Claudius McKay

Near the beginning of the twentieth century, a Jamaican, came to New York and changed the entire path of Black people’s lifestyle. Claudius McKay became one of the major encourager of the Harlem Renaissance in 1916. The 1920’s literary advancement of the arts and literature stayed for merely ten years, but it everlastingly affected the path of African American existence in the America. (Holcomb, 57) Claudius McKay passed away in a comparative insignificance subsequent to his recognition had gradually improved, in order that he is now regarded as one of the main authors of Black literature. Life and Works Claudius McKay was born in 1889 in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica and his father and mother both were greatly valued part of the district and also of the neighboring cathedral. McKay’s brother who was a teacher near Montego Bay, taught him in the early years. When he was eighteen years old, he was interned at a furniture making shop in Brown’s Town. Although this internship was not for along period of time but it was this place where McKay actually got a chance to do a better internship of a different type. A British member of the aristocracy named Walter Jekyll, who was also an apprentice of Jamaican society, acquainted with the youthful Claude and commenced his literary schooling. As McKay remembered after many years in his biography in, â€Å"A Long Way from Home†, that it was basically Jekyll who accustomed him to an entire new world. (Schwarz, 126) Walter Jekyll understood and polished McKay’s ability writing excellent poems and he supported him in using that ability by working for his very own Jamaican language. This resulted in the publication of â€Å"Songs of Jamaica† and â€Å"Constab Ballads†. â€Å"Songs of Jamaica† was about commemoration of farmer lifestyle, to some extent following the style of Robert Burns, whereas â€Å"Constab Ballads† followed the style of Rudyard Kipling, depicting McKay’s experience of being a constable while he was in Kingston in Jamaica. (James, 131) Kingston presented McKay his foremost experience of urban lifestyle, and his foremost actual experience of racial discrimination. The dislike of the urban white people and mulatto elite classes for countryside and working-class African American was an unlikable disclosure. The most obvious racial discrimination that McKay observed in Kingston, nevertheless, was in no way Jamaican in foundation—it was brought in the shape of travelers of America. McKay was bound to know this kind of racial discrimination much more thoroughly in the coming years, which is why just after a few months in the Kingston; he gave his resignation for his job and went to America. (Schwarz, 129) In 1912, firstly he registered at Tuskegee Institution and then at Kansas State University, to learn agronomy. He planned to come back to Jamaica to assist in modernizing the isle’s farming. This plan could have been successful however for a present of few thousand dollars from an anonymous supporter that compensated McKay’s ticket to New York, where he spent his money in a restaurant. The restaurant did not survive for a long time; however McKay got a definite comfort in the activities and liveliness of the New York. For next several years he employed at different places doing different things like: bartender, fire brigadier, and lastly as a waiter. This was nonetheless, one more internship; the job where he furthermore increased the compassion for the lower class that stayed with him his entire life. From the time when he was young he had inclined tactfully in the direction of communism, and his time spent with the working class strengthened his viewpoints. (LeSeur, 35) His awareness about racial discrimination increased close with his class awareness. For the period of his work and increasing racial consciousness, he put it all in writing in the form of literature. By 1918, he started a extensive connection with Max Eastman who was the editor of a renowned journal named â€Å"The Liberator†. After that McKay started to publish poetry and articles in this avant-garde magazine, and finally turned out to be an associate editor. Later on in reaction to that year’s blood-spattered after warfare racial unrest, McKay published his famous poem â€Å"If We Must Die† in the magazine â€Å"The Liberator†. The bold manner and the open indignation of the poem attracted the African American’s, and almost immediately McKay was at the front position of African American writers. (LeSeur, 51) After that McKay experienced one more unexpected twist which played an important role in his life and work. Prior to his recently successful repute had a prospect to boom, he went to United Kingdom where he lived for one year, wrote and edited for a socialist newspaper, named â€Å"Workers’ Dreadnought†, and later on in 1920, published his primary manuscript of poems ever since the Jamaican volumes, which included â€Å"Spring in New Hampshire† and Other Poems. Then he went back to New York in the beginning of 1921 and worked for another two years for â€Å"The Liberator†, and published an excellent piece of poetry and meanwhile worked on his most important book of poetry named â€Å"Harlem Shadows†. (Hathaway, 23) When it was published in 1922, Wayne Cooper observed that by that time McKay was straight away complimented as the finest African Black poet. Yet another time he did not remain in success for a long time. By this time he was exhausted and wanted something different, particularly subsequent to an unexpected encounter with his ex-wife brought back old wound. By the end of 1922, he toured to Moscow for the Fourth Congress of the Third International. He was instantly liked by the people of Moscow and was permitted to speak to the Congress regarding the dilemma of African Americans and about the issue of racial discrimination among the communalist Party. He was welcomed like a black icon in the flesh. It appeared that he was on the brink of a hopeful career as a supporting advocate; however regardless of his achievement in Russia, he could still see himself mainly as an author. When he left Russia, he was enthusiastic about restarting what he believed the contemporary author’s appropriate role; that is: to document as fine as he may well the reality of his personal knowledge. In 1934, using the assistance of a few American associates, McKay went to New York. He wished to be of help to the African American community, nevertheless when he returned; he saw a ruined economic situation, nearly widespread African American poverty, and less unanimity amongst those writers and scholars he had look forward to work with in coming years. As far his aspiration being a writer was concerned, the â€Å"Harlem Renaissance† had ended; American black authors were no longer in vogue. (Hathaway, 26) He was unable to find a publisher for his book and also he could not find any kind of work, and decided to set up a Camp Greycourt which was a government welfare camp in a remote area of New York. Luckily, Max Eastman came and rescued him from this camp and helped him to get hold of a job with the Federal Writers’ Project. By the end of 1937 he finished up his autobiography, â€Å"A Long Way from Home†. This book did not result in a significant literary or a monetary achievement. His final piece of work known as â€Å"Harlem: Negro Metropolis† was also unsuccessful. (James, 148) A few years before his death, McKay was baptized into the Roman Catholic church. This was he appeared to have established peace in himself, although his letters disclose a lasting resentment over his group. With his new faith, however, came a fulfilling participation in Chicago’s Catholic Youth Organization and the chance to continue to write. His health declined with time, and on May 22, 1948, he died due to heart attack. Conclusion Claudius McKay was the voice of the evicted, the demoralized and the discriminated. He was one of the most important poetic voices of the â€Å"Harlem Renaissance†. He was one of the top poets who had represented the discriminated people around the world. Last but not the least; he was one of the voices for worldwide self-worth and unity. Works Cited Hathaway, Heather. Caribbean Waves: Relocating Claude McKay and Paule Marshall. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1999. pg 23-27. Holcomb, Gary Edward. Claude McKay, Code Name Sasha: Queer Black Marxism and the Harlem Renaissance. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2007. pg 56-63. James, Winston. A Fierce Hatred of Injustice: Claude McKay’s Jamaica and His Poetry of Rebellion. New York: Verso, 2000. pg 131-149. LeSeur, Geta. â€Å"Claude McKay’s Marxism.† In The Harlem Renaissance: Revaluations, edited by Amritjit Singh, William S. Shiver, and Stanley Brodwin. New York: Garland, 1989. pg 34-54. Schwarz, A. B. Christa. Gay Voices of the Harlem Renaissance. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2003. pg 126-129..               

Children Getting Parents in Trouble

Although children are a parents responsibility, parents are not constantly with their children to keep them from doing irresponsible acts. Parents can only control what their children are doing if they are in their sight. Children will often blame their parents for their actions when in reality the child is either pressured by a friend, curious, or wanting to live the â€Å"life of a teenager† and have fun. It is argued that parents should know where their children are but, children are not stupid and have many ways of working around that. They could tell their parents that they are going to go to their friends house and spend the night. The parents can only trust that their child is actually there. Then, there is a problem with parents who do not care at all about what their children do. If a child (child 1) was to spend the night at a friends house (child 2) and the parents of child 2 did not care at all about what the kids did and the kids went out to a party and got really drunk causing them to make some bad decisions, probably drunk driving, arsine, or murder. Than the parent that should have been watching the children is at partial fault. But they are not always the ones who get charged for the crime and it’s the other parents who get the blame. Parents can not help the curiosity that their children have. Children know right from wrong and know that what they are doing is not appropriate. They need to be punished for what they have done, if every child got away with crime and their parents were charged, than the child would never learn from their mistakes and think that they will be able to get away with anything and continue to commit crimes.

Summer Writing Assignment †College Essay

Among all the characters that I have encountered in books and movies, one persona stood out as the one I want to emulate the most. He went by the name Equality 7-2521 from the novel entitled â€Å"Anthem† by Ayn Rand. He appealed me the moment I read the book because he embodied what I am striving to be.His personality was the quintessence of the qualities I needed to be successful. When I read the book, I was utterly impressed by his determination, intelligence, and more importantly, his perseverance as an individual. He has a significant influence on me and I find him a great source of inspiration to struggle harder in the complexities of life.It was during my sophomore year that I read the book â€Å"Anthem.† At that time, I was in a predicament over whether I should concentrate on schooling or finding a part-time job.The reason why I had such qualms was that even I made endeavors to complete my school works properly and attempted to attain high scores, my poor Engli sh proficiency derailed my plans. I was discouraged by the inconsistency of my efforts and grades printed in my report card.The course of things changed when I read â€Å"Anthem.† I was impressed by the characteristics of Equality 7-2521, the protagonist in the novel. The story was set in a fictional world which was dominated by collectivism. Equality 7-2521, who was seeking for self-identification, struggled in a society that rejected individualism in favor of collectivism.Equality 7-2521 discovered a tunnel where he began hiding regularly to conduct scientific experiments. Later on, he invented the light bulb and decided to share his device with the World Council of Scholars, even though he knew the way he came to discover electricity was illegal and sinful. Subsequently, Equality 7-2521's presentation of the light bulb to the World Council of Scholars permanently severed him from society and forced him out on his own.The reason that the World Council of Scholars made this decision was that collectivism does not allow people to think or work individually but jointly. As a result, Equality 7-2521 was exiled yet he did not stop pursuing his goal. He kept studying in the woods and eventually discovered the meaning of individualism and the word â€Å"I.†As I read the book thoroughly, I realized the qualities that I must possess in order to achieve my ambitions. Equality 7-2521 had a worse situation than mine, but by the virtue of his positive attributes, he successfully pulled off his discovery. He believed in individualism and rejected the collectivist society around him. He was insightful, perseverant, truth-seeking, resolute, and intelligent. He was deeply curious and desired freedom to explore and think, and he was unafraid of the society of mindless drones around him.Equality 7-2521 represented the superiority of a singular intellect to the homogeneity of the masses, who could not think of themselves and were indistinguishable from one another . I plan to get a high score as well. I believe I could reach my aspirations if I exemplify the qualities that Equality 7-2521 had. The strong and firm character Equality 7-2521 held inspired me every time I face a dilemma in real life.Equality 7-2521’s story assured me that nothing is impossible and that I can succeed too even in my simple but unrelenting ways. Along this line, I should stay focused on my work and studies, and possibly make a significant improvement in the coming marking period.He had a tremendous impact on my personality, not only in my study habits, but also in the determination to confront difficulties. Whoever and whatever I am now, I owe it for the most part to Equality 7-2521 for transforming me to the kind of person I never imagined I could ever be. Life indeed is like a roller coaster with ups and downs to render it more interesting and breathtaking. And above all, what is of the essence is that Equality 7-2521 indirectly made me complete and unexpec tedly happy as well.

