Saturday, August 31, 2019

Two Successful Business People Who Inspire Me

Two Successful Business People Who Inspire Me Success is something that we all aspire to. We cannot feel genuinely happy for long if we felt like a failure within. The most encouraging reality about success is that it is attainable to all irrespective of who we are what we are or where we are. Success also has a different meaning for each one of us. Success being a personal realization should logically be achievable by all, but we know that this is not really so. Most of us are unable to accomplish what we really want to do or what we really work for.When we struggle for success and do not achieve it. We become frustrated and this leads us further from our goal. This is what has inspired me to study and write about this complex subject. Achieving success is right and can realize it with the ease it provides you to go about the right way, you just have to know the rules and apply them in your life. Bill Gates was born on Oct 28th, 1955 and he is an American business magnate, philanthr opist and chairman of Microsoft. The software company he founded with Paul Allen. He is consistently ranked among the world’s wealthiest people.During his career at Microsoft. Gates held the position of CEO and chief software architect and remains the largest individual shareholder. He has also authored or co- authored several books. Gates is one of the best- know entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution. In the later stages of his career. Gates has pursued a number of philanthropic endeavors, donating large amounts of money to various charitable organizations and scientific research programs through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000. At Harvard, he met Paul Allen, who became Gates’ close friend.They got obsessed with the computers that they were late for some of their classes. They even skipper some classes to be in the computer lab. Unfortunately, their computer time finishes after spring. However, they did not graduate in the Harvard. Allen and Gates had to leave to devote their energy full-time and thriving company. They had a belief that the personal computer would be a valuable tool on every office desktop in every home. Gates and Allen began developing software for personal computers. They collaborated together to make the language BASIC in the first Microcomputer, and in 1975, they started the Microsoft Company.Warren Buffet is the world’s most successful investor and self-made billionaire. He is consistently ranked among the world’s Top 3 wealthiest people. Buffet runs and owns about 31% of Berkshire Hathway, a 136 billion investment company that has substantial stakes in Coca Cola, Wells Fargo and American Express. A 1 dollar investment in Berkshire in 1965 would bring about 5000 dollars in 2005. Since 1951, Buffet has generated an average annual return of about 31%. The average annual return of the Standard Poor’s 500 stock over that period is 11%.Warren Buffet was once asked what is the most i mportant thing he looks for when evaluating a company to invest in, without hesitation he replied â€Å"sustainable competitive advantage. † Indeed, while business valuation matters. â€Å"it is the future growth and prosperity of the company underlying a stock, not it is a current price, that is most important. A company’s prosperity in turn is driven by how powerful and enduring it is competitive advantage are. Sustainable competitive advantage and marked category leadership give a company the edge that keeps competitors at bay and reap extraordinary growth and profits.Warren Buffet seeks to identify rare companies with strong competitive advantage that has a potential to grow even stronger over time, when a company is able to achieve this, it is investors can be rewarded to decades. Obviously, we can draw the conclusion that both of buffet and Gates influence to me is far from my imagination. Beside stocks, ideas, and investment, I learn many aspects from them, the ir team spirit and their friendship with partner. I hope there will be more and more people like them, who are not only successful, but also influencing other people.

Friday, August 30, 2019

How It Is Close?

Banco Filipino Overview: * 1964, Banco Filipino was established. * 1965, Banco Filipino set out to leave its mark as an innovator, by conceiving the first all-woman bank branch. * 1969, Banco Filipino Became the first bank to process online transactions in real time, giving customers the ability to deposit in any online Banco Filipino branch. * 1966 to1985, Banco Filipino was the largest savings bank  in the Philippines. * In 1970, Banco Filipino started expanding into the countryside with its first provincial branch opening in Naga City. 1972, the bank's customer base grew to one million customers, even in the midst of  martial law. * 1975 It was voted the most preferred bank in  Metro Manila  . * For most of the 1980s, Banco Filipino would remain closed, * January 25, 1985, even though Banco Filipino was performing well and was seen by most people as a very healthy bank, the  Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas  ordered its closure over alleged insolvency. * 1991 ruling made by the  Supreme Court  declared the bank's closure illegal. Banco Filipino subsequently reopened, albeit only with fifteen of its original 92 branches. * For much of the remaining 1990s, Banco Filipino would be busy trying to reestablish itself. * 1995 It became a member of BancNet  after launching the BF Cash Card and issued its first  credit card, a  VISA  card. * 1997 Two years later, BF shares were re-listed on the  Philippine Stock Exchange, * 1999 the Supreme Court declared that Banco Filipino is entitled to damages payments caused by its illegal closure. 2009, the Makati RTC ordered the Bangko Sentral and the Monetary Board to immediately implement the bank’s approved business plan by releasing P25 in billion financial assistance and a package of regulatory relief, which was affirmed by the appellate court in 2008. * March 17, 2011 The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) ordered the closure of Banco Filipino Savings and Mortgage Bank and placed it under the receivership of state-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PD IC), saying its liabilities topped its assets by P8. 4 billion. Analysis of the case Problem areas: The officers of Banco Filipino mismanaged money entrusted to them by their depositors by its continued lavish spending. * Banco Filipino allowed loans to remain unpaid, including billions in overdue loans granted to its stockholders, officers, and related companies * To raise funds, Banco Filipino lured depositors with interest rates way above the prevailing market rates which made their interest expense higher than its income. * Banco filipino’s loans became overdue which means their principal and interest remained unpaid. Recommendations or Proposed Solutions: The board of directors should have their internal control tighter especially in spending expenses. They should have established good system regarding cost spending, for instance they could have develop a group that would review if the money is properly allocated. * The company should have set up policies that concerns g ranting loans to its stockholders, officers and related companies. They also should have a department or committee that would review the position of loans, if it is becoming overdue. * The bank should have reviewed the way that they raise their fund and search for a better strategy. Luring depositors by giving high interest rates was a huge mistake. It is one of the major mistakes that the bank had made. It made the interest expense higher than the proceeds that they are accumulating. * Banco Filipino should have created a better control or system in paying their loans and interest to the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas and other creditors. They should have also set up a team who would oversee the progress of their borrowings that could have prevented the interest and principal unpaid. Banco Filipino: Case Analysis By: Montiel, Karen Patricia T. AC09404

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Bad Influence Cartoon

They tend to mimic everything that they see, and this is how they learn new things. On today’s television there are so many different shows and cartoons that kids learn things from some of the things they learn are great and other things are not so good for children viewing such as the cartoon Family Guy. People may look at Family Guy as a very funny cartoon but in all it’s actually a very rude show. When the creator came up with it I do not think that he/she thought that children would be into this show and I do not think that this cartoon was even made for children viewing because of its contents; but the fact still remains that they are looking at this show. Family Guy is not your ordinary cartoon. It has a lot of violence, sex, bad language, drinking, drugs, and smoking. Majority of the time either something has a bad influence or it has a good influence whether it be the friends we surround ourselves around, or the music we listen to but mainly what we visually encounter is what has the greater effect on who what we do and who we become. There is nothing good about Family Guy that would influence a child to head into the right direction. It does not teach children to be respectful in any way. The children that are watching this cartoon begin to mimic the baby whose name is Stewie and the dog named Brian. It does not help the show in anyway with making the dog and the baby the smartest family members of the show. Sometimes parents may be driving or cleaning for example and their child may say something that they never thought their child would say such as â€Å"damn†, and then, they may wonder where they get that from. Parents need to monitor the shows that their children watch because it’s a proven fact that kids imitate what they see. A lot of parents do overlook Family Guy because they may glance at what the kids are watching and just because they see cartoon characters they assume that it is ok. But it is a very rude, nasty, and degrading carton for kids to be viewing. In my opinion cartoons that are rated in the manner that Family Guy is, should not be allowed to be introduced on television as a cartoon. I know that’s what makes the show funny as it is for the adult viewers, but the oint is children are watching this. It’s very misleading to the adults and children that may have never saw the show before. Also since it is a cartoon and on national air, it should come on at very early morning hours such as 3am when kids are sleeping. So parents, take time out to sit down and watch what your children are watching to ensure that its child friendly, and that they are learning positive things, otherwise you will be amazed daily at what your children do and begin to say.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Southwest Airlines Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Southwest Airlines - Case Study Example Most businesses are customer centered. Customer comes first regardless. Not so, Southwest airlines, where customer actually comes in second. The employee comes in first. Clearly this is against convention ("rules") but it does achieve quite a bit. Southwest Airline employees are one of the most motivated and productive work force in the industry and this results in happier customers as well. The airline attained success which is primarily due to its highly motivated and productive workforce. They have fewer employees per aircraft, fly fewer passengers per employee and have more available seat miles per employee. Because of the highly motivated workforce its turnaround time is much less compared to competitors who also enhance its productivity in terms of equipment utilization. SWA has achieved the Triple Crown (best on-time performance, fewest lost bags, and fewest passenger complaints-in the same month) nine times, which is a rare feat. Happy employees translate into happy customers . The other thing is Unions. Unions have always been a problem in the airline Industry. But for Southwest airlines they are actually a strength. SWA is a case study where Union and the management are not adversaries but partners in a successful business. The Hierarchy of SWA is also different. ... In most organizations, management is segregated from line workers and both make their money in different ways which are contrary to each other. While workers make more money by working overtime and longer hours, management make their money by increasing profit , which often involve cutting working hours and laying off line workers. But in SWA everybody makes money if they work longer hours and everybody makes money if the company is profitable. A Brief Study of First Break all the rules in the context of SWA: "The Book First Break all the rules was a scholarly research with far reaching conclusions. We now try to link the key ideas from the book to the SWA way. The key ideas were condensed in a summary by Regine P. Azurin and Yvette Pantilla Key Ideas: The best managers reject conventional wisdom. There is nothing conventional about how SWA operates. SWA if anything is totally different from all other airlines. The best managers treat every employee as an individual. SWA has a clear cut philosophy in this regard. Each employee is an essential and individual cog in the SWA success story. The best managers never try to fix weaknesses; instead they focus on strengthsand talent. SWA has some real constraints as most airlines do. SWA does not try to fix that what can't be fixed. But offers best, what it can do best. The best managers know they are on stage everyday. They know their people are watching every move they make. SWA philosophy of managers itself entails leading from the front. A manager can work the counter just as easily as put together a boardroom presentation. Measuring employee satisfaction is vital information for your investors. SWA employees always record high level of satisfactions and that is reflected in the stock prices of SWA.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Reflective Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Reflective Rhetorical Analysis - Essay Example ce Johnnie that cigarette smoking was a very dangerous addiction that not only causes harm to an individual alone, but also for their family, friends, and the society in general. In that respect, my rhetoric focused on highlighting the economic and social costs associated with cigarette addiction in terms of maintaining the health of the smoker when health effects like cancer start manifesting, and the resultant financial burden the audience’s family is likely to bear. Additionally, my rhetoric highlighted the negative impact of smoking on society in terms of reduced productivity of the addict, and the potential risk of loss of life of a productive member of the society in critical situations. The purpose of persuading johnnie through the rhetoric was to get him to gain self-control and to overcome his addiction, to live a healthy life that is self-directed and productive; addiction to cigarette addiction destroys families and individual’s lives, and can be a real source of pain and suffering. Johnnie feels totally incapacitated by the addiction like his own life depends on it so much so that he cannot function at all without engaging in the habit; in that respect, the withdrawal symptoms that accompany his attempt to quit makes quitting difficult and almost impossible. My rhetoric aimed to persuade Johnnie to feel and believe that he has power over his smoking addiction and that it was not the other way round, with the addiction controlling him to such an extent that he could not do without engaging in the habit. By altering Johnnie’s perspective about the smoking addiction, the rhetoric was meant to persuade him to gradually control his smoking by reducing the number of cigarettes he smokes every day and to stop the habit altogether. The audience of the rhetoric, Johnnie, was a close friend, a stubborn and yet very friendly fellow, who was always in the mood for conversation and little chats about everything that crosses his mind. Johnnie is a very social

