Saturday, November 30, 2019

Rationale of the study Essay Example

Rationale of the study Essay This chapter presents the background of the study, rationale of the study, conceptual framework, objectives of the study, scope and delimitation, significance of the study and the definition of terms. Introduction Amazing and exciting , confusing and frustrating, and above all else, an undeniable presence of life. Love them or hate them, computer is entering everyones life. Computers play a big role nowadays in our improving modern time and technology. It sakes the user at ease whenever manipulating important files. Thus, everything in this world has changed from simple to the most intricate, where everything is being computerized. We cannot deny the fact that computers have evolved from scientific curiosity to an absolutely necessary tool in virtually all areas of our lives. In a business establishment such as Master Supermarket, computerizing of their system will lead them to a well-organized company and suited for future competitiveness. We will write a custom essay sample on Rationale of the study specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Rationale of the study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Rationale of the study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The company doesnt have an automated system to use for the necessity of an advance file and reports. It takes a lot of reports to produce. This is the reason why the proponents want them to ease their burden. With the knowledge about the computer capabilities, the difficulty of manipulating their files manually will no longer be a problem. With the use of computers, simple tasks can be performed according to specific instructions at such fresh speed at a high degree of accuracy. Only users of large, expensive computer systems could enjoy the power of database management. Data was organized and manipulated as a result, individual and small business benefits from this type of system. Today managing a business has never been easy. Before, business does not need a large amount of capital and can start even without an exhaustive investigation regarding its viability thats why most number of businesses did not succeed, but now, if someone wants a bigger profit

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The eNotes Blog Problematic Peacocks and Other Elizabethan EraWarnings

Problematic Peacocks and Other Elizabethan EraWarnings Perhaps the reason the Virgin Queen decided to remain so is to avoid the humiliation of having one of her upstart subjects oil paint a picture of her swaddling cat in her arms. Maybe someday there will be superstitions that arise from the era when Queen Kate and King William reign, but it is unlikely that they will be as elaborate or as colorful as these.   The folks over at The Oddment Emporium  recently posted this list from an elderly nobleman known here only as Sir Cecil who reflected on the superstitions that arose during the era of the Maiden Queen, Elizabeth the First. During the era of my youth, Sir Cecil recalled, it was most important these be followed at all times. 1. One must always say â€Å"God bless you when one wouldst sneeze or else the devil would enter ones body and possess it while the mouth was open. 2. The seventh son of a seventh son possessed great magical properties. If Your Majesty is familiar with the writings of the great contemporary author Miss Joanne Rowling, one wouldst be aware she borrowed this belief though in her literature. It did not apply only to sons but daughters also and the great witch Ginevra Weasley was the seventh child of a father who was a seventh son. (I dont think this is what Sir Cecil had in mind) 3. Peacocks are ill omens, and the eye on the peacock feather is the evil eye of Satan or one of his foul minions. 4. Trees are filled with magick and one can guard against ill omens like the dreaded peacock feather by touching an object made of wood. 5. One must never put one’s shoes on the table for this shall bring death upon one’s household. (So much senseless death is coming) 6. If one should spill salt or pepper this is a great ill omen and a great misfortune, for such spices are extremely expensive. 7. The greatest and most wicked of all ill omens is the eclipse. If such a horrible malfunction of the heavens is to occur, it shall bring death, destruction, and poor manners upon the kingdom. Even the great noble houses shall not be immune to its ill effects. One must always be wary of this time of great peril! (Spilling salt on your peacock during an eclipse heralds the Apocalypse.) Great thanks to Your Majesty for allowing a meager and humble subject such as myself to send you this information I have gathered. May your glorious reign last forever. Your most loyal subject, Sir Cecil

