Environment Analysis of Toy Industry

Doing business in the worlds toy industry today, is anything but plain sailing, with the toy industry as a whole generating $21.47 Billion in 2009 and $21.65 Billion in 2008 (Riley, 2010) This producing a fiercely competitive market, but a market that is very open to new entrants,right throughout the industry. The market is also growing year on year with birth rates rising throughout the world, with the U.K. Birth rate growing this year (2014) by 13%.Risk of entryThe barrier of entry to the Toy industry is very low, this given new and up and coming entrepreneurs and companies a chance of success in this very fast paced and fiercely competitive market, to create products to capture the attentions of children and adults alike. The market environment has also pushes many well known brands to invest a major part of their budgets on research and development, allowing them to introduce new products continuously. Many well known brands such as as Hasbro, Mattel, BanDia and many other compan ies also invest huge amounts of money to compete for licensing of products connected to characters from TV shows, Films and video games,to expand their market share.Power of the BuyersThe toy industry is very concentrated, this leaving manufacturers I a very weak bargaining position with its customer, for example fives stores including Wall-mart and Toys â€Å"R† Us make up 54% or Hasbro's net Revenue in 2009. (Hasbro inc., 2009) Target, Wall-mart and Toys†R† Us also had 43 % of Net Sales of Mattel, (Datamonitor, 2007)these both figures being massive  amounts of products and given these companies power on pricing. The rise in online activity had also gave the manufacturer a door to sell direct to customer, but most of the large manufacturers still use the traditional route through supply chain.Power of the SuppliersThe materials used within the production of 1UpToys products, for example plastics, paper, cardboard, computer chips and cables, are available from a wide range of suppliers , but are susceptible to market related pricing, (e.g., copper for wiring, plastics etc.) some of which are controlled by legislation due to the chemical compounds (like Phthalates and BPA) Which could incur higher taxation brackets and could be subject to government legislation.Threat of substitute productThe threat of substitutes are growing with the continuous growth in demand, with children at a very young age having access to high technological gadgets and platformsThis has driven toy companies to incorporate more technology within their products, as toy companies are now in direct competition not only with other toy products but also with traditionally non toy products such as, Tablets, computers, smart phones and even Mp3,s offering gaming within their technological platforms. The risk from these platforms is very high and is on the increase, as with prices continue to drop on cell phones and technological other gadgets, children are adopting to them earlier in their lives, with these devices offering gaming and entertainment at a very low cost and on occasions no cost at all to download.The phenomenon of these technological devices has added extra pressure to the toy industry as a whole , to create toys with enough bells and whistles to compete with these digital device alternatives, with the cost of traditional toys significantly much higher to invent and manufacturer in comparison to  the digital format. As a result to this the profit margins of the more traditional product is significantly lower, adding to the need to sell more units per product to make profit in today’s toy market.Another major factor for the toy industry is that children at different ages have shifted preferences. Young children are expecting more stimulation from their playthings than before to capture and hold their attention. Hasbro calls this phenomenon of kids â€Å"Getting older, younger.† This threatens everyone in the toy industry b ecause the window toys and games have to make their way into children’s lives keeps shrinking. The toy industry also relies heavy on the intellectual properties of any given toy business, which they may not be able to protect from countries with loose copyright laws and regulations.This may not be a problem throughout the E.U and the United States, but is very rampant within emerging economies, for example China where products such as, DVD’s, Action Figures and nearly every other product thinking able can be copied and reproduced at a fraction of the retail price though piracy, which is a huge problem for the toy industry and a great threat to any companies looking to soften their domestic revenue losses by expanding to China or any other emerging economy.Competitive Rivalry in the IndustryThe Completive rivalry in the toy industry is fierce and diluted with numerous alternatives popping up everyday, with new platforms arising contentiously within this business sector, with companies and new toy products fighting for the limited shelf space, within all the same stores throughout the retailing world, with companies using all the resources possible to gain the competitive advantage over their competitors.This competitiveness has seen all toy companies jockeying for position and has over all lowered companies profit margins, as they compete with pricing with each other, using lower pricing strategies and offering exclusives and unique features to their customer base, at a cost to them.There is also fierce competition within the supply chain, with most toy companies have the majority of its manufacturing done in China, it can only stock as much shelf space as there is available space on large cargo container ships., with many companies fighting for the space, especially just before the holiday season, the price per TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) may go up in these peak seasons and shipping costs are also very vulnerable to changes in fuel pricing, which is forever on the rise.SLEPT Analysis (see appendix 2),we can look at the (Macro) external environment for the toy industry.Social EnvironmentThe social environment of today’s toy customer base is increasingly becoming more technically driven, with children and â€Å"tweens† spending more and more of their time on the internet and social media platforms, as accessibility to these high speed internet and mobile devices enter more homes everyday. A study released in January 2010 by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation found that young people, aged 8-18, spent seven and a half hours seven days a week consuming media (Music, videos, blogs, social media, etc.) While consuming, they are also multitasking. So they can fit almost eleven hours of media into that seven and a half hours (Rideout, Foehr, & Roberts, 2010) and this is growing year on year, with easier accessibility and reduced cost to online access.This has rising to in 2013 and said to be having serious con sequences , with kids ages 8 to 18 spending on average 44.5 hours per week in front of screens, with parents being increasingly concerned that screen time is robbing them of real world experiences. Nearly 23% of youth report that they feel â€Å"addicted to video games† (31% of males, 13% of females.) These are the results of a new study of 1,178 U.S. children and teens (ages 8 to 18) conducted by Harris Interactive (2007) that documents a national prevalence rate of pathological video game use.Dr. Douglas Gentile, Director of the Media Research Lab at Iowa State University reports, â€Å"Almost one out of every ten youth gamers shows enough  symptoms of damage to their school, family, and psychological functioning to merit serious concern.†The industry could be more drawn to the needs of the consumer and promote games and toys that cross over online and offline platforms,and also incorporate a educational value or the use of learning a musical instrument or techniqu es involved in doing so.Legal EnvironmentThere are increasingly tight rules and regulations about the materials that need to go into toy construction in order to make them safer and more resistant to fire hazards. This has had the impact of raising costs on production within the industry, but these regulations can vary in different countries, but are generally set the same throughout the EU, with safety at the forefront of production.The Toy industry has to be very careful to follow these regulations, especially when out sourcing to places such as China who have generally a loose safety standards and could have serious consequences to any company importing products from theses areas. Loose safety standards in Chinese factories caused the massive toy recall of 2007 which over 10 million toys that contained unsafe levels of lead and small magnets which, if swallowed, could cause serious injury or death. This recall cost not only millions of dollars but severely damaged the costumer co nfidence. A problem like this looms over every toy company that uses manufacturing plants in China.The Legal environment of the toy industry is also continuously protecting and fighting for its copyright on its products. This can be very complicated and confusing for example both Mattel and Hasbro have the rights to the board game Scrabble (Hasbro has rights in North America, Mattel has them everywhere else.) Two India based brothers and programmers created free to play version of Scrabble on Facebook called Scrabulous. At the height of its popularity, Scrabulous attracted a half million players a day. Mattel and Hasbro both sued the Argawalla brothers and forced them to remove the game  from Facebook.Hasbro then made a slow and clunky official version bemoaned by fans of Scrabulous.The official version now draws 90,000 players daily. Instead of working with the creators of the knock-off and bringing the game into the fold of officially licensed content, Mattel and Hasbro caused r esentment and hard feelings in customers on the world’s most popular social network. These actions of putting a substitute cheap version of the game, could have a negative impact on your customer base, especially in the public eye, on a network like facebook that has billions of users and potential customers.Economic EnvironmentThe manufacturing of products for the toy industy for any years has mainly relied on Chinese manufactering, due to the combination of cheap labor and undervalued currency has been a very attractive recipe for keeping production costs as low as possible. This arrangement might be very profitable to the toy industry, but does make them very susceptible to problems within in China itself.In recent times with the up and coming working classes of Chinese people are demanding more pay and benefits, some that we in the UK take for granted on a daily basis (health and safety, Severance pay, etc.) in the working environment. These demands can have explosive aff ects, with the toy company Hasbro feeling the full effects. In November, 2008,a worker riot broke out at a Hasbro factory in Dongguan, China (Foreman, 2008). 80 senior migrant workers, who felt they were being jilted by management on their severance pay, quickly organized a mob of 500 people that overturned a police car, stormed the factory offices, and damaged computers.Political EnvironmentThe politiacl envirment is more driven towrds trade restriction within China and Chinese currency develpoments, as most of toy trade is manufactoered within its counry. This has been mentioned by the US in recent times, with the Chinise undervalued currency being a target by plolicy makers within the  US. Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi brought up the possibility of a new China currency bill that would give the â€Å"†¦ the [Obama] administration leverage in its bilateral andmultilateral negotiations with the Chinese government so that U.S. businesses and workers have a more level playing field in world trade.† No one really knows how much this would affect export prices from China, but it is an issue that should remain onthe radar.Technological EnviromentThe Technological Environment of the toy industry is very highly paced ,with toy fads coming and going within the toy market continiusly. Toy companies need to innovate and keep moving forward with demand and try to create the next big toy breakthrough.The toy customer in today’s market are mostly looking for intractability within the game, with many offering these platforms, such as Wii, Xbox, Playstation for example, using various platforms do so, even smaller toys such as Furbbie and tamagotchiis being very popular in their time, selling millions of units in their day or Fad as its known.This fast moving technological environment relies on getting product to the market first and is very prone to company espionages fast moving technological environment relies on gett ing product to the market first and is very prone to company espionage, which is wide spread throughout the toy industry.

