Theodore A Serial Killer Who Claimed The Lives Of More...

Theodore (Ted) Robert Bundy was a serial killer who claimed the lives of more than 30 women, over the course of a decade (Owen). He was the son of Louise Cowell, who had Bundy on November 24, 1946 in the Elizabeth Lund Home for Unwed Mothers in Vermont (Rule). He was raised in Philadelphia, believing that his maternal grandparents were his parents (Ramsland). Ted and his mother Louise left to Washington State, shortly after arriving, Louise married Johnnie Bundy; who adopted Ted and gave him his famous surname (Ramsland). Ted attended the University of Puget Sound in Washington State and after a year he transferred to University of Washington (Rule). This is where he met Stephanie Brooks, his dream girl (Rule). Stephanie was from a wealthy†¦show more content†¦Even though he committed many crimes, he was formally charged for only four: the attempted kidnapping of Carol DaRonch, the abduction and murder of Caryn Campbell, the Florida State University Chi Omega murders, and th e Kimberly Leach abduction and murder (Rule). Ted Bundy has kidnapped, raped, beaten, sodomized, and/ or strangled: eleven women in Washington State, eight in Utah, four in Colorado, three in Florida, two in Oregon, two in Idaho, and one in California (Rule). Of all these victims only 20 were identified, five of which survived the attacks, and numerous other attempts at victims that we don’t know a numerical value (Rule). On November 8, 1974 in Murray, Utah, Bundy kidnapped Carol DaRonch by impersonating a police officer and telling DaRonch that someone attempted to break into her car and she needed to ride with him to the Police Station to fill out paperwork (Rule). During the trip, DaRonch realized that Bundy took a route that did not lead to the station, prompting Bundy to pull over; he tried to handcuff DaRonch, but failed by locking the handcuffs to the same wrists and she was able to run away from Bundy (Rule). Later on that day, Bundy abducted Debra Kent, a seventeen y ear old, who was picking up her sibling in from a play (Rule). Outside the auditorium that Debra was taken, police found a handcuff key that unlocked Carol DaRonch handcuffs (Rule). During

The Effects Of Social Media On Young Girls And Women Alike

Social media plays an immense role in the way that stereotypes about attractiveness is conveyed in regards to body image. As Gerbner and Gross wrote in 1976, the cultivation theory states that high frequency viewers of television are more susceptible to media messages and the belief that they are real and valid. The subjection to social media can cause an idealistic view amongst young girls and women alike. Among the mechanisms of human agency none is more central or pervasive than beliefs of personal efï ¬ cacy (Bandura, 1997). This belief that these body types are achievable can lead to females being dissatisfied within their own skin. The result of the discontent can potentially lead to eating disorders. Body dissatisfaction occurs when views of the body are negative and involves a perceived discrepancy between a person s assessment of their actual and ideal body (Cash and Szymanski, 1995 and Grogan, 2008). It is estimated that approximately 50% of adolescent girls report being unhappy with their bodies (Bearman, Presnell, Martinez, 2006). Surveys have revealed that the exposure to social media can cause body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms’ and the concept that thin is â€Å"beautiful† amongst young girls and women (Botta 1999; Harrison and Hefner 2006; and Stice et al. 1994). With media influence, the question is the strength of the effect, studies indicate the effects are small in scale; they are likely to operate in accordance with particular differences inShow MoreRelatedMoral Standards And Stricter Photo Shopping Rules1310 Words   |  6 Pagesstudy informs that â€Å"40% of all 9 and 10-year-old girls have already been on a diet† (Weight Modification Efforts). This statistic is heartbreaking. It shows just how far down a path of perversion our society has come. As a culture, we have put emphasis on this â€Å"ideal beauty† and that is practically all the media portrays. 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Manage Budget and Financial Plans for Motorcycle- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theManage Budget and Financial Plans for Motorcycle Company. Answer: The budget of Black helmet Motorcycle Company is prepared by assuming that there would be increase in total Australian market and share of on road segment is expected to remain stable. There will be fluctuation in sales revenue of both the products. Sales volume for both the products that is Roadster and trailer will be achieved with assumed price of $ 5200 and $ 3700. Sales revenue budget of company is prepared by considering various factors such as current situation of market, costs and readiness of sales team. When looking at the market situation, it is essential for company tom consider several aspects of market as the performance of organization is considerably affected (Chen et al. 2014). Demand of products is also influenced by market reaction. The development of budget will be done by adopting top down approach that enables complete control over allocation of budget by streamlining accounting process of business. Appropriate financial allowance for the promotion of budget is determined by upper management. Some of the critical factors that should be considered while developing budget involves control spending, cooperation of sales team and external factors such as market conditions (Fullerton et al. 2013). Category - Market, Operational or Financial The Risk - What Can Happen? Source - How Can it Happen? Impact - If Risk Occurs Potential Treatment Options Market Risk - Demand of consumers - Taste and preferences pattern This particular risk is external to company and this happens due to changing market scenario driven by factors such as inflation rate and government measures. Market risks would impact the forecasted value and there could be wide variation in actual and budgeted figures. Company is required to conduct market research before arriving at the forecasted value. It should take into consideration several factors and investment should be made in research and development. Financial risk - Fraud - Errors in preparing financial statement - Improper disclosure financial statement This type of risk might occur due to performance of auditor or finance managers. Involvement of managers in fraudulent activities would enhance occurrence of such risks. Financial risks might lead to formation of undesirable key performance indicators. Formation of financial statement should be done as per the standard to minimize the chance of improper disclosures and auditors should be employed for verifying accounts and minimizing errors. Operational risk - Insufficient internal control of company This type of risk might occur due to lack of internal control system of organization. Operational risk might weaken the internal control system further. There should be proper designing of internal control system and analyzing the cause of deficiency. Requirement 1: The revenue comparative statement of JH Shoe Company depicts the actual and budgeted quantity, price and revenue for the full year budget. Current performance of organization versus future is explained by budgeted value and actual value. In order to gain an understanding of the value and accordingly talking future actions, it is required to have an understanding of the reasons behind positive or negative variances. From the statement, it can be seen that total actual quantity produced is lower than budgeted quantity by $ 3500. This represents negative variance. On other hand, average budgeted price is lower than actual average price. This difference in value depicts negative variance of $ 8. Unfavourable variance has also been noticed in terms of revenue by $ 980000. This is so because budgeted total revenue is less than actual revenue. Therefore, unfavourable variances have been noticed in terms of quantity of output produced, average price and total amount of revenues generated. Su ch negative variances have been attributable from the selling price, quantity and revenue generated from selling of Boots. Requirement 2: In order to understand the current performance of budget and several future actions, it is required by production or operation managers to review the budgeted figures for the purpose of analysing the trend. Some of the key points and questions that are to be raised are as follows: Analysing the reasons for success and failures leading to favourable and unfavourable budgeting positions. Reviewing key objectives for current year and long term planning re-establishment for meeting budget needs. Working out for threats and opportunities Some of the questions that should be asked are as follows: What are direct cost for sales? What are overheads and fixed cost for particular budgeted period? What are projected sales and the factors for their determination? Requirement 3: Planning of budget is done by forecasting the values as it is considered essential for such plan development. It enables business to coordinate their marketing efforts with the demand of customers so that market demand is satisfied. Organization will be able to plan their flow of cash and expenditures. Development of sales forecast is impacted by advertising expenditure, economic data and competitive behaviour (Lee 2016). Such information helps company in calculating market potential for the goods produced by them. Requirement 4: Revised key performance indicators can be achieved by motivating staffs by taking personal approach and through open door policy so that they can directly communicate with them. Team members can be further motivated by encouraging new ideas and collaboration. Revised KPI can also be achieved by making employees feel that they are doing something for the betterment of their organization and they should be given clear accountability and description of their jobs. Ongoing input should be gained from employees that would provide them a sense of belonging towards organization and contributing in revising of such indicators. Indicator Actual Budget Variance Impact and possible causes of Variance Possible Countermeasures for the remainder of the period Gross Profit % of Sales 30% 34% (4%) Variance for JH Shoe Company has been viewed in revenue, gross profit, expenses, total assets, total liabilities and shareholders funds. Revenue variance is unfavourable because actual revenue earned by selling boot is considerably lower than budgeted figure. Increasing the actual sales of all three categories of product that is dress shoe, casual and boot. Expenses as a % of Sales 11% 11% 0% Unfavourable variance in gross profit has been witnessed due to lower actual profit earned by selling boot and dress shoe (Keating 2014). There has been favourable variance in total expenses because actual amount of expenses incurred is lower than budgeted value. Since there is no variation in the total value of expenses, there is no requirement of any possible measures. However, steps should be taken to curtail down expenses. Net Profit % of Sales Ratio 14% 16% (2%) Attempts should be done to increase net profit after tax by enhancing revenue growth of company. Current Ratio - show as ratio e.g 2:1 2.3:1.0 3.1:1.0 (0.8:1.0) Positive variance in value of total current assets due to higher actual value of stocks and accounts receivable. Current ratio can be increased by increasing the value of current assets and decreasing the value of total current liabilities. 0.7:1.0 1.7:1.0 (1.0:1.0) Quick Ratio Negative variance has been seen in value of total liabilities because of higher actual value of accrued expenses and account payable. The actual amounts that is stuck in accounts payable should be reduced. show as a ratio e.g. 2:1 Stock Turnover Express as No. of times e.g 1.5 times 1.56 times 3.29 times (1.73) times The actual value of stock held is more than the budgeted value. This variation might be due to improper forecasting of demand. The budgeted value of stock turnover should be anticipated by performing proper market research and incorporating current market scenario and demand of products. Average Accounts 41.33 days 32.67 days (8.66) days This is because, company is receiving payment from creditors after considerable time period compared to budgeted time. Receivable Collection Period In this regard, JH Shoe Company should tighten its credit policy and should take steps so that creditors make payment on time. Express as no. of days outstanding Return on Investment % 56% 82% (26%) Actual value of shareholders fund is lower than budgeted value that indicates negative variance (Otley 2016). This is because actual value of net profit earned is lower than budgeted value. Actual return on investment can be increased by increasing revenue curtailing costs and sometimes re-evaluating the expectations. References lists: Chen, G.G., Weikart, L.A. and Williams, D.W., 2014. Budget tools: Financial methods in the public sector. CQ Press. Cooper, D.J., Ezzamel, M. and Qu, S.Q., 2017. Popularizing a management accounting idea: The case of the balanced scorecard. Contemporary Accounting Research. Fullerton, R.R., Kennedy, F.A. and Widener, S.K., 2013. Management accounting and control practices in a lean manufacturing environment. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 38(1), pp.50-71. Keating, S.B., 2014. Financial Support and Budget planning for Curriculum Development or Revision. EVALUATION IN NURSING, p.169. Lee, W., 2016. 6 Budget and financial management. Understanding Korean Public Administration: Lessons Learned from Practice, p.100. Lopez-Valeiras, E., Gomez-Conde, J. and Naranjo-Gil, D., 2015. Sustainable innovation, management accounting and control systems, and international performance. Sustainability, 7(3), pp.3479-3492. Otley, D., 2016. The contingency theory of management accounting and control: 19802014. Management accounting research, 31, pp.45-62. Quinn, M., 2014. Stability and change in management accounting over timeA century or so of evidence from Guinness. Management Accounting Research, 25(1), pp.76-92.

