (substantial labour power), the United States of North America will be one of the largest dominating forces in the world. However, this will not be used against the other countries unjustly, but harmoniously. Moreover, we will not be the only countries of present day to join together, as many countries around the globe will do the same. This will help us erupt out of our boundaries and help all nations of the world.

Understand How to Plan and Provide Environments and Services

1. 1 DESCRIBE THE FACTORS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN PLANNING HEALTHY AND SAFE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS AND SERVICES Teaching staff have a duty of care when looking after children. It is important that they are aware of government legislation regarding health and safety and the school’s own Health and Safety (H&S) policy in regards to risks and hazards so that they know what to look out for and what to do in the case of an incident or accident whether indoors or outdoors.When working with children and young people staff should always make sure that areas are fit for purpose prior to any learning or play activity; this means making sure a risk assessment is carried out to expose potential risks or situation where children / or adults could have an accident. Should a teaching assistant spot a potential risk then they should make sure that this is dealt with immediately or if necessary logged into an incident book for the caretaker/IT technician to deal with e. . computer c ables moved out of the way and reorganised into a cable tidy, or a potential fire hazard dealt with such as paper removed from bins that were in close proximity to computer wires. Other hazards to look out for: Indoor potential risks: †¢chairs are put away under the tables †¢teaching equipment is stored safely away †¢that there is natural light in the room – no blinds are down †¢there is space for moving around items are picked up off the floor and put away †¢no clothes or anything left lying on the floor to be tripped over †¢there is adequate heating or ventilation so it is not too hot or cold †¢no sharp corners or edges – especially on tables †¢no substances hazardous to health lying around e. g. chemicals such as bleach or those used in science labs †¢foodstuffs that can cause allergic reactions e. g. peanuts †¢fire exits are clear from blockages such as boxes etc. no loose wires to trip over or bare wire ends which could electrocute †¢children have correct footwear and clothing e. g. lab coats and goggles in a science class/plimsolls in a PE lesson to give adequate protection in the setting It is very easy for young children who move around the classroom quickly and who aren’t aware of risks to trip over things or knock into chairs or even each other. This is made more acute when they rushing to outside at break or are hungry and want their lunch or want to leave when it is going home time.In this instance going off in 2’s or 3’s will be easier than a large group. As space can be tight in schools (especially in cities with classrooms being smaller) with any available space used, it is even more important to make sure that pathways around tables and in and out of the classroom are clear for ease of access and to minimise the risk of accidents. It is also easy for staff to bump into tables and chairs when trying to circumnavigate obstacles, especially when in a hurry.St aff should also be aware of risks to parents who come into the classrooms (especially in reception and year 1) when it is drop off or pick up time, for example if someone is pregnant, as the risk to the mother and the unborn child can be greater due to the mother not being able to steady themselves as easily if they trip over something. In dining halls foodstuffs containing peanuts are not allowed on site either in lunch boxes or in school dinners and children are not allowed to share their food in case anyone suffers from a food allergy which may result in a food allergy or an anaphylactic shock.Most schools have trained staff who are able to use an Epipen in the case of such an incident and have statement which indicates what is the allergy, how it manifests itself, what symptoms will appear and what should be done in the case of an emergency. (See attached sheet on Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan 1. 1b). The Health and Safety Executive have issued the following guidance: ‘Medici nes legislation restricts the administration of injectable medicines.Unless self-administered, they may only be administered by or in accordance with the instructions of a doctor (e. g. by a nurse)†¦ The use of an Epipen to treat anaphylactic shock falls into this category. Therefore, first aiders may administer an Epipen if they are dealing with a life threatening emergency in a casualty who has been prescribed and is in possession of an Epipen and where the first aider is trained to use it. (HSE) [www. muir-walker. coop/training/anaphylaxis-and-epipens] Accessed 29/11/12 Outdoor potential risks: †¢Making sure that perimeter fencing around the school is adequate e. g. no holes or broken and gates are secure †¢Slippery/wet leaves †¢Nothing in the way for children and toddlers to trip over on the way in †¢Making sure climbing frames such as Trim Trail have no potential hazards from insecure rope ladders etc. Sandpits and water areas must be covered when not i n use †¢Children using skipping ropes should be made aware of the risks to others when using skipping ropes An example of how difficult it can be to minimise risk is in the case of XXXX Primary School who have tried to minimise the risks of any accidents happening by asking parents (via newsletter) not to let their children play or run around the school or climb apparatus when waiting to pick up siblings, in case of accidents.This is difficult to achieve as everyone involved has to be on board and with toddlers and young children there is a lot of space to have fun in. In addition, there are no clear warnings in sight and only a few parents take heed of this allowing their children to have freedom in the playground; unfortunately the potential for an accident occurring out of class time is still there.