Resourcing and talent management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Resourcing and talent management - Essay Example butother countries as well soared to an all-time high. In the past few years, the countries have tried to recover from the effects that the recession had on them. This is evidenced by economic growth evidenced in the GDP (gross domestic product) of the countries. In the United Kingdom, the economy has been fluctuating since the recession came to an end (LSE, 2013). However, since the end of 2011, the economy of the country has continually deteriorated much to the dismay of many. Economists have referred to this situation as a contracting economy since it has consistently been decreasing. It is important to note that the drops in the GDP are not very dramatic and range between nought point five to point seven (LSE,2013). Based on this information about the reality in the labour market, it is easy to understand the problems facing GIVE. org. It is a charity organization that was formerly among the best. It merged with other mergers, and this affected the group significantly. The greate st problem they are facing is low employee morale. The productivity of an employee is directly related to their confidence. Reduced drive among employees reflects negatively on the business as the staffs do not do their best at work (Nickell and Quintini, 2002, 35). This is especially dangerous for a charity organization since their work is heavily dependent on the optimism of their personnel. A merger during tough economic times can be either extensively beneficial or harmful to the company in question. It is often useful if the merging company is powerful in terms of its capital, for example, (LSE, 2013). In such a case, the more successful business will be able to pull the other through the hard times. On the other hand, amalgamating a business with not one but two smaller firms that were not doing well was not a wise decision for GIVE.org. The merger lowered the performance of the company which in turn affected the confidence of the employees. This is an example of how the event s in the labour market have affected a particular business in this case GIVE.org. Another problem facing the charity business is that most of its employees are leaving. This is probably due to the deterioration of the business as well as the availability of jobs especially from the private sector. This seems to be a contradiction since the economy and the GDP are decreasing. It expected that the companies should be lowering their workforce since their output is low(Nickell and Quintini, 2002, 35). However, in the United Kingdom, this is the complete opposite; the said companies are still hiring more staff even with their output being low. As a result, the employees are under-utilized since they are not working to their full potential. This trend is fast becoming popular and is known as labour hoarding (LSE, 2013). The explanation behind this puzzling development in the labour market, in the U.K., is that the said companies are acquiring the available labour in preparation of a boom in production which will occur when the country experiences economic growth. Many analysts contest this presumption since the labour hoarding has been going on for many years yet no change in the economy has been witnesses. As such, this cannot be the only reason why the companies are still acquiring new employees during this time (Taylor, 2011, 27). This phenomenon explains why the staffs from GIE.org are leaving. They have probably been offered jobs by the private sectors who in spite of the bad

Greek Mythology Assignment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Greek Mythology Assignment - Research Paper Example He evidently does not see their humanity and spiritual value, presenting their stories as embroidery on male tales. It is the thesis of this paper that female characters in the Iliad are like trophies, and what they do or say does not affect what happens in any important way. Trophies are awarded for accomplishments and they attest to the competence of the person to whom they were awarded. Trophies are motivators of competition between opponents or groups of opponents. Trophies are useful as launching pads for bragging. Trophies indicate that the trophy holder is a winner, but they give no assessment of how much skill was demonstrated or what the criteria was. Trophies can give a biased picture of the trophy-holder as more than what he/she actually is. Trophies can also become an annoying distraction as they require dusting and polishing, arranging and protecting, all the requirements of object management. Some people buy themselves trophies, so they will look and feel more important and powerful than they really are. Trophies can arouse jealousy in others who have no recognized accomplishments. Trophies come in various levels of quality. Although they usually look elegant, and most often come with a pedestal, some are of a more fragile nature while othe rs last well. Trophies are usually placed in a designated area, such as an enclosed cabinet, a wall of shelves with other trophies, or on a bookcase, and they are kept there in one place, being viewed from a single perspective. These characteristics of trophies, their place and use, apply to the Iliad’s women too. Helen was a top quality trophy. She was intelligent, expressive, self-motivated in spite of tremendous restraints. She was a hated foreigner, inadvertently responsible for the Trojan War and a lot of suffering. She is a captive, possessed object. Being a possessed object was par for the course in the time of the Iliad.

Research on Dell Inc Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

On Dell Inc - Research Paper Example Moreover, MIS can be further categorized as Decision Support System (DSS) and Executive Information System (EIS). In general, the role of MIS in terms of a DSS is to analyze and process business data that will aid business decision making efficiently (Nowduri, 2011). For instance, MIS provides comparative sales figures pertaining to a week, revenue figures projected on assumptions of a new product and history of decisions or workarounds performed (Nowduri, 2011). Dell Computer Corporation Dell founded in 1984 by Micheal Dell, it is one of the biggest computer manufacturing companies on the planet that provides personal computers, computer peripherals and associated software. Dell sells its products to the end users via online stores and mail orders. The organization is located in Texas and enjoys a very strong brand image that supports its growth (DATA MONITOR: Dell inc.2009). Likewise, Dell is listed in the top 100 brands of the world and its brand value is $11,695 million, as per t he annual raking 2008 report (DATA MONITOR: Dell inc.2009). Similarly, apart from the strong brand value and robust market position, there are flaws in some product segments along with feeble research and development outputs. Moreover, Dell is currently dependent on third party services along with contraction in end markets, these two factors can be considered as threats (DATA MONITOR: Dell inc.2009). Dell Information Automation Information automation is considered to be an examination and analysis of data organization. Likewise, it is most commonly used in businesses, science and technology and engineering and covers almost all areas pertaining to computing usage. Businesses use automation techniques and methods for performing tasks such as payroll processing, accounts, record keeping, inventory management, sales scrutiny, bank account statements and credit cards statements. Similarly, engineering sector utilize these methods and techniques for numerous applications associated with mineral and oil exploration. Moreover, the analysis associated with new product design and scientific experiments also utilize data processing (Kedar, 2009). Data processing or information automation is divided into two categories i.e. database processing and transaction processing. As database is a collection of data that can be extracted, changed or accessed, data can be associated with banks, financial institutions, income tax, salary, contact number etc. similarly, for a processing data, a database is utilized that is virtually located in the center (Kedar, 2009). Similarly for the second category, transaction processing is associated with an integration of two workstations that constructs the transaction, and it is backed by data provided by the second workstation. For instance, automated teller machines are a prime example for this category (Kedar, 2009). The information automation tools that are acquired and utilized by Dell Incorporated utilize the World Wide Web, spreadshe ets, maps, various models and database. Moreover, for operations functions, Dell focused primarily on the information processing tool named as maps. Likewise, the map tool facilitated Dell to make decisions associated with organizational operation initiatives. Moreover, maps were also utilized for determining the location or country to be selected for acquiring information. Furthermore, the map also

Global Studies Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Global Studies - Term Paper Example On the other hand, Khan argues that dictatorship is a way the government officials opt to use leadership positions to influences processes to their own benefits (17). It is an obvious assumption that dictatorship is only meant for the benefit of the commanding officer or officers in the government. Across the globe, many nations governed by dictatorship have very low per capita income and live in deplorable conditions. This is an indication that democracy is a key instrument in the development of a country. However, Held points out that democracy slow down democracy (12). He supports his argument by arguing that if every option by every citizen is to be considered before making a decision, most countries would not have made any decisions in terms of development and implementing policies (Held 12). For this reason, dictatorship seems to be the solution for a fast development option in any country. The fewer considerations a government makes, the less time it would take for it to devel op the country. However, dictatorship is a dreadful form leadership; and citizens fight for democracy until their will is fulfilled. The battle for democracy may be disastrous to a country. Regardless of the strides made in development, the battle for democracy may ruin the development record of any country (Held 56). The growth of a country based on extractive political institutions is not sustainable. The factors that makes this leadership style significant or long term will be discussed in broad detail. Additionally, why countries do not use dictatorship if there are ways to address the factors that may cause only short term development is also relevant. In analyzing the report on per capital income by the World Bank 2011, there are revelations that dictatorship is enemy of development. Comparing a nation like Zimbabwe and the United States makes the argument simpler. Zimbabwe is in position 198 in terms of per capita income and a nation like Botswana is in position 98 (World Ban k 1). Zimbabwe is more of a dictatorship nation while Botswana is a democratic nation. The development record of these two nations cannot be compared and this can be attributed to the different leadership styles by the two nations. However, Zimbabwe has many resources and a larger human resource force. From this analysis, one may easily point out that dictatorship has led to the decline of economy in Zimbabwe. The same case applies to any other nation that uses dictatorship on its citizens. Khan points out that sustaining development under dictatorship is difficult since the government lacks support of its citizens and numerous NGOs (78). This minimizes the chances of investments and donors to government projects. The argument is supported by Held who points out that the support of citizens and other institutions on government projects is important to sustain the economy and development of a country (123). Governments depend on funding and loans from financial bodies. However, most of these bodies do not support regimes that use dictatorship. The global war for democracy has been influenced by the lack of support to regimes that use dictatorship. Apart from the lack of financial support, dictator governments are always at a risk of political revolution (Benhabib 96). In recent years political revolutions have crippled many nations. Nations suffer great loss to their economy after a

