Red Star China Case free essay sample

Unicord PLC Group A Florida Atlantic University Professor: Dr. Hemant Merchant Emerging Markets MAN-6728 February 15, 2010 Problem/Decision Dr. Juanjai Ajanant, a special advisor to Unicord PLC’s board, has been tasked with deciding the best strategy to take Unicord out of receivership. Unicord, as a relatively young company, was a leading tuna processor and one of the â€Å"shining stars† of Thailand. As a top tuna exporter, the company had shown year over year growth since its inception in 1978. It appears that their challenges began soon after the purchase of Bumble Bee in 1991. In four short years, Unicord quickly spiraled downward and seemingly out of control. By 1995, the founder and CEO, Dumri, was challenged by surging debt, plummeting share value, significant losses, creditors demanding repayment and falling per capita consumption; faced with these failures, Dumri committed suicide. Without a CEO and VP of Finance providing direction, Dr. Ajanant must determine the causes for the rapid demise of such a promising company and identify what information he needs to decide if a turn-around strategy is possible. We will write a custom essay sample on Red Star China Case or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Fundamental Causes The two primary reasons for Unicord’s demise were the acquisition of Bumble Bee along with its deal structure and the dolphin controversy. A secondary cause was related to their senior leadership. Although, leadership can be an ambiguous cause, there were some senior level decisions and management style that accelerated the downfall. Without the acquisition of Bumble Bee, Unicord could have been a healthier and stronger company today. From a strategic perspective, the acquisition made sense given Unicord’s growth stage and the state of Thailand’s government and economy. The problem began with the purchase price and the structuring of the debt. Unicord was permitted to purchase a company twice its size because Chase Manhattan and Sutro banks were responding to Thailand’s economic momentum. All parties were hedging their bets that the conditions were perfect for continued growth to cover the debt even though the American tuna industry was based upon high volume and low profitability. Thailand demonstrated its willingness to embrace free market ideals, the baht was gaining value and Thailand’s inflation was decreasing. The Thai government wanted global investment and had recently relaxed financial restrictions and deregulated their financial sector. With Thailand’s Board of Investment’s approval, the deal was structured in US dollars. By the middle of 1994, the baht was loosing its strength, forcing creditors to demand a restructure because the debt was quickly becoming un-serviceable. In 1995, Bangkok Bank required repayment of its $113 million by year end. Prior to the Bumble Bee acquisition, Unicord, as a supplier, was sheltered from the tuna-dolphin controversy and boycotts that had existed for years. At the height of the controversy, in 1990, Bumble Bee admitted to lying to and deceiving the public by labeling its cans as â€Å"dolphin safe† when their processes were still six months away from actually delivering truly dolphin free tuna. The damage to the brand and the industry resulted in reduced profit margins and a dramatic decline in US consumption, thereby increasing the US rivalry. Bad decisions by Unicord’s senior leadership magnified the problems. To recover from Bumble Bee’s dolphin controversy, Dumri, aggressively cut prices to increase market share. When Unicord’s market share increased, he invested additional money to increase Thai production. Dumri was short sighted in realizing that he was potentially gaining ground in a shrinking market where actual per capita consumption continued to fall. In 1992, Bumble Bee lost $40 million most likely from pricing its products lower than its production cost. By 1993, the debt surged to $200 million. In July, when financial leadership was most needed, Unicord’s VP of Finance Vichet Bunthuwong resigned and the position remained un-filled, leaving the company without direction. Bumble Bee had almost 100 years of deep tradition and relationships, yet Unicord did not address the cultural differences between the companies. For instance, the senior management team of Bumble Bee often ignored Dumri’s contradicting hierarchal style of management. When Dumri wanted to close the Puerto Rican operations, his directive was ignored. One of the strategic reasons for buying Bumble Bee was to leverage their US distribution network. There was no indication that the integration was successful at creating distribution synergies and reducing costs. These types of production â€Å"misses† would just continue to diminish the bottom line. Analysis Unicord’s demise can be attributed to three primary causes; the acquisition of Bumble Bee Tuna, purse-seine fishing techniques, and actions and reactions by senior leadership. The rationale to purchase Bumble Bee was obvious at the time to Unicord; to become an â€Å"American† company and lessen the current trade regulations between the U. S and Thailand, to help the company diversify and stabilize its supply of raw materials, find ready buyers for its line of white meat products, push products into the American market, and have gained efficiencies from Bumble Bee’s Puerto Rican manufacturing plant. All combined, the acquisition would allow Unicord to become the world’s largest tuna canner. Unicord founder and CEO Dumri Konuntakiet built his company on three primary convictions; Thailand was central to prime tuna fishing, the Thai Board of Investment offered many incentives to the fishing industry, and low wage demands from Thai workers. However, Unicord’s desire to become a global power took the company away from its convictions on which it was built. Acquiring Bumble Bee was the answer for Unicord to become that power. BBBumble Bee was the third largest American producer of tuna at the time of Unicord’s acquisition. The largest American producer, H. J. Heinz’s Star Kist initially offered to purchase the company but the sale was disallowed as it was determined the purchase would hinder free competition of the American companies. This opened the door for Unicord to purchase Bumble Bee, which was twice the size of Unicord. The purchase also occurred at a time Thailand desired to become an emerging market leader in the global economy. The purchase was approved by the Bank of Thailand and landed President Dumri as one of the countries prominent businessmen. But, were there indications that the Bumble Bee acquisition would not be the best move for Unicord? The American tuna industry was in transition mode; profits were decreasing and existing canneries were moving operations away from the continental U. S. Bumble Bee’s reaction to the dolphin controversy was to reduce prices to increase market share. In the short run, it worked. Market share in the U. S. increased from 17% in 1989 to 25. 