Using Balanced Scorecard in ENOC

Using Balanced Scorecard in ENOC Introduction First developed by Robert Kaplan and David Norton at Harvard University, the Balanced Scorecard BSC approach has become a major method for corporations to improve their performance, with studies indicating that more than 66% of the companies that implemented the approach realized a significant increase in profitability (Kaplan Norton, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Using Balanced Scorecard in ENOC specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, a number of local governments, military and national civil organizations have been using a BSC approach to improve their performances. In the UAE, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) is one of the best examples of corporations that are applying the BSC to set its goals and achieve the desired objectives. The company has rolled out several programs to apply BSC in line with its goals and objectives with an aim of promoting human capital development by focu sing on the young UAE nationals with their careers for the better future. The company started adopting the concept of BSC in 2009 on a number of levels, with about 35 scorecards implemented in all business units. According to analysts, the company has attained some impressive milestones with BSC. For instance, customer satisfaction, enhancing efficiency in operations and promoting Emiratization is some of the significant outcomes of the approach. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of the outcomes of using BSC need be studied every year to determine the progress. There is a need for additional studies show how the company has achieved the desired goals using the BSC. The results of the study are applicable not only in academics, but also in management and policy making in order to provide analysts, policy makers and corporate leaders utilize the information to enhance the quality of their professional decisions. Aims and objectives The purpose of this study is to develop a c omprehensive analysis of BSC application and use at ENOC. The research uses a qualitative approach to describe the level of outcomes of BSC at the company since the approach was adopted in 2009. The research aims to interview some professionals and executive individuals at the company in order to determine the level of BSC as well as the outcomes of the approach.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Key Research questions What strategies has ENOC employed in applying and using BSC? What are the corporate expectations of using the BSC At what levels are BSC approach applied at ENOC? What are the outcomes of using ENOC in terms of corporate performance? Review of literature Although it is a recent approach, balanced scorecard has become popular with most organizational leaders in the modern context. By definition, the BSC is a methodological tool composed of a set of b oth financial and non-financial measures regarding to the success factors of a given company or organization (Kaplan Norton, 2011). It reflects that need for strong and effective organizational activities used to create value. Since its development, BSC has widely been studied from a practical perspective where case studies are used to examine its effectiveness as well as differences in corporate performance between the organizations that adopt and those that fail to adopt the concepts of BSC (Akkermans von Oorschot, 2002). In addition, it has been studied by examining the differences in performance or outcomes between the departments that adopt and those that fail to adopt the concepts. From these studies, a number of observations have been made, most of which provide a clear indication that BSC is an important tool in measuring and enhancing performance in organizations. According to Ashurst and Doherty (2013), it has been shown that BSC ensures that strategic initiatives that f ollow best practices are cascaded throughout the entire organization, which helps in increasing creativity and other ideas that are not expected prior to the adoption of the concept. The author further indicates that BSC helps organizational leaders to overcome three foundational problems that cause challenges in the work of management- performance measurement, strategic implementation and rise of intangible assets. According to Kaplan and Norton (2010), the traditional methods of measuring financial performance fail to reflect critical aspects of the modern business environment and fails to encourage thinking on a long-term basis. Thus, BSC is set to deal with this problem. Secondly, it has been shown that intangible assets have the capacity to create more than 75% of the value that organizations achieve per given time (Kaplan Norton, 2010). With the traditional methods, it was not possible to measure and use these assets.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Using Balanced Scorecard in ENOC specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the other hand, the concept of BSC is effective in providing the metrics required to measure and use these assets effectively (Abushaia Zainuddin, 2012). Moreover, BSC deals with the problem of successfully implementing strategies by working with vision, people and management of resources and barriers to development. In this context, BSC helps in measuring the strategy and the process of executing the strategy. It describes the strategy in s consistent manner throughout the company (Kaplan, Norton HorvÐ ±th, 2006). According to Inamdar, Kaplan and Bower (2012), BSC articulates how an organization creates value for its owners or shareholders by displaying the key priorities as well as relationships between the outcomes and the factors that enable performance. In other words, it displays the relationships between cause and effects in an organization in order to measure pe rformance and create value for the shareholders (Frost, 2012). Methodology Study design A qualitative study was developed to examine the effects of balanced scorecard BSC at ENOC. In this case, ENOC was used as a case study in order to examine how organizations adopt the concept of BSC and the benefits that come along with the idea. The idea was to interview leading corporate managers and leaders at the company in order to draw information from their experiences with the company and the concept of BSC used therein. Study sample The study focused on interviewing two managers at ENOC. The managers were chosen because they have been involved in the implementation and maintenance of the BSC concept since it was adopted in 2009. Secondly, six employees were interviewed to determine their perceptions and experience with the idea of BSC at their workplace. The idea is to determine the outcomes of the BSC concept at the workplaces. The inclusion criterion was to interview individuals who ha d been at the company for at least 5 years since 2009.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Data collection Interviews were used to collect information from the target corporate leaders and employees. Each interview took a maximum period of 15 minutes. Structured interview questions were used, with the interviewers playing the role of directing the mood of the discussion. Results Saeed Khoory, the CEO of ENOC, said that the company used the BSC to help it uphold the highest values across all the aspects of the organization. In addition, the CEO said that using BSC was aimed at promoting excellence across all the entities by focusing on continuous improvement and adopting BSC as one of the best international tools for management. He further notes that the tool is a gold standard against which benchmarking of the company’s growth goals id done. Salah Galadari, the director of business planning and performance management at the company, reported that adopting the BSC concept was aimed at streamlining the company’s strategic growth. The six employees reported tha t they were satisfied with the new methodology because it encouraged them to work for the good of the organization as well as personal development as an employee. It provides them with an opportunity to be part of the organization process. Conclusion From the interview, it was found that ENOC uses several initiatives to implement BSC. The idea of Emiratisation program is developed and implemented through five levels that are supported by BSC- Mahaweb, Tadreeb, Ajyaa, Imtiaz and Tatweer. They focus on developing behavioral, managerial, professional and leadership skills for the national workforce. The results indicate that BSC has huge benefits for the organization because it aids in aligning people, processes and resources towards enhancing production and performance. BSC has helped the company integrate employees, processes and customers in the vital focus on development and growth. Therefore, the company has attained some impressive milestones with BSC. For instance, customer sati sfaction, enhancing efficiency in operations and promoting Emiratization is some of the significant outcomes of the approach. The company uses balanced scorecard to articulate how it creates value for the government and the public by displaying some key priorities as well as relationships between the outcomes and the factors that enable performance. References Abushaia, J. A., Zainuddin, I. (2012). Performance measurement system design, competitive capability, and performance consequences – A conceptual like. International Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 3(11), 184-193. Akkermans, H., von Oorschot, K. (2002). Developing a Balanced Scorecard with System Dynamics. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 12(2), 349-352. Ashurst, C., Doherty, N. F. (2013). Towards the formulation of â€Å"a best practice† framework for benefits realization in IT projects. Electronic Journal of Information Systems Evaluation, 6(3), 1-10 Frost, B. (2012). Measuring performan ce: Seven good reasons to use a scorecard. Performance perspective series, 3(2), 214-251. Inamdar, N., Kaplan, R. S., Bower, M. (2012). Applying the balanced scorecard in healthcare provider organizations. Journal of healthcare management/American College of Healthcare Executives, 47(3), 179-95. Kaplan, R. S., Norton, D. P. (2010). The balanced scorecard: translating strategy into action. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Press. Kaplan, R. S., Norton, D. P. (2011). Transforming the balanced scorecard from performance measurement to strategic management. Accounting horizons, 15(1), 87-104. Kaplan, R. S., Norton, D. P., HorvÐ ±th, P. (2006). The balanced scorecard. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

