Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Corporate Environmental Reporting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Corporate Environmental Reporting - Essay Example The stakeholders have been under utter confusion with regard to the information contained in the reports. Naturally, an expectation gap exists between the users (stakeholders) and preparers of environmental reports. At this juncture, a study is relevant as to examine whether there is any such expectation gap is present or not. The present study, therefore, attempts to examine the difference in the perception of preparers and users of environmental reports in the U.K. The study is carried out as an exploratory research by suing sample survey. An extensive preliminary research has been undertaken so as to acquire a basic knowledge of the unexplored area. The study heavily relies on primary data and data are collected directly from the respondents using two sets of well structured questionnaire. An interview schedule is also prepared to collect data. The population for the study comprises of two sets of professionals, namely chartered accountants and chief accounting officials of 200 ma nufacturing firms in the U.K. Naturally, the sample size of the survey comes to 400 put together. The data collected are edited, coded and analyzed to arrive at meaningful conclusions and generalizations. Because of the increased emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) the world over, corporations are obliged to present the information about the fulfillment of their duties towards various stakeholders including society... Corporations across the globe have accepted CSR as an effective tool for sustainable development and high financial performance. To communicate and share the information about what the corporations have done in respect of CSR is made possible through what is popularly known as Environmental Reporting (ER). In a broad sense, environmental reporting is known by various nomenclatures such as Corporate Social Reporting, Triple Bottom Line Reporting etc. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) defines Environmental Reporting as "public reports by companies to provide internal and external stakeholders with a picture of the corporate position and activities on economic, environmental and social dimensions". It is taken as a means to publicly demonstrate organizations' commitment to environmental obligations and to disseminate information on their environmental performance and initiatives. In most of the countries, environmental reporting has not been made mandatory, but corporations take it as obligation on their part to fulfill the information needs of the various stakeholders by preparing various reports in an appropriate manner. In the developed countries like the U.K and the U.S., it is being widely established and applied by big as well as small organizations. As per the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, following are the principles of environmental reporting. - Transparency; - Accuracy; - Clarity; - Inclusiveness and completeness; - Verifiability and auditability; - Timeliness; - Relevance to the concerns of stakeholders; - Comparability (to facilitate comparison over time and between organizations); and, - Neutrality Since the emergence