Unforgettable Trials free essay sample

After the thirty-minute boat ride, the nine other Americans and I arrived in the small, but beautiful fishing village of Balawing. We were still in the first week of our two-week church summer mission trip to the Philippines, and were enjoying ourselves in a completely exhausted kind of way. Right when we stepped out of the boat, many of the poor resident families greeted us in the Philippine national language, Tagalog, which only four of our group could barely speak. We had gone to the island to pass out donated clothing, toys, and medicine, as well as to make a concrete floor for their small church. Just looking around, I knew it would be tough to stay and help there – the communication problem was pretty evident, and nowhere in sight were beds for us to sleep in, public restrooms or showers to use, or even concrete mix to make the floor with. We will write a custom essay sample on Unforgettable Trials or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Luckily, we brought small tents with us, and there were a few translators there for us. The villagers helped us carry our stuff to the place where we would set up our tents, smiling the whole time as they helped us. As we set up our tents, many of the children sat around us, shyly watching. For most of them, this was the first time they had seen people who didn’t speak their language – we were like celebrities to them. When we finished setting up the tents and putting our stuff in them, the guys in our group went right to work figuring out how we would make the concrete. The other girls and I decided we’d play with the kids, but we weren’t quite sure how to start. We decided to play tag with them, so one girl in our group ran up and tagged one of them. They instantly caught on and we had a great game of tag, even though we couldn’t even communicate with each other. We played until dinner was served, which consisted of fish (eyeballs, scales, and al l), huge shrimp, and rice, with coconut milk to drink. I barely touched my food, except for the rice, as I’m not much of an experimental eater, and then went to my tent, as I was extremely exhausted. That night it poured harder than I have ever experienced rain in my life! I could hear thunder all around us and the rain pounded on our shelter. The water leaked through the corners of our tents, soaking our clothes and sleeping bags. I eventually fell asleep, but in what felt like only a few minutes later I woke up to some kids laughing outside my tent. We only stayed in the village of Balawing for three days, but it felt like at least three weeks. The whole thing was one of the biggest challenges that I have ever experienced in my life. I practically starved from eating barely anything, surviving on coconut milk and fried bananas. I slept in a tent outside during a real typhoon. My only showers were from ice-cold buckets. I mixed piles of mud and rocks together with a shovel to make concrete. Each night I only got a few hours of sleep. But the experience was truly amazing. I helped make animal balloons for kids in order to teach them about God’s creation. I personally taught about fifty kids to play Duck Duck Goose without even speaking their language. Some kids taught me a Tagalog little kids’ game and song that I still remember now. I was able to share my faith with some teenagers through a translator. I pumped water from an underground well. I fell in love with some amazing kids that showed me their unique, wonder ful personalities without even speaking my language. I actually climbed up a coconut tree! The whole weekend was an amazing experience, and although it was only a few days, it was my favorite part of the whole two-week trip to the Philippines. I went through so many trials, but at the same time I had so much fun. I grew to really love the kids I met and I will never, ever forget the experience.

Analyzing the Meaning of Honesty and Dishonesty in Society

Analyzing the Meaning of Honesty and Dishonesty in Society “Honesty is the best policy,” this well know statement not even followed by its preachers nowadays holds close to no value in the minds of most today. Honesty seems to have faded to the back of our minds allowing us to forget of its importance and find justification in every lie we tell, and not until a lie generates a negative effect will it be deemed unjustified and immoral.Truth throughout time has been deemed highly respected and at times in small anecdotes able to save someones life. In the story of Joseph, the boy with a robe of many colors, betrayed by his brothers and sold, believes his brothers are lying when they, pleading for grain to feed all their family, tell him of all their family including their youngest brother. Joseph, then second-in-command to Pharaoh, also the youngest in their family as he recalls, so "On the third day Joseph said to them, ‘Do what I say and your lives will be spared, for I am a godfearing man: if you are honest men, only one of you brother shall be kept in prison, while the rest of you may go and take grain for your starving households; but you must bring your youngest brother to me.English: Hippolytus and Phaedra Sarcophagus, Campo...

Learn to Pronounce and Count Cardinal Numbers in Italian

Learn to Pronounce and Count Cardinal Numbers in Italian You might find cardinal (counting) numbers the most useful to know- you will need them to express  time, record dates, do  math, interpret recipe amounts, and, of course, count. In Italian, cardinal numbers are written as one word. Use the following table to memorize numbers from 1 to 100. ITALIAN CARDINAL NUMBERS: 1-100 1 uno OO-noh 2 due DOO-eh 3 tre TREH 4 quattro KWAHT-troh 5 cinque CHEEN-kweh 6 sei SEH-ee 7 sette SET-teh 8 otto OHT-toh 9 nove NOH-veh 10 dieci dee-EH-chee 11 undici OON-dee-chee 12 dodici DOH-dee-chee 13 tredici TREH-dee-chee 14 quattordici kwaht-TOR-dee-chee 15 quindici KWEEN-dee-chee 16 sedici SEH-dee-chee 17 diciassette dee-chahs-SET-teh 18 diciotto dee-CHOHT-toh 19 diciannove dee-chahn-NOH-veh 20 venti VEN-tee 21 ventuno ven-TOO-noh 22 ventidue ven-tee-DOO-eh 23 ventitr ven-tee-TREH 24 ventiquattro ven-tee-KWAHT-troh 25 venticinque ven-tee-CHEEN-kweh 26 ventisei ven-tee-SEH-ee 27 ventisette ven-tee-SET-teh 28 ventotto ven-TOHT-toh 29 ventinove ven-tee-NOH-veh 30 trenta TREN-tah 40 quaranta kwah-RAHN-tah 50 cinquanta cheen-KWAHN-tah 60 sessanta ses-SAHN-tah 70 settanta set-TAHN-ta 80 ottanta oht-TAHN-ta 90 novanta noh-VAHN-tah 100 cento CHEN-toh The numbers  venti,  trenta,  quaranta,  cinquanta, and so on drop the final vowel when combined with  uno  and  otto.  Tre  is written without an accent, but  ventitrà ©,  trentatrà ©, and so on are written with an accent. Beyond 100 Do you remember those good old days before the euros arrival in Italy when you would pay a few thousand  lire  for admission to a museum or a  cappuccino  and  biscotti? Tourists needed more than just the numbers up to 100 to get around.  Lire  are history, but learning numbers greater than 100 might still prove useful. Though they might seem unwieldy, after a bit of practice youll be rolling them off your tongue like a pro. ITALIAN CARDINAL NUMBERS: 100 AND GREATER 100 cento CHEN-toh 101 centouno/centuno cheh-toh-OO-noh/chehn-TOO-noh 150 centocinquanta cheh-toh-cheen-KWAHN-tah 200 duecento doo-eh-CHEN-toh 300 trecento treh-CHEN-toh 400 quattrocento kwaht-troh-CHEN-toh 500 cinquecento cheen-kweh-CHEN-toh 600 seicento seh-ee-CHEN-toh 700 settecento set-the-CHEN-toh 800 ottocento oht-toh-CHEN-toh 900 novecento noh-veh-CHEN-toh 1.000 mille MEEL-leh 1.001 milleuno meel-leh-OO-noh 1.200 milleduecento meel-leh-doo-eh-CHEN-toh 2.000 duemila doo-eh-MEE-lah 10.000 diecimila dee-eh-chee-MEE-lah 15.000 quindicimila kween-dee-chee-MEE-lah 100.000 centomila chen-toh-mee-leh 1.000.000 un milione OON mee-lee-OH-neh 2.000.000 due milioni DOO-eh mee-lee-OH-neh 1.000.000.000 un miliardo OON mee-lee-ARE-doh

The LPN To Transition 2. APA Formating Transition into Scholarly Essay - 1

The LPN To Transition 2. APA Formating Transition into Scholarly Writing - Essay Example There are many differences in the roles of LPN and RN, as RNs has more authority and power than an LPN. Registered nurses have a larger role in the healthcare of patients. The duty of RN is deeply to analyze the issues pertaining to the health of a patient and to relate the condition of a patient with the health status of the patient. Licensed practical nurse does not have a wide scope, but they are more tasks oriented and the working criteria of LPN are less than that of RN (Weydt, 2009). The main role of RN is to perform an initial assessment of the patient as it an essential part of the duty. LPNs can perform assessments but not the initial assessment. As the criteria of work of an RN are much greater than an LPN, it has to perform more duties that include the formulating the diagnosis of a patient and to form a care plan for the patient. The primary role of LPN is to make sure that the formulated care plan made by RN is put into action. RNs have the authority to delegate the work to LPNs (Ebright, Patterson, Chalko, & Render, 2003). LPNs have no authority over RN, but they are only allowed to work on those tasks that lie in their scope as defined by their license of that state. At some workplaces, RN directly supervises the work of an LPN and make sure that the LPN performs his task in the provided manner. LPNs have no authority to make changes in the healthcare plan of the patient but if there in a need to do so, the LPN must call and report the issue to RN and get their approval, to do the needful changes. There are various advantages of an RN as compared to LPN in this field. Few strategies and suggestions can help in the transition of LPN to RN and become successful in the work. To transit from License practical nurse to Registered nurse, the applicant must either take an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a