Mat 540

TQuantitative Methods – MAT 540 Student Course Guide Prerequisite: MAT 300 Quarter Meeting Days/Time Instructor Instructor Phone Instructor E-mail Instructor Office Hours/Location Academic Office Phone Number Strayer Technical Support INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL – Required ( including all mandatory software) 1-877-642-2999 Taylor, B. M. (2010). Introduction to management science (10th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. QM for Windows and Treeplan add-on for Excel. This software is available in the Open Lab at Strayer campuses, and can also be downloaded from the textbook's companion website. http://wps. prenhall. om/bp_taylor_introms_10/112/28870/7390751. cw/index. html Scientific Calculator INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL – Supporting The following resources provide additional background and supporting information for this course. There is no need to purchase these items for the course. Buglear, J. (2005) Quantitative methods for business: the A to Z. Oxfor d, U. K. : Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann. Anderson, D. R. , Sweeney, D. J. , Williams, T. A. , Camm, J. D. , Martin, R. K. (2010) Quantitative methods for business. (11th Ed. ) Mason, OH: South-western (Cengage). http://www. msubillings. edu/BusinessFaculty/Harris/LP_Problem_intro. tm Dilgard, L. A. (2009, Summer) Worst forecasting practices in corporate America and their solutions — case studies. Journal of Business Forecasting, 28 (2), 4 – 13. Retrieved from EBSCO-Host Business Premier database. Begley, S. (2004, April 23). Did You Hear the One About the Salesman Who Traveled Better? The Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition), p. B. 1. Retrieved from ProQuest National Newspapers Expanded database. COURSE DESCRIPTION Applies quantitative methods to systems management (Decision Theory), and/or methods of decision-making with respect to sampling, organizing, and analyzing empirical data. MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 1 of 19 COURSE OUTCOMES Upon the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: 1. Describe the role of quantitative methods in business decision making. 2. Analyze decision-making problems electronically. 3. Create statistical analysis of simulation results. 4. Apply the most appropriate forecasting method for the properties of the available data. . 5. Solve linear programming problems. 6. Create sensitivity analysis on linear programming model parameters. 7. Apply linear programming models to project management applications. 8. Solve integer-programming problems. 9. Develop solutions for transshipment problems. 10. Use technology and information resources to research issues in Management Science 11. Communicate issues in Management Science. COURSE EXPECTATIONS To obtain the most benefit from this class: ? Follow Strayer University’s policies and procedures as well as those specific to this class. o Class specific information can be found within the â€Å"Class Information† section within the Student Center. WEEKLY COURSE SCHEDULE The weekly schedule below describes the learning activities that will help you achieve the course outcomes listed above and the assignments that will be used to measure your mastery of the outcomes. Each week is divided into sections consisting of readings, lectures, activities and assignments. For selected assignments, you will find a rubric that will be used to evaluate your performance. Each week is divided into sections consisting of activities including readings, lectures and discussions, quizzes, and assignments. WEEK 1 Course outcome in focus: ? Describe the role of quantitative methods in business decision making. ? Use technology and information resources to research and communicate issues in Management Science. Supporting topics: ? Management science approach to problem solving MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 2 of 19 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Model building: break-even analysis Computer solution Management science modeling techniques Business usage of management science techniques Management science models in decision support systems Types of probability Fundamentals of probability Statistical independence and dependence Expected value The normal distribution Weekly Activities: Reading: ? Chapter 1, Management Science ? Chapter 11, Probability and Statistics ? Review Syllabus Parts I & II Assignments: ? Complete Week 1 Quiz Course Lectures: ? ? ? ? Lecture/discussion on faculty introduction, course overview ,and expectations Activity – Student introductions Lecture/discussion on: Overview of Management science; statistics and probability e-Activity – Probability in your profession ? Do you use probability in your profession? More than likely you do. For example, in the heath field you could say that 1 in 4 women give birth by c-section (Parenting, May 2005). This means that the probability of giving birth by c-section is 1/4 = 0. 25 = 25%. Similar probabilities could be found in other professions. Using your favorite search engine, find an example of probability being used in your chosen profession. Explain the example and be sure to cite the source of the information clearly. Assignment: Quiz 1 Please take the quiz in the course shell for Week 1 that covers the material in Chapters 1 and 11. This is an open book, timed quiz that can only be taken once with a time limit of MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 3 of 19 one hour. The quiz consists of a combination of true/false, multiple choice, and problem questions for a total of twenty questions, ten from each chapter. Each question is worth 2 points. WEEK 2 Course outcome in focus: ? Analyze decision-making problems electronically. Supporting topics: ? Components of decision making ? Decision making without probabilities ? Decision making with probabilities ? Decision analysis with