Public University Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Public University Analysis - Research Paper Example The financial statements in this institution contains some remarkable disclosure of the cost that the institution goes through in providing retirement benefits, related gains, assets and lastly all liabilities. These financial statements therefore, are able to provide the employees with a clear view of the risks and rewards that arise from the defined benefits. In addition, all funding obligations which are in relations to all liabilities of the benefits schemes defined are all clearly identified (University of Maryland, 2012). GAASB proposed changes are likely to reduce the liability burden as they will increase the level of accountability an aspect that is likely to reduce the cash lost due to cases of negligence. Proposed changes also address deeply on issues of common deposits and other investment risks such as interest rate risks and even fluctuating of the foreign currency risks. The policy recommendations to disclose all investments that are highly sensitive to these risks wil l reduce the money lost through fluctuating of the currency and changes in the interest rates (University of Maryland, 2012). One of the major economic condition that s likely to affect the growth of this institution is government changes in labor policies. Government is likely to change the policies such as medical policies and retirement policies. Some of the likely changes that are likely to be outlined include; increased amount contributed towards the pension scheme and specified amount that the institution should direct towards payment of medical insurance for its employees. This is likely to reduce the amount of money directed towards improving the status of the university. Second aspect that is likely to affect the future success of university of Maryland is increased government intervention and regulations in university through taxation. This is likely to slower the level of activities in the institution an aspect that will be replicated in the overall growth rate of the ins titution (University of Maryland, 2012). Changes in the foreign currency and interest rates will have direct impact on the overall growth of university of Maryland. The institution conducts many transactions some of which depend largely on the interest rates. Fluctuations in the currency and changes in the overall economy will therefore hamper the level of growth in the university (Gibson, 2012). In university of Maryland grants are used to fund major projects that are aimed at improving the education status in the university. In addition to this, they are used in daily running of the institution. Also, they are sometimes used to cover the liabilities that the institutions have incurred over the past periods in order to reduce burden to the institution (Gibson, 2012). Grants such as federal grants are used by the institution to offer students with the scholarships. This is aimed at helping the needy students who are not capable of paying for their school fees. In addition to this, t hese funds are directed towards equipping the institution with the current technology in order to improve the level of research conducted by the institution. As a result, the institution has been able to conduct many researches in different fields an aspect that has improved the overall growth of the state and economy at large (Gibson, 2012). With GAADB laid procedures on how to use funds in the institutio

Over View Of Implementing Benchmarking Program In Company Marketing Essay

Over View Of Implementing Benchmarking Program In Company Marketing Essay Benchmarking is one aspect of performance management that is used to check and analysis the activities and elements of any organization. It is used to search for best practices of any activity that organizations needs to develop. Moreover, it is not an independent technique as it is considered to be a natural progression from the implementation of total quality management. Successful organizations assess themselves against the best in their category and benchmarking is used as tool for doing that. Benchmarking Implementation: In order to implement performance management system in an organization it is important to do a benchmarking. As a senior manager in a telecommunication company (Etisalat) I was requested to by the CEO to do a benchmarking program to improve the performance of the company as it is fallen below target. The performance point that I was requested to check is the customer satisfaction that was fallen below the expected target that was set by the companys management based on the latest survey done on the market and decrease in number of subscribers, who moved their service to the other market competitor. The benchmarking process does not vary significantly with the three categories of partners selected: internal organisations, direct competitors, or non-competitors. Therefore I am going to compare the customer satisfaction in the telecom company with Emirates Airlines. The reason why I choose Emirates Airlines is that it is a very large multi-destination flight company with a very large number of passengers. Etisalat was established in 1976 with a low number of landline subscribers and increased to 100 million subscribers in the world. Emirates Airlines established in 1985 with 260,000 passengers that year. The number of passengers increased dramatically to 27 million till March 2010 and 108 world destinations. That shows how customers with the service provided by Emirates Airlines in a short period and while other big airlines are going bankrupt during the world financial crises. The reason why we should go for benchmarking is to improve methodologies that result in high productivity and lower costs. Benchmarking is particularly helpful