7% in 1992. Production in Thailand increased to spur on the increased market share. However, what was overlooked was the consumption of tuna was falling at a faster rate than Bumble Bee’s market share was increasing. The company was losing money, as was Bumble Bee’s primary competitors Chicken of the Sea and Star Kist. Despite its financial troubles and losing $40 million money in 1992, Unicord announced it would list Bumble Bee on the NYSE. Company losses surged to $200 million in 1993. By now, the public, creditors, and business analysts lost confidence in Unicord. There were no public relations, pricing methods failed, and the bottom line was sinking fast. Dumri Konumtakiet’s hierarchical management style was not accepted by Bumble Bee leadership. There was no sense of control of the company. Bangkok Bank was also demanding Unicord repay its $113 million debt by the end of 1995 due to the ongoing fall of its share price. Unicord was not structured in a manner to survive turbulent times. Ownership changed three times over a two year period and there was no direction from top level management. After Konumtakiet’s death in 1995, Unicord went into receivership. Alternatives Unicord, facing a need to revive itself, has a few alternatives. The basic choice the company must make is if it should attempt to retain Bumble Bee or to try to sell it. If the company chooses to retain Bumble Bee, issues such as management culture would need to be addressed. Under the leadership of Dumri, all decisions had to be approved by him. This level of control had met with resistance from Bumble Bee executives who believed that the company could behave independently due to its familiarity with the competitions and culture of the American market. This was further compounded with three ownership shifts at Bumble Bee over three years. Under this alternative, Unicord might attempt to stabilize this relationship, and allow Bumble Bee to function with autonomy. This could lead to the company reviving itself by allowing Bumble Bee management to make decisions based on their knowledge and experience. However, due to Bumble Bee’s deception in regards to its â€Å"dolphin-safe† policy, the company had lost some of its own credibility. As such, the company, regardless of management decisions, has already lost market share. In direct opposition with this first option for Unicord decision makers is another alternative where Unicord could try to force Bumble Bee to follow Dumri’s directives, which is to shut down its Puerto Rican operations and send the profits over to the parent company. This action might give Unicord the weight to pay their debts. However, this option might meet with the same previous non-compliance from Bumble Bee management, which would not aid Unicord’s situation. Or this action could lead to un-forecasted consequences, leaving Unicord without a profit and without the Puerto Rican operations. An additional alternative would be for Bumble Bee to turn away from the United States, which has had a decline in tuna consumption and views the company in a negative light. Attention could be focused on the European market. The disadvantages of this alternative, though, is that Unicord’s original rationale for the acquisition of Bumble Bee is rendered useless, as the company would still be obliged to follow European trade regulations and tariffs. Another viable option for Unicord would be to sell Bumble Bee. Prior to its own acquisition of the company, Pillsbury had many bidders for Bumble Bee, including Star Krist, one of its largest competitors. As such, Unicord could attempt to sell Bumble Bee to one of its competitors and attempt to leverage its own heavy debt situation. This would also be an advantageous situation for the purchasing company as it would enhance its own market share. Of course, this would result in a loss of that market share for Unicord. Unicord could also try to sell Bumble Bee to one of its competitors in Thailand, ThaiUnion Manufacturing Company or Ta Kong Food Industries, who may be interested in acquiring the company for the same reasons that Unicord has made the acquisition. However, with decline in tuna consumption in the United States and Unicord’s history with Bumble Bee, the Thai companies might be not interested in pursuing the same model. A further option for Unicord would be for the company to reassess its financial position, and try to restructure its debt. This plan could be difficult, however, due to the high debt burden carried by Unicord. A final dire action would be for the company to seek and file for protection under Thai bankruptcy laws, and attempt to liquidate. This option would entail essentially giving up on the company. Recommendations It is clear that for the large part Unicord’s demise can be attributed to the acquisition of Bumble Bee and the fall out flowing from that decision. If Dr. Juanjai wants to resuscitate Unicord the first step he needs to take is to sell Bumble Bee. Unicord’s management also needs to be re-structured and the company should develop a smart marketing campaign to re-introduce Unicord to the world. The first step in reviving Unicord is to sell Bumble Bee. Granted the environment for selling may not be the best, but Dr. Juanjai needs to get Bumble Bee off his hands if he has any hope of revitalizing Unicord. Realistically, the chances of getting what they paid for Bumble Bee is slim, so Unicord will need to decide what they are willing to take for Bumble Bee and actively seek out potential buyers. Konuntakiet, as the CEO and founder of apparently made all the major decisions for Unicord. When Konuntakiet committed suicide he left his company in disarray. Prior to his death the VP of finance and friend resigned and that position remained unfilled. The fact that such a major position in the company was not filled shows serious managerial issues. Clearly Unicord’s management system needs to be restructured. Perhaps without Konuntakiet this restructuring will be accomplished far easier and less painful. Unicord’s main line of business is still the canning and processing of tuna fish. The company markets tuna fish under its own name and under other brands worldwide. Marketing Unicord as an ethical and environmentally friendly company in Europe and Asia can only enhance its image. Even in Thailand there is probably a loss of confidence in the company. Consequently, though the company is financially strapped a smart marketing campaign is essential in turning the company around.

