Top Ranked California Business Schools

California is a large state with a lot of diverse cities. It is also home to hundreds of colleges and universities. Many of them are in the states large public school system, but there are even more private schools. In fact, some of the largest and most prestigious colleges and universities in the country are located in California. This means lots of choices for students who are seeking higher education. In this article, were going to take a look at some of the options for students who are majoring in business. Although some of the schools on this list do have undergraduate programs, were going to focus on the best California business schools for graduate students who are seeking an MBA or a specialized masters degree. These schools have been included because of their faculty, curriculum, facilities, retention rates, and career placement rates.   Stanford Graduate Schools of Business Stanford Graduate School of Business is frequently ranked among the best business schools in the country, so it is no surprise that it is widely considered to be the best business school in California. It is part of Stanford University, a private research university. Stanford is located in Santa Clara County and adjacent to the city of Palo Alto, which is home to a number of different tech companies. Stanford Graduate School of Business was originally created as an alternative to business schools in the eastern portion of the United States. The school has grown to become one of the most highly respected institutions of education for business majors. Stanford is known for its cutting-edge research, distinguished faculty, and innovative curriculum. There are two main masters level programs for business majors at Stanford Graduate School of Business: a full-time, two-year MBA program and a full-time, one-year Master of Science program. The MBA program is a general management program that begins with a year of core courses and global experiences before allowing students to personalize their education with various electives in areas like accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, and political economics. Fellows in the Master of Science program, known as the Stanford Msx Program, take foundational courses first before being mixed in with MBA students for elective coursework. While enrolled in the program (and even afterward), students have access to career resources and a Career Management Center that will help them design a personalized career plan designed to develop skills in networking, interviewing, self-assessment and much more.   Haas School of Business Like Stanford Graduate Schools of Business, Haas School of Business has a long, distinguished history. It is the second-oldest business school in the United States and is widely considered to be one of the best business schools in California (and the rest of the country). Haas School of Business is part of the University of California—Berkeley, a public research university founded in 1868. Haas is located in Berkeley, California, which is situated on the east side of San Francisco Bay. This Bay Area location offers unique opportunities for networking and internships. Students also benefit from the award-winning Haas School of Business campus, which boasts ultramodern facilities and spaces that are designed to encourage collaboration among students. Haas School of Business offers several different MBA programs to suit various needs, including a full-time MBA program, an evening and weekend MBA program, and an executive MBA program called the Berkeley MBA for Executives. These MBA programs take between 19 months and three years to complete. Business majors at the masters level can also earn a Master of Financial Engineering degree, which provides preparation for finance careers in investment banks, commercial banks, and other financial institutions. Career advisors are always on hand to help business students plan and launch their careers. There are also a number of companies that recruit talent from Haas, ensuring a high placement rate for business school graduates.  Ã‚  Ã‚   UCLA Anderson School of Management Like the other schools on this list, Anderson School of Management is considered a top-tier U.S. business school. It is highly ranked among other business schools by a wide range of publications. Anderson School of Management is part of the University of California—Los Angeles, a public research university in the Westwood district of Los Angeles. As the creative capital of the world, Los Angeles offers a unique location for entrepreneurs and other creative business students. With people from more than 140 different countries, Los Angeles is also one of the most diverse cities in the world, which helps Anderson be diverse as well. Anderson School of Management has many of the same offerings as Haas School of Business. There are multiple MBA programs to choose from, allowing students to individualize their management education and pursue the program that fits with their lifestyles. There is a traditional MBA program, a fully employed MBA (for working professionals), an executive MBA, and a global MBA for the Asia Pacific program, which was created and developed through a partnership between the UCLA Anderson School of Management and National University of Singapore Business School. Completion of the global MBA program results in two different MBA degrees, one awarded by UCLA and one by the National University of Singapore.  Students who are not interested in earning an MBA can pursue a Master of Financial Engineering degree, which is best suited for business majors who want to work in the finance sector.   Parker Career Management Center at Anderson School of Management  provides career services to students and graduates through every stage of the career search. Several organizations, including Bloomberg Businessweek and The Economist, have ranked the career services at Anderson School of Management as the best in the country (#2 in fact).