in validating proposals for change. Moreover, it often results in creative imitation and the adoption of new practices that overcome previous industry barriers. Furthermore, this search for diversity and for innovative breakthroughs applied. There are eight steps in order to do a benchmarking are: Select the subject. Forming the team and the project road map. Performance indicators and drivers. Selecting partner. Data collection. Analysis. Integration and action. Benchmarking process: Select the subject Based on the point highlighted by Etisalats CEO, there is a problem in the customers satisfaction that was targeted this year. Customer satisfaction is a measure of how products and services supplied by a company meet customer expectation Based on the market survey and problem investigation, we found that problem is due to the following: Quality of service. Customer support. Incident handling. Productivity. Pricing. After investigation and looking at the problem from another angle, we found the reason beyond losing customers satisfaction is concentrating on the development projects and reducing the operational costs in order not to lower down the impact of the world financial crises and compete with the competitor (du) from productivity point of view. In order to solve the problem of losing customer satisfaction, a movement has to be done in order to provide more qualitative after sale service and that can be done by spending more on developing the operational processes and spending more on operations as well as the employees as employees satisfaction is the key towards customers satisfaction. Moreover I am going to concentrate on Etisalat customers satisfaction in the UAE only. Forming the team and the project road map A team needs to be formed and a project road map developed. These are integral activities in the subject selection step. The team that I created includes 5 members are experts and represent the various functions affected by the project. The teams composed of staff personnel who are capable of setting recommendations that meet significant resistance during implementation. Each team member will work on studying the each of the below causes, visit the related sections, highlight the drawbacks and set recommendations for: Quality of service. Customer support. Incident handling. Productivity. Pricing. And I am going to follow-up and manage this project as a team leader. Performance indicators and drivers This part begins with the documentation of processes and practices associated with the subject. The primary goal is to identify the vital few performance indicators that confirm superior performance and to identify those processes and practices that drive performance. This search for cause and effect will be followed by the identification and documentation of internal process variables and attributes. That is a major part that each of the team members will have to take an ownership in order to study each of the processes practices and complete its documentations. Selecting partner The selection of partners often involves the use of external data and information sources. Partners fall into two general categories: other internal units and external organisations. External organisations may include direct competitors; Industry peers that serve a different market; Companies that serve the same market in a related but different industry; Organisations outside my industry that performs similar functions. As I mentioned above, I decided to choose Emirates Airlines, an organization outside telecom industry and serve the same market. Moreover, Emirates has great initiatives to develop its services that are provided to the passengers. Therefore, Emirates Airlines is almost receiving a yearly awards for its services such as best airline from Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2009, Best In-flight Entertainment from Skytrax Airline Excellence Awards 2009, Outstanding Food Service by a Carrier Middle East 2009 from Pax International Magazine Readership Awards, etc. Data collection Data collection can be the most difficult step in the Benchmarking process. The primary objective is to gather information and data to confirm superior performance and to uncover best practices without burdening the partners with long, time-consuming data collection methods. Although data and information are collected in establishing baseline measures and in selecting partners, the majority of the data for most projects are collected in this step. The following table shows a summarized comparison between the points that lower down the customers satisfaction of Etisalat and compare it with Emirates Airlines. Etisalat Emirates Airlines Quality of service Medium High Customer support Low High Incident handling Low High Productivity High High with value added services Pricing Average High Advertisement High for newly released products High Promotions On going On sessions Loyalty program Available Available CRM Low Medium Analysis The objective of the analysis step is to identify the best performing organisation and to determine the reasons for the superior performance. The performance indicators define the benchmark standard and the gaps in performance for each participant. The processes and practices of the best organisation are the benchmark performance drivers that each partner will try to creatively imitate. Identifying this cause and effect relationship between performance drivers and the resultant measures is the most challenging part of benchmarking. When we look at the above comparison table in the data collection part, we can find that there are some differences in the services provided by the two organizations. If we start with the quality of service, we can find that Etisalat is providing medium quality of service. For example, for the old and stable services