Haunted House Essay

It was a dark frightening night. I was running at full speed as I was being followed by some unknown men. I could not run anymore and entered into a house. I found myself in a very dark house. There were cobwebs everywhere. I was shivering like a leaf. It was a big house like those of the royal palaces, but that house seemed to belong to a witch. I just opened the door to see if those men were there and unfortunately they were outside, I immediately closed the door. I could not find sleep so I decided to visit the house. The house looked very beautiful from outside, but inside it looked very shabby. There were rats coming from a hole in a corner of the living room. It was disgusting. I then arrived near the rooms of the house. I found some books on a table and there was a diary on it. I just blew up all the dust from it and started to read it. That story made my heart pound heavily. In the diary, the last sentence written was â€Å" Angrily I kept them in one of the rooms†. That sentence made me look very tense. Curiously I went to open the rooms found in the house. I was anxious to know what were kept in one of the rooms. I continued to open the doors till I arrived near a door different from the others. I opened it and†¦ I quickly went downstairs, opened the door and left that haunted house. I promised to never enter that house. In

Bad Cafeteria FoodFinal

However, this only my opinion bout how feel about public school nutrition, but I will get more in-depth with this issue later in this research. The History Poor nutrition has been a problem for years in the public school system and contributing to childhood obesity. Before childhood obesity became an issue and what kind of nutrition a child was receiving from outside the home, people would come home from school/work to have lunch with their family. However, the concept of cafeteria school lunch choice did not exist in the early years (1930-1960).While time continued to move forward, the ideal of installing vending machines begin to emerge in a few public schools. Cafeteria's today lean more towards federal nutritional recommendations, regional culinary preferences, and portion sizes to cut down on food cost for that particular school district. The question often comes up â€Å"how health is cafeteria food in public schools? † There are numerous factors that points to the fact there is unhealthy eating in school. However when the food is prepared, the cafeteria has a large crowd to feed, therefore; nutrition is their least worries.I think that the school system wouldn't spend the extra money on better nutrition foods for the students. In recent surrey, taste cost and convenience were the main factors in why students choose to eat this unhealthy food. Environmental Stance From an environmental prospective, most public school systems are reaching out to local farmers and producers for their products. By getting their products from local farmers and producers, this will cut down on cost and slow down global warming through transportation.The public schools that continue to outsource their products, it has a high chance of bringing in parasites and other insects. I think school food environment plays a huge role in society and contributes to childhood obesity. There a many health risks that is associated with childhood obesity. The school cafeterias allow the students to purchase junk food and extras doing lunch hours. Although the students make a big transition from grade level to a higher grade level, their appetite gets bigger and requires more food consumptions.As the student gets older, they will become more particular on what they want to put in their body, and without the practice of eating healthy, this could promote health risks. This exemplifies that practicing eating healthy can contribute to an ongoing healthy lifestyle. What Can Be Done? I think that I have concluded that cafeteria food is unhealthy for students in public schools. However, think this could be change with the correct steps and strong support from the parents and staff. Once the correct changes have been put into place, I think the public school system could also promote a healthy eating lifestyle.So now the question is â€Å"what is the solution to this problem? † Finding a Solution We know that cafeteria food is bad for the students in the public sch ool systems and the contribution to childhood obesity. The Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, set nutrition standards for all food served in schools (school Nutrition†) to promote an early healthy lifestyle. However, since the problem has been revealed, the next thing to do is to put in a solution and advantages. There are a few options that I will discuss later during this research on different solutions that may prevent this ongoing problem.Hunger-Free The Hunger-Free Act of 201 0 improved the health of 32 million children that ate school lunches the whole time during their enrollment. (school Nutrition†) A lot of these improvements came from shrinking the meal size that the students were receiving. For example, some schools offered the students fruits instead of extra meats. The government released new changes in the duration such as, low calories meals and whole grain breads. Because of the government stepping in, a campaign was put in place to reduce the number of overwe ight students through exercise and a healthier lifestyle.Advantages From a political stand point, the government has organized programs to help the growing problem of childhood obesity as I stated earlier. The program will add more fruits and green vegetables to breakfast and lunches with less salt usage. (school Nutrition†) Therefore, the government also added to reduced starchy foods like rice and potatoes. The government estimates that the rules will add about 33. Billion in costs to the program for an efficient use. (â€Å"Cafeteria Food and Economic†) think that the improvements that the government is doing will decrease the rapid rate of childhood obesity. From our perspective, the new rules improve school nutrition, but at the same time give schools flexibility to serve a variety of foods to meet the standards,† said Carrey Henry. Some school districts are turning to their local farmers and producers to cut down on global warming. This is an advantage becau se, by getting the products locally the gas usage that is use doing shipping and which toxic chemicals are been release into the atmosphere. Another advantage is that there will be fewer chemicals used to preserve the produce as it's been shipped to the school.An estimated 25 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions produced by people in industrialized nations can be traced to the food they eat Cafeteria Food and Global Warming' 2008). I think that this is a reasonable solution to help the environment while food is being disbursed throughout the school system. School meal programs across the country are run somewhat like restaurants, relying on federal and state subsidies that often make decisions for them. â€Å"Cafeteria Food and Economic†) However, when the federal government is involved more money can be moved around quickly and put to its proper use or plans. The federal government provides $2. 7 per meal for students eligible for a reduced-price lunch and 23 cents for st udents who pay full-price for their lunch. By lowering the price for meals, I think that will the student more money to eat a reimbursable lunch and breakfast during enrollment in school. The federal government helps the school system by providing funds and brightens up the economic side of things. Finding a Weakness There are many things that could be done to improve the food that's being served of the public school cafeterias. However, there are only so many ideals that can be brought up to a discussion about ways to make the food healthier.The federal government tends to oversee these things in the public systems, but its up to the student parents to enforce these rules and make sure their kids are getting the proper nutrition. Therefore, if there are some advantages, I am quite sure that there are some disadvantages among these solutions. The Disadvantage When you hear the word â€Å"disadvantage† what is the first thing that comes to our mind? However, school cafeteria f ood line may contain a number of unhealthy choices, most school cafeterias do include nutritious foods as well. I think most of the unhealthy food that is provided by the school, operates of the government budget which equals poor quality food for the students that attend that particular school district. Earlier in this research, I stated a few advantages that I feel may guide this situation in the correct direction. I hope that the disadvantages that I will state later in this research will not change your thoughts on the advantages. Stated Disadvantages Obesity is rising in the school system because of the poor nutrition that the students are receiving.Economy sits and psychologists are developing a new set of tools that promise to help relax the tension between these two competing views of school lunches. (â€Å"Cafeteria Food and Disadvantages†) However, one economic disadvantage is limited budgets for purchasing ingredients that go into a meal. Public schools are in the direst shape with only $1 per plate available for actual food costs. (â€Å"Cafeteria Food and Disadvantages†) By the school being limited on what ingredients to by, that old be a disadvantage to supplying poor nutrition to students.

Comparing and Contrasting Keynesian & Classical Economics Essay

Economics studies the monetary policy of a government and other information using mathematical or statistical calculations. Fiscal information is analyzed in order to make judgments and inferences from the information provided. There are two economic schools of thought which take different approaches to the economic study of monetary policy, consumer behavior and government spending. Basic Theory (Paragraph 2): This paragraph outlines major some of the differences between Classical and Keynesian economic theories. Classical theorist were rooted in the concept of Laissez faire market which requires little to no government intervention and allows individuals to make decisions, unlike Keynesian economics, where the public and government is heavily involvement in the decision making process in regards to economics. Classical economists also used the value of objects to determine prices in the market unlike Keynesians who believed that the demand was what influenced the market. Keynesians also relies heavily on the theory that the nation’s monetary policy can affect a company’s economy. Government Spending (Paragraph 3): Classical economists do not believe that government spending has a major impact on the nation’s economic growth, yet that consumer spending and business investments had more of an impact. Classical economists believed that government spending would stunt the economy’s growth by increasing the public sector and decreasing the private sector. In contrast, Keynesian economist did in fact believe that consumer spending and business investments helped the economy, but also believed that government spending played an important role in boosting and could possibly even take the place of the former and still continue to result in economic growth. Short vs. Long-term Affects (Paragraph 4): Classical economists focused on creating long term solution for economic problems. They take into account the effects of inflation, government regulation, taxes. They also consider how current policies and new economic theory will distort the free market environment. Keynesian economics focus more on immediate results in economic theories. Keynesians focus on short-term needs as well as policies, and consider how the result can affect the economy immediately.