additional information Weekly Activities: Reading: ? Chapter 12, Decision Analysis Assignments: ? Complete Week 2 Quiz Course Lectures: ? ? Lecture/discussion on components of decision making through decision trees. Activity – Decision Tree o Explain the parts of a decision tree. o What are some benefits of using decision trees? o In what ways can decision trees be used for business decisions? Name some real-world examples. Lecture/discussion on decision making without probabilities; decision making with probabilities. Activity – Probability and Decisions o How does the science of probability affect decisions? Why? ? ? Assignment: Quiz 2 Please take the quiz in the course shell for Week 2 that covers the material in Chapters 11 and 12. This is an open book, timed quiz that can only be taken once with a time limit of one hour. The quiz consists of a combination of true/false, multiple choice, and problem questions for a total of twenty questions. Each question is worth 2 points. MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 4 of 19 WEEK 3 Course outcome in focus: ? Create statistical analysis of simulation results. ? Use technology and information resources to research issues in Management Science. Supporting topics: ? The Monte Carlo process ? Computer simulation with excel spreadsheets ? Simulation of a queuing system ? Continuous probability distributions ? Statistical analysis of simulation results ? Verification of the simulation model ? Areas of simulation application Weekly Activities: Reading: ? Chapter 14, Simulation ? Assignments: ? Complete Week 3 Case Assignment Course Lectures: ? ? Lecture/discussion on The Monte Carlo process; computer simulation with excel spreadsheets Activity – Pseudorandom numbers o Why do we use pseudorandom numbers in simulations? o How do pseudorandom numbers affect the accuracy of a simulation? Lecture/discussion on statistical analysis of simulation results; verification of the simulation model Activity – Simulation o Question for discussion: What is the role of statistical analysis in simulation? ? Assignment: Assignment #1: JET Copies Case Problem Read the â€Å"JET Copies† Case Problem on pages 678-679 of the text. Using simulation estimate the loss of revenue due to copier breakdown for one year, as follows: 1. In Excel, use a suitable method for generating the number of days needed to repair the copier, when it is out of service, according to the discrete d istribution shown. 2. In Excel, use a suitable method for simulating the interval between successive MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 5 of 19 3. 4. 5. 6. breakdowns, according to the continuous distribution shown. In Excel, use a suitable method for simulating the lost revenue for each day the copier is out of service. Put all of this together to simulate the lost revenue due to copier breakdowns over 1 year to answer the question asked in the case study. In a word processing program, write a brief description/explanation of how you implemented each component of the model. Write 1-2 paragraphs for each component of the model (days-to-repair; interval between breakdowns; lost revenue; putting it together). Answer the question posed in the case study. How confident are you that this answer is a good one? What are the limits of the study? Write at least one paragraph. There are two deliverables for this Case Problem, the Excel spreadsheet and the written description/explanation. Please submit both of them electronically via the dropbox. The assignment will be graded using the associated rubric. Outcome Assessed: Create statistical analysis of simulation results. Communicate issues in management science Grading Rubric for JET Copies Case Problem There are 12 possible points in each of the five criteria for a total of 60 points possible. Unacceptable (0 points) Did not submit or did not model this component in an appropriate manner 1 Developing (6 points) This component was modeled, but the method and/or implementation had mistakes that affected the validity of the model This component was modeled, but the method and/or implementation had mistakes that affected the validity of the model This component was modeled, but the method and/ or implementation had mistakes that affected the validity of the model Provided partially developed written description that matches the method 70 – 79% accuracy. Competent (9 points) Used a method that is recognizably appropriate, but the implementation had minor mistakes 3 Exemplary (12 points) Used an appropriate method and correctly implemented it ? ? Criteria 1. Model number of days to repair 2. Model number of weeks between breakdowns Did not submit or did not model this component in an appropriate manner Used a method that is recognizably appropriate, but the implementation had minor mistakes Used an appropriate method and correctly implemented it 3. Model lost revenue due to breakdowns Did not submit or did not model this component in an appropriate manner Used a method that is recognizably appropriate, but the implementation had minor mistakes Used an appropriate method and correctly implemented it 4. Provide written description and explanation of the simulation Did not submit or described insufficiently. Omitted key points. Provided sufficiently developed written description that matches the method 80 – 89% accuracy. Provided sufficiently correct 5. Combine model components to Did not submit or result not provided, Provided partially correct result. Provided fully developed written description that is correct and matches the method used with 90 – 100% accuracy. Provided fully correct result. MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 6 of 19 Criteria produce a coherent answer to the question posed in the case study. (a) Answer the question posed in the case study. (b) How confident are you that this answer is a good one? (c) What are the limits of the study? 0 Unacceptable (0 points) and/or discussed insufficiently. 