Mental health issues and the impact of healthcare Research Paper

Mental health issues and the impact of healthcare - Research Paper Example The terrible experiences in their combat missions upset the psychological stability of individuals (Miliken et al 2007). As these people retire from their combat missions they struggle to relieve themselves from the horrific experiences of war. The memories of the horrors and the cruel experiences of war change the mind of the post-war personalities, making them psychologically weak and vulnerable to mental problems. The issue has been selected because mental health problems and increasing healthcare cost is becoming a big curse to the veteran population in Spokane, Washington/Spokane County and surrounding areas (How Trends in the Health Care System, 2008) (Sebastian and Bushy, 1999). . It has become quite unaffordable for these veterans to access the necessary healthcare assistance as healthcare costs are booming up without any control. State budget deficits and federal cuts result in reduction in Medicare and Medicaid programs. Essential medical services and medications are unaffo rdable for them. Veterans in the areas are devoid of proper health care coverage (Barlett et al. 2004). The number of people in the Spokane County and surrounding areas who are without insurance is increasing every year. The unfortunate veterans in these areas are unable to afford the health insurance programs offered for people. People have become increasingly vulnerable to chronic diseases (Sacia and Dobson, 2003). This ill-privileged group also has high mortality rate and negative health outcomes (Sacia and Dobson, 2003). The increasing mental healthcare problems suffered by the returning veterans and the lack of access to the healthcare facilities have pushed Spokane County and surrounding areas to grave healthcare catastrophe (Barlett et al. 2004). Healthcare service must be made more affordable to these negatively privileged people in the Spokane County and surrounding areas. As far as Spokane County and surrounding areas are concerned the need of the hour is nothing but a bet ter healthcare coverage for the returning veterans in the areas. The entire healthcare expense of these individuals must be cover by the healthcare system. Healthcare services offered by the healthcare system should be a boon to all people, especially the returning veterans of the society who are under various mental problems. A solution to the issue of Spokane veterans would be easily affordable healthcare facilities. The ‘single payer’ health care system can support the healthcare needs of Spokane people. Service of universal healthcare is a boon to all people of Spokane, especially the negatively privileged veterans in the society. It can effectively solve the healthcare issues of veterans. People with mental sickness should be given free (or affordable) health care services. Mental healthcare services must be provided at no or meager charge. The entire healthcare expense of mentally ill people must be covered by the healthcare system. They should not be allowed to b other about co-payments or deductibles. Healthcare services offered by the healthcare system should be a boon to all people, especially the mentally sick individuals. This typical example of the returning veterans in Spokane County explains the importance of social capital in extending the healthcare facilities to the weak sections of the community. Unless there is sufficient social capital

Ethics & Philosophy Essay Example for Free

Ethics Philosophy Essay Free markets can be said to be the markets which have no government interference or regulation. The only regulations present are the ones which involve protecting property rights and maintaining the legal system. Free markets are markets in which the product prices are solely set through market forces, as opposed to interference by external forces. There is also free competition in free markets, and the law of supply and demand is used to fix prices of goods and services in such markets. There are various philosophers who support free markets while others are opposed to such markets. The paper will analyze the contributions of Adam smith, Karl Marx and Milton Friedman on the issue and will give a brief conclusion on the issues discussed. Karl Marx. Karl Marx was a German philosophers who is considered to be amongst the most controversial philosophers in history. He was against capitalism and free markets, which he viewed to be a means with which property owners or the rich use to maintain control over the peasants or poor. Karl Marx viewed the capitalist system as a system meant to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. He explained that initially, capitalism was meant to be a means with which people exchanged commodities which they did not have. However, after money was created, it evolved and became a means with which people could make profits as opposed to satisfying the demand for products. Over time, capitalism undermined the human development and well being, and products created could now dictate how interactions between human beings would be. Soon, the relations between society became material as everything was treated in terms of its monetary worth, as opposed to creative and artistic qualities possessed. Capitalism led to the alienation of workers since they were separated from owning the means which was used for production, and they became slaves to the people who owned those means. This led to the emergence of two economic groups; the property owners and the workers, and the latter were oppressed by the former. This is the reason which made him predict the collapse of capitalism and its replacement with socialism. Socialism is a system in which the government or authority controls production so that it may be mutually beneficial to all members of the society or state. Karl Marx was opposed to free markets since they tended to favor the rich and oppress the poor. Free markets are a feature of the capitalist system, which made Karl Marx oppose them. Weaknesses of this argument. Karl Marx is opposed to free markets due to the weaknesses which he views in capitalism. Karl Marx views capitalism to be a system where the rich oppress the poor. He therefore opposes all features of capitalist systems which he views to be a means which promote the exploitation of the poor . However, Karl Marx does not consider the model which combines both capitalism and socialism in order to take advantage of the positive attributes of the two models. Since socialism has its weaknesses, combining both models may be more beneficial to the economy. In this respect, moderate government interference in trade by the government is an option which Karl Marx should have pursued. Adam Smith. He is considered to be the father of the modern economics and he contributed a lot toward the modern capitalist system. Adam Smith was of the opinion that production was the key to economic growth and that this could only be achieved through economic liberalization. Adam Smith therefore supported unregulated markets since he saw them as a means of stimulating economic growth. He explained that free markets would enable individuals to develop a business without having government intervention, and that the people who consume the products developed would do so at prices which have been determined by demand and supply forces . Adam Smith added that free markets enabled the most competitive producers and consumers to survive, which was beneficial to the economy. He viewed free markets are independent problem solvers which did not require government interference, since market forces eventually address any surpluses or shortages which are inherent in the market. Adam Smith uses the invisible hand theory to explain the way in which different parts of the economy are integrated. Smith explains that each individual is guided by an invisible hand in making their decisions which benefit the economy, without their knowledge. He explains that individuals carry out actions which are meant to benefit themselves, but they end up benefiting the society at large, which is not the initial aim of the individual. Smith gives an illustration of the creation of a wool coat. He says that the coat is developed after a series of processes which are undertaken by different people. The shepherd who owns the sheep, the spinner who develops the coats, and the shipper who transports them to the market all play a role in the creation of the finished product. He explains that this subconscious process by the different parties involved achieves higher levels of efficiencies than would be achieved had the process been planned by the players involved. It means that markets which are regulated by the government have lower efficiency levels compared to markets which are not regulated . This is the major reason why Adam Smith supports the free markets as opposed to regulated markets. Weaknesses of this argument. Adam smith is of the opinion that free markets enabled the most competitive producers and consumers to survive, which is beneficial to the economy. He gives many attributes of free markets, most of which are true. However, he does not discuss the weaknesses of free markets. Free markets suffer from certain weaknesses such as inhibiting the growth of small firms. Free markets may also experience monopolistic and oligopolistic tendencies which adversely affect the economy. The economy may also suffer certain effects attributed to unfair practices in trade. Other effects like inflation, market downturns and others require regulation by a central authority. Adam Smith does not discuss these situations, which makes his argument inconclusive. Milton Friedman. Friedman made major contributions to the economic crisis during the early 20th century. He viewed the 1920s as a period of sustainable and vital growth. Friedman believed that economic growth and freedom had a direct relationship. He used several principles and arguments to further his support from free markets. The political principle was used by Friedman to define the features of free markets. He explained that in free markets, individuals cannot coerce each other and that there is voluntary cooperation between the parties involved . He further explained that parties which are involved in transactions under such circumstances benefit in one way or another, otherwise they would not participate in these transactions. In free market transactions, there are no social responsibilities and values; there are only shared responsibilities and values. However, Friedman was also of the opinion that the government should intervene in the economy if there is threat to it. One of the instances when Friedman supported government interference was during the Great depression which occurred in 1929. The Great Depression changed the view that the United States economy was robust and that it should be totally free from government control, after the US Stock Exchange collapsed due to various factors. Friedman supports the market regulation and explains that if the Federal Government had intervened and applied the right policies, this depression would have been avoided. He explains that the Federal Government should have suspended payment for the withdrawals being requested by people. The policy which was used at the time, which involved printing more money to supplement the increased demand, is blamed for the Great Depression. This reveals a more soft approach to the initial stand that government intervention should not be allowed, and that the markets should be allowed to operate as free markets. However, it does not completely change the stance which had been taken by Friedman regarding free markets. Government interference is allowed only under special circumstances where lack of intervention would lead to severe effects to the economy. This was the case during the Great depression and is also currently the case in the event of the global financial crisis being experienced. Weaknesses of this argument. Friedman is categorical that there should be free markets if economies are to grow. He argues that the absence of social values and responsibilities and the presence of shared values are factors which facilitate economic growth. However, he appears to take a soft stand when discussing the Great Depression where he advocates for government interference, but using the right policies. This is a deviation from his stand that the government should not interfere with the business environment. It also reveals that free trade has weaknesses which he does not effectively address. Personal view. In my opinion, free markets do not lead to serious political, social, or environmental problems as explained by some philosophers. This is because free markets are the most effective and natural means in which prices should be set to ensure effectiveness. On the contrary, a wrong approach of interference by the government may lead to serious political, social, or environmental problems as was seen in the Great Depression. The current financial crisis which began in the United States can also be said to have been accelerated by the government failure to limit the borrowings by investors and excess lending by financial institutions using predatory lending practices. This is a similar problem which led to the great depressions, and the government interference is seen to have led to adverse effects rather than positive effects on the economy. However, in extreme cases of economic problems, the government should intervene. This should only be done to save the economy in cases where the market forces are clearly unable to rectify the situation. For instance, the current financial crisis facing the world requires the governments intervention. This does not mean that the government supports the regulation of markets since in the absence of economic crises, the market forces would usually be used to set the product prices. My major reasons for supporting free markets is that regulated markets usually discourage investments, especially if the regulations are too strict. Investors prefer investing in countries where there is free trade since they can predict their future earnings or returns on investment, due to the absence of external factors in the business environment. Regulated markets may also adversely affect the economy especially if the policies which are applied are retrogressive. Summary and conclusion. It is evident that the three philosophers made major contributions to the modern world. Their theories are still in use several years after some of them passed away. However, it is important to note that their arguments relating to free trade are inconclusive since some of the facts which they used to support their arguments have changed. It is also important to note that none of them has a wrong view, it is only that they looked at free trade from different perspectives. The contributions which each of them has made to society should be appreciated since they all talked about various issues affecting the society, and not just free trade. It is important that other scholars improve on the theories which were advanced by Adam smith, Karl Marx and Milton Friedman. This will reflect the market environment as it is today, and the arguments developed can be used to improve the policies in the current business environment. Works cited. Amadae Samuel. Rationalizing capitalist democracy: the Cold War origins of rational choice liberalism.Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003, p255-261. Gagnier Regenia. The insatiability of human wants: economics and aesthetics in market society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000, p25-35. Machaj Mateusz. Friedman for government intervention: the case of the great depression. Mises Daily. Retrieved on March 18, 2009 from http://74. 125. 95. 132/search? q=cache:s8QYmlyzr-4J:mises. org/story/2442+Milton+Friedman+and+support+of+free+marketscd=8hl=enct =clnkgl=ke. Sunderlin, William D. Ideology, social theory, and the environment. New York: Rowman Littlefield, 2002, p23-33.

