In your professional judgment, what is an example of an outstanding Term Paper

In your professional judgment, what is an example of an outstanding strategic decision or what is an example of a failed strateg - Term Paper Example Include the source(s) of your information within your contribution in the sentences. Be very specific. Use  single  space block form for your contribution with double spacing between paragraphs.   In explaining the strategic approach that you consider a success or a failure, you should answer the following questions:   1. Which of the stages of strategic management in action (page 30 of Coulter) initiated the success or failure of the strategy? Was it a good/bad idea from the beginning?   2. What does the organization perceive as its competitive advantage (page 31 of Coulter)? How was this affected by the strategy in question?   3. What driving force or which driving forces of the new business environment (pages 36-44 of Coulter) assisted or helped defeat the strategy in question?   4. How did external opportunities and threats affect the success or failure of the strategy in question (Chapter 3 of Coulter)?   You may decide to choose a public organization (e.g. unive rsity such as Northwest or a public hospital center). Whether you choose a for-profit organization or a not-for-profit organization, explain the situation clearly and completely as possible. Refer to the Coulter text in your explanation.   This particular instance, the focus was on to find inquisitive insight about a strategy decision that a company had to implement in order to survive in the fast-paced environment of the corporate world. One of the interesting issues relating to this was the decision of Blue Cross Blue Shield demanding a hospital to cut its overhead cost. Without prior knowledge and being subjective, one would think that the insurance company is at fault. However, one cannot make that judgment without understanding the complexity of the issue at hand. Blue Cross Blue Shield was faced with a dilemma. As an insurance business, the company must made essential strategy decisions that impact its future growth. In this particular scenario, the company did benchmark tes ting and determined that the rate the hospital charges the company is too high within the hospitals at its region. Blue Cross determined that the hospital should cut its cost by 10% through any means possible. This is partly due to the fact that the company was losing money as it had an obligation to pay its patient’s premiums. Undoubtedly, the hospital responded by adequately cutting its costs. This was beneficial for both companies as it not only build a solid relationship and enabled the companies to diminish unnecessary costs. Moreover, it enabled Blue Cross Blue shield to give better discount rates to hospitals, doctor groups, members and enabled them to compete in a very competitive environment. If the company did not make the strategic decision, it would have given hospital the leverage to go in a market and attract another insurance company. Since Blue Cross Blue Shield targets large groups, it seemed sufficient for the company to challenge the traditional rates of th e hospital. If it failed to do so, it would have lost a small majority of its members in the network which would have made the company suffer in overall long-term profits. Strategic decision making is defined as set of alternate decisions that affect key factors which impacts the success of an organization’s strategy. Strategic decisions differ from Tactical decisions because tactical decisions are based on day to day implementation which requires several steps to reach a particular strategy. Blue Cross Blue s

Robert William Pickton Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Robert William Pickton - Essay Example It shall present the history of Pickton’s violent behavior tracing back through his childhood experiences, life experiences and his social interaction. It shall also provide a psychological explanation as to why a crime is committed and identify the root causes of human behavior in relation to social circumstances. Pickton’s demeanor and behavior shall be studied in connection with the biological positivism theory and mainstream criminology. Keywords: criminal mind, crimes, positivist theory, human behavior, biological perspective, mainstream criminology The Path to Crime: Developmental Theories â€Å"Developmental theories seek to identify, describe and understand the developmental factors that explain the onset and continuation of a criminal career. These theories not only want to know why people enter a criminal way of life, but also whether once they do, they are able to alter the trajectory of their criminal involvement. Developmental Theories fall into two distin ct groups. Latent Trait Theory and Life-Course Theory† (Siegal, 118). The Latent Trait Theory provides that the human behavior is controlled by a master trait, present at birth, or soon after. This theory adheres that the criminal behavior remains stable and unchanging throughout a person’s lifetime. Suspected latent traits include defective intelligence, impulsive personality, and lack of attachment characteristics that may be present at birth or established early in life and remain stable over time (Siegal, 118). This theory presents that the criminality of a person is inborn and developed over time. Such individual is a born criminal. On the other hand, Larry J. Siegal (2010, 119) has reported that: â€Å"The Life-Course Theory views criminality as a dynamic process, influenced by a multitude of individual characteristics, traits and social experiences. As people travel through the life-course, they are constantly bombarded by changing perceptions and experiences. T he criminals start their journey at different times. Some are precocious, beginning their criminal careers early and persisting into adulthood whereas others stay out of trouble in their early adolescence and do not violate the law until late in their teenage years. Early-onset, criminals seem to get involved in such behaviors as truancy, cruelty to animals, lying and theft. They appear to be more violent than other people their age. The course of social and developmental changes, through which an individual passes, as he or she travels from birth, through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and finally old age.† The life-course theory is applicable to Pickton because his criminality developed through the experiences he had in his lifetime. His traits and characteristics, and blended together with his social experience made him a hard-core criminal. Comparing him with his brother and sister who carry the same genetics, the two siblings did not transform into evil and demonic in dividuals like Robert. His lack of social interaction, isolation and living in the pig farm alone by himself created the horrible monster that he is. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual provides that Antisocial Personality Disorder or ASPD is a pervasive pattern of disregard for, violation of, the rights of others

