Attendance Monitoring System Essay

The main aim of this paper is to develop an accurate, fast and very efficient automatic attendance system using fingerprint verification technique. We propose a system in which fingerprint verification is done by using extraction of minutiae technique and the system that automates the whole process of taking attendance, The study was conducted using a quantitative approach by designing a questionnaire as the data collection instrument based on fingerprint matching biometric technologies. The survey involved 6 employees based on stratified random sampling technique. The results however show that fingerprint biometric identifier was found suitable for the employee attendance management system of the organization. Keywords: Biometrics, fingerprint ,employee attendance, identifier, etc . 1. Introduction In many institutions and organization the attendance is very important factor for various purposes and its one of the important criteria that is to follow for students and organization employees. The previous approach in which manually taking and maintains the attendance records was very inconvenient task. After having these issues in mind we develop an automatic attendance system which automates the whole process of taking attendance and maintaining it. We already know about some commonly used biometric techniques are used for objective identification ,verification are like iris recognition, voice identification, fingerprint identification, DNA recognition ,etc .Biometrics techniques are widely used in various areas like building security,etc. A fingerprint is an impression of the friction ridges on all parts of the  finger. A friction ridge is a raised portion of the epidermis on the palmar (palm) or digits (fingers and toes) or plantar (sole) skin, consisting of one or more connected ridge units of friction ridge skin. These are sometimes known as â€Å"epidermal ridges† which caused by the underlying interface between the dermal papillae of the dermis A fingerprint is an impression of the friction ridges on all parts of the finger. A friction ridge is a raised portion of the epidermis on the palmar (palm) or digits (fingers and toes) or plantar (sole) skin, consisting of one or more connected ridge units of friction ridg e skin. These are sometimes known as â€Å"epidermal ridges† which caused by the underlying interface between the dermal papillae of the dermis The term fingerprint is refers impressions transferred from the pad last joint of fingers and thumbs, though fingerprint cards also typically record portions of lower joint areas of the fingers (which are also used to make identifications)[6]. It is believed that no two people have identical fingerprint in world, so the fingerprint verification and identification is most popular way to verify the authenticity or identity of a person wherever the security is a problematic question. The reason for popularity of fingerprint technique is uniqueness of person arises from his behavior ; personal characteristics are like, for instance uniqueness, which indicates that each and every fingerprint is unique, different from one other. Universality ,that means every person hold the individual characteristics of fingerprint. The three basic patterns of fingerprint ridges are the arch, loop, and whorl ï‚ · An arch is a pattern where the ridges enter from one side of the finger, rise in the center forming an arc, and then exit the other side of the finger[13]. ï‚ · The loop is a pattern where the ridges enter from one side of a finger, form a curve, and tend to exit from the same side they enter. ï‚ · In the whorl pattern, ridges form circularly around a central point on the finger. Scientists have found that family members often share the same general fingerprint patterns, leading to the belief that these patterns are inherited  © 2013, IJARCSSE All Rights Reserved Page | 379 Rao et al., International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science and Software Engineering 3(4), April – 2013, pp. 379-383 2. Attendance Monitoring Model Automatic attendance system using fingerprint verification technique. A fingerprint is captured by user interface, which are likely to be an optical solid state or an ultrasound sensor. Generally, there are two approaches are used for fingerprint verification system among them first one is Minutiae based technique, in which minutiae is represented by ending or termination and bifurcations. Other one is Image based method or matching pattern. Minutiae-based matching: This is the most popular and widely used technique, being the basis of the fingerprint comparison made by fingerprint examiners. Minutiae are extracted from the two fingerprints and stored as sets of points in the two- dimensional plane. Minutiae-based matching essentially consists of finding the alignment between the template and the input minutiae sets that results in the maximum number of minutiae pairings[1] Pattern or Image based matching: Pattern based matching use algorithms to compare the basic fingerprint patterns like arch, whorl or loop between a previously stored template and candidate fingerprint.For this purpose image is required to be alinment in same orientation. In matching process algorithms finds a central point on the fingerprint image and centre on the image. In pattern based algorithm, the template contains the type, size and orientation of pattern within the aligned fingerprint image. The candidate fingerprint image is graphically compared with the template to determine the degree to which the match. 3.Implementation Of Process This process complete in three phase and also phase description is mention below:Phase 1. Fingerprint scanning and registration Fingerprint scans convert people’s fingerprints into digital codes or numerical data that can be recorded in a database. Like facial recognition software, fingerprint scanning matches an individual’s code against an existing database of codes in order to confirm that individual’s identity. Proponents of fingerprint scanning point to the conversion of fingerprints into digital data as a privacy protection measureFingerprint scanning is already in use as an identification system that replaces cards or keys: to log onto computers. Before scanning the fingerprint everyone has to fill the registration form.These form have the some of the basic details of the individual such as  name,father’ s name,mother’s name,date of birth and so on. Fingerprint scanning Registration form  © 2013, IJARCSSE All Rights Reserved Page | 380 Rao et al., International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science and Software Engineering 3(4), April – 2013, pp. 379-383 PHASE-2:- Fingerprint recognition or authentication Fingerprint recognition or fingerprint authentication refers to the automated method of verifying a match between two human fingerprints. Fingerprints are one of many forms of biometrics used to identify individuals and verify their identity. This article touches on two major classes of algorithms (minutia and pattern) and four sensor designs (optical, ultrasonic, passive capacitance, and active capacitance). The analysis of fingerprints for matching purposes generally requires the comparison of several features of the print pattern. These include patterns, which are aggregate characteristics of ridges, and minutia points, which are unique features found within the patterns.[1] It is also necessary to know the structure and properties of human skin in order to successfully employ some of the imaging technologies.[10]. Minutiae-based fingerprint matching algorithm has been proposed to solve two problems: correspondence and similarity computation. For the correspondence problem, use an alignment-based greedy matching algorithm to establish the correspondences between minutiae. Fingerprint recognition systems have the advantages of both ease of use and low cost.  © 2013, IJARCSSE All Rights Reserved Page | 381 Rao et al., International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science and Software Engineering 3(4), April – 2013, pp. 379-383 Phase-3:-Attendance update:Employee Attendance Management software is tightly integrated with  the organization’s HR data. The in-time and out-time, lunch and breaks entered by the employees will help the respective authority in charge to keep in track the activities of the employees. ï‚ · Employee Attendance Management System helps in keeping track of the attendance of employees based on various events like shift, late, overtime, permission, holiday working and on duty.[5] Single click view of all time office events like hours worked, late, permission, on duty, overtime, leave of an employee for date or month period can also be obtained from this Attendance Management system. ï‚ · Employee Attendance Management Software helps to monitor the productivity of the employees and also keep a check on the Employee absenteeism which in turn helps in achieving the organization goals. 4. Result The report will be generated with name of the employee matched fingerprint and stored in an attendance system. Attendance log of the month is shown in below table: This software not only prepare the monthly report but also shows the attendance of the individual day. It not only display the name of the present employees but it also display the employee which is absent or late on that particular day.This software also display the name of employees which is in preplan live.The individual attendance reports is shown below:  © 2013, IJARCSSE All Rights Reserved Page | 382 Rao et al., International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science and Software Engineering 3(4), April – 2013, pp. 379-383 5.Conclusion And Future Work The proposed system will make way for perfect management of students and staff attendance and produce more accuracy. Future work on this project would include the creating of a matching algorithm that uses to mention and maintain the different type of leave such as on duty leave,leave without pay ,medical leave and soon.Also timely update the leave of the each employees when it take leave. The efficient matching algorithm have to be developed in theory and in code so that our goal of getting faster and more accurate matched image than with pre-existing software. References [1] Jianjiang Feng, â€Å"Combining minutiae descriptors for fingerprint matching†, Pattern Recognition, pp. 342 – 352, April 2007. [2] Peng Shi, Jie Tian, Qi Su, and Xin Yang, â€Å"A Novel Fingerprint Matching Algorithm Based on Minutiae and Global Statistical Features†, IEEE Conference, 2007. [3] Neeta Nain, Deepak B M, Dinesh Kumar, Manisha Baswal, and Biju Gautham â€Å"Optimized Minutiae–Based Fingerprint Matching†, Proceedings, 2008. [4] BioLink 2006. Time and attendance, Retrieved 11thDecember,2011fromhttp://www.m3biometrics.co.uk/Portals/2/downloads/BioTime_Time_and_Attendance.pdf. [5] InfoTronics, Inc. 2008. Biometrics: Advantages for employee attendance verification, Michigan: Farmington Hills. Retrieved 11th November, 2011 from www.mwtime.com/biometrics.pdf. [6] Jain, A., Hong, L., Pankanti, S., Bolle, R., 1997. An Identity Authentication System Using Fingerprints. Retrieved 10th June, 2012 from http://biometrics.cse.msu.edu/Publications/Fingerprint/JainEtAlIdentityAuthUsingFp_ProcIEEE97.pdf. [7] K. Asai, Y. Hoshino and K. Kiji, â€Å"Automated fingerprint Identification by minutiae-network feature- feature extraction process,† IEICE transactions, Vol.J72-D-II, N0.5, pp 724-732, 1989. [8] Chaur-Chin Chen and Yaw-Yi Wang, â€Å"An AFIS Using Fingerprint Classification,† Image and Vision Computing, 2003. [9] Virginia Espinosa-Dur6, â€Å"Fingerprints Thinning Algorithm,† IEEE AES Systems Magazine, 2003. [10] U. Halici, L. C. Jain, A. Erol, â€Å"Introduction to Fingerprint Recognition,†Intelligent Biometric Techniques in Fingerprint and Face Recognition,L.C. Jain, U. Halici, I.Hayashi, S.B. Lee, S. Tsutsui (editors), CRCPress, 1999. [11] Manvjeet Kaur, Mukhwinder Singh, Akshay Girdhar, and Parvinder S.Sandhu, â€Å"Fingerprint Verification System using Minutiae Extraction Technique,† World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 46 2008. [12] Anil K. Jain, Arun Ross and Salil Prabhakar, â€Å"An introduction to biometric recognition,† Circuits and Systems for Video Technology,IEEE Transactions on Volume 14, Issue 1, Jan. 2004 Page(s):4 – 20. [13] L. O’Gorman, â€Å"Overview of fingerprint verification technologies,†Elsevier Information Security Technical Report, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1998. [14]. Eric P. Kukula, Christine R. Blomeke, Shimon K. Modi, and Tephen J. Elliott, â€Å"Effect of Human Interaction on Fingerprint Matching Performance, Image Quality, and Minutiae Count†,