The Greek hero vs. The Anglo-Saxon hero :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

The Greek hero vs. The Anglo-Saxon hero The hero stands as an archetype of who we should be and who we wish to be. However, the hero has inherent flaws which we do not wish to strive towards. In literature, these flaws are not used as examples of what we should be but rather as examples of what not to be. This is especially dominant in the Greek hero. While the Greek hero follows his fate, making serious mistakes and having a fairly simple life, the Anglo-Saxon "super" hero tries, and may succeed, to change his fate, while dealing with a fairly complex life. The Greek hero is strong and mighty while his wit and intelligence are highly valued. In the Greek tragedy, the hero struggles to avoid many flaws. Among these flaws are ambition, foolishness, stubbornness, and hubris-the excessive component of pride. He must overcome his predestined fate-a task which is impossible. From the beginning of the tale, it is already clear that the hero will ultimately fail with the only way out being death. In Oedipus, the hero is already c onfronted with a load of information about his family and gouges his eyes out. At this point, when he tries to outwit his fate he has already lost and is sentenced to death. The Anglo-Saxon hero must also deal with his "fate" but tries, and usually succeeds, to change it. While the Greek hero battles his fate with his excessive pride and intelligence, the Anglo-Saxon hero tries to eliminate his doom by force. The Anglo-Saxon hero is considered a barbarian of sorts due to his sometimes unethical and immoral views and courses of action. At the end, the Anglo-Saxon succeeds in altering his fate though. The Greek hero is so normal, that the reader can relate to him. He is usually a "common" human being with no extraordinary life. His story seems believable, even possible. We would have no hard time imagining the hero's conflict as being ours. As in the case with Oedipus, we can understand how he feels it would be possible for his circumstances to be applied to our lives. Although the details may seem a little farfetched it is not impossible that there is some truth to the story. On the other hand, the Anglo-Saxon hero, being super-human, is especially difficult to relate to. The Anglo-Saxon may reach the same pedestal as a God.