Essay on Lee Vygotskys Theory of Learning - 673 Words

Lev Vygotsky developed his theory of learning in the 1920’s but it was not until the late 1960’s that his ideas about learning became popular and were used to contribute to â€Å"Constructivism† as a method of teaching. (Krause [et al.] 2010 p. p81). Vygotsky believed that learning and cognitive development were significantly influenced by social interactions that occur with in a particular sociocultural environment. There are four major influences on cognitive development. †¢ The social/cultural environment †¢ The impact of language †¢ Role of private speech †¢ The Zone of Proximal Development. (Krause [et al.] 2010 p. p81). The social and cultural environment is seen as a pivotal influence on cognitive development because all social†¦show more content†¦The implications for the class room are that there will be plenty of discussions between students and between students and teachers. Vygotsky upheld that people learned new ways when they internalise the processes or experiences they have participated in. This internalisation occurs through social interaction and the development of thinking moves from the wider social group to the individual. (Krause [et al.] 2010 p. p83). Private speech was also identified as influencing cognitive development and important in the development of intellectual activity. Young children often talk themselves out loud as they are undertake tasks. As children become more competent the out loud private speech will become silent. In learning to read a child will speak out loud and as they gain competency the verbalised self talk will move to inside the head. (Krause [et al.] 2010 p. p86). A teacher needs to provide activities and opportunities for children to talk out loud as they undertake task . The Zone of Proximal Development is the distance between what a child can do and what a child could do with a little assistance. This assistance may be as simple as refocusing the child’s attention to the problems starting point or asking a question. The Zone of Proximal Development provides for teachers to direct teaching to the optimal level, not where the student is currently at. (Krause [et al.] 2010 p. p86). Through the Zone of ProximalShow MoreRelatedThe Reflection Of 5 Senses As I Believe It Is An Exceptional Learning Experience For Grade 2 Learners754 Words   |  4 PagesI have chosen the topic 5 senses as I believe it is an exceptional learning experience for grade 2 learners. It has many learning outcomes which apply to the Australian National Curriculum and has many learning sequences in there for the results for grade 2 students at the end of the year 2 level. I have chosen to do a group activity for my group of learners this means that the students will be lea rning from each other and extending themselves by working with others in the group who are academicallyRead MoreLev Vygotsky And The Sociocultural Theory Of Development1016 Words   |  5 Pagesand introduced the Sociocultural Theory of development that was heavily dependent on the influence of environmental factors—such as social groups, culture and institutions—on the cognitive development of children. Although Vygotsky constructed his theory during the late 1920s to early 1930s, it did not gain popularity till â€Å"the recent translation and republication of his work into English in 1962† (Burkholder and Pelà ¡ez 2000). 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To answer this question, Piagets theory of development should be explained along with Vygotskys theory and the connectionist theory of development, and then each should be compared with the others. Once this has been achieved the main similarities and differences will be summarized, and finally the areas of Piagets theory that have not been undermined by other theories will be reiterated. In PiagetsRead MoreTeaching English As A Second Language Instruction1302 Words   |  6 Pagesimportant to learn and reflect on language acquisition theories made by many different theorist. As New Zealand is becoming more and more culturally and ethnically diverse (Stats NZ, 2013). This means classrooms will be more diverse. Hence it is important to have knowledge pedagogically on how teacher deliver a second language lesson and how to support ESOL students. Looking at Krashen’s theory, it is broken down into five hypothesis. Acquisition/learning, monitor, natural order, input and affective hypothesisRead MoreThe Early Years Learning Framework For Australia1431 Words   |  6 PagesThe Early Years Learning framework for Australia Document is important to have in our Schools; as it talks about how Children are confident and involved learners, we need our student’s to be confident and involved in all aspects of learning in the classroom. Having this in place means chil dren get more hands on experience in the classroom and more room for activities, exploring and learning new things and not being afraid to step out of their comfort zone to learn. This means more creativity fromRead MoreEDFE101 ASSESSMENT 3- MAJOR ESSAY How can Vygotsky’s notion of the ‘Zone of Proximal Development’,1400 Words   |  6 PagesEDFE101 ASSESSMENT 3- MAJOR ESSAY How can Vygotsky’s notion of the ‘Zone of Proximal Development’, and the related concept of ‘scaffolding’, be used to provide appropriate education and support to the full range of students in the classroom? The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is a concept by Lev Vygotsky that provides appropriate education and support to the full range of students in the classroom. This concept requires teachers or ‘experts’ to assist students in achieving a higher level ofRead MoreIntegrating Wireless Laptop Into the Classroom Essay1306 Words   |  6 PagesThe theoretical framework for integrating wireless laptops involves the theory of social constructivism (SC). Dewey (1916/1997), Papert (1993/2000), Piaget (1932/1997), and Vygotsky (1978/1981) are the noted developers of the SC theory. The theory of SC underlies building collaborative relationships between teachers and their students. Dewey (1916/1997), SC suggests that teachers facilitate and observe their students. The focus must convey on understanding the vast amenities that technologyRead MoreThe Effects Of Technology Enhanced Formative Assessment On Student Writing818 Words   |  4 Pagesterms of grammatical accuracy and writing quality in English learning contexts and on student motivation. This chapter discusses several areas in the literature and previous studies related to feedback and student writing in second and foreign language settings. This literature review begins with an overview of feedback from sociocultural perspectives. The zone of proximal development and scaffolding as the core concepts of sociocultural theory in second language (L2) writing will be reviewed. DiscussionRead MoreChapter Of Historical Thinking And Other Unnatural Acts963 Words   |  4 PagesWineburg traces the evolution of educational psychology research on how history is learned and best taught. He reviews literature and studies, from the turn of the 20th century to today, concerning the pedagogy and learning of history. He continues his focus on the question: What can learning about history teach us and how can we best come to learn it? Much of the chapter surrounds the difference between â€Å"declarative knowledge† and â€Å"procedural knowledge.† Declarative knowledge can state facts and figures

