Apollo Shoes Confirmation Letter

to:Darlene wardlaw FROM: SUBJECT:CONFIRMATION REQUESTS DATE:OCTOBER 30, 2012 Two Forms of Confirmations We used both positive confirmations and negative confirmations. This is a required audit procedure by audit standards. Confirmations show existence and valuation of accounts and notes receivable. The positive confirmations are used to ask the customer to respond whether the balance is correct or incorrect. The negative confirmations ask for a response only if something is wrong with the balance. If no response is received, it is considered evidence that the account is stated fairly.With the positive confirmations, we are trying to find information on account balances or specific invoices. We sent positive confirmations to Neutralizer, Mall-Wart, Run For Your Life Shoes, Paul Bunion Footwear, Sassy Shoes, and International Soccer Federation. We sent a negative confirmation to Tread. The ones that we sent a positive confirmation to, we were wondering about some discrepancies in the n umbers and needed confirmation that payments were being made. The negative confirmation was sent with confidence that there were no errors. Therefore, we did not need a response if nothing was found.We checked the numbers that we received from the confirmation and compared them to the aged trial balance for account receivable. The numbers matched up. Alternative Procedures Sometimes customers are not able to send a response. A reason for this could be that they are on a voucher system that lists payables by invoice instead of by vendor account. In a case like this, we have to perform alternative procedures. We could examine subsequent cash receipts. We could examine sales orders, invoices and shipping documents. We could also examine correspondence files for past due accounts.

The Lesson

The story â€Å"The Lesson,† by Toni Cade Bambara, is about a young girl named Sylvia who is accompanied by a group of her friends from her neighborhood and her elderly neighbor named Ms. Moore, who tries to teach all of them a lesson about life. â€Å"The Lesson† is a realistic story that takes place in the mid-20th century that exemplifies the true difference between upper and lower classes during that time period. Although Sylvia might come off as a mean and cocky little girl, you can tell at the end that there is something deeper to Sylvia when she begins to reflect on her ay with Ms.Moore and actually seems to gain something out of the situation and you can tell Just how much sharp of an observer she truly is. Throughout the entire story, it is clearly shown that Sylvia is a mean girl. Right when Ms. Moore is introduced at the beginning of the story, Sylvia describes how she feels about her. â€Å"And we kinda hated her† (Bambara 60). She also says, â€Å"A nd I'm really hating this nappy head bitch† (Bambara 60). Although Ms. Moore is doing the children all a favor, Sylvia doesn't seem to care and doesn't even want to give her a chance.Another example for when Sylvia shows Just how mean she could be is right when she starts talking to Ms. Moore with all the other kids about money and about them going to the toy store, Sylvia mentions other things that she would rather be doing instead. â€Å"And would much rather snatch Sugar and go to the Sunset and terrorize the West Indian kids and take their hair ribbons and their money too† (Bambara 61). Not only does Sylvia come across as a rude little girl towards her peers and to the people she actually knows, but to other random children.She comes off as the neighborhood bully. Additional proof to show Just how mean Sylvia can be is when she asks Ms. Moore why she brought all of them to the toy store. Ms. Moore just simply tells Sylvia that she sounds angry and wonders why she is mad. â€Å"I'm mad, but I won't give her the satisfaction† (Bambara 64). Even when Ms. Moore Just tries to see what is bothering Sylvia, she has an attitude. Although it was Just a simple question, and Ms. Moore didn't mean it in a mean way, Sylvia still has to come off as this rude little girl.Even at the very beginning of â€Å"The Lesson,† you can already tell that Sylvia is a very ocky person. The author opens up the story showing a clear view of Just how cocky Sylvia can be. â€Å"Everyone was old and stupid or young and foolish and me and Sugar were the only ones Just right† (Bambara 60). Sylvia is implying that when it comes to her friends and everyone else she is surrounded by, she is ultimately better than them all. Sylvia's close minded cocky attitude is also shown when Ms.Moore is discussing money with the children. Sylvia acts as if she knows everything and Ms. Moore is ignorant for even bringing up such a simple subject about how money works. And M iss Moore asking us if we know what money is, like, a bunch of retards† (Bambara 60). Considering Ms. Moore is trying to do the young children a the way of her retaining the true value out of what Ms. Moore has to say. More proof to show Just how cocky Sylvia is, is at the very end of the story. After the day is done with Ms.Moore, the children decide they are going to go to Hascombs and get cream soda's. Sylvia's cousin, Sugar asks her if she would like the race down there. â€Å"She can run if she want to and even run faster. But ain't nobody gonna beat me at nuthin† (Bambara 65). Considering everything she had Just gone through and getting a reality check about life, Sylvia is still so convinced that she is the best. This shows just how much confidence she truly has in herself but at the same time her high level of confidence is easily mistaken for cockiness.Although Sylvia's attitude often gets the best of her and she seems to be Just a rude little girl, at the very end of the story you can tell that there is much more to her than you might think. You can get a better understanding of Just how sharp of a girl she truly is after the day with Ms. Moore comes to an end. When the children all decide to go get cream soda's at Hascomb's, Sylvia decides to not Join in with the rest of them. You can tell she has a lot going through her mind after getting a taste of reality by Ms. Moore. I'm going to the West End and then over to the Drive to think this day through† (Bambara 65).You can assume that although Sylvia is too stubborn to admit that she has actually gotten something out of that day, she keeps to herself and decides to reflect on what she had been introduced. Another time that Sylvia seems to let her guard down and kind of shows how she is observant to her urroundings is when she is about to walk into the toy store. She doesn't understand what the big deal is about going inside but at the same time she Just doesn't feel comfortable abou t going in. But I feel funny, shame† (Bambara 63). At this point Sylvia begins to realize that there is something to this trip to the toy store. For a second she doesn't feel as cocky and is almost insecure with herself to where she can't bring herself enough courage to Just walk into the toy store. It seems that Ms. Moore's lesson does actually affect Sylvia in the long run. She ets her mean, cocky demeanor down Just long enough to show the reader that she actually did get something out of that day.Considering the fact that she does only have that brief second of where you see her whole attitude change, you can understand Just how set in her ways she truly is. From coming off as a rude little girl throughout the entire story and then all of a sudden for that short time you get to see her actually take what she saw into consideration, you can get a better idea that there is more to Sylvia than what is illustrated to the reader throughout the duration of the story.

Maeketing Plan for Batik Products

Understand the role and function of marketing in a variety of market and organizational contexts. ? Critically evaluate and utilize marketing research data and methods to a given market situation. ? Understand and apply the principles of organizational and environmental audits to inform marketing strategies, decisions and objectives. ? Develop and justify a marketing plan and mix for a given target market. You have been just appointed as International Marketing Manager by a local Sri Lankan firm that is aspiring to take the Company to the international market to take advantage of growth opportunities.Your Managing Director is also concerned about the limited growth potential of your market (Sri Lanka). Your main task, as defined by your Managing Director, is to propose an International marketing plan to enter the most potential market i. e. that offers the greatest growth potential in the next two years. Your key task Propose an International Marketing Plan to take your Company to an overseas market of your choice.Critically justify your recommendations by providing clear justification for selection of markets to enter on a priority basis. 1. You will need to conduct a critical market analysis using relevant facts and figures. You will need to quantify the market potential or potential of the overseas marketing opportunity using facts and figures. (20 marks) 2. Use Segmenting, targeting and positioning elaborate how you intend to provide competitive advantage for your brand in the overseas market of entry. (40 marks) 3.Critically elaborate how changes in the marketing environment in your chosen market of entry (relative to your home country) will affect your Company and how you recommend changing or adopting your marketing mix to take advantage of the opportunities in the selected market? (20 marks) 4. Critically provide a profitability forecast for your marketing plan. Clearly indicate implementation dates, and budget requirement to deliver on the marketing ob jectives you will set as part of your marketing plan for the next two years. (20 marks)

Human Resource Management- Cases Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human Resource Management- Cases Study - Essay Example The baby boomers were loyal workers that gave their lives for the companies they work for. The generation Y members have no loyalty for corporations and will work for the highest bidder that provides working environments that they like. The employee retention rate of companies among generation Y workers is much lower than other generations. 3. Generation Y workers will have to make adjustments in the workplace in order to be successful. The workers have to accommodate their styles to the corporate culture of their workplace. If the workplace has a specific dress code the generation Y workers have to act maturely and professional and follow the corporate guidelines. 1. I believe offshoring jobs to developing nations like India in a necessary strategic move that increase labor opportunities in India, while at the same time protecting thousands of jobs in America because the savings achieved in these arrangement are invested to improve the domestic business operations. 2. There are plenty of adjustments an employee needs to make when starting out in a job for an Indian company. There are cross cultural differences that must be studied in order to understand each other. When communicating with colleague one must act with respect and listen well perform making a respond. 1. The direct labor or non-managerial employees of a company represent a labor force whose behavior influences the performance outcome of a corporation. This group must be included in the design process of an incentive compensation plan. 3. The American Woodmark scorecard approach is an analytic tool whose application is more effective in flexible organizations. A company whose organizational structure follows a matrix mechanism can benefit from implementation of the Woodmark method because different team members would be able to receive unbiased feedback from outside workers that are not part of their immediate teams. 1. It is completely unethical to promise employee benefits and then many

International Crime Witness Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Crime Witness - Assignment Example The country follows a bicameral system in terms of political domain. The responsibilities of the central government and state are segregated apparently. The federal government controls the legal functions of the entire nations through legal policies and numerous regulations (Tatsachen, 2014). Germany is the largest among of the economies in the European Union (EU). A constant increase in GDP has been witnessed by the country in the recent past. It is considered as a global hub of business sector with special inclusion of the automobile sector. A considerable percentage of the employment is provided by the SMEs (Tatsachen, 2014). Regulations for the criminal act in Germany are deemed to be quite certain. However, with the passage of time, certain amendments have been brought in the legal structure, which has further provided systematic rules for contemplating the witnesses in crime scenes. As per Subsection 6 of the Criminal Code, a witness is seen as a contributor towards the preventer of any particular offence or crime. The regulation depicts that the primary responsibility of any witness is to stop crime voluntarily in the first place. The Criminal Code of Germany also depicts that crime witness needs to voluntarily depict his/her knowledge about the crime to the concerned authorities as early as possible so that proper measures can be taken. However, this particular aspect of the law is only limited towards witness of the criminal offence and not for any other legal scenario. Article 5 of the Principal Witness Act is also an important decree that specifically determines the process followed to deal with t he criminal witness. As per this particular code of the German criminal law, a witness should not intend to misguide the case with their information or else they might be liable to get imprisonment of 1 year (Hilger, n.d.). Criminal suspects in the US are liable to enjoy certain individual rights. As per the fifth amendment of the federal law of the US, all criminal defendants will have the right to get free trial along with certain rights relevant to search and seizure.     Ã‚  