Monday, August 26, 2019

You choose a topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

You choose a topic - Essay Example But studies in the recent few years have associated the mobile phone with undesirable behavior especially among the youth and college students who are found to be on their phones for at least nine hours in a single day. This raises the question especially among behavioral scientists of whether mobile phone usage can become addictive. Even with the numerous advantages, mobile phone usage increasingly being associated with behaviors which are harmful to health and with the potential of being disturbing. Research for instance has associated the use of cell phones while driving with accidents. A wide of body of information is available to suggest the use of cell phones while on the wheel reduces ones capacity to be attentive even in cases there are hands-free devices. Many countries have even gone ahead to ban the use of phones while driving but many people still continue with the habit. In an ironic turn there is evidence of phones turning from their important role of supporting social exchanges to an object obstructing the same. Just many people have found themselves in instances where their mobile phone usage has disturbed their good social exchange. As such, just like smoking the use of mobile phones is increasingly receiving bans in public places e.g. in libraries. On the overall cell phone usage is increasingly becoming associated with antisocial and potentially dangerous behaviors as well as the uncontrollable usage and signs of dependence. it is for these reasons that researchers and clinical practitioners must be aware of the availability of instruments to measure problematic use, socio-demographic and psychological factors thought to play a significant role in mobile phone addiction. Phones were initially solely for communities purposes in terms of calls but the emergence of smart phones allows wider usage of the gadgets. People can now access the internet

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Value of Diversity and Multiculturalism in Business Essay

Value of Diversity and Multiculturalism in Business - Essay Example Diversity and multiculturalism in workforce produce a wide range of considerable benefits for companies. As Holt (2013) states, â€Å"Workplace diversity elevates companies because it provides many different perspectives during decision making, broadens the companys re ach in the market and allows everyone an equal chance to advance†. Some of the main benefits that a company can get by hiring a diverse workforce include improved economic growth, improved share of consumer market, reduced employee turnover costs, increased synergy in teams, and increased levels of productivity and profitability. However, proper employee training is the key to obtain the maximum workforce diversity benefits (Sammour & Karp, 2000). Employees from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds usually have good relationships between them (Kundu, 2003). One of the main benefits of hiring a diverse workforce is that it increases the business of a company in international markets. The reason is that diverse workforce is able to communicate with international business community in an effective manner. Communication is one of the main barriers for a company in achieving international success. However, this issue can be resolved by hiring employees with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds because such employees are able to communicate effectively with citizens and business professionals of foreign countries. A diverse workforce is also able to resolve complex business problems using critical thinking approach. A multicultural workforce is able to understand the political and legislative issues of different countries, as well as the norms and values of different cultures and that understanding helps in growing the bu siness in international markets in accordance with those cultural and political limitations. Moreover, multiculturalism also helps businesses in making

Internal Memorandum Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Internal Memorandum - Article Example Summary and response: Frymovich starts by discussing the current problems faced by the young entrepreneurs and small businesses in Europe, highlights the business environment by submitting facts and figures, and then explores the reasons behind those problems (Frymovich). According to the article, it is very difficult for small firms to get credit or financing for their operations (Frymovich), and to get an open market in the EU, therefore, the majority of the small firms head towards the U.S. where the laws and policies are more favorable and the market more accepting (Frymovich). It is interesting to note that Europe has almost doubled the number of self employed workers (Frymovich), and if each of those self employed business people were to hire just one more worker, a magnitude of new jobs would be created (Frymovich). However, most of those businesses hesitate to operate in Europe, due to the dearth of venture capital and angel investment, complex government policies and prolong ed time periods for government funding (Frymovich), and the lack of acceptance of high risk in the market (Frymovich). The banks in Europe are still recovering from economic recess (Frymovich), and the firms are protected by the government (Frymovich). This means that downsizing and starting over are more difficult in the EU than it is in the U.S. (Frymovich). Whereas this protection can be viewed as a safety factor for the employees in that they cannot just be fired at whim, and so their economic stability is guaranteed, this safety factor serves as a hurdle for companies which have failed in their venture and want to start anew in some other field of business (Frymovich). For example, by cutting the credit rating of a failed operation, Germany makes it harder for the business to venture into the market again (Frymovich). Although there are some agencies working for the benefit of the small operations, they

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Knowledge Management in Emirates Secondary Schools Assignment

Knowledge Management in Emirates Secondary Schools - Assignment Example In this essay the researcher presents his proposal for a piece of research, which is aimed to investigate the relationship between the current state of management, technology and culture and the knowledge management activities in the Emirates secondary schools. The researcher also hopes that this study will promote an improvement of the existing knowledge management practices in the UAE educational system and make a contribution in positive changes in the country economy at a whole. The modern education system in the UAE is based basically on the same fundamentals as educational systems of many other world nations – on Western pedagogical models and the current K-12 curriculum. However, it differs profoundly by its cultural and political context. One of the major distinctions of the system is the lack of qualified national teachers. Results of the study presented by Muysken discusses the causes of the deficient educational system in the UAE, the implications of this system and main factors constraining knowledge transfer in the UAE schools. The results prove evidently the necessity of improvement of the educational system of the Emirates, where the effective KM may be crucial. This essay suggests that this research will be a remarkable step towards the deeper understanding of nature and particular features of these supporting factors regarding the UAE educational system. The researcher believes that this study will be also helpful for researchers who are going to conduct further research in the area of KM in education.

Friday, August 23, 2019

Capstone Project Thesis Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Capstone Project - Thesis Proposal Example In this research, we will be investigating on ways of making owners of websites take responsibility of materials they post on their websites and who gets access to the materials. For example, implementation of ways such as putting age limits on their websites for individuals to be allowed access to the sites. Other means that will be investigated on their effectiveness is suggesting for the underage on scholarly sites to visit to help improve on their grades (Horn, 1999). Declaration of the issue as society issues will ensure those who own websites adhere strictly to the set rules. It will be an obligation for institutions to follow rules that provide guidelines and control of materials that get to the internet. Such guidelines may help to improve students performance and assist them to get quality information. School administrators will also be encouraged to advice students on reading academic materials to enhance improvement of students’ performance. Educating students on the effects of non-academic materials on their performance will be part of the objectives of the analysis (Bonnel & Smith,

