Essay on Planning a Travel Getaway

Essay on Planning a Travel Getaway Introduction Nothing can be better than having a travel getaway. This is a vacation I want to take with my friend. I plan to travel to Lake Powell in Arizona. It is Popular for the great canyon at the border of Utah. Having done enough research on the place, the vegetation, mountains and the coast is worth the visit. I did all the research online with the help of my friends. On this trip I plan to take my best friend along. We settled on the day that we were going to travel. The best time for us was during the summer holidays after we had closed schools. Planning a getaway can be exciting and at the same time hectic. A lot of anxiety can be experienced since this means a long journey away from home and the people that you love. It is a three day visit and I intend to make use of every minute that am there (Sheridan, 145-150). I and my friend had been planning for this getaway for a long time. We made sure that we had saved every penny that we could for it. The company I am working with had made good returns and we had a great bonus. I had planned for this vacation for nearly two years and I knew this was the right time. I had heard a lot about vacations at Arizona and I was sure that this is the place I wanted to be during the summer holidays. It was the first time I was taking a holiday without my parents and I was wondering if they were going to give me the permission to go with my friend. I had been good with my finances, paying my credit cards in time and so my parents really appreciated how responsible I had become. Breaking the news to our parents was the most difficult part. We planned on the day for this and to our surprise they were very fine with the idea. They gave us a few tips on how to go about. We were happy that they trusted us and they were impressed by our decision. We had worked overtim e all through the year to make this getaway a success (Duke 155- 170). We had to get a tour agent to guide us in all this. We searched throughout our friends and also through the internet. We had several offers and it was a bit hard too get the pick the best. This is because we wanted the best trip and we were afraid of picking a bogus tour company that would let us down. We included our parents to guide us pick the right company because they had it before. The company would be responsible for the whole trip. The tour company will provide us with the required maps, population pyramid, weather report, major cities, languages used in the area, among other things (Duke 172-175). Navigate through the area because we were not familiar with it. We needed to hire a car for the drive and the maps would assist us around. The maps would help us mostly with the directions. We will need a recreational director from the company who will assist us in organizing for the daytime recreation for the three days. He will also plan for any activities that might be done at night providing options. The travel agent will also arrange for the transport and accommodation (Duke 180). A lot can happen also when planning for a trip. Sometimes we have delayed flights which build in more anxiety. Interestingly, flight is not a problem while travelling to Grand Canyon. There are available, along with cars and also Train. There are times the exchange rates will also be higher than expected and this can add to unexpected costs. It’s important to set up a higher budget in preparation of all this. The following is the plan of how I plan to go about it (Sheridan 245). The most important thing to do is to start planning early enough. During these holidays everyone wants to travel and so you will find a last minute rush can bring problems. Early planning means that one is assured of getting hotels rooms of his/her choice. I would hate to find fully booked hotels because that would leave me stranded or make me book second best hotel rooms. Last minute planning can also make me miss out on plane tickets. This can also add to the costs since it would mean buying the tickets at higher rates experienced during the rush hour. The airlines always tend to inflate their fares during the holiday season hence the important of doing early bookings (Sheridan 250). There are also cars for hire that are included in the trip. With late planning I could miss out on them adding to more inconvenience. There are also cars for hire that are included in the trip. With late planning I could miss out on them adding to more inconveniences. We managed to get a good airline whose fares were pocket friendly. At least the rates were reasonable and we really appreciated them. The airlines promised to stay on schedule and they were almost guaranteeing us on punctuality. The weather was good and we did not expect any hitches along the flight (Sheridan 245). Holidays can be very expensive if the budget is not well done. I have been saving throughout the year for this holiday and I plan to have a pocket friendly budget. The holiday season has inflated expenses since everyone tends to travel during this season. The air tickets are usually higher than normal. The gas prices tend to shoot high during this season too. The food prices and gift packages are all inflated and this makes travelling very expensive. I need to enjoy this holiday and so I have listed all the expenses and set aside extra cash to meet any extra expenses. I have also cut my budget to fit my pocket. I plan to spend wisely without going out of my intended budget (Sheridan 200). Packing early and appropriate is a very important factor when one is planning a getaway. The most important thing to pack is a first aid kit. This was not in my mind until our parents came up with it. It was an eye opener for us proving we really did not know much on travelling. In this case there should be band aids, antiseptic creams, and paracetamols and allergy tablets. Depending on ones destination, it is important to know the type of dressing required for the region and the season (Duke 195-200). My visit to Grand Canyon has surfaced at the right time during the summer time, but one is required to be prepared since the weather might change. There are no extreme temperatures and dressing becomes easy for me. Near the shores of Lake Powell in, the weather might change. So I have parked for a fairly warm weather. However, the type of weather in Arizona is manageable, since its summer time and so I don’t need to carry the mink coats and fur boats (Duke 180). Other items that can easily be forgotten are undergarments, pajamas, sanitation items, shoes and swimsuits. It is important to have all the clothes laundered to avoid a last minute packing. I had called Grand Canyon Top Tour Company to guide me with the type of clothes that I will need. This has made it easy for me and is set to for the vacation. I have parked a few sweaters incase the weather changes. I don’t intend to go mountain climbing and so I found no need for the winter clothes. I learnt that sometimes we have holiday discounts from some tour firms. This made me do a thorough research and I happened to get a very good offer. They gave me discounts on everything, from the air tickets to the accommodation. This was facilitated by the fact that I was doing an early booking (Duke 180). The offer has enabled me to set enough money for spending on my vacation. I purchased this package as a joint package and I was able to get discounts even on the rental cars. This was the best deal ever and I thank my parents for guiding me to this. I have a few last minute errands that I have to run. It is important for me to visit my doctor for a clean bill of health. There is a lot of malaria in the tropics and it is important to take some precautions before the travel. I will have to get medication from the doctor on that. It is important for him to check if am good to travel or my health hinders me in any way (Sheridan 200). During holiday seasons most of the places are closed and so I have to check out for the hours they are in operation. This includes the banks because I have to visit the place before leaving. There is also the laundry mart for the last minute laundry. This makes it important for me to check the special hours the places are open. I am expecting impediments and holdups along the way. Everyone is travelling around this time and I expect a lot of traffic on the roads. This makes it important for me to leave early giving myself an allowance in time. Clearing at the airport is also jammed and that is why it’s more important that I leave early. I have to be prepared for flight delays too. For this I have carried my mp3 to keep me busy when waiting. I have also carried my sp2 to play games as I wait for any delayed flights. Arizona On day one we were planning to visit the great canyon. It is known for its great length and the color which is so breathtaking. It has an enormous size that is awesome. We shall have the relevant magazines with articles about the place and this will assist us in exploring the place. This place is known for its good hikes and the mule rides. The tour company has promised to provide us with all reading materials. We shall do the hiking for most part of the day before getting back to our rooms. Arizona is governed by Jan Brewer. It has warm weather which has become a major tourist attraction. It has a share on the Colorado River though there was a dispute by California government. The great canyon is what made the state very popular. During the world war people took refuge at Arizona because of its location whith made them feel protected. The geographical attractions are the ones that made us chose on the vacation place Mobile reference 160). Grand Canyon National park is in Northern Arizona. Both the Grand Canyon South Rim and Grand Canyon west are accessible all throughout the year. In most cases, Grand Canyon North Rim is closed in the wintertime (Sheridan 205-218).It is very important to note that, the two places are very different. Even though, the North rim remains closed during the winter time, the highway 67 from the Jacob Lake headed to the park may stay open for an extended period of time in case the drier weather exists. In order to identify Grand Canyon, one may find it from the Tours Brochures. In order to find the Grand Canyon Location on MapQuest or yahoo, one can use a particular code that is usually provided in the Brochures (Sheridan 205-218). Also an airport locator would also help in identifying its location. Mapping sites are also very essential in helping one get to be aware of some of the inaccessible routes that are unpaved and are often considered inaccessible during the winter weather. There are various means that one can use in getting to Grand Canyon. Most of the people intending to visit the place, commences on their vacation from one of the metropolitan airports. Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS) is one of the airports and it is 280 miles from the south rim, which is approximated to be a 5 hours drive. The other metropolitan airport is Phoenix, Arizona (PHX), which is estimated to be 240 miles from the south rim, and takes an estimate of 4.5 hours while driving (Sheridan 205-218). Albuquerque, New Mexico (ABQ), is the third metropolitan airport, and this is about 400 miles from the south Rim, and it takes one an average of 6 hours while driving. There are also commuter flights that are available at the said airports; also cars for hire are also accessible within the airports. In essence along with using flights inn touring the park, cars and Trains have accessibility to this place. Grand Canyon National park is one of the places that one would ever wish to be there and probably spend some time there (Sheridan 205-218). On the second day we shall do the skywalk which is a walk on glass edge enabling you to watch down like an eagle. This sounds frightening since the height below is over 2000 feet of air only. It’s a distance from the south Rim is popular for the first time visitors and that’s where we shall begin the tour. It has an advantage because it is open all year round (Mobile reference 170-185). There are around six hotels here and so we have booked one of the best. We have chosen Lake Powel which is about 2.5 hours drive to the Canyon. This is where we shall be spending our evenings. This hotel has everything we required. The swimming pools, Jacuzzis and the steam baths are some of the facilities we will enjoy. I also checked out on their meals and they were great. They had a variety from the English menu to the local stuff (Duke 1187-189). On our third day we plan to visit the Navajo Parks and Recreation centre. This place is known to have been the most photographed on earth. We can also ride to monument valley of Arizona. The place is adorable providing the best images of Arizona. This getaway is well planned and if everything goes as planned, we will live to remember it. In Navajo Nation, is regarded to be one place having exclusive landmarks- the four corners (Duke 180). We intend to comprehensively visit all the places within the park. Amazingly, it is a place where the four states, namely Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado converge at. Besides its uniqueness the place is also considered as being very remote, and as were informed this is an experience that we would learn one we are their. We intend to visit an original marker that is said to have been erected in the year 1912. Originally, the erection was very plain and cement, and since then some renovations have been done and the cement replaced with granite and brass. It’s awesome! I desire to have a view and a touch on it (Duke 100-105). Another gorgeous within the park that we intend to visits is the visitor center, and this is opened all throughout the year. The center features an exhibition center with Navajo artisans. The vendor linked to Navajo gets an opportunity to sell their products in the nearby neighborhoods. Some of the items that they sell are inclusive of, jewelries, crafts and customary Navajo Foods. Also available are the picnic tables and self contained restaurant rooms. Having an appointment in this place would be very significant, since the services and accommodations are very inadequate to undersized cafes, grocery warehouses, and a gasoline stations that is self-service which is located in about 30 miles radius (Duke 180). Therefore, most visitors, particularly tourist gets most of their services within the exhibition center. Before making a visit to this place it’s a requirement that one should have with himself or herself some few things. For instance, plenty of water, enough food, snacks, and hand wipe area also necessary. As mentioned the place is very remote and dry, so one may not have an access to some of the things mentioned herein. One must be very specific place to visit once within the Navajo parks. Navajo park is