Monday, October 28, 2019

Stem Cell in the Philippines Essay Example for Free

Stem Cell in the Philippines Essay As time goes by, there seems to be a gradual influence of modern sensibility on the way humans perceive the concept of health. In fact, nowadays, there seems to be a blurring of the line between health and wellness. Because of this, it is inevitable that in a modern society, people are now being more conscious with their body and their health is now being a worrisome for them. Thus, science, especially the field of medicine and health sciences, has permeated popular culture in a sense that people have already treated health as a â€Å"religion†. A perfect example of this phenomenon is the rising popularity of stem cell technology because it has already become a transnational activity and issue. Because of this technology’s transnational influence, governments around the world have been very supportive of it. And now, this transnational activity has entered the Philippine healthcare and medical discourse, and issues in its funding are arising. Although stem cell technology is a relatively new and promising technology which will help address health concerns in the country, the federal funding of this technology will only be a burden for the government for it is not a necessity, has questionable benefits, and is impractical and not practicable. This paper, then, seeks to determine the origin of how the concept of stem cell entered the Philippine health and medical discourse as well as issues regarding the federal funding of stem cell research and technology in the country. Furthermore, the writer wants to state that although this paper is arguing that the government should not fund stem cell research in the country, this paper is not trying to argue on the necessity, beneficiality, practicality, and practicability of stem cell research and technology in general, or should it be implemented in the country without federal funding. Also, although some issues of bioethics are going to be tackled in this paper, the writer does not intend to side on certain beliefs of some culture or religion. The discussion on the ethical issues affiliated with the federal funding of stem cell research and technology are entirely made on a social, political, and economic basis. But before the paper begins on enlisting the arguments against the federal funding of stem cell research and technology in the country, it will first provide a background of how it came to the Philippine context. Starting now from what was stated in the introduction, that modern sensibility has gradually influenced people’s perception of the concept of health, it is important to note that with modern technology it has provided an avenue for medical research to continuously uncover new facts and principles that build upon existing knowledge to modify the way we think about biological processes (Trounson xix). In relation to this, throughout the age of medical research, it can be inferred that the reason why there is a continuous activity regarding medical research is because there is a growing interest among scientists in the discovery of new and revolutionary methods of treating certain illnesses that are difficult to be treated in the present like cancer, diabetes, and other degenerative illnesses. It is true that after the nineteenth century, it was thought that â€Å"germs† are the main causes of death among Americans in terms of health-related deaths. But with the birth of the twentieth century and the booming twenties, there has been a paradigm shift in trying to find out the causes of health-related casualties. It was believed then that as generations come, people will be more conscious to degenerative illnesses than that of infectious diseases. Since then, there have been many studies that try to give cure to these degenerative illnesses like cancer, diabetes, etc. And yes, there have been successful discoveries, and there are some failures or â€Å"still ongoing† studies like the attempt to find the cure for diabetes. These then, can be the rationale behind the endless string of studies in the field of medicine and health sciences. However, it is also without doubt that the reason why scientists are so interested with medical research is that, in a social context, the field of medicine and health sciences tries to give pertinent solutions to the people’s needs, wants, and interests in having a healthy lifestyle, being safe from diseases, and in having a beautiful and healthy body. It is intriguing, though, to know that medical research is also being influenced by the interest of the people, of the mass to be more specific. From this, we can then assume that health has been popularized already. In fact, after the first half of the twentieth century, in the final phase of the popularization of health, masses of Americans took a special interest in health as shown in their willingness on spending dramatically increased amounts of money for their health, not only on medical care but gymnasium and similar group memberships and paraphernalia as well to be able to have a healthy lifestyle, thereby blurring the line between health and wellness (Burnham 67). It is then without doubt, according to Trounson that â€Å"in the history of science, certain discoveries have indeed transformed our thinking and created opportunities for major advancement, and so it is with the discovery of stem cell technology†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (xix). Indeed, if there is to be an example of how the field of health and medicinal sciences became popularized, it is the rise of the stem cell. It was November of the year 1998 that stem cell came to the scene of health in popular culture. There were separate announcements in this time by two groups of medical researchers, lead by James A. Thomson of the University of Wisconsin and John Gearhart of the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, about the isolation of the human stem cell. That’s why recently there has been an increased interest among professionals and the public for the stem cell technology other than any fields in biology. But why is there such an interest in stem cell? The ability of the stem cell to provide an in-depth understanding of the biology of the cell and its promising abilities in the field of medicine are the reasons why stem cell is what getting the imagination of the scientists. They are interested in the stem cell because of its property of self-renewal (the ability to produce cells identical to the mother cell) and the ability to make differentiated cells (daughter cells that have limited and focused potential) (Melton and Cowen xxiii). It is a relatively new and promising technology that can lead to the cure for diabetes and more advanced treatment of cancer and other degenerative illnesses. Furthermore, there is a possibility that through regenerative medicine that makes use of stem cell, cancer and heart disease can now be cured. But what makes stem cell technology a buzz among the public is because it has been a hit in the field of cosmetology for stem cell technology can prevent body aging. Also, through the popularization of the stem cell, there have been certain hypotheses that stem cell technology can prolong someone’s life span compares to the average human life span. Because of the popularization of stem cell, it is without doubt that it will become a global issue. Its impact has made transnational influence already. It is because presently, science is a transnational activity – the work and research of scientists have no national boundary (Savulescu and Saunders c3). However, the regulation of science is still being placed under national jurisdiction. It is often that there are different laws and ethical standards in each country, and of course, transnational studies in science are being affected. This implies that there are â€Å"some fundamental cultural, social, [political], and economic forces that drives controversy and conflict, not only in the United States, but in Europe and elsewhere† (Green 265). Due to this, there have been suggestions from different groups from the scientific community specializing in stem cell research and technology that there should be a regulation of stem cell research in different countries because of the potential of this technology especially if the administrations will give importance for the politics of public health (Savulescu and Saunders c3). Later on, because of this transnational influence, there has been a steadfast support from governments all over the world for stem cell technology and in the effort of making stem cell research and technology a transnational activity, also due to the transnational collaboration of scientists from different countries to impart among themselves knowledge about stem cell technology. One of these countries is the United States which pioneered research in this field, where modern medical techniques were developed using this technology. In fact, stem cell research has a long history already in the US. There have been debates regarding the ethical issues associated with stem cell technology, specifically the use of human embryonic stem cells, and issues regarding the federal funding of stem cell research and technology. Only last 2009, US President Barack Obama approved the bill amending the federal funding of stem cell research and technology in the US. It is also important to note that other countries in Asia and other third world countries have been influenced by this transnational activity. In 2004, three private stem cell banks were established in South Africa. Even though, these banks were private, the government has shown interest and support for these private research entities and stem cell research as well because of the Human Tissue Act that allows the use of human embryos that are not more than 14 days old in their research projects. Last March 2012, a group of scientists from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa was able to produce pluripotent stem cells – a feat and a first from a third world country. Meanwhile in Asia, legislation was passed in China that allows the stem cell research and India, another third world county in Asia, has now launched programs using stem cell technology. Singapore is now known as Asia’s Stem Cell Center, where more than forty groups of researchers are to be found, some of it are funded by the government. The Philippines is no exception. A third world country from South East Asia, the country has proved that we are not to be left behind in terms of medical development. Stem cell technology was introduced to the Philippines as a technology used in the medical field of cosmetology. A few examples of the usage of this technology in this field are the alteration or surgery of certain body parts like the nose or breasts and the age-defying medications that fight off skin or body aging. However, discoveries that are exchanged through transnational studies brought to the Philippines some breakthroughs in the use of stem cell technology. That’s why some groups of specialists from the country has already joined the transnational activity that is collaborative stem cell research and used the discoveries in stem cell research in other medical fields other than cosmetology. The group of specialists from the National Kidney and Transplant Institute pioneered the use of stem cell in transplantation in 1990. From then on, the institution has strived to raise the standards of stem cell technology through providing modern facilities and continuous research in the field especially in its usage in Dendritic Cell Vaccine Therapy in collaboration with the Lung Center of the Philippines. Another spearheading group in the field of stem cell technology in the country is the group from The Medical City where they used their discoveries to be the pioneers in the medical technique of personalized molecular medicine in the country through their Regenerative Medicine Program that is lead by Dr. Joyce Bernal. Other groups that have explored stem cell technology in the country are the groups from St. Luke’s Medical Center, Eye Institution, and the Makati Medical Center. Notice that all of the institutions mentioned are private institutions. It is with no doubt that the government might have an interest in a public stem cell center. The interest was then materialized on September 13, 2011 when House Bill No. 5287 or the Stem Cell Center of the Philippines Act of 2010 was passed to the congress. The house bill, introduced by Rep. Carmelo Lazatin, states that a government-run stem cell center has to be established in the country that will be the premier center for research and technology applications of stem cell which will be, in essence, funded by the government. However, we need not to follow the United States in federally funding stem cell research and technology in the country. That although stem cell technology will help address health concerns in the country, the federal funding of the technology will only be a burden fir the government for it is not a necessity, has questionable benefits, and is impractical and not practicable. Firstly, the federal funding of stem cell research is not a necessity. The government has more pressing concerns that should be prioritized first in the health care system. Instead of building new facilities for a single stem cell center, why not improve the infrastructures of public health institutions? We need more public hospitals, especially in the provinces and rural areas where access to medical assistance is scarce, that are also well-equipped with modern advances in medicine and have competitive health workers. This way, we’re already hitting two birds with one stone. Not only that the government is providing more health facilities for the people, but it is also providing jobs for practitioners in medicine like doctors, nurses, midwives, and etc. as well. Through this, the government is making a small step towards lessening underemployment in the country and the number of health professionals that have to work abroad. Also, the government has to address issues regarding the PhilHealth system. According to the Philippine Health System Review, although estimates of PhilHealth coverage of the population vary, there are legitimate concerns that the amount of financial protection provided by the county’s largest insurance program is actually small, at least relative to its infrastructure and available resources (Romualdez et al. 36-39). In addition to this, the government has to financially support instead research in the advanced treatment of epidemic diseases that are more rampant in the country especially among the poor. Secondly, the federal funding of stem cell technology has questionable benefits. The fact the government will fund stem cell research will do ensure that stem cell treatment may be open to the public at a lower price. However, stem cell treatment is not the same for anyone, thus, there will be different processes such that because stem cell treatment must be a personalized treatment, but this will require a lot of costs because specialists will then have to prepare different treatments for different patients. Even so, that the treatment may be open to the public at a lower price might affect the quality of the treatment because (1) price tag may limit potential scope of stem cell treatment, particularly if treatments are individually customized, which may be necessary and (2) such limitations might lead to further problems and will have to require financial support again. Furthermore, Evert and Zavarzadeh argue that: â€Å"†¦[B]ut public funding is itself the immediate form of surplus labor in conducting stem cell research†¦Those who use the excuse of the usefulness of stem cell research for curing illnesses argue that public funding (the social surplus) but privatize its cost of new research (funding it through people’s taxes) but privatize its profits. The new procedures/medicines that will be developed will then be patented by these companies and sold at a high profit back to the people who have provided the funding (through their taxes) for these discoveries.† (116) Indeed, since the government will have to fund a costly research, there will be no choice left than to spend a considerable part of the taxes collected from the public for stem cell research which then raises the question: Who are the actual beneficiaries of federal funding of stem cell research then? Thirdly, the federal funding of stem cell technology is impractical and not practicable because the facilities and technology required in making sure that an advance science like stem cell technology meets high standards are definitely going to be of high maintenance and expensive value. According to a press release of the Department of Health last September 4, 2012 in its website, DOH Secretary Enrique T. Ona announces the proposed 2013 budget of the department. He announces that there is an increase for this year’s healthcare budget. Furthermore, he emphasizes that the budget is allotted in line with the administration’s effort to alleviate poverty, thus the imperative implementation of the Kalusugan Pangkalahatan by the department. He further broke down the components of the budget. He emphasized that 69% of the budget will be used for priority projects, and that the budget will ensure the enrolment of indigenous families under the healthcare system. Moreover, part of the budget is to address concerns regarding the improvement of current medical facilities and work force from the barangay up to the regional level especially in rural areas. Concerns regarding immunization and infectious diseases will be addressed by the budget as well. Ona ends the press release by stating that the budget will help the nation achieve its Millennium Development Goals, and further suggests that to further bolster the sustainability of the budget, the Senate has to pass into legislation the tobacco and alcohol excise tax reform bill and the reproductive health (RH) bill. Ona emphasized in the press release that 69%, a big part of the budget, will be used to address priority projects, activities, and programs in support of KP of the DOH. The following programs are as follows: Subsidy for Health Insurance Premium payment of indigent families to the National Health Insurance Program, Health Facilities Enhancement Program, Implementation of the Doctors to the Barrios and Rural Health Practice Program, Family Health including Responsible Parenting, Expanded Program on Immunization, National Pharmaceutical Policy Development including provision of drugs and medicines, medical and dental supplies to make affordable quality drugs available, Tuberculosis Control, the elimination of diseases as public health threats such as malaria, schistosomiasis, leprosy and filariasis, other infectious diseases and emerging diseases including HIV/AIDS, dengue, food and water-borne disease, and Rabies Control Program. Notice that the programs that are to be prioritized by the majority of the budget are the timely concerns in the health sector in the country. The researcher argues that the remaining percentage of the budget will be unable to financially support the implementation of the Stem Cell Act, and that to include the proposal to the priority programs will be impractical for the research itself is quite inconclusive and will be not practicable for it is an expensive technology. Furthermore Ona said at the press release that, â€Å"It is imperative for us to support the proposed DOH 2013 budget in order to build on the health gains of 2010-2012 and continue the direct, immediate, and substantial health benefits for our people, especially the poor.† Thus, the current proposed budget for the Department of Health is already spot-on on addressing the priorities of the government for the health sector. Without a doubt, stem cell technology is a high maintenance and expensive technology, thus efforts on trying to keep up with certain standards will significantly diminish the budget. However, as Ona said that â€Å"it is an imperative†¦to support the proposed DOH 2013 budget,† with the remaining percentage of the budget in support of other projects, federal funding of stem cell technology seems not practicable. Moreover, stem cell technology has yet inconclusive results that doesn’t address the more pressing concerns in the context of the Philippine health setting – that is, it cannot cure epidemic diseases like malaria, dengue, and typhoid fever which are more rampant in the country. Further on, there are a few select professionals that specializes in stem cell technology, thus the government still need to provide training for certain health professionals so that they can specialize in stem cell technology and treatment for the proposed public stem cell center which, in essence, is an additional expenditure. In the end, the conditions and standards set by stem cell research and technology do not fit in the context of the Philippine health setting. Besides, with the rising protest against stem cell technology because of it not being in tune with the established norms and ethical standards in the country, it will be better off that the government should not fund it because the country is still amidst debates between the implementation of certain bills that go against the foundations of moral standards in the country. Works Cited Burnham, John C. How Superstition Won and Science Lost: Popularizing Science and Health in the United States. New Brunswick: Rutgers, the State Univeristy, 1987. Print. Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines. DOH 2013 Budget Promises Better Health for All Filipinos. Department of Health. Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines, 4 Sept. 2012. Web. 28 July 2013. . Ebert, Teresa L. and Mas’ud Zavarzadeh. Class in Culture. Boulder: Paradigm Publishers, 2008. Print. Green, Ronald M. â€Å"Embryo as Epiphenomenon: Some Cultural, Social, and Economic Forces Driving the Stem Cell Debate.† Global Bioethics: Issues of Conscience for the Twenty-First Century. Ed. Ronald M. Green, Aine Donovan, and Steven A. Jauss. New York: Oxford University Press Inc., 2008. 265. Print Melton, Douglas and Chad Cowen. â€Å"Stemness: Definitions, Criteria, and Standards†. Essentials of Stem Cell Biology. By Robert Lanza, et al. 2nd ed. Toronto: Elsevier Inc., 2009. xxiii. Print. Republic of the Philippines. Cong. House. Rep. Carmelo Lazatin. An Act Establishing Stem Cell Center of the Philippines and Strengthening Research on Stem Cell Technology. 15th Cong., 2nd Sess. HR 5287. Quezon City: Philippine Congress, 2011. Print. Romualdez, Alberto G., Jr., et al. â€Å"The Philippines Health System Review.† Health Systems in Transition 1.2 (2011). 36-39. Print. Savulescu, Julian and Rhodri Saunders. â€Å"The Hinxton Group Considers Transnational Stem Cell Research.† Hastings Center Report 36.1 (2006). c3. Print. Trounson, Alan. â€Å"Why Stem Cell Research.† Essentials of Stem Cell Biology. By Robert Lanza, et al. 2nd ed. Toronto: Elsevier Inc., 2009. xix. Print.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Business Law Antitirust :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Because the field of Business Law is so great, this paper will examine a single aspect of Business Law, that of antitrust action. Specifically, as it is applied to Microsoft, antitrust litigation is raising eyebrows in both the legal and business worlds. There is a hue and cry that antitrust laws as they exist today have outlived their usefulness when applied to cyber commodities and artificial intelligence. This paper will present those opposing viewpoints and attempt to answer the question: are laws wrought in the industrial age applicable to today’s technology? And if so, is the antitrust challenge to Microsoft the tip of the iceberg in Business Law reformation? Antitrust Law Antitrust law attempts to ensure that market competition is protected from an organization or cartel with a monopoly on a given product. Much of antitrust enforcement tries to create a balance between the benefits of coordination and consolidation, such as efficiencies that reduce price or improve quality, and the detriments of market power that can lead to higher prices or reduced innovation. Corporate trusts grew rapidly in the US from 1880 to 1905, creating the atmosphere for President Theodore Roosevelt to launch his now famous trust busting campaigns. The era of antitrust legislation stems from the Sherman Act of 1890. The antitrust laws were based on the constitutional power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. It declared illegal every contract, combination, or conspiracy in restraint of interstate and foreign trade. The Sherman Act makes monopolization illegal. The two elements of monopolization are: "(1) the possession of monopoly power in the relevant market and (2) the willful acquisition or maintenance of the power as distinguished from growth or development as a consequence of a superior product, business acumen, or historical accident." 1 The Sherman Act was designed to eliminate restraints on trade and competition. It is the main source of antitrust law. While the Sherman Act provided protection against monopolies, Congress determined that it wasn’t quite comprehensive in its’ self. It was supplemented in 1914 by the Clayton Antitrust Act, which prohibited exclusive sales contracts, inter-corporate stockholdings, and unfair price-cutting to freeze out competitors. The Clayton Act of Seal Straugh 1914 makes price discrimination illegal, forbids tying arrangements involving only goods and makes anti-competitive mergers and acquisitions illegal. The Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts were made to promote competition between companies making similar products.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Renewable energy development on U.S. tribal land Essay