like mobile service and internet the quality is very good, but if we look at latest services like eLife the quality is very low. While in Emirates Airlines, it is always high even for new destinations. Customers support and incident handling in Etisalat is very low as the customers whenever they want to raise a complaint or have inquiry, mostly they will be forwarded from a section to another or from a call centre number to another without having a single point of contact. Moreover, whenever you dial the call center, you have to wait on the phone for more than 10 minutes till someone pick the phone and register your complaint that if it is required advance troubleshooting, the case will not be solved in less than one day and may continue for a month. On the other hand, Emirates Airlines representatives will answer your inquiries clearly and are very helpful to handle your complaints with ownership. The productivity in Etisalat is very high, however due shortage in advertisement and products information sharing for all the products, most of the products are messed by the customers and even the employees. Moreover, the advertisement done by Etisalat is only for the newly released products. However for Emirates Airlines, it is high as the customers is always loyal to the airline and may keep it as the first choice for travel anywhere and he is always expected to have more value added services in flight entertainment. The prices of Etisalat product are average compared to the quality of service provided to the customers, but the customers will always see it high as the after sale services are low. The prices of Emirates Airlines are high, but the service the passenger is receiving before, during and after the flight is high. The Customer Relationship Management (CRM) in Etisalat is very low and only done by sending updates to all customers through email and SMS for the new products. On the other, Emirates Airlines are send a monthly newsletter to all their customers by email, normal postage, to keep them updated with all the changes, offers and new destinations. Sometimes, they are requested to provide a quick feedback on a questionnaire. Integration and action The objectives of the integration and action steps are to obtain organisation buy-in, initiate projects to close gaps and implement plans developed in these projects. So based on the analyses done above the organization has to rectify the problems that leads to losing customers satisfaction. Some of the recommended suggestions are: 1. Encourage Face-to-Face Dealings 2. Respond to Messages Promptly Keep Your Clients Informed 3. Be Friendly and Approachable 4. Have a Clearly Defined Customer Service Policy 5. Attention to Detail 6. Anticipate Your Clients Needs 7. Honor your Promises To be effective, Benchmarking works best in an environment in which teamwork and management support is evident. Teams need to focus on results as measured by performance indicators, but the organisation must change the performance drivers to achieve benchmark standards. Target setting alone, without changes in the organisation culture, other structural factors, processes, and practices, can only bring temporary relief.

Judicial Precedent Essays -- Law Legal

This essay will examine the doctrine of Judicial precedent that helps form the English Legal System. It will illustrate various views that have been raised by Judges and relating cases to the use of ‘Stare decisis’ when creating precedents. In addition it will discuss how the developments in the powers of the courts now also allow them to depart from these precedents to an extent. The doctrine of Judicial precedent applies the principles of stare decisis which ‘lets the decision stand’. ‘Whenever a new problem arises in law the final decision forms a rule to be followed in all similar cases, making the law more predictable’ making it easier for people to live within the law. An original precedent is where a point of law is decided for the first time. This was illustrated in Donoghue v Stevenson where there was a decomposing snail in a bottle of ginger beer. The House of Lords set a precedent that manufacturers owe a duty of care to customers in the law of negligence. A key factor of judicial precedents usually refers to decisions of a higher court being binding upon a lower court in the hierarchical structure of the courts. This is best illustrated in Donoghue v Stevenson . However, if the previous decision was made by a court of equal or higher status to the court deciding the new case, then the Judge should follow the rule of law set in the earlier case. These are known as Binding precedents. The courts access these previous judgements through the system of Law reporting. The system of precedents could not work without a precise and comprehensive compilation of the key decisions of superior courts readily available to all who need them. Authoritative reports compiled by legally qualified law reporters are formed prima... ... law to be developed without need for lengthy litigation. Nonetheless, a change in law needs to be brought before the relevant court. This usually means litigants for the Court of Appeal or the House of Lords do not necessarily have the means to take their cases that far. In conclusion, the doctrine of judicial precedent has been accepted to form our legal system, through the use of binding precedents. It has helped the law maintain certainty yet through flexibility of the courts and exceptions to depart from precedents the law has continued to develop in a just manner. Works Cited Penny Darbyshire, Darvyshire on the English Legal System, Ninth edition. Terence Ingman, The English Legal Process, Eleventh edition. Catherine Elliott Frances Quinn, English Legal System, Seventh edition. Gary Slapper and Davis Kelly, The English Legal System, Tenth edition.