Othello speech Free Essays

Appearance verses reality is a philosophical question. We all know that what we perceive may not always be reality. Good Morning Yr 11 Students, I understand that you have been closely studying Othello, both Shakespeare and Davies’ version. We will write a custom essay sample on Othello speech or any similar topic only for you Order Now In your studies, you would have discovered many links between the two, through evident themes and values, displayed by many different characters. A theme I have discovered and would like to present to you today, is that of appearance verses reality and how it is altered due to the changing contexts of Shakespearean original Othello and Davies’ screenplay Othello. This is evident through the use of the protagonist, Desman, in the way she carries and portrays herself. Within Shakespearean play, Othello, the theme of appearance verses reality, proves to us, through Desman, that what appears may not always be. This is due to Othello outlook on his wife. The character of Desman is seen to be quite the role model of a woman, in the 17th century England. Women in that day and age were seen to obey the most dominant male in their lives, if they were married, it be their husbands, if they were not, it be their fathers. If a woman were to disobey her husband and/or be dishonest with him, it would seem out of character, as they were seen to be innocent, and naive. In that case, women sleeping with anyone other than her husband was morally wrong, and not expected. In Adhesion’s case, she appeared to be innocent and naive when she is asked ‘Are you not a strumpet? And replies with ‘No, as I am a Christian’. She is also shown as not knowing what Othello had been accusing her of, and had remained true to her husband, therefore she is wronged and is what she appears to be. Whereas in Davies’ screenplay version having being set three centuries later, a lot was different in the way the theme was portrayed. Women in the 20th century London, had more equal rights than woman previously did, so it was common for them to have their own freedom. Due to this new found equality, it meant it was not a surprise if they slept around. Therefore Desman seems less innocent in this version, as it was a more common thing, to sleep around. Desman is portrayed as secretive, giving the signs she may have done wrong and is not what she appears to be. The fact that she has interest in Cassia in this version, also plants a seed of doubt in our minds about who she might be. Ago is also very persuasive in what he says to Othello about Desman sleeping around in her younger years, painting her out to be different to what we initially think. The context of this film does not suggest it is uncommon for people to sleep around, leading us and Othello to believe that Deities is dishonest. In this version, Deities being shown as secretive, is portrayed through a close up shot of Deities, revealing her mischievous facial expression, when Othello suggests the idea of Deities sleeping tit Cassia, she immediately pushes it away and attempts to distract him through flirting. In comparison to Shakespearean play, Deities is not seen to be as pure and innocent and thus in this screenplay version we, as an audience, are unsure of whether Deities is what she seems. From both these versions of Othello, we draw the conclusion that the theme of appearance verses reality, has been changed to manipulate the audience’s perception of certain characters. I have presented this to you today, through the character Desman. We now see that what appears to be, may or may not be in reality. How to cite Othello speech, Papers

Marketing Strategies Concerning Wellcare Infotech

Questions: 1.Illustrate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) facing this organization in relation to the strategic excellence planning?2.Interpret the policy recommendations/implications for the future management strategies of this organization? Discuss. Answers: 1. Business managers often perform a SWOT analysis on their company to learn about the several strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. It is with the help of the framework that a firm tend to maximise capabilities and implement new strategies. Concerning Wellcare Infotech the organisation is being a rapidly growing enterprise enjoys a high range of brand image. As stated to Moonesar Thibaud (2015), in addition to a highly skilled management team, the leading IT service and provider in Dubai possess a standardized delivery framework. Furthermore, as per the case study collaboration with global leaders provides Wellcare Infotech with a largely diversified IT infrastructure and high performance levels which further results to the growth of the enterprise. Despite of several strengths, elements like slow progression rates, revenue flush-out and inadaptability issues act as a hurdle to the development of the company. Moreover, a security breach also leads to downfall in trust a nd loyalty of the stakeholders. In terms of opportunities, the diversification of services, demand boom, population growth and financial stability tend to be the most profitable. As per the case study, UAE also provides Wellcare Infotech with a vast range of resources, economical growth and automation processes (de Waal Frijns, 2016). Being an IT oriented firm, the technological innovations greatly impress profits. On the contrary, the external threats also significantly affect progression of the company. The trading nation typically has an increased import-export ratio to GDP. In addition to the increased level of competition, presence of substitutes, rigid rules and business taxonomy structures, any instability in the political, economical and social factors affects the organisation. Strengths: 1. Leading IT Organization 2. Increased Brand Value 3. Highly Skilled and Experienced Management 4. Standardized Delivery Framework 5. Global Firm Partnerships 6. Advanced IT Infrastructure Weakness: 1. Development Issues 2. Inadaptability 3. Slow Progression Rates 4. Revenue Containment 5. Security Breach Opportunities: 1. Diversification of Services 2. Population Boom 3. Demand Growth 4. Financial Stability 5. Availability of Resources 6. Economical Growth 7. Technology Innovations Threats: 1. Higher Imports and Export to GDP 2. Increased Market Competition 3. Governmental Rigid Regulations 4. Tax Laws 5. Fluctuating Employee and Customer Framework 6. Presence of Substitutes Figure: SWOT Analysis (Source: Wellcare Infotech L.L.C., 2016) 2. Analyzing the several integral aspect of Wellcare Infotect`s case study there are several recommendations that can be made concerning the future management strategies. In order to expand profitably in the domestic and international market, it is important that the company develop capabilities on a much larger scale. In addition to organizing activities and operations, the mangers need to develop individuality. A growth on the competitive nature in the external environmental has lead to a production of low costing substitutes; a focus on differentiation strategy is highly suggested for the company. Further, in terms of achievement of goals and objectives, the firm needs to work in an organised and collaboration with employees and partners. Not only does the firm need to achieve adaptability goals but also target development of the worker groups as well. According to Bridson Evans (2016), a creation of skill improvement and educational initiatives will help the staff members to develop abilities and hence raise performance bars. Moreover, a consideration of social and cultural trends of the stakeholders is also recommended to secure interests and provide the most efficient services to the people thereby heightening satisfaction levels. Lastly, delegation of authority, setting of intervention levels and a much more importance of decision making policies are also suggested for Wellcare Infotech. It is noted that a frequent fluctuation of the external environment would greatly affect business growth (Gounaris Siampos, 2015). A proper allocation of tasks based on the delegated responsibilities will help in a better functioning of the taskforce. Additionally, a limitation in intervention by political, economical and even collaborators would lead to retention of customers. A focus on developing international relation with countries like India and Switzerland would also lend a hand towards expanding processes. References Bridson, K. C., Evans, J. (2016). Brand compass: charting a course to improve firm performance.Journal of Strategic Marketing, 1-14. de Waal, A. A., Frijns, M. (2016). The influence of the UAE context on management practice in UAE business.International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management,9(2). Gounaris, S., Siampos, A. (2015). Market and entrepreneurial orientation's effect on organisational performance through marketing capabilities. Moonesar, I. A., Thibaud, L. (2015). Research and development in DubaiImpression et Enregistrement des Rsultats (IER): cross-cultural management.Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies,5(3), 1-21. Wellcare Infotech L.L.C. (2016).Wellcareinfo.com. Retrieved 28 November 2016, from https://wellcareinfo.com/