Electronics and Communication Engineering (Ece) Syllabus Book R07

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, HYDERABAD B. TECH. ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING I YEAR COURSE STRUCTURE Code Subject English Mathematics – I Mathematical Methods Applied Physics C Programming and Data Structures Network Analysis Electronic Devices and Circuits Engineering Drawing Computer Programming Lab. IT Workshop Electronic Devices and Circuits Lab English Language Communication Skills Lab. Total T 2+1 3+1 3+1 2+1 3+1 2+1 3+1 25 P/D 3 3 3 3 3 15 C 4 6 6 4 6 4 6 4 4 4 4 4 56JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD. B. TECH. ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING II Year COURSE STRUCTURE Code Subject Mathematics – III Probability Theory and Stochastic Processes Environmental Studies Signals and Systems Electrical Technology Electronic Circuit Analysis Electronic Circuits Lab. Electrical Technology Lab. II YEAR II Semester Code Subject Pulse and Digital Circuits Control Systems Object Oriented Programming Switching Theory and Logic Design EM Waves and Transmission Lines Analog Communications Analog Communications Lab.Pulse and Digital Circuits Lab. T 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 30 P 3 3 6 C 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 2 28 T 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 30 P 3 3 6 C 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 2 28 I Semester JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD. B. TECH. ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING III Year COURSE STRUCTURE Code Subject Managerial Economics and Financial Analysis Computer Organization Linear IC Applications Digital IC Applications Antennas and Wave Propagation Digital Communications Digital Communications Lab.IC Applications and ECAD Lab. T 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 30 P 3 3 6 C 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 2 28 II Semester Subject Management Science Telecommunication Switching Systems Digital Signal Processing VLSI Design Microwave Engineering Microprocessors and Interfacing Electronic Computer Aided Design Lab. Advanced English Communication Skills Lab T 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 30 P 3 3 6 C 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 2 28 I Semester III YEAR CodeJAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD. B. TECH. ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING IV Year COURSE STRUCTURE Code Subject Computer Networks Electronic Measurements & Instrumentation Cellular and Mobile Communications Radar Systems Elective-I Micro Controllers and Applications Television Engineering Operating Systems Elective-II Digital Image Processing Satellite Communications Data Base Management Systems Microwave and Optical Communications Lab.Digital Signal Processing Lab IV Year COURSE STRUCTURE Code Subject Optical Communications Elective-III Embedded and Real Time Systems Bio-Medical Instrumentation Digital Design Through Verilog Elective-IV Wireless Communications and Networks DSP Processors and Architectures Artificial Neural Networks Industry Oriented Mini Project Seminar Project Work Comprehensive Viva T 4+1* 4+1* P C 4 4 T 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* 4+1* P C 4 4 4 4 4 I Semester 4+1* – 4 30 3 3 6 2 2 28 II Semester 4+1* †“ 4 15 – 2 2 10 2 28 Note :All End Examinations (Theory and Practical) are of three hours duration. * – Tutorial T – Theory P – Practical C – Credits D – Drawing I Year B. Tech. ECE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD T 2+1* ENGLISH P 0 C 4 1. INTRODUCTION : In view of the growing importance of English as a tool for global communication and the consequent emphasis on training students to acquire communicative competence, the syllabus has been designed to develop linguistic and communicative competence of Engineering students.The prescribed books and the exercises are meant to serve broadly as students’ handbooks. In the English classes, the focus should be on the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking and for this the teachers should use the text prescribed for detailed study. For example, the students should be encouraged to read the texts/selected paragraphs silently. The teachers can ask comprehension questions to stimulate discussion and based on the discussions students can be made to write short paragraphs/essays etc.The text for non-detailed study is for extensive reading/reading for pleasure by the students. Hence, it is suggested that they read it on their own with topics selected for discussion in the class. The time should be utilized for working out the exercises given after each section , as also for supplementing the exercises with authentic materials of a similar kind for example, from newspaper articles, advertisements, promotional material etc.. However, the stress in this syllabus is on skill development and practice of language skills. 2.OBJECTIVES: a. To improve the language proficiency of the students in English with emphasis on LSRW skills. b. To equip the students to study academic subjects with greater facility through the theoretical and practical components of the English syllabus. c. To develop the study skills and communication skills in formal and inform al situations. 3. SYLLABUS : Listening Skills: Objectives 1. To enable students to develop their listening skill so that they may appreciate its role in the LSRW skills approach to language and improve their pronunciation 2.To equip students with necessary training in listening so that can comprehend the speech of people of different backgrounds and regions Students should be given practice in listening to the sounds of the language to be able to recognise them, to distinguish between them to mark stress and recognise and use the right intonation in sentences. †¢ Listening for general content †¢ Listening to fill up information †¢ Intensive listening †¢ Listening for specific information Speaking Skills : Objectives 1. To make students aware of the role of speaking in English and its contribution to their success. 2.To enable students to express themselves fluently and appropriately in social and professional contexts. †¢ Oral practice †¢ Describing obj ects/situations/people †¢ Role play – Individual/Group activities (Using exercises from all the nine units of the prescribed text: Learning English : A Communicative Approach. ) †¢ Just A Minute(JAM) Sessions. Reading Skills: Objectives 1. To develop an awareness in the students about the significance of silent reading and comprehension. 2. To develop the ability of students to guess the meanings of words from context and grasp the overall message of the text, draw inferences etc. Skimming the text †¢ Understanding the gist of an argument †¢ Identifying the topic sentence †¢ Inferring lexical and contextual meaning †¢ Understanding discourse features †¢ Recognizing coherence/sequencing of sentences NOTE : The students will be trained in reading skills using the prescribed text for detailed study. They will be examined in reading and answering questions using ‘unseen’ passages which may be taken from the non-detailed text or othe r authentic texts, such as magazines/newspaper articles. Writing Skills : Objectives 1. To develop an awareness in the students about writing as an exact and formal skill 2.To equip them with the components of different forms of writing, beginning with the lower order ones. †¢ Writing sentences †¢ Use of appropriate vocabulary †¢ Paragraph writing †¢ Coherence and cohesiveness †¢ Narration / description †¢ Note Making †¢ Formal and informal letter writing †¢ Editing a passage 4. TEXTBOOKS PRESCRIBED: In order to improve the proficiency of the student in the acquisition of the four skills mentioned above, the following texts and course content, divided into Eight Units, are prescribed: For Detailed study 1. LEARNING ENGLISH: A Communicative Approach, Hyderabad: Orient Longman, 2006. Six Selected Lessons) For Non-detailed study 2. WINGS OF FIRE: An Autobiography – APJ Abdul Kalam, Abridged version with Exercises, Universities Press (India ) Pvt. Ltd. , 2004. A. STUDY MATERIAL: Unit –I 1. Astronomy from LEARNING ENGLISH: A Communicative Approach, Orient Longman, 2005. 2. Unit –II Chapters 1-4 from Wings of Fire: An Autobiography – APJ Abdul Kalam, an abridged version with Exercises, Universities Press (India) Pvt. Ltd. ,2004 Information Technology from LEARNING ENGLISH: A Communicative Approach, Orient Longman, 2005.Chapters 5-8 from Wings of Fire: An Autobiography – APJ Abdul Kalam, an abridged version with Exercises, Universities Press (India) Pvt. Ltd. ,2004 Humour from LEARNING ENGLISH: A Communicative Approach, Orient Longman, 2005. Chapters 9-12 from Wings of Fire: An Autobiography – APJ Abdul Kalam, an abridged version with Exercises. , Universities Press (India) Pvt. Ltd. ,2004 Environment from LEARNING ENGLISH: A Communicative Approach, Orient Longman, 2005. Chapters 13-16 from Wings of Fire: An Autobiography – APJ Abdul Kalam, an abridged version with Exercises, Univ ersities Press (India) Pvt. Ltd. ,2004 3. 4.Unit –III 5. 6. Unit –IV 7. 8. Unit –V 9. Inspiration from LEARNING ENGLISH: A Communicative Approach, Orient Longman, 2005. 10. Chapters 17-20 from Wings of Fire: An Autobiography – APJ Abdul Kalam, an abridged version with Exercises, Universities Press (India) Pvt. Ltd. ,2004. Unit – VI 11. Human Interest from LEARNING ENGLISH: A Communicative Approach, Orient Longman, 2005. 12. Chapters 21-24 from Wings of Fire: An Autobiography – APJ Abdul Kalam, an abridged version with Exercises, Universities Press (India) Pvt. Ltd. , 2004. * Exercises from the lessons not prescribed shall also be used for classroom tasks.Unit – VII Exercises on Reading and Writing Skills Reading Comprehension Situational dialogues Letter writing Essay writing Unit – VIII Practice Exercises on Remedial Grammar covering Common errors in English, Subject-Verb agreement, Use of Articles and Prepositions, Tense and aspect Vocabulary development covering Synonyms & Antonyms, one-word substitutes, prefixes & suffixes, Idioms & phrases, words often confused. REFERENCES : 1. Strengthen Your English, Bhaskaran & Horsburgh, Oxford University Press 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Basic Communication Skills for Technology, Andrea J Rutherfoord, Pearson Education Asia.Murphy’s English Grammar with CD, Murphy, Cambridge University Press English Skills for Technical Students by Orient Longman Everyday Dialogues in English by Robert J. Dixson, Prentice-Hall of India Ltd. , 2006. English For Technical Communication, Vol. 1 & 2, by K. R. Lakshmi Narayanan, Sci tech. Publications. A Hand book of English for Engineers & Technologists by Dr. P. Eliah, B. S. Publications. Developing Communication Skills by Krishna Mohan & Meera Benerji (Macmillan) Speaking and Writing for Effective Business Communication, Francis Soundararaj, MacMillan India Ltd. , 2007.The Oxford Guide to Writing and Speaking, John Seely, O xford I Year B. Tech. ECE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD T 3+1* MATHEMATICS – I P 0 C 6 UNIT – I Differential equations of first order and first degree – exact, linear and Bernoulli. Applications to Newton’s Law of cooling, Law of natural growth and decay, orthogonal trajectories. UNIT – II Non-homogeneous linear differential equations of second and higher order with constant coefficients with RHS term of the type e ax , Sin ax, cos ax, polynomials in x, e ax V(x), xV(x), method of variation of parameters.UNIT – III Rolle’s Theorem – Lagrange’s Mean Value Theorem – Cauchy’s mean value Theorem – Generalized Mean Value theorem (all theorems without proof) Functions of several variables – Functional dependenceJacobian- Maxima and Minima of functions of two variables with constraints and without constraints UNIT – IV Radius, Centre and Circle of Curvature – Evolu tes and Envelopes Curve tracing – Cartesian , polar and Parametric curves. UNIT – V Applications of integration to lengths, volumes and surface areas in Cartesian and polar coordinates multiple integrals – double and triple integrals – change of variables – change of order of integration.UNIT – VI Sequences – series – Convergences and divergence – Ratio test – Comparison test – Integral test – Cauchy’s root test – Raabe’s test – Absolute and conditional convergence UNIT – VII Vector Calculus: Gradient- Divergence- Curl and their related properties of sums- products- Laplacian and second order operators. Vector Integration – Line integral – work done – Potential function – area- surface and volume integrals Vector integral theorems: Green’s theorem-Stoke’s and Gauss’s Divergence Theorem (With out proof). Verification o f Green’s – Stoke’s and Gauss’s Theorems.UNIT – VIII Laplace transform of standard functions – Inverse transform – first shifting Theorem, Transforms of derivatives and integrals – Unit step function – second shifting theorem – Dirac’s delta function – Convolution theorem – Periodic function – Differentiation and integration of transforms-Application of Laplace transforms to ordinary differential equations Partial fractions-Heaviside’s Partial fraction expansion theorem. Text Books: 1. A text Book of Engineering Mathematics, Vol-1 T. K. V. Iyengar, B. Krishna Gandhi and Others, S. Chand & Company. 2.A text Book of Engineering Mathematics, C. Sankaraiah, V. G. S. Book Links. 3. A text Book of Engineering Mathematics, Shahnaz Bathul, Right Publishers. 4. A text Book of Engineering Mathematics, P. Nageshwara Rao, Y. Narasimhulu & N. Prabhakar Rao, Deepthi Publications. References: 1 . A text Book of Engineering Mathematics, B. V. Raman, Tata Mc Graw Hill. 2. Advanced Engineering Mathematics, Irvin Kreyszig, Wiley India Pvt. Ltd. 3. A text Book of Engineering Mathematics, Thamson Book Collection. I Year B. Tech. ECE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD T 3+1*P 0 C 6 MATHEMATICAL METHODS UNIT – I Matrices and Linear systems of equations: Elementary row transformations-Rank-Echelon form, Normal form – Solution of Linear Systems – Direct Methods- LU Decomposition- LU Decomposition from Gauss Elimination –Solution of Tridiagonal Systems-Solution of Linear Systems UNIT – II Eigen values, eigen vectors – properties – Cayley-Hamilton Theorem – Inverse and powers of a matrix by Cayley-Hamilton theorem – Diagonolization of matrix. Calculation of powers of matrix – Modal and spectral matrices.UNIT – III Real matrices – Symmetric, skew – symmetric, orthogonal, Linear T ransformation – Orthogonal Transformation. Complex matrices: Hermitian, Skew-Hermitian and Unitary – Eigen values and eigen vectors of complex matrices and their properties. Quadratic forms- Reduction of quadratic form to canonical form – Rank – Positive, negative definite – semi definite – index – signature – Sylvester law. UNIT – IV . Solution of Algebraic and Transcendental Equations: Introduction – The Bisection Method – The Method of False Position – The Iteration Method – Newton-Raphson Method.Interpolation: Introduction- Errors in Polynomial Interpolation – Finite differences- Forward DifferencesBackward differences –Central differences – Symbolic relations and separation of symbols-Differences of a polynomial-Newton’s formulae for interpolation – Central difference interpolation Formulae – Gauss Central Difference Formulae –Interpolation with unevenly spaced points-Lagrange’s Interpolation formula. UNIT – V Curve fitting: Fitting a straight line –Second degree curve-exponentional curve-power curve by method of least squares. Numerical Differentiation and Integration– Trapezoidal rule – Simpson’s 1/3 Rule –Simpson’s 3/8 Rule.UNIT – VI Numerical solution of Ordinary Differential equations: Solution by Taylor’s series-Picard’s Method of successive Approximations-Euler’s Method-Runge-Kutta Methods –Predictor-Corrector Methods- AdamsMoulton Method –Milne’s Method. UNIT – VII Fourier Series: Determination of Fourier coefficients – Fourier series – even and odd functions – Fourier series in an arbitrary interval – even and odd periodic continuation – Half-range Fourier sine and cosine expansions. Fourier integral theorem (only statement)– Fourier sine and cosine integral s.Fourier transform – Fourier sine and cosine transforms – properties – inverse transforms – Finite Fourier transforms. UNIT – VIII Formation of partial differential equations by elimination of arbitrary constants and arbitrary functions – solutions of first order linear (Lagrange) equation and nonlinear (standard type) equations. Method of separation of variables. z-transform – inverse z-transform – properties – Damping rule – Shifting rule – Initial and final value theorems. Convolution theorem – Solution of difference equation by z-transforms. Text Books: 1. Mathematical Methods, T. K. V. Iyengar, B. Krishna Gandhi and Others, S.Chand & Company. 2. Mathematical Methods, C. Sankaraiah, V. G. S. Book Links. 3. A text book of Mathematical Methods, V. Ravindranath, A. Vijayalaxmi, Himalaya Publishers. 4. A text book of Mathematical Methods, Shahnaz Bathul, Right Publisshers. References: 1. A text Book of Engineering Mathematics, B. V. Raman, Tata Mc Graw Hill. 2. Advanced Engineering Mathematics, Irvin Kreyszig, Wiley India Pvt. Ltd. 3. Numerical Methods for Scientific and Engineering Computation, M. K. Jain, S. R. K. Iyengar & R. K. Jain, New Age International Publishers. 