1 Developing (6 points) Omitted discussion of confidence. Discussed limitations partially with 70 – 79% accuracy, logic, and clarity. 2 Competent (9 points) result. Identified confidence and discussed limitations sufficiently with 80 – 89% accuracy, accuracy, logic, and clarity. Exemplary (12 points) Identified confidence and discussed limitations fully with 90 – 100% accuracy, logic, and clarity. WEEK 4 Course outcome in focus: ? Apply the most appropriate forecasting method for the properties of the available data ? Use technology and information resources to research and communicate issues in Management Science. Supporting top ics: ? Forecasting components ? Time series methods ? Forecast accuracy ? Time series forecasting ? Regression methods Weekly Activities: Reading: Chapter 15, Forecasting Assignments: ? Complete Internet Field Trip Course Lectures: ? Lecture/discussion on Forecasting components; time series methods There are many ways to forecast the future. In numerous firms (especially smaller ones), the entire process is subjective, involving intuition, and years of experience. There are also many quantitative forecasting models, such as moving averages, exponential smoothing, trend projections, and least squares regression analysis. Regardless of the method that is used to make the forecast, the same eight overall procedures that follow are used. Eight Steps to Forecasting MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 7 of 19 . Determine the use of the forecast what objective are we trying to obtain? 2. Select the items or quantities that are to be forecasted. 3. Determine the time horizon of the forecast is it 1 to 30 days (short term), 1 month to 1 year (medium term), or more than 1 year (long term)? 4. Select the forecasting model or models. 5. Gather the data needed to make the forecast. 6. Validate the forecasting model. 7. Make the forecast. 8. Implement the results. These steps present a systematic way of initiating, designing, and implementing a fore-casting system. When the forecasting system is to be used to generate forecasts regularly over time, data must be collected routinely, and the actual computations or procedures used to make the forecast can be done automatically. When a computer system is used, computer forecasting files and programs are needed. There is seldom a single superior forecasting method. One organization may find regression effective, another firm may use several approaches, and a third may combine both quantitative and subjective techniques. Whatever tool works best for a firm is the one that should be used. Activity – Rationale of Forecasting o o ? ? Choose one of the forecasting methods and explain the rationale behind using it in real-life. Describe how a domestic fast food chain with plans for expanding into China would be able to use a forecasting model. Lecture/discussion on Forecast accuracy; time series forecasting; regression methods Activity – Forecasting Methods Question for discussion: o What is the difference between a causal model and a time- series model? Give an example of when each would be used. o What are some of the problems and drawbacks of the moving average forecasting model? How do you determine how many observations to average in a moving average model? How do you determine the weightings to use in a weighted moving average model? Assignment: Assignment #2: Internet Field Trip 1. Research: Research at least six (6) information sources on forecasting methods; take MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 8 of 19 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. notes and record and interpret significant facts, meaningful graphics, accurate sounds and evaluated alternative points of view. Preparation: Produce as storyboard with thumbnails of at least ten (10) slides. Include the following elements: o Title of slide, text, background color, placement & size of graphic, fonts – color, size, type for text and headings o Hyperlinks (list URLs of any site linked from the slide), narration text, and audio files (if any) o Number on slides clear o Logical sequence to the presentation Content: Provide written content with the following elements: o introduction that presents the overall topic (clear sense of the project’s main idea) and draws the audience into the presentation with compelling questions or by relating to the audience's interests or goals. accurate, current o clear, concise, and shows logical progression of ideas and supporting information o motivating questions and advanced organizers o rawn mainly from primary sources Text Elements: Slides should have the following characteristics: o fonts are easy-to-read; point size that varies appropriately for headings and text o italics, bold, and indentations enhance readability o back ground and colors enhance the readability of text o appropriate in length for the target audience; to the point Layout: The layout should have the following characteristics: o visually pleasing o contributes to the overall message o appropriate use of headings, subheadings and white space Media: The graphics, sound, and/or animation should o assist in presenting an overall theme and enhance understanding of concept, ideas and relationships o have original images that are created using proper size and resolution; enhance the content o have a consistent visual theme. Citations: The sources of information should: o properly cited so that the audience can determine the credibility and authority of the information presented o be properly formatted according to APA style The assignment will be graded using the associated rubric. Grading Rubric for Assignment # 2 Internet Field Trip There are 8 possible points for each of the 5 criteria, so that the total number of points is 40 points. Cri teria 1. ) Research: Showed research of at least six (6) information sources; 0 Unacceptable (0 points) Did not submit or note cards showed