The Pilgrims and the Settlement of the Early American...

The Pilgrims and the Settlement of the Early American Colonies When the new world was discovered, the people who were to first settle there were supposed to achieve fame, farmland, and a better life. They came to practice religion freely, to escape persecution, become land owners, and establish trading businesses. Now while people believed that they would have a better life in the new world, in reality life there was just as hard, if not harder. But was all this worth the price of their lives? Had they any idea of the hardship, sickness and famine that would be inflicted on them? They didnt, because no one told them about how deadly the journey they were about to embark on was. From the start the pilgrims had bad fortune.†¦show more content†¦. . The people who wrote this were Puritans who wanted to advance the Christan faith by purifying the church of England. Because they practiced religion differently than the majority of people in England, they were persecuted. So the New World seemed like a good place where they could esca pe the persecution and practice their religion freely. According to a population chart produced by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, there were hardly any people in the New World to persecute them at the time. For the Puritans the New World sounded like an incredible opportunity. When the Virginia Company wasnt making money in the New World, they wanted to attract more colonists and gain funds in order to keep the colony alive. An article in the Library of Congress website (http://memory.loc.gov) claims that Nova Britannia was a pamphlet written as part of the Virginia Companys public relations campaign because stockholders of the company were disappointed with the results of Jamestown. This pamphlet promised excellent fruits, farmland and further fame to all who settled there. For any common man struggling in England and in need of money to support his family, it sounded as if easy money could be made off of the Excellent Farmland in the New World. While the New World seemedSho w MoreRelatedReligion Has Played An Important Role In The History Of1108 Words   |  5 PagesStates and in creating the colonies of the New World in many ways. Religion was definitely one of the major reasons for the establishment of the colonies. The early colonists wanted the freedom to worship God as they seen as proper, and they were promised this freedom of worship. Most of these colonies were deeply rooted in their religious beliefs. Religion strongly influenced the social and political life of the colonial times in the New World. Generally, in the colonies, the church was normallyRead MoreReligion Has Been A Major Force In The History Of The United1104 Words   |  5 PagesStates and in settling the colonies of America in many ways. Religion was definitely one of the major reasons for the founding of the colonies. The early colonists wanted the freedom to worship God as they had seen as proper, and they were promised this freedom of worship. Most of these colonies were deeply rooted in their religious beliefs. Religion was a powerful influence on the social and political life of the colonial times in the New World. Typically, in the colonies, the church was a largeRead MoreEarly American History Essay1188 Words   |  5 PagesEarly American History Unity within colonies was extremely strong because it was assembled in a primal urge for survival. The colonists were in this entirely new land, so it was natural they would stick together to the familiar, and therefore build strong bonds and loyalty to their colony. Exclusion also excellently describes early America because of the way colonies expelled their own people if they did not follow the colonys strict ‘rules of life. The primary source documents; City upon aRead MoreEssay on Settling a New World1110 Words   |  5 Pages The very survival of the early settlers to the New World would depend much upon the generosity of the Native Americans. Had the natives not been so helpful and had instead violently resisted the newcomers, European settlers might not have been so eager to come settle this new land. Both Jamestown and Plymouth would depend upon the goodwill of the native people for their initial survival while establishing their settlements. The Indians not only introd uced the area’s indigenous food sources but alsoRead MoreThe United States1676 Words   |  7 Pagesconcept of the United States is so ingrained into the hearts of Americans that it can be hard to imagine when the home of the brave did not exist. However, the early seventeenth century features the origins of a country no one could imagine at the time. It began with James I issuing a charter to the Virginia Company, known then as the London Company, in 1606, but it progressed from that rough start to become the first permanent English colony in North America, located in Jamestown. New additions soonRead More Native Americans Essays603 Words   |  3 Pages In the early days of English settlement in the American colonies, the Indian-European relationship of each area was the determining factor in the survival of the newly established colonies. By working together and exchanging methods of food production and survival, an English colony could maintain its population and contin ue to support the arrival of new settlers. However, a colony that had trouble maintaining ties with their Indian neighbors had a tough time attracting settlers and adapting toRead MoreThe Colonization Of The 1800s1705 Words   |  7 PagesIn the early years of the United States’ formation, the country had its roots in the original thirteen colonies. Through years of expansion, the United States grew into the country we know today. Without the migration movements like the pilgrims’ voyage to America, the colonization founding of the original thirteen colonies, and the westward migration in the 1800s for gold and prosperity, the country could not be the way it is today. The colonization of the 1600s and the migration in the 1800s impactedRead MoreAnne Hutchinson- : A Puritan Spiritual Adviser1260 Words   |  6 Pagescontributor in the Antinomian Controversy that shook the entire colony of Massachusetts Bay from 1636 to 1638. 2. Roger Williams- was an English Protestant cleric who was an advocate of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. 3. William Bradford- was an English leader in the Plymouth Colony. He was also a signatory of the Mayflower Compact. 4. Thomas Hooker- was a prominent Puritan colonial leader, who founded Connecticut as a colony after opposing Puritan leaders in Massachusetts. 5. WilliamRead MorePlymouth Plantation By Jonathan Edwards And William Bradford Essay1473 Words   |  6 Pagesinto our government bodies and even into our every day culture and tendencies. Religion has made a major impact on American lively hood since the early days of settlement. Due to Americas strong religious ties, religion has been ingrained in our literature, influencing and directing our culture. The writers Jonathan Edwards and William Bradford have had a major influence on American culture through literature in their writings, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God and Of Plymouth Plantation. WilliamRead MoreThe Beginnings Of English America1121 Words   |  5 Pagesdid not realize was that things would not be so easy at first. There were some major similarities and differences between Europe and America. But compared to America, everyday life was completely different than that in Europe. When the protestant pilgrims landed in America in the year of 1620, this was the beginning of a new journey for many Europeans. Those who were fortunate enough to make the trip were ready for a life without religious strife that was forced upon them and monarchical ruling.