Sop for Ms Finance

My interest in the field of finance traces back to my childhood. As I was growing up, the â€Å"Doi moi† (â€Å"Reformation†) Era brought about more freedom and openness to the stagnant system in Vietnam. People could start to have their own businesses and deal with foreign entrepreneurs. Naturally, I could, at the time, understand neither technical concepts, such as principal, interest and deposit, nor how a bank worked or even what it was; however, in my nascent perceptions, I could discern the importance of financial institutions as keepers of people’s wealth, and even of their hopes for the future.Accordingly, I grew more and more determined to place my future in the field of finance. Throughout middle and high school, I dedicated most of my time to natural sciences, such as Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics. I could describe myself as an accurate and analytical-oriented person, for not only did I received rigorous training, but I also enjoyed being pertinen t and precise. In 2005, I entered the Vietnam National University in Hanoi, majoring in Finance and Banking, but later transferred to International Economics to enroll in an highly selective Honors Program.Before the time of the transferring decision, I hesitated for a brief period because I would have to postpone my pursuit of Finance. Nonetheless, I understood the importance of Economics and fully anticipated that an extensive knowledge of the field would eventually serve me well in a financial career. My concentration during the program, conveniently, focused heavily on Stock Market, International Finance, Economics of Finance and Banking and International Payment.The insightful study on matters such as commercial banks' functionalities, the central bank's instrument and responsibilities, and the significance of the balance of trades and exchange rates, has enabled me to grasp the fundamental ideas of the field, as well as triggered my utmost curiosity in understanding thoroughly the financial side of Economics. In my third year, when I was studying Stock Market, I entered a research project with Dr.Ha Tran, who was a fellow at the University of XXX. We then worked together on the topic: â€Å"Current Situation in the Loan Market for Investment on Real Estate†. Simultaneously, I was also eager to engage in another group research on the petroleum market, which later won me the second prize for student’s research from the Faculty of International Economics. At the end of this school year, I intend to write my graduation thesis in the field of International Finance, particularlyAdditionally, I possess first-hand experiences on the financial market as I started making a small investment in the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange during my third year. At the beginning, I consulted my teachers and my parents’ friends, who are experienced businessmen, to comprise a profiting portfolio, which, in turn, required me to watch for enterprises’ data m eticulously: their ROEs, P/Es, net profit and current news of their operations. My stocks paid off wonderfully for a short period, as the total value of my portfolio increased by 30% during the first few months.Like most dabbling investors, I was under the illusion that making money was not a difficult task. Unfortunately, the stock crash happening at the end of 2009 brought me back to the ground. The VN Index, the main indicator of the market, fell from 1200 to 400 in less than six months, reducing my fortune by one-third. However, while most other previously ardent investors withdrew from the market as quickly as they entered, I proposed a new strategy that kept me in the market for long-term investment.In the near future, I believe I will be able to balance my financial activities once again. In 2010 , I had a chance to go to Thailand on a trip to Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. It was my first long trip to a capital city of the neighboring country, which impressed me a lot with their metropolitan infrastructure and dynamic business environment. I was convinced that Vietnam needed decades to reach the current development level of Thailand.Back home, when I was reading â€Å"The Lexus and the Olive Tree† by Thomas Friedmann, the opening pages struck me with minute details of the Asian Crisis in1997, which ignited in Thailand. In merely few weeks, fifty six of fifty eight banks in Bangkok went bankrupt. Accordingly, I have realized that the nascent financial market of Vietnam still has a long way to go, and I myself also have much more to learn. My nation needs a lot more experts in the field to help regulate the emerging market and support people in making ise investments, so that their assets are kept in a safe place and growing. In conclusion, I want to restate my desire for a study in finance in University of XYZ. I firmly believe in my ability in the field due to my long-term commitment and determination. My study would help me best in my fut ure career as a financial expert which I have always dedicated myself to. The knowledge which I shall obtain is also what I aim to bring back to my country, contributing to the development of an advanced, well-structured financial market of Vietnam.

Evaluation of America’s Cultural Influence on the World

Evaluation of America’s Cultural Influence on the World. Jacqueline Gargiulo LIM College Abstract Culturally and politically, America has a strong impact on the world. The works of Matthew Parris and Raja Shehadeh portray offensive behavior by the United States which has impacted younger generations of Palestine and European Countries. Where Shehadeh’s work, What We Think of America (2), indicates both an admiration and anger towards the United states, Parris’s work, It’s Time We All Signed Up for the Rest of the World Team, outlines a definitive negative towards the America and what it stands for.Both articles suggest that the United States had forced its ideals on to the rest of the world. International perception about the United States seems to be generated both by America’s power and influence as well as from within the nations themselves. Parris refers to the United States as a hegemonic power that needs reigning in where Shehadeh takes a more intimate approach and discusses a personal exchange concerning a family member’s loss of original ethnicity. There are many international voices represented in these works; both positive and negative aspects are explored.Evaluation The world has a mixed view of America. The United States is often seen as a hegemonic empire that looks to control the rest of the world. American fashion, politics, media, and ideals are captivating to younger generations of foreign countries. The works of Matthew Parris, a South African born British political journalist, and Raja Shehadeh, a Palestinian attorney and author on international and human rights and the Middle East, illustrate differing yet complementary views of America’s influence on the rest of the world.While some believe that America has a positive impact on society, others feel that America strips them of their ethnicity and value system. One negative cultural influence that America has had on Palestinians is referenced i n the paragraph by Shehadeh which reminisces about country men who leave for America and return striped of their cultural dress and their ethnic accent. Shehadeh (2002) writes, â€Å" The few who come back for brief summer visits parade up and down Main Street in their Bermudas and baseball hats, stopping at the ice cream parlour to reminisce with its proprietor in an old accent that you hardly ever hear in Ramallah today† (pg. 1). Shehadeh portrays admiration for the United States in respect to their advances in transportation and efficient roadways in Ramallah, Palestine, while at the same time discusses the destruction to the states natural beauty and heritage. This is evidenced when Raja (2002) states â€Å"Next came the need for new roads to connect them to Israel; not the old British-style meandering roads but American-style straight four-lane highways that cut through the hills that stood in the way† (pg. 92).Shehadeh (2002) continues to explain that â€Å" in the context of the Middle East conflict, roads may seem a small thing, but they have done a kind of spiritual damage. Gone is that attractive stretch of serpentine road that meandered downhill†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (pg. 92). Here, as America pushed its cultural influence upon the Middle East, geographic beauty has been lost and in its place convenience of travel has been placed. Hence, Raja Shehadeh’s overall view of America is mixed. Matthew Paris’s work can be viewed as extremist. His overall view of America and its cultural influence is negative.Parris (2003) explains, â€Å"Today there is only one hegemon, the United States of America; but there is no less a need than existed during the Cold War for a wary defensiveness towards the appetite, the pretensions, and the dreams of a great and unchallenged power. If the U. S. eagle is to be contained, collective action is needed by the smaller mammals† (pg. 94). Here, Parris is proclaiming that America is a dominating inf luence over other nations and if they are to come out from under the influence of this overarching power, they must unite or be consumed.Matthew Parris (2003) furthers his argument by writing that â€Å"As America grows more confident and its muscle and command, it will be clashing again and again, not just with old enemies but with former friends-over trade, the environment, â€Å"pre-emptive† deference, regime change, international law, extradition†¦ the list is speculative, but let us speculate. † (pg. 96) . Parris uses the example of Britain’s own Prime Minister Tony Blair, who sided with the United States instead of standing on his own two feet. Tony Blair thought the bridge could be repaired and that he might be the bridgemaker. Now, he marooned on the other side and will have to take his chances there† (Parris, 2003, pg. 97). Here, America seems to turn its back on Britain by alleviating the bridge that bound them, leaving Tony Blair and his co untry helpless. America is overconfident that they can repair the bridge when necessary, but for the mean time, make no attempts to do so. Parris also exposes America’s ambiguity over the war with Iraq. â€Å" It is, however; just possible that failure will be faced.The peace in Iraq may prove dirtier than the war, and the American people ( as distinguished from their Defense Secretary) are ambivalent about empire and squeamish about becoming other nations’ policeman†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Parris, 2003, pg. 95) Parris is trying to tell us here that the United States has stepped beyond it bounds and is now responsible to take care of Iraq citizens. He further explains that the U. S. will have more accountability for the well being of Iraq’s people because of the actions we have taken to stop the Iraq war.In conclusion, Matthew Parris is suggesting that the United States needs to be reigned in and that if this does not occur the â€Å"hegemonic power†, that is the United States will take over and become insoluble. With this, Matthew Parris’s view on America’s cultural influence on the world is overpoweringly negative. The international perception of the United States as an imposing, and influential power can be seen as either a negative or a positive. Because of its global connotation, it has become a source of analysis and scrutiny.Negatively, the United States is seen as a â€Å"hegemony† that needs taming and â€Å"caging†. Contrastingly, and on a positive note, the United States is influencing trade, transportation, economy, and education. America is influencing these factors towards other countries to try to enhance there knowledge and to further expose them to the possibilities that can be achieved by taking on the American way. One cannot view America’s positives as having no merit. There may be some form of jealousy that is masked by capitalizing on the negative power that is exerted by the United S tates. In onclusion, America’s cultural influence is primarily mixed as seen in the works of Matthew Parris’s It’s Time We All Signed Up for the Rest of the World Team, along with Raja Shehadeh’s What We Think of America (2). References: Gumery, K. , (2007) International Views: America and the Rest of the World. Glenview, Ill: Pearson Education, Inc. Parris, Matthew, (2003) â€Å"It’s time we all signed up for the rest of the world team† In Keith Gumery (Ed. ), International Views (pg. 94-97). New York: Pearson Longman Shehadeh, Raja, (2002) â€Å"What we think of America (2)† In Keith Gumery (Ed. ), International Views (pg. 90-93). New York: Pearson Longman