Micheal jackson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Micheal jackson - Essay Example Some of his commonly known music videos include Beat It, Thriller, Scream, Black or White and Billie Jean which were considered to be advocating for racial integration in the American society (Fisher, 23). He emerged with a number of dance moves such as the robot and moonwalk to which people knew him best and became part of his thrilling performance whenever he was on stage. The curtain finally went down in his life in June 25, 2009 in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California, in the United States aged fifty when he died. The life as well as the music career of Michael Jackson is filled with numerous remarkable events and he made a great contribution to the music industry that has long lived beyond his death. He is therefore worth writing about owing to the fact that very few music artistic have achieved what Michael was able to achieve in his entire music career. Many people all over the world have something to remember about this popular pop artist who inspired them in life. He had a great influence on other genre of music such as hip hop, post-disco, contemporary R&B, pop, and rock by being the role model to the artists who performed such genres (Danesi,57). Despite the fact that pop culture has been witnessed in a number of departments and areas of life, music has registered the most remarkable application of this culture and it is mainly attributable to the King of Pop; Michael Jackson. His biography clearly demonstrated the formation as well as the establishment of this form of culture that has become a way of life in various parts of the world to date. In June 1975, the Jackson 5 made a historic signing with Epic Records which is a subsidiary of CBS Records. The move necessitated a change in their name from The Jackson 5 to The Jacksons. It was at that time that another Jackson known as Randy formally joined the band. The Jacksons continued to tour internationally, and released six more albums

Environmental Analysis Paper Essay Example for Free

Environmental Analysis Paper Essay Hospitality is one of those lines of business paths that are widespread. In Australia, Brisbane hotel provides a broad assortment of properties-budget, trade, tourist, lavishness, bed and breakfasts and apartments lodging. Moreover, Holiday City Brisbane hotels offer comfort, excellence and enormous worth for the money, perfect for leisure time and commerce travelers. This paper seeks to examine the environmental analysis of Brisbane hotel in Australia. (Higham, 2005, p. 98) 1. Industry Analysis On the foundation analysis unaccompanied, Brisbane market appears to be a suitable market for an augment in lodging supply. On the other hand there are a number of other considerations such as access to capital, augmented building and labour outlay. (Addis, 2006, p. 103) Brisbane is situated on the eastern coast; it is the capital of Queensland-Australia’s head of state tourist area. It is Australia’ best ever growing city region in South East Queensland and occupies 1,140 square kilometers. (King, 1997, p. 88) For a property shareholder, a significant indicator of hotel viability will be value versus building cost. Hotel values have not kept rate with the enlargement in building costs. See more: how to write an analysis of a research paper Hotel values sky rocketed in 1997 before moribund to a cyclical low of $161K per room in 2001. Building costs on the other hand have augmented each year, moribund only marginally in 2001 in reaction to the worldwide financial downturn. (Garling, 1991, p. 100) The low point of hotel values were 62 per cent of building costs and even as they have augmented by around 10 per cent per annum over the last five years double the rate of building costs, the expansion gap is still 20 per cent at present. This gap will differ across the cities of Australia. (Kohen, 1995, p. 90) The porter’s five forces model is a straightforward tool that supports premeditated understanding where authority lies in an industry situation. It also helps to comprehend both the strength of Brisbane existing cutthroat position, and the potency of a position Brisbane is in search to move into. Regardless of the fact that the five force structure focuses on commerce concerns rather than community policy, it also emphasizes comprehensive rivalry for value to a certain extent than just competition amongst existing rivals. (Freeland, 1968, p. 115) The innovative cutthroat forces model as projected by Porter acknowledged five forces which would impact on an organization’s performance in a cutthroat market. These include the following: (Swaffer, 2002, p. 102) i) The Degree of Rivalry The degree of rivalry, which is the most noticeable of the five forces in the hotel industry, helps decide the extent to which the value fashioned by a business will be dissolute through head to head contest. (Cunill, 2006, p. 78) Perth has overtaken Brisbane as Australia’s number one hotel bazaar after having strengthened its bazaar leader position all through each quarter during 2007 to record the uppermost Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) expansion, highest ADR expansion and uppermost tenancy result (82. 5%) for the full year. (Richards, 2006, p. 120) Hotel section analysis in the three main markets of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane reveal that 5-star hotels are driving the sturdy bazaar performance. All the three cities recorded twofold figure RevPAR expansion during 2007 which is higher than the lower-tier segments. (Jamieson, 2006, p. 115) ii) The Threat of Entry Both the prospective and obtainable competitors influence standard business productivity. The threat of new entrants is frequently based on the bazaar entry barriers. They can take varied forms and are used to avert an influx of firms into a business at any time profits attuned for the cost of capital goes up above zero. (Higham, 2005, p. 104) The most widespread forms of entry barriers include: economies of scale, cost of entrance such as investment into expertise; distribution channels such as ease of admission for competitors; cost compensation not connected to the size of the corporation and government legislation. (Swaffer, 2002, p. 105) In a cutthroat market, all firms fabricate a standardized product. This means the goods presented by a variety of sellers are mainly identical. Since competition is based exclusively on the price, and the merchandise is homogenous, it then follows that buyers will buy from whoever’s product is cheapest, and this is also applicable in the hotel industry in the sense that tourist will choose to check inn to a hotel which they are comfortable with the price; therefore each producers is requisite to take up the least-cost method of fabrication and all surplus profits and losses will in the long run be abolished by entrance to, or exit from the business. (Addis, 2006, p. 108) Australia is in threat of becoming a lattice exporter of tourists in 2008 as strong expansion in outbound travel outpaces inbound tourist arrivals. The recently released Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Overseas Arrivals and Departures data reveals that arrivals have exposed some revival in the primary two months of 2008 (up 1. 7%), outbound travel has augmented by a staggering 14. 5%. (King, 1997, p. 94) The major competitor of Brisbane hotel is Sydney. However this was in the past. Sydney attracts a broad range of commerce events, and these proceedings tend to be larger than regular. Whereas the National Business Events Study (NBES) establish that New South Wales hosted 27 percent of the entire meetings in Australia in 2003, this represented 40 percent of the entire delegates. In terms of standard occasion size, Sydney hosted the biggest proceedings (roughly 162 delegates per event), followed by the Gold Coast (102), Melbourne (96), Adelaide (92), the ACT (89) and Perth (80). (Jamieson, 2006, p. 123) Nevertheless, this position is being windswept as other States are attracting an escalating percentage of intercontinental trade proceedings delegates. Queensland is to some extent differently positioned. Because of its chief coastal resort cities, it has key conference amenities at Cairns and the Gold Coast, as well as Brisbane. When these three locations are taken jointly, it reveals that in the mid-nineties they jointly held only about half as numerous meetings as Sydney. Ever since, their position has augmented considerably and in the epoch 2003-2005 they held about as several meetings as did Sydney. (Swaffer, 2002, p. 110) iii) The Threat of Substitutes A threat from substitutes exists if there are substitute products with inferior prices of improved performance parameters for the equivalent function. They could potentially draw a momentous proportion of bazaar volume and for this reason reduce the possible sales volume for existing troupe. This category also relates to balancing products. The threat of substitution is also influenced by switching costs such as retraining, retooling and redesigning that are incurred when a consumer switches to a dissimilar kind of product or service. (Higham, 2005, p. 111) Brisbane hotel faces the barricade of cost of setting up such as renting or owning building and licensing faced by new-fangled entrant. Even though firms in a monopolistically cutthroat market do face a low barrier to entry, the firms vend differentiated products, therefore causing new-fangled firms harder to be recognized. For example; Pier Nine Oyster Bar and Seafood Gril in Brisbane is a well-liked seafood restaurant. It then follows that a new seafood restaurant may have intricacy attracting clientele because of Pier’s recognized reputation. (Addis, 2006, p. 114) iv) Buyer Power Buyer power is one of the two level forces that control the misappropriation of the value fashioned by Brisbane hotel industry. The most imperative determinants of buyer power are the size and the attention of clientele. Other factors are the degree to which the buyers are well-versed and the attention of the competitors. (Jamieson, 2006, p. 130) Brisbane hotels come in all the shapes and sizes one would expect from Australia’s third biggest city-the enormous names like Hilton, Marriott and Sheraton are all there, all along with loads of self-governing establishments which vary from extremely quirky to absolute dirty. Similar to any bed where you relax your head, you acquire what you disburse for. Moreover, at the cheaper end of the range, a flawlessly contented room in an essential visitor hotel in the heart of the city like the Nomads will place you back about $80 a night at reserve rates, whereas a two bedroom suite in the historical 5 star Conrad Treasury Casino will cost you roughly $220 if you are looking less than two weeks ahead-which is fairly of high-quality for a five star hotel. (King, 1997, p. 101) v) Supplier Power This is a reflect icon of the buyer power. As an end result, the examination of supplier power characteristically focuses primary on the relative size and attention of suppliers comparative to commerce involvement in the inputs supplied. (Garling, 1991, p. 107) The aptitude to charge clientele different prices in line with differenced in the value fashioned for each of those buyers more often than not indicates that the bazaar is characterized by high dealer power and at the same occasion by low buyer power. (Kohen, 1995, p. 97) Brisbane hotel is an outstanding example to other main hotel markets in the steady preamble of new supply, as opposed to gesticulate of new-fangled hotel developments flooding the bazaar once the market conditions become encouraging. A slow but stable flow of new stockpile goes a long way towards sustainably increasing the market without causing occupancies and revenues to fall. (Cunill, 2006, p. 91) 2. External Stakeholders and Broad Environment External stakeholders These encompass real land agents, state visitor offices, developers, financiers, body business service providers, hotels with a strata title attention and administration human rights brokers. (Swaffer, 2002, p. 118) The assortment of community schemes is echoed in the range of lawmaking schemes that subsist across Australia. One of the basic differences across jurisdictions is the terms and lawful jargon used to explain key features in Brisbane hotel. This difficulty poses realistic problems for stakeholders in general and for practitioners who are required to function athwart state boundaries. (King, 1997, p. 117) Broad Environment This consists of four significant factors such as current social forces, global economic forces, global political forces and technological innovations. (Garling, 1991, p. 114) i) Current social forces Given that travel was a requirement for numerous workers at the turn of the century, it then follows that homosexuality action in countryside contexts and urban public spaces was inextricably associated. The features of superior population areas, clear in Brisbane hotel and larger local areas were also noticeable in lesser urban settlements. (Higham, 2005, p. 116) ii) Global economic forces Australia’s four principal city lodging markets enjoyed a record year of tenancy levels in 2007, with the outlook for 2008 being evenly as optimistic in spite of far from ideal national and worldwide market circumstances. (Kohen, 1995, p. 101) Australia Bureau of statistics (ABS) data released for the full year 2007 shows that for the initial time the internal city hotel bazaar of Brisbane has achieved tenancy levels over 80% averaged all through the year. This performance underscores Australia’s confrontation to the universal monetary slowdown as trade travel remains burly. High occupancies are also a side-effect of the capital boom, which is supporting Brisbane hotel markets as local centres for these resource-based state economies. (Addis, 2006, p. 122) With continuous expansion in accommodation demand, thanks to affluent economic environment and sturdy market essentials, Australia’s chief city markets of Brisbane will see occupancies linger high and proceeds increase. (Garling, 1991, p. 119) The majority multicultural cities are Melbourne and Sydney. Both cities are well-known for the diversity and quality of universal foods available in their many restaurants, and Melbourne particularly promoted itself as a hub for the arts therefore posing a threat for Brisbane hotel in Australia. (Jamieson, 2006, p. 134) iii) Technological innovations True commerce innovation does take place through a variety of mechanisms such as commerce strategy, organization practices, procedure alteration, and assets investment in new-fangled plant and equipment. To be familiar with this, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) by now has events of technological innovation. (Cunill, 2006, p. 103) iv) Global political forces The worldwide hotel business recorded optimistic growth in standard daily rate and proceeds per obtainable room for the month of July 2008; this is according to the statistics from Smith Travel Research (STR). Moreover, fashion hotels are an element of a speedy development in the market for lavishness recognized customer products. This was incorporated prior to the political situation that arose in Australia. (Higham, 2005, p. 121) 3. Factors that Influence the Sector’s demand and cost structures i) Technological innovation This has debatably been the leading factor in determining fiscal services of Brisbane hotel in the past two decades. Systems for dealing out, communicating and sturdy information are an indispensable element of the infrastructure sustaining fiscal activities. (Kohen, 1995, p. 112) Technology has connected markets around the globe and opened cross-border delivery of both wholesale and retail fiscal products. This has created a competitive advantage to Brisbane hotel in Australia. (Freeland, 1968, p. 119) ii) International Integration This has resulted prior to technological advances and as a result there has been a rising tendency towards international integration amongst financial markets. In numerous areas of the Australian bazaar, predominantly those connected with across-the-board funding, international markets have replaced home markets as the main source of finance. A result of globalization is that competition between fiscal service providers occurs internationally to a certain extent than at the state or local level. Globalization has spawned a production of institutional shareholders who control huge portfolios and have particular loyalty to products and state marketplace thus boosting Brisbane hotel financial status. (Swaffer, 2002, p. 125) iii) Changing customer needs Markets developments have also been fashioned by changing customer needs. In Australia, the most clear of these has been the enlargement of enforced superannuation and the accompanying enlargement in the finance administration business. This has resulted to Brisbane hotel modifying their products and services so as to satisfy the customer since the customer is the king. (Freeland, 1968, p. 121) iv) New Entrants These factors have encouraged new-fangled entrants and innovative ways of doing business. For instance, unlike a decade ago, hotels and construction societies are at present extremely aware of the competition that they face from securitizes. This has made Brisbane hotel and other industries formulate strategies of dealing with new entrants. (King, 1997, p. 126) 4. Strategic Issues facing Organizations in hotel sector i) Location Brisbane is a low-lying terrain mass positioned in a floodplain. Nevertheless, this has worked to the benefit of the hotel. Brisbane is located along the Brisbane River and is neighboring to the Great Dividing Range and the Moreton Bay. This has generated a lot of income since it serves as a tourist attraction base. (Garling, 1991, p. 122) ii) Climate Geologically, Brisbane hotel is situated contentedly in the State’s Southeast corner, at the oceanfront of the Pacific Ocean to the east. Because of this, it then follows that many inhabitants and vacationers from Melbourne and Sydney come over and expend winter in Brisbane thus boosting the hotel’s revenue. (Higham, 2005, p. 128) iii) Events and Festivals Several events and festivals have also boost up tourism in Brisbane hotel. For instance; Brisbane River Festival is usually held in the middle of September every year. In addition to this, Brisbane is becoming a well-liked sports destination in all of Australia and not just in Queensland. It has previously hosted the Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup and still hosted a number of events for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. This has generated a lot of income for the Brisbane hotel. Moreover, Brisbane is proposing to support and hold the 2024 Olympics. This will generate the country lots and lots of revenue. (Jamieson, 2006, p. 136) Conclusion The event trade in Australia continues to thrive and events are more and more viewed as vehicles for the facilitation of local growth. Regions may be fashioned for various reasons, counting economic purposes, and debatably such economic purpose will decide the most suitable set of local restrictions, the types of local organizations that will be established and the kinds of local policies and programs that will be implemented. Moreover, technological innovation, international integration, changing customer needs and new entrants have contributed towards the hotel formulating strategies in order to satisfy their customers and as a result Brisbane hotel has maintained a competitive edge thus earning profitable foreign exchange from the tourists.

