Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Christmas Eve Essays - Temperature Control, Switches, Thermostat

Christmas Eve Essays - Temperature Control, Switches, Thermostat Christmas Eve Jenny Leigh Parker 12/16/98 It was Four o Clock P.M. on December the twenty fourth. The grandfather clock ticked away the hours. It seemed like three hours had gone by. Then, the clock said that it had only been fifteen minutes. I had to do something to help the time pass. I thought that a nice long nap would make the day go faster. My sister wanted to join me. I laid there listening to my sister snore , which made me so upset. How could she possibly fall asleep so fast, plus her obnoxious snoring kept me awake. Finally, I fell asleep, but only for about ten minutes. I woke up to the aroma of my moms famous banana cream pie. I heard the garage door open, and my dads rip roaring Bonneville pulled into the garage. I was so afraid. My dad has this phobia of having a cold house. (In his early years, the house he grew up in, only had one fireplace, and he slept on the other side of the house. He would wake up with icicle toes and be numb all over his body. He could see the air condensation appearing in front of him). After that, he has always had our house scorching hot. He usually has our house's thermostats to about ninety nine degrees. I'll bet I could roast an egg on top of my head. I had also just gotten it to the perfect temperature for the rest of the family. As I expected, the first thing he did when he walked in the door was head straight for the thermostats, and to turn those suckers up until they were ready to explode. My dad knows that I am the only one in the household that can adjust the temperature. So, there was no way I could ever get away with a stunt like that. The next thing I heard was the ceiling fans starting to turn. I have an upstairs bedroom, so, all the excess heat comes into my room. I was beginning to feel the heat creep upstairs. I knew I was a goner. I had a plan, I would step outside and sit in a snowbank for awhile, then inside, maybe the heat wouldn't bother me. I stepped outside. The coldness struck me like a thousand knives. The temperature was below zero. It was just about the right temperature to make my plan work. I was walking through snowflakes and the cold wind was blowing in my face. I plopped down in the white snow. I could feel that my body was soaked. I was extremely cold. I thought that for sure I was frostbitten through my toes. I was determined not to leave until I knew for sure I was freezing from top to bottom. I stepped inside, only to find that I was beginning to break into a sweat. My plan was unsuccessful. I went upstairs, changed out of my itchy, scratchy, turtleneck, fuzzy fluffy, sweater and corduroy slacks. Then, slipped into a sleeveless shirt and pair of denim shorts. That was the way to go as long I stayed in the house the rest of the night. After all the battles with heat, we had finally came to a mutual agreement. I stepped downstairs and first thing I smelled was the pine from our Christmas tree. That is the best smell. I love the outdoors. I then realized that it wasn't the tree I was smelling. It was my mom's pine scented candles that she had been burning. The family dinner was absolutely delicious. I love all the different smells from a home cooked meal. What delight that brings to me. It has been a tradition of mine for a couple of years, to wear myself out on Christmas Eve and do gymnastics. I ended up doing fifty cartwheels on each side. Seventy five back walkovers, twenty five front walkovers, and one hundred backhand springs. Keep in mind, I had just eaten a huge meal. I was ready to pass out. I felt so sick, out of breath and exhausted. I fell asleep pretty quick. Christmas season is my favorite time of the year because of all the different smells, feelings,

Friday, November 22, 2019

Project Management Professional Practice Test

Project Management Professional Practice Test The  Project Management Institute  is a global project management organization. The group offers Project Management Professional  certification  that shows competency in a variety of project management and other business-related areas. The PMP certification process includes an exam based on the groups  Project Management Body of Knowledge  guide. Below are sample questions and answers that you might find on the PMP exam. Questions The following 20 questions are from  Whiz Labs, which provides information and sample tests for a fee for the PMP and other examinations. Question 1 Which of the following is a tool used to secure expert judgment? B.. Delphi techniqueC. Expected value techniqueD.  Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Question 2 Based on the information provided below, which project would you recommend pursuing? Project I, with BCR (Benefit Cost ratio) of 1:1.6;Project II, with NPV of US $ 500,000;Project III, with IRR (Internal rate of return) of 15%Project IV, with opportunity cost of US $ 500,000. A. Project IB. Project IIIC. Either project II or IVD. Can not say from the data provided Question 3 What should be done by the project manager to ensure that all work in the project is included? A. Create a contingency planB. Create a risk management planC. Create a WBSD. Create a scope statement Question 4 What kind of a relationship is implied when completion of a successor is dependent on initiation of its predecessor? Choices:A. FSB. FFC. SSD. SF Question 5 What should a project manager do or follow to ensure clear boundaries for project completion? A. Scope verificationB. Complete a scope statementC. Scope definitionD. Risk management plan Question 6 An organization is certified to a stringent environmental standard and uses that as the key differentiator with its competitors. Alternative identification during scope planning for a particular project has thrown up an expeditious approach to achieve a project need, but this involves a risk of environmental contamination. The team evaluates that the likelihood of the risk is very low. What should the project team do? A. Drop the alternative approachB. Work out a mitigation planC. Procure an insurance against the riskD. Plan all precautions to avoid the risk Question 7 The following three tasks  form  the entire critical path of the project network. The three estimates of each of these tasks are tabulated below. How long would the project take to complete expressed with an accuracy of one standard deviation? Task  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Optimistic  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Most likely  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  PessimisticA  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  25  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  47B  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  12  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  22  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  35C  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  16  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  27  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  32 A. 75.5B. 75.5 /- 7.09C. 75.5 /- 8.5D. 75.5 /- 2.83 Question 8 After a study of the work processes on a project, a quality audit team reports to the project manager that irrelevant quality standards were being used by the project, which might lead to rework. What was the objective of the project manager in initiating this study? A. Quality controlB. Quality planningC. Checking adherence to processesD. Quality assurance Question 9 Which of the following provides the foundation for team development? A. MotivationB. Organizational developmentC. Conflict ManagementD. Individual Development Question 10 Which of the following is NOT an input to project plan execution? A. Work authorization systemB. Project planC. Corrective actionD. Preventive action Question 11 A project manager would find team development the most difficult in which form of organization? A. Weak Matrix organizationB. Balanced Matrix organizationC. Projectized organizationD. Tight Matrix organization Question 12 The project manager of a large multi-location software project team has 24 members, out of which 5 are assigned to testing. Due to recent recommendations