Disciple Making Plan Essay

The mandate of the Body of Christ to make disciples has been established. The Church needs to embody in physical structuring and deeds what is necessary to make this happen. It is obvious we need to do whatever it takes to make that a reality. Therefore, we must put together a plan – a disciple making plan that embraces that vision with biblical truths that show the values from which give direction for that vision to follow. The structural and existing means to how this is to be done, also known as the vehicles that enable this to get accomplished must be examined. The different player’s views that steer the work as they sense the work of the Holy Spirit need to be defined and understood. And finally, there must be tangible means of measurement to evaluate the effectiveness the work. God spoke to His people through the prophet Jeremiah. It was during a time where the children of Israel were in exile. God was showing His faithfulness to His people during this time of being without. God shared His heart and how it all relates to having a plan. Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) says, â€Å"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.† God’s plan shows us He has a vision for us, His people. This is a plan for our benefit, future, and to give us hope. The same kind of plan should be what is put together within the church for His people. Scott M. Gibson and Warren Wiersbe write about the importance in what is preached and its relationship to the plan. They underscore the value of God’s Word and the need for us to develop a love for it. For the Word of God is to be the foundation as well as our life-long source that brings believers from infancy to maturity as we present it with love and grace. Each message builds upon the basis of which the plan is established.1 Vision The senior pastor has written the following as â€Å"The Vision Statement† for our church: â€Å"That the presence of God be around us, in us, and working through us to win the lost through the love of Jesus Christ. We believe all people matter to God. We want to see people saved, healed, set free, equipped,  empowered and serving as disciples, fully becoming devoted followers of Jesus Christ to impact the nations. We believe in the Father, we believe in the resurrection of God’s son and we believe in the Holy Spirit indwelling everyone, making all things new.† The senior pastor has been in this position for less than one year. My attendance and being a part of the leadership team is barely two months. Since that time, there has been only one formal meeting of the leaders of the church. However, personal conversations and public attitudes by the senior pastor have been expressed which will be how I will be able to answer the questions for this paper. This church has not had an attendance over twenty-five people in the two months I have been attending. The senior pastor gave each of the four leaders, or what he refers to as Pastors, a list of names of persons (and their phone numbers) that have at one time or another have come to the church and indicated this would be their church home with the assignment to reach out and call these individuals to invite them (back) to being involved with the church and its activities. These individuals are located throughout the greater Tampa area. This encompasses technically two counties and a considerably large amount of area. The senior pastor himself lives over one hour in driving time to the church facility. Another one of the pastors lives at least 30 minutes away. It is unknown about the socio-economic differences of the other pastors. The neighborhood of which the church is located is classic Central Florida with what appears to be higher middle class at one address and immediately next door, what would appear to be someone under more economic oppressive circumstances. The senior pastor has said he wants the neighborhood to be involved in the church. The church leadership embraces ethnic and social diversity and I believe the senior pastor wants the church population to also reflect this. The Central Florida population has a wide assortment of Cuban, White, Black, Pacific Asian and Asian Indian peoples. There is not a specific area of town that focuses on any one of these cultural groups. Thus, the integration of all these people is desired for the church’s population. We already have ages in this body ranging from very young children with little  to no Christian influences to a widowed wife of a former pastor. There are teenaged young people that have come from time to time. The majority of who has been in regular attendance has been mid-thirties to young fifties. The senior pastor has expressed his desire for these age groups be increased. World missions has been brought up as a desired form of outreach but specifics as to where and how has not been shown or provided for. My own personal work with various countries has been of the attention of the senior pastor but he has not asked about getting involved with this. Habakkuk 2:2 (KJV) says, â€Å"And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.† The formal and clear vision for our church has not been provided to me. It is possible it just is something I am not aware of it because of my being with the church for only a short time period. It is hoped that is the case. Mel Lawrenz writes about the church that may have fragmented from transition of leaders, the plans or lack thereof, and or the philosophies within a church. Two important components for the church’s success are having cohesion and momentum.2 Thus far from what I can observe, this church is working hard to enhance and uphold these factors. I look forward to seeing the plan and its full execution. Values The church has been alerted to the heart of the pastor to be a church in unity. He knows with the ethnic diversity and having the different pastors and those in leadership roles can seem to portray a wide variety of approaches and ideas in fulfilling the call to make disciples. Nevertheless, he is calling for unity to be not only the heartbeat with the church but also be demonstrated so that those that come once will experience this deeper than just what may be perceived. Psalms 133:1 (KJV) says, â€Å"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!