Racial Privilege in America Past and Present Essay -- essays research

The Blame Game: a Prelude to Racial Privilege In order to fully understand an easily debatable and highly controversial policy, such as racial privilege, one must first understand the political and social climates that led up to it. Racial privilege has been practiced during two periods in America’s past: the post-reconstruction era, via Jim Crow laws, and today, by way of affirmative action. After Reconstruction in the American south, landowners reorganized their land in such a way that it could be farmed without the use of slaves. The most common structure employed sharecropping, in which the land owner divided his property into several plots of land, each farmed by different individuals who paid for the use of this land with a predetermined percentage of their harvested crop. At its onset, sharecropping was a racially diverse program. Boyer et all notes that â€Å"By 1880†¦ white sharecroppers now outnumbered black ones, although a higher proportion of southern blacks, about 75 percent, were involved in the system† (597). Tenants, most having no capital with which to purchase farm equipment, livestock, and seed, offer yet another pre-determined percentage of their harvested crop as collateral and repayment for loans. Since both the landowner and the creditor were invested in the profitability of the farmer’s crops, they insisted that these farmer s raise only easily marketable cash-crops, limiting crop diversification (Boyer 598). When supply began to exceed demand, value of these crops rapidly declined. Sharecroppers, both white and black, were plunged heavily into debt and poverty. The failure of this system presented a window of opportunity for the Democratic leaders of the Old South who wish to restore the power stru... ... Eds. Christopher Jencks, and Meredith Phillips. Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution. 1998. 431-56. King, Jr., Martin Luther. I Have a Dream. March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Washington, D.C. 28 August 1963. Rai, Kul B., and John W. Critzer. Affirmative Action and the University. Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 2000. Skrentny, John David. The Ironies of Affirmative Action. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. Steele, Shelby. A Dream Deferred: The Second Betrayal of Black Freedom in America. New York: HarperCollins, 1998. ---. White Guilt: How Blacks and Whites Together Destroyed the Promise of the Civil Rights Era. New York: HarperCollins, 2006. Sterba, James P. â€Å"The Case for Preferential Treatment.† Affirmative Action in the University. Ed. Steven M. Cahn. Philadelphia: Temple UP, 1993. 286-90.

Government Intervention Essay

Discuss the case for and against government intervention in an economy. In most of the countries, the government has intervened in the market system. To some extent there is a dire need of government intervention in the market system, although there is a debate over this point among the economists. Many economists believe that the role of government intervention improves the market system. The government can easily enforce the rules that can help in the smooth functioning of the market system. On the other hand, there are economists who believe that government interventions in a market system are the reason of inefficiency in the system. There are some goods that underprovided and underconsumed. Such goods are cold merit goods. They can be defined in terms of their externality effects and also in terms of informational problems facing the consumer. A merit good is a product that society values and judges that everyone should have regardless of whether an individual wants them. In this sense, the government is acting paternally in providing merit goods and services. They believe that individuals may not act in their own best interest in part because of imperfect information about the benefits that can be derived. Good examples of merit goods include health services, education, and work training programmes. Why does the government provide merit goods and services? * To encourage consumption so that some of the positive externalities associated with merit goods can be achieved * To overcome the information failures linked to merit goods, not least when the longer-term private benefit of consumption is greater than the shorter-term benefit of consumption * On grounds of equity – because the government believes that consumption should not be based solely on the grounds of ability to pay for a good or service Education is an example of a merit good. Education should provide a number of external benefits that might not be taken into account by the free market. These include rising incomes and productivity for current and future generations; an increase in the occupational mobility of the labour force which should help to reduce unemployment and therefore reduce welfare spending. However, there are some goods which are thought to be ‘bad’ for you. They are cold demerit goods. Examples include the costs arising from consumption of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs together with the social effects of addiction to gambling. The consumption of demerit goods can lead to negative externalities. The government seeks to reduce consumption of demerit goods. Consumers may be unaware of the negative externalities that these goods create – they have imperfect information about long-term damage to their own health. The government may decide to intervene in the market for demerit goods and impose taxes on producers and / or consumers. Higher taxes cause prices to rise and should lead to a fall in demand. However high taxes increase unemployment because firms may relocate abroad increases cost of production for firms making the less competitive to firms in another countries where no tax is applied. But many economists argue that taxation is an ineffective and inequitable way of curbing the consumption of drugs and gambling particularly for those affected by addiction. Banning consumption through regulation may reduce demand, but risks creating secondary (illegal) or underground markets in the product. Market failure with demerit goods – the free market may fail to take into account the negative externalities of consumption because the social cost is less then private cost. Consumers too may experience imperfect information about the long term costs to themselves of consuming products deemed to be demerit goods. The social optimal level of consumption would be Q3 – the output that takes into account the information failure of consumers and also the negative externalities. One way to solve this problem is to try to remove the information failure. Information deficits can often lead to a misallocation of resources and hence the possibility of market failure. Information failure occurs when people have inaccurate, incomplete, uncertain or misunderstood data and so make potentially ‘wrong’ choices. Government action can have a role in improving information to help consumers and producers value the ‘true’ cost and/or benefit of a good or service. Examples might include: * Compulsory labeling on cigarette packages with health warnings to reduce smoking * Improved nutritional information on foods to counter the risks of growing obesity * Anti speeding television advertising to reduce road accidents and advertising campaigns to raise awareness of the risks of drink-driving * Advertising health screening programmes / information campaigns on the dangers of addiction Another dvantage of government intervention is the national minimum wage. The national minimum wage was introduced into the UK in 1999. It is an intervention in the labour market designed to increase the pay of lower-paid workers and thereby influence the distribution of income in society. In October 2005, the value of the minimum wage for adults was ? 5. 05 – following a series of small increases over recent years. The main aims of the minimum wage 1. The equity justification: That every job should offer a fair rate of pay commensurate with the skills and experience of an employee 2. Labour market incentives: The NMW is designed to improve the incentives for people to start looking for work – thereby boosting the economy’s available labour supply 3. Labour market discrimination: The NMW is a tool designed to offset some of the effects of persistent discrimination of many low-paid female workers and younger employees A diagram showing the possible effects of a minimum wage is shown above. The market equilibrium wage for this particular labour market is at W1 (where demand = supply). If the minimum wage is set at Wmin, there will be an excess supply of labour equal to E3 – E2 because the supply of labour will expand (more workers will be willing and able to offer themselves for work at the higher wage than before) but there is a risk that the demand for workers from employers (businesses) will contract if the minimum wage is introduced. Although all political parties are now committed to keeping the minimum wage, there are still plenty of economists who believe that setting a pay floor represents a distortion to the way the labour market works because it reduces the flexibility of the labour market 1. Competitiveness and Jobs: Firstly a minimum wage may cost jobs because a rise in labour costs makes it more expensive to employ people and higher labour costs might damage the international competitiveness of British producers. To the extent that rising unemployment worsens the living standards of those affected it has a negative impact on poverty. 2. Effect on relative poverty: Is the minimum wage the most effective policy to reduce relative poverty? There is evidence that it tends to boost the incomes of middle-income households where more than one household member is lready in work whereas the greatest risk of relative poverty is among the unemployed, elderly and single parent families where the parent is not employed. Government intervenes to stabilise farmer’s income and reduce price fluctuations using buffer stock schemes. The prices of agricultural products tend to fluctuate more violently than the price of manufactured products and services. This is largely due to the volatility in the supply of agricultural products coupled with the fact that demand and supply are price inelastic. Buffer stock schemes seek to stabilise the market price of agricultural products by buying up supplies of the product when harvests are plentiful and selling stocks of the product onto the market when supplies are low. The supply curves S1 and S2 represent the supply of wheat at the end of two different seasons. Supply is perfectly inelastic since farmers cannot change the quantity supplied onto the market post harvest. The organisation wishes to keep price fluctuations within a certain band: it will not allow the price of the product to rise above P max or to fall below P min. Assume that in one particular year there is a bumper harvest so that S1 is supplied onto the market. In absence of any intervention the market price would drop below P min, so the organisation buys up AB of the product to increase the market price up to P min. In the next year bad weather may result in a poor harvest so that only S2 is supplied. The market price would rise above the maximum permitted by the organisation, so the organisation sells CD of its stocks onto the market to reduce the price to P max. In contrast buffer stocks do not often work well in practice. Perishable items can not be stored for long periods of time and can therefore be immediately ruled out of buffer stock schemes. There are also high administrative and storage costs to be considered. Also education or healh sphere can suffer. The economists have a mixed view about the importance and effects of government intervention in the market system, it can be said that government interventions should aim at working with the market system that is already existing rather than implementing policies that make great changes. If the government intervention is such that it introduces inefficiencies greater than rationalizing the entire market system, there is a threat of damaging the economy. The distorted government intervention can lead to consumer dissatisfaction and higher costs. Most of the economists are of the view that government interventions should be facilitating in nature rather than having a direct control over the market.

Environmental Analysis of Dell Organization Essay

Dell’s external environment identifies all the current conditions and forces that affect its strategic options and define its competitive situation. It consists of three main sectors: the Remote Environment, the Industry Environment, and the Operating Environment. All of these environmental sectors affect the firm’s operations both on an international and domestic level. Remote Environment In recent years the computer hardware industry has experienced a slight decrease in profits. Most of this is due to the recent downturn in the economy and a decrease in consumer confidence and spending because of inflation. Many consumers hesitate to upgrade their computers. As a result, Dell must explore new markets and introduce attractive products at a lower-cost to attract its customers. The use of personal computers in international markets is growing rapidly. Dell Computer can take this opportunity as an advantage to provide lower cost computer for consumers. Since Dell has the equipment and capital they can produce higher quantities of workstations or servers at a low operating cost and then sell it a little above cost of goods to China, India, Vietnam and third world countries to increase their global market share. The internet market has been expanding and exploding across the globe. It has varied by market segment and already has been a big hit in the U.S. Dell knows that the way to globalize the company successfully is through e-business. Dell is gearing up in China. The key to its strategy is a locally designed PC called Su Ma (Speedy Horse) which it hopes will draw sales away from the homegrown powerhouse, Legend. Dell has already built a factory in Xiamen, which is on the southeastern coast of China in order to promote its next day delivery to 400 cities which is one of the company trade marks. As a result, Dells China market share has grown from near zero in 1998, to 4.4%. This runs counter to the general wisdom that Chinese consumers must feel and  touch a product before they buy. More business and more production facilities will be opened world wide to adopt the globalization system and the global demand in the next decade. Industry Environment Rivalry is high in the computer industry because there is a lot of competition among a number of market leaders, while there is lack of differentiation and low switching costs for customers. Barriers to entry are also high due to a large part of the market is controlled by the market leaders of the industry, in addition to high start up costs. The bargaining power of suppliers is also high because suppliers are few and there is a heavy reliance on them. The bargaining power of customers is also high because of the availability of many high quality computer companies, all products are perceived as similar and well as the ease of switching. The threat of substitutes is low because they are virtually non-existent. Furthermore, there is a high availability of supplementary products available. Dell Computer Corporation is more successful than its competitors because they have been able to cut out the middleman with its â€Å"Direct Marketing† strategy. Dell entered the computer industry at an opportune time with competitive prices and a production strategy which does not build units until units are ordered, which minimizes inventory and allows customers to customize their units. The direct sales model has helped in cutting down inventory costs and also reduces the lead time in serving customer order. The biggest entry barrier that Dell has to face when expanding into other areas of the technology industry is having customers gain the trust of company over the more popular veteran computer companies. Operating Environment Consumers view Dell as a quality brand at a good price. Some consumers find that Dell’s competitors may be a little more expensive but still offer a quality brand. Dell’s main competitors are IBM, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard and  Gateway. Dell’s competitors have all tried to replicate Dell’s direct marketing strategy. However Dell’s competitors were and still are unable to replicate Dell’s direct marketing success. Historically Compaq and IBM sold through resellers and distributors. When IBM and Compaq announced their new initiative to sell directly to their customers, they angered the resellers, who in turn promoted HP products. HP is able to fulfill the needs of customers who want to see and touch the computer before purchasing it, which is not possible in the direct marketing strategy. But HP’s growth is declining with this strategy and they have been unable to lure major accounts. Gateway has been somewhat successful in implementing the direct marketing strategy, but Gateway does not have a strong hold in the lucrative large customer accounts. Dell ranks high with customers because the company offers free technical support if needed. The purchasing process has changed for the consumers with Dell because all the ordering is done online which offers convenience to its customers and minimize inventory. The flow of materials from suppliers into Dell starts by the company putting in orders to factories that are based on two categories; product type and geography. When putting in orders for product type Dell wants to select the right factory that specializes or deals with a certain product. Geographic orders mainly focus on the where the order is coming from to minimize the transportation expense. Dell has superb relationships with their suppliers; they maintain those superb relationships, by ensuring that the suppliers win every time Dell wins. Dell will need to implement several changes in the next couple years to develop its system, improve customer service, reduce cost, and improve supplier control. Dell will lead the technology industry and be a good example to the competitors. More technology of software and hardware will be available in the futurw with less cost. Long Term Objectives Dell’s objective should be continue providing customers the most recent technologies at competitively lower prices, at lower costs and faster than  their competitors. This could be established in the long run as they: 1. Increase global market share by focusing on Asian markets. 2. Increased revenues by penetrating the Chinese market benefiting from low costs. 3. Continue expansion of server and storage products. 4. Continue to maintain the lowest costs in the industry 5. Establish global brand recognition. 6. Increase diversity in portfolio by expanding product offering and investing in a new industry within the technological sector. 7. Manufacture some of its supplies, decreasing reliance on suppliers. 8. Use the Internet to improve the efficiency of Dell’s procurement, manufacturing and distribution process and further expanding an already broad range of value-added services. References: Abraham, H. Getting in touch with Dells culture: You’ve got the soul! in EnterpriseInnovator.com. Retrieved February 17th, 2006, from http://enterpriseinnovator.com/index.php?articleID=3844&ionID=4 Dell. Dell’s Mission Statement. Retrieved on February 17th, 2006, from http://www2.xmrc.com.cn/jobads/dell2/mission.asp Dell, Inc. SWOT Analysis. Dell, Inc. SWOT Analysis, April 2005, p1-10, 10p. Retrieved February 18th,2006 from Ebscohost Database Business Source Premier http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=url&db=buh&an=16895029 Lee, L., Burrows, P., and Einhorn, B. (2005) Dell May Have To Reboot In China. Business Week, 00077135, Issue 3958. Database: Academic Search Premier. Tough, M. ( 2006). Creating a Mission and Vision Statement. In the Sideroad. Retrieved February 17th, 2006, from Http://www.sideroad.com/business_communications/mission-and-vision-statement.html