The expansion in the world economy has led to increase in energy demand and created an energy crisis in the process (Johansson 1). Petroleum production dwindles every year with also cartels such as OPEC hiking the price of oil at their wish. Evans states that renewable energy has been the centerpiece of eco-energy planning. Yet all renewable energy sources are not created equal and some are far more sustainable in the long term than others. Nuclear energy which is also renewable has been costly and is faced with the hindrances such as the Non-nuclear Proliferation treaty. Laughton notes the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, safety and potential consequences of power plant failure has become a matter of public concern (3). Tidal hydroelectricity is another renewable energy which a country can turn to but has been expensive, since massive structures must be built in a difficult saltwater environment. Considering the economies of producing electricity and the inherent authority of indigenous tribes which are not delegated by congress, wind electricity remains the only option for renewable wind energy development on U. S. Tribal Lands. Economics of Wind Energy: Advantages of wind energy Wind energy is considered as simple, widely distributed, and also environmental friendly. However, Environmental Impacts of Wind-energy Projects notes that there have been issues of time crowding, space crowding, compounding effects, nibbling and thresholds which all touches on the environment (26). Wind energy is a cheap way of producing power large scale. Currently, on average, it costs about 5 cents per kilowatt-hour to produce wind energy. This is cheaper that all other forms of alternative energy (Mills, 2006). Wind energy has reduced the effect of greenhouse effect as it produces no pollution. This is because there are no fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity from wind energy. Besides, wind energy is permanent type of energy. Therefore, its harness means there will be ten times of energy that is used readily available. Unlike the nuclear power plant, energy is readily available. With advent of new technologies, its extraction is becoming much more efficient. The wind is free, and we are able to cash in on this free source of energy (Mills, 2006). Wind energy can be generated even in the very remote locations, such as mountain communities and remote countryside. Wind turbines can be a range of different sizes in order to support varying population levels. Wind energy can also assist in diversifying the economies of rural communities by providing new sources of income, jobs for people who set up and maintain the turbines or manage wind farms, meteorologists and surveyors to structural engineers as well as operators. Statistics show that every megawatt of new wind capacity creates 15-19 jobs and about 60 person-years of employment. Besides, wind farms can be tourist attractions. Wind turbines take up less space than the average power station. Windmills only have to occupy a few square meters for the base; this allows the land around the turbine to be used for many purposes, for example agriculture.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Marbury v. Madison

In analyzing the views of the Marbury vs. Madison case one can tell that after analyzing the documents that the case resulted in puzzlement of Article Ill Section 2 of the Constitution. In the year of 1803 the Marbury vs. Madison case raised the question of if the Supreme Court should have the authority to overturn unconstitutional federal laws. Yes, the Supreme Court should have the authority to verturn unconstitutional federal laws.According to Article Ill Section 2 of the constitution, The Supreme Court is deemed the right to scrutinize a law established by Congress if it is deemed unconstitutional as document F supports. When applying this statement to the case, the conflict originated from whether the Supreme Court was able to deem Marburys wish constitutional or unconstitutional. Marburys argument In this case was that he was obligated to his posltlon as Justice of peace ecause the President nominated him and the Senate confirmed his commission.This is true, Marbury was entitle d to his appointment as justice of peace, but the Supreme Court was not the place where Marbury was able to get relief for his request. Since the Supreme Court has the right to reject a law that does not agree with the Constitution, the nation's highest law, the act is invalid. This supports the claim made by Hamilton in Document B. As Hamilton implied, this strips the Judicial ranch of its power and gives more power to the other branches and the Supreme Court.On the whole this weakens the Judicial branch and allows it to become the â€Å"least dangerous branch†. In conclusion Marbury was entitled to his position and the evidence supported his claim. But due to the fact that the Supreme Court was deemed the power, Ilke stated in Document J, to state that the law being used as his verification was unconstitutional, Marbury and others appointed to government post where in lack of their Justice.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Steve rubbell essays

Steve rubbell essays Somewhere in Brooklyn in 1943, on December 2nd an extravagant character was born. He would become known as Steve Rubell. Regardless that he was born to a lower-middle class family, Rubell had big dreams and a sense of determination and the ability to bounce back from failure that would help him achieve his goals. Even though, Steve Rubell was more concentrated on tennis during high school, he decided to continue his education at Syracuse University. He graduated with moderate grades. While studying for his masters degree in finance, Rubell met Ian Schrager. They complimented each other: where Steve was outrageous and wild, Ian was calm and shy. From that moment on, they would be best friends. Following his graduation, Rubell was hired at a brokerage firm on Wall Street. During this time, he decided to become an entrepreneur and would never again work for anyone but himself. Rubell began his entrepreneur career in the restaurant business, opening two restaurants in the New York area, and later a chain of Steak Lofts. For help with his chain, Steve hired Ian. They became inseparable business partners. The beginning of their success came from an idea Ian proposed: Why not switch from the restaurant business to the nightclub business? Steve agreed immediately, having realized that they could make more money if they focused on alcohol sales rather than food. The enthusiastic pair opened their first nightclub in Boston but, it was short lived because they preferred New Yorks nightlife atmosphere. Their second attempt was in Queens, with a club called The Enchanted Garden, which held theme parties and had some famous guests. Stubborn as they were, Rubell and Schrager were still unsatisfied with their address; they yearned for a reputable Manhattan location. A party planner named Carmen DAlessio, who agreed to advise the pair on their nightclub endeavo r, showed them an old, empty CBS television studio....

Monday, October 21, 2019

Free Essays on Spirituality And Substace Abuse

Spirituality and Substance Abuse Treatment The definition spirituality is a very personal and individualized response to God, as we know he/she, a higher power or an animating force in the world. A person does not have to engage in religious rituals or even believe in God to be spiritual. 1. Religion comes from the root "religio" meaning humanity’s bond with a greater being. 2. Spiritual comes from the root "spiritus" meaning breath or life. 3. However, the meaning of the word ‘religion’ has evolved to include religious behaviors and rituals which some view as an impediment to a spiritual experience. A person can be characterized in terms of their religion by measuring the extent to which they are engaged in religious belief and practice. Spirituality is hard to define because of its focus on the transcendent; spirituality defies customary conceptual boundaries, whereas religion is actually defined by its boundaries. Religion involves beliefs, rituals; and is, easier to define. Some forms of religion interfere or distort one’s spirituality. Spirituality should be multi-dimensional involving behavior, belief, and experience. Substance Abuse/Dependence Treatment and Spirituality "Religion and spirituality is an important factor in recovery from addiction. As was as Religious practices and the use of substances as well as the exclusion of substances by some religions. Religious practices In Judeo-Christian scriptures, drinking wine is assumed to be part of ordinary life and is even commended. Sacramental observances in both Judaism and Christianity involve the use of wine. Native American, Polynesian, African, and other indigenous religions have often used hallucinogenic and other psychoactive substances such as peyote, alcohol, tobacco, and hashish as means in the quest for spiritual transcendence. Some religions are characterized based on or inspired by drug use. Exclusion of substances are Judeo-Christian the Bi... Free Essays on Spirituality And Substace Abuse Free Essays on Spirituality And Substace Abuse Spirituality and Substance Abuse Treatment The definition spirituality is a very personal and individualized response to God, as we know he/she, a higher power or an animating force in the world. A person does not have to engage in religious rituals or even believe in God to be spiritual. 1. Religion comes from the root "religio" meaning humanity’s bond with a greater being. 2. Spiritual comes from the root "spiritus" meaning breath or life. 3. However, the meaning of the word ‘religion’ has evolved to include religious behaviors and rituals which some view as an impediment to a spiritual experience. A person can be characterized in terms of their religion by measuring the extent to which they are engaged in religious belief and practice. Spirituality is hard to define because of its focus on the transcendent; spirituality defies customary conceptual boundaries, whereas religion is actually defined by its boundaries. Religion involves beliefs, rituals; and is, easier to define. Some forms of religion interfere or distort one’s spirituality. Spirituality should be multi-dimensional involving behavior, belief, and experience. Substance Abuse/Dependence Treatment and Spirituality "Religion and spirituality is an important factor in recovery from addiction. As was as Religious practices and the use of substances as well as the exclusion of substances by some religions. Religious practices In Judeo-Christian scriptures, drinking wine is assumed to be part of ordinary life and is even commended. Sacramental observances in both Judaism and Christianity involve the use of wine. Native American, Polynesian, African, and other indigenous religions have often used hallucinogenic and other psychoactive substances such as peyote, alcohol, tobacco, and hashish as means in the quest for spiritual transcendence. Some religions are characterized based on or inspired by drug use. Exclusion of substances are Judeo-Christian the Bi...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Definition and Discussion of Graphology