The Cosmic Dance of Siva

In his essay sex, drugs, disasters and extinction of dinosaurs, Stephen Jay Gould expounds on how to differentiate facts from opinions. According to Gould, a fact must have a hypothesis, which opens the doors for scrutiny by other researchers. On the other hand, an opinion is always restrictive in terms of further research. Therefore, for an assertion to be true, it must have many facts, which are not only debatable but also seems true in terms of science.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Cosmic Dance of Siva specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Gould explores on three aspects, which were behind the extinction of dinosaurs. Analytically, sex, drugs and disasters are the elements, which contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs. However, Gould distinguishes them as either fallacies or facts by analyzing the evidence presented. First, Gould proves the theory on sex as one of the element behind extinction of dinosau rs as an opinion. According to Cowles, prior to the Cretaceous period the global temperature were extremely high (Gould 438). Scientifically, the dinosaurs were large and therefore, they had small surface area to volume ratio. Due to inability to control heat adequately, the testes, which are highly sensitivity to heat, became dysfunctional (sterilization), leading to the extinction of dinosaurs. On the contrary, according to Gould, Cowles statement lacks scientific evidence thus classifying it as an opinion. Besides, lacking a testable hypothesis there are various ways, which the animals could have avoided the extreme heat either by resting in caves or in shades. Secondly, Cowles never studied the temperature tolerance of the testes because there are no fossils to assist in that. Thirdly, the assertion lacks an argumentative hypothesis, which is one of the aspects behind scientific research. Conclusively, the aspect on sex as an element, which contributed to the extinction of dinos aurs lacks enough support to qualify as a fact. Similarly, the assertion that dinosaurs died due to poisoning from alkaloids found in plants is also an opinion. First, the researchers do not know which food/plants the dinosaurs depended on or ate. Secondly, the angiosperms existed before the dinosaurs thus; they cannot be the reason behind their extinction. Thirdly, a liver is a mass tissue and therefore, there are no fossils to prove Sigel’s assertion. Therefore, due to the lack of tangible evidence and a testable hypothesis the issue on drugs is also an opinion. According to Gould, in scientific terms all opinions lack further research as it is the case with drugs and sex.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the contrary, the assertion on disaster is a fact because the hypothesis has not only drawn more researches but also there are tangible evidence in terms of fo ssils and rocks to prove that. The Alvarezes constructed a testable hypothesis after conducting various studies on rocks like Iridium and platinum (Gould 449). Consequently, his hypothesis has opened many doors for studies all over Europe an element that classifies his assertion as a fact. Therefore, a fact must provide room for further research, evidence through recordings, fossils or rocks and must draw worldwide attentions from other scientists. In brief, through his essay Gould gives characteristic of facts and opinions. Opinions lack argumentative hypothesis thus people may not be able to conduct further research on them. Facts have tangible evidence; draw worldwide attention through giving room for further research. Therefore, Gould groups sex and drugs as opinions, which lacked any proposal or hypothesis. Finally, disaster is the only fact, which may have contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs mainly because of the geochemical evidence provided by the scientists. Work s Cited Gould, Stephen. â€Å"The Cosmic Dance of Siva.†The Flamingo’s Smile. New York: W.W. Norton Company, 1985. 438-450. Print. This essay on The Cosmic Dance of Siva was written and submitted by user Caleb I. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Silica Tetrahedron Defined and Explained

Silica Tetrahedron Defined and Explained The vast majority of minerals in the Earths rocks, from the crust down to the iron core, are chemically classed as silicates. These silicate minerals are all based on a chemical unit called the silica tetrahedron. You Say Silicon, I Say Silica The two are similar, (but neither  should be confused with silicone, which is a synthetic material). Silicon, whose atomic number is 14, was discovered by Swedish chemist Jà ¶ns Jacob Berzelius in 1824. It is the seventh most abundant element in the universe. Silica is an oxide of silicon- hence its other name, silicon dioxide- and is the primary component of sand. Tetrahedron Structure The chemical structure of  silica forms a tetrahedron. It consists of a central silicon atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms, with which the central atom bonds. The geometric figure drawn around this arrangement has four sides, each side being an equilateral triangle- a  tetrahedron. To envision this, imagine a three-dimensional ball-and-stick model in which three oxygen atoms are holding up their central silicon atom, much like the three legs of a stool, with the fourth oxygen atom sticking straight up above the central atom.   Oxidation Chemically, the silica tetrahedron works like this: Silicon has 14 electrons, of which two orbits the nucleus in the innermost shell and eight fill the next shell. The four remaining electrons are in its outermost valence shell, leaving it four electrons short, creating, in this case, a   cation with four positive charges. The four outer electrons are easily borrowed by other elements. Oxygen has eight electrons, leaving it two short of a full second shell. Its hunger for electrons is what makes oxygen such a strong oxidizer, an element capable of making substances lose their electrons and, in some cases, degrade. For instance, iron before oxidation is an extremely strong metal until it is exposed to water, in which case it forms rust and degrades. As such, oxygen is an excellent match with silicon. Only, in this case, they form a very strong bond. Each of the four oxygens in the tetrahedron shares one electron from the silicon atom in a covalent bond, so the resulting oxygen atom is an anion with one negative charge. Therefore the tetrahedron as a whole is a strong anion with four negative charges, SiO44–. Silicate Minerals The silica tetrahedron is a very strong and stable combination that easily links up together in minerals, sharing oxygens at their corners. Isolated silica tetrahedra occur in many silicates such as olivine, where the tetrahedra are surrounded by iron and magnesium cations. Pairs of tetrahedra (SiO7) occur in several silicates, the best-known of which is probably hemimorphite. Rings of tetrahedra (Si3O9 or Si6O18) occur in the rare benitoite and the common tourmaline, respectively. Most silicates, however, are built of long chains and sheets and frameworks of silica tetrahedra. The pyroxenes and amphiboles have single and double chains of silica tetrahedra, respectively. Sheets of linked tetrahedra make up the micas, clays, and other phyllosilicate minerals. Finally, there are frameworks of tetrahedra, in which every corner is shared, resulting in a SiO2 formula. Quartz and the feldspars are the most prominent silicate minerals of this type. Given the prevalence of the silicate minerals, it is safe to say that they  form the basic structure of the planet.