Textron Case Essay Example for Free

Textron Case Essay 1) How does Textron make money? Textron is able to make money as a result of 4 defining aspects of its business model: a. Textron is a conglomerate: by purchasing a variety of companies, Textron is able to share technology between its business units thus increasing its competitive advantage in these respective units. For instance, lessons learned in aerodynamics at Bell Helicopters can be used in the construction of aircraft at Cessna. Additionally, because of Textrons size, it increases its buyer power and can take advantage of economies of scale when purchasing from the common suppliers across business units. b. Diversification: Textron has purchased a variety of companies that complement one another such as different target markets (regular consumers vs. government consumers) and both high and low priced products (ex: hardware tools vs. private jets). Thus, like a well diversified stock portfolio, Textron is able to hedge its exposure to risk between its various business units (if one industry performs poorly one year, another industry may fair better). c. Vertically integrated: in Textrons history it developed a vertically integrated company that controlled every operational aspect of the business from raw goods to processing to distribution. Thus, it has been able to control the costs of many aspects of its business d. Finance business unit: Additional revenue is generated through the earned interest from customers who purchase credit from Textron in order to purchase Textron products. This revenue stream keeps customers in the Textron environment instead of losing customers to other credit-granting financial institutions. This Textron environment also: * Creates a one-stop-shop that can increases Textrons stickiness to its customers (also increase customer retention), which may lead to longer and stronger customer relationships. * Creates flexibility since Textron can offer more favourable interest rates than other financial institutions to promote more Textron sales 2) Assessment of Textrons: Assessment of Exhibit 1: Textron is investing heavily in assets that are not producing the sales or profits required to sustain its growth. Hence, its only choice is to finance its growth, which increases its debt and risk of bankruptcy. Textron needs to improve its asset management by increasing the output of its assets (such as PPE), changing its assets or improving its days inventory. Textron can increase the outputs of its assets by training staff to use equipment and tools more effectively or upgrade equipment and tools that can increase productivity. Textron can decrease its days inventory by improving its sales forecasting in order to produce only enough units that are demanded by the market. 3) Assessment of Textrons Cash Flow: Analysis of Cash Flow Statements 2004-2006 (in millions): * Under CFO * Net income nearly tripled from 2005 (203) to 2006 (601) * Under CFI * Net cash used in acquisitions increased significantly from 2005 (28) to 2006 (502) * Under CFI the Net Cash Used in Investing Activities of Continuing Operations has more than doubled from 2004 (800) to 2006 (2062) however, under CFO, the Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities of Continuing Operations has not doubled nor has it grown significantly from 2004 (949) to 2006 (1017). * Under CFF * In 2004 the Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities (Net CFO) is 950 and the Net Cash used in Investing Activities (Net CFI) 818. Therefore Textron generated enough cash to finance its investment activity (950-818 = 135). By contrast, in 2005 and 2006, Textron has had to use debt to finance its investments since in 2005 the Net CFO is 1036 million and Net CFI 1195 million (delta = -159) and in 2006 the Net CFO is 969 but the CFI is 1409 (delta = -440). By increasing the amount of debt, Textron increases its risk of going bankrupt in the future should the company not be able to meet its debt obligations. * Final Assessment of Cash Flow Statement: It seems that Textron is making a good amount of cash through its operations but this cash is not enough to feed its investment activities. Even worse, the increased investment has had little impact in increasing cash inflow. * Assessment of Exhibit 2: All of the above ratios are point towards poor cash flow management except Current Ratio. Thus Textrons favourable Current Ratio can be interpreted as Textron has the ability to pay off its liabilities only if it sells its large inventory (indicated by its large Days Inventory value). 4) Textrons use of LIFO and FIFO: e. Textrons income before taxes in 2006 using FIFO * Under current method: * The beginning inventory of 2006+purchase -COGS=the ending inventory of 2006 * 1,712 + purchase 8,528 = 2,069(in millions) let this calculation be called A

Concept Of Maximising Shareholder Wealth And Competing Theories Finance Essay

Concept Of Maximising Shareholder Wealth And Competing Theories Finance Essay Maximizing share holder wealth is a concept in which optimally increasing the long-term value of the firm is emphasized. Milton Friedman recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences is often quoted as saying The business of business is business He actually did say there is one and only one social responsibility of business-to use it resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition without deception or fraud. Friedman used the term profits, rather than shareholder wealth but the two are often seen as interchangeable. Not only is this not true, there is an increasing body of opinion that views the prime motive of maximizing shareholder wealth as deeply flawed. In the history accounting and finance, it is assumed that the objective of the business is to maximize the value of a company. Put simply, this means that the managers of a business should create as much wealth as possible for the shareholders. Given this objective, any financing or investment decision that is