by an organizational quality audit team, the project manager is convinced to add a quality professional to lead the test team at additional cost, to the project. The project manager is aware of the importance of communication, for the success of the project and takes this step of introducing additional communication channels, making it more complex, in order to assure quality levels of the project. How many additional communication channels are introduced as a result of this organizational change in the project? A. 25B. 24C. 1D. 5 Question 13 Once the project is complete, the complete set of project records should be put in which of the following? A. Project ArchivesB. DatabaseC. Storage roomD. Project Report Question 14 Which of the following is a common format for performance reporting? A. Pareto DiagramsB. Bar chartsC. Responsibility Assignment MatricesD. Control Charts Question 15 If the cost variance is positive and the schedule variance is also positive, this indicates the: A. Project is  under  budget and behind scheduleB. Project is over budget and behind scheduleC. Project is under budget and ahead of scheduleD. Project is over budget and ahead of schedule Question 16 During execution of a project, an identified risk event occurs that results in additional cost and time. The project had provisions for contingency and management reserves. How should these be accounted for? A. Contingency reservesB. Residual risksC. Management reservesD. Secondary risks Question 17 Which one of the following is the last step of project closing? A. Client has accepted the productB. Archives are completeC. Client appreciates your productD. Lessons  learned are documented Question 18 Who should be involved in the creation of lessons learned, at the  closure  of a project? A. StakeholdersB. Project teamC. Management of the performing organizationD. Project office Question 19 An organization has recently started outsourcing work to a low cost, high value, engineering center located in a different country. Which of the following should the project manager provide for the team as a proactive measure? A. A training course on the laws of the countryB. A course on linguistic differencesC. An exposure to the cultural differencesD.A communication management plan Question 20 While reviewing the progress, the project manager assesses that an activity has been missed out from the implementation plan. A milestone, scheduled to be achieved within another week, would be missed with the current implementation plan. Which of the following is the next best action for the project manager in this situation? A. Report the error and the expected delayB. Omit the status update on the milestoneC. Report the error and the planned recovery actionsD. Assess alternatives to meet the milestone Answers The answers to the PMP sample questions are from  Scribd, a fee-based information website. Answer 1 B - Explanation: The Delphi technique is a commonly used tool to secure expert judgment while initiating a project. Answer 2 B - Explanation: Project III has an IRR of 15 percent, which means the revenues from the project equal the cost expended at an interest rate of 15 percent. This is a definitive and a favorable parameter, and hence can be recommended for selection. Answer 3 C - Explanation: A WBS is a deliverable-oriented grouping of project components that organizes and defines the total scope of the project. Answer 4 D - Explanation: A start-to-finish (SF) relationship between two activities implies that the completion of a  successor is dependent on the initiation of its predecessor. Answer 5 B - Explanation: The project team must complete a scope statement for developing a common understanding of the project scope among stakeholders. This lists project deliverables summary level sub-products, whose full and satisfactory delivery marks the completion of the project. Answer 6 A - Explanation:  The organization’s reputation being at stake, the threshold for such a risk would be very low Answer 7 B - Explanation: The critical path is the longest duration path through a network and determines the shortest time to complete the project. The PERT estimates of the tasks listed are 27, 22.5 26. Therefore, the length of the critical path of the project is 2722.526 75.5. Answer 8 D - Explanation:  Determining the  validity of quality standards, followed by the project is a quality assurance activity. Answer 9 D - Explanation: Individual development (managerial and technical) is the foundation of a team. Answer 10 A - Explanation: A Project plan is the basis of project plan execution and is a primary input. Answer 11 A - Explanation: In a functional organization, the project team members have dual reporting to two bosses the project manager and the functional manager. In a weak matrix organization, the power rests with the functional manager. Answer 12 A - Explanation: Number of communication channels with â€Å"n† members n*(n-1)/2. Originally the project has 25 members (including the project manager), which makes the total communication channels as 25*24/2 300. With the addition of the quality professional as a member of the project team, the communication channels increase to 26*25/2 325. Therefore, the additional channels as a result of the change, that is, 325-300 25. Answer 13 A - Explanation: Project records should be prepared for archiving by the appropriate parties. Answer 14 B - Explanation: Common formats for Performance Reports are, bar charts (also called Gantt Charts), S-curves, histograms, and tables. Answer 15 C -  Explanation: Positive Schedule Variance means the project is ahead of schedule; Negative Cost Variance means the project is over-budget. Answer 16 A - Explanation: The question is about correct accounting for risk events that occur and updating the reserves. Reserves are meant for making provisions in cost and schedule, to accommodate for consequences of risk events. Risk events are classified as unknown unknowns or known unknown, where â€Å"unknown unknowns† are risks that were are not identified and accounted for, while known unknowns are risks that were identified and provisions were made for them. Answer 17 B - Explanation: Archiving is the last step in the project closing. Answer 18 A - Explanation: Stakeholders include everyone who is actively involved in the project or whose interests may be affected as a result of the project execution or completion. The project team creates the lessons learned on the project.   Answer 19 C - Explanation: Understanding cultural differences is the first step towards an effective communication amongst the project team involving outsourced work from a different country. So, what is needed in this case is an exposure to the cultural differences, which is being mentioned as choice C. Answer 20 D - Explanation: Choice D, that is, assess alternatives to meet the milestone indicates confronting the issue with an attempt to resolve the issue. Hence this would be the best approach.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Philosophy of Mind Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Philosophy of Mind - Essay Example It is this gap, according to Searle that makes individuals believe that they have the freedom of will. In his observation therefore, whether free will exists or not is a question that is open but the idea that it may be absent is more appealing given that it makes the feeling that freedom does really exist a secondary phenomenon (Searle, p.32). Free will is the apparent ability of agents to make their own choices from several kinds of constrains. Generally, these constraints have always been metaphysical. The test of free will has always been the question as to whether in choosing to do something; an individual would have chosen another option. Chances are holding everything constant, including the will, the choice would probably be the same. The issue that surrounds this concept is two sided. The concept of being free is normally free. It depends on what a person is free to do, or is free from. With an additional concept of constraint and ability, free develops the idea that it coul d only apply in a given context. Therefore, absolute freedom from everything or to do everything denies the concept of having an identity. This applies to all the abilities that