Not Only The Jews Free Essays

The first research in the late 1940 s and early 1950s focused on the Jewishness of the Holocaust. Modern research has begun to deal with the suddering of other victims of the Nazi genocide. For example, homosexuals, Gypsies, prisoners of war, Russians, poles, Catholic priests, Jehovah s Witnesses and other were more or less systematically murdered as the Holocaust continued. We will write a custom essay sample on Not Only The Jews or any similar topic only for you Order Now By the end of the war, as many as 6 million of these people had been killed, along with between 5 to 6 million Jews. Roma (Gypsies) were among the groups singled out on racial grounds for persecution by the Nazi regime and most of its allies. The Nazis judged Roma to be â€Å"racially inferior,† and the fate of Roma in some ways paralleled that of the Jews. Roma were subjected to internment, forced labor, and massacre. They were also subject to deportation to extermination camps. Mobile killing units killed tens of thousands of Roma in the German-occupied eastern territories. Further, thousands were killed in the Auschwitz-Birkenau, Chelmno, Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka extermination camps. The Nazis also incarcerated thousands of Roma in the Bergen-Belsen, Sachsenhausen, Buchenwald, Dachau, Mauthausen, and Ravensbrueck concentration camps. There were nonetheless several deportations of Roma. About 2,500 Roma were deported to Poland in April and May 1940. Most of them were starved and worked to death. Those who fell sick or became crippled were shot. Another 5,000 Roma were deported to Lodz, where they were held in a separate area within the Lodz ghetto. Those who survived the horrible conditions in the Lodz ghetto were later deported from the ghetto to the Chelmno extermination camp, where they were killed in gas vans. Roma in Germany were deported to Auschwitz, where a special camp was designated for them in Auschwitz. Gypsy family camp. † Entire families were incarcerated together. Twins and dwarves, however, were separated out and subjected to medical experiments under SS Captain Dr. Josef Mengele. Nazi physicians also used Romani prisoners in medical experiments at the Ravensbrueck, Natzweiler-Struthof, and Sachsenhausen camps. In German-occupied areas of Europe, the fate of Roma varied from country to country, depending on local circumstances. The Nazis generally interned Roma and later transported them to Germany or Poland for use as forced laborers or to be killed. Many Roma from Poland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Yugoslavia, and Albania were shot or were deported to extermination camps and killed. In the Baltic states and the German-occupied areas of the Soviet Union, mobile killing units killed Roma at the same time that they killed Jews and Communist leaders. Thousands of Romani men, women, and children were killed in these actions. Many Roma were shot along with Jews at Babi Yar, near Kiev, for example. The â€Å"Gypsy family camp† at Auschwitz was riddled with epidemics–typhus, smallpox, and dysentery–which severely reduced the camp population. In May 1944, the Germans decided to liquidate the camp. As the SS surrounded the camp, they were met by Roma armed with iron pipes and the like. The Germans retreated and postponed the liquidation. Later that same month, the SS transferred about 1,500 Roma who were still capable of work out of the family camp. Almost 1,500 more were transferred in August. The remaining Roma, about 3,000, were killed. At least 19,000 of the 23,000 Roma sent to Auschwitz died there. It is not known precisely how many Roma were killed in the Holocaust. While exact figures or percentages cannot be ascertained, people estimate that the Germans and their allies killed between 25 and 50 percent of all European Roma. Of the approximately one million Roma living in Europe before the war, up to 220,000 were killed. After the war, discrimination against Roma continued as the Federal Republic of Germany decided that all measures taken against Roma before 1943 were legitimate policies of state and were not subject to restitution. Historians in Germany argue about how universal the historical character of national socialism was. One conservative faction would like to view the communist system as responsible for fascism. Because Marxism was victorious in Russia, the Fascist parties were able to win in Italy and Germany. This speculation claims that the destruction of social class distinctions by the Bolsheviks prepared the way for racial murders of the Nazis. The extermination of the Jews is presented as a distorted copy of a previous model, rather than as a unique occurrence. Other social scientists have protested against viewing Nazi crimes in such a relativistic way. They see an aura of normality being created and fear that the basic anti fascist consensus in the Federal republic might end. They are also apprehensive about the analogy to current politics and warn against a restoration by means of history. Extermination or Reeducation? The concentration camp was one weapon in the campaign to bring state and society into conformity with fascism. If physical extermination formed the most frightful instrument of that policy, it was not the only one. A range of attempts were made to isolate people and to use fear to inhibit â€Å"undesirable† behavior. Whatever the reasons for imprisonment, all ncarcerations were the result of Nazi ideology and posed a danger to the prisoner’s life. The categories of prisoners differed from one another in how they were selected and treated. Those groups whom the Nazis deemed inimical but not racially undesirable were not completely rounded up, but taken only in random samples They also fared differently within the camps. Homosexuals, political prisoners, and Jehovah’s Witnesses are among the groups who were sent to the concentration camps for reeducation. They were supposed to renounce their particular orientation. The very fact of their incarceration estrained their ideological comrades outside the camps from becoming active in the struggle against Nazism. Democratic freedom makes pluralism possible. In democracies, deviations from the norm concern not only criminality but also sexuality, ethnicity, religion, and attitudes toward work. The Nazi system was concerned with deviations in all these areas. It classified political, sexual, religious, and working-attitude deviations in separate categories. In all probability, the Hitler state required these definitions of the enemy and was, in its own terms, correct in its choice of these groups. Within a society, minority and separation groups represent a seedbed of possible revolt. Homosexuality has always and everywhere existed. Hitler considered homosexuality as a predisposition that could not be changed. It was assumed that a homosexual orientation could not be eliminated, that only its manifestations could be blocked. Thus, the pink triangle worn by the homosexual in the concentration camp represented the Nazis’ intention to reeducate him. No credence was placed in a simple change of opinion by homosexuals, such as was granted to Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were not taken entirely seriously, or even to political prisoners. Two categories were seen among homosexuals: the constitutionally hard-boiled homosexual and the occasional offender. Since in neither case was the Aryan status of the homosexual in doubt, all could remain alive. If necessary, homosexuals were to be castrated, but they were permitted to continue to work. As a matter of policy, extermination was therefore restrained. In practice there were other contrary impulses on the part of the SS, and those who wore the pink triangle met an unusually harsh fate. The social controls directed at homosexuals within the camp represented a continuation and an intensification of social controls imposed by society at large. A nation with many children can gain supremacy and mastery of the world. A pure race with few children already as one foot in the grave; in fifty or a hundred years it will be of no significance; in two hundred years it will be extinct. It is essential to realize that if we allow this infection to continue in Germany without being able to fight it, it will be the end of Germany, of the Germanic world. Unfortunately this is not the simple matter it was for our forefathers. For them, the few isolated cases were simply abnormalities; they drowned them in bogs. Those who found bodies in the mire did not know that in 90% of the cases they found themselves face to face with a homosexual who had been drowned with all his belongings. This was not punishment, more the simple elimination of this particular abnormality. It is vital we rid ourselves of them; like weed we must pull them up, throw them on the fire and burn them. This is not out of a spirit of vengeance, but of necessity; these creatures must be exterminated. How to cite Not Only The Jews, Essay examples