expected to improve the value of the shareholders stake in the business is acceptable. In short, the objective for managers running a business should be profit maximization both in the short and long-term. Shareholders are deemed as the owners of the business. Their main aim is to increase their wealth, finance managers are employed to achieve this aim. In order to maximise shareholder wealth it would mean Maximising the flow of dividends to shareholders through time there is a long term prospective (Arnold, 2005) Shareholder wealth is a short-term gain, and can be artificially increased without adding any tangible assets or products to the companys rooster. You can, for example, simply lay off an entire short-term unessential department; say Research and Development rather than the shop floor, and the next quarters profits will be increased. But what about the social responsibility of the workers made redundant in order to make share price healthy? That is the fallacy with an unthinking mantra of maximizing. Almost any executive decision, no matter how socially irresponsible or unethical can be justified as intended to increase the stock price. Managers on short term leash might stay at the same point on the demand curve but economize more on resource if they must maximize shareholder wealth. Economizing inputs tend to offset the maximisers reducing output. In an economy with widespread monopoly some firms encouraged to maximize shareholder wealth would primarily encourage while others shoul d slash production and reduce allocative efficiency one cannot predict which effect would dominate. Traditional theory suggests that the key aim of any business is to generate the greatest possible value for the company, leading to the maximum possible return for shareholders. As Ian Davies argues, this so-called Shareholder Theory is based on the idea that the ultimate aim of a company is to generate profit and pass this profit, along with any associated value, on to the shareholders who took the risk of purchasing those shares in the first place (Davies, 2007); furthermore, any approach that minimises the companys outgoings will, in theory, contribute to the growth of the asset-value of the company and therefore to the ultimate return to shareholders. Within the concept of Shareholder Theory, there is technically no limit to the methods that might be used in order to maximise shareholder wealth. One of the most commonly used methods, according to Jill H. Ellsworth and Matthew V. Ellsworth, is strategies for the reduction of tax liabilities, in other words reducing the amount of tax paid in order to increase the amount of money that can be paid out as dividends to shareholders (Ellsworth Ellsworth, 2007 ed., p. 58). However, arguably, this theory is overly simplistic: for example, while one strategy might generate greater short-term wealth for shareholders, a less obvious strategy might, in the longer-term, generate far greater wealth. For example, while a company could use surplus profits in order to increase the dividend, it could also use them to invest in projects that could yield far greater gains in the future. This, in turn, could increase the overall share price. This approach highlights an important problem: not all share holders are the same, and while some are willing to wait for the longer-term results, others are after short term gain. There is no guarantee that both can be satisfied by the same approach. COMPETING THEORIES Other theories for example Stakeholder theory asserts that managers should make decisions that take into account the interests of all stakeholders of the firm. Such stakeholders include not only financial claimholders but also employees, managers, customers, suppliers, local communities, government, and others. Thus, stakeholder theory involves trying to maximize multiple objectives. Maximization of shareholder wealth focuses on owners and is a single-valued objective. This does not mean that corporate managers should disregard stakeholders other than owners. On the contrary, they need to be aware of the needs, wants, and interests of these other constituencies, but the owners come first. Although Shareholder Theory has been the dominant approach for many years, the new Stakeholder Theory is gaining ground. This theory suggests that Shareholder Theory is merely one part of the overall strategy that should be employed, with the others including such relatively unfixed concepts as earnings per share, employee satisfaction and environmental protection. Andy Coulson-Thomas argues that Stakeholder Theory is based on the idea that a business is an organic creature that will produce better results for everyone if holistically managed and, overall, led towards a situation in which every aspect of the company is performing well (Worthington et al., 2008, p. 147). This is clearly not a short-term theory, and one again illustrates the dramatic divide between the aims of different shareholders. However, Stakeholder Theory does have one major advantage, which is that it allows a more organic, cross-company angle to be applied, one which allows for stable long-term growth at the ex pense, perhaps, of short-term profit and wealth maximisation. Its also important to consider the size of the company and its location. Size affects such matters as taxation liability and economy of scale, and there are dramatically different rules when it comes to larger corporate entities. Although generalisations are dangerous, its true to say that smaller companies face less legislation in terms of moves to prevent tax avoidance etc., although to compensate for these larger companies often employ legal teams to address such issues. Davies argues that this balances out leading to virtual parity in terms of how companies of different sizes deal with taxation (and) they end up paying virtually the same rates, albeit from very different starting points (Davies, 2007, p. 37). Its also possible to relocate the companys base to a state with little or no corporate income tax, or where potential lawsuits are far more likely to be resolved in the companys favour. This may generate subsequent problems for shareholders, however, since their profits will be considered to be coming from abroad and may therefore be subject to additional taxation. This is an example of what McLaney calls blind strategy (Davies, 2007, p. 6), whereby something that initially seems to be good (for the company) is ultimately bad for the shareholders. In light of the factors above, CEOs of major companies are being