Thursday, August 22, 2019

To live outside Essay Example for Free

To live outside Essay As I stand still in the traffic filled New York City Street attempting to crawl as if I were a turtle trying to cross the road, I begin to contemplate the true beauty of living in the city. It is now the month where everything should be glooming, pleasing, and living, however it is not. In the Waste Land by Thomas Sterns Eliot, he states, April is the cruellest month. This is a metaphor which in my situation reflects the truth. There are many reasons as to why people prefer to live outside of the city but work in the heart of it. I look forward and try to imagine what T.S. Eliot would think if he saw these city streets. In his book, the Waste Land, it is forced into our imagination that the world is dead; the earth is a waste land. He calls the city an Unreal City, making the reader think of the city that is referred to as a place worse than any nightmares can ever imagine. When imagining a city that I do not want to live in, first thing that comes to mind is a city thats always dirty and cold. If one was to analyze New York City, it can easily be found that most of the time it is cold; cold enough to need someone there with you if you do not have a home. Just as in the book you would read in the first story that you can only be kept warm in the winter with someone next to you. It is written, Winter kept us warm. It is also dirty to the extent that the street cleaning trucks that are made to clean the streets cannot handle the amount of filth the ground holds. The Waste Land takes on the degraded mess that Eliot considered modern culture to constitute, particularly after the First World War had ravaged Europe. April is the month that everything should be regenerating. Regeneration, though, is painful, for it brings back reminders of a more fertile and happier past. In the modern world, winter, the time of forgetfulness and numbness, is indeed preferable. Maries childhood recollections are also painful: the simple world of cousins, sledding, and coffee in the park has been replaced by a complex set of emotional and political consequences resulting from the war. The topic of memory, particularly when it involves remembering the dead, is of critical importance in The Waste Land. Memory creates a confrontation of the past with the present, a combination that points out just how badly things have  decayed. The final episode of the Waste Land allows Eliot to finally establish the true wasteland of the poem, the modern city. Eliots London references Baudelaires Paris (Unreal City), Dickenss London (the brown fog of a winter dawn) and Dantes hell (the flowing crowd of the dead). The city is desolate and depopulated, inhabited only by ghosts from the past. Stetson, the spirit of the speaker recognizes, is a fallen war comrade. The speaker pesters him with a series of ghoulish questions about a corpse buried in his garden: again, with the garden, we return to the theme of regeneration and fertility. This encounter can be read as a quest for a meaning behind the tremendous slaughter of the First World War; however, it can also be read as an exercise in ultimate futility: as we see in Stetsons failure to respond to the speakers inquiries, the dead offer few answers. The great respective weights of history, tradition, and the poets dead predecessors combine to create an oppressive burden. In conclusion, there are many reasons as to why people prefer to live outside of the city, yet work in the center of it. In the first episode of the Waste Land by T.S. Eliot, the city that is described is one that is regenerating because as it is beaten into your mind, the city is dead. Eliot speaks about the land and how dust filled it is and how nothing is alive. He then explains that everything is reviving, but that means that at the current time, after the First World War, everything is dead and life totally different then it was earlier. Even though he talks about the city and how unreal it is, he explains that Marie has recollections of sledding and family life. Usually family life and things like sledding are pastimes in a more countryside based area. Therefore, it is as if he is saying that city life is no longer good, while Marie remembers the good times she had sledding in the countryside. In the last episode, we, the readers, can see even more about how Eliot perceives the city. He refers to other stories to explain this city. He uses Dantes Hell as well as Dickenss London to explain the dead streets and the ghost roaming them. He uses a fallen soldier as the main character and shows  that the streets are full of ghost and no one living. If you would look at the city in the modern times, you can imagine people having nothing on their mind but work. They wander the city streets going nowhere but to their place of work, being worried of getting fired and not being human to the extent that they are forced to do something. It is if they are roaming the streets just like the ghosts, however, these people dont think that they are dead. Just like the saying goes, I come alive on the weekends. Then you can imagine that the soldiers that did return breathing would want to live in a place where it is peaceful and quiet. The countryside is where they would most likely find this. Therefore, it can be seen that the ghost or the workers work in the city, while the living stay home in the countryside.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Value of Project Management Essay Example for Free

Value of Project Management Essay In the pursuit for effectively managing complex IT projects in a competitive wireless industry, the value of project management to Verizon enhances the brand identity through strategic management. The Verizon Wireless Corporation is the nation’s most dependable and reliable wireless network with the largest retail customers in the industry. The Verizon Wireless internal and external demographic is their customer base at 67. 2 million, fulltime employees at 69,000, and the annual revenue at $43. 9 billion. The success of Verizon Wireless offered the opportunity to have a joint-venture with Vodafone to expand the network and available services. Therefore, the need for a project management protocol for successful strategic measures empowered the Verizon stakeholder planned initiatives. The role of strategic planning to the Verizon organization is the proactive activity for RD strategies emphasizing the importance of technology and product-market decisions. The value of project management enhances the objectives of the strategic planning initiatives set forth to accomplishing the corporation goals. The strategy implementation from stakeholders offers the benefit to instill a direct assessment of strengths and weaknesses in the corporation (Hunger and Wheelen, 2007). Therefore, the utilization of strategic planning reinforces the primary outliers identified in the initial strategy assessment. The strategic planning provided the RD initiatives for new IT technology to make consumers wireless experience more efficient. The project management technical aspects offer the means to identify what tasks are needed to be delivered within the set timeframe and budget. The value of project management benefits Verizon Wireless to performing the necessary application, in which, to significantly improve the consistency of outcomes resembled what the organization anticipated. Furthermore, the emphasis on project management for Verizon is the security for adapting to the complex needs of an IT special project. The value of project management provided the integral parts necessary in the desired deliverable for a new updated LG Voyager phone. The project management satisfied the many and variety of tasks that meet specific and unique characteristics for manufacturing, sales, and marketing initiatives for a new phone with advanced technical capabilities. The project management value is managing each specific task and uniqueness with a specific deliverable that is aimed at meeting a specific need or purpose. The value of project management created the success of a temporary endeavor undertaken for the strategic planning of an updated product. Verizon Wireless success is the creativity and technology advancement to staying competitive in the market, in which, the strategic planning for utilizing project management methodology successfully organizes the project activities. These activities are in-depth and several departments in the organization assist the project management team by providing resources for a successful delivery of deliverables. Therefore, the true value comes into play when the market demand for newer technology drives the need for an updated product roll-out that the project management activities are required within the organization’s normal operational limits (PMBOK, 2004). The role of strategic planning structured the tasks centrally on improving the current state in the demanding market, customer brand identity and brand equity for Verizon Wireless. The strategic planning implementation empowers the principles of project management to provide value in each required tasks. Therefore, the strategic planning for manufacturing the advanced technology phone answers the market demand identified in RD at Verizon Wireless – that presents the project management framework in accomplishing the management approach. The Verizon Wireless strategic planning is an ongoing measure that continues the identification on certain initiatives needed in enhancing projects objectives. The overall concern for a successful strategic planning is the support from stakeholders at Verizon Wireless that coordinate with the project management team. The cooperative strategies are the means for gaining competitive advantages within the industry by all teams working together. The primary type of cooperative strategy is the strategic alliance, in which, the core objectives are mutually achieved and beneficial. Moreover, the project management value to the company Verizon created a synergy of resources within the organization that incorporated all skills and talents for a productive product deliverable. The alliance of the RD divisions with other departments intensified the strength of Verizon Wireless as well as limits the identified weaknesses to manufacture a new advanced cell phone. The Verizon Wireless RD intensity is a principal means of gaining the market share in a domestic and global competitive market share. Respectively, the RD business unit at Verizon exposed the technological competence and technology transfer to assure a successful capability to the strategic planning of innovation (Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, and Sutton, 2008). The underlying value of project management continuity of deliverables within a complex IT environment reinforces the Verizon Wireless strategic planning. The constant changing of consumers needs and desires for a productive, easy-friendly, and with many options product strengthen the notion for Verizon Wireless to apply a direct approach to the project. The strategic planning fundamental role is in securing the core aspects for infusing the company’s advantages into the market through project management for securing brand identity and brand equity.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Indias colonial rule

Indias colonial rule Research Questions and Hypothesis The following objectives / research questions will constitute the foundation for the direction and structure of the methodology chapter. What was Indias economy like under colonial rule? What was the post independence economy in India like? What did colonialism did for the Indian economy? What is Indias economy like today and can it sustain growth? These questions will act as a logical guideline with which my dissertation research can begin. Hypothesis: At the end of colonial rule, the newly independent India took on an economy that was ruined, poor and stagnant. However after the 1991 reforms the economy has grown at a rapid rate and has a promising future ahead. I feel that it is due to the instruments that the British put in place that is able to retain economic growth today. Abstract The Indian economy has had a chequered past, from 1858 to 1947 the British ruled India; there are many examples of the colonial rule exploiting India as the British thought, India was the jewel in their crown. When the British left India they left behind an underdeveloped, poor country, as in the 1700 Indias share of the world income was 22.6% and fell to a low of 3.8% in 1952. However the colonial rule did also introduce India to industrialization, it introduced fixed exchange rates, property rights, and a uniform currency. The British built the enormous railway system and improved communication links. Which in turn helped bring India on the path to westernisation. In the 1970s India had an output of just 3% and in the 1980s it started to have problems in with its balance of payments. At this time India was a semi-socialist closed economy, which followed the USSR in its economic policies instead of the free world. India however had to revise their economic policies and come up with a plan that would save the countries economy, as India found that imports were increasing rapidly and exports decreased. In the late 1980 India had a huge fiscal deficit which resulted in a balance of payments crisis of 1991. In 1991 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the finance minister in the Narasimha Rao government, he was the chief architect of the new economic policies. He shifted the Indian economy from a semi socialist command to a more open liberal economy. This liberalization in 1991 was a catalyst for future growth in the country. From the initial readings of the literature along with the primary and secondary research, it has showed that there were a number of different factors and views that pushed the Indian economy to grow after colonial rule. The key factors that have drive Indias economic growth from 1947 were, transition to a knowledge based economy, middle class population, the demographic dividend, English speaking people and Investment potential. However constraints to growth are affected by the bad infrastructure, lack of higher education and widespread poverty. Background This dissertation aims to look at how British colonization of India as affected her economy today. Through research it has been found, that India, due to its history was at a handy cap when it came to economic growth. The British rule from 1858 to 1947 drained the wealth of India, the British reasons for colonialism according to Maddison (1971) were purely economic. They saw India as a main component in the in the hierarchy of power, of the world. For many years after India gained its independence in 1947 it was a closed economy, with bad infrastructure and low growth rates. However since the crisis in 1991 India has made social reforms, which has helped it become one of the fasted growing third world countries in the world. It is argued that India has further to go, as does Rajadhyaksha (2006) that India has great potential because of its huge population, its increase in the middle class population, economic liberalization and its relationship with outside world for further economic growth. There is a vast amount of literature that supports that supports my view, because India is such a relevant country today. I chose this as a topic because I feel that India is on the verge of exploding economically. Although India is yet to over take China in terms of in terms of PPP (purchasing power parity), it is still a relatively young country, and in the next 50 years it could take over China. The research for this topic will start of with a general examination of the Indian economy during the colonial rule through the use of secondary sources. Focus will only be emphasized on some aspects of the economy Indian economy because, the state of the economy is such a huge topic to cover in one dissertation. Once an overall knowledge of the topic was gained, it was necessary to analyze the literature, so that a deeper understanding of the Indian economy and look at how the Indian Economy has changed after the instruments of modernization placed upon India by the British. Methodology Research is defined by Saunders et al (2003) as something that people undertake in order to find out things in a systematic way, thereby increasing their knowledge. I will use two different research philosophies, the Interpretivism paradigm, which focuses on the subjective aspects of human activity by focusing on the meaning, rather than the measurement, of social phenomena, (Collis Hussey, 2003), this paradigm will be useful to me due to the qualitative nature of my dissertation. Another research philosophy that I will follow is the Realism paradigm which looks to understand, the existence of an external and objective reality that influences peoples social interpretations and behaviours (Saunders et al 2003). The most important methodologies that I will use for this dissertation are interviews, case studies on India and its economy and questionnaires. I incorporate both quantitative and qualitative data in my research but focusing more on the latter. In addition, I will also use pr imary sources, such as informal interviews, questionnaires and book, and secondary sources, such as government statistics, journals, and newspaper articles. I will also look at the ethical aspect of conducting research for my dissertation, as I will be conducting informal interviews, I will have to be aware of basis. This Literature Review This Literature Review will look at a variety of opinions concerning India economic background during British colonization, post colonization and its future potential in the world stage. This will include a detailed analysis of what pervious well-known authors have written on Indias economic growth, Indian economys, current performance and the potential for further growth; this in turn will lead to a better understanding of the subject and establish a academic foundation for further research based on academic journals, books and magazines. Economy under colonial rule Did the British colonial rule help or hinder Indias economy today? This area of study has spawn countless debates. Many academics highlight the positive role British colonization had on India, from supporting capital movements and trade (Furguson: 2002) to amalgamating administration and securing peace (Lal: 2004). However other academics take an opposite stance on the subject and suggest that the British exploited India and drained her of her wealth (Bagchi: 2002). The British had many reasons for colonial rule of India according to Paul Halsall (Internet modern history source book), the reasons included security, trade and the cause of humanity. However Maddison argues in his book Class structure and Economic Growth that Britons motive for colonisation was simply economic, they wanted to achieve a monopolistic trading position (Maddison: 1971: 35). The British mission was to explore all territories, in hope of opportunities that ensured them economic power. Maddison justifies this claim through researching the economic and social impact of colonial rule; he found that the colonial rule brought slight change to the life of the general population, there were no major changes in village society and education efforts only assisted the upper class. Stein on the other hand argues in his book The History of India that the British did do their share to improve the economy and sustain development. They helped improve the infrastructure of the country and introduced which boosted Indias export industry. Although the view of imperialist is that colonialism produce a modern state. Tirthankar Roy in Economic History and Modern India: Redefining the Link, suggest that it came at a cost (Roy: 2007: 109). The Indian economy suffered under the British rule because of the exploitation by foreign capital and noninterventionist stance of the Indian government (Roy: 2007: 109). Indian Economy The Indian economy is slowly taking hold of, the worlds attention with its extraordinary economic performance Bureau (2009) sees India as a Caiged Tiger, which is growing at a slower rate than Chinas economy, but nonetheless is growing at a rapid speed. The growth in Indias economy is due to India having a very successful IT service industry and the large amount of speaking young demographic. India is walking away from the reputation it had in the 1950s, as the leader of the third world to a potential future leader of the world (Charlie Rose Interview: 2006). Rajadhyaksha (2006) wrote The Rise of India, in which he thinks Indias economy have further potential for growth. He analysis the new changes in Indian policy, consumer behaviour, demography, and financial markets. According to Rajadhyaksha (2006) these significant changes will aid Indias economic growth as it embarks on a journey to contend with other countries. Economic Development: History On the eve of the industrial revolution India was the second largest economy in the world, contributing more than 20% of total world output. By the 1970s after two centuries of relative economic stagnation, that share had fallen to 3%, the lowest in its recorded history (Poddar and Yi: 2007: 4). Poddar and Yi (2007), argues that this was a post-industrial economic decline and an effect of historical aberration, driven by a lack of openness and forward thinking (Poddar and Yi: 2007: 4) due to Jawaharlal Nehru favoring a Fabian socialist society rather than the present neo liberal. India was described to follow the Hindu rate of growth after the Independence in 1947, this was because of the decades of low rate of growth, due to the reforms undertaken by the Congress government in 1980s resulted in growth which was fragile and sporadic and finally ended with a balance of payments crisis (Financialexpress.com: 2005). Poddar Yi (2007) person responsible for writing the Goldman Sachs repo rt 2007, explain how the subsequent reforms in 1991, integrating India into the global economy and remove obstacles that prevented economic growth. India is now noticed as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Crises of 1991 and the consequent Reforms The reforms instigated by the finance minister in the Narasimha Rao government of 1991 Manmohan Singh, were seen as waking a sleeping giant (Singh: 1985: 407), according to Cohen (2001). The reforms were instigated because of the balance of payment crisis India faced in 1991, that threatened to crumble the Indian economy because the foreign reserves were so low that they could not even maintain two weeks of imports. Due to the 1991 reforms, Indias semi- socialist, closed economy made a transition towards a open economy and private Indian and international investment. Cohen (2001) agrees with Nayar (1998) on the issue that the balance of payments crisis led to a demand in investment, labour legislation and opening of the economy. I agree with Cohen (2001) and Nayar (1998) that reforms of 1991 that happened because of the crisis, influenced the rise if the Indian economy from a sluggish, stagnant economy to a rapidly growing one, India found a new sense of enthusiasm and confidence. Pre 1991 Growth Although the crisis of 1991 is often said to be the trigger for Indian economic reforms and economic growth, Rodrick Subamanian (2004) believe that the productivity surge and economic growth started steadily in the 1980s a decade before the 1991 reforms. Rodrick Subamanian (2004) put forward an argument of a changing mind-set on part of the government in the 1980s, from a more socialist society to a more liberal one who favors the private sector. This significant shift, according to Rodrick Subamanian (2004) was led by Indira Gandhis Congress Party. However they do state that attitudinal change was grounded primarily in political calculation, and not in a desire to enhance the efficiency of the economic regime (Rodrick and Subamanian: 2004: 24). Kohli (1989) also supports Rodrick Subamanians view and states ideology of the leaders rather than the nature of regime organization, it is a key determinant of economic policy choice leaders will push an economic program of their choice (Kohli: 1989: 305). Rodrick Subamanian (2004) continue to argue that policy changes in the early 80s and then internal liberalization in the mid 80s was the catalyst to the huge economic growth that we see in India today. Future Growth Purushothaman and Willson (2003) think that Brazil, Russia, India and Chian becoming a much larger force in the world economy (Purushothaman and Willson: 2003: 1) over the next 50 years. Purushothaman and Willson (2003) analyzed the GDP growth, income per capita and currency movements in the Indian economy until 2050. Kakodkar (1998) expresss that with improvements to the infrastructure, clearer policies, India will become increasingly attractive to investors. This potential, according to Luce (2007), has been largely wasted because of the caste system that has shaped Indian society for several thousands of years. He suggests that the factors, which would allow the realisation of Indias potential, are by the encouragement of democracy, education and empowerment. Chapter Plan Chapter One Introduction This chapter will be a short introduction to the dissertation and question. How was Indias economy effected by colonization and whether effects of colonization are still being felt today? Chapter Two Economy Under the British Colonial rule In the second chapter will introduce a brief history of the Indian Economy under colonial rule and what the British did in the sub- continent. The focus will not be placed on the economy as a whole instead it will concentrate on specific parts of the economy which are considered most important, such as trade, investment and the infrastructure. Chapter Three Developing Economy The third chapter will discuss the Indian economy after Independence from British colonialism. It will look at the economy from 1957 to 1991 when it was a semi socialist economy to its shift towards a market economy in 1991. Again emphasis will be placed on trade, growth rates and infrastructure. Chapter Four- What colonialism did for India? Chapter four will discuss the effects of colonialism on the Indian economy and society. It will look at the benefits and detriments India suffered during colonial rule. Again only certain aspects of society and economy will be analysed. Chapter Five Waking the sleeping giant Economy of India Today Chapter five will focus on Indias economy after 1991 till the present day and beyond. Whats more, it will continue to examine what are the key factors of economic growth, sustainability and the constraints. Chapter Six Discussion The discussions chapter will focus on the three aspects of research methods used in this dissertation, the analysis of the questionnaire, discourse analysis on a speech by the British to justify colonial rule in India and the reading from literature. Chapter Seven Conclusion In the final chapter will conclude the research question and evaluate the outcome of the research. Chapter Two, Indian economy under colonial rule Research question: What was Indias economy like under colonial rule? In 1757 the British East India Company established its dominance in Bengal and nearly 100 years later, in 1858 the British Crown took over Indias princely states. To understand Indias economy under British rule, which lasted nearly two decades one has to take into account why the British conquered India in the first place. For western empires colonization was a way of expanding their territory, their purpose was undoubtedly economic and then resulting to political expansion. India was seen as the agriculture mother of Asia and the industrial workshop of civilisation (Singh: 1970: 16). The British quickly realized that India had great resources of wealth and raw materials that would benefit them financially thus slowly increased their hold of the sub continent, which led to the war of 1857 that paved the way for full British colonization of Indian Princely states. Indias economic structure pre colonization was one of oriental despotism, which restricted its industrialization and development. Indias custom of the caste system prevented modernisation of the economy because of the peculiar position of the artisan in the Indian village (Stokes: 1973: 139). When the British colonized India they became the agent of economic modernization and wanted to achieve a monopolistic trading position (Maddison: 1971: 35). Indias predisposed socio economic order was greatly influenced by the market forces, industrial competition and modernization encouraged by the modern imperial state. Indian economy was integrated into the world economy as a result of British colonization. India began trading with the world long before colonization took place in the sub continent, however trade began to grow exceedingly fast in the late 18th century as the result of the Charter Act of 1813, which gave Indias trade a major boost compared to modern standards. A rapid growth in trading started from 1800 till the beginning of the First World War. Tirthankar Roy measures Indian trade by the contribution of foreign trade (or exports) to national income (Roy: 2000: 32). In India during the late 18th century and early 19th century the national income (at present value against 1968 as base rate (index)) was 1.5 % per annum and the growth rate during 1868 and 1913 of imports and exports was 4-5 %. The percentage of imports and exports was escalating rapidly throughout the 19th century. Despite the escalation of foreign trade, nationalists argue that the British colonization of India in fact hindered Indias economic growth. Angus Maddison (1971) proposed that the British were wil ling to assist with the Indian economic development as long as it did not diverge away from their own economic interests. For example the British colonial rule exercised a free trade policy in India, which meant that all British imports came into India without any duty paid on goods and when a small tariff was necessary for Indias revenue purposes, the British in turn imposed equivalent excise duty on Indian products to prevent them gaining a competitive advantage (Maddison: 1971: 39). Maddison (1971) continues to argue that if India had been politically independent, her tax structure would probably have been different (Maddison: 1971: 39) and the trade turnover much higher, for instance Brazils Import revenue was 21% of trade turnover, whereas Indias revenue was only 2.2% in the 1880s. Some academics estimate that the net transfer of capital from colonized India to Britain was 1.5% of the total GNP of the sub-continent. The trade policies that the British imposed on India were tool s of exploitation and a ploy to force its manufactures on India and crush domestic industry (Basu: 2006). Initially, India was a feudal society however British colonization of India institutionalized its society and transformed its agricultural industry. It introduced property rights resembling the unencumbered private property characteristics of Western capitalism (Maddison: 1971: 45) and collected land revenue in the form of taxes imposed on the farmers and peasants. During the first half of British colonization of the sub- continent the agriculture industry grew, firstly in order to feed the growing population and secondly to export other countries that demanded the cotton, teas, and opium that India produced. From the period of 1860 to 1880 the demand for cotton grew substantially and for a few years the value of cotton exports was more than half of the value of all exports (Desai: 1969: 21). It suggests that in 1859 the price of cotton per lb was 2.7, however as the export grew to 14 lakhs of bales, so did the price pre lb to 11.5. Consequently the demand for such goods meant that I ndia was leading to commercialization and entering the world economy. Nevertheless this prosperity did not last. From the period of 1895 to 1914 India suffered from two ruthless famines, which were an amalgamation of natural causes and administrative failures. Yet the British did in this period, also try and introduce new reforms, they established a famine relief policy that included the expansion of irrigation and better infrastructure. The Indian agriculture industry went into decline from the period of 1930 to 1940; Desai (1986) suggests that this decline was due to the great depression and provincial autonomy. The depression, which was felt in all through the world, lowered agriculture prices in India hence led to a decline in farmers income however their responsibilities to the government remained the same, they still had to pay taxes on the land, etc. The second World War increased the burden on the farmers as the demand for agricultural goods on the world market declined and the exports of jute, cotton and groundnut fell to half or less in three or four years (Desai: 1986: 26). In spite of this the demand for food crops increased India supplied food crops to Western Asia and the increase in the proportion of the military meant that consumption increased. Due to the increase in trade and some slight advances in agriculture the British colonization of India helped established a system of centralized of governing and amalgamated the administration of India, they improved the governing of the states, security of life and property (modern source book), and in addition to this the British also improved the infrastructure of the sub- continent. They invested in repair, enlargement and unification of ancient irrigation systems (Roy: 2000: 46) as it was the most straightforward way of increasing yields of agriculture, helping the farmer that would in turn result in more revenue for the government, and help prevent further famines. However they procured returns for their investment to the irrigation from increasing revenue charged on irrigated land and on water rates. The British also invested heavily in the Railway industry in India, they considered it an important investment as it increased the volume of trade in the sub-continent and improved Indian social conditions. The railways helped promote the agriculture exports, it made the export of large sums of raw materials easier and provided cheap transport. The British thought of themselves as saviors of the Indian people spreading western civilization (MacPherson: 1955: 177). The first railway tracks were laid in 1853 under the guidance Dalhousie and by 1869 5,000 miles of tracks had been laid down. From the 1880s onwards the railway construction took on a new life and by 1910 India had the 4th largest Railway system in the world which cost the Indian people  £50 million, however MacPherson (1955) argues that  £95 million was invested into Indian railway by British companies. According to Desi (1969) the railway industry was built not to benefit the Indian economy but instead their own. Duri ng the First World War the British used the Indian railway to meet the demands of their own country, the Second World War incapacitated the Indian railway system as moved the rains to the Middle East and the railway workshops were renovate to weapons workshops. Up until 1835 the Indian sub-continent did not have a universal currency, which is needed in a modern state. The Act of 1835 introduced India to the silver rupee, which was to be the legal tender of the sub- continent. In 1861 the paper currency act was launched, this Act enabled the government to issue paper notes, this followed the English currency principle, that there must be a full metallic reserve above a certain amount (Desai: 1969: 226). The circulation of this tender began to grow slowly when confidence developed and there was more education (Desai: 1969: 227). Banking in the sub- continent can be seen in two dimensions, the formal and informal sector. Roy (2000) puts forward the idea that the formal sector of the banking industry four constituents, the exchange banks, joint stock banks, presidency banks and the cooperate credit societies. The informal sector were not legally accepted as banks, however they dealt with credit transactions in agriculture and small-scale indust ry in the forms of loans given to by employers or merchants to actual producers against work in progress (Roy: 2000: 202). The modern bank system stabilized the sub- continent however there were still failures in the system, from 1913 to 1925 almost 180 banks collapsed, this according to Desai (1969) was due to inexperience, incompetence and even fraud (Desai: 1969: 241). The British did not introduce the education to India; nonetheless they did promote education heavily amounts the population. By the beginning of the 19th century the British made English he official business language of the sub- continent. According to Sanne (2003) the British wanted people in India to be English in mind, but with Indian bodies (Sanne: 2003: 12) and gave assistance to a more extended and systematic promotion of general education (Lyer: 2004: 14). According to Roy (2002) British investment played a major role in shaping the education system in India. By the end of 1901 there were approximately 14,000 colleges in India, there were a few universities in Mumbi, Kolkata and Madras. Sanne (2003) continues to suggest that British education in the sub- continent create a vast amount of highly educated elite as well as a huge amount of semi educated, low paid, English speaking subordinate (Sanne: 2003: 12). The telegraph was also something that that British introduced to the sub- continent that indirectly shaped its economy at the time and in the post- colonial period. Roy (2000) states that the telegraph was a vital military tool in the rebellions and wars of annexation (Roy: 2000: 268), and by the mid 1900s there was rapid growth in the telegraph industry, from 0.38 million Rs in 1858 to 26.34 million Rs in 1921. Roy (2000) also claims that the British united the Postal service in the sub-continent in the wake of migration and money orders. One could hardly live without the other (Roy: 2000: 267). Roy (2000) continues and states that there was a basic postal service in India in the pre-colonial periods however it really took off when post offices were opened in semi rural areas. The postal service and the telegraph created jobs for many semi educated indigenous people in India and also bridged the gap of communication in the huge country. British colonization of India also changed the legal structure of the sub- continent. According to Cohn (1961) pre- colonial India did not have one legal system but multiple systemswhich differed from place to place (Cohn: 1961: 614). They had the Mogul law and the Hindu law to follow, however British colonization of India unified the legal system of the sub- continent and established civil courts in 1818. Over all during the British colonization of the Indian sub-continent they contributed to the economy in many ways. They set up a currency system, which was still in place in India up until recently. Introduced the sub- continent to the telegraph system, which connected the country to the rest of the world. It reformed the Indian agrarian society, increased trade through the improvements in the infrastructure. The railways, that British started build nearly 1750 years ago, have now grown into the largest railway system in the world under a single management in the world. Colonialism also commercialized the Indian economy and was an agent for modernization, for a feudal society. These contributions cannot be ignored. When India gained its independence from the British in 1947, it had the basic interments for economic growth in place. Chapter Three, Developing economy after Independence Research question: What was the Indian economy like after independence? After India gained its independence from British colonialism in 1947, its economy was stagnant compared their fellow Commonwealth counterparts such as Malaysia who experienced an increase in their GDP growth post British Colonialism. Amartya Sen claims that many estimates suggest that a sizable economic decline took place during the last decades of British rule (Basu, Sisson: 1986: 28). Following Indias Independence the first Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru followed an economic policy of Fabian socialism and self-reliance. Under Nehrus leadership The Planning Commission was set up to guide the newly independent Indian economy to follow the semi socialist economic model. The commission was set up to increase living standards of Indians through using Indian resources, boost production and enhance employment. However these policies had an adverse affect on the economy because they hindered international trade, constructed inefficient industries and it saturated the private secto r and economy with regulations and red tape. British colonization left India with some resources to modernization, according to Williamson (2006) it had the oldest capitalist institutions in Asia, such as the stock exchange. Post- colonial India had a contradictory economy; it had the institutions in place that should have on paper made it a strong economic system in Asia. It had manufacturing industry although it was very weak. It had a railway industry that was one of the largest in Asia, however in was in disrepair. The Indias economy was had many burdens that stagnated the economy and hindered its growth. Along with the independence of India came the partition of the sub- continent, which according to Rothermund (1986) was a reason for the troubled economy of the time. The national planning commission of India wanted to kick start the economic growth of the country and came up with the Five Year Plans. These plans were guidelines to stimulate economic activity within the existing economic and social frameworks (Epstein: 1973: 243). The first Five Year plan was launched in 1951 by Professor Mahalanobis who embraced the Soviet two sector model, and desired to invest 35 billion rupees: 20 billion rupees into the public sector and 15 into the public (Rothermund: 1986: 133) with an intention of increasing national income by 11%. By 1956 India had invested 31 billion rupees into the two industries and exceed national income more than 11% set by the Plan. Throughout this period Indias industry grew at an average rate of 4.1% however the economy went into decline through th

Monday, August 19, 2019

Stealing Home :: Essays Papers

Stealing Home Can you imagine living somewhere all your life, and then having a stranger tell you to move? What about having you home taken away from you because you live differently then others? Or even yet, can you imagine having someone move in next door to you, and you die from a sickness that they brought with them? Native Americans have lived this way since the days of Christopher Columbus. As they were shuffled around and pushed westward, the crowd followed, until there was nothing left for them. American Indians roamed the lands of America long before settlers from Europe even dared to travel across the oceans. They lived from and with nature, respecting the laws of life, and cherishing every aspect of their civilization. They hunted and fished, using each part of their prey, wasting nothing. Bones were used for weapons; hides, for clothing and shelter. They lived simply. It was impossible to tell that their worlds would be turned upside down. When settlers first arrived in America, they were greeted by Native Americans. They helped the settlers learn to live the way they did – to use nature to its fullest and to respect it. Meanwhile, millions of Indians were dying from the diseases brought over from Europe. Indian villages were burned to stop the spread of disease. The settlers were scared of these diseases that no one seemed to understand. They blamed the Native Americans for deaths of settlers that were due to the diseases. This blind blame would be seen later in history, as the railroad invaded the territory of the Native Americans, and they were again blamed for death and warfare. Between the beginning of the Civil War and the Gold Rush of 1849, thousands of emigrants had been crossing the plains in search of gold. The Indians of the North-west generally accepted the government policy that the land west of the Mississippi River was theirs, and they expected settlers to stay out. Of course, the pioneers needed to cross that territory, which the Native Americans considered sacred hunting grounds (Schmitt 2). The Native Americans first learned of the railroads by runners – those who ran the land to learn of gold seekers and settlers moving across the territory. They called the railroad the "iron horse on the iron track," and as it moved across the Mississippi, it was evident to them that once again, their land would be taken (Schmitt 6-7).

Microsoft Antitrust Paper -- essays research papers fc

Viewed together, three main facts indicate that Microsoft enjoys monopoly power. First, Microsoft's share of the market for Intel-compatible Personal Computer (PC) operating systems is extremely large and stable. Second, Microsoft's dominant market share is protected by a high barrier to entry. Third, and largely as a result of that barrier, Microsoft's customers lack a commercially viable alternative to Windows, the operating system of all PC's. Microsoft enjoys so much power in the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems that if it wished to exercise this power solely in terms of price, it could charge a price for Windows substantially above that which could be charged in a competitive market. Moreover, it could do so for a significant period of time without losing an unacceptable amount of business to competitors. In other words, Microsoft enjoys monopoly power in the relevant market. Microsoft possesses a dominant, persistent, and increasing share of the world-wide market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems. Every year for the last decade, Microsoft's share of the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems has stood above ninety percent. For the last couple of years the figure has been at least ninety-five percent, and analysts project that the share will climb even higher over the next few years. Even if Apple's Mac OS were included in the relevant market, Microsoft's share would still stand well above eighty percent. Microsoft's dominant market share is protected by the same barrier that helps define the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems. As explained above, the applications barrier would prevent an aspiring entrant into the relevant market from drawing a significant number of customers away from a dominant - 1 - incumbent even if the incumbent priced its products substantially above competitive levels for a significant period of time. Because Microsoft's market share is so dominant, the barrier has a similar effect within the market: It prevents Intel-compatible PC operating systems other than Windows from attracting significant consumer demand, and it would continue to do so even if Microsoft held its prices substantially above the competitive level. Microsof... ...-interest. - 4 - Bibliography New York Times: "How Microsoft Sought Friends In Washington." 7 November 1999: A33 "Microsoft's Horizon." 7 November 1999: A33A "A Breakup Of Microsoft? Possibly, but Investors Shrug It Off." 9 November 1999: C1-C16 "Prosecutors Seeking To Break The Grip Of Windows System." 10 November 1999: A1-C30 "Microsoft Faces A Class Action On 'Monopoly.'" 22 November 1999: A1-A16 USA Today: "Conservative judge at helm of Microsoft talks." 22 November 1999: B1-B2 "Microsoft findings spur lawsuit findings." 23 November 1999: B2 The Wall Street Journal: "Microsoft Hopes for GOP Savior, but States Are Problem." 9 November 1999: A28 Financial Times: "Experts say Microsoft case will drag on." 9 November 1999: 11 - 5 - Microsoft Antitrust Paper -- essays research papers fc Viewed together, three main facts indicate that Microsoft enjoys monopoly power. First, Microsoft's share of the market for Intel-compatible Personal Computer (PC) operating systems is extremely large and stable. Second, Microsoft's dominant market share is protected by a high barrier to entry. Third, and largely as a result of that barrier, Microsoft's customers lack a commercially viable alternative to Windows, the operating system of all PC's. Microsoft enjoys so much power in the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems that if it wished to exercise this power solely in terms of price, it could charge a price for Windows substantially above that which could be charged in a competitive market. Moreover, it could do so for a significant period of time without losing an unacceptable amount of business to competitors. In other words, Microsoft enjoys monopoly power in the relevant market. Microsoft possesses a dominant, persistent, and increasing share of the world-wide market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems. Every year for the last decade, Microsoft's share of the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems has stood above ninety percent. For the last couple of years the figure has been at least ninety-five percent, and analysts project that the share will climb even higher over the next few years. Even if Apple's Mac OS were included in the relevant market, Microsoft's share would still stand well above eighty percent. Microsoft's dominant market share is protected by the same barrier that helps define the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems. As explained above, the applications barrier would prevent an aspiring entrant into the relevant market from drawing a significant number of customers away from a dominant - 1 - incumbent even if the incumbent priced its products substantially above competitive levels for a significant period of time. Because Microsoft's market share is so dominant, the barrier has a similar effect within the market: It prevents Intel-compatible PC operating systems other than Windows from attracting significant consumer demand, and it would continue to do so even if Microsoft held its prices substantially above the competitive level. Microsof... ...-interest. - 4 - Bibliography New York Times: "How Microsoft Sought Friends In Washington." 7 November 1999: A33 "Microsoft's Horizon." 7 November 1999: A33A "A Breakup Of Microsoft? Possibly, but Investors Shrug It Off." 9 November 1999: C1-C16 "Prosecutors Seeking To Break The Grip Of Windows System." 10 November 1999: A1-C30 "Microsoft Faces A Class Action On 'Monopoly.'" 22 November 1999: A1-A16 USA Today: "Conservative judge at helm of Microsoft talks." 22 November 1999: B1-B2 "Microsoft findings spur lawsuit findings." 23 November 1999: B2 The Wall Street Journal: "Microsoft Hopes for GOP Savior, but States Are Problem." 9 November 1999: A28 Financial Times: "Experts say Microsoft case will drag on." 9 November 1999: 11 - 5 -

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Comparing the Black Album and Rushdies The Satanic Verses Essays

The Black Album and Rushdie's The Satanic Verses      Ã‚  Ã‚   British writer C.C. Colton once claimed, "Men will wrangle for religion; write for it; fight for it; die for it; anything but--live for it" (Copeland 345). Indeed, if nothing else, Hanif Kureishi's The Black Album shows the depths to which people concern themselves with questions of religion, ethnicity, and the identity associated with them. Kureishi's themes and symbolism work within a larger context of the politics of identity, race, and nationality. Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses and the larger religious question associated with it, serve to polarize the British community between Muslims and non-Muslims, as well as to polarize people supporting liberation and those supporting containment. Combined with other cultural references, Kureishi uses the literary allusion to create his themes and symbolism.    The question of the racial, religious, and socioeconomic identity of Shahid becomes a central question posed as Shahid undergoes translation from his Pakistani ancestry to his desired identity as a Briton. Shahid's translation parallels the translations of the former Asian colonies of Britain into their new postcolonial identities. Unfortunately for Shahid, the struggle over The Satanic Verses catches him as he is translating himself, presenting him with a series of tough choices.    The quest for identity in Indo-English writing has emerged as a recurrent theme, as it is in much of modern literature (Pathak preface). Indeed, often the individual's identity and his quest for it becomes so bound up in the national quest for identity, that the individual's search for his identity becomes allegorical of the national search (Pathak pr... ...pular Quotations for All Uses. Garden City, New York: Garden City, 1942. Gorra, Michael. After Empire: Scott, Naipul, Rushdie. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1997. Kureishi, Hanif. The Black Album. New York: Simon, 1995. Lings, Martin. Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources. Revised edition. Bartlow, Cambridge, UK: Islamic Texts Society, 1991. Pathak, R.S., ed. Quest for Identity in Indian English Writing. New Delhi: Bahri, 1992. Rusdie, Salman. The Satanic Verses. First Owl Book edition. New York: Henry Holt, 1997. Saynor, James. Rev. of The Black Album, by Hanif Kureishi. The New Statesman & Society, March 3, 1995, p. 40(2). Wilkie, Brian, and James Hurt. Literature of the Western World. 2nd edition. In Galloway, Stan. "The House of Bernarda Alba." http://www.bridgewater.edu/~sgallowa/203/alba-notes.htm, April 26, 1999.    Comparing the Black Album and Rushdie's The Satanic Verses Essays The Black Album and Rushdie's The Satanic Verses      Ã‚  Ã‚   British writer C.C. Colton once claimed, "Men will wrangle for religion; write for it; fight for it; die for it; anything but--live for it" (Copeland 345). Indeed, if nothing else, Hanif Kureishi's The Black Album shows the depths to which people concern themselves with questions of religion, ethnicity, and the identity associated with them. Kureishi's themes and symbolism work within a larger context of the politics of identity, race, and nationality. Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses and the larger religious question associated with it, serve to polarize the British community between Muslims and non-Muslims, as well as to polarize people supporting liberation and those supporting containment. Combined with other cultural references, Kureishi uses the literary allusion to create his themes and symbolism.    The question of the racial, religious, and socioeconomic identity of Shahid becomes a central question posed as Shahid undergoes translation from his Pakistani ancestry to his desired identity as a Briton. Shahid's translation parallels the translations of the former Asian colonies of Britain into their new postcolonial identities. Unfortunately for Shahid, the struggle over The Satanic Verses catches him as he is translating himself, presenting him with a series of tough choices.    The quest for identity in Indo-English writing has emerged as a recurrent theme, as it is in much of modern literature (Pathak preface). Indeed, often the individual's identity and his quest for it becomes so bound up in the national quest for identity, that the individual's search for his identity becomes allegorical of the national search (Pathak pr... ...pular Quotations for All Uses. Garden City, New York: Garden City, 1942. Gorra, Michael. After Empire: Scott, Naipul, Rushdie. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1997. Kureishi, Hanif. The Black Album. New York: Simon, 1995. Lings, Martin. Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources. Revised edition. Bartlow, Cambridge, UK: Islamic Texts Society, 1991. Pathak, R.S., ed. Quest for Identity in Indian English Writing. New Delhi: Bahri, 1992. Rusdie, Salman. The Satanic Verses. First Owl Book edition. New York: Henry Holt, 1997. Saynor, James. Rev. of The Black Album, by Hanif Kureishi. The New Statesman & Society, March 3, 1995, p. 40(2). Wilkie, Brian, and James Hurt. Literature of the Western World. 2nd edition. In Galloway, Stan. "The House of Bernarda Alba." http://www.bridgewater.edu/~sgallowa/203/alba-notes.htm, April 26, 1999.   

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Effects of Cyberbullying Essay

Examples of Cyberbullying Cyberbullying examples  is referred to as a form of bullying  that is known to take place through the use of electronics such as mobile phones and over the internet. Furthermore, social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter among many others, chat, text messages as well as websites are avenues through which cyber bullying can take place. It is to be noted that cyber bullying often is between kids, teens or even pre-teens and it will involve emails, text messages as well as rumors that are spread or posted on a social site over the internet or through the phone. Picture messages that are embarrassing, websites and even videos in addition to fake profiles are some of the means through which cyber bullying can take place. It has become quite a common social menace among young people and often those that have been victims of cyber bullying have been at one time bullied in person. Cyber bullying has great negative impacts on the life of the victims and therefore, should be dealt wi th accordingly by the relevant stakeholders who include parents, teachers as well as the government. Causes of Cyberbullying Characteristics Cyber bullying can take place at any time of the day, that is, 24/7. The kids that are targeted can be reached at any time when they are with the parents or guardians as well as when they are alone (Hoff, & Mitchell, 2009). This means that cyber bullying can take place either during the day or during the night. This trait of cyber bullying makes it quite difficult for parents or even guardians to monitor their children and even become aware of them being bullied. The second characteristic that is associated with cyber bullying is that the messages and the pictures being sent to the targeted kid can be done anonymously and can easily be distributed within a short time to a large number of people using the same sites(Hoff, & Mitchell, 2009). This is a big problem when it comes to dealing with the issue of cyber bullying because it becomes difficult to trace where the message or even picture have originated from so that the culprit can be brought to book. Finally, it is important to note that cyber bullying has quite a long lasting impact on the targeted victims. This is based on the reason that after the harassing messages, pictures or even the texts have been posted on the sites; it becomes quite difficult to erase or even delete those messages(Mishna, Khoury-Kassabri, Gadalla, & Daciuk2012). This means that every time the kid being bullied will view them and this will keep tormenting them and therefore, there is need to address such kind of issue by the relevant stakeholders. Negative effects of cyber bullying Any form of vice in the society often has its negative effects on those people that it is directed towards. In this case, cyber bullying has some of the greatest harmful effects on the lives of the kids who are victims(Mishna, Khoury-Kassabri, Gadalla, & Daciuk2012). Some of the negative impacts of cyber bullying on kids include the indulgence in drugs or even alcohol. When a kid is a victim of cyber bullying, they become frustrated. This results in the use of drugs as well as alcohol. The other negative effects of cyber bullying include the kids skipping school hence their education life becomes ruined since they tend to avoid their bullies (Campbell, 2005). The performance of the bullied kid will tend to drop as they will lack interest in their studies. Furthermore, the bullied kid will be affected in terms of their personality. The bullied kid will experience lower self-esteem since they will become afraid of facing their tormentor or even interact with other kids as they used to since they will be ridiculed (Mishna, Khoury-Kassabri, Gadalla, & Daciuk2012). Finally, it is to be noted that children or kids that experience cyber bullying will tend to experiences health complications and problems such as stress which may lead to other serious health problems. Causes of Cyber bullying There are several causes which have been identified that result in cyber bullying among kids. One of the causes is the motivation for revenge. Some of the cases of cyber bullying are as a result of kids who have been bullied in the past and therefore want to do the same to others. The second cause of cyber bullying is the belief by other kids that the victims often deserve to be bullied(Mishna, Khoury-Kassabri, Gadalla, & Daciuk2012). For example, if a certain kid is thought to be mean to others, they may decide to bully the kid to make them change or in retaliation to their meanness. Thirdly, some kids bully others because of boredom. They are looking for fun and therefore, they think that bullying others will help cheer them up. The other causes which have been identified include peer pressure from others that have been involved in cyber bullying, the perception that everyone else is involved in cyber bullying, and the beliefs that they will not be caught due to the anonymity invol ved(Mishna, Khoury-Kassabri, Gadalla, & Daciuk2012). Finally, hunger for power especially for kids from well-off families towards poor kids is also a cause in addition to lack of empathy for other kids. According to National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statisticsin the year 2010-2011 about 9% among the students that are in the 6–12 grades have at one time had an experience of cyberbullying. In the year 2013, according to Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Surveyabout 15% of the 9-12 grade students in high school to have experienced cyber bullying over the past year 2012. In conclusion, cyber bullying has become one of the most committed criminal acts among the young people and kids. However, due to the continued technological developments, it has become quite a challenge to handle the issue of cyber bullying. It is also quite difficult to determine the exact number of cases of cyber bullying considering that some of them are not reported to parents or even authorities in the schools. References Campbell, M. A. (2005). Cyber Bullying: An Old Problem in a New Guise?.Australian journal of Guidance and Counselling, 15(01), 68-76. Hoff, D. L., & Mitchell, S. N. (2009). Cyberbullying: Causes, effects, and remedies. Journal of Educational Administration, 47(5), 652-665. Mishna, F., Khoury-Kassabri, M., Gadalla, T., &Daciuk, J. (2012). Risk factors for involvement in cyber bullying: Victims, bullies and bully–victims. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(1), 63-70. Source document

Friday, August 16, 2019

Food and Tradition Essay

Culture has been existence since the time man came on the earth. Many ethnic groups have their own ways of living. Due to the new technologies and globalization, culture of many societies and families have been affected and altered in one way or the other. Some of the cultural traditions, practices, values and beliefs, values and virtues have faded away never to be heard again in within this new era with new generations. The roots of culture originate from families and clan. So the life styles are now being influenced from their fundamental points of source. This is not saying that culture will come to an end. Several families, clans which grow up to make communities and ethnic groups have struggled to this very far to preserve their culture. The survival of such cultural activities has created major concern over the last few decades. Most people have recently aroused the interest in cultural practices and this has contributed a lot to the tourism industry in our home country. Thousands of tourists are visiting our country entirely to watch over the oldest plays and cultural activities as well as to enjoy our traditional foods during such cultural occasions. This has resulted in dynamic, creative cultural practices of the oldest periods of our fore fathers. Food is something which is taken in the lightest manner possible by the new generations which we have in the entire world. They simply term it as nourishment that sustains growth or furnishes energy or does both to our bodies. They feebly attach much concentration on other importance of food other than the above. They have not known how much it contributes to the social and cultural welfare throughout our life. The role of various foods has deeper implications which are more than satisfying our hungers and other physical requirements. It may structures families schedules or it provide social activities which nurtures the family relation ships as people from one family interacts among themselves or with other family members. To a larger extend, it is used as a representation of certain ethnic identities. Thus, food is used in as part of family cerebrations or ceremonies as well as in our rituals. I as an indigenous person who hails from the northern parts of china, we have varieties of food stuffs. This ranges from the simplest agricultural products both from land cultivations and livestock. Although, the place has no reliable and sustainable rainfalls, many families produce farm products of horticultural natural through irrigation methods. Some of the produces includes vegetables and fruit, cabbages, squashes, pears grapes and apples. From livestock, they are vast lands in which people keep sheep for mutton and lamb. Generally, it is rare to get pork in such a place. This seems to have been influenced by the religion of the people. Most of the inhabitants are Muslims; hence they forbid the practice of taking pork. Pork is seriously fear by this people. The belief the eating of pork is like eating of the fresh of ones supreme being. So, the utilization of food is a very important part of the processes of life. Sometimes we fail to appreciate that food is more than just fundamental. The only other action that we connect in that is of analogous importance to our lives and to the life of our species is a sexual characteristic. But these two activities are quite different. The range of variations is substantially wider in food than in sex. In fact, the importance of food in understanding human culture lies precisely in its infinite inconsistency. For endurance needs, all men everywhere could eat the same food measured only in calories. However, people are of different backgrounds and eat very differently. Chinese eat varieties of foods in their meals which are characterized by quite notable flexibility and adaptabilities. The mixture of different meals in their ingredients remains to be distinctive in the appearance and tastes as well as the flavours. This varies from one cultural activity to another. During the festive occasion of circumcision, children are circumcised to graduate from their childhood to youthful hood. At this particular occasion, people use legume in higher quantities. This includes soybeans, broadens, pea nut and mung beans. They are used to make rapid healing of the wounds. It is also necessary to take bitter spices such as garlic and cinnamons which acts as reminder of the bitter activity they have gone through. (Gernet, 1962) Apart from circumcision ceremonies, many families do not eat meat products during the periods of tragedy such as death. In our culture, meat products are as result of shedding blood to the ground. Shedding of blood is one the acts which are sternly against the practices of our traditions. So, at such time of mourning, people cease from using the meat products which results from blood shed of animals. They believe that this is a sign of maintain peace with their super natural being. Once we eat such products, it like we are provoking the anger of the supreme nature. Thus, the common meals that are taken contain foods full of starch. Reference: Gernet, J. (1962): Daily Life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion: Stanford University Press

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Meteor Missile

The Meteor is a fast and highly manoeuvrable Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile (BVRAAM) air-to-air weapon. Guidance is provided by an active radar seeker benefiting from enhanced technologies drawn from the MBDA Aster and Mica missile programmes. The meteor was designed to equip the Euro fighter Typhoons of the UK's Royal Air Force (RAF), Germany's Luftwaffe, Spain's Ejercito del Aire and Italy's Aeronautica Militare Italiana, the British and Italian F-35s (both in the Air Force and Navy), the Dassault Rafales of France's Armee de l'Air and Marine Nationale, and the Saab JAS 39 Gripens of Sweden's Flygvapnet. The missile is allocated targets from the launch aircraft radar and is capable of engaging air targets autonomously by night or day, in all weather and in severe electronic warfare environments. The increasing proliferation of state of the art Air to Air threats, that are challenging the already in service Air to Air combat system is a critical challenge for modern Air Forces which is answered by the Meteor. The missile’s ramjet propulsion system gives Meteor its high speed performance and the energy to defeat fast, manoeuvring targets at long range. Meteor is equipped with both a proximity and impact fuse to ensure total target destruction in all circumstances. The missile trajectory is controlled aerodynamically using four rear-mounted fins. Meteor's control principles are intended to allow high turn rates while maintaining intake and propulsion performance. MBDA Meteor is capable of engaging air targets autonomously, whether fighters, bombers, transport aircraft or cruise missiles by using its active radar seeker by day or night and in all weather or dense EW (Electronic Warfare) environments. Meteor’s solid fuel variable-flow rocket/ramjet propulsion system will ensure a range in excess of 100 km and a speed of more than Mach 4 and high terminal velocity. Even when launched from extreme stand-off ranges, the missile will have the energy in the end game to defeat fast, manoeuvring targets. To ensure total target destruction, the missile is equipped with both proximity and impact fuses and a fragmentation warhead that is detonated at the optimum point to aximise lethality. Guidance is ISN, two-way data link and active Ku-band radar seeker. It can receive targeting data after launch from the launching fighter or another fighter. The two-way data-link partially solves the IFF problem at long ranges. It is designed to defeat current and future threats; Meteor provides the long stand-off range and high kill probability which combine to ensure air superiority and pilot survivability.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Cousin vinny

Thank you. † The movie Director: Jonathan Lynn Plot Us Mary: Bill Gambling and Stanley Retentions are two friends from New York University who just received scholarships to UCLA They decide to drive throw GHz the South. Once they arrive in Alabama, they stop at a local convenience store to pick up a few snacks. But, no sooner than they leave the store, they are arrested. They had thought that they were arrested for shoplifting, but they were arrested for mum order and robbery.Worse, they are facing execution for this crime. Bill and Stan do not have enough money for a lawyer, so the good news is that Bill has a lawyer in his FAA mill, his cousin, Vincent Laggardly Gambling. The bad news is that Finny is an inexpert n ceded lavaÐ’Â »year who has not been at a trial. So, Finny has to defend his clients and beat lee an uncompromising judge, some tough locals, and even his fiancee, Mona Lisa Vi to, who just does not know when to shut up, to prove his client's innocence.But he w ill soon realize that he is going to need help. Personal Response: Primarily, I thought the film was very funny. I loved the actor/ actress and the overall storyline was great. L liked the movie because it was comical while also being s errors at mom points. Loved the relationship between Finny and Lisa; they were funny together however, they helped each other throughout the film no matter how much the eye argued .It honestly had to be the best part Of the movie for me because even though t hey argued constantly you could still tell that the two bought out the best in one a another. I kind of had a feeling that if Vinson the case it would be in part because of help from sis because the whole time she was so adamant in trying to help him win. So when she showed him the photos I had an idea that something in them would be the kicker to turn the case around completely, and that's exactly what happened.I loved the e fact that Finny turned out to be a good lawyer, and that the case was won. There wasn't much that I disliked about the film, the only problem I had was n the beginning where there were many unnecessary misunderstandings such as w why the two young men were being convicted and how Finny came into the picture. I din' understand the reason that the two boys were getting arrested for something they didn't do because they were too stupid to ask what they were being arrested for, an d the cop didn't bother to tell them until they got there.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

To what extent have the Millennium Development Goals been a success Essay - 3

To what extent have the Millennium Development Goals been a success - Essay Example e MDGs included the eradication of abject poverty, promotion of the achievement of universal primary education, realization of gender equality and eradication of child mortality (German Watch, 2010:12). Improving maternal health, promoting global partnership for development, eradicating the most notorious disease such as Malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, and the promotion of environmental sustainability were also among the set MDGs (German Watch, 2010:12). Thus, this being the year when the MDGs were meant to have been achieved, it becomes necessary to take stock of their implementation, to establish whether the MDGs have been a success. However, it can be argued that; although much progress has been made towards realizing the MDGs, many targets are still unmet. The fact that the MDGs have been achieved to a larger extent cannot be denied. The current success stories coming from Africa, Asia and some parts of Latin America are, goes to show that the set target to realize the MDGs by 2015 has made a greater impact in these regions (Manning, 2009:33). While not all of the success stories and positive transformation in these regions can be attributed to the MDGs, there is no doubt that the MDGs have played an important role in enhancing eradication of poverty and promoting development in Africa, Asia and Latin America (Melamed & Scott, 2011:2). Poverty reduction, as one of the eight goals set for achievement by 2015, is an area where the MDGs have had notable success. The poverty reduction target has had success both in the partnership between the developed and the LCDs in projects that would eradicate poverty, as well s in the prioritization of the poverty eradication programs by the LCDs (Easterly, 2009:27). In this respect, the MDGs have been termed as the most successful story in the eradication of poverty in the global history of policy interventions. The proportion of the people living in extreme poverty has been halved within the fifteen year period, where