Floods and Flooding

Floods and Flooding River and coastal flooding are the most frequently occurring natural disasters and are increasing in occurrence. Floods, once purely known as acts of God, are being rapidly enhanced by the works of humans. What Causes Floods? A flood occurs when an area that is normally dry gets submerged in water. If a flood happens in an empty field, then the damage from flooding may be relatively mild. If the flood happens in a city or a suburb, then flooding can cause catastrophic damage and take human lives. Flooding can be caused by many natural things, such as excessive rainfall, extra snow melt that travels downstream, hurricanes, monsoons, and tsunamis. There are also manmade features that can cause flooding, such as burst pipes and dam breaks. Why Are the Number of Floods Increasing? Humans have spent thousands of years trying to curb flooding in order to protect farmland and   homes. Dams, for instance, are built to help regulate the flow of water downstream. However, there are some man-made features that are aiding flooding. Urbanization, for instance, has reduced the earths capability of absorbing excess water. With extra neighborhoods comes an increase in asphalt and concrete-covered surfaces. which cover the once open fields. The earth underneath the new asphalt and concrete can then no longer help absorb the water; instead, water running over the pavement collects quickly and easily disrupts storm drain systems. The more pavement, the more likely a flood will occur. Deforestation is another way that humans have helped increase the potential for flooding. When humans cut down trees, the soil is left without roots to hold down soil or to absorb water. Again, the water builds up and causes flooding. What Areas Are Most at Risk for Flooding? Those areas which are most at risk for floods include low-lying areas, coastal regions, and communities on rivers downstream from dams. Flood waters are extremely dangerous; a mere six inches of swiftly moving water can knock people off their feet, while it takes just 12 inches to move a car. The safest thing to do during a flood is to evacuate and seek shelter on higher ground. It is important to know the safest route to a safe location. A 100-Year Flood Floods are often given designations as a hundred year flood or twenty year flood, etc. The larger the year, the larger the flood. But dont let these terms fool you, a hundred year flood does not mean that such a flood occurs once every 100 years; instead it means that there is a one in 100 (or 1%) chance of such a flood occurring in a given year. Two one-hundred year floods could occur a year apart or even a month apart it all depends on how much rain is falling or how quickly the snow melts. A twenty-year flood has a one in 20 (or 5%) chance of occurring in a particular year. A five-hundred-year flood has a one in 500 chance (0.2%) of occurring in any given year. Flood Preparedness In the United States, homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. If you live in a flood zone or any low-lying area, you should consider purchasing insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. Contact your local insurance agent for more details. You can be prepared for flooding and other disasters by assembling a disaster supplies kit. Take this kit with you if evacuating: A portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries (know the appropriate radio station to listen to during a disaster)Flashlights and extra batteriesFirst aid kit and manualEmergency food and waterNonelectric can openerEssential and prescription medicationsCash and credit cardsSturdy shoesExtra clothes and beddingFood and supplies for pets

Jaycee Lee Dugard - The Case of Jaycee Lee Dugard

Jaycee Lee Dugard - The Case of Jaycee Lee Dugard For years, she had smiled from her FBI missing child poster, one of those children who had been gone so long that no one expected them ever to be found alive. But Jaycee Lee Dugard turned up on Aug. 27, 2009, at a California police station 18 years after being abducted. According to authorities, Dugard was held in captivity all that time by a convicted sex offender who kept her in his backyard compound, sheltered in tents, sheds, and outbuildings in Antioch, California. Police arrested 58-year-old Phillip Garrido, who they said kept Dugard as a virtual slave and fathered two children by her. The children were ages 11 and 15 when Dugard resurfaced. Kidnapping, Rape Charges Filed Garrido and his wife, Nancy, were charged with conspiracy and kidnapping. Garrido was also charged with rape by force, lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, and sexual penetration. He was on parole from a Nevada state prison following a conviction of rape by force or fear. He was paroled in 1999. Dugards ordeal neared its end when California parole officials received a report that Garrido had been seen with two young children. They called him in for questioning but sent him home with instructions to return the following day. The next day, Garrido returned with his wife; Dugard, who was going by the name Allissa; and the two children. The investigators separated Garrido from the group so that they could interview Dugard. During the interview, she attempted to protect Garrido when investigators asked if she knew that he was a  sex offender. As the interview continued, Dugard became visibly agitated and made up a story about being an abused wife hiding from her husband in the Garrido home. As the interviews became more intensive, Dugard began to show signs of Stockholm Syndrome, in which a captive held long enough develops positive feelings for the captor. She became angry, demanding to know why she was being interrogated. Finally, Garrido broke down and told investigators he had kidnapped and raped Dugard. Only after his confession did she reveal her true identity. El Dorado County Undersheriff Fred Kollar said: None of the children have ever been to school, theyve never been to a doctor. They were kept in complete isolation in this compound, if you will. There was electricity from electrical cords, rudimentary outhouse, rudimentary shower, as if you were camping. It was here that Dugard had given birth to her two children. Reunited With Mother Authorities said Dugard appeared to be in good health when she arrived at a San Francisco Bay Area police station to be reunited with her mother, who was overjoyed to find her daughter alive. Also welcoming the news was Dugards stepfather, Carl Probyn, the last person to see her before she disappeared and a longtime suspect in the case. It broke my marriage up. Ive gone through hell; I mean Im a suspect up until yesterday, Probyn told The Associated Press at his home in Orange, California. Backyard Compound Investigators searched the home and property where Dugard had been held captive, expanding their search to an adjacent property looking for clues in other missing persons cases. Behind the Garrido home, investigators found what looked like a tented compound where Dugard and her children had lived. Inside they found a rug spread out with a bed on it. On the bed were several piles of clothing and boxes. Another tented area contained clothing, pictures, books, plastic storage containers, and toys. There were no modern conveniences except electrical lighting. According to court papers, Garrido had stopped having sex with Dugard around the time that she gave birth to her second child. Afterward, all five held themselves out to be a family, taking vacations and running a family business together. Mixed Emotions Phillip and Nancy Garrido pleaded not guilty to 29 counts, including forcible abduction, rape, and false imprisonment. When the Garridos were arrested, Dugard experienced mixed emotions. With counseling and medical care, she began to understand the terrible things that were done to her. Her attorney, McGregor Scott, said she was fully cooperating with the investigation because she understood that the Garridos needed to be held accountable for their crimes. $20 Million Settlement In February 2010, Dugard and her daughters, then 15 and 12, filed claims against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, claiming the agency failed to do its job of properly supervising Garrido, who was supposed to be under parole supervision during much of the time he held Dugard captive. Parole officers never discovered Dugard and her daughters during the 10 years Garrido was under supervision. The lawsuit also claimed psychological, physical, and emotional damage. That July, the state offered Dugard a $20 million settlement mediated by retired San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Daniel Weinstein. The money will be used to buy the family a home, ensure privacy, pay for education, replace lost income. and cover what will likely be years of therapy, Weinstein told reporters. Guilty Pleas On April 28, 2011, the Garridos pleaded guilty to kidnapping and rape, sparing Dugard and her daughters from testifying at trial. On June 3, Phillip Garridos received a sentence of 431 years to life; Nancy Garridos was sentenced to 36 years to life. They made no eye contact with anyone and kept their heads down as Dugards mother, Terry Probyn, read a statement from her daughter: I chose not to be here today because I refuse to waste another second of my life in your presence...Everything you have ever done to me has been wrong and someday I hope you can see that...[A]s I think of all of those years I am angry because you stole my life and that of my family. Thankfully I am doing well now and no longer live in a nightmare. Nancy Garrido is imprisoned at the California Institution for Women in Corona, California. Phillip Garridos institution wasnt available in August 2019. Sources Martinez, Michael. Phillip, Nancy Garrido Sentenced in Jaycee Dugard Kidnapping. CNN.Glynn,  Casey. Nancy and Philip Garrido sentenced for Jaycee Lee Dugard kidnapping. CBS NewsCDCR Inmate Locator. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