† Our pastor wants the differences in us each to be the means to which gives us individual and collective access to those that join us in study, in fellowship, and ultimately in worship. Of course, this is all possible by remembering the importance of God’s peace  to heal and overcome any and all preconceived world based issues that could arise. Having such ethnic diversity and living in a culture such as Central Florida, the need to establish a true and lasting bond of peace is critical with our congregation. Paul said it best in Ephesians 4:3 (KJV), â€Å"Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.† The growing together in faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus in unity is what our church wants, not just for itself, but more importantly for the overall well-being of the membership. Ephesians 4:13 (KJV) says, â€Å"Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:†. Walter Kasper writes about the call the church has to be the church of unity. He points out that this is not a result of mere chance or happenstance but by the divine work of God’s Holy Spirit to the lives of the believers and into the life of the church as a whole.3 Views In the writing of Aubrey Malphurs, the church in first years of the new millennium is not the same church many of us grew up in the mid to late 1900’s. The church is not considered the central point of reference for faith and the expression of that faith.4 Our church is not any different than this assessment. The members all come from different socio-economic backgrounds which results in different interpretations of the people and their respective roles as a part of the work and workers within this specific Body of Christ. The church is seen in probably the narrowest of views in that it is seen to only include those that are under the roof at the current facility. That would extend to literally the people that are there at any given time as well. The senior pastor is clear to point to the other three he has designated as Pastors. He is looking to their contributions in nurturing, teaching, and shepherding the members as a whole and a separate list that he wants each pastor to be associated with. There is one problem – the people do not know they have been put on these lists. The beginnings of groups is taking place but the groups have not been formalized that people can relate to. The addressing the church body as God’s Saints is met either with casual acceptance and understanding or it is considered too â€Å"Christense† which results in losing its effectualness. The  Gospel does not have a consistent strand in meaning. The understanding and education as it relates to the first four books of the Bible being the Gospels and the fact we are referring to The Good News is not universally embraced by the congregation as a whole. This makes the work of Evangelism, the sharing of the Gospel both in word and lifestyle witness difficult to unite in as both a purposefully designed poster we are to uphold but also have the church communicate as one voice. There is not a deliberate discipling program or effort within the church. Although individual responsibility to walk out a life in the manner for which God has made available for us all, the church does not have the groups or education tools for making disciples. Leadership is a widely used and common designation within our church. This is partly due to the fact we have a small population. There is an encouragement to pursue leader responsibilities. Unless you are known to be either not a Christian or a not as mature of one that is preferred for such a role, the opportunities to lead and take charge of things is easier than in larger congregations. This church is committed to one another. They are looking for the manifestation of the goodness of His work in this place. 2 Thessalonians 2:1 & 2 says, â€Å"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.† This is very applicable to this body of believers. Vehicles Gary L. McIntosh writes about the steps taken to get a church to its next level. In a conversation he has with a colleague, it is pointed out that the church may be in good health but it not in good enough shape to show the true endurance necessary of a church that is going to go the full distance. There is a fine distinction between a church that is growing numerically and a church that is maximizing its potential in discipleship.5 My church is transitioning itself from a mainline denomination church to a fellowship of believers. Exactly what denomination the church is becoming has not been made clear. The senior pastor holds ministry papers with two different organizations. One of the other pastors has his credentials by an unknown to me association. There is one pastor and myself that has ordination with  the same board. Recently, there was a state meeting or conference of one of the two ministerial boards that the senior pastor is connected with. It was announced after the fact that there was an expectation of the membership to participate in this function. Because of members that are related to the senior pastor, they were in attendance and this satisfied his request. He is scheduled to be absent from a soon coming Sunday morning service to be involved in this group’s convention or some type of gathering. So far, there has not been any kind of ritual or conduct that is practiced or expected. We seem to be worshipping as one. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, â€Å"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.