Trade Theories

Question: Write an essay onAbsolute Advantage and Comparative Advantage trade theories. Answer: The study elucidates the concept of Absolute Advantage and Comparative Advantage trade theories along with the differences between them. Apart from this, the limitations of these trade theories are demonstrated in this particular theory. International trade defines the process of exchanging goods and services between people and entities in two different countries (Hanson 2012). More specifically, a deal of business policies and strategies constitute international trade. Different countries involved in international trade because more benefit is expected from exchange (Hanson 2012). Absolute Advantage and Comparative Advantage trade theories and their limitations: Absolute Advantage Trade Theory In context of trade theory, Seretis and Tsaliki (2015) defined that a country has absolute advantage when it is capable in producing same amount of goods at lower cost comparing to other countries. It further defines that less amount of resources are required to produce same amount of goods. Hanson (2012) argued that it becomes difficult to measure absolute advantage when producing the same good inputs different factors in different countries. However, Seretis and Tsaliki (2015) mentioned that a country produced only the goods in which it is more efficient, and trade the goods in which it has less efficiency. Absolute increase can be enhanced by increasing the level of available capital such as factories and infrastructures. For example, India has abundant of labor force and the labor cost is much lower in comparison to that of Philippines. This led India to acquire absolute advantage against Philippines in operating call centers (Hanson 2012). Limitations of Absolute Advantage Trade Theory As opined by Hanson (2012), some limitations are there in absolute advantage trade theory. These are: Account transportation cost is majorly involved in selling the goods and services in the international market. However, it is not considered in determining the absolute advantage of a country. The absolute advantage is determined by the assumption that the exchange rates are stable. It assumes that labor can easily switch between products. This is because, it assumes the labors will work with same efficiency. Comparative Advantage Trade Theory Bahar, Hausmann and Hidalgo (2014) explained that a country has comparative advantage when it is capable to produce a particular good at lower relative opportunity cost comparing to that of other countries. The major difference of comparative advantage with absolute advantage can be elaborated in terms of amount of production. As the comparative advantage defines only the ability of particular production at lower opportunity cost, it does not mean that the country will produce the product at a greater volume. For example, suppose 'Country A' has absolute advantage in producing both the goods X and Y in comparison to 'Country B'. Then, 'Country B' will produce the good in which it has less opportunity cost (Markusen 2013). Limitations of Comparative Advantage Trade Theory Baldwin and Robert-Nicoud (2014) brought out some limitation in comparative advantage trade theory: It is based on a wrong assumption that the wages of the industries between two countries will not vary. Different goods have different demand elasticity. It can be supported by an example. Suppose, 'Country A' is specialized in producing jewelry and thus it is exported in order to import food from 'Country B'. In the tough economic times, when global demand may fall, 'Country A' might confront difficulties to trade jewelry products to import food. Conclusion: The major difference between absolute advantage trade theory and comparative advantage trade theory is highlighted in this study. It concludes that absolute advantages defines a country's ability in producing certain goods more efficiently than others. Whereas, the comparative advantage defines a country's ability in producing certain goods with a lower opportunity cost than another country. However, a number of limitations are there in correct measurement of both absolute and comparative advantage. It concludes that most of the wrong measurement is based on the wrong assumptions of international trade. Reference List Bahar, D., Hausmann, R. and Hidalgo, C.A., 2014. Neighbors and the evolution of the comparative advantage of nations: Evidence of international knowledge diffusion?. Journal of International Economics, 92(1), pp.111-123.Baldwin, R. and Robert-Nicoud, F., 2014. Trade-in-goods and trade-in-tasks: An integrating framework. Journal of International Economics, 92(1), pp.51-62.Hanson, G.H., 2012. The rise of middle kingdoms: Emerging economies in global trade. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 26(2), pp.41-63.Markusen, J.R., 2013. Putting per-capita income back into trade theory.Journal of International Economics, 90(2), pp.255-265.Seretis, S.A. and Tsaliki, P.V., 2015. Absolute Advantage and International Trade Evidence from Four Euro-zone Economies. Review of Radical Political Economics, p.0486613415603160.

Posh Pastries and Economic Environment

The economic environment in Colombia is more promising than that of Venezuela. Colombia now boasts of a GDP of $365.4billion, which makes it the 29th largest economy in the world.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Posh Pastries and Economic Environment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In 2012, it grew by 4.3% and was a continuation of growth rates of 4% and 5.9% in 2010 and 2011 respectively (CIA, 2013). Venezuela has a GDP of $402 billion, which leads to position 34 in the world rankings. The country experienced a growth rate of 5.7% in 2012 but this was a dramatic shift from negative growth patterns in the previous years. In 2010, Venezuela reported a decline of 1.5% in its economy followed by an increase of 4.2% in 2011. Therefore, Colombia appears to have a more stable economic environment in comparison to Venezuela. An international business such as Posh Pastries needs to select a country that has sustainab le economic growth rather than peaks and plunges at different times. Inflation is a significant problem to Venezuela as this reached a record 26% in 2011 and reduced slightly to 21% in the subsequent year. Conversely, Colombia has a manageable inflation rate of 3%. High inflation rates are never desirable for businesses because entrepreneurs could get less value for their money irrespective of their input. Obtaining foreign exchange will also be a problem for businesses. Posh Pastries needs to consider this fact before it expands into Venezuela. Venezuela is highly dependent on oil as its source of revenue. In fact, only 5% of the country’s exports come from non-oil related industries. Therefore, the country is increasingly vulnerable to fluctuations in international fuel prices.Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Even the high growth rates that have been reported rec ently are due to increases in oil prices. Similarly, Colombia depends on oil exports. The country has also suffered from changes in crude oil prices. However, it has mitigated this vulnerability by promoting other exports that include coffee, bananas and flowers. While both countries are oil dependent, one of them is worse off than the other. This implies that consumers may appear to flourish in one year and then do poorly in the next year. Such a pattern could cause them to cut back on luxurious spending. Some people may consider pastries luxurious and this could hurt Posh Pastries. The political environment of Venezuela has been relatively tumultuous over the past decade. The country’s key political stakeholders disagreed with their leader President Chavez concerning his socialist leanings. This led to a series of infrastructural and communication failures. Furthermore, the country has undergone unconventional political decisions. In certain instances, the executive authori zed nationalization of key business sectors and instated price controls. This has led to a high degree of mistrust from foreign and local investors (CIA, 2013). Colombia’s political situation is quite promising. Their government has entered into free trade agreements with several countries around the world, including the US. Therefore, Posh Pastries could benefit from doing business with such a partner. Additionally, the country’s political leadership is moving towards privatization as seen through the sale of Ecopetrol, which was the nation’s oil corporation.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Posh Pastries and Economic Environment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Foreign direct investment is much higher in Colombia than Venezuela as a result of the political decisions that the country’s leadership has made. If foreign investors lack goodwill and support from the political leadership , then Posh Pastries may not do so well in that country. Political stability also guarantees the security of the business when it targets any potential foreign market. One should note that insecurity is a serious problem in Colombia. The country has struggled with rival armed groups that stem from the drug trade (Verma and Soydemir, 2006). One such entity is known as the FARC. Colombia’s leadership is trying to promote dialogue with the group but this has not yielded lasting results. The groups sometimes attack civilians. Furthermore, because Colombia has one of the highest unemployment rates in the region, it is susceptible to violence and other social ills like drug trafficking. In fact this country is the largest supplier of cocaine to the US. Conversely, Venezuela’s security situation is not as problematic as Colombia’s. The country has a lower unemployment rate, and this makes it less complimentary to social ills. Posh Pastries will need to consider the rel ative safety of its employees and partners prior to selection of a target market.Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Transportation and infrastructural challenges exist in both countries. However, Venezuela has a worse record than Colombia. Venezuela is still struggling with a housing crisis that stems from the unfavorable social policies of the Chavez regime. Additionally, the electricity producer is inefficiently managed thus leading to a series of blackouts in 2010 and 2011 (CIA, 2013). This crisis in electricity production also emanated from an overreliance on one organization for provision of all electricity needs in the country. Conversely, Colombia has not reported any infrastructural crises. However, it is still relatively undeveloped compared to western nations. The country must invest in infrastructure for it to compete with key production centers of the world. Posh Pastries should consider a country that has stable electricity supply and transportation systems that work. Transport capabilities might be at par in both countries but Colombia fares better with regard to electricity supply. Cultural environments in both countries are somewhat similar to each other but different from the US market where Posh Pastries is based. Both countries speak Spanish and have strong Latin American cultures. They are relatively friendly people who have collectivist traditions and pay attention to indirect communication. Even their food preferences are quite similar, their national diets consists of a range of dishes combined in one plate. They often place meat at the heart of their meals and even use it to make pastries. In Colombia, famous desserts include the Arroz con Coco, which is a pudding made from rice, coconut, lemon and cinnamon. Most pastries are deep fried rather than baked. In Venezuela, Arepa is one of the famous dishes; it comes from baked, fried or grilled cornmeal. Many of the pastries consist of meat or other types of fillings. Posh pastries would fill a gap in both markets as minimal western-style baked goods exist. The company would have an edge over locals as i t would be offering something they have not encountered (Teixeira et. al., 2008). In conclusion, Colombia would be a better foreign market than Venezuela. The country has enjoyed sustainable economic growth and political stability. Furthermore, its infrastructural climate is better than Venezuela’s. Nonetheless, Posh Pastries must take caution because of its insecurity. It can address this by choosing a city or location that is relatively safe. When entering the market, this organization must also market the exclusivity and exotic nature of its products as they are significantly different from the local diet. References CIA (2013). The world fact book. Washington DC: CIA. Teixeira, M., Klotzle, M. and Ness, W. (2008). Determinant Factors of Emerging Markets Risk: A Study of Specific Country Risk. Bogota, D.C.: Colombia Verma, R. and Soydemir, G. (2006). Modeling country risk in Latin America: A country beta approach. Global Finance Journal, 17(2), 192–213. This proposal on Posh Pastries and Economic Environment was written and submitted by user Yoda to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Australia Post †Case Study