The Beginning of the American Civil War

The Beginning of the American Civil War On February 4, 1861, delegates from the seven seceded states (South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas) met in Montgomery, AL and formed the Confederate States of America. Working through the month, they produced the Confederate States Constitution which was adopted on March 11. This document mirrored the US Constitution in many ways, but provided for the explicit protection of slavery as well as espoused a stronger philosophy of states rights. To lead the new government, the convention selected Jefferson Davis of Mississippi as president and Alexander Stephens of Georgia as vice president. Davis, a Mexican-American War veteran, had previously served as a US Senator and Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce. Moving quickly, Davis called for 100,000 volunteers to defend the Confederacy and directed that federal property in the seceded states immediately be seized. Lincoln and the South At his inauguration on March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln stated that the US Constitution was a binding contract and that the Southern states secession had no legal basis. Continuing, he said that he had no intention of ending slavery where it already existed and did not plan on invading the South.  Additionally, he commented that he would take no action that would give the South justification for armed rebellion, but would be willing to use force to retain possession of federal installations in the seceded states. As of April 1861, the US only retained control of a few forts in the South: Fort Pickens at Pensacola, FL and Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC as well as Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas and Fort Zachary Taylor at Key West, FL. Attempts to Relieve Fort Sumter Shortly after South Carolina seceded, the commander of the Charleston harbor defenses, Major Robert Anderson of the 1st US Artillery Regiment, moved his men from Fort Moultrie to the nearly-complete Fort Sumter, located on a sandbar in the middle of the harbor. A favorite of general in chief General Winfield Scott, Anderson was considered an able officer and capable of negotiating the increasing tensions in Charleston. Under increasingly siege-like conditions through early 1861, that included South Carolina picket boats observing the Union troops, Andersons men worked to complete construction on the fort and emplace guns in its batteries. After refusing requests from the South Carolina government to vacate the fort, Anderson and the eighty-five men of his garrison settled in to await relief and resupply. In January 1861, President Buchanan attempted to resupply the fort, however, the supply ship, Star of the West, was driven away by guns manned by cadets from the Citadel. First Shot Fired During Attack on Fort Sumter During March 1861, a debate raged in the Confederate government regarding how forceful they should be in trying to take possession of Forts Sumter and Pickens. Davis, like Lincoln, did not wish to anger the border states by appearing as the aggressor. With supplies low, Lincoln informed the governor of South Carolina, Francis W. Pickens, that he intended to have the fort re-provisioned, but promised that no additional men or munitions would be sent. He did stipulate that should the relief expedition be attacked, efforts would be made to fully reinforce the garrison. This news was passed to Davis in Montgomery, where the decision was made to compel the forts surrender before Lincolns ships arrived. This duty fell to Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard who had been given command of the siege by Davis. Ironically, Beauregard had previously been a protà ©gà © of Anderson. On April 11, Beauregard sent an aide to demand the forts surrender. Anderson refused and further discussions after midnight failed to resolve the situation. At 4:30 am on April 12, a single mortar round burst over Fort Sumter signaling the other harbor forts to open fire. Anderson did not reply until 7:00 AM when Captain Abner Doubleday fired the first shot for the Union. Short on food and ammunition, Anderson sought to protect his men and limit their exposure to danger. As a result, he only permitted them to use the forts lower, casemated guns which were not positioned to effectively damage the other forts in the harbor. Bombarded through the day and night, Fort Sumters officers quarters caught fire and its main flag pole was toppled. After a 34-hour bombardment, and with his ammunition almost exhausted, Anderson elected t o surrender the fort. Lincolns Call for Volunteers Further Secession In response to the attack on Fort Sumter, Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 90-day volunteers to put the rebellion down and ordered the US Navy to blockade Southern ports. While the Northern states readily sent troops, those states in the upper South hesitated. Unwilling to fight fellow Southerners, the states of Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina opted to secede and joined the Confederacy. In response, the capital was moved from Montgomery to Richmond, VA. On April 19, 1861, the first Union troops arrived in Baltimore, MD on their way to Washington. While marching from one train station to another they were attacked by a pro-Southern mob. In the riot that ensued twelve civilians and four soldiers were killed. To pacify the city, protect Washington, and ensure that Maryland remained in the Union, Lincoln declared martial law in the state and sent troops. The Anaconda Plan Created by Mexican-American War hero and commanding general of the US Army Winfield Scott, the Anaconda Plan was designed to end the conflict as quickly and bloodlessly as possible. Scott called for the blockade of Southern ports and capture of the vital Mississippi River to split the Confederacy in two, as well as advised against a direct attack on Richmond. This approach was mocked by the press and public which believed that a rapid march against the Confederate capital would lead Southern resistance to collapse. Despite this ridicule, as the war unfolded over the next four years, many elements of the plan were implemented and ultimately led the Union to victory. The First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) As troops gathered in Washington, Lincoln appointed Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell to organize them into the Army of Northeastern Virginia. Though concerned about his mens inexperience, McDowell was forced to advance south in July due to growing political pressure and the impending expiration of the volunteers enlistments. Moving with 28,500 men, McDowell planned to attack a 21,900-man Confederate army under Beauregard near Manassas Junction. This was to be supported by Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson who was to march against an 8,900-man Confederate force commanded by Gen. Joseph Johnston in the western part of the state. As McDowell approached Beauregards position, he looked for a way to outflank his opponent. This led to a skirmish at Blackburns Ford on July 18. To the west, Patterson had failed to pin down Johnstons men, allowing them to board trains and move east to reinforce Beauregard. On July 21, McDowell moved forward and attacked Beauregard. His troops succeeded in breaking the Confederate line and forcing them to fall back on their reserves. Rallying around Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Jacksons Virginia Brigade, the Confederates stopped the retreat and, with the addition of fresh troops, turned the tide of the battle, routing McDowells army and forcing them to flee back to Washington. Casualties for the battle were 2,896 (460 killed, 1,124 wounded, 1,312 captured) for the Union and 982 (387 killed, 1,582 wounded, 13 missing) for the Confederates.

Article Critque Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critque - Article Example how an elderly man sometimes back came in to cook county hospital’s emergency room with a large and very painful boil that was on his back’s neck. The author of the article told the patient that he had to go through a minor procedure that would lance the boil and hence drain it (Howard, 2009). The patient became ashen and asked the doctor whether the process would hurt him. The doctor told the patient that the moment the treatment will tend to hurt too much he could communicate to him so that he would stop (Lautenbacher & Fillingim, 2004). That factor forms one of the basic platforms that put the article, as well as a doctor’s professionalism in question. From the explanation of the author the expectations that the patient has, determines the patient’s perception on pain. It is clear that from the pain the elderly man was passing through he had all the rights to expect more pain when the treatment will be taking place. It is hence the practitioner’s responsibility to assure the patient that the mode of treatment that he will undergo will take ensure that his pain will be effectively managed (Howard, 2009). The doctor, instead never gave a word of assurance to the patient but he just told the patient would communicate when he will feel the treatment have extensively hurt hence making the patients to perceive that pain will increase instead (Padfield & Novartis, 2003). The doctor’s statement, however, only increased the patient’s expectation of feeling more pain since the doctor mentioned it in his statement. In simple terms, he was eagerly waiting to yell to the doctor that the treatment has hurt extremely as the doctor had stated. The scenario hence puts the doctor’s counseling ability in question. It is essential that doctors should always put their patients on counseling session before putting him or her under treatment so as to assure the patient that the pain he or she is going through will be effectively managed. Doctors should also disclose