insufficiently completed research 1 Developing (4 points) Note cards showed partially completed research from at least three (3) information 2 Competent (6 points) Note cards showed sufficiently completed research from at least four (4) or five (5) 3 Exemplary (8 points) Note cards showed fully completed research from at least six (6) information MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 9 of 19 Criteria take notes and record and interpret significant facts, meaningful graphics, accurate sounds and evaluated alternative points of view. ) Preparation: Produced storyboard with thumbnails of 10 slides with these elements: (1) Title of slide, text, background color, placement & size of graphic, fonts – color (2) size, type for text and headings (3) Hyperlinks (list URLs of any site linked from the slide), narration text, and audio f iles (if any) (4) Number on slides clear (5) Logical sequence to the presentation 2. Content: Provided content with (1) attention-getting introduction, (2) content that is accurate and current (3) clear, concise, and shows logical progression of ideas, (4) supporting information motivating questions and advanced organizers, (5) taken from primary sources 3. Text Elements: (1) fonts are easy-toread; (2) point size that varies appropriately for headings, and text (3) italics, bold, and indentations enhance readability, (4) background and colors enhance the readability of text, (5) appropriate in length for the target audience; (6) to the point (7) Applied correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and (8) APA style. 4. Layout: The layout 0 Unacceptable (0 points) from two (2) or fewer information sources. Insufficiently recorded and interpreted facts, graphics, sounds, or did not evaluate alternate points of view. Did not submit or produced insufficiently developed storyboard with thumbnails of one (1) to five (5) slides with one (1) to Two (2) required elements. Fulfilled with less than 70% accuracy, quality, and thoroughness. Developing (4 points) sources; recorded and interpreted some acceptable facts, some appropriate graphics, sounds and sufficiently evaluated alternative points of view. Produced partially developed storyboard with thum bnails of at least six (6) or seven (7) slides with three (3) of the (5) required elements. Fulfilled with 70 – 79% accuracy, quality, and thoroughness. 2 Competent (6 points) information sources; recorded and interpreted acceptable facts, appropriate graphics, accurate sounds, and sufficiently evaluated alternative points of view. Produced sufficiently developed storyboard with thumbnails of at least eight (8) slides with four (4) of the (5) required elements. Fulfilled with 80 – 89% accuracy, quality, and thoroughness. Exemplary (8 points) sources; recorded and interpreted significant facts, meaningful graphics, accurate sounds, and fully evaluated alternative points of view. Prepared fully developed storyboard with thumbnails of at least 10 slides with all five (5) required elements. Fulfilled with 90 – 100% accuracy, quality, and thoroughness. Did not submit or provided insufficiently developed introduction and content with two (2) or fewer of required eleme nts included. Addressed with less than 70% accuracy, motivation, logic, support, and research. Provided partially developed introduction and content with three (5) of five (5) required elements included. Addressed with 7079% accuracy, motivation, logic, support, and research. Provided sufficiently developed introduction and content with four (4) of five (5) required elements included. Addressed with 8089% accuracy, motivation, logic, support, and research. Provided excellent and fully developed introduction and content with all five (5) required elements included. Addressed with 90-100% accuracy, motivation, logic, support, and research. Did not submit or did not demonstrate acceptable use of the text elements. Issues with text elements prevented effective communication of message. Had 8 + errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and APA style. Demonstrated acceptable use of 4 – 5 text elements. Text elements provided some helpful support to the communication of the message. Had 6 – 7 errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and APA style. Fulfilled with 70 – 79% quality and accuracy. Demonstrated sufficient use of 6 – 7 of the text elements. Text elements provided sufficient support to the communication of the message. Had no 3 – 5 errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and APA style. Fulfilled with 80 – 89% quality and accuracy. Demonstrated excellent use of all 8 text elements. Text elements provided outstanding support to the communication of the message. Had 0 2 errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and APA style. Fulfilled with 90 – 100% quality and accuracy. Did not submit or the The layout of the The layout of the The layout of the MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 10 of 19 Criteria of the message demonstrated these characteristics: (1) visually pleasing;(2) contributed to the overall message; had (3) appropriate headings, (4) subheadings, (5) and white space 0 Unacceptable (0 points) layout of the message was not acceptable and did not support communication of the message sufficiently. Layout did not include enough of the five (5) of the layout characteristics. 1 Developing (4 points) message was acceptable and supported communication of it to some extent. Layout included three (3) of the five (5) of the layout characteristics. Fulfilled with 70 – 79% quality and accuracy. Provided media that were acceptable and met only one (1) of the three (3) characteristics. Fulfilled with 70 – 79% quality and accuracy. 2 Competent (6 points) message was good and supported communication of it sufficiently. Layout included four (4) of the five (5) of the layout characteristics. Fulfilled with 80 – 89% quality and accuracy. 