Microsoft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Microsoft - Essay Example The products offered by Microsoft include; Windows, Office; entertainment products such as Xbox 360 and others and all these products are relatively price inelastic. The demand of these products is very high and as it has been found that people have become accustomed of using products offered by Microsoft. As people are willingly purchasing products of the company such as Microsoft Word is being purchased although people have the option to use Word already installed in Windows, therefore it shows that people are ready to buy products of Microsoft. Therefore the products offered by Microsoft are relatively price inelastic despite of the increasing investment made competitors such as Apple. Although the market has become a lot more competitive than it was few years back. Therefore Microsoft has to continue working hard to improve their existing products. Microsoft has been working to enhance its revenues and following strategies have been suggested on how Microsoft can improve its revenues: a. Microsoft can segregate its products on the basis of the consumer demand and then analyze the relatively price elastic or relatively price inelastic of each of the product of the company. This would allow Microsoft to understand and analyze how the total revenue of the company can be increased by considering each and every product. For instance, Microsoft Word can be considered as highly price inelastic and its demand would not change drastically even if the company increases its price by 15%. So in such cases, to increase the revenues the company should increase the price. Similarly, if the price of a product is relatively elastic, then it could analyze the price at which the company would be able to achieve maximum profits even if they have to reduce the price of the product. b. As it has been found that consumers are still facing issues like unemployment, higher prices

Individual case study analysis(Money is not always the best reward ) Essay

Individual case study analysis(Money is not always the best reward ) - Essay Example The analyzed data has further been presented comprehensively to recommend strategies that would help in enhancing the performances of the employees. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 Discussion 5 Key Issues identified in the case 5 Critically Analyzing and Evaluating the Case Issues 5 Conclusion and Recommendations 10 References 11 Bibliography 13 Introduction After being appointed as the CEO of a sporting and community club, Tim Johnson was bestowed with the responsibility of developing an innovative organizational structure as well as to implementing human resource systems for the effective performance of the club. During that period, the annual turnover of the club was more than $ 33 million with 75 employees which depicted the financial viability of the organization along with its size, augmenting the necessity to develop an organized and effective organizational structure. After his joining, Tim Johnson recognized that the management of the club was ineffective due to the lack of effective Human Resource (HR) as well as operational policies which is essential to yield superior performance from employees. Strategically, Tim Johnson conducted a survey on the employees and was able to identify that a lack of morale as well as motivation persisted within the workforce. Correspondingly, he formulated plans to develop and implement strategies such as position descriptions, systems related guidelines, job specifications as well as other HR and operational policies to be followed by the employees. Formal meetings were also organized with the motive of informing the employees about the change in the organizational structure. The HR and the operational policies were further intended to be legally enacted so as to ensure ethical viability within the reframed organizational process. One of the most significant changes brought by Tim Johnson in the philosophy of the restructured organizational process indicated an increased focus on improving the performance of the employees through empowerment rather than considering the monetary reward system. The discussion will thus emphasize on the identification as well as the analysis of various issues which have been identified in this case. The results of the analysis will further be used to recommend strategies which are required to mitigate the identified issues. Discussion Key Issues identified in the case In the referred case, the issues which were faced by the sporting and community club hampering the performance of the employees depicted that the club lacked effective leadership from the senior decision makers of the organization. Owing to the ineffective organizational structure and ill-organized process related policies, the organization had to face various problems related with lack of morale among the employees which further obstructed an enhanced performance from the human resources of the club. Lack of motivation to work in accordance with the standards specified by the management for the effective achievements of the goals was also observed as a restriction to the enhanced performance of the club. The club did not have Human Resource Management (HRM) for effective HR as well as operational polic

Globalisation and Mental Disorders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Globalisation and Mental Disorders - Essay Example The results of the study shall be indicative of the current situation and are valuable in the improvement of treatment provision for a population that is increasingly becoming culturally diverse due to the large influx of people from other cultural backgrounds. With this knowledge, the society shall then be able to identify and take the appropriate steps to improve the way depressed people are being treated. Funding in the amount of  £2,800 is requested for expenses incurred during research the bulk of which shall be used for access to publications whose material is available only for a certain fee. To what extent has the relationship of depression, culture and treatment explored and how is the knowledge gained from this exploration being applied in the formulation of treatment for depressed patients? The researcher hypothesizes that there is little substantial research in this field and that results are limited due to the complexity of dealing with the subject of culture and associating it with another complex subject called depression. Hence, a lack of understanding of depression, within various cultures and communities exists, including the comprehension of the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. There is a desperate requirement for general medicine and public health services to understand the cultural needs of individuals when generating a diagnosis or treatment regime. Depression can have debilitating effects on the individual as it can lead to self-inflicted injuries and other destructive behavior. If left unchecked, it could also have severe consequences to society as evidenced in the school shootings and stabbings by clinically depressed individuals. However, in the field of depression treatment, there is the general tendency to adopt standards and procedures which has been developed in the past with one cultural group in mind.  

HR - Organization Environmental Pressures Essay

HR - Organization Environmental Pressures - Essay Example This paper gives a critical evaluation of these pressures, and it proposes a strategy that the organization can use, for purposes of solving or mitigating the pressures under consideration. In meeting the objectives of this paper, the researcher will create a table, identifying three environmental and organizational pressures that Wal-Mart faces. Furthermore, this paper will rank these pressures, in accordance to their influences. This paper will also contain a detailed description of these pressures, and how they have evolved over a period of time. Furthermore, it would identify how these pressures have impacted the organization, from its financial perspective, and also from the perspectives of its employees, and that of the researcher. An important organizational pressure that Wal-Mart faces is on the expectations that its stakeholders have on it. The stakeholders of the company expect it to be a high performer. This expectation on Wal-Mart is based on its position in the global retailing sector. As of 2014, Wal-Mart was voted as the world’s largest company, in terms of revenues. Furthermore, the company has employed more than 2 million people, and it is considered as the biggest retailer in the world. Furthermore, the company is considered as the biggest grocery in United States, and as of the year 2009, it was able to generate 51% of the total sales made by the company. Based on these statistics, the company is under pressure to maintain its good performance. Furthermore, because of increased competition, emanating from new retailers in the industry, the company is forced to develop strategies that would ensure it remains a market leader in the retailing industry. To be a high performer, the company has i nitiated a cost leadership strategy, whereby it sales its products at a cheaper cost, to attract customers to it. Furthermore, the company has sought to decrease its capital expenses, by

Belief, Doubt and Synthesis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Belief, Doubt and Synthesis - Essay Example A good writer knows how long to illustrate a scene. For instance, when reading a novel, a reader should be stabbed by suspense on every page as he waits for the characters and the story to unfold, but does not rush because he knows each sentence is a journey and he never wish to miss a single word. Moreover, this reader can answer all questions and have an opinion concerning each character. A good writer for example, can develop characters that a reader can really hate, such as Jane Austen. Good writings like novels one wants to read repeatedly, particularly the ones you read for the first time but go back to the first page as soon as you finish. When there is no rule of what someone speak or thinks, writing becomes perfect and easy. When an individual talks freely, he is likely to put his speech in writing, and this pushes him to practice regularly. Consequently, he becomes a better writer than he was before since he sharpens his skills, he becomes more confident, and enjoys writing . Sometimes, when we talk to others, their ideas leave more thoughts on the choice of a subject to be written about. Writing entails use of language to bring out the ideas. We read the responses of others and understand what they mean with language, and always, we â€Å"speak† to ourselves internally when processing these ideas and come up with logical conclusions. I believe that rational thinking inevitably involves definite degree of language use, meaning that thought is absolutely determined by language. According to Fisher 99, in writing our affirmations and what we think is right, and put all our attention on paper, we probably notice some form of internal resistance pop ping up. When u write what you tell yourself on deep levels, you encourage your react to what people think is right or wrong. With time, you read what is written and this helps you to create your present reality. It is necessary that we write our affirmations to find a solution and release it from your consciousness. This gives you freedom and power to feel literally wonderful instead of limiting yourself to other peop le’s myths and thoughts. Writing also helps us remember some things in cases where we have a lot going through our minds. Doubt Doubt is often created by the lack of any sort of complete reality, which could serve as an undeniable stating point on which knowledge could be developed. It is a status between believing and not believing in something, involving a motive, an action, or a decision made by an individual. By systematically doubting something, we know about ourselves and those around us. Today, I got a feedback that tested if I trust my senses. At about noon, my friend and I were shopping at a nearby local mall. We had not had breakfast and so we opted to look for a place to have lunch. Walking down the mall into one of the supermarket, I noticed at a distance a very pleasant display of some Japanese meals on sale. My mouth began watering instantly since I was quite hungry. We agreed on eating at the mall, though it was a bit crowded (McGrath 43). My friend suggested t hat the