Healthcare Disparities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Healthcare Disparities - Essay Example In other words, there were separate hospitals for both the whites and the blacks (Williams, 2007). Much has been done to reduce these disparities but the situation is still the same even today. Other racial or ethnic minorities are also affected by these healthcare disparities. The prevalence of disparities among the blacks and racial minorities is still high. Healthcare disparities are common in new AIDS cases among the Blacks and Hispanics, preventive care for pneumonia among the Asians, and communication with healthcare providers among the poor. Access to healthcare services is hampered by healthcare disparities and the response varies from one community to the other. Access to quality healthcare is not a guarantee and this is evident to the uninsured population. Healthcare coverage among the population is based upon the social class. The poor people especially those from the minority and ethnic groups tend to have poor coverage and this has been linked to racial disparities (Mullner, 2009). The federal government should take into consideration the minority and ethnic groups within the population. They should come up with a better policy that addresses the needs of these groups. The most vital thing is to understand how their cultures operate and they will be in a better position to assist them in the best

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 119

Summary - Essay Example This method gives an impression in the beginning of the commercial and then it introduces another text wherein the bunny enters with the battery on its back. The bunny is considered another text which eventually combines with the former text to make an entirely different text. The writer calls this process intertextuality and considers it important because it does not only happen in commercials such as the one cited above but it also occurs in everyday communications. For instance in the case of the novel by Jane Austen entitled Emma, readers and viewers of its movie adaptations called Emma in 1996 and Clueless in 1995, will have different interpretations because of intertextuality. The settings of the two movies are different but they somehow tell the same story and so viewers will definitely see their similarities to the novel. The interpretations of the directors and producers of the movie are different. Similarly, this could also occur in a person’s interpretation of poems or other literary works. Intertextuality happens everyday in every culture because one’s upbringing and culture are important influences which initially gave a person other texts which that individual can use in reading other

Final Exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Final Exam - Essay Example Rondell Corporation traversed the path of success and growth in innovative engineering design of electrical items and radio broadcasting equipments. However, it failed to revamp its organizational structure and establish links between departments to restore mutual cooperation and consensus. This paper aims to look at the sources of conflicts at Rondell. With reference to Pondy’s model of organizational conflict, recommendations follow to improve the power relations, interdependencies and overall performance of the company. Prime culprit behind burgeoning conflicts at Rondell Corporation is ineffective organizational structure and power distribution. Though seemingly simple, poorly defined structure starts developing the following loopholes which ultimately leads to reduced agreement between departments and key personnel. Parent & Slack (1997, p. 221) opine that if an organizational is undergoing tumultuous phase due to differentiation and ambiguous roles, setting up of formalized rules, policies and norms of work practices and behavior can help solve the issues. High formality results in shaping up doubts, unclear job roles and even reciprocal interdependence. At Rondell, informal organizational structure rules the day-to-day operations. Departments have made subunits that in turn are running their individual politics and tactics to fulfill their personal interests. Lack of formalization has made departmental goals overshadow organizational objectives. Differentiation refers to dividing the tasks into smaller parts and allocating them to subunits of departments for better fulfillment of goals. Rondell has five major units or functions namely sales, engineering services, research and development (R&D), production and control. Though individual subunit orientation is necessary to contribute effectively to organization’s growth, these five departments at Rondell have deviated too far

Journal Responce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Journal Responce - Essay Example King supports the argument stating that civil disobedience is one of the main tools used by historical figures and nations to protect and justify their rights and freedom. "There is nothing new about this kind of disobedience" (p.5). Stating a thesis, King uses historical information to attract listeners attention at once. The author shows that Americans should be free from segregation and racial discrimination using direct actions, because "freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor" (p.3). The argument is aimed to persuade and convince its audience of the truth of his statement explaining that non-violent civil disobedience have deep historical roots and closely connected with human rights movements. King attempts to persuade listeners that all people are equal and racial discrimination is based on unjust laws which should be eliminated. King uses definitional arguments to explain just and unjust laws. He explains that segregation laws are unjust laws: "Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that 'an unjust law is no law at all" (p.4). These arguments are crucial for the speech because they explain to unprepared listeners principles and social rules of a free society and equal rights. Definitional arguments help listeners to grasp the idea at once and inform them about legal rules and principles of social justice. It

EB Outcomes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

EB Outcomes - Essay Example This paper will discuss the implementation of a change program covering poor hand washing among healthcare service providers at Veema center, which has been found to cause adverse outcomes, during service delivery (Titler, 2008). Planning for Change This stage will cover the phases of preparation (Phase I), Validation (Phase II), and Decision making/ Comparative Evaluation (Phase III) From the evidence given studies, including Garrette (2013) and Canham (2011) hand hygiene is acknowledged by control experts and infection prevention personnel, as the single and most effective measure that helps in reducing the spread of infections in the community and at health care settings (Garrette, 2013). This is the case, because the hands are transmission areas between individuals and the objects, as well as the surfaces within the healthcare environment. Some of the objects that can transfer infections in the healthcare setting include blood pressure cuffs. The means of hand hygiene include tha t of using soap and water, and using alcohol-based products, in the cases where water and soap cannot be used. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) maintain that hand hygiene can aid healthcare providers to uphold quality practice, and patient safety (Pittet, Allegranzi & Boyce, 2009). The practice of extensive hand washing will lessen the risk of infection between patients, lessen the infection of healthcare personnel, and lessen the cases of morbidity, mortality and the costs incurred during the treatment of infection-based conditions (Garrette, 2013). In preparation for the change, a survey was administered to the personnel at the health care center, aiming at realizing the factors limiting hand hygiene. Some of the factors explained as causes of poor hand hygiene at the health center and from studies like Garrette (2013) and Pittet, Allegranzi and Boyce (2009) include that hand washing agents leads to dryness and the irritat ion of the skin; sinks are not available in convenient areas and there is also a lack of soap, water, and disposable towels for drying hands. Others include understaffing, giving priority to patient care needs, disagreement with hand hygiene directives and the low risk of getting infected by patients (Cambell, 2010). Towards ensuring that the factors affecting hand hygiene at the Veema health center are addressed through consulting the medical personnel at the center, when developing the best recommendations on hand hygiene. Secondly, the materials required for hand hygiene, which may not be available should be supplied at all times and hand washing areas should be available at all areas, including wards, casualty and admission centers. From the evidence of studies like Garrette (2013) and Pittet, Allegranzi and Boyce (2009), alcohol-based agents should be used for hand washing, before and after patient contact, after removing gloves, and in emergency situations where water is not a vailable. Implementing the EBP Project (Phase IV Translation/ Application) Towards the implementation of the project, a team will be formed, comprising of staff nurses and doctors, clinical nurse specialists, departmental nurse administrators, nurse and doctor researchers and infection control nurse and

What accounts for current dilemmas concerning humanitarian Essay

What accounts for current dilemmas concerning humanitarian intervention - Essay Example The notion of â€Å"intervention† is to defend the rights of any foreign subject of any oppressive ruler. This idea was developed by Hugo Grotius in the 17th century but â€Å"humanitarian intervention† was first used in 19th century for the purpose of justification of intervention done by the European powers, in order to protect the people that were under the oppression of Ottoman power. The first instance of humanitarian intervention took place in Greece in 1827 which then lead to an independent Greece in the year 1830. The idea of human intervention then clashed with that of the growing assumption that all the states must have equal right in the protection of their sovereignty and for interfering in the affairs of some other state was considered to be wrong (Wheeler, 2000). The modern idea of human intervention gained much popularity in the middle of the 18th century when it was revised by Wolff and Vattel. The idea was widely accepted in the 20th century after communism spread and many colonies were formed. In the views of the new independent states and the communist countries, the doctrine of intervention was considered to be one solid shield against what they considered to be endemic and constant intervention. There were three kinds of movements that were associated with humanitarian intervention and the first one developed among the victims which supported intervention. For example the development of the anti-war movement in Bosnia before the out breaking of the war called for an international protectorate. In a state where the government plays and important role, the actors of the civil societies try not to show any movement with exception to the case of Yugoslavia. However a second kind of movement was seen in Europe in the Bosnian war (Anon., 20 00). There is no legal or standard definition present of Humanitarian

Arch of Constantine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Arch of Constantine - Essay Example ch of Constantine is a beautiful example of a monument which has a tremendous history as well as a magnificent art in terms of sculptures and styles which decorate it. The Arch was created to commemorate the victory of Constantine over Maxentius at the battle of Milvian. The era when it was created places it in the Ancient Roman Corinthian style of art and as per the characteristics of the art of the era, the imagery used and the characters shown on the building are quite detailed (Strong, 1963). Strong (1963) also suggests that the detail level in such works of art is quite high and even though many centuries have taken their toll on the Arch, it is not difficult to imagine how it would look when it was first completed and shown to the public. Of particular interest are the sculptures and the messages which are placed on the arch itself. Dimensionally, the arch is about 20 meters in height and is roughly 25 meters in width. The distance covered by the arch is seven meters. There are three archways of which the middle one is the main archway with a height of 12 meters. The side arches are seven meters and are relatively smaller in width as well as height (Storage and Maish, 2007). It must be noted that as a work of art, the arch has certainly changed over time as things have been added, removed and renovated through history. For example, while there were eight yellow colored fluted Corinthian columns of Numidean marble originally, only seven of those remain today. The eighth original column was taken by Pope Clement VIII in 1597 and that is now in present day Laterano. This is certainly an irony in art since all the original columns are supposed to have been taken from a building of the Flavian era when the arch was first build (Storage and Maish, 2007). This can be seen as a case of vandalism conducted on a monument which was the result of vandalism conducted on other buildings. Therefore, instead of being a pure reflection of the building arts of the era,

Cash Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Cash Management - Essay Example Over the course of the last couple of years many companies have faced some serious cash and inventory related problems, largely as the result of dramatically reduced or even negative sales growth. As a result, cash now represents only 5% of the total asset base for the typical distribution based company. It is a cash position that does not leave a lot of room for error and too much money left sunk in inventory. To offset the cash challenge, most firms have looked at ways to reduce their investment in other major asset categories. One category clearly stand out as being both large and controllable and that is inventor. As a result, serious efforts have been made to drain these assets that are considered as cash traps. While reducing inventory is a laudable effort, the action is fraught with danger. In both cases it is possible, and maybe even likely, that the drive to lower investment levels will trigger further sales declines. This would be because of a higher occurrence of out-of-st ock situations.