ECONOMICS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

ECONOMICS - Essay Example The recovering signs of the world economy due to good performance by the policymakers led to the fall of gold prices as the demand for gold fell due to higher return on investment in other class of assets. Gold, Long a Secure Investment, Loses Its Luster: Background overview During the period of economic recession, the prices of gold soared and became the sought after investment for the investors. The rise in the prices of gold meant that the world economy was not performing well. Due to the economic recession and the global financial meltdown from 2008 to 2011, the gold prices reached its highest peak in 2011. This could be observed from the producer price index as given below. Due to the crisis in the economy, the total factor productivity of the nations was hit and the factors of production were affected due to the downturn of the economies. The crisis in the economy gave rise to a situation of liquidity crisis. The fall in income levels of the people led to the fall in consumptio n demand in the economy. Due to this, the productivity of the business houses and industrial bodies fell. The fall in revenue and profitability led to the erosion of wealth of the shareholders and market investors. Along with this the erosion of confidence of the investors on the stock performance of the companies led to the fall of valuation of the companies and market indices. As a replacement for the investment in stock markets, the investors confided on the investment in gold markets (McGuire, 2010, p.37)1. The investment in gold was considered to be lucrative as prices of gold increased on the back of high demand for gold. An investment in gold offered higher returns on investment and there was no erosion of wealth from the amount of investment. Apart from that gold could be sold at any point of time and was considered as marketable investment. The presence of large number of buyers gave the opportunity to transform it into cash at any point of time. All these factors led to th e rise in the prices of gold. Investment in gold was deemed to be an investment that would in which the returns obtained would never be lowered (Northcott, 2010, p.46)2. The spurt in he gold prices over the last few years fuelled by weak economic conditions has been represented below. Demand and Supply Analysis The fluctuation in the price of gold could be explained from the demand supply curve for gold as given below. As the demand for gold rose in a weaker economic condition, the demand curve shifted from position 1 to 2 depicted by the red line. As a result, in order to maintain a position of equilibrium with the supply, the prices of gold rose from P1 to P2. The reverse is also true for fall in prices for gold as a result of fall in demand. Gold looses its luster: Rational behind plunge in gold prices The unexpected plunge in the prices of gold in recent times has occurred as result of recovery in the performance of the economies all over the world. The correct strategies adopte d by the policymakers in order to maintain a proper balance of supply and demand in the economy, controlling inflation through appropriate interest rates, fiscal and monetary policies have led to turn around of the economies of the world. The economic reforms and recovery from the economic recession led to improvement in the performanc

Germany 1866-1945 by Gordon A. Craig Book Analysis Essay

Germany 1866-1945 by Gordon A. Craig Book Analysis - Essay Example One of main obstacles that stood against the Nazi agenda was the conservative-militaristic order that prevailed during the Wilhelmine era. So Hitler was hell bent on destroying this institutional resistance. Adopting means that were not entirely ethical Hitler was able to wrest power in 1933. The six years that followed was devoted to elaborate social engineering whereby, Hitler’s policies moulded Germany into a perpetual war-ready state. This aggressive military posturing was not lost on major neighbouring powers. It was only a matter of time for the inevitable expansion to commence, and it promptly did with the invasion of Poland in September 1939. The unfolding of the Second World Wars saw the worst human casualties in human history. The most painful episode is that of the Holocaust, where 6 million innocent Jews were systematically exterminated as part of the Nazi party’s Final Solution program. Gordon Craig handles the subject with sensitivity and factual accuracy. Gordon Craig presents in detail the portraits of two major political leaders of the period. The fist is Otto van Bismarck and the second is Adolf Hitler. He describes the former as a ‘great star’, duly acknowledging the tremendous impact his personality had on German nationalism. But Craig is not shy of highlighting the failings of this great character as well. For example, he notes how the stubborn trait in the Iron Chancellor held back Republican values in the polity.

