Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Rueben Conversation a la Mode. Painting Analysis Essay Example For Students

Rueben Conversation in the current style. Painting Analysis Essay The rich noble men and ladies appear to be loaded with life and soul. It is a brilliant summer day, and the obscure murkiness of a cave overwhelmed with erotic nature. The artwork was depicted in Rueben Conversation in the current style as, These depictions recommend a general scene of stylish society. (Goodman) The work of art extends in a progression of spirals mounting upward toward the figure of Venus. Venus, the Goddess of Love, is viewed as a model morally justified of the canvas riding a dolphin. Venus directs the merriments this enhanced scene. At the extreme left, Cupid drives a to some degree hesitant couple into the gathering tot darlings assembled on the yard. The couple is Rueben and his significant other, Helena. Confined between the dull dress of Helena and that of the young lady on the ground to her quick right Rueben brings the watcher into a discussion between a couple. The man addresses the lady he seeks after so genuinely, however she turns away as though she were exhausted. Three lovely ladies are appeared in the middle confidence three recognized represents that may represent Neoplasms in the work. One looks at the watcher, the other is focused upon the sky and the third is adult having a discussion. Logon the edge of the wellspring and all through the upper parts of the canvas are various rotund angels. They skim noticeable all around With weapons; they ripple around to help the affection creation of the different couples. In the lower center canvas one angel touches a bashful lady where he appears to empower the lady. The focal point Of the work shows the entire scene as an enchanting and rich get-together of socialites. Everybody appears is glad and gay when love, love and ripeness are interlaced. This work shows a strong Baroque style that underscores development, shading, and arousing quality. The medium utilized in this artwork is oil on canvas, and was painted somewhere in the range of 1632 and 1634 (Fleming) This artistic creation is polychromatic, which accept empowers Rueben to catch the layers and force of the images in this showy work, This composition has many differentiating hues and shades, Rueben consolidates rich shades of the Titian and the sensational pressure of Tinderbox with an unbounded vitality and physical influence. (Naming) The dim shades of specific figures permit the eye to be drawn towards the overflowing and brilliant master inside different figures. The brilliant shade of reds, blues, and yellows, gives quality and improves the scene. These brilliant hues, permit the possibility of wealth and satisfaction in affection, delineated in the two ladies wearing brilliant dresses. The ladies with the brilliant outfits appear to have the most euphoric faces in the whole scene. The most huge lines in this work of art are diagonals and bends, which empower Rueben to build up the bombastic setting. By making movement and non-abrasiveness in the work. The opportunity and delicateness made all through the scene communicates cap the work is increasingly naturalistic. The space is open, dynamic and passionate dependent on the ceaseless intense blue sky, the development of the figures, and the feelings communicated in the essences Of the figures. There are different central focuses; numerous central focuses are fundamental to an unpredictable composition, for example, this. This work of art genuinely catches a sensational, dynamic and free viewpoint. The method utilized by Rueben was depicted in Myth Art of Diplomacy as, His authority of arrangement is utilized in an unmatched way driving our eye through the work of art as a chief eight lead the camera through an accumulated set. (Attack) Benefaction of expressions of the human experience on an abundant and overall scale had been an honorable benefit since the hour of Francis l, (Fleming) Rueben was among the most celebrated of these favored specialists. Rueben had examined crafted by Titian and Tinderbox in Venice, just as those of Michelangelo and Raphael in Rome. He is generally celebrated for failing to lack refined kindness. (Fleming) In, The Art of Diplomacy Rueben is recalled, workday, Peter Paul Rueben is best recognized as the Old Master with a propensity for meaty, pink nudes and stir vainglory, (Lambaste) During the Baroque timespan, The Catholic Counter-Reformation created because of the Protestant Reformation. .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0 , .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0 .postImageUrl , .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0 .focused content territory { min-tallness: 80px; position: relative; } .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0 , .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0:hover , .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0:visited , .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0:active { border:0!important; } .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0 .clearfix:after { content: ; show: table; clear: both; } .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0 { show: square; change: foundation shading 250ms; webkit-progress: foundation shading 250ms; width: 100%; murkiness: 1; change: darkness 250ms; webkit-change: obscurity 250ms; foundation shading: #95A5A6; } .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0:active , .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0:hover { mistiness: 1; progress: haziness 250ms; webkit-progress: mistiness 250ms; foundation shading: #2C3E50; } .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0 .focused content zone { width: 100%; position: relat ive; } .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0 .ctaText { outskirt base: 0 strong #fff; shading: #2980B9; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: striking; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; text-enhancement: underline; } .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0 .postTitle { shading: #FFFFFF; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: 600; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; width: 100%; } .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0 .ctaButton { foundation shading: #7F8C8D!important; shading: #2980B9; fringe: none; outskirt span: 3px; box-shadow: none; text dimension: 14px; text style weight: intense; line-stature: 26px; moz-fringe sweep: 3px; text-adjust: focus; text-embellishment: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-stature: 80px; foundation: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/modules/intelly-related-posts/resources/pictures/straightforward arrow.png)no-rehash; position: supreme; right: 0; top: 0; } .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0:hover .ctaButton { foundation shading: #34495E!important; } .u5031548672e4 53320fddc023e69ad4a0 .focused content { show: table; tallness: 80px; cushioning left: 18px; top: 0; } .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0-content { show: table-cell; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; cushioning right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-adjust: center; width: 100%; } .u5031548672e453320fddc023e69ad4a0:after { content: ; show: square; clear: both; } READ: Analysis Of The Book ' The View On Transgender ' EssayThe Council of Trend (1545-1563) enrolled craftsmanship as an enthusiastic articulation of strict dedication, obviously communicated in this work through Venus and Cupid. Rulers underscored riches and court wonder. Napoleonic belief system was as yet a lively piece of society. As communicated in The Art Of Diplomacy, Rueben had been known to show Napoleonic belief system. (Thrash) I accept a Napoleonic moral story of adoration is delineated in this work. A female hero at the left, Helena, is started into the domain Of adoration by going through three phases spoke to by the three women, depicted prior, in the middle frontal area of the artistic creation. The distinctions in stance can be emblematic for their personalities and embody the sets of affection. As examined in Rueben Conversation in the current style, The lady who takes a gander at the watcher is erotic love; the heavenward looking woman in the center is divine love; and the ladylike lady on the ground is natural love implying inception, development, and climax in marriage. (Goodman) This work of art was made to take into account the numerous factors inside the Baroque timeframe.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Wake up before its too late