Revelation Essay Essay Example for Free

Revelation Essay Essay The opening lines of the poem initiate the main themes; â€Å"Black bull† introduces one of the themes which are gender stereotyping. This suggests the bull is powerful, strong and very angry. Females are then introduced in the poem, â€Å"eggs and milk†. This suggests females are pale, delicate and easily broken. The poet highlights the theme of stereotypes by placing â€Å"black bull† above â€Å"eggs and milk†. This is to effectively state that the black bull is on top of eggs and milk which emphasises on the importance of gender stereotyping. The second theme is introduced which is innocence and experience, â€Å"They call him Bob – as though perhaps you could reduce a monster with the charm of a friendly name†. Tone her is cynical. The bull has been given a cheery, friendly name which is a irrelevant name for the harsh animal. The key words of the quote are â€Å"monster† and â€Å"friendly†. This is a very striking contrast between the idea of the name Bob being friendly, cheery and approachable, but in actual fact behind the cheery name lays a monster. The quote, â€Å"at the threshold of his outhouse†, is the turning point in the story. Look more:  first poem for you essay This is a symbolic quote that states you must go over a line before starting a new life. In the poem a young girl is standing in the area between safety and danger. The line is significant as the pause creates a series of tension building up to a sense of danger. The girl’s initial perceptions of the creature are conveyed in, â€Å"At first only black, and the hot reek of him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The girl’s sensory impressions of the bull are that the word â€Å"black† represents danger. The words â€Å"hot reek† represents the smell and stench of the bull. Her over all sensory impression is the smell of the bulls pungent aroma that is its natural smell and the limited sight gives her a sense of the unknown danger. The poet continues to reference the main theme of gender stereotyping by developing it, â€Å"We was immense†, This quote highlights masculinity and power. It shows that males are bigger, more powerful and the dominate gender. The theme of innocence and experience is also developed, and the bull and the girl are compared to each other. The girl is full of fear and innocence. She is extremely intimidated by the bulls presence. The poet powerfully, reinforces the contrasting thematic dichotomies suggested in verse one. In the first instance this is done by including details in verse two which contract with details from the first verse. The poet has reinforced the theme of innocence and experience as he shows that the bull knows he is restrained. Also reinforces the theme of gender stereotyping – girl and boy. This is done as it is dark and the girl cannot see what the bull is doing, whilst the girl is unaware of this, the bull is trying to break free from where he is chained up too. The poet condenses the contrast by highlighting them in a few lines of verse two. â€Å" I had always half known he existed† Here, the poet points out that the girl had always knew the bull was there, just she had never seen the bull and didn’t want to come to terms with the reality. Verse three is effective as it shows that the girl is fearful of her encounter with the bull. The girl is terrified by the bulls presence and runs away from the farm. She runs past a group of boys. Here the writer links the bull and the boys together by the use of harsh sound effects. It is important that this link is made as it makes a direct comparison between the bulls aggression and the boys cruelty. It highlights that they both share the same characteristics. Finally, the girls attention is redirected to the parlous state of the eggs and milk, due to the flight, â€Å"scared of the eggs shattering† While she’s too busy protecting the eggs it shows the reader that females are protective towards anything precious. In the girls eyes the eggs and milk are precious, and she wants to protect them from any harm. â€Å"in case the milk should spill† The precarious position of the milk is highlighted in the small hands of a weak girl, who has been charged with the responsibility of looking after the eggs and milk. She is protecting what is important to her. The poet seems to be suggesting that her experience shows that females are scared of males and have to protect themselves from any harm. Females protect all forms of life, they are caring and sensible creatures.