urged, to look to other theories of corporate purpose. In this theory, the customer comes first. Perhaps the most notable change of purpose, as advocated by Richard Ellsworth and Ian Davies, is to change corporate focus from the shareholder to the customer. For example, in his book Leading with purpose Ellsworth offers statistics, drawn from a study of 23 companies that show those businesses that were mostly customer-focused exceeded their industries median performance by 36 per cent. But what does focusing on the customer mean? Isnt it something that successful businesses have always done? Yes and no. In his book, The New Business Road Test John W. Mullins defines customer focus as a corporations ability to resolve customers pain. Mullins then goes on to highlight the case of Nike who impacted on the sports shoe market by designing shoes that met the specific speed and endurance needs of distance runners. In 1972, eight years after Nike (then known as Blue Ribbon Sports) was formed, four of the top seben finishers in the Olympic marathon wore Nike shoes. Two decades later, afte r many years of strong growth, Nike targeted women, for whom its products seemed to hold limited appeal. Nikes researchers found that for active women, clothes had to perform a double-duty, handle an intense workout and look good on the street. Nike turned their research iinto new product lines and in 2005 their combined womens business grew by almost 20% outpacing even the companies overall growth. But away from Mullins, Naomi Kliens book, No Logo, shows there is more to Nikes corporate purpose than target markets. Klien points out that Nike is also probably the most famous case of western companies using sweatshop labour a scandal that was bought to national USA attention in 1995-96 and has dogged the company ever since. The question is this: how do we interpret Nikes repeated attempts to change unethical working practices at its various sites around the world? What do we say about the introduction of schools, donations and increased wages it has given out to workers it previously exploited? Can they be seen as cynical attempts by a panicked business to maintain shareholder value, or genuine efforts to resolve their customers moral pain? Nikes efforts at ethical working practices brings me to CSR Corporate Social Responsibility CSR has become the basis on what organisations do well. There are several studies as to what CSR is, several researchers (Friedman, Rudolf, Davis etc.) have given their own definitions, the World Business Council has defined it as the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and to contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families, as well as of the local community and society at large. (Source: Xrefer, definition of Corporate Social Responsibility) Companies usually implement CSR into their policies and practices so the effects of their activities have a positive social, environmental, legal and economic impact on the communities in which they operate and on their stakeholders. Some organisations behave more socially responsibility because it is an obligation by the managerial board, but also because of fear of backlash from environmentalist and consumer pressure groups and the media, and negative corporate image. It has been argued that behaving in a more socially responsibility manner can be beneficial to an organisation in the long run. A good example of an ethical organisation is the Body Shop. The Body Shop was founded by Anita Roddick in 1976, and has achieved worldwide status for being profitable and socially responsible, which proved that an organisation can be ethical and successful and reward shareholders and satisfy stakeholders at the same time. It has achieved worldwide popularity due its ethical practices, famously recognised for being against animal testing and promoting cosmetic products that have not been tested on animals, . They had a business case to provide body care products that have not been tested on animals and their business case just provides further support that an organisation can be profitable whilst being ethical. SHAREHOLDER WEALTH CRITICISM Another difficulty with Shareholder Theory is that aspects of wealth growth, most notably those related to tax, are increasingly complex and require a variety of forensic-level approaches that are often impossible for a large corporation to undertake. For example, some shareholders might benefit from a corporation-based tax reduction strategy, while others might be better off utilising their own such systems. Its impossible to tell which system will suit which shareholder, and its also impossible to mix the two systems. There is therefore a fundamental need to balance competing needs and, often, to find a balance that generates the best average result for shareholders. To compensate for such problems, companies can help their shareholders to form their own corporation designed to either own stock or to act as consultants (mainly for smaller companies). A. McNeil notes that such tactics are likely to appeal only to shareholders who are more proactive in their involvement in the company, whereas research shows that over three quarters of shareholders prefer a far more passive involvement (McNeil, 2007, p. 85). Furthermore, a number of commentators have argued that such tactics usually offer fewer benefits than they promise on paper, since there must be consideration given to the costs of incorporation and the operation of such a company. Turner and Johnson, for example, argue that the hidden costs in such an operation almost always outweigh the possible benefits (Turner Johnson, 2003, p. 238). Ultimately, the concept of maximising shareholder wealth represents a return to the principle of using a business in order to increase the wealth of individuals. As Andy Coulson-Thomas has suggested, this approach has often been lost in recent years as individuals (instead) work for the greater good of the company, which is often valued more highly than the wealth of the shareholders (Worthington et al., 2008, p. 58). Its clear that attempts to focus on the maximisation of shareholder wealth often involve increased complexity and, as a result, present a number of potential points at which profit can be lost. There are a number of conflicting theories in terms of which approach might be best when it comes to maximising shareholder wealth, but its clear that the most fundamental problem is that shareholders often have different, and in many cases competing, aims the key difference