PROMOTING BETTER PATIENT CARE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PROMOTING BETTER PATIENT CARE - Essay Example Speech-language pathologists are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and hold the masters degree or the degree certified to be suitable for the role. (McKay, 2012a, p.1) The speech therapists role is to guide and simulate the process of recovery by means of speech and language exercises. Autism, cleft palate, brain or damage disorders, voice disorder, stammering are some of the causes for the speech difficulties. There are normal swallowing and speech changes after the head and neck cancer treatment and they need assistance of the speech pathologist. (â€Å"Encyclopedia of Health†, 2010, p. 977) A social worker help patients and families cope up with the problem resulting from long term illness, injury and rehabilitation. ‘Medical and public health social worker provide psychosocial support to those affected by chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. They work with patients, families, and caregivers.’(Mc Kay, 2012b, p. 1)The Council on Social Work Education accredits the baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in social work in the United States. (Zastrow, p. xx) Communication is an important tool for the speech therapists as it enables them to interact with the patient and develop the confidence in them. The treatment varies according to its severity and is based upon the patient’s case history and also relies on the patient’s verbal report of symptoms. There is a major concern in the availability of speech therapists and if the facility did not have this specialty, then the use of interdisciplinary team concept is appropriate. It is a group of health care professionals from diverse fields who work in a coordinated fashion toward a common goal for the patient.(â€Å"Interdisciplinary teams†, Medical Dictionary) The team includes mostly the individual with severe communication disabilities, a family member or guardian, a speech-language pathologist,

C&B (u2 ip&db) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

C&B (u2 ip&db) - Essay Example In addition, out-of-pocket expenses are likely to be less than they would be for other types of programs. Fourth, co-payments are very low or nothing. Fifth, anything that is not covered under Medicare may be available at a small fee or for nothing. Sixth, there is virtually no paperwork. Finally, â€Å"You will not need Medigap insurance to supplement your Medicare coverage because the plan provides you with all or most of the same benefits at no additional cost. Unlike Medigap insurers who in some cases can refuse to sell you a policy if you have a health problem, plans generally must accept all Medicare applicants† (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). There are only a few disadvantages to the program, and given the chance, I would definitely enroll. This is mainly because I have gone so long without insurance that these benefits sound amazing to me. The only disadvantages I could find were that enrollees must use pre-determined, plan physicians, hospitals, or care providers; certain services require pre-approval from the enrollee’s primary care physician; and that it can take up to 30 days to leave the program if you so choose (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Medicare Managed Care. (2008). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved August 1, 2008, from http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/fed_prog/mm_care/medcare.htm#What%20are%20the%20Advantages Medicaid is a program that can make it possible for those who would not otherwise be able to afford healthcare coverage to obtain it, get healthy, and stay healthy. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2008, pg. 1), â€Å"Medicaid is available only to certain low-income individuals and families who fit into an eligibility group that is recognized by federal and state law. Medicaid does not pay money to you; instead, it sends payments directly to your health care providers. Depending on your states

Effects of Rover Sell Off on the Financial Performance of BMW Case Study

Effects of Rover Sell Off on the Financial Performance of BMW - Case Study Example This is amidst the rising gross profit margin (16.04 to 16.28) from 1998 to 199 indicating that the company is trying to make higher profit by charging a higher mark-up. Asset turnover have also significantly declined from 1997 to 1999 reflecting the company's inability to manage assets as efficient as the previous years. In 1999, a dollar of the company's asset yields only $0.91 in total sales compared to the $1.11 in 1997. In terms of leverage, the three year span under consideration also sees the increasing dependence on debt as a major source of financing. Total debt as a percentage of total assets is 40.92% in 1999 which is significantly higher than the 34.34% and 36.75% reported in 1997 and 1998, respectively. BMW appeared satisfactory in terms of liquidity as its current assets can more than pay-off its immediate obligations. It current ratios are 1.33 in 1999, 1.09 in 1998, and 1.27 in 1997. However, the ballooning of accounts receivable is evidenced by the increasing percent age of receivables to current assets which peaked to 57.36% in 1999. Three years after the sell-off of Rover, BMW seem to fail in improving its financial position except its profitability. In fact, its computed financial ratios indicate further deterioration in terms of leverage, asset utilization, and liquidity.

Identity Formation and the Development of National Interest

Identity Formation and the Development of National Interest Constructivism Ideas, Identity and Foreign Policy In the analysis of international politics, the process of identity formation and how national interests are conceived should represent central issues, as they are inextricably linked to a states foreign policy. The importance of identities results from the fact that they perform two vital functions: expressing to the self and others who the self is, as well as expressing to the self who others are. Due to the first function, having a certain identity determines an associated set of preferences regarding the choices of action in various circumstances and when different actors are involved. That is why a states identity generates its interests and subsequent behaviour towards fellow members and situations related to the international system. The second function implies that a state perceives others according to the identities it attributes to them, while simultaneously reproducing its own identity through social interaction and practice (Tajfel, 1981:255). These notions have been conce ptualised and emphasised in IR theory by constructivist scholars, who argue that global politics originates not only in the international system but also in an international society. Constructivists stress the constitutive effects of ideas and norms that set the parameters within which identities and interests are formulated (Brown and Ainley, 2003:49). When studying inter-state relations, it has become essential to analyse how ideas are created, how they evolve and influence states perceptions and response to their situation. In order to achieve such an objective, constructivism plays a key role by promoting the tenet that the manner in which the material world shapes and is shaped by human action and interaction depends on dynamic normative and epistemic interpretations of the material world (Adler, 1997:322). From this perspective, constructivist frameworks show that even the most enduring institutions are based on collective understandings. Their important contribution to the st udy of IR lies mainly in emphasising the ontological reality of intersubjective knowledge, along with its epistemological and methodological implications. That is why constructivism argues international relations consist primarily of social facts, which have acquired such a status due to human agreement. They represent reified structures that were conceived ex nihilo by human consciousness, subsequently being diffused and consolidated until they were taken for granted (Adler, 1997:322-323). Constructivist scholars also believe that actors attach meanings to and cognitively frame the material world as well as their experiences. So collective understandings or the distribution of knowledge offer the reasons why certain elements are as they are, as well as the indications as to how actors should deploy their material capabilities (Wendt, 1992:397). One might deduce from the previous statement that the context of collective meanings structures the preferences and behaviour of political actors, which would suggest that constructivism features deterministic tendencies. On the contrary, its theoretical premises have a much more nuanced nature and the constructivist position within the agency-structure debate asserts that the two elements are mutually constitutive. Constructivism argues that meaningful conduct is possible only within an intersubjective social context, since agents develop relations with and understandings of others via ideas, norms and practices. In their absence, actions like the exercise of power would be devoid of meaning because ideas and norms have constitutive effects on identity, specifying the features that will enable others to recognise that identity and respond to it accordingly (Jepperson, Wendt and Katzenstein, 1996:54). In this process, agents exert their influence by consciously perpetuating and repro ducing the social context through their prolonged actions and practices. A significant point to remember is that structure becomes meaningless without some intersubjective set of ideas and norms, so neither anarchy nor the distribution of capabilities alone can socialise states to a particular conduct (Dessler, 1989:459-460). Until now the discussion of constructivism has mentioned several times the notions of constitutive effects or being mutually constitutive, but without describing more elaborately what they entail. The relation of constitution must be differentiated from that of causality, as constitutive theories enquire about the conditions which instantiate a phenomenon, rendering it possible. In this respect, Robert Cummins employs the concept of property theories because they have a different objective from causal explanations: to account for the properties of things by reference to the structures in virtue of which they exist (Cummins, 1983). Another key aspect of constitutive theorising refers to the fact that the counterfactual claim of necessity is conceptual or logical, not causal or natural (Wendt, 1998:106). For instance, the conditions constituting a phenomenon define what the latter is, which conveys a relationship of identity not causal determination. These two components are inextricab ly linked, so that when the conditions come into being, the phenomenon comes into being with them. By contrast, causal explanations rest on two different assumptions: the factors causing an event exist independently from their outcome and are also temporally prior to it. If one applies these theoretical assumptions to the context of ideas, several implications become immediately apparent. The significant role that ideas play in international relations is fully acknowledged only when we recognise their constitutive effects (Wendt, 1999:87). The relationship of constitution derives from the fact that ideas create political outcomes by shaping their properties, meanings, perceptions or interpretations. These are in turn dependent on their ideational source, they exist only in virtue of those ideas terrorism cannot be conceived apart from a national security discourse that defines it. The national security discourse is in turn inextricably linked to constructing a notion of terrorism, since without it the concept would be meaningless. When analysing foreign policy, dominant schools of thought in IR theory usually ignore ideas and identity or regard them as intervening variables at best, helping to account for outcomes which surpass the explanatory abilities of traditional materialist factors like power and interests. The approach in question is problematic as it does not encompass fully the ideational impact ideas in fact create materialist causes. The bottom line of what becomes most contested in the materialist-idealist debate is the relative contribution of brute material forces to power and interest explanations as opposed to ideas (Wendt, 1999:94). At this point it might be useful to consider briefly the traditional view of materialism which originates in Marxism. The classical Marxist dichotomy portrays the material base as the mode of production, while culture, ideology and other ideational factors belong to a non-material superstructure. Wendt believes the same principles can be extended and applied to re alism; after all, modes of destruction are as basic as modes of production (Wendt, 1999:94). Both instances contain a crucial issue, namely that ideational factors become completely separated from economic and military considerations. Here D.V. Porpora noted a conceptual contradiction, considering the fact that Marxism defines the modes of production not only via forces, but also via relations of production. Relations represent ideational phenomena embodied by institutions that ultimately refer to shared norms (Porpora, 1993:214). The obvious implication points to the fact that the material base of Marxism is actually infused with ideas and norms, which also reveals their constitutive role concerning materialism generally To further reinforce such an argument, it is necessary to challenge the conventional materialist view of interests by acknowledging their nature interests are actually cognitions or ideas. This perspective has been promoted by two distinct fields of knowledge and their associated scholars: cultural anthropology and philosophy. Drawing on cognitive psychology, the anthropologist R.G. DAndrade (1992:28) sees interests, desires or motivations as schemas (frames, representations, ideas), which reflect knowledge structures that make possible the identification of objects and events. A significant aspect to remember is that schemas are not given by human nature. DAndrade (1992:31) admits that some interests can be rooted in biological drives which alludes to their material nature, but biology fails to explain most of the goals human beings seem capable of pursuing and these are learned through socialisation. In this sense, the anthropologist offers the example of an interest for achievem ent: it implies a social standard about what counts as a legitimate aspiration and the individuals desiring to achieve have internalised that standard as a cognitive schema (DAndrade, 1992:35). A very similar opinion has been advanced by R.B.K. Howe who draws on philosophy to articulate a cognitive theory of interest or desire. He too acknowledges that biological mechanisms influence interests, yet even very primitive desires are mostly directionless and depend on beliefs or ideas about what is desirable to render them meaningful (Howe, 1994). That is why ideas play a key role in defining and directing material needs; one perceives a goal as valuable, which in turn determines ones interest in accomplishing it. These perceptions are learned sometimes by interacting with nature which resonates with materialist factors, but mostly they are learned through socialisation to culture an inherently idealist phenomenon (Howe, 1994). Consequently, having reached similar conclusions starting from different premises, scholars in cultural anthropology and philosophy identify the cognitive basis of interests, or that ideas and not material drives create interests to a great extent. In foreign policy analysis, the concept of national interest has been accorded considerably more explanatory ability compared to other variables, particularly due to the influence of the classical realist and neorealist frameworks. However, is its nature inherently materialist and objective as the realist school of thought would have one believe? Or does it rather represent the product and construct of different interpretation processes, in which case ideas and identity become essential? The neorealist approach to international relations rests on the assumptions that the distribution of material capability in the states system can be objectively assessed and that threats to national interests can be accurately recognised. Such a perspective largely ignores that threats are not self-evident and the national interest, when confronted with a problematic situation, becomes a matter of interpretation (Weldes, 1996:279), hence the significant influence of ideas and identity. Moreover, cons tructivism convincingly challenges the objective and materialist view of realism concerning national interests, reintroducing the crucial role of ideas and identity. It does so by promoting the tenet that people act towards objects, including other actors, on the basis of the meanings that the objects have for them (Wendt, 1992:396-397). Wendts work has had a fundamental contribution in reconceptualising the national interest as the product of intersubjective processes of meaning creation. Nevertheless, consistent with the neorealist tradition, he regards states through the black box metaphor, their internal processes being irrelevant to the construction of state identities and interests. Wendt (1992:401) argues that the meanings which states attach to phenomena and subsequently their interests and identities are shaped via inter-state interaction. This does reflect an important facet of identity formation, but also neglects the historical and political contexts in which national in terests are deeply embedded, because the interpretations defining state interests cannot be restricted to the meanings and ideas generated by inter-state interaction. After all, any state is inextricably linked to the domestic actors that take decisions in its name. These agents do internalise the norms characterising the international environment, yet they also approach politics with an already formed appreciation of the world, the international system and the position of their state within it (Weldes, 1996:280). The national actors ideas and interpretation of all these issues stem partly from domestic political and cultural contexts. As Antonio Gramsci (1971:112) noted, civil society is the sphere in which the struggle to define the categories of common sense takes place. After revealing interests as expressions of ideas, one might advance the counterargument that such a conceptualisation applies only to individuals, becoming irrelevant in the case of states and the international system. The latter brings forward another essential point of this paper, which argues that states articulate a constructed collective identity that influences what they perceive their interests to be. It is best shown when taking into account the example of foreign policy, a domain in which various actors make decisions according to their ideas and perceptions of the national interest. Following the collapse of the communist regime, Romania and its political leaders were faced with the opportunity to choose the appropriate future course for the emerging democracy. Their decision was to actively pursue a transformation for the new state, seeking to create a collective identity with the West. But before proceeding with the empirical discussion, it has become imperative to defin e and conceptualise one of its central notions identity. This context particularly deals with state identity because it represents the most relevant instance for analysing foreign policy. In the philosophical sense, identity can be defined as whatever makes an entity what it is, although such a definition is too broad to render the concept meaningful. That is why, for analytical purposes and conceptual utility, identity will be understood using a two-faceted definition. On the one hand, it can be regarded as a property of intentional actors that generates motivational and behavioural dispositions (Wendt, 1999:224). On the other hand, identity cannot be conceived without recognising that which is like, other and simultaneously like and other, or without an understanding of the self which comes from this recognition (Norton cited by Campbell, 1992: 78-79). Both facets of the definition suggest that identity contains at base a subjective or unit-level quality rooted in an actors self- understandings. Their meaning will often depend on whether others represent that actor in the same way, a feature which configures the inter-subjective quality of identity (Wendt, 1999:225). Even a simple example can illustrate the point in a more enlightening manner: Helen might think she is a lecturer but if that belief is not shared by her colleagues and students, then her identity will not operate in their interaction. In other words, both internal and external structures constitute an identity and it takes form under two types of ideas: those held by the Self and those held by the Other. The character of this internal-external relationship varies, which leads to the existence of several kinds of identity, rather than one unitary phenomenon susceptible to a general definition. Building on the work of James Fearon (1999), a typology that features several kinds of identity will be presented here, all inextricably linked and feeding into each other: personal and social, type, role, corporate and collective. First, personal identity is constituted by the self-organising, homeostatic structures that make actors distinct entities (Greenwood, 1994). These structures have a material base represented by the human body, as well as a social component. The latter points to a set of attributes, beliefs, desires, or principles of action that a person thinks distinguish her in socially relevant ways and that (a) the person takes a special pride in; (b) the person takes no special pride in, but which so orient her behavior that she would be at a loss about how to act and what to do without them; or (c) the person feels she could not change even if she wanted to (Fearon, 1999:25). What differentiates the personal identity of intentional actors from that of other entities is a consciousness and memory of Self as a separate locus of thought and activity (Wendt, 1999:225). It cannot be denied that people constitute distinct entities in virtue of biology, but without consciousness and memory a sense of I they are not agents. This aspect resonates even more in the case of a state, since its people must have a common narrative of themselves as a corporate actor. Therefore, the state itself might be considered a group Self capable of group-level recognition (Wilson and Sober, 1994:602). In the former, an identity is just a social category, a group of people designated by a label (or labels) that is commonly used either by the people designated, others, or both. This is the sense employed when we refer to American, French, Muslim, father, homosexual, (p.10) National identities, like American or Russian, are examples of type identities. There are almost no contexts in which it would make sense to speak of the the role of an American, except in a theatre play where role means part. Other social categories that are almost wholly type identities include party a_liation (e.g., Democrat or Republican), sexual identity (heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, etc.), and ethnic identity. Some identities or social categories involve both role and type. For example, mother is a role, but nonetheless we expect certain beliefs, attitudes, values, preferences, moral virtues, and so on, to be characteristic of people performing the role of mother (understandings that may change through time.) On the other hand, some role identities, which mainly but not exclusively comprise occupational categories, have few if any type features associated with them (for example, toll booth collector). Lastly, collective identity brings the Self-Other relationship to another stage and its logical conclusion identification. The latter represents a cognitive process in which the distinction between the two becomes blurred and sometimes even transcended, namely Self is categorised as Other. Identification tends to be issue specific and always involves extending the boundaries of the Self to include the Other. In this respect, collective identity uses both role and type ones and at the same time goes beyond their limits. It builds on role identities since both depend on the mechanism of incorporating the Other into the Self, which generates a socially constituted Me. The essential difference refers to their contrasting objectives: role identities use the mechanism to enable the Self and Other to play distinct roles, whereas a collective identity aims to merge the two entities into a single one. In the case of type identities, the situation is slightly more complicated. Collective iden tity builds on them as both require shared characteristics, but not all type identities are collective because not all involve the identification process Especially over the past decade, the discipline of IR has experienced what Yosef Lapid and Friedrich Kratochwil (1996) called the return of culture and identity in IR theory. The 1950s and 1960s had brought for IR scholars an intense preoccupation with the role of national identities, particularly in the context of early EU integration studies by Karl Deutsch and Ernst Haas. Unfortunately, later on the concept became once again marginalised in favour of more objective and scientific approaches like neorealism and rational choice. The recent return of identity does not necessarily imply that the current use of the term may be considered equivalent to that of the 1950s-1960s. Rather, since the late 1980s, a new strand of theory regarding identity has emerged and slowly developed, which rejects essentialist notions while emphasising the constructed nature of social and political identities (see for example McSweeney, 1999; Albert et al., 2001). One of the works that is most often cited when discussing the relationship between state identity and foreign policy is that of David Campbell. In his 1992 book Writing security, he challenges the traditional narrative of asking how foreign policy serves the national interest and instead examines how the practice of foreign policy helps write and rewrite state identity. According to Campbell Danger is not an objective condition. It is not a thing which exists independently of those to whom it may become a threat (Campbell 1992: 1). As danger is an effect of interpretation (Ibid: 2), nothing is more or less dangerous than something else, except when interpreted as such. In terms of the non-essentialistic character of danger, the objectification and externalization of danger need to be understood as an effect of political practices rather than the condition of their possibility. As danger is never objective, Campbells argument continues, neither is the identity which it is said to threaten. Rather, the contours of this identity are subject to constant (re)writing, and foreign policy is an integral part of the discourses of danger which serve to discipline the state. Campbells theory a declared challenge to conventional approaches which assume a settled nature of identity is thus that state identity can be understood as the outcome of practices assoc iated with a discourse of danger. We speak about the foreign policy of the state x or state y, thereby indicating that the state is prior to the policy, but Campbells creative insights come to challenge such a position. He explains that national states are paradoxical entities which do not possess prediscursive stable identities (Ibid: 11). As states are always in the process of becoming, for a state to end its practices of representation would be to expose its lack of prediscursive foundations'(Ibid: 11). Ironically, the inability of the state project of security to succeed is the guarantor of the states continued success as an impelling identity. The constant articulation of danger through foreign policy is thus not a threat to a states identity or existence: it is its condition of possibility'( Ibid: 12). Building on such theoretical understanding, this paper offers an account of the processes through which Romanian state identity and its insecurities are produced, reproduced, and potentially transformed.