Wake up before its past the point of no return Great morning Ladies and Gentlemen. ‘When the well is dry, we will know the estimation of water-these popular words by Benjamin Franklin clearly depict the world we live in today. It is just when we come up short on things that we underestimate, that we understand how important and extremely valuable it truly was. Sadly, at that point it is normally past the point where it is possible to patch the harm. I might want to begin with a little story that occurred at an ocean side. Each time a wave washed ashore, it would convey two or three many starfish, store them aground and afterward the waves would rejoin with the ocean. As all of you know, starfish can just make due ashore for a couple of days. A little youngster concluded this needed to stop. The demise of these wondrous animals profoundly upset him. Resolved to stop this horrible destiny, he set about attempting to spare them by getting every one and tossing it once again into the ocean. A man ran over him and inquisitively asked, â€Å"Why trouble tossing the starfish once again into the ocean? Each time you toss one, twelve more wash over the beach!† â€Å"Well,† said the kid, stooping down to pick a starfish, â€Å"At least, Im sparing this one,† as he tossed it over into the ocean. Women and Gentlemen, it is my extraordinary joy to address this significant meeting at the twelfth Annual International Conference on the Environment. I might want to offer my sincerest thanks towards every one of you for your august nearness. Today, I remain here, positive that I talk for the benefit of a few others, with comparative concerns and trusts later on for our planet. I am going to inform you regarding the three natural issues, which, as I would like to think, are the most squeezing issues that should be managed, to mend our Mother Earth, to spare it from devastation. Let me mention to you what is befalling our planet Earth, what will befall it on the off chance that we don't order a change, from this point forward. Right off the bat, let me take you on an excursion to todays tropical rainforests. We have sliced trees to serve our own advantages. We have sliced trees to grow our farming. We have sliced trees to misuse oil to use in our processing plants. We have sliced trees to use in our paper, furniture and building ventures, to give some examples. This has without a doubt empowered us to have an agreeable life. Be that as it may, there are constantly different sides to a coin. Lets sneak a look at the opposite side. We have cut our single, most fundamental wellspring of oxygen. Rainforests are far beyond our run of the mill picture of just trees and bushes. They are a home to the absolute most differing types of plants and creatures and we are neglectfully devastating it. Our tree cutting is additionally causing soil disintegration, flooding an d an Earth-wide temperature boost. We have been looking for approaches to make our life agreeable. Our solaces have made distresses for our Mother Earth. We have, rather, overlooked it for own benefit, for our prompt needs and needs. Trees can not be chopped down one day and afterward be required to develop back the next day. So let us wake up before it is past the point of no return! Presently, let us adventure from the rainforests to the immense seas and oceans. Since the start of humankind, water has been the key wellspring of development. It has been our legacy and we owe everything to it. As all of you know, water covers about 70% of the Earths surface. Be that as it may, just 3% of it is new which can be utilized for drinking or water system. As of late, during my visit to an ocean side, my eyes were opened to the sheer measures of disposed of waste, extending from the sea shores to the ocean. I was shocked by the measure of surprising litter tossed over the sea shore. Individuals heartlessly toss syringes, elastic shoes, plastic containers, sacks and tins on the sea shore. Wastewater from processing plants and businesses, and bug sprays from ranches had likewise wound up in the ocean. This outcomes in the imperiling of marine biological systems and furthermore makes the water hurtful for human utilization. As the total populace develops, the requirement for water additionally increments. Around 1.1 billion individuals on the planet don't approach safe water; this is approximately one 6th of the universes populace. On the off chance that we don't act quick to forestall water contamination, it wont be some time before our Earth will abandon a blue planet to a filthy blue planet. So let us wake up before it is past the point of no return! At long last, let us travel to the upper environment and get a nearby of what is really occurring there. Downpour our wellspring of water-has likewise gotten risky. There is an inexorably high centralization of poison gases worldwide from power stations, manufacturing plants and vehicles. These gases have broken down with small beads in the mists to shape corrosive downpour. The confirmation of this is the celebrated site in India-the Taj Mahal. The impacts of corrosive downpour have removed cost and endured the delightful marble. That isn't all! The ozone layer-the shield which shields the Earths surface from the perilous beams of the sun is being decimated because of air contamination. Today, there is a monstrous gap over the Antarctica. The rundown of such indiscretions is simply perpetual. As a general public, we have to comprehend that our activities have significant ramifications on the condition that can be for all intents and purposes irreversible. So let us wake up before it is past the point of no return! Recall to the woodland fires in Scandinavia, to the withering coral reefs in Fiji, to the flooding in Manila and afterward recollect all the accounts that we know about altruism and modesty showed by people everywhere throughout the world consistently. The entirety of this is verification that we give it a second thought, that we are superbly equipped for characterizing what is good and bad and from that point going to bat for what is correct, remaining standing for one another, and going to bat for the earth. Disregarding the entirety of our egotistical demonstrations, we as a whole have a feeling of sympathy loved inside us. Together, let us develop this sympathy towards making a productive future for our planet. The inquiry is the secret. By what means can you as an individual empower a change to support the earth? How might you guarantee that you will never need to leave the avenues to confront an endless scene of exposed state? In all actuality we can not resolve this issue without a joint exertion. In all actuality we can roll out an improvement, all we need is determination. In all actuality it might be testing, however it will likewise, unquestionably, bear the products of the seeds we have planted. The natural products that will be delighted in, by us or our youngsters, yet in addition, the offspring of things to come the individuals who are not yet conceived, those, who we will never know and never meet, they are the ones who need us the most. In the event that we as people step up to the plate and make a spotless situation nothing is incomprehensible. We should begin with the seemingly insignificant details, for example, sparing vitality and discarding litter appropriately, which, all alone, can have an enormous effect. A cognizance ought to be developed in us. It is at exactly that point that we will have the option to progress to taking a shot at significant issues. On the off chance that we as a whole work together from a neighborhood scale, to a national scale and inevitably a worldwide scale we will most unquestionably have the option to re-make a lovely earth to live in, for the age of today as well as for some more ages, yet to come. We should hold hands to secure our condition, hold hands to make sure about its future and hold hands to guarantee a superior spot for our people in the future. Together, we can roll out an improvement, an improvement; we can roll out an improvement today. It is never simple to acknowledge rout, to acknowledge disappointment and to concede that we didnt do what's necessary. Let us trust that the day never comes when we lament our activities. Let us act presently to forestall our own special misery, regret and disdain for what we may lose on account of what we didnt do. Lets not allow us to ask ourselves-‘How did we get to this? I encourage you presently to do each and every piece you can to profit the earth. Let us not hold up till its past the point of no return. On this note, I might want to end by saying that each and every activity will have any kind of effect. Each and every activity checks. Much the same as the young man at the coastline, we too should spare each and every starfish that we can. Much thanks for your benevolent consideration, women and honorable men.

Monday, July 27, 2020

Book List Friends--The People Who Know and Love You

Book List Friends--The People Who Know and Love You One of the things that is, I think, fun about paying attention to all the new and buzzed-about books is seeing connections between books. I love hearing about an upcoming release and immediately being able to think of two or three other recent books that approach the topic from a slightly different angle, making the topic accessible and interesting to a variety of readers. My more recent topical obsession is friendship, so I rounded up a list of some upcoming and recent books on friendship and what readers I’d recommend them for. Friendkeeping: A Field Guide to the People You Love, Hate, and Can’t Life Without   Julie Klam is really starting to earn her keep writing books about our relationships, first families in Please Excuse My Daughter, next with dogs in Love at First Bark   You Had Me at Woof, and now our friendships in Friendkeeping. Fellow Rioter Rebecca praised this book when it came out, saying that Klam “has this amazing knack for saying the things the rest of us think but won’t say out loud for fear of sounding like horrible people, and when she says them, she manages to be funny and warm and charmingly candid.” Recommended For:  Nonfiction skeptics, fans of women’s magazines and essays Friendfluence: The Surprising Ways Friends Make Us Who We Are by Carlin Flora Evolutionary psychologists suggest that our need for friends is deeply rooted in our early dependence on other people for survival. Although we don’t tend to think about friendship as seriously today, research has shown that our friends have strong influences on everything from what we read to our sex lives. In Friendfluence  (out on Jan. 15, 2013 from Doubleday), Carlin Flora looks at what science says about friends. I’ve only read a few chapters in my galley of this one, but I’m already enjoying it immensely. Recommended For: Science nerds, fans of narrative nonfiction, living room sociologists Letters to a Friend  by Diana Athill For many years of her life, renowned editor Diana Athill corresponded with American poet Edward Field about everything from her lover, a  Jamaican  playwright to her work as an editor for authors like V.S. Naipaul and Jean Rhys. In Letters to a Friend, Athill selected, edited and annotated her letters to offer a portrait of a friendship and a young woman’s career in letters. I’ve read some slightly mixed reviews of this one, but the idea of an epistolary memoir is just too appealing for me not to explore. Recommended For: Readers who can take some risks, literature aficionados, Anglophiles Sign up for True Story to receive nonfiction news, new releases, and must-read forthcoming titles.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Modern Composers John Cage - 1251 Words

Modern Composers: John Cage Music is a very peculiar term. Everyone knows what it is, yet there are different interpretations and definitions of what it means to them as seen from the varying styles of composers over time. In Beethoven’s case, music to him was an escape from reality and his greatest ally in cooperating with deafness. However, there are other composers who sought to think otherwise. John Cage is an exemplary modern composer who believed that music doesn’t need to make sense. He simply loved music for the pleasure of hearing sounds just as what they are. Personally, I believe that music is not something that is optional or something that can be chosen. It cannot be defined by what the listener wills it to be. Music is a†¦show more content†¦John Cage is not an outlier to this idea, yet his philosophy of music and outlook on the difference of music and sounds are very different than most composers today. For starters, â€Å"John Milton Cage Jr. w as born in Los Angeles on September 5, 1912† (Nicholls 5). This fact may be insignificant at a face value, but it means that Cage grew up during World War I and World War II, and shortly right after the Romantic Period. He was blessed with talents of both music and academics, and saw his first symphony concert at the age of five which sparked his curiosity and awe for music (Nicholls 9). After graduating Los Angeles High School decorated as a valedictorian, Cage went on to pursue the further education in Pomona College in Claremont, California, but dropped out shortly after losing his interests (Nicholls 11). He then followed his curiosity in Europe, learning of all sorts of instruments and his passion towards composing was born (Nicholls 12). From childhood to adulthood, it is clear that John Cage had a late start to his composing career compared to composers such as Chopin, who was already a published composer by the age of eight (Michalowski and Samson 1). Through his later years, Cage developed an interest and idolized Arnold Schoenberg, the Austrian composer known for his innovations in atonality (Pritchett 1). Atonality refers to a style of music in which the piece

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Impact Of Globalization On Business Operations - 2244 Words