The Banqiao Reservoir Dam Failure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

The Banqiao Reservoir Dam Failure - Essay Example This essay discusses that the collapse of the Banqiao and Shimantan Dams together with a several dozen much smaller dams in the Zhumadian Prefecture of Henan Province in China in August 1975 is among the world’s most devastating dam failures. Initially, it was reported that the dam failure was attributed to a natural disaster. However many years later and after considerable research, researchers have come to the conclusion that the Banqiao Reservoir Dam’s design and the design of the other reservoirs, together with the standards associated with containing the river are partly responsible for the dam failure.   In essence, it is now generally accepted that the Banqiao Reservoir Dam failure was due to both man-made error/engineering failure and a natural disaster. Zhumadian is situated in the Southern region of Henan Province with Hong and Ru Rivers running east through Zhumadian converging upon the Huai River.   The Banqiao Dam was constructed on the Ru River in 1952 as part of the flood control programme for the Huai River.   In 1956, the Banqiao Dam was reconstructed elevating the dam height and improving the capabilities of the reservoir.   The Banqiao Dam was constructed so that it could withstand â€Å"1-1in-1,000 year flood (306mm rainfall per day)†. The Banqiao Dam was described as a â€Å"clay-core earth fill dam† measuring 24.5 meters in height with the ability to store up to 492 million meters and with a further 375 million cubic meters â€Å"reserved for flood control†.... The parapet walls elevation was 117.64 meters. The discharge capacity was built for 3,092 cubic meters with 1,800 cubic meters accounting for the main spillway, 1,160 cubic meters were designed for the supplementary spillway and 123 cubic meters designed for the conduit (Xu, et. al., 2008). The Disaster The collapse of the Banqiao Dam began on the evening of August 7, 1975 when a large storm became stationery over the Henan Province. As a result the deluge sustained over a foot of rain daily for a period of three days (Chiles, 2001). The rainfall dumped by the storm amounted to 1005 mm of rain in a day’s time and 1605 mm of rain over a three day period. In one hour, flooding overtopped the Banqiao and Shimantan dams leading to their collapse (Eliasson & Lee, 2003). In all, over 60 smaller dams collapsed because â€Å"dikes and flood diversion projects further downstream could not resist such a deluge† (Eliasson & Lee, 2003, p. 620). Land measuring over one million hecta res also sustained flooding, more than 100 km of the railway line connecting Guangzhou to Beijing sustained damages, many villages and towns were either entirely or partly submerged in water and several million residents became homeless. Conservative estimates report that some 26,000 persons drowned in the flood directly linked to the failed dams and an additional 145, 000 eventually died as a result of causal famines and epidemics in the weeks that followed (Eliassin & Lee, 2003). Evaluating the Engineering Failures of the Banqiao Dam Collapse Becker (1998) puts the construction of the Banqiao Dam and the associated dams in its proper perspective. According to Becker (1998) the Banqiao Dam was constructed around a time where irrigation was a prime agricultural policy. At the

Oral Communtications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Oral Communtications - Essay Example 24). The law that put a limit to the terms that a president can serve in the U.S. was ratified by at least 41 states and rejected by a meagre two states. Many historians note that the 22nd Amendment was instituted in reaction to what the founding fathers of the United States wished for the country. The founding fathers thought that without setting a term limit for presidents, the nation would effectively become a monarchy (Moore p. 7). George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe, are some of the presidents who opted not to vie for presidency for a third term. Their moves in this direction were widely taken positively and impacted the choice of Americans to institute a term limit for presidents. The 22nd Amendment has been subject to a lot of debate. While others argue that the Amendment when related to the Twelfth Amendment bars people who have served two terms as president cannot qualify to become vice presidents, others note that a former president who served two terms can serve as vice president legally (Moore p. 7). The latter group argues that the Twenty-second and the Twelfth Amendments talk about eligibility to serve as president and election respectively to the extent that a former president can serve as vice president even if he/she had worked as president for two terms. In conclusion, the 22nd Amendment clearly bars a person who has served as president for two terms from serving additional terms in the same capacity. The Amendment was enacted with the sole purpose of avoiding the possibility of the nation becoming a

International and comparative education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International and comparative education - Essay Example The concept of gender equity is the stage of human social development whereby the rights, responsibilities and the opportunities available to individuals will not be subject to determine by the fact of being born male or female. In a complete gender balanced situation, it will be possible for aal genders to realize their full potential. There is a major problem of gender imbalance in the education sector, particularly on the participation of the feminine gender. It is apparent that the female gender remains the most to be disadvantaged  on matters of  access to education at different levels. This topic has been under debate in many international platforms as the initiative of enhancing girl child education (Gerntholtz et al., 2011). Basing on this context, it thus leads to the thesis; countries that fail capitalizing on the full potential of gender balance are misallocating their human resources, thus undermining their competitive advantage. This paper is going to analyze on the education system of South Africa and Nigeria with the aim of addressing issues of gender imbalance, focusing particularly on teenage education. The main purpose of the paper aims at justifying how investment in educational gender balance helps in shaping the ability of both the male and female for them to reach their full potential in t he society. The main problems facing the education system worldwide is the aspect of achieving gender balance. Educational attainment is without any doubt, remains the most fundamental prerequisite aimed at empowering women in all spheres of the society. Without having a comparable quality on the content of education provided to the boys and men in society, women will be unable to access well-paid and formal sector jobs. They will also fail to advance within them, be able to participate in, be unable to be represented in government, and fail to gain political influence (Gerntholtz

Compare and Contrast the 1991 and 2003 Iraq War Case Study

Compare and Contrast the 1991 and 2003 Iraq War - Case Study Example In addition was the allegation that Kuwait was stealing Iraqi oil from the Rumaila oil field by using slant drilling technology. Lastly, Kuwait had refused to allow Iraq access to the Persian Gulf. As a result, in May 1990, the world saw Saddam Hussein openly attacking the Kuwait economic warfare in the Arab League meeting. As Hinnebusch (2007) points out, even after the Iraq threat of military action if Kuwait failed to control over-production, the tiny nation remained firm on its decisions; and the support, undoubtedly came from the US. This fact is evident from the understanding that the US military was preparing for a war against Iraq. For example, in 1989 itself, America had revamped its military doctrine in the Middle East. To illustrate, General Normal Schwarzkopf had already started war games in which US troops fought the Iraqi troops even before the Iraqi aggression on Kuwait. In addition is the fact that the US could not produce any proof to support their claims of Iraqi tr oop deployment against Kuwait. This is especially important considering the fact that Russia produced such satellite imageries that show no important troop deployment from the part of Iraq that threatened Kuwait. Here, one has to again remember that there was no movement from the President to promote diplomacy and negotiations. Evidently, the US wanted to reduce the power and influence of Iraq in the oil rich region of Middle East. So, for the US, a war was necessary. This becomes very evident from the American aggression on Iraq a second time, and this time, on an even weaker and unbelievable basis. The allegation was that Iraq had a role in the 9/11 attack. Though the US could not come up with a believable story up to this time, the idea was supported by the hardliners in the nation. As Kitfield (n.d.) states, another allegation was that there were WMDs but even after the war, no such evidences were brought to the world. In total, one can say that the aggression of Iraq on Kuwait was not a matter of more concern to America than to United Nations. According to Kitfield (n.d), if it took special interest in the matter, it had its own interests to be protected. In order to gain international support, America went on asserting that Iraq was violating Resolution 1441 of 2002 that mandated Iraq to fully declare and eliminate its WMD programs. Also, America got the opinion of other nations including France, Germany, Russia, and China that Iraq was not properly following the guidelines. However, they were not in agreement with the American interest in an immediate attack as they thought the UN efforts should be given more time. Admittedly, the United Nations exhibited its inability and vulnerability to the world in the Iraq wars. For example, the Council used its Chapter VII powers to allow the coalition under the US to take military actions. Soon, there was Operation Desert Shield and Storm, but there arose the issue that the military action was not authorized. For the purpose, Security Council Resolution 687 was passed on 29 November 1990. Here, the council, instead of showing any clearly defined responsibility, made the vague statement that the Security Council be regularly informed. According to Resolution 687, all weapons of mass destruction had to be removed. So, the sanctions for military action under the resolution would remain in force until this end