Creative Writing - Belonging Essay Example for Free

Creative Writing Belonging Essay The clear, bright and enlightening blue skies greet my face as I ponder through my thoughts in my head. The sun blossoms it’s radiating sunlight, which glisten and reflect off the tranquil, wavy sea to reveal elements of a mystifying, inexplicable, yet convivial world. My heart beat pulsates through my ears†¦ so silent and blissful this world of beggaring-description, words could not hope to utter moments like these. It was the idea of confronting, change and experience which led me to this endeavouring challenge of discovery. In preceding life, â€Å"discovery† was but a mere artwork to me; its extravagant detail painted an image which took me to a new world of the unknown. Its colours merged and intertwined, creating infinite pathways for life to take me far beyond the norm. But, it was just a painting. Vibrant as the sky could ever be, inhabitants of birds and seagulls cluster amongst the sky’s surface to shadow various regions of radiation. Numerous shades of varying size, shape and darkness swam steadfast past my eyes, stimulating diverse light shades across the sea surface. I travel along a path to encounter countless fish as their scales unleash myriad hexagonal-structured reflections, capturing every single colour of the rainbow. I touch the water and an instant sensation crawled through my fingertips, as the water almost desiccated back down my finger, revealing wondrous ripples. The constant expansion and flow of ripples developed into motions of diffracting sunlight which followed a distinct pattern of iridescent white light. The sea so pure, its reflections illuminated my face with the pattern of the undulating water flow. A flash before my eyes re-writes the memoirs of my past life solitary and confined to the one passageway of safety and security. Ironic is it not? That such an introverted life could lead to the feeling of belonging to something ordinarily worthwhile, or to conduct a life of normality. I still hear a screech suddenly exerted from the fancy convertible making an unceremonious turn, piercing the dusk, still fog of night. The periodic fear of tomorrow, dreading what society had in stall for me. A vision of â€Å"my world† was painted bit by bit, colour by colour and section by section; a world of drifting into the crystalline sea far beyond human sight. It shimmered into this blazing, crimson sunset that protrudes colours of red, white and tinted blue clashing and smashing, latticing over and over again, against one other only to produce an amalgamation of beautified hope and warmth, resulting in this augmentation of sanctity, safety and assurance. A world I longed to belong†¦ I always questioned myself, repeatedly over and over and over again about my identity, destiny and independence. Was it really necessary to do what I did? To precariously determine my own destiny, where life was to be lived unknowingly? To see my father tremulous and mother on her knees, with her hands drenched in tears. A sudden emotion of fear and regret struck my heart in its centre, but also a sigh of relief. I was suddenly brought back to reality by the roar of the motor. The consistency of ripples flowing causes my reflection to distort with the scaly and incandescent rays from the schools of fish and the sun’s protruding rays of warmth and somewhat, hope. I closed my eyes for a few seconds to relax and enjoy this free moment†¦ 1|Page Jason Chan Year 12 Ms. Sake However, I felt a drop of water plummet on the right side of my cheek. My heart froze for a micro -second, dreading to open my eyes as I assumed for the worst. I hear the deafening silence of the waves, on the brink of a complete halt in their tranquil motion. No longer did the extravagant light shower the crystal sea, nor did the birds flourish over the sky. Foul-coloured fluffs of clouds conquered the remaining essence of light the sky had to offer. Cataclysmic roars of thunder clashed in every direction, ringing my ear drums heavily like lava and debris suffocating the mountain sides. â€Å"My world† I belonged to flashed for one second and I saw the usual back gate with a pathway leading my innate mind to the cataleptic regret. It was then I compelled myself up knowing it was and is finality. I remember clearly tilting my head to the side, seeing the sun’s arms reaching through the minute openings of my curtains, greeting my face and mind, pondered with thoughts and feelings of beggaring description. My face heated up, my hands trembled, my fingers shook hysterically as I held the key to freedom, and a drop of water plummeted from the right side of my cheek onto the pure, hue labelled, â€Å"Father and Mother†. That final tear symbolised the very last essence of me, only to distribute out and smudge the ink. Nevertheless, I told myself my world is and always will be created by me, so I relieved myself of intense emotion and wiped my tears away, got my bag and strode with pride to my new world. The sight flashed again, bringing me to a world of catastrophe, as lightning collapsed from the sky as if Zeus had deliberately done so. My fear multiplied as fast as the rain drops fell. I felt a gush of aggravated wind fly past my hair at a ghastly speed. A continuation of heaviness impeded my stability as the turbulent sea rocked like an exacerbated avalanche. It was as if the glistening, crystal sea has become the enemy, the hardship, a hurdle to overcome – my world had become my enemy. I grasp the sides of my capsule with my sweat-bear hands, clenching in fear for my life. Spontaneously, words of my cataleptic regret begin surging in and out, left, right and centre of my mind†¦

Filipino Overseas Contract Workers in the US Essay Example for Free

Filipino Overseas Contract Workers in the US Essay For the first study, it is expected that the researcher would determine the factors that motivate Filipinos to leave their own country and work abroad. This would include their financial situations in the Philippines together with family size, occupation of spouse, occupation or educational level of the children, and other demographics. Since it is quantitative, it is expected that the study will be able to generate statistics in order to determine the best reason for their migration. Participants would probably prefer to migrate because of more compensation and support for multicultural groups (Zalaquett, et. al, 2008). This also includes an opportunity to work with the protection of the law implemented in the United States. Qualitative data would suggest poor chances of development for them in their own country. It is also expected in the trend study results that US foreign policy will be implemented for the migration of Filipinos in the country. More Filipinos are expected to leave their country and eventually take their families after they have established their lives in the States. However, the study does not make use of any scale in concluding for its objectives. The study is also limited to Filipinos whereas other races such as Israelites and Palestinians are not included. Also, the focus is only on the reason why Filipinos prefer to leave the Philippines and work in other countries (American Psychological Association, 2002). Based on the expected outcomes of the study, it is recommended by the researcher that further studies be initiated on this specific topic. It is also recommended that a study be conducted on job satisfaction of Filipino overseas workers (OFWs) in the United States and compare them with those who prefer to stay in the Philippines. A comparative study on worker’s rights and social security policies between the Philippines and other OFW filled countries is also recommended to further supplement the results of the present study. References American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code Of Conduct (PDF). Zalaquett, C. , Foley, P. , Tillotson, K. , Dinsmore, J. , Hof, D. (2008). Multicultural and Social Justice Training for Counselor Education Programs and Colleges of Education: Rewards and Challenges. Journal of Counseling Development, Volume 86, Number 3, 323 – 329.

Air Asia Consumer Buying Process

Air Asia Consumer Buying Process Introduction The Slogan of AirAsia goes as Now Everyone Can Fly. It is now the leading airline that was established in the year 2001 with the dream of making flying possible and achievable by everyone around any corner of the world. AirAsia managed to become one of the leading airline service providers despite facing the difficulties during the period of recession. They managed to create route networks that cover more than 20 countries which enables the consumers to travel around the globe. The vision of the leading airline company AirAsia is to be the largest low cost airline in Asia and serving the 3 billion people who are currently underserved with poor connectivity and high fares. This shows that the airline is focusing on the middle income earners as their target market. The missions of the AirAsia will be inspiring to many companies. One of the core mission of the airline company is to be the best company to work for whereby employees are treated as part of a big family. Besides that, another mission of the company is to create a globally recognized ASEAN brand. This will be a proud statement for the company that originates from Malaysia which enables the country to rise higher in global arena. Another mission of AirAsia is to attain the lowest cost so that everyone can fly with AirAsia. They are actually flying their talk because the one way tickets are sold at a remarkable price of RM 1 As the Marketing Director of AirAsia, the task has been given by the Managing Director to explain the impact of consumer buying process and its application to a marketer. 2.0 Definition of Consumer Buying Process Consumer buying process is simply the factors that influence the buyer to buy and consume certain product and services. The consumers will be facing some external and internal influence factors that make them to buy a certain product. The definition of consumer buying process goes as the buying behavior or the acts of people when it comes to buying a certain product or services. In this case, it is the consumer buying process or behavior when it comes to buying or using the AirAsia services. (Hammond, James. 2008) 3.0 Stages of the Consumer Buying Process. As there are phases when it comes to a product development, same goes to the consumer buying processes consist of six stages. The end result will be the purchase of the product or services but not all the consumers will be end up buying or purchasing the product but for a general assumption this is the stages that is involved when it comes to consumer buying behavior. The main six stages are problem recognition, information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase decision, purchase and post purchase evaluation. (Hammond and James. 2008) 3.1 First Stage Problem or Need Recognition. As the name suggest it is the problem and the need recognition for the consumers in order to identify how to solve the particular problem or need. This is where they will be looking for a services or product that can solve their problem easily. The consumers will be facing problems such as the ticket price is very high. The price of the AirAsia ticket is cheaper compared to Malaysian Airlines and other airlines. Another problem that most consumers will face is the facilities that they can enjoy. Seem to be that the price is low for AirAsia ticket, the seats are too small and the consumers will not be able to sit comfortably. (Leventhal and Richard. 2006) 3.2 Second Stage Information Search It is the stage where the consumer will do his research about the product or services that can help to solve problem or the need of the consumer. A very good information research will lead the consumer to several alternatives of products or services. For an example, consumers can get more information about AirAsia through newspapers that have the advertisements of AirAsia. Besides that, consumers can find the information that they need through the website of AirAsia. Another form of information research that will be effective is through the Opinion Leaders where most consumers claimed to buy the tickets after hearing the experience of other consumers consuming the product or service. (Danziger and Pamela . 2006) 3.3 Third Stage Evaluation of Alternatives As the name suggests, the consumer will be evaluating all the possible alternatives or the services available through comparison method of price, quality and the services being offered in a way that can solve the need or problem of the consumer. There are many alternatives for consumers in the airline market such as Malaysian Airlines that can travel almost all parts of the world whereby the consumers who wants to travel to United States will not be able to enjoy the service through AirAsia because AirAsia does not offer route to that country. This will make the consumers to find an alternative such as Malaysian Airlines. (Danziger and Pamela . 2006) 3.4 Fourth Stage Purchase Decision This is where the consumer takes the decision to buy the services from a certain company after a deep evaluation and comparison. The consumers can buy the AirAsia tickets in a few methods such as through online purchase where the consumers can buy the ticket based on their preference and need. The consumer can even buy the tickets at their nearest AirAsia ticketing centre where the consumers can book the ticket and even purchase it with the information and support given by the salesperson. (Leventhal and Richard . 2006) 3.5 Fifth Stage Purchase This stage will be the part where the consumer buys the service or the product. The money is given for the service or the product that the consumer is going to consume. The consumers can buy the ticket of AirAsia by using their credit card where most consumers prefers online booking that allows them to choose the date with their own pace. The consumers can purchase the ticket months ahead of the date that can be done at the ticketing counter or online that is available in most parts throughout the country. (Wright and Len Tiu. 2006) 3.6 Final Stage Post Purchase Evaluation. To say it simple it is the outcome of the purchase of the product or services for the customer. Whether it is a satisfaction or dissatisfaction for the consumer. Consumers can even choose the meals that they prefer to have during their flight hours. This enables the consumers to make their journey a satisfactory journey that gives comfort and pleasure travelling by AirAsia. (Wright and Len Tiu. 2006) 4.0 Impact of consumer buying process. There are few impacts of consumer buying process or behavior. The impacts are from personal, psychological and also social. 4.1 Personal Impact From the aspects of personal there are many things that affect the consumer decision as their demographic factors, their sex, religion and also their race. Even their family also will affect their decision greatly. When it comes to buying AirAsia ticket, family members will tend to induce to buy for the low price. 4.2 Psychological Impact. There are few categories involved under the psychological impact as the motives of the consumer, the perception of the buyer, the ability and the knowledge of the user, the attitudes, the personality and also their lifestyle. This will be giving a greater impact to the decision process of the consumer. 4.3 Social Factors Social factors will be external factors that affect the consumer to buy a certain product or services. Some of the social factors are the opinion leaders, persons family, reference groups, social class and culture. They play an important role in the decision of the consumer to buy a certain product or services. 5.0 Application to a marketer. As a Marketing Director of AirAsia, there are several applications that can be made to ensure the consumers are satisfied and will buy the services more frequently. 5.1 Marketing Mix One of the ways of doing it is through the alteration of marketing mix according to the need and purpose of the consumers. The marketing mixes that as a marketer can use is the price, place, product and promotion. 5.2 Marketing Strategies Besides that, a very good marketing strategy will help the firm to attract more consumers. The marketer can analyze from where and what source of advertisements attracts the consumers and maintain the same concept which will be a guaranteed way of attracting more and more consumers that will lead to the profit and the success of the firm. 6.0 Conclusion Consumers have the rights to enjoy perfect and quality services for the price that they pay to companies. As the Marketing Director of AirAsia, the services that are being offered by AirAsia is solely for the satisfaction of the consumers and whenever there are some dissatisfaction in the service, immediately we will try to make changes to ensure the consumers get what they want. The buying process of the consumers have a greater impacts on marketing such as product price place and promotion. They way the consumers react to our services make us to be able to make changes and advertisements in the way that would ensure the consumers would like to get information. Therefore, besides profit, one of our ultimate goals is to give a satisfaction for more than what the consumers pay. By understanding the consumer buying process it will be able to reach AirAsia mission in future. Besides that Air Asia can accomplish their goal and objective by analyzing the consumer buying process which involves the six stages and the impact which consist of personal, psychological and social. Each stages able to identify consumer reaction or behavior towards the services. In addition by analyzing the trend and growth AirAsia can be a benchmark among the airlines industry. Moreover Air Asia will have greater improvement in terms of their weaknesses and focus on consumers needs and requirements by fulfill customer satisfactions.