is in terms of how quickly they want to see a profit, and the needs of short-term profit-seekers are like ly to contradict the needs of those seeking a longer-term profit generation system. There is even the problem with the stock price itself as illustrated in my third paragraph above. It simply isnt always in management control. Again, as we have seen recently, share value largely depends on the confidence the market has in a corporation or the sector that the corporation operates in. as confidence in the banking sector has recently plummeted, even organizations with a healthy balance sheet have seen their share prices tumble. Consider the monopolist in a nation that denigrates shareholder wealth maximization and has rules and norms that discourage lay-offs. Employees cannot easily be laid off. Their jobs cannot be radically reconfigured without their consent. As such, the monopolist might not cut production and raise prices further, despite the shareholder-wealth-maximization basis for doing so, because it must pay the employees anyway if labor markets are rigid and if it cannot costlessly redeploy its workforce. In such circumstances, not only are the employees with jobs protected, but national wealth is increased (or at least not decreased) by slack agency controls on managers. A weak shareholder primacy norm facilitates greater production. I would say there is the problem of the shareholders themselves. These are not necessarily long-term investors with the interests of the company at heart, but transient individuals, some of whom, as we have seen lately, may actually look to make money out of a business by betting on the share price going down .i.e. taking the fall of shareholders like Conrad Black and Bernard Madoff. As per tutor2u,  Managers of a business should create as much wealth as possible for the shareholders. Given this objective, any financing or investment decision that is expected to improve the value of the shareholders stake in the business is acceptable. This is based on the assumption that managers operate in the best interests of stockholders, not themselves, and do not attempt to expropriate wealth from lenders to benefit stockholders. Another assumption is that managers act in a socially responsible manner and do not create unreasonable costs to society in pursuit of stockholder wealth maximization.  Ã‚  (Blackwell publishing, 2009) Wealth maximization is achieved by maximization of the cash flows of the organization.  Ã‚  Cash flow is a better yardstick than the profits. There are several objections against the profit maximization: One it is vague; there are multiple meanings of Profit.  Ã‚  For example profit after tax, retained earnings. Thus profits cannot be the ultimate goal. Two it is uncertain; as per Freemba, Profit cannot be ascertained well in advance to express the probability of return as future is uncertain. It is not at possible to maximize what cannot be known. Hence the timing of the profit cant be estimated. Three it ignores time value of money; Profits ignore the time value of money which is not in the case of cash flows. One can exactly find the timing of cash flows. Hence cash flow is a better measure. CONCLUSION Despite its advantages of greatly simplifying directors decision making we should discard the fictional undiversified shareholder concept for two reasons. First, it is highly unrealistic, more so than the other alternatives here considered. Second, it is indeterminate as to the degree of risk-aversion that should be ascribed to this fictional shareholder, and this degree of freedom completely undercuts ability of the shareholder wealth maximization norm to constrain director conduct. The  goal of Maximization of profits I think to be a narrow outlook. Evidently when profit maximization becomes the basis of financial decisions of the concern, it ignores the interests of the community on the one hand and that of the government, workers and other concerned persons in the enterprise on the other hand. Hence profit maximization is not considered as the ultimate financial objective. Wealth maximization is considered to be the most important financial objective Organization should also consider non financial objectives too to satisfy the other stakeholders of the organization. Stakeholder can be a person, group, organization, or system who affects or can be affected by an organizations actions. This means satisfying the objectives of customers, suppliers, government agencies, families of employees, special interest groups.  This will help in achieving the success in long term too. Ultimately, the concept of maximising shareholder wealth represents a return to the principle of using a business in order to increase the wealth of individuals.This approach has often been lost in recent years as individuals work for the greater good of the company, which is often valued more highly than the wealth of the shareholders Its clear that attempts to focus on the maximisation of shareholder wealth often involve increased complexity and, as a result, present a number of potential points at which profit can be lost. There are a number of conflicting theories in terms of which approach might be best when it comes to maximising shareholder wealth, but its clear that the most fundamental problem is that shareholders often have different, and in many cases competing, aims the key difference is in terms of how quickly they want to see a profit, and the needs of short-term profit-seekers are likely to contradict the needs of those seeking a longer term profit generation system I also conclude that from above highlights it shows just how complex and interlinked all the financial and psychological aspects of business are. It is no longer enough (if it ever was) for businesses to concentrate soley on their shareholders. In the current climate of a credit crunch fuelled by a potent mix of incompetence and greed, with business ethics under scrutiny like never before, the customer is all of us. And the pain we need resolving is not just economic, but social and environmental as well if corporation investment decisions are best pursued through the use of a fictional shareholder concept, rather than through attempts by directors to ascertain and satisfy to the extent possible the conflicting preferences of their corporations actual shareholders and perhaps other stakeholders as well then the fictional diversified shareholder concept, despite its significant implementation difficulties, is the preferred alternative among those here considered. .