an agent possesses. Consequently, the choices we make are obvious not totally free from such things as the knowledge we have, the values we hold or the perceptions of the environment and ourselves. Therefore, in order for free will to exist, is should not be considered by eliminating the influences of such factors but in reviewing the choices that one can ably make; as there is no freedom from these influences. On the other hand, determinism is the concept that the events that occur within a give paradigm are bound by a cause in a way that every state is to some extent determined by previous states. In physics, this principle is often referred to as the cause-and-effect principle. In philosophy, the term explains the concept that in every event including even those that involve human beings are usually deter mined by other events. This is often contrasted with free will. Proposers of determinism believe that any system that is determined is governed fully by the causal laws. Because of this concept, there could only be one option at every point in the system. The opposing positions that have created this debate come from the claim that determinism is false and for that reason, free will does exist, or there is a possibility of it existing on one hand; and those that claim that determinism is true and therefore free will cannot exist on the other. This debate is what gave birth to the concept of compatibilism. Compatibilism is the belief that determinism and free will are two compatible ideas and therefore, there is a possibility of believing in both without actually being inconsistent logically. Generally, those who propose this idea define free will in such a manner that it allows it to exist together with the idea of determinism. Under this concept therefore, free will is taken to mea n more or less the freedom to act according to the determined motives of an individual. According to Searle, the conscious, voluntary decision making aspects of the brain or the mind are not deterministic. As stated above, the fundamental feature that is involved is the perceivable presence of a gap that occurs when one deliberates on what action to take between the cause at every stage and the stage at which the decision and the action occur.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Natives Responses to Modernity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Natives Responses to Modernity - Essay Example The Indians attempted to reproduce their own social environment that could help them to improve the cultures that they were leaving behind. For example, the Indian farmers tried to reintroduce the culture of setting fire at the end of every summer. The Indians signed treaties that would make them to be recognized as a kind of a political entity. Even when the Indians realized that they had signed treaties that could affect their cultures negatively they could resolve into becoming hostile and fight for their rights. For instance the Modoc Indian groups of Northern California left their reservations and went into war in 1872-73 with an aim of remaining in their homeland as these were seen as one factor that could help them maintain their culture (Findlay, 2000). The practice of Indian religion also helped the Indians to prevent their full assimilation and preserve their cultures. In the 1850 one of the famous Indian prophets, Wanapum experienced a visionary dream that encouraged all the Indians to observe their old customs and ways. This and other prophesies among the natives helped to form a strong basis for the Indian resistance. The Indians also believed that if they strictly followed their cultures and resisted any attempt of being assimilated by the whites, they could hasten the arrival of a sort of cataclysm that would help them remove non-Indians from the land and bring back the harmony that they previously enjoyed before the arrival of the whites. The Indians were driven by the above dream to observe their faith and follow their traditional ways, and they also resisted pressures on them to acculturate the white ways (Findlay, 2000). The Makah reservation helped the Indians to preserve their culture since this reserve was based on the tribe’s traditional territory and it offered access not only to land based supplies but also to the salt water resources that the Makahs had long exploited. In the process of their participation

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Facebook Case Study Essay Example for Free

Facebook Case Study Essay EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A firm that has been floating on the stock exchange has been selected and evaluated and the firm I have chosen was Facebook. In my report I have included the recent history of Facebook as to how the social networking site started and the developments from the introduction until recently. I furthermore went on to evaluate the source of finance with a brief explanation as to what source of finance is and the different type of sources available to business i. e. Short term , medium term and long term. This explains the type of finance business need starting from day to day transactions to long term purchasing of assets and investments. After my understanding of what sources of finance are, I done some research on Facebooks source of finance and came to a conclusion that the firms sources of finance is long term source of finance as they earn money through shares(IPO). The reason for Facebooks floatation was simply because at the time they decide to go public the firm was already valued as one of the top companies around, however even though the firm was highly valued there was still negative stories about the firm. Facebook continues to grow and to try and keep the 200 million users entertain there are now talks of a Facebook phone that is due to be released this year. INTRODUCTION I am required to select a firm that has floated on the stock exchange in the last 4 years analyse and critically evaluate the firms decision to go public. The firm I chose was Facebook and in my report I will be discussing the following about the firm. Recent history of the company The firms sources of finance/ Capital structure of the firm Reason for flotation Implications of the flotation Performance of shares since flotation Future prospects for the firm Recommendations as to the future financing ABOUT FACEBOOK Facebook is a popular social networking website whose name originated as a nickname of directories handed out to university students that aided in them getting to know their fellow students. The social networking site was invented by Harvard computer science student Mark Zuckerberg, along with a few class mates. Facebook officially started off in October 2003 when Zuckerberg launched Facemash.com to allow visitors to compare pictures of two students and say whos hot and whos not. The website became popular as people enjoyed going on the internet and checking out pictures of their friends. In January 2004 an article in the Harvard Crimson stated that Zuckerberg registered the Facebook.com domain as he was now inspired by the success of Facemash. Shortly after the launch of Facebook the website eventually grew as it was now discovered by Sean Parker (Former Co Founder of Napster) who informally advised the student on what to do, and by June 2004 Facebook received its first private investment from Peter Theil [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROrUea0gLlY], the founder of PayPal who gave $500 000 in exchange for 10.2% of the company. Sean Parker later became president of the newly incorporated company Facebook. Facebooks domination continued to grow until it became the second most visited web property online. In August 2009 Facebook acquired the real time new aggregator site friends feed and in 2012 Facebook made a huge splash in the market by acquiring instragam for approximately $1 billion. This year Facebook has introduced a graph search to help users find out more about their friends and connections. This feature lets you search through data shared by friends to discover people their interest, restaurants, much and much more. This is the first major step Facebook has taken towards competing with Google. SOURCES OF FINANCE Business needs money to support investment and finance their day to day