SWOT and PESTEL analysis of StratSim

SWOT and PESTEL analysis of StratSim The StratSim is a growing and wide spread industry around the global among automobile sellers. Notwithstanding the economic and energy instabilities that led to decreased vehicle demand, sales revenues slowly grew as Gross Domestic Products (GDP) increased from period 1- 4, and remained constant in period 5, and inflation rate decreased from 2.5% in period 1 to 1.0% during period 3. However, in some circumstances, sales were increased and/or decreased as firms started making decisions. The 7 competitors were; firm A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Seven vehicle classes include Minivan (M), Family (F), Sports (S), Luxury (L), Utility (U) Economy (E), and Truck (T). Attributes considered were; performance, styling, quality, interior and safety. Furthermore, advertisement plays a significant role especially when firms are striving to create brand image, awareness as well as interests to target customers. Dealerships contributed in generating revenues through sales of a range of vehicles which in turn enabled the firm to increase its market share while maximising shareholders wealth. Firm B has had 3 vehicle classes, namely; Boss -Truck, Boffo Family and Buzzy Economy. 2.0 Strategic Analysis Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term, which achieves advantage in a changing environment through the use of resources and competence aiming to fulfil shareholder expectations (Johnson et al, 2006, p 9). Figure 1, processes by which strategy is described and executed Source:http://www.12manage.com/description-deliberate-strategy.html. In a competitive business environment such as StratSim, analysing firms strategies is vital in order to enhance firm performance and customer satisfaction. 2.1 Strategic Intent Firm Bs mission was to become the leader in automobile industry worldwide by offering highly innovative vehicles to diverse customer segments aiming at consistently satisfying their dynamic needs. 2.2 Basic Strategy Firm B strategy was to provide high quality vehicles at premium price while trying to differentiate its vehicles from incumbents to avoid encouraging price war. By doing so, firm B was the leader twice in economy (Buzzy) car in period 2 and 5. To meet diverse customer tastes and preferences, the firm made minor upgrades to its vehicles during decision making periods, e.g. technology, promotion, advertising, etc. 2.3 External Analysis Scanning the macro-environment is vital since there are several factors that hinder firms performance and growth. In order for managers to come up with effective and suitable strategies that will enable the firm exploit overt and hidden opportunities while overcoming threats, those factors need to be thoroughly tackled before decisions are made. The external analyses considered were; The Michael Porters five forces. PESTEL analysis. Opportunities and Threats (OT) from SWOT analysis, And Critical Success Factors (CSF). 2.3.1 PESTEL PESTEL framework is a useful tool that is applied by organisations to analyse the complexity of macro-environment variables. It also provides a picture on how these key factors may influence firms success or failure of its particular strategies in future in order that managers can find ways of overcoming them. PESTEL refers to; political, economic, social, technology, environment and legal. Figure 2, PESTEL Framework Source: (Johnson et al, 2006. p 68) The Organisation Political Taxation policy Government stability Social welfare policies Foreign trade regulations Legal Health and safety Competition law Product safety Employment law Economic factors Business cycle Inflation Interest rates Unemployment GNP trends Money supply Disposable income Environmental Environmental protection laws Waste disposal Energy consumption Sociocultural factors Population Demographic Socio mobility Consumerism Income Distribution Lifestyle changes Level of Education Attitudes to work and leisure Technological Government spending on research Speed of technology transfer New discoveries/developments Government and industry focus on technological effort Rates of obsolescence Political/Legal Since 1960, laws and government regulations have affected the automobile industry (Highfill et al, November, 2004). Political changes may favour or hinder the firms production because anti-pollution laws and taxes can be imposed, and hence firm B should continuously pay special attention to any rules, codes and regulations that dwell on carbon-dioxide emissions. Economic During simulation, firm B had experienced unstable economic growth. Its variables like inflation, interest rates, gas prices, and material costs were fluctuated. These have affected the firms profitability. Social Due to increased health awareness, people tend to change their lifestyles, while turning to low carbon emission vehicles. Also income distribution and demographic changes both affect vehicle production either positively or negatively. Technology Advanced technology has provided both opportunities and threats to the automobile industry. Those who employ it effectively, it enables them to enhance firms efficiency in producing vehicles that appeal to customers whilst lowering costs. So far, internet and firm websites as part of technology have been used by many buyers as a reference tool before making their purchase decisions. Environmental Environmentalists stress on minimising carbon-dioxide emissions, noise as well as air pollution, in order to keep the environment clean. This move no doubt affects vehicle production as well as firm profitability. 2.3.2 Critical Success Factors (CSF) Johnson et al (2009) defined CSF as those product features that are particularly valued by a group of customers and, therefore, where the organisation must excel to outperform competition. CSF comprises; threshold features and differentiators. Source: Johnson et al (2009) CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS (CSF) THRESHOLD FEATURES DIFFERENTIATORS Threshold features These are features that the customer values mostly, and is not likely to buy a product or service that lacks one of them. Firm B, threshold features were; quality, performance, safety and size for all of its three vehicles; family-Boffo, economy-Buzzy and truck-Boss. Differentiators These are customised/added qualities which some customers may or may not consider before purchasing a service or products. Firm B regarded price, styling and interior as differentiators to its vehicles. Differentiators gave difficult moments when trying to distinguish what was preferred most, as many vehicles were similar to competitors after modifications had been made. Innovations are necessary for firms to meet CSF features and outwit their competitors through customer satisfaction. 2.3.3 Porters Five Forces Model The model was developed by Michael Porter in 1980 (Johnson et al, 2006). Since then, the model is applied by firms as a tool to analyse the profit potential while determining the intensity of competition (threats) of an industry, and finally coming up with the right strategies that will support in exploiting opportunities, neutralise threats and hence grow. Figure 3 Porters Five Competitive Forces Model SUPPLIER POWER Switching costs of firms in the industry Presence of substitute inputs Threat of forward integration Supplier concentration Importance of volume to supplier Impact of inputs on cost or differentiation Differentiation of inputs Cost relative to total purchase in industry BARRIERS TO ENTRY Government Policy Capital requirements Access to distribution Economies of scale Switching costs Proprietary learning curve Access to inputs Expected retaliation Brand identity Absolute cost advantages Proprietary products BUYER POWER Price sensitivity Threat of backward integration Substitutes available Bargaining leverage Buyer concentration vs industry Buyer information Buyer volume Buyers incentives Brand identity Product differentiation www.scribd.com DEGREE OF RIVALRY Brand identity Exit barriers Switching costs Product differences Industry growth Fixed cost/ value added Diversity of rivals Industry concentration Corporate stakes Intermittent overcapacity RIVALRY THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES Buyer inclination to substitute Switching costs Price-performance trade-off of substitutes Threat of New Entrants The threat of new entrants in automobile industry is low, since barriers to enter are very high, such as high start-up capital required. Moreover, adequate experience curve, distribution access, economies of scale, strong research and development (RD) and even brand and customer loyalty all of which the incumbents have. It therefore becomes difficult for new entrants to manage compared to incumbents. Bargaining Power of Suppliers Suppliers power in automobile industry is low, since producing a car/vehicle requires a range of inputs (parts) from diverse suppliers. If some inputs are not available in one source, they will be sought from another supplier due to low switching costs. Threat of Substitutes Substitute threats in this industry are likely to be moderate and depend much on customer geographical location. Other customers prefer walking, taking train or riding on a bike. But in Dar es Salaam city for example, people prefer public transport, motorcycles (BAJAJ, known as rickshaw in India) as alternative means to automobile due to increased congestion. Bargaining Power of Buyers In this industry, buyers power is a bit high. Low switching costs from one firm to another seeking for substitutes since most of the customers are price sensitive. For the case of the simulation game we played, most of the products were undifferentiated, so, buyers can easily shift to an alternative producer as well as products when seeking satisfaction. Competitive Rivalry The intensity of competition in automobile industry is high due to lack of strong differentiation strategy and innovation among incumbents, especially in the case of the three vehicle classes, i.e. family, economy and truck, because most of the firms use similar strategies like price; this reduces market growth as well as profitability. 2.3.4 SWOT- Opportunities and Threats Opportunities: Advanced technology Firms can use it more efficiently in enhancing product features that can appeal to the eyes of customers. Also use e-commerce to advertise and sell globally. Bargaining power of suppliers. Low supplier power is an advantage to automobile firms since they can set input prices, and hence be able to enjoy cost advantages while offering good quality products that will satisfy customers. European Union (EU) Automobile manufacturers can use the EU to sell their products. Diversification Diversification can be done to widen the market to other untapped segments like high income earners or go internationally and also locate the firms near raw materials sources where they can enjoy location economies. Differentiation strategy In order to sustain customers, after satisfaction has been met, differentiation strategy can be used as a weapon in delivering a range of added values that surpass those of competitors, since most of the firms use similar strategies. Threats: Bargaining power of buyers Strong bargaining power of buyers associated with low switching costs to alternative products, force suppliers to face an increased competition in order to provide the best that will satisfy their customers. Increased gas prices Gas being one of the operating energy, increased price will affect firms production as well as profitability e.g. in simulation that we played, period 1 $/gal was 3.15 rise to 3.50 in period 5. New laws New rules and regulations on carbon-dioxide emissions in environmental protection hinder production of cars that use petrol engines. World economic recession Recession discourages consumption of luxury goods, and streamlines production while people turn to public transports. High competition Initially, all firms in the StratSim industry were in similar position e.g. financially and other resources; however, this proved difficult when making decisions on how to create demand in order to enhance market shares as well as profits. Each firm was competing. Inflation Inflation started to increase in period 4 from 2.0% to 2.5%, this rise affected consumer prices. Fuel price instability. Rapid change in technology This poses a threat to vehicle production since other substitutes to vehicles may be produced. 