† There are no small groups – yet. Nothing has been formally announced but I could see how the senior pastor has laid groundwork in and through the appointing of three others to positions that could be small group leaders. The leaders live in geographically different areas which will benefit the area of influence we have. Unfortunately, the church does not come together for study in God’s Word other than Sunday morning service. Sunday School and Thursday night Bible Study is not bringing everyone in as desired. It was just announced some events that the senior pastor wants church wide participation in. These announcements have been made orally, not in print. The events are being coordinated by one of the other pastor’s wife. She has announced she will get members to contribute in these meetings. A â€Å"Fall Festival† was held last year (so I am told) as an evangelistic outreach. The senior pastor has announced that that will not be repeated but instead a Summer â€Å"Vacation Bible School† will be conducted just prior to the beginning of the public school year. The curriculum has not been disclosed. Workers have not been selected and it is not known what kind of preparations will be necessary for those that are involved with this. The use of social media, specifically Facebook has been said to be a means of communicating both to the current members of the church but also to encourage those seeking a place for worship. The church’s website does not seem to have updates or is kept current on the affairs of the church. Daniel Collison and Rochelle Nielsen Barsuhn give warnings of how the church of today has left the model of self-denial and looks to self-gratification instead. The value of the relationships Jesus formed and has called us to copy has potentially become minimized or even eliminated from the church’s structure. We need to never forget the importance in the following through of building with one another and the faith that is found in this.6 Verifiers There has not been any indication that there will be any specific tools to measure the growth or effectiveness of an outreach or program. The senior pastor has not made any reference to any means other than visual perception as to if the church has increased or decreased in membership and its grasp on Christian doctrine. A database has been created but who and what information it contains is not known. For measuring the church’s growth both numerically and in various areas of concern (i.e., Christian education, spiritual gifts in operation and various forms of involvement in service to the church and in evangelism), I would start with identifying the people that showed strengths and or willingness to learn in such areas. It would be important to understand what previous experience they may have. Attendance in classes and their participation in the various forms of outreach would be able to be monitored. Their performance would be evaluated to see what their giftings are in. Jesus said in Matthew 7:20, â€Å"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.† Thus far, we have not had visitors or new converts. The existing church body does not respond to calls to commitment. Currently, there is not a church wide program that incorporates members in evangelistic outreach. There are individual efforts but not under the direction of the senior pastor. There are sources found on the Internet such as www.leadershiptransformations.org that work with churches and the strengths they already have to grow into stronger and better churches. As pointed out in our text book â€Å"Disciple Making is†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , concentrating on leading individuals to the Lord and assisting the maturing in their life with God is what we are  to be all about. Then, we can deploy them to replicate this process.7 There needs to be a deliberate effort by the church members to bring people into the church in order to hear the Gospel and ultimately receive salvation. If each member were asked to bring one person with them once a month, the church population would double. In order to keep these new members, classes would need to be formed to educate in ways of Christianity. Additional classes would need to be formed to further the disciple making process. From these classes, it would be hoped that ten percent of those attending would carry on the disciple making process. From those people, various forms of leaders and Christian workers (missionaries, teachers, pastors and etc.) would be set apart for such works. Conclusion This church has been primarily an extended family but has begun to evolve into a multi-ethnic congregation and diverse socio-economic backgrounds due in part to the merging of two of the associate pastors. The senior pastor has been encouraging members to reach out to church dinners and a church wide rummage sale. With the expected growth in people attending and becoming part of the Body of Christ, we need to put in place the disciple making process for both the current membership and those that will be coming. Act 14:22, â€Å"Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.† Bibliography Collison, Daniel, and Rochelle Nielsen Barsuhn. Church in Translation: Vibrant Christianity in Your Time and Place. N.p.: Abingdon Press, 2010. Accessed March 1, 2015. .com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/lib/liberty/reader.action?docID=10432028&ppg=82. Earley, Dave, and Rod Dempsey. Disciple Making Is†¦ How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2013. Gibson, Scott M., and Warren Wiersbe. Preaching with a Plan: Sermon Strategies for Growing Mature Believers. N.p.: Baker Books, 2012. Accessed March 1, 2015. .liberty.edu:2048/lib/liberty/reader.action?docID=10722483&ppg=116. Kasper, Walter. That They May All Be One: The Call to Unity. N.p.: London : Burns & Oates., 2004. Accessed March 1, 2015. /ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzI0Mjk2NV9fQU41?sid=fb0c38e1-4143-479f-874c- 0eaaaada1a24@sessionmgr4004&vid=2&format=EB&ppid=pp_170. Lawrenz, Mel. Whole Church: Leading from Fragmentation to Engagement. N.p.: Jossey-Bass, 2009. Accessed March 1, 2015.? .actiondocID=10307582&ppg=117. Malphurs, Aubrey New Kind of Church: Understanding Models of Ministry for the 21st Century. N.p.: Baker Books, 2007. Accessed March 1, 2015. /lib/liberty /reader.action?docID=10762835&ppg=16. McIntosh, Gary L., Taking Your Church to the Next Level: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There (n.p.: Baker Books, 2009), 196-97, accessed March 1, 2015, liberty.edu:2048/lib/liberty/reader.action?docID=10745538&ppg=88.

