Monday, September 30, 2019

Business Strategy of British Airways

According to the Annual Report, 2009, the main strategic intent of the BA this year is to become ‘the world’s leading global premium airline’. A few main strategies of British Airways are identified; firstly, BA want to ensure that customers receive unique premium service whenever they fly with BA and no matter where they are, for example, they would like to improve the Terminal 5’s facilities and other lounges in different airports. Secondly, new produced will be launched, such as new aircraft, upgrade long haul’s flight business class seats and redesign First class cabin. Lastly, BA wants to work closely with BAA in order to improve baggage and punctuality at Heathrow Airport and to keep up their good reputation among customer, and continue being the leading airline in London (BA Annual Report, 2009). British Airway External Environment Analysis Porter’s Five Forces In order to have a well – planned development of organisation future strategy, it is crucial to analysis the competitions within the industry, which may be threaten to the business. Porter (1980) developed a framework and proposed five forces that may affect the degree of competition with other competitors. These five forces are the threat of new entrants to the industry; the threat of substitute products; the power of buyers or customers; the power of supplier and rivalry among businesses in the industry (Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008). Rivalry among competitors Competitive Rivalry BA is facing a very high competitive rivalry, as recent years, higher competition among the short haul flights, budget airline such as Easyjet and Ryanair have been very popular, the old- established airlines such as Virgin Atlantic and Cathy Pacific have also been in a high market competition, according to Shaw (2004), they almost used the same models of aircrafts. Also the government has a strict control on the frequencies and the timing of the flight slot, and also strict pricing policy. Therefore, reputation of the airlines becomes more important for the customers to be loyal.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

African religion Essay

Religion is being described as the belief in a supernatural power considered as creator and governor of the universe. The indigenous African people honored a superior being before the recording of history. They practiced voodoos, witchcraft, black magic, obyah and oledamare. The foundation of African traditional religion is faith based upon dogmatism. They have the kind of faith that does not require any evidence. The African traditional religion has great belief in the presence of spirits. Spirits, for the ancient African people, may be found in people, trees, animals, rivers, rocks, and mountains, and also in automobiles. The Africans loathe crimes such as adultery, stealing, cheating, and suicide. The Africans believe that these spirits convey their wishes, demands and instructions to other people through the traditional priests. These priests perform rituals to the satisfaction of their clients who turn to them for the interpretation of the spirit’s message. In Africa, there is a ritual performed for every event which are held through a dance, music or art that have been transformed into many forms. Yes, Africans do have their religion which actually centers on God just like Christians do. God is being perceived as the source of life and the creator of everything. For the Africans, creation is the sole work of God and there’s no other explanation for creation other than this. God is viewed as the omnipotent, the everlasting, ever faithful and the most merciful Father. Symbols also play an important part in the African society. These are conveyd into the religious sphere to build a strong connection between the unseen â€Å"spirits† and the living. We see these symbols on walls or printed on the clothes worn by the traditional priests and other people who wish to express their mood through any of these symbols. Source: Aderibigbe G. , â€Å"African religion and Christianity in dialogue: an appraisal from the African perspective,† Africana Marburgensia 32 (1999),

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Option Pricing Model in Valuing a Company in the Context of Pfizer Dissertation

Option Pricing Model in Valuing a Company in the Context of Pfizer - Dissertation Example His constant guidance and positive attention helped researcher to concentrate more on the research topic. The researcher would also like to thank his other professors for acting as a support system when required along with helping and guiding when needed and required. The support and cooperation of the University in allowing access to the library helped in referring to different study materials that further help in understanding the research topic in a sound manner. The researcher would also like to thank his family for being there as a strong support system often guiding and supporting along with enhancing the level of motivation and excitement through kind and positive feedback. The researcher feels blessed to have friends who not only shared their views and opinions on the research topic bust also brainstormed to add more value to the research topic. Overall, the researcher would like to acknowledge the efforts and support of everyone playing an important role in the entire resear ch process. Without the support and cooperation of above mentioned people, the research would have been an aimless journey lacking depth and understanding. The researcher expresses his deep gratitude for all the support and guidance along with being thankful to everyone for being so kind and supportive throughout the research journey. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1.Introduction 4 1.1 Introduction to the Research Topic 4 1.2 Research Aims and Objectives/ Questions 5 1.3 Scope of the Research 6 1.4 Rationale for the Research Topic 7 1.5 Limitations of the Research 8 1.6 Methodology 9 1.7 An Overview of Pfizer 10 1.8 Summary 11 Chapter2.0 Literature Review 12 2.1 Introduction 12 2.2 An Overview of Options 12 2.3 Types of Options 14 2.4 Factors Affecting Options 16 2.5 Application of Option Pricing Model 18 2.6 Option Pricing Model in Real World 19 2.7 Option Pricing Model and Historical Data 20 2.8: Summary 21 Section 3.0 Research Methodology 22 3.1 Introduction 22 3.2 Research Philosophy 22 3.3 Research Approach 23 3.4 Data Collection Methods 23 3.5 Data Analysis Methods 24 3.6 Ethical Considerations 24 3.7. Strengths of the Methodology 25 3.8: Limitations of the Methodology 25 Chapter 4.0 Findings and Analysis 26 4.1 Introduction 26 4.2 Value based Management 26 4.3: Economic Value Added 28 4.4: Market Value Added 29 4.5: Option Pricing Models 30 4.6: General Findings 32 4.7: Summary 34 Chapter 5.0 Conclusion and Recommendations 35 5.1 Introduction 35 5.2 Conclusion 35 5.3: Recommendations for Future Research 36 5.4: Recommendations for Pfizer 36 5.5: Reflection 37 5.6 Summary 37 BIBLIOGRAPHY 38 CHAPTER-1.0: INTRODUCTION 1.1: Introduction to the Research Topic Business environments have always been unpredictable and hard to understand and therefore, it becomes important to understand the intricacies of business environments and financial concepts that will help in understanding the growth and development of organsiations. In finance, the time value of assets and o rgansiations is calculated through the analysis of intrinsic and extrinsic values that vary in a great manner (Aswath, 2008). In finance, the concept of â€Å"Option† is defined as a derivative financial instrument specifying a contract between two parties for a future transaction revolving around an asset at a reference price (Aswath, 2008) In today’s time, the concept of option pricing has emerged as a safeguarding tool for a number of organsiations willing to

Friday, September 27, 2019

Nike Growth Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nike Growth Strategy - Essay Example At the time of entering foreign markets such as Japan, Europe, and others Nike Inc used the strategy of opening flagship stores and franchise. Flagship stores proved quite successful for Nike Inc due to its strength of generating compelling products that might excite the target customers. Major befit of franchising is that the company does not have to take the total risk of foreign investment. The franchise owners take all possible risks and also finance the maximum percentage of start-up cost. On the other side, the company takes more than 50% of profit for from the franchisees as their brand value. This is one most cost-effective entry process of any business for foreign market entry. Along with franchising, the company also prefer opening of flagship stores in new markets as an effective entry mode. Though this mode is comparatively more cost and risk associated strategy the company can present strong market awareness and brand presence in the new market. Again, the flagship store mode of entry allows the company to enjoy 100% profit from sold goods in these stores. In 1992, the company under consideration decided to enter India in association with SIEPL or Siera Industrial Enterprise Private Limited. The objective of Nike was to tap the Indian market and to receive royalties. The WestEnd Store of the company is the resultant of partnership with Timera Group which is also a leader in the wholesale and retail manufacturing across the areas of U.S., Europe, and the Middle East.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Assimilation paper Communication Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Assimilation Communication - Research Paper Example However, for an effective human communication, four things need to be done. The representation of information from the sender should be clear. The receiver must receive the information and ask questions to clarify issues. The mode of delivery should be considerate of the needs and situation of both parties. The information has to be in line at some level with the beliefs of the receiver. Human communication occurs every day, every time, everywhere in the world in successive processes. Human communication on all levels of communication has become a part of our life. Therefore, human communication is concluded as an interconnected form of communication, existing as systems governed by rules and laws, which can portray different messages though the same information is sent. The relationships and interactions in communication seek to achieve goals with reduced costs and increased benefits. (Littlejohn and Karen 151) The theories of communication strengthen this conclusion. Constructivism Jesse Delia theorized this theory of communication in 1982. The communication constructivism theory explains there is a greater capacity in terms of sophisticated communication among people that are cognitively complex in perceiving others that helps them in the achievement of positive outcomes (Littlejohn and Karen 180). These persons may employ the logic of rhetorical message design creating a person-centered message pursuing multiple goals of communication simultaneously. The theory deals with the cognitive processes preceding actual communications in a given situation. Observing and measuring these processes is a painstaking task difficult to complete. The theory however states that deducing that those who are cognitively complex do not always achieve more success. A statement claiming otherwise is a misrepresentation of the truth. Multiple truths varying with the abilities of creation and understanding of messages, which are cognitively complex by the receiver and the communic ator. This is the epistemological assumption of the theory the ontological assumption lies in the ability of some people to act in a rhetorical design. Others make use of conventional or expressive designs. The theory value conscious as it recognizes the capacity of influence of value without subscribing to any specific pattern (Littlejohn and Karen 182). The theory is a scientific one that seeks to explain the attainment of interpersonal communication success (Littlejohn and Karen 216). In the process, it concludes that more success is attained by people who are cognitively complex as they use the logic of rhetoric design in sending messages. However, the application of this theory is a complex undertaking due to the difficult and complex nature of the process of studying cognitive processes. Symbolic interactionism Symbolic interactionism is the learning of interpretation and giving meaning to the world in the process of interactions with others. This theory attempts to explain th e interaction of people through symbols (Littlejohn and Karen 128). The basis of the theory is the human ability to generate a complex set of symbols used to convey messages. In the theory, a family is labeled a unit of interacting personalities. The interactions of the people in their environment evolve the symbols applied in the interpretation of the actions. Understanding human