Software Requirement Specifications

Software Requirement Specifications 2.1.1 Proposed Method Fig.2.1 Block Diagram of D.A.P.S It is dependent on core Harvard Architecture and ARM9263 choosing individual data and command buses. The ARM9 processor commands are accomplish by means of the five stage pipelining. The clock frequency of the ARM9263 processor is too high evaluated to ARM7 processor. ARM9263 processor might accomplish the instructions in a single clock cycle. This processor also chains gazelle equipment which supports java byte codes. Data acquisition processes, as the name consult to appliances and procedures utilized to accumulate the suggestions. In the most basic form, a technician working the temperature of a range on a section of paper is carrying out data acquire. Development has enhanced, this type of strategy has easy and produced more appropriate, important and effective through electronic apparatus. Data acquiring appliances serve as an significant point in a system. Data Acquisition strategy tying along a wide variety of appliances, such as detectors is used to show temperature, flow level and demand. Communication is depending on the information acquisition appliances, those appliances are interfaced with a device through the transmission port. The more frequently used communicating interface for the inadequate distances is RS-232. In RS-232 the correspondence is serial communication for one appliance to one computer by using communication port. The performance of the RS232 up to 115 K baud (bits per second).RS422 and 485 equally will have the capability to interact more distances with the numerous units. Two common parallel communication interfaces are generally the Centroid and IEEE-488. An analog to digital Converter is a device that can transfer the unbroken physical assortment to a digital number that symbolizes the quantitys shift. The substitution involves concerning quantizing of the input. It is appropriate to propose a small measure of error. An ADC performs the conversion (samples the input) occasionally. The consequences will be the sequence of digital values that have modified a continuous-time and continuous-amplitude analog signal to a discrete-time and the discrete-amplitude digital signal. An ADC is characterized by its bandwidth and its signal to noise. The DAPS cell is analyzed for negative ions recognition. The design RDX TNT are launched into the assortment, as a unique sample and incorporate sample. In equally the cases estimated result is described. The first condition of a DAPS system is a appropriate ion source. The source is usually a beta emitter. In a dry air system the ionic species generate are pre-dominantly N+2 or O+2Positive ions and O−2 negative ions. These ions are referred as reactant ions. When molecules of the illustration species are introduce into the ion source region these molecules will be interact with the reactant ions. A charge transfer will take place creating ions of the sample species. TNT will experience charge transfer reactions, TNT + A → TNT Â ± A, RDX will give the ion-molecule reactions with the reactant ions, RDX + A− → (RDX Â ± A). The abridged ion mobility time corresponds to the molecular weights of the addition compounds [RDX-O (H2O)] −,[RDX-O2]−. Therefore, the resultant IMS plasma gram of RDX contains 4 distinct peaks. These ionic species will move in the direction of the ion gate under the authority of the electric field. The polarity of the final controls, unstable substances form negative ions, most of the narcotics, like heroin and cocaine, form positive ions. In the float region the test ions move subordinate the determine of the utilized electric field. Because to the collision among the sample ions and the substance gas molecules, the interval will be proceeding counting on the mobility of the test ions. Ions with a greater mobility will travel the distance of the substance region in a shorter time. The mobility of the ions might count on their size, mass and shape of the ions. For the individual opening of the electronic gate, a produce of the electronic charge symbolizing assorted ionic species in the preview will arrive at the ion collector detached in time. The range of the ion current is consult to as a plasma gram. The ion mobility spectrometrys distinguished strength is the performance at which separations happen typically on the prescribe of tens of milliseconds. This ability combined with its convenience of use, very high sensitivity, and highly efficient design have authorized IMS as a commercialized product to be used as a schedule tool for the field recognition of explosives, drugs, and chemical weapons. Significant manufacturers of IMS testing devices utilized in airports are Morph and Smiths Awareness. The ion source in the submit IMS is depending on the corona discharge in aim to plane geometry. The happening chamber is created of Teflon cylinder with 50 mm inner diameter. A power in the form of parallel tungsten wires (diameter 100 Â µ m) with comparative distance of 1 mm signifies the plain electrode of the corona discharge. The detail electrode is made of tungsten wire (diameter 50 Â µ m) which is installed in a ceramic tube situated in the axis of the release chamber. The position of this tube is to hold the aim electrode in the demanded position and it also acts as a gas inlet. The range amongst the tip of the wire and the popular electrode can be modified by transferring the ceramic tube together the axis of the discharge chamber. In prescribe to accomplish the maximal ion present was the point to plane length varied in the range 3 12 mm. In the excellent corona the maximal current was discovered at 4 mm point to plane range and the ignition voltage was in the range 2-2. 5 kV. The optimum ion current is restricted by the recombination of ions on the plane electrode (corona grid). The proportion of the ions found by the grid to the ions that move the grid is proportional to the ratio E2/E1, where E1 is the strength of electric field in the move tube and E2 is the strength of electric field in the release chamber. The response region consists of several parallel electrodes, divided by Teflon seals. The extent of the reaction region can be diverse, based on number of used electrodes. The first electrode in the response region is particularly designed and its work is to avoid the dissemination of the test gas into the discharge chamber. Two ports for the gas recess and for the gas outlet are generating into this electrode. The majority of the electrodes have the requirement dimensions similar with the electrodes utilized in drift tube. An electric shutter network is placed at the end of the response region. The shutter grid is one of the most significant parts of the IMS. Its role