Definition and Discussion of Graphology Definition ​Graphology is the study of handwriting as a means of analyzing character. Also called handwriting analysis. Graphology in this sense is not a branch of linguistics The term graphology is derived from the Greek words for writing and study. In linguistics, the term graphology is sometimes used as a synonym for graphemics, the scientific study of the customary ways in which spoken language is transcribed. Pronunciation   gra-FOL-eh-gee Examples and Observations In general, the scientific basis for graphological interpretations of personality is questionable.(Graphology. Encyclopedia Britannica, 1973) In Defense of Graphology Graphology is an old, well-studied, and well-applied projective psychological approach to the study of personality. . . . But somehow, in the United States, graphology is still often categorized as an occult or New Age subject. . . . The purpose of graphology is to examine and evaluate personality and character. Its use is comparable to assessment models such as the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator (which is widely employed in business), or other psychological testing models. And while handwriting can provide insight into the writers past and current state of mind, abilities, and compatibility with others, it cannot predict when he or she will meet a soul mate, accumulate wealth, or find peace and happiness. . . .   Though graphology is sure to meet its share of skeptics, its use has been taken seriously [for] years by many scientists and psychologists, and, most important, by some of the largest and most renowned corporations and government agencies in the world . . ..  In 1980 the Library of Congress changed the classification for graphology books from the occult section to the psychology section, officially moving graphology out of the New Age.(Arlyn Imberman and June Rifkin,  Signature for Success: How to Analyze Handwriting and Improve Your Career, Your Relationships, and Your Life. Andrews McMeel, 2003) An Opposing View: Graphology as an Assessment Tool A report published by the British Psychological Society, Graphology in Personnel Assessment (1993), concludes that graphology is not a viable means of assessing a persons character or abilities. There is no scientific evidence to support the claims of graphologists, and there is no relationship at all between what graphology predicts and subsequent performance in the workplace. This is a view endorsed by research evidence provided by Tapsell and Cox (1977). They maintain that there is no evidence to support the use of graphology in personal assessment.(Eugene F. McKenna,  Business Psychology and Organisational Behaviour, 3rd ed. Psychology Press, 2001) The Origins of Graphology Although there are some mentions of graphology as early as 1622 (Camilo Baldi, Treatise on a Method to Recognize the Nature and Quality of a Writer From His Letters), the practical origins of graphology are in the mid-19th century, based upon the work and writings of Jacques-Hippolyte Michon (France) and Ludwig Klages (Germany). It was, in fact, Michon who coined the term graphology which he used in the title of his book, The Practical System of Graphology (1871 and reprints). The origin of the term graphoanalysis is attributed to M.N. Bunker. Very simply, graphology [in law] is not Questioned Documents.  The purpose of  graphology is  to determine the character of the writer; the purpose of a questioned document examination is to determine the identity of a writer. Thus, graphologists and document examiners cannot trade jobs, since they are involved in very different skills.(Jay Levinson,  Questioned Documents: A Lawyers Handbook. Academic Press, 2001) The Promise of Graphology (1942) If taken away from fortune-tellers and given serious study, graphology may yet become a useful handmaiden of psychology, possibly revealing important traits, attitudes, values of the hidden personality. Research for medical graphology (which studies handwriting for symptoms of nervous diseases) already indicates that handwriting is more than muscular.(Handwriting as Character. Time magazine, May 25,1942)

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Research paper of African-American Music Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Of African-American Music - Research Paper Example The Harlem had significant influences over music and dance and introduced the genres of blues, jazz, hip – hop and rap music in America. Two of the types of music are blues and rap which are totally opposite to each other. They have different features and characteristics but are originated from the same race of people; the African Americans. Both the blues and the rap are important types of African American music. The blues was introduced in the hard times of slavery of the Africans in the 19th century, and therefore has a variety of musical expressions and individual styles. This form of music was originated by the spirituals, work songs and rhyming narratives. The blues form is present everywhere in jazz, rock and roll which is characterized through the possession of chords. The blues musical notes are usually for the purpose of throwing expressions and thus they are played on a flattened pitch which is important for the sound. The other characteristics of the blues music genre are the lyrics, bass lines and the instruments. The form can be subdivided in genres like country blues to the urban blues. These became more and more popular in the 20th century when these forms of music became popular in the American culture. Out of all these, Delta, Chicago Blues and jump are the most sung forms. The term blues often refers to sadness or depression. And so it can be analyzed that the form of music represented the period of sadness of the African Americans during the time of slavery and oppression. The lyrics of blues music are most popular for reflecting sorrow and loneliness, although, they do sometimes represent humorous reactions to the common troubles of life (Hamilton, 12). Ever since the blues music has been formed, the singers were known to use expressive lyrics to make some loose narrations. The singer often used a low voice where he tended to convey his

Friday, October 18, 2019

Frameworks and Decisions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Frameworks and Decisions - Assignment Example To a great extent, Marino calls it intuitively to point out the reality of the teaching of ethics. It is quite true that ethics is being taught in almost all fields and discipline but this does not in any way guarantee that those who partake of it would automatically make the right choices in the future. It is true that there is bioethics, legal ethics, medical ethics and all others of the genus but this in no way has it proven that arbitrarily mandating the students and other individuals would mean that there would be less of any malpractice in the future. The old Greek viewpoint of Socratic origin does make one wonder whether or not virtue could be taught. The greatest moral challenge is to first get to know one’s self in a contemplative and accurate way before being able to definitively claim that ethics may be imparted. This in its entirety gives out a deeper understanding of the most ludicrous title that Marino has given his article. â€Å"Before Teaching Ethics, Stop Kidding Yourself† challenges each person, especially those who teach it, to have a deeper psychological understanding of who we are so that we may be able to envisage our line of reasoning when faced with a moral dilemma. This makes for a tangible approach to teaching ethics. I deeply understand this sentiment because the lapse of time between now and that concept of â€Å"we will look at this tomorrow† is ample time to give any person for him to be able to reconcile his moral knowledge with justifications that he would have easily made without it. â€Å"Until finally we come to our senses and convince ourselves that the convenient course is the righteous course†.

Live Theatrical Professional Performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Live Theatrical Professional Performance - Essay Example That too at a podium designed for all; young, old, abled or a little less of it! I visited the festival on the 15th of July, the very first day of the performance when the actors are all totally charged to leave no stone unturned for their first act on the stage. I went a little before time to enjoy the ambience of the festival. . The park with its slides and the fountain at the pillar in the centre of the lawn was quite inviting. You see kiddos running around with faces painted of flowers and butterflies, the hustle bustle at the stage of the last minute setting of properties and checking lights and sound. The pillar with the four faces of the laughing beast facing each direction only went on to call One and All further. Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s popular works, is also his longest play with its innumerous soliloquies as also one of his most influential tragedies in English literature. Hamlet was presented by Globe Players, now in its sixth year. What we saw on stage, was the cumulative effort of six weeks of intensive training program. All of 15-18 in age, these teenagers assumed such seasoned roles with grit and an endearing innocence. Kentucky Shakespeare Festival veteran Matt Wallace directed the play having to his tune Patrick Zakem playing the title role of Hamlet, Christina Sauer as his mother Gertrude, Collin Sage as the vicious Uncle Claudius, Courtney Hardesty as the vulnerable Ophelia, Collin Jones as Polonious, Mitchell Martin as the faithful friend Horatio, and Ryan Burch as the misled brother and son Laertes. Many in the audience must have been first timers for Shakespeare. The intensive Victorian language that he employs is considered too cerebral. Add to it the plot of Hamlet is grim with a son’s suspicion of whether his Uncle killed his father, a fact told to him by a ghost! However that’s where this evening