JFK: The Epitome of Success

â€Å"Once you say you're going to settle for second, that's what happens to you in life.† This quote was said by and embodied by a man who was very effective and smoothly functioning in life. This man was the late John F. Kennedy. JFK was one of the most successful and influential people to ever live. He had strong beliefs and never succumbed to pressure. Kennedy's success was shown through his tough foreign and economic policies. JFK kept the USA as a world powerhouse and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest presidents to ever live. Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on Tuesday, May 29, 1917. He spent the first ten years of his life in Brookline until he moved with his family to Riverdale, Bronx. Two years after that he moved to a 21-room mansion on a six-acre estate in Bronxville, New York. JFK had a very sickly childhood dealing with appendicitis, colitis, and possible symptoms of leukemia. In September 1936 he enrolled as a freshman at Harvard College where he eventually graduated cum laude with a degree in international affairs. Kennedy then spent four years in the US Navy during World War II. Before his political career, JFK originally aspired to become a journalist. However, in 1946, Kennedy ran for a vacated U.S. Representative seat and beat his opponent by a large margin. On January 2, 1960, Kennedy officially declared his intent to run for President of the United States. It was a tight race against Richard Nixon but JFK won and was sworn in as the 35th President at noon on January 20, 1961 (Ke lly). At Kennedy's inaugural address, he spoke of the need for all Americans to be active citizens, famously saying, â€Å"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.† JFK felt that all the responsibility should not rest in the hands of the government; instead it should be shared amongst all Americans. He also spoke of his hope for unity amongst the nations in order to end â€Å"tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself† across the world. His inaugural address alone showed signs of future success for this young president. JFK immediately gained great popular support amongst Americans. His strong willed personality and hope for change were some of the many reasons for his success. Little did he know his abilities would be tested early in his presidential term. In October of 1962, a Soviet ballistic missile site was discovered under construction in Cuba. JFK was faced with a dilemma; attack the missile site and face a possible nuclear war with the Soviets, or stand down and risk a nuclear attack on the U.S. Another consideration was that if the U.S. backed down it would appear to the world as weak in its own hemisphere. Kennedy decided to take action and ordered a naval quarantine in which the U.S. Navy inspected all ships arriving in Cuba. He began negotiations with the Soviets and ordered the Soviets to remove all defensive material that was being built in Cuba. Kennedy's risky actions proved successful as Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles subject to U.N. inspections if the U.S. publicly promised never to invade Cuba and quietly removed US missiles stationed in Turkey (Sierra). JFK's iron-willed actions prevented a possible all out nuclear war with the U.S.S.R. Not only was JFK strong-minded with his foreign policy, he was also forceful with his economic policy. His plan entitled the â€Å"New Frontier† ambitiously promised federal funding for education, medical care for the elderly, and government intervention to halt the recession (Rosenthal). Kennedy also promised an end to racial discrimination. In 1954 the United States Supreme Court had ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Despite public opposition Kennedy did what was right and made sure this ruling would be upheld throughout the country. In 1962, James Meredith tried to enroll at the University of Mississippi, but he was prevented from doing so by white students. Kennedy responded by sending some 400 federal marshals and 3,000 troops to ensure that Meredith could enroll in his first class. He was a very caring president and would do anything to enforce justice. Kennedy's determination and perseverance helped end segregation in our great nation. Another great example of Kennedy's strong-willed personality is shown through the space race of the 1960's. After recent Soviet success of space exploration, JFK felt the need to put the U.S. on the map in terms of space discovery. Kennedy asked Congress to approve more than $25 billion for the Apollo Project, a human spaceflight program undertaken by NASA with the goal of conducting manned moon landing missions (Dumoulin). Not only did JFK feel that landing a man on the moon would benefit science, but that it would create nationalism and make a statement to the world that America was on top. Unfortunately, Kennedy wouldn't live to see his Apollo project take place. On November 22, 1963, while on a political trip to Texas, Kennedy was shot twice and pronounced dead at 1:00 PM. At the age of 46, President Kennedy died younger than any U.S. president to date. Despite Kennedy's short term as President, he is still considered as one of the greatest. His success can be attributed to his strong willed personality and determination in everything he did. JFK was the epitome of a successful and effective individual.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and Sun Cellular