Cross Culture Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Cross Culture Marketing - Essay Example Cross- cultural marketing calls for markets to be conscious and sensitive to the differences in culture, and to respect the consumers' cultural rights in different cultures and in the marketing places. Marketers have to realize that consumer's deserve the right to their culture. Hofstede (2001) carried out studies in more than 100 countries and concluded that there are five basic value elements which are; individualism, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity/femininity, power distance and long term verses short term orientation that affects consumer's behavior. Thus, for the marketer to be conquerors in the cross-cultural marketing they have to create marketing mix which meets consumer's cultural values and norms. (Hofstede, 1991) This paper will deal with First Computers Inc. as a computer hardware and software company. The company manufactures, supports, develops and sells a wide variety of products and services including; PCs, data storage devices, network switches, software, computer peripherals etc. The paper will investigate the current business strategies used by the company to conquer cross- cultural business in two countries which are China and Germany examine cultural aspects in this two countries and analyze the ways the company is using to be succeed in its business. Due to modernization and advancement in technology, most businesses are beginning to explore international markets for better profits and opportunities. Cullen & Boteeah (2005) notes that, in the recent past trading has become increasingly global in some way because of the need to gather and increase the company's financial bases. Advancement in technology including communication efficiency and better international relations has contributed to the promotion of the international trade. Competition has however become a great challenge to the success of international trade but most companies are rising to the challenge, to achieve greater investments and better market opportunities in the international market. Other rationale reasons for venturing in global market for the company are; The computer hardware manufacturing industry has become one of the industries that have grown tremendously over a very short period of time. Thus it is possible to have the products from this company sell quite easily in oversees market. As Cullen & Boteeah (2005) observers computers have become a major attraction for an improved social life and also in the communication and technology arena. Computers have also become one of the most sorts after kinds of machines among the world population and any other sector in the world today. Coupled with the fact that the Chinese and Germany population are one of the largest and most sophisticated in the world, it is possible to achieve a very huge market share for this company compared to other countries with somewhat lower population. A description of the product/service; This company offers a wide variety of products including the manufacture, assembly, and maintenance of computers and other computer devices. The company has risen from being a retailer of used computers to become one of the improved companies in the sector. The company has been for the past two years getting recognition and that it believes it has met the needs for the domestic market and now it needs to explore the international market to China and Germany. The distinctive cultural difference(s) of the China and Germany