activities. A company may choose to raise money internally (by retaining and investing profits) or externally. Each source of finance has a risk attached to it, the risk that the business will not meet the financial commitments related to the source. The mix of all the financial sources is known as the financial risk of the company. An essential requirement in raising finance is that business should meet repayments and other expenses, as the fall due. This is generally achieved by ensuring that there is a good match between _cash inflow generated by the use of money and cash outflows to the service payments to the finance raised_. TYPES OF SOURCES OF FINANCE. Short term finance- Usually needed for a business day to day operations e.g. paying wages, ordering suppliers etc This is usually the cheapest one to use as it is easier for a lending institution to asses lending risk for shorter loan periods. Types of short term finance include the following: Overdrafts Short term loans Trade credit Accrued expenses and deferred income Factoring Medium term finance- This source of finance can be used to finance the acquisition of Motor Vehicles, Machinery, Computers, etc. Three main types of medium term finance are: Hire Purchases Leasing Term Loans Long term finance- In financing the purchase of a building (major investments), long term finance would be appropriate. There are two alternative methods of raising long term finance Debt-Bank loans and Bonds Equity-is an important source of long term finance and consists of: Preference shares, Ordinary Shares and Retained Profits (internally generated cash flow). Equity finance is raised through the sale of ordinary shares to investors and can be raised either via: A new share IPO ,Placing or Introduction A rights Issue. FACEBOOKS SOURCES OF FINANCE/CAPITAL STRUCTURE. Facebooks source of finance is the long term finance as the firm makes its money through sale of ordinary shares from investors such as IPO (Initial Public Offer) which is the first offering of shares to the general public. The social networking site officially filed for an IPO on February 1 2012. The preliminary prospectus declared that Facebook was seeking to raise $ 5 billion in investment at the time the company announced that they have 845 million users active on the site with close to 2.7 billion likes and comments daily. After the IPO, Mark Zuckerberg planned to retain 22% ownership stake in Facebook with 57% of voting shares which was valued by the underwriters as being worth $38 each and pricing the company at 104 billion, the largest valuation ever to date for a new company going public. Facebook selected Morgan Stanley as the lead advisor for the IPO as the company had earlier lead the IPO of internet giants like Group on, Zynga and other banks such as Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Merril Lynch,Barclays Capital and JP Morgan. According to AllFacebook , shares have been actively trading between $25-$40 which gives Facebook a valuation of approximately $17000, more than Microsoft which was valued at $15000.Most of Facebooks trades takes place through secondmarket a company responsible for generating a market around typically illquid assets while while the value of the trades is unkown.While Facebook stock is not the type of thing you can trade in a day due to the fees and time involved in transactions ,however most investors see a great return in just 6 months. BELOW IS A GRAPH WITH FACEBOOKS SHARE PRICE IN MAY 2012 WHEN FACEBOOK DECIDED TO FLOAT.GRAPH 1.1 REASON FOR FLOTATION The reason for Facebooks flotation was due to the fact that the companys IPO was valued as one of the best amongst top companies. When Facebook made its long expected debut as a public company, the social networking company linked up with the largest public companies in the world alongside Mc Donalds , Amazon.com and Bank of America. The wall street journal reported that Facebook was prepared to file initial paperwork for an offering that could raise as much as $10 billion. As the news about Facebook spread worldwide and it later became the most popular and influential global website, Investors now started to flock to acquire shares in Facebook. Articles stated that even though Facebook was valued a high price there was still a debate within business and media circles on the true value of the company. The social networking site also made money through advertising allowing other companies to advertise about their business on the website. In May 2012 Mark Zuckerberg and other executives began a road show to persuade institutional investors to buy shares before the flotation. One of the underwriters JP Morgan along with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley were included in the road show. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FLOATATION FOR THE FIRM Even though there is a great amount of effort in the flotation of Facebook there are still some negative views on the social site. An article in the guardian called _Facebook flotation: three reasons to avoid it_ it states that Facebook is not worth $100 billion and that Zuckerberg has not put a price tag on his creations so its still early to say that he will attempt to achieve that amount when the flotation started. Below are the three reasons given in the article: Zuckerbergs first letter to the potential investors was a strange dispatch. As it stated that Facebooks ambition was to build a service that gives people the power to share and help them once again to transform many of the core institutions and industries. Facebook has no need to float as it does not need to invest as the firm is profitable and generates enough cash to pursue its current objective. Zuckerberg is keeping control of Facebook by adopting a dual voting structure with him and investors. In response to the negative publicity about the website , Facebook opposed by saying that the main reason for floating is to allowing longstanding investors to cash in a portion of their winnings and to help Facebook grow. The float promoters were then seeking to emphasize that the investments obtained were potentially for a profitable growth and to play down the risk faced by the firm. PERFORMANCE OF THE FIRMS SHARES SINCE FLOATATION Zuckerberg has called the stock performance disappointing. The social networking leaders stock has lost nearly half its value since flotation. More than $50 billion has been cut off Facebooks market value as the companys shares have fallen from $38 to $19.43. The CEO has lost the most as the value of his facebooks holdings falls more than $9 billion which questioned his skeptics and guess his ability to lead a company. The performance of the shares has obviously been disappointing and has caused some demotivated employees, however Zuckerberg motivated them and they believed that things will improve as time goes go on. After numerous up and downs and significant critics from the public the share prices started showed a highly volatile behaviour with prices as low as $17.73. The prospective performance of the company did not impress the investors and therefore had a impact on the company as a whole. In November 2012 Facebook shares has shown a significant rise in value reaching the highest price in months, As the value it continued rising the company witnessed an increase of 15% each month to date. The major factor that has pushed the social networkings markets performance is the increase in investors confidence in the companys potential to earn a higher revenue in the prospective periods. The confidence is directly linked to the increasing success of the performance as the number of business advertising on the website increased which means higher revenue and higher revenue means higher returns for investors. FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR THE FIRM Facebook has and always will be the king of the social media sites , as the site is still growing worldwide. To date the social networking website has more than 200 million registered users. Researchers believe that Facebook can evolve another google as they are also relying on advertising for their revenue. The social networking sites goal now is to create a personalized digital newspaper through the newsfeed that has everything a person would want to know about people. This will be perfectly customized just for the users. Mobile will be the key to Facebooks future growth said the head of advertising as only 30% of users access through desktops and 70% through mobile devices every day. A plan to invest a huge amount of money will be the target for Facebook in the future as talks on creating a Facebook smartphone continues. Facebook is also targeting other continents like Asia, Latin America and Africa as users in these areas have grown by 33% each year. Even though they introduce the mobile device Facebooks ultimate goal will  still remain to get more users online and to improve current features that will keep current users entertained. CONCLUSION /RECOMMENDATION TO THE FIRMS FUTURE FINANCING Facebook is available to everyone all over the world and there still huge potential for growth for the firm. My recommendation to the firm regarding their finance would be to focus on their advertising model, improving it and allowing business to advertise more on their website. By doing that they will do enhance their chances of doing better than search engine giant Google and revenue will increase which will benefit both the firm, current and potential investors. With the introduction of the new Facebook phone they have to ensure that the phones are better then other smartphones. Facebook has to earn the general publics confidence in them by coming up with new ideas on their IPO, if the public is satisfied they will invest more in the company. However with the introduction of the new phone I believe share prices will increase.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Chinese Entrepreneurs in Singapore: Paths to Success Essay -- Business

Chinese Entrepreneurs in Singapore: Paths to Success Due to the economic hardships and threat of Japanese invasion in China in the first half of the 20th century, many men left their homeland in search of success and opportunities abroad. One of the places that many of them migrated to was Singapore. This new and foreign place was fraught with obstacles; however, some of these Chinese men eventually achieved great success. The success of these Chinese entrepreneurs in Singapore was not only due to their personal determination, but it was also contingent upon their social ties, and the economic and political conditions. In the following essay, the experiences of Ng Teow Yhee and Chew Choo Keng will be referred to extensively to illustrate the various combinations of complex factors that lead to their success. Firstly, I will begin with a discussion on the motivations and reasons why the men chose to depart from their families in China. Secondly, the necessity of initial social ties in Singapore will be discussed as well as their first work experiences, which helped to shape their perspectives and goals. Thirdly, the effects of the Japanese invasion on the development and viability of Chinese businesses in Singapore will be examined. Fourthly, the great business developments made by the Chinese, post-Japanese occupation, will be discussed. Lastly, I will compare Ng Teow Yhee’s and Chew Choo Keng’s management styles, strategies and beliefs in order to illustrate how their personal characteristics contributed to their achievement of success. The early 20th century was a period when China was wrought with wars and economic uncertainty. As a result, migrants were forced to uproot from their homeland to seek fortunes abroad. Thus, their motivation was fundamentally an economic one—that is, to earn money to survive and remit to their poor families in China as support. In other words, â€Å"the motivation for emigration seemed to arisen more from the push factors caused by China’s poverty and absence of opportunity than from the pull factors then existent in Nanyang†¦.† (Chan & Chiang, 40) Two prime examples of men who sought their livelihoods in Singapore due to their dreadful village conditions were: Ng Teow Yhee and Chew Choo Keng. Ng was forced to leave his home in 1938, at the age of 15, due to the impending Japanese invasion. Du... ...ial ties, and the economic and political conditions. This has been chronologically illustrated using the experiences of Ng Teow Yhee and Chew Choo Keng—from the time they decided to leave China, to their first jobs in Singapore, to the Japanese Occupation years, into the post-occupation period. It can be seen that their childhood experiences and the life experiences they gained along the way helped them to succeed by providing them with a strong knowledge base upon which to develop their businesses. Although these were prime examples of those who did succeed, it must be noted that there were many with the same determination that did not. Success is dependant on the combination of a number of complex factors. As such, success could not be guaranteed to all those who were innovative and risk-taking because they are not sufficient preconditions for successful entrepreneurship. (Chan & Chiang, 35) Bibliography Chan Kwok Bun & Claire Chiang. Stepping Out: The Making of Chinese Entrepreneurs. Singapore: Prentice Hall, 1994. Chew, Ernest and Edwin Lee. â€Å"Chapter 6: The Syonan Years, 1942-1945.† A History of Singapore. Singapore: Oxford University Press, 1996.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Sample Survey Questionnaire

Good day! The researcher is conducting a study entitled, â€Å"Advantages and Disadvantages of a First Year Cadet who has a Cousin on the Senior Classes†. This survey will serve as an instrument in the fulfillment of the said study. The researcher also hopes for honest answers which will be based on your own experience inline with the study. The researcher also assures you that your response will be kept confidential. Truly yours, E/Cdt. Sesgundo, Jun Paulo B. Researcher Personal Information: Name (Optional):_____________________________ Age: ______________ Year and Section: _____________________________Instructions: Put whether your answer is strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree through their corresponding numbers as listed below; 4 – Strongly Agree 3 – Agree 2 – Disagree 1 – Strongly Disagree |Questions |Response | |A. |Did your cousin from the higher classes help you in entering NYK-TDG Maritime Academy? | | |B. |Does your cousin from the higher classes help you in your daily life inside NYK-TDG Maritime | | | |Academy? | |C. |Does your cousin from the higher classes help you in your academic subjects? | | |D. |Does your cousin from the higher classes help you when other senior bullies you? | | |E. |Does your classmates and batch mate benefits from you on having a cousin on the senior classes? | | |F. |Did some of your classmates and batch mate criticize you on having a cousin from the senior | | | |classes? | | |G. Have you been given a corrective measure from another senior just because of having a cousin from | | | |the higher classes? | | |H. |Have you once used your cousin’s name as an alibi for having done a violation? | | | |Does your cousin from the higher classes give you a corrective measure for having done a | | |I. |violation? | | |J. |Is your cousin from the higher classes going on bonding with you during liberties and vacations? | | |K. Does your cousin from the higher classes cares abo ut you in terms of your attitude performance | | | |towards other cadets? | | |L. |Is your cousin from the senior classes bias between you and your other fellow first year cadets? | | |M. |If your cousin is bias with you and other first year cadets, are you in favor of it? | | |N. |Did your cousin from the higher classes give a corrective measure to other cadets because of | | | |bullying you? | |

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Mateo Falcone by Prosper Mérimée Essay