Globalization has been an economic trend for the past few decades. According to Pologeorgis(2014), globalization is defined â€Å"as a process that, based on international strategies, aims to expand business operations on a worldwide level, and was precipitated by the facilitation of global communications due to technological advancements, socioeconomic, political and environmental developments†. Globalization has increased the emigration and trades between countries. It has also lead to the flourish of multinational corporations due to the effects of offshoring and outsourcing. Many companies from advance countries have been offshoring and outsourcing overseas to maintain competitiveness in the global market. The trend became possible due to the technological advancements in transportation and communication. Therefore, more and more domestic workers in these advanced countries became unemployed due to the effects of offshoring and outsourcing. Improvements in transportation a nd communication have made offshoring and outsourcing more convenient. People were able to communicate directly through the internet to provide instructions and advices worldwide. According to Reich (1991), AT T had been hiring routine producers overseas to assemble phones starting in 1970s (p.209). Reich (1991) also found â€Å"this shift of routine production jobs from advanced to developing nations is a great boom to many workers in such nations who otherwise would be jobless or working for much lowerShow MoreRelatedPolitical Factors That Affect International Business1020 Words   |  5 Pagesoverseas markets there is often a risk, the risk is referred to as political environment risk, and these factors can facilitate or hinder business operation. Some of the political factors that affect international business include† (Justin Ervin. Zachary Smith A.2008). One significant political environmental factor that influences international business operation is trade agreements. Countries frequently enter into trade treaties to further facilitate trade between themselves. Case in point, a EuropeanRead MoreGlobalization Is A Key Component Of A Corporation s Global Business Strategy1196 Words   |  5 PagesGlobalization is a particular process driven by international trade and investment intentions that works to integrate the companies, people, and governments of different nations. Globalization has an impact on several key factors of the global nations and citizens. Just a few of the things impacted by globalization are the environment, political systems, culture, economic development, prosperity, quality of life, and the well-being of people in societies around the world. Information technology hasRead MoreNestle : The Largest Food And Beverage Multi National Corporation1741 Words   |  7 PagesGlobalization is the dominant force by which the world has become interconnected significantly as a result of extremely increased trade and decreased cultural differences. Globalization has made crucial changes in the production and trade of goods and services. The giant companies are now multinational corporations with subsidiaries in many countries. They are no longer national firms with their operations limited to the boundary of just one country. Such companies’ growth and operations are notRead MoreGlobalizations Impact on Government Business Relations1845 Words   |  7 PagesHow has globalization impacted on government business relations? What is globalization? Globalization is the increasing interdependence and connectedness of the world, its businesses and it markets, as well as flow of goods, ideas, technology, people etc. This phenomenon has increased vastly over the years due to technological advances, telecommunications and internet. As the world becomes a global economy, countries have the opportunity to advance more but with the catch that there is also increasedRead MoreThe Future Of Global Work Essay1457 Words   |  6 PagesThe Future of Global Work The modern business environment is characterized by the concept on internationalization or globalization, which has become a definitive characteristic of today’s workforce. The concept of internationalization can be described as a process through which the global presence of a firm increases. In this case, a local company expands its activities to overseas markets and develops new operational units overseas that enhance its ability to generate added value. One of theRead MoreGlobalization : Operations Management And Globalization991 Words   |  4 PagesGlobalization Globalization refers to the practice of combining the budget of a country with that of the rest of the world. To develop globally, organizations must dramatically transform their management tactics. Because operations management plays a serious part in the general business plan of global organizations, it is vital for operations managers to consider the different trials and tribulations existing in different countries and develop strategies based on those findings. (Glassmeye/McNameeRead MoreGlobalization And Competitiveness : The Impact On Future University Of Alberta Bcom Graduates Essay982 Words   |  4 Pages Globalization and Competitiveness: The Impact on Future University of Alberta Bcom Graduates Nickia Kwan 1468914 University of Alberta Globalization and Competitiveness: The Impact on Future University of Alberta Bcom Graduates Globalization continues to impact how countries connect with each other. This impact can clearly be seen in changing social, technological and economic spheres. As globalization continues to expand its influence, it results in greater international competitionRead MoreEssay on The Globalization of Nestle1612 Words   |  7 Pages Globalization is the dominant force by which the world has become interconnected significantly as a result of extremely increased trade and decreased cultural differences. Globalization has made crucial changes in the production and trade of goods and services. The giant companies are now multinational corporations with subsidiaries in many countries. They are no longer national firms with their operations limited to the boundary of just one country. Such companies’ growth and operations are notRead MoreHuman Resource Planning and Development Leads to Success Essay examples1396 Words   |  6 Pagesestablishment of apprenticeship programs in the 18th Century (Werner DeSimone, 2011, p.5). The significance of human resource development in today’s business environment is attributed to its role in organizational profitability. Human resource planning involves the use of business activities to forecast how management strategy changes will impact human resource needs in t he future. On the contrary, human resource development activities help an organization to ensure its workforce has necessaryRead MoreGlobalization Has A Long History1578 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Globalization has a long history. According to National Geographic Society (2015), globalization grew when the Europeans began establishing colonies overseas. Many of the early European explorers were eager to spread the Christian religion to the regions they visited. â€Å"The globalization of Christianity spread from Europe to Latin America through Christian missionaries working with the local populations† (â€Å"Globalization,† 2015). Globalization was accelerated in the 19th century with the

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Victorias Secret Free Essays

Store location is an important decision for retailers because location is â€Å"typically one of the most influential considerations in a customer’s store-choice decision† (Retailing, 167). Most consumers choose which store to visit based on close proximity to home or work, comfort level, and other surrounding retailers so shopping stays relaxing and a lot of driving isn’t needed. Victoria’s Secret in the Beverly Center is in a shopping mall. We will write a custom essay sample on Victorias Secret or any similar topic only for you Order Now Reasoning behind the store being placed in the mall across from the elevators in the center is because malls have high amounts of traffic. Another reason why a mall location has its advantages, because malls provide the chance to combine shopping with entertainment, a great place to walk around catch up with friends while getting your shopping done, bringing in large numbers of people a day. Victoria’s Secret in the Beverly Center is a leader in lingerie, with Fredrick’s of Hollywood as their largest competitor is far from this location. Therefore shoppers at the Beverly Center who are looking for affordable lingerie will venture in to Victoria’s Secret. Victoria’s Secret is a multi-channel retailer, from stores, to online, to catalogs. This an advantage to the company because if a customer cannot find an item, or color they are looking for in the store, they have two other methods of how to purchase that item, still making Victoria’s Secret a profit and keeping the loyalty of the consumer. Victoria’s Secret is a leader in the retail industry not only because of the products they put out but because they understand the â€Å"3 most important things of a retail chain, location, location, location†(Retailing, 167). Work Citied Levy, Michael, and Barton A. Weitz. Retailing Management. Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2009. Print. How to cite Victorias Secret, Essay examples

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Tom Jones Finds Sophia free essay sample

This paper is an account of the amoral nature of the character Tom Jones in Henry Fieldings classic novel of the same name. This paper contrasts the selfless amoral actions and the motives thereof of Tom Jones with the other characters of Henry Fieldings classic novel Tom Jones, most notably with that of Blifil (Jones rival suitor). This paper looks at exactly why the amoral doings of Jones leads to his attainment of Sophia (Greek for wisdom), and why the moral doings of Blifil do not. This is all explained as a conflict between morality which serves to augment the self and that of amoral action which is desire driven and thus lessens the effect of self-awareness. This unconsciousness then, that Jones lives in is proved to be wisdom; this fact is then proved through references from William Blake, Carl Jung, and Fredreich Nietzsche. Virtue and happiness (wisdom) oppose one another. We will write a custom essay sample on Tom Jones Finds Sophia or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Fielding himself writes in the first chapter of book fifteen of Tom Jones, if by virtue is meant (as I almost think it ought) a certain relative quality, which is always busying itself without Doors, and seems as much interested in pursuing the good of others as its own; I cannot so easily agree that this is the surest way to human happiness (601; bk.15, ch.1). The fulfillment of desire then, leads to happiness and true wisdom; this wisdom being an unconscious realization of the universe at large; a wisdom that is Sophia.

Friday, March 20, 2020

Strategies to gain a competitive advantage through managing cultural diversity within a service sector organization.

Strategies to gain a competitive advantage through managing cultural diversity within a service sector organization. Introduction Culture has been defined by different authors differently, but what is perhaps the most common definition is that culture is the collective programming of individuals’ minds, which distinguishes members of a particular group or category from the rest of the population.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Strategies to gain a competitive advantage through managing cultural diversity within a service sector organization. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A model by Edward Hall involved the division of cultures according to the communication patterns of individuals into a high context where much of the information is implicit, and a low context where the information is explicit (Harris, 2004). Talcott Parsons and Edward Shils also came up with their own model that suggested that all human actions are influenced by five pattern variables. These pattern variables include: the need for gratification versus the restraint of impulses; self-orientation collectivity orientation; universalism versus particularism; ascription versus achievement and; specificity versus diffuseness. Florence Kluckhohn and Fred Strodtbeck also came up with another model after conducting a field study on five communities in the US that were geographically close. Their model distinguishes communities by five value orientations which are: the evaluation of human nature; the relationship between an individual and the environment; the orientation in time; the orientation toward activity and; the relationships among people (Chavan, 2005). The cultural dimensions model of Geert Hofstead is based on a study of IBM as a company in regard to their employees in 40 countries. He identified a number of problems that the employees had to cope with and from their coping mechanisms formulated his model of cultural dimension. He identified that the solutions that the employees had to these problems were different from those pr oposed by the old workplace which they had all been presented with (Burnes, 2003). He, therefore, came up with five dimensions of national cultures. These dimensions include: power distance, which is the degree of inequality among different people and which, the population of a particular country may define as normal; uncertainty avoidance, which is the degree to which a particular population prefers structured situations over unstructured ones; individualism versus collectivism; masculinity versus femininity; and long-term versus short-term orientation (Carmichael, White, and Jayawardena, 2008).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Strategy for Managing Cultural Diversity It is important to note that different organizations have different organizational cultures and in as much as a new manager would like to increase the competitive advantage of the organization in the market, his or her strategies may not fit into the inherent culture in the organization. For a Swedish manager moving into Hong Kong it is important to note that he or she has to identify the differences in culture between the two countries first, before a decision to adopt a particular competitive strategy is made. The careful evaluation of the cultural differences allows the manager to come up with a management strategy that incorporates a balanced human resource selection and recruiting process (Hughes, and Rog, 2008). This will also allow the manager to reduce the conflict that may exist between two different cultures by identifying that the market has been predisposed to particular cultural aspects, which if changed will lead to customer dissatisfaction and reduce competitive advantage (Wildes, 2008). It is important to note that any competitive strategy has to be formulated with the customers’ preferences in mind for it to be successful. Selection The process of select ion in a culture that has a high power distance and a high level of masculinity has to incorporate a structure that will complement the formulated strategy meant to increase competitive advantage. Among the components to be identified are clear rules and procedures since the organizational culture in Hong Kong has a high preference for bureaucratic structures. This increases employee loyalty which in turn increases productivity and the organization’s competitive edge in the market. The recognition that people are assets is also vital in the boosting of employee morale and this is transferred to the employees who then identify with the customers in the same way (Scott, and Revis, 2008). The result is a highly aware customer who is loyal to the business and this increases the business’ competitive advantage. The selection of managers who can motivate the other employees is crucial especially in a culture that identifies with achievement such as the one in Hong Kong. This requires that the manager to be flexible and a fast learner for him or her to quickly adapt to the new culture.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Strategies to gain a competitive advantage through managing cultural diversity within a service sector organization. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The reduction of conflict is also important for managers since cultures such as that of Hong Kong identify conflicts as offences against efficiency. The threat to efficiency has a direct impact on the productivity of employees and the general productivity as well as profitability of the business (Wildes, 2008). Recruiting The process of recruiting employees has to be consistent with the chosen or the existing organizational strategy for it to be successful. This has to incorporate a shift in culture from the original culture of the already selected employees to that of the new country or organization. The culture in Hong Kong requires that businesses instill superior differentiation structures in their recruitment programs, where division of labor and leadership structures that complement the inherent bureaucracy are put in place (Hughes, and Rog, 2008). The structures are supposed to increase efficiency and output which in turn gives the business a competitive edge in the market. This has to take place in an environment where the new employees can recognize with the new culture for it to have a quick and efficient success rate (Carmichael, White, and Jayawardena, 2008). The identification of employees who may already be conversant with the new organizational structure and nurturing them to train the others increases cooperation and team work in the workplace. This ensures a higher success of the recruiting process as new employees who have moved into a totally different culture are able to comfortably adapt to the new culture (Burnes, 2003). The recruiting process should ensure that the managers are ab le to identify the particular aspects of the new culture that they can combine with their own without creating conflicts that may lead to both employee and customer dissatisfaction. The identification of the strong aspects of culture that can be exploited further is important especially in an environment where competition is stiff and business practices are almost similar, either due to standardization or similarity in cultural preferences (Chavan, 2005).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is because it allows managers to introduce new practices that are unique in the market and increase their competitive advantage in the market. Pre-departure For new managers to adapt to a new environment effectively, they have to be briefed on the particular aspects of the new environment before leaving. This gives them the opportunity to prepare themselves adequately for the new workplace (Salama, Holland, and Vinten, 2003). In this case, role orientation would be of great help to any such managers since it gives them a firsthand idea of the capacity they will have to work at and what is expected of them after they join the new workplace (Harris, 2004). It is also important for the new employees to be conversant with cross-cultural communication especially if the diversity is high. This is meant to reduce the effects of culture shock as the new employees identify channels of communication they are conversant with and have had some experience with. It also increases their effic iency as communication is critical in the productivity of the employees (Littlejohn, and Watson, 2004). With increased efficiency and output, the manager can increase the competitive advantage of the business in the new market with ease. Challenges faced by expatriates due to different cultural backgrounds In the case of multinationals, both the local processes at the headquarters of the company and the processes in their national and global subsidiaries are often at work. This is after their managers realized that some of the cultures differentiate individuals as well as groups in their own unique way and can’t, therefore, be shared (Scott, and Revis, 2008). In this case, expatriates have to be ready to change their thinking and quickly adapt to the new culture and organizational practice of the new country they are posted to. They will obviously need some guidance from locals since some of the cultural characteristics may be too distinct and region specific. For managers wh o always insist on the strict adherence to their home management structures in their new workplace, they often fall out with some of the loyal customers and employees who feel that they are too conservative and rigid to the different challenges that are involved with the different culture in a different country (Wildes, 2008). This means that organizations may lose their competitive advantage in the market if they are too rigid or conservative to change their thinking and the way they come up with solutions to common organizational challenges in the new setting. The identification of the advantages or rather strengths of a particular cultural aspect is sometimes a challenge for foreign managers. The strength of a particular culture often translates to different levels of employee turnover and where a foreign manager may not understand the strength of the culture, he may try to change it by bringing in his own foreign culture into the new organization. This leads to employee dissatis faction and increases their turnover as they no longer feel comfortable and some may have a hard time adjusting to the new culture (Hughes, and Rog, 2008). Ways of Motivating and Leading Staff to Gain a Competitive Advantage Expatriate managers could motivate the new staff by first understanding the cultural practices that are inherent in the new country and in the new organization, and try to incorporate those new practices in their relationship with the new staff (Carmichael, White, and Jayawardena, 2008). This is meant to identify the potential of the staff that the manager manages and especially their cultural potential. With the full exploitation of this potential the managers will be able to gain a competitive advantage over the competitors (Burnes, 2003). This also increases harmony in the workplace as employees complement each other’s potential as they are culturally predisposed and this increases their output. They may also have to allow the new staff to take a leadi ng responsibility is dealing with the new challenges that are unique to their particular position especially where the foreign manager may have a problem adjusting or understanding the particular cultural practices and market needs (Salama, Holland, and Vinten, 2003). This will obviously require the expatriate managers to be flexible and recognize that cultures do change. This should, however, not mean that they should drop all the practices that are in place in their own home country, but rather incorporate them into the practices of the new organization by balancing some of the new cultures to fit into it (Hatch, and Schultz, 2003). Since they have to deal with unique market needs and patters that they may not have been used to in their home country, expatriate managers have to identify the particular successful aspects of the new employees’ culture that have a higher success rate in giving the business a competitive advantage (Chavan, 2005). They should then substitute the strong strategies that have led to successes in their home country with the weaker aspects of the new market. Conclusion The ease at which new managers adapt into a new environment is identified as critical in increasing the productivity of the employees that he or she manages and this has a direct effect on the competitive advantage that the business enjoys in the market. This can only be achieved if the new manager is conversant with the new culture in the new environment before moving. An efficient selection and recruitment process ensures that the manager is not only capable to adapt in the new environment, but is also prepared for the different challenges that he may come across due to cross-cultural differences. Reference List Burnes, B. 2003. Managing change and changing managers from ABC to XYZ. Journal of Management Development. 22(7). Pp. 627-642. Carmichael, C, White, A, and Jayawardena, B. 2008. Binational tourism in Niagara: insights, challenges and the future. Interna tional Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. 20(3). Pp 347-359. Chavan, M. 2005. Diversity Makes Good Business. Equal Opportunities International. 24(7/8). Pp 38-58. Harris, P., R. 2004. European leadership in cultural synergy. European Business Review. 16(4). Pp 358-380. Hatch, M, and Schultz, M. 2003. Bringing the corporation into corporate branding. European Journal of Marketing. 37(7/8). Pp 1041-1064. Hughes, J., C, and Rog, E. 2008. Talent management A strategy for improving employee recruitment, retention and engagement within hospitality organizations. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. 20(7). Pp 743- 757. Littlejohn, D, and Watson, S. 2004. Developing graduate managers for hospitality and tourism. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. 16(7). Pp 408-414. Salama, A, Holland, W, and Vinten, G. 2003. Challenges and opportunities in mergers and acquisitions. Journal of European industrial training. 27(6). Pp 313-321. Sc ott, B, and Revis, S. 2008. Talent management in hospitality: graduate career success and strategies. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. 20(7). Pp 781-791. Wildes, V., J. 2008. How can organizational leaders really lead and serve at the same time? International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. 20(1). Pp 67-78.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Ten tips for better sales proposals - Emphasis

Ten tips for better sales proposals Ten tips for better sales proposals Remember your prospect Dont get so carried away with what youre offering that you forget the person that youre trying to persuade. Always put the prospect first, by starting with their situation and the problems they need to solve. Remember other readers Are there other influencers and decision-makers who might read your proposal, and have you met them? If you havent, your proposal will be all they have to go on, so its vital that you address their needs too. Show understanding Impress your prospect by showing an understanding of their problems and how to fix them, rather than trying to dazzle them with how wonderful your company is. Your company facts and testimonials should just confirm that you know what youre talking about. Persuade You still need to sell the solution(s) youre proposing, so remember to write a persuasive sales argument dont just let the spec speak for itself. Check your facts Simple mistakes will seriously undermine even the best offering. One senior buyer of billion-pound contracts told Emphasis that he always circled the stupid mistakes first such as spelling product or place names incorrectly. Factual inaccuracies create a poor impression thats very hard to shift. Get the basics right Likewise, dont let your spelling, punctuation or grammar let you down. Basic errors do nothing to create a good impression. Dont waffle You may be very proud of your proposal, but your prospect probably has several others to read alongside yours. Even if they dont, theyll certainly have a backlog of other documents to read through. In a recent Emphasis survey, some buyers said that 90 per cent of what they read was badly written or hard to follow. So write to express, rather than to impress them with your splendid vocabulary. Cut and paste with care Cutting and pasting can be a good short cut if two proposals share common material. But its also fraught with danger. One Emphasis client told us of how theyd forgotten to take out a rival clients company name when they did this. It sounds obvious, but its easily done. The answer is to get someone else to proofread what youve written, as youll miss many of your own mistakes. Remember: love is blind. Take care with layout No matter how persuasive your argument, presentation is key and a poor layout can still let you down. Keep your layout uncluttered, crisp and professional. Use plenty of white space, and resist the temptation to cram too much information into every page. Less is definitely more. Talk them through it Finally, if you want to win, take it in. Make an appointment to talk your prospect through your proposal if at all possible. That way youll be able to handle any objections there and then, and maximise your chance of a successful close.

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Data Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Data Management - Essay Example Data collected from the survey will be numerically coded and processed and analyzed using he computer software, Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) Version 17.0.0 (2008) and Minitab 15 (2009). Findings regarding the effectiveness of the education-based programs will be reported using appropriate graphs and tabulations. It is believed that education has buttressed it hold on its significance in development. In fact, Comim (2009) argues that â€Å"a proper understanding of current trends in development is not without a proper account of the role of education in the promotion of human flourishing† (p. 88). This study, therefore, aims to undertake assessment of how an educational programme among the Karen minorities in Thailand affected their quality of life and has prepared them towards brighter prospects in the future. With already more than â‚ ¤1.5 million laid out for its University Scholarships and Teacher Training projects, it is high time that a quantitative analysis of the joint effectiveness of the two education-based programmes be carried out to examine how the Karen tribes have benefited from their participation. The evaluation will consider the profile of the respondent Karen tribe beneficiaries in terms of the following variables designated as numbers 1 to 5 in the questionnaire: age, gender, programme, course, and category of participation. 1. Level of satisfaction of the programme participants with respect to the variables indicated in item numbers 6-19 in the questionnaire, namely: fair and equitable selection process; commitment and attitude of the KHT staff towards the participants; availability of provisions and resources for the conduct of the programme; monitoring of students/trainees while under the programme; support given to the students/trainees while under the programme; support given to students/trainees after completing the programme; funding, quality of education/training provided;

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Self Consciousness Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Self Consciousness Issues - Essay Example The first question is based on the understanding that the level of memory humans rely upon to recall early events in life operates from about the age of three or four years old. Prior to that, the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex are not fully developed (Mastin, 2010). If this question, then, is asked of a human, their earliest memory is unlikely to be a recollection from before age three or four. An artificial intelligence machine, however, has working memory activated immediately upon being turned on. I reason that a machine will answer this question with literally their first experience and not with a later one. The second question assumes that machines with artificial intelligence do not experience altered states of consciousness, and therefore do not dream. I suspect they would not be able to describe a dream that would fool me into thinking they are human. I pay attention to my dreams and the dreams of other people, and I have noticed that describing a dream is done in a diffe rent narrative style than describing an ordinary awareness event. Dreams are often fragmentary, have confused chronology, incorporate magically changing imagery, are usually symbolic, may be vague upon recall. Furthermore, AI machines do not experience emotion, so fear would be a foreign experience to them. Even if the machine has been programmed to articulate emotional expression, what a machine would find â€Å"frightening† would no doubt be qualitatively distinct from what a human finds frightening.

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Investigation of Subgrade Reaction Coefficient in Sandy Soil

Investigation of Subgrade Reaction Coefficient in Sandy Soil Numerical investigation of subgrade reaction coefficient in sandy soils Adel Asakereh1, Hassan Jamali2*, Masoud mossafa1 1 Civil Department, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran 2Young Researchers and Elite Club, Sabzevar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sabzevar, Abstract The soil-foundation interaction is one of the most important issues in geotechnical engineering relating to soil behavior against side loading. Winklers model is the first and simplest method for considering the soil-foundation interaction. Because to determine the coefficient of the subgrade reaction of the soil before designing structure is vitally important, so, experimental, analytical and numerical methods have been proposed. This research chose a ground characteristic that is in Bandar Abbas (Iran). Purpose is to compare the proposed experimental formulae for determining the coefficient of the subgrade reaction with its corresponding values resulting from the behavioral models. Finite element analysis was performed by Plaxis software and important parameters were proposed by the engineers. Results show increasing footing diameter leads to a decrease in the coefficient of the subgrade reaction due to increasing load area which results in increasing settlement. It is found that i ncreasing each of the strength parameters of the soil can be expected to have an effect on increasing the subgrade reaction, although this increase depends on footing diameter. Also in sand soils, the soil cohesion effects on the increase of the subgrade reaction coefficient more than the internal friction angle. Keywords: Elasticity coefficient, Mat foundation, Subgrade reaction coefficient, Bandar Abbas City, Finite element analysis Introduction The application of mat foundations has a long history. This type of foundation has shown a very good performance in transferring construction forces to the ground. Currently in most cases, engineers use a constant value for the subgrade reaction coefficient to analyze the mat flexible foundations. This constant is obtained from geotechnical experiments such as plate loading. Many researchers have studied soil subsidence and the subgrade reaction coefficient using plate loading test [1-9]. Nomenclatures B Diameter of footing (m) Minimum marginal dimension of footing(m) c Cohesion (kPa) d Plate thickness (m) Df Embedment depth of foundation(m) Soil elasticity modulus (kPa) EI Flexural rigidity of footing (kN.m2) EA Axial rigidity of footing (kN.m2) Height of ith layer (m) If , Is, Id Dimensionless coefficients ks Subgrade Reaction Coefficient (kN/m3) m Constant coefficients P Vertical pressure (kPa) Greek Symbols v Poisson ratio Vertical Displacement (m) Angle of friction (Degree) Unit weight (kN/m3) Dry unit weight (kN/m3) The application of a uniform reaction coefficient over all of the foundation means neglecting the conditions of a continuum for the soil and the effects of cut in the soil layers. One of the fundamental issues in designing and calculating the foundations is the problem of soil-foundation interaction. It is very important to study soil behavior against the external loads. Soil behavior depends on many factors such as moisture content, density, particle-forming mineral types, grain size, grain shape, grading curve, current state of the stress, stress history, pore pressure, saturation point, permeability rate, time, and temperature. In order to study the soil-foundation interaction, many researchers have tried to investigate soil behavior against the imposed loadings to find a model for it. The material model is a mathematical relation for describing the stress-strain behaviour of a small element of the environment. As previously mentioned, soil behavior depends on many factors it is extremely difficult to provide a model including the effects of all factors. Thus in solving the problems of soil-foundation interaction, some properties of the soil are usually excluded to provide a simpler model with fewer parameters. Since the soil at a macroscopic scale is considered as a continuum, the simplest possible state we consider the soil as a linear, homogenous and consistent elastic semi-space. In such a case, the soil will have two parameters Poisson coefficient and the elastic modulus. The first and simplest model for investigating the soil and foundation interaction is a model offered by Winkler in 1867 [10]. In this model, the deformation of any point of the soil ground is related to the point stress value and the effect of the stresses and the changes in other points are neglected. In this model, soil is replaced with a set of independent springs with a specific stiffness coefficient. Thus, only one single parameter is considered for the soil, that is, the subgrade reaction coefficient represented by ks. One of the most prominent properties of this model is its discontinuous behavior [9]. The subgrade modulus is not a fundamental soil property and its magnitude depends on many factors including the shape of the foundation, the stiffness of the foundation slab, the shape of the loading on the foundation, the depth of the loaded area below the ground surface, and the time. As such, it is not constant for a given type of soil, making the estimation of a single general value for design a challenging task [11]. Consequently, researchers have suggested several ways to determine this parameter and several formulae have been offered for determining ks. Many researchers have worked on the calculation of subgrade reaction coefficient. Ismail [12] studied the applications of the artificial neural networks (ANN) and the simple-multiple regression analysis to predict the deformation modulus and the coefficient of the subgrade reaction of the compacted soils from the compaction parameters (such as maximum dry density (MDD) optimum moisture content (OMC), field dry density (FDD), and field moisture content (FMC)). Ding [13] compared four typical methods for determining the coefficient of the subgrade reaction including the test method, Lis method, MIDAS method, and finite element method. He showed that the test method is the one preferred by the designers, that the tangential coefficient should be in a range of one to two-third of the normal coefficient. The internal force of subway structures can be obtained by the test method and modified by a correction factor that is 1.05. Barmenkova et al. [14] carried out calculations of plates on a n elastic basis with variable and constant coefficients of subgrade reaction. In this paper, the calculation of plates bending was carried out by the finite element method. The results were compared for different models of plates on an elastic basis. For a two-layer plate on an elastic basis, which had heterogeneity in the plan, the results of calculation took into account the increase of the height of the upper structure. Kobayashi et al. [15] calculated the subgrade reaction coefficient for a foundation soil in an open pier using an extended Kalman filter (EKF) based on measurements taken during in situ horizontal loading tests on a pile. The numerical results would provide useful information for the future design of open piers and their foundations. Liao [16] reviewed the limitations of various simple and complex methods available for estimating the coefficient of subgrade reaction k, and developed a new method using the results of the plane strain finite element analyses of a loaded beam or slab resting on the surface of a homogeneous elastic soil layer. Although many studies have been carried out on determining the subgrade reaction coefficient, the dependence on many parameters leads to further parametric studies. Experimental and theoretical formulas for determining ks are based on available data from limited sites with some assumptions, so it is possible for them not to have sufficient precision in all areas. Therefore, determining the subgrade reaction coefficient in specific areas such as Bandar Abbas city and assessment of the effective parameters on subgrade reaction coefficient is vital. Besides, the Increasing in footing width, increases effective depth. Therefore, determination of ks in footing with more width is more complex especially in layered soil, because ks obtained from plate load test is different from ks under real loading of structure. Thus investigation of the footing width and the strength parameters of the soil on ks is needed. Performing plate load tests with large diameters is expensive and difficult, thus the present study uses finite element software of Plaxis to investigate the effect of the aforementioned parameters. Parametric studies on subgrade reaction coefficient of sand soil in Bandar Abbas city are few, so this paper uses geotechnical data of a site in Bandar Abbas city (Iran) to determine subgrade reaction coefficient by using of theoretical, experimental relations and numerical methods. Besides, the effects of the strength parameters (c,) and B on subgrade reaction coefficient are investigated too. This study is carried out by using and verifying numerical methods and ensuring the accuracy of the software. Numerical analysis has been done by finite element method using Plaxis software [17]. Analytical methods of subgrades reaction coefficient In order to obtain ks, one can generally apply plate loading, consolidation, triaxial, and CBR tests and experimental and theoretic relations provided by researchers [18]. Among them, plate loading testing and the experimental method are considered the most common methods. In this paper, experimental and theoretic methods are considered. There are several relations including Vesic [19], Biot [20], and Bowles [6] as well as relations resulting from elastic theory from elasticity theory to determine subgrade reaction coefficient. Biot [20] solved the problem of an infinite beam on a linear elastic subgrade and provided Eq. (1) for subgrade reaction coefficient. (1) Vesic [19] developed Biots work [20] and suggested Eq. (2) for the relation between ks and elastic characteristic of soil: (2) He also showed the difference between Winkler method and continuum does not exceed 10 percent. Bowles [6] showed the numerical value of in ordinary condition may be approximated by 1, and in most cases subgrade reaction coefficient is obtained by Eq. (3): (3) Using elasticity theory is another way to approximate ks. By reformulating the elastic subsidence in rectangular foundation, we obtain the following [21]: (4) These values are determined based on tables in the elastic subsidence section of basic soil mechanic references. m is the coefficient which is equal to 1, 2 and 4 for corner, edge, and center, respectively. ks is calculated in corners assuming m = 1 from Eq. (4) and it is multiplied by 0.5 to obtain k edges or by 0.25 to obtain ks centers. According to the above discussion, it can be seen that there are several formulae to determine soil subgrade reaction coefficient. General and geotechnical properties of the soil The site of the residential- mercantile building is located to the west part of Bandar Abbas city in Iran (Fig. 1) with seven floors over the ground floor (parking lot). The depth of the foundation settlement is equal to the height of the foundation as 1 meter and no groundwater grade was observed until the end of the excavation depth. In order to identify the underground layers, five boreholes were excavated (three 15-meter boreholes and two 20-meter boreholes) using a rotary drilling machine. During soil boring, some samples were extracted for laboratory experiments. After completion of the field operation, the extracted samples were tested for grading, Atterberg limits, moisture content of the natural soil, and direct shear test. The studies on the layers of the site soil show the soil type in the foundation subgrade is mainly silty sand (SM) from the ground level down to the depth of 8 meters, and the soil type is bad-grained sand (SP) from the depth of 8 meters downwards. Fig. 1. Location of Bandar Abbas city. Considering the field and laboratory experiments in order to determine the scale of soil subsidence and the bearing capacity of the site soil, the required parameters were selected from the five excavated boreholes as shown in Table 1. The data of the samplings is available down to 20 meters deep. The soil type was given down to the depth of the foundation effect (around 30m). Moreover, the soil weight at the 20 to 30 m depth (layer 11) has considered as being constant. Table 1. Soil properties of the site No. of Layers Dep. (m) Soil Type SPT (Ncor.) à Ã¢â‚¬ ° (%) c (kPa) à Ã¢â‚¬   (ËÅ ¡) ÃŽÂ ³ (kN/m3) ÃŽÂ ³d(kN/m3) 1 0-2 SM 21 4.1 0 29 17 16.3 2 2-4 SM 17 16.6 0 29.1 18.6 16.23 3 4-6 SM 24 14.9 0 28.8 18.6 16.18 4 6-8 SM 33 15.2 0 30.4 18.9 16.4 5 8-10 SP 38 23.7 0 32.4 20.1 16.24 6 10-12 SP 39 18.1 0 31.2 19.4 16.42 7 12-14 SP 47 24.2 0 31.2 20.6 16.58 8 14-16 SP 50 19.8 0 30 20 16.69 9 16-18 SP 50 19.2 0 32 20 16.77 10 18-20 SP 50 18.8 0 32 20 16.83 11 20-30 SP 50 18.8 0 32 20 16.83 Equations (5) and (6) were used to determine the elasticity modulus of the soil [6]: (5) For unsaturated sands, and (6) For saturated sands. Thus, the elasticity modulus for each of the soil layers is calculated based on the above formulae and the results are shown in Table 2. Table 2. Elasticity modulus of the soil layers No. of Layers SPT (Ncor.) Es (kPa)-dry 1 21 18000 2 17 16000 3 24 19500 4 33 24000 5 38 26500 6 39 27000 7 47 31000 8 50 32500 9 50 32500 10 50 32500 11 50 32500 Numerical analysis procedure First, the results of Brian Anderson et al. [22] were analyzed with Plaxis to verify the software. Brian Anderson et al. [22] performed in situ testing and numerical investigation for predicting settlement of shallow foundations. Accordingly, a 1.8 m diameter concrete footing was statically load tested. Prior to construction, in situ standard penetration test (SPT), cone penetration testing (CPT), dilatometer (DMT), and pressuremeter (PMT) and laboratory tests were performed to determine engineering properties of the soil. A reinforced circular 1.8 m diameter 0.6 m thick concrete footing was constructed using a corrugated pipe coupler as a form. To overcome a thin hard layer surface crust, the footing was embedded 0.6 m into the ground. The groundwater table was at 1.7 m from the ground surface, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Static load was 222 kPa. Due to the symmetry, half of footing with the width of 0.5 B is modeled asymmetrically. Avoiding boundary effects, a 6.5ÃÆ'-5 m model was s elected. The model depth was taken as 6.5 m, that is approximately equal to 4B=6.8 m and the width of the model was taken as 5 m, that is approximately equal to 3B [23] . Results proved that the displacement did not reach the boundaries in the analysis. To investigate the mesh dependency, a number of trial analyses were conducted through the verification study. The model included 1971 nodes and 235 elements. The boundary lines were defined as the limited deformation in horizontal direction and free deformation in vertical direction, and limited deformations both in horizontal and vertical directions at the lower boundary as showed in Fig. 3. Trial analyses proved that with specified dimension and meshing, errors would be negligible. In order to do the modeling with finite element method, the 15-node triangular element was used according to Fig. 4. Table 3 presents the input parameters used for the FEM analyses. Figure 5 presents applied stress-settlement diagram obtained from Plaxis in this study and reference to a point located under plate. There was a negligible difference between two diagrams, so Plaxis was suitable for analysis. Fig. 2. Geometry and mesh of the verification model.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fig. 3. Soil-footing profile of verification model [22]. Fig. 4. 15-node triangular element. Table 3. Soil properties used in verification according to [22]. Bottom(m) (kN/m3) (deg) E(Mpa) c(kPa) 1.64 18.9 31.4 14.5 0 2.5 17.3 30.1 12.5 0 3.17 15.7 28.6 10.50 0 6.5 14.2 27.1 8.5 0 Fig. 5. Applied stress-settlement diagram. After software verification, the model was developed for determining the subgrade reaction coefficient of Bandar Abbas city and parametric study. In the created model (which included 2011 nodes and 256 elements), the loading was uniform and, a rigid foundation was considered in all phases of analysis. Model depth should be greater than 4B and model width greater than 3B for different diameters. Since it was intended to study the effect of foundation diameter on determining the value of subgrade reaction coefficient, an asymmetric model was used in the software for soil modeling. The relevant parameters of the general properties (wet and dry specific weight) and the relevant parameters of the soil resistance (c,) for all soil layers were derived from Table 1. Considering the results of the experiments and researches and the reliability of the developed numerical model with the results, and considering the soil type of the site (sand soil), Mohr-Coulomb behavioral model for the soil wa s used in this research. Since in Mohr-Coulomb behavioral model the stress-strain relation is fulfilled directly by the soil elasticity coefficient, thus in entering the data of the soil elasticity coefficient as one of the input parameters, the data of Table 2 were used. The values of the dilation angle in all layers were assumed to be 0. Considering the properties of the building in this project and the scale of the imposed loading (dead and live load), the value of the imposed pressure on the soil was assumed to be 120 kN/m2 where the plate element (with the concrete foundation properties) was used to transfer this load to the modeled soil. Among the most important properties of the element, it could be referred to its flexural hardness (EI) and its axis hardness (EA). These two parameters can be used to obtain the plate thickness that is the representative of the foundation thickness in this case. Considering the constant thickness of the foundation by 1 meter in this research, different values would be obtained for EI and EA in different models according to the Eqs. (7) and (8) [24]. Since the modeling was done with asymmetric method, thus half of the diameter of the real foundation was modeled, and the modeling was done in direction of x-axis, three times more than the foundations diameter (3B), and in the direction of y-axis equal to the number of the layers mentioned in Table 1. Moreover, Table 4 shows the parameters needed for determining the plate input parameters into Plaxis software. d=  ½ deq (7) (8) Fig. 6. Geometry of the model. Table 4. Plate parameters EI (kNm2/m) EA (kN/m) E (kPa) Df(m) Var. Var. 2.5ÃÆ'-107 1 Results and discussion Seven models were developed for different values of foundation diameter (8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 m). Then, they were analyzed by finite element method using Plaxis. Because of axis plain strain in Plaxis, foundation is considered as a strip with B/2 of diameter and 1 m, orthogonal to the plane as shown in Fig. 6. Amount of vertical displacement in center and below of the foundation (sections are in center and 1 meter below the above subgrade of soil model) is obtained according to the load determined by the construction analysis (120 kN/m2). The soil subgrade reaction coefficient is calculated by Eq. (9) for any values of foundation diameter [25]: (9)

Friday, January 17, 2020

Corporate Strategies to Hedge Commodity Price Risks Applying

Table of contents List of abbreviationsIII List of figuresIII List of tablesIII 1Introduction1 1. 1Problem and objective1 1. 2Structure of this paper1 2Background Information2 2. 1Definitions of fundamental terms2 2. 2Commodity price risk in different firms2 3Explanation of derivatives3 3. 1Options3 3. 2Futures4 3. 3Forwards6 3. 4Swaps6 4Hedging strategies with derivatives7 4. 1Hedging with options7 4. 2Hedging with futures7 4. 3Hedging with forwards8 4. 4Hedging with swaps8 5Pros and cons of hedging strategies with derivatives8 5. 1Pros and cons of options9 5. Pros and cons of futures9 5. 3Pros and cons of forwards10 5. 4Pros and cons of swaps10 6Practical example of corporate commodity price risk hedging10 6. 1Introduction on firm's practical hedging strategy10 6. 2Analysis on this strategy11 7Summary12 Appendix13 Appendix 1: Amounts outstanding of over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives by risk category and instrument——in billions of US dollar13 Appendix 2: Derivatives fi nancial instruments traded on organized exchanges by instrument and location——in billions of US dollar14 Bibliography15 Internet Source16 List of abbreviations CHClearing HouseIMInitial Margin MBMargin Balance MM NMaintenance Margin No OTCOver The Count VM YVariation Margin Yes List of figures Figure 1: Structure of this paper2 Figure 2: P of each option position4 Figure 3: Flow chart of marking-to-market process5 Figure 4: P of each future position6 Figure 5: Hedging model on fuel oil of Air China11 List of tables Table 1: Summary for 4 option positions4 Table 2: Summary for future positions6 Table 3: Summary for 4 derivatives9 1Introduction 1. 1Problem and objective The risk of commodity price is a ferocious topic in corporate operation.Corporate profit is equal to total revenue minus total cost. For firms, because of the high volatility on commodity price, their inputs and outputs relating to commodity are unpredictable. As a consequence corporate profit will be imm ensely volatile, which will possibly lead the firm to go bankruptcy if no any preventive actions are taken. For example, producers of commodities probably need to assume unexpected losses, when the price of outputs goes down or the price of necessary raw materials goes up. The situations are similar to wholesale buyers, retailers, exporters and even governments.Volatility of commodities price has great impacts on corporate daily operation. The objective of this term paper is to introduce derivative hedging strategies for corporate managers to reduce or even eliminate future unpredictability, mainly from the perspectives of the role commodity price risks play, what the typical derivative instruments are, where and how to apply these different derivatives in terms of hedging principles thereof, and both advantages and disadvantages when applying each derivative in real business transactions. 1. Structure of this paper Firstly, this term paper highlights problems existing in real world . Secondly, it introduces advanced derivatives theory that can be applied to solve these problems. Thirdly, specific details on the theory will be presented, including explanation, application, as well as pros and cons of each derivative instrument. Then, an example is analyzed to show how companies apply derivatives to hedge commodity risks practically. Last is a summary of this term paper. Following figure shows the body of this paper. 2Background Information 2. Definitions of fundamental terms In financial markets derivative is a contract or security whose value is derived from the value of other more basic underlying variables . One of its most important functions is hedging. In corporate operation, hedging is to secure the companies against potential loss caused by variable risks that arise in international market, such as the commodity price risks. In this paper, commodity means any tangible goods or raw materials that may be sold or traded in the markets, such as energy, gold , or agricultural products. 2. Commodity price risk in different firms Volatility of commodities price influences firms’ daily operation significantly. Producers of commodities, such as farms, oil producers, mining companies, face price risk on output. Wholesalers and retailers, face price risk during the time period from buying from suppliers and selling to customers. Exporters, face the same price risk as well as currency exchange risk. And governments face price and yield risks generating from tax revenues that depend on firms’ operational conditions. 3Explanation of derivativesDerivatives are traded in exchange-traded markets and over-the-counter markets. (See recent derivatives transaction status in appendix 1 and appendix 2. ) Notably, exchange-traded derivatives are default risk free and liquid. However over-the-counter traded derivatives are the opposite. 3. 1Options An option is the contract that gives the buyer the right but not obligation to buy (call option ) or sell (put option) an underlying asset at a predetermined price (exercise price) for certain quantity during a fixed period of time (maturity).The buyer of the option pays a particular amount of money (option premium) to the seller to buy a right whereby he can decide whether or not to exercise this option, simultaneously the seller has the obligation to perform if the buyer exercises the option. European options only can be exercised on expiration day, and American options can be exercised at any time before maturity. The buyer of the call option is named long call, while the seller of the call option is named short call. Similarly, the buyer of the put option is named long put, while the seller of the put option is named short put.In commodity market, underlying of commodity option is a commodity, such as oil, wheat, or gold. Commodity options are both exchanges-traded and OTC traded. Following figure shows P of each option. Following table is the summary for these 4 option po sitions. Table 1: Summary for 4 option positions Market price expectationMaximum profitMaximum lossBreakeven point Long callupunlimitedoption premiumexercise price + option premium Short calldown or stableoption premiumunlimitedexercise price + option premium Long putdownexercise price – option premiumoption premiumexercise price – option premium Short putup or stableoption remiumexercise price – option premiumexercise price – option premium Source: author’s own. 3. 2Futures A future is a contract between two parties to buy or sell a specified amount of asset at a specified time period in the future for a certain price. Normally there are two types of futures, commodity futures whose underlying are commodities and financial futures whose underlying are financial assets. They are highly standardized, regulated, and traded in exchange markets with highly liquid and default risk free property. Because of the marking-to-market process, at maturity the settling price is the spot price at expiration date with profit gaining or loss paying from a margin account, which indirectly makes the effective bargain price equal to the predetermined price in the future contract. Notably, to ensure high liquidity of futures, marking-to-market process plays a significant role. The following figure shows the marking-to-market process. Generally there are two alternative ways at maturity to settle futures, either by cash or by actual delivery of underlying, which is clearly defined by futures exchange.Following figure and table show the details of a future. Table 2: Summary for future positions ?Maximum profitMaximum lossBreakeven point Long positionunlimitedexercise pricespot price + cost of carry Short positionexercise priceunlimitedspot price + cost of carry Source: author’s own. 3. 3Forwards A forward contract is a customized and over-the-counter agreement to buy or sell an asset at a specified time in the future for a specified price, where a long position has the obligation to buy and a short position has the obligation to sell. Compared with futures, no marking-to-market process are required.Counterparties can negotiate with each about the parameters of the contract. As a result, a firm who wants to make forward contract needs to find the counterparty by itself. 3. 4Swaps A swap is a customized and over-the-counter agreement to exchange a series of specified assets periodically in the future. Normally the counterparties of a swap contract are a large institution such as a bank and a company. Basically, we can view a swap as a complicated forward. Except currency swaps, counterparties just need to pay the differences between the cash flow they should exchange. Because swaps are bespoken as a result they are less liquid.There are commodity swaps, interest rate swaps and currency swaps. Interest rate swaps is an agreement of two counterparties to change fixed interest and floating interest on predefined nominal pr incipal in the future periodically. Commodity swaps normally vary tremendously among different markets. In a currency swap, counterparties change same value of different currencies in inception and termination, where the exchange rate of the tow currencies depends on the negotiation of counterparties. 4Hedging strategies with derivatives This chapter will focus on the principles of hedging strategies on commodities. . 1Hedging with options If a trader wants to procure a commodity with high volatile price, he can buy a commodity call option to hedge the price risk of going up. Similarly, if a company wants to sell a commodity product, it can buy a long put to hedge the price risk of going down. In practice, because investors want to bet more precisely on the future price of the underlying, and hedgers with long positions want to save option premiums, a few combinations of options come out, such as a long call and a short put with identical parameters except the different strike price . 4. 2Hedging with futuresWhen the objective of a commodity trader wants to neutralize the price risk as far as possible, usually he will choose to take a position on a future on commodity. A hedger who already owns a commodity asset or doesn‘t own right now but will at some future time expecting to sell it in the future without assuming any price risk, he can apple future hedging strategy to enter into a short position to become a short. Likewise, a hedger who has to buy a certain commodity asset in the future and wants to lock in spot price immediately, he can apply a future to enter into a long position to become a long. . 3Hedging with forwards The principles of hedging strategy with forwards are similar with futures'. Whether to use futures or forwards depends on different requirements. Generally, financial assets investors who need high liquidity prefer to choose futures, while commodity investors such as producers who need high customization prefer to choose forwards. 4 . 4Hedging with swaps When investors want to hedge risks of interest rates, currencies, or commodities, they can use swaps. In gold swaps, counterparties change fixed lease rate with variable lease rate.In swaps on base metals, counterparties change fixed metal price with average price of near dated metal future. In oil swaps, counterparties change fixed West Taxes Intermediate (WTI is a benchmark in oil price) price with average price of near dated WTI future. 5Pros and cons of hedging strategies with derivatives The following integrated summary of these derivatives depending on pervious analysis makes systematic comparisons. (The options here are exchanged-traded European options) Table 3: Summary for 4 derivatives SUMMERY OF DERIVATIVES FOR GENERAL TYPES OptionsFuturesForwardsSwapsTypes of contractstandardizedstandardizedcustomizedcustomized Settlementscash and deliverymost cash and few deliverydeliverydepends on individuals Trading marketExchange tradedExchange tradedOTCOTC Liqu idityhighhighlowlow Marketing-to-marginnorequirednono Time of settlementmaturitydailymaturityperiodically Initial investmentoption premiuminitial margin nodepends Default risk assumed byClearing houseclearinghouseBoth partiesBoth parties ProsDefault risk free & liquiditycustomization & no initial investment Consinitial investment & inflexibledefault risk for both party & illiquidity Source: author’s own. . 1Pros and cons of options The pros of options are obvious. Firstly, they have no risk to assume more loss than premium but have possibility to get unlimited potential profit. Secondly exchanged-traded options are highly liquid and OTC traded options are flexible. However, the cons of options are also explicit, such as the difficulty to decide when to enter into a long position.Because buying an option needs to pay option premium, if the spot price cannot go above (for a long call) or go below (for a long put) the breakeven point the hedger will suffer a loss, and depends on statistics the possibility of a long position to lose is about 66%. 5. 2Pros and cons of futures It definitely makes sense for most companies whose majors are in businesses but not professional in forecasting the price of commodities price volatility, which can make them pay more attention on their core competences instead of fearing about volatile price.Nonetheless, taking neutralized strategies make hedgers give up the possibility of both profit and loss. Moreover, instead of hedging risks by companies, shareholders can hedge themselves according to their preferences. Additionally, if other competitors of the same industry don’t apply hedging strategies, in fact, it is the hedging company itself that assumes risks, because competitive pressures are the same for other all competitors but different for the hedging company its own. 5. 3Pros and cons of forwards Basic pros and cons have been listed in the table in front of this chapter.Generally, compared to futures, the most explicit pro is that forwards are highly customized and therefore the con is that they are hardly liquid. 5. 4Pros and cons of swaps Basic pros and cons have been listed in the table in front of this chapter. Gernally, compared to futures and forwards the most precise pros is that both counterparties could reap benefits from a swap, such as in a currency swap where a firm with a low rate may get a cheaper loan as other firms with high rates, and the counterparty may get a payment as compensation.However the corresponding cons is that counterparty may need to pay commision to intermediary, because it is difficult to find an appropriate counterparty by itself. 6Practical example of corporate commodity price risk hedging 6. 1Introduction on firm's practical hedging strategy Air China is an airline company, whose cost of fuel oil occupies 44. 75% of total revenue in 2008. To hedge the fuel oil price risk, Air China bought a call option with strike K1, meanwhile sold a put option with st rike K2, where K1

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Project Management Institute A Project - 1539 Words

As stated by to the Project Management Institute, â€Å"A project is a temporary process which has a predetermined beginning and end according to the requirement, and therefore has a set of defined scope and resources. A project is unique as it is not a routine operation. It is rather a specific set of procedures and processes designed to accomplish the targeted goal† (Project Management institute, n.d.). A project is not a continuous or a permanent job which needs continuous work put into it. It is, therefore, different and separated from the daily operation of a company. Since a project is an undertaking of a company to attain some special assignments and tasks, it can be of different financial and operational sizes. Some projects can†¦show more content†¦A project team generally consists of people from different departments and backgrounds who are chosen by the project manager and/or senior management for the project’s successful completion. The proje ct manager, therefore, needs to be someone who has a variety of key soft skills and hard skills to lead the project with the help of the project team and complete it within the allocated time and budget. It is very important for a project manager to have a planned route to follow each step of the project. â€Å"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail† (Benjamin Franklin, n.d.). This saying by Benjamin Franklin should be the key mantra for every project manager. Lack of planning and preparation means a lack of planned route for the project team to follow. This is a perfect recipe for the failure of a project. Therefore, planning and preparing for every step of the project is very important. A planned project has a life cycle of its own. â€Å"Project life cycle is the series of phases that a project goes through from its initiation to its closure’ (Timothy J. Kloppenborg, 2014). Thus, a project has five phases – project initiation, project planning, project execution, project monitoring and control, and project closure. All of these five phases are very important for the successful completion of a project. Success of