les demoiselles davignon essays

les demoiselles d'avignon essays Classical artists will always be remembered for building the foundations of art. However, there were many revolutionary artists after their time that revolutionized art into what it is today. Impressionists, led by Claude Monet, formed a group of artists originally rejected from the academies to paint in their own "objective reality." They painted art as sifted through their senses; taking into account the environment's affect on an object or placing the focus on everyday activity, the impressionists helped redefine art. While they started the process of the transformation of art, Pablo Picasso advanced it many times over, changing the face of art more profoundly then any other artist. Picasso painted art by what views he saw in his head and imagination, not by how his eyes or other senses interpreted a scene. He shamelessly broke all the classical rules of three-dimensional space, colors, figures and subject matter. In a style called "cubism", Picasso painted one of the most pivota l works of art in history, and began a new era with a single work of art. In Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, he painted his initial attempt at breaking all classical rules and changed the world of painting forever. One aspect of Pablo Picasso's art that distinguishes him from earlier artists is the lack of three-dimensional space displayed in his art. In Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, the five lady figures seem to be enveloped in what might be construed as the background. In contrast to earlier Raphael paintings for instance, where red drapery serves as a frame for Mary and baby Jesus, Picasso's figures appear to be actually wearing the drapery. The far woman on the left appears without clothes, except for the piece of red drapery strewn across the right side of her body. Each successive figure shows her full body with the exception of where the drapery covers her. By redefining the three-dimensional space and forcing the characters to take on the full focus of th...

Case study 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Case study 1 - Assignment Example The child’s presence should also be used as a learning opportunity for other children (Marotz 102). In case of seizure, in a classroom, the teacher is required to attend to the child in order to avoid further worsening of the situation. The teacher should ensure the children are calm and control the situation. His presence is necessary; the child should be put in the same immobile position as they await medical help. The child’s condition should be evaluated by paying attention to breathing, open airway and circulation. The child’s cloth should be loosened around the neck. There should be no sharp objects around the child to prevent any injury. Seizure comes in various intensity and type. They are often caused by rush of abnormal electric impulses in the brain which trigger involuntary or unmanageable movements in different parts of the body. Some seizure result into momentary attention while others result into interruption of thought. The teacher should arrange safe environments and master emergency response techniques. In case, the situation persists, the teacher is required to seek medical attention. Teachers are supposed to complete a written document, which report their observations during the seizure. This should be placed in the child’s permanent health file. The document should have the following information on the child; child’s name, time and date of seizure, events before seizure, duration of seizure, nature, and location of convulsive movements, condition of child during the seizure, condition of child after seizure, and name of person who observed the report (Marotz

Improving One's Writing Skills via Mastering Literal Skills Essay - 2

Improving One's Writing Skills via Mastering Literal Skills - Essay Example The meticulously written articles in magazines and graphically vivid details illustrated by novel writers tend to be attractive, and challenging in willing me to write similar pieces of literal work but with my touch of originality. Writing began with writing letters to my friends back in Korea and informing them of the changes and differences in culture between the two countries. The intriguing part was the ability to capture the details and put them in a new language portraying my actual emotions and interests abut a new country. I also kept a diary and a journal to document the everyday occurrences in my life, as well as all my embarrassing moments. I find writing enjoyable as I can express that which I feel without any inhibitions of offending others or having to withhold my true emotions. This is achieved through keeping a diary and writing short stories, although not everyone gets to read them, except my close friends and family. In addition, writing helps to think clearly by putting my train of thought in sequential order for later reference. This way it helps organize my thoughts to come up with logical explanations and rational thought thus my love for writing. My writing ability is not that good yet, but I enjoy writing any works that I can think of. I believe I hold good potential in bettering my writing skills to a higher level of communication and interaction with the readers of my works. I think I lack the ability to draw and capture the attention of readers for extended periods. This is in terms of holding their attention and keeping them interested as most of my works tend to be a rollercoaster of interest and disinterest, all depending on the readers emotional and logical inclination. In this course, I hope to develop the ability to master literal skills so that my written works do not end up sounding bland, general or below par.  