4. Elementary Numerical Analysis, Aitkinson & Han, Wiely India, 3rd Edition, 2006 I Year B.Tech. ECE UNIT I JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD T 2+1* APPLIED PHYSICS P 0 C 4 BONDING IN SOLIDS : Introduction – Types of bonding in solids – Estimation of cohesive energy – Madelung constant. CRYSTAL STRUCTURES AND X-RAY DIFFRACTION: Introduction -Space lattice – Basis – Unit cell Lattice parameter – Bravais lattices – Crystal systems – Structure and packing fractions of Simple cubic Body centered cubic – Face centered cubic crystals – Directions and planes in crystals – Miller indices Separation between successive [h k l] planes – Diffraction of X-rays by crystal planes – Bragg’s law – Laue method – Powder method.UNIT II PRINCIPLES OF QUANTUM MECHANICS: Waves and particles – Planck’s quantum theory – de Broglie hypothesis – Matter waves – Davisson and Germer experiment – G. P. Thomson experiment – Heisenberg uncertainty principle – Schrodinger’s time independent wave equation – Physical significance of the wave function – Particle in one dimensional potential box. UNIT III ELECTRON THEORY OF METALS: Classical free electron theory – Mean free path – Relaxation time and drift velocity – Quantum free electron theory – Fermi-Dirac distribution (analytical) and its dependence on temparature – Fermi energy – Electron scattering and resistance.BAND THEORY OF SOLIDS: Bloch theorem – Kronig-Penney model (qualitative treatment) – Origin of ener gy band formation in solids – Classification of materials into conductors, semi conductors & insulators Concept of effective mass of an electron. UNIT IV DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES: Introduction – Dielectric constant – Electronic, ionic and orientational polarizations – Internal fields in solids – Clausius – Mossotti equation – Dielectrics in alternating fields – Frequency dependence of the polarizability – Ferro and Piezo electricity.MAGNETIC PROPERTIES : Permeability – Magnetization – Origin of magnetic moment – Classification of magnetic materials – Dia, para and ferro magnetism – Hysteresis curve – Soft and hard magnetic materials. UNIT V SEMICONDUCTORS : Introduction – Intrinsic semiconductor and carrier concentration – Equation for conductivity – Extrinsic semiconductor and carrier concentration – Drift and diffusion – Einstein’s equatio n Hall effect – Direct & indirect band gap semiconductors.SUPERCONDUCTIVITY: General properties – Meissner effect – Penetration depth – Type I and Type II superconductors – Flux quantization – DC and AC Josephson effect –BCS Theory – Applications of superconductors. UNIT VI LASERS: Introduction – Characteristics of Lasers – Spontaneous and stimulated emission of radiation Einstein’s coefficients – Population inversion – Ruby laser – Helium-Neon Laser – CO2 laser -Semiconductor Laser – Applications of lasers.UNIT VII FIBER OPTICS AND HOLOGRAPHY: Introduction – Principle of optical fiber – Acceptance angle and acceptance cone – Numerical aperture – Types of optical fibers and refractive index profiles – Attenuation in optical fibers – Application of optical fibers – Basic principles of holography – Construction and reco nstruction of image on hologram – Applications of holography. UNIT VIII SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY OF NANOMATERIALS: Introduction to Nano materials – Basic principles of Nanoscience & Technology – Fabrication of nano materials – Physical & chemical properties of nanomaterials – Carbon nanotubes – Applications of nanotechnology.TEXTBOOKS: 1. Applied Physics 2nd edition by Dr. P. Appala Naidu & Dr. M. Chandra Shekar, V. G. S. Book links. 2. Introduction to Solid State Physics by C. Kittel ; Wiley Eastern Ltd. 3. Nanotechnology by Mark Ratner and Daniel Ratner; Pearson Education. REFERENCES: 1. Materials Science and Engineering by V. Raghavan; Prentice-Hall India. 2. Materials Science by M. Arumugam; Anuradha Agencies. 3. Solid State Physics by N. W. Ashcroft & N. David Merwin; Thomson Learning. 4.Materials Science by M. S. Vijaya & G. Rangarajan; Tata McGraw Hill. 5. Solid State Physics by P. K. Palanisamy; Scitech Publications (India) Pvt. Ltd. 6. Nano Materials by A. K. Bandyopadhyay, New Age International Publishers. 7. Applied Physics by P. K. Mittal; I. K. International. 8. Applied Physics by K. Vijay Kumar & T. Sreekanth; S. Chand & Company Ltd. I Year B. Tech. ECE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD T 3+1* C PROGRAMMING AND DATA STRUCTURES P 0 C 6UNIT – I Algorithm / pseudo code, flowchart, program development steps, structure of C program, A Simple C program, identifiers, basic data types and sizes, Constants, variables, arithmetic, relational and logical operators, increment and decrement operators, conditional operator, bit-wise operators, assignment operators, expressions, type conversions, conditional expressions, precedence and order of evaluation. Input-output statements, statements and blocks, if and switch statements, loops- while, do-while and for statements, break, continue, goto and labels, programming examples.UNIT – II Designing structured programs, Functions, basics, paramete r passing, storage classes- extern, auto, register, static, scope rules, block structure, user defined functions, standard library functions, recursive functions, header files, C preprocessor, example c programs. UNIT – III Arrays- concepts, declaration, definition, accessing elements, storing elements, arrays and functions, twodimensional and multi-dimensional arrays, applications of arrays. pointers- concepts, initialization of pointer ariables, pointers and function arguments, address arithmetic, Character pointers and functions, pointers to pointers, pointers and multidimensional arrays, dynamic memory managements functions, command line arguments, c program examples. UNIT – IV Derived types- structures- declaration, definition and initialization of structures, accessing structures, nested structures, arrays of structures, structures and functions, pointers to structures, self referential structures, unions, typedef, bitfields, C program examples.UNIT – V In put and output – concept of a file, text files and binary files, streams, standard I/o, Formatted I/o, file I/o operations, error handling, C program examples. UNIT – VI Searching – Linear and binary search methods, sorting – Bubble sort, selection sort, Insertion sort, Quick sort, merge sort. UNIT – VII Introduction to data structures, singly linked lists, doubly linked lists, circular list, representing stacks and queues in C using arrays and linked lists, infix to post fix conversion, postfix expression evaluation.UNIT – VIII Trees- Binary tress, terminology, representation, traversals, graphs- terminology, representation, graph traversals (dfs & bfs) TEXT BOOKS : 1. Computer science, A structured programming approach using C, B. A. Forouzan and R. F. Gilberg, Third edition, Thomson. 2. DataStructures Using C – A. S. Tanenbaum, Y. Langsam, and M. J. Augenstein, PHI/Pearson education. REFERENCES : 1. C& Data structures – P. P admanabham, B. S. Publications. 2. The C Programming Language, B. W. Kernighan, Dennis M. Ritchie, PHI/Pearson Education 3. C Programming with problem solving, J. A. Jones & K. Harrow, dreamtech Press 4.Programming in C – Stephen G. Kochan, III Edition, Pearson Eductaion. 5. Data Structures and Program Design in C, R. Kruse, C. L. Tondo, BP Leung, Shashi M, Second Edition, Pearson Education. I Year B. Tech. ECE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, HYDERABAD T 2+1* NETWORK ANALYSIS P 0 C 4 UNIT – I Introduction to Electrical Circuits Circuit Concept – R-L-C parameters – Voltage and Current sources – Independent and dependent sourcesSource transformation – Voltage – Current relationship for passive elements – Kirchoff’s laws – network reduction techniques – series, parallel, series parallel, star-to-delta or delta-to-star transformation.UNIT – II A. C Circuits – I R. M. S and Average value s and form factor for different periodic wave forms, Steady state analysis of R, L and C (in series, parallel and series parallel combinations) with sinusoidal excitation – Concept of self and mutual inductances – co-efficient of coupling series circuit analysis with mutual inductance. UNIT – III A. C Circuits – II Resonance – series, parallel circuits, concept of band width and Q factor. Three phase circuits: Phase sequence – Star and delta connection – Relation between line and phase voltages and currents in balanced systems – Calculations of active and reactive power.UNIT – IV Network topology Definitions – Graph – Tree, Basic cutset and Basic Tieset matrices for planar networks – Loop and Nodal methods of analysis of Networks with independent and dependent voltage and current sources – Duality & Dual networks. UNIT – V Network Theorems Tellegens, Superposition, Reciprocity, Thevinin ’s, Norton’s, Max Power Transfer theorem. Milliman’s Theorem – Statement and proofs problem solving using dependent and independent sources for d. c and a. c excitation.UNIT – VI Two-port networks Z,Y, ABCD, h-parameters – Conversion of one parameter to another parameter – condition for reciprocity and symmetry – 2 port network connections in series, parallel and cascaded – problem solving. UNIT – VII Transient Analysis Transient response of R-L, R-C, R-L-C circuits (Series combinations only) for d. c. and sinusoidal excitations – Initial conditions – Solution using differential equation approach and Laplace transform methods of solutions. UNIT – VIII Filters L. P, H. P, B. P, B. E, Prototype filters design – M-derived filters of L.P. and H. P. – Composite filter design of L. P. and H. P design of various symmetrical attenuators. TEXT BOOKS : 1. Network Analysis – ME Van V alkenburg, Prentice Hall of India, 3rd Edition, 2000. 2. Networks, Lines and Fields – JD Ryder, PHI, 2nd Edition, 1999. REFERENCES : 1. Engineering Circuit Analysis – William Hayt and Jack E Kemmerly, McGraw Hill, 5th Edition, 1993. 2. Network Analysis – N. C. Jagan and C. Lakshminarayana, B. S. Publications, 2006. 3. Electric Circuits – J. Edminister and M. Nahvi – Schaum’s Outlines, TMH, 1999. . Electrical circuits by A. Chakarborthy, Dhanpath Rai & Co. , I Year B. Tech. ECE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD T 3+1* ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS P 0 C 6 UNIT-I ELECTRON DYNAMICS AND CRO: Motion of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields. Simple problems involving electric and magnetic fields only. Electrostatic and magnetic focusing. Principles of CRT, deflection sensitivity (Electrostatic and magnetic deflection), Parallel Electric and Magnetic fields, Perpendicular Electric and Magnetic fields.UNIT- II JUNCTIO N DIODE CHARACTERISTICS : Review of semi conductor Physics – n and p –type semi conductors, Mass Action Law, Continuity Equation, Hall Effect, Fermi level in intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, Open-circuited p-n junction, The p-n junction Energy band diagram of PN diode, PN diode as as a rectifier (forward bias and reverse bias), The current components in p-n diode, Law of junction, Diode equation, Volt-ampere characteristics of p-n diode, Temperature dependence of VI characteristic, Transition and Diffusion capacitances, Step graded junction, Breakdown Mechanisms in Semi Conductor (Avalanche and Zener breakdown) Diodes, Zener diode characteristics, Characteristics of Tunnel Diode with the help of energy band diagrams, Varactar Diode, LED, LCD. And photo diode UNIT- III RECTIFIERS, FILTERS AND REGULATORS : Half wave rectifier, ripple factor, full wave rectifier, Harmonic components in a rectifier circuit, Inductor filter, Capacitor filter, L- ? section filter, ? à ¢â‚¬â€œ section filter, Multiple Lsection and Multiple ? section filter, and comparison of various filter circuits? n terms of ripple factors, Simple circuit of a regulator using zener diode, Series and Shunt voltage regulators UNIT- IV TRANSISTOR and FET CHARACTERISTICS : Junction transistor, Transistor current components, Transistor as an amplifier, Transistor construction, Detailed study of currents in a transistor, Transistor alpha, Input and Output characteristics of transistor in Common Base, Common Emitter, and Common collector configurations, Relation between Alpha and Beta, typical transistor junction voltage values, JFET characteristics (Qualitative and Quantitative discussion), Small signal model of JFET, MOSFET characterisitics (Enhancement and depletion mode), Symbols of MOSFET, Comparison of Transistors, Introduction to SCR and UJT.UNIT-V BIASING AND STABILISATION : BJT biasing, DC equivalent model, criteria for fixing operating point, Fixed bias, Collector to base bia s, Self bias techniques for stabilization, Stabilization factors, (S, S ‘, S'’), Compensation techniques, (Compensation against variation in VBE, Ico,) Thermal run away, Thermal stability, UNIT- VI AMPLIFIERS : Small signal low frequency transistor amplifier circuits: h-parameter representation of a transistor, Analysis of single stage transistor amplifier using h-parameters: voltage gain, current gain, Input impedance and Output impedance. Comparison of transistor configurations in terms of AI , Ri , Av , Ro, UNIT- VII FEEDBACK AMPLIFIERS : Concept of feedback, Classification of feedback amplifiers, General characteristics of negative feedback amplifiers, Effect of Feedback on input and output characteristics, Voltage series, voltage shunt, current series, and current shunt feedback amplifiers with discrete components and their analysis UNIT-VIII OSCILLATORS : Condition for oscillations.RC-phase shift oscillators with Transistor and FET, Hartley and Colpitts oscillator s, Wein bridge oscillator, Crystal oscillators, Frequency and amplitude stability of oscillators, TEXT BOOKS : 1. Electronic Devices and Circuits – J. Millman, C. C. Halkias, and Satyabratha Jit Tata McGraw Hill, 2nd Ed. , 2007. 2. Electronic Devices and Circuits – R. L. Boylestad and Louis Nashelsky, Pearson/Prentice Hall,9th Edition,2006. REFERENCES : 1. Electronic Devices and Circuits – T. F. Bogart Jr. , J. S. Beasley and G. Rico, Pearson Education, 6th edition, 2004. 2. Principles of Electronic Circuits – S. G. Burns and P. R. Bond, Galgotia Publications, 2nd Edn.. , 1998. 3. Microelectronics – Millman and Grabel, Tata McGraw Hill, 1988. 4.Electronic Devices and Circuits – Dr. K. Lal Kishore, B. S. Publications, 2nd Edition, 2005. 5. Electronic Devices and Circuits- Prof GS N Raju I K International Publishing House Pvt . Ltd 2006 I Year B. Tech. ECE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD T 0 ENGINEERING DRAWING P 3 C 4 UNIT – I Introduction to engineering graphics – construction of ellipse, parabola and hyperbola – cylindrical curves. UNIT – II Orthographic projections of points, lines and planes – axis inclined to one planes and inclined to both the planes. UNIT – III Orthographic projections of solids : Cylinder, cone, prism, pyramid and sphere positions and axis inclined to both the planes.UNIT – IV Isomeric projections of lines, planes and simple solids UNIT – V Conversion of orthographic views into isometric views and vice-versa. TEXT BOOKS : 1. Engineering drawings By N. D. Bhatt 2 Engineering graphics By K. L. Narayana & P. Kannayya REFERENCES:1. Engineering drawing and graphics: Venugopal/ New age 2. Engineering drawing : Johle / TMH I Year B. Tech. ECE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD T 0 COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LAB P 3 C 4 Objectives: †¢ To make the student learn a programming language. †¢ To teach the student to write programs in C solve the problems †¢ To Introduce the student to simple linear and non linear data structures such as lists, stacks, queues, trees and graphs.Recommended Systems/Software Requirements: †¢ †¢ Intel based desktop PC ANSI C Compiler with Supporting Editors Week l. a) Write a C program to find the sum of individual digits of a positive integer. b) A Fibonacci Sequence is defined as follows: the first and second terms in the sequence are 0 and 1. Subsequent terms are found by adding the preceding two terms in the sequence. Write a C program to generate the first n terms of the sequence. c) Write a C program to generate all the prime numbers between 1 and n, where n is a value supplied by the user. Week 2. a) Write a C program to calculate the following Sum: Sum=1-x2/2! +x4/4! -x6/6! +x8/8! -x10/10! b) Write a C program toe find the roots of a quadratic equation.Week 3 a) Write C programs that use both recursive and non-recursive functions i) To find the factorial of a given integer. ii) To find the GCD (greatest common divisor) of two given integers. iii) To solve Towers of Hanoi problem. Week 4 a) The total distance travelled by vehicle in ‘t’ seconds is given by distance = ut+1/2at2 where ‘u’ and ‘a’ are the initial velocity (m/sec. ) and acceleration (m/sec2). Write C program to find the distance travelled at regular intervals of time given the values of ‘u’ and ‘a’. The program should provide the flexibility to the user to select his own time intervals and repeat the calculations for different values of ‘u’ and ‘a’. ) Write a C program, which takes two integer operands and one operator form the user, performs the operation and then prints the result. (Consider the operators +,-,*, /, % and use Switch Statement) Week 5a) Write a C program to find both the larges and smallest number in a list of integers. b) Write a C program that uses functions to perform the following: i) Addition of Two Matrices ii) Multiplication of Two Matrices Week 6 a) Write a C program that uses functions to perform the following operations: i) To insert a sub-string in to given main string from a given position. ii) To delete n Characters from a given position in a given string. ) Write a C program to determine if the given string is a palindrome or not Week 7 a) Write a C program that displays the position or index in the string S where the string T begins, or – 1 if S doesn’t contain T. b) Write a C program to count the lines, words and characters in a given text. Week 8 a) Write a C program to generate Pascal’s triangle. b) Write a C program to construct a pyramid of numbers. Week 9 Write a C program to read in two numbers, x and n, and then compute the sum of this geometric progression: 1+x+x2+x3+†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. +xn For example: if n is 3 and x is 5, then the program computes 1+5+25+125. Print x, n, the sum Perform error checking. For example, the formula does not make sense for negative exponents – if n is less than 0. Have your program print an error message if n

General Motors SWOT Analysis

General Motors Corporation (GM) is primarily engaged in the production of vehicles. It designs, manufactures and markets car, trucks, and other automobile parts all over the world. GM has a strong brand portfolio gives it significant competitive advantage. However, sustained decline in light vehicle sales as a result of increasing durability of vehicles and weak economic conditional pressure on the overall performance of the company.Strengths:Global presence, GM was the leading auto manufacturer in terms of sales for 77 years until 2007. The business has grown its presence in the world and is now operating in 157 countries, while its Chevrolet brand reached world record sales (4.95 million units). New vision and strategy, after 2008 bailout, GM has experienced major changes and reorganized the way it does business. New members were appointed to the firm’s management team with Daniel Akerson as the CEO.He shook GM†s bureaucratic organizational culture and introduced new s trategy and visions to the business. GM became smaller but leaner and is becoming more. Strong brand portfolio, GM currently sells 18 automobile brand to satisfy as many customer needs as possible. The most  popular brand are Cadillac, Buick GMC, and Chevrolet that sells very well in USA and China. Chevrolet reached global sales record and sold 4.95 million units in 2012. Strong presence in China, China is the largest automotive market and is an emerging economy that grows steadily. It is also the second largest market for GM in terms of vehicle units sold.An early entrance into China, well performing partnerships and local Buick brand are the main reasons why GM has a strong position in China’s automotive market. Knowledge of home market, GM is the largest car manufacturer in US and currently holds more than 18% market share. This is mainly due to extensive knowledge of US market and its consumer. 4 well performing brands, GM’s has one of the highest cost structures compared to all automobiles manufacturers. GM’s Cadillac, GMC, Chevrolet, and Buick are among the best-selling brands in US and China and brings in more than 80% of all General Motors sales.Weakness:High cost structures, GM has one of the highest cost structures compared to all automobiles manufacturers. GM costs are driven by its generous employee compensation and pension plans. Although GM has reduced its cost after 2008 it still has a lot to do to become cost competitive. Brand dilution, GM controls 18 automobile brands that vary in quality and are sold in separate markets. With so many brands in sales, customers find it hard to identify which brand belongs to GM family, as only one of 18 brands carry GM letters.The result is lower GM brand awareness. Bureaucratic culture, before reorganization in 2008, GM was infamous for its rigid culture and structure. Since them, the company has made some cultural and structural changes but should continue improving as it isn’t as quick as it competitors in reaching to constantly changing environment. Car recall, last year, General Motors recalled 119,000 pickups due to missing hood latch. The same year it had to recall it Chevrolet volt and fix battery problems. Recalls are expensive and damages brand reputation, especially when the company announces them so often.Opportunities:Positive attitude toward â€Å"green† vehicle, today consumers are more aware of the negative effects (air pollution) caused by cars fueled by petrol and diesel. Large quantities of CO2 emission intensity greenhouse effect, and negatively impact the life on earth, and thus, consumers are more likely to buy new hybrid and electrical cars that emit less co2. Increasing fuel price, increasing fuel prices open up large markets for GM’s hybrid and electric cars as consumers shift toward cheaper fuel types. Changing customer needs, by introducing new cars models, General Motors would be able to meet changing customer needs for smaller and more fuel-efficient cars. Growth through acquisitions, GM has successfully acquired many car companies in the past and should continue doing so to gain new skills assets and access to new market.Threats:Fluctuating fuel prices, due to increasing extraction of shale gas, future fuel prices should drop and make electric and hybrid cars less attractive. GM would treat the project of hybrid and electric cars as losses, rather than perspective future cars. On the other hand, steeping fuel prices would make current GM models less attractive to cost conscious consumer lower amounts of fuel. New emission standards, a new wave for stricter regulation on vehicle emission standards may negatively affect GM’s finances. The corporate would have to invest large amount of money to comply with these new standards.Rising raw material prices, rising prices for raw metals will lift the cost for auto manufactures and result in squeezed profits for the companies. Intense competit ion, for 77 years from 1931 to 2007, GM led global sales of vehicles, but lost its position in 2008 due to increased competition of cheaper and better quality cars, especially from Japan and South Korea. Exchange rates, China are GM’s second largest market and the business earns huge profits there. Exchange rate fluctuations threaten GM’s profits if the dollar would appreciate against Chinese renminbi.

Adam Clayton Powell Jr. essays

Adam Clayton Powell Jr. essays Adam Clayton Powell Jr., The first African American voted to congress from New York, he combined a flair for militant speech ethics that drew crowds of African Americans and his social protest was a resemblance some of his political ambitions; Powell career was a symbol of black posterity, strength, and most of all black protest Born in New haven, Connecticut, on November 29, 1908 would soon move with his parents to New York City. His father the Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Sr. was an active member in the struggle against racism, and he also lectured on race relations at Colgate University, City College of New York and Union Theological Seminary. He was also the founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and also was one the organizers of the Silent Protest Parade. The Reverend Powell was one who argued heavily in favor racial pride and believed in education and hard work. Living in New York at a time when many blacks of the south where migrating to the northern cities, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. would follow close in his father footsteps. As the groundwork was being laid by father, the charismatic preacher, who managed to increase the Abyssinian Church member substantially, and buy land in Harlem to construct a new church building. The younger Powell would begin to take a greater interest in what his father was doing in the community for African American later in his college years. Powell would attend the City College of New York, graduated with a B. A. degree from Colgate University, and would earn a M. A. degree in religious education from Columbia University. Soon Powell would become an assistant minister in his father church in Harlem. The first signs of his oratory skills would manifest its self when Powell used picket lines and mass meetings to demand reforms at New Yorks Harlem Hospital. The protest was held over the dismissal of five black doctors from its staff because of their race. ...

Essay Sample on School Accountability Programs

Essay Sample on School Accountability Programs School safety is improved through different means that can be assessed and evaluated. Schools are required to establish mechanisms of accountability, which will ensures efficiency, effectiveness, and performance. (Dwyer and Warger 1998). Schools also do carry out frequent organizational structure reviews and means of enhancing the safety. These reviews are geared towards identifying school personnel who require training on safety. At the same time, schools provide a suitable level of training on safety for all school personnel in school master plans for in-service training. It also goes along way to promoting high standards of safety by having proper equipment for protecting school property and records (Dwyer and Warger 1998). School accountability programs need to incorporate various key elements. Some of the principles that form basis of accountability programs in school safety include; emphasizing on involvement of students. There is no school safety program that can be successful if it does not involve students. Even if the program is well developed and implemented, it will not enhance school safety without incorporating students (Dwyer and Warger 1998). Many district schools enhance school safety by giving parents contract forms to sign on behalf of the students. These forms are supposed to administer and regulate the students conduct both academically and also socially. The contract forms are created by students together with their parents in guidance of school teachers and other personnel of the school. To maintain school safety the students are supposed to report cases of indiscipline to the authorities for action to be taken (Dwyer and Warger 1998).

MBA Admission Essay

MBA Admission Essay MBA Admission Essay Some of the essay questions hide inside ethical conflicts. Admission committee is not interested in your moral standards and considerations, or in your personal files, above all, they want to understand from your admission essay how you cansettle difficult problems. In other words, business schools are looking for people rather smart and clever than good one. Usually, such types of questions contain dilemmas. You need to keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers, but there are good or bad college admission essays. For example, if your essay question is to describe how you fought with yourself in a search for the right decision, it isn't a dilemma. The dilemma should have two possible answers, two results, or two argumentations because these two possible answers can be equally strong. The most acceptable way for writing admission essay is to find a compromise which will satisfy everybody. Of course, it is not easy to come up with a compromise, especially when it is not evident, thus, it requires a lot of thinking to find it. Even if you didn't find the compromise while writing an essay, don't be upset. Your points of view raised in admission essay should be supported by reasonable arguments. While writing a college essay, try to justify your own points of view. Describe what would you do in a case of negative circumstances of the decision you've made. MBA admission essays are your chance to demonstrate your unique qualification. MBA admission essay is an essential part of the admission process and you should devote enough time to writing it: Admission Essay Topics The most difficult task of admission essay writing is finding a proper topic. Of course, it is easier to find a solution for a known problem than for a situation you will never face. That is why you need to cover only real situations and provide real example. For example, you work at nonprofit organization which helps people with AIDS disease. There was a transfer of large amount of money and you've found out that this was a result of governmental mistake. What would you do? Would you save this money for the sake of ill people or report about the mistake? Possible answers may be as follows in your essay. You've decided to reserve money explaining that they'll bring more benefits for ill people. And the second one is your decision to report about this mistake because you are not entitled to solve matters governmental money distribution.The compromise may be the following. You write a proposal about how additional money might be used. Then you find generous sponsors and show them your proposal. Finally, governmental money returns to the true owner. If you don't find the compromise while writing a college admission essay, choose the most acceptable decision from your perspective. However, remember that your argumentation has to be strong, interesting, and carefully justified. Order Admission Essay Writing Help If you need an admission essay and do not know how to start writing it, you have found a place to ask for assistance. Ordering custom admission essay writing service at .com, you receive impressive college essay which gains the attention from the first lines! Do not lose this chance to improve your grades without any efforts! Read also: Self Critique Essay Assignments for Sale Custom Beowulf Essay Essay Assignment Essay Company

Negotiating Strategy Negotiation practice of group Unity 04254 Essay

Negotiating Strategy Negotiation practice of group Unity 04254 - Essay Example Mainly, any trading process is including the parties like transferor and transferee. Firms have to maintain proper commitment in terms of maintaining post sales support and delivery products (Crump, 2011). In the current study, the negotiation process will be detailed out for Beaufort, XFM and Unity perspective. It is a Northampton, United Kingdom based high-end shoemaking firm. However, they are facing huge challenge from the shoe producers of Asia. Thus, they selected the strategy of ‘offshore’ production which will be done by XFM, China. This policy will be reducing the production cost as it reduces the UK based high rate workers. This study will be outlining the negotiation process between Beaufort’s management, XFM, and Unity, which is a UK trade union. The negotiation process will be outlining benefits of the UK based shoemaking employee, who are facing higher risk of job cuts for Beaufort’s offshore strategy. Druckman (2001) stated that the negotiation process of firms or other trading bodies are using the various strategies and theories for achieving best possible benefits of the involved parties. Mainly, any negotiator can use the negotiation strategies or approaches like structural approach, strategic approach, behavioural approach, processional approach and integrative approach. Organisations are adopting various types of negotiation process in order to increase commercial relationship and employee beneficiary. On the other hand, trade unions will be looking for the welfare of their members. Global firms and trade unions are using negotiation process for managing labour cost. The process also fixes up wage rates, working time and employment contracts. Organisational management can adopt various negotiation strategies for increasing the beneficiary of all the parties involved in the process. Dajani (2006) opined that structural

The environmental impacts of Los Angeles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The environmental impacts of Los Angeles - Essay Example The environmental impacts of Los Angeles Los Angeles is one of the most densely polluted countries of the world. Pollution has literally damaged the entire city in such a way that its impact is very obvious. Tourism is an essential part of Los Angeles economy. Los Angeles is one of those countries that are a major tourist attraction; Los Angeles has the honor of housing the home of all legendary actors that is Hollywood. From amazing shopping malls to Hollywood and an amazing blend of various restaurants, Los Angeles offers everything that a tourist wants during vacations. While travelling the quality and the atmosphere of the environment go hand in hand. The environment is made up of natural as well as manmade things which together build up the tourism in a state. The relation between tourism and environment tends to get very tangling at times. The effects of tourism are very controversial. At times they can be helpful in generating revenue for the state resulting in a fruitful economy and on the contrary it can damage and dent the citys environmental condition resulting in a disaster which can damage countries natural resources. Tourism leads to the development of the place with the construction of roads, parks, malls, resorts, restaurants, hotel, golf courses, and airports etc. which eventually build up the infrastructure of a place. "The notion of a tourism system is extremely important when we start to consider the notion of impacts.

Accounting for business decision Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Accounting for business decision - Assignment Example Every investor is concerned about the security of his wealth. An investment is made after considering a lot of factors such as risk and return on investments, the value of an asset or a company and other factors both internal and external. Internal factors are those over which a company has regulatory authority while external factors are those over which a company has no control. Ventura PLC proposes to invest in the CFT; the evaluation of their proposal involves ascertaining the viability of CFT Company. Therefore, a ratio analysis on the company is imperative. Ventura PLC as an investor would be interested in the following: earnings per share ratios, return ratios and gearing ratios (Kumar 2009, pp. 95-115). This ratio shows returns to the shareholders that every share held generates. The ratio is obtained by dividing a company’s earnings after tax by the number of ordinary shares, within a financial period. Concerning CFT, in the year 2011, the company’s EPS = (EAT/Shares) = (410,000/2,500,000) = $ 0.164 per share, whereas, in the year 2012, the Company’s EPS = (547,000/2,500,000) = $ 0.219 per share. A time series analysis of the EPS between the two years indicates an increase in the EPS in 2012 due to an increase in the company’s earnings after tax. The trend experienced is good news for investors since they stand a chance of earning higher returns in the future. Using this short analysis, Ventura plc’s investment proposal is supported. The reason for the support is that the CFT Company promises a future increase in reward to investors (EPS) (Kumar 2009, pp. 95-115). Return on equity – is obtained by dividing a company’s earnings after tax by total shareholder’s equity (EAT/Equity). Concerning CFT, its ROE in 2011 and 2012 are calculated as (410,000/2650, 000) = 15.5% and (547,000/2,897,000) = 18.9% respectively. This ratio indicates the proportion of the net profit attributed to shareholder’s equity. The rate of return

Descriptive or Inferential Statistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Descriptive or Inferential Statistics - Essay Example It is hard to find private school teachers and keep them, since twice as many change schools. Catholic school teachers are also paid 25 to 40 percent less than public school teachers (paras. 16 and 20). These statistics support the argument that Catholic schools are not the answer for every child. Later on the author cites a series of statistics about how parents are applying for vouchers and scholarships. Scholarships support 14,000 students nationwide and the waiting list is 40,000 (para. 29). This is really amazing and supports the point that parents would choose private schools for their children if they could afford the tuition. The statistic only shows that 40,000 parents would prefer that their kids attend private school, and the article does not say what percent that group is out of the 49 million total children. Overall, the statistics presented in this article are interesting but not really related to the main point. A reader would have to trust the source in order to be convinced by the argument, or would have to trust the interviewee’s comments more than statistics. As far as statistics go, so few are in the article that they do not really help make the

Individual write up of Quails Gate Winery Experience Essay

Individual write up of Quails Gate Winery Experience - Essay Example From the vine restaurant the exotic view of hills, lakes and plain fields are available, which sets a delightful atmosphere for visitors (Figure 1). Moreover, the traditional style of the restaurant attracts customers because of the classic difference of the beauty of this restaurant compared to other restaurants in the region. Apart from the sight of the restaurant there is another feature, which attracts visitors towards it. The food is an important component in every restaurant but when it comes to the Quails Gate, the availability of fresh vegetables and cereals make the food healthy and tasty. The smell and taste of food available in the restaurant is fabulous. Most people believe that the combination of high quality wine and fresh food has been the main reason for tourist attraction towards the winery. Another reason for tourist attraction towards Quails Gate is the peaceful location of the winery. The restaurant and winery is located far from city and away from busy roads. Visitors can enjoy the peaceful environment for some time and relax. The place has natural beauty within itself because it is located in the middle of an agricultural land (Figure 2). The most interesting point is that children can have fun in places like Quails Gate because there is almost no risk of accidents. Parents can allow their children to play while they enjoy the delightful food and rich quality wine. Quails Gate is mainly famous for its winery because it is one of the oldest and recognized wineries in the world. Wines are exported to many places including United States from Quails Gate. Visitors say that â€Å"it is always awesome to come to a place that is located in the middle of no-where.† Truly the restaurant and the winery of Quails Gate are incredible because it has the potential to prov ide people the amount of peace and relaxation required for them.