Describe how the ozone layer shields those on earth from harmful uv Essay

Describe how the ozone layer shields those on earth from harmful uv rays describe how ozone at ground level can harm us. you wil - Essay Example If the ozone layer gets ultra-thin, people would be exposed to more UV radiation. UV radiation is the leading cause of skin cancers. High levels of UV levels would also harm the wildlife and plants. If plants get affected, they are unable to carry out photosynthesis. Consequently, there would be a slowdown in the release of oxygen into the atmosphere (Miller and Spoolman 24). Scientists worry that the ozone layer is getting thinner and thinner every day. This trend began in the 1970s. Since the 80s, the level of the ozone layer has been decreasing at a constant rate. By the 90s, the level of the ozone layer had reduced by 3-4 % of the initial levels. Strong reduction in the ozone layer level has been observed in the Antarctica, where the decrease is up to 50 % (Roshchina 4). Ozone depletion is closely associated with the use of chemicals, especially chlorofluorocarbons. Chlorofluorocarbons were widely used in aerosol cans as coolants. The chemical compounds penetrate the upper atmosp here as a result of nuclear explosions, space flights, flights of supersonic aircraft, and applications of chlororganic fertilizers in agriculture as well as by other means (Roshchina 4). Some countries have since banned the use of those chemicals as well as other ozone depleting chemicals. The main effect of ozone depletion in the atmosphere is the increase in ultraviolet radiation to levels that are dangerous to all forms of life (250-320mm). Ultraviolet radiation strengthened by reduction in the level of the ozone layer around the earth causes chromospheres to be activated. This leads to biochemical changes in the cells. The result is the formation of tumors, skin cancers, cataracts, immune-system problems and other potential injuries to human beings. Changes in the ecosystem conditions can also be observed around the ground. Therefore, absorption of the ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer protects living organisms. Protection of the nucleic acids and proteins is crucial bec ause damage to these substances can result in mutations and even destruction of cells (Starr and Evars 44). Near the ground level, ozone is a pollutant. This is because it causes irritation of the eyes and respiratory tracts of human beings and wildlife. Ozone near the ground level also interferes with growth of plants. This usually occurs when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, released by combustion of fossil fuels, are exposed to sunlight. Ozone levels vary daily. The amounts of ozone depend on latitude, season and climate. The levels are normally high during the day and the warm seasons. Ozone pollution can be avoided by reducing the combustion of fossil fuels into the air (Starr and Evars 44). Ozone is toxic and corrosive. Repeated inhaling of ozone may permanently damage the lungs and lead to respiratory infections. Exposure to ozone may induce lung infection or aggravate existing respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, emphysema or asthma. It may also cause ch est pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion. It is dangerous to people who like to spent lots of time in the outdoors especially on a warm weather. Older people and children are at a higher risk in the population as their lungs have reduced capacity. Ground level ozone kills seedlings and damages leaves which makes plants more prone to harsh weather, pests and diseases (Miller and Spoolman 25). However, ozone has some potential benefits. It is essential in maintaining the thermal status of the

Business portfolio. Company Google Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Business portfolio. Company Google - Term Paper Example Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin whilst studying for their doctorate Stanford University in 1995. However, the company was founded in 1998. The company mainly specializes in Internet-related products and services. These products and services include software, search, online advertising technologies, cloud computing. The company also derives a lot from returns from ads. The company also offers online productivity software including Gmail, as well as a social networking site. The other products offered by the company particularly in the desktop section include web browsing applications, instant messaging, and photo editing. Last but not least, the organization leads the development of the mobile operating system for Android.The mission of Google is mainly to organize the information and make it universally useful and accessible by every person. The company’s initial goal before it diversified to collect all global information and organize it.A good mission and vi sion statement should capture the aspirations of the company and should also indicate where the company wants to go, and along with its core products. In the case of Google, the mission and vision statement does not meet the criteria. This is because it aims to organize information and make it universally available to all people. This kind of mission does not even indicate which kind of information it wanted to organize and how people will access given that not everybody across the world has access to the Internet.

The Dominance of Women in Parenting Responsibilities Essay

The Dominance of Women in Parenting Responsibilities - Essay Example The attitude sons develop is one that may devalue women as mere caregivers of humanity, while men go on to more important endeavors such as seeking livelihood and providing for the family’s basic needs. Social learning theories contend that this kind of learning may have been acquired from children’s observations of their parents’ life patterns. Although society has historically assigned women the role of a nurturer of the family, Chodorow raises feminist protests as to the role men should likewise play in parenting. She asserts that men should level themselves with their wives in terms of being parents and not leave all the parenting responsibilities to them. Only then can the cycle of reproduction of mothering or in most cases, pseudo-solo parenting by mothers, be stopped. Sociobiological theories link the bonds between mothers and their children. It contends that mothers are biologically predisposed to care for their infants. Nine long months in the womb, the fetus affects the mother and its dependence on her likewise affects her. For example, a stressed mother can hinder the normal brain processes of brain masculinization of her unborn child. T. Berry Brazelton, a prominent child psychologist claims, in a good interaction mother and baby synchronize with each other from the beginning, and that the pathways may be set up in intrauterine life ready to be entrained, especially by the mothers, immediately after birth" Biological studies indicate that when human babies are born, their brains are underdeveloped, hence are â€Å"born highly dependent and in constant need of care.†Ã‚  

Overview of the Legal Liabilities of Public Officers Essay

Overview of the Legal Liabilities of Public Officers - Essay Example Albeit, litigations filed hostile to the public officers, administrative officer and offices are progressively being termed as factions or perpetrators with immediate or delegated liability. Furthermore, in order to maintain their legal liabilities to the least possible, public officers should constantly take action in the interior of the extent of their functions, understand and be familiar with the rules and regulations of their corresponding subdivisions, keep precise and correct inscribed records in contentious cases, uphold effective interactions with the society, and continually refer to legal advisors in cases where there is uncertainty in the course of action. However, most often than none, public officials are favoured with official impunity. Public officers run for office to acquire wealth and power. In some countries, abuses of power are rampant and are being used as leverage for their personal objectives. As a result, extrajudicial killings become widespread and rambling. This particular study seeks to elaborate on the legal liabilities of public officers. In addition, this should inform the reader regarding the scope of functions of public officers on the whole and provide knowledge or grounds of assessment from which discretion towards public officers can be obtained. OVERVIEW OF THE LEGAL LIABILITIES OF PUBLIC OFFICERS 2 Introduction "The law under which government officials operate permits them to inflict injury on others, under prescribed circumstances, in established ways, and in carefully (and sometimes not so carefully) calibrated amounts" (Mashaw, 1978). Undeniably, in the performance of duty of public officials, unethical use of power is always a possibility. Public officials, under the permission of the law, are allowed to at least cause injury on others. Albeit their authority to do so is limited by the existing laws, many public officials are leveraging this prerogative to serve their personal interests. This gives them the opportunity to impose coercion in influencing the decision or leanings of their constituents to favour their individual goals, especially during times of election or in passing a particular governmental project from which they can corrupt big amounts of money. Certainly, the law carries on. What is more alarming is that "it sometimes tells the official that a failure to injure - that is, to coerce compliance with a predetermined rule of conduct - is a dereliction of official duty" (Mashaw, 1978). While the law is clear that the authority to cause injury on others is delimited on certain grounds, oftentimes, this is being overlooked and exploited. The interpretation of the law becomes superficial and unconstitutional. It is rather disturbing why the constitution provides such sorts of law that act on the borderline between its use to perform official duty and the feasibility of misusing it. This study does not resolve this weakness but presents the manifold possibilities of divergence from the r eal intents of the law. The public officials therefore should be aware of their legal liabilities. They should carefully interpret the laws provided for them by the constitution. Inasmuch as they have the freedom to use it in any manner they wish to, they OVERVIEW OF THE LEGAL LIABILITIES OF PUBLIC OFFICERS 3 should remember the consequences that it carry. By and large, the purpose of this paper is not to solely scrutinize the validity and the applicability of the law, but to elaborate on the various