Impact of Food Industrialization

Impact of Food Industrialization Nikoleta Koleva The Industrialization of Our Food System: Are We Sacrificing Quality to Quantity? The industrialization of our food supply is something that is becoming more popular amongst farmers and food producers. One of the biggest reasons in the overcrowded conditions in farms and how easy it is for one animal to spread diseases to all, thus ending in our plates. This becomes even more problematic with the rise of globalization – with an infected animal in a farm in Alabama that no one detects, people in China can receive the disease and spread it from there. However, with the rise of industrialized agriculture, other significant problems have arisen. Obesity has skyrocketed as prices for naturally-grown food increase quickly; diseases, both behavioral and physical, have increased in children and many more drawbacks that would be too long to list. As for its history, industrial agriculture arose alongside the Industrial Revolution, something we are also feeling the side-effects of today. It is a fact that by the end of the early nineteenth century, agricultural techn iques had improved so much that the output was many times greater than that seen in the Middle Ages. This was suiting and satisfactory, as the human population was growing at an exponential rate. Later on, as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus were found and properly studied, they had a new purpose as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. With the increased usage of these elements and vitamin supplements, many farm animals face less and less exposure to nature and all that is natural, as they are fully grown indoors. Furthermore, the discovery of antibiotics and vaccines ensured that animal-spread diseases do not occur in crowded facilities. However, as industrial agriculture becomes a more popular method, concerns have arisen over the sustainability of intensive agriculture, which has been related to the decreasing soil quality in key places, such as the US, Australia, India and Asia. One strong proponent of the deindustrialization of the American food system is Al Jazeera. Since its establishment in 2006 as an international news source, it has gained a lot of momentum, due to their wide range of topics and top-notch reporting or world events. The channel itself currently broadcasts to 250 million households across 130 countries. In their article supporting agriculture and the preservation of natural-growth farms, Vandana Shiva, the author of the article, states how many industrialization supporters keep falsifying information about the scale and contribution of organic farming. Many of these advocates claim that organic farming requires too much land grab and uses too many pesticides, when the facts are that industrial agriculture is causing the deforestation of the rainforests in the Amazon and Indonesia, fuelling a land grab in Africa and Europe. In fact, according to the FAO International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources in Leipzig, industrial f arming is the reason for seventy-five per cent biodiversity erosion, seventy-five per cent water destruction, seventy-five per cent land degradation, as well as forty per cent greenhouse gases. These high numbers wound the planet in ways unfixable and long lasting. Not only this, millions of farmers are losing their farms and hard work. Even the food, which is consumed by the population is suffering – animals are put into factory farms and fed grain, as opposed to grass in a natural setting; this is equal to an animal prison. This lack of nutrients affects both the animal and the human consumer, as people are also devoid of these important dietary ingredients. The simple fact is that as industrialized agriculture has gained popularity, the number of hungry people on the planet has also risen. This is an indicator that something is not right; the food system has taken a wrong step. The facts and evidence presented by Vandana Shiva are well informed and presented. I was swayed by her argument and found myself disliking industrialized agriculture much more than previously. It is clear that she did her research and knew what she was talking about all the way through. The article was very well-structured and delivered, with no stray points or unnecessary rants. While I was previously aware of the treatment of animals in industrialized farms, I was ignorant on the impact it had on the planet environmentally. Deforestation one of the most serious problems we face today – whether regarding global warming or the extinction of millions of species, however, the fact that humans are still doing it when we have other, currently available, option is maddening. The facts are, countries that do not consume industrialized-grown food suffer from much lower rates of obesity and other food-related diseases. The problem the United States has is the fact that its organic foo d is much more expensive and harder to get than its industrialized-grown counterpart. It is an unfair race – why should consumers not have an equal access to either type? This disadvantage creates an unescapable cycle: people with less money do not purchase the organic food, thus consuming lower quality food with not enough nutrients. Since it lacks the richness of naturally grown food, people with lesser incomes consume more food, usually one that is unhealthy, cheap and lacking any types of significant nutrients. Thus, obesity begins sprouting up and rapidly spreading around the country. The problem is escaping this poisonous cycle and learning a healthier style of living. Why should we industrialize food, when naturally grown food is tastier, uses less space, does not injure the Earth and its resources and does not aid in the wide-scale release of greenhouse gases? An opponent of the deindustrialization of the food system in the United States is Blake Hurst, published in the American Enterprise Institute. The AEI is an American establishment, focused on research and education on issues of government, politics, economics and social welfare. Started in Washington in 1943, it still runs there and supplies its large readership with thoughtful articles. In his article on why industrialized agriculture is not the enemy, Blake Hurst describes how he got the idea of discussing this topic. Whilst on a plane, he heard an organic farm activist broadcasting about the inhumanity of industrialized farming. Hurst was angered at the ignorance of the reporter and is now on a mission to educate people why industrialized farming is not harmful but beneficial. His first and strongest arguing point is that people who sit in offices all day and stare at computer screens do not know what being a farmer is, yet they demand things they are not well-informed on. Telling someone how to do their work when you have no sensible information on the subject is selfish and may oftentimes be completely wrong. Hurst states that critics of industrial farming spend most of their time complaining about the way the food is raised, in regards to conditions and treatment. As his argument, he describe turkeys and how when they are naturally raised, they are not smart enough to survive long enough to be used as food. Furthermore, as President Obama and his government listen more and more to the public and demand fairer treatment of animals, the farmers cannot do anything to disprove and obey. Indeed, industrial farming conditions for animals are improving drastically. Hurts argues that nature is sometimes even more cruel than farmers, with mother pigs eating their offspring and that life is unfair all-around. Hurst’s article on why industrial farming is not evil was written well but lacked a strong punch that sways the reader to his side. Starting off with a personal story was a nice touch and humanized the writer, making him both relatable and approachable. His point on the fact that people who do not produce food do not really understand what is going on was the strongest out of all the ones later listed. It is true: with no first-hand experience, it is easy to rally for something when one is not aware of the amount of labor that goes into it. Organically-grown food is advertised as healthier and cruelty-less grown, but what do people who live in cities without animals know about how food is truly grown? However, that is where Hurst’s argument begins weakening and losing its initial punch. One big mistake in his article is the lack of focus on the environmental impact the industrial agriculture creates. In fact, most farmers that do not grow organic food fail to mention ho w their crops affect the environment and pollute various sources permanently. It was also scarcely mentioned how the health of the American citizens has significantly gone down after industrial agriculture became more and more popular with farmers and food producers. Hurst does mention that the â€Å"old-fashioned† way of farming is much more demanding and dirty but should food consumers and farmers both eat lower quality food because someone does not want to work? As Shiva mentioned in her article, food is what we are. What we eat is absolutely essential to our overall well-being and happiness. As obesity rates, not only in America but all over the world, continue to exponentially increase, it is important for us to find the source and come up with a solution. When exploring this topic, I realized how ignorant I was on many of these facts and side effects of industrially-grown food. However, when thinking about it, the proponent’s arguments make a lot more sense. As someone from a country that grows all of its food naturally, when moving to the United States, I definitely noticed a decrease in both quality and taste. Everything is larger, unnaturally so, lacking of taste and not as satisfactory. In my country, for less than a dollar, I could get a plentitude of naturally grown fruits and vegetables, while in America, I can get a smaller, industrially-grown, quantity. It is both disappointing and saddening. Humans need these nutrients, why should I pay so much to consume them? I believe the saddest fact is that many countries follow America’s steps and search for easier ways to complete food growing. This can be noted, as obesity begins rising all around the globe, with the spread of fast food American chains, which do not off er any type of nutritionally significant food. Chains, such as McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Wendy’s, etc., sell food for cheap. When families with lower incomes go out to purchase food, it is much easier to get more of one type of food, instead of a few of another, even if the latter is healthier. Food has always been a privilege to our species but at this point in history, when there is an opportunity for most people to easily consume it, why are we settling for the worst of the available choices? Why should organic food, which our bodies need be more expensive and harder to obtain than junk food, something that should not be consumed at a constant rate? Because it is the easy opt-out and costs less for giant corporations to produce.