Externalities Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Externalities - Research Paper Example They can also be referred to as the spill-over effects in the economy. Negative externalities results social costs to the society exceeding the private costs while positive externalities results in social benefits exceeding the private benefits. A case of negative externality can be illustrated by the graph shown below. Externalities and their solutions Air pollution is one of the major forms of negative externality. It arises from the burning of fossil fuels. Smoke from motor vehicles results to negative effects on the health of the road users leading to cancerous infections. The owners of the motor vehicles do not bear the cost of medical treatment to those affected. Smoke from cigarettes imposes a cost on the non-smokers who have to bear the cost of treating diseases due to smoke. This form of externality can be mitigated through the imposition of taxes commonly known as Pigovian tax which is usually set at a figure close to the cost of that externality. However this has a challen ge in determining the actual amount of tax to be imposed (Papandreou, 1998). The tax is also applied in anon progressive manner which makes it less equitable. Some firms are forced to pay more than what they are supposed to pay in actual terms. Finally it may not be social optimal by the fact that some firms may layoff their employees so as to meet the cost of taxation. Due to these weaknesses of taxation, it is not emphasized by the government but instead a lot of emphasis is made on regulation. The government regulates the amount of production and consumption leading to externalities. This can be in form of quantity regulation in which the government can force the firms to produce the socially efficient quantity instead of taxing it forcing the firm to internalize the cost of the externality. Carbon emissions are another form of negative externality. Carbon emission from firms pollutes the surrounding environment resulting to an increase in social costs accruing to the third parti es and it also forms part of greenhouses gases that promote global warming. Negative changes in the environment due to climatic condition variations can be attributed to carbon dioxide emissions. Coase Theorem provides a means by which this externality can be controlled; it lays emphasis on the need to have externalities internalized by the firms that produce them if the form of tradable emission permits. The theorem however has some limitations such as the free rider problem in which some agents can enjoy the benefits of a free environment without contributing towards it. It tends to work best in situations where externalities are not global but are in existence in a smaller context. Use of carbon trading provides a means of is to create a means putting a price on carbon emission. Thus it assists in internalizing environmental costs of firm and results in lower emissions. The government may also levy fees on each unit of pollutants that is being emitted into the surrounding environ ment. Setting emission standards provides a means of limiting the amount of pollutants emerging from a firm. Another form of negative externality is water pollution which results in the death of aquatic life as well as having some negative effects on the environment. Industrial effluents emitted by firms into major water bodies causes disease outbreaks. Acidic rain which is caused by water pollution brings about deforestation thus causing serious environmental degradation. Household water

Improving sustainable development of oil and gas in the Niger Delta in Essay

Improving sustainable development of oil and gas in the Niger Delta in Nigeria - Essay Example On the same note, the ability of the future generation is said to be determined today, when the magnitude of that generation in the future is unknown. Niger Delta is rich in oil and gas deposits among other valuable minerals. Sustainable development in the context of oil and gas in the Niger Delta is more tailored towards environmental management. The environment needs to be monitored and influenced in certain way in a bid to enhance human and business habitation in the region. In other words, sustainable development of oil and gas in the Niger Delta encompasses a sustainable management of human interaction and environmental resources to benefit both the society and the business undertakings in this region in present and future times (World Bank, 2002; Amnesty International, 2009). Environmental aspect of the oil and gas in the Niger Delta Oil and gas activities in the Niger Delta are significant drivers of the economy in the region and in Nigeria at large. A good proportion of oil a nd gas deposits are found in this region. Although most people’s livelihoods are based in the oil and gas industry, environmental management is quite a concern. ... As the situation stands in Niger Delta, there are a number of environmental problems that have resulted from the oil and gas industry in this region. They include: seismic activity, drilling operation, transportation, exploitation and exploration and refining of crude oil (Nwilo, 2003, p.76). To benefit from oil and gas earnings, it is undisputable that the above activities have to be undertaken. However, the resulting environmental degradation cannot be ignored especially in the light of sustainable development. It is important to note that oil and gas activities are not the sole cause of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta. Other contributing factors include: human livelihood activities, bunkering and militia activities, construction activities and industrial pollution (Oyibo Online, 2011). Sustainable development is highly dependent on environmental sustainability in current and future times. This is because it directly influences cultural, social, economic and political aspects of a nation indiscriminately. Therefore, in order to improve sustainable development of oil and gas in the Niger Delta, environmental degradation that results from it is crucial to address. The needs of a society cut across social, economic and political factors. Aspects of Sustainable Development in the Niger Delta The improvement of sustainable development of oil and gas in the Niger Delta should encompass social, economic and political interests. A sustainable environmental integrates human habitation and business aspects to environmental welfare. This means that a sustainable relationship among the three variables improves sustainable development, impacting positively to the social, economic and political needs of current and future