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Case Management (see Instruction Below) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Case Management (see Instruction Below) - Essay Example The responsibility of looking after ones health is shared by the person himself, his family, and local community. The emergences of issues pertinent to health services make health the concern, not only by a nation, but on a global scale. According to Delaune and Ladner (2006), â€Å"changes in health care delivery in recent years have resulted in an increasing emphasis on cost containment and have subsequently created several unique management models†. One of these models is the case management system whose goal is to assist the patient in maintaining optimal level of health with the least amount of intervention from health care providers. The complexity of the role of a case manager can be viewed in relation to the holistic approach he is expected to implement in the continuum of health care. Delaune and Ladner (2006) define case management as â€Å"a methodology for organizing client care through an episode of illness so that specific clinical and financial outcomes are achieved within an allotted time frame†. The American Case Management Association provides this definition: â€Å"case management in hospital/health care systems is a collaborative practice model including patients, nurses, social workers, physicians, other practitioners, caregivers and the community. The case management process encompasses communication and facilitates care along a continuum through effective resource coordination. The goals of case management include the achievement of optimal health, access to care and appropriate utilization of resources, balanced with the patient’s right to self determination.† Various literatures have identified the roles and responsibilities of case managers as those encompassing the basic functions as expected of a manager: planning, organizing, directing and controlling all aspects of patient care. Delaune and Ladner (2006) averred that â€Å"the nurse assumes responsibility in planning, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating care for

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Humanitarian intervention Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Humanitarian intervention - Case Study Example These abstract definitions, which are often social constructs, become even more problematic when viewed through the lens of legitimate ethical concerns. Does a foreign power have the right to intervene and restore order when the disruption of food supplies results in the starvation of massive numbers of children' Does a world military power have the moral obligation to inflict democracy on a people that are oppressed economically, politically, and socially and do not have the benefit of free elections and choice' These questions have come before the international bodies such as the United Nations (UN) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in recent years as the Palestinian oppression, the atrocities in Kosovo, and the genocide in Darfur beg for resolution and are met with impasse and impotence on the world stage. Humanitarian relief and armed intervention is an issue too complex to be limited by preset rules and needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis with morality a nd ethics as the only relevant veto powers available. The problems that are presented by international bodies in pursuing an armed humanitarian intervention are very clearly evident in the conflict that arose in Kosovo in 1998-1999. International law presented several obstacles to any unilateral or multi-lateral actions without the near unanimous consent of the United Nations. Article 2(4) of the UN Charter explicitly prohibits military intervention into the internal affairs of any state, and that prohibition extends regardless of ideology (democratic or dictatorial), morality of the ruling government, or intervention for humanitarian purposes (Henkin, 1999, p.824). According to UN rules, certain ruling members have a veto power and in the case of Kosovo, Russia and China were willing to block any unanimous consensus on military intervention. Due to post Cold War animosities, "geography and politics rendered unanimity by the permanent members in support of military action (especially in the Balkans) highly unlikely" (Henkin, 1999, p.82 5). The United Kingdom, with support of the US, moved forward without the approval of the UN, opting instead to invoke the collective approval of NATO as a legitimate international body that took precedence over the UN based on regional concerns and authority. Legal scholars generally agree that the NATO action in Kosovo was in violation of international law, though it can be justified through ethical and moral reasoning. While there is some debate on the ultimate effectiveness of the campaign and the amount of suffering alleviated, the focus should remain on the intent of the action. There is no doubt that there were political pressures that moved the impetus to provide humanitarian relief. The NATO action in Kosovo was taken to provide humanitarian relief, avert further catastrophe, prevent the destabilization of key parts of Europe, and to maintain the legitimacy of NATO (Wedgwood, 1999, p.829). Taken one at a time these goals may be insufficient, but their collective weight makes the action more acceptable. However, the fact that this was a Caucasian country and a Euro-centric action cannot be overlooked. Would this action have been initiated if the population were a black African nation' According to Coady (2002, p.26), "responses to exterminations need close examination lest they do contain elements of mere prejudice,

Monday, September 23, 2019

The difference between alternative and conventional medicine Thesis

The difference between alternative and conventional medicine - Thesis Example It is very interesting to know that the number of individuals who visit alternative therapies is already higher than those individuals who visit the Western-based physicians. (Eisenberg et al., 1998) Even though some people make use of CAM as a substitute for a conventional medicine (Druss & Rosenheck, 1999), several studies believe that the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) could complement the use of a conventional medicine (Egede et al., 2002; Druss & Rosenheck, 1999). In line with the use of CAM, there are also several studies suggesting that the patients’ use of CAM is a major factor that makes some people avoids the use of conventional medicine (Robinson et al., 2002; Astin, 1998). Despite the significant increase in the use of CAM, there are still many people who remain unclear with regards to the differences between alternative and conventional medicine. To enable the readers have a better understanding with regards to the differences between the two types of medicine, the definition of alternative and conventional medicine will first be provided followed by discussing some general information about the use of CAM and conventional medicine. This study will gather some past and present academic literature that discusses and differentiate alternative medicine from a conventional medicine. After discussing the major factors behind the shift from conventional medicine to the use of CAM, the effectiveness between CAM and conventional medicine will be compared and contrast. As part of the conclusion, whether or not alternative medicine is better than a conventional medicine will be justified. Alternative medicine is â€Å"a form of healing arts that is not taught in a traditional Western medical schools that could promote options to the use of conventional medicine† (MedicineNet.com, 2007). It is basically â€Å"a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not currently considered

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Atomic force microscopy Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Atomic force microscopy - Lab Report Example The material to be scanned is placed below the tip, as the tip moves across the surface it is attracted or repelled by different forces, the atomic deflection from rest is recorded and an imaging software is used to process the results. The results normally appears as a topographical image of the surface imaged2. Different imaging techniques are used to picture the surface or for different surface analysis, they include the contact mode, non-contact mode and tapping mode. With assistance from specialized software, Atomic Force Microscope can be used to measure characteristics of material surface that other types of microscope cannot image. This method is whereby the tip gets into contact with the surface being scanned, it is the most common mode used in atomic force scanning. The tip have a repulsive force coefficient of 9N. As the tip moves over the surface, the deflection of the cantilever generated is fed to a DC amplifier system, which verifies it and tries to much it with the desired. If the magnitude of deflections is different from the required one, the feedback amplifier system increases the voltage supply to the piezoelectric positioning system to raise or lower the material surface relative to the tip until the desired voltage is achieved3. The measure of voltage supplied to the piezoelectric positioning system gives the degree of roughness and surface features of the material. This is displayed laterally to the position of the sample. The main problem with the contact mode is the application disproportionate force to the sample by the probe leading destruction of the sample surface; this can be minimized by reducing the amount of force applied by the probe. However, there are limits to the minimum force that the operator can apply during scanning in ambient conditions. Ambient conditions possess some challenges to AFS since a thin layer of about 30 monolayers made up of

Saturday, September 21, 2019

PEP and performance analysis for rounders Essay Example for Free

PEP and performance analysis for rounders Essay There are many important skills and techniques required in Rounders. As a batter in order to successfully hit the ball the player will need to have good hand and eye co-ordination. A number of things contribute to making, a good hit, these include the hand grip you are using while holding the bat, the hand grip of the bat is bad then the direction the ball will be other target because of awkward angles. Hitting the ball in Rounders is fairly significant as it will make getting the ball pass the opposition easier allowing you to ran around more bases allowing you to score more points for your team. Also when hitting the ball in a batter role it is important to keep you head in an up-right position this is because if you hit the ball with your head in an awkward position it will affect the direction the ball will go because of your lack of area awareness. Stance is important in Rounders because it determines whether you hit the ball well. A good stance includes, having your legs apart with knees slightly bent. When batting if you manage to hit a perfect ball then you will need good agility, to run around the bases well with out hitting them or going around them to far (if this happens it will affect you because it means your will have to run further out making your time slower because of the larger  distance you will have to run.) In Rounders when playing in a fielding position you need to have the ability to both catch and throw a ball in order to either get batter out or stop them from scoring the maximum points. The .reason you need to have the capabilities to catch is to catch someone out if they hit a high ball, this requires good co-ordination. When throwing a ball in a fielding position you need to have a good ball grip and good timing (this is because it will make the ball go accurate when thrown.) it is important to have a good grip of the ball when throwing it because if your grip is to loose then the ball will fall out of your hand. Also when you throw the ball you need to keep it up right so it goes in the direction you want it to go in. 2. (a) List in detail the strengths of the player/competitor/participant.  In Rounders Im good at hitting the ball when batting; in order for me to do this I had good hand and eye co-ordination. When batting it is good to have good hand and eye coordination because it determines whether a hit will be good or bad, I think the ball the reason why Im good at batting is because I hi the ball right in the middle making the ball go at max speed, the reason I can do this is because of the co-ordination. This also involves me having a good grip of the bat this is so I get the angle right when hitting the ball, if I did not have this angle right then I would not be able to hit the ball well directionally wise, it is important a can hit the ball in a good direction because it makes it more hard for the opposite sides fielders to get the ball and try get me out. Im also good in the fielding position where I have to stop the ball going past me and stopping the ball go a longer distance reducing the chance of the batter t score more points.  (b) List in detail the weaknesses of the player/competitor/participant.  The weaknesses of me when playing Rounders is in the fielding position where I have to throw the ball to a team mate where by it becomes possible for them to get the batter out. The reason why I think Im bad at throwing the ball long distances and in an accurate direction is because of the strength of my arms and because my co-ordination is not the best it could be. This could be because of the lack of flexibility in my arms making me not able to move my arm in a swift motion. Another weakness is the lack of agility making my body not as agile as it could be (making running in different directions harder.) 3. Suggest what raining practices might be used to improve the strengths and in particular the weaknesses you have identified.  One of the weaknesses I have found out is my lack of agility, a training practice could be set out for me where b I have to run in and out of cones in opposite directions as fast as I can while recording the tie, I can keep track of my progress by comparing the different times I have ran it in. (this test is called Illinois Agility Run and is commonly used with sport competitors throughout the world.) I can also use ladders in m exercise, going through them as fast as I can see what time I did and then improving it. This will help my timing and it will tune my muscles into knowing where my feet are, giving me a better sporting feel.  To improve my throwing ability I can set out a base with a thin pole in it and see how many times I can hit it, if this activity gets to easy I can always position myself further away from the pole and as time goes on I should see my coordination levels increase as my muscle more gets more use to doing this exercise thus making m directional throwing better.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Challenges Of The Indian Textile Industry Marketing Essay