Friday, November 22, 2019

Biography of Benjamin Banneker, Author and Naturalist

Biography of Benjamin Banneker, Author and Naturalist Benjamin Banneker (November 9, 1731–October 9, 1806) was a self-educated scientist, astronomer, inventor, writer, and antislavery publicist. He built a striking clock entirely from wood, published a farmers almanac, and actively campaigned against slavery. He was one of the first African Americans to gain distinction for achievements in science. Fast Facts: Benjamin Banneker Known For: Banneker was a writer, inventor, and naturalist who published a series of farmers almanacs in the late 1700s.Born: November 9, 1731 in Baltimore County, MarylandParents: Robert and Mary BannekyDied: October 9, 1806 in Oella, MarylandPublished Works: Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia Almanack and Ephemeris, for the Year of our Lord, 1792Notable Quote: â€Å"The color of the skin is in no way connected with strength of the mind or intellectual powers.† Early Life Benjamin Banneker was born on November 9, 1731, in Baltimore County, Maryland. Although he was born a free man, he was the descendant of slaves. At that time, the law dictated that if your mother was a slave then you were a slave, and if she was a free woman then you were a free person. Bannekers grandmother Molly Walsh was a bi-racial English immigrant and an indentured servant who married an African slave named Banna Ka, who had been brought to the Colonies by a slave trader. Molly had served seven years as an indentured servant before she acquired and worked on her own small farm. Molly Walsh purchased her future husband Banna Ka and another African to work on her farm. The name Banna Ka was later changed to Bannaky and then changed to Banneker. Benjamins mother Mary Banneker was born free. Benjamins father Rodger was a former slave who had bought his own freedom before marrying Mary. Education Banneker was educated by Quakers, but most of his education was self-taught. He quickly revealed to the world his inventive nature and first achieved national acclaim for his scientific work in the 1791 survey of the Federal Territory (now Washington, D.C.). In 1753, he built one of the first watches made in America, a wooden pocket watch. Twenty years later, Banneker began making astronomical calculations that enabled him to successfully forecast a 1789 solar eclipse. His estimate, made well in advance of the celestial event, contradicted predictions of better-known mathematicians and astronomers. Bannekers mechanical and mathematical abilities impressed many, including Thomas Jefferson, who encountered Banneker after George Elliot had recommended him for the surveying team that laid out Washington, D.C. Almanacs Banneker is best known for his six annual farmers almanacs, which he published between 1792 and 1797. In his free time, Banneker began compiling the Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia Almanac and Ephemeris. The almanacs included information on medicines and medical treatment and listed tides, astronomical information, and eclipses, all calculated by Banneker himself. Many historians believe that the first printed almanac dates to 1457 and was printed by Gutenberg in Mentz, Germany. Benjamin Franklin published his Poor Richards Almanacs in America from 1732 to 1758. Franklin used the assumed name of Richard Saunders and wrote witty maxims in his almanacs such as Light purse, heavy heart and Hunger never saw bad bread. Bannekers almanacs, though they appeared later, were more focused on delivering accurate information than on communicating Bannekers personal views. Letter to Thomas Jefferson On August 19, 1791, Banneker sent a copy of his first almanac to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. In an enclosed letter, he questioned the slaveholders sincerity as a friend to liberty. He urged Jefferson to help get rid of absurd and false ideas that one race is superior to another. Banneker wished Jeffersons sentiments to be the same as his, that one Universal Father...afforded us all the same sensations and endowed us all with the same faculties. Jefferson responded with praise for Bannekers accomplishments: I thank you sincerely for your letter of the 19th and for the Almanac it contained. No body wishes more than I do to see such proofs as you exhibit, that nature has given to our black brethren, talents equal to those of the other colours of men, that the appearance of a want of them is owing merely to the degraded condition of their existence both in Africa America...I have taken the liberty of sending your almanac to Monsieur de Condorcet, Secretary of the Academy of sciences at Paris, and member of the Philanthropic society because I considered it as a document to which your whole colour had a right for their justification against the doubts which have been entertained of them. Jefferson later sent a letter to the Marquis de Condorcet informing him about Banneker- a very respectable mathematician- and his work with Andrew Ellicott, the surveyor who marked the boundaries of the Territory of Columbia (later the District of Columbia). Death Declining almanac sales eventually forced Banneker to give up his work. He died at home on October 9, 1806, at the age of 74. Banneker was buried at Mount Gilboa  African Methodist Episcopal Church  in  Oella, Maryland. Legacy Bannekers life became the source of legend after his death, with many attributing certain accomplishments to him for which there is little or no evidence in the historical record. His inventions and almanacs inspired later generations, and in 1980 the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp in his honor as part of the Black Heritage series. In 1996, a number of Bannekers personal belongings were auctioned, and some of them were later loaned to the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum. Some of Bannekers personal manuscripts, including the only journal  that survived the 1806 fire that destroyed his home, are in the possession of the Maryland Historical Society. Sources Cerami, Charles A.  Benjamin Banneker Surveyor, Astronomer, Publisher, Patriot. John Wiley, 2002.Miller, John Chester.  The Wolf by the Ears: Thomas Jefferson and Slavery. University Press of Virginia, 1995.Weatherly, Myra.  Benjamin Banneker: American Scientific Pioneer. Compass Point Books, 2006.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Topical case study report Who will stop Apple's dominance of the music Essay

Topical case study report Who will stop Apple's dominance of the music delivery business - Essay Example There are some elements of surprise with each of the Apple product. This element of surprise has been the primary strategy for Apple. Whenever Apple launches a new product, million dollars are generated in free internet publicity. This has been an important part of Apple’s carefully designed strategy in order to gain customer attention (OGrady, 2008). Today some of the major products of Apple include Macintosh computer, Apple TV, iPod, iPhone, iTunes etc. In April, 2003 Apple first launched its online music store, iTunes. The music store was launched with 200,000 tracks. There are exclusive tracks 20 special artists which include U2 and Bob Dylan (Borland, J. April 28, 2003). Apple, with the launching of this new online music store, has made its position stronger than it was ever before in the digital music world. Now, the question is that could this dominance of Apple be stopped. This paper includes an in depth strategic analysis of Apple as well as of iTunes. Strategic tools that are used are Porter’s five forces model, PESTLE analysis, and Porter’s generic model. The paper also includes a critical analysis of Apple’s competitor analysis, its current market share and position. Finally the paper ends with conclusion and some specific recommendation. iTunes Music Store was launched in United kingdom in mid of 2004. Almost 800,000 songs were sold in the first week only. With this huge figure Apple surpassed OD2 which is the main competitor of the company in the first few days. As far as features were concerned UK stores were almost identical to the stores in US. Competitiveness of online music stores market could be better analyzed with the help of Porter’s Five Forces model. Any industry’s structure could be analyzed by analyzing its competitive forces. According to Michael Porter there are five competitive forces that play an important role in shaping the structure of any

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

HUMAN RESOURCE RESEARCH PAPERS Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

HUMAN RESOURCE PAPERS - Research Paper Example The employees at all levels have a major part to play in this regard and they should take the collective effort to prevent any such situation in the organization. If any such situation arises in any organization then the management of the organization has to pay a very high price for that in terms of legal compensation or the ruining of the reputation of the company (Decenzo, 2013). Thus it is important to understand the issue from the perspective of the employees and that of the victims and how it can be prevented or dealt with in case any such situation arises. Since prevention is always better than cure hence the employer or the managers should always take a necessary step to prevent the occurrence of any such situation. They should ensure that there is no gender discrimination and every individual working in the organization should have respect for the sexual orientation of the fellow colleagues. The managers should implement a policy such that any such situation can be prevented and the code of conduct that the employees should follow in the organization should be mentioned to all the employees working (Paludi and Paludi 2003). The employees should be aware of the actions and legal steps that would be taken against the person who would commit such a belittling crime. In case such an incident occurs immediate investigation and timely action needs to be taken against the person committing the crime. The company in no way should try to safeguard such an employee even if he holds some high position in office. The employees of a company also have the duty to ensure that there is no prevailing hostility in the environment of their particular department. If an employee is apprehensive about the behavior of any co worker then the person should immediately report it to the higher management and seek for corrective action. Immediate action has to be taken by the

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Negative Aspects of Stereotype Essay Example for Free

Negative Aspects of Stereotype Essay What is diversity? Why is diversity valued? Diversity is the difference by race, age, ethnicity and culture. Diversity is valued because the it is what makes everyone and everything unique. If we were all the same this would be a boring world we live in with no room for growth. With diversity everyone has something to offer society in their own unique way. What is ethnocentrism? In what ways can ethnocentrism be detrimental to a society? Ethnocentrism is judging another culture or way of living solely based off your own culture or way of living. This can be detrimental to society because it is border line racism. To judge someone because they do not believe what you believe or live the way you live is wrong. It is almost like not giving someone a job because they dont believe what you believe. Define emigration and immigration. Emigration is when Mexicans leave Mexico to settle in American illegally and immigration when someone from another country leaves their country to become a permanent resident of America. What are some of the ways groups of people are identified? Groups of people are identified by race, gender, age, religion, social status i.e. Rich, middle class and poor. Why do people label and group other people? People label and group other people out of habit and in order to give them a distant identity in society. Define culture. Is culture limited to racial and ethnic backgrounds? Explain. Culture is your way of life. Your beliefs on how you think you should live and conduct yourself. Culture is not limited to race or ethnic background because several groups of people regardless of race can be from the same culture. Source for all answers: Racial and Ethnic Groups, Thirteenth Ed. Richard T. Schaefer. Merrill Prentice Hall. 2012

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Adam Smith v. Karl Marx Essays -- Papers Capitalism Communism Essays

Adam Smith v. Karl Marx Being reared in the typical capitalist community in the United States, it is much easier for me to relate to the thoughts of Adam Smith. This is not to say that I do not agree with some of the precepts of pure Communism, but like the old adage says, "Communism looks good on paper, but in practice, it is completely ineffective." Historically, this form of government does not tend to succeed because of many factors. Some of these include basic economic differences, individualism, and technology and how it advances or serves as a detriment to the state. My stance is clear: I believe that Adam Smith has the more credible stance. Beginning with the economic side of the discussion Smith takes a Western approach in his thought processes. He states in so many words that workers are continually looking for the best job and the best wage. Marx believes that a wage-labor war will break down society and cause a downfall of the economic structure. The Capitalist belief is that each individual is continually exerting himself to find the most advantageous employment for whatever capital he can command (Smith 15). Smith says also in paragraph 15 that it is human nature for a person to better society while bettering himself. In Adam's opinion each person has the right to the pursuit of happiness, and that each person has to take it in their own hands to advance within society. Marx disagrees by saying that when a person betters himself he does not improve but instead endangers society. For example, when the bourgeois cuts employment because of technology, the bourgeois hurts society by "†¦instead of rising the laborers with the progress of industry, sinks them deeper below the conditions of existence of their own class... ...both of their ideas. They seem to use similar methods, using logical statements to convey their points that seem to very much contrast each other. Marx’s philosophies deal with improving society for the better to reach industrial prosperity while Smith believes that the incentives of a free market will allow this happen and that human nature will cause Marx’s theory to fail. In the end both men want one common goal which is the best possible economic system for society because both realize that economics is single greatest controller of the major aspects of society. Bibliography: Works Cited Page Marx, Karl. â€Å"The Communist Manifesto.† A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee Jacobus. Boston: Bedford Books, 1998. 209-32. Smith, Adam. â€Å"Of the Principle of the Commercial or Mercantile System.† A World Of Ideas. Ed. Lee Jacobus. Boston: Bedford Books, 1998. 195-205.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Augustine Medical Case

AUGUSTINE MEDICAL, INC. The Bair Hugger Patient Warming System Winston Rivero MK 4900 Prof. H. Barksdale October 16th, 2012 Industry Analysis: Many competitive technologies are available for the prevention and treatment of postoperative hypothermia. The fall into the two categories: o Surface Warming ? Warmed hospital blankets ? Water-circulating blankets ? Air-circulating blankets and mattresses ? Thermal drapes ? Infrared heating lamps ? Partial warm-water immersion ? Increased room temperature Internal Warming ? Heated and humidified air (used with intubated patients) ? Warmed intravenous (I. V) fluids ? Drug therapy.Approximately 21 million surgical operations performed in the United States or 84,000 operations per average day. †¢ Approximately 5,500 Hospitals have operating rooms and postoperative recovery rooms in the U. S o 31,365 postoperative hospital beds o 28,514 operating rooms in hospitals.Company Analysis: Augustine Medical, Inc. s a firm that develops and markets products for hospital operating rooms and postoperative recovery rooms.Founded by Dr. Scott Augustine, an anesthesiologist. His personal experiences in the field of medicine have helped Dr. Augustine develop a product that offered all the features that nurses and patients would appreciate the most.Initial capitalization of $500,000 that will be used to cover fixed costs such as: salaries, leased space, and promotional marketing during its first year of operation.The Bair Hugger Patient Warming System: The Bair Hugger Patient Warming system has several advantages over other treatments: ? Warm air makes patients feel warm and they stop shivering almost immediately. ? The system does not cause burns ? The system can be used safely around electrical equipment ? Disposable blankets eliminate the risk of cross-contamination ? The system does not require the patient to be lifted or rolled. o Consists of a heater/blower unit and separate inflatable covers or blankets (12 in total).The warming time per patient is about two hours. o Plastic covers are patented. Heater/blower unit does not have a patent. o Subcontr actors determined the costs of the components to be: ? $380 heater/blower unit ? $0. 85 per plastic disposable blanket. o The system is sold through medical product distributor organizations around the country. The margins paid to the distributors are: ? 30% of the delivered selling price on the heat/blower unit. ? 40% of the delivered selling price on the blankets†¢ Competitive Products: (Exhibit 1) |Advantage |Disadvantage | |Warmed Hospital blankets |Simple, safe, and inexpensive |Cool quickly | | | |Only insulation | |Water-Circulating Blankets |Slightly to moderately effective |Heavy, expensive | |Average Prices: | |Can cause burns | |Auto: $5,072. 0 (4,850+5,295) | |Leaks around electrical equipment | |Manual: $1800 after 40% discount | | | |Disposable blankets: $23 | | | |Reflective Thermal Drapes |Simple, safe |Preventive measure | |Average Price $6. 3 (head, drape, |Inexpensive |Only insulation, no heat transfers. | |leggings) | | | |Air-Circulating Blankets |Safe, lig htweight |Products not widely found in the U. S. | |Average Price $4,000 |More effective than hospital blankets | | | |and water-circulating blankets | |Trends Analysis: †¢ The Bair Hugger Patient is designed to control body temperature of postoperative patients and to treat hypothermia experienced by some patients after operations. o Medical research states that 60-80% of postoperative patients experience hypothermia.†¢ The firm projected that 1 system would be sold per 8 postoperative recovery room beds. Exhibit 2 Number of Postoperative Beds |Number of Hospitals |Projected Unit Sales |Projected Sales (# of | | | | |hospitals x Unit Sales) | |7-11 |1,281 |1 |1,281 units | |12-17 |391 |2 |782 units | |18-22 |135 |3 |405 units | |23-28 |47 |4 |188 units | |29-33 |17 |4 |68 units | |>33 (approx. 50) |17 |6 |102 units | |1,888 Hospitals | |2,826 units total |†¢ Marketing Research: Research commissioned by the firm indicated that hospitals with fewer than seven beds woul d most likely not be interested in Bair Hugger Patient Warming System. Potential Target Market: 1,888 hospitals accounting for about 80 % of all surgical operations in the U. S. o Projected sales demand of 2,826 heat/blower units†¢ Trend of interview responses after product demonstration: o Belief in making the patient feel more comfortable o Belief that the product would speed up recovery for postop patients o Free trial of product o Belief that the product is price sensitive to other cheaper methods o Purchase decisions need to be submitted for approval (above $1,500) Research suggested that introducing this product to hospitals would be a time-consuming process that would go through stages. The Hosworth-Climator is a product very similar to the Bair Hugger Patient Warming System and it is predicted that this product could be distributed in the United States next year.Problem Definition: The main problem pertaining to Augustine Medical Inc. is determining the selling price to hospitals for the Bair Hugger Patient Warming System. The system is comprised of two components: the heater/blower unit, and the plastic blankets. Determining the product’s selling price is of utmost importance since: it will influence the demand for the product among prospective buyers, determine the firm’s cash flow, allow the firm to prepare its promotional marketing/advertising budget, and it will provide essential information to its distributor organizations. Alternative Analysis: The problem that Augustine Medical Inc. s experiencing is determining the appropriate price for its product. The dilemma boils down to two major pricing strategy alternatives: Penetration pricing strategy and skimming pricing strategy. The two alternatives have strengths and weaknesses for the firm.†¢ Costs of Alternative products per treatment: o Warmed hospital blankets: (Exhibit 3) |Price per pound |Weight per blanket |# Of blankets per |Total Cost per application | | | |applica tion | | |$0. 13 |2 lbs. |7 |$1. 82 | o Water-circulating blankets: (Exhibit 4) Control Units |Average Price |Blankets |Average Price | |Automatic |$5,072. 50 |Reusable |$271. 50 | |Manual |$1,800. 00 |Disposable |$23. 00 |†¢ Automatic control units from $4,850 to $5,295†¢ Manual control units are $3,000. Discount 40%†¢ Reusable blankets from $168 to $375†¢ Disposable blankets from $20 to $26 o Reflective Thermal Drapes: (Exhibit 5) | |Average Price | |Adult Head cover |$0. 9 | |Drapes |$3. 24 [($2. 50/$3. 98)/2] | |Leggings |$3. 00 [$1. 50 x 2 legs] | |Total |$6. 73 | o Hosworth-Climator: priced at $4,000 Penetration Pricing Strategy alternative: this strategy consists of lowering prices to attract customers and gain market share.Advantages to the firm: o Research suggests that the price for this product is elastic compared to other alternatives so lowering the price is a good incentive for customers to try the product. Competitive advantage over competitors suc h as the Hosworth-Climator. o The product is not entirely protected by patents so competitors can create a similar product Disadvantages to the firm: o The firm must sell more units to break-evenLower profitability Calculations:†¢ Heater/blower unit: o Number of hospitals with more than seven beds: 1,888 o Projected Sales in units: 2,826 units o Unit selling price: $494 ? $380 cost per unit + $114 distribution markup o Projected Sales: $1,396,044 ? (2,826 units)*($494) o Cost of Units: $1,073,880 ? (2,826 units)*($380) o Cost of Unit distribution (30% of unit selling price): $322,164 ? (2,826 units)*($114)†¢ Blankets: Potential target market: 14,700,000 cases of postoperative patients with hypothermia. ? (21 million)*(70%)= 14,700,000 cases ? 1,225,000 stacks of 12 blankets each.†¢ [14,700,000/12 blankets] ? $10. 20 price per 12 blanket stacks.†¢ [$0. 85 x 12 blankets] ? Cost of blankets: $12,495,000†¢ (1,225,000 stacks)*($10. 20) o 12 blanket stack selling price after distribution: $21 o Cost of distribution cost per stack (40% of stack selling price): $8. 40 ? ($21)*(0. 40)=$8. 40 ? ($8. 40)*(1,225,000 stacks)= $10,290,000 o Total cost of distribution: $10,612,164 ? $10,290,000+$322,164 o Projected Sales from blankets ? $25,725,000†¢ (1,225,000 stacks)*($21 selling price) Exhibit 6 Sales from blankets |$25,725,000 | |Sales from units |$1,396,044 | |Total Sales |$27,121,044 | |Cost of blankets |- $12,495,000 | |Cost of units |- $1,073,880 | |Cost of distribution |-$10,612,164 | |Total Profit |$2,940,000 |o The calculations show that the firm is profitable under this strategy. Part of the strategy is offering the heater/blower unit for a discounted price of $494 ($380+$114). This price only takes into consideration the distribution cost and the cost to manufacture the heater/blower unit, no profit margin has been added to this price. Research suggested that physicians and nurses would want to try the product before attempting to m ake a purchase decision. The stack of disposable blankets is priced at $21. The selling price would cover the manufacturing and distribution costs of $10. 20 and $8. respectively, leaving $2. 40 per blanket contributing to profits.The purpose of this strategy is to attract potential customers and gain market share. In this strategy, sales revenue and profitability are driven by blanket sales since the heater/blower is a durable product and blankets are disposable products. In the short-run, profits will shrink as a result of fixed and variable costs of the units, but in the long run the firm will likely achieve its market share goal. In addition, the combined prices for both the unit and the blankets are less $1,500, allowing hospitals to make faster purchase decisions without the need of a budget committee approval.The discounted unit price of $494 serves as a great incentive for nurses and physicians that look for a durable product that is efficient, yet economical. Skimming Prici ng Strategy alternative: this strategy consists of setting prices high so that fewer sales are needed to break-even. Advantages to the firm: o The firm could sell fewer units to break-even o The Bair Hugger Patient Warming System is perceived to have better value when compared to competitive products o Research suggests that patient would recover faster using this product. o The product’s technology is not widely used in the United States so the company can position it as a premium quality product. Disadvantages for the firm: o Research suggests that the product is price elastic because of its cheaper substitutes. The company could fail to gain its desired market share because of the prices being too high ? There is not patent for the heater/blower unit. Competitors could easily replicate the heater/blower’s technology.Calculations: †¢ Heater/blower unit: o Projected Sales in Units: 2,826 heater/blowers o Unit selling price: $3,500 o Projected Unit Sales: $9,891,0 00 ? (2,826 units)*($3,500) o Cost of unit: $380 o Projected Cost of unit: $1,073,880 ? (2,826 units)*($380) o Cost of distribution per unit: $1,050 per unit ? ($3,500)*(30% distribution margin) o Projected Cost of unit distribution: $2,967,300 ? ($1,050 unit distribution)*(2,826 units)†¢ Blankets: Potential target market: 14,700,000 cases (70% of 21 million operations) ? 1,225,000 stacks of 12 blankets each (12 blankets per case) o Stack of blanket selling price: $25 o Projected blanket sales: $30,625,000 ? (1,225,000 stacks)*($25) o Cost per stack: $10. 20= ($0. 85)*(12 blankets per stack) oProjected Cost of blankets: $12,495,000 ? (1,225,000 stacks)*($10. 20) o Cost of distribution per stack of blankets: $10 per stack ? ($25)*(40% distribution margin) o Projected Cost of blanket distribution: $12,250,000 o Total cost of distribution: $15,217,300 ? $12,250,000+$2,967,300= $15,217,300 Exhibit 7 Sales from blankets |$30,625,000 | |Sales from units |$9,891,000 | |Total Sales |$4 0,516,000 | |Cost of blankets |$12,495,000 | |Cost of units |$1,073,880 | |Cost of distribution |$15,217,300 | |Total Profit |$11,729,000 | The skimming strategy allows the firm to sell fewer units to break-even. The calculations indicate that the firm will be very profitable if it achieves its desired demand of 2,826 heater/blower units and 1,225,000 stacks of blankets. The heater/blower is priced at $3,500 ($500 less than the most comparative product).This price point is attractive because is considerably less than water-circulating blankets’ prices that could range from $4,850 to $5,295. It is justifiable because the technology of the Bair Hugger Patient Warming System is perceived as more effective, and safer than other alternative methods. It is not widely used in the United States so the firm can position it as a cutting edge product. The unit’s selling price more than satisfies its costs of manufacturing and distribution with the remaining going straight to prof its. Under this strategy the disposable blankets are still the driving force of sales revenue because they are disposable and they are a complimentary product to the heater/blower unit.In the long run the demand for heat/blower units will decline and the demand for disposable blankets will continue to increase or remain constant. Stacks of 12 blankets are priced at $25 that will cover manufacture and distribution costs of $10. 20 and $10 respectively leaving almost $5 ($4. 80) contributing to profit. Recommendation Statement: The company’s problem is determining the price of the Bair Hugger Patient Warming System used to treat postoperative patients suffering from hypothermia. Based on the analysis of the two alternatives: Penetration and skimming pricing strategies, I have come to the conclusion that the skimming pricing strategy would be the most efficient in generating profits for the firm.Recommendation Arguments: Research commissioned by Augustine Medical Inc. ndicated t hat nurses and physicians interviewed believed that making the patient feel more comfortable is important. They also believed that the Bair Hugger Patient Warming System would speed up the recovery of postoperative patients. This means that the see value in the product and in my opinion would not mind paying a price of $3,500 per heat/blower unit and $25 per 12-blanket stack for a technology that is safe, more efficient, and not widely used in the United States. The unit-selling price is considerably more economical than other alternative methods such as water-circulating systems and $500 less than the other air-circulating product competitor.Some interview respondents felt that the product was price sensitive to other alternative methods. The strategy reflects that by pricing the blanket stacks at $25, within the $20-26 price range of similar products. In the long run sales from heat/blower units will decline or remain constant while the majority of revenue will be driven by blanke t sales because of their disposable use. I believe this is the most effective alternative to pricing the Bair Hugger Patient Warming System since it allows the firm to maximize profits in the short run by selling heat/blower units while at the same time ensuring that future revenue cash flows come from the sale of disposable blankets.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Experimental in science Essay