Impact of Microorganisms Research

Impact of Microorganisms Research Jordan Phillips Microorganisms are essential to human existence on the planet Microorganisms play a crucial role in human existence across a whole range of different aspects. The human body, both inside and out is covered in millions of microorganisms, which help to protect us from infection from harmful microbes (Microbiology, 17). They help to digest our food, have significant roles within the decomposition of waste, are involved in both carbon and nitrogen cycles, within the food industry, human digestive system, agricultural pest control and also genetics. Microorganisms in the nitrogen cycle prove that these are not only beneficial for humans, but plants as well, including diazotrophs, which have developed a symbiotic relationship. An example of this is rhizobium present in nodules on legume roots, which through nitrogen fixation enables the plant to flourish within nitrogen deficient earth. Of the three stages of the nitrogen cycle, microorganisms are crucial, nitrosomonas and nitrosococcus convert ammonium ions into nitrate, then during nitrification, nitrobacter converts nitrate to nitrate in the first stage. Secondly denitrification occurs and pseudomonas denitrificans reduces nitrate into nitrogen gas. In the final stage nitrogen fixation occurs whereby diazotrophs reduce nitrogen from air into ammonia, which is then utilized by plants to synthesize DNA and amino acids (Biology, 1999). Mycorrhizal fungi also forms a symbiotic relationship with the root of a plant and enables fungal hyphae to increase surface area which allows the plant roots to take in and absorb more nutrients, which in turn benefits fungi as they gain essential sugars produced during photosynthesis (Le, 17). Within the carbon cycle microorganisms play a vital role, whereby autotrophic bacteria such as cyanobacteria synthesise organic molecules using COÂ ² from the atmosphere, and is then used by other organisms which then release oxygen for human respiration. As microorganisms act as decomposers, they are vital components of the food chain, aiding in breaking down dead organisms and organic materials, and then releasing minerals for uptake by living organisms and releasing COÂ ² back into the atmosphere to then be consumed by photosynthetic organisms (khan, 17). Methanogens influence the carbon cycle by converting COÂ ² to methane, then releasing it into the atmosphere increasing methane concentration, and in contrast methanotrophs consume methane from the atmosphere which in turn leads to a decrease of greenhouse gas and global warming (edu, 2017) In the food industry, especially in the production of dairy products microorganisms are extremely beneficial to humans. Lactobacillus bulgaricus and streptococcus thermophiles convert lactose from milk into lactic acid, which then causes milk to coagulate during fermentation, forming yoghurt. Probiotic yoghurt is now widely sold to help maintain the balance of microbial flora and prevent the growth of pathogens within our gut. Microbes like yeast which aid the process of baking bread, brewing alcohol and food preservation are also a mainstay within our diet (Hofkin, 2010). Fusarium graminearum, which is a type of fungus has been developed into a meat substitute which is used in daily diets worldwide (Botany, 2017). The fermentation of milk due to lactic acid bacteria causes milk to coagulate and form a curd, and additional organisms are then added to form various types of cheese, for example penicillium camaberti is added to produce camembert (Hofkin, 2010). The human digestive system includes many different forms of friendly bacteria which are vital in terms of the metabolism of food, the production of enzymes and vitamins to help aid digestion, for example ß-galactosidase, amylase. They also help in getting rid of disease causing microorganisms and the regulation of intestinal acidity. None pathogenic bacteria like lactobacillus form symbiotic relationships with most multicellular organisms which are essential to the maintenance of human health by ensuring any pathogenic bacteria is prevented from growing and aids in our immune system at the same time. Microorganisms which exist in ruminants digestive systems are used as a source of amino acids, but also help to break down cellulose into monosaccharaides, releasing useable energy (Vet, 17). In agricultural pest control, bacillus thuringiensis produce BT-toxin, with is lethal to insects upon ingestion, but non-pathogenic to humans and animals. This toxin is genetically engineered into crops to increase yield. Certain viruses are also microbial bio pesticides and baculovriruses, which can specifically target caterpillars by releasing nucleosaspids which ultimately causes death upon ingestion. Overall microorganisms are highly efficient within pest control without any huge environmental side effects (Insa, 17) Upon further study of microbes genetics, it has enabled us to develop uses within genetic engineering, for instance gene cloning and has created huge benefits within the biotechnological industry. Microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and bacteriophages act as cloning vectors to transfer a specific sequence of gene into the plasmid of a bacterial cell by using restriction enzymes, which purpose is to bind to the inverted palindrome within both the chromosomal and vector DNA, which cleaves the DNA and produces sticky ends. These are the joined together by DNA ligase and forming a recombinant DNA which is then used to transform the bacteria host cell and can then be induced to produce protein which certain genes encode as the vector is replicated and divided ultimately producing new cells. Proteins from recombinant technology can be used to manufacture medicines, synthetic vaccines, amongst other vital substances like insulin. The application of microorganisms within the medical ind ustry is hugely beneficial to human health (Hofkin, 2010) References (17, 02 05). Retrieved from Microbiology: http://microbiologyonline.org/about-microbiology/microbes-and-the-human-body (17, 02 05). Retrieved from khan: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/ecology/biogeochemical-cycles/a/the-carbon-cycle (17, 02 06). Retrieved from Vet: http://www.vet.ed.ac.uk/clive/cal/RUMENCAL/Frames/frmRumen.html (17, 02 06). Retrieved from Insa: http://insa.nic.in/writereaddata/UpLoadedFiles/PINSA/Vol80_2014_2_Art27.pdf (2017, 02 05). Retrieved from edu: http://www.vet.ed.ac.uk/clive/cal/rumencal/Info/infMeth.html (2017, 02 05). Retrieved from Botany: http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/aug2005.html Biology. (1999). Benjamin Cummings. Hofkin, B. (2010). Living in a microbial world. New mexico: Garland. Le. (17, 02 05). Retrieved from https://www.le.ac.uk/se/centres/sci/selfstudy/eco7.htm

Irannien Revolution :: Free Essays

In 1978 a terrible revolution led by ayatollah Ruholla Khomeiny appeared in Iran. Still trying to recover from this disastrous movement Iran went in a Civil war during falls 1979. On the same year, in January those ho were loyal to ayatollah Khomeiny wanted to put an end to the 37 year dominance of the Shah by forcing him to step down and give the power to the Islamic leader. The new policy put an end to the relationship between Iran and the United States which the Shah had worked hard to obtain. The army then executed all the members of the Savak, which were the Shah’ s secret police, and all of his followers. In November 1979 when the Shah went in the United States for Medical reasons, the Iranian militants took over the American embassy in Tehran taking 53 people hostage. In exchange of their freedom, the Iranian Militants wanted the Shah to come back to his country so that he would be served his sentence, they also wanted the reimbursement of the billions of dollars the Islamic government had accused the Shah of giving to the U.S.. In 1980, the Shah finally died in Egypt after suffering many years of blood cancer. Following this tragedy in January 1981, the 53 American hostages were released even though Iran didn’t get any of their demands. After the Shah’ s death and the release of the hostages, the revolution finally came to an end after 3 long and suffering years. Since then, the Iran and U.S. have been enemies even though not long ago Akbar Rafsanjani, ho took over Iran after Khomeiny’ s death in Jun 1989, and Bill Clinton, the president of the United States of America, had discussed their situation. Because of the revolution, Iran is still suffering from economic crises and their evolution is very slow. Finally, I would like to add that it is because of the revolution that