The Australia Post – Case Study Executive Summary There are many organizations that have been able to stand the test of time in business. This enables them to remain strong and competitive in business. One such organization is Australia Post. This paper presents a comprehensive case study of Australia Post. The paper concentrates on change aspects in the organization that have enabled it to remain strong in the competitive mail delivery industry within Australia.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Australia Post – Case Study specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The paper is divided in several parts. The background part of the paper gives the general overview of the organization. The introduction part of the paper introduces the general organization. This part goes further to narrow on change that has occurred within the organization. It gives a transition into the main body of the paper. This presents a deep look into how change is being intro duced and implemented by Australia Post. The main body analyses the major strategic change initiatives that have been taking place in the Australia Post. In addition, the way these change initiatives have helped the corporation to position itself within the industry is analysed. There are several changes that are noted and analysed under this section. They include partnerships that the company has entered into, adoption of information technology in its functions, and the integration of e-commerce in diversifying the organisations operations. The other change initiative analysed is how the corporation is working on improving the delivery of its labour force. A number of recommendations are crafted at the end of the paper. These could serve as a basis for future development initiatives by the corporation. Background Information The Australia Post is state owned agency in Australia. The name Australia Post is the brand name of the Australia Postal Corporation. It operates in the Austra lia mail dispatch industry. This is one of the oldest agencies under the Australia Public sector and which has been operating since the early 1800s. Since then, it has managed to undergo transformation in order to cope with the changing business environment. The agency deals with the delivery of a wide range of mails in the country. Also, the company has been expanding its business operations, which now include electronic mail delivery services and the distribution of electronic mail services (Herr and Herr, 2011). Introduction Australia Post is operating in an industry that is very competitive. The competition arises from active firms in the industry including TNT, DHL and FedEx. The company has undergone transformation that has greatly contributed to its success. Most of the changes have been aimed at broadening and diversifying the range of service delivery by the company. The company’s operations are focused on various aspects.Advertising Looking for report on bus iness economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One of the areas of focus is letters. It also focuses on parcels and logistics services among other areas. The firm has expanded its operations, which are now discharged via various subsidiaries and joint ventures (Brimson, 2008). Overview of the organizational structure of the Australia Post The Australia Post has an elaborate system of corporate governance that is stipulated in the way it spreads and discharges organizational responsibilities. The organization has various administrative hierarchies eminent in the administrative bodies running the company. These include the shareholder ministers and the board that has two administrative committees. However, it is evident that there is little hierarchy in the organization due to the little number of administrative organs. This denotes reduced centralization in the organization which is a precursor to faster communication and discharge of duties for improved performance of the corporation (Financial Review, 2012; Australia Post, n. d). Many organizations are working on de-bureaucratization as a means of pacing up work and delivering best results. Australian Post has little bureaucracy that is contrary to many other government agencies. This is the reason why the corporation has managed to position itself in the industry which has many private and competitive firms (Palmer, 2007). The overall administrative body of the company is the board which is led by a chairman and deputy chairman. There are nine directors who form the board of the Company. Out of the nine directors, eight of them serve as nonexecutive members. The only executive member who sits on the board is the managing director who is also the chief executive officer of the corporation. The board is the overall decision making organ of the organization. It deliberates on the strategies of the companies before either approving or disapproving the m (Australia Post Website, 2012). The second powerful organ of the Australia Post is the executive committee, which is chaired by the chief executive officer of the company. This committee is composed of executives heading different operational sections of the company. They are the main strategists of the organization. The committee meets to deliberate on the strategies of the company and then forwards their recommendations to the board, which further deliberates on them and makes the final recommendations. Each operational section of the company is headed by the general, chief executive officers who are directly accountable to the chief executive office of the company. The chief executive officer of the company is answerable and accountable to the organization’s board (Australia Post Website, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Australia Post – Case Study specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The b oard is the chief accounting body to the shareholders of the company. It sets the objectives of the company and lays down the strategies to help in meeting the objectives. Planning is done on a three year basis. The board prepares and rolls out its corporate plan after every three months. The plan is closely monitored as it continues to be implemented. A progress report is prepared quarterly and forms a basis on which the plan is streamlined. There are two main board committees for the organization: the human resources committee and the audit and risk committee. The audit and risk committee concentrates on handling matter to do with finance, accounting, auditing and risk control for the organization. The human resources committee concentrates on the matter to do with the employees of the corporation. These include the formulation and deliberation on human resource policies, remuneration and structural issues. The formulation of different administrative units in the organization help s in the deliberation of different issues in the organization (Australia Post Website, 2012). The organization has many employees working on both permanent and temporary basis. By end of the year 2011, the organization had 23,369 permanent employees and over 10, 000 non permanent employees (Australia Post Website, 2012). Operating as a government agency and utilizing the government resources, the Australia Post has undergone tremendous strategic changes that have helped to position the company in the industry. This has enabled it to become self sustainable in the sense that it funds its own operations and makes profits (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, 2006). This has enabled the company to have the widest coverage and clientele in Australia which surpasses the clientele of the private competitors by far. This is a great achievement for an agency of the government that offers services at subsidized rates. From simple delivery of parcels and mails, the Australia Post n ow deals in a wide range of business activities that make the company match the prevailing demand for services. Financial and banking services have been fully incorporate into the operations of the company. Also, direct marketing functions and database management operations have been fully adopted and are being discharged by the company. Logistical and fulfillment functions are also among the operations of the company. All these denote huge growth and the aspect of business adaptability by the company. The company has had a strong transformational growth curve that has been prompted by the strategic changes that have been implemented by it (Australia Post, n. d).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Notable strategic, organizational development and change in the Australia Post In the year 2009, the National Archives of Australia joined hands with Australia Post in developing the Records Authority. This set the requirements and guidelines for either keeping or destruction of records in the core areas of operation. These areas include commercial operations, customer relations, corporate governance, collection management, mail operations, external relations, stamp management and post fleet and logistics management and strategic management. Under this deal, the National Archive of Australia was to commit to understanding, creating and managing the records on behalf of Australia Post. This eased activities for Australia Post as it gave the company the permission for the destruction, retention, and even the transferring of records to the National Archives of Australia. The authority assesses the records and sets timelines of the retention period for the records. The assessment report is the basis on which Australia Post disposes records that are no longer in need. This has improved record management by Australia Post. Therefore, this has positively impacted on the general, administrative practice of the company. Important information is sorted and safeguarded for future reference (Australian Government and National Archives of Australia, 2009). Areas of focus for the company as it enters into the future Bryan (2005) noted that futuristic prospects are important for any company that has a vision, and which intends to have sustainable growth. The future prospects of growth are based on the present developments and the opportunities that are imminent in the industry. So far, it can be argued that the organization has done well in capturing a number of opportunities that are prevailing in the business environment in which it exists (Australia Post, 2009). The company needs to work on broadening of its market and business shares in certain business segments which lo ok more promising. These include the banking and the financial services sector. More customers are found here, and the company can attract if it deeply ventures into offering these diversified services. Strengthening the market share in the delivery of express mail is another can further enhance the performance of the company (Australia Post Website, n. d). The prospective areas of growth for the Australia Post lie in the improvement and upgrading the way they deliver their services. Improvement of service delivery systems is one of the most effective ways through which an organization can improve its performances. Effective organizational change often originates from within the organization. Internal change strengthens the internal systems thus fastening the quality of services that are delivered by a company. One way of improving efficiency in the organization is by strengthening of automated systems to enhance