2.4 Internal Analysis 2.4.1 Resources and Capabilities These are those which will create a strategic fit in order for the firm to survive and prosper even in a competitive business environment. Lucino Noto, (2007, p 125) Analyzing resources and capabilities: The interface between strategy and the firm THE FIRM Resources and Capabilities Goals and Values Structure and System STRATEGY THE INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENT Customers Competitors suppliers The firm-Strategy Interface The Environment-Strategy Interface Resources Organisation resources are divided into two categories (Johnson et al (2009); Tangible Resources These are firms physical assets. Firm B tangible resources were; Three vehicle classes, each of these represents a unique configuration while targeting different customer segments like value seekers, families, singles, high income and enterprisers (the StratSim Case, 2010). Financial resources, at period 0, each firm were given sales amounted to $ 15.5 billions (the StratSim case, 2010). Manpower, firm B had 4 competent human resources who made diverse valuable decisions and hence became twice the leader of economy car (Buzzy). Intangible Resources. These are non-physical resources such as; information, reputation and knowledge i.e. intellectual capital. (Johnson et al, 2008). Firm B holds a number of unique competences over its rivals. Firm B capabilities were; Quality. Safety. Performance. Style. Interior. 2.4.2 V.R.I.O Are criteria that are used to assess the sustainability of an organisations resources and capability that will enable the firm to achieve durable competitive advantage. V.R.I.O stands for Value, Rarity, Inimitability and Organisation. (Johnson et al, 2008). Value As the game started, firm B had enough resources and capabilities i.e. unique brand name that facilitated it in formulating and implementing different strategies to meet customer needs. But due to increased market demand, demand exceeded production throughout the periods as the firm lacked efficiency. Rareness At the beginning, all firms had a similar starting point which led them to have a low degree of rarity. This positioning by StratSim, made firm B to create more appealing strategies like vehicle enhancements and improvements in terms of its attributes which allowed it to come up with things which turned out to be less common among the firms. Inimitability During simulation game, product imitation was very high since previous results and almost all modifications and other statistics were openly published for other firms to see. This means that competitors could possibly copy other firms techniques. Organisation In StratSim industry, there were 7 firms producing identical vehicles, because they used similar strategies that lacked differentiation. Due to these, it therefore became easy for customers to switch from one firm to another if satisfactions were not yet met. 2.4.3 SWOT- SW SW is a tool that is used in identifying or analysing firms internal strengths and weaknesses and enables it to use the available strengths to minimise or turned those weaknesses to strengths. SW means Strengths and weaknesses. Strengths: Unique brand name Best Motor Works. Unique product names like Buzzy, Boffo, and Boss. Twice leader of Buzzy-Economy car, period 2 and 5. Reliable dealerships. Innovation, almost every decision period, firm B upgraded its vehicle attributes to meet emerging customer needs. Weaknesses: Weak financial position. Unstable growth of market shares. Limited product lines, this means that firm B did not exploit the available opportunities of unsatisfied and potential new customers to launch any new vehicle that would satisfy their needs. 3.0 Decisions 3.1 Technology Firm B upgraded its technology capabilities during decision periods considering dynamic business environment and customer tastes and preferences, while special attention was given to economy (Buzzy) and family (Boffo) cars. Investment in technology facilitated firm B in enhancing its production capacity as well as vehicle attributes that appealed to target customers and hence satisfying their emerging needs (see appendix 2.1) 3.2 Marketing Firm Bs marketing mix was to create leverage with customers and build strong brand loyalty which would enable customers purchase our products even in intense competition as in StratSim industry. Firm Bs unique selling price USP was quality. Quality being the key in our vehicle while charging premium price that enabled Buzzy (economy) car to become the leader in period 2 and 5. Despite this success, it was hard for firm B to survive in just a success of one car brand and become the market leader. Though the marketing mix was thoroughly applied by adding or reducing the number of dealers in each area, increasing dealer discounts and product promotions to attract customers, firm Bs market share was increased and decreased during decisions due to overspending and other factors. (For more marketing and distribution details for period 5, see appendix 2.2 2.3) 3.3 Finance During simulation, firm Bs financial performance was somehow weak despite a slight increase in sales ($). Net income was negative during period 2 and 5 results. It was discovered that one of the problems could possibly have been overspending, however, unit market share increased and total debts continued to decrease (Firm B financial and performance summary period 5, see appendix 3.0). 3.4 Production Throughout all the decision periods, production was increased as well as vehicle attributes to meet customer demand. Though Boss (truck) and Buzzy (economy) vehicles were upgraded in period 4, there were some shortages with regard to Boss vehicle model; this means that if the firm was given a chance to continue making decisions, it could probably increase production to meet the demand (see appendix 4.0). 4.0 Conclusion Firm Bs mission was to become the leader in automobile industry worldwide by offering highly innovative vehicles to diverse customer segments aiming at consistently satisfying their dynamic needs. Unfortunately, firm B did not meet its expectations. Though it became the leader twice in Buzzy (economy) car, this means that its strategies fit in the economy car brand market, having had success in one vehicle does not guarantee survival, and this is why firm Bs income and market share fluctuated. The firm was not yet pretty sure of what contributed to the unstable financial performance, though the firm speculated that overspending was one of the major problems. 4.1 What I Have Learned I learned that, in practical business, taking risks is only way to achieve success. In StratSim industry, for each time period, market research had identified some potential new customers whose needs were not yet satisfied by current vehicle (the StratSim case, 2010). But firm B overlooked this market potential to timely take advantage of launching new vehicle models in order to exploit these opportunities and hence increase its turnover and profit margins. 5.0 Reference and Bibliography: Johnson G, Scholes K, and Whittington R, (2006), Exploring Corporate Strategy, 7th Edition, Prentice Hall. Johnson G, Scholes K, and Whittington R, (2009), Exploring Corporate Strategy, Prentice Hall. Highfill D, Baki M, Copus S, Green M, Smith J and Whineland M, (November, 2004). Automotive Industry Analysis-GM, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, Ford, Honda, overview of industry analysis, available at http://www.academicmind.com/unpublishedpapers/business/management/2004-11-000aaa-automotive-industry-analysis.html. Accessed on 19/11/1010. The StratSim Case (2010), Automobile industry. Lucino Noto, (2007), Analysing resources and capabilities: the interface between strategy and the firm, available at. http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/grant/files/CSAC05.pdf . Figure , Porters Five Forces Available at www.scribd.com/doc/16998313/Diagram-of-Porters. Accessed on 20/11/2010. 6.0 APPENDIXES: 1. DECISION SUMMARY FIRM B, FOR PERIOD 5 Product Development Dev Ctr Project Class Status Size HP Int Sty Saf Qua Curr Exp 1 Buzzy Economy upgr: launch Now 10 120 2 2 2 2 $275 2 Boss Truck upgr: launch Now 70 200 3 3 2 2 $275 3 (unused) Total (mill.) $551 Consumer Marketing Budget (mill.) Regional Corp. Adv. $48 Direct Mail $6 Public Relations $12 Total $66 Direct Mail Targets: Value Seekers(1), Families(2), High Income(4), Enterprisers(5) Product Marketing Vehicle Platform MSRP Dealer Disc. Adv. (mill.) Adv. Theme Promo. (mill.) Boffo No Change $20,400 15.0% $34 Safety $29 Boss Upgraded $20,499 13.0% $28 Perform $15 Buzzy Upgraded $11,550 12.0% $33 Quality $20 Total $95 $64 Plant Capacity Current Capacity (000s) 1,350 Capacity Change (000s) 0 Vehicle Production Vehicle Previous Sales (000s) Current Inventory (000s) Scheduled Production (000s) Flexible Production Retooling Costs (mill.) Boffo 646 25 671 X $0 Boss 200 *13 213 X $80 Buzzy 298 *109 345 X $123 Total 1,144 147 1,229 $203 *Vehicle being upgraded: this inventory will be written off. Be sure to produce enough to match forecast. Dealerships North South East West Total Dealer Inc./Dec. 10 9 11 12 42 Training and Support (mill.) $34 Financing Amount ($ mill.) Bonds Issued $0 Stock Issued $0 Dividends Paid $100 StratSim Ind:ind1 Firm:b Period 4 2. RESULTS FOR PERIOD 5 2.1 Technology Capabilities Period 5 Firm Ratings (1=low capability) Dev. Centers Interior Styling Safety Quality Max. Feasible 5 11 12 11 12 Firm A 3 4 6 4 7 Firm B 3 4 6 5 7 Firm C 2 4 7 6 6 Firm D 2 4 6 5 6 Firm E 2 6 8 6 8 Firm F 2 4 6 4 6 Firm G 3 5 8 7 9 Tech Dim Considerations Interior flexibility of cargo space Styling general curb appeal, styling, handling, finish Safety structural design, braking system, safety features Quality overall reliability, durability, consistency of products StratSim Ind:ind1 Firm:b Period 5 2.2 Marketing Detail Period 5 Consumer Budget (mill.) Company Owned /Fleet Budget (mill.) Regional Corp. Adv. $48 Direct Sales Force $0 Direct Mail $6 Direct Mail $0 Public Relations $12 Total $66 Total $0 Vehicle Val Mkt Share MSRP Dealer Disc. Avg Sell Price Adv. (mill.) Adv. Theme Promo. (mill.) Days Inv. Buzzy 2.4% $11,550 12.0% $10,572 $33 Quality $20 18 Boffo 9.4% $20,400 15.0% $18,749 $34 Safety $29 0 Boss 3.2% $20,499 13.0% $19,859 $28 Perform $15 0 Total $95 $64 StratSim Ind:ind1 Firm:b Period 5 2.3 Distribution Detail Period 5 North South East West Total Full Coverage 200 250 150 200 800 Established Dealers 137 137 133 133 540 Coverage 69% 55% 89% 67% 68% Planned Openings 10 9 11 12 42 Support/Dealer (000s) $150.6 $150.6 $153.2 $153.2 $151.9 Units/Dealer 2,187 2,284 2,389 2,756 2,401 Sales/Dealer (mill.) $36.9 $38.9 $40.2 $46.3 $40.5 Service/Dealer (mill.) $1.4 $1.5 $1.6 $1.7 $1.5 Gross/Dealer (mill.) $3.3 $3.6 $3.6 $4.1 $3.7 Dealer Rating 59 60 60 61 60 StratSim Ind:ind1 Firm:b Period 5 2.4 Product Contribution Period 5 Firm B Product Contribution Vehicle Units (000s) Dealer Sales (mill.) Direct Sales (mill.) COGS (mill.) Gross Margin (mill.) Adv Promo (mills.) After Mkting (mill.) Boffo 734 $12721 $0 $9797 $2924 $63 $2861 Boss 234 $4179 $0