Biosmilars Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Biosmilars - Essay Example nclude assessment of toxicity and a clinical study that includes assessment of immunogenicity and pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics are required since they are sufficient to show safety, purity and strength in one or more appropriate conditions of use for which the reference product is licensed. There must also be demonstration of comparable quality from the initial development (Patrawala, 2010). There are additional risks that come up with biosimilars. Immunogenicity and switch related issues are risks that are brought about by biosimilars. These risks reduces quality, efficacy and safety of biosimilars to patients that use them. The challenges associated with the approval of biosimilars include ability to switch, immunogenicity, and traceability of batches. Other challenges that the managing bodies have encountered when approving the Biosimilars include indication extrapolation, interchangeability, and substitution. To offset the challenges mentioned, the European Medicines Agency has come up with regulatory measures in meeting the development and approval of this biosimilars. However, the goal-oriented strategies steered by the objectives are portrayed in one part of their products for the patients, which has now followed the Europe’s approach. To offset this problem, there is a need for transparent labeling of product information for biosimilars so that the patients and the physicians can use to make an informed decision. ABPI has set of codes that ensure companies devote considerate resources to that their activities are compiled with. Any complaint that is made against the company is taken as a serious matter both by the industry and the company. Sanctions are also applied agianst a firm that is rule against the breach of code (Abpi.org.uk, 2015). Consequently, firm must ensure that every personnel are well trained according to the code and need to have a robust operating procedures where all the activities and materials within the code are reviewed

Information society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Information society - Essay Example The greatest forces behind the creation of an information society are the western civilised nations and various organisations like the UN, EC, IBRD and the OECD. The lessons learnt from the process of industrialisation have shown these groups that the development of information infrastructures and development frameworks is important for the Information Society (Audenhove et. al., 1999). The policies suggested by these groups broadly recommend the creation of opportunities where competition is encouraged, investments from the private and public sectors are to be supported and the free flow of every kind of information is strongly urged (Europa. 2006). While these policies have been lauded for their foresight, they have also been objected upon due to problems with their application especially in the third world and the developing regions. The development of an information society is supposed to include the entire world but the policies are often seen as weak when it comes to their usefulness in places where the basic necessities of life can not be found. Areas like sub-Saharan Africa and some regions of Asia lack basic facilities like water and electricity and there are some analysts who believe that without these basics no information society can ever be created (Audenhove et. al., 1999). It is therefore important to study the strengths and weaknesses of the policies for information society development in the third world since these could very well point to our collective future as a humane society. Since the last decade or so, the creation of an Information Society and the creation of a common Global Information Infrastructure have been on the ‘to do’ list of the G7 nations and their allied organizations. Sociologists and thinkers have been hard at work trying to create the policies which would encourage the development of both the above mentioned systems. As a foundation for this society, the creation and interconnection of high speed data

Traditions of Islam Faith Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Traditions of Islam Faith - Essay Example In this way, a wider perspective can be achieved on what makes Islam a successful religion globally. Islam possesses a rich historical background. With this, one article presented various views on the origins of Islam: â€Å"secular perspective, according to Muslim community itself, and based from previous scripts† (â€Å"Origin of Islam - Quranic,† n.d.). In accordance with secular history, it disclosed that Islam started along the 7th century. It was created in Saudi Arabia by Muhammad in 610 A.D.--when he supposedly experienced a heavenly vision. On the other hand, the Muslims’ version asserts that Islam already existed prior to Muhammad’s angelic visitation and that even though this particular â€Å"prophet† dictates the Quran (their version of Holy Scripture); the said book was created first. Based on the scriptures, â€Å"Quran was given by God through the angel Gabriel to the prophet Muhammad.† Hence, the prophet more or less served as an instrument in the realization of Islam as a holy faith. On scriptural perspectives, several quot es from the Bible confirmed Islam’s origins. On the Catholic’s Holy Bible, it stated that God promised Sarah a child, but because of the delay, Sarah offered Hagar (servant) the chance to lay with her husband—an act in hope of the servant conceiving. Ishmael was later born. In later part of the story, Sarah gave birth to the â€Å"promise child†--Isaac. Isaac was the ascendant of Jesus Christ while Ishmael was Muhammad’s forefathers† (â€Å"Origin of Islam - Quranic,† n.d.). In this sense, there is a valid affirmation of the religion as based on man’s written scripts. Part of Islam’s creation, then, is attributed to Muhammad. He â€Å"lived from 570 to 632 CE† (Robinson, 2007). Islam was first established in Mecca, while Muhammad was â€Å"meditating alone inside a cave in the hills above Mecca† (â€Å"Origin of Islam,† n.d.). After that incident, it was set

Hobbes and Locke's Ideas on Sovereignty Literature review

Hobbes and Locke's Ideas on Sovereignty - Literature review Example Citizens are obliged to say okay to authority by their governments due to the fact that the alternative, which is living without some form of governance, would not be ideal. The foundation of a state is based on the relationship between governments and their respective citizens. Advocates of theories of social contract go about explaining the reasons as to why governments are formed by citizens as well as are compelled to abide by the law. The theories of social contract were heavily supported by Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Despite this, the theories by the two just about totally opposed on the nature of the power of the governing supreme, human nature as well as on the citizens’ rights against the supreme. Locke employed the social contract to support limited constitutionalism while Hobbes employed the same to defend absolutism.         The Leviathan’s writing began shortly after the start of England’s civil war and was later published in 1651. The primary motives of Hobbes writing his theory of sovereignty are believed to be accounting for a stable political authority. In fact, Hobbes feels that it is the desire for stability that drives men into agreeing to enter into a commonwealth. According to Hobbes, a state of nature has â€Å"no propriety, no Dominion, no Mine and Thine distinct; but (only) that to be every man's that he can get; and for so long as he can keep it." He believed that the state of nature was characterized by a war between every man, and against every man.In addition, Hobbes argued that in a case of a natural state, "every man has a right to everything; even to one another's a body", describing the state of lives of men in this state as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short". This is in line with his argument that though men are equal in their natural sense, continued acquis ition of property results in bad self-preservation. The above-mentioned condition has no room for living large, industry, or private ownership of property beyond what one can secure from others by force. When people begin hunting each other for property, a state of insecurity is born and eventually results in fear of death among the citizens. This fright, together with the hunger for a large living is described by Hobbes as â€Å"the passions that incline men to peace.†

Impetus to Department of Homeland Security Essay Example for Free

Impetus to Department of Homeland Security Essay Abstract This is a case study into the impetus of The Department of Homeland Security due to the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the increase awareness of terrorist attacks. This study will also cover the Oklahoma City and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and why it did not have the full impact or awareness of the 9/11 attack. Also, the study will try inject ways that the two earlier kinds of attacks could have been prevented according to the protection strategy in place today. Title of Paper (Does not Count as Heading) The word terrorist and terrorism is synonymous in that they both are used as violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal. The 9/11 attack on The World Trade Center serves as a prime example to the type of terror that Americans have never witness before. It showed that our great nation was venerable to a new kind of attack where people do not value life but value their pursuit of life, liberty, and justice much more. These are the type of organization or people who will die for a justice cause. These very people lead to the Impetus of The Department of Homeland Security. The main reason the 9/11 attack was so gruesome was the fact that the organization did not need weapons of mass destruction to accomplish it goal. The organized group of the Taliban or Al Qaeda, as known by some, was able to commandeer two 747 planes and launch an attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This was a strategic threat that was well plan and the funding of it leader Osama bin Laden. These types of suicide missions that were televised to the nation through the media signified the dawn of a new kind of threat and that a new kind of organization or rational think had to be formed. This formidable threat lead to the formation of the Department of Homeland Security with the expressed mission of keeping our people, cyber, and critical infrastructure safe from terrorists and natural disasters. This is the third largest federal department that encompasses state, local, and the private sector. Of course this is not the first time that our soil has been threatened by extremist or terrorist groups. For example, on the morning of April 19, 1995, an ex-Army soldier and security guard named Timothy McVeigh parked a rented Ryder truck in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City(n.d.). He was about to commit mass murder. Inside the vehicle was a powerful bomb made out of a deadly cocktail of agricultural fertilizer, diesel fuel, and other chemicals(n.d.). McVeigh got out, locked the door, and headed towards his getaway car(n.d.). He ignited one timed fuse, then another. McVeigh’s anger with the federal government on how his colleagues was treated at the Waco incident cause massive destruction and the loss of 168 human beings lives. Although, this was one of the worst home grown act of terrorist it did not gain that much dramatic impact from society and politicians because it was small scale and did not appear to have the funding to escalate to large scale terrorism. It also did not have the mass appeal of the 9/11 incident that was broadcast to the nation. Only the after mass was on display. Plus the ingredients used in making the bomb were your everyday garden variety, not weapons of mass destruction. Another example of the destructive nature of a terrorist group was the bombing of the Epicenter Parking Center under the World Trade Center. On Friday, February 26, 1993, Middle Eastern terrorism had arrived on American soil with a bang(n.d.). A small group of Islamic terrorist detonated a bomb that caused a massive crater killing 6 people and injuring thousands of others. The intent was to topple one building into the other collapsing both. The Federal Bureau of Investigation had intelligence information on this group but did not foresee them as a threat. Again, this incident did not have the dramatic impact as the 9/11 attack because the group was small scale and did not have the funding to inflict the damage of weapons of mass destruction. There were no ties to a large terrorist group with unlimited funding and followers. In both of these examples as stated neither gain the grandeur nature of the 9/11 attack because of they were not televised live as the event occurred, they did not have the notoriety or followers as Taliban or Al Qaeda terrorist group, they not have the funding of group capable of amassing weapons of mass destruction, and they were not the all for nothing suicidal group that would have giving their life for a cause. What we have in place today that could have thwart the attacks in the examples are different agencies are task with investigating specific areas and that is what they specialize in. For example, if one department had the responsibility of investigating the intelligent on the Islamic terrorist group they would have been more inclined to have arrested the group before they did any damage. The deployment of explosive sniffing dogs at critical infrastructure sites may have been able to detect the bombs before they were detonated. Surveillance camera located at critical location may a detected the vans being abandon for an undetermined time and helped to identify those involved. Quotations (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/oklahoma-city-bombing (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2008/february/tradebom_022608 References http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/oklahoma-city-bombing http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/oklahoma-city-bombing Gaines, Larry K., and Victor E. Kappeler. Homeland security. Boston: Prentice Hall, 2012. Print.