Experiment One: A researcher wanted to test the effect of caffeine on sleep. Fifty students volunteered to participate in the study and signed up for one of two nights. Thirty-three students participated on Tuesday night. They each were given two cups of regular coffee to drink one hour before going to sleep. Seventeen students participated on Wednesday night. They each were given two cups of decaffeinated coffee to drink one hour before going to sleep. Each student was monitored with an EEG (a test that looks at brain function) to record exactly when they fell asleep. Students in the caffeine group took significantly longer to fall asleep. The researcher concluded that caffeine interferes with the ability to fall asleep. 1. What was the independent variable for Experiment One? 2. What was the dependent variable for Experiment One? 3. What components of the experiment were set up properly? 4. How could Experiment One be improved? Experiment Two: A researcher wanted to determine if a new anti-anxiety drug decreased anxiety levels. Three hundred patients were given the new drug and three hundred patients were given a placebo (also known as a â€Å"sugar pill† that does not contain any medicine). All of the patients were told they were receiving the new drug and were monitored for six months. At the end of the six months, all of the patient information was analyzed and the researcher concluded that because the patients given the placebo indicated the same reduction in anxiety as the patients given the new drug, the new drug was ineffective in decreasing anxiety levels. 5. What was the independent variable for Experiment Two? 6. What was the dependent variable for Experiment Two? 7. What components of the experiment were set up properly? 8. How could Experiment Two be improved? 9. Describe how a variable was NOT controlled in one of the two experiments. How might this have impacted the results?

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The Categorical Imperative Aga essays

The Categorical Imperative Aga essays The Categorical Imperative Again and Again Philosophy is repetitive and at many times unbelievably pointless. No wonder Immanuel Kant was a great philosopher. In the Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant discusses his moral theory. A central topic in his philosophy is the categorical imperative, which he repeats several times, each time presenting a different formulation. But all formulations essentially contain the same basic ideas. In order to understand the ideas behind the categorical imperative, it is necessary to first examine the foundation that Kant builds for his philosophy of morals. To begin with, Kant draws an analogy between the laws of ethics and the laws of science. Just as the laws of science can be known by pure reason, the laws of ethics, or morality, can be known by practical reason. Morality, though, is a normative system, as opposed to the natural laws of science. A normative system prescribes what ought to happen, as opposed to a natural system that determines what actually does happen. Since morality only cares for what ought to happen and not with what actually happens, moral laws, then, must be found a priori. Everything a posteriori or discovered with the senses only shows with did happen, not what ought to have happened. Moral laws must not be derived from examples, since moral laws would hold even if there were no examples. Therefore, the foundation of morality for Kant must lie with reason alone. Rationality is the key to morality. Based on this premise, it follows that all rational beings must have the same moral laws, and all moral laws would have absolute necessity that would apply universally to all rational beings. An action to have moral worth, besides being a universal law, also must come from duty and duty alone. Duty is the cause of an action when it is done purely out of respect for the law. Kant distinguishes between two kinds of duties: perfect an...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