the speed and efficiency of delivering services to customers. Automate d systems are faster and result into a cut overhead costs that emanate from the use of analog systems of delivering services to customers. Automation can be a precursor to attaining one-stop shopping services. This is in respect to the range of services that the company is offering (Waddell, Cummings and Worley, 2011). Organizational transformation using Information Technology Child and McGrath (2001) observe that information technology is the key too that is being used by organizations to transform their services and improve the performance. The Australia Post is one of the organizations that have realized the essence of employing information technology in service improvement. The program to use information technology in improving service delivery was fully initiated in the year 2006. This was to serve as part of a retrenchment program that was supposed to relieve the inefficient staffs by replacing them with IT systems controlled by few employees (Tay, 2012). As of today, the orga nization has approximately 1000 IT staffs. However, the overhead costs of the organization have not significantly dropped as was expected. This is because the organization has been forced to retain most of the staffs by reassigning them to other tasks within the organization. Sizable progress has already been made in improving the service delivery using IT systems in the company. In addition, significant progress is projected to come from the projects being initiated. More positive outcomes from IT projects are expected as the company continues to embrace it. The overhead costs or operation costs are often higher in the initial stages of application or use of IT in the organization. It takes quite a long time to realize the full benefits of information technology use in business. The introduction of technology into the operations of an organization is a whole business process and a big step in organizational change (Hutchinson, 2011). One of the major information technology projects that are being implemented by the corporation is the offering of digital mailboxes to their customers. This mailbox is expected to enhance timely and fast delivery of mails to customers. This digital service is aimed to foster secure access to mails by customers. Physical mails will be availed digitally to customers in a single location on the web. Therefore, there will be no need for multiple password and login details as has been the case. A single secure channel will be used by customers to access their bills, notices as well as other statements. The corporation has in the recent times been capitalizing on e-commerce. This has been aimed at expanding the companys business range of products. This has also aimed at improving service delivery to customers hence raising profits for the company. The corporation has already begun implementing its plan to venture in online marketing business. The company has already opened over 30 superstores in the country (Chillibreeze, 2012). Online marketing was seen as an opportunity by the corporation due to a substantive increase in the number of online shoppers in Australia. The new superstores are well furnished with diversified services in the offing to attract a significant number of customers. The stores have 24-hour shopping zones with parcel lockers, vending merchandises and self-service terminals. Also, postal services will be accessed in these stores. Online services will be available to allow for online product research by the customer and ordering of the products (Stafford, 2012). Present in the stores are also Australian Post Automated Teller Machines and the American Express currency exchange. This is a well planned venture especially in this modern business era. In this era, one stop shopping is becoming a business trend that is enormously applauded by customers. This venture is helping the company in exploring many business opportunities that are present both in the industry and outside the industry. Child a nd McGrath (2001) noted that the major goals of change strategies of organizations are to identify, learn, and capture new opportunities that exist in the business environment. The Australian can be considered as a business development benchmark for many government-owned corporations in Australia and the entire globe (Chillibreeze, 2012). Australian post has launched a renewal program dubbed future ready. This is a business development program that aims to propel the company into the future. It is meant to help the organization to focus and position its operations in accordance to the prevailing and expected changes in the industry and market. It is vital for companies to plan into the future because the business environment presents both opportunities and challenges (Dunford, Palmer, Benveniste and Crawford, 2007). The initiation of the program was done three years ago to aid the organization to become more customer-centered and by effect more sustainable. One of the main divers in the program is the embracing of digitalization of operations due to availability and importance of information technology. Physical operations have been the modalities of working for the company for a long period of operation. They are seen as having inconveniences and prevented the corporation from reaching and serving more customers as they as they are slow and inefficient. The program focuses on strategic units of operation in the corporation which are retail services, postal services, e-services and express distribution services (Australia Post Website, 2010). Collaborations and partnerships are founded ways in which firms breach obstacles and enhance the development of business projects. Australia Post has not working solely particularly on projects do with the adoption of information technology systems in service delivery. As a component of strategic development, the firm has signed a strategic working partnership with Telstra concerning the use of IT networks and mailboxes. This agreement was signed in January this year and was meant to enhance the sharing of network in discharging services to customers of both companies: Australia Post and Telstra. The channels of provision of information to customers are being enhanced as the partnership is streamlined. This will be more beneficial to the company as the customers continue to realize improvement in service delivery of the company (Australia Post Website, 2012). The labor problem The major problem that has been hindering change in the organization is the problem of labor. The company has been having many cash-in-workers who are often blamed for poor service delivery. This is coupled with the earlier mentioned problem of hardship in replacing the underperforming employees even amidst the introduction of information technology systems. However, negotiations between the corporation and the union representatives representing the employees of the organization have been in progress. Early this year, the unio n recommended that the casual workers be replaced with more qualified staffs who will be employed on a permanent basis by the corporation. This has been thought to be a positive step which will help eliminate inconsistencies in service delivery to customers by the corporation. As the company works on the modality of implementing the recommendations, it remains with one major challenge. The casual employees form a reasonably large percentage of the staffs of the organization. Therefore, it is difficult for the organization to lay them off (Ham, 2012). Conclusion Australia Post is a state owned company that has been in operation for almost a century. This can be cited as one of the best performing government agencies, not only in Australia, but also on the global scene. It can serve as a benchmark of how government agencies ought to embrace change and operate for profits. The corporation operates under a limited bureaucratic structure. Therefore, it has been easy for Australia Post to effect change that has helped the company deliver good services to its customers. This has also helped the company in improving its services and remaining competitive in the industry. Recommendations The effectiveness of change and improvement in an organization is dependent on a number of things within the organization. One of them is the organizational structure of the organization. Therefore, it will be important for Australia Post to continue embracing de-bureaucratization of operations. The company has to enhance its human resource practices. This will help it get employees who are modern and competent enough to handle the tasks. Embracing modern human resource practices can help Australia Post to solve the labor problem. Strategic partnerships are also important for a company that aims to expand its operations. Australia Post can develop business partnerships with like minded companies especially in the IT sector. This will help it in upgrading and using information technolo gy while hastening the delivery of services to its customers. E-commerce seems to be promising for the corporation. Therefore, the company is likely to increase and diversify its operations by investing heavily in e-commerce related investments. This includes venturing significantly in the e-marketing business that has been initiated. Reference List Australia Post 2009, Getting Future Ready. Australia Post n. d., The Strength Within. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission 2006, Assessing cross-subsidy in Australia Post, An ACCC report. Australia Post Website 2012, Australia Post and Telstra sign strategic partnership on Digital Mailbox and IT network. Web. Australia Post Website 2012, Corporate governance. Web. Australia Post Website 2010, Future Ready Australia Posts business renewal program. Australia Post Website, n. d., Banking and identity. Web. Australian Government and National Archives of Australia, 2009, Records Authority Australia Post. Brimson, C 2008, An integ rated action research action learning leadership development program for managers of Australia Posts delivery business unit in SA/NT, Gibran Journal of Applied Management, vol.1, pp. 85-108. Bryan, L 2005, ‘The 21st century organization’, McKinsey Quarterly, no. 3, pp. 24†33. Child, J and McGrath, RG 2001, ‘Organizations unfettered: Organizational form in an information†intensive economy’, The Academy of Management Journal, vol. 44, no. 6, pp. 1135†1148. Chillibreeze, 2012, Australia Post reveals digital mailbox plan. Dunford, R, Palmer, I, Benveniste, J Crawford, J 2007, ‘Coexistence of ‘old’ and ‘new’ organisational practices: Transitory phenomena or enduring feature’, Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 24†43. Financial Review, 2012, Australia Post: The enduring power of paper as an effective means of communication. Financial Review. Ham, L 2012, Stamp out illegal po sties: union. Herr, P and Herr, P 2011, U. S. Postal Service: Foreign Posts Strategies Could Inform U. S. Postal Services Efforts to Modernize, Diane Publishing Company, Washington D. C. Hutchinson, J 2011, Australia Post eyes billion-dollar e-commerce, IT News for Australian Business. Palmer, I 2007, ‘New organizational forms: towards a generative dialogue’, Organization Studies, vol. 28, no. 12, pp. 1829†1847. Stafford, S 2012, Australia Post losing $70 million a year on international pricing structure. Tay, L 2012, Lessons from Australia Post’s IT transformation.