Roles and Responsibilities of The Qualified Nurse

Roles and Responsibilities of The Qualified Nurse VANITHA RAMAN INTRODUCTION A qualified nurse is central to the provision of safe, high quality nursing care and the backbone of the healthcare system. Qualified nurses are individually accountable for their own practice and have a personal responsibility to maintain their competency and meet professional standards in order to maintain their licence to practise. The role of the registered nurse has evolved with changes in advancing technology, newly defined client needs and changes in the way healthcare is delivered. In this way, it is not unreasonable to expect that the role of the registered nurse will continue to evolve and change. Qualified nurses are expected to develop their analytical problem solving and decision making skills throughout their nursing career (NMC, 2010) Benner (1984) proposed that nursing knowledge develops through research and integration into clinical practise and experience. Importantly, experience is not a time based activity but can only develop in the context of education and knowledge acquisition. Characteristics acquired throughout the registered nurse professional career contribute towards a sustainable profession through role modelling, clinical leadership, mentoring and coaching, supervision, teaching and research. The health reform environment will create opportunities for nurses to work in new models of healthcare delivery that provide quality health services to individuals, families and communities and enable nurses to practise to their full professional potential (North Hughes 2012) Clinical Governance The term clinical governance became prominent following the publication of New Labors first White Paper on health, The New NHS: Modern, Dependable (1997) and subsequently Quality in the New NHS (1998). According to Scally and Donaldson (1998) clinical governance is a ‘system through which organizations are responsible for continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish. Clinical governance will not replace professional self-regulation and individual clinical judgement, concepts that lie at the heart of health care in this country, but it will add an extra dimension that will provide the public with guarantees about standards of clinical care (Sam Gilbraith 1998) In another word, it can be summarized that clinical governance is a way to increase managerial control of health professions (Flynn, 2004). Clinical Governance is composed of the following elements, Education, Clinical Audit, Clinical Effectiveness, Risk Management, Research and development and Openness. These elements are underpinned by the recognition of Communication, Teamwork and Leadership (Chambers et al. 2007). Flynn (2002) suggests that the proliferation of mixed metaphors (umbrella, model, framework, culture and mindset) indicate that there is an inherent ambiguity about the precise nature of clinical governance. While Travaglia et al. (2011) map the development of clinical governance as a mobilising concept in healthcare, we contribute to the literature by deconstructing prior definitions to clarify what is meant by the umbrella term â€Å"clinical governance†. The elements of clinical governance is composed of the following elements : Education. Clinical audit. Clinical effectiveness. Risk management. Research and development. Openness. Good clinical leadership is required to engage the entire practice team in a commitment to excellence. Education A good teacher not only imparts key pearls of wisdom, but also acts as an exemplary role model and has non-cognitive qualities such as the ability to inspire students in the learning process (Sutkin et al., 2008) and reflect on his/her teaching practice. Accountability Accountability is known as the key element for professional practice which is closely linked with delegation (NMC, 2010). A qualified nurse failure to comply with the issues of accountability such as accountable to the patient, her professional body, criminal law, employer through a contract of employment, and society generally through the NMC. The code: Standard of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for Nurses and Midwives (NMC, 2008a) As a nurse-leader, qualified nurses are professionally accountable to all the issues/problems that occur in their ward ( ICN, 2010). They further explained that as autonomous practitioners, nurses are accountable for their own action/practice. Simply, accountability can be referred as accepting ownership for all aspect of their practice and must be able to justify their decisions (NMC, 2008c). Mooney (2007) highlighted how ward managers’ expectations of newly qualified nurses were unrealistic, suggesting that pressures of the ward environment, being able to adapt and integrate quickly, and the added responsibility of accountability were particularly overwhelming. Maben and McLeod Clark (1998) also noted inconsistencies in preparation for management, suggesting that while the theoretical context was adequate, the practical aspects, such as drug administration, prioritising, decision making and clinical skills were variable. Caulfield (2005) states that maintains the patient’s trust in the individual nurse is important for professional accountability. Similarly, Ormrod and Barlow (2011) described explicitly that every nurse is responsibility to explain or answerability to offer justification of practice. The NMC (2010) code of conduct helped me how the laws and policies are set up to ensure safe and effective delivery of care given to service users under a patient group direction. Problem 1 Staff nurse A B were on night duty together with an assistant nurse. All three were working in the ICU. Suddenly one of the ICU patients went into a cardiac arrest. Staff nurse A announced a code blue .Four staffs from other units responded to the code blue. Staff A B started the resuscitation process. While this happened all four respondents stood idle as they were unaware of what to do. Solution for problem 1 Teamwork Teams and teamwork help to promote deep learning that occurs through interaction, problem solving, dialogue, cooperation and collaboration (Johnson Johnson,1995). Teamwork is defined by Scarnati (2001, p. 5) â€Å"as a cooperative process that allows ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results. Training must given to all qualified nurses and ensure that they understand the concept of teamwork so that they can build a strong team. In nursing, teamwork is essential for effective management and achieving positive results (Toofany, 2007). She further elaborated that NMC stressed all nurses must act to reduce errors and provide quality patient care by being part of healthcare team. A strong foundation which consists of creative leadership, clear goals and objectives (Clevenger, 2007) and trust (Blyth, 2006) determines success of a team. Team members must be flexible enough to adapt to cooperative working environments where goals are achieved through collaboration and social interdependence rather than individualised, competitive goals (Luca Tarricone,2001). Cipriano (2010) maintains that delegation is an underdeveloped skill among nurses which is difficult to assess as it relies on personality, communication style and mutual respect between the registered nurse and the healthcare assistant. Munn, Tufanaru, and Aromataris (2013), propose that there is a lack of clarity about the role of healthcare assistants complicates delegation processes. In order to build a good communication staff can be sent for team building courses so that can enhance their team work skills. According to Arnold B(1990), Team building is an effort in which a team studies its own process of working together and acts to create a climate that encourages and values the contributions of team members. Delegation can help others to develop or enhance their skills, promotes teamwork and improves productivity Sollivan.E.J et al (2009). When delegating, the delegator remain responsible for that care if he/she do not delegate appropriately as stated by NMC (2008) Heap (1996) affirms that the crux of the team building approach is love and spirituality which results in mutual respect, compassion, and humanity to work. West (1994) emphasised that organisations need to provide teams with adequate financial resou rces, administrative and technical support and professional education. Leadership Hershey and Blanchard (1977) life cycle theory explains that the leadership behaviour translates to the characteristic of the follower. Table below shows Hershey and Blanchard’s leadership behaviours and resultant leadership style: Task Relationship Leadership style High Low Telling Defines the task . Gives time frame for completion. One way communication High High Selling- balances concern for goal accomplishment with values. Leader in control but seeks input Low High Participating- getting the group to work together to accomplish the task Low Low Delegating Leader takes a low profile. Available for consultation Morse and Reimer (1956) suggest that different style of leadership is needed in different situation thus the concept of situational leadership. Vroom (1960) seem to agree with Hershey and Blanchard by suggesting that the leaders should modify their leadership style to suit the people they lead. In this situation, given that the four staff nurse that responded would have basic knowledge on performing CPR, the ICU nurse should have delegated the task. This given both task and relationship would have ranked low on the Hershey and Blanchard chart above. Delegating would have allowed the ICU nurse to assume the role of team leader to make major decision. Sarcevic, A., et al. Leadership structures in emergency care settings: a study of two trauma centers. [Erratum appears in Int J Med Inform. 2011 Aug; 80(8): e48]. International Journal of Medical Informatics. 80(4): p. 227-38. When leaders delegate responsibility appropriately, team members become more confident and autonomous in their work (Capko 1996). Kane (1975) suggested that leadership be allocated to the team member with the most expertise, rather than being linked to professional groups. Tan (2006:p.3) stated leadership as â€Å"influencing followers to do what is necessary to achieve organizational goal or vision†. So, to be a successful leader, leadership and management skills are combined to achieve a common goal (Tan, 2006). Capella, J, et al states that roles of the extra members need to be clearly defined to ensure optimum patient safety. Capella, J., et al. Teamwork training improves the clinical care of trauma patients. Journal of Surgical Education. 67(6): 439-43.PMid:21156305 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2010.06.006 (Blegen, 1993, Irvine Evans, 1995) share that changing the staffing mix can impact the quality of supervisory relation and influence staff outcome. This if had been implemented would have allowed better relationship to be forged between the ICU staff and the wad staff , which would have resulted in the situation been better managed. Teaching and Learning Some studies have shown training does help define roles during resuscitation. Dagnone, J.D., et al. Interprofessional resuscitation rounds:a teamwork approach to ACLS education. Medical Teacher. 2008; 30: 49-54. PMid:18464132 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01421590701769548. This would have helped when the ward staff responded to the code. Such training not only improves knowledge but also help define the roles and responsibility in the advent of such situation. Bradley, P., S. Cooper, and F. Duncan, A mixed-methods study of interprofessionsl learning of resuscitation skills. Medical Education. 2009; 43: 912-922. PMid:19709016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2009.03432.x One notable theory to consider is, David Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model (ELM).According to Kolb (1984, p.41) Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience. Kolb seek to argue that learning can exist without a teacher and merely through personal and environmental experience. Sabet (2005) recommended centralised, decentralised and mixed staffing system. As such having the staffs rotated at critical areas will allow them to get used to the practices and locations of item when handling an emergency situation. Solution. Leadership Mock code simulation training helps to improve registered nurses and first responder It should include reflections on incidents and situations and what you have learned from them. A good model of reflective practice that can be used is that of Gibbs (1988). Find out what happens if a member of staff is not performing as they should or is giving cause for concern A good model of reflective practice that can be used is that of Gibbs (1988). This teaching strategy enhances learning, skills and knowledge retention, and subsequently improved advanced cardiac life support outcomes (Scherer, Bruce, Graves Erdley, 2003). Wannan and York (2005) report that students’ knowledge could be acquired either by watching a video or through role play. Supervision on the staff during the code and give feedback for their improvement Doing statistic on improvement of resuscitations References Gordon, J. (2002) Team building. Journal of American Academy of Business, 2(1), 185-189. Tuckman, B. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63(6), 384 399. VanZile, J. (2002). Team building. In Corporate and incentive travel. Retrieved February 16, 2004, from http://www.corporate-inc-travel.com/CIT/Archives/stories2002/stories-jan2002.htm#five Bateman, A. (1990), Team building: Developing a productive team, In Nebraska Cooperative Extension CC352. Retrieved February 16, 2004, from http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/misc/cc352.htm