Challenges Of The Indian Textile Industry Marketing Essay Scale: Indian Textile Industry is highly fragmented Industry that is lead by several small-scale industries. Because of this, there is lack of Industry Leadership. These small companies do not have fiscal resources to invest in technological up-gradation and they are not able to generate economies of scale. This leads to inability to establish a world-class competitive player. All the sectors except spinning face the problem of scale. India has very few large firms and other firms are generally smaller than their Chinese or Thai counterparts. Some of the Chinese large firms have 1.5 times higher spinning capacity, 1.25 times denim (and 2 times gray fabric) capacity and about 6 times more revenue in garment than their counterparts in India  [1]  which in turn gave an effect on the overall cost distribution along with the ability to attract customers with big orders. No of Exporters Source: CRISIL Skill and Labor productivity: Though Industry has cheap and skilled manpower but they are less productive comparative to other south Asian countries. Low Labor productivity due to lack of skills and modernized infrastructure is making Indian textile industry less productive than other competitor nations. An Industry and Regional Perspective Source: Economics Program Working Paper Series: The Cost Competitiveness of the Manufacturing Sector in China and India (Bart van Ark, Abdul Azeez Erumban, Vivian Chen, Utsav Kumar) Along with the labor productivity issues three other issues are of important consideration: (a) there is a lack of technical manpower -there are only 30 programmes at graduate engineering (including diploma) levels graduating nearly 1000 students this number is insufficient for bringing about significant technological change in the textile sector; (b) Investment by Indian firms for training of its existing workforce is very limited and the skills are confined to already existing processes; (c) there is serious dearth of trained operators and supervisors in India. It is expected that Indian firms will have to invest close to Rs. 1400 bn by year 2010 to increase its global trade to $ 50 bn. This kind of investment would require about 70,000 supervisors and 1.05mn operators in the textile sector and at least 112,000 supervisors and 2.8mn operators in the apparel sector (assuming a 80:20 ratio of investment between textiles and apparel).  [2]  In this situation the real bottleneck t o growth is going to be availability of skilled manpower. Poor Infrastructure: Technological Obsolescence and low degree of modernization in various steps of value chain affects the quality, cost and distribution. The general trend in the country is to go for second hand and outdated looms thus resulting in lower productivity and quality. Raw material from power looms and handloom is of low quality. Though India is a hub of IT services, they are not effectively implemented in textile sector to improve the productivity 1.png Inadequate Research Development and Lack of Technology Upgradation: Government of India has done significant investment in various schemes and other programmes for the growth and development of the industry. It launched Technology up gradation fund scheme in 1999 and issues Rs 916 bn for technology upgradation. However TUFS have not benefited all the segments of the Textile Value Chain -large parts of the funds have gone to the relatively healthier spinning sector. 2.png Low FDI: Lack of scale and the fragmented nature of industry have discouraged mega investments in the Indian textile industry. Unattractiveness of the industry has resulted in abysmal FDI inflows, despite 100% FDI being allowed under the automatic route. These drawbacks created a hurdle to make industry more competitive on the global basis. Legacy of government policy: Government followed protectionist policy for handlooms (labour-intensive and seen as a means to sustain employment) vis-à  -vis power looms mills. India had antiquated labour laws. The companies have often broken their business down into small units to avoid any trouble created by labor unionization. India also maintained capacity restrictions for a long time because government wanted to incentivize Small-scale industries. The Land and urbanization laws resulted in closure of urban mills and lack of import subsidies on advanced machinery resulted on limited technology advancement. Lack of Trade membership: India is serious lacking in trade pact memberships, which leads to restricted access to the other major markets. This issue made others to impose quota and duty, which put scissors on the sourcing quantities from India. High Power Tariff: After raw material, power cost is the most significant cost in the whole supply chain. High power cost and erratic supply hampers the production in India. High Cycle time for garments: Cycle time is the key factor in determining the competitiveness of a firm. It has a direct impact on both price and delivery schedule. Cycle time reduction is strongly correlated with high first pass yield, high throughput times, low variability in process times, low WIP and consequently cost. Currently Indian firms have high lead times and they must reduce their cycle times across the entire supply chain.   The average lead time in manufacturing and delivery sums to around 45-60 days from fabric buying to shipment of apparels. It can also get extended to 80 days. The mean delay in exporting finished garments from India after procurement of raw materials is estimated to be 15.5 days. The shelf life of products driven by fashion is merely 45 days therefore, such delays are indefensible. In contrast Turkey completes entire task ranging from approval of design to delivery in warehouse in a flat 30 days cycle  [3]  . Turkey also has the strategic advan tage of being located close to EU markets and positive liberal political conditions. Customs must provide a turnaround time of  ½ day for an order if we expect Indian firms to become part of larger global supply chains. Indian textile firms must enforce a deployment of industrial engineering with specific importance on cellular manufacturing, JIT and statistical process control to minimize lead times on shop floors. Usage of IT for increasing the productivity is also low in this sector. Indo French Collaboration Machinery: The French textile machinery Manufacturers has established a firm foothold on the international markets for many years. France is the European Unions third largest exporter of textile machinery and the sixth largest in the world. More than one hundred countries have chosen them as their partners to whom they export 90% of their national production. They are a dynamic group of companies who created years ago a private professional Association UCMTF (French Association of Textile Machinery Manufacturers), whose aim is the promotion of the French machines and French companies. The specialized sectors of the French textile machinery industry are: Spinning preparation machinery Long fibre spinning machinery Fibre opening, fibre blending machinery, textile waste recovery Cards Nonwovens manufacturing line Such expertise if augmented with Indian government support can help the issues associated with poor infrastructure and machinery resulting in poor quality of fabric and thus increase the competitiveness of Indian textile in global market. The French textile machinery manufacturers also realized the importance of the Indian textile industry. They invited the Indian textile producers to a series the Indo-French seminar French Technology to Boost the Indian Textile Industrys Competitiveness which were held in Mumbai and Ludhiana on 20th and 23rd April 2010 respectively. The aim of this seminar was to regularly facilitate direct contacts between the Indian textile producers and the top management of the French machinery producers. In words of Mrs Evelyne Cholet, the Secretary General of UCMTF- Organization of such seminars in India is very important at present especially when the Indian Government realizes the importance of new investments in textile machinery to stimulate this strategic sector. The technical textiles sector for which France has an expertise is another sector which has great potential in India This endeavor is supported by Indian government as these seminars were held under the patronage of the office of the Textile Commissioner Ministry of Textiles and Government of India. The French Trade Commission of the Embassy of France in India, Ubifrance (Frances agency for the international development of French companies) and the French Textile Machinery Manufacturers Association (UCMTF) were co-organizers of the seminars. Technical Textile: India is at the threshold of technical textile development, which is set to play a huge role in the development of the countrys various facilities, thus offering the greatest growth potential in this sector. Owing to the rise in demand for value added textile products in the developed nations, the technical textile industry is said to grow around 4 5 percent. According to the recent research by the Textiles Committee, the technical textile industry in India is expected to grow at a rate of 11% anually and reach a size of around $14 billion by 2012. The current size of the market is little less than $8 billion and the projected investment in this sector is around $1000 million. Technical textiles correspond to a multi-disciplinary field with different applications in numerous fields such as medicine, aerospace sports, defence, agriculture and construction. France has already developed expertise in this segment. In France, the technical textile industry comprises nearly 600 companies, consisting of very small businesses, numerous SMEs and big groups alike. Some twenty trades are represented, from fibre production and spinning through to clothes-making and assembly, and cover 12 sectors of application. This type of material is regularly used in widely varying fields such as packaging, protection and safety, clothing, construction, transport, the environment and the medical sector. All these mutually complementary companies work within a network of technical centres, laboratories, universities, competitiveness clusters and professional associations. Their excellence is recognized far beyond the borders of France. Indian manufactures can learn a lot from French technologies and products in technical textile segment. In order to facilitate this learning Techtextil India International Trade Fair for Technical Textiles and Nonwovens is organized where pavilions from Germany, Frnace and Italy present their latest innovations. The objective of the fair is to achieve a future oriented perspective and practical technical information in a range of presentations and discussions specially formulated for the high potential Indian market. Techtextil India is supported by the Office of the Textile Commissioner of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. In words of Mr. Dayanidhi Maran, Union Textiles Minister, present at Techtextil 2009- The technical textile industry has a high potential to attract investments worth $1.03 billion and generate around 3,00,000 additional employment by 2012. Since India has highly-skilled manpower and abundant availability of raw material, it can emerge as a key player in the technical textiles industry Innovation through Competitive pole: In order to improve the highly fragmented textile industry of India the French model of competitive poles can be applied. Since French textile industry is a mature sector, innovation is the key factor driving the industry. The French textile industry has been re-organised in the past few years in order to respond to the current innovation and technology creation needs. In 2004, the  «Ã‚  Pà ´les de Compà ©titività ©Ã‚  Ã‚ » (Competitive Poles) were put in place to respond to this need. These poles are associations that group enterprises, research centres, and public and private training institutions. The objective of these poles is to create the environment to the economical renewing of the regions by implementing new products and services. Innovation is, therefore, in the centre of the competitive poles. There are in France now 71 poles spread across the country. The programmes of the poles are financed by the government, by 1.5bn EUR each year in total (including all industries and activities), but local authorities and associations also contribute to the financing. The competitive pole is organized under 2 main axis: Technical textiles Customization of clothing textiles The Lile region is a key example of the competitive pole approach. Nowadays, more than 50 % of the textile engineer in France are graduated in the metropolitan area of Lille Mà ©tropole at lENSAIT and HEI. Technical trainings are also available at the ESAAT. The UP-tex is the pole dedicated to the textile, technical and traditional (clothing), that is located in the metropolitan area of Lile. The UP-tex works as an association of enterprises, research centres, and centres dedicated to technology transference. Its ambition is to become the European reference in terms of advanced textile materials, polysensoriality and design and mass customisation. Furthermore, the labelling of the competitive pole UP-tex has also contributed to the reinforcement of Liles position as a reference in terms of innovative and clothing textiles. The UP-tex has as objectives: Develop the project of the  «Ã‚  customized enterprise  Ã‚ », in order to create a new value chain to the textile  / clothing branch Promote the national and international plan of the high-performance textile regional pole, its economic network (through the CLUBTEX) and its scientific competences Create basis for the emergence of an European technological platform through the creation of the CETI (French  : Centre Europà ©en du Textile Innovant, English: European centre of the Innovative textile) Support the research projects by the attribution of labels to selected projects Further develop innovation in the textile and clothing industry CLUBTEX, which is the association of local industrials to promote innovation in technical textiles, is key element to the success of the Lile textile pole. The association is grouping, nowadays, 58 industrial, 1 union and 6 training and researching centres, all with one common objective to create innovation through the mutualisation