Thursday, October 17, 2019

David Hume and Immanuel Kant on our ideas of right and wrong Essay

David Hume and Immanuel Kant on our ideas of right and wrong - Essay Example The human soul is always on the look out for the answers that haunt their reasoning. Philosophy provides one with the answers to all the questions concerned with the universe, human existence, understanding, morality, ethics and the like. One of the major questions that have been asked all through the history is about the meaning and ideology of right and wrong. What is right and what is wrong? How can you identify something as right or wrong? These are some of the questions that involve the awareness of the philosophy concerning right and wrong. Philosophical ethics, as termed by David Hume, deal with such questions and this branch of philosophy methodizes and, sometimes, corrects the practice in which human beings engage in everyday life. Accordingly, we try to understand the right things of life in difficult situations trying to do the good in respect of what we are and how we act in order to strive to do the right things as human beings and to avoid the things that are bad. Somet imes called meta-ethics, the specific part of the philosophical ethics discusses what right and good mean and how to act out for a life of good avoiding the bad in daily life. David Hume and Immanuel Kant are two of the most prominent philosophers to deal with the ides of right and wrong. David Hume (1711-1776), philosopher, historian, political theorist, social scientist, and essayist in his An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1758) and A Treatise of Human Nature (1739) provide a good knowledge about the understanding of right and wrong. ... The ideas of Hume had their impact on Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Psychology. "Hume is remarkable in that he does not shy away from conclusions that might seem unlikely or unreasonable. Ultimately, he concludes that we have no good reason to believe almost everything we believe about the world, but that this is not such a bad thing. Nature helps us to get by where reason lets us down." (Hume. 2006). The empiricist philosopher tries to make clear the rigidity of scientific methodology rely on philosophical reasoning. According to him, we can understand the world only as a matter of fact and so only experience can prove this. Relations of ideas cannot speak exactly for the existence of human beings, the universe or God. Thus, right and wrong are concepts that need to be experienced rather than described. This empirical understanding of the ideas of right and wrong is needed to have the clear picture of things. In the work An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding Hume discusses the origin and association of ideas. He distinguishes between impressions and ideas which will give us his notion of idea in general. Idea, for him, is livelier than impressions. Also, Hume talks about the train of thoughts, associating different ideas and explains the three kinds of relations between ideas. They are resemblance, contiguity in space-time, and cause-and-effect. Hume discusses the concepts of right and wrong and other related ideas of ethics, prolifically, in his A Treatise of Human Nature (1739). This is an expanded form of the discussions in the short essay An Enquiry concerning the Principles of Morals. In an empirical way, Hume argues that the moral

Business Conditions Analysis (1) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business Conditions Analysis (1) - Essay Example During this time span, there is considerable amount of decline or downfall in the economic activities. On the other hand, the definition of expansion, which is used by the committee, is that it is the time span between the trough and peak of the economic cycle. During this time span, the economic activities increase by a considerable rate (NBER(a)). The method used by the committee for determining the dates of the important events of the business cycle is inefficient in terms of identifying temporary shifts in the recession and expansion. As, the committee only take its decisions on the basis of the pre-defined definitions and has no method of identifying that the contraction or expansion are only temporary interruptions or actual (NBER(a)). Along with this, there is no appropriate definition of economic activity. For this purpose, the committee takes help from different economic measures which are used to determine the overall broad activity. Some of these measures, which are used by the committee, are product based real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), income based real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the real income of the economy (NBER(a)). Apart from these broad economic indicators, Business Cycle Dating Committee also sometime uses the narrow economic indicators which are not able to cover the whole economy, for example the industrial production determine by the index of the Federal Reserve and the real sales. Although, use of these narrow economic indicators along with the broad economic indicators can result in the problem of double counting the of the industries and sectors included in both indicators but still these narrow economic indicators can be beneficial when there is conflict between the broad indicators (NBER(a)). It is also important to establish, that the method used by the committee for the determining peaks and troughs is completely different from the two

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

David Hume and Immanuel Kant on our ideas of right and wrong Essay

David Hume and Immanuel Kant on our ideas of right and wrong - Essay Example The human soul is always on the look out for the answers that haunt their reasoning. Philosophy provides one with the answers to all the questions concerned with the universe, human existence, understanding, morality, ethics and the like. One of the major questions that have been asked all through the history is about the meaning and ideology of right and wrong. What is right and what is wrong? How can you identify something as right or wrong? These are some of the questions that involve the awareness of the philosophy concerning right and wrong. Philosophical ethics, as termed by David Hume, deal with such questions and this branch of philosophy methodizes and, sometimes, corrects the practice in which human beings engage in everyday life. Accordingly, we try to understand the right things of life in difficult situations trying to do the good in respect of what we are and how we act in order to strive to do the right things as human beings and to avoid the things that are bad. Somet imes called meta-ethics, the specific part of the philosophical ethics discusses what right and good mean and how to act out for a life of good avoiding the bad in daily life. David Hume and Immanuel Kant are two of the most prominent philosophers to deal with the ides of right and wrong. David Hume (1711-1776), philosopher, historian, political theorist, social scientist, and essayist in his An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1758) and A Treatise of Human Nature (1739) provide a good knowledge about the understanding of right and wrong. ... The ideas of Hume had their impact on Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Psychology. "Hume is remarkable in that he does not shy away from conclusions that might seem unlikely or unreasonable. Ultimately, he concludes that we have no good reason to believe almost everything we believe about the world, but that this is not such a bad thing. Nature helps us to get by where reason lets us down." (Hume. 2006). The empiricist philosopher tries to make clear the rigidity of scientific methodology rely on philosophical reasoning. According to him, we can understand the world only as a matter of fact and so only experience can prove this. Relations of ideas cannot speak exactly for the existence of human beings, the universe or God. Thus, right and wrong are concepts that need to be experienced rather than described. This empirical understanding of the ideas of right and wrong is needed to have the clear picture of things. In the work An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding Hume discusses the origin and association of ideas. He distinguishes between impressions and ideas which will give us his notion of idea in general. Idea, for him, is livelier than impressions. Also, Hume talks about the train of thoughts, associating different ideas and explains the three kinds of relations between ideas. They are resemblance, contiguity in space-time, and cause-and-effect. Hume discusses the concepts of right and wrong and other related ideas of ethics, prolifically, in his A Treatise of Human Nature (1739). This is an expanded form of the discussions in the short essay An Enquiry concerning the Principles of Morals. In an empirical way, Hume argues that the moral

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Management of Health Programmes- Organizational Design and Culture - A Essay

Management of Health Programmes- Organizational Design and Culture - A Process Centered Concept (SLP) - Essay Example Health care management has acquired a qualitatively different character from the days of voluntary service of philanthropic spirit to present day business driven corporate spirit. In this Session Long Project (SLP) based on the general aspect of the knowledge of organizational design and culture, a practical example is given how one big pediatric hospital with stood the wind of changes from old style stable health practice to modern day market driven patient centered health care. The children’s hospital of our interest was started by a group of doctors around three decades back with the purpose of serving the society of course with an allied intention of making little bit fortune also. In this setup each unit head was master of ones own destiny. As shown by Mintzeberg (1973) the design and culture of the organization was largely purpose driven and the staff used to report to their respective unit heads (Mintzeberg, 1973). ... maintenance of doctors position,and that the human rights are above professional privileges" (Bethune& Hannat, 1998,p.103). The whole atmosphere was informal. In this conducive, idea driven environment the hospital prospered and became one of the best in country. Two Decades Later Now the hospital had several departments catering service in different streams of pediatric specialty. Most of the doctors who lived for the ideas they cherished were retired and the new generation was almost unaware on who's shoulders they areManagement of Health sitting. At the height of glory decay started. The previous purpose driven informal atmosphere became privilege for people with vested interest. Few individuals gained importance at the cost of process and function. Inflationary pressures coupled with mismanagement made the hospital costly. At the end of two decades there was utter chaos. Corrective Measures At this juncture series of measures were taken. First, a Director was appointed and every staff of the hospital were made accountable to him, including the unit heads. As shown by Mintzberg (1973) the work was organized on the process driven principle and everybody started reporting to the Director (Mintzberg, 1973). Second, monthly once a full day was devoted to the meeting, with parents of the children treated by the hospital the previous month. An interaction was setup between medical fraternity and patients. Customer satisfaction took precedence over revenue generation. A regular Public Relation Officer (PRO) was appointed. First time in the history of the hospital process was given equal

Monday, October 14, 2019

An Analysis of Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay Example for Free

An Analysis of Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay Savage vs. Civilized The main concern of Lord of the flies is the conflict between the two competing drives that all humans have; to live by the rules and act right or to defy the rules and act on ones desires. Meaning Savage vs. Civilized. William Golding associates the instinct of civilization with good and the instinct of savage with evil. In the story the character Ralph is the protagonist who represents civilized, leadership, and order. On the other hand Jack is the antagonist and represents savagery and the desire for power. William implies that people are much more prone to the instinct of savagery than the instinct of civilization, especially without authority. In the beginning of the story, the meetings that the group has are very civilized and everybody abides by the rules. They form a society that has a leader (Ralph) and have a symbol of authority, which is a conch shell. They all listen to Ralph and use the conch shell to talk during the meetings; making the meetings very civilized. In the beginning they all do their part whether it be watching the fire, building things, going hunting for food, or getting water, they all did their part. As the story goes on most of the kids start slacking and the jobs are not being done well; they are becoming more savage. For instance the fire goes out when a ship passes, there is not much water in the coconuts, and only 2 people build the last shelter. The kids can’t even have a civilized meeting, and the conch shell is not being put to use as it should be. During the meeting piggy says† What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages? What’s grownups going to think? Going off- hunting pigs- letting out fires- and now! † By piggy saying this, it shows that the kids really are acting like wild animals and little savages. They are no longer thinking before they are doing things and have no sense of control or authority. They are beginning to go wild and the instinct of savage is kicking in.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Electronics Arts Company Analysis