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: the Confusion of Dreams

Kelly Johnson ENGL 3000-006 Remien March 5, 2010 Paper 1 The Confusion of Dreams You are falling faster and faster through the pale blue sky with no parachute and nothing to grab on to. The shards of rock below seem to get sharper and sharper as a wave of terror and hopelessness takes over. You are just moments away from certain death when all of the sudden you wake up and realize it was all a dream. In William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, he uses the power of dreams to construct the possibility of an alternate reality. A Midsummer Night’s Dream has many crude elements, which may have been offensive to many members of the audience, possibly causing the removal of his play. In order to combat this potential problem, Shakespeare adds Puck’s final speech to serve as an apology. Instead of using a simple apology though, Shakespeare attempts to convince the audience members they too were in a dream by linking the audience to the characters of the play, powerful discourse and imagery. All of these elements allow the reader or viewer to feel at ease instead of resentment as the play commences. The final speech of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at first seems out of place. As this play is a comedy, Oberon’s final speech appears to be the perfect ending. However, the last words go to Puck, the fairy responsible for all of the mischief seen throughout the play, as he tries to fill the audience with a sense of peace by playing with the idea of dreams. In concurrence with the title, dreams are a dominant element throughout the play. Instead of the lovers questioning anything that previously happened, they just accept they all had the same dream, which allows them to happily continue with their lives as all peace was restored. This speech offers an extension of the possibility that it was all a dream to the audience. Puck calls on the audience to think, â€Å"That you have but slumbered here/ While these visions did appear† (5. 1. 417-418). Puck and the other fairies were able to mend all of the problems between the lovers and this speech should do just the same for the audience. If everything previously witnessed is only a dream, then there is no need for outrage and â€Å"all is mended† (5. 1. 416). By creating a dream-like environment, the focus turns from the drama that unfolded throughout the play to the mystical and humorous occurrences. This enables the audience to feel sense of closure. In addition to relating the audience to the characters, the use of discourse aids to the dream-like sense. Throughout A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the way language is used plays an important role in the message Shakespeare is portraying and the final speech is no different, with the language used mirroring the language throughout the play. The final lines of the play extend upon the use of binary opposites. Throughout this speech, Puck offers conflicting ideas that cause further confusion for the audience, similar to the way dreams are viewed as perplexing upon waking up. Puck insists â€Å"And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have enearned luck Now to scape the serpent’s tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call. † (5. 1. 415-420) The contraction between â€Å"honest† and â€Å"liar† is blatant and it is impossible to be both. Additionally, while this is an apology as Puck attempts to gain the audience’s trust, this speech is filled with dangerous images, such as â€Å"serpent’s tongue;† adding a sense of doubt and unease. This confusion further adds to the dream-like sense Shakespeare is trying to create. In addition to the binary opposites that are used, this speech is spoken in such a way that it has a feeling of a lullaby. After suggesting the fact everything previously witnessed may have been a dream, Puck utters the lines â€Å"And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend, If you pardon, we will mend. † (5. 1. 419-422) While throughout the play, various other characters spoke lyrically, these lyrically spoken lines sound like something out of a lullaby, as if Puck wants the audience to once again fall asleep and dream as to possibly forget everything that had just transpired. Unlike the supernatural magic that was used on the characters throughout the play, Puck is attempting to use the magic of words to get the audience to do and think as he pleases. Using the words â€Å"weak and idle,† â€Å"yielding† and â€Å"Gentles† make the audience feel at peace and willing to do what Puck is asking of them. In addition to the form used, Shakespeare uses the images of shadows in this complex apology. The use of imagery throughout A Midsummer Night’s Dream, including the final speech, plays a powerful role in the underlying meaning of the play. In the first lines of his short monologue, Puck states â€Å"If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended- That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear. † (5. 1. 415-418) Instead of referring to the actors as a people, he calls them â€Å"shadows. † The fairies, whose presence has often been mysterious and murky, throughout the play have directed the course of events that transpired. Therefore, it would make sense to the audience to want to follow what Puck is saying, as in the moment, it is the most natural thing to do. Similar to many of the other aspects of this speech, this proposes that what had just happened was simply the work of each person’s imagination. In this sense, Puck is therefore leaving it up to the audience to decide if what they have just witnessed is good or bad. The â€Å"shadows† simply exist; it is up to the audience to give them meaning that relates to each of their lives, just as the characters in the play did. The final speech of A Midsummer Night’s Dream wants to make the audience feel as though they were dreaming, which is accomplished by linking the audience to the characters, discourse and imagery. Puck’s final monologue of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is more than just a simple apology. Even with the darker images and contradictions of the speech, it provides closure for the audience. Just as the characters in the play were able to think everything happened was simply a dream and continue to go about with their lives, Shakespeare is attempting to instill the same belief in the audience and hoping they enjoy the happy ending. Works Cited Shakespeare, William, and Russ McDonald. A Midsummer Night's Dream. New York, N. Y. : Penguin, 2000. Print.

Salmon essays

Salmon essays What species would travel over 2000 miles just to have young and then die? It has been said that anyone who has not seen a wild salmon has not seen what a fish should be. Salmon was the common name applied to fish characterized by an elongated body covered with small, rounded scales and a fleshy fin between the dorsal fin and tail. In this paper I will be discussing history of studying salmon, the life cycle, spawning and mating behaviors; which has much to do with the total reproduction of salmon. Salmon were studied earlier than some may think. Experiments were done by men that date back to the mid-1600s. These experiments involved catching salmon in fresh water, tagging them, and then catching them again when they return to the same place, around six months later. These experiments were doubtful and it was not until the beginning of the 1900s that proof was available that the salmon returned home. (Shearer) Although usually drab in color before the breeding season, which varies with the species, members of the salmon family develop bright hues at spawning time. The male, during this mating season, usually develops a hooked snout and a humped back. "In many diverse taxa, males of the same species often exhibit multiple mating strategies. One well-documented alternative male reproductive pattern is 'female mimicry,' whereby males assume a female-like morphology or mimic female behavior patterns. In some species males mimic both female morphology and behavior. We report here female mimicry in a reptile, the red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis). This form of mimicry is unique in that it is expressed as a physiological feminization. Courting male red-sided garter snakes detect a female-specific pheromone and normally avoid courting other males. However, a small proportion of males release a pheromone that attracts other males, as though they were females. In the field, ma ting aggregations of 5...