The Oresund Fixed Link Project Construction Essay

The Oresund Fixed Link Project Construction Essay The Oresund Fixed Link was a project initiated in 1991 by the Swedish and Danish governments and completed and opened in July 2000. The bridge, island and tunnel combination connects the two metropolitan areas of the Oresund region, Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmo, Sweden. The Link consists of the Oresund Bridge, a two-level (one for traffic, one for rail) pylon-supported structure, the Oresund Tunnel, a 4km-long tunnel, and the Peberholm Artificial Island which would transfer the traffic from the submerged tunnel to the bridge. It was undertaken in a cooperative effort between the Swedish and Danish governments whereby they would each form half of the owner company (Øresundsbro Konsortiet) in 1992, which in turn was responsible for financing, planning, designing, building and eventually operating the link (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). We will attempt to demonstrate that the Oresund Fixed Link is one of the more successful mega-projects. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ has argued that mega-projects such as the analogous Channel Tunnel, Sydney Opera house or Millennium Dome are subject to cost and time overruns and quality shortfalls. The factors behind those deficiencies include a politicization of the tendering and project proposal process, the legacy complex which can besiege governmental spending and the inefficient management of projects on a public level. The experience of the Oresund Fixed Link, whilst not without short-comings, is recognized as being a project that in terms of the QCD paradigm was satisfactorily managed and far removed from the problematic projects of its time. To this end, in May 2003, the Oresund Bridge won the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) Outstanding Structure Award, recognizing not only its design and construction but more importantly in our context, its adhere nce to the proposed deliverables. Project Phases: Concept Identifying the need and opportunity: The need for a link between Denmark and Sweden which crossed the Oresund sound was not a novel one in 1991. In fact, the region had been the subject of territorial disputes between the nations dating back to the 1600s and had fallen under ownership of both nations at various times (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). Lack of political will and unstable economic conditions had prevented the Link from being properly canvassed before the late 1980s. There were a range of economic, infrastructural and political factors which created a need for a bridge between the two nations in the early 1990s. Firstly, although Sweden was not member of the European Union (then EEC) at that time, its attention had been directed to accession during the European recession of the late 1980s (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). Denmark had already acceded to the EEC in 1986. The increased focus on European integration meant that links, allowing the movement of goods and labour in particular would be required. Furthermore, Denmark as part of continental Europe, could act as a gateway to Sweden and Finland in the north. European integration was thus a driving factor behind the Link and the potential benefits it could have in bringing the two nations and indeed Europe and Scandinavia closer together. A more practical consideration in determining the demand for the Link was that of offering an alternative to the ferry-based transport service that was in place at the time. The ferry service, with irregular timetabling and being subject to good weather conditions, could be allowed to operate more efficiently if there were an alternative link which allowed both trade, leisure and commuter traffic(Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). The need for the link between Denmark and Sweden to increase efficiency and integration provided an opportunity to create a single Oresund metropolitan area. The conglomeration of the two separate Copenhagen and Malmo markets would allow for a common housing and labour market and increased commercial and educational opportunities. As Denmark and Sweden became more involved in the European process, and Europe became more integrated and markets more competitive, it was apparent that the Oresund region could become a leading metropolis and hub if connected. The opportunity was also present for both nations as the Scandinavian banking crisis brought both nations into recessions and paved the way for stimulatory spending on infrastructure and other projects. Initial Risk Assessment: An immediate risk at the time of conception was posed by the economic conditions brought about by the Scandinavian banking crisis (IMF, 2002). Although this presented an opportunity, the economic climate at that time was far from certain and that uncertainty could have strong implications on financing interest rates and resource and supply costs from overseas in the light of exchange rate fluctuations. The division of the stake in the consortium overseeing company between Swedish and Danish governments allowed the mitigation of risk by reducing cost of borrowing (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). Another obvious risk faced by the project initiators was that being a mega-project, handing over responsibility for design and construction to just one company places strong burden on that firm. In order to mitigate this risk, the initiators separated the project into three parts the Tunnel, the Bridge and the artificial island linking the two so as to hopefully improve delay, cost and quality. Whilst this reduces the risk of default and delay on the contract, it does pose an additional risk of non-communication or worse still non-compliance between the separate components of the design. The risk that the Link would damage the environment was very much in the consciousness of the project initiators from the outset (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). This may be because Denmark and Sweden are traditionally active in the conservation sphere, place emphasis on sustainable development and have the worlds tightest controls on offshore construction. Or it could be as a result of strong lobby-group pressure which raised concerns regarding the potential environmental impacts of the Link (American University, 2005). Whichever it may be, the initiators committed, with some spurring on, to the creation of a project which was as much environmentally friendly as possible. The potential bad publicity and financial losses from environmental damage was something which the initiators wanted to avoid. Alternative Approaches: There were few alternative approaches to the Oresund Link project, given the set parameters of joining Sweden and Denmark and creating value (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). The opportunity to link Malmo and Copenhagen metropolitan areas implied long-term, quantifiable value creation. One alternative may have been the Danish city Elsinore and Swedish Helsingborg, which are closer than Copenhagen and Malmo across the Sound, however the initiators believed that more benefit would be derived by joining two large cities and offering a connection near Copenhagen Airport to benefit air travelers (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). Alternatives to the 3-part project were also few. This is because the land under the Sound was not even. As such, it would not be possible to build a bridge which spanned the whole sound nor a tunnel without incurring extra cost. Scope Management Project Definition: The project offered the following opportunities for the project initiators: Create stronger trade and investment links between Denmark and Sweden as two nations Create further integration between continental Europe and Scandinavia Provide an alternative transport mechanism crossing the Sound so as to increase the efficiency of trade and business and leisure travel Develop the Malmo-Copenhagen metropolitan area into one of the leading hubs in Europe Offer a symbolic and impressive structure to the two nations The overall objective, by which the success of the project might be gauged, was, as stipulated in the treaty, to construct a Link which was ecologically motivate, technically possible and financially reasonable to prevent any detrimental effects to the environment. The scope of the project would include: Tender for the design of the Link Construction of the Link Construction and development of the surrounding areas Time Management: Unlike other mega-projects such as sites for the Olympic Games, the time was not especially short for the Oresund link. The initiators evidently wanted to keep it as short as possible, to capitalize on the growing links in Europe and to provide the service to consumers as quickly as possible. Additionally, by minimizing time, the two states could attempt to reduce cost overrun. The initial time span was set at 10 years from the signing of the treaty in 1991 (Oresundsbro Konsortiet, 2009). Quality Management: Quality was seen as perhaps the most important parameter to be satisfied in the project, above cost and time. The consortium was charged with ensuring that the quality of the Link met all European safety and structural standards (Eurocodes) (Kjaer, 2001). In addition it was stipulated that in terms of safety, The Link should be no more dangerous than using the national roads or railroads (Kjaer, 2001). The Link also had to improve transport time across the Sound. A very important parameter set for the designers and constructors was to limit the environmental impact of the Link. Cost Management: The budget for the construction cost was set at 13.9billon DKK or 2.4billion USD in 1990 prices (Kjaer, 2001). The consortium was charged with the financing, budgeting and planning. Since the Consortium was owned by the Swedish and Danish governments the financial resources, within reason, were not as constraining a factor as the quality objective. Furthermore, the fact that project was financed outside of state budgets by the consortium meant it was not subject to restrictions on resource allocation by the respective governments. Project Phases: Development Design Selection of the Link As we mentioned in the precedent chapter, after the Swedish and Danish government set up a 50:50 joint venture Øresundsbro Konsortiet in 1992, the company then organized a design competition for the bridge in early 1993. The competition took over for 2 months; the result came out in July that year with two entirely different bridge concepts chosen by the owner for further discussion before the final decision taken: -Group ASOs two-level, mainly steel, structure, with the motorway placed above the railway, ASO Group was initiated by Arup(specialized in structural engineering and who has carried out the Sydney Opera House and the Pompidou Center in Paris) and formed as well with SETEC (France), Gimsing Madsen and ISC (both Denmark), Tyrà ©ns (Sweden), and with Georg Rotne (Denmark) as architect to the Group; A single-level, mainly concrete, bridge, with the motorway between the two railway tracks, developed by the ØLC consortium. They both had a cable-stayed main span. Following the awards, as to make an easier and wiser decision for the selection of designer, a continuous scheme designs were prepared to confirm the concepts developed during the short competition period, along with the consultants worked with the Owner to develop the project and get ready for the construction phase. Thus the further design process can be defined as: Consultations with authorities to obtain their approval establish a design basis and a contract strategy set up administrative procedures develop the design in some detail prepare tender documents Whereas it turned out that ASOs strong and robust design concept was safely carried through this whole design process with only very few and insignificant modifications. Tender documents were issued for proposals from both semi-final winners- ASO and ØLC in December 1994, for two contracts for each: one for the approach spans, and the other for the cable-stayed spans. The tenders were returned in June 1995, and after the evaluation, the single contract was signed with Sundlink Contractors in November 1995 for the whole of ASO Groups two-level design for the bridge. The other two main contracts one for Dredging and Reclamation and one for the Tunnel had been let during the summer, and several coast-to-coast contracts were let during 1997-98 for the railway and for various installations such as SCADA / traffic control, communications, toll system and the terminal area. Design and Construct Contract Strategy The Owner had early decided to let the contracts as design-and-construct contracts, but modified so as to safeguard the conceptual designs that had been prepared. In essence the contracts were for detailed design and construction. As we have emphasized that such a Design Construction contract allowed avoiding any possible incompatibilities caused by different designer and constructor so that Owner were able to minimize the risks in this aspect. According to the contract documents, we can clearly identify the principles behind the Owners contract strategy which included: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Detailed design-and-build à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ A 100 years service life à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Application of well-known technology à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Control and documentation of quality à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Division of risks attributable to ground and weather conditions and obtaining permits. The contract documents were written expressly for the project, and defined the Owners requirements regarding function, aesthetics, safety, and environmental protection. Everything required to fulfill those requirements was included in the Contractors scope of work, with only specified duties on the Owner. The Contractor was responsible for the detailed design as well as for the construction of the work, and was given considerable freedom regarding the means and methods of doing his work which is also a factor key for the success of this mega project. In essence the Owner specified what the Contractor should achieve, and the Contractor determined how to achieve it. The Contractor was responsible for supervising his own work and for providing documentary evidence that he had done so and that the quality of the work he had done was of the standard required by the Contract. The Owner monitored the Contractors performance but this did not relieve the Contractor of his obligations under the contract. This contract strategy led to several special documents being included in the tender documents issued to the bidders, in particular definition drawings, an illustrative design, reference conditions, and quality system requirements. The definition drawings described the design features, geometry, and materials that should be retained in the Contractors design, and at the same time defined the limits within which he had the freedom to choose. The illustrative design showed the bidders, for information only, a comprehensive design that fulfilled the Owners requirements. Risk Assessment So as to minimize the possible risks could ever take place during the construction phase, the Owner assigned ASO as the developer of the Operational Risk Assessment of the entire Øresund link. But since ASO itself was involved in it, the process would benefit from the contribution of external reviewers, so Professor Tendrup Pedersen from the Danish Technical University was appointed to review the marine aspects and Arup to review the remainder. As far as we know, it is the first time such a comprehensive risk analysis has been undertaken during the design of a major fixed link. A fully quantified risk assessment of the human safety and traffic delay risks was carried out for a comprehensive list of hazards: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ fire à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ explosion à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ train collisions and derailments à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ road accidents à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ ship collisions and groundings à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ aircraft collisions à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ toxic spillages à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ environmental loads beyond design basis. Initially, the assessment attempted solely to identity the risks beyond those of typical stretches of motorway and railway on mainland Denmark or Sweden. However, it soon became obvious that this approach could be improved by considering total risks and being able to compare the Links risks with international risk acceptance criteria. We found out that the risk assessment was carried out along with the design process and influenced several design decisions, the most significant being the size of the bridge pier foundations to withstand ship impact, the realignment of the main shipping channel to reduce groundings, and the provision of passive fire protection on the tunnel walls and ceilings.

Workplace Violence Essay -- Workplace Health and Safety

Workplace Violence Workplace violence is a phenomenon that is now widely recognized as a social problem, which impacts all organizations. "According to Department of Justice statistics for 1995, 21% of all violent crime occurred while the victim was either at work or traveling to or from work. Workplace Violence accounted for more than two (2) million violent Crimes annually from 1992-1997" (Kaufer 1-2). In this research paper I will provide an overview of workplace violence and furnish Examples of the effect and costs, as it affect the workplace. Workplace violence can be devastating to business and present emotional impact on the employees involved (Ecis, 1). "Incidents of workplace violence were virtually unheard of until the 1970‘s. Since then it has more than tripled. As companies downsize, reorganize, re-engineer, and demand more of each employee, stress levels increase to the breaking point causing work-related violence to escalate (Mattman, 1). Obviously something must be done to protect employees from workplace violence. Employees not only deserve a safe workplace environment but several state mandates need to be considered. Three important questions deserve close examination. These include, why over the past years have there been evidenced an increase in workplace violence? What are the effects on the business economics when they are subjected to occupational violence on the work site? And finally, what can be done to avoid violence in the workplace? Workplace violence has shown itself to be a serious detriment to the ability of a company to be successful and productive. As you can see, it not only affects the workplace but places employees in emotional states, which are counterpro... ...erly, Age Works. Free Press 1999. Kaufer, Steven. The cost of workplace violence to American business. Source: www.workviolence.com Klein, Stuart. Workers Under stress. University Press of Kentucky: 1990. Source: CSUDH Library Mantell, Michael. Ticking bombs. Irwin Professional Publishing 1993. Source: Public Library of Long Beach. Unknown Author. Steps to combat workplace violence. Source: http://www.sentry~insurance.com/Wontvid.htm Unknown Author. Violence has no place in the workplace. M2 Communication Ltd. 1992. Unknown Author. Workplace violence policy. Internet. Source: http://www.2kumc.edu/hr/admin/wpv.html Vuong, Andy. Business discuss safety at workplace. Source: William, Waugh, L. and Lloyd, Nigro G. Workplace Violence: A Human resources perspective. Internet. Source: http://www.gsu.edu~purlgn/WPVAbstract.html

The Bluest Eye abd the development of the American Novel :: Bluest Eye Essays

The Bluest Eye abd the development of the American Novel In The Bluest Eye, Morrison describes the absurd and racist standard by which the characters are judged. And through the actions taken by each character, that absurd standard becomes more defined, the conflict more poignant. In this particular work, it is the American ideal of beauty that makes Pecola resign her self-image as ugly and it is Pecola's reaction to this standard, her futile wish to become beautiful, that drives her into madness and thus completely exposes the absurd and wrongful nature of this standard. And yet who created this standard? It is present in movies, on candy wrappers. It is completely visible, yet the creator of this standard is somewhere else, never appears as a character. It is this fate in which a character pits him/herself against that we have seen in our study of the American novel. Faulkner has used perhaps the most obvious "absent" character to drive the standard, the dead mother. The family must react to the conflict, yet the conflict is set by someone who dies early in the novel. Social standards are apparent in James's world, and perhaps the father is the cause of these social standards. Yet they often seem outrageous to us as readers, as there seems not to be a moral cause driving the doctor's decisions, only stubbornness. In Munro's stories, we see the poor react to the standard of the rich. Munro provides an example of the rich, but the character's come across as flat, underdeveloped. This is not a criticism of Munro's technique; it furthers the development of each character who holds themselves against this standard. Vonnegut provides an outrageous world in which the standards that life imposes seem absurd. And who has created this absurd world in which the characters seem forever at odds with? The creator we are provided is admittedly a lie. Yet the absurdities force the reactions from the characters.

Lenovo Laptop-Promotional Strategy Essay

1. PERVASIVENESS: Advertising permits the seller to repeat a message many times. It also allows the buyer to compare messages of various competitors. Large scale advertising says something positive about the seller size, power and success. 2. AMPLIFIED EXPRESSIVENESS: Advertising provides opportunities for dramatizing the company and its products through the artful print sound color. ADVERTISING CAN BE USED TO BUILD UP A LONG TERM IMAGE FOR A PRODUCTPROMOTION The promotion mix within the marketing mix includes advertising, sales promotion and personal selling. Product promotion means making the product popular among the consumers and raising its sales through suitable measures the basic purpose is to widen the scope of marketing.  sales promotion means the promotional activities other than personal salesmanship, advertising and publicity which stimulate consumer purchasing and dealer effectiveness through displays, exhibitions, demonstrations, free samples, discounts, premium etc. it is plus ingredient in marketing mix it act as bridge link in between advertising and personal salesmanship. It acts as a supporting facility to advertising and personal selling. FEATURES OF SALES PROMOTION1. SALES PROMOTION ACTS AS A TOOL IN MARKETING TO LUBRICATE MARKETING EFFORTS. 2. IT IS NECESSARY IN PRESENT COMPETITIVE WORLD AND CONSUMER ORIENTED MARKETING3. IT SUPPORTS ADVERTISING AND PERSONAL SELLING. 4. IT AMIS STIMULATING CONSUMER PURCHASING AT POINT OF SALE. 5. IT PROVIDES MORE SALES AND PROFITS TO PRODUCERS AND DEALERSNEED OF SALES PROMOTION1. FOR UNLOADING ACCUMULATED INVENTORY. 2. FOR INTRODUCING NEW PRODUCTS. 3. FOR OVERCOMING SEASONAL SLUMPS. 4. FOR SUPPORTING ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN. 5. FOR GETTING NEW ACCOUNTS. 5. FOR SUPPORTING AND SUPPLEMENTING SALESMAN EFFORTS. OBJECTIVES OF SALES PROMOTION1. TO RAISE VOLUME OF SALES OF PRODUCT. 2. TO RAISE BUYING RESPONSE AND POTENTIAL CONSUMERS. THREE MARKETING PROMOTION STRATEGYA] DEFINE YOUR VP-up stands for value proposition and it is critical to define what unique value you can bring to your customer. The three items that you should not define as your up. 1 low price-if your only differentiator is price, customer is in tough time. Price is probably the worst way to attempt to differentiate your company. Making low pricing your up is a mistake. 2. Quality products-they are not differentiator, they are an expectation. 3. service-good service is an expectation, not vp.good service is not simply a unique way you differentiate your business these days. Up need to focus on a unique way you do business, it can be way your information is packaged, a guarantee that no one else offers, or the way your product can transform people. Once you defined your value proposition, you must ensure that this message comes across clearly to your customers and prospects. An easy way to develop a business tag line based on your up and uses this tag in all your customers’ communications. B} MATCH THE MESSAGE TO THE CUSTOMER- the more you know and are able to define your various buyer personas, the more you will be able to communicate  tightly focused and powerful message that is relevant to particular customer. C} GIVE SOMETHING FOR NOTHING- this means to build trust by giving away something for nothing. Before you attempt to sell. You must create trust they want information. When they surf the internet they need information. The trust can be created over time by consistently showing customer the knowledge, expertise and valuesSTART OF LENOVO†Hope through Entrepreneurship† tells not just the story of Lenovo’s corporate social investments, but the company’s own history. In 1984, 11 computer scientists in Beijing, China had a vision to create a company that would bring the advantages of information technology to the Chinese people. With approximately $25,000 USD in seed money and the determination to turn their research into successful products, this team opened their business in a loaned space – a small, one-story bungalow in Beijing. Today, Lenovo is encouraging people around the world to make an impact. As Lenovo’s technology helps bridge the physical gap among different parts of the world, the company’s goal is to do the same through its social investments. Given Lenovo’s history and the nature of its business, the company focuses on helping people around the world transform their lives and their communities. To do this, Lenovo supports organizations that encourage business development and social entrepreneurship. Through microfinance institutions such as Opportunity International, Lenovo is helping provide crucial loans to help disadvantaged people in countries such as Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. HISTORY OF LENOVOThe following is a brief history of Lenovo:- 2000: Legend shares peak at HK$14.75 on March 6. – 2001: Dell takes the largest share of the worldwide PC market for the first time. Legend sales reach a peak of HK$27.2 billion in the fiscal year ended March 2001 and decline to HK$23.2 billion in the most recent fiscal year ended March 2004. – 2003: The Company changes brand name to Lenovo from Legend to avoid infringement of overseas brands. The company says it is preparing for expansion outside China, which has overtaken Japan to become the world’s second-largest PC market. The US remains the world’s largest PC market. – 2004: The Company changes its name to Lenovo Group. Time Warner Inc, the world’s largest media company, on January 7 exits a US$50 million Internet venture in China with Lenovo. China accounts for 99 percent of Lenovo’s sales in fiscal year ended March 2004 and 98 percent in the previous 12-month period. Lenovo’s first-quarter PC shipment growth in China lags rivals such as Dell, according to market researcher IDC Corp. Lenovo has a 10.9 percent share of the Asian market excluding Japan, compared with 7.3 percent for Dell. Lenovo’s Asian shipments rise 19 percent, compared with 52 percent for Dell. Lenovo’s sales of services and hand-held electronics grow the fastest of all its products in the most recent two fiscal years, each at an average rate that roughly quadruples. Computer sales rise at an average rate of 9 percent in the same period. – December 3, 2004: IBM in discussions with Lenovo about the sale of its PC business, the New York Times reports. – December 7, 2004: Lenovo says it’s in talks with a major international company about a possible acquisition. – December 8, 2004: Lenovo’s purchase of IBM’s personal computer business formally announced in Beijing yesterday. Acquisition expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2005. OBJECTIVE OF LENOVOLenovo nose-diving into rural marketChina’s top PC maker, Lenovo Group Ltd, by introducing cheaper computers, is plunging head-on into the country’s rural market, where PC penetration is low and purchasing power is weak. Analysts said the firm’s low-price strategy will help it strengthen its  market share, which is shrinking. But they are divided about the long-term profitability of the low-priced PCs. Lenovo last week introduced a new consumer PC series and an e-classroom solution aimed at users in ordinary households and the education sector in townships. The retail prices for the new PC models will range from 2,999 Yuan (US$361), a record low, to 5,999 Yuan (US$723). Lenovo previously focused on PCs that cost more than 5,000 Yuan (US$602). â€Å"The growth of the whole PC market is lackluster. But the township market remains largely untapped,† said Yang Yeaning, chief executive officer of Lenovo Group Ltd. The launch of the low-price PCs is part of Lenovo’s strategic shift. He expects shipments of the new PC series will reach 800,000-1 million units within a year. Beijing-based CCW Research said tapping the low-end market will increase Lenovo’s market share. And so it did.†Lenovo is delivering a message that it intends to cover all market segments, from high-end to low-end, â€Å"The low-price strategy puts pressure on some regional brands.Besides, operating systems are not pre-installed in the DIY market. â€Å"We have been put in an unfair position,† said Lu. â€Å"If all vendors pre-installed legitimate operating systems and pay the VAT, our market share would be much higher.†GAO estimates gross profit margins for Lenovo’s new series PCs will be about 8 per cent. For fiscal year 2003, Lenovo’s profit margins were 14.6 per cent, compared with 14.8 per cent in the last fiscal year. Edward Yu, president of research house Analysis International, predicted the profit margins will be much lower. â€Å"The shipments of PCs priced at 2,999 Yuan are unlikely to reach 100,000 units. Otherwise, it will be unprofitable,† Yu said. â€Å"The most likely scenario is quite a few of the PCs will be available in the marketplace. The low-priced move is largely a promotion strategy.†Since Lenovo is not adopting a â€Å"direct-sales† strategy, the firm is unlikely to save the â€Å"channel cost,† which usually accounts for nearly one-fifth of the price, Yu explained. Lu reaffirmed Lenovo will not follow Dell’s â€Å"direct-sales† strategy. Lenovo’s low-price strategy is expected to spark a round of price-cutting in China’s PC industry. China’s No 2 PC maker, Founder Technology, â€Å"will not rule out the possibility of making a similar move,† said I Dongfeng, the company’s managing president. Qi last week said he agreed China’s rural market promises much potential. â€Å"I think a PC price tag from 2,000-3,000 Yuan (US$241-361) for the rural market is appropriate,† he said. Another PC maker, Langchao, plans to launch a new PC model that will cost about 1,999 Yuan (US$241), some media have reported. A new round of price-cutting is expected dent profit margins industry-wide. Profits have been dropping due to intense competition. Statistics, released by Analysis last week, indicate PC sales in China in the year’s second quarter reached 17.53 billion Yuan (US$2.11 billion), up 17.8 per cent year-on-year. Shipments in the quarter totaled 2.91 million units, down 0.4 per cent compared with previous quarter, but up 39 per cent year-on-year. Lenovo’s market share dropped 5.6 per cent, year-on-year, during the period, Analysis said. Barcelona FC’s super soccer star Ronald de Assis Moriera of Brazil, better known as Ronaldinho has been named as the official representative of china’s PC giant, Lenovo, in its global promotion campaign. The two sides have signed a confidentiality agreement but Lenovo declined to talk about the details, the expenses in particular. According to Chen Shaopeng, senior vice-president of Lenovo Group and president of Lenovo’s greater China operation, partnering with an international sport star is an important part of Lenovo’s global marketing strategy. Lenovo hopes Ronaldinho’s personal charm and influence worldwide will help Lenovo’s global promotion campaign and gain popularity. During the one-year promotion, Lenovo will be authorized to use Ronaldinho’s personal images as well as all the brands of Barcelona FC. â€Å"I believe that combination of the charm of soccer and the sci-tech of computer will bring more color and pleasure to people’s life, noted Marc Ingle, vice president of Barcelona FC. The list of the commercial value of soccer stars done by Germany-based BBDO Consulting months before shows that Ronaldinho, with 32.6 million pounds tops the rank. SWOT AnalysisStrengths:Strong sale position in mainland (china) because of 90%sale from it. Market leader in china as Lenovo is learning more revenue from the mainland. Low production cost. Event sponsoring. Good marketing and distribution strategy. The PC giant earlier launched a product under the ThinkPad series for the student market at 7,999yuan and recently cut the price of a new PC product under the ThinkPad SL series to 3,000yuan from 5,000yuan. A market analyst says that the price of IT product is on the decline due to cost reduction of parts and terminal. Besides, the low- price strategy could produce the largest effect in the summer holiday due to high price sensitivity in the period. The company has begun to boost the promotion for online buyers, in particularly the youth and students, because the company could cut great cost to support its low-price strategy. With the extension of internet coverage, the booming online consumption is underpinned by reduced marginal cost due to more conveniences and increasing transparency of price for the components of IT products. The analyst believes that the campaign would bring great troubles to the domestic PC producers in the second and third camps, which might spark a new wave of merger and acquisition in China. LENOVO EXPANDS MOTORSPORTS PRESENCE TO INDYCAR SERIES FOR INDY 500 WITH CURB/ ALABAMIAN/BECK TEAM Lenovo Promotes Relationship with NBA by Highlighting the Finals on the CarINDIANAPOLIS — Lenovo, a leading computer company that creates the best-engineered PCs in the world, today announced a sponsorship agreement with the CURB/ Alabamian/Beck team for the crown jewel race within the Indy Car Series – the Indianapolis 500. The announcement marks Lenovo’s interest in identifying how motor sports can help drive the company’s goal for building brand awareness on a global scale. This coming weekend provides a significant opportunity for worldwide brand exposure. Lenovo is sponsoring teams at two of the racing world’s most prestigious races — the Indianapolis 500 and the Formula 1 race in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The Lenovo Indy Car Series announcement comes during the most important time of year for the series – the Indianapolis 500 weekends, when all eyes are on Indianapolis for what remains the world’s largest single-day spectator sporting event. The Lenovo logo will be placed on the black No. 98 CURB/ Alabamian/Beck Motor sports Dollar/Honda/Firestone car, driven by Alex Barron, for this weekend’s Indianapolis 500 race. In addition, the Lenovo-sponsored AT&T Williams Formula One car – a partnership announced earlier this year – races this weekend at Monaco. In an innovative cross promotion, the Indy 500 sponsorship also showcases Lenovo’s support for the NBA and The Finals, marking the first time the league’s marquee event has been promoted during an auto race. The front wings on the car will brand The Finals on ABC on June 7. Greg Odem and Mike Conley Jr., expected top selections in the NBA Draft in June and both Indianapolis natives, will be on-site in Pit Row as guests of Lenovo and driver Alex Barron. â€Å"Indy Car racing is a data-intensive, computing-intensive endeavor, highly focused and invested in innovation and development, and highly dependent on information technology,† said Tony George, Tony George, founder and CEO, Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body for the Indy Car Series. â€Å"We welcome Lenovo to this community and are excited to be working with the best in the business for PC technology.†The Indy Car Series has long been recognized for its technical leadership, and recently reinforced its leadership track record by being the first in the automobile racing world to use 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol in Indy cars. That leadership makes the Indy Car Series an excellent partner for Lenovo, where engineering and innovation are top priorities. Effective deployment of information technology is a key part of the CURB/ Alabamian/Beck Motor sports strategic allocation process, and these decisions help determine the team’s success at the track. A Lenovo notebook PC will form an integral part of starting the Indy Car before each race, practice and test session. Lenovo PCs will support engineers in car research, test, development and manufacturing. They will support the drivers in their analysis and will support the management team in marketing, logistics, travel and race planning as well as networking, inventory, relationships with clients, sponsors and suppliers, human resources, finance and strategy. CURB/Agaganian/Beck Motor sports are a team in the Indy Racing League owned by Greg Beck, Cary Alabamian, and Mike Curb. The team’s car is a black No. 98 Dollar/Honda/Firestone car. The team participated as Team Leader Motor sports when two Indy Car Teams joined forces to field cars for the 2006 Indianapolis 500. The first team was Beck Motor sports owned by Greg Beck which was founded in 1995. The second team R. Kent Baker Racing owned by Kent Baker which was founded in 1988. Both Baker and Beck had many years experience working with their own and various other Indy Car teams. They were joined by Cary Alabamian and Mike Curb of Curb Alabamian Motor sports. About the Indy Car Series:The Indy Car Series is the premier open-wheel series in the U.S., competing on a challenging combination of super  speedways, short ovals, scenic road courses and temporary street circuits. In 2007 the Indy Car Series will conduct 16 events in the U.S. and one in Japan, all available worldwide through a comprehensive, long-term agreement with ABC Sports/ ESPN. A leader in motor sports technology, the Indy Car Series is the first racing series to power its Honda engines on 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol. The Indy Car Series continues to the be the fastest and most competitive racing series, attracting a diverse lineup of drivers including Marco Amoretti, Sam Cornish Jr., and Dania Patrick. OLYMPIC GAME Lenovo, worldwide partner of the Olympic Torch Relay and the exclusive computing equipment supplier for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, is offering limited-edition notebook PCs inspired by the Lenovo-designed Olympic torch leading into the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Bid on this limited-edition Lenovo 3000 V200 notebook PC signed by Gail Emmys of the U.K. Badminton team, the last one of only three available exclusively through this auction. With the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games just one week away, here’s your last chance to win this commemorative notebook PC!About the limited-edition Lenovo 3000 V200 notebook PCLike the â€Å"Cloud of Promise† on which the design is based, the notebook cover features striking swirls of silver against a pure red base color. Gail’s signature is prominently displayed on the cover of the notebook (signed with a black Sharpie Fine Point Permanent marker). Due to export restrictions and policies, this product is only available for shipment within the U.K. or to the U.S.A. Bids will only be accepted from bidders with shipping addresses in the U.K. or U.S.A. Specs:Lenovo 3000 V Series notebooks are built to provide worry-free computing in a stylish, media-friendly and powerful ultra portable widescreen. LENOVO BOOSTS ONLINE SALES THROUGH BARGAIN PROMOTION China’s leading PC producer Lenovo Group (0992.HK; LNVGY.PK), recently initiated a series of market promotion activities for low-price products in domestic online market. The PC giant earlier launched a product under the ThinkPad series for the student market at 7,999 Yuan and recently cut the price of a new PC product under the ThinkPad SL series to 3,000 Yuan from 5,000 Yuan. Besides, the low- price strategy could produce the largest effect in the summer holiday due to high price sensitivity in the period. The company has begun to boost the promotion for online buyers, in particularly the youth and students, because the company could cut great cost to support its low-price strategy. With the extension of internet coverage, the booming online consumption is underpinned by reduced marginal cost due to more conveniences and increasing transparency of price for the components of IT products. The analyst believes that the campaign would bring great troubles to the domestic PC producers in the second and third camps, which might spark a new wave of merger and acquisition in China. Lenovo launch in IndiaReconnecting with Television AdvertisingLenovo creates promotional flexibility with Google TV Ads. How does a computer manufacturer create brand awareness in a critical new  market? This was one of Lenovo’s biggest challenges following their acquisition of IBM’s Personal Computing division in 2005. IBM’s ThinkPad was already a bestselling laptop product line worldwide, but the Lenovo brand was virtually unknown outside of China. The acquisition elevated Lenovo to the world’s third largest PC Company and Lenovo set out to elevate its brand awareness in the US. Gary Milner, global interactive marketing manager at Lenovo, was hard at work developing and executing the online piece of Lenovo’s marketing plan; for this he turned to Google. â€Å"We started working aggressively with Ad Words to stimulate direct sales,† Gary said. â€Å"The online metrics showed us a clear payoff through increased traffic to our site, and we were able to quickly determine what messages and promotions customers were responding to,† he recalls. As the Lenovo team became more skilled in applying these metrics to better measure and improve the success of its online marketing initiatives, the team began looking for ways to extend their reach through other forms of media. The Google TV Ads product was intriguing because it offered the measurement and accountability of online. The Power of Sight, Sound and MotionAt the 2006 Winter Olympics, Lenovo used television advertising to generate brand awareness and drive sales. Right away Lenovo understood the power of television but didn’t have the budget to make it a permanent part of their marketing mix. â€Å"We saw right away that we got huge spikes in online traffic after that campaign, so we knew that TV was working for us. But at the time it proved to be a very hard medium for us to work with in a scalable way,† Gary remembers. When Gary and his team were introduced to the Google TV Ads platform, they were excited to see that many of the limitations that had kept them from using television more extensively were addressed. Google TV Ads’ digital platform allowed for easy campaign set up and management and complete flexibility across 95 networks. â€Å"The fact that we could configure and run our campaigns through an online interface was really appealing.† says Gary. A Variety ShowLenovo’s goal was to use Google TV Ads to generate interest and sales by offering viewers a variety of discounts and promotions. But which promotions would be most effective and generate the greatest response? Gary and his team were eager to find out. â€Å"We worked with an agency to create 50 plus promotional variations of our existing ad which saved us the money and trouble of producing a whole new creative,† Gary explains. This promotional strategy demanded a level of flexibility that was not available to Lenovo through the standard TV buying process. â€Å"Google did with TV what they’d done with search – they put control in the hands of the advertiser. The platform gave us the ability to easily upload ad creative and change them day-by-day based on our marketing needs.†Ã¢â‚¬ With 50 different versions of our commercial we had a lot of opportunity for experimentation,† says David Barbara, another member of Lenovo’s global interactive marketing team. â€Å"Be it free shipping or a 40 percent off discount — we could swap out any of our promotions as often as we wanted based on which deals we were running or which ads got the best response.† The more comfortable Lenovo got with the system, the more sophisticated their experiments became. David continually adjusted the campaigns to optimize reach and CPMs (cost per thousand impression). â€Å"We started to better understand which networks gave us the level of impressions we needed to make an impact.†Channeling successIn some of their ads, Lenovo featured a vanity URL – ExperienceLenovo.com – developed exclusively for their Google TV Ads. By tracking up tick in traffic to the website, the team learned that TV Ads enabled Lenovo to reach new, qualified audiences. â€Å"We found that 68 percent of the traffic to ExperienceLenovo.com was direct, meaning users were typing the URL directly into their browsers. The only way they could have gotten there was if they remembered the URL from the television spots we ran with Google,† says Gary. â€Å"Additionally, about 65 percent of people who created a customer account with the site during the time we were running Google TV Ads had never interacted with a Lenovo site before.† This meant that L enovo was attracting new customers. Google TV Ads worked so well for Lenovo that the team had decided to do more  of it. â€Å"TV advertising has not only brought us increased brand awareness, but it has impacted our success online as well – and Google put all of that within our reach.†Ã¢â‚¬ The Google TV Ads platform gives us a flexible, measurable alternative to network buys,† Gary said, â€Å"but most importantly, it lets us control our own destiny.†BRAND AMBASSADORYesterday, PC Company Lenovo, Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay and TOP Sponsor of the Beijing Olympic Games 2008, launched its second phase of three online auctions in India as part of a global online philanthropic countdown to the Olympic Games. Just as the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay travels around the world, a new Lenovo auction is beginning each week in a different country, as a countdown down to the Olympic Games. The auction features limited-edition, notebook PCs inspired by the Lenovo-designed Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch, and signed by Saif Ali Khan, the Bellwood star. The limited-edition notebook PC offers the Olympic fans the opportunity to bid and own a part of Olympic history, with a personal touch by Saif Ali Khan. The auction site will be closed at midnight of Friday, May 23rd, 2008. The third and final phase of auction in India will begin on July 29th, 2008. Saif Ali Khan was one of the six Lenovo torchbearers who ran with the Lenovo-designed torch ‘Cloud of Promise’ in the New Delhi leg of the Olympic Torch Relay on April 17th. The other five comprised Leander Peas (Tennis professional) Amar Babu (Managing Director, Lenovo India), S Ramadorai, Jaishankar K and Dr. Vaibhav Bagaria, the Open Nomination winner from Nagpur. The first phase of the auction, held in February, saw very encouraging response from Indians, with over a dozen bids and over thousand page views in India alone. The first notebook, Lenovo 3000 V200, was auctioned for $ 825.99Hundred percent of the proceeds from the auction will be distributed through the Lenovo Hope Fund to select philanthropies, including Right to Play. ENVIRONMENT Lenovo is committed to environmental leadership in all of its  business activities, from its operations to the design of its products and use of its technology. Lenovo’s corporate policy on environmental affairs is supported by the company’s global environmental management system, which is the key element of the company’s efforts to achieve results consistent with environmental leadership and ensures the company is vigilant in protecting the environment across all of its operations worldwide. Climate ChangeIn recognition of the need for control of the greenhouse gases for which industry is responsible, Lenovo has set a voluntary target of improving our operational carbon efficiency by 10% by 2012, against a baseline of 2007. This 2007 baseline will be published in our 2007/8 Sustainability Report. The Lenovo Energy CalculatorThis tool uses actual energy calculations from internal Lenovo testing, to determine the energy savings on our Lenovo desktops, notebooks and monitors. The energy savings are based on an estimated usage model for various configurations. Costs per Kilowatt Hour are based on 2007 US dollar calculations. Rates by country are based on 2007 information published by the United States Department of Energy. CO2 emission factors are from the US Dept. of Energy’s most recent data published in 2002. The tool allows you to select â€Å"Customize† and input your specific cost, CO2 emission factor and usage profile. Please select the â€Å"More Info† tab in the tool for more details on using these features. The Lenovo Energy Calculator provides an estimate and should only be used as a guide. Lenovo does not guarantee the savings as your company’s usage mayNew Lenovo-Designed Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay Components Unveiled BEIJING February 5, 2008 – In addition to designing the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch that will travel the world on its way to herald the arrival of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Lenovo has designed new torch relay components including the Lantern and Local City Cauldrons. The lantern houses the Olympic flame once it is lit in Olympia, Greece and safely carries the â€Å"mother flame† from city to city for the duration of the relay while the Olympic cauldron will be lit by the day’s last torchbearer at each end-of-day city celebration.The design extends the ‘Cloud of Promise’ design motif from the Olympic Torch to the lantern and cauldron. Lenovo’s designers  drew their inspiration for the lantern from the traditional lanterns that once adorned the walls of ancient Chinese palaces. PROMOTIONSKAUN BANEGA CROREPATI Lenovo gains from promotion through Kaun Banega CrorepatiChina based maker of personal computersLenovo has said that they have achieved tremendous sales boost and brand awareness inIndia through their marketing initiatives. The company specially credited their sponsorship of the popular gaming show on the television featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Kaun Banega Crorepati. Senior vice PrPROMOTION IN MALLCandid Marketing has created a unique activity to take the new Idea Pad brand by Lenovo to masses through experiential marketing. A mall promotion has been designed by the agency keeping in mind the brand’s target audience, and to interactively communicate product features. A large ‘Idea Meter’ bulb was created similar to that of the Idea Pad brand logo, and participants were invited to take part in a contest of witty ideas. The winner would be the one with the wittiest idea, which reflected through the intensity with which the ‘idea bulb’ glowed. The glow of the bulb is determined by the audience’s reaction to the idea. Winners of the Idea Meter contest took home brand merchandise. The promotion area also doubled up as a space in which customers could test the features of the new product line and sample the product itself. The activity traveled through malls and larger retails formats of six major metros in the country – Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Collate and Mumbai. The activity kick started on 21 June 2008 and will continue till 3 August 2008. Candid Marketing was involved with conceptualizing, designing and developing the Idea Meter. The task was to intrigue customers and lead them into sampling the product and increase awareness of the new series, said an agency representative.