Letter to the Tommy Hilfiger Advertising Manager :: Advertising Marketing Business

Letter to the Tommy Hilfiger Advertising Manager Dear Tommy Hilfiger Advertising Manager, â€Å"Just be you!† I’m sure one experiences a bit of their own nostalgia at the sight of the following phrase; anything from making new friends in preschool to being on a difficult job interview, â€Å"just being yourself† has always been said to be the best way to approach any uncomfortable situation. This is why an ad of yours that I have recently come across has significantly astounded me. The ad that I speak of pictures a flock of sheep standing in front of an American flag (the obvious symbol for Tommy) and, displayed at the bottom, a slogan that reads â€Å"follow the flock†. I was perplexed that a company of your stature and prestige would want anyone to just â€Å"follow the flock†. So I asked myself: â€Å"Would wearing Tommy Hilfiger really make me fit in?† and â€Å"Would I rather wear Tommy Hilfiger and be ‘like the flock’ or would I rather be the individual I have been brought up to be.† If t he intention of the advertisement is to simply have everyone wearing your clothing line, then I suppose your slogan suits this purpose, but being one who was targeted with this ad, I feel that your company should have gone with more of an individualistic approach. Although your ad may be directed toward any number of age groups, it particularly had an effect on me. I have been wearing your clothing line for as far back as I can remember so I had to frown upon the thought that all these years I may have only been â€Å"following the flock† instead of being myself. Being an 18 year old who has recently embarked in my first year college, I have found it difficult enough to stand out among a student body of well over 35,000. With the modern day misconception that the media has for what every man or woman â€Å"should† look like, individualism is something that is not only hard to find, but also hard to keep. So as much as I have marveled over your clothing line for the past decade or so, I can honestly say that I will think twice before buying a pair of your jeans over another.

Using the Formalistic Approach to Analyze Neuromancer :: Neuromancer Essays

Using the Formalistic Approach to Analyze Neuromancer The formalistic approach to an open text allows the reader to decide what is important about the words on the page as well as the reasons and actions of the characters themselves. The reader is then able to derive a reasonable explanation for the plot or even an overall theme of the text. "According to the Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature "when all the words, phrases, metaphors, images, and symbols are examined in terms of each other and of the whole, any literary text worth our efforts will display its own internal logic" (Guerin 75)." When practicing the formalistic approach, the reader must scrutinize the text for tools such as form, texture, style, symbolism, point of view, theme, and so on to portray the beauty of the novel. William Gibson's Neuromancer portrays many of these tools, but it is most important to focus on the overall tone of the story, which is quite evident in the setting. Concentrating on the portrayal of dystopia and the diction that is used to desc ribe it, as well as the repetitive imagery of the color pink, the reader can detect the dark and dreary tone at a more critical level. Neuromancer continuously represents a dystopia, which is a "bad place", in the setting. This is in contrast to a utopia, which represents a dream world. Neuromancer's settings remain dark, dreary, futuristic, and phony throughout the novel. These characteristics give the reader a sense of sorrow or even a foreshadowing of bad situations. The author portrays this type of setting in the very beginning when he writes, "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel," (Gibson 3). Already, the reader has an initial look at death and confusion, creating a dismal tone in just the first line. The words even create mystery, leaving the audience in question of what could possibly happen next. Later on in the story, the portrayal of dystopia is still evident when the text states, "Lost, so small amid that dark, hands grown cold, body image fading down corridors of television sky," (Gibson 31). The characters in the novel are unable to escape this dystopian lifestyle since it has taken control of their every thought and action. Besides acting as a dystopia, or "bad place", a fake and phony setting illustrates the tone as well.

how simple love can be :: Personal Narrative Essays

how simple love can be    I imagine slipping out of my dress and into the tub, lying in the gentle light from the window, my eyes closed against the insistence of the mid-summer heat. I allow my body to remember the rhythms of the water, and I dream of the green spring which first drew people to this city and centuries later still bubbles up between the stones and the sand. I can hear those first horses and men snort as they drink, so near death and then saved by a crevice in the earth that sings of a cool darkness and a hundred thousand rains.  Ã‚  Ã‚      But the heat of this August night pulls me back.   Reality is a street cafà © in Nimes, where Cam is nursing his last cup of coffee. As I struggle to let go of the daydream, a young dark haired girl with chubby arms and tired eyes places a card and a small, stuffed blue bear beside my cup. After looking for a moment into our faces, a moment when no one's expression changes, the child quietly makes her way to the next table. When all the tables have been served, she rags her feet to go stand by her brothers and father who wait on the sidewalk. At the sound of the father's mandolin and a nod of his head, the brothers join in on a rough rendition of an old Spanish folk song.  Ã‚      The cafà ©'s patrons, in deference to the little girl or in a desire for the music to stop, begin to lay money down on the cards, and after a few moments of voiceless scuffling with her brothers, the young girl is pushed toward the tables. Once again wearing a blank but intense face, she gathers the bills and coins into her hands, then quickly walks back and hands them to her father. He nods at his inattentive audience, touches his hat, and without a word, he and his family drift down the street to the next cafà ©.    I reach for the bear, study its polka dot bow tie and swing it on my finger by its gaudy golden thread while smiling at Cam. He tears it out of my hand to throw it after the family, but I hold on to his wrist, and still smiling, open his palm, take the bear back and drop it into my pack.

Critical Thinking Assignment

Exercise 1-1 1. What is an argument? An argument is a two part structure of claims; one part contains a premise and the other a conclusion. 2. T or F: A claim is what you use to state an opinion or a belief. 3. T or F: Critical thinking involves attacking other people. 4. Tor F: Whether a passage contains an argument depends on how long it is. 5. T or F: When a claim has been questioned, an issue has been raised. 6. Do all arguments have premises? Yes 7. Do all arguments have conclusions? Yes 8. T or F: if it is impossible for the premises of an argument to be true without the conclusion also being true the argument is deductively valid. . T or F: The more support the premises of an argument provide its conclusion, the stronger the argument. If the premises being true means that probably the conclusion is true, the argument is inductively strong. 10. Can a conclusion be implied, or must it always be explicitly stated? It must always be explicitly stated and consists of words and phra ses like therefore, thus, and consequently. 11. Explain the connection between an argument and an issue. When you have an issue you are raising a question to a claim and arguments are claims structured into two parts. Both are connected through claims. 12. T or F: â€Å"Miller Lite tastes great† is a value judgment. 13. Are all value judgements about matters of taste? 14. T or F: All value judgments are equally subjective. 15. T or F: Only claims subject to scientific testing are worth discussing. 16. T or F: All arguments are used to try to persuade someone of something. 17. T or F: All attempts to persuade someone of something are arguments. 18. T or F: Whenever a claim is called into question, an issue has been raised. 19. T or F: Moral value judgments might all be true. 0. T or F: Sometimes we transfer a favorable or unfavorable opinion of a speaker to what the speaker says 21. T or F: Explanations and arguments serve the same purpose. 22. â€Å"Therefore† and â€Å"consequently† are conclusion indicators. True 23. T or F: â€Å"Rhetorical† or â€Å"emotive force† refers to the emotional content or associations of a word or phrase. 24. T or F: the rhetorical force of language can get in the way of clear and critical thinking. 25. T or F: We should not try to put our own position on any issue in the most favorable light.

POS system

Helene Hernandez (College Instructor) (College College Instructor) Instructor) General Problem: Mister Boron's Fast Food is having difficulty in manually dealing with the customers in terms of ordering, payments, generating reports and maintaining their inventory. Specific Problems: 1 . Is the cashier easily and accurately computes the bills especially when dealing with huge number of customers? 2. And how long did employees check their stocks? 3. Does Mister Boron's Fast Food provides official receipt to customers? 4.Are their sales report accurate? . How do the customers wait for their orders? General Objective To provide a system that will automate the process in dealing with the customers in terms of ordering, payments, generating reports and maintaining their inventory. Specific Objectives 1 . To provide a system that will make the computation of bills faster and more accurate. 2. To provide a system that will allow the customers to have a receipt in every transaction. 3. To pro vide a system that will maintain the inventory easier and faster. . To provide a database that will store records for generating reports. 5. To provide a queuing management that will help customers. Features 1 . The system will notify if the stocks are insufficient. 2. Easy to use interface for the cashier. 3. The system can be easily updated when there are changes in the price of the meals. 4. The system will provide accurate weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly reports of sales. 5. Easily update the menu. 6. It shows the time started and time ended of the cashier. 7.Admit, manager, cashier and owner will have their own accounts and privileges 8. A separate monitor will show the queuing of costumers 9. It will provide a receipt with the name of the cashier, time and date of transaction, queue number and Official Receipt (O. R. ) number. 10. The cashier will have a touch screen monitor to easily input orders. 11. Receipts will be given right after the transaction using a POS printe r 12. A monitor inside the kitchen will show the queue numbers with the orders of the customers to know which order they will prioritize.

Characteristics of Effective Technical Writing Essay

Technical writing is meant to get a job done. Everything else is secondary. If the writing style is interesting, so much the better. There are 6 basic characteristics of technical writing: 1. Clarity: The written document must convey a single meaning that the reader can easily understand. Unclear technical writing leads to wasted time, money and resources. 2. Accuracy: This means to not only be careful to avoid errors in recording facts; it also means freedom from bias or subjectivity. If readers suspect you are slanting information by overstating the significance of a particular point, they have every right to doubt the validity of the entire document. 3. Comprehensiveness: A comprehensive technical document provides all the information its readers will need. Readers who must act on a document need to be able to apply the information efficiently and effectively. 4. Accessibility: This refers to the ease with which readers can locate the information they seek. Topic sentences should be used at the beginning of paragraphs. Thesis Statement should be identifiable in the introductory paragraph. 5. Conciseness: To be useful, technical writing must be concise. The longer a document is, the more difficult it is to use, for the obvious reason that it takes more of the reader’s time. A document must strive to balance the claims of clarity, conciseness, and comprehensiveness; it must be long enough to be clear-given the audience, purpose, and subject –but not a word longer. 6. Correctness: Good technical writing observes the conventions of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage. Leaving sloppy grammar errors in your writing is like wearing a soup-stained shirt to a business meeting: it will distract your readers, and may make them doubt the importance of your information.