1. What are the factors that contributed to URC' s success? Some of the factors that contributed URC's success are: Being innovative and aggressive frontrunner in the snack food industry. Its products can be found in virtually every household across the country, with market shares indicating that one out of every two modern snack products enjoyed by Filipino consumers is a URC offering. The secret behind URC's success is the EXCELLENT VALUE that its products provide consumers. URC products offer consumers world class quality at affordable prices.Using only state-of-the-art equipment and stringent manufacturing standards, the company is also well on its way to obtaining ISO 9002 Certification for all its plants. 2. Analyzed the growing market base in Asia. How did Gokongwei take advantage of it? Gokongwei take advantage the growing market base in Asia by producing innovative products but at the same time cheaper than the other products in the market. Gokongwei also provide goods that basically needed by the consumer. As his early life as a teen, Gokongwei learned that basic need are the best product that the demand will never cease.Also he offered fresh products that the other company didn't offer. With this strategy invading the growing Asia market is possible. 3. Based on Gokongwei words of wisdom, how can the Philippines compete globally? â€Å" I am 81 today. But I do not forget the little boy that I was in the palengke in Cebu. I still believe in family. I still want to make good. I still don’t mind going up against those older and better than me. I still believe hard work will not fail me. And I still believe in people willing to think the same way.Through the years, the market place has expanded: between cities, between countries, between continents. I want to urge you all here to think bigger. Why serve 86 million when you can sell to four billion Asians? And that’s just to start you off. Because there is still the world beyond Asia. When you go back to your offices, think of ways to sell and market your products and services to the world. Create world-class brands. You can if you really tried. I did. As a boy, I sold peanuts from my backyard. Today, I sell snacks to the world.I want to see other Filipinos do the same. † Based on Gokongweis' words of wisdom, to able for the Philippines to compete globally, we Filipino must not be afraid to take the challenge of competing against multinationals compny or bigger competitors. For us not to be aeaten by larger competitors we must make sure we came prepared with great products and great strategies. We ended up changing the rules of the game instead. 4. Are there hindrances for the Philippines inability to have it's own global branch? Explain.Yes, there’s always an opportunity everyday passes our lives but ignore them as we don’t like of doing it because of PRIDE and FEAR. it is always printed in our mind that every time we saw something different we al ways ignore them as it is not our line of profession or simply saying its against our pride or just fear of doing it. if only we have the same determination and willingness to reach our goal just like Sir Gokongwei, then we are far more successful than any other countries. i knew that this is a life changing story and i hope that we all use it.I myself has a lot to work out specially my ATTITUDE. the attitude of wasting TIME. i have a lot of goals in life but did nothing to get them until time passes by and forgot them. if only i valued my time then i’m sure i would be now a somebody person. but its not yet late. starting immediately, ill make something different for my self. something that i can be proud of someday when my hair became grey†¦ and has a story to tell to my grandchildren. ITS NEVER LATE TO BE A SUCCESSFUL PERSON, just work it out.At the end, it is only you who will reap them all. don’t mind about the failure, as they say it is always â€Å"trial an d error†, and always say it to your self † at least i tried†. but never stop from there. as from failure you will learn the best wisdom in life, and from wisdom can have the best weapon to fight the battle, and through your best weapon you will have a big chances to win. then you will have a story to tell†¦ who knows you might will become part of the business history. 5. Identify Gokongwei's entrepreneurship traits which made him successful.Gokongwei's entrepreneurship traits made him successful are: Self-determination This self-made entrepreneur is not afraid to become a second mover. He loves to offer an alternative from the number 1 company offering products and services like in telecommunications (SUN Cellular), real estate (Robinsons Land), and airline (Cebu Pacific). He doesn’t like mixing politics and business. He doesn’t like being very close to government. Because according to him, wealth that’s based purely on politics cannot be sustained. He thinks outside the envelope.Like Henry Sy Sr. and Andrew Tan, John Gokongwei Jr. thinks outside the envelope because he started his businesses from scratch. There’s no baggage and no tradition to follow. 6. Make a research on the acquisition of sun cellular by PLDT. Make your comments. PLDT buys majority stake of Sun Cellular The biggest IT story of the day is PLDT’s acquisition of Digitel which operates Sun Celluar, the 3rd largest telco player in the Philippines. PLDT, which owns Smart Comm. , becomes a much bigger operator and strengthening it’s number 1 spot in the country.The Philippine Long Distance Telephone company announced today its acquisition of Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (Digitel) from JG Summit amounting to Php74. 1 billion or 51. 55% shares in exchange of new PLDT assets worth 2,500 per share. Digitel, which owns Sun Cellular, announced that under the new leadership the paired networks will continue to the expansion of broadband rollout and other next generation technologies in both fixed and wired services. PLDT says Sun Cellular will remain a separate entity and retain the brand.Smart already surpassed 45 million subscribers in 2010 while Sun Cellular, which has over 16 million subs, was already inching closer to Globe Telecom (26. 5 million). Smart’s rapid growth and expansion requires more wider frequency and that might have prompted the Sun Cellular buy-out. At the same time, Sun Cellular has become a large player in terms of post-paid subscribers (even the first one to reach 1 million). Meanwhile, Smart has only around 500k postpaid subscribers while Globe has around 900k.From having 3 large celco players, we now have just 2 — Smart at far #1 and Globe at a minority #2. COMMENT: This strategy that PLDT done is what we called Globalization, since the market for networks are now vast where there are various networks competing with each other,companies now have to buy another network. To maintain quality and competitive pricing, PLDT have redesigned their organizational structures and strategically buy the competing netwoork such as Sun cellular to lessen the competitors in the industry. Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and Sun Cellular 1. What are the factors that contributed to URC' s success?Some of the factors that contributed URC's success are:Being innovative and aggressive frontrunner in the snack food industry. Its products can be found in virtually every household across the country, with market shares indicating that one out of every two modern snack products enjoyed by Filipino consumers is a URC offering. The secret behind URC's success is the EXCELLENT VALUE that its products provide consumers. URC products offer consumers world class quality at affordable prices. Using only state-of-the-art equipment and stringent manufacturing standards, the company is also well on its way to obtaining ISO 9002 Certification for all its plants.2. Analyzed the growing market base in Asia. How did Gokongwei take advantage of it?Gokongwei take advantage the growing market base in Asia by producing innovative products but at the same time cheaper than the other products in the market. Gokongwei also provide goods that bas ically needed by the consumer. As his early life as a teen, Gokongwei learned that basic need are the best product that the demand will never cease. Also he offered fresh products that the other company didn't offer. With this strategy invading the growing Asia market is possible.3. Based on Gokongwei words of wisdom, how can the Philippines compete globally?â€Å" I am 81 today. But I do not forget the little boy that I was in the palengke in Cebu. I still believe in family. I still want to make good. I still don’t mind going up against those older and better than me. I still believe hard work will not fail me. And I still believe in people willing to think the same way. Through the years, the market place has expanded: between cities, between countries, between continents. I want to urge you  all here to think bigger. Why serve 86 million when you can sell to four billion Asians? And that’s just to start you off.Because there is still the world beyond Asia. When y ou go back to your offices, think of ways to sell and market your products and services to the world. Create world-class brands. You can if you really tried. I did. As a boy, I sold peanuts from my backyard. Today, I sell snacks to the world. I want to see other Filipinos do the same.† Based on Gokongweis' words of wisdom, to able for the Philippines to compete globally, we Filipino must not be afraid to take the challenge of competing against multinationals compny or bigger competitors. For us not to be aeaten by larger competitors we must make sure we came prepared with great products and great strategies. We ended up changing the rules of the game instead.4. Are there hindrances for the Philippines inability to have it's own global branch? Explain.Yes, there’s always an opportunity everyday passes our lives but ignore them as we don’t like of doing it because of PRIDE and FEAR. it is always printed in our mind that every time we saw something different we alwa ys ignore them as it is not our line of profession or simply saying its against our pride or just fear of doing it. if only we have the same determination and willingness to reach our goal just like Sir Gokongwei, then we are far more successful than any other countries. i knew that this is a life changing story and i hope that we all use it. i myself has a lot to work out specially my ATTITUDE.The attitude of wasting TIME. i have a lot of goals in life but did nothing to get them until time passes by and forgot them. if only i valued my time then i’m sure i would be now a somebody person. but its not yet late. starting immediately, ill make something different for my self. something that i can be proud of someday when my hair became grey†¦ and has a story to tell to my grandchildren. ITS NEVER LATE TO BE A SUCCESSFUL PERSON, just work it out. at the end, it is only you who will reap them all.Don’t mind about the failure, as they say it is always â€Å"trial and error†, and always say it to your self † at least i tried†. but never stop from there. as from failure you will learn the best wisdom in life, and from wisdom can have the best weapon to fight the battle, and through your best  weapon you will have a big chances to win. then you will have a story to tell†¦ who knows you might will become part of the business history.5. Identify Gokongwei's entrepreneurship traits which made him successful.Gokongwei's entrepreneurship traits made him successful are:Self-determinationThis self-made entrepreneur is not afraid to become a second mover. He loves to offer an alternative from the number 1 company offering products and services like in telecommunications (SUN Cellular), real estate (Robinsons Land), and airline (Cebu Pacific). He doesn’t like mixing politics and business. He doesn’t like being very close to government. Because according to him, wealth that’s based purely on politics cannot be su stained. He thinks outside the envelope. Like Henry Sy Sr. and Andrew Tan, John Gokongwei Jr. thinks outside the envelope because he started his businesses from scratch. There’s no baggage and no tradition to follow.6. Make a research on the acquisition of sun cellular by PLDT. Make your comments.PLDT buys majority stake of Sun CellularThe biggest IT story of the day is PLDT’s acquisition of Digitel which operates Sun Celluar, the 3rd largest telco player in the Philippines. PLDT, which owns Smart Comm., becomes a much bigger operator and strengthening it’s number 1 spot in the country. The Philippine Long Distance Telephone company announced today its acquisition of Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (Digitel) from JG Summit amounting to Php74.1 billion or 51.55% shares in exchange of new PLDT assets worth 2,500 per share. Digitel, which owns Sun Cellular, announced that under the new leadership the paired networks will continue to the expansion of br oadband rollout and other next generation technologies in both fixed and wired services. PLDT says Sun Cellular will remain a separate entity and retain the brand.Smart already surpassed 45 million subscribers in 2010 while Sun Cellular, which has over  16 million subs, was already inching closer to Globe Telecom (26.5 million). Smart’s rapid growth and expansion requires more wider frequency and that might have prompted the Sun Cellular buy-out. At the same time, Sun Cellular has become a large player in terms of post-paid subscribers (even the first one to reach 1 million). Meanwhile, Smart has only around 500k postpaid subscribers while Globe has around 900k. From having 3 large celco players, we now have just 2 — Smart at far #1 and Globe at a minority #2.COMMENT:This strategy that PLDT done is what we called Globalization, since the market for networks are now vast where there are various networks competing with each other,companies now have to buy another netwo rk. To maintain quality and competitive pricing, PLDT have redesigned their organizational structures and strategically buy the competing netwoork such as Sun cellular to lessen the competitors in the industry.

What is the Gilgamesh Epic or Stories and how does it compare with the Research Paper

What is the Gilgamesh Epic or Stories and how does it compare with the Biblical account of the flood - Research Paper Example The epic story has been of great interest to Christians since it has a lot of comparison with the biblical story of Noah. In connection to this, the main of this paper is to compare the Gilgamesh epic story with the biblical account of the flood. The author of the poem talks about a relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Enkidu was a king but he was very self-centred while Gilgamesh was a bully (Meyers 4). Therefore, when the two became friends, they kept checking on one another. The relationship, Gilgamesh had with the king, made the citizens of the country to like him very much. In connection to this, when the king passed, he was appointed to become the king. Although, the relationship Noah had with God was a little different from the relationship Gilgamesh had with Enkidu but still some comparison can be drawn. For example, God was annoyed by the way, mankind was sinning (Epic of Gilgamesh 7). Therefore, he wanted to destroy the whole earth, but because He loved Noah very much, He decided to spare the earth. It is this for Noah that is why God decided to give mankind a second chance. So, He instructed Noah to construct a big arch. The purpose of the arch was to house animals of different kinds both male and female, so that during the destruction of the world they can be spared. After becoming the king Gilgamesh started competing with God, he decided to look for ways of becoming immortal. It is this completion with the gods that annoyed them. According to the author, the gods were so angry with king that they wanted to destroy the whole world. However, because there was some other people in the town who were righteous, the gods decided to give them another chance (Kelly 7). Therefore, the gods instructed one of the servant, who according to them was righteous to build a big arch (Epic of Gilgamesh 8). Then he was strictly instructed to choose only those people who were living according to the lands of the law, and take them to the

A Debate that is related to Microeconomics Essay

A Debate that is related to Microeconomics - Essay Example It is important for economies to determine whether such ventures as minimizing IT will mean reduced operational costs and increased profits (which forms the core aim of all businesses) (Hubbard and Anthony, 377). Those who see IT as obsolete and replaceable say that the fact that almost all companies have embraced IT has removed the competitive edge it offers as a result of this ubiquity and is no longer important. IT, according to them, is therefore no longer a tool that a business can use as a tool for competition in the markets to advance itself above the rest. They therefore see it fit that companies that are wise and that have studied the times begin to swiftly reduce their spending on IT and focus on other ideas and innovations that can lead to originality and therefore serve as strength of a particular business against all the other market competitors. IT to them has simply become too old and basic and therefore expendable (Gravelle and Ray, 312). On the other hand, there are equally those who have vehemently argued against such claims of IT obsolescence. They state that IT comes with a plethora of benefits both to the consumer and the business itself. According to these proponents of IT, IT is irreplaceable in linking businesses and its consumers through the click of a button, a phone call or even email just to mention a few, while also offering a relatively easy source of information on the market trends, needs and preferences. It enables a company improve on service delivery and gain competitive advantage over others if superiorly utilized. IT also enables fast and efficient money transactions that are vital in the smooth running of any business set up, failure to which many businesses have crumbled prematurely (Hubbard and Anthony, 411). In my opinion therefore, IT remains important in businesses as it saves time and offers an