of resources. The industries participating in CLUBTEX produce under the SPL (SPL  : French for Systà ¨me Productif Local , in English  : Local Production System) District Textiles Techniques label, which helps on the identification and differentiation of the products towards the customers. Recommendations Government Initiatives: Government can take actions under the following heads for improving the textile industry: Flexibility of contract labor law: Labor Laws should be more liberalized and made favorable that will help to make labor more productive. Textile industry should be exempted from contract labor law Better implementation of TUF: Government should focus on providing uniform disbursement of incentives through TUF Attracting FDIs: Government should provide tax incentives to attract FDI to make it more competitive in global marketplace. Establish integrated textile parks. Allow more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Garment Retailing to enable large, modern retail showrooms to set up shops in India which will promote local sourcing and will result in better production Encourage Private Sector for Partnership collaboration Develop supporting Industry: Develop textile machinery industry (currently 70% of textile machinery is imported. Faster port clearance and cheaper transport Skill development Initiatives: Set up skill development centers. More Training centers should be opened to train the workforce and awareness of new technology and trends should be increased among manpower. Collaboration with Institute like SITRA (South India Textile Research Association) for labor skill development Reduce power tariff, encourage renewable sources of energy through government subsidy, reduce interest rates and transaction costs. Setting up of quality checking laboratories to ensure global competitiveness Apparel park to promote exports: In National Textile Policy 2000 government established Apparel International Mart: Apparel Export Promotion Council has constructed an Apparel International Mart (AIM) at Gurgaon to provide showrooms on lease and license basis to the established exporters to showcase their products Aid to agriculture industry to improve the availability, productivity and quality of Raw Material: In National Textile Policy 2000 government implemented Cotton Technology Mission: To improve the performance of Cotton sector through improvement in Research Development, quality and productivity of products. The Govt. of India is aimed to increase production of cotton by 50% with improved quality and productivity Firm level Initiatives Companies should improve the productivity at firm level to develop economies of scale: Up-grading technology: Form JVs with global players for technology up-gradation and scale Implementing TQM: ensure waste minimization, product durability and reliability. Lean manufacturing: optimized distribution network and supply chain management to attain reduced cycle time Use of IT services In-house skill development program Apparel Industry Landscape Global Textile and Apparel trade is recovering after a slump during the economic recession in 2008-09, and is expected to reach US$ 1 Trillion by 2020 from the current US$ 510 Bn. The growth in trade is driven by increased outsourcing of western / developed countries towards lower cost countries in Asia. Indias Textile Apparel industry (domestic + exports) is expected to grow from the current US$ 70 bn to US$ 220 bn by 2020. The Indian domestic Textile and Apparel market size in 2009 was US$ 47 bn and is expected to grow @ 11% CAGR to reach US$ 140 Bn by 2020 Domestic Apparel retail market was worth US$33 Bn in 2009 and is expected to reach US$ 100 Bn by 2020. Export Sector: Indias exports have also recovered in 2009-10 following increased global demand and is currently worth US$ 23.5 Bn. Indian apparel exports have also grown by a CAGR of 11.7% in last 4 years. The export market includes readymade garments of cotton, man made, silk, wool and other textile materials with cotton products accounting for the major share. India has the potential to increase its export share in world trade from the current 4.5% to 8% and reach US$ 80 Bn by 2020. India has the potential of this strong growth in exports because of increased sourcing shift from developed countries to Asia. Indias also possess different strengths which makes it a suitable alternative to China for global buyers. In terms of financial returns, Apparel is the most attractive product category amongst retail product categories both in terms of Returns on Capital Employed and EBITDA. Garmenting Technical Textiles are the most attractive segments within the Apparel value chain in terms o f ROA and EBITDA. According to KPMG research investments upto US$ 68 Bn will be required by 2020 across the Textile supply chain to tap the potential market generated by the growth of textile industry. Investment required in garment sector by 2020 is to the tune of US$ 14 Bn and for processing is US$ 19 Bn. Apparel Industry: However Indian Apparel Industry is a small scale sector with high degree of fragmentation. Apparel manufacturing has about 77,000 small scale units classified as domestic manufacturers, manufacturer exporters and fabricators. Due to low entry barrier, garments industry is the least capital intensive part of textiles value chain, leading to high fragmentation. There are around 8200 registered apparel exporters in India. The turnover of 4800 exporters is less than 5 million INR which indicates the high level of fragmentation. Apparel Retailing: A huge chunk of apparel market is contributed by urban segment. Majority of this urban segment stays in few selected cities where organized retail is preferred mode of shopping thus organized retail plays a very important role in domestic apparel consumption. Total apparel and fashion accessories retail market was worth Rs.80,000 crore in 2004, which grew by 11% each year till 2006. Although organized retails chains and exclusive brand outlets are gaining momentum, traditional retailers and MBOs still dominate apparel retailing. One of the key factors for the huge growth is due to expansion by apparel brands and retailers to small but potential cities. Many global brands like Marks Spencer are getting established in India by franchisee route. Malls are expected to be one of the main drivers for growth of apparel retailing, as they provide large areas. Mens Apparel: Man apparel stands at $ 8.1bn in 2007 with a market share of 42% of total apparel market. It is expected to see high growth in near future but % share will decrease due to growth in other segments.In 2007 men apparel industry was mainly dominated by shirts accounting for 36.5% of total men segement. The established key players are Arvind mills, Madura Garment, Westside, shoppers stop and Pantaoon. Levis Strauss is the major newcomer in the same segment. Women Apparel: women apparel stands at $ 6.7bn in 2007 with a market share of 34% of total apparel market. It is expected to grow till 11bn by 2009. Some of the important changiing trends observed in this segment are Liberalization of casual wear in the office is increasing the ready to wear market Working women demand western or indo-western outfits that last in fashion and quality Saree have the higest share but trouser and skirts are growing rapidly due to changing social trends From 2002 to 2007 saree demand has shown a CAGR of 12.8% whereas Trouser and skirts have shown CAGR of 34% 1.png Kid Apparel: Kid apparel is the smallest segment of $ 4.7 bn. Licensing interntional kids apparel is a successful strategy to capture the premium market. Some popular brands in same category are Disney, Barbie etc. This segment have very little brand penetration of 5-8% but it is expected to grow at 15-20% A comparitive analysis of all segments with their expected growth is shown below: Key growth drivers for the textile and apparel Industry are : Growth in organized retailing at 41% CAGR. Increasing number of working women. Increasing household income Changing demographics Affinity for brands and better shopping experience Profile of French brands: High end/ Luxury Brands Products coverage Gender targeted Target Customer Marketing strategy Product Strategy Hermà ¨s Clothing accessories Male/Female High-end/ rich population of all ages Exclusivity is the key word. Products are very Expensive and often perceived as durable goods (can be passed from mother to daughter) Overbuying is discoraged: clients do not have the right to by more than a X number of items per collection Very high-quality, often hand-made by specialized artisans; eg. leather goods often produced by experts in Italy. Each maison has its Flagship products, that remain unchanged, or are slightly updated across collections. Pret-a-porter collections are innovative and trend-setter for the rest of the clothing industry LVMH Louis Vuitton Clothing accessories Male/Female High-end/ rich population of all ages Channel Clothing accessories Female High-end/ rich population of all ages LVMH Dior Clothing accessories Male/Female High-end/ rich population of all ages Chloà © Clothing accessories Female High-end/ rich population of all ages Yves Saint Laurent Clothing accessories Male/Female High-end/ rich population of all ages Lanvin Clothing accessories Male/Female High-end/ rich population of all ages LVMH Givenchy Clothing accessories Female High-end/ rich population of all ages Maison Martin Margiela Clothing accessories Male/Female High-end/ rich population of all ages Premium/ Middle Product Coverage Gender Targeted Target Customer Marketing Strategy Products Strategy Isabel Marant Clothing accessories Female Mid 30s/ Early 40s Targets are high-end of medium class, that cannot afford luxe but wants to buy the best product they can afford. Price sensibility is not to be neglected. Brand strengh based on notoriety, string communication campaigns and sales to clean stocks. New trend is the affiliated-brand strategy, such as Athà © and Etoile, by respectivelly V.Bruno and I.Marant, that target at different age ranges as a way to maximise sales Fit and Design are the key words. Quality is important, but not overvalued as for luxe products. Some brands will have a few flagship products, but as general rule the collections are completely renovated each season Vanessa Bruno Clothing accessories Female Mid 30s/ Early 40s Carven Clothing accessories Male / Female Mid 30s/ Early 40s De Fursac Clothing accessories Male Late 30s/ Late 40s Jacadi Clothing accessories Children 0 to 8y +/- Bonpoint Clothing accessories Children 0 to 8y +/- Gerard Darel Clothing accessories Female Mid 30s/ Early 40s Agnà ©s Clothing accessories Female Mid 30s/ Early 40s Claudine Pierrot Clothing accessories Female Mid 30s/ Early 40s Manoush Clothing accessories Female Late 20s/ Early 30s Maje Clothing accessories Female Late 20s/ Early 30s Zadig Voltaire Clothing accessories Children/ Male / Female Late 20s/ Early 30s Ba Sh Clothing accessories Female Late 20s/ Early 30s Sandro Clothing accessories Female Late 20s/ Early 30s Les Petites Clothing accessories Children/ Female Late 20s/ Early 30s Comptoir des Cotoniers Clothing accessories Children/ Female Late 20s/ Early 30s Athà © Vanessa Bruno Clothing accessories Female Late 20s/ Early 30s Etoile Isabel Marant Clothing accessories Female Late 20s/ Early 30s Kooples Clothing accessories Male / Female Whole 20s Berenice Clothing accessories Male / Female Late 20s/ Early 30s Bel Air Clothing accessories Female Whole 20s Middle/Low range Product Coverage Gender Targeted Target Customer Marketing Strategy Products Strategy Zara (Spanish) Clothing accessories Female Mid 30s/ Early 40s Disposable Fashion. Easy-to-wear collection hits, constantly renovated (short collections) Design Disposable fashion. Quality is not perceived as key product attribute. Products are often produced outside Europe Mango (Spanish) Clothing accessories Female Mid 30s/ Early 40s H M (UK) Clothing accessories Female Mid 30s/ Early 40s Naf Naf Clothing accessories Female Late 20s/ Early 30s Sud Express Clothing accessories Female Late 20s/ Early 30s PROMOD Clothing accessories Female Late 20s/ Early 30s Etam Clothing accessories Female Various Middle/Low range Product Coverage Gender Targeted Target Customer Marketing Strategy Products Strategy Uniqlo (Japan) Clothing accessories Male/ female Families looking for basic items with average quality and good price Long-lasting collections, not really fashion-driven (does not follow trends). Good value for money Le Petit Bateau Clothing accessories Children/ Female French brand in India: Based on the consumption profile we can see that women segment is the fastest growing segment and also the share of formal wear like trousers and skirts is increasing due to increasing number of working women in the society. Thus a French brand targeting female consumers in the age range of Late 20s/Early 30s will be best suited for India. Though the disposable income is increasing, the target group of women is highly value conscious hence Premium/Middle or Middle/Low class brand will perform better than the luxury brands. Also the segment purchasing luxury brands is although growing but currently too small to target. Important Parameters to consider while entering India Positioning: The most important part is the positioning in the Indian consumer mind-space. Smart casual positions are taken in by the brand such as ColorPlus, Dockers and Canary Blue. Design wear are gone with square-1 mall and Kimaya, Kazo and individual designer having their stand alone store. Any positioning below that is lapped up by Zillions of manufacturers. However there are still wide open gaps which lie agape between these broad categories which can be easily targeted. Also Indian consumers show an affinity for foreign brands as it is considered a proxy for status. Therefore even the Indian Manufactures like ITC, Madura garment give exotic names to their brands for eg John Players, Allen Solly. Location: The location is the key to the positioning, it determines and in turns reinforces positioning; in fact, with about 50% of the operational expenses are taken up by the rentals, it has assumed an even more important position. Exclusive showrooms at a high end street or space in well reputed mall are the two options for establishing a high end brand. Buying vs. Manufacturing: It is very important decision for the fore

Thursday, September 19, 2019

The Legend of The Scottish Play :: Urban Legends

The Legend of "The Scottish Play" 1) Background I interviewed a freshman theater major at the University on the topic of urban legends. The interview was conducted in my dormitory room. The nineteen-year-old female college student is originally from Delaware, and her parents are both real estate appraisers. When inquired about urban legends, she recalled the theater lore and superstitions that she knew intimately as an actress. The interviewee was particularly eager to talk about the curse associated with Macbeth, the Scottish Play. 2) Transcription of the Legend of the Scottish Play Macbeth! That’s not a superstition! That’s truth and fact! [gestures emphatically with fist] If you do Macbeth, something bad will happen; if you say, â€Å"Macbeth† in the theater, something bad will happen. I have true stories to testify to that one. Let’s see, umm what show were we doing?... Our Town, we were doing Our Town. And there are [clears throat] people in my school like to mess with people like me who believe in the Macbeth superstition, and so they’ll go into the theater and they’ll just go, â€Å"MACBETH!† and I will freak out and I tell them to go outside and spin around three times and spit over their left shoulder, because that’s the [antidote]. But they don’t, because they’re trying to mess with me, and something bad always happens. So when we’re doing Macbeth, this kid, who is one of the stage managers, I wasn’t there when it happened so I couldn’t make him go outside, but my director told me that he said, â€Å"Macbeth,† in the theatre, and so I was like freaking out and everyone was like, â€Å"don’t freak out, it’s not a big deal,† but it was, because our curtain broke. That day. Later that day, the curtain broke. It was two days before the show. Yeah. His fault. Another example. We were doing Romeo and Juliet and okay, now I know this is not an accident, but it doesn’t matter. Still, somebody said â€Å"Macbeth† in the theatre, and I told them to go outside and spin around but they didn’t do it, and then somebody stole all my costumes, and I was Juliet so it was kind of a big deal and kind of bad. It came from, because the um, the spells that are said

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Holbein vs Il Guercino :: Essays Papers

Holbein vs Il Guercino Most museum-goers would say that the artwork they are looking at is "impressive" or "interesting", but they would not usually be able to tell you why they think so. This is because, even though they hold that different pieces of work are equally beautiful, it is not often that the inexperienced eye would truly realize exactly what makes each work unique. Some of these factors include the period in which the work was done, the techniques used, and the overall emotion that the work displays. Even though these are not usually the first things that the average museum-goer thinks of, they are surely some of the most significant reasons for why art attracts so many different people with a variety of tastes and interests. Two excellent examples of how these aspects add to the magnificence of a painting while still retaining each work's uniqueness can be seen in comparing Sir Thomas More, by Hans Holbein the Younger, and Sampson Captured by the Philistines, by Guercino. These two paintings are both masterpieces in their own respects, displaying the exceptional talents of the artists and encompassing the nature of paintings during their time. Sir Thomas More, painted in 1527, is a portrait done by Hans Holbein the Younger. The portrait shows Sir More posing still, from the waist up, seated in front of green drapery, with one arm lightly resting on a type of wooden panel. This painting accurately encompasses the civil situation and spirit of the Renaissance in the North. Since religious art was traveling in a downward spiral due to the Protestant Reformation, artists were forced to look for other types of commissions. Because of the improving economy, middle-class citizens started making more money and began to commission portraits of themselves. Holbein was forced to leave his home to find work in England, where he first met Sir Thomas More and portrayed several other great humanists of the time. Holbein's painting of Sir More displays the intricate details, definite lines, rich colors, and illusionism that are associated with the Northern Renaissance. The details in this painting are countless. The individual strands of hair at Sir More's hairline, the wrinkles on his knuckles, the easily observable difference between the color of his irises and his pupils, and the "SS" chain around his neck are all details that may be easily overlooked if one was not thinking about it.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

History of Hospitality Essay

Hospitality is the extension of home like services to persons other than of one’s household or immediate relative. Hospitality involves treating strangers and guests to warm welcome into strangers’ homes. Hospitality brings people who rarely know each other together. Hospitality is traced back to as early as human existence is known. The most intelligent of human evolution, the homo sapient was identified as indicating hospitality traits. The seventeenth century in the British culture had evidence of hospitality traits, (O’Connor, 2005). The face of hospitality though has changed over the centuries to what it is today. The emphasis of persons being hospitable towards fellow people has been relaxed and only a few institutions are left to practice it. Hospitality today is not much to be practiced by everyone but by a few who are deemed to naturally possess this quality as a gift. For there to be an in depth understanding of what is entailed in hospitality, a review of the ancient definition’s and motive of hospitality is necessary. This will help us determine whether the principles on which hospitality was founded have changed over time. Among the Greeks, hospitality was viewed as a sacred activity to honor their gods and thus the whole society was obliged to be hospitable (O’Gorman, 2005). Failure to extend hospitable attitudes towards guests or strangers invited the wrath of the supernatural. Greek and Roman Societies Hospitality was thought of as transferable from generation to generation. The virtue was not only a personal choice but was also applied in public affairs. Different types of guests were received at treated variously according to their status, (O’Gorman, 2005). Traders were received differently from cultural visitors. Hospitality was exercised even at national level where state or city guests were received with honour and dignity. Commercial hospitality was rare in the early Greek civilization. In the Roman culture, hospitality was expected to be an exercise of all pennons and it was more pronounced in the Greek society. Public hospitality was exercised by Rome and other countries. Hospitality is traceable even in religious writings like the Bible. Some fundamental principles are evident from the studies of early hospitality. Underlying Principles Hospitality was viewed as necessary for human existence. Because no person was immune to requiring hospitality services at some time, there was an obligation for all to be hospitable. Hospitality established and maintained relationships which cultivated togetherness. Hospitality was further viewed as an honorable tradition deserving passing from one generation to another. Being hospitable was to be practiced all through irrespective of changes in the world. Hospitality by then was stratified in that particular groups of person were accorded different treatment according to their social standing. The extent of the different groups of guests required that laws be established to govern this. This indicates that hospitality was highly valued in these early societies. There was an unwritten law that hospitality, once extended to a person, one had to respond by extending it to others. This ensured its continuity. In the ancient set up also, hospitality was used to gain honour for persons exercising it. The more a person is involved with receiving guests and strangers into their households, the more respected they became in the society. Emphasis was laid on domestic hospitality in which guests were welcomed in households. Hospitality Today The face of hospitality has evidently changed today. The society lays little emphasis in reception of visitors or strangers at large. Domestic hospitality today is a rare phenomenon. Today’s society treats strangers with suspicion and it therefore becomes harder for people to extend hospitality. With the growing security concerns, strangers are more likely to be shunned in the suspicion that they have malicious intentions. This is more so for the developed countries where homes are fenced to lock out intruders and sensors installed to man the compound. Commercialization The society today has commercialized hospitality services to the extent that it has lost its meaning. Hospitality is exercised only when the host stands to gain financially from the guest. The building of luxurious hotels across the world emphasizes this. Rarely would a sizeable town lack accommodation facilities for guests or people in transit. Without any gain from hosting these people, such hospitality centers would be inexistent. The commercialization of hospitality has further sidelined those needing the services from receiving them. Before a guest is booked into these hotels it has to be ascertained that they are able to pay accommodation fees. Guests are also required to produce many documents to identify themselves and at times, they are required to state their motives. Some guests are turned away if the hosts doubt them. The personalized sympathetic contact between a host and guest has been lost long the way (Dittmer, 1997). Suspicion Today also extension of kindness is raise suspicion. When persons become so hospitable even in the commercial facilities, the guest realizes that their hosts must be after favours. There are standard ways of showing hospitality in the commercial facilities and all workers and obliged to follow them. But when they do more than is required, guests become wary. This is in contrast with the traditional view where acts of hospitality were interpreted as well intended. Public Hospitality Public hospitality as exercised in the past was to build relationships between cities or states. The representatives of states were sent to foreign nations to foster better relations. Such persons were supposed to be received well in alien land. Failure to receive them with dignity and respect was regarded as abuse to their native lands. Today this principle is largely applied. Countries send their representatives to foreign lands to build friendships and also negotiate deals. These representatives are received in well built guest houses set apart for this very purpose. Reception of these people with great dignity is interpreted as friendliness towards countries (Hobbs, 2001). In businesses, there are established hospitality dockets which accord certain levels of treatment to their guests. A cup of tea is offered and some companies offer more. This is an extension of the past trends of building relationships thorough hospitality. A deviation from past hospitality trends lies in today’s detachment of the virtue with religion. In the past, hospitality was largely viewed as a religious obligation. With the developments in the science world, religious issues have progressively lost much meaning to some people. This removes personal obligation on individuals to be hospitable. It shows the extent to which modern society has abandoned collective responsibility to care for strangers leaving it in the hands of the commercial institutions (Hobbs, 2001). Hospitality is a virtue that every reason should exercise. The emphasis should not be resented to commercial facilities along but just as it was the practice traditionally, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure guests and strangers are comfortable. The society today should redefine hospitality to what it used to be. Bibliography Dittmer, P. (1997) Early Development of the Hospitality Industry. Dimensions of the Hospitality Industry, New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. , pp. 33-77. O’Gorman, K (2005) Modern Hospitality: Lessons from the Past. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 12 (2), pp. 141-151. Hobbs, T (2001) Hospitality in the First Testament and the ‘Teleological Fallacy’’. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 26, (1), pp. 3-30. O’Connor, D (2005) Towards a new interpretation of hospitality. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 17, (3), pp. 267-271.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Citizenship and Governance

Every individual contributes to the making and unmaking of governments and society. While certain individuals don't necessarily engage in activities which contribute to the interests of the society they live in and governments which preside over it, most don't exactly contribute to the detriment of the system and institutions which they belong to either.In response to Aristotle's idea of what a citizen is and should constitute, in which he pronounces that one is only to be identified as such if he or she has the capacity and time for governance; I believe it overlooks other relevant duties and responsibilities an individual has and will continually have, as well as the multi-dimensional aspects of humanity which need not solely be confined to the instance of keeping to strictures and to public governance.I believe that as a working wife and mother, I reserve the right to be afforded the term â€Å"citizen;† as do every parent who has to juggle domestic and familial duties with career and paid work. The bulk of necessary responsibilities and obligations which fall on people such as myself discounts me from finding the time or capacity to engage in matters concerning national governance, but that shouldn't deprive me of being acknowledged as a citizen of this country.The necessary duties and obligations I may have to society and to government is necessarily fulfilled in looking after my children, and ensuring that they grow up to be responsible citizens and individuals like myself; and by participating in the work force or labor system, I don't believe my effort falls short of what is to be generally expected of any and every individual in this country.Ultimately, there's more than one thing to consider when it comes to regarding and acknowledging an individual's apparent â€Å"citizenship† and significance to his or her country; and it is not, and should not be confined solely to one's involvement in public governance.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Deer Hunting

Few deer live to be more than five years old because of hunting, vehicle accidents and predators. Deer are preyed upon by, wolves, bobcats, bears, coyotes, and humans. Deer hunting is the activity or sport of pursuing or chasing deer. It dates back to tens of thousands of years ago. Approximately one hundred people die in hunting accidents in the United States each year. Therefore, hunting deer is unsuccessful, unfair, pointless, unsafe, and should only be done if the deer will be eaten.Hunting can be very unnecessary especially when sport hunting. Studies show that 11 percent of deer who had been killed by hunters died only after being shot two or more times and that some wounded deer suffered for more than 15 minutes before fully passing away (â€Å"Why Sport Hunting Is Cruel and Unnecessary†, par. 3). It causes the deer to go through great pain and suffering for no very urgent reason and for the sake of mere amusement. It may make you feel stronger, but there is still no re ason to kill innocent deer.What if you were that deer that had to go through all this misery just for your unintelligent, and sickening mistake? In addition, sport hunting causes destroyed properties and injured bystanders. In 2006, former Vice President Dick Cheney accidently shot a close friend while hunting quail on a canned hunting preserve. According to the Hunter Education Association, there are more than dozens and hundreds of deaths caused by hunting in the United States each year. Yet alone those number of deaths are deaths of humans (â€Å"Why hunting is Unnecessary 2†par. 16).This is an ongoing problem that we have to stop. Hunters seem to be unfamiliar with their firearms and do not have a sufficient amount of respect for the damage that they can do. Deer hunting can also be ineffective in more than one way. It is unsuccessful for trying to solve human/deer conflicts. Studies show that throughout hunting season hunters frighten the deer out of the woods and onto t he road increasing the number of car/deer collisions (Lin, Doris, par. 10). People should not bother trying to kill deer if the result would be winding up in a huge mess.If the deer goes onto the street then most likely both the deer and human would die or be seriously injured. Think about all that happened or would happen when going to hunt that deer down . The main reason that deer hunting is ineffective is because they believe that it helps with controlling the deer population. It really depends because if trophy hunting the deer then you would most likely kill the strong male deer or bucks. That wouldn’t help at all because the female deer are the ones who breed (Roos, Dave, par. ). Do not do anything violent or brainless if not urgently necessary in the situation. When extraordinary natural occurrences cause overpopulation, natural processes should work there way back to even out the group. Even though starvation and disease may be two of the tragic ways they may stabili ze although it happens naturally (â€Å"Why Sport Hunting Is Cruel and Unnecessary†par. 9). Shooting deer because he or she might become sick or starve is unreasonable and is destructive.Those who support deer hunting believe that killing them stops all the problems that the deer cause. When hunting deer you will remove a few deer and prevent those from reproducing and prevent the deer from causing chaos on the street (Lin, Doris, and par. 5). Therefore the outcome will be less harmed people in car accidents. However, that is unnecessary because that means the other deer will have more food for themselves. Also, they would not have to fight other deer for food. Since they would have more food, they would be able to give more births to twins and triplets.That also means that the deer will normalize and give birth to fewer fawns when food is scarce (Lin, Doris, par. 10). Before going to hunt those poor creatures maybe you should think to yourself â€Å"Why kill these deer? â⠂¬  â€Å"Is there a reasonable reason? † â€Å"If so, is there better ways to solve this? † There is a better way to solve this, you can let the deer regulate themselves it might be painful but it is life. Killing does not resolve anything at all. It just makes the situation worse. People who believe killing deer helps, sad for you studies show it does not.Hunting deer is meaningless and disastrous in overpopulation and unjust to those who suffer. When citizens do this every single deer counts and will affect the future. â€Å"In which way will it affect the future? † It is not known at the moment all that is known is that we may still have the chance to make a difference in this struggling world that we live in today. However, if this continues without help from you, then believe it or not but deer will become endangered species, or worse extinct.

Perspective on social sciences Essay

Social science and social theory were to liberate the thoughts and thus aid social groups in deposing domination and repression. This formation of critical social science and social theory stands stridently at odds with the moderate positivist professionalism of mainstream sociology in the sense that it envisions human liberation as the highest rationale of intellectual commotion. Habermas has taken pains to argue that this decisive outset of social science and social theory is not opposed to what he calls the project of modernity, which commenced with the Enlightenment. Certainly, he contends that critical social theory, conceived as communication theory and ethics, accomplishes the project of modernity by further rationalizing social life in ways estimated but not completed by Weber. Though Habermas needlessly divides instrumental and communicative rationalities, much as Kant did, thus limiting the field of human liberation to communicative projects but leaving technology and its dominion of nature untouched, he masterfully reconceptualizes Marxism in ways that provide it empirical and political purchase in the present. Far from deserting modernism and modernity, Habermas argues that Marx was a modernist and that the project of modernity can simply be fulfilled in a Marxist way, although in terms that deviate drastically from the Marxist and Marxist-Leninist frameworks of the early twentieth century. Habermas supports the Enlightenment’s program of common liberation and rationality through (a reconceptualized) Marx. This assurance to the Enlightenment and modernity must absolve critical social theorists such as Habermas of the inductions that they are Luddites, antimodernists, anarchists. Far from inadequate academic life, including social science and social theory, to be abridged to didactic political education, Habermas wants to open academic life to genuine debate and diversity, which he theorizes in terms of his communicative ethics. though the characterization of left academics as bigoted supporters of â€Å"political correctness† is largely hype promulgated by eighties neoconservatives, many critical social theorists are especially hard on purveyors of multicultural identity politics, particularly those who derive from postmodernism. Professionalized liberal positivists, including numerous U. S. sociologists, conflate all theoretical heterodoxies, particularly where they argue that one should defend the disciplinary project of sociology against the wild men and women who would â€Å"politicize† sociology and social science at a time when reputable sociologists are fighting a rearguard action against budget slashing university administrators. These professional positivists marginalize all thought and research that do not kowtow to the strictures of supposedly value-free quantitative empiricism. This obliterates nuances: Habermas (1987a) takes postmodernism to task; Fraser (1989) urges Habermas and Foucault to be more overtly feminist. It also fails to distinguish that critical social theories hold rigorous analysis, objectivity, professionalism, even disciplinarily. Critical social theorists vary from professionalized positivist sociologists most sharply in arguing that the aim of knowledge is illumination and hence liberation, not the development of personal professional credentials or the progression of one’s discipline. Critical social theorists snub Comte’s model of the hard sciences as a symbol for their own work as they believe that positivism eradicated historicity and hence the possibility of large-scale structural change. Critical social theorists are unashamed to be seen as political, particularly when they agree with Horkheimer and Adorno in Dialectic of Enlightenment that the charade of freedom from values is the most invincible value position of all, taking up the present as a plenitude of social being and contradicting utopia. It is sarcastic that positivist sociologists in the United States who attempt to establish their discipline in the university by stressing its resemblance to the hard sciences, including both positivist quantitative process and grant-worthiness, also argue that sociology should eloquent what are called policy implications, particularly now that a Democrat is president. Applied sociology proposes state policies in realms such as health care, aging, social welfare, work and family, and crime. Positivist sociologists assert that sociology pays its own way by underlining its real-world applications suggested in the narrow technical analyses propagating in the journals. numerous positivist journal articles formulaically conclude with short excursuses on â€Å"policy† in this sense. This segue into policy investigation both legitimizes sociology in the state apparatus (e. g. , public research universities) and helps sociology evade a more fundamental politics the notion of policy implying moderate amelioration of social problems and not methodical change. As well, the discussion of policy enhances the grant-worthiness of sociological research, which has turn into a trademark of academic professional legitimacy. Thus, the shift from the sociological to the social on the part of significant social theorists who support interdisciplinary is intimidating to disciplinary positivists because it augurs the politicization of social theory and social science at a time while some believe sociology should put definitive distance between itself and its sixties engagements. The tired stand-up line of sociology’s critics that sociology alliterates with socialism, social work, and the sixties symbolizes this preoccupation with the legitimating of sociological disciplinarity and explains why interdisciplinary approaches to the social are so threatening. The interpretive disciplines and sociology are moving in contradictory directions: Interpretive scholars and cultural critics acclaim the politicization of the canon, whereas positivist sociologists want to subjugate politics. Leading U. S. literary programs such as Duke’s are awash in these new theoretical movements that hassle the obsolescence of canonical approaches to the study of literature and culture. In these venues, politics is not a afflict to be eliminated but an opening to new ways of seeing, writing, and teaching. Suddenly, with the invasion of these new European and feminist influences, traditional approaches to â€Å"representation† (depicting the world) in both art and criticism could no longer be trusted. Postmodern fictional and cultural theory blossomed in a post representational era, specifically the opposite of what was happening in positivist sociology, which clings more obstinately than ever to representation -achieved through quantitative method as the supposed deliverance of an embattled discipline. Not all versions of postmodernism are eligible as either social or critical theory. However, as Fredric Jameson (1991) has argued in Postmodernism, or, the Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism, postmodern theory has the potential for new forms of neo-Marxist social and cultural investigation pertinent to late capitalism. Foucault, Jean Baudrillard, and Derrida make means for critical theories of the social, especially where they make possible the critical analysis of cultural discourses and practices that intimately resemble and deepen the Frankfurt School’s analysis of the culture industry. And postmodern theory has made it nearly unattainable for people in interpretive and cultural disciplines to approach texts as if the â€Å"meanings† of those texts could be revealed to presuppositionless, really positivist readings. Postmodernists drive home the point that reading is itself a form of writing, of argument, in the sense that it fills in gaps and contradictions in texts through strong literary practices of imagination and interrogation. Few today can approach the act of reading or writing concerning reading in the same secure way that they could read texts before postmodernism, before representation was quizzed as a severely theoretical and political project in its own right. A momentous number of sociologists and anthropologists (Richardson [1988, 1990a, 1990b, 1991a, 1991b], Denzin [1986, 1989, 1990, 1991c], Aronowitz [1990], Behar and Gordon [1995]) draw from postmodernism in reformulating both social science research and theory in light of postmodernism’s influential challenge to positivist theories of representation, writing, and reading. However, it is clear that most American sociologists and others in neighboring social science disciplines not only distrust but deplore the postmodern turn for its alleged antagonism to science and hence objectivity, rigor, disciplinary legitimacy, quantitative method, and grant-worthiness. The new scholarship in humanities departments enlightens critical social science in that it reads cultural discourses and practices as ideological and commoditized and helps formulate more general hypothetical understandings of society. For example, the work of Jameson, the author of numerous vital books on cultural and social theory from Marxism and Form (1971) to Postmodernism, or, the Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism (1991), clearly puts in to the project of critical social theory. Jameson is in dialogue with critical theorists and postmodern theorists. He develops a postmodern Marxism that learns from but does not give in to the detotalizing implications of postmodern theory. Although many of Jameson’s references are from culture and literature whereas Habermas’s, for example, are from social theory and communication theory Jameson in effect â€Å"does† postmodern critical theory in his readings of works of literature, architecture, music, painting, and philosophy, presenting not simply close textual analysis but expanding his readings into oversimplifications quite similar to those of postmodern social theorists (e. . , Aronowitz, Luke) in social science disciplines. Cultural studies is intrinsically a pandisciplinary project in the sense that culture, as the Birmingham theorists conceptualized it, is not simply found in everyday life as well as in museums and concert halls but also disquiets a wide range of disciplines in the human sciences or human studies, broadly conceived. Almost no social science or humanities discipline falls outside of the potential purview of cultural studies, which could be seen as a theoretical perspective, a discipline, a corpus of writing, and even an investigative methodology. Like the Unit for Criticism at the University of Illinois, in which Cary Nelson, Lawrence Grossberg, and Norman Denzin had part-time faculty appointments, the CCCS at the University of Birmingham has brought together scholars from a variety of disciplines. Like interdisciplinary projects such as cognitive science, cultural studies is a perceptible interdisciplinary project collecting scholars who believe they cannot practice their interests in cultural studies within their home disciplines or who want to claim an individuality somewhat diverse from their disciplinary identities. By and large, scholars in humanities departments have been better able to do and teach cultural studies within their home disciplines, particularly where their home disciplines have embraced the new postcanonical, postcolonial, feminist scholarship. Social scientists have had a greater tendency to identify their interest in cultural studies outside of their disciplines proper, many of which have been indisposed to abandon their relatively narrow concepts of culture in favor of a more inclusive one or do not acknowledge the need to practice the study of culture outside of a discipline for which the study of culture has always been central, such as sociology and anthropology. This distinction between the ways that humanists and social scientists build up their identities, affiliations, and academic practices as cultural studies scholars is also replicated in their respective attitudes toward the matter of politicization. Although most scholars around the campus who do cultural studies are leftist and feminist, social scientists lean to position cultural studies as an empirical and theoretical contribution without close ties to politics, therefore legitimizing their work within fundamentally empiricist and objectivist disciplines. Humanists lean to embrace their close ties to politics, as the Birmingham scholars did, even arguing that curricular politics, including the politics of the norm and the resist to define and implement multiculturalism, is an important place for social change today. Cultural studies increasingly splits into politicized and apolitical camps, through the former group deriving from Marxist cultural theory and joining the influences of the Birmingham School, feminism, and Baudrillard. The latter group includes scholars who do not view cultural studies as a political project but somewhat as an occasion for deepening their own disciplines or working across disciplines. Much work on popular culture, such as that of the Bowling Green group mentioned, comes from this second group. Humanists are more probable than social scientists to belong to the first group. This is satirical in that left-wing and feminist cultural studies grew out of Marxist social and cultural theory and only later were modified by humanists such as Jameson to their own projects. In this sense, critical social theorists involved in culture tend to cluster in humanities programs, or if they work in social science departments, they are typically isolated among their colleagues. It is much more common to find gathers of culturally oriented critical social theorists outside the social sciences, for instance, in English and comparative literature departments and programs. Though these comparative literature students and faculty are more obviously and blatantly politicized than most of my erstwhile colleagues and students, they approach society through the text. This peculiarity is far from absolute. Nevertheless, much of the best critical social science and social theory is being done in humanities disciplines. Sociology, for instance, sought greater institutional authenticity by attempting to imitate and integrate the methods of the natural sciences. Disciplines such as English, comparative literature, women’s studies, and media studies were concerned with culture as well as politics and thus were usual gathering points for faculty and students interested in the politics of culture. PART 2 Modern-day slavery breaches the basic right of all persons to life, freedom and the security of the person, and to be liberated from slavery in all its types. It weakens the rights of a child to grow in the protecting environment of a family and to be liberated from sexual maltreatment and abuse. Migration is some what Modern-day slavery that has become a main concern of government officials, political leaders, policymakers, and scholars, and many books and journal articles have been published on a diversity of topics related to migration comprising cultural change (Sowell, 1996), health (Loue, 1998), law (Weiner, 1995), mental health (Marsella, Bornemann, Ekblad, & Orley, 1994), population movements and demographics, politics, urbanization, and the survival of human society. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is conceivably the most noticeable international organization concerned with migration. However, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), and the World Council of Churches, Refugees and Migration Services also have high visibility as policy, service, and research agencies. Other private agencies that have high visibility include Amnesty International, International Rescue Committee, Doctors Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, and the U. S. Committee on Refugees.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Superpower Has No Moral Duty to Intervene in Foreign Tyrannies

Lord Acton said â€Å"Power corrupts absolutely & absolute power corrupts absolutely. † And it is no wonder that super power corrupts superbly. Honourable panel of the jury, respected teachers & all my dear friends, and of course not to forget my worthy but disillusioned opponents, a very warm good afternoon to one & all. Nowadays the burning topic is whether superpower can involve in foreign affairs. Today I master Bright James George would like to speak against the motion ‘Superpower has a moral duty to intervene in foreign tyrannies. In this contemporary world, superpower has a habit which they call as a ‘moral intervention’. But I refer this as ‘poking their nose in other’s matter’. Since when the superpowers rose into this world, they found this intervention advantageous for them on the other hand harmful for others. I hope my opponents know that every members of United Nations has to abide to its policy. In December 1965, UN General Assembly had declared a policy stating that ‘no country has to intervene in whatsoever affairs of other countries. My opponents cannot turn a blind eye to these events: US-Vietnam war, Russia Chechnya Conflict. Is this what my opponents call these superpowers’ moral duty by violating the UN policies? You got to think twice, my friends. I fail to understand why my opponents believe in the so called moral duty of superpower intervention. Do superpowers know other country’s background, culture, tradition etc.? They know only a little and remember little knowledge is always dangerous. With a little knowledge how can they intervene in foreign tyrannies? It doesn’t sound good too either. When a country allows superpower to intervene in their tyrannies, it shows the incapability of the government to control that country. Moreover all the success of that country becomes the glory of the superpower. What a shame then! A country must stand on its own foot. It can only seek help in a very critical situation. My opponents should not forget that in this politically cut-throat competitive world, one never intervenes unless & until if he or she gets a profit out of it. Superpowers do the same. They only intervene in matters for amassing wealth & especially to quench the thirst of black water, that is, petroleum. It is no doubt that the motive of the Iraq war was to protect US economic interests- American access to gulf oil. Countries like the U. S. have misused its position as superpower says the global political scholar Francis Fukuyama claims â€Å"Twenty years since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the accepted end of the Cold War, the United States has misused its position as a superpower. † When President Bush sent US troops to Somalia in 1992, he cited a humanitarian reason: to feed the starving Somali Population. But paradoxically civil Order has broken down, and starvation was usedas a weapon against innocent people. The American troops were engaged in a manhunt for warlord Aideed. This led to ferocious fire fight on October 3, 1993 the search was in futile. Nothing substantial was accomplished. Only misery & sorrow. Percy Bysshe Shelly in his Queen Mab says, â€Å"Power, like a desolating pestilence, Pollutes whate’er it touches; and obedience, Bane of all genius, virtue, freedom, truth, Makes slaves of men, and of the human frame A mechanized automaton. † According to me, â€Å"Superpower, like a destructing nuisance, Pollutes whate’er it intervenes. † For instance, the former Yugoslavia, the Serbs, Bosnians etc. fought for nationalism. But as the superpowers like Russia intervened for altruistic reasons, things became worse. The final result was the disintegration of Yugoslavia. U. S & China doesn’t give India permanent membership in UN General Assembly. France accepted, UK accepted. Why not the Americans & the Chinese? Just a mere fear of India becoming superpower and superpower becoming soft power. Afraid of India becoming superpower, the present superpower USA provides arms & ammunitions to Pakistan, so as to suppress India. However my obstinate opponents are still under the illusion of superpower intervention. Why superpower wants to involve in others matter, when they have problems like poverty, economic recession etc. in their country itself? To conclude, I would like to say â€Å"superpowers should not mess around with some other countries till theirs is in order. † Finally those who believe that ‘Superpower has a moral duty to intervene in foreign tyrannies’ I believe they live in the fool’s paradise. Thank you

Friday, September 13, 2019

Construction and operation of aircraft fluid systems Assignment

Construction and operation of aircraft fluid systems - Assignment Example Compressed air which is a mixture of all gases present in the atmosphere is suitable as a fluid for transmitting power in aircraft given its properties that closely match those of an ideal fluid. Air is unlimited in supply and practically costs nothing. Although it contains different gases, air is not poisonous (tbub.com 2013). Also, air does not burn in as much as it contains oxygen which supports combustion. Furthermore, it is chemically stable, easy to compress, and, in most cases, does not contain acids that may corrode airplane systems. Aircraft generally should be as light as possible, the main reason they are made of aluminium. By using air as a medium for transferring power, the aircraft’s weight remains low. If a liquid is used instead of air, the weight of the aircraft would be higher. Unlike it happens with liquids, air does not need a return line when used in a pneumatic system. While this is the case, air often contains moisture to the extent that if it is compres sed, the moisture tends to condense causing harm to the system. The water formed in the system may dilute lubricants, freeze during cold weather, and increase corrosion of system parts (tbub.com 2013). One other disadvantage of air as a transmission system is that it does not transmit power as easily as liquids (Experimental Aircraft 2013). In this respect, it is not very suitable for use in systems that demand precise control. Yet again, air is not suitable for use in transmitting power for heavy mechanical devices since it must be highly compressed to accumulate enough energy. In this respect, the system will have to include large air tanks and actuators which can work at extremely high pressures (Experimental Aircraft 2013). Q2 Explain the function and operation of aircraft pneumatic systems and their associated status indicators The pneumatic systems of an aircraft are also known as the vacuum pressure systems as noted by Lombardo (1998, p. 43). The pneumatic systems play a grea t role in the control of aircraft. They systems power instruments, control landing gear (during emergencies), provide air conditioning, doors, windows, and flaps. Compressed air is used for other functions as well. When the aircraft is flying at high altitudes where the air is too thin, the passengers depend on compressed air from the pneumatic system for their breath and comfort. In some airplanes, compressed air is used to ignite the jet engine. Compressed air is also used for deicing and anti-icing for the proper functioning of the aircraft. The vacuum pressure systems basically comprises an air compressor, pump, a system of distribution pipes, relief valves, air filter, vacuum regulator, gauge gyro instruments and air storage tanks or bottles, or cylinders (Nagabhushana & Sudha 2010, p. 80). Suction gauge gyro instruments include the attitude and heading indicators. In small aircraft, the pneumatic system includes instrumentation such as the gyro compass, turn coordinator, and a rtificial horizon. The Vacuum system with gauge gyro instruments Courtesy of Courtesy of www.flightlearnings.com The airplane pneumatic systems Courtesy of www.flightlearnings.com The pneumatic system works such that the air compressor draws air from the atmosphere and compresses it to the required pressure and volume. The air from the compressor is transported through