Quote by Bill Cosby on Success Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Quote by Bill Cosby on Success - Assignment Example During that time, I experienced the fear of failure many times. I was often not sure whether I had made the right decision or not. The first year that I was here, the language year, I studied and worked hard without thinking about my fears. I attempted to make my desire to succeed more than my fear of failure, and so that’s what I did. I had expected to be studying language for a whole year, but after only six months I passed the TOEFL test needed to enroll in Embry-Riddle. After taking some time for reflection, I realize that if I did not make my desire for success greater than my fear of failure, then I never would have made it to ERAU. When Christopher Columbus set out to find India, he was not sure of what he was getting himself into. No one had ever sailed far enough west before to discover new lands. Columbus already knew that the world was round (he also knew that India was in the east), so if he sailed west he would eventually find it. There was a chance that Columbus would die in his voyage to discover India. However, Columbus was determined enough to travel through uncharted waters that his desire for success was greater than his fear of failure. Of course, we all know that Columbus did not find India, but in fact discovered the Caribbean and then what is now known as the United

Speaker Presentation Response Papers Assignment

Speaker Presentation Response Papers - Assignment Example He was very effective in his explanation of his career graph and explained how he tasted the cable television business at different places moving from Portland to Miami to Phoenix to Houston to Washington DC in an eight year period. In this time period he enjoyed various posts such as regional manager for marketing, sales manager etc. According to Bob Thomson, â€Å"He got a good taste of Cable television world over through this†. He steadily progressed throughout his career and by 1998 he was made the Vice President of Fox Sports International. According to Bob Thomson, Fox Sports International at that point in time comprised of various channels across the US such as Fox Soccer, a Spanish service for Fox as well as channels in Latin America, Central America, Middle East and Eastern Europe. Under his leadership, they had also started selling FOX rights to people throughout the world. These were some of the biggest milestones in his career. He was made the CEO in 1999 and Presi dent of FOX Sports Network by 2000. He got tired by 2009 and he retired. Bob Thomson managed to make the audience stifle some giggles as he spoke about his retirement in 2009. He maintains that he still does some work for FOX sports, for Direct TV cable networks and Yes TV. When Thomson had left the company the operating profit was 1.1 billion dollars and the revenue was 3.2 billion dollar and has a net worth of 18 billion dollars today. How Sports changed over the years? Thomson moved on to explain how TV has changed over the years. He began with the time of World War II. At that point, sports was being broadcasted by one or two channels only—CBS and Dumont. Sports was being used as a means to propogate the selling of TV sets back then but today Thomson explained, it is used as a means to sell subscriptions world over. Thomson was very sound on his knowledge as he drew comparisons between what happened then and what happened today. Back then, he explained most of the shootin g would take place in the sun as there would not be enough lights at night. The cameras used to be big. Thomson said they are big today but they were even more big at that point in time. The sets were nonexistent and there was non concept of rights then. Thomson raised a very valid statistic regarding how back then the total no of TV sets in United States were only 10 billion while today there are as many as 110 billion TV sets. This in my opinion raises a very valid point regarding the growing integration of TV world over. 1960s and 1970s: The 1960s and 1970s as explained by Bob Thomson, I feel were a very important era in the world of Sports Television. He termed this era as the start of â€Å"explosion of sports programming†. A very important point of this era, I felt was the growing commercial nature of advertising. By the 1960s, there was no longer one sponsor but multiple sponsors were called in. This was to capitalize on advertising revenew. Advertisers sought to targe t 19-54 male population through these sports channels. The challenges that arose: By 1980, the real challenges for Sports TV started emerging. This was when niche channels and non sports programming channels, started taking viewership away from mainstream networks. This was a very crucial period in Sports TV programming. Traditional sports sponsors began moving their advertising dollars into other areas as networks tried to raise advertising rates. An important point raised by Thomson was the importance of

Virtue Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Virtue Ethics - Essay Example (Maria 16) The people that have this kind of virtue based ethics tend to ask the major question on which action to choose when they are faced by a dilemma where a basically moral decision has to be taken. The theory also tends to train people on how to overcome the vices such as that of greed or even unnecessary anger that may stand in the way and stop someone from being a good person. The theory of virtue ethics has been in the background of all forms of discussions whereby they have been given a low profile when people meet to discuss issues of morality and the theories involved. In western philosophy, the ancient Greek thinkers had the thought that this kind of ethics was the oldest in terms of time. According to Aristotle, who dealt with the issue of virtue ethics in detail, when a person acquires forms of good habits, then such a person has the ability to regulate emotions and reason in instances that require rationality. Aristotle, therefore, points out to the idea that such un derstanding can help people make decisions that are morally correct when they are face with situations of difficulties. (Maggio 28) The major reason as to why virtue ethics can be said to remain popular and relevant is because it makes a major contribution that would enable us get to understand morality in depth. The discussion also talks majorly of the kind of role played by motives in the whole agenda of morality. Certain forms of virtues remain relevant as they are quite necessary for the actual accommodation of acceptable moral decisions thereby making it rather necessary for the moral decisions to engage correct motives so as to get more desirable end results of the ethical appreciation. Moral decisions are further scrutinized and it is discovered that moral theories do not rely heavily on motives so as to be able play a vital role in the evaluation of our moral decisions. (Maria 19) Correct motivations should be, therefore, encouraged so as to facilitate the evaluation of mora l education that the young people are taken through. The practitioners of this understanding point out the importance of selecting the desire of achieving a certain outcome then keep up with the need to accomplish the said goals by the kinds of actions that can make it acceptable when fully scrutinized. It is also important to note that the other reason why the theories under virtue ethics are prone to be more attractive as compared to the other theories is the idea that most of the other theories have the common way of facing difficulties and challenges that come as a result of calculations that are conducted under moral understanding as well as further problems that arise as a result of the lack of knowledge on the kinds of actions to accompany which kinds of moral duties that have to be emphasized. Theories under virtue ethics point out the understanding that once we are successful in selecting the type of person we want to be, it is possible that arriving at decisions that are m orally acceptable will most obviously come out naturally. Virtue ethics has the tendency of making individuals dig deep into their thoughts to establish the sort of people we want to be, the virtues that are expected of the persons we are trying so hard to be, the kinds of actions that will make us as individuals cultivate the kinds of actions that virtue ethics require us to have if we are to be successful in becoming the people we want to