The British involvement in the trade of slaves Essay

The British involvement in the trade of slaves - Essay Example The British involvement in the trade of slaves Various British colonies include the thirteen states of the United States of America that were mainly on the eastern side, Canada, India, Eastern Africa, South Africa, and Australia. All this different colonies had a contribution to make in the development of slavery. Some colonies were the source of the slaves, while others especially in the areas that had major industrial revolution were the destinations of the slaves. An analysis of the participation of different British colonies reveals how they participated in the development of slavery and how they affected its development. Britain had thirteen colonies in the North America regions that contributed a lot to the development of slavery. This States included Virginia, Massachusetts, Carolinas, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, to mention but a few. This is because the economies of these states were majorly dependent on slavery as a way to get cheap labor to work in the vast plantations of tobacco and cotton. The growth of tobacco had become family based, making the demand of slaves to increase since each homestead that planted tobacco required slaves. Industrialization was also expanding in the thirteen British colonies in the Northern side of America. This influenced the need of more slaves for the purpose of performing the hard labor of constructing the factories and working in the harsh conditions of the factories. One thing that was true about slavery in the British colonies within America is that it had a racial trait attached to it.

Individual write up of Quails Gate Winery Experience Essay

Individual write up of Quails Gate Winery Experience - Essay Example From the vine restaurant the exotic view of hills, lakes and plain fields are available, which sets a delightful atmosphere for visitors (Figure 1). Moreover, the traditional style of the restaurant attracts customers because of the classic difference of the beauty of this restaurant compared to other restaurants in the region. Apart from the sight of the restaurant there is another feature, which attracts visitors towards it. The food is an important component in every restaurant but when it comes to the Quails Gate, the availability of fresh vegetables and cereals make the food healthy and tasty. The smell and taste of food available in the restaurant is fabulous. Most people believe that the combination of high quality wine and fresh food has been the main reason for tourist attraction towards the winery. Another reason for tourist attraction towards Quails Gate is the peaceful location of the winery. The restaurant and winery is located far from city and away from busy roads. Visitors can enjoy the peaceful environment for some time and relax. The place has natural beauty within itself because it is located in the middle of an agricultural land (Figure 2). The most interesting point is that children can have fun in places like Quails Gate because there is almost no risk of accidents. Parents can allow their children to play while they enjoy the delightful food and rich quality wine. Quails Gate is mainly famous for its winery because it is one of the oldest and recognized wineries in the world. Wines are exported to many places including United States from Quails Gate. Visitors say that â€Å"it is always awesome to come to a place that is located in the middle of no-where.† Truly the restaurant and the winery of Quails Gate are incredible because it has the potential to prov ide people the amount of peace and relaxation required for them.

Critically discussed the ethical, legal, and social issues arising Essay

Critically discussed the ethical, legal, and social issues arising from the use of assistef reproductive technologies - Essay Example ough fertile couples can also undergo the processes due to genetic, sex selection or health considerations such as risk of infecting the child with AIDS. Methods used in ART include Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), which involves engaging a males sperm into a womans uterus via a tube. In Vitro Fertilization is another process in ART where sperm and eggs from the couple are taken and incubated to form an embryo with steps such as stimulation of egg maturation, egg recovery, fertilization and embryo transfer with assistance from a physician. There is also the third party assisted ART such as the use of a sperm donor, egg Donor, surrogates and gestational carriers. Even as these methods have been effective in enabling many couples achieve the dream of being parents, there have been debate over the ethical legal, social and ethical issues surrounding processes used to achieve this goal. This research paper highlights some of the ethical, legal and social arguments presented in support or opposition to ART. Ethical issues in ART surround the practice of implanting multiple embryos at one time to cut on expenses for couples since there is no insurance coverage to support this form of treatment. For the process to be successful at a lower cost even when more than one attempt is undertaken couples are encouraged to fertilize many eggs at once and implanting multiple embryos while hoping one among them will be carried to term. Success rate in ART also depends on the years of women involved in the process (see the graph below). Multiple fertilization of these eggs leads to the problem of multiple pregnancies with parents facing the prospect of giving birth to more than one baby. When this happens, couples especially mother and their offspring face increased social, psychological and medical problems. Research has indicated that multiple pregnancies results in a number of health complications especially those related to obstetric complications, prenatal morbidity,

Good Research Topic Essay Example for Free

Good Research Topic Essay Many at times choosing an appropriate topic seem like a herculean task as a lot of problem areas may come to mind at the time of choosing the topic. What is more frustrating is being able to settle on a brilliant topic. Choosing the research topic is one of the most critical steps in conducting a successful by all standards. The truth is, the search for a good research topic is a daunting task, especially when researchers are often expected to know how to identify or figure out a good research question by themselves. It also is important for us to keep in mind that an initial topic that we come up with may not be the exact topic which we end up writing about. Research topics are often fluid and dictated more by the students ongoing research rather than by the original chosen topic. Such fluidity is common in research, and should be embraced as one of its many characteristics. The ability to identify and develop a good research topic depends on a number of factors. Fortunately, with every problem, there is always a place at which we can use as a starting point that will hopefully lead us to a desirable solution. The first important factor to consider when selecting or choosing a good research topic is to choose a topic that is of interest to them. The researcher should be able to ask themselves and identify where their interest lies, after all every individual will have at least an interest in one area or another. The fact that students approach their supervisors/ advisors with questions if they are faced with any confusion when conducting their research, the importance of the research advisor also having an interest in the chosen topic cannot be over emphasised. Research supervisors or advisors to a large extent, has a duty to coach, and give critical comments and reviews to the chosen topic. Uri Alon, a theoretical physics major turned systems biology expert (who is now one of the most renowned scientists in his field), per his own experience gave this piece of advice; â€Å"listen to your inner voice. † As he indicated, interest in a research problem is a subjective experience. In most instances, one’s actual interest clashes with the public interest and makes it impossible for the researcher to identify what their actual interest lies in. This however does not mean that pursuing a research of public interest is not a good option; in any case, a good research should be able to benefit the general population as a whole. We must be able to distinguish what we are interest in from other people’s opinion. This is what will inspire us and enable us stay focused throughout our research journey. For instance we can search within our hearts and minds problems in our various communities, industries or even continents which we are passionate about and would wish for these problems to be solved. This will help sieve out the many options from external sources such as the media, and focus on what we are interested in. In effect, if we have a research problem that has been bugging us for quite some time, chances are we have found our true interest to conduct our research on. Another attribute that makes a chosen topic a good one is whether the researcher has the requisite knowledge in their area of interest. It should be noted that doing a literature review enables us to have more insights in our area of interest, narrows down our research focus and directs us to ask more specific questions. In addition, knowing how much knowledge base is available on our chosen field will help us figure out what strategy to adopt in finding data. We can also read some other publications other than the text books and famous business journals available online as well as in print versions to be abreast with our chosen problem area. No matter how much potential our research question has, if we do not have the needed time to conduct our study, it can easily be a wasted effort and disappointment. A researcher can work on a time-feasible research project without having to sacrifice their interest, by breaking down the research problem into several smaller, manageable and more specific questions. It all depends how early they start their research activity. The main point here is for us as researchers to be more realistic about the time available and identify our research question accordingly. In order to ascertain whether an identified problem area must be researched on, it must satisfy primarily three (3) main conditions: i. There should be a perceived difference between what the current situation in the problem area is and what it should have been, all things being equal ii. The reason or reasons for this difference should be ambiguous. If the reason is readily known, then there is no point researching this problem area iii. There should be more that one (1) possible solution to the problem identified. It is very important and of a high significance that one chooses a research topic which is of significance to the current scenario in the society and one’s field of study. One therefore has to select research topics pertaining to business and management practices. Relevance is the key word in this regard. A clear understanding of the assignment will allow the student to focus on other aspects of the process, such as choosing a brilliant topic, which is, identifying the problem area and identifying their target audience. If a possible research topic is not addressing a priority problem, it is not worthwhile researching into it. To avoid duplication, care must be taken to ensure that the chosen topic has not been researched on. If one can find answers to the identified problem in already available, published or unpublished information, or just by using their common sense, then it will not be worthwhile conducting the research on the selected topic. Where it has been established that the problem area has already been researched into, the researcher must investigate whether the most important aspects of the problem area(s) still require some answers or the answers gathered by the predecessor researcher does not address the problem in its entirety. In this case, the same topic could be chosen otherwise the topic should be dropped. One of the most common difficulties in selecting a research topic is focusing on appropriate questions. Initially it might appear that the most exciting, interesting and relevant questions require a 10 year research programme, a team of research assistants and a multi-million research budget! But that isnt actually the case. The question here is, â€Å"how can you make sure that the research project is feasible, manageable and do-able within the normal constraints that he/ she will find themselves in? There are several practical considerations that almost always need to be considered when deciding on the feasibility of a research project. First, the researcher has to think about how long the research will take to accomplish. In addition, the researcher has to question whether there are important ethical constraints that need consideration. Also, one needs to establish whether they can achieve the needed cooperation to take the research project to its successful conclusion. Last and most importantly, the researcher should consider how significant the costs of conducting the research will be. Failure to consider any of these factors can be disastrous to the whole exercise. In general it is advisable for the one conducting the research to choose a topic that has the interest and support of the relevant authorities. This will increase the chance that the results of the study will be implemented. Topics that do not have the support or backing of the decision makers should be avoided as chances are they might never be implemented. In choosing a good research topic, the researcher must also consider the urgency in the needed research results for making a decision or developing interventions. Consideration must be given to which research should be done first and which could be done later. In effect, if the research cannot be done in a timely manner, then it better left not looking into. Topics or problem area that has been identified should be ethically acceptable. The researcher must be mindful of the possibility of their chosen area causing harm to others. We should consider whether there are any relevant ethical issues associated with our chosen area. If we happen to think our research isn’t ethical, we must drop the topic. In relation to the second part of the question which requires us to give five (5) examples of a good research topic and justify why we have chose them are as follow: Why doesn’t the average Ghanaian feel the effect of low inflation in their pockets? There have been impressive stories about declining inflation rates in Ghana in the past few months. The Ghana Statistical Services recently reported that inflation rate has decreased from 15. 2% in December 2003 to 8. 8% in January 2013. But while officials are painting a rather rosy picture of the economy, the average Ghanaian feels very ambivalent about these reported rates for the simple fact that they can hardly see the impact on their everyday cost of living. Economists have debated the seriousness of inflation since time immemorial, yet its economic cost remains ambiguous. It seems no matter the real economic cost of inflation, it does not show a real picture in the cost of living of the average Ghanaian. The confusion surrounding inflation rates in Ghana has to do with measurement problems. There are about three (3) ways of measuring inflation, that is, by the consumer Price Index (CPI), Producer Price Index (PPI) and the Gross National Product (GNP) deflator. The most commonly used index in Ghana is the CPI. Conducting a research on this problem area will inform us whether the CPI way of calculating the inflation rates reflects the actual state of the economy. In addition, we will figure out whether the various consumer products included are realist. The pricing structure of housing units in Ghana, how can it ever be regulated? Compared with other advanced countries, Ghana’s housing industry is at a rudimentary stage. High property prices particularly in the urban centres fuelled by a rapidly growing middle class and an uncontrollable urbanization have turned the housing industry into one of the critical developmental issues facing policy makers. It has been argued that the boom in the housing sector is largely driven by the surge to remittances. Others are of the opinions that the sector has experienced growth mainly because non-resident Ghanaians who have access to low-interest global funds are increasingly investing in the housing sector. If this is the case, then how come houses in Ghana are not affordable? A study into this area to a large extent will reveal the factors driving the pricing of housing units and alternative ways to make houses affordable to the middle class. Women in the corporate management, are they really improving performance? The impact of gender diversity and corporate leadership is not a new phenomenon. Gender diversity within senior management teams has become an increasingly topical issue for three related reasons. First, although the proportion of women at board level generally remains very low, it is changing across the world. Second, government intervention in this area has increased. About seven (7) countries have passed legislation mandating female board representatives to address the issue of fairness and equity. The third and most interesting of the debate around this topic has shifted from an issue equity and fairness to a question of superior performance over their male counterparts. If gender diversity on an entity’s board implies greater profitability then it would make sense to have more women in senior management regardless of government directive. This topic is of interest to a large number of people and as such has a lot literature available on it. It will make a brilliant research topic for these reasons. Are auditors really independent as they are perceived to be? Auditor independence has been termed the cornerstone of the auditing profession, since it is the foundation for the public’s trust in the attest function. However, auditors are faced with pressure to compete among themselves and the likelihood of them not being completely independent has increased overtime that is, staying in business over conforming to ethical requirements. A research in this area will inform us on the actual or perceived independence of auditors and how the business and ethical aspects can be managed. There will be a great literature review on this subject as are result of the Eron scandal in 2011, plus it is of interest to the corporate world. The social network phenomenon, Is it doing more harm than good to our relationships? It is a known fact there are many positives to social media and like everything, there is always a negative to balance the source. As social networks like facebook, twitter, myspace, instagram etc have left positive tracks within our lives; it has also affected us by turning us against one another. Social media whether we like it or not affects our relationships from family, both nuclear and extended, friends, schoolmates, work colleagues, marriages, dating partners, the list goes on and on. The question here is whether the positive effects outweighs the negatives and vice versa. A study in this area will help conclude if social media is worth it after all, on our various relationships. The importance of choosing a good research topic is the primary key to unlocking a successful research exercise. Getting the research question right is an essential, although not always a straightforward step in any research project. Settling on a research question is often difficult to do in isolation, therefore obtaining advice from experts and colleagues, collecting information from the literature and developing an awareness of the context in which the research is likely to be undertaken will all contribute to a successful outcome.