Modern Marriage: The Ultimate Test

Have the roles of men and women in marriage changed in modern society? There are many theories hoping to answer this controversial question. One theory comes from David Popenoe, a Professor of Sociology at Rutgers University. Popenoe's theory of roles in marriage is that a modern marriage needs to be reestablished to a more traditional way of living, or to â€Å"restore the traditional nuclear family of bread-winning husband and full-time housewife that flourished in the 1950's† (Page 186). Another theory comes from Karen Zittleman (Ph. D), an education author and teacher; who takes her theory of modern marriage and brings it to a younger generation. Zittleman's theory of marriage roles is â€Å"in more ways than one, especially biologically, boys and girls are more similar than different and that gendered stereotypes and expectations have a developmental history that starts with learned notions of femininity and masculinity† (Page 236). Both Popenoe's and Zittleman's t heories are factually effective. Popenoe opens his reading with a firm questioning on the role shift in modern marriage, and he manages to effectively back his claims throughout the essay.Zittleman also opens her reading strongly, jumping right to the point of her thesis and study. Zittleman uses studies conducted by other psychologists, statistics, and many factual statements. Popenoe uses studies conducted by other psychologists and many facts to support his thesis. However, Popenoe's theory on such a controversial topic leaves very little or no room for ambiguity or interpretation while Zittleman leaves her theory open to her readers. Popenoe justifies his theory by first establishing the so-called confusion in today's marital roles.He explains how the right family life of having â€Å" a legally and culturally dominant bread-winning husband and an economically dependent full-time housewife† (Page 186) has drastically changed to â€Å"much confusion over family expectatio ns and marital gender roles† (Page 187). Throughout his study, he explained how there were three major downfalls for the shift in martial roles: broken families, women failing to juggle family and work life, and negative repercussions for men. After noting studies and works done by Bronfenbrenner and Bowlby, Popenoe discusses the biological attributions with the shift of family martial roles.Popenoe explains that â€Å"a stronger case should be presented at this time, one of declining family stability and personal well-being† (Page 193). With this, Popenoe reveals his â€Å"Seven Tenents for Establishing New Marital Norms,† which is a remedy for society's confusion over marital gender-role expectations. Step one in his â€Å"Seven Tenents† explains how both girls and boys should be trained according to their abilities. Step two explains that young people should grow up with the expectation that they will marry once, and they will wait for marriage until th ey are in their late 20's.Step three includes specific ages that are proper for men and women to marry. Step four explains that single men and women should start saving for their married lives. Step five infers that women are encouraged to leave the labor market once children are born. Step six explains that the father should take primary responsibility for the children after time with their mothers. Step seven infers the balancing of domestic and paid work. However, Zittleman would mostly disagree with Popenoe's theory. In Zittleman's study, she first justifies her theory by presenting two studies done by other psychologist on middle school children: â€Å"†¦ iddle school is a critical time for gender identity development† (Page 238). The first set of charts displays the sex and race of the students in 5 public middle schools. Zittleman reveals that â€Å"gender plays a significant role in the lives of middle school students, expanding some options, but more often limi ting the academic and social development of females and males† (Page 241). Zittleman then reveals charts that convey answers that display â€Å"The best thing about being a boy and the best thing about being a girl. † â€Å"Both sexes had more positive things to say about being a boy than being a girl† (Page 241).Zittleman then proceeds to pose the questions, â€Å"What is the worst thing about being a boy and what is the worst thing about being a girl? † For boys, â€Å"they listed fighting, discipline, poor grades, fear of homophobia, and difficulty with friendships and emotions† (Page 241). For girls, â€Å"relational aggression† was the top answer for most, and that included gossip, spreading rumors and the trust in friends. Zittleman jumps to her main point of importance in educating schools about gender equity. Like many theories, there is always room for critique, especially a theory about such a controversial topic.One of the main dow nfalls of Popenoe's essay was the overall structure and organization. For example, Popenoe opens his essay with an introduction that was not well fitted for a reader. Another organizational flaw in Popenoe's essay is the lack of charts. Popenoe brings a lot of studies and facts to his piece, but there were too many studies placed together which could confuse some of his readers. Popenoe says that although decline in population is not an imminent problem, this trend displays the sentiment among many adults that they do not value having a family as a lifestyle that will â€Å"fulfill their major values. In addition to this trend, he correlates the increase in divorces as an indication of a decline in the value of family. He points to the fact that women are increasingly economically independent and therefore able to divorce. He points out that regardless of the fact that this decline is seen in the eyes of feminists as a gain in equality for women, it does not change the fact that it could be seen as the main cause of the breaking up of the nuclear family unit. Popenoe's thesis and argument on the whole appear to be extremely obtuse.It seemed that he came at the issue through a very narrow track of research that did not take into account other societal problems that contribute to divorce and other reasons he cites for the shift in martial roles. Popenoe did a wonderful job when it came to finding facts and studies that proved his theory. Nevertheless, there were too many facts to register which depleted the essay’s effectiveness. Zittleman however faced a few challenges herself in her study of â€Å"Being a Girl and Being a Boy. † Like Popenoe, one of Zittleman's main downfalls in her essay was the organization.Unlike Popenoe, Zittleman opened her essay with a personal study. Zittleman, also took advantage of using charts, but there were an overwhelming amount. Some studies in Zittleman's essay really didn't need to be represented in chart form; a simple written explanation would have been better for the readers. There were a few charts that were sometimes unclear to the readers. At times throughout their essays, both Popenoe and Zittleman became unaware of their audience, which could have explained the distorted views in Popenoe's essay.It can be argued that Zittleman's target audience could be students, but it mostly pertains to the professors and teachers. When it came to Popenoe, his target audience was rather confusing at times; I really couldn't place a proper target audience for his essay. Both Popenoe's and Zittleman's essays try to answer the question of the shift of roles in modern marriage. Though Zittleman uses charts and Popenoe doesn't, the styles in both works are best understood by an audience of pre-educated readers in this topic. After re-reading both studies done by both authors, heir area of study is similar, but the way they approached it was completely different. All in all, both Zittleman and Popenoe d o a great job when it came to supporting their thesis. Zittleman achieved her goal as a writer when it came to appeasing for a wide range of audiences. Popenoe, however, focuses so much on proving his theory with facts that he fails to remember he has a wide variety of readers. Although I personally disagree with Popenoe's theory, he still did a great job in supporting his work factually.

How Does Facebook Impact on Your Life Essay

What is the most popular social network in the world? I believe that most people prefer the answer â€Å"Facebook†. Nowadays, there are more and more people join the Facebook. You can always see such situations that some people refresh their Facebook when they have nothing to do, and there are some people even only use Facebook to keep in touch with others. Actually, Facebook has already become a part of our life; and it changed our lives in four aspects: it changed our online life, relationships with our parents, relationships with our friends, and also eased our feeling of loneliness. The first aspect is that Facebook fulfilled our Internet lives. Do you still remember what did you usually do on the Internet before the Facebook was invented? Use my own experience for example; before the Facebook was invented, I only use the basic functions of the Internet, such as check the emails, look for some news on the Internet, sometime I also play some online games. At that time, I prefer to watch TV rather than surf the Internet. However, after the Facebook was invented, my online life changed. When I surf the Internet, the first thing I have to do is check my Facebook, because many of my friends who changed their states everyday. From their states I can know what happened to my friends. Sometimes I can also share some interesting videos and pictures to my friends, it also made me feel closer with my friend. Actually, not only myself, but also other teenagers have the similar situations. In â€Å"Facebook is a major influence on girls, says survey†, Sean Coughlan (2010) reported that there is a survey based on 3000 parents and 1000 children in the UK, and they found that Facebook made a big influence on children, especially on girls. In that survey, children are asked to list three important things in their life. The result shows that 41% of the girls and 17% of the boys believe that technology is one of the biggest influences, and many girls regard the Facebook as their important part in their life. They believe that Facebook is more important than TV, magazines and even their brothers or sisters. It sounds a little crazy, however, it is true that Facebook has already changed our Internet life. In fact, Facebook didn’t only change our Internet life, but also create a new way to communicate with your parents and friends. As there are more and more teenage Facebook users, many parents try to communicate with their kids through Facebook. However, is it an effective way to use Facebook to get closer with their child? In â€Å"Student’s Facebook ‘friends’: public and private spheres†, Anne West, Jane Lewis and Peter Currie (2009) analysis that most teens feel weird when adults have Facebook. Huffington Post (2007) use a student’s words as example, the student said that if his or her parents know so much about his or her Facebook activities, he or she will has a feel that his or her parents want to know the secrets between his or her friends. He or she wants his or her parents could understand that Facebook profile is prepared for people who are sharing his or her experience (cited in West, Lewis & Currie, 2009). From this example, we can see that many teenagers don’t like adding their parents as friends. They want a world that they can chart with their friends without worrying about their parents. However, there are still many teenagers believe that Facebook is a good way to communicate with their parents. For instance, there is a girl noted that her mother just got into Internet for few days and her mother likes to see her photos. The girl believes that it is a good way to keep in touch with her mother (West, Lewis & Currie, 2009). In another case, there is a friend of mine insist on communicating with his mother through the Internet. They believe that add each other as a Facebook friend is a symbol of reliance. My friend likes to update some photos with his friends, and his mother likes to share some tips in daily life with Facebook. With the help of Facebook, their relationship became better and better. As there are more and more people who know how to use Internet, we need to believe that one day, parents can get closer with their kid by using Facebook. Facebook does not only change our relationships with our parents, but also with our friends. Before the Facebook was invented, maybe the most common way to communicate with others is cellphone. You can text or phone others. However, with the birth of the Facebook, we have a new way to communicate with our friends. In â€Å"Me and My 400 Friends: The Anatomy of College Students’ Facebook Networks, Their Communication Patterns, and Well-Being†, Manago, Taylor and Greenfield (2012, pp. 374) did a survey on 400 people. According to their study, the average time that people spend on the Facebook is a little over an hour, and 80% of the people would log in the Facebook many times a day. Most people would like to update their status a few times a week. Status is most common use of the Facebook. From our friends’ statues we can know more about our friends’ life. To some degree, it is a kind of communication when you see your friends’ statue and leave a comment under their statue. According to Manago, Taylor and Greenfield’s study, the most common statues are others’ emotion condition (51% of participants). Then the second and the third most common statue is â€Å"what you a doing† and â€Å"vent frustration†. Therefore, we can easily know something from others’ statue. That is why Facebook provide us a new way to communicate with our friends. Actually, most young people like to use Facebook to keep in touch with their friends. Use my friends for example; Dale and Ronda are young couple with two kids. They like to go vocation in holidays. Each time when they come back they will update their statues and photos. It makes them feel closer with their friends. From these examples we can see that Facebook really changed our relationship with our friends a lot. The forth aspect that Facebook influent our life is that Facebook can ease our feeling of loneliness. In the article â€Å"Is Facebook Making Us Lonely? †, Marche (2012, P. 62) points out that Americans are much more lonely than ever before. In 1950, only less than 10% of the homes have only one person. However, by 2010, nearly 27% of the homes have only one person. From these information we can see that people became more and more lonely, because many of them living alone, they don’t have somebody to talk with them. That is the problem, and Facebook can solve this problem perfectly. Although you could not live with your friends, you could communicate with them through Facebook. Marche (2012, P. 64) also reported that in 1985, only 10% of the Americans had no one to talk about vital matters. However, by 2004, the year when Facebook launched, 25% Americans had no one to talk to. To solve this problem, Facebook provides a platform that you can discuss important matters with others. Facebook is not only a social networking, but also a â€Å"medicine† which can reduce the feeling of loneliness. There are some people argue that the motive for using Facebook may impact on loneliness. For instance, some people may addict to Facebook, so they prefer to use the Internet to communicate with others but not talk to others in reality. About this point, Mathew Ingram, an excerpt from BusinessWeek blog post, explains that Facebook would not promote connections in real world. He met many friends from Internet. He agrees that there are people became lonelier because of using the Internet, just like many lonely people like to watch a lot of late-night TV show. However, it doesn’t mean that Facebook causes loneliness (cited in Marche, 2012, P. 17). From the information above, we can see that Facebook really changed our life. In conclusion, Facebook changed our life in many aspects. It does not only add more happiness on your Internet life, but also make your relationships with others better. In the modern world, people became lonelier and lonelier. With the help of the Facebook, we can meet more new friends; we can keep in touch with our old friends, it can also help us to get out from the shadow of the loneliness. Facebook or social networking has already been a part of our life. Therefore, all we need to do is to make good use of the Facebook and let it serve us in a better way.

U.S. and international business operations and environments Essay

U.S. and international business operations and environments - Essay Example Cultural diversity identifies one of the differences. The American domestic culture is largely homogeneous and identifies uniform behaviors and practices in business negotiations and agreements. This is however contrary to the international environment that has diversified cultures and requires extensive knowledge of the cultures for successful business initiatives. Failure to understand the different cultures disadvantages operations in the international environment as opposed to experiences United States’ domestic set up. Business operations in the Unites States majorly uses the U.S. Dollar for transactions while operations in the international environment encounters many currencies, requires currency conversion and is susceptible to losses due to variations in currency values. Business operations and environment in the United States are also subject to a homogeneous legal environment under the federal laws and variations within state laws are not very significant while oper ations and environments in international set ups are regulated by different legal systems. Similarly, moral obligations, as derived from cultures, are homogeneous in the domestic business environment but diversified in international set up. Business operations in the United States are also majorly conducted in English while the international set up involves a multilingual approach that sometimes requires translators (Dlabay, Scott and Scott, 2010). Business operations and environments in the United States are therefore different from those in the international set up with culture, currency, legal environment, language, and ethics as the major bases for the

Reading response LN 4 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reading response LN 4 - Article Example At this point, it is worth questioning this view, as visual humor also has a huge place in the context of humor. Still, more needs to be done to evaluate the place of visual humor in the humor in general. What percentage does visual humor take and is the same comparable to the verbal humor? Upon completing this research, it will be possible to understand and explain the gap between visual humor and verbal humor. On another note, I find it captivating when the authors indicate that verbal humor migrates to the visual aspect (Hempelmann & Samson, 2008). It is at this position that one would really question which humor takes the greatest percentage. Yet another question would focus on the extent of correlation between visual humor and verbal humor. Can the two do without each other, and if not, in what domains? I also tend to agree with the authors when they indicate that conversation is possible through cartoons (Hempelmann & Samson, 2008). In my opinion, I am convinced that one can read humor from cartoons even without seeing the writing explaining what the cartons means. In this context, it is worth justifying that each of the humors plays a pivotal role in their own way. I am also convinced that either of the humors can replace the other in terms of relaying messages to its readers. The only disparity will be the profundity and intensity of the message relayed. For instance, if the cartoon is accompanied by text, then it brings out a stronger message as opposed to verbal humor. Pictures can be indicated to be more appealing as opposed to the verbal messages that leave its audience with the task of interpreting the intended message. From the arguments, it is only reasonable to attest to the verity that visual humor plays a major role in evoking humor over the verbal one. I agree with the authors when they indicate that versions of visual humor that

Apple Case Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Apple Case Analysis - Essay Example There was no surprise to see people standing in long queues eagerly anticipating the launch of ipad3, almost everyone wanted to get their hands on the newest gadget launched by Apple again underlining their dominance and global reach. Apple is arguably the best brand in the world because they have spent a lot of money on innovation and they have achieved their objectives in the recent past of making their gadgets better than other similar gadgets available in the market. Steve Jobs always wanted to make a computer which was easy to use and he managed to do it, Apple II was launched in the year 1978. It was an easy to use computer, it is said that the launch of Apple II completely revolutionized the computing industry. Apple also became a leader after the launch of Apple II in 1978. Competitive Position Apple’s dominance was challenged by IBM, IBM entered the fray in the year 1981, Apple found their newest rivals in IBM. There was a major difference between the systems produced by the two companies, Apple’s computer was a prototype and could not be cloned on the contrary IBM’s system could be cloned by others very easily. IBM heavily relied on Intel to supply processors but that was not the case with Apple. IBM’s entry into the market did not affect Apple’s revenue but IBM took away the market share from Apple to a certain extent and Apple had their eyes set on winning the market share once again and restoring normalcy. A significant changed occurred in the year 1984; a very young Steve Jobs presented Macintosh to the whole world in an endeavor to win back their lost market share. The technical elegance and the design of the new Macintosh, was captivating beyond imagination but when it came to performance the Macintosh disappointed its users. It was really slow and because of these lags it did not sell as expected by the honchos at Apple. Between 1983 and 1984 Apple had a torrid time, net income of the company fell by 17% and s uddenly the company was in crisis. Steve Jobs was removed from his post after these series of setbacks, John Sculley was at the helm back them. He was the same man who reinvigorated Pepsi and fought successfully against Coca Cola to gain dominance. Sculley worked on graphics and designs and knew that these were the two key elements that could take Apple to where it originally belongs. Desktop publishing was another key area which Sculley targeted and Apple all of a sudden started producing systems which were best when it came to desktop publishing. Major Competitive Advantages As discussed earlier Apple’s design and elegance were two factors which gave it an edge over other companies but these two factors were anything but enough to propel the company to the very top. Several other competitive changes were made by Sculley during his time at the helm, his tie-up with Aldus which is now known as Adobe was a great move for Apple and it restored much needed stability in the compa ny, products designed by Aldus were used for desktop publishing and the same made Apple one of the best in the world once again post the Steve Jobs era. The Macintosh started selling like hotcakes once the products made by Aldus were used in the Macintosh, Apple recorded record sales of the Macintosh and that was when Apple regained its prominence. Accessories like laser printers were also sold by Apple and the same had unmatched capabilities and this is why

AN INDIVIDUAL PROJECT PROPOSAL Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

AN INDIVIDUAL PROJECT PROPOSAL - Dissertation Example The Standards for acquiring accessibility through technical specifications and interface design have been laid down for the conventional Web, but, how far e-learning systems are conforming to these standards is still unclear. More so, there remains conflicts between educational features and usability. There is a need for Institutions to meet recent accessibility andb fulfil government targets to deliver growing access to Higher Education. It can only be achieved by evaluating e-learning system usability and identifying the arising accessibility needs. Aims of the research The project intends to fulfil certain objectives. The research project will look at the current levels of accessibility in e-learning systems, that is the Virtual Learning Environments. It will go ahead to assess theproblems faced by disabled users in accessing system features these will include textual resources, interactive content, navigation features and tools for communication. The other things that will be car ried out may include semi-structured interviews with educational support staff, among them lecturers and Information Services staff that support the disabled users example, disability support staff,e-learning support. When it comes to the empirical research with learners, six to seven university sites will be taken to assess practices and policies in accessibility support that is within different e-learning systems. This practical investigation and research activities will help gain user views and perspectives on system usability example through questionnaires or interviews. There is a need for Institutions to know which features should be avoided or used with care so that to enable disabled students to access e-learning systems. They should also be able to know the features that are educationally valuable and if they can be supported with more training for disabled learners. General context descr?pt?on This project is personal research in the field of Information Science,especially within the area of end-user systems accessibility. It a coomon issue that in Higher Education there is constant innovation and changing methods to provision of online services, but , there remains grey areas when it comes to issue of user accessibility. This issue has turned into a neede requires secondary consideration. This research looks towards underpinning improved provision of accessible systems for disabled adult learners. It has been discovered that one of the major barriers for people with intellectual disabilities in accessing electronic programmes is due to the lack of accessible adult training material and information in simple language. Through focusing directly on people with disabilities, and also on the staff of adult education or e-learning providers, this Project tackles this problem and focuses on improving the accessibility of lifelong learning programmes. Research questions The research is aimed at answering the following questions: 1. What are the major obstac le faced by students when undertaking learning in an online setting? 2. What are the usability and accessibility issues in e-learning systems? 3. What are the training needs of disabled users in facilitating online learning? 4. How can usability and access issues be practically addressed? Research methodology The research will go for a practical research element to investigate questions outlined in the study mainly targeted at

The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children Essay

The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children - Essay Example Violence creeps quietly and firmly into living rooms via television and its contents. This source misguides its viewers in adopting unrealistic and cinematic use of violence in real life situations in homesteads and outside. Viewers invariably have the entire family and perhaps none of the family members escape this all pervasive and negative influence. Children, with impressionable and tender psyches, are increasingly witnessing real-life violence, either in their homes, streets, schools, work places and almost everywhere. This violence has not only assumed epidemic proportions but is a sad and painful reflection on our society when recipients of violence are children, particularly in domestic environment. An environment which is otherwise supposed to protect and nurture young ones instead works to leave deep scars of hostile violence. To top it all provocations may be extremely trivial. This state of affair constitutes both a public health and moral/philosophical crises. The United States (US) has the highest homicide rate in the world. The US homicide rate for young men is 73 times greater than that observed in comparable industrialized nations. Largely uncontrolled proliferation of guns and other lethal weapons is linked directly, for one, to the increased homicide rates among children and for two, to the numbers of violent incidents that children may witness. On an average each day in the US, 9 children are murdered, guns wound 30 children, and 307 children are arrested for violent crimes.