Crowding and Psychological Stress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Crowding and Psychological Stress - Essay Example Virtually all systems (for example, the heart and blood vessels, the immune system, the lungs, the digestive sys tem, the sensory organs, and brain) are modified to meet the perceived danger" (Sanberg 982) Wright notices that stress "is a medical term for a wide range of strong external stimuli, both physiological and psychological, which can cause a physiological response called the general adaptation syndrome". (Wright 358) Crowding is mentioned to be acute stress. Acute stress is immediate reaction of organism to danger or threat which is also known as "fight or flight response". This category also includes such psychological stresses as noise, isolation, hunger, infection and imaginary threat. All these kinds of stress, including crowding has psychological effect, because they act on the subconscious level and they are really dangerous for people's mentality. (Yao 859) Crowding is a potential source of psychological stress and one more area of interest. It is unpleasant feeling of people when there is a crowd (too many people) around them and it is unpleasant when there is too little available space. But it doesn't mean that crowding refers to density ("an objective measure of the number of people per unit"). (Sandberg 983) In density situations there are people who fell crowded and there are people who don't. ... But it doesn't mean that crowding refers to density ("an objective measure of the number of people per unit"). (Sandberg 983) In density situations there are people who fell crowded and there are people who don't. The problem of crowding is dealing with the influences of the environment on people's behavior. It is a matter of fact that crowding has direct emotional and behavioral affect on humans and it is only a psychological phenomenon. It is a common knowledge that many human consider crowding as negative or unfavorable situation. It is commonly suggested (without proof) that in most cases crowding is the source of aggression, crime or violence. Some environmental psychologists admitted that there were positive relations between crowding and bad social conditions as violence or crime. (984) It can be stated that with the increase of crowding and density there will be the increase in death-rate, crime rate and mental disorders. But Sanberg argued that when social factors are considered (economic level, educational level, and ethnicity) then correlation between crowding negative situations disappears. Therefore it is necessary to say that the problem of crowding is not so simple and easy as it may seem for the first time. This issue is more complex and contradictive In researches it is pointed out that density increases with performance. But humans fell less crowded with their relatives and friends. It is also stated that "someone with a large personal space need would feel crowded sooner than someone with a small personal space need." (986) Also sex differences (women and men) lead to different perception of crowding. For example, men were reported to have more stresses in case of crowding. Cognitive

Professional Development Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Professional Development Analysis - Assignment Example It may range from designing, manufacturing and testing of mechanical engines, turbines or other devices to their maintenance and overhaul. The choice of professional development pathway is crucial because the choices in this regard are often irreversible. It is a make or break decision which may pave the way of all future successes or may cause irreparable loses. An early and correct decision is therefore of core importance for all engineering student. They have to weigh various aspects of their personal tendencies and professional trends to strike a balance somewhere which can prove fruitful in the long run. As discussed above the variety of mechanical engineering branches and fast pace advancements in the field can make the choice of a professional track quite difficult and it may require extra bit of knowledge and a methodical approach to arrive at a correct decision. Various techniques and methods that I have employed to make it a correct decision include SWOT analysis, Time Mana gement skills, and use of Spider diagram. It is important to understand that all these methods are simply a way to provide a big and clear picture of main objective and how to approach it. 2. SWOT Analysis SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. The term was first introduced by Albert Humphrey at Stanford University in 1960s and 1970s. (Marquis, 2009, p. 143). SWOT analysis is the a common tool used in strategic planning, specially it is a preferred professional development planning tool because it takes care of both, the internal and external factors that may affect a strategic plan. Strengths and Weaknesses are personal or internal characteristics that may hamper or assist the final outcome of strategic goal whereas opportunities and threats are the external factors accountable for the success or failure of a strategic plan. In SWOT analysis these factors are analyzed to determine the probability of success for a specific achievement. SWOT analysis can impact the strategic plan for the professional development if personal strengths and weaknesses are analyzed realistically and rationally. The individual has to be honest in assessing his own weakness because a wrong assessment would result in future failure. This might also provide a chance to correct the personal shortcomings and to overcome the weaknesses overlook in past. However, it is important to understand that SWOT is a subjective analysis and everybody has different strengths and weakness moreover, everybody does not come across same opportunities and threats. a) Goal Definition The selection of an ultimate objective as the purpose of strategic plan is the first step in SWOT analysis. This defines the final goal to be achieved using the strengths and opportunities while avoiding the threats and weaknesses. In mechanical engineering defining this final state is a bit difficult due to versatility of the subject and branches it assumes. I have a determined objective of b ecoming an aeronautical engineer, a branch of mechanical engineering deals with designs, simulations, manufacturing and maintenance of flying machines which may include airships and fighter plans. I have planned to do masters in aerospace engineering on completion of graduation and later on a doctorate in the same discipline will further bring me nearer to my professional career. b)

Health Education and Promotion Models Assignment

Health Education and Promotion Models - Assignment Example On the contrary, the participatory design is aimed at creating successful community health promotion interventions. In addition, the Precede health promotion program planning model has eight phases as discussed. The first phase involves defining the ultimate outcome. It focuses on what the community wants and needs. It may seem unrelated to the issues of phase one. Phase two is for identifying the issue. In this phase, one looks for the issues and factors that might cause or influence the outcome identified in phase one. Phase three involves examining the factors that affect behaviour, lifestyle and responses to the environment. In this period, factors that will create the behaviour and environmental changes in phase two are. Step four identifies best practices and other sources of guidance for intervention design, as well as administrative, regulation and policy issues that influence the implementation of the program or intervention. Phase five is all about implantation. This step i nvolves doing just that setting up and implementing the interventions that have been planned for. Step six is for process evaluation. This phase is about the procedure but not results. Impact Evaluation is for stage 7. One begins by evaluating the initial success of the efforts. Step 8 is for Outcome Evaluation. The interventions must be working to bring about the outcomes the community identified in step 1.Proceed health promotion planning model has four assumptions. In this model, it’s assumed that health and other issues are essentially quality-of-life issues. It that health and other issues must be looked at in the context of the community. Health is also a constellation of factors that add up to a healthy life for individuals and communities. It that behaviour change is by and large voluntary, health promotion, is more likely to be effective if it’s participatory (Green and Kreuter2005). Health belief model is also a

Historiographical Survey of Nazi Germany Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Historiographical Survey of Nazi Germany - Essay Example Moreover, the country lead by Hitler was called as Nazi Germany which was one of the most powerful countries in that era. There are many aspects of Nazi Germany which can be discussed and there are many factors and questions which can be raised in this topic. As the twentieth century is filled with revolutions, the movement of Nazi Germany is also considered as or can be perceived as a â€Å"Revolution† and Hitler being the â€Å"Revolutionist† for some people because it was the time when Germany was â€Å"Progressing† economically and militarily. Even though Nazi Germany and policies made by Hitler could be perceived as â€Å"Revolution† for some people, however, the movement of Nazi Germany was not a revolution because it was not well supported and appreciated by the people of the country. The debate of â€Å"Nazi Germany as a Revolution† is really important because it was the Nazi Germany which was one of the most prominent causes of world war tw o. Moreover, it was actually lead by an ideology called as â€Å"Fascism† on the basis of which the movement of Nazi Germany got its support from the people. In this way, this debate is also very important because it involves an ideology which was affecting not only the political but economic aspects of Japan, Italy, Austria and Germany. Furthermore, one of the most important features of Fascism and Fascist Nazi Germany headed by Adolf Hitler is that the economy tends to be independent from other countries and the economic needs of the country must be fulfilled y its own money and resources. In this way, the country also tends to be economically independent for its progress. In this way, the debate over Nazi Germany is very important because it was fascism and fascist Nazi policies due to which the economy of Germany was growing so fast. On the other hand, this debate over Nazi Germany also deals with the matter of the fact that their ideology known as â€Å"Fascism† w as totally opposite to that of communism and, later on, Germany fought with the Soviet Union which was a Communist regime. Besides this, the importance of this debate can also be estimated by the by the fact that it was Nazi Germany which started Second World War in which Nuclear Bomb was used for the first time in the history of human kind in which a large number of people were killed out of whom 22,565 are still alive. So this was the Germany itself which challenged the world and destroyed itself, and eventually leaving the rest of the world for the Cold War between Communism and Capitalism. Besides this, the debate over Nazi Germany is also very important because it involves and discusses the brutality over the Jews and, hence, teaches the younger generation about tolerance for the diversity of beliefs and equality for the people of all religions. Another important question can also be that even if it was a revolution then whether it was supported by bourgeoisie according to the Marxist view point (Henry, 185) or it was supported by the common masses of all classes? 1 The debate over the very controversial issue â€Å"Nazi as a Revolution† involves many questions and aspects which can be argued and discussed. For example, an 2important question surrounding this debate is that was Nazi policies and movement supported by the people of Germany? Similarly there are also many other questions surrounding this debate such as the question about the formation and building block of