Legalization of Assault Rifles Debate: Personal Opinion

Legalization of Assault Rifles Debate: Personal Opinion Nathan Eakin When faced with a situation that puts harm into the family’s life, anyone would like reliable weapon to protect them. Assault rifles are an accurate weapon and that’s why a lot of gun enthusiast collect them and build them. Coming from the standpoint of an enthusiast, a lot of people rarely get out and shoot all their guns that they have. Now the only thing everybody hears is people talking negatively about them, and about how dangerous they are. If the government banned the semi-auto assault rifle it would cause a huge wave of a black markets and a lot of fighting if they tried to come abolish already owned weapons. But still they are trying to change the Second amendment even though it declares the right to bear arms which then can be extended to semi-auto weapons that are now getting debated on the legalization (Acosta, Luis). The modern assault rifle was made back at the end of World War 2 and Vietnam. There have been several different types of assault weapons made. Back in 1963 the first AR like guns were sold to the public. There are several different types of assault weapons made. And most of these are available to the public. The M16 and M1A1 were the first modern assault rifles. They were used in the military through Vietnam. Now mainly all for sale is the AR15. The AR15 uses .223 rounds and some can shoot the 5.56 (†The Truth About Assault Weapons†). These are the main weapons that are being debated on. A lot of people don’t actually know what assault weapons are. Now there are so many types of old military weapons that are open to the public. There are lots of types of semi-auto weapons for sale. These weapons you can pretty much go anywhere and buy them. You also can obtain full automatic weapons through a long process of back ground checks and fingerprints. All of these assault weapons are getting debated now. This whole debate isn’t just on one gun either. It’s on several different weapons, magazines, ammunition amounts. They disagree on a lot of these things. The NRA is a huge group that is against the banning of all these weapons. They have several different classes you can take for safety, basics, and all hunting tutorials. The NRA is a huge group with thousands of members that all are gun enthusiasts that know all about the real use for weapons. They are a great organization to talk to about some of the information and the sides to this debate (James A. Peden and Mark Yaworski). The banning of assault rifles would cause a huge fight in the United States. Most of the people that use the assault rifle are professionals that use them for a lot of competitions. A lot of people are against it just because they have large magazines and they can be shot in a very fast manner. They think they are some kind of killing machine, even though it’s not guns that kill people, people kill people. Even though 69% of murders used with firearms are with pistols and shotguns not assault rifles. This shows that assault weapons aren’t the most dangerous thing out there. Even though all the professionals have been shooting for several years, and more than likely have their conceal carry permit and have went through so many different types of classes of safety people still worry about them. There is a lot of time and dedication to obtain this permit. First you have to get a back ground check, and then you have to get a fingerprinted. Last you have to get approved by t he sheriff’s office. There are a lot of classes a lot of them take for safety and practice. This helps the person with their overall shooting ability. They all have been trained in great manners and banning this gun could hurt the professional’s careers. A lot of people use these weapons to protect them. Assault rifles are an overall great gun to use for protection around the home. They are an accurate weapon, if you need to shoot several times you can. Everybody knows the look of these guns, and the crook or robber probably would immediately run as soon as he saw it in your hands. He would more than completely second guess trying something that could possibly hurt you. It’s a great weapon to teach your kids how to shoot and how to safely operate a weapon. It’s not a terribly loud gun and it doesn’t kick much, and it’s just a .223 which is very small rifle round. They guns are very accurate up to long ranges and can be an accurate weapon at short and close shots to. The way these guns are made is to shoot several rounds at a fast past and to be able to keep the gun in the same spot. These weapons are what most of the military personal use. That kind of shows how amazing these guns are. In the long run they are a great weapon to have around the house and a great weapon to protect your family with. Even people that are doing research on this exact topic find that 69% of firearm murders happen with pistols and hunting weapons like shotguns. Pistols are such a small weapon but can sure pack a punch. They can be easily hidden anywhere, some are decently accurate depending on the shooter, and you still have 14 rounds in most magazines. And most of people against this topic always bring up the magazine capacity, even though some are 10 and some are 30. But still assault rifles aren’t too much more powerful at the same range as pistols. Assault rifles are great at long distances but still a pistol you can put in your pocket and have 15 rounds ready to go. With an assault rifle they would see you carrying a big gun into wherever you are and everybody would freak out. Assault rifles aren’t made for close range especially if you have a zoomed optic so it’s pointless to use one close. All these points really show that assault rifles aren’t meant to hurt people . They are used for long range target practice, coyote hunting, etc. Despite all the information on my side, most of the other people on the other side think about how dangerous the weapons are to them and everyone around them. They think that since they can carry several rounds and they can be shot at high rates of fire they are bad weapons for people to have. Even though you have to go through a lot of papers, back ground checks, fingerprints, etc. Some people just don’t trust other people which is understandable, but it’s not fair for most of the people that just want to shoot and hunt with. People now have to go through all these processes to just get a gun. Even some weapons that are classified in class A and B you have to go through longer processes that can take several months just to get the weapon you want. To conclude this paper, the decision they should make is assault rifles shouldn’t be debate or banned in any form. I can understand regulating the magazine size and categorize it as a class 2 type of material. From all the details and research that has been done it’s safe to say that assault rifles aren’t the most dangerous think out there. Pistols and hunting weapons still come in with the higher percentages. Not only are assault rifles very high in price, mainly gun enthusiasts are the only ones interested in these weapons. In the end it would cause several different problems for all of America. It could cause some people to attack back against the law ans government. It could cause a huge black market of assault weapons which can make everything a lot harder for people to solve murders because the gun wouldn’t be registered to anyone. All these reasons show that banning assault weapons wouldn’t be the best idea. Works Cited Acosta, Luis. United States: Gun Ownership and the Supreme Court. Second Amendment. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2014. http://www.loc.gov/law/help/second-amendment.php Everything You Need to Know about the Assault Weapons Ban, in One Post. Washington Post. The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2014. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/12/17/everything-you-need-to-know-about-banning-assault-weapons-in-one-post/ GUN CONTROL and THE SECOND AMENDMENT. GUN CONTROL and THE SECOND AMENDMENT. Tntech, n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2014.http://iweb.tntech.edu/kosburn/history-201/second-amendment.htm James A. Peden and Mark Yaworski. And, You Can Join the NRA Right Now..click Here. National Rifle Association Information Page. Vermont Friends of the NRA, n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2014. http://www.middlebury.net/nra/ Mathews, Jake. For Lives and Liberty: Banning Assault Weapons in America. The Institute of Politics at Harvard University. N.p., n.d. http://www.iop.harvard.edu/lives-and-liberty-banning-assault-weapons-america Sherfinski, David. Six in 10 Favor Ban on Semi-automatic Weapons: Poll. Washington Times. The Washington Times, n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2014. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/2/poll-6-10-favor-ban-semi-automatic-weapons/ The Truth About Assault Weapons. The Truth About Assault Weapons. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2014. . United States Senator Dianne Feinstein. Assault Weapons Ban Summary. Senator Dianne Feinstein, n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2014. http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/assault-weapons-ban-summary