Power And Interdependence In The Information A Media Essay

Power And Interdependence In The Information A Media Essay Introduction: In the article Power and Interdependence in the Information Age, Robert O. Keohane and Joseph S. Nye, Jr.1 focused on the idea of complex interdependence2 in international system this concept is characterized by an increase in interconnections and the decline of military forces in order to achieve cooperation between states and various actors. This article aimed to provide further evidence to what extent is the international politics transformed by interdependence in modern global environment. It also highlights that the contemporary globalized world is significantly driven by information technology and the Internet, because soft power3 is becoming more utile for states and non-state actors. Keohane and Nyes approaches to the Information Age and to faces of power are bound up with neoliberal theories so the principal focus is the neo-liberal institutionalism. 1 Robert O. Keohane is a professor of International Affairs at Princeton University and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the National Academy of Sciences.  (Princeton University, 2008) Joseph Nye Jr. is current dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and former Under-Secretary of State. (Harvard Kennedy School, 2009) 2 Robert O. Keohane and Joseph S. Nye, Jr. define complex interdependence as a state of affairs where institutions and interstate reliance play an important role such that it transforms the nature of the relationships between states and possible strategies that choose to pursue. (Future of European Foreign Policy Seminar, 2007, p.2) 3 Soft power is the capability to achieve required goals because others agree with what one wants. It grounds largely on the persuasiveness of the free information that an actor seeks to transmità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦information technology, broadly defined, is likely to be the most important power resource. (Keohane Nye, 1998, p.86-7) Summary: Over the 20th century, modernists pronounced that the technological progress will lead to transformation of world politics where states and their control of force will dwindle in importance but non-state actors will experience boom. Whereas futurists assume that the information revolution results in a cyber-feudalism where the government is replaced by communities aspiring to achieve citizens allegiance. States are more tenacious and continue to control peoples loyalties and frame politics in an information age, but they tend to be far more credible to a public. Critique: First of all, Keohane and Nye assert that earlier transnational flows were heavily controlled by large bureaucracies like multinational corporations and institutions.4 However, in these days, there is practically no institutionalized control over the free dissemination of information the power is widely spread to individuals and private organizations (NGOs) who undermine the monopoly of traditional bureaucracy 5, and governments possess less control of their agendas.6 Therefore the easy availability of technology and the Internet plays a key role in the decline of initial need for official institutions in the Information Age. Secondly, the main weakness of the article is the assumption that the information technologies are mainly located in the West. This seems to be irrelevant nowadays because the article was written ten years ago and from that time very significant shift in technological development has taken place throughout the world. For example in 2008 China said the number of Internet users in the country reached about 338 millionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ helping China overtakes the United States as the worlds biggest Internet  market [253 million].7 (China Today, 2009) Both authors primarily concentrated on the future progress of Western countries and underrated the emerging powers, such as China and India. 8 Furthermore, Keohane and Nye assumed that the dominant American market share in  ¬Ã‚ lms and television programs in world markets isà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ to continue 9 but this prediction proved to be inaccurate. 4 Keohane, Robert and Joseph Nye (1998), Power and Interdependence in the Information Age, Foreign Affairs, Vol. 77, Issue 5: pp. 83. 5 Nye S. Joseph (2002), The Information Revolution and American Soft Power, Asia-Pacific Review, Vol. 9, Issue 1: pp. 61. 6 It is essential to realize that the persuasion and influence increases as more channels of contact between societies and organizations are created and states have to recognize other key actors in world politics. 7 China Today, 1/06/2009, China Statistics. http://www.chinatoday.com/data/data.htm, accessed 9 November 2010. 8 Chinas biggest Internet companies, including Baidu, Sina, Tencent and  Alibaba, are thriving, and in many cases are outperforming the China-based operations of American Internet giants like  Google,   Yahoo   and   eBay. (Barboza in New York Times, July 26 2008) According to Screen Digest research, in 2005, India produced 1,041 feature films, compared to 699 films made in USA. 10 These figures clearly indicate that other nations have increased their competitive ability and surpassed Hollywood. Apparently, the evolution of West modernity seems to be superseded by more rapacious East Asia. 11 Lastly, according to Keohane and Nye democratic states are more likely to familiar with the free exchange of information 12 because they are able to form information and use soft power. 13 The article emphasizes the necessity of ideology, context, credibility and transparency in democracy to form a truth and relevant information. However some scholars argue that democracy as well as totalitarianism could not be possible without the mass communications. 14 Unlike democratic states, totalitarian states repress competitive sources of information and are not reliable and transparent enough. But authors ignored that the sovereignty of democracies is influenced by free information flow because the decision-making of political leaders may be affected by other actors. Conclusion: In conclusion, it has to be admitted that the article is quite critical towards political realism and focuses mainly on the development and progression of Western world in the Information Age. Further studies and theories must be taken into account to present a current situation and improve our understanding concerning the complex interdependence as well as neo-liberalism in the Informative Revolution. Despite obsolete presumptions, the article has provided some detailed insights to demonstrate the values of power and the importance of interdependence in the Information Age. 9 Keohane, Robert and Joseph Nye (1998), Power and Interdependence in the Information Age, Foreign Affairs, Vol. 77, Issue 5: pp. 88. 10 Screen Digest, June 2006, World Film Production/ Distribution: http://www.fafo.at/download/ WorldFilmProduction06.pdf, accessed 9 November 2010. Most prolific feature film producing nations in 2005: China 260 films; Brazil 90 films; Russian Federation 160 films; Latin America 275 films. (Screen Digest, June 2006, p. 206) 11 Despite the fact that China still controls the assess to the Internet and monitor a certain number of users (Keohane and Nye, 1998, p.93), it has maintained a dominant position in the Information Age. 12 Keohane, Robert and Joseph Nye (1998), Power and Interdependence in the Information Age, Foreign Affairs, Vol. 77, Issue 5: pp. 93. 13 The Iraq invasion of Kuwait in 1990 serves as an example of American soft power in action when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, the fact that CNN was an American company helped to frame the issue, worldwide, as aggression. Had an Arab company been the worlds dominant TV channel, perhaps the issue would have been framed as a justi ¬Ã‚ ed attempt to reverse colonial humiliation. (Keohane and Nye, 1998, p.91) This case shows that CNN acted its role of reliable source of information very skillfully; it gained a respected international reputation due to its credibility and professionalism to frame the issue. (Keohane and Nye, 1998, p.91) 14 Nye S. Joseph (2002), The Information Revolution and American Soft Power, Asia-Pacific Review, Vol. 9, Issue 1: pp. 61.

Effects of Technology on People Essay -- Technology Essays

Does technology affect people or do people affect technology? Technology affects every aspect of our lives, we all use it every day with little thought. People take it for granted, sometimes knowing little about what brought that technology into existence. At the same time older generations have a hard time adopting the new technologies and continue to favor technology they are accustomed. The idea of technology is as old as the human race. To understand technology; first we need a common definition. Technology is anything that makes a task easier for someone or something. There are many different authorities that attempt to answer this question. Quotes, journals, and other various sources lend themselves to the topic of technological evolution as an attempt to answer this big question. There are eight sources that I feel do the best job of answering the question. Sources argue that technology is only effected by us, others suggest that technology affects us. Surprisingly none of my sources suggest that it works both ways. My first artifact is a college thesis by Jane R. Thiebaud titled â€Å"The Effects of Technology on People†. This thesis clearly details how technology affects all aspects of our lives. Ranging from social interactions to medical applications. Thiebaud believes that technology has sped life up, made it impossible for us to keep up with others, and basically pushed us head first onto the hamster wheel of evolution. The rapid evolution of technology has blinded us and that society has created its own downfall. Online interactions remove certain face to face social aspects like body language, which sometimes make it harder to understand the meaning of what has been said (Thiebaud). Technology has decreased our use of ... ...Technology and Human Interaction (2011): 13. Online Archive. 10 May 2014. . Sood, Ashish and Gerard J. Tellis. "Technological Evolution and Radical." Journal of Marketing 69 (2005): 152-168. Online Archive. 11 May 2014. . Thiebaud, Jane R. "Effects of Technology on People: Living F2F Conversation and Social Interaction." Association, Media Ecology. Proceedings of the Media Ecology Association. Vol. 11. 2010. 117-127. Online Archive. 10 May 2014. . Whipps, Heather. How Gunpowder Changed the World. 6 April 2008. Online. 10 May 2014. . Effects of Technology on People Essay -- Technology Essays Does technology affect people or do people affect technology? Technology affects every aspect of our lives, we all use it every day with little thought. People take it for granted, sometimes knowing little about what brought that technology into existence. At the same time older generations have a hard time adopting the new technologies and continue to favor technology they are accustomed. The idea of technology is as old as the human race. To understand technology; first we need a common definition. Technology is anything that makes a task easier for someone or something. There are many different authorities that attempt to answer this question. Quotes, journals, and other various sources lend themselves to the topic of technological evolution as an attempt to answer this big question. There are eight sources that I feel do the best job of answering the question. Sources argue that technology is only effected by us, others suggest that technology affects us. Surprisingly none of my sources suggest that it works both ways. My first artifact is a college thesis by Jane R. Thiebaud titled â€Å"The Effects of Technology on People†. This thesis clearly details how technology affects all aspects of our lives. Ranging from social interactions to medical applications. Thiebaud believes that technology has sped life up, made it impossible for us to keep up with others, and basically pushed us head first onto the hamster wheel of evolution. The rapid evolution of technology has blinded us and that society has created its own downfall. Online interactions remove certain face to face social aspects like body language, which sometimes make it harder to understand the meaning of what has been said (Thiebaud). Technology has decreased our use of ... ...Technology and Human Interaction (2011): 13. Online Archive. 10 May 2014. . Sood, Ashish and Gerard J. Tellis. "Technological Evolution and Radical." Journal of Marketing 69 (2005): 152-168. Online Archive. 11 May 2014. . Thiebaud, Jane R. "Effects of Technology on People: Living F2F Conversation and Social Interaction." Association, Media Ecology. Proceedings of the Media Ecology Association. Vol. 11. 2010. 117-127. Online Archive. 10 May 2014. . Whipps, Heather. How Gunpowder Changed the World. 6 April 2008. Online. 10 May 2014. .