3 Exemplary (8 points) message was excellent and supported communication of it very well. Layout included all five (5) of the layout characteristics. Fulfilled with 90 – 100% quality and accuracy. Provided media that were excellent and met all three (3) of the characteristics. Fulfilled with 90 – 100% quality and accuracy. 5. Media: The media should include these characteristics: (1) graphics, sound, and/or animation that assist in presenting an overall theme and enhance understanding of concept, ideas and relationships; (2) have original images; graphics are created using proper size and resolution; enhance the content; (3) have a consistent visual theme. Did not submit or the media used were unacceptable and did not meet the requirements. Provided media that were sufficient and met two (2) of the three (3) characteristics. Fulfilled with 80 – 89% quality and accuracy. WEEK 5 Weekly Activities: Reading: ? Midterm exam will cover contents from chapters 1, 11, 12, 14 and 15 Assignments: ? Complete Midterm Examination Assignment: Midterm Exam Students are to take the Midterm that covers the material in Chapters 1, 11, 12, 14 and 15. The Midterm is located in the course shell under the Week 5 tab. This is an open book, timed exam that can only be taken once with a time limit of four hours. The exam consists of a combination of true/false, multiple choice, and problem questions for a total of 40 questions. Each question is worth 5 points. MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 11 of 19 WEEK 6 Course outcome in focus: ? Solve linear programming problems. Supporting topics: ? Model formulation ? Maximization model ? Graphical solutions of linear programming models ? A minimization model ? Irregular types of linear programming models ? Characteristics of linear programming problems Weekly Activities: Reading: Chapter 2, Linear Programming: Model Formulation and Graphical Solution Assignments: ? Complete Week 6 Quiz Course Lectures: ? ? Lecture/discussion on Model formulation; maximization model Activity –Linear programming Model o What are some business uses of a linear programming model? Provide an example. Lecture/discussion on irregular types of linear programming models; characteristics of linear programming problems Activity – Characteristics of linear programming o In the graphical method, how do you know when a problem is infeasible, unbounded, or when it has multiple optimal solutions? o What are the essential ingredients of an LP model? Why is it helpful to understand the characteristics of LP models? Lecture/discussion on Minimization model Activity – Minimization model o Distinguish between a minimization and maximization LP model. How do you know which of these to use for any given problem? ? ? ? ? Assignment: Quiz 3 Please take the quiz in the course shell for Week 6 that covers the material in Chapter 2. This is an open book, timed quiz that can only be taken once with a time limit of one hour. The quiz consists of a combination of true/false, multiple choice, and problem MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 12 of 19 questions for a total of twenty questions. Each question is worth 2 points. WEEK 7 Course outcome in focus: ? Create sensitivity analysis on linear programming model parameters. ? Use technology and information resources to research issues in Management Science. Supporting topics: ? Computer solution of linear programming problems ? Sensitivity analysis Weekly Activities: Reading: ? Chapter 3, Linear Programming: Computer Solution and Sensitivity Analysis Assignments: ? Complete Week 7 Case assignment Course Lectures: ? Lecture/discussion on Computer solution of linear programming problems Sensitivity analysis investigates how our decision might change given a change in the problem data. Sensitivity analysis is a vital part of all spreadsheet modeling. In optimization modeling, some of the most valuable insights come not from the optimal solution itself, but from a sensitivity analysis around the optimal solution. As we will see, the special structure of linear programs gives rise to certain characteristic results. Compared to the Solver Sensitivity output, the Sensitivity Report is more precise but less flexible. The Sensitivity Report is more precise than Solver Sensitivity with respect to the question of where the decision variables change or where a shadow price changes. ? Activity – Discussion on shadow price o What does the shadow price reflect in a maximization problem? Please explain o How do the graphical and computer-based methods of solving LP problems differ? In what ways are they the same? Under what circumstances would you prefer to use the graphical approach? Lecture/discussion on Sensitivity analysis Activity – Discussion on sensitivity analysis o How does sensitivity analysis affect the decision making process? How could it be used by managers? ? ? Assignment: MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 13 of 19 Assignment #3: Case Problem â€Å"Julia’s Food Booth† Complete the â€Å"Julia’s Food Booth† case problem on page 109 of the text. Address each of the issues A- D according the instructions given. o (A) Formulate and solve an L. P. model for this case. (B) Evaluate the prospect of borrowing money before the first game. o (C) Evaluate the prospect of paying a friend $100/game to assist. o (D) Analyze the impact of uncertainties on the model. The assignment will be graded using the associate d rubric. Outcome Assessed: ? Create sensitivity analysis on linear programming model parameters ? Communicate issues in Management Science Grading Rubric for Assignment – Assignment #4 Case Problem There are 12 points in each of the five criteria for a total of 60 points possible Criteria 0 Unacceptable (0 points) Did not submit or LP model is not sufficiently attempted and does not demonstrate a. recognizable attempt to model this case. Did not submit or did not solve the linear programming model accurately. Did not submit or did not evaluate accurately. 