Following WWII Japan again was put into a fundamental Reform and Research Paper

Following WWII Japan again was put into a fundamental Reform and Renovation mode - Research Paper Example The new Japanese government would be more similar to its occupying counterpart. Major reform of land ownership was instituted. About 6 million acres (almost 40% of Japans arable land) were purchased from the landlords and resold at low prices to the farmers. It dismantled a power structure that landlords had long dominated. This was one way of permanently changing economic disparities between classes. Despite instances of mass rape and the re-institutionalization of the Japanese Geisha system, women enjoyed relatively increased civil rights. They earned the right to vote and engage in roles that were traditionally male dominated. Furthermore, favoring Japanese beliefs and gradual modification and dissolution of the Japan-United States Mutual Security Assistance Pact, the Clean Government Party attracted many women. During Post-World War II, the victors implemented changes in the Japanese constitution, Japanese land, and Japanese women. The occupation and MacArthur Reforms profoundly changed public policy in many areas. These changes aimed at the roots of traditional Japanese power, and Japan had changed at a fundamental

Transnational IT Operations Essay Example for Free

Transnational IT Operations Essay What can best describe transnationalism is it’s a form of societal progress grown out of the maximized interconnectivity between people in different parts of the world and the relaxation of boundaries between regions or countries. To identify well the meaning of transnatiolism in our modern world the effect can best be seen with regards with the use of information technology in criss-crossing borders to other countries which in turn have an effect in cultures, economies and social status of the host and the recipient country. It transcend into transnational entrepreneurship using the internet to go global business. With the advancement of the information technology, businesses using the net have launched another milestone in electronic entrepreneurships and the industry has never been easier and faster. Transnationalism does not necessarily recognize boundaries in terms of nationalities, race, mores and cultures and every aspect is in collaboration. Doing global business through the web lets every entrepreneur to economize resources and still can manage schedules notwithstanding time zones. Strategic unification of the providers, their clients and other business associates can easily lead to a strong and permanent partnerships which will bring a more concentrated and sturdy competition with other products and services in the world of e-commerce. This system will result in a favorable climate all participated in secular group that will bring product and services at its best (Raisinghani, 2006). Transnationalism has also its advantages such as it has unified government’s movements to those that have the same motive in the protection of environment as the Greenpeace, studies of the global warming and other environmental concerns. It has made global companies to access cheaper labor and their product and services is in constant participation in the global market as well as a continuous tapping of the foreign markets and resources which is very essential for the company’s survival (World, 2001). Promoters of transnationalism have an objective of connecting people and their ideas as well as exchanging trades between regions and countries. The rapid growth of globalization has been linking nations and enabling multinational companies successful in recruiting migrant staff capable of improving their global business system. This has contributed to the increased productivity of each entrepreneur with the continuous flow of information and world wide scientific coordination. Thanks to the internet. It is considered the primary means by which organizations may expand rapidly into high and expansive emerging markets of the world. As transnational companies become expert in their use of the Internet, they will be able to pursue global electronic trade more efficiently, saving significant advertising, communication and organizational costs. As a budding businessman who wants to take your business to the world, you have to take considerations of the present economic trends in the global market. You need to identify the different technological advancements being used today, the ups and downs of the trade and policies or restrictions. You have to deepen your research in knowing which country have the capability of fastracking their information technology setting and are capable to be one of the leading personalities in the global business. Important considerations must also be considered. To attract traders and consumers your website must have an international appeal. And being involved in the global business you have to have an international/global IT professional working group located from different regions and countries. Their unique and diverse environment will be able to keep up your company with the trends on the international market. They would be your primary agents for your outsourcing projects. Global employment is not simply sourcing out staff overseas. It has been noted that IT workers who have experienced and trained with international projects has made them more independent and reliable in their tasks. They learned to appreciate the diverse cultures and customs of different nationalities which make them potential managers for international projects. Such personalities are best in handling out investments in infrastructures, communication and training or education. Competition plays a vital role in running an information technology program especially when it is global. By globalization, it means that employees and business partners always require doing their business geographically and sequentially distant from one another. The movement and provision of information technologies within the web is the only favored choice for surmounting the restriction of protected boundaries. Managing a global business on the Web is much more different from running a business on the ground. The only crucial step in joining this business is there should be no room for mistakes especially when it comes to managing an information technology base.   Excellent management is the most important concept in running up an international business which is why your IT professionals must have the most capability in doing their job competently. Your manpower should always be first class. Maintaining a pool of experts demands competitive benefits and packages for them. The company must have a solid international reputation and active corporate environment. The company should also adhere to be culturally sensitive at all cost and there should always be a continuous training program for its staff to be able for them to grow and blend with the challenging world of information technology. Furthermore, to provide descriptions in the operation of an information technology be it on local or transnational level relies on the operations staff themselves. Every second monitoring of the internet, cables, telephone access, administrative computer applications and research academic systems is a must. The workforce must have the expertise in utilizing various tools and resources for the monitoring and troubleshooting of the network’s system and applications. Even a glitch should be escalated immediately to avoid catastrophe into the system as well as the whole external network. In most applications, the internal and international IT organization is responsible for the selection, management and support of technology in the business environment.   As an internal support function, the IT operation must be organized, and run with optimum efficiency, aligned with business needs, vision, and objectives.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There should be a designing of an efficient deployment of proceedings of advance information technologies and that relies solely upon the organization. And it does not end there.   There are still a number of crucial responsibilities in maneuvering a transnational IT system. To name some of the most important ones are monitoring all operations systems, ensure that all services are available to the user all around the globe, have local and international staff to troubleshoot problems anytime problems arises, ensuring that proper hardware and software maintenance is done on a regular basis as well as the timely distribution of all production and user output. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, manpower, significant communication and the latest technological advances to be able to meet the demand in running an IT   industry   .(Editorial, 2007) Every advancement in our society has great advantages. But there are also disadvantages as well. Worst, this is always direct to mankind. Issues regarding management of Information technology in a transnational environment are always identified. While major advancements in technology are bringing and making people worldwide to work together it also brings together those seeking to engage in illicit activity and thus assists in the construction of criminal enterprises. One place where this is most clear is in the production of child pornography where â€Å"support networks† of pedophiles have emerged in the use of the Internet and other communication technologies. Another example was the ability to create a more consolidated global market for pirated intellectual property, such as software, using the Internet as a backbone. There is always an easy access to any information needed on the web that even illegal transactions and terrorists are able to exploit. Such operations happen at the same time as we do decent business on the net. Unfortunately, this is also how they ran their own business. Transnational criminals and corrupt individuals do function more effectively with the use of technology. It is much like promoting the formation of an illicit network and is a revenue source for committing a fraud. Government technology contracts are often the objects of corruption and sadly, IT professionals in the software and computer engineering fields unwittingly and secretly work for the criminals in different regions of the world. There are also drawbacks. The internet is created to bond every citizen of the world in the world of web. But information technology itself has been able to changed societies, political systems and economies. Virtual protective boundaries for any given country which are formed as barriers from external sabotage are usually violated. Obviously, the Internet has disrupted military movements, and has the potential to do so again. More well known are the effects that criminal use of the Internet to hack business accounts using web-based institutions has already produce such setbacks (Trade, 2004) A study which was founded on a comprehensive literature review stated that the detailed quality of information technology in a transnational environment has its own reactions on various communal units. In order to recognize IT-related issues and their declaration through the means of policies, there should be the recognition and respect to the national or international policy of every country. There are three dimensions with regard to this. First is the characteristics dimension that refers to the relevant characteristics of IT. Second is the effects dimension which considers the effect of IT on a certain individual, the transnational organization and the country. And lastly is the policy dimension. Balancing the distinction in national policies can be accomplished through bilateral, regional, or multilateral negotiations. And now from crime to nuisance. The never-ending creation of computer viruses that aim to destroy any file or program on its path. The advancement of the computer technology brings about the advancement of its own destruction. Getting more sophisticated and secretive each of these small but destructive programs are out there trying to invade and destroy your files and your world. In conclusion, transnational IT operation was the â€Å"in† thing in the world of computer technology today. This is the continuing saga of advancement through a miscellaneous network and you have to be vigilant. If you want to survive in this mesh you have to have the perseverance to handle and manage such a giant responsibility. You must always be in constant watch protecting the most important data in your system. Reference Editorial, B. C. (2007). Computer Operations: Information Technology Services [Electronic Version]. Retrieved July 22, 2007 from http://www.bc.edu/offices/its/appssystems/operations.html. Raisinghani, M. (2006). Transnational Organization [Electronic Version]. Retrieved July 22, 2003 from http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Tr-Z/Transnational-Organization.html. Trade, A. F. A. a. (2004). Transnational Terrorism: The Threat to Australia [Electronic Version]. Retrieved July 22, 2007 from http://www.dfat.gov.au/publications/terrorism/introduction.html. World, I. (2001). Special Report On IT Globalization [Electronic Version]. Retrieved July 22, 2007 from http://www.itworld.com/Tech/2418/ITW010322globalization/.