Mateo Falcone Author: Prosper Mà ©rimà ©e Introduction Sept. 28, 1803, Paris — died Sept. 23, 1870, Cannes, France A French dramatist, historian, archaeologist, and master of the short story whose works — Romantic in theme but Classical and controlled in style — were a renewal of Classicism in a Romantic age. Story: Mateo Falcone This opera constitutes the last of three short serious operas by this composer, the other two being Feast in Time of Plague and Mademoiselle Fifi. â€Å"Mateo Falcone† addresses matters of family honor. It is set in Corsica in the seventeenth century in the region of Porto-Vecchio. Setting Mateo Falcone Characters Fortunato Falcone Mateo Falcone’s ten-year-old son. His father regards him as ‘‘the hope of the family.’’ The name Fortunato, meaning ‘‘the fortunate one,’’ reflects his father’s pride. cont. Introduction Story: Mateo Falcone Prosper Mà ©rimà ©e’s â€Å"Mateo Falcone† (1829), originally subtitled â€Å"Les moeurs de Corse† (â€Å"The Ways of Corsica†), chronicles the killing of a ten-year-old boy by his father. Such contemporaries as Stendhal (Henri Beyle), Henry James, and Walter Pater admired Mà ©rimà ©e and praised him for his craft. Pater called â€Å"Mateo Falcone† â€Å"the cruellest story in the world.† â€Å"Mateo Falcone† is a brief, but complex story. It features at least five points of view and at least four â€Å"ways of life† (the â€Å"moeurs† of the original subtitle). Mà ©rimà ©e’s themes include betrayal and honor, savagery and civilization, vendetta and law, and custom and morality. A forty-eight-year-old father of three married daughters and one ten-year-old son; Giuseppa Falcone’s husband. Giuseppa Falcone Mateo Falcone’s wife. Tiodoro Gamba The adjutant; a distant relative of Falcone’s. Gianetto Saupiero An outlaw. Exposition Plot Summary â€Å"Mateo Falcone† is set in Corsica in the seventeenth century in the region of Porto-Vecchio, which is midway between the town of Corte and the mà ¢aquis, the wild country of the Corsican highlands where outlaws and misfits find refuge from law and authority. Mateo Falcone, a forty-eight-year-old father of three married daughters and one ten-year-old son, is a successful sheep rancher. He sets off to gather his flock one afternoon. His wife, Guiseppa, accompanies him, and they leave their son, Fortunato alone. Rising Action Fortunato daydreams in the autumn sun. He anticipates going into town in a few days to have dinner with his uncle, the Caporal. Suddenly, he was distracted by the gunshots echo from nearby. On nearby path, a wounded man appears and had been shot in his thigh. Seeing Fortunato, he asks whether the boy is the son of Mateo Falcone, after confirming, he introduces himself as Gianetto Saupiero, the implication being that he has a tie to Falcone and thus a right to expect asylum. Fortunato at first declines to hide Gianetto, but when the bandit offers a piece of silver, the boy conceals him beneath the hay. Climax Six soldiers arrive, led by adjutant Tiodoro Gamba, who addresses Fortunato as â€Å"cousin,† once again implying a tie to the Falcone’s. Gamba wants to know whether Fortunato has seen a man on the trail. Fortunato evades Gamba ’s questions, and Gamba suspects that the boy is in complicity with Gianetto. He threatens to beat Fortunato, but the boy only replies that he is Mateo Falcone’s son, and the lieutenant understands that he dare not harm Fortunato for fear of angering the father. The soldiers search the property but find nothing. Finally, Gamba attempts to bribe Fortunato with a shiny new watch. Fortunato accepts the bribe and silently nods in the direction of the haystack. Falling Action Mateo and Guiseppa return from the pastures. Gamba advances cautiously and explains to Mateo what has happened. When Mateo ascertains the facts, he abruptly asks his wife whether the boy is really his child. Fortunato collapses in tears, sobbing and crying, and the wife becomes hysterical. Mateo commands Fortunato to leave with him into the high country. Denouement As Mateo and Fortunato climb into the mountains, Guiseppa prays inside the house to an icon of the Virgin Mary. In a ravine, Mateo commands Fortunato to kneel and say his prayers. When he finishes praying, Fortunato begs for mercy, but Mateo gives none. He raises his rifle and shoots. Theme Analysis Justice prevails. The end justifies the means. Regrets are always in the end. Symbolism Mateo Falcone – Justice Fortunato – Sin Gamba and Gianetto – Temptation Guiseppa – Love and Sympathy Foreshadowing Gamba attempts to bribe Fortunato with a shiny new watch. Flashback Gamba told Mateo what Gianetto had done to one of his soldiers and to the Caporal Chardon’s arm. Gamba told Mateo what Fortunato had done to help them discover where Gianetto is. Conflict Fortunato Falcone VS. Himself Mateo Falcone VS. Fortunato Falcone Land VS. Fortunato Falcone It is the temptation alone that brought Fortunato of committing bribery despite of knowing the fact that justice is placed on the hands of his father, Mateo Falcone which leads to his death.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Computer Aided Software Tools (CASE)

Computer Aided Software Tools (CASE) Introduction In software development, Computer Aided Software Engineering tools (CASE tools) are indispensable as they cut down the cost and time of software development while at the same time improving their efficiency and quality. They also make it easy for information to be presented in a logical manner thus making communication easy. They are often used as supports for traditional methods and object-oriented methodologies.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Computer Aided Software Tools (CASE) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many researches have focused on the use of CASE tools in the workplace. However, very few of them have compared the existing options of CASE tools. Therefore, this essay provides a comparison of two of the existing CASE tools based on parameters like repository, forward engineering features, reverse engineering features, and modelling tools. It also provides a suggestion of the better CASE tool. Comparison For the sake of comparison of the CASE tools, two tools, visual analyst and the IBM rational software, were selected. The comparison involved focusing on the repository techniques used, the forward and reverse engineering characteristics, as well as the modelling tools used. These are looked at in details leading to an appropriate conclusion on the preferred CASE tool. Repository Repository is necessarily a base of reverse engineering and the standard starting point for the same. It is also the main approach and preliminary point as well as a template in the modernisation of COBOL. Developers of any application need a repository to ease their work besides cutting cost to improve efficiency during the development and upgrading of IT systems. Another key function of repository is binding of the tools used in Visible Analyst (VA). Importation of information in the form of diagrams and objects into repository is a precursor of VA modelling tools, which store them befor e use. A repository therefore forms the foundation in the development of models besides acting as the obligatory initial point irrespective of the method used. The quality of a repository also has an overall effect on the success of the development. The use of the repository is common to both the visual analyst and IBM rational software with varying differences evident on the utilization of services (Roger, 2001, p.23). The use of repository in CASE tools is noteworthy because it facilitates information storage. The efficiency of a repository system in a CASE tool determines the success of the tool and hence the popularity among clients (O’Brien, 1995, p.34). The content of a repository includes data, process, models, and rules or constraints. The IBM rational software uses a secure repository to manage contents besides providing a centralized store of data on businesses and other related information. A viewer only gets read-only rights, as a case that contributes to the secu rity of the system and the information stored in it.Advertising Looking for assessment on computer science? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Organizations can upload employees’ information here, convey information to the organizational members, and post changes in policy and other reports such as goals and objectives (O’Brien, 1995, p.36). An online database that requires a server is necessary for the IBM repository to be effective with the possibility of many users accessing the service. For the visual Analyst, the same technique is applied with only a difference in the databases used. The cloud is the choice of technique used with information being stored in a centralized large server. The server is secured with passwords and other protective tools with the only available access being coded for administrators only (Roger, 2001, p.25). A series of supercomputers keep the server functioning with the date moving to-and-fro at a large speed. The visual analyst therefore provides a secure method of data storage for a cheaper cost compared to IBM rational software. Forward Engineering features As a definition, forward engineering is the science involved in the development of new software from the already existing ones or as a change to existing software. Forward engineering uses the existing information on repositories to develop systems with greater functionality, stability, efficiency, and according to user needs. There are advantages to the use of forward engineering as compared to starting from the scratch, as less time is spent. Developers depend on the already proven systems. Currently, it surprises to realise that every system developer considers the use of forward engineering as an efficient method of getting around system development. Forward engineering is also currently used to convert diagrams stored in repositories into codes to be executed in any platform as indicated by their type. Forward engineering does not use pre-existing codes in the development of new models, as it is the case with reverse engineering. It is therefore employed in the development of non-existent models. In information technology, forward engineering involves the formulation of skeleton codes from pre-existing models. In both IBM rational software and visual analyst CASE tools, forward engineering is a common feature, as it is to most or all the other existing tools. In IBM rational software, forward engineering consists of a systematic process. The model of the software is pertinent here. The components have to be identified first. The tasks involved are classes of software identification, checking the syntax, and class path. Code generation follows with a backup of the source suggested.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Computer Aided Software Tools (CASE) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The last step in volves viewing the generated source. Visual analyst CASE tool utilizes forward engineering in a simpler way compared to IBM rational software. The complex procedure like that followed in IBM is not followed here. The process ends up being simpler and faster. However, this compromises security and efficiency in the final product with low productivity. For small enterprises willing to use the CASE tools, visual analyst would offer a better alternative with similar objectives. In forward engineering, more codes are developed in visual analyst tools compared to IBM. The argument holds because visual analyst offers a better and more flexible environment for model manipulation. Therefore, it edges out IBM based on this consideration despite the lower performance rating. Reverse Engineering Compared to forward engineering, reverse engineering entails the development of models from pre-existing codes (Roger, 2001, p.27). Through manipulation of existing codes, a software developer can devel op new systems especially those that are currently not produced anymore to develop them. This entails a careful study of the existing codes, their manipulation, and use to develop the new models. This step is important in the vital software tools that are hard to reproduce. Different IT companies have different thoughts on the efficiency of reverse engineering in the development of newer models with some preferring to use forward engineering at the expense of reverse engineering. As the opposite of forward engineering, reverse engineering attempts to recreate models from codes that are pre-existing (Roger, 2001, p.27). The initial step involves meticulous scanning of the existing codes leading to the generation of new models. These are distinct from previous versions, as they carry a unique character that differentiates them from other versions. The existing requirements dictate the type of code that is used, and the more diverse the code, the greater the flexibility of the model. R everse engineering is critical in generating models for systems that have since run out of market, or are no longer produced since they are out-dated. It also finds the use in the analysis of existing software to establish designs and their specifications. Reverse engineering is well utilised in both tools as required in the competitive market. In IBM reverse engineering procedure, a derby database or a DB2 oracle database is used. The process guides the user in a series of steps with each step requiring a confirmation to proceed to the next. The first step involves the creation of an empty project referred to as ‘my application’.Advertising Looking for assessment on computer science? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The whole process of reverse engineering in IBM rational software involves about seventeen processes that are comprehensive and easy to follow. However, these require expertise and patience as they involve close follow-up. Visual Analyst CASE tool on the other hand â€Å"builds and reverses the engineer database schemas for Oracle and SQL† (O’Brien, 1995, p.39). The code is automatically generated with fewer steps involved. This means that it is less involving besides its delivery of greater results compared to IBM. Reverse engineering, as it happens with visual analyst, involves a somewhat similar process to that of the IBM CASE tool with only few differences. Pre-existing codes are used to generate newer models with the initial step of scanning being similar both processes. The creation of newer models to replace old and out-dated models is more successful when using the visual analysis CASE tool compared to the IBM rational software. Modelling tools Modelling tools are very important in the development of CASE tools. They are used in the development of newer software after an appropriate method is decided on. A good example is the UML (Unified Modelling Language) modelling tools, which are favoured by the IBM. Once a developer settles on the appropriate method of software engineering and development, he/she needs an appropriate tool to use. The tool used is referred as a modelling tool. There are different tools that can be employed in the development of models. However, this depends on the convenience of the developer and the software involved. Modelling tools are vital components of CASE tools. IBM rational software and visual analyst are no exceptions. In IBM rational software, modelling tools are valuable in information storage as they enable the writing of information on the repository. The tools used include the rational software modeller, rational software architect, and rational systems developer (Roger, 2001, p.28). Both CASE tools su pport the Unified Model Language (UML), which is the most current (Roger, 2001, p.28). Therefore, this means that, in comparing the modelling tools used by both CASE tools, one will see the little significant difference that exists between them. This similarity excludes the use of modelling tools used by the two to differentiate between them. However, the number of tools varies with the visual analyst using a greater number of tools and improving on diversity and flexibility (O’Brien, 1995, p.39). This stands out as an added advantage over the IBM rational software. Visible Company IBM Repository Single type of repository is used Uses three types of repositories Forward Engineering Model: driven architecture is not used The architecture is model driven There is unification of the Modeling Language used Modeling Tools Use UML and other tools Mainly UML is used Construction Tools Shared Modeling tools IBM software modeler Preferred met hod for a company From the above discussion, there are evident differences between the IBM rational software and the visual analyst CASE tools. These exist in the repository techniques used, the available forward and reverse engineering features of the tools, and the modelling tools. Given the choice of both tools for an organization or a company, visual analyst would emerge as a preferred personal choice for Tawazun Training Company, which was established in 2009. It needed to enhance its information system. The reasons behind the preference include the differences above, as well as the additional reasons stated below. Of the two tools, visible analyst is known to support both structures and other different types of designs. As O’Brien (1995, p.40), confirms, â€Å"Visible analyst also supports UML or object-oriented design†. This means that it is more accommodating to many designs. Despite having poor java integration, it is useful in â€Å"reverse engineering datab ases for Oracle and SQL† (O’Brien, 1995, p.39), as pointed earlier on. Another advantage is that it recognizes most design diagrams besides having the capacity to export and print them, as opposed to the others. When it comes to the flexibility of the tool, it is more flexible and consistent compared to the IBM tool even though this is user-prompted. Since there is a tutorial on the use of visible analyst program, it is easy for armatures and first time users to learn how to use it. This eliminates the challenge of training users. At the same time, it simplifies the program for the general population in addition to cutting down costs and time spent or wasted in informing the users about it. These are some of the considerations in setting up a CASE tool for a company. As such, the visual analyst satisfies most, if not all of them. The features in the visual analyst are similar to those in IBMs CASE tool with both having the same capability and near performance. The commo n features include the CASE repository in which data on businesses and clients is stored for reference. This is linked to the workstation, which in turn consists of a planning toolset, an analysis toolset, and a design toolset. Other key components include the automatic code generator, the report generator, user interface generator, and the toolset used for automatic code generation. These are important in the development of the software involved. The pricing of the two software tools varies based on their use, the type of the software, and their functionality. With all these factors constant, the visual analyst CASE tool is cheaper in installation, purchasing, and maintenance compared to IBM rational software. Therefore, this makes it a preferred choice in my choice of organization since it would cut on operational costs. However, with the increased number of software changes that are necessary, as well as the constant reviews needed, the visual analyst would also end up increasing the cost of organization’s running. However, this drawback is countered by the fact that there is an increased functionality with each software change leading to a more efficient working environment. In the overall look and feel of the CASE tools, other tools have about the same value with the only difference being the physical appearance and the general look (Roger, 2001, p.29). Both tools also have similar outlooks. This is confusing to most beginners of information technology. These similar looks and feels are of little significance in the making of a choice between the two. The claim holds because the selection of a tool is not guided by the look and feel but rather by the performance index attributed to it. Based on these criteria, visual analysis CASE tool would emerge as the most preferred by people who need to improve the information systems of their organizations. Another determining factor would be the ease of access and usage. Visual analysis is easier to operate, understand, and maintain for a medium sized company where importance is given to the operating cost rather than investment in CASE tools. This principle has led to the tool being popular among small businesses and companies. As a result, it continues to be seen throughout different parts of the world. With the above considerations, I would find visual analysis a preference for the organization. Conclusion In conclusion, there are various sites and companies offering CASE tools, which include visual analyst, IBM rational software, oracle designer, and visual-paradigm. Of the above methods, each has its own strengths and weaknesses over the other. A comparison between IBM Rational Software and Visible Analyst reveals this, as done in the paper. The substantial differences exist in the uses of repository, forward and reverse engineering features available, and the modelling tools among others. The visual analyst tool emerges stronger compared to IBMs tool, as discussed as a personal p reference in the paper. The differences in functionality, ease of use, and look and feel characteristics lead to the conclusion that visual analyst is better that IBM rational software. Reference List O’Brien A. (1995).Introduction to Information Systems, An End user/Enterprise Perspective. London: McGraw Hill Edition. Roger, S. (2001). Software Engineering – A Practitioner’s Approach. London: McGraw-Hill International Edition

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

What Makes Truckers Stick with a Company

What Makes Truckers Stick with a Company Recent surveys conducted in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, showed that drivers, ranging from their early 20s  to 60+, stayed with one company an average of 5.73 years and were spending 2.61 weeks away from home on average each trip. In an industry where employers tend to focus on turnover rather than retention, it was an unexpected shift towards what trucking companies tend to forget about- that loyalty is its own reward. The company’s surveys found that the majority of drivers value â€Å"a respectful, friendly, understanding, and kind† environment, followed closely by independence. Practices that incited loyalty included listening to suggestions, providing incentives, and covering benefits.Top companies for retention include:Motor Carrier Service (Ohio), which issues a driver scorecard and asks drivers for input before releasing it. Managers also work closely with drivers to implement suggestions and critiques.Interstate Distributor (Washington), which  focuses on ethics and leadership, features consistency throughout its operations, and has retained 55% of its drivers for more than 5 years.Fremont Contract Carriers (Nebraska), which  surveys its drivers frequently, and provides clear responsive adjustments based on driver feedback.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Article response Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Response - Article Example milar levels of proficiency in their L3.Can Cross-Linguistic Influence(CLI) from L2 be observed in the, L3 lexicon of the candidate/learner who has attained a low level of L2 proficiency and who has also had limited exposure to that language? Let us see. The study showed that L1(English was used as L1 in the study) was by far the main source of influence on L3 languages. The CLI found in the L3(Germany was used) of the candidates in the high 2nd language proficiency(low L2 exposure) group has features of the Cross Linguistic Influence found in the L3 of the candidates in the high 2nd language proficiency(low L2 exposure) has characteristics of the CLI found in the L3 of the candidates in the high second language proficiency/high L2 exposure and the low second language proficiency(low L2) exposure groups. In a study of the placement of sentence negation in third language acquisition, it is argued that there is a contrast between acquisition of a second language and the acquisition of a third language. Although there is substantial evidence for L2 impact on vocabulary acquisition in L3, not every researcher believe that such manipulation generalizes to morph syntactic aspects of the grammar. The data clearly shows that syntactic structures are easily transferred from the second language than from the first language in the initial stage of L3 acquisition. The two groups behave almost contrastingly concerning the placement of negation, a contrast that can be sources to the L2 knowledge of the candidates in interaction with the typological relationship between the second and the third languages (Tremblay, 2006). The impact of L1 on L3 of learners who have achieved a higher level of L2 proficiency is the same, regardless of the level of exposure of L2 by the learners. While the overall rates of L1 influence are the same/similar for the high L2 proficiency exposure and a low second language exposure groups, the overall rate of first language influence found in the L3