Antibody targeted drugs for cancer therapy Dissertation

Antibody targeted drugs for cancer therapy - Dissertation Example Targeting of an antigen that is suitable is done, the conjugate attached to it, which is usually inactive is internalized through endocytosis that is receptor mediated, without undergoing any modification. The conjugate taken thus into the cell is then released into the cell from the lysosome and the cytotoxic activity is then restored. This is the principle behind antibody targeted chemotherapy. Monoclonal antibodies are currently considered as important treatment approaches for malignancy because of their tolerance and also effectiveness in the treatment of various cancers. However, in view of limited scope for clinical trials only a few monoclonal antibodies are approved for clinical use and application against cancer. They not only have a role as anticancer agents, but also have ability to increase the selectivity of various other anticancer agents which are not effective when applied alone. Introduction Classic anticancer treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and su rgical resection. ... eal treatments of cancer where the toxicity is exerted only on tumor tissues and normal tissues are spared, application of monoclonal antibodies for target approach of cancer therapy has found its way. Such an application has revolutionized because of hybridoma technology which has contributed to the production of monoclonal antibodies. When these are used for anticancer treatment, they either target the cancer cells directly, or get exerted after conjugation with cytotoxic drugs or immunotoxins or enzymes (Juntilla et al, 2011). Thus, immunotherapy has become the fourth modality of cancer therapy. Strategies for this therapeutic application are destruction of cancer cells that are directed by immune reaction, interference of the therapy with the growth and differentiation of cancer cells, transport of anti-cancer agents to the cancer cells based on antigen epitopes, anti-idiotype vaccination and finally, development of humanised mouse monoclonal antibodies through genetic engineerin g. Several agents like radionucleotides, toxins and chemotherapeutic agents have been conjugated for anticancer application. These forms of treatment are not only useful following surgical resection but also can be employed in terminal cancer stages (Bodey et al, 2000). In this review, role of antibody mediated cancer therapy will be discussed through review of suitable articles. Monoclonal antibodies Antibodies that are produced from a single type of immune cell are known as monoclonal antibodies. Since these antibodies are basically clones of a single parent cell, they are all identical. Monoclonal antibodies have wide application both in diagnostic and therapeutic clinical arenas (Lambert et al, 2005). Currently, they are used in the treatment of various conditions like cancer, rejection

Racial Profiling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Racial Profiling - Essay Example It is a racial stereotyping that members of a certain race tend to engage in a particular crime than members of the other groups. In the event of an investigation of a terror suspect in the U.S, most of the people singled out to be suspects are always Arabs and Muslims. The process will always rely on the nationality, the religion as well as the manner of dressing; this is what Michael refers to as racial profiling. In this article, the writer points out that is important to consider ones right even if a crucial investigation is being conducted. Like it or not, the universal fundamental rights of an individual has to earn consideration and also the fact that one is always innocent until proven guilty. Much of this’ discrimination is outlawed’ in the U.S. The criteria used to identify and analyze a terror suspect have regards to being racial discrimination. It is in the conclusion that ones religion, nationality, and ethnicity are judged on the criterion of identifying a terror suspect. In the way, selection of Arabs and Muslims as terror suspects will always connect the boundary that separate suspect description and relying on profiling. A good example is when a member of the public tips an officer that a suspect of certain religion or ethnicity has engaged in criminal activity. The police start by questioning member of the same religion to rule out the fact that they have formed a gang in the neighborhood, this is racial profiling. He says that when one decides on whom to suspect or point out as a terrorist on ones thought is a mere is a generalized observation (Banks &Richard 1213-1214). Widespread observation sometimes brings you to a wrong conclusion. Another pe rfect example is when an intelligence report comes that an individual building will be bombed. The report gives a specific date at a particular time; this limited description will make the police subject all Arab

Restoration & Recovery Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 2

Restoration & Recovery Plan - Essay Example Interconnected capabilities of information systems allow system operators instant feedback from an inquiry. Moreover, their interconnectedness provides added resources as they provide links to other databases with critical information. For those with harmful intentions, the interconnectivity of public safety systems represents an opportunity. One vile or deleted piece of information can easily infiltrate and corrupt or lock an entire system’s operations and subsequently infect connected systems. It is believed that government systems may become targets of attack (Wilmot, 2004; Wilson, 2003). Instead of using explosives, terrorists may resort to the destructive effects of data packets. According to Lieutenant General Kenneth A. Minihan, groups harboring hostility towards the United States are currently developing â€Å"offensive information warfare capabilities† (Wilcot, 2004, p. 284) making government computers and information systems targets (Wilson, 2003). As a connected subsidiary of the federal government (SafirRosetti, 2006), the Fort Lauderdale Police Department of Florida FLPD and its information systems are equally susceptible to attacks. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department implements several strategies to combat imminent attacks against information systems; however, its strategies require added forethought and planning. Though the risks of information systems is known among systems operators, protection plans are far and few between. Scarce time is invested into the protecting systems. Wilcot (2004) points out the haphazard security of information systems: â€Å"In most agencies, security is relegated to someone in the information services (IS) department, who usually has many other duties.† (p 291) To ensure the safety of its information systems, FLPD relies on its staff (SafirRosetti, 2006) and the administrative department of the Risk Management Division (BCL). The person in charge of

The influence of Nature and Nurture Essay Example for Free

The influence of Nature and Nurture Essay Can the influence of Nature and Nurture on two souls be compared? Nature and Nurture both determine Hucks and Jims personality ad behavior. Nature gives them their inborn traits often. Nature is how they are treated, and Nurture is the society, who natures them, and society nurtured them. Nature helps Huck become the person he is because the way your treated is the way you treat other people at times. Huck is thirteen whose place in society is second to a slave, like Jim. Hucks father is a drunk who takes care of Huck from time to time. Repeatedly Huck is filthy and left homeless. The nurturing society has failed to protect Huck from his father, because they didnt care for him, and nurture him. That doesnt go for everyone though, Widow Douglas took Huck in and tried to ameliorate Huck. Huck starts church and proper schooling. Even though Huck is a child the nurturing that he receives pushes him away from the cynicism of the world around him, which brings about another way nurturing has made who Huck is. At this time of age, African Americans were still in bondage as slaves, which brings about Jim in the story. Society does not nurture Jim; instead they treat him as an object of property. Huck doesnt agree with this though, according to Hucks sense of dialectic and fairness its not only acceptable but conscientiously good to help Jim. Hucks natural reasoning and his acquiescence to think through a situation on its own entitlement is what leads him to some conclusions that are right in their appurtenance but would clash society. An example is when he meets a group of slave-hunters, that telling a lie is sometimes the right course of action, in other words that sometimes lying is the right thing to do. Because Huck is a child, the world appears to be new to him. Everything he does is an instant for thought. Because of Hucks past he does more than just bestow the rules that he has learned; Huck invents his own rules. Nevertheless, Huck is not indispensably a kind of autonomous ethical genius. Huck struggles with some of the prejudgment about African Americans, which society has inveterate in him. Unfortunately Huck ensue Tom Sawyers lead. These flaws are of Huck because nature nurtured him this way. This shows you  that these flaws are a important element of what makes Huck enticing and compassionate. However Huck is still a boy and consequently deceptive. Impaired as Huck is, he symbolizes what everyone is able of becoming rational, feeling human being rather than a sprocket in the dogmatic instrument of society. What makes Jim who he is Nature. If society didnt treat him as an object he would be able to become better in all aspects. In the story Huckleberry Finn Jim is Hucks friend that travels the Mississippi River with him. In the story Jim is portrayed as man of outstanding intellectual, and that he shows compassion to people, even if they dont show it to him. When I first read about Jim he was portrayed as an idiot, but as I read further I found out that this was not true. Nature enabled Jim from acting boldly or speaking his mind, which at times made him seem like he wasnt intelligent. Even though he is held down by Natures way of nurturing him, Jim still finds it somewhere in his heart to be one of the most compassionate and caring person in this novel, and further more he cares for Huck, like a father would and like a friend. For example Jim cooks for Huck and shelters him from the incidents like when he finds Pas corpse, and kept it from him. Overall Jim I believe that Jim cannot control the way Natures nurtures him, and Huck, is the goodness in the society, even though Nature in its nurturing ways corrupted Huck.