An Evaluation of Human Productivity Using Computer and Internet

Both technology and Computers are more than ever present in our daily routines helping us achieve our objectives in a faster, secure and more professional way. The aim of this report is to evaluate whether Computers and Internet make people more productive. According to the information gathered, it turns out that in most cases they do in fact improve the overall productivity of people. It†s amazing how many new communications discoveries have improved the way people work, behave and conduct their lives. The term productive can be explained as â€Å"Yielding favorable or useful results; constructive. Or involved in the creation of goods and services to produce wealthy or value†. 1 Let me start by providing some of the new technological terms that have been changing the lifestyle of many people. Internet, or Information Super Highway, is aimed to improve accesses to information and corporate resources. â€Å"This communication will allow people to move faster, control communications costs, and overcome distance. It can also make your people more productive, empowering them with new tools to help meet business objectives.†2 Thanks to the Internet, people are more than ever able to share their information, thoughts and ideas faster. Another technology being used nowadays is called telecommuting. A simple explanation is that employees can now work from home, without having to go to their offices. According to many surveys, the number of people whom will adopt this working method will reach 45 millions people in the United States by the Year 2000. â€Å"Telecommuting provides me with a lot of flexibility†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"And it allows me to balance my work load with my personal life. I feel that I’m definitely more productive.†3 This can only be accomplished by the lower price of hardware and software available in the market today. In addition, with lower-cost high-tech home office equipment available, the approach saves employers money on office space and overhead. This is only the tip of the iceberg, compared to the endless ways of how the use of Computers integrated with an Internet connection can make people more productive. Furthermore, lower software prices together with very well designed computer interfaces can also increase the productivity of workers. I can certainly say that well-designed user interface helps me better accomplish my daily tasks at work. Why? One of the major changes in computer technology has been the development of icons instead of command driven interfaces. According to the use of Human-Computer Interaction Studies, â€Å"only 5% to 20% of user interactions typically involve help, but although this reflects a small percentage in terms of data collection it can be very substantial one in terms of effort and frustration!†4 â€Å"GUI (Graphical User Interface) also provides interface options not available in character mode. The chance that they’re all irrelevant is slight; some will let you make people more productive.†5 An image is easier to be recognized by humans; thus well-designed software facilitates the tasks included in performing your job. This method yields constructive results, which is one of the definitions for productivity. In addition to that, many changes have been made in the way in which people connect themselves. The terminology LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network) are the methods used for people to connect in an office, within their houses or with friends around the world. Network Structure is related to the people working under the same building but not in the same area. The connections between different floors within a company can be achieved by using LANs. By means of LANs and WANs, people can contact their co-workers within the same building or the other side of the world by only sending them an e-mail message. Not only does this kind of information technology give people the ability to do their jobs more effectively, but also allows them to respond faster, yielding more productivity. â€Å"So, for instance, if your company has internal web sites in London, Singapore, Seattle, and New York, someone with a web browser could retrieve information from any of those sites with equal ease.†6 Again, this technique produces, in my opinion, favorable results not only for the user but also for the company. The aim is to make people more productive, to reduce cost and provide the best quality possible. To achieve this stage, such tools are necessary today. Not only e-mail messages make things simpler but also improve the speed in which people received/send their answers. A valid example where a user needs faster help is when a computer problem arises or you need to find out the next flight to â€Å"Spain†. Instead of calling the Telephone Company and asking for the telephone number of the carrier, one can just check the Internet for a fast, reliable information. Another example is when you need to fix your computer. You need that information as fast as you can get it. Nowadays, the use of on-line help has been proven a true value. Problems with printers, files and computers bugs can arise at any time. On-line help can easily provide that information for you or your company faster than spending time finding the number to call to customer service for help. Less time to fix the problem means more time to be productive. This example explains the ability to generate services, another explanation of productivity. Much has been said about the Internet and computers. But can computers without the Internet increase people†s productivity? I strongly believe that computers have increased the speed in which we accomplish our activities. According to many studies, my assumption is not always correct. A report states that †¦ â€Å"Information processing continues to be the principal task undertaken by America’s work force. Over half the labor force is employed in information-handling activities. Overall productivity growth appears to have slowed significantly since the early 1970s and measured productivity growth has fallen especially sharply in the service sectors†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 7 But it also states that computers helped people to be more confident and therefore to feel more comfortable making decisions on their own. Computers are able to provide people with resources and material to facilitate their decision-making. They are becoming user-friendly enough for all to be able to use. This is one of the main reasons why the hi-tech companies today are facing such a state of grace, with outrageous revenues and endless room for new development of products. Many others believe that what is happening now is just the beginning and that we are entering in a new era as described by Peter Schwartz. He states that†¦ We are watching the beginnings of a global economic boom on a scale never experienced before. We have entered a period of sustained growth that could eventually double the world’s economy every dozen years and bring increasing prosperity†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 8 With all this new technology emerging is not difficult to agree that much more is yet to come. If all the new technology will make tasks easier, improve quality and increase productivity, let this technology be part of the world and accessible by people. As stated before, computers are becoming a very important piece of equipment in our lives. Much can be done with computers. They are only tools that need to be driven by a smart, intelligent individual to generate the best outputs possible. An Evaluation of Human Productivity Using Computer and Internet Both technology and Computers are more than ever present in our daily routines helping us achieve our objectives in a faster, secure and more professional way. The aim of this report is to evaluate whether Computers and Internet make people more productive. According to the information gathered, it turns out that in most cases they do in fact improve the overall productivity of people. It†s amazing how many new communications discoveries have improved the way people work, behave and conduct their lives. The term productive can be explained as â€Å"Yielding favorable or useful results; constructive. Or involved in the creation of goods and services to produce wealthy or value†. 1 Let me start by providing some of the new technological terms that have been changing the lifestyle of many people. Internet, or Information Super Highway, is aimed to improve accesses to information and corporate resources. â€Å"This communication will allow people to move faster, control communications costs, and overcome distance. It can also make your people more productive, empowering them with new tools to help meet business objectives.†2 Thanks to the Internet, people are more than ever able to share their information, thoughts and ideas faster. Another technology being used nowadays is called telecommuting. A simple explanation is that employees can now work from home, without having to go to their offices. According to many surveys, the number of people whom will adopt this working method will reach 45 millions people in the United States by the Year 2000. â€Å"Telecommuting provides me with a lot of flexibility†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"And it allows me to balance my work load with my personal life. I feel that I’m definitely more productive.†3 This can only be accomplished by the lower price of hardware and software available in the market today. In addition, with lower-cost high-tech home office equipment available, the approach saves employers money on office space and overhead. This is only the tip of the iceberg, compared to the endless ways of how the use of Computers integrated with an Internet connection can make people more productive. Furthermore, lower software prices together with very well designed computer interfaces can also increase the productivity of workers. I can certainly say that well-designed user interface helps me better accomplish my daily tasks at work. Why? One of the major changes in computer technology has been the development of icons instead of command driven interfaces. According to the use of Human-Computer Interaction Studies, â€Å"only 5% to 20% of user interactions typically involve help, but although this reflects a small percentage in terms of data collection it can be very substantial one in terms of effort and frustration!†4 â€Å"GUI (Graphical User Interface) also provides interface options not available in character mode. The chance that they’re all irrelevant is slight; some will let you make people more productive.†5 An image is easier to be recognized by humans; thus well-designed software facilitates the tasks included in performing your job. This method yields constructive results, which is one of the definitions for productivity. In addition to that, many changes have been made in the way in which people connect themselves. The terminology LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network) are the methods used for people to connect in an office, within their houses or with friends around the world. Network Structure is related to the people working under the same building but not in the same area. The connections between different floors within a company can be achieved by using LANs. By means of LANs and WANs, people can contact their co-workers within the same building or the other side of the world by only sending them an e-mail message. Not only does this kind of information technology give people the ability to do their jobs more effectively, but also allows them to respond faster, yielding more productivity. â€Å"So, for instance, if your company has internal web sites in London, Singapore, Seattle, and New York, someone with a web browser could retrieve information from any of those sites with equal ease.†6 Again, this technique produces, in my opinion, favorable results not only for the user but also for the company. The aim is to make people more productive, to reduce cost and provide the best quality possible. To achieve this stage, such tools are necessary today. Not only e-mail messages make things simpler but also improve the speed in which people received/send their answers. A valid example where a user needs faster help is when a computer problem arises or you need to find out the next flight to â€Å"Spain†. Instead of calling the Telephone Company and asking for the telephone number of the carrier, one can just check the Internet for a fast, reliable information. Another example is when you need to fix your computer. You need that information as fast as you can get it. Nowadays, the use of on-line help has been proven a true value. Problems with printers, files and computers bugs can arise at any time. On-line help can easily provide that information for you or your company faster than spending time finding the number to call to customer service for help. Less time to fix the problem means more time to be productive. This example explains the ability to generate services, another explanation of productivity. Much has been said about the Internet and computers. But can computers without the Internet increase people†s productivity? I strongly believe that computers have increased the speed in which we accomplish our activities. According to many studies, my assumption is not always correct. A report states that †¦ â€Å"Information processing continues to be the principal task undertaken by America’s work force. Over half the labor force is employed in information-handling activities. Overall productivity growth appears to have slowed significantly since the early 1970s and measured productivity growth has fallen especially sharply in the service sectors†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 7 But it also states that computers helped people to be more confident and therefore to feel more comfortable making decisions on their own. Computers are able to provide people with resources and material to facilitate their decision-making. They are becoming user-friendly enough for all to be able to use. This is one of the main reasons why the hi-tech companies today are facing such a state of grace, with outrageous revenues and endless room for new development of products. Many others believe that what is happening now is just the beginning and that we are entering in a new era as described by Peter Schwartz. He states that†¦ We are watching the beginnings of a global economic boom on a scale never experienced before. We have entered a period of sustained growth that could eventually double the world’s economy every dozen years and bring increasing prosperity†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 8 With all this new technology emerging is not difficult to agree that much more is yet to come. If all the new technology will make tasks easier, improve quality and increase productivity, let this technology be part of the world and accessible by people. As stated before, computers are becoming a very important piece of equipment in our lives. Much can be done with computers. They are only tools that need to be driven by a smart, intelligent individual to generate the best outputs possible.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Federal vs State Law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Federal vs State Law - Case Study Example The manhunt that followed led police to led police to one Mr. David Harris who after being grilled pointed a finger Randall Adams as the trigger man (Gillers 117). Based on Harris’s testimony, Randall Adams convicted for murder and sentenced to death. The conviction however, later became one of the most infamous miscarriages of justice in America. Mr. Adams, as would later be proved, was not the killer. In fact, he was not in Harris’s car when the officer was killed. He was only railroaded to prison because his shaggy appearance made him look like a criminal as compared to young David Harris. However, in 1980, the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for Texas to require that jurors must promise that the obligatory inconvenience of a capital punishment would not meddle with their thought of verifiable matters, for example, blame or purity, amid a trial. The case was eventually thrown out and Adams released after 12 years behind bars. The unconditionality of some of the state laws were eventually put to light as seen in the case of Adams. Thus, the need to revise such laws that predetermined a suspect’s innocence or guilt was raised.