The Evolutionary Importance of Maternal Anti-Bodies and its Implication

An organism’s ability to survive is not limited to the number of resources available but even more importantly the organism’s ability to fight off infections. Immunity is one of the most important features an organism has to distinguish and protect itself against certain pathogens that could potentially be fatal to the organism. From the first line of defense such as skin and mucous membranes, an organism’s body is constantly fighting off antigens. Antigens are molecules from a pathogen or a foreign organism that provoke a specific immune response. There are several ways a body prevents specific antigens from entering the body or causing harm, starting with non-specific mechanisms that include the first and second lines of defense. When an antigen passes the skin barrier an inflammatory response is set into motion to prohibit any further attack on the body. This inflammatory response includes the work of phagocytic white blood cells and anti-microbial proteins. When that alone, is not able to defeat the antigens, a specific mechanism including lymphocytes and antibodies make up the third line of defense. All organisms are born with immunity which is commonly referred to as innate immunity. However, most importantly as an organism grows, an acquired immunity is developed either naturally or artificially. Natural passive immunity may be an organism’s most important form of immunity since it is passed from the mother to the fetus via the placenta or after birth during breast feeding. Although this immunity is usually only temporary, it protects the offspring while their own immune system develops. Current studies have addressed important issues regarding environmental and genetic factors affecting the amount of antibodies transf... ...ernal transfer of antibodies: raising immuno-ecology issues. Trends Ecol Evol 23:282-288. Grindstaff, J. L., E. D. Brodie, 3rd, and E. D. Ketterson. 2003. Immune function across generations: integrating mechanism and evolutionary process in maternal antibody transmission. Proc Biol Sci 270:2309-2319. Hasselquist, D. and J. A. Nilsson. 2009. Maternal transfer of antibodies in vertebrates: trans-generational effects on offspring immunity. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 364:51-60. King, M. O., J. P. Owen, and H. G. Schwabl. 2010. Are maternal antibodies really that important? Patterns in the immunologic development of altricial passerine house sparrows (Passer domesticus). PLoS One 5:e9639. Pihlaja, M., H. Siitari, and R. V. Alatalo. 2006. Maternal antibodies in a wild altricial bird: effects on offspring immunity, growth and survival. J Anim Ecol 75:1154-1164. The Evolutionary Importance of Maternal Anti-Bodies and its Implication An organism’s ability to survive is not limited to the number of resources available but even more importantly the organism’s ability to fight off infections. Immunity is one of the most important features an organism has to distinguish and protect itself against certain pathogens that could potentially be fatal to the organism. From the first line of defense such as skin and mucous membranes, an organism’s body is constantly fighting off antigens. Antigens are molecules from a pathogen or a foreign organism that provoke a specific immune response. There are several ways a body prevents specific antigens from entering the body or causing harm, starting with non-specific mechanisms that include the first and second lines of defense. When an antigen passes the skin barrier an inflammatory response is set into motion to prohibit any further attack on the body. This inflammatory response includes the work of phagocytic white blood cells and anti-microbial proteins. When that alone, is not able to defeat the antigens, a specific mechanism including lymphocytes and antibodies make up the third line of defense. All organisms are born with immunity which is commonly referred to as innate immunity. However, most importantly as an organism grows, an acquired immunity is developed either naturally or artificially. Natural passive immunity may be an organism’s most important form of immunity since it is passed from the mother to the fetus via the placenta or after birth during breast feeding. Although this immunity is usually only temporary, it protects the offspring while their own immune system develops. Current studies have addressed important issues regarding environmental and genetic factors affecting the amount of antibodies transf... ...ernal transfer of antibodies: raising immuno-ecology issues. Trends Ecol Evol 23:282-288. Grindstaff, J. L., E. D. Brodie, 3rd, and E. D. Ketterson. 2003. Immune function across generations: integrating mechanism and evolutionary process in maternal antibody transmission. Proc Biol Sci 270:2309-2319. Hasselquist, D. and J. A. Nilsson. 2009. Maternal transfer of antibodies in vertebrates: trans-generational effects on offspring immunity. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 364:51-60. King, M. O., J. P. Owen, and H. G. Schwabl. 2010. Are maternal antibodies really that important? Patterns in the immunologic development of altricial passerine house sparrows (Passer domesticus). PLoS One 5:e9639. Pihlaja, M., H. Siitari, and R. V. Alatalo. 2006. Maternal antibodies in a wild altricial bird: effects on offspring immunity, growth and survival. J Anim Ecol 75:1154-1164. The Evolutionary Importance of Maternal Anti-Bodies and its Implication An organism’s ability to survive is not limited to the number of resources available but even more importantly the organism’s ability to fight off infections. Immunity is one of the most important features an organism has to distinguish and protect itself against certain pathogens that could potentially be fatal to the organism. From the first line of defense such as skin and mucous membranes, an organism’s body is constantly fighting off antigens. Antigens are molecules from a pathogen or a foreign organism that provoke a specific immune response. There are several ways a body prevents specific antigens from entering the body or causing harm, starting with non-specific mechanisms that include the first and second lines of defense. When an antigen passes the skin barrier an inflammatory response is set into motion to prohibit any further attack on the body. This inflammatory response includes the work of phagocytic white blood cells and anti-microbial proteins. When that alone, is not able to defeat the antigens, a specific mechanism including lymphocytes and antibodies make up the third line of defense. All organisms are born with immunity which is commonly referred to as innate immunity. However, most importantly as an organism grows, an acquired immunity is developed either naturally or artificially. Natural passive immunity may be an organism’s most important form of immunity since it is passed from the mother to the fetus via the placenta or after birth during breast feeding. Although this immunity is usually only temporary, it protects the offspring while their own immune system develops. Current studies have addressed important issues regarding environmental and genetic factors affecting the amount of antibodies transf... ...ernal transfer of antibodies: raising immuno-ecology issues. Trends Ecol Evol 23:282-288. Grindstaff, J. L., E. D. Brodie, 3rd, and E. D. Ketterson. 2003. Immune function across generations: integrating mechanism and evolutionary process in maternal antibody transmission. Proc Biol Sci 270:2309-2319. Hasselquist, D. and J. A. Nilsson. 2009. Maternal transfer of antibodies in vertebrates: trans-generational effects on offspring immunity. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 364:51-60. King, M. O., J. P. Owen, and H. G. Schwabl. 2010. Are maternal antibodies really that important? Patterns in the immunologic development of altricial passerine house sparrows (Passer domesticus). PLoS One 5:e9639. Pihlaja, M., H. Siitari, and R. V. Alatalo. 2006. Maternal antibodies in a wild altricial bird: effects on offspring immunity, growth and survival. J Anim Ecol 75:1154-1164.