Electronics Arts Company Analysis Electronic Arts (EA) is an American developer, marketer, publisher, and distributor of computer and video games. The gaming industry where the company operates is one of the most competitive and dynamic industries. Perform a PEST analysis and five forces analysis on the industry as well as SWOT analysis and suggest an appropriate strategic course for Electronic Arts. 1.0 Introduction Electronic Arts, Inc. (EA) is a worldwide developer, dealer, publisher and distributor of video entertainments. The organization was an initiate of the early home computer amusements organization and was remarkable for encouraging the designers and programmers in charge for its games. Initially, EA was a home computing amusement publisher. EA developed via achievement of several successful developers. It had grown to be one of the worlds biggest third party publishers. (Wikipedia ,2010) Presently, it is mainly successful goods are sports games available under its EA Sports label, entertainments based on trendy film authorizes such as Harry Potter and games from long-running franchises like Medal of Honor, Need for Speed, The Sims, Battlefield and the presently games in the Burnout and Command and Conquer series. With the majority of its sports instruction series being industrial by EA, and the worlds biggest enlargement studio EA Canada which they are also the distributors of the Rock Band series. (Wikipedia ,2010) 2.0 PEST analysis tools PEST can be described as political, economic, social, technological issues, which are applied to evaluate the marketplace for a company or organizational unit. The PEST analysis headings are a structure for analysis a position, and can also be applied to evaluate a plan or position, trend of a business and marketing proposal. It is a helpful implement for understanding marketplace situation, in which they are working, and the opportunities and threats that be positioned within it. (Strategylabs, 2010) The models issues will vary in significance to a particular company based on its business and the products it manufactures. Moreover, issues which are more probable to alter in the outlook or more related to a specified business will carry greater meaning. Additionally, EA who create a large range of goods can find it more helpful to evaluate one division of its organization at a time with the PEST model, hence concerning on the particular issues appropriate to that one division. (Researchmarkets, 2009) By understanding the situation in which EA function exterior to the divisions, they know how to take benefit of the opportunities and diminish the threats. Particularly, it is a functional tool for understanding threats linked with market development or decline and as such the situation, prospective and trend for them. It is finding out where they are in the circumstance of what is occurring exterior that will at several point cause what is happening within of the business. (Modelbenders, 2009) 2.1 Five forces analysis Porters five forces analysis contracts with issues external a business that influence the environment of rivalry within it, the forces inside the organization that control the approach in which firms compete, and accordingly the organizations likely productivity is accomplished in Porters five forces model. An industry has to realize the dynamics of its businesses and marketplaces in order to compete successfully in the market. It described the forces which make rivalry, competing that the competitive atmosphere is formed by the relations of five dissimilar forces acting on a company. It seems at five solution parts specifically the threat of entrance, the power of consumers, the power of providers, the threat of substitutes, and competitive challenges. (Emerald Insight Staff , 1993) Understanding the environment of each of these forces gives associations the essential approaching to allow them to make the right plans to be successful in their marketplace. It is a simple tool that supports EA understanding where power lies in a business situation. It also assists to recognize both the strong point of their current competitive situation, and the strength of a situation of them is looking to move into. With an understandable recognizing of where power lies, it will allow EA to get fair benefit of its strengths, develop weaknesses, and avoid taking incorrect stages. Consequently, to concern this planning instrument efficiently, it is vital to know the position and to look at each of the forces separately. (Modelbenders, 2009) 2.2 SWOT analysis SWOT analysis is a strategic planning system applied to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats concerned in a plan or in an industry venture. The interior issues can be analysis as strengths or weaknesses depending upon their force on the companys goals. The exterior issues can comprise macroeconomic matters, technological alter, legislation, and socio-cultural transforms, as well as alters in the market or competitive situation. (Strategylabs, 2010) In many rival analyses, EA make completed outlines of each competitor in the marketplace, concerning particularly on their virtual competitive strengths and weaknesses utilizing SWOT analysis. EA will observing each competitors price structure, sources of earnings, resources and competencies, competitive situation and manufactured goods isolation, degree of vertical combination, historical reactions to business enlargements and other issues. (Emerald Insight Staff , 1993) Another instance is EA, which is a great example of how computer amusements business can utilize a SWOT analysis to shape out a strong company strategy. They have known that its strength was selling openly to customers and keeping its prices lower than those of other competitors. EA put together a company strategy that integrated mass customization and just-in-time manufacturing and allowing consumers enjoy their computer amusements with complete imagination in the games world. (Researchmarkets, 2009) 2.3 The analytical tools in solutions It helps EA in discovery the true resolution that best meets their requirements and can play a dynamic role in the accomplishment as well as support. To make easy this development, they have recognized strategic deal with key vendors. The growing resolutions portfolio presents customers with leading skill by world-class partners and developed in the marketplace. EA suggests proven resolutions that provide stability, scalability and the elasticity needed to maximize effectiveness and performance in a extremely competitive atmosphere. (Sadler, Philip , 1993) EA bring value to their customers by joining that recognize how with an entire suite of feature rich resolutions that offers the best functionality part. Thus, the system to develop the productivity and efficiency of company analysts, EA must continue to enlarge the width and strength of their data storehouses, which will diminish the number of data sources that analysts need to entrance directly. They must also equip analysts with improved analytical tools that manage the way they do. (Coate, Patricia , 2007) In line with the ever growing complexity of the competitive marketplace EA has abilities far beyond those of the conventional intermediary, letting them to manage as their customers reliance risk partner with resources to contain every part of their business. They give the firm with the most proper resolutions, through consultancy services, systematic tools and risk goods that continue and improve their customers situation in the market. (Sadler, Philip , 1993) 3.0 Conclusion Any company must seek to understand the nature of its competitive environment if it is to be successful in achieving its objectives and in establishing appropriate strategies. If a company fully understands the nature of the analysis, and particularly appreciates which one is the most important, it will be in a stronger position to defend itself against any threats and to influence the forces with its strategy. The situation is fluid, and the nature and relative power of the forces will change. Thus, the need to monitor and stay aware is continuous. (Coate, Patricia , 2007) Some issues during the implementation of these analyses strategic are crucially important for organizations to build long-term business strategy and sustaining competitive advantages rather than simply list the forces. Successful use of the analysis includes identifying the sources of competition, the strength and likelihood of that competition existing, and strategic recommendations for the action a company should take in order to develop barriers to competition. (Researchmarkets, 2009) It is important to make sure that the sources are reliable and relevant to the current condition of the organization. It has to be viable, reliable and valid, in order to conduct a good analysis of the model. For this purpose, the gathered data and information has to be checked and be applied to the current business conditions. Further limitations could be present in the nature of market forces that reduce the applicability of the information sources to present situations and the amount of detailed information required. (Wikipedia, 2010) 4.0 Reference Question 1 Wikipedia (2010), Electronic arts, retrieved on February 12,2011 from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Arts Strategylabs (2010), Analysis of electronic arts, Retrieved on February 13,2011 from www.strategylabs.net/search-swot-analysis-of-electronic-arts_p8.asp Researchmarkets (2009), Swot analysis , Retrieved on February 12,2011 from www.researchandmarkets.com/reports//electronic_arts_swot_analysis Modelbenders (2009), Electronic arts, Retrieved on February 12, 2011 from www.modelbenders.com/papers/Smith_Game_Impact_Theory.pd E-library Emerald Insight Staff (1993), 1st ed., Strategic Management,    Emerald Group Pub lishing Ltd Sadler, Philip   (1993), 1st ed., Strategic Management , Kogan Page Ltd. Coate, Patricia (2007), 1st ed., Focus on strategic management ,   Emerald Group Publishing Ltd Question 2 Suggest why different approaches to strategy development might be appropriate in different organizations such as a university, a fashion retailer and a high technology company. Introduction A business strategy naturally is an article that obviously expressive the way an industry will pursue and the steps it will take to accomplish its objectives. In a quality of business plan, the business approach results from objectives created to support the stated assignment of the business. In the examination step of business plan development, one of several processes is applied to evaluate a firms market, resources, barriers to achievement and specific advantages. The aim of strategic examination is to classify what a business needs to achieve, the strengths it can bring to bear on achieving the objective and weaknesses that require to be addressed prior to combination and accomplishment. (Sadler, Philip   ,1993) Strategic consideration methodologies can comprise estimating the business circumstances, several of competitive situations, verifying what market forces are at work and ranking competitors, among others. Integrating a business approach typically is one of many steps in a larger production planning process. A business strategy starts with an overall vision. From the vision, a mission statement for the industry is constructed, regularly the shorter and more accurate the better. A mission guides to specific objectives the business will accomplish to complete its mission and that in turn guides to approach to attain goals. Specific plans are regularly then developed to support the business plan. (Coate, Patricia ,2007) Corporate strategy It is verifying the greatest plan to be competitive in the market. It assists to classifies, evaluates, and clarifies the main issues  facing productions to deliver insights corporations can apply to develop performance and achieve a competitive advantage. It is focused with the overall principle and scale of the business to meet stakeholder outlooks. This is an essential level since it is seriously influenced by investors in the production and performs to lead strategic decision-making throughout the business. Corporate strategy is frequently stated openly in an operation statement. The associations have a vision and a plan for accomplishing that vision. They apply that strategy through everything they accomplish. These great associations are able to make and capture value and situation themselves for better value. (Businessdictionary,2009) 2.1 Business unit strategy Strategic business unit (SBU) is focused more with how an industry competes profitably in an exacting marketplace. It focuses strategic decisions about option of goods, meeting wants of clients, gaining benefit over rivals, developing or making new opportunities. It is known as a business unit within the overall corporate identify which is distinguishable from other business because it serves a defined external market where management can conduct strategic planning in relation to products and markets. (Wikipedia ,2010) The unique small business unit advantages that a firm insistently promotes in a constant manner. When organizations become truly large, they are greatest thought of as being collected of a number of productions. These organizational units are large enough and standardized enough to exercise organize over most strategic issues influencing their performance. They are controlled as self contained planning units for which distinct business strategies can be enlarged. A strategic business unit can include an entire organization, or can basically be a smaller division of an organization set up to execute a specific job. The SBU has its own business approach, goals and rivals and these will frequently be dissimilar from those of the parent organization. (Wikipedia ,2010) Operational strategy It is focused with how each division of the business is managed to bring the company and business unit level strategic way. It concerns on problems of resources, progressions, and groups. The operating strategy intends to close the strategic gap between business strategy and accomplishment. It transforms the strategic objectives into obviously described achievement aims and aligns the implementation process to the value intention. The operating strategy consists of several parts starting with the operating business form as the basis for development, function, and technical and human performance style. An operating business form is the associations crucial logic for constantly accomplishing its principle goals. The desired outcome is to have a tactical to carry out the operating strategic plan. (Tmginconline ,2009) A number of the key essentials comprise classify required decisions and correlated issues for business process such as key production processes, managing approaches. Additionally, it gives creative ideas for operating problems and to make new value opportunities. It is a model to close business development gaps and to understand business value. It can be described as the business development direction based on the general vision. For example, key decisions and leading values for key business processes and managing approaches. (Tmginconline ,2009) 2.3 Olympia College Olympia College was established to meet the rising require for private top education in the country and is an associate of the well-known Raffles Education Group. There are choices of analysis of the strategic plan process within Olympia College. The operational strategy shows that direction into generating strategic competitive advantage in the development. Therefore, they can get a new system to structure their business functions and make sure the successful enlargement of their business in the competitive market. (Olympia ,2010) Strategic planning is a long range planning procedure that helps in setting the direction of Olympic College. The strategic plan originates from the colleges mission and strategic vision and gives detailed actionable strategies for moving towards planned outcomes. Moreover, they have to help student improvement toward objective completion. It is more purposeful and successful in their efforts to bring education at a distance, finalize and realize a long range distance education plan. (Olympia ,2010) However, they have to exploit community entrance to Olympic College, particularly for enlarge and apply an on-going enrollment management structure that informs instructional plans, student support services, and facilities planning. They are concerning attention on learning and to assist students, ability, personnel, and administrators perceive themselves as a society of beginners, encourage a college wide culture of measurement that embraces the consideration of learning outcomes and encourages the study of teaching and learning. (Olympia ,2010) 2.4 Padini Holdings Berhad Padini sells ladies shoes and accessories, childrens clothes, maternity wear and accessories through different subsidiaries. They can apply the business unit strategy to formulate and execute the plans that will give a competitively greater fit the situation and accomplish the organizational objectives. However, it can assist Padini to emphasize attention on a particular regional market or consumer group. The long term plan of Padini also wants to do the interior and exterior review to strengthen the situation in the global market. ( Padini, 2010) It shows a fashion viewpoint of each will covers a complete range of goods intended at a targeted customer. The corporation will carry on upgrading the image of its goods while emphasizing value and standard. It is successful grip in the productive but competitive womens footwear market. There are strategies to strengthen its dominant situation with enhanced production lines and increased competence. Having successfully impressed its brand names into the perception of Malaysian consumers, Padini is moving to turn its different labels into regionally familiar fashion leaders. It aims to fulfill the potential of the export market, particularly in the Asian region, and will also step up in foreign country marketing for its goods. ( Padini, 2010) 2.5 Dell INC. Dell Inc. is the top retailer of computer systems in the market. Dell sells desktop personal computers, notebook computers, network servers, and a diversity of computer software. They can apply the corporate strategy as a direction in which its production operations work together to get particular objectives. They implement that strategy for accomplishing their vision to build up a strong communication suppliers and customers relationships in the future. It helps Dell to find out the best strategy to be competitive in the marketplace. Thus, it will guide them to improve the work performance and gain a competitive advantage. (Dell, 2010) Dells objective is to generate loyal clients by providing better experience at a great value. They are devoted to direct relationships, giving best goods with standard based technology outperforming the rivalry with value and an advanced client experience. Dell is the association which is recognized worldwide for its approach of direct selling to the customers and business customers due to which it has obtained greater profits and has grabbed large market share from its rivals. As the business develops with the period of time it is largely enterprise strategy is becoming stronger, complicated and established. (Dell, 2010) Conclusion Nowadays, competitive market a strategy that assures a constant approach to offering the goods or services in a system that will outperform the competition is significant. However, in performance with defining the marketing strategy associations should also have a well defined method for the day to day progression of executing it. A cost leadership strategy is based on the idea that the associations can manufacture and market a high quality goods or services at a lower cost than their rivals. These low costs must transform to profit margins that are higher than the manufacturing average. Some of the circumstances that must exist to support a cost leadership strategy comprise an on-going accessibility of working capital, excellent process engineering abilities, and close management of work, goods designed for easiness of manufacturing and low cost distribution. (Emerald Insight Staff ,1993) It is important to know the market segment as described by the viewpoint characteristics associations have chosen as the objective for their offering. It is based on the criticality of the prospects require, their approach about alteration, the importance of the benefits, barriers that exist to integrating the offering into daily procedure and the reliability of the offering. The prospective for market penetration involves whether they are selling to past clients or a new outlook, how aware the forecasts are of what they are presenting, rivalry, growth rate of the manufacturing and demographics. The prospects willingness to give for product value is established by their understanding of competitive pricing, their capability to give and their want for characteristics such as value, stability and dependability, ease of utilize, consistency and steadiness. (Coate, Patricia ,2007)

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Amblyopia Essays -- Medicine Medical Eye Papers

Amblyopia This paper provides a brief description of amblyopia and discusses current research regarding the motion pathway in individuals with amblyopia. Amblyopia is a condition in which visual acuity in one eye is greatly reduced. It is caused by lack of stimulation or disuse during visual development (Rose, 1998). Because the eye is not fully developed at birth (Jarvis, 1992, as cited in Rose, 1998), infants need stimulation to complete the visual neural pathway. When one or both eyes are inhibited, for example due to misalignment of one eye (strabismus) or a large difference in refractive power between two eyes (anisometropia), the neural pathway for the inhibited eye develops abnormally, or does not develop at all. At approximately six years of age eye development is complete (Stager, 1990, as cited in Rose, 1998). Before visual development is complete amblyopia can be treated. If it is caught and treated at an early age, normal vision can be preserved (Rose, 1998). There are several types of amblyopia. Researchers must be aware of the various types of amblyopia because the effects for each are not always consistent. Strabismic amblyopia is caused when the two eyes are out of alignment due to weak musculature. Anisometropic amblyopia is a result of a large difference in refractive power of an individual's eyes. Another form of amblyopia results when visual information does not reach the retina. This is called stimulus deprivation amblyopia. Meridional amblyopia is a result of the diffused images caused by astigmatism. Researchers often discover that there are differences between groups of amblyopes based on type. For example, Levi and his colleagues (1994) discovered differences in vernier acuity between anisomet... ...9-1944. Hess, R. F., & Anderson, S. J. (1993). Motion sensitivity and spatial undersampling in amblyopia. Vision Research, 33, 881-896. Hess, R. F., Demanins, R., & Bex, P. J. (1997). A reduced motion aftereffect in strabismic amblyopia. Vision Research, 37, 1303-1311. Kubova, Z., Miroslav, K., Juran, J., & Blakemore, C. (1996). Is the motion system relatively spared in amblyopia? Evidence from cortical evoked responses. Vision Research, 36, 181-190. Levi, D. M., Klein, S. A., & Wang, H. (1994). Amblyopic and peripheral vernier acuity: a test-pedestal approach. Vision Research, 34, 3265-3292. Levi, D. M., & Polat, U. (1996). Neural plasticity in adults with amblyopia [Abstract]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, 93, 6830. Rose, S. E. (1998). Amblyopia: the silent thief. The Journal of School Health, 68, 2, 76-79.