is to keep the ions in response region and to inject the ions into the drift region. The grid is made of similar wires, located in one plane perpendicular to the axis of the spectrometer. The wires are on the electric potential , where VD is the potential of the drift tube at the place of the shutter, and is closing potential between adjacent wires. This potential creates an electric field perpendicular to the electric field formed by the drift tube. As the ions pursue electric field, they hit the grid wires and lose their charge due to recombination processes. If a short circuit is created between the grid wires then the electric potential of the wires is VD and there is no perpendicular electric field generated by the grid, the cover up is opened. The ions are able to enter the drift region. The generating of the secured grid might manage the resolution and understanding of the spectrometer. This is because of to the influence of the normal electric field to the float electric field. The important electric field immediate the grid is offered by deposition of these two fields. If the vertical field is to strong the gate diminution effect occurs. If the normal field is too weak, the quickly ions can go using into the drift location even if the gate is blocked. A constant position in the spectra is existential in this case. The adequate value of the shutter grid electric field is in the aspect from 1 to 10 of the electric field in the float tube. 2.2 Purpose The objective of these software requirement specifications is to capture the customer requirements both functional and non-functional for the project. This serves as the input for the Software Design Document. 2.2.1 Assumptions Connectivity between ADC board and AT91 board will be available. Continuous illustrations are coming from ADC and are stored on AT91 board memory. Porting the submission from one platform to another platform is potential with difficulties. Interfaces of LCD, TS (touch screen) are in the working condition. 2.2.1.1. Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms 2.3 Ion mobility spectrometer data acquisition display unit IMS show unit conveys, analyses and demonstrates the wave and capabilities of explosive test created in the Drift tube sampler unit. Fig.2.2 Block diagram of IMS Unit Fig.2.3 IMS Unit Experimental layout Functional Description 1. As the unit is switched ON observe the Power LED (green) ON the front panel of the IMS display unit. 2. To calibrate the TFT TS LCD touch the dot sequence will be appearing on the Screen. 3. Touch the CAPT button to start sampling of explosive material placed in sampler. 4. Although the selections of the explosive information are being accumulated and came out, when the examples collection is more than and notice the bursting material recognized in Red colour combined with buzzer move and majority of all other components in green. (In the understanding software will do assessment of data recorded with the accumulated explosive library to understand the occurrence of explosive in the design introduced. If explosive is recognized, software estimate drift-time. If the data grabbed matches with any of the bursting library, the individual explosive screen will modification RED from GREEN. With screen proceeding RED, it’s an evidence of occurrence of explosive and the buzzer will blow. To stop the buzzer audio push CLRB button. 5. To view the wave and characteristics of the material detected touch the material appeared in Red color. Zoom option is provided to view the graph clearly by touching Zoom button. 6. To navigate from any page to main page touch on Menu button. Data acquisition is the process of sampling the signals that to measure real world physical conditions and converting the resulting samples into digital numeric values. These values can be manipulated by the computer. Data acquisition systems typically convert the analog waveforms into digital values for their processing. The components of data acquisition systems include: The Sensors that they will convert the physical parameters to the electrical Signals. A Signal conditioning circuitry is used to convert the sensor signals into a form that can be converting to the digital values. Analog-to-digital converters, which converts the conditioned sensor signals to digital values The Data acquisition and processing samples of explosives represents the detection of explosive materials like TNT, RDX, NACRO etc. it is generally called as Ion-Mobility Spectrometer .It is used to detect the explosives based on the drift velocity of the generated ions. Drift tube generates the ions from the samples placed. Based on the drift velocity of the ions, generated current will vary. As Drift tube output is connected to the pre-amplifier, the drift tube output voltage in turn depends on the drift velocity of samples. The pre amplifier output is connected to the ADC board (THS1206), which is integrated with the ARM board (AT91SAM9263). ADC converts the continuous analog signal to discrete Digital values. DAPS appropriate the output voltage of the pre amplifier utilizing ADC, depending on the peak appreciate of the accumulated ADC sample data, move time is calculated. Drift Time chosen by the pattern is opposed with the obtainable library data. If the move time utilized by the sample complements with any of the move time values chosen in the library, alarm will be round and the name of the sudden detected is exhibited along with the Attributes like ADC peak voltage benefits (in volts) time (in milliseconds). The Complete unit kept in a big chamber and that is having high voltage power supply.

Iraq: a Lesson from Panama Imperialism and Struggle for Sovereignty Ess

Iraq: a Lesson from Panama Imperialism and Struggle for Sovereignty If History is to be the signifier of lessons learned, then why do wars continue to happen? The United States has never really been considered an Imperialist nation, but as history proves, the US has had a long stake in international geopolitical control over various countries, as well as economic markets that have made these countries dependent on the United States for survival. In light of recent events in Iraq, one should take a step back and look at the US’ history of hostile invasions to â€Å"make the world safe for democracy.† This mantra had devastating on the tiny country of Panama 14 years ago. Why did the US invade Panama? To free Panama from its oppressive dictator, Manuel Noriega. The result was the a death toll of three thousand, and the country’s further dependence on the US for economic survival. Who again was the US trying to save Panama from? In reviewing the story of Panama, one is able to draw uncanny connections to the current sit uation in Iraq. The administration even has many of the same people that decided to invade Panama under Bush senior. Now the same minds have decided to invade Iraq under George W. Bush, under the same pretext of â€Å"freeing the Iraqi people.† Based on history however, what will be the consequences for the Iraqi people and the Iraqi nation? On December 20,1989 President Bush ordered US forces into Panama as he explained, â€Å"to safeguard the lives of Americans, to defend democracy in Panama, to combat drug trafficking, and to protect the integrity of the Panama Canal Treaty.†[1] In December of 1989, 26,000 US soldiers occupied Panama in search of Manuel Noriega to be seized and tried on traffickin... ...s neighborhood, and with West Indians in Margarita, Colon, February 14-19, 1990 [20] CODEHUCA, Testimonies recorded by staff of the Central American Human Rights Committees, San Jose, Costa Rica, taken in Panama Jan. 29, 1990 [21] Ibid. [22] Ibid. [23] Pensamiento Propio, Jan./ Feb., 1990 â€Å"La guerra total de Bush† pp.28 [24] Ibid. [25] Opinion Publica, CELA, Panama, No.24 Feb.1990 Magela Cabera Arias, â€Å"La Reconstruccion en El Chorrillo,† pp. 8-9 [26] El Periodico, â€Å"Bombardean Pacora con substancias quimicas,† Panama Occupied Territory, Feb. 1990 p.8 [27] Ibid. [28] Reuters, Washington D.C., Jan 9, 1990 [29] Ibid. [30] Wheaton, p.20 [31] Ibid. [32] http://www.geographyiq.com/countries/pm/Panama_history_summary.htm. [33] CRS Issue Brief, Panama – US Relations: Continuing Policy Concerns [34] Ibid. Iraq: a Lesson from Panama Imperialism and Struggle for Sovereignty Ess Iraq: a Lesson from Panama Imperialism and Struggle for Sovereignty If History is to be the signifier of lessons learned, then why do wars continue to happen? The United States has never really been considered an Imperialist nation, but as history proves, the US has had a long stake in international geopolitical control over various countries, as well as economic markets that have made these countries dependent on the United States for survival. In light of recent events in Iraq, one should take a step back and look at the US’ history of hostile invasions to â€Å"make the world safe for democracy.† This mantra had devastating on the tiny country of Panama 14 years ago. Why did the US invade Panama? To free Panama from its oppressive dictator, Manuel Noriega. The result was the a death toll of three thousand, and the country’s further dependence on the US for economic survival. Who again was the US trying to save Panama from? In reviewing the story of Panama, one is able to draw uncanny connections to the current sit uation in Iraq. The administration even has many of the same people that decided to invade Panama under Bush senior. Now the same minds have decided to invade Iraq under George W. Bush, under the same pretext of â€Å"freeing the Iraqi people.† Based on history however, what will be the consequences for the Iraqi people and the Iraqi nation? On December 20,1989 President Bush ordered US forces into Panama as he explained, â€Å"to safeguard the lives of Americans, to defend democracy in Panama, to combat drug trafficking, and to protect the integrity of the Panama Canal Treaty.†[1] In December of 1989, 26,000 US soldiers occupied Panama in search of Manuel Noriega to be seized and tried on traffickin... ...s neighborhood, and with West Indians in Margarita, Colon, February 14-19, 1990 [20] CODEHUCA, Testimonies recorded by staff of the Central American Human Rights Committees, San Jose, Costa Rica, taken in Panama Jan. 29, 1990 [21] Ibid. [22] Ibid. [23] Pensamiento Propio, Jan./ Feb., 1990 â€Å"La guerra total de Bush† pp.28 [24] Ibid. [25] Opinion Publica, CELA, Panama, No.24 Feb.1990 Magela Cabera Arias, â€Å"La Reconstruccion en El Chorrillo,† pp. 8-9 [26] El Periodico, â€Å"Bombardean Pacora con substancias quimicas,† Panama Occupied Territory, Feb. 1990 p.8 [27] Ibid. [28] Reuters, Washington D.C., Jan 9, 1990 [29] Ibid. [30] Wheaton, p.20 [31] Ibid. [32] http://www.geographyiq.com/countries/pm/Panama_history_summary.htm. [33] CRS Issue Brief, Panama – US Relations: Continuing Policy Concerns [34] Ibid.

Transcultural Nursing Essay -- Health, Nursing

Understanding and implementing culturally competent and culturally congruent care are the key factors for effective and excellent nursing care (Srivastava, 2007). However, health care provider’s roles and responsibilities in meeting health care needs of the clients in consideration to cultural perspective and diversity are getting more challenging and complicated due to increased number of people from a group of multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society, which, in turn requires health care providers to acknowledge and understand variations of cultural healthcare beliefs, values and practices. Transcultural nursing is essential in the process of nursing care because of the different factors, which includes increasing diversity and multicultural identities, emergent use of health care equipment that occasionally dispute the cultural ethics and beliefs of the clients and a rise in feminism and gender issues (Andrews & Boyle, 2008). Maier-Lorentz (2008) states that the fundamental aspect of healthcare is transcultural nursing since culturally competent nursing care help guarantee patient satisfactions and health beneficial outcome. According to the Royal College of Nursing (2009), providing care with respect to health and illness based on the expectations of the people’s values, beliefs and practices corresponding with culture is the focal point of transcultural care. Influenced by the principles and theories of transcultural nursing, the author defines transcultural nursing as a discipline of culturally care for individuals, families, groups and communities representing different cultural lifestyle, values, habits, life process, beliefs and practices. Furthermore, the author believes that the aims of transcultural nursing are to ... ...attain cultural competence and provide adequate cultural care, healthcare provider should develop the desire to achieve congruent care, be aware to any personal biases and prejudices, acknowledge and support other person’s cultural belief and practices, avoid stereotyping and cultural imposition and most importantly identify and overcome the barriers to effective assessment and intervention. Understanding one’s own culture, being supportive, appreciative and sensitive to other culture and differences are the key factors to achieve cultural competence. The author recommends that aside from being focused to care provider’s cultural competency and cultural assessment, transcultural nursing theories and concepts also needs to develop ways on how to avoid cultural negligence, overcome personal biases and resolve cultural barriers that may affect quality nursing care.