1 Developing (6 points) LP model is partially correct, but has errors in the objective function or constraints. Described with 70 – 79% accuracy, clarity, and completeness. Solved the linear programming model with 70 – 79% accuracy. Evaluated and explained with 70 – 79% accuracy. 2 Competent (9 points) LP model has objective function and most constraints correctly specified. Described with 80 – 89% accuracy, clarity, and completeness. Solved the linear programming model with 80 – 89% accuracy. Evaluated and explained with 80 – 89% accuracy. Exemplary (12 points) LP model has objective function and all constraints fully and correctly specified. Described with 90 – 100% accuracy, clarity, and completeness. Solved the linear programming model with 90 – 100% accuracy. Evaluated and explained with 90 – 100% a ccuracy. 1. Formulate an LP model for this case. (Part A). 2. Solve the linear programming model formulated in Criterion 1 (Part A) 3. Evaluate the prospect of borrowing money before the first game. (Part B). 4. Evaluate the prospect of paying a friend $100/game to assist. (Part C) 5. Analyze the impact of uncertainties in the model. (Part D) Did not submit or did not evaluate accurately. Did not submit or did not analyze accurately. Evaluated and explained with 70 – 79% accuracy. Analyzed the impact with 70 – 79% accuracy, logic, and completeness. Evaluated and explained with 80 – 89% accuracy. Analyzed the impact with 80 – 89% accuracy, logic, and completeness. Evaluated and explained with 90 – 100% accuracy. Analyzed the impact with 90 – 100% accuracy, logic, and completeness. WEEK 8 Course outcome in focus: ? Apply linear programming models to project management applications. Supporting topics: ? Product mix ? Diet ? Investment MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 14 of 19 ? Marketing ? Transportation ? Blend ? Multiperiod scheduling ? Data envelopment analysis Weekly Activities: Reading: ? Chapter 4, Linear Programming: Modeling Examples Assignments: ? Complete Week 8 Quiz Course Lectures: ? Lecture/discussion on how linear programming is used to solve various types of models. The types of examples are product mix examples, diet examples, investment examples, marketing examples, transportation examples, blend examples, multiperiod scheduling examples, and data envelopment analysis examples. Activity –Discussion on objective function o What is the relationship between decision variables and the objective function? o What is the difference between an objective function and a constraint? Lecture/discussion on how we follow the same procedure: identify the decision variables, determine the objective function, and develop the model constraints. Activity – Discussion on applications of linear programming o Does the linear programming approach apply the same way in different applications? Explain why or why not using examples. ? ? ? Assignment: Quiz 4 Students are to take the quiz in the course shell for Week 8 that covers the material in Chapter 4. This is an open book, timed quiz that can only be taken once with a time limit of one hour. The quiz consists of a combination of true/false, multiple choice, and problem questions for a total of twenty questions. Each question is worth 2 points. WEEK 9 Course outcome in focus: ? Solve integer programming problems. Supporting topics: ? Integer programming (ip) models ? Integer programming graphical solution MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 15 of 19 ? Computer solution of integer programming problems Weekly Activities: Reading: ? Chapter 5, Integer Programming. Assignments: ? Complete Week 9 Quiz Course Lectures: ? Lecture/discussion on the three basic types of integer linear programming models. In a total integer model, all of the decision variables are required to have integer solution values. In a zero-one integer model, all the decision variables must have values of zero or one. In a mixed integer model, some, but not all, of the decision variables are required to have integer solutions. Activity – Discussion on the difference between integer and linear programming o Explain how the applications of Integer programming differ from those of linear programming. o Why is â€Å"rounding-down† an LP solution a suboptimal way to solve Integer programming problems? ? Lecture/discussion on how to solve these different models, certain constraints must be specified as part of the model. For a total integer model, all decision variables must be designated as integer. For a zero-one integer model, the decision variables must be designated as integers, with the only possible values being zero and one. Finally, for a mixed integer model, only those decision variables that must be integers are designated as integer values. The other decision variables can be designated as real, or non-integer, values. ? Activity – discussion on characteristics of integer programming problems o Explain the characteristics of integer programming problems. o Give specific instances in which you would use an integer programming model rather than an LP model. Provide real-world examples. Assignment: Quiz 5 Students are to take the quiz in the course shell for Week 9 that covers the material in Chapter 9. This is an open book, timed quiz that can only be taken once with a time limit of one hour. The quiz consists of a combination of true/false, multiple choice, and problem questions for a total of twenty questions. Each question is worth 2 points. Online students are to complete the quiz by Sunday Midnight of Week 9. On-campus students are to complete this quiz before the Week 10 class meeting. WEEK 10 MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 16 of 19 ? Course outcome in focus: ? Develop solutions for transshipment problems. ? Use technology and information resources to research issues in Management Science. Supporting topics: ? The transportation model ? Computer