Autobiography Essay Essay Example for Free

Autobiography Essay Essay Many people in today’s society think just because I am a young lady I have an easy fun filled life. Well, that is not true. Life has many ups and downs but it is up to us whether we want it to be a successful one or not. Life is filled with obstacles for us to overcome no matter how tragic. Back in 2009, the most unexpected tragedy I thought that would never happen occurred. My grandfather died in September and my grandmother died in December. It was a hard and difficult time for me because they both died within a matter of four months apart from each other. Another incident occurred that was almost fatal. My brother was involved in a car accident in Kemp Road last year May. The accident was so horrific, the right side of his body was paralyzed. He had to do therapy at Doctors Hospital so he could drive and walk properly again. Sometime in everyone’s life, they are either nervous or scared to take an examination. I had my experience of nervousness when I had to take my national examination. In the Bahamas, the national examination is a test students would have to take for the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (B.G.C.S.E.) or the Bahamas Junior Certificate (B.J.C.). The exam I had to take was Music which consists of theory and a practical exam. Theory means to listen to a musical piece and answer questions about it and practical means to play a musical piece. When it was my turn to perform my musical piece, I panicked but I tried my best to keep calm. Yes, millions of butterflies were in my stomach just like any other person would have before a big exam like that one. As I played my piece, the millions of butterflies I was experiencing were decreasing by each note I played. By the time as I finished playing my piece, I was confident I passed and I did with a B. One of my greatest successes I achieved in my life is graduating from Aquinas College Catholic High School and receiving my diploma. I was very  satisfied with my accomplishment and achievement and made my parents proud. My other success in life is obtaining my driver’s license. For a teenager, having your license is a big deal because it is one step closer to freedom. Most persons could not say they have their first godchild until the age of 30, but I had the privilege of having my first godchild at the age of 16. Her name is Danielle Rigby and she is my pride and joy. Some other successes in my life are cooking and playing the flute from the age of 10, playing my clarinet from the age of 15 and being accepted into the great Bethune Cookman University. Some of the Bahamian dishes I can make are curry chicken and white rice, friend plankton, potato salad, BBQ ribs, minced lobster and many more. I have been playing the flute for nine years and counting, and I treat it just like a young baby. My future goals and aspirations are to graduate from college with honors, obtain a career where I can prove I am worth being there by working to the best of my ability and having a family of my own someday. All of these things I went through to become the young lady I am today. This is my life, my story.

Constitutional Framers Essay -- American History, The Federalists

The Confederation congress was plagued with problems as the former colonies struggled to form a national identity. The lack of permanent physical location and united national government led to problems of inaction, following the Revolutionary war. â€Å"Congress’s lack of power and frequent inability to act (often due to a lack of quorum or the need for a supermajority for certain decisions) demanded reform† (Wirls 58). The founding fathers agreed on the need for a stronger national government however two opposing groups argued about the nature of its composition. Federalists argued for a strong national government, with a few representatives, removed the day to day local political affairs. They desired a group of political elite leaders, free to make decisions based on national interests. In order to promote an independent nature within the senate, Federalists promoted long terms, some advocating lifetime appointments. The anti-Federalists rejected the ide a of permanent elite and instead promoted a large number of representatives with small groups of political constituents. Rather than the crà ¨me de la crà ¨me of society, anti-Federalists promoted a kaleidoscope vision; representatives would personally reflect the interests of their constituents. During the final constitutional plan for the U.S. Senate a compromise was reached between the two groups; the anti-Federalist views were incorporated in the equal apportionment and appointment by the states, Federalists promoted independence in the senate by instituting staggered six year terms. The compromise between the Federalist and anti-Federalist was reached through a series of decisions, in part helped by the fact that those against strengthening the Federal governme... ...the senate, the convention was able to move forward in forming a national government with responsibilities and rights separate from those of the states. The Federalists were able to preserve the independence of the senate through six year terms and more stringent eligibility requirements than those for the House of Representatives. The eventual formation of a separate national capital ensured the both physically as well as psychologically desired independence of the senate and congress desired by the Federalists. The members of both sides present shared a mutual understanding of the need for a senate in a stronger national system. The decisions which lead to the compromise resulted in the creation of a senate through the Constitution which included both Federalist and anti-Federalist views as well as creating unintended consequences neither side anticipated.