Her body, her baby, her choice Essay Example for Free

Her body, her baby, her choice Essay Abortion, it’s not a choice that any woman would ever want to have to make, but it’s a decision that she should have the right to make. If it comes down to the possibility of her and her baby losing their lives, she should be able to stop this possibly fatal pregnancy. The body is hers, the baby is hers, and the choice should be hers. If you disagree, make the choice for your own body. Abortion should be legal. What people may not realize is that, legal or not, abortion still happens all around the world. Of the approximately 42 million abortions that do occur worldwide, almost half are performed by unskilled individuals, in environments that do not meet minimum medical standards or both. † (http://www. guttmacher. org/pubs/gpr/12/4/gpr120402. html). Unsafe and illegal abortion is responsible for one in eight maternal deaths and according to an estimate done by the World Health Organization in 2006 ‘back alley’ abortions cause about 68,000 deaths each year where abortion isn’t legal. There is no question that making abortion illegal in places such as the United States, will only make these numbers increase greatly. It’s no secret that raising a child requires mass amounts of money that many women who get pregnant don’t have, especially if they have no partner to help them out. Poor and low income women account for more than half of abortions in the United States. Without the option to get an abortion, there would be many more children suffering because they have to live their life in poverty. Almost half of all children with a single mother live in poverty, these children experience poverty at a rate that is more than four times higher than kids in married-couple families. Although, it is believed that â€Å"abortion legalization may have led to an improvement in the average living conditions of children, probably by reducing the numbers of youngsters who would have lived in single-parent families, lived in poverty, received welfare and died as infants. † (https://www. guttmacher. org/pubs/journals/3402502. html) Many people who are against abortion don’t take into consideration that not all women are able to safely give birth to a child and the risk of death associated with childbirth is about 10 times as high as the risk of death associated with  abortion. For example, teen girls aged around 15-19 years old have bodies that are not yet ready for childbirth. These girls are five times more likely to die, with around 70,000 of them dying annually. Their babies that do survive still have a 60% higher chance of dying than normal babies. With so much uncertainty, why shouldn’t they have the option to prevent themselves and their own parents the pain of losing a child. Many people believe that women are using abortion as a form of birth control. That they believe that they no longer need to be cautious because they can go pop over to the doctors to get an abortion whenever. However, this isn’t the case and, more often than not, women who get abortions were on some sort of birth control. Though, with any birth control there is almost always a chance of it not working properly and you becoming pregnant. Only less than one in ten women getting abortions weren’t on any sort of birth control. Making abortion illegal forces women who may have taken many precautions to not become pregnant to have a child that they don’t want and makes it so that an unwanted child is born into this world. This would not be fair to the woman or the child. Something that many people who oppose to abortion believe is that abortion, spontaneous or induced, raises the risk of breast cancer or any other type of cancer. There have been many, many studies done studies by various people such as the National Registry of Induced Abortions, the Danish Cancer Registry, Harvard researchers, and The California Teachers Study. The large size of most of the studies and the manner in which they were done provide good evidence that induced labor does not affect a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. In 2003, the U. S. National Cancer Institute had a workshop with more than 100 of the world’s leading experts who study pregnancy and breast cancer risk. They all found that neither induced or spontaneous abortion are linked to an increase in breast cancer risk; the level of scientific evidence for these findings was considered the highest level, ‘well established’. Abortion should be legal because it saves many women’s lives from unsafe abortion, it can save families from lifelong poverty and it may save the lives of women who are unable to safely give birth to children. In a country that is based on freedom; freedom of speech, freedom of religion, individual freedom, why should this situation be any different? A law based off of a religious belief isn’t something that this country stands for, a law that prevents women from making decisions about her own body should not be a law in this country.

Continuous Improvement as a Business Strategy

Continuous Improvement as a Business Strategy The case study focuses on Corus, Europes second largest steel manufacturing company and their efforts in following the path of Continuous Improvement to produce quality product in a timely manner by streamlining their processes and reducing the wastage of resources. Corus is a subsidiary of Tata Steel, one of worlds top ten steelmakers. In their own words, Corus aspires to be the worlds steel industry benchmark for value creation and corporate citizenship. Corus is a leading supplier to most of the demanding markets around the world including construction, automotives, packaging, mechanical and electrical engineering, metal goods, and oil gas. With innovation and continuous improvement at the heart of its business performance, Corus aims to create value by offering a differentiated product range supported by unrivalled customer service. 1 The challenge that Corus faces in differentiating its products from that of its rivals is that, steel is a relatively inexpensive product and in major building projects, the cost of steel can be as little as 5% of the overall cost of the project. It is also a challenging task to meet the rising demand for steel, at increasing levels of quality and to comply with challenging delivery requirements. While it would be an easy task to meet these challenges using brand-new facilities, an investment of more than 300 million Pounds to build a ‘Greenfield Site steel mill is an impediment. Therefore, Corus decided to focus on the path of Continuous Improvement, commonly known as CI, at its steel plate manufacturing mill in Scunthorpe, to achieve process efficiency, quality and delivery improvements with its existing manufacturing setup. What is Continuous Improvement? Continuous improvement, with respect to organizational quality and performance, focuses on improving customer satisfaction through continuous and incremental improvement processes, removing or minimizing unnecessary activities and delays in product delivery and also minimizing defects in the products being delivered. Several organizations have gained a competitive edge by implementing Kaizen, commonly known as continuous improvement (CI). The philosophy of Kaizen was spearheaded by Masaaki Imai, and is constituted of two words, kai which means ‘change and zen which means ‘good as well as ‘wisdom. Hence we can conclude that Kaizen implies ‘changes for the better and covers all processes in an organization like Engineering, Information Technology, Finance, Procurement and Supply, Customer Service and Manufacturing. CI can be initiated either at Top Management level or at Process level based on effective feedback system. The most important factor is that, all employees should be responsible to make improvements and must work together to identify the steps needed to improve the efficiency of the overall process, in an iterative manner. This requires thorough supervision, flexible work force and technology to improve business efficiency. When an established organization like Corus attempts to differentiate its products or services from its competitors in the industry, CI can be the â€Å"Differentiation† or â€Å"Focus† competitive strategies which can help the organization grow. Corus has implemented CI of ‘flow where the products are pulled through a carefully planned production process from the supply of raw steel to the finished steel plate. The process is paced and scheduled to control the amount of product in each stage of the process, to keep bottlenecks to a minimum and to maintain high quality. A part of the CI process involves the measurement of improvements to gauge, whether the improvements have resulted in benefits. These results can be reducing waste time, saving money and efforts, or better utilization of available resources. These are the tangible benefits of the implementation of a CI process. The intangible benefits will include greater staff motivation and increased job satisfaction3. In Corus, improvement is gauged with the help of a set of new Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) focused on meeting customer deadlines, such as zero backlog of customer orders and meeting targets for rolling steel plate in its allotted week. Thus benchmark level can be set and attempts can be made to better that level in an iterative manner. When Why CI need to be implemented? It is human nature to feel secure in ones comfortable environment of a â€Å"CASH COW† organization and therefore people are hesitant towards big changes. Some of the most common excuses that people give to avoid changes at workplace are: 1) Its been done in this way for a long time2) We know theres a better way but theres not enough time to fix things3) I dont get paid extra to think4) Its not my problem but someone elses problem However, a key aspect of implementing CI is the fact that it does not deal with big changes, but with smaller ones that take less time to implement at minimal cost. Also, an interesting aspect would be that it gradually transforms and brings about what one can call a big change without people being hesitant and overcoming their apprehensions. The objective is to minimize cost by leveraging the existing knowledge pool and gradually implementing changes. The key of effectively implementing CI is that it has to become a part of the organizations culture and gain consensus from the work force and stake holders. Like in the Corus case, moving from Tonnage, the traditional key measure of productivity to the smooth paced process of CI involved a significant work culture change for the employees. Initiation and integration of CI 1. Collect feedback from the horses mouth It is imperative to understand the operations at the ground level from the people who perform the tasks on a regular basis. By asking for ideas and by listening to those that know how the job is currently performed you will achieve a much greater buy-in from your teams 2. Place checks and implement improvement process cycle Not jumping to conclusions is the key here. Put into practice the steps of Plan, Do, Check and Act known as PDCA Model PDCA a simple model for CI implementation Plan the plan phase constitutes of setting objectives and goals that would form the guiding path for the entire process of improvement.Do the Do phase requires the testing of possible alternatives and arriving at a solution that would comply with best practices and industry benchmarksCheck In this phase, the effectiveness of the action phase is evaluated to ascertain the success of the plans and also to see if any negative consequences have arisen.Act The act phase is to implement the tried and tested processes and form the new standards. If the processes are unsuccessful, then the cycle is repeated till the time desirable results are attained. Even after the process has been established, the implementation of CI is not over. The goal of CI is to set newer and more efficient benchmarks. This philosophy has to become a part of the organizations culture. For example, in the Scunthorpe plant of Corus, a CI manager co-ordinates the process and 40 CI coaches chosen from the workforce received training to facilitate improvements. A toolbox of techniques has been put together to help managers, employees and operators understand where and how they can improve their work and come up with new ideas to change processes for better. Scunthorpe plate mill has set out a 5-year vision improvement plan which will help in the process of developing a CI culture for the business and has held workshops for employees to understand the vision and change since it was recognized that people might be resistant and cling to old ways of working. The 5 year-plan, established a timeline for the thorough acceptance and implementation of the CI culture among employees so that by the end of the 5-year period, the team and individuals are empowered to take responsibility and make decisions for themselves. Tradeoffs in implementing Continuous Improvement: Although several companies have benefitted from implementing CI, its quite interesting to see that something this innovative and cost effective could also derail the organization from its path to success or even create a new bottleneck in the entire process. At times CI may lead to a trade-off between self-management and discipline 5. Over engagement and a lack of prioritization in implementing new wave CI manufacturing strategies by front line managers and operations staff has actually led to a tradeoff between their core operations related work and CI related activities. Often, CI strategies led by an over-enthusiastic HR has caused them to over strategize which is a new bottle neck in itself and often goes unnoticed. Thus it is quite important to make sure that less than 7% of the total work time may be spent by such key operational personnel on CI oriented strategy development so that their core operational responsibilities may not be diluted beyond an acceptable limit. Another very interesting drawback that has been noticed is the invert effect of over emphasis on the implementation of CI Practices on the price v/s quality competitive strategy model 6. In her study, Barbara Flynn has very effectively shown that an uninterrupted iteration of CI programs for the reduction of cost price would ultimately result in increasing price since perfection always comes at a premium. Secondly it was also observed that in the quest to achieve the goal of CI within its designated time period, the complex untested assumptions about the relation between process and outcome are often deliberately not studied in depth. Managers prematurely conclude that any detrimental effects of implementing the new plan would be taken care of in subsequent CI programs 7. Thus such complacency could result in mission failure at the nth hour. But still, careful and well planned implementation of CI strategy is effective because it keeps production processes under control, rapidly trains production personnel to effectively manage production and possesses the flexibility to slot improvements into production schedules with minimum disruptions and at least effective cost. 8 Continuous Improvement in action at FORD India (A firsthand account) 9: Cost Reduction activity has become one of the major activities in any industry especially in Automobile field with ever increasing competition. The following is a firsthand account of Continuous Improvement initiate undertaken at Ford India for Cost Reduction. The Front End Module of the car is a plastic molded steel reinforced part, supplied to Ford by a Vendor X. The Input weight of the steel portion in that is 4.0 Kg and its output weight is 1.0 Kg. With 25% yield, Ford saw the scope for cost reduction in the above module. Normally for any steel part, yield of at least 40 to 50% is expected. Hence, the only way to reduce the cost would by reducing the input weight. After several discussions with technical department, Ford decided to optimize the design to reduce the input weight and proposed the modified design to the vendor. Various trials were conducted and accordingly the design was altered without compromising on the quality of the final part. After several iterations, the new design was approved by the quality team. Minor modifications were made to existing tools in order to work with new design. This Continuous Improvement initiative not only reduced cost but also reduced the scrap content and process time. Suggestions for Corus Corus has implemented lean manufacturing method of CI, which has really improved its deliveries and quality but only in an internal manner. Yet another dimension which can be facilitated through external feedback is available in the form of â€Å"WOWing the customer†. What we feel is that, Corus should start to simultaneously work upon gaining better customer feedback to facilitate continued product design improvement. This combined effort will enable them to suggest improvements in the product demanded by the customers which may exceed the customers expectation and will make them feel that they are getting a value for money preposition. Thus this would add to their customer satisfaction, retention and self sustainable associations which would be mutually beneficial. References and Bibliography http://www.corusgroup.com/en/company/about_corus/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaizen http://www.helium.com/items/558484-what-is-a-continuous-improvement-plan?page=3 http://www.helium.com/items/558484-what-is-a-continuous-improvement-plan?page=2 Continuous improvement: the trade-off between self-management and discipline Author(s):Alan Harrison Journal:Integrated Manufacturing Systems 6, 7, 8- Achieving simultaneous cost and differentiation competitive advantages through continuous Publication: Journal of Managerial Issues by Flynn, Barbara B. 9. From actual work experience of Santhosh Srinivasan

New England vs. the Chesapeake :: essays research papers

Hello my name is Alma Castro, I am 16 years old and I am now attending Skyline High School for the Child Care Cluster. I live with my mom, dad, 1 sister (Cynthia who is 14), and 2 brothers (Alfredo 12 and Eduardo 9) in a house in Oak Cliff. My house is about 5 minutes from downtown Dallas. My family and I enjoy going to the movies, the park, and going out to eat as a family. But this is only the beginning of what I am about to tell you about my life. I was born on October 25, 1988 in the Mexico in the City of Juarez. I only lived in Mexico for about 3 years but while I lived there my mom said I gave her the biggest scare of her life. She said that when I was about a year and six months I got out of the house and went to a neighbor’s house to play without her knowing. When she started to look for me and couldn’t find me she got scared, then all my uncles noticed and so they started to help her. She said that after looking for about an hour I came out from that house like nothing had happened. Then on June 20, 1991 my little sister was born. My mom said that when my little sister was born I became very responsible and helpful. She also said that I was very calm and happy all the time. Then in June 1992 we moved to Dallas with my aunt and 3 older cousins. Living with my aunt was all right we had our good and bad times; we were all bunched up in a small house in Duncanville. A couple of months later we moved to a bigger house in the same neighborhood. Our next-door neighbors were very nice they really made us feel welcomed. Living at this house I started preschool. I went to a school that was only 4 blocks from the house, so my mom use to take my 2 younger cousins, our 2 neighbors (who by the way are twins), and me to school walking. I remember that when we all go home from school we would all go outside and play in the backyard. Then in May 27, 1993 my brother Alfredo was born so my dad decided to get a house of our own.

Homeschooling: A Growing Trend Essay -- Education, Parents, early edu

Introduction Today, many parents are homeschooling their children. A U.S. Department of Education’s report shows that approximately 1.5 million children were being homeschooled in 2007 (Lips & Feinberg, 2008). This is almost 3 percent of all school age children (Lips & Feinberg, 2008). A private researcher, the National Home Education Research Institute, estimates 2.5 million children were being homeschooled in the 2007 – 2008 academic years (Lips & Feinberg, 2008). By either count, homeschooling is growing exponentially. Parents have been teaching their children at home for centuries. During the 1970s, the interest in homeschooling increased. Legal advocates had lots of opposition when pressing for the legal right to educate their child at home and change compulsory school attendance. The National Education Association fought to place restrictions on home schooling. However, most of the efforts have failed. As a result, homeschooling is legal in every state. Reasons for Homeschooling Growth There are numerous reasons why parents turn to homeschooling. Changes in the families and public schools drive the increase. Public schools grew larger, more bureaucratic, and more impersonal. Parents felt more alienated as the school was less responsive and less adaptive to cultural needs. This was combined with the loss of the Christian culture and curriculum the parents found offensive or against their social values (Gaither, 2008). The major reasons for homeschooling cited by two-thirds of the parents interviewed are concern about the school environment, dissatisfaction with the academic programs, and the desire for religious or moral instruction (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2004). Parents feel ... ...ated, this was not true of the homeschoolers. The homeschoolers also tended to vote more often. They were also involved in more community service than the general population. The homeschoolers were not isolated, but politically and socially active (Ray, 2004). Conclusion There are a growing number of homeschooled students and it appears homeschooling is successful. Most parents homeschool because of the environment, both academic and moral. The states need to insure all children are being educated. However, the requirements vary by state. Michigan is the most liberal, not even requiring homeschoolers to report to the state. The internet has expanded the types of homeschooling. Combined with the availability of the public school system for specialized programs, homeschooling is now a more popular option. Homeschooling will continue to be a growing area.

Waste Land Essay: Spiritual Decay -- T.S. Eliot Waste Land Essays

Spiritual Decay in The Waste Land      Ã‚  In The Waste Land, T.S. Eliot develops his theme of sterility and decay in the post-World War I man by focusing on the aspect of "religious dearth or superficiality reflected in despintualized love" (Pinion). For Eliot, man's inability to find real love or to move beyond superficial sexual gratification is congruous to the spiritual decay of his soul.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the first part of the poem, "The Burial of the Dead'~ Eliot's allusions to two love stories amidst a backdrop of "stony rubbish" and "broken images" illustrates his view of love as something that has lost its ability to blossom in the infertility of modem society (20,22). Eliot alludes to the story of Tristan, a young sailor, who leaves his lover, Isolde, behind when he sails for home. As he lies dying, he waits for the arrival of her ship, but the sea that is to bring her remains empty and desolate. This shows how human longing in love is fr... ...erating his hope for the regeneration or rebirth of the human spirit (424-425).    Works Cited and Consulted Pinion, F.B., A T.S. Eliot Companion: Life and Works, The Macmillan Press (1986) Southam, B.C., A Guide to the Selected Poems of T.S. Eliot, Harcourt Brace & Company Shashane, VA "Reflections on the Waste Land", Studies on IS Eliot Ed. A.N. Dwivedi; US Bahri Publishers (1989) Raffel, Burton IS Eliot Frederick Ungar Publising Co., Inc. (1982)

Out of the Ashes: Schizophrenia

Nowadays, society sees schizophrenia seems like an outdated topic. A topic not many seem to care about. A topic that is not even taboo, because many do not even know about it. However, this topic is affecting so many on a day to day basis. Worldwide, about one percent of people are diagnosed with this mental illness. That is 1.5 million people. Even worse, sixty percent of everyone that suffers from schizophrenia makes at least one attempt to commit suicide (WebMD).That is 900,000 people. That is three cruise ships filled with people (Mental Health Schizophrenia). That is one full football stadium. Some may ask themselves, what is schizophrenia? Well according to the National Institute of Mental Illnesses â€Å"schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.† (NIMH). Schizophrenia is caused by genetics, biology and sometimes even viral infections. Schizophrenia has been misunderstood throughout the years; It is characterized by a shift in perception, disturbed sense of self and psychotic manifestations.A shift in perception can not only affect the patient's emotions, but it can also greatly impact their physical life. Schizophrenics suffer from various shifts in perceptions that makes them change the way they act, not only physically but also mentally. When you suffer from schizophrenia you develop many symptoms. Meanwhile, many were not discovered until the mid-1990s. However, Schizophrenia was discovered back in 1887 by Doctor Emile Kraepelin. Before Kraepelin however, many believed people with psychotic disorders were possessed. This caused the treatment to be electric shock therapy, exorcisms, lobotomy and even drilling a hole in the patient's eye socket which left patients with worse mental health than what they started with. This type of treatment started to be popularized with schizophrenia patients in the middle ages until the late 1880s. Schizophrenia and its treatments are one of the main reasons why society now know mental asylums as dark and scary places. When The Priory of Saint Mary of Bethlehem was founded to try to treat ‘mad men'. They believed this illness came from supernatural forces such as demons. By the patients seeing hallucinations and delusions was basically proof of a demonic possession. They were treated so badly, most of the ‘mad men' that attended the mental asylum ended up dying, either by experiments, failed treatments or suicide. Today Kraepelin was the first to differentiate between what he called dementia praecox and manic depression. According to Psychology Today â€Å"The oldest available description of an illness closely resembling schizophrenia can be found in the Ebers papyrus, which dates back to the Egypt of 1550 BC. And archaeological discoveries of Stone Age skulls with burr holes drilled into them (presumably to release ‘evil spirits') have led to speculation that schizophrenia is as old as mankind itself† (Burton, M.D.). The first doctor to coin the term Schizophrenia and notice the patients shift in perception was Swiss psychiatrist, Eugen Bleuler back in 1911. Schizophrenia comes from Greek roots schizo (split) and phrene (mind) as a reference to showing how the patient's brain works. Schizophrenia brings you to a point where the patient has a disturbed sense of self. This has happened to not only to unknown patients but many well-known people and celebrities have suffered through forgetting who they are and why they are here. This list includes many people, for example, the ex-singer and founder of Pink Floyd. Syd Barrett's real name was Roger Barrett, and he used his real name for much of his life, which started in 1946 and ended in 2006 by pancreatic cancer. He was an English songwriter, singer and guitarist best known as a founding member and songwriter of the rock band Pink Floyd. Barrett's partnership with the band finished after failure to perform during concerts various times. These were speculated to be caused by delusions and hallucinations, two very common schizophrenia symptoms. He had been the main songwriter which greatly affected how the band worked after his resignation. Barrett withdrew from the public after that, but released two solo albums in 1970 called â€Å"The Madcap Laughs† and â€Å"Barrett† Pink Floyd went on to become massively popular and successful, their style evolving towards progressive rock since their songwriter left. Syd/Roger Barrett lived a simple and solitary life, receiving royalty payments from his ex-band. His access to spending money had been controlled by his family (Willis 143). There has been much speculation about why Barrett ceased to be a member of Pink Floyd, withdrew from the public eye, shunned his own fans, left behind the nickname that he had never himself used or liked. Syd/Roger was diagnosed with the mental illness after an apparent heavy usage of LSD. According to his family and close friends, he did LSD nearly every day for years. After his resignation of Pink Floyd, he did not just start having atrocious hallucinations daily but also he fell into clinical depression. This leads to another story of a maybe one of the most famous artists of all time. Vincent Van Gogh. He had an eccentric personality and unstable moods suffered from recurrent psychotic episodes during the last two years of his extraordinary life and committed suicide at the age of thirty-seven by a gunshot. (Blumer) According to PsychiatryOnline.org â€Å"One of Van Gogh's psychiatrists recognized the crucial role of alcohol in the manifestation of Van Gogh's major psychiatric symptoms. By his own confession, Van Gogh required â€Å"a glass too much† to numb his inner storms when they became too intense. The artist was not known to become intoxicated and may not have been drinking more than many of his contemporaries, but he was particularly vulnerable to the epileptogenic properties of absinthe, the favourite drink of the French artists of his time† (Blumer). The well-known part of Schizophrenia is the symptom of psychotic manifestations. According to Healthline.com â€Å"Psychosis is characterized by an impaired relationship with reality. And it is a symptom of serious mental disorders. People who are psychotic may have either hallucinations or delusions† (Carey, P.H.D.). Hallucinations are sensory manifestations, they occur mostly visually or auditory. For example, someone might hear someone yelling when nobody is there. Or maybe they see someone or something that isn't actually there. These for the patient seem real. They also experience delusions, which is for the person to have a contrary thought to actual evidence. For example, the patient thinking a stranger they just met wants to kill them. These symptoms are powerful and dangerous. Strangely, these symptoms are the most attacked by society. Many believe these delusions and hallucinations are made up and make up false beliefs about this. Some false ideas are: Schizophrenics have multiple personalities, them being possessed, the patients are faking it and even that it's not an illness. The first one is made up because as clearly stated before, the symptoms of schizophrenia have nothing to do with that. The illness in which the patient have multiple personalities is a psychiatric phenomenon called DID, which stands for dissociative identity disorder, which involves the patient has multiple personalities which each have their own voice, manners and characteristics. This illness can be seen perfectly in the movie Split (2016) by M. Night Shyamalan. This is not schizophrenia. Schizophrenics might hear voices but they only have one personality. The second hoax is the possession myth. This myth is mostly believed by Catholics. This myth comes back from middle ages as mentioned before.In conclusion, many schizophrenics are seen ever since the beginning of mental illnesses, many are affected by it and almost all society says about it is fake. All in all, if you or someone you know is suffering from schizophrenia, please get help immediately and know that no matter your illness â€Å"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.† (Philippians 4:13). Help is always there and never forget Jesus loves you. Schizophrenia has been underestimated to a point where society only knows it's characterized by a change in view, confused sense of self and psychotic ideals. Works Citedâ€Å"A Brief History of Schizophrenia.† Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201209/brief-history-schizophrenia.â€Å"Biological Basis of Schizophrenia.† Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/behavior/psychological-disorders/v/biological-basis-of-schizophrenia.â€Å"Divine Madness – a History of Schizophrenia.† History Cooperative, 19 Sept. 2016, historycooperative.org/divine-madness-a-history-of-schizophrenia/.â€Å"Famous People with Schizophrenia: 6 Schizophrenic Celebrities.† WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/ss/slideshow-schizophrenia-famous-names.Marlene, Lili. â€Å"Incorrect Pleasures.† The Interesting Case of Syd Barrett, 1 Jan. 1970, incorrectpleasures.blogspot.com.co/2009/11/interesting-case-of-syd-barrett-for.html.â€Å"Psychosis: Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors.† Healthline, Healthline Media, www.healthline.com/health/psychosis.Schiller, Lori, and Amanda Bennett. The Quiet Room: a Journey out of the Torment of Madness. Grand Central Publishing, 2011.†Schizophrenia.† Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/behavior/psychological-disorders/v/schizophrenia.â€Å"Schizophrenia.† Mental Health America, 29 Mar. 2017, http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/schizophrenia#symptoms.â€Å"Schizophrenia.† Mental Health America, 29 Mar. 2017, www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/schizophrenia.â€Å"Schizophrenia.† National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/.â€Å"Schizophrenia.† Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/schizophrenia.â€Å"Schizophrenia and Suicide.† WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-and-suicide.â€Å"Schizophrenia Symptoms, Patterns And Statistics And Patterns.† Mental Help Schizophrenia Symptoms Patterns and Statistics and Patterns Comments, https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/schizophrenia-symptoms-patterns-and-statistics-and-patterns/â€Å"The Illness of Vincent Van Gogh.† American Journal of Psychiatry, ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.ajp.159.4.519.The History of Schizophrenia, schizophrenia.com/history.htm#.Willis, Tim. Madcap: the Half-Life of Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd's Lost Genius. Short Books, 2002.

Class Evaluation

To be honest, I think the class was organized just right even though it was a very fast course. It seemed like we covered a lot of ground in just few months. I feel like I got more out of this class than I have in some of the other classes I have spent entire semesters in. I also found it helpful that there was some variation in the assignments. From the assignments and researches, I achieved a great deal of understanding about critical thinking, writing a correct sentence and most of all realizing the different thoughts from different people in the class.People have their own opinions in every worked paper we have done which helps me to realize that people have different believes concerning different issues. I respect every once opinions and am happy that I took them as a good knowledge gained. I just wish I would have taken a class like this sooner! The research and actual writing process just seems so much easier once you break it down. As this is my first semester, I experienced a lot of learning experience. I hope I can use the little knowledge I gained from this class to the next classes coming my way.After taking this course, the process for writing a paper seems so much easier. It is  just a matter of learning the right techniques for finding sources and actually writing the paper. I know that I will definitely use what I have learned in the near future. I believe everybody in this class is cool, smart and each of you has a great potential in life and I hope we all achieve the same goal we pursuing in life. And hope we put what we just learned from this class into a great used. Thank you so much Dr. Lumpkin!This class has been one of the most helpful classes I have ever taken. Before taking this class, I thought I knew the proper techniques for writing a research paper, but was I wrong. One of the most helpful aspects of this class has been the fact you always want us to understand about the research. The way you teach the parts of speech was so aweso me. What I really like about it is your verb agreements! At least it helps me to realize correct pronunciations of a sentence which is a great advantage and I know that’s your main motive.I believe you excellent. You are just not a good lecturer but a good mother. I said this because you were not just there to discuss about the subject but about life in general. You shared most of your life experience with the class and I am so very happy you did. You are always in a good mood whenever you come into class and this makes me confident to participate in class discussion which I am so happy of. Am just glad I had you as a lecturer all thanks to Wayne county community college.