Friday, October 11, 2019

EA Games

Change is part of organizational growth and survival in our modern global economy. If an organization is going to grow and survive, it needs more than traditional strategic business plans. One of the principal drivers of competition is technological advancements. Company’s can develop a strong competitive advantage through the strategic use of information technology. This white paper will discuss information technology (IT) concepts that have successfully been utilized by other organizations. The purpose is to benchmark how other companies have successfully implemented information technology and how SaveWithUS can conceptualize these strategies. The focus of IT is not just on the internal applications or computer systems that reside on the network; rather the focus is the strategic approach that information systems can have to support the business plans, goals, and objectives of the organization. Ultimately, a strategic approach to information technology should improve a company’s competitive advantage, business intelligence, reduce costs, increase margin, streamline business processes speed, accuracy, and reliability, communication, data based decision making, and increase overall customer value (Mickler, 2008). Many start-up companies develop a business plan but rely heavily on their own experience when it comes to business decision making rather than facts that an existing company would use. As the company grows, mistakes become more costly, they will rely more and more in information to base sound decisions. SaveWithUS is at the juncture where business decisions need to be based on facts not guesses. To remain competitive and profitable, SaveWithUS needs to reduce costs of merchandise manufactured and products purchased for resale. Technology has changed the way information is captured, stored, processed, analyzed, distributed, communicated; and the organizational infrastructure which is used to reduce costs, increase profits, and gain a competitive advantage. The effective use of information technology requires an organization and cultural change. The most important component in the change equation is making the decision to change. If resistance to change permeates, this will lead to the breakdown and irrelevancy of what was once a strong organization (CTU Online, 2008). Change is forever part of business sustainability. Understanding the external business environment can improve the strategic approach that an organization should adopt in a competitive market. A highly competitive environment includes multiple firms targeting he same market to win the same business. The external environment has forces which business must contend with for survival. Michal Porter has devised a five forces model that focus on these external pressures. The five pressures are 1) rivalry among existing competition, 2) threats of substitute products, 3) bargaining power of suppliers, 4) bargaining power of channels and end users, 5) barriers to entry. This model can be very helpful to think of competition in its broadest sense which suggests areas for competitive posture. Porter’s five-force’s model provides the framework to judge an organizations position and analyze a business level strategy which will describe how an organization competes in the marketplace (Frenzel & Frenzel, 2004). These are just a few reasons why information technology is the critical infrastructure of any organization. The case study referenced herein is Electronic Arts (EA), the leading independent video game publishing company, producing popular titles such as The Sims, Madden NFL, and Medal of Honor. They also publish games based on Hollywood franchises such as the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and The Godfather. Nestled in Silicon Valley, Electronic Arts is a very successful organization with more than 50 best-sellers that sold more than a million copies each. Many people would believe that Electronic Art’s is a video game development company which base its success from the rich talent pool of creative people, artists, animators, programmers, and technicians. This is a highly competitive industry and getting more competitive every year with a fickle customer base. EA has competitors such as Activision, Take-Two, and Vivendi Games which all sell strong in the marketplace. It would be reasonable to assume they also have a highly talented staff of developers and creative artists. EA is successful because they are the model of a stellar management company. According to EA president and COO John Riccitiello, â€Å"EA pulls it off by honing the way that it develops and markets games: by thinking of its products as emotional, cinematic experiences, not toys. † Electronic Arts is in the business of delivering a total entertainment experience. The company built its creativity on a foundation of management discipline (Salter, 2007). EA understands the completive landscape and performs extensive due diligence. Riccitiello has stated, â€Å"We often know more about the feature set of our competition's products than our competition does. † Electronic Arts recognizes that gaining a competitive advantage will not materialize because of slicker graphics, audio, or better storylines than the competition; consumers expect these features to improve over time and that is part of the gaming industry. EA knows that the high-tech imagery features they develop today will only be copied tomorrow which will not provide long-term advantage. EA has strong competitive intelligence, forecasting, budgeting, timing, and methodical project management disciplines. EA uses information technology to store financial data, sales data, important customer data, competitive data, and offer access to share this information across business units. EA has the discipline of sharing best practices and technologies using intranet libraries. This enables data to become more accurate and to be shared or broadcast faster through a more reliable means (Mickler, 2008). An e-business strategy can be defined as the electronic means of internal and external communications for an organization. Internally, employees can use a private intranet to share information, facilitate knowledge dissemination, management reporting, collaborate with business partners, sales promotions, and competitive intelligence, all of these features and more can be used with the development of an intranet. EA is diligent to understand their customers. They know that what is real to their consumers is what is on TV. Electronic Arts believes in gaining better understanding of their audience through the use of focus groups. These are non-EA groups of gamers and EA takes their recommendations seriously to the point they will do a complete rewrite. Traditionally, the gaming industry is male dominated. Industry demographics suggest the target audience is male between the ages of 16 and 24. EA wants to expand their market beyond the typical gaming demographics. However, EA proceeds with caution not to lose current customers that do not want to see dumbed down products. When making complex decisions on marketing strategies and tactics, it is important look at hard data to in decision making. Information technology can provide the means of using marketing intelligence, trends, economic data, competitive market data, technological, demographics, government sources, and cultural and social information to provide a solid foundation upon from which to draw (Salter, 2007). Using e-business strategies such as customer relationship management (CRM) tools can identify important customer data to develop products and service specific to their needs, wants, and desires. The result of their data was a game titled the SIMS which attracts customers of all ages, thus developing new markets with different set of wants, needs, and desires. In addition, e-business is a means to reduce customer and supplier expenses, meet customer and supplier needs in a defect-free manner, and improve the speed in which these functions can take place. Knowledge management tools are processes the organization will employ to collect, store, analyze, and distribute information. Information technology offers data mining technique which are the convergence of technologies that provide computations to make sense of all the information stored (Frenzel & Frenzel, 2004). The maturity of an information system in an organization can have a direct effect on the speed, accuracy, and reliability of its data processing. Information technology can eliminate the manual logging of paperwork, eradicate human error and increase speed, accuracy and reliability of the information stored (Mickler, 2008). Some of the mundane tasks can become completely automated through bar code scanners and other technology which will reduce labor costs, increase accuracy of data, and induce inventory cost controls (Mickler, 2008). I addition, information technology can improve the manufacturing process while meeting customer demands and reduce costs. In an effort to accurately control inventory costs, SaveWithUS should consider Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing and including technology to help reduce costs. JIT does not use the conventional ways of producing products with large batch sizes at high volumes. The JIT philosophy is where machine operators produce only the items needed, when it is requested, and on time. Information technology also plays a vital role in measuring the return on investment for these new processes (Frenzel & Frenzel, 2004). Computer inventory management systems can control and coordinate delivery of raw materials or components from suppliers with production schedule, thereby minimizing inventory carrying costs. It is absurd to realize management can not track the percentage of repeat business, the accuracy of the expense of manufacturing costs, and sales goods of sold (CTU Online, 2008). The objective of SaveWithUS needs to be the development of a realistic business strategy that has full support of top management, established clear goals, development of long-term customer relationships, and provides maximum value. Bringing quality value to the customer is vital in the competitive and global business world. A competitive advantage is achieved when an organization has integrated information technology in the business activities with the value chain more cost-effectively than the competition. The goal of a business is to sell their products and services and keep customers buying in the future by means of adding value. Customers exchange something of value, such as money, for the products and services an organization produces. Strategic planning allows an organization to recognize how the customer sees the value of a company’s product or service and helps better position their goods in the market to make a profit (Frenzel & Frenzel, 2004). Strategic plans will use resources of people, money, facilities, and technical capabilities that are required in order to achieve the goals and objectives. The goal of information technology is to support these efforts and add value of speed, accuracy, and reliability (Mickler, 2008). In the games industry, success, novelty, and great innovative designs do not automatically mean that a company will enjoy long-term success. In fact, the annals of the gaming publishing industry is eroded with once triumphant companies that currently are no longer existence. It takes a distinct mixture of success and business savvy to stay afloat and competitive. This review is hypothetical, created solely to fulfill course task requirements. The review of and title of an article depicts Electronic Arts (from now EA) as â€Å"Playing to Win†, the fact is that they are indeed playing the business game to win. EA is one of the world's foremost reliant interactive software developing and publishing company. Since its inception, EA has garnered more than 700 awards for outstanding software in the U. S. and Europe. According to their own on-line career opportunity web site EA(2010) they say that EA markets its products worldwide under four brand logos and has over 33 product franchises that have reached more than a million unit sales worldwide. We will discuss more about their target market audiences in the next two sections. EA see themselves as a company that provides a product to it's target market that appeals in the sense of interactive cinematic gaming experience. According to Salter (2002) Computer and video games are a bigger business than the movies, and the biggest force in games is Electronic Arts a company whose blockbuster titles dazzle millions of customers and generate billions of dollars in sales. As the world leaders in interactive entertainment we can say that EA's most important competitive advantage is the fact they have lasted 20 years in the business and has gathered enough experience to leverage heritage into the entertainment gaming industry. Their other advantage is that they allow their 12 developing studios innovation freedom while impressing the discipline to meet deadlines. This means that it's not all about gaming but also about planning, and management having a good business plan in place and a good vision is certainly a good competitive advantage. This is corroborated by Rabin (2010) when he says that the business plan developed was visionary and had three key elements: first, that the creative talent at the company would be treated like artists, involved in the marketing, and generally revered more than at other companies in the industry; second, that they would develop proprietary tools and technology that would enable them to quickly develop their titles cross-platform; and third, that they would handle the distribution to stores. Their primary target market (audience) is the users of advanced entertainment systems. The customary gamers are males in between the ages 16-through 24 year of ages. EA has continue to expand and move their traditional demographics As the market expands, their enthusiasts is to figure out how to publish products for people who are not the within the traditional demographic model. The fact is that EA's present their content to a wide general audience appealing to all key demographic market segments by logically brainstorming their products as an emotional experience, How do they create an emotional experience? The emotional experience is created through offering their target markets a highly targeted campaign contributing the opportunity for the user to interact with the game. It's a simple but very radical idea in which the users is part of the cinematic experience, therefore the user does not see the game as a toy but as an appealing realistic experience. Currently, their specific target market audience comprises a wide general range of users utilizing advance game consoles, personal computer system, video game consoles such as Nintendo, Play Station, Play Stations, and numerous others. Let's clarify one thing about game publishing companies. They are exactly just that â€Å"Publishers† , they don't consider themselves to be developers. The game entertainment publishing arena is quite busy and extremely competitive. Beside having fun and playing games it takes discipline to be creativity and code award winning games. This is a fact that is corroborated by Salter (2010) when he writes that it takes a tough company to make entertaining games. Salter quotes the president and COO of â€Å"The forgotten aspect of creativity is discipline,† beside discipline it takes a good development team and a good project manager with a sense of scheduling, creating buzz about the product through a hard core marketing campaign. Everything centers around information technology especially the discipline of methodically managing their projects, their information technology systems play a large aspect of their success through regimented collaborative best practices across their an intranet library. In closing in my opinion what makes Electronic Arts a potential winner is their ability to take ingenious people who are highly motivated and talented and create excessive amounts of value. Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSâ„ ¢, EAâ„ ¢, EA SPORTS Freestyle â„ ¢ and POGOâ„ ¢. In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3. 67 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. We were tasked to improve the functionality of the site, both technically and visually. The technical aspects of keeping up with ncreased user demands and features and facilities offered by the site were all dealt with to everyone’s satisfaction. It was felt that the site architecture and the user experience still left room for improvement, and we have lots to offer to fill this need. It was also important to ensure that the CRM and frontend complimented one another visually. Above all, we wanted the access site to offer an equivalent experience to the Flash site, rather than an alternative one. Our reputation as designers with flair for translating a company’s brand onto their website and for creating great user experiences got us this project. We were given the responsibility of revamping the entire site to reflect the brand of the company. Creating a site that was easily scalable and low on maintenance was also one of the primary requirements. We made the site made very light and the download speeds were reduced substantially. Only a few colors were used through most of the site, and two other colours were used where some differentiation was needed. Style sheets were created to keep the vast amount of content consistent visually. A clean, slightly serious and professional look was given to the entire site.