How Life Was Growing Up Essay

Being the youngest sibling of three has always been hard on me. I was the only girl and growing up with my two brothers has always had its downfalls. I not only had to be around my brothers at all times, I was also surrounded by too many male cousins. Quite frankly, I can count how many female cousins I have in one hand. It is a real shame what a girl had to do just to be one of the guys. I was seven years old at the time and I still remember what happened like it was just yesterday. For the summer break my brothers and I along with our cousins stayed with our grandparents. My grandparents own acres and acres of land in the Philippines. Day by day we did nothing but run around the field, tackled each other, scared off the animals, and climbed trees. One summer day, we were playing tag and two of my cousins mentioned that they were getting bored. We then started playing truth or dare. Everything was going smoothly until I was dared to climb the highest tree my grandparents had. I was dared to climb the tree to picked fruits for everyone. Without thinking about it, I climbed the tree so fast with confidence I thought I was a super girl. However, what they did not know was I was scared of heights. I was trying my best to hide my fear, but as I looked down the ground, I started screaming for help. I watched my cousins along with my brothers laughed so hard few tears were coming down the side of their eyes. I then started crying out for help. Eventually one of my brothers came to my rescue. However as I was going down, one of my feet slipped. As I tried grabbing on to something for support, my life flashed before my eyes. As I was falling, nothing but grasp for air was the only sound you could hear. I fell onto the ground twelve feet high and fracture my forearm. It has been 18 years since the incident happened. Until this day, the memory of how I broke my arm still lives on through gathering with my families. As an adult, we still tend to make silly decision just to fit in. Whether it is done at work, around new people, around in-laws, and even around your own family, impressions are still a great deal for every single individual. No matter how young or old you may be, silly actions are bound to happen.

High School Dropouts and Crime

WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS TO LEAD CRIMINAL LIVES? Michael Webbers 13APRIL2013 Criminology ADJ 107 Spring 2013 Professor George D. McMillan Purpose:It is extremely important to get an education and graduate high school. Without obtaining a high school diploma, a GED or College Degree, an individual will likely experience great difficulties in finding and obtaining a job. As a result of such basic educational requirements enforced by society and more specifically employers†¦ an individual may also have a difficult time functioning and earning a reasonable income. Additionally, with no financial resources to support a family, this puts the individual in the bottom 5 to 16 percent of Americans whom we deem to be in poverty. With crime most apparent in the lower- and underclass, we can make the assumption that a lot of dropouts come from these groups of individuals. To make a difference, we must start where there is the greatest chance of dropouts, and that of cours e is at the bottom of the societal pyramid. So, if we reduce the dropout rates, it may help with the crime rates.The intent of this research proposal is to better understand the cause of dropouts and the affect they have on society. More importantly, it is to identify the problems so that the juvenile system can help prevent further continuance and ultimately reduce the underclass crime rate in dropouts. In efforts to help diminish the dropout rate, it can: (1) stimulate the economy; (2) decrease the amount of unemployment; and (3) cut the size of the underclass in half, which in turn will decrease the vast majority of visible crime.By making it difficult for high school students to become predisposed to poverty and crime, we can improve the outcome for future generations. I want to better understand the internal cause of this phenomenon, but in order to do that we have to start from the external cause. I am going to be looking at how society is affected, as well as, how they affect the dropouts. On my search for information, I will try and obtain an interview with some old schoolmates who dropped out during our Sophomore year at West Springfield High School.The reason they dropped out was always a mystery to me, and I always just thought to myself that, â€Å"These people must be stupid, so they dropout. † I was quick to learn how ignorant I was myself. Background:High school graduation was never really tracked until the late 1900's. 3 So, dropout rates were never really a sought after statistic. Archived data has now been used to understand the graduation rates dating back almost a century ago. In 1870, the earliest date on record, only 2 percent of 17-year-olds in the nation had a secondary-level education.In 1940, for the first time, half of all students finished high school. Although graduation did not become an established norm until the 1950s, the U. S. graduation rate reached its historical high point at the end of the 1960s, with the graduation rate peaking at 77 percent in 1969. 3 It looked as though high school graduation was becoming a trend, but something must have happened after Class of '69 to cause the national average to drop more than ten percent in just over 30 years.In the late 1980's, when modern-day data became readily available to public schools, the graduation rate slowly was on the decline from record highs of around 70 percent. 3 The graduation rate plummeted during the early 1990s, eventually stabilizing around 66 percent by the end of the decade. As stated by the EPE Research Center, 2010; U. S. Department of Education, â€Å"since then, [graduation rate] has generally been characterized by gradual but steady improvements. The class of 2005 was once again earning diplomas at a pace last seen in the early 1990s.However, two consecutive annual declines since then have eroded the nation’s graduation rate, which stood at slightly less than 69 percent for the class of 2007†. 3 With all this tal k about graduating or not, the underlying reasons for the decline were unheard of; dropping out to help support their family financially, to pursue work, or probably the worst thing that can happen from dropping out of high school – living the criminal lifestyle. Key Questions: What actually defines a high school dropout? What provokes students to drop out of high school?What is the dropout rate of high school students in Virginia? How do high school dropouts affect society? Are high school dropouts more prone to lead criminal lives? How can society go about preventing future dropouts? Introduction:Every year nationwide, thousands of students dropout of high school. Of these students, 54 percent of dropouts ages 16 to 24 were jobless, compared with 32 percent for high school graduates of the same age, and 13 percent for those with a college degree. 8 High school dropouts are a very serious topic in modern-day society.With such a debate about taxes and who should be paying for what, it is important to get an education; not only to voice an opinion, but not to be a detriment to the economy as a teen/young adult. High school dropouts hurt the economy, costing the federal government millions of tax payers dollars. Since dropouts are more prone to lead a lifestyle involved with drugs, alcohol, and early pregnancy, it is crucial to identify individuals early in their high school career, and give them the assistance needed to stay in school.By taking action in helping the community decrease the dropout rate and encourage more students to graduate, we can help our economy save billions of dollars a year. An increase in graduation rates can mean less tax payer money towards school assistance programs, and more tax payers to pay the government to maintain our cities and keep crime off the streets. According to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Research Center, â€Å"poor earning power, unemployment, or frustration,†1 may lead individuals to commit criminal acts.Crime rates in Virginia are still on the low end of the spectrum, but by decreasing dropouts, we can keep the crime rates even lower. By helping in our community and informing schools of the ongoing problem, it is possible to make a tremendous difference in our economic state. What actually defines a dropout? In Virginia, we use the definition that was determined by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Stated by the NCES, â€Å"a dropout is an individual who was enrolled in school at some time during the previous school year but was not enrolled on October 1 of the current school year.Or, they were not enrolled on October 1 of the previous school year although expected to be in membership; and – has not graduated from high school or completed a state- or district-approved educational program, and – does not meet any of the following exclusions: transfer to another public school district, private school, or state- or district-ap proved education program; temporary school-recognized absence due to suspension or illness; death†. 2 The state does not consider students a dropout by merely not attending school, although that is the only way to pass and get a diploma, it is based on the students actual enrollment.What provokes students to drop out of high school? There are many factors that cause students to drop out of high school. Without identifying the specific cause for dropouts, it is hard to know how to help prevent it. One significant factor influencing high school dropout rates is family income. Along with income, older siblings or friends can influence dropouts by dropping out themselves and ensuring it is the right thing to do. Ultimately, dropouts can be triggered due to the racial and gender attacks that seem more relevant these days. According to the U.S. Department of Education, students from low-income families are six times more likely to drop out of high school than students from high-inco me families. 2 In other words, due to the predisposition to a life of poverty, it is more likely the student will end up in poverty due to incompletion of high school. While living in poverty, school may not be the first thing on a students mind. Survival is always the most important factor to human beings. Without means of surviving, humans can't accommodate the other necessities, like getting a high school education.At a young age, it is really hard to keep oneself away from drugs, alcohol, and crime. Students whose parents have low expectations are also more likely to dropout of high school and resort to crime by means of rebelling against their parents. A study done by the New York Times demonstrated that, â€Å"[high school dropouts] will commit crimes to get an adrenaline rush and so that they can release some built up stress from the household†. 8 What this means is that students have too much time on their hands, and too little time is spent concentrating on school wo rk.Either the parents do not stress the importance of homework, or they are not there to help the student when he or she is struggling in class What is the dropout rate of high school students in Fairfax County, Virginia? Fairfax County, Virginia projected a much lower dropout rate in contrast with the national average. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), â€Å"Virginia's high school dropout rates have decreased in recent years†,2 and subsequently the â€Å"Virginia's property crime rate (as measured per 100,000 population) was 2,250, a decline again from the previous year†. Virginia has been on a good trend of ‘cleaning our act up' when it comes to turning around our educational system. According to the NCES: Virginia had the 14th lowest dropout rate in the country. Virginia's 2009 rate was also lower than the national rate of 4. 1 percent and the rates of its peer states. Tennessee's dropout rate in 2009 was 3. 2 percent, North Car olina was at 5. 3 percent, and Maryland's rate was 3. 0 percent. Wyoming had the lowest dropout rate in the nation in 2009 at 1. 1 percent. How do high school dropouts effect society?High school dropouts destroy the nation’s competitive edge when it comes to education. The U. S. ranks 18th in high school graduation rates among developed countries, and workers with an education beyond high school are predicted to increase by only four percent through 2020. 2 At the same time, the nation’s senior citizen population will greatly increase over the next decade, especially when compared to the number of working-age Americans. This is going to lead to an increase of assisted living senior citizens. Furthermore, high school dropouts earn a tremendous amount less and contribute much less to stimulate the economy.The lifetime income difference between high school graduates and dropouts is estimated to be $260,000; the difference in lifetime income tax payments is $60,000. 6 What this shows is, dropouts alone are going to make a significantly less amount of money, but along side the fact that they live in poverty as a student, this just means they will be in more of a deficit as an adult. The combined lifetime earning losses of one group of 18-year-olds that never completes high school is $156 billion or 1. 3 percent of Gross Domestic Product.So, for example, if the United States was able to cut the number of dropouts in half, in a single cohort of 20-year-olds, the country would gain $45 billion through extra tax revenue and reduced public health, crime and justice, and welfare payment costs. 6 Moreover, families of high school dropouts are likely to be on some form of public assistance. For example, single mothers who lack a high school diploma are very likely to access housing assistance, food stamps, and/or federal assistance to needy families. If all single mothers obtained at least a high school education, the annual cost savings would be $3. billion. 6 We can clearly see that getting an education is crucial if there is any sight of having a family. Without any means of money and no education, it is extremely hard to get a well-paying job to survive in our economy. What is the a connection between dropouts and criminal activity? Dropouts are 3. 5 times more likely to be arrested than high school graduates and more than eight times as likely to be incarcerated, says â€Å"School or the Streets: Crime and America’s Dropout Crisis,† a report from the non-profit organization Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.What this can mean is that dropouts are seeing crime as an alternative. Through music, media, and social networking, students can be often aroused by the thought of stealing, gangs, or even killing to survive. Crime is talked about everywhere, including the news and social networks. To most citizens, it is a mystery at how people can commit such inhumane crimes. This can be understood by knowing the type of environment t hat the individual grew up in. For example, a student whose parents always fight, might come in to school and get in a lot of trouble because his anger towards his parents.On the other hand, if they lived in a neighborhood with gang activity and gun shots at night, they are more inclined to get involved with violent crime later in life. Students who dropout are more likely inclined to a criminal life to survive. A study by the New York Times showed that, male dropouts were 47 times more likely than college graduate to be jailed; more than half, 53 percent to be exact, become recidivists. 8 By preventing dropouts, and increasing the amount of students going to college and continuing education, we can prevent more crime.How can society go about preventing future dropouts? Our society has been trying to combat the increasing number of teens dropping out of high school every day. The Advertising Council and U. S. Army’s high school dropout prevention campaign evolved into the nat ional â€Å"Boost† campaign. This campaign was established to help students get on a better track for graduation. Extra learning assistance offered outside of school, and peer-to-peer learning classes for students to have one-on-one teaching in school.These programs help the students feel more inclined to succeed in high school and fill that gap of time students have after school to get involved with gangs or crime. Another good way the community helps students is by Big Brother Big Sister. They have been proven to help increase student grades, and help make it less likely students will interact with drugs and alcohol. This in turn will prevent students from having exposure to these things, and keep them from experimenting later in life. Also, another program dedicated to keeping students in school and away from crime is BoostUP.This group is sponsored by the AdCouncil and the U. S. Army to help students get support and assistance needed to graduate high school. Methodology:F or a better understanding of high school dropout rates and the cause of them, I would first go to different high schools, in varying income areas, and obtain the names of the students enrolled in the previous year who are not currently enrolled. For example, get a list of students enrolled before October 1, 2010 and then get a list of students who were not enrolled after October 1, 2011, and this will determine the list of dropouts.I would give each dropout a number, and then randomly choose the individuals with a random number selection software. I will have a survey for the student to fill out without the parents in the room; this gives the student the feeling of privacy, and hopefully more honesty in the answers. The questions would be related to how much time they have to do homework and if the parents help them; along with how much time is spent doing chores around the house, and are their parents working a lot or unemployed. The income of the family is one concern, but at the same time, the psychiatric state of the student is most important.If the student is not doing well in school and feels like nothing will change, it can lead the student to be less motivated and more likely to follow the path of dropouts. Understanding a students psychological state of mind can help draw trends about how other students are behaving in school. Field Work For my field work, I got in touch with an old friend to understand the cause of his dropout Sophomore year. At the time, I figured he just dropped out of high school because he was failing his classes. I never thought that there was more to it.I chatted with him over Facebook and asked a couple questions. He asked that I keep it anonymous. What caused you to drop out of high school? â€Å"I was 15 years old, dating [a girl] for almost a year. It was our first time and we didn’t use any protection. I got [her] pregnant and wanted to leave her because I was scared, but my mother told me that ‘You got into this mess, so you have to handle it. ‘ I picked up a job doing yard work with my fathers company and he paid me under the table. I then had to use the money to support my wife, but also asked my mother for some help.When [the baby] was born, my wife and I faced more struggles than we could ever imagine. I was so busy with going to school and passing, my mother took care of my son. Going to school was one of my least concerns, especially since I was always thinking about the child. I didn't think it would impact me so much, but without providing for my own family, I felt like a useless father. At the end of my Freshman year, my father passed away from a heart attack. † How did this effect your family? Peers? â€Å"The event as a whole, dropping out and having a kid so early, really hurt my mother.I felt as though she looked down on me and thought worse of me because I wasn't like all the other kids who go to school. But after my father passed away, I realized how much my mother and siblings needed me there. I stopped attending high school Sophomore year to get a job at McDonalds and to continue working for my fathers company so I could provide for my family. My family wasn't the most wealthy, but we weren't poor. My mother would always talk about me as â€Å"The Man† of the house. She [worked] full time so she wasn't home with all of the kids much.Without a father figure, it is hard to really grow up, and I had to play that role for my younger brother, Juan who was 8 years old at the time. I am now working to get my GED, slowly, but it is in progress. It isn't easy to go back to school after being away from it for so long. Work and family is still my #1 priority, but school is definitely a necessity in this day and age. I lost touch with all my friends, but it's inevitable when you have a child at a young age, and work two jobs. Facebook helps, but I accepted it pretty easily knowing I had the love of my life and a family. What would you hav e done differently to prevent these effects? â€Å"Wear protection! But in all seriousness, I wish I would have completed high school so that it would be easier to support a family. There isn't much you can do to prevent everything else that happened to me. I am glad I could learn from it rather than regress. I am now 22, working two jobs, have a wife, and a five and a half year old son who I provide for. School is extremely important and if you can't make time for that opportunity given to you, then I don't know what else there is to do.I couldn't prevent my fathers death, but I definitely should have gotten my GED sooner. It is hard to think of other ways I could have handled this of situation. † Did dropping out of high school lead you to any crime? Gangs? No, never. My wife and I are very Christian and would never steal or commit crime. Maybe a traffic violation, but never any serious crimes. I have seen too many friends and family live a life of crime, and I have been to more funerals than I would ever like to. It definitely crossed my mind when I was still a teen, but I'm much happier knowing I never resorted to illegal means to make a living.And no, never considered a gang because then it would have defeated my purpose of leaving school – my family. Bibliography Unknown Author. (2010). The Importance of Education. Retrieved from http://education. laws. com/importance-of-education 1 National Center for Education Statistics (February 04, 2013). High School Dropout. Retrieved from http://vaperforms. virginia. gov/indicators/education/hsDropout. php 2 EPE Research Center. (2010). Graduation by the Numbers [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www. edweek. org/ew/articles/2010/06/10/34swanson. h29. html 3 SLJ Staff. (2008).Crime Linked to Dropout Rates, Report Says. Retrieved from http://www. schoollibraryjournal. com/article/CA6590701. html 4 Johnston, Cindy. (2011). Series Overview: The Cost Of Dropping Out. Retrieved from http://www. npr. org 5 Dianda, Marcella R. Ed. D. (November 2008). Preventing Future High School Dropouts: An Advocacy and Action Guide for NEA State and Local Affiliates. Washington, DC: National Education Association. 6 Dillon, Sam. (2009). Study Finds High Rate of Imprisonment Among Dropouts. Retrieved from http://www. nytimes. com/2009/10/09/education/09dropout. html? _r=0 8

effects of marijuna essays

effects of marijuna essays Cannabis Sativa (marijuana) has been thought to be an illegal and very harmful drug for many years. But as you read this report you will learn that marijuana has been around for many years (most years legal) and isn't as harmful as some people may think. Marijuana has been used for many things in the past, including medicine, hemp rope, crude cloth and enjoyment. Now it is mainly used as a narcotic. Marijuana is an illegal weed that grows up to eighteen feet tall with little or no cultivation. The plant has many branches that extend with large, hairy, pointed leaves with saw tooth edges. Marijuana grows wild all over the world and in some states and countries it's legal. Cloth and rope are made from the stem which contains a tough fiber called "hence." The mind-altering drug in marijuana is called "Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannibinol," or THC. The mildest form of marijuana contains between zero to three percent of THC. Most of the THC is contained in the resign, which is secreted around the flowers, seeds, and topmast leaves. Until recently it was thought that only the female plant contained the drug. But it is now known that both the female and the male plants contain THC. THC stays in the body for about 28 days. Marijuana can be prepared many different ways therefore it has many different ways of entering the body. When smoked the THC goes into the lungs, directly into the bloodstream and to every cell in your body. The effects depend upon the level of potency and how much is consumed. The main effects of smoking are: the heart rate may increase from 80 beats to 150 beats a minute, the bronchial tubes enlarge and become relaxed allowing extra oxygen to enter the body, giving a "High" like feeling. There are no immediate physiological effects. The feeling usually lasts from one to three hours. Marijuana can also be ingested as a drink, cakes, brownies or many other foods. When consumed in foods the effects start after one half-hour and ...

Civil War Battle of Fort Pulaski

Civil War Battle of Fort Pulaski The Battle of Fort Pulaski was fought April 10-11, 1862, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Commanders Union Major General David HunterBrigadier General Quincy Gillmore Confederates Colonel Charles H. Olmstead Battle of Fort Pulaski: Background Built on Cockspur Island and completed in 1847, Fort Pulaski guarded the approaches to Savannah, GA. Unmanned and neglected in 1860, it was seized by Georgia state troops on January 3, 1861, shortly before the state left the Union. For much of 1861, Georgia and then Confederate forces worked to strengthen the defenses along the coast. In October, Major Charles H. Olmstead took command of Fort Pulaski and immediately began efforts to improve its condition and enhance its armament. This work resulted in the fort ultimately mounting 48 guns which included a mix of mortars, rifles, and smoothbores. As Olmstead labored at Fort Pulaski, Union forces under Brigadier General Thomas W. Sherman and Flag Officer Samuel Du Pont succeeded in capturing Port Royal Sound and Hilton Head Island in November 1861. In response to the Union successes, the newly-appointed commander of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida, General Robert E. Lee ordered his forces to abandon the outlying coastal defenses in favor of concentrating at key locations further inland. As part of this shift, Confederate forces departed Tybee Island southeast of Fort Pulaski. Coming Ashore On November 25, shortly after the Confederate withdraw, Sherman landed on Tybee accompanied by his chief engineer Captain Quincy A. Gillmore, ordnance officer Lieutenant Horace Porter, and topographical engineer Lieutenant James H. Wilson. Assessing Fort Pulaskis defenses, they requested that a variety of siege guns be sent south including several new heavy rifles. With Union strength on Tybee growing, Lee visited the fort in January 1862 and directed Olmstead, now a colonel, to make several improvements to its defenses including the construction of traverses, pits, and blindage. Isolating the Fort That same month, Sherman and DuPont explored options for bypassing the fort using the adjacent waterways but found that they were too shallow. In an effort to isolate the fort, Gillmore was directed to build a battery on swampy Jones Island to the north. Completed in February, Battery Vulcan commanded the river to the north and west. By the end of the month, it was supported by a smaller position, Battery Hamilton, which was constructed mid-channel on Bird Island. These batteries effectively cut off Fort Pulaski from Savannah. Preparing for the Bombardment As Union reinforcements arrived, Gillmores junior rank became an issue as he was to oversee engineering activities in the area. This resulted in him successfully convincing Sherman to advance him to the temporary rank of brigadier general. As the heavy guns began to arrive at Tybee, Gillmore directed the construction of a series of eleven batteries along the islands northwest coast. In an effort to hide the work from the Confederates, all construction was done at night and covered with brush before dawn. Laboring through March, a complex series of fortifications slowly emerged. Despite work moving forward, Sherman, never popular with his men, found himself replaced in March by Major General David Hunter. Though Gillmores operations were not altered, his new immediate superior became Brigadier General Henry W. Benham. Also an engineer, Benham encouraged Gillmore to quickly finish the batteries. As sufficient artillerymen were not present on Tybee, training also commenced teaching infantrymen how to work the siege guns. With work completed, Hunter desired to commence the bombardment on April 9, however torrential rains prevented the battle from commencing. The Battle of Fort Pulaski At 5:30 AM on April 10, the Confederates awoke to the sight of the completed Union batteries on Tybee which had been stripped of their camouflage. Assessing the situation, Olmstead was disheartened to see that only a few of his guns could bear on the Union positions. At dawn, Hunter dispatched Wilson to Fort Pulaski with a note demanding its surrender. He returned a short time later with Olmsteads refusal. The formalities concluded, Porter fired the first gun of the bombardment at 8:15 AM. While the Union mortars dropped shells on the fort, the rifled guns fired on the barbette guns before switching to reduce the masonry walls at the forts southeast corner. The heavy smoothbores followed a similar pattern and also attacked the forts weaker eastern wall. As the bombardment continued through the day, Confederate guns were put out of action one by one. This was followed by the systematic reduction of Fort Pulaskis southeast corner. The new rifled guns proved particularly effective against its masonry walls. As night fell, Olmstead inspected his command and found the fort in shambles. Unwilling to submit, he elected to hold out. After sporadic firing during the night, the Union batteries resumed their assault the next morning. Hammering Fort Pulaskis walls, the Union guns began opening a series of breaches in the southeast corner of the fort. With Gillmores guns pummeling the fort, preparations for an assault to be launched the next day moved forward. With the reduction of the southeast corner, Union guns were able to fire directly into Fort Pulaski. After a Union shell nearly detonated the forts magazine, Olmstead realized that further resistance was futile. At 2:00 PM, he ordered the Confederate flag lowered. Crossing to the fort, Benham and Gillmore opened surrender talks. These were quickly concluded and the 7th Connecticut Infantry arrived to take possession of the fort. As it was a year since the fall of Fort Sumter, Porter wrote home that Sumter is avenged! Aftermath An early victory for the Union, Benham and Gillmore lost one killed, Private Thomas Campbell of the 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Infantry, in the battle. Confederate losses totaled three severely wounded and 361 captured. A key result of the fight was the stunning performance of the rifled guns. Tremendously effectively, they made masonry fortifications obsolete. The loss of Fort Pulaski effectively closed the port of Savannah to Confederate shipping for the remainder of the war. Fort Pulaski was held by a reduced garrison for the rest of the war, though Savannah would remain in Confederate hands until taken by Major General William T. Sherman in late 1864 at the culmination of his March to the Sea.

Market Structure Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Market Structure - Assignment Example It is a more realistic market structure in which a few firms dominate the market, and are able to influence the conditions to a greater extent. Although, there may be many small firms operation in the same market, but they will just follow the lead of the few firms. (Krugman, 2012) KFC is an example of monopolistic competition. The firm is competing against the same-sized restaurants like Wendy’s, McDonalds, Pizza Hut and others. These firms try to differentiate their products and then price them accordingly. Wireless service providers are a good example of a n oligopoly structure in the area. Four of the firms namely AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and Sprint Nexte dominate the market and control around 89 percent of the total telephone service market in the United States. US Postal Service is still one of the monopolies operating in every city of the United States. The firm has a potential high barrier to entry- a license from the US government, has the potential to influence the market conditions as well as it does still have unique product attached to itself. There are empirical studies present that specifically tell us the relationship between the barriers to entry and long term profitability of the firms. Research evidence suggests that the firms will set the price close to the cost if the barriers to entry are non-existent or low in a particular market. In this case, the firms do make a bigger profit in the short run; however, they believe that the entrance of the new firms and competition, the profits will erode. (Krugman, 2012) In a monopoly, the barriers to entry are really high which protects the market from strong competitive pressures. These barriers could be licensing, patents and economies of scale. Therefore, the firm earns a high profit in the long run. However, there will be time when the long run profits will not be positive. When the average total cost curve is above the demand curve, the

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 3

Marketing - Essay Example To change the image, those in the fashion industry are required to think like the customer by finding presentations that ensure high quality and modern looks for the fashion styles that are being presented (Cachon, Swinney, 2009: pg. 15). The strategic buying of those interested in fashion, as well as the decisions which are made is based on the trend of fashion conscious behaviors that are within society. This is especially high among females who are interested in different looks and styles and which are trying to find an image which can present them most effectively in a given situation. The style includes the shape, fit and the colors that work together to present a specific image (Nam et al, 2007: pg. 102). The fashion conscious behaviors make the celebrity endorsement practical to use. When one can see the celebrity approving the styles and looks, it changes the decisions by consumers while showing the effectiveness of the specific look. Celebrities can be used to communicate a message about the specific style, how effective it is and the quality that the brand maintains, allowing conscious consumers to respond in a positive light. While the general trend with using celebrities is one which produces a positive response, there are also non – practical applications of using celebrities. The main problem which occurs is based on negative information transference to consumers. If the celebrity isn’t regarded as fashionable or has a reputation which doesn’t fit with a specific person, then it can lead them away from the brand. This is not only specific to general attitudes, but is also reflective of demographic differences that are in society. If an older woman wants to buy a brand but finds a celebrity that is focused on youth, then they may not think the brand will fit their style or will have a quality that is negative. The brand meaning can change according to the celebrity and alters based on the impact that the celebrity has in societ y (White, Goddard, 2009: pg. 322). The negative information may include pricing, quality and the overall brand image that fashion conscious individuals are looking for within a given trend. This paper will examine the effects of celebrity endorsement as well as the practical and non – practical uses of having an individual represent a brand name. The hypothesis states that the celebrity endorsement is based on attractiveness and credibility of the celebrity. If this is positive, then it can raise the purchase intention of those who are interested in a brand; however, if it is negative, then purchases will diminish. This hypothesis can be seen in figure 1. Figure 1: Celebrity Endorsement This particular chart shows how there are both positive and negative implicatinos that are based on the celebrity endorsement as well as the conscious of those who are interested in buying a specific product. By creating the correct image, brands can leverage their identity; however, without t his, there isn’t the ability to build a strong reputation among potential customers. Examining the ways in which this works positively and negatively can then help determine how the fashion industry can redefne the way that fashion is presented in given circumstances. Celebrity Endorsement and Communication Processes The first way that celebrity endorsement affects those who are interested in a given product is through the communication processes exhibited through the image. When a celebrity endorses a specific fashion product, it is considered as a