Effectiveness Of Communication In Project Management

Effectiveness Of Communication In Project Management A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result (PMI, 2008, pg. 5). A project is a sequence of unique, complex and connected activities having one goal or purpose and that must be completed by a specific time, within budget, and according to specification (Wysocki and McGary, 2003, p. 3). A project comprises of number of activities that must be completed in some specific order or sequence according to their technical requirements. Activities in a project are unique, complex and connected in a sense that no two activities can occur under the same conditions which make them unique; the activities are not simple, and the output of one activity becomes the input to another which makes them connected (Wysocki and McGary, 2003). The most important difference between the management control of on-going operations and the management control of projects is that the on-going operations continue indefinitely, whereas a project starts, moves forward from one milestone to the next, and then stops (Anthony and Govindarajan, 2005, p. 790). Projects are temporary, unique and require progressive elaboration (Gardiner, 2005, p. 2). The first characteristic is that projects have a definite life span and they exist for a limited time varying from few days to several years although its end products may sustain indefinitely. This temporary nature of project indicates a definite beginning and an end. The end is reached when the objectives of the project are achieved; the need for project no longer exists or the objectives of the project cannot be met due to lack of resources and the project is terminated. The second characteristic is that each and every project will be different from other projects in their own way. The last characteristic is that as the project progresses, work required is slowly defined with information being added over time (Gardiner, 2005). A project usually has a single objective and the time horizon is the end of the project. The objective of a project is to produce a satisfactory product, within a specified time period, and at an optimum cost (Burke, 2007). Projects often involve trade-offs between scope, schedule, and cost (Gardiner, 2005). Less scope might mean less costs or a shortened schedule leads to overtime and thus increasing costs. Plans for projects can be changed frequently and drastically. A project begins when management has reviewed the nature of what is to be done in the project and approved it. The project ends when its objective has been accomplished, or when it has been cancelled. Projects can be of various durations. Some project may last for a few days, a few weeks, or several years. Its content can be similar to work done before, or unlike anything ever done before (Burke, 2007). Most projects start small, build up to a peak activity and then taper off as completion near (Anthony and Govindaraja n, 2005). An international project is a project that involves multiple locations, entities, organizations and business units (Lientz and Rea, 2003). International projects typically are simultaneously multicultural projects relating to diverse cultures be it national, organizational, or functional cultures (KÃ ¶ster, 2010, p.3). In international projects, stakeholders and organizations who have different cultural and educational background work together. International projects are different from national projects because of language and dialect variations; religious practices; legal, regulatory and reporting requirements; technology level differences in different areas (Lientz and Rea, 2003). The difference between standard projects and international projects are shown in the table below: Attribute Standard projects International Projects Organizations Single Multiple organizations and departments System and technology Homogeneous Multiple systems Culture Single and common culture Multiple, varied cultures Organization Can be focussed on the project Many other competing demands for resources Self-interest More easily understood More complex to understand Table 1 Comparison of standard and international projects (Lientz and Rea, 2003) In short, a project can be considered as a series of activities and tasks that have A specific objective Defined start and end dates Consume human and nonhuman resources Are multifunctional 2.2. Project Life Cycle A project can be considered to have a life-cycle that is divided into four phases. Those phases are: Initiation and definition, Planning and development, Execution and control and finally Closure (Gardiner, 2005; Burke, 2007; Keeling, 2000). A clear understanding of these phases permits the project manager to control resources effectively to achieve the project objectives. D:DocumentsMscDissertationRequiredPlc.JPG Figure 2 Project Life Cycle (Gardiner, 2005) 2.2.1 Initiation and definition This phase represents the start of the project. This is a conceptual phase which includes the preliminary evaluation of an idea (Kerzner, 2006). This phase sets the scope of the project (Gardiner, 2005; Keeling, 2000). It forms the basis for deciding if a particular function or feature is within the scope of the project. This is the phase where new ideas and options are considered and tested to ensure the project objectives can be achieved making use of resources effectively (Burke, 2007). The project ideas are usually derived from the identification of a demand, an available resource or a need (Potts, 2002). The initiation and definition phase is mainly about formulating goals and strategies (Keeling, 2000). 2.2.2 Planning and development During the planning phase, the time plan is set into detail and the planning of the project is conducted with great accuracy. In the project planning phase, a project planning team specifies the rough estimates that were made when it was decided to implement the project. The project planning phase is often the most challenging phase for a project manager as he/she needs to make an educated guess of the stakeholders to be involved, resources and equipment needed to complete the project (Wysocki and McGray, 2003). The project manager needs to plan communications and procurement activities and create a comprehensive suite of project plans which set out a clear project roadmap ahead (Gardiner, 2005). Planning helps in reducing uncertainty, increases understanding of the goals and objectives to be achieved and improves resource efficiency (Wysocki and McGray, 2003). Thus detailed specifications for the product, time schedules, and cost budget are prepared and a management control system, a task control system and an organization chart developed. Furthermore a responsible manager is identified for each work package. Even on projects with little complexity a plan for planning exists and the planning process itself can be seen as a subproject (Anthony and Govindarajan, 2005). 2.2.3 Execution and control This is the phase in which the plans are put into operation (Keeling, 2000). The rate of expenditure is at its peak in this phase (Gardiner, 2005; Burke, 2007). Executing the plan involves four steps (Wysocki and McGray, 2003) Identify the specific resources that will be required to accomplish the work defined in the plan. Assign workers to activities. Schedule activities with specific start and end dates. Launch the plan. No matter how attentive the team is when creating the plan, the project work may not go according to plan. There may always be some schedule slips (Wysocki and McGray, 2003). To minimize this, the progress of the project should be regularly monitored. This is usually done in the controlling phase. Completed work is measure against the plan to monitor the progress of the project and avoid potential problems which may occur in the future. 2.2.4 Closing Closing a project means that the project has been completed and the results of the project can be submitted to the client. The closing phase evaluates what occurred during the project and provides historical information for use in planning and executing later projects (Keeling, 2000; Kerzner, 2006). 2.3. Role of Project Manager The role of project manager is to attain the project objectives (Gardiner, 2005). The project manager must be experienced, capable, and competent in getting the project work done on time, within budget and according to specification (Wysocki and McGray, 2003). The project manager must simultaneously see to the needs of the sponsor and other stakeholders, manage the project life cycle and the performance of the project team, including his or her performance (Gardiner, 2005). It is a role that involves a mix of abilities, combining management with leadership and political awareness (Pinto, 2000). The project manager is responsible for coordinating and integrating activities across multiple, functional lines. The integration activities performed by the project manager include activities which are necessary to develop a project plan; execute a plan and to make changes to the plan (Kerzner, 2006). A project manager must be able to understand the project detail but manage from the overall perspective (PMI, 2008). As an architect of the project plan, the project manager must provide complete task definitions; resource requirement definitions; major time table milestones; definition of end item quality and reliability requirements and the basis for performance measurement (Kerzner, 2006). Project managers influence people to take action (Gardiner, 2005). This requires an ability to communicate in a style appropriate for the individual concerned. If communication in the project is of low quality, the project will be more likely to fail (Armstrong, 1992). People working within a project always communicate but the quality of the communication must be high. The purpose and direction of the project lie on the ability of the project manager to communicate well with the partners within the project (Briner et al., 1996). One important role of the project leader is to create active communication among the project members by staying in touch with individuals and passing information between different members and between them and the funding organization (Briner et al., 1996). The project manager must be able to convert the inputs (i.e. resources such as capital, materials, equipments, facilities, information, personnel etc.) into output of products, services and ultimately profi ts (Kerzner, 2006). In order to do this, the project manager needs strong communicative and interpersonal skills, must become familiar with the operations of each line organization and must have knowledge of the technology used (Kerzner, 2006). Project leader should have high level of communication skills to be able to successfully manage with the project. The project managers role is like a spider weaving the web and should be the centre of communication and events (Briner et al., 1996). One of the major responsibilities of the project manager is planning. If project planning is performed correctly, then it is conceivable that the project manager will work himself out of the job because the project can run itself (Kerzner, 2006).The chief executive role of the project manager involves more than that of being accountable for the activities of the project (Cusworth and Franks, 1993). It implies that the manager is expected to make things happen by active involvement. The manager role as co-ordinator is vital in co-ordinating the efforts of the project team and the stakeholders. The project manager should define the ethics, norms and values of their project team, establishing the atmosphere of the organization and the way that the various project tasks are approached. The project managers role as a diplomat requires high level of sensitivity and good negotiating skills (Cusworth and Franks, 1993). He/she must be able to negotiate the relationship between the project and its environment and must be able to ensure the political support. The project manager along with his/her team should brainstorm to decide who the various stakeholders in the project might be. The project manager should go out and talk to all of those stakeholders and develop the necessary interviewing and probing skills which enable him/her to draw out of them what their expectations are. Often, the stakeholders are uncertain about what they want (Potts, 2002; PMI, 2008). The project manager should engage in a dialogue with them to help them to think through their expectations (Jandt, 2007). The project managers initial consideration of stakeholder expectations will help him/her to begin to understand the kinds of resources the project might require and will ensure positive outcome (PMI, 2008). Talking about resources does not mean only talking about tangible resources of money, time and materials, but also about those intangible resources of technical skills, non-technical managerial and communication skills, and the vital intangible of commitment and support from particular people within the project organisation and outside it (Jandt, 2007). The project manager should need to map the risk that may occur in a project by going through a structured process (PMI, 2008). Such process might include: brainstorm possible risks; considering what was wrong in similar projects previously; clustering into related topics; weighting-seriousness and probability; focusing on the very serious and highly probable; defining the project type, and review typical risks; planning how to run the project with the risks in mind. Highlight where in the project the risks will be most crucial; deciding how to reduce the risks so that the chances and consequences of failure are minimised. The project can be considered as temporary organization because it has limited time frame, limited budget, specific goals and activities (Maylor, 1999). Some of such temporary organizations might be inter-organizational projects that involve many organizations having different specialties or expertise (Maylor, 1999). In such projects, it is very important for the project manager to ensure the flow of information from the different organizations involved within the project. The flow of information is vital for the success of such project or organization (Burke, 2007). Since these innovation projects are of interdisciplinary and innovative, the share of experiences, knowledge, and the cooperation in different stages of the project development become absolute necessary for its success. Managing international projects that are of multi organizational type is not an easy task, especially when these organizations are from different technical, cultural, political backgrounds and have different management style in their approach for handling a task (Lientz and Rea, 2003; Koster, 2010). A careful and detailed preparation of projects, especially for inter organizational ones due to their complexity, in their planning phase is vital for their success. The manager should have high experience in planning such projects. To summarize things up, the project manager should have the following attributes Ability to select and develop an operational team. Leadership skills and management ability. Ability to anticipate problems, solve problems and make decision. Ability to integrate the project stakeholders. Operational flexibility. Ability to plan, expedite and get things done. Ability to negotiate, persuade and make deals. Understand the environment within which the project is being managed. Ability to review monitor and apply control. Ability to keep the stakeholders and client happy. COMMUNICATION: ITS ROLE AND EFFECTIVENESS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT 3.1 Definition of Communication Communication is a process in which information is transmitted from a source to a receiver through various channels (JPIM, 2000). Communication means act of transferring information, exchange of information, message which is either written or verbal, and an idea for conveying thoughts effectively (Kerzner, 2001). A good definition of project communication is Project communication management includes the process required to ensure timely and appropriate generation, collection, distribution, storage, retrieval and ultimate disposition of project information (PMI, 2008, p. 243). In a project environment, communication refers to the exchange or sharing of messages and information to convey meaning and knowledge between project manager, internal and the external stakeholders (Verma, 1996). Communication is a process involving the exchange of message and the creation of meaning. No two individuals ever attach the same meaning to a message or symbol. Effectiveness of communication depends on the degree to which the individuals attach similar meanings to the messages exchanged. Stated differently, communication is effective when individuals are able to minimize misunderstandings. To say that meaning in communication is never totally same for all communicators is not to say that communication is impossible or even difficult only that is imperfect (Fisher, 1978, p. 257). When individuals communicate, they attach meaning to messages they construct and transmit to others. They also attach meaning to messages they receive from others. There are different types of communication such as verbal, written and non-verbal (Verma, 1996; Mehta, 2008). Verbal communication gives a lot of flexibility to the speaker. It is mainly used in face to face meetings, group meetings and over the telephone. While communicating verbally, the speaker can communicate with voice as well as body language. Written communication on the other hand is usually more precise (Mehta, 2008). Written communication can be in the form of letters, memos, notices, emails, reports, proposals memoranda etc. Another type of communication is the non-verbal communication. Non-verbal communication refers to a speakers actions and attributes that are not purely verbal. It can be reflected in the way people dress, their tone and stance while talking, their gestures, facial expressions and their body language (Verma, 1996). 3.2 Importance of Communication Communication is an important skill for project managers to accomplish effective project management (Analoui, 1993). This skill is vital because part of management is motivating people to perform their assigned duties to the best of their ability (Perret, 1982; Scott, 1989). Effective communication is the key to success for the individual as well as for the project (Verma, 1996, p.23). By using communication skills, the project manager help to plan, direct, control and coordinate their operations throughout the project life cycle (Verma, 1996). Most of the communication activities of project managers involve interpersonal communication and project communications, sharing information with the project team members and other stakeholders. Communication is the nerve system of leadership, teamwork, cooperation and control. It determines the quality of relationships, levels of satisfaction, the extent of projects success or failure. Cleland and King (1988) in a study of fifty project managers found that managers named communication as one of the vital ingredients for successful project implementation. Moreover, Morris and Hough (1986) also argues that clear communication is necessary for project success and that effective communication is the key to high staff morale which is vital for project success. According to Ruuska (1996, p.67) More than half of the management problems in projects are more or less caused by poorly looked-after communication. Communication acts as a resource as well as tool in project management. As a resource, communication can be compared to other project resources such as time, money, people and equipment. It should be taken into consideration when planning along with the resources. On the other hand, communication is a tool which can be used for effective utilization of other project resources. Communication helps in developing relationships in the organization (Ruuska, 1996). A projec t manager uses communication more than any other element in the project management process to ensure that the team members are working cohesively on project problems and opportunities (Verma, 1996). Communication plays an important role in connecting different parts of an organization together and its external environment (Taylor and Watling, 1979). In an organization, communication is needed to inform the members about the on-going status of the project. For an effective management, it is necessary to have a two way communication channel, to and fro in and across a project organization. A good communication channel can also allow progress to be monitored; difficulties to be reported back to the executive management and expert specialist can advise on technical or commercial problems to be sought by any participant (Keeling, 2003). Communication plays an important role in influencing the whole organization that may be affected and not only those immediately involved in the change. However, the importance of communication is often neglected in many projects (Toney and Power, 1997). Furthermore, lack of communication also results in many failures in change projects (Orr and McKenzie, 1992). Failure to maintain adequate information flows, conflict among project staff or between project administrators and professional staff, as being among some of the causes for inadequate execution, operation and supervision in projects (Rondinelli, 1977). These problems which are in essence communication problems are likely contributors to project failure. Hammond (1990) states that if the intrinsic difficulties such as limitation of funds are taken away, the reason some projects fail is because of problems with people, problems that effective communication could go a long way in solving. Lack of effective communication may lead to misunderstanding. Frustration can be seen in employers due to ineffective or poor communication and may result in conflicts. Communication breakdown is a prime cause of discord or conflict (Keeling, 2003). 3.3 Model of Communication A basic model of communication is shown below: Description: C:Documents and SettingsmnmbaramDesktopcommunication model.JPG Source: Project Management Institute, 2008. This model shows how communication is transferred between the sender and the receiver. The model includes the following components: Encode. The process of putting an idea or a thought into a symbol. Message. The encoded thought or idea. Medium. Means by which the encoded message is transmitted. Noise. Anything that distorts the message. Decode. To translate the message back into thoughts and ideas. The components in the communication model should be taken into account when discussing project communication. The sender determines what information he or she intends to share, encodes this information in the form of a message, and then transmits the message as a signal to the receiver. The destination decodes the transmitted message to determine its meaning and then responds accordingly. If the message decoded is the same as the sender intended, communication is successful (Jandt, 2007). Whenever information is sent from the sender to the receiver, the sender is responsible for making the information clear to the receiver so that the receiver understands it clearly. The receiver is responsible for making sure that the information is received is in its original form and understood correctly. In order to make sure that the message is sent and understood properly, feedback is required (Verma, 1996). 3.4 Channels of Communication Three basic channels of communication in a project environment exist (Verma, 1996). They are upward communication, downward communication and lateral communication. 3.4.1. Upward communication This type of communication is called subordinate/manager communication (Fielding, 2006). It involves communication from the lowest positions in the company to the highest positions. It contains information that higher management needs to evaluate the overall performance of the project for which they are responsible (Verma, 1996). This communication is in the form of reports, memoranda or messages about individual problems and performance; company policies and practices and specific staff problems. 3.4.2 Downward Communication This communication involves managers communicating down the line to subordinates. It provides direction and control for project team members and other employees. It may include information such as missions and goals of the organisation, feedback to subordinates on their performance; procedures to be followed etc (Fielding, 2006). 3.4.3 Lateral communication This communication takes place between departments in a company or project manager and his/her peers (Verma, 1996). This communication is in the form of reports on the activities of departments to keep each other informed and information to managers on company policies and progress so that they are able to make informed decisions (Fielding, 2006). 3.5 Effectiveness of Communication Effective communication involves minimizing misunderstandings. To be effective in communicating with people, everyone must be mindful. Communicating effectively and appropriately are important aspects of being perceived as a skilled communicator (Gudykunst and Kim, 1992). Communication is only effective if the following two conditions are met (Rogers, 1976 cited in JPIM, p. 364). Firstly, the source must be willing to share the information. However, such willingness may be absent at times because the source may not be able to transmit the information, is reluctant to transmit the information or thinks that the information is irrelevant. Secondly, the information transmitted is only effective if it has an effect on the receiver. The effect maybe either change in knowledge, change in attitude or a change in behavior. Ineffective communication can occur for a variety of reasons when individuals communicate. They may not encode the message in a way that it can be understood by others, people may misinterpret what they say or both can occur simultaneously. Effective communicators are those who are motivated; knowledgeable and possess certain communication skills (Samovar and Porter, 2004, pg. 303). Project managers should be motivated; should have a positive attitude towards communication event and they should put every effort to bring about constructive results. They should have the knowledge of what topics, words or meanings are required in a situation. They should know how to assemble, plan and perform content knowledge in a particular situation. Their communication skills should be high enough to accomplish their goals (Samovar and Porter, 2004, pg. 303). For effective communication in project management, it is essential that communication should be focused. If used effectively, can reduce non-productive effort, avoid duplication and help eliminate mistakes (Clarke, 1998). Communicating effectively helps in identification of problems, helps in generating ideas leading to better solutions and helps in dealing with uncertainty. Moreover, it encourages team-work, motivates the team and ensures that every member of the team is involved (Gannon, 1994). Not only effective communication is essential for project implementation and control, it is a powerful weapon against stakeholders conflict. Communication usually fails for the following reasons; not having a clear goal in mind; not establishing relationship; being impatient; not hearing what others have to say; overabundance of ego; assuming that others have the same information on the subject that you have; mistaking interpretations for facts; failure to analyse and handle resistance (Ritz , 1990). 3.6 Communication in stages of Project Life Cycle Communication is important during various phases of the project life cycle. During the initiation/planning phase, communication planning involves determining the information and communication needs of the stakeholders: who wants what information, when will they need it, and how will it be given to them (PMI, 2008). Some other things to be given consideration are the methods of communication to be utilized during the project. These are the technologies or methods used to transfer information back and forth among project entities. Different forms of communication will need to be utilized for communicating with different types of stakeholders and different occasions. Different assumptions and constraints that will affect the project also need to be carefully thought out. Once these factors are kept in mind, develop and document a communication plan that can be shared with the entire set of stakeholders, including team members, management customers and vendors. This type of methodical pl anning can lead to a carefully constructed project communication plan (Mehta, 2008). The plan should detail out what type of communication will take place during the project, who will receive what type of information, where the information will be stored, the schedule of communication such as status reports and project team meetings. Communication with stakeholders from start to the finish of a project is essential to all project management (Verma, 1996). Once the initial communication guidelines and expectations of the project have been established, the communication plan can be executed. During the execution phase of the project, the three main communication functions are information distribution, performance reporting and project control. Information distribution involves making needed information available to project stakeholders in a timely manner. It includes implementing communication management plan and responding to unexpected requests for information (PMI, 1998, p. 106). Some of the essential tools and technologies for information distribution are communication skills and information distribution system. Many of the project deliverables and records result from this function such as meeting minutes and decision documents. Various tools and techniques can be used for performance reporting such as performance reviews, variance analysis, traffic light reports, earned value analysis and trend analysis (Scott and billing, 1998). The output that results from performance reporting are performance reports and project change requests that is generated due to corrective action that needs to be taken to address a variance from the original plans or additional customer needs. All of these functions are useful for project control. Keeping the project on track according to the project plan, budget and estimates that have been laid out is of prime importance. If the project needs to vary from any of these established plans, the project information distribution system should be utilized. The project stakeholders need to be informed and new expectations need to be set. Following a set of established project management processes can be helpful in identifying events that are not planned for. When unexpected events occur , assessing the impact and quickly communicating them to the affected people according to your established communication plan can be efficiently addressed them. Some simple things that a project manager needs to keep i

The Use of Symbolism in Margaret Laurences Stone Angel Essay -- Stone

The Use of Symbolism in Margaret Laurence's Stone Angel The statue of the stone angel is symbolic of the Currie family pride, Hagar's inability to relate and share her emotions, and the blindness and ignorance that comes from constantly refusing to see things from another point of view other than your own. The Stone angel is symbolic of the Currie family pride because it does not seem to serve it's purpose, which is to honour Hagar's mother who had died giving birth to her. Hagar describes Mrs. Currie to be a "meek woman" and a "feeble ghost", whereas she describes herself to be "stubborn" and "practical". The statue was bought in Italy and brought to the Manawaka cemetery "at a terrible expense . . . in pride to mark her bones and proclaim his [Mr. Currie's] dynasty, as he fancied, forever and a day" (p. 3). Mr. Currie bought the angel "in pride" rather than in grief for someone he considdered his possesion, his "dynasty". The stone angel is also a symbol of Hagar's pride as she inherrited it from her father. It was this pride that kept her from speaking up and fighting for her brother when Mr. Currie sent her away to college to become "more civilized". She knew Matt deserved to go more than her, but she never stuck up for either him or herself. In an attempt at freedom, or maybe just to spite her father, Hagar married Bram Shipley soon after she came back from school. From day one, Hagar's marriage to Bram was a complete embarrassment to her and her family: "When i'd listen to Bram spinning his cobwebs, then it would turn my stomach most of all, not what he said but that he made himself a laughingstock" (p. 114). Upon hearing about their plans to wed, Hagar's father disowns her. Bram was not a rich man by any means, he ... ...itals rise to meet his. he never knew. I never let him know. I never spoke aloud, and i made certain the trembling was all inner . . . i prided myself on keeping my pride intact, like some maidenhood. (p. 81) The stone angel, in additon to being made of hard marble, is "doubley blind". Not only because it is made of stone, but because the artist neglected to add the eyeballs to his masterpiece. This is also symbolic of Hagar because she is blind when it comes to the feelings of others. It prevents her from having a friendship with Lottie. It isn't until it's too late that she realizes she has more in common with lottie than either of them had ever imagined. It also prevents her from seeing that Marvin was the son she'd been looking for, that her pride had been holding her back, and that sometimes the problems of others were of more importance than her own.

Economics :: essays research papers

Coca - Cola On the 14th of June Coca-Cola’s soft drinks were banned from the markets in Belgium and later also in Luxemburg and France. Two failures in the bottling system were the cause for the nausea that the people suffered. According to the article it would have been better if they would have acted fast and told the whole truth. Coca- Cola is in an ologopolistic market and therefore branding plays a great role. It is possible that the company ha lost market shares, due to this accident. In the ologopolistic market the firms don’t compete with price, but rather with advertising and other non-price strategies. Therefore one can predict that this scandal has shifted the demand curve to the left. This accident can be seen as a negative externality. The government should make Coca Cola increase their health controls (internalise their externalities), if scandals of this sort happen again. They can enforce this by either subsidies (reward) of in this case taxation (punishment). People who would usually only buy Coca Cola due to the heavy advertising might try a substitute during the time of the ban. This can be seen as a sort of free promotion for the others in the market. According to the zero sum game, the lose that Coca Cola is making right now is directly proportional to the profits the other firms are making in the respected market. Coca Cola will need to take further actions to restore their brand name that they have established throughout all these years. This will significantly influences their total added costs. A strong brand has very few goods substitutes and it is very difficult for competitors to challenge the supremacy of the brand. This health scandal might have opened the doors fro new competitors. In the long run this can lead to Coca Cola’s costs for advertising to increase or furthermore they could lose control of the market and fall into a disequilibrium. The accelerator theory suggests that the level of planned investments varies with t he rate of change of income or output rather than with the rate of interest. It will be hard for the big American company to fulfil their expectations of expansion in Europe with no investors being pleased with their progress. Best Foot forward at Reebok On October 18th Reebok published a 41 page report on how it is dealing with its workers in Indonesia.

Nietzsche: Exposing the Christianity Hoax Essay -- Nietzsche Philosoph

Nietzsche: Exposing the Christianity Hoax   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For thousands of years the Bible has represented the foundation for one of the largest religions in existence, Christianity. â€Å"The Book† affects millions of people’s lives. The creation of morals makes the biggest impacts on individuals and society. Morals are hinted at throughout â€Å"The Book†, but are clearly stated in Matthew’s gospel. These morals are written in a series called the Beatitudes. Through morals, laws are created and society is given guidelines, most people see this in a positive manner. Friederich Nietzsche, a philosopher from the late 1800’s, views religion as a cult made for weak minded simpletons who need something to carry them through life. Nietzsche is often viewed as an antichrist; in fact he even wrote â€Å"The Antichrist,† an essay that seems to be his boarding pass and a ticket to hell. But there is some merit in his satanic ideas about religion one need only to view them from faithless e yes. Nietzsche’s ideas dismiss those of Matthew and how religion is a con to suppress the strong and make the weak feel important.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nietzsche sees religious people as weak people who hate the strong and independent. In essay one he calls all priests â€Å"the great haters of history†¦likewise the most ingenious haters. (p. 33)† They are not able to go out into the world and naturally live without supernatural excuses and reasons for both their failures and successes. They cannot account for their own actions. In order to stop their feelings of weakness they must convince others that they are right and to follow them, giving them acceptance to in group. (p. 34) Through convincing sermons Christianity began to grow.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This con of the weak people can be traced back to two words - good and bad. Before Christianity good and bad represented social status (p. 25) Nietzsche claims that the concept of good was originally a synonym for nobility. At the same time anyone who was poor or simple was referred to as bad. The words had no moral value and were not part of some â€Å"higher† judgment. It was priests that transformed these words so that good refers to the poor and lower class members of society, and the privileged are now seen as evil. This reversal of good and bad is seen in the Beatitudes. It is not the rich and powerful who are favored by God but the weak and poor.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Nietzsche’s mind nothing ... ...s are created. Unlike the weak and poor priest who must give sermons and use persuasion to gather followers, the â€Å"Super Man† unknowingly attracts followers through behavior and could care less if he is accepted by, let alone leading, a group.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Matthew’s gospel is a morally sound guideline to being the perfect Christian. Be kind to your neighbors. Help the poor. Be meek and poor for you will inherit the earth. Nietzsche would spit on these â€Å"virtues.† He believes that the gospel is the word of the weak and unwanted. The meek will only make a difference if they band together and start a resentiment, which is when the meek revolt and turn against the â€Å"noble† or strong. This is the only way that the poor can gain any power in society. In Nietzsche’s eyes religion was the ultimate con on the human race. A few weak men’s ideas spawned a worldwide movement to suppress the strong and noble. This movement will hinder the innate instinct to gain power and be the strongest util man realizes he controls his fate and religion is a fantasy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Alcoholic abuse Essay

The cause of alcohol abuse occurs when one becomes stressed, depressed, or peer pressured. Alcohol abuse is very common in today’s society. Most abusers are blinded to the fact that they are abusing. Abusers take a big risk with their lives when addicted to alcohol. Stress can lead to being an alcohol abuser; when people become stress, they tend to want an addiction to help them. Most people think alcohol is the key for relieving stress. One will want alcohol when being stress over work, family issues, and life. Work is a very stressful environment; one will feel overwhelmed, when dealing with co-workers. People need to settle their differences aside when working together. One will also become stress, when over worked to many hours. The economy today is very low; people now work more than one job, which can be very stressful. Family issues in today’s society have become a struggle in life. Everyone has family issues some have it worse, which can lead to drinking. One will become stress when arguing with a family member. One may also have a genetic gene in alcoholism. One may have grown up with an alcohol abuser. Life in general is stressful, which can lead to alcohol addiction. Most alcohol abusers start drinking little amount each day, which will lead to becoming an alcoholic. One will be stress with school, while holding a job. That will make some people very stress, and vulnerable in drinking alcohol. Depression is a very strong cause of becoming an alcoholic. People become depressed when dealing with relationships, bullying, and financial problems. Relationships will make one very depress. When one cheats on their spouse will lead people to alcohol. When one gets a divorce or splits up that will cause alcohol abusers. Bullying in today’s society has become very brutal. Most teens are being bullied, which will cause depression. Most teens being depress will cause drugs, and alcohol abuse. Being bullied can also lead to death. Financial problems are another common cause to become depress. People in today’s society have become broke, due to the economy. One may become depress by spending money on alcohol, and then one will have no money for other things. Alcohol abusers will become depress, when they have no money for more alcohol. One may become an alcohol abuser, by being peered pressured. In today’s society young teens will get addicted to alcohol. One will get peered pressure at school, parties, and wrong crowd. One may be peered pressure at school to drink alcohol. Teens today are bringing alcohol to school and skipping class and getting drunk. One may also skip school to go and drink alcohol. One may be peered pressure at parties. Most teens go to parties every weekend, and get drunk, which will make one become an alcohol abuser. Students in college in today’s society are looked as a party school. College students have phrat parties and one may become addicted to alcohol, or even worse dead. One may be hanging with the wrong crowds, which can make one have an addiction. People get influence by peers to make bad decisions. One will feel peered pressure by their friends thinking it is ok to drink. Most young teens don’t understand that drinking is dangerous. Alcohol abuse is really bad when a pregnant woman is addicted to alcohol. One may kill their unborn child, or the child can come out with medical problems. Studies have also showed that most people with ADHD will become alcohol abusers. Alcohol is a very serious addiction; one may feel like alcohol is helping them to recover. Alcohol abusers need help, before it gets too late. One needs to realize that there are better ways of coping stress, depression, peered pressure, etc. Alcohol abusers will need support with their family and friends, to overcome their addiction.