Christianity and Buddhism

Two different faiths; Christianity and Buddhism. These two religions that have pillars centered on Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha respectively. Christianity has had a wide influence, stretching across the world and with leading figures like President George Bush (USA), Senator Hillary Clinton, and even the Pope, a spiritual leader of the Catholic Church and head of the Vatican sate. Buddhism, though mostly predominant in the orient world, has penetrated the Western cultures, Hollywood’s Richard Gere, Tina Turner, and L. A Lakers coach, Phil Jackson have identified with the Buddhists Faith through its spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.These two faiths have parallels. In contrast or comparison the two faiths meet and also depart at the foundational level of the very pillars of Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha. The Differences At the very moment of birth Jesus Christ was born in a manger in the midst of want and desolation. According to biblical scriptures he was born among the poo r. Gautama Buddha on the other hand, was born in a palace where his father who was the ruler of a region within present day Nepal, made sure that he lived within the pleasures and wealth of his empire.In addition, Buddha lived as a prince, as royalty whereas Christ was born into a family where the father figure was a carpenter and he had to learn the skills of carpentry. The divinity of Jesus Christ has a divergence from that of Buddha. Jesus Christ claimed that he was the only Son of God. The bible in many of its texts reaffirms this divinity; to a tune of calling Jesus Christ, the â€Å"presence of God† as man. Buddha However, claimed no divinity in person. Only that about 700 years after Buddha passed on, Mahayana Buddhism attached divinity to the character of Gautama. .Buddha worked out no miracles, signs or wonders. The bible however, in the New Testament is wrought with events of miracles of Jesus Christ. From the beginning of the synoptic Gospel or Matthew, through Mar k, Luke and John, the Lord Jesus Christ healed the afflicted stopped and calmed a raging sea among other miracles. Jesus Christ, speaking on the mount espoused and blessed â€Å"those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied†. He encouraged his followers to â€Å"seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all other things would be added unto them (who believed)†.However Buddha saw the need of eliminating craving and desire and as such attains enlightment. Jesus Christ said â€Å"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life†. Buddha however, took the role of a guide, a religious â€Å"Way Shower†. Buddha had a means to the nirvana for the believer, but each believer had to find his or her own path Buddha is buried in the Himalaya Mountains, at Kusinara. He never resurrected. After crucifixion and death, Christ resurrected on the third day triumphing over death and sin. The SimilaritiesThe Buddhist scriptures tell of Buddhaâ €™s mother, Mahamaya, being made to carry child Buddha in her womb through the power of the â€Å"holy Spirit†. Also a â€Å"heavenly messenger’ informed Mahamaya of the way she was to bear the â€Å"son of the highest kings. † Many other events followed the birth of Buddha like the appearance of the â€Å"flower Star† in the East, and also a group of angelic messengers celebrated the birth of Buddha. The birth of Christ is foretold in the scriptures of the bible as the mother Mary was made to conceive through the â€Å"immaculate conception† of the Holy Spirit.Angels also ministered unto Mary telling her that she would bear a son who would redeem the world. In addition the star of the east shone bright and did guide the three Magi to see and proclaim the birth of the â€Å"king of Kings†At the birth of Jesus Christ King Herod set out to kill all the male firstborns with a view of eliminating any possible challenger to his throne. Not f orgetting that Virgin Mary Mother of Jesus had to run and hide the kid Jesus from the executioners. For the case of Buddha he was born of a Virgin called Maya. King Bimbasara wanted him dead as he thought that Buddha would one day ascend the throne.Buddha amazed the wizened old men and priests of the temple just as Jesus Christ did to the Pharisees and teachers of the Mosaic Law; both achieved this at the age of 12. James Hastings, in the book encyclopedia of religion and ethics page 883 tells of Buddha demanding of his disciples that they renounce all forms of worldly possessions. â€Å"The number of the disciples increased rapidly, and Gautama sent forth his monks on missionary tours hither and thither, bidding them wonder everywhere, preaching the doctrine, and teaching them to order their lives with self restraints, simplicity and charity†.On the other hand Jesus Christ called â€Å"to himself the twelve disciples sending them out two by two. So they went out and preache d that men should repent Mark 6:7-12†. According to the book of Mathew 28:19, Jesus Christ was part of a trinity. The Chinese (1836) alludes to the fact that Buddha is part of trinity. Indeed the two are part of trinities expressed in both religions. At birth Buddha was declared divine as was Jesus Christ. The book of Mathew, tells of the Magi who came to present Jesus with gifts and worshipping him as divine.On the other hand the divinity of Buddha was bestowed on him according to the Buddhist faith. The book of Matthew 2:2 has an angel announcing the birth of Jesus Christ. Buddha’s birth was also foretold by a celestial body. