Business

Business Introduction There has been an increased level of business competition in the business environment as a result of the highly dynamic nature of the current world, as well as the rapidly changing customer needs. The advancement in technology has also been a factor that has contributed to the increase in the level of competition.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business-Level Strategy: Alibaba specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Organizations find themselves under pressure because they need to maintain their high performance, despite the stiff competition facing them (Hill and Jones 10). They strive to emerge the most competitive or get the highest share of the market to maximize their sales and profitability. A business organization that needs to be in a position to compete favorably is required to have a strategic plan that is usually developed by the strategic managers. Strategic management usually constitutes the formu lation of the primary objectives that a company wants to achieve in a specified period (Hill and Jones 11). The plan outlines how the objectives are to be achieved, given the available resources, internal, as well as the external environment in which the business is operating. Strategic management typically provides direction on how the organizational goals will be achieved. It also generates policies and guidelines on how the available resources should be allocated to maximize the company’s potential. In business, there could be business level strategies that generally guide the operations of that specific company. This essay will focus on the business level strategies of Alibaba. Alibaba is a company that is based in China, and it provides online business services to its clients. E-commerce has become increasingly common in organizations following the current advancements in technology. Technology has led to the establishment of organizations like Alibaba, whose core busine ss is e-commerce. The company has adopted a generic strategy, as well as a grand strategy that has been guiding its business activities.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Alibaba’s Generic Strategy The generic strategy that the company has adopted is cost leadership. It is a strategy whereby the company sells its goods at a low price. It is also a strategy that normally targets the mass market. Most customers are willing to buy goods at the lowest possible price, but they want quality products at the same time (Kozami 32). Alibaba has been able to lower its costs of operation through the use of technology. As mentioned earlier, the company’s core business is based on e-commerce. It means that technology is the major factor towards the success of Alibaba’s business. It is imperative to note that technology has been essential in the cost reduction of many organizations across the world. Alibaba is a company that sells goods at a relatively small price. First, it has been able to reduce its operations costs because the costs that are related to stock are either not incurred, or they are very low. The company does not need to have warehouses for storing finished goods. Instead, the goods are displayed on the website, whereby the customers can view them online and make the purchases through the online purchase methods that have been provided on the Internet by Alibaba. Operating as an online business contributes to huge reductions in the cost of holding stock, ordering costs, and other stock related costs. Secondly, the company does not have physical shops or outlet stores. It means that Alibaba does not incur costs like rent for the stores or lease costs. Therefore, Alibaba can cut down its operation costs significantly, as well as other expenses that the company is either able to eradicate or reduce significantly by virtue of being an online business. The benefits are reflected in the selling price of goods and services that the company offers. One important point that should be noted is that the primary objective of the company is to provide a basis through which the Chinese manufacturers can link up with customers from overseas. It means that Alibaba does not actually have its stock, which reduces the operational costs.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business-Level Strategy: Alibaba specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The buyers from the international market can search for goods manufactured in China through the help of the shopping search engine that is provided by Alibaba. They also can make orders online from the Alibaba website. From the other end, the manufacturers can see the orders and organize deliveries. However, Alibaba charges a small fee for the service. Alibaba enables the manufacturers’ goods to be viewed by many peo ple, thereby increasing the chances of making high sales for the manufacturers. The costs are, therefore, low on the side of the customer. It should be noted that the customers of Alibaba are the manufacturers or companies whose goods are available on the website, as well as the overseas buyers. The international customer does not have to travel all the way to China to make a purchase or view the goods. Therefore, the buyer can reduce costs significantly. On the other hand, the manufacturer does not have to open stores overseas for displaying goods. Therefore, the manufacturer can reduce the operations costs because they are not necessarily required to open stores. The reduction of costs reflects on the selling price of the company’s goods because they are relatively low-priced. Alibabas strategy is based on cost leadership; therefore, it aims to lower the operating costs as much as possible. It also targets the mass market where many people can access the website. Alibabaâ⠂¬â„¢s Grand Strategy The grand strategy is more or less the same as the corporate strategy of a business. It is a strategy that guides the operations of an enterprise organization and shapes the business, in general. Grand strategies help a business to achieve its long-term goals and objectives.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore, in its grand strategy, a business organization should plan all its operations right from its product design and development to liquidation. Different business organizations have different grand strategies, based on the nature of the business and their surrounding situations. The major factors that are notable in grand strategic planning are market growth, product development, strategic alliances, organization development, and turnaround strategies, among others (Kozami 169). The grand strategy of Alibaba is market growth. The company looks into a future whereby it will have more people seeking its services. It wants to expand its services such that users will be in a position to find whatever they want in the website. According to Mr. Joe Tsai, who is the executive vice chairman of the organization, Alibaba wishes to stretch its services to banking, entertainment, education, and travel, among other areas of operations (Carsten and Miller par. 3). The company also wishes t o develop a mobile application whereby customers will be able to purchase mutual funds from Alibaba using their phones. In addition, the company aims to offer insurance services whereby customers will be able to safeguard their homes using insurance cover that will be referred to as the Alibaba Insurance. It will also create an Alibaba credit card that will facilitate the ordering process and speed up delivery of the ordered goods. Alibaba wishes to reach as many customers as possible in the future. It wants to expand its market in any area that will be effective in increasing the number of users that will be visiting the website in the search for various services. Once the company can expand its market, it will be in a position to increase the sales and revenue it gets from the services it offers. There are a number of advantages that are associated with the grand strategy that Alibaba has sought to adapt. The market growth strategy is a strategy whereby the company bears a very lo w risk in relation to other grand strategies. The company can decide to expand its market through expanding the market niche of its products. It means that Alibaba will not have to invest in research and development or create new products; this lowers risks significantly. On the other hand, the company can decide to develop new products with the aim of expanding its market. Expansion should come after a comprehensive market feasibility study to determine what the market needs. If the company conducts the market feasibility study, then it lowers the risks as it is sure of what the market needs before developing or producing the same. In the case of Alibaba, it does not need to establish links with various manufacturing and service companies. Consequently, it will be able to provide the various services to the different customers and expand its market growth. The company will face very small or no risks in executing this strategy. How Well Alibaba’s Current Strategy is working and the Major Strategic Issues that Management Needs to Address Having been established in the year 1999 and grown to become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world, it is an indication that Alibaba’s strategy is working in its favor. It is an approach that has enabled Alibaba to achieve its objectives, both in the short-run and in the long-run. The cost-leadership generic strategy has helped Alibaba acquire many customers, thereby maximizing its sales and revenues. Alibaba helps in simplifying the process of buying goods sold through its website without compromising the quality. The simple process of purchasing items on the website could, probably, be the major factor that has led to the company achieving the success it has acquired today. It is expected that pursuing this strategy will lead to more success in the future. On the other hand, the grand strategy of Alibaba is to expand its market in the future and get as many users as it can. It is also a strategy that is highly viable. It puts Alibaba in a prime position for success in the future by the virtue of it being a low-risk strategy. It is important to note that managers of organizations are always looking for ways that can increase the business performance, but maintain as little risk as possible at the same time. Managers aim to maximize returns at the lowest risk possible (Kozami 34). Through its current grand strategy, Alibaba will be able to reduce the risk and at the same time increase its users and its performance. The strategy is working for the company, as Alibaba has been engaged in various additional services, such as the venture into the entertainment industry, among others. The only major strategic issue that the management of Alibaba should, probably, address is the market growth strategy. In the growth strategy, Alibaba’s management might need to invest in more research and development. The company may need to understand the current market trends, the changing needs of customers, and the varying demands of goods and services. In doing so, it will be in a position to offer products and services that the market needs, rather than offering many services that may not be required by the customers. The market research should consider the fact that the needs of clients are changing rapidly, thereby calling for organizations to be highly dynamic. Organizations that fail to evolve with the needs of the clients stand a high chance of being rivaled. Strategic Options that Seem Viable for Alibaba First, it should be noted that the current generic strategy best fits Alibaba. Moreover, it may not be feasible to adopt other generic strategies. For instance, it might be difficult to adopt the differentiation strategy, given the fact that Alibaba does not produce goods on its own. Moreover, it would be difficult to influence the quality of products. In addition, it would not be easy to limit the availability of the website to specific classes of customers . Therefore, the cost-leadership strategy could be the only viable generic strategy for Alibaba to adopt. On the other hand, Alibaba has a viable option in its grand strategy. It can opt to adopt strategic alliances as a grand strategy. This is a strategy that will more or less serve a similar purpose as the current market growth strategy. In the strategic alliance strategy, the company will seek to collaborate with other organizations that have goods or services that will boost its operations. Strategic Recommendation(s)/Conclusion Alibaba has been able to achieve great success in its operations over the years. It is an indication that Alibaba has a strategy that has been working well. The cost leadership strategy has been highly successful for the company. In fact, this could be the only viable generic strategy that the company has because the others, differentiation and focus strategies, might difficult to even integrate or establish in its operations. The grand strategy has also been successful and helped the company achieve its objectives. However, I would recommend that the company should combine its market growth strategy with the strategic alliance strategy. Although either of the two strategies would achieve good results, a combination of the two would increase the magnitude of success because the company would be able to expand its market growth. At the same time, it would also be able to create alliances with other business organizations that would boost it in its strategizing activities. Alibaba would collaborate with organizations that would complement its operations. This would have an enormous impact in terms of organizational growth and development, as well as goal achievement. Alibaba, therefore, does not need to change its current strategy, but it may opt to combine the two strategies, which are market growth strategy and strategic alliances for better results. Carsten, Paul, and Matthew Miller. Alibaba’s Grand Vision for E-Commerce E mpire Includes Insurance Wells Media Group, 2014. Web. https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2014/04/03/325351.htm Hill, Charles W. L., and Gareth R. Jones. Strategic Management. Mason: Cengage Learning, 2012. Print. Kozami, Azhar. Business Policy and Strategic Management. New-Delhi: McGraw-Hill Published, 2005. Print.

Bar vs. Debar

Bar vs. Debar Bar vs. Debar Bar vs. Debar By Maeve Maddox A reader asks, Could you perhaps elaborate on the use of the verbs â€Å"bar† and â€Å"debar† in the sense of â€Å"exclude from†? The sources available to me are not clear in this instance. Both verbs are figurative expressions that derive from a use of the object called a bar: â€Å"a straight piece of wood, metal, or other rigid material, long in proportion to its thickness.† Bars are used to limit the ability of people or animals to enter or leave an area. As a verb, bar has these uses: 1. to make a place secure by placing bars or other obstacles across openings Coinneachs mother  barred the opening with  her stick and waited. When these parties were out of the house, he locked up the doors, and  barred the windows  by nailing boards and slats across them to prevent entry in that direction. The first portion of the descent is through the narrow gorge of La Chaine, so called from a chain having been stretched across it by the Swiss  to bar the entrance.   2. to forbid entrance to a place (figuratively) A mayor in Florida says he is barring Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump from his city after the businessmans latest idea to prevent Muslims from entering the United States. Lawyer attempts to bar journalists from court proceedings 3. to prevent an action, activity, or event While there are many reasons to bar a person from leaving Malaysia, the Immigration Department can only do so for people having invalid passports. Police dogs barred from crowd-control duty in St. Louis following review of Ferguson protests Debar entered English from a French verb meaning â€Å"to unbar, to remove bars.† In modern English usage, however, debar is used with the following meanings: 1. to exclude or shut out from a place or condition. 2. to set a bar or prohibition against; to prohibit, prevent, forbid. Here are recent examples of the use of debar: Bengal is one of the eight  teams debarred from  FIFAS Boys (U-13) Football Festival for fielding over-aged players in the team. The new rule, that a student might participate in only two of the three seasons for athletics, at once  debarred  Captain Randall, of the baseball  team. A total of 230 commerce  students- 75 each from the first-, second- and third-year- of N M College have been  debarred  from appearing for their semester-end examinations that start this weekend for failing to fulfill the minimum attendance criterion. Many writers more or less openly announce their desire to see motor-cars abolished and debarred  from the  use  of the highway altogether. (From a 1902 source) Well into the twentieth century  women  were  debarred  from sitting on juries. Both verbs are used to mean exclude or prevent, but to bar is far more common than to debar. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How Many Tenses in English?What to Do When Words Appear Twice in a RowStarting a Business Letter with Dear Mr.

Discussion Board 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Discussion Board 3 - Essay Example st come to its senses (pun intended) and realize that a significant section of the population has either been involved with the prison/parole system†¦ or will be. Because of this, the stigma attached to incarceration does not carry the same irrational prejudice it once had. Indeed, not only does the prison population have a large enough community to qualify for it’s own statehood - they make up a significant of the â€Å"general stir† (i.e., outside society). In all to many cases, there is little difference between the population inside the prison and the one found outside the walls. Now this is not to say there are not individuals requiring lifetime incarceration. However, with the increase of mandatory sentencing as a deterrent for many crimes, the prison population has received an influx of inmates classified as low-risk or non-violent. Craig Haney, Ph.D., and Philip Zimbardo, Ph.D. (1998) note that a fourth of these nonviolent offenders return to jail fro a second offense - indicating that prison serves as a school for violent and criminal behavior rather than a deterrent. The 1994 analysis of the Department of Justice came to similar conclusions: â€Å"the amount of time inmates serve in prison does not increase or decrease the likelihood of recidivism, whether recidivism is measured as parole revocation, re-arrest, reconviction, or return to prison." Thus, it takes a short leap of logic to realize that fro many of these offenders, prison sentences are only perpetuating the problem. The only thing accomplished by detaining a minor offender is training them to be a more calloused criminal. These lessons are being provided free of charge and are coming from the same pockets that provide public school - the public itself. In many cases, the prisoners earn money as well via some work program, all while living on free room and board. The solution seems obvious: a sensible purging of the prison system on a case be case basis. Although though must e used

Why does Canh reject Thoas offer of freedom and get off the train Essay

Why does Canh reject Thoas offer of freedom and get off the train - Essay Example 233). Thus instead of merely exploring the glory of victory attained by the collective people of the country, Sandy Lives tries to capture the essence of what it was to be a Vietnamese citizen living during those times. Therefore, the impacts that war had on personal lives of people as well as the relationship these people had with each other is deftly analysed and portrayed through Vietnamese cinemas such as the one under study here. Such films reveal the fact that wars do not end in the battlefields, but linger among the lives of both people involved in the war as well as their family members, thereby making it amply clear that â€Å"wars end at home† (246). The case of Canh and Thoa was similar, where the former starts a new life with another family up north, whereas the latter faithfully waits for her husband to return, thereby ignoring her social responsibility of giving birth to a child, but at the same time, fulfilling her moral obligation of filial piety. Therefore, it becomes clear that it is this loyalty and faithfulness of his wife that inspires Canh to not run away from his responsibilities, thereby rejecting to take the train ticket, which represents his escape from â€Å"marit al commitment† to Thoa (247). Thus, this highlights the protagnoist’s belief in his marital commitment as well as reiterates the long lasting â€Å"disruptive effects† of war on the â€Å"people’e lives† (Miguel & Roland 2005, p.

Global Warming Essay Example for Free

Global Warming Essay Global Warming is an issue that concerns almost everybody worldwide: it is the primary cause for the erratic and sometimes devastating weather that is experienced around the world. Global warming is causing the rise in sea level which in turn causes the flooding of coastal areas and areas with low elevation. Is global warming really happening today? Scientists with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) believe it is so. It is indisputable that there has been a rise in the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere during the last century, which scientists think may be one of the causes of global warming. II. Discussion A. Global Warming and doomsday Will global warming spell doom for our world? Scientists believe this to be so. Much depends on what actions we take now and in the coming years. Meteorologist Jagadish Shukla of the University of Maryland found out that deforestation would cause rainfall in the Amazon River to decline by more than 26 percent from the current 2. 5 m. to about 1. 8 m. a year. At the same time, the burning of fossil fuels, particularly coal and oil, produces sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which are hazardous to the atmosphere. Findings show that a single smokestack may produce as much as 500 tons of sulfur dioxide a day. When these gases combine with oxygen and moisture, sulfuric acid and nitric acid is formed. The rain will carry the acids to the ground (acid rain) which may cause the depletion of calcium and magnesium in the soil, elements needed by plants for the formation of chlorophyll and wood, or it may cause the release of aluminum in the soil, which are poisonous and can kill the roots of trees (Carwardine, 2000). According to Dr. Sadik, UN population fund’s director, said that the more people increased pressure on already stressed lands, forests and water supplies. Other sources of climatic change were attributed to some forms of gases such as nitrous oxide, methane and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) (Cronin, 2001). Nitrous oxide or laughing gas is a colorless gas with a sweet taste and odor that is used as an anaesthetic in minor surgery that H2O is responsible for about 6 percent of the human contributes to greenhouse warming. Methane or cow gas, on the other hand, makes up about 18 percent of human contributions to greenhouse effect. Cattle, sheep, goats, and other cud-chewing animals give off methane, in burps and flatulence as they digest. CFCs was discovered by Thomas Widgley Jr. , a chemist working at the Frigidaire Division of General Motors, used as coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners and aerosol propellants in spray cans, medical sterilizers, cleaning solvents for electronic components and raw materials for making plastic foams such as coffee cups. CFCs are estimated to account for 14 percent of global warming. Experts said that what is happening right now is not a matter of adding a few degrees to the average temperature of a community. A rise of this magnitude may cause life, for without the environment, creatures on earth cannot survive (Davidson, 2003). B. Recommendations a. ) Recycling and Reuse of Solid Wastes Solid wastes are now viewed as a potential resource which must be recovered and reused whenever possible. Since disposal forest resources are rapidly being depleted, recycling solid wastes offer a solution to both. Consider the element phosphorus. Mined from phosphate ores, it is manufactured into fertilizers. It enters the plant tissues and we obtain it when we eat plant as vegetable. This is later excreted and joins the sewage system. The sewage system sludge can be used directly as fertilizer or soil conditioner. b. ) Conserving our Forests Every now and then we receive alarming news about our forests being denuded. Big logging concessionaires indiscriminately cut down trees without undertaking reforestation measures. III. Conclusion Of all issues affecting humanity, climate change is the most pervasive and truly global, posing a very real and serious threat to our environment. Climate change is the alteration of the pattern of global climate that may be due to human activity that alters the composition of the atmosphere. If present day emissions of greenhouse gases continue, it is estimated that the rate of increase in global mean temperatures will reach about 0. 3o C per decade. This will mean a likely increase of 1o C above the present level by the year 2025, and 3o C before the end of the next century. Reference: 1. Carwardine, Mark (2000). The WWF Environment Handbook. London: Macdonald Optima. Attractively illustrated handbook for the general reader. 2. Cronin, Helena (2001). The Ant and the Peacock: Altruism and Sexual Selection from Darwin to Today. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Chapters 2, 3, 4 (pp. 7-110). 3. Davidson, Joan (2003). How Green is your City? Pioneering Approaches to Environmental Action. London: Bedford Square Press. Guide to community action for urban renewal.

The Childlike and Biblical Connotations in The Lion, the Witch and the

The Childlike and Biblical Connotations in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe       Throughout his writing career, CS Lewis has been known for writing many books with a hint of biblical connotations in them. As Kathryn Lindskoog states, "CS Lewis is known for opposing the spirit of modern thought with the unpopular Christian doctrines of sin and evil" (2083). Lewis himself has said, "You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life or death to you" (Freaks 60). Although his belief in God has not yet presented itself in that manner, he continues to devote his time to the artful presentation of what he believes to be true about God and man, as observed by Dr. Bruce Lockerbie (177). The second book in the Narnia Series, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is no exception. In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis uses the vehicle of a children's fantasy novel to present latent Christian theology and beliefs.    Children who read the Narnia Series do so for the action and excitement. Authorities say that they are likely to accept the actions and ideas without doubts of how real the story may be (Who's Who 29). Lewis uses childlike images to create deeper meanings than what might otherwise be accessible. One of the most noticeable is the fact that throughout the Narnia Series, the use of children as the main characters establishes a physical connection with young reader. When the main characters grow older, they are told they are not to come back. In Prince Caspian, after the children have helped to defeat Miraz, Aslan warns Peter that he and Susan are too old to enter Narnia again (236). Lewis keeps the main characters young, keeping t... ...m. Ed. James P. Draper. Vol. 4. Detriot: Gale. 1992. 2092-2094. 6 vols. "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Pattering of a Fantastic World." Folio Bound Views. CD-ROM. Folio Corp. 1994. NIV Collegiate Devotional Bible. Gran Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House., 1998. Fisher, Margery. Who's Who In Children's Books. New York: Holt, 1998. Lewis, C[live] S[taples]. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. New York: HarperTrophy, 1950. ---. Prince Caspian. New York: HarperTrophy, 1951. Lindskoog, Kathryn, Ann. " Lewis, C. S.". World Literature Criticism. Ed. James P. Draper. Vol. 4. Detriot: Gale. 1992. 2082-2084. 6 vols. Lockerbie, Dr. Bruce. "LEWIS, C(live) S(taples)." Contemperary Literary Criticism. Ed. Carolyn Riley. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale. 1973. 177. 21 vols. DCTalk., and Voice of the Martyrs. Jesus Freaks. Tulsa: Albury Publishing, 1999.

Ethics and Values in sport Essay

My name is Monique Stanley, I have been recently appointed Assistant Club Development Officer in the local Sports and leisure department. My role is varied and challenging with major focus on Ethics and Values in sport and the ever increasing role sports plays in many aspects of society. This includes; * Ensuring local sports clubs are aware of the need to be equitable and ‘child friendly’ * Helping clubs develop codes of practice that govern all members * Ensuring all clubs are aware of the principles, values and ethics associated with sport * Helping organisations access funding opportunities * Ensuring barriers to participation are reduced for all sedctors of society Sport plays an important role in the development of young people, it has been proven when sports and physical activities are included in Education. Children learn new skills in life, for example building confidence, accepting rules,making decisions, team working,communication skill,leadership,discipline and one I find important in sport ‘ Fair Play’. I could go on giving more skills sports develops, but i have just pointed out a few. Ethics in the sports environment is described as rules (i.e. Code of Conduct) that should be followed by all participants in sports. Ethics promote discipline and keep sporting environments fair and fun. Ethics give an equal opportunity for everyone. Values in sport is your involvement and belief that sport should be enjoyable and respectful. Respect is important in sport as you should always respect the rules, the officials,the other people participating and yourself. You should always treat others how you would like to be treated No matter what their Race, Disability, Gender, or Age. Ethics and Values are important because they rule out Right from Wrong. If your club has a strong commitment towards values and ethics in sport then it will become a bigger more enjoyable and comfortable enviroment for participants.This will interest more and more young people it will also bring the club more revenue for more sports facilities. So having stong commitment towards Ethics and Values pays off. The consequences of not giving sufficient attention to Ethics and Values can be a major disadvantage, as it can lead to young people leaving your club, your club will not be promoted well, therefore the club will lose out by money and participants, therefore the facilities will be poor and it could even result in the club being closed down. Ethics and Values are a part of the sporting world.

Buying Vs Renting

When doing some budget computations it is important to determine the options that one has. Shelter is one of the necessities in life that a person needs. However, the house that a person can live in is either rented or owned. Before renting or buying anything a person must evaluate his options. What are the different benefits of owning and renting a house would give a person? Is there any difference between the two? Which is more convenient for a person? These are the questions that a person has in mind before choosing to buy or to rent.This is not only applicable to the home, buying versus renting is also applicable in the business. For a manufacturing company, there is this question of whether to buy new machines to produce a certain product or to rent the services of another company for subcontracting. The company or the person usually considers the monetary aspects of the alternatives to buy or to rent. The decision to buy or to rent depend on the income flexibility of the compan y or the person who would be buying or renting.To buy something means that a person or a company claims ownership of something. This can be ownership of a house and a lot, ownership of a property or ownership of a machine. Buying means acquiring equity or an asset. If a person buys a property, the person is obligated to pay for expenses like Property Taxes and Special Assessments, Insurances for the house, Utilities Bill, Maintenance of the house, Association fees frm home owner’s organization, and membership fees to some services such as Cable TV and recreational facilities.These examples are taken from the website of Ginnie Mae. In renting a house or a property, the price of the rent depends on the owner of the said property or house. The owner sets the price for the rent. The rent is fixed monthly. However, according to the computation done by Ginnie Mae, the price rent increases annually by 5%. Seeking out the initial outlay of money, renting does not need a large amount. Renting is given to the owner of the article or the property at a certain time.The only obligation of the person renting is to pay for the bills. This had brought about the issue on whether which is better renting or buying. There are several conditions to determine which is better. When a person buys a property, there is the fact that the owner of the property had invested their money. Properties can be sold and prices can rise over time. A place that has a large increase in value is very beneficial to the owner of the house. On the other hand, the person who is renting would never gain anything out of renting. As Ms.Weston is saying in her article â€Å"Why its smarter to Buy than Rent†, Renting makes the person poor because no matter what the person do, the longer he rents the harder it is to acquire a property and thus, the person’s value is reduced. Weston had shown a table regarding the average net worth of homeowners vs renters. This is shown in Appendix A. As can be seen in the table, the value of homeowners is very different than that of the renters. Based on the table, it can be seen that income of a person under 16,000 has a value of $500 for the renters and $ 73,000 for the homeowners.The difference is very obvious. The reason to this according to Ms. Weston is that the value of the house rises over time and because of this, the value of homeowners goes higher as compared to that of the renters which are stagnant. The benefits of buying include acquisition of assets or equity. The person gains a sense of community, stability and security. The owner feels this because having a house means having roots. When a person owns a property or a house, the owner is free to change the landscape, decorations and surroundings of the said property.Buying does not also have the dependence of the owner to the landlord in terms of maintenance. It is up to the owner on whether he or she would be maintaining the property or not. (www. ginniemay. gov, 2 006, Buy vs Rent Comparison Chart) However, if there are advantages there are also disadvantages in considering housing. The owner of a property or the house must be responsible for the maintenance and bills for the home. IF the owner does not have the money for the maintenance and repairs of the house, then the owner must depend on what he currently has.As stated earlier, property owners are obliged to pay for property taxes. In economics, a value of a certain thing or place depends on several reasons. There are times that the value of the land goes up high fast however, there is also the time when the value of the land goes really down. Losses can be acquired by the owner of the property if the price of the property devaluates. Another thing that can cause a disadvantage to homeowner is the mobility. It is harder for homeowners to transfer from one place to another as compared to the renters. (www. ginniemay. gov, 2006, Buy vs Rent Comparison Chart)

The natural 2

The natural 2 Only a few characters have the power to catch the reader's interest to the extent that they are unforgettable. In The Natural, Roy Hobbs proves to be a memorable character in many ways. His determination makes him to be noticed. His sense of honor and pride are part of his remarkable character. Ray is an athlete born with rare talents, abilities, and love for the game of baseball, which makes him unforgettable.Determination can influence many people to strive for goals. Roy Hobbs was determined to the best player in baseball. When he was just nineteen years old and had not played baseball for an organized team, he wanted to "break every record in the book for throwing and hitting." p.g.30 He had no previous experience of playing baseball, except with his dad and in high school. When Ray was in the hospital, he was resolute on getting out and playing in the playoff game.The Doctor told him that "it would be best for Roy to say goodbye forever to baseball, if he hoped to stay alive." p .g. 212 However, he could not conceive not playing baseball ever again. He even sneaked out of the hospital to practice "so, he would have his eye and timing alert for the playoff." p.g.214 He was determined to play baseball again, win the playoff game and, eventually, win the World Series.ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ ÂÆ'‚‚ Honor and pride was important to Roy Hobbs. Roy was proud of himself, before he became a professional player. He commented " when I walk down the street I bet people will say there goes Roy Hobbs, the best there ever was in the game." p.g.31 He was proud of himself which helped him to strive for his dreams. . He did not care much of the wealth; to him it...

Free sample - Types of Evaluation. translation missing

Types of Evaluation. Types of EvaluationProcess evaluation Rossi, Lipsey, Freeman (2004), define the process evaluation as the type of evaluation that focuses on the way in which a program was implemented and how the program is operating. It keys out the procedures that are used as well as the decisions that are made in developing the program. Process evaluation describes the way in which a program operates, the type of services it offers, and the functions it fulfills. Process evaluation used the experimental data to assess the delivery of the implemented program. It verifies on what the program is meant to do and whether the program is implemented as required. Process evaluation is very important in a number of ways as listed below: It is useful in determining the degree to which a given program will be implemented according to the available plan. Very useful in assessing and documenting the degree of variability and fidelity in the implementation of a program irrespective of whether it is expected or unexpected, planned or unplanned. It is used in comparing multiple sites in relation to fidelity. Process evaluation is used to give validity regarding the relationship between intervention used and its outcomes.   Used to give out the information concerning the type of components of the given interventions, which can bring about the outcomes. It is helpful in allowing one to understand how the program context and program processes relate to each other. The program context can be the setting characteristics while the program process can be the levels of implementation. Useful in providing managers with the feedback regarding the quality of the implementation. Used to improve the components used in delivery. Used to provide the program accountability to the public, sponsors, funders, and clients.    Used to ameliorate the quality of the implemented program since the act of assessing is an intervention. It is very important that, when the program components have been identified, a logical model is created that in graphical terms depicts the relationship between the components of a program and the expected outcome of the components. The logic model can be defined as a set of statements that provide a link for the problems a program is trying to address, the manner in which it will address them, and the immediate and intermediate results (Rossi, et al., 2004). The Logic Model is important in a number of ways. It is useful in developing clarity concerning a program or project that is to be implemented.  Ã‚   Useful in developing consensus among the involved people. Used in pointing out the redundancies and the gaps in a given plan. Used in the identification of the main hypothesis of the program to be implemented. Used to compactly convey what the program or project is all about.  Ã‚   The Logic Model can be used during any given work for the purposes of clarifying the task being done, the reason to why it is done, and the intended outcomes of that work; during program or project planning to ensure that the particular program or project is complete and logical; during evaluation planning in order to focus the evaluation; and during the project or program implementation to act as a template for making comparisons with the real program and as a filter to find out if the proposed changes are appropriate or not (Rossi, et al., 2004).   Process evaluation is characterized by two formats of data collection. The two formats are; Quantitative, archival, or recorded data which can be controlled by a management system or computerized tracking; and the qualitative data which can be acquired by a variety of formats, for example surveys or focus groups. Outcome evaluation Schalock (2001) defines outcome evaluation as the type of evaluation that deals with determining whether, and to which extent, program services or activities have accomplished their designated outcomes among the population of target. Outcome evaluation is usually described by first looking at the basic components of the program. It looks at programs as systems which have activities or processes, inputs, outcomes and outputs. The inputs are the resources and materials that the program uses to carry out its processes, or activities to serve clients, for instance, staff, equipment, volunteers, money, and facilities. They are usually easy to identify and many of the inputs are common to most programs and organizations. Outcome evaluation is very important as measures the changes in the outcomes of the implemented programs and also it establishes that the intervention on the way the program operates causes the observed changes. The most essential decisions in a given evaluation to demonst rate causation, takes into consideration its design, that is, those decisions concerning what will be measured and the time when the evaluations will take place.  Ã‚   The outcome evaluations can either be experimental or quasi-experimental. The experimental evaluations are usually random assignment studies which are used to evaluate the total impacts of a program or the activities of the program, and this allows for the appropriate conclusions to be made concerning the cause and effect.   The quasi-experimental evaluations are used to monitor the outcomes for a single group over time or it can compare the outcomes among the individuals getting the services to a comparison group, national data, or a similar population (Schalock, 2001).  Ã‚  Ã‚   Activities are the processes which a given implemented program does to the customer in order to satisfy his or her needs, for instance, counseling, teaching, feeding, clothing, and sheltering. It is of great significance to note that during the time of keying out the activities in a project or program, the focus is still important on the program or organization, and still not very much on real changes in the customer. Outputs are the units of service concerning the program to be implemented, for instance, the number of individuals, sheltered, clothed, counseled, and fed. The number of customers served only indicates the numerical number of customers who underwent the program. Outcomes are the real impacts for participants after or during the program, for instance, in the case of a smoking cessation program, participants quitting smoking can be the outcome. The outcomes are often expressed in terms of behaviors, skills and knowledge, status, conditions, and values (Schalock, 2001). Outcome evaluation uses a quantitative approach. It usually makes use of randomized controlled trial, comparison group and pre-post comparison. Randomized control trial design uses groups of customers who are assigned randomly to a plausible option or to the treatment in question. The members in all the groups are given similar pre-treatment and post-treatment evaluations. The comparison group design is almost the same as the randomized design but the difference is that in comparison group the groups of customers are deliberately and not randomly chosen. The pre-post design is a more realistic design for treatment systems or services having insufficient resources or experience. The pre-post design is less rigorous scientifically but it can give useful results for the uses in program improvement and program accountability.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Outcome evaluations can be done at various points during the development of a given program. It is advisable that the outcome evaluations are not conducted for start-up programs that have not yet attained a fully incorporated service-delivery models.   It is also not advisable to conduct an outcome evaluation without first conducting the process evaluation that accompanies it. It has been seen that, the findings obtained from the outcome evaluations are used to depict whether or not the involved individuals are receiving the predicted returns of the program (Schalock, 2001).  Ã‚      References Rossi, P., Lipsey, M., Freeman, H. (2004). Evaluation. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. Schalock, R., (2001). Outcome-Based Evaluation. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

Mistaking africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Mistaking africa - Essay Example It can be affirmed from a broader outlook that the critical concern of cultural bias is quite discriminative in nature (Flanagan 153). With this concern, this paper intends to provide a comprehensive understanding about own cultural biases towards Africa through reading the text i.e. Curtis A. Keim’s ‘Mistaking Africa: Curiosities and Inventions of the American Mind’. DISCUSSION The book of Curtis A. Keim i.e. ‘Mistaking Africa: Curiosities and Inventions of the American Mind’ has portrayed certain significant ideas and perceptions that have broadly influenced or imposed extensive impacts especially upon social along with cultural aspects of Africa. This particular book provides a general idea about the existence of cultural biasness within the nation of Africa. According to the findings of the aforesaid book, it can be affirmed from a broader outlook that an individual can acquire a valuable idea about diverse aspects such as the use and the misuse o f stereotypes, racism, exploitation and various other sorts of cultural aspects. The author in this book revealed that for several Americans, the nation i.e. Africa appears to be the indication of various surroundings i.e. dense jungles, safaris, strangely dressed tribesmen and ferocious animals. It is worth mentioning that Curtis A. Keim’s ‘Mistaking Africa: Curiosities and Inventions of the American Mind’ mainly concentrates upon conducting historical evolution and addressing the most widespread preconceptions along with myths concerning dissimilar cultures and people belonging to Africa (Keim 101-170). In order to present my own notions regarding cultural biases towards Africa through reading the abovementioned book of Keim, certain significant aspects need to be taken into concern and discussed broadly. In this similar context, it can be observed in Keim’s text that a huge majority of Americans considered the facets of exploitation and racism against A frica to be quite acceptable. This can be justified with reference to the fact that the Americans did enslave Africans and maintain segregation along with slavery system, though they by no means ruled colonies in Africa. According to my own perception, as the Americans did enslave the Africans, it can be stated that there laid the existence of cultural biasness within the nation by a significant level. Moreover, apart from enslaving the Africans, the treatment of the Africans as inferiors by the Americans also demonstrates the prevalence of cultural biasness within the nation at large. There also lay certain other significant evidences that have eventually developed my perception towards recognizing the prevalence of cultural biasness in the region of Africa. One of the evidences can be apparently observed in the readings of Curtis A. Keim’s ‘Mistaking Africa: Curiosities and Inventions of the American Mind’. This particular evidence which proves to be quiet effe ctive in determining the existence of cultural biasness in Africa can be related with the notion of prejudice. With reference to the reading i.e. Keim’s ‘Mistaking Africa: Curiosities and Inventions of the American Mind’, it can be revealed that with every passing decade, Americans are incessantly treating Africans with less prejudice. Though the nation i.e. Africa is growing to play an imperative role in developing worldwide economy because of its huge size, greater amount of population and accessibility of vast resources,