Examining a Sample Workplace Scenario Essays

Examining a Sample Workplace Scenario Essays Examining a Sample Workplace Scenario Essay Examining a Sample Workplace Scenario Essay Organizational culture is regarded as an all-encompassing component of the life of an organization.   It is primarily composed of the varying worldview, attitudes, core values, principles and beliefs shared by the people constituting the organization.   Notwithstanding the cultural differences among the members, the group eventually develops a dominant culture.   Ideally, the dominant one must be able to integrate the minor cultural components.   Taken as a whole, the basic core values and attitudes define the manner the entire organization behaves.   In business settings, it ultimately defines the behavior of an employee towards each other and clients and other people outside the organization (Hill Jones, 2009).Organizational culture is mainly dictated by the prevalent values shared by all members of the group.   These are core values dearly held on to by both the managers and the employees alike.   The values help define how should a fellow employee interact with ano ther employee, a subordinate with the superiors and the organization as a whole with the stakeholders and the general public in general.   Organization culture, far wider in scope, is basically influenced by the consolidated values of the organization.Montana and Charnov (2000) went to the extent of defining organizational culture in the corporate environment.   Corporate culture, therefore, involves the totality of the values, traditions, customs and drives that contribute to the distinct character of the company.   It both defines the behavior of the policy makers and the managers, since the corporate culture is mainly shaped by the visions and stated objectives outlined by the founders and the subsequent decision makers.Varying types and components of organizational cultureMany models of organization culture were developed over time.   Essentially, those models were defined according to specific schools of thought management theorists belong to.   Most basic model defin es organization culture according to the extent of power and influence it exerts to the rest of the organization.   According to the model, subcultures may be defined as strong and weak culture.   Strong culture is the dominant composite values in an organization, where hierarchical structures, communication formats and management-employee behavior are clearly defined (McFarlin, 2002).   An organization with a strong culture seldom experiences major intra-corporate conflicts, since the goals and manner of executing them are precisely defined.   Weak culture, on the other hand, exhibit minimal alignment of the variant values and attitudes, necessitating a strong persona or leadership in the company.Hofstede (1984), in his study involving 100,000 workers employed by IBM in different parts of the world, investigated the varying aspects of culture that wields significant influence on the behavior of the entire multi-national corporation.   The study was able to identify the fi ve major components of corporate culture, namely: power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism vs. collectivism, masculinity vs. femininity, and long vs. short term orientation.   Power distance pertains to the expectations of the society on varying levels of power.   Some individuals are inherently expected to discharge greater power than those in the lower echelons of the organization.   Minimal power distance assessment score, therefore, entails that everyone in the group are perceived to have equal rights.   Uncertainty avoidance refers to the established rule defining the extent the group may accept risks and uncertainty involved.   Individualism versus collectivism means the ability of the employees to stand up either for them or for the entire organization.   This concept, however, was rebutted by some thinkers, showing that an organization high in individualism may equally value collectivism at the same time.   The latter two components define the relat ionship between members of two main sex groups and the ability of the organization to accommodate changes visvis the manner people perceived the importance of the future against the past and present.According to Johnson (1988), there are seven basic elements of organizational culture that are helpful in describing and evaluating the same.   Corporate paradigm pertains to the core values and generic mission of the company.   It includes the raison d’à ªtre of the entity and the basic goals it is intended to achieve.   Control systems refer to the identified processes and mechanisms to assess the operations of the company. Control systems are important in evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization.   Organizational structures pertain to the established communication lines, hierarchies and the manner work is executed in the workplace.   Power structures provides for the specific persons who make the decisions of varying significance.   They also explain how power is shared among those who wield it and the basis of the authority in making decisions.   Symbols literally mean the logos and designs of the company.   However, the concept has been expanded to include trivial but equally important things, such as parking spaces and washrooms.   Rituals and routines involve the habitual activities generally observed.   Stories and myths encompass information about people and events, giving one an idea on what are most valued by the people who share them.   These elements are not entirely independent of each other.   Most corporate entities display the overlapping and merging of the different elements.The Case of ABB Electromechanical MetersBurton, Obel, Hunter, Sà ¸ndergaard Dà ¸jbak (1998) conducted a study involving the ABB Electromechanical Meters.   ABBEM belongs to a larger multinational corporation, i.e. ABB.   The other division is the electronic meters.   Although both divisions basically belongs to th e same industry, the study conducted is illustrative of the sub-organization culture of the electromechanical that defines the division’s attitude and behavior towards the other division and within the mother corporation itself.Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) initially started as the Westinghouse Meter Plant, established in 1953 in Raleigh, North Carolina, US.   The plant, subject of this review, periodically churns out metering equipment.   With clearly defined goals, the plant workers had been minimally relying on outside resources, except the raw materials and components not produced by the company.   The varying sections are fully integrated into one production system.Sometime in February 1989, ABB executed a joint venture agreement with Westinghouse, resulting to the eventual acquisition of the meter operation in December of the same year.   Prior to the said acquisition, ABB management adhered to the core value emphasizing self-reliance and autonomy of its divisions.   The same philosophy was transferred to the workers of the plant upon acquisition.   The meter plant was composed of the electromechanical and electronic divisions.Before the entire meter plant was acquired, the two basic divisions had been relying substantially to one another.   Although all specific job functions were grouped into three smaller sections with their respective heads reporting to the over-all plant manager, most workers in general rely heavily to the different sub-groupings.   Electronics division, for example, normally purchased certain components from the electromechanical division because the latter has no production capacity to produce the same.   Besides, it was deemed practical and beneficial to purchase from the other division within the same production line than having the same outsourced from other companies.   In the same manner, the electromechanical division depended largely on the electronic division for the designs and assembly of certain com ponents.   This heavy dependence inherently provided the convenience of sourcing sub-component materials from within the same plant.The introduction of what the meter plant perceived as an alien philosophy from ABB contributed to significant changes in the organizational structure that potentially threatened the productivity and efficiency of the entire plant.   The component divisions had to establish and provide for their own material needs and services because of the imposition of the new paradigm in the company.Evaluation and RecommendationsAt the onset, ABB top management was desirous of increasing productivity and efficiency in the production line through greater independence and autonomy.   The top policy makers were aware of the potential adverse impacts of too much reliance among the component divisions in the company.   The managers put too much importance on the said policy on self-reliance.   Necessarily, when the meter plant was acquired from Westinghouse, the same policy was imposed on the workers and section heads who had originally valued the exact opposite.Sims (2002) believes that the currently existing organization culture may result to varying degree of dysfunction and initial adverse reaction, especially when a mother company merges with or acquires an albeit smaller company.   In the case of ABB’s acquisition of the meter plant resulted to the seemingly radical overhaul of the different elements of organizational culture discussed earlier.   Organizational and power structures were hugely altered, as the new owners will ultimately be making all major policies.   They had the authority to define how the company as a whole must be able to function to produce the desired results, including even the manner one component division interact with another within the same mother company.Definitely, the contrasting sub-cultures of the mother company and the meter plant could not remain separated.   The acquiring company has the prerogative in defining a comprehensive set of policies covering all aspects of the workplace.   Separation of cultures in the cited case would not work out, especially because the component divisions have identical and shared functions.   What could have been done was either the assimilation or integration of the two sub-organizational cultures.As explained at the beginning of the paper, fuller understanding of the varying components and elements of the entire organization culture is critical in the formulation of an effective and realistic set of company policies.   Intra-organizational conflicts may be avoided when there is a reasonable accommodation of specific values long observed by the entity being acquired by the mother company.   Disintegrated and variant sub-cultures have the potential to create a weak organizational culture.   A weak culture is one of the contributing factors of inefficiency and reduced productivity in the workplace.   A strong leadership, expressed through memoranda and issuances may augment the situation but it will take longer before the plant workers may be able to change the way they look at the things in the same workplace with new policy makers.