solution of a transportation problem ? The transshipment model ? Computer solution of a transshipment problem ? The assignment model Weekly Activities: Reading: ? Chapter 6, Transportation, Transshipment, and Assignment Problems Assignments: ? Complete Week 10 Case Assignment Course Lectures: ? Lecture/discussion on transshipment models being an extension of the transportation model where intermediate points, known as transshipment points, are added between sources and destinations. Activity – Discussion on transshipment problems o Can we apply transshipment models to inventory applications? Why or why not? o Is the transportation model an example of decision making under certainty or decision making under uncertainty? Why? Lecture/discussion on assignment problem being a special form of a linear programming model in which all supply and demand values equal one. Activity – Discussion on transportation problems o o Assignment: Assignment #4: Case Problem â€Å"Stateline Shipping and Transport Company† Read the â€Å"Stateline Shipping and Transport Company† Case Problem on pages 273-274 of the text. Analyze this case, as follows: 1. In Excel, or other suitable program, develop a model for shipping the waste directly from the 6 plants to the 3 waste disposal sites. MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 17 of 19 Explain the assignment model and how it facilitates in solving transportation problems. What benefits would be gained from using this model? ? ? ? 2. Solve the model you developed in #1 (above) and clearly describe the results. 3. In Excel, or other suitable program, Develop a transshipment model in which each of the plants and disposal sites can be used as intermediate points. 4. Solve the model you developed in #3 (above) and clearly describe the results. 5. Interpret the results and draw conclusions that address the question posed in the case problem. What are the limits of the study? Write at least one paragraph. There are two deliverables for this Case Problem, the Excel spreadsheets and an accompanying written description/explanation. Please submit both of them electronically via the dropbox. The assignment will be graded using the associated rubric. Outcome Assessed: ? Develop solutions for transshipment problems. Communicate issues in Management Science Grading Rubric for Stateline Shipping & Transport Case Problem There are 12 points in each of the five criteria for a total of 60 points possible 0 Unacceptable (0 points) Did not submit or the objective function and/or constraints are specified with le ss than 70% accuracy. Criteria 1 Developing (6 points) The objective function and constraints are specified and described with 70 – 79% accuracy. The model is solved, but its validity is questionable or it is incorrectly described. The objective function and constraints are specified and described with 70 – 79% accuracy. The model is solved, but its validity is questionable or it is incorrectly described. There are errors in interpreting the results; or inappropriate conclusions are drawn; or this is not clearly communicated. 2 Competent (9 points) The objective function and most or all constraints are specified correctly and adequately described. The model is solved and the results are mostly valid and mostly correctly described. The objective function and most or all constraints are specified correctly and adequately described. The model is solved and the results are mostly valid and mostly correctly described. Results are interpreted in a mostly correct manner; conclusions drawn are mostly appropriate; and communicated in a mostly clear manner. 3 Exemplary (12 points) The objective function and all constraints are specified correctly in the model and clearly described The model is solved and the results are valid and correctly described. The objective function and all constraints are specified correctly in the model and clearly described The model is solved and the results are valid and correctly described. Results are correctly interpreted; appropriate conclusions are drawn and communicated clearly. 1. Develop a transportation model for shipping from the 6 plants directly to the 3 disposal sites. Describe and implement the model. 2. Solve the model given in 1 and describe the results. Did not solve the model or adequately describe the results. 3. Develop a transshipment model in which each of the plants and disposal sites can be used as intermediate points. 4. Solve the model given in 3 and describe the results. Did not submit or the objective function and/or constraints are specified with less than 70% accuracy. Did not solve the model or adequately describe the results. 5. Interpret the models and draw conclusions Did not complete the assignment or interpretation and/or conclusions drawn are invalid and/or not intelligibly communicated. WEEK 11 Weekly Activities: Reading: ? Final exam will cover contents from chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14 and 15 MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 18 of 19 Assignments: ? Complete Final Examination Assignment: Final Exam Students are to take the Final Exam that covers the material in Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14 and 15. The Final exam is located in the course shell under the Week 11 tab. This is an open book, timed exam that can only be taken once with a time limit of four hours. The exam consists of a combination of true/false, multiple choice, and problem questions for a total of 40 questions. Each question is worth 5 points. ASSIGNMENT OUTLINE AND GRADING Assignment Type Discussions = 9 x 20 points = 180 points 18% Case Assignments = 3 x 60 = 180 points 18% Quizzes = 5 x 40 = 200 points 20% Midterm Exam = 1 x 200 = 200 points 20% Internet Field Trip = 1 x 40 = 40 points 4% Final Exam = 1 x 200 = 200 points 20% Value Grading Scale 90-100 80-89 70-79 Below 70 A B C F MAT540 Student Version 1122 (11-29-2011) Final Page 19 of 19