Stability and Control of Nonlinear Systems

Stability and Control of Nonlinear Systems The following system was provided to study about passivity, asymptotic stability, and input to state stability properties at conditions. The given system of differential equation for analysis is given below Also, The state space representation of the system is as follows. Let, Similarly Hence Based on the system equation is given by Similarly, based on the state space representation The state of system , where n=4, where m=2 and where p=2. Hence p=m.   A dissipative system with respect to supply rate is said to be passive, if The Lyapunov function for the system is given as Hence with respect to definition of state variables, it can be rewritten as Hence, Also, based on the definition of S, For the given system , hence the lossless system, is passive from u to y. The PD feedback controller of the system with and is represented as Hence the state space representation of the system, is given by The modified Lyapunov function with potential energy is given by It can be observed that V(x) is differentiable (V: R4 → R and a C1 function). Based on the equation of V(x) it can be observed that, The term and all other terms are quadratic in nature.   Hence where Hence V(x) is positive definite. Let V(x) is bounded by V(x)≠¤M, where M à Ã‚ µ R, then it implies that ⇒ ⇒ and ⇒ ⇒ and ⇒ ⇒ and ⇒ ⇒ and ⇒ ⇒ Hence V(x) is radially unbounded. The derivative of V(x) can be obtained as follows Upon substitution and solving the equations, At It can be observed that Based on the above equation, it can be observed that It can be observed that , has only quadratic terms with a negative sign prefixed hence where Hence is negative definite. The equilibrium point of the system at is given by Hence origin is the only equilibrium point of the system. Based on the above observations, it can be concluded that the system is globally asymptotically stable at the origin. The given systems were simulated for different values of   and , modified one at a time with other disturbance set to zero and the initial condition set at origin. The following observations can be found from subplots of and Hence the disturbance in both the coordinates of the system are additive in nature. It can be observed that, whenever initial state of the system set to origin and disturbance is induced in one of the coordinate ( or ), the other coordinate of the system is not disturbed. Figure 1 State of System with disturbance at origin with rd=0 Figure 2 State of System with disturbance at origin with thd=0 The Figure 3 indicates the state of the system, when is modified from -5 to 5 with , with the initial condition as x = {7,3,5,1}.   The settling time of the system varies with the magnitude of disturbance and the initial condition.   Also, it can be observed from the plot of that the system settles to a point which is offset from the origin (equilibrium) by the value of disturbance.   Also, the settling time of the system is more for d=-c, when compared to d=c. Also, disturbance in one of the coordinate (), has its effect in another coordinate. Figure 3 State of System with rd=0 at x = [7,3,5,1] The observations of disturbance induced in when , is applicable for the disturbance induced in with    Also, it can be observed from Figure 4 that the settling time of the system is higher when a disturbance is induced in r-coordinate, when compared to -coordinate. Figure 4 State of System with thd = 0 at x = [7,3,5,1] The effect of having both and was observed by simulating the system response for and . Also, it can be observed that settling time of the system is similar to disturbance induced only in the r-coordinate. Figure 5 State of System with thd = -5, rd=5 at x = [7,3,5,1] In all the above plots, it can be observed from the subplot of that the settling point of state as t→, and , indicating that the state of the system tracks the input in the respective coordinate. It can also be observed from the previous plots for d=0, system exhibits the property of global asymptotic stability to the origin (equilibrium point).   Also, , the state implies the Bounded Input Bounded State property of the system. The input to state stability of the closed loop system with respect to and for the system was validated by adding a destabilizing feedback with and . The function k(x) of the disturbance is selected, such that the power transferred to the system is maximized, which can be performed when   . From the above equation, it can be observed that the power transferred to the system can be maximized by choosing same sign of with c≠¥0.   The nature of system response for different range of c is listed in the Table 1 below. Table 1 System Response for Variation in c at initial condition of [7,3,5,1]] Value of c Observation c ≠¤ 1.99 The energy of the system decreases initially, indicated by the plot of Lyapunov function shown in Figure 6 and the same result can be observed on the plot of r and ÃŽ ¸, where the magnitude decreases initially and oscillates with the bounded magnitude, for the bounded input indicated in plot of theta-d. c>1.99 For c=5, the energy of the system increases, indicated by the plot of Lyapunov function shown in Figure 7 and the plot of r and ÃŽ ¸ indicates that the magnitude continues to increases resulting in unbounded state for the bounded input indicated in plot of theta-d.   Also, it can be observed that the rate of increase in energy of the system, decreases with time. Figure 6 State of System at c=1.75 The system is not Input to state stable (ISS) for c>1.99 and Figure 7 indicates a system which is not ISS for c=5.   The value of transition from bounded state to unbounded state was observed at c=1.93 for an initial point of [1,2,1,2].   Based on the above observation, the transition value of c is dependent of initial condition (energy) of the system. Figure 7 State of System at c=5 The PD control used in the r-coordinate is modified as The simulations were carried out, to identify the properties of ISS satisfied by the system, with respect to and as inputs.   All the simulations were carried out with respect to the initial condition x0 = (7,3,5,1) Condition 1: The system is evaluated with zero disturbance and , the result is indicated in Figure 8. Figure 8 System with Zero Disturbance For the no disturbance conditions, it can be observed that the system is asymptotically stable about the origin (equilibrium), indicating the Global asymptotic stability of the system about the origin.   Also from the plot of Lyapunov function, it can be observed that the energy of the system settles down to zero. Condition 2: The destabilizing feedback input used in question 5 for the system was fed to the system and it its response is indicated in figure Figure 9 State of System at c=5 with modified PD Control The following observations can be made with respect to figure For an input , the state , indicating bounded input bounded state property of the system. It can be observed that, though the energy of the system increases initially, but upper bounded over a period.   The energy and the state of the system gets bounded over period of simulation.   Hence for the bounded input, state of the system is bounded. Also, the system exhibits property of asymptotic gain, since the state of the system is upper bounded by disturbance with gain of the system. Also, it was observed that though the system is ISS for the c=5, as the value of c increases energy of the system increases (example for c=10, v(x) is upper bounded to 10,000).   Hence modifying the PD control, makes the system ISS for a larger range of disturbances, when compared to earlier control. Condition 3: The system was fed with the input Figure 10 State of system rd=0 and theta d=5*exp(t) It can be observed from the plot that d(t)→ 0 as , also aysmptotically.   Hence the system indicates the property of converging input, converging state. The response of the system was evaluated with different possible inputs for , such as , the state of the system x1, x3 was chosen based on observations made in earlier simulations (q5) where predominantly these states grew out of bound Similarly, the above input conditions were simulated with =0 and defined as one of the input, few combinations of the above input disturbances and few possible system interconnections such as positive feedback interconnection, negative feedback interconnection, series interconnection. System response for various types of disturbance Constant Disturbance The disturbance of the system is set to constant values, as indicated in Figure 5 Figure 11 State of system at theta d=-5 rd=5 It can be observed from the plot of Figure 11 and Figure 5 that the settling time of system in r-coordinate has reduced almost by half, when compared to previous control. Positive Feedback Interconnection The disturbance input condition is mentioned below and the system response is shown in Figure 12 Figure 12 System Response for Positive Feedback Interconnection The state of the system indicates the converging nature, also it can be observed that after the transient period system follows the input. Series Interconnection The system is connected in series, with the following disturbance input configuration for each of the subsystem and the plot for the same is shown in Figure 13. Figure 13 System Response for Series Interconnection It can be observed that the behavior of the system is similar with respect to condition 2, but the energy of the system settles down at a higher level when compared to the similar condition with System with different disturbances acting simultaneously The type of disturbance added to the system is given below and the response of the system is shown in figure Figure 14 System response of simultaneous time varying disturbance It can be observed that the system exhibit the property of bounded input bounded state, even if the disturbance is of time varying. In all the above simulation conditions, it was observed that the system exhibits bounded state nature for a wider range of inputs with higher magnitude, when compared to the PD control implemented earlier.   This phenomenon can be attributed to the cubic terms with the negative sign, as it can reduce the rate at which energy of the system increases, before it goes out of bound. APPENDIX Code Used for Generation of Plots Contents Q4 Constant Value of Theta-d and r-d Q5 for ISS Q6 for ISS with new u2 Q4 Constant Value of Theta-d and r-d clc clear all close all global x1d; global x3d; ts=500;   %Duration for solving ip=[7,3,5,1]; options=odeset(AbsTol,1e-7,RelTol,1e-5); thd=[-5]; rd=[5]; for i=1:size(thd,2)   Ã‚  Ã‚   for j=1:size(rd,2)%-29:30:31   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   x1d=thd(i);  Ã‚   %x1d is Theta-d   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   x3d=rd(j);  Ã‚   %x3d is r-d   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   [t,x]=ode23(@deeqn,[0 ts],ip,options);   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   figure(1)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   subplot(2,2,1)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hold on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   plot(t,x(:,1))   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   title(Plot of Theta)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xlabel(Time)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ylabel(Theta)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid minor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   subplot(2,2,2)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hold on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   plot(t,x(:,2))   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   title(Plot of Theta-dot)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xlabel(Time)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ylabel(Theta-dot)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid minor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   subplot(2,2,3)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hold on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   plot(t,x(:,3))   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   title(Plot of r)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xlabel(Time)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ylabel(r)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid minor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   subplot(2,2,4)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hold on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   plot(t,x(:,4))   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   title(Plot of r-dot)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xlabel(Time)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ylabel(r-dot)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid minor   Ã‚  Ã‚   end end Q5 for ISS clc close all global x1d; global x3d; ts=10000;   %Duration for solving ip=[7,3,5,1]; options=odeset(AbsTol,1e-7,RelTol,1e-5); x1=ip;    global c;    cval=[1.92]   %1.993 is transition point    for i=1:size(cval,2)    c=cval(i);   %4.0125   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   x1d=0;  Ã‚   %x1d is Theta-d   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   x3d=0;  Ã‚   %x3d is r-d   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   [t,x]=ode23(@deeqnvx,[0 ts],ip,options);   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   figure(2)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   subplot(2,3,1)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hold on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   plot(t,x(:,1))   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   title(Plot of Theta)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xlabel(Time)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ylabel(Theta)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid minor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   subplot(2,3,2)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hold on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   plot(t,x(:,2))   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   title(Plot of Theta-dot)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xlabel(Time)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ylabel(Theta-dot)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid minor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   subplot(2,3,4)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hold on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   plot(t,x(:,3))   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   title(Plot of r)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xlabel(Time)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ylabel(r)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid minor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   subplot(2,3,5)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hold on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   plot(t,x(:,4))   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   title(Plot of r-dot)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xlabel(Time)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ylabel(r-dot)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid minor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   subplot(2,3,3)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hold on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   thdin=c.*sign(x(:,2));   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   plot(t,thdin)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   title(Plot of theta-d)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xlabel(Time)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ylabel(theta-dot)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid minor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   subplot(2,3,6)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hold on  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   vxfn=(1/2).*(((x(:,3).^2)+1).*(x(:,2).^2)+(x(:,4).^2)+(x(:,1).^2)+(x(:,3).^2));   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   plot(t,vxfn)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   title(Plot Lyapunov Function)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xlabel(Time)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ylabel(v(x))   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid minor    end Q6 for ISS with new u2 clc close all global x1d; global x3d; ts=100;   %Duration for solving ip=[7,3,5,1]; options=odeset(AbsTol,1e-7,RelTol,1e-5); x1=ip;    global c;    cval=[5]   %1.993 is transition point    for i=1:size(cval,2)    c=cval(i);   %4.0125   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   x1d=0;  Ã‚   %x1d is Theta-d   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   x3d=0;  Ã‚   %x3d is r-d   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   [t,x]=ode23(@deeqnr,[0 ts],ip,options);   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   figure(3)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   subplot(2,3,1)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hold on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   plot(t,x(:,1))   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   title(Plot of Theta)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xlabel(Time)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ylabel(Theta)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid minor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   subplot(2,3,2)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hold on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   plot(t,x(:,2))   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   title(Plot of Theta-dot)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xlabel(Time)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ylabel(Theta-dot)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   grid minor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   subplot(2,3,4)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hold on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   plot(t,x(:,3))   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   title(Plot of r) Function for constant disturbance function dx = deeqn(t,x) % Function for system model %  Ã‚   Argument function for ODE Solver global x1d; global x3d; dx=[x(2); (-2*x(3)*x(4)*x(2)-x(2)-x(1)+x1d)/((x(3).^2)+1);x(4);x(3)*(x(2).^2)-x(4)-x(3)+x3d]; end System with Destabilizing Feedback function dx = deeqnvx(t,x) % Function for system model %  Ã‚   Argument function for ODE Solver global x1d; global x3d; global c; x1d=c.*sign((+1).*x(2));; dx=[x(2); (-2*x(3)*x(4)*x(2)-x(2)-x(1)+x1d)/((x(3).^2)+1); x(4); x(3)*(x(2).^2)-x(4)-x(3)+x3d]; end Function with new u2 and old u1 function dx = deeqnr(t,x) % Function for system model %  Ã‚   Argument function for ODE Solver global x1d; global x3d; global c; x1d=x(4);%c.*sign((+1).*x(2));; x3d=x(2); dx=[x(2); (-2*x(3)*x(4)*x(2)-x(2)-x(1)+x1d)/((x(3).^2)+1);x(4);x(3)*(x(2).^2)-x(4)-x(3)+x3d-(x(3).^3)+(x3d.^3)]; end Published with MATLAB ® R2016b