Success with Agile Project Management in General Dynamics Essay

Success with Agile Project Management in General Dynamics - Essay Example It allows the allocation of different tasks to each individual, and a creation of a discussion forum to evaluate the progress of each of the development team members (Cockburn, 2007). The stand-up meetings in the Agile Project Management are essential in the provision of information on the individually allocated responsibilities, as well as provision of a proper communication platform for discussion on the software development information. In agile software development, stand-up meetings have significant value in delivering crucial information to the individuals involved within the project. The concept of agile software development revolves around providing solutions through assessment of operational problems, through constantly and continuously reviewing the essential requirements (Schuh, 2005). In Agile project management, the projects are normally broken down into pieces for faster completion and the individuals divided into numerous teams working on different sections of the proj ect (Cockburn, 2007). The projects cycle normally remains the same and is repeated on the various sections identified by the project managers, and team leaders. Agile project management in software development ensures that the software development cycle is unaltered, and hence the project is completed on time and within the allocated resources (Cockburn, 2007). ... gile project management facilitates and encourages continued communication, which remains a fundamental component for any agile software development methods (Cockburn, 2007). In the General Dynamics, the use of the Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) proved suitable to the Defence Equipment and Support, in addition provide for a study ground for testing the effectiveness and possible future use of DSDM in other software development projects. The Dynamic Systems Development Method proved effective in the General Dynamics due to ensuring the delivery of the Combat Identification Server (CIdS) Technology Demonstrator Project (TDP) within the stipulated time, allocated resources, and high quality (General Dynamics, 2010). Dynamic Systems Development Method helped in the swapping of requirements, and hence the provision of flexibility that ensured delivery within the stipulated time and within the allocated budget and other resources. This is contrary to the traditional project mana gement that mainly focused on meeting the technical requirements of the project and ended up compromising on the project cost and duration (General Dynamics, 2010). The Dynamic Systems Development Method is a fixed process that strictly adheres to the allocated time, budget and quality assurance, regardless of the economic and technology trends. The only dynamic factor in Dynamic Systems Development Method is the features. However, the traditional project management methods tend to have the features as the fixed factor in the project, with uncertainty on quality and suitability of the resultant software and the need for additional time and resources for the project completion (General Dynamics, 2010). In other words, the traditional project management is inconsistent in the terms of

Research Methods Law Term Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Research Methods Law Term Paper - Essay Example Moreover, this paper also shows different types of quantitative research and how it is helpful for findings and analysis of relevant data about the criminal justice. Discussion The aspect of criminal justice may entail the requirement of dealing with a few attractive dodgy characters. However, when it comes to conducting a research related to cases which are presented in the courts; two types of methodology are believed to assist to solve such crimes. The first is quantitative figures and statistics marked across graphs, charts, reports and spreadsheets which delivers indisputable confirmation of theories. Qualitative research techniques assist criminalists or investigators to recognize the reasons behind committing crimes and solves through case studies, interviews and profiling (Smith, Liu & Lindquist, 1988). Quantitative research techniques encompass the entire bases of scientific investigation and pairing mathematical perspectives with subjective data. A criminal justice professi onal may apply regression analyses to utilize inductive reasoning, calculate timelines, place people and proofs in context to the concerned circumstance and make non-biased evaluations. Operating computer models, analyzing evidences and implementing systematic as well as personality tools assists the criminalists to understand the suspect well enough to depict their attitudes which helps to portray scenarios of case studies as well as test theories and further assists to solve cases (DiCristina, 1997). Criminalist is an individual who is considered to be quite proficient in collecting and examining physical evidences of crime. Criminalists utilize quantitative techniques to ensure confidences regarding inductive statistics, Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and ballistic tests, proof-based comparisons, crime-based neighborhoods and family demographics, previous offenders’ data, crime mappings, meta analyses, computer based structures and evaluations of anthropological data which ar e believed to be associated with forensic tests (Higgins, 2009). Survey Research: In this method, a research technique dependent on survey is utilized in case of criminal justice which concentrates on the use of statistical data. Hypothesis needs to be developed through this type of research which primarily deals about the way a given population is likely to react to different issues in criminology. According to the survey research program of â€Å"Sam Houston State†, it has been found that the primary objective of survey research is to notify the general public as well as public officials with an exact picture of attitude regarding various types of crimes and several ethical as well as legal issues within the organizations associated with criminal justice. There are three methods of survey research for instance personal interview, mail questionnaire and telephone survey. This type of research is considered to be quite essential as it can deliver legislators the various forms of actions which can be undertaken concerning different significant issues which affect the aptitude of bureaucrats’ related to law enforcements for carrying out businesses (Sukamolson, 2012). Time Series Research: This technique is designed for conducting researches on criminal justice and