Introduction to Marketing Essay Example for Free

Introduction to Marketing Essay You have been employed as a marketing intern with one of the UK’s largest marketing agencies and have been set various assignments to complete during your one-year internship. You will be required to demonstrate your research skills on various projects related to marketing, research and planning, marketing mix and online marketing. Task 1 P1 Describe how marketing techniques are used to market products in two organisations Due date: Refer to front sheet for date  M1 Compare marketing techniques used in marketing products in two organisations You are helping the marketing manager organise a ‘Marketing in Business’ conference. Your manager wants you to find out how other organisations use marketing techniques and has asked you to prepare a 10 minute presentation that you will deliver at the conference. You have been  asked to produce a leaflet to support the presentation, comparing the organisation. You have also been asked to produce speaker notes, which will be handed out at the conference. What to include in your presentation: Introduce your two organisations, their business and marketing objectives Describe what marketing is and why organisations use various techniques Describe clearly the marketing techniques they use to market a particular product/service or product range What to include in the leaflet: Compare the similarities and differences between the use of marketing techniques in your two organisations Growth Strategies (Ansoff’s Matrix) Survival Strategies Branding and Brand positioning Relationship marketing Due date: Refer to front sheet for date Task 2 Following your presentation about marketing techniques, you discovered that marketing activity is regulated and monitored by various bodies, codes of practice and laws. Using the 2 scenarios below, investigate and respond by letter to both: P2 Describe the limitation and constraints of marketing on the business. Suggested letter content: Introduce yourself and the department you work for.  Describe why abiding by marketing rules and regulations is necessary Identify the legal rules that apply to the case  Identify the voluntary factors that would apply to the case.  Stress the consequences of failing to comply with the legal and voluntary constraints. Due date: Refer to front sheet for date Scenario 1 A business organisation named â€Å"Fantasy† has recently spent 10 million pounds launching a new perfume. Fantasy has advertised on television as well as on YouTube. The advertisement is proving to be an international success and has raised a lot of interest from the young audience it is hoping to attract. Most importantly sales of the perfume have doubled over the last few months.  However, there have been a number of complaints regarding the content of the advertisement. For instance there are concerns with regards to nudity, language and the suitability of the advertisement for a younger audience. Of particular concern are the number of complaints that Fantasy use extreme methods when testing their products on animals. A number of pressure groups have campaigned for the ban of this advertisement from TV screens. Your task You have been asked to write a formal letter to Fantasy Head Office, Customer Complaints Division, identifying the limitations and constraints of marketing activities especially those that are relevant to the above scenario. Scenario 2 You have recently purchased a new mobile phone on arriving home you realise that the phone is unable to carry out the functions that you were promised. The phone was considerably expensive and you saved up for months in order to be able to buy it. However, when visiting the store you were offered the opportunity to purchase the product on credit. The store has also advised you it would be more efficient if you went on to their website and brought the product online and they have offered you a further discount for doing so. Two weeks later you are still waiting for your mobile phone to arrive. To make matters worse once you signed up for this product you have been bombarded with cold calls from other mobile phone companies, you fear that your personal details have been given out to other organisations without your consent. Your task How are you protected as a consumer? You must write a formal letter to the Office of Fair Trading expressing your concerns. You must identify the relevant Acts and regulations that protect you as a consumer. Due date: Refer to front sheet for date Task 3 P3 Describe how a selected organisation uses marketing research to contribute to the development of its marketing plans P4 Use marketing research for marketing planning  You have been approached by a new company that is interested in finding out  whether they should invest heavily in market research. Your first task is to produce a poster presentation on marketing research and planning, that you will deliver to the Board of Directors. Your suggested presentation content: Choose an organisation and agree choice with your teacher (www.thetimes100.co.uk case studies is a useful resource to use) Describe marketing research and marketing planning.  Describe the marketing research that is used by your organisation Describe how the marketing research collected is used by the organisation in their marketing planning Now you need to carry out marketing planning using marketing research Select an existing product/service or potential product/service for your organisation. Conduct primary and secondary research into customer perceptions and market analysis for the product/service and make proposals on how the organisation’s marketing planning can be developed. This should include a PESTLE/SWOT analysis, which shows the research you have conducted into your product. Your marketing plan should include the following: 1. Set clear SMART objectives regarding what you want your product or service to achieve 2. Conduct primary and secondary research on your product or service. 3. Conduct a SWOT analysis highlighting the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities of your product or service. 4. Conduct a PESTLE analysis, analysing the external environment and the impact this may have on your product or service. 5. Write a brief summary with regards to your findings. Due date: Refer to front sheet for date M2 Explain the limitations of marketing research used to contribute to the development of a selected organisation’s marketing plans D2 Make justified recommendations for improving the validity of the marketing research used to contribute to the development of a selected organisation’s marketing plans. Considering limitations of market research Your task is to identify and explain the limitations of the market research methods used by your organisation. You will need to submit a formal report  of the limitations that you have spoken about, for the directors. You have been asked to write a formal report to the Head of Market Research at Hammersmith and Fulham. You have to make recommendations on how they can improve the validity of marketing research used for marketing planning. Introduce yourself, your role and who you work for Explain why you are writing to the organisation. Make at least 3 recommendations for improving the validity of market research used by your organisation Provide a justification for each recommendation you make. End your report with an offer to help if they require more information. Due date: Refer to front sheet for date Task 4 P5 Explain how and why groups of customers are targeted for selected products You have been asked to develop a visual poster to explain how and why groups of customers are targeted for products. You should: Explain what is meant by market segmentation and DMU’s Explain the difference between customers, consumers and buyers Select 6 different target groups (this should include both B2C and B2B) and give examples of products that are aimed at them and why). Due date: Refer to front sheet for date Task 5 A dynamic new company have approached your marketing agency and want you to help come up with an exciting new marketing campaign. You will produce a 10 minute presentation on the marketing mix. Propose a marketing mix based on your research to a clearly defined group of potential customers. P6 Develop a coherent marketing mix for a new product or service M3 Develop a coherent marketing mix that is targeted at a defined group of potential customers. Using the research from your previous task you will now give a presentation of the new marketing mix you propose. Suggested presentation content: You will need to think about how you are going to present the marketing mix for the company (Product, Price, Promotion and Place). The product or service  that you choose does not have to be entirely new, it could be an established product or service introduced to a new market The marketing mix must be clearly targeted to a defined group of potential customers and needs to be detailed and clear so that all the 4P’s meet the exact needs and aspirations of the target group of customers. Due date: Refer to front sheet for date

Engineering Practice Review Report

Engineering Practice Review Report Introduction I worked for Christie Civil during both of my Internships and received a wide variety of experience during both of these six-month blocks. I worked on several different sites, which included the upgrade of an RTA owned road to the renovation and construction of parts of the Holsworthy Army Barracks. I found out about Christie Civil through the university-run website I2MS. I applied for the advertised position, as well as many others as soon as they became available online. Although I didnt receive a reply as soon as I would have liked. About 2 and a half months after I applied for the job, I received a phone call and an invitation to have an interview with the companies Sydney manager, Martin Carey. I felt the interview went very well and I was initially happy with my first impressions of the place and the people. One week later I was one of the two successful applicants and began work on the 1st of August 2007. In the semester before my second internship, I contacted Christie Civil in the hope of obtaining some information about a site I had previously worked on, for a university assignment. It was then when the Project Manager I was talking to, inquired about where I was working for my second internship and invited me to come back and work for them. Since I enjoyed working there, and I felt that I previously hadnt learnt as much as I could have, I decided to return to the company. About the company Christie Civil is a medium sized construction company that specializes in civil contracting within the Sydney region. For over 40 years, Christie Civil has worked as a Quality Endorsed company whose typical scope of works includes: Foundations (piles, footings, underground structures, shoring and underpinning) Bulk and detailed Earthworks Subdivisions (Site clearance, roads and drainage, services) Concrete Structures (Bridges, water and wastewater treatment tanks, detention tanks) Integrated Services (mechanical/ electrical/ hydraulics/ utilities) Retaining Walls Car parks and Pavements Environmental Remediation Christie Civil employs over 35 people including many Civil engineers, Project Managers and Foreman. On a typical site, Christie Civil provides the On Site Over Heads (OSOH) and usually subcontracts skilled labour (such as carpenters, plumbers and electricians) to professional companies with a good reputation and a proven record. The company also often works in conjunction with a labour hire company called Christies People, as both companies were founded by the same person. First Internship 2007/2008 During my first internship, I worked with Christie Civil for over 6 months between August 2007 and February 2008. Throughout this time, my role varied significantly as the Christie Civil management team placed me in several different positions so that I might gain experience within different aspects of the company (see Figure 1a). The major roles I had are explored below: Figure 1a) Site Engineer As a site engineer I was given the responsibility of preparing and maintaining all of the Quality Assurance (QA) documentation regarding the construction sites to which I was assigned. The QA documents basically provide a system in which to monitor the progress and quality of the construction processes ensuring that it is done in a safe manor, to an acceptable standard. Regularly I was required to: Conduct site inductions, which were aimed at highlighting the important safety rules and regulations for anyone new to the site. Prepare and maintain Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) which describes the appropriate precautions that must be taken in order expose potential hazards and minimize their risks. Give toolbox talks to the subcontractors and laborers. These talks outline current safety issues and highlight the appropriate action that is to be taken in order to maintain a safe workplace. Conduct Safety and Environmental Checklists. These checklists highlight any potential hazards that may have come about during construction. E.g. Excavations greater than 1.5m that require fencing. Prepare, maintain and sign off on Inspection and Test Plans. Record and monitor the location of newly placed concrete batches. Correspond with the Client Aid the project manager Aid the laborers I was assigned to two main sites during my first internship, the first of these being the construction of a sewerage overflow tank just off Gunnamatta Bay in Cronulla, NSW. This site basically involved the removal of an existing retaining wall, the excavation of the pit for the tank, the construction of the 5m x 3m tank and the restoration of the wall and the surrounding plants. It was only a fairly small, two month job with a budget of about $300,000. The second site I was assigned to on my first internship was a huge multi-million dollar construction and renovation project of the Holsworthy Army Barracks. On this site, several companies were subcontracted to John Holland to complete specific aspects of the job. Christie Civil had the role of excavating the trenches, laying the storm water pipes and the construction of the roads throughout the site. Systems Engineer As a Systems Engineer I was based in the head office, but was regularly required to visit the different sites and conduct Project Review Meetings (PRMs) with the Foreman or Project Managers. The data from these PRMs were collected and collated to form a set of OHS statistics which aim to compare the number of hours worked, with the number of Work Related Incidents (WRIs) and loss time injuries sustained. This allowed the company to gain an overall picture of performance with a focus on Occupational Health and Safety. Also it is a necessary procedure to prove the companies safety records and to build the companies reputation as a safe working company. This is done for the sake of tendering and as documentation in case an authority audits the company. Estimator As an estimator I assisted the estimating division in calculating the price of the different jobs for which we were tendering. This involved communicating with the Senior Estimator and referring to several engineering drawings in order to calculate the cost of the processes involved with the different jobs. For example from the engineering drawings we could calculate the approximate volume of material to be excavated. We could then approximate the time this would take for a certain excavator to complete, and then we would get several quotes from our subcontractors in order to compile a competitive tender for the prospective client. Other In conjunction with the major positions explored above I also had many other less specific roles within the company. Regularly I was required to drop off tenders, buy tools, conduct dilapidation reports, collect information regarding potential work sites, print and interpret engineering drawings and follow instructions as needed. Second Internship 2009/2010 After my first Internship I felt that I had not learnt as much as I could have at Christie Civil, hence I took up an offer to return to the company for my second internship. During this time, I worked for Christies for over 7 months between July 2009 and February 2010. As a result of my previous experience, I spent less time learning the ins and outs of my role within the company, but rather, was put out on one of the companys major job sites straight away. Throughout the course of my second internship I worked on two major sites, the first site involved the upgrade of Hillsborough Rd, a fairly major RTA road located in the heart of Warners Bay near Newcastle. As a site engineer on this particular job I was required to do much of the same work I had done during my first internship, although having a period of about one and a half years away from the company I was fortunate to have another site engineer with me for the first few weeks to remind me of my role. This particular site was unlike any other job I had worked on prior, because the construction client was the RTA. This meant that I was required to read through and understand many RTA specifications to do with the correct process for the construction of an RTA road, and submit all the testing and evidence that was need to prove to the RTA that the construction complied with the specifications. Specifically, this involved submitting Hold Point Release Forms (See Appendix A), to the RTA at particular stages of the construction process, and waiting for them to approve the quality of particular aspects of the current construction, before we could continue. Learning Outcomes The learning outcomes addressed below were chosen because they are not directly looked at elsewhere in the report. Eg. I didnt include the learning outcome about ethics, because it is directly addresses in the Ethics section. to review past experience, so as to plan and prepare for future workplace participation at a graduate and professional level. After reviewing both of my internships, and my university experience as a whole, I think that in the immediate future after graduation, I would like to get a job as a design engineer to experience a different side of my profession. An older civil engineer said to me when I first began my degree was that in his experience, the best design engineers are the ones who had worked in construction beforehand, because they know the practical workings of the job and can apply their experience while designing. So I deliberately went about looking for a job a site engineer for my first and second internships. At university I have enjoyed and found satisfying, the design subjects such as concrete design and steel and timber design, and could honestly see myself pursuing that sort of thing as a career. I would also like to achieve Chartered Professional Engineering Status to further open up opportunities for my career throughout my life. to refine and develop your approach to securing employment for professional engineering practice Since both of my internships were in construction, I hope to eventually get into engineering design, where I can incorporate the practical experience gained from working on site with the designs I am required to complete. As a result I have been looking out for, and focusing my attention to companies which are actively involved in both the design and construction aspects of engineering. I could use my construction experience to get into the company, and then hopefully move on to more of a design role within the company. to extend your knowledge of workplace cultures and organizational behavior Working in the construction industry, gave me the opportunity to learn about and be amongst two very different workplace cultures. The difference between the cultures on site and in the office is extravagant. Workplace culture in the office was professional which meant we were required to wear pants and a collared shirt. The atmosphere in the office was serious compared to the site as most of the people I worked with in the office were skilled engineers and project managers. In the same way, this was confirmed by the fact that everyone worked in their own office, quietly without fuss. On site however, there was many practical jokes and a lot of swearing. Work was done to keep on schedule, but there wasnt a major push for completion. Most days were relatively stress-free and for the most part everyone got along. There was no set time for lunch breaks, and sometimes the opportunity to work through lunch and finish early. to develop a critical basis for understanding principles of management, and of planning and design Throughout my work experience I have had much more to do with planning and construction rather than design. I have worked closely alongside a few different construction managers. I have seen and helped with much of the work they do and seen what is required of them to get the job done. Similarly I have been assigned to construction projects from their beginning, and have been involved in the initial planning of a job. My work experience also has been complimented with subjects I have studied at university, such as Construction and Engineering Project Management, whereas subjects like Concrete Design and Steel and Timber Design, have introduced me to the foundational concepts behind design, which I hope will someday come into use in the near future during my career. to develop and demonstrate effective communication skills appropriate to professional engineering Communication was one of the essential skills I needed in order to complete my job properly. As explored above, working in the different workplace cultures of site and the office, required me to be able to communicate effectively, with different types of people. Typically, when in the office I would be talking to engineers and Project Managers. As a result, the conversations were generally more technically based often referring to specific design specifications and engineering drawings. On site however, conversations, if about work, were regarding the practical aspects of the construction such as getting the grader to trim the road base down 20mm. to relate the theoretical knowledge gained in your experience to your studies, so as to be able to apply it in your capstone project During my internships, I found that a lot of the material and engineering knowledge I had gained at university was reinforced through my practical experience. Subjects such as Surveying, Construction and Engineering Project Management provided invaluable preparation for what I was to learn while working on construction sites throughout Sydney. Working on site, however, helped me to see the bigger picture of civil engineering and how each stage of the engineering process †¦ from initial conception, to design and finally construction of a project, is just as important as each other. Other subjects such as Steel and Timber Design and Concrete Design also introduced me to the other side of engineering, which I am yet to experience in a workplace environment. All of this experience will prove to be a great resource to draw from when completing my Capstone. to identify opportunities to extend your engineering knowledge Since I have had all of my experience within the construction aspect of Civil Engineering, I would like to initially pursue a career within a design consulting company so I can broaden my experience. I have enjoyed completing subjects such as steel and timber design, and concrete design and would love the challenge of applying the skills I have learnt in those subjects, as well as getting a more detailed understanding of engineering design within the real world. Also I love the idea of residential design, and hopefully one day with enough experience, I might be able to design my own house. to develop strategies for collaborative and life-long learning I have found that one of the most simple and beneficial practices to undertake for lifelong learning are to asking questions. The field of Civil Engineering is so broad, that it is rare to find an engineer that can be an expert at it all. Hence, during my internships, I needed to ask questions, not only to understand what I needed to do as a site engineer, but also to understand the reasons for doing such things like environmental inspection reports, or for using material such as heavily bound road base, as opposed to crushed sandstone, during the construction of roads. to develop strategies to secure mentoring and to promote team work While working for Christie Civil, I was basically assigned to assisting one particular project manager on all of his sites. The Project Manager became sort of a mentor to me, as he would be the first person I would contact if I had any questions or issues. In the same way, I have an uncle and a few friends whom are experienced Civil Engineers, and I have often asked for their advice while unsure about particular assignments while at university. During my career, if the company I work for doesnt assign me to a mentor specifically, I would go about seeking someone within the company who would be happy to sit down with me to answer any questions I might have, also I hopefully would still be able to talk to my uncle and civil engineering friends if they work within the same sector of civil engineering. to reflect on, and constructively review, your colleagues practice to help them in their academic, professional and personal development The main place I have been in a position to constructively review colleagues work is at university. As an intern I certainly wasnt in a position to constructively review my Project Managers work, however, I was required to train up another intern, and in doing so I needed to teach him how, and to review the work he had done. In particular, there was one occasion where he completed a Project Review Meeting but it was not done in enough detail, so I had to review it with him, and highlight the main areas of concern before filing the report. At university however I have worked on plenty of group assignments, where I have been required to constructively review members of my groups work. Recently, I found a mistake in one of the other group members work for a computer modeling and design assignment. I went over and gently pointed out the mistake, but it still took further explanation to convince her that she was wrong. Career Episode Reports Career Episode Title: Road Extension, Templar Rd Erskine Park Dates of Career Episode: 01.11.09 to 01.12.09 Length of Career Episode: 30 days Competency Element Claimed This project involved the extension of Templar Rd, Erskine Park further into an industrial area, to accommodate for the increase in traffic to the area as a result of new major industrial developments in the area. My role as a site engineer was basically to act as a bridge between the office and this site, maintain and upkeep of the QA Documentation, collaborate with the foreman and laborers and liaise with the project manager. While I was working here, I was regularly required to manage my own time and processes. I often would move between the office and the site to attend meetings, run errands and deliver items of significance such as inspection reports. To make the most out of each day, I would plan my time and route accordingly to avoid peak hour traffic and determine the most efficient way to complete my tasks. Often during the day, I would be required to cope with change, both in my own daily schedule or in the final design of the project. Sometimes I would be on site and I would get a call from the company manager asking if I could run an errand for him. On one particular occasion, I was asked to drive back to the company office to pick up some important tender documents and drop them off at the Sydney Water head office. I was required to re-adjust my schedule for that day, and prioritize my tasks and complete them accordingly. Similarly, throughout the project there were several design changes. Initially as part of the project we were required to build a large turning bay towards the end of the road, which was designed so large trucks would have easy access in and out of the surrounding industrial warehouses. Just as we were preparing to begin the excavation for this part of the road, the client changed the design and totally removed the turning bay. I was required to adapt and change a lot of the QA documentation such as Inspection Test Plans (ITPs) and the Lot Plans, in order to accommodate for the design change. On site, I was required to complete surveying and leveling tasks in a timely manner. Due to the nature of the site, the client, Penrith City Council, would send out a senior engineer to inspect the levels of each layer of the road to ensure that we were building the road to the design levels. I was responsible for ensuring these levels were correct before the senior engineer arrived to inspect. I did this by calculating the design levels from the engineering drawings and then using a laser level to check the actual road level. If the actual level did not match the design level I would ask the grader operator to adjust the actual levels appropriately, all before the arrival of the Penrith City Councils Senior Engineer. C3.1: Manages Self C3.1a C3.1e C3.1c Signature of Candidate: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Candidates Verifier/s Name: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Verifier Engineering Qualifications: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. I verify that the above narrative is a true account of the candidates own work Verifier Signature: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Career Episode Title: Hillsborough Rd Upgrade, Warners Bay (part 1) Dates of Career Episode: 05.07.09 to 20.08.09 Length of Career Episode: 45 days Competency Element Claimed This project involved the upgrade of Hillsborough Rd, Warners Bay to coincide and accommodate for the construction of a new shopping complex which serviced the Warners Bay and greater Newcastle area. As a site engineer on this site I was required to travel up to Newcastle and spend several days a week supervising, and maintaining all the QA Documentation, whilst collaborating with the client to ensure that the road was constructed according to the design. My role in particular required a lot of communication. I was constantly asking questions, writing emails, sending reports and confirming meetings with my Project Manager, the client and the site foreman. This in itself required me to change the way I communicate, depending on whom I was talking to. For example, there is a very different workplace culture on site with the foreman and laborers on site, compared to the office with the Project Managers and Engineers. I would have to change my approach to communication and language I would use, depending on the context. When talking to my project manager, or the client, I generally would talk with technical terminology, talking about specific aspects of testing such as the RTA approved NAASRA Road Roughness Test or I would make reference to specific reports such as ITPs (Inspection Test Plan) or Hold Points which were required by the client at the end of the job. On one particular occasion, I was required to prepare all the site documentation for an external audit conducted by a company called SAI Global. It took about a week to get everything in order, and I was quite nervous because the auditor was basically going to be rating the organization and completeness of the site documentation and hence, my performance as a site engineer. At the end of the audit, the SAI Global representative highlighted only 2 minor areas which could be improved. My Project Manager turned around and shook my hand and said good job and that he was not really concerned about the minor issues. This event helped me to develop and maintain the trust of and confidence of my project manager and the other staff involved, that I was capable of performing to the required standard. As an Intern working on this site, I came across many new and different materials and processes used to build this road, compared to what I had encountered before. As an RTA road, the material was generally to be of higher quality, with better materials used and significantly more rigorous testing done during construction. As a result I consistently needed to seek answers from internal (my project manager), and the external (the client representative) sources. I asked questions about the benefits of using particular materials (such as Heavily Bound Base, a road base with fly ash and other cement-like properties.) C3.2: Works Effectively with People Signature of Candidate: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Candidates Verifier/s Name: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Verifier Engineering Qualifications: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. I verify that the above narrative is a true account of the candidates own work Verifier Signature: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Career Episode Title: Hillsborough Rd Upgrade, Warners Bay (part 2) Dates of Career Episode: 21.08.09 to 15.10.09 Length of Career Episode: 60 days Competency Element Claimed This project involved the upgrade of Hillsborough Rd, Warners Bay to coincide and accommodate for the construction of a new shopping complex which serviced the Warners Bay and greater Newcastle area. For the second half of this project I continued working as a site engineer, however as the job neared its conclusion, I was required to focus more on finalizing the official documentation to be submitted to and signed off by the RTA representative. In order to understand what exactly was required by the RTA, I need to read through, understand and constantly refer to the RTA Road Construction specifications. Whenever I found the specifications to be ambiguous, I contacted the RTA Rep for clarification as to what he actually required, hence I identified the clients needs. These specifications required me to regularly complete and submit Hold Point and Witness Point Forms to the RTA Representative at critical stages of the construction process. On one occasion the hold points were sent back before being signed off because they did not contain enough detail. For example, A hold point form was required to be submitted before the construction of each new layer of the road. On this particular instant I submitted the hold point form outlining that the previously completed layer (e.g. the crushed sandstone) had passed all the geotechnical tests and asking for permission to continue with the next layer. The RTA rep then sent the hold poi nt from back and outlined that I needed to be more specific about the chainages where the crushed sandstone had been tested and passed. One of the major set of documents I was required to submit to the RTA was the ITPs or Inspection Test Plans. These were Christie Civil Documents that detailed the methods of construction and testing of each construction process throughout the entire job, e.g., Heavily bound base, Storm water, Asphalt etc. It also required the site engineer and client to sign off after each process had been completed. For example, the ITP for the Heavily Bound Base stated the specific type of material to be used, the level of compaction which was to be achieved and the methods of testing among other things. As the job went on, it was my role to sign off on each of the ITP processes once they had been completed. I then regularly submitted these reports to the client to document the companys progress, before finally submitting the entire completed set of ITPs, along with all of the Hold points and Witness Points, and other required documents, as one complete record of the job. C3.5: Maintains customer focus and relationships with clients Signature of Candidate: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Candidates Verifier/s Name: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Verifier Engineering Qualifications: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. I verify that the above narrative is a true account of the candidates own work Verifier Signature: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Social Responsibility Social Responsibility has become one of, if not the forefront issue in engineering in the last twenty years. A civil engineer is responsible and accountable to rest of society for designing, engineering and constructing in a way which will not harm or have dire consequences for the surrounding environment and its occupants. During my internships I found that the two major ways in which Christie Civil work towards a sustainable future is firstly through the prevention of pollution, and secondly through recycling. On almost every site I went on, there were different measures taken to prevent the pollution of the surrounding areas. While I worked in Cronulla, we temporarily installed a silt boom in the section of the lake nearest to the site. This was to prevent dust and silt and any other form of pollution from the site, from leaking into the natural environment. Similarly, on the Holsworthy site, we temporarily installed small silt filters above all the stormwater drains in the area for the same reason. The use of a water cart to keep the ground moist was a common tool to prevent the spread of dust, whereas every truck (including its wheels) needed to be relatively clean before leaving site, so that any mud or other material on the truck would not get accidentally dropped in public. In the same way, on the Warners Bay and Erskine Park sites I worked on silt fences were installed around all the storm water drains in the area, so as to prevent dirt and dust and other materials from entering the drain and being spread into the environment. On these sites in particular, Christie Civil hired a bobcat with a sweeper extension to continually sweep the existing road of any debris and excess material carried off by delivery vehicles, to prevent the material being spread into the natural environment. During my experience, I found that engineers also generally prefer to recycle materials, not only for sustainable reasons, but because it saves money. For example, on the Holsworthy site we were required to construct roads. This involved the detailed excavation, laying and compaction of road base and then finally the laying and compaction of asphalt. In this instance, on another one of the companys sites, they were getting rid of tonnes of sandstone. Fortunately for us, the sandstone complied with the Australian Standards for a road base. Consequently, the project manager at Holsworthy recycled the sandstone from another site, by re-using it as road base. Ethical Practice Ethics is basically the moral code or set of standards to which someone has been shaped as a result of their culture, religion or society. As a result, ethics is a totally subjective concept, in that something that I might consider wrong or inappropriate might be ok for someone else. Nevertheless the seriousness of ethics cannot be underestimated. I believe that ethics is an especially important topic for the civil engineer, as what they do has a direct impact on society as a whole. Thus, the consequences of bad decisions could possibly have huge ramifications. For me personally, my ethical framework has been predominantly shaped by my Christian faith. One of the major ethical issue I faced while on my internship, involved the project manager and project foreman asking everyone to sign a Safe Work Method Statement which they had changed but dated it as if it was months earlier. The incident arose after an excavator nearly hit some overhead power lines. Upon realizing that this issue had not been highlighted in the Safe Work Method Statement (which should be signed upon induction), the project manager edited the document, including the new issue and re-printed it. He then asked all the laborers and other people involved to sign the SWMS as if it were months earlier, when they signed the original document. In my integrity, I couldnt sign the document and lie about the date on which it had been signed. Fortunately since the document outlined the process for bulk and detailed excavation, it wasnt too important that I didnt sign it, as I had little to do with the physical work in this area. On a similar occasion, while I was working on the Hillsborough Rd, Warners Bay site, one of the young laborers was caught by the police, driving a work truck without a licence on a small public ro

How People Interact With Search Engines

How People Interact With Search Engines A search engine is a web-based tool that enables users to locate information on the World Wide Web. Popular examples of search engines are Google, Yahoo!, and MSN Search. Search engines utilize automated software applications (referred to as robots, bots, or spiders) that travel along the Web, following links from page to page, site to site. The information gathered by the spiders is used to create a searchable index of the Web. When people use the term search engine in relation to the Web, they are usually referring to the actual search forms that searches through databases of HTML documents, initially gathered by a robot. There are basically three types of search engines: Those that are powered by robots (called crawlers; ants or spiders) and those that are powered by human submissions; and those that are a hybrid of the two. HOW DO SEARCH ENGINES WORK? Every search engine uses different complex mathematical formulas to generate search results. The results for a specific query are then displayed on the SERP. Search engine algorithms take the key elements of a web page, including the page title, content and keyword density, and come up with a ranking for where to place the results on the pages. Each search engines algorithm is unique, so a top ranking on Yahoo! does not only a short period before the search engines developers become wise to the tactics and change their algorithm. More likely, sites using these tricks will be labeled as spam by the search engines and their rankings will plummet. animation mean nothing to search engines, but the actual text on your pages does. It is difficult to build a Flash site that is as friendly to search engines; as a result, Flash sites will tend not to rank as high as sites developed with well coded HTML and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets a complex mechanism for adding styles to website pages above and beyond regular HTML). If the terms you want to be found by do not appear in the text of your website, it will be very difficult for your website to yield high placement in the SERPs. Crawler-based search engines are those that use automated software agents (called crawlers) that visit a Web site, read the information on the actual site, read the sites meta tags and also follow the links that the site connects to performing indexing on all linked Web sites as well. The crawler returns all that information back to a central depository, where the data is indexed. The crawler will periodically return to the sites to check for any information that has changed. The frequency with which this happens is determined by the administrators of the search engine. Human-powered search engines rely on humans to submit information that is subsequently indexed and catalogued. Only information that is submitted is put into the index. In both cases, when you query a search engine to locate information, youre actually searching through the index that the search engine has created -you are not actually searching the Web. These indices are giant databases of information that is collected and stored and subsequently searched. This explains why sometimes a search on a commercial search guarantee a prominent ranking on Google, and vice versa. To make things more complicated, the algorithms used by search engines are not only closely guarded secrets, they are also constantly undergoing modification and revision. This means that the criteria to best optimize a site with must be surmised through observation, as well as trial and error and not just once, but continuously. Gimmicks less reputable SEO firms tout as the answer to better site rankings may work at best for engine, such as Yahoo! or Google, will return results that are, in fact, dead links. Since the search results are based on the index, if the index hasnt been updated since a Web page became invalid the search engine treats the page as still an active link even though it no longer is. It will remain that way until the index is updated. So why will the same search on different search engines produce different results? Part of the answer to that question is because not all indices are going to be exactly the same. It depends on what the spiders find or what the humans submitted. But more important, not every search engine uses the same algorithm to search through the indices. The algorithm is what the search engines use to determine the relevance of the information in the index to what the user is searching for. One of the elements that a search engine algorithm scans for is the frequency and location of keywords on a Web page. Those with higher frequency are typically considered more relevant. But search engine technology is becoming sophisticated in its attempt to discourage what is known keyword stuffing, or spamdexing. Another common element that algorithms analyze is the way that pages link to other pages in the Web. By analyzing how pages link to each other, an engine can both determine what a page is about (if the keywords of the linked pages are similar to the keywords on the original page) and whether that page is considered important and deserving of a boost in ranking. Just as the technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated to ignore keyword stuffing, it is also becoming more savvy to Web masters who build artificial links into their sites in order to build an artificial ranking. SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a webpage in a search engines natural or un-paid (organic) search engine results In general, the earlier (or higher ranked on the search results page), and more frequently a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engines users. SEO may target different kinds of search, including image search, local search video search, academic search news search and industry-specific vertical search engines engines. As an internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work, what people search for, the actual search terms or keywords typed into search engines and which search engines are preferred by their targeted audience. Optimizing a website may involve editing its content ,HTML and associated coding to both increase its relevance to specific keywords and to remove barriers to the indexing activities of search engines. Promoting a site to increase the number of back links or inbound links, is another SEO tactic. HOW PEOPLE INTERACT WITH SEARCH ENGINES We like to say Build for users, not search engines. When users have a bad experience at your site, when they cant accomplish a task or find what they were looking for, this often correlates with poor search engine performance. On the other hand, when users are happy with your website, a positive experience is created, both with the search engine and the site providing the information or result. What are users looking for? There are three types of search queries users generally perform: Do Transactional Queries Action queries such as buy a plane ticket or listen to a song. Know Informational Queries When a user seeks information, such as the name of the band or the best restaurant in New York City. Go Navigation Queries Search queries that seek a particular online destination, such as Facebook or the homepage of the NFL. When visitors type a query into a search box and land on your site, will they be satisfied with what they find? This is the primary question search engines try to figure out millions of times per day. The search engines primary responsibility is to serve relevant results to their users. It all starts with the words typed into a small box. KEYWORD RESEARCH It all begins with words typed into a search box. Keyword research is one of the most important, valuable, and high return activities in the search marketing field. Ranking for the right keywords can make or break your website. Through the detective work of puzzling out your markets keyword demand, you not only learn which terms and phrases to target with SEO, but also learn more about your customers as a whole. Its not always about getting visitors to your site, but about getting the right kind of visitors. The usefulness of this intelligence cannot be overstated with keyword research you can predict shifts in demand, respond to changing market conditions, and produce the products, services, and content that web searchers are already actively seeking. In the history of marketing, there has never been such a low barrier to entry in understanding the motivations of consumers in virtually every niche.

Lowering Tuition at Iowa State University Essay example -- Colleges Ed

Lowering Tuition at Iowa State University The Background of the Costs of Tuition at Iowa State University Iowa State University is a land grant school which, among other things, means that the university gets money from the state of Iowa from the taxes that residents pay to the state. Because of this in state residents who choose to go to the university do not have to pay a large amount of money while out-of-state residents have to pay almost twice as much. Iowa State University does not have reciprocity, meaning that even residents from the surrounding states, Minnesota, Illinois, etc., have to pay full out-of-state tuition. Out-of- state residents have to pay about $9000 a year for tuition, while Iowa residents pay only about $2500 per year. (See fig1 for semester costs) Undergraduate Cost of Attendence Fig1. Semester Cost Resident Non-Resident Tution $1393 $4673 Room/ Board $2085.50 $2085.50 Books/ Supplies $342 $342 Fees $109 $109 TOTAL $3,929.50 $7,209.50 Source: Iowa State University Homepage, www.iastate.edu/~fin_aid_info Tuition helps to pay for all of the services and programs of a University. However, some universities put more money into one or two programs or colleges to make them stronger areas of study within the university. Not all colleges or departments throughout a university have the same quality of classes or facilities. For example, Iowa State University invests a great deal of their money in the engineering and agricultural programs and so increases the quality of those programs. This is how students choose which university is best for them. A student bases his decision on what college to attend by looking at what programs a particular universit... ...more information and email addresses of the offices go to the Iowa State University web page at www.iastate.edu. From there you will be able to reach any office or department of the University. Just keep in mind that it is the student’s job to voice their opinions to the University, and it is the university’s job to listen. Without us, there is no Iowa State! Works Cited Hauser, Andrea. "Regents Increase Tuition by 4.3 Percent." Iowa State Daily 22 Oct. 1999: 1. Iowa State University Office of Financial Aid. (No date). How Much Does It Really Cost? [Online]. (1998). Available http: http://www.iastate.edu/~fin_aid_info/ General Topics/cost.html [1999, October 29]. Iowa State University Office of Institutional Research. (No date). ISU Fact Book [Online]. (1998-1999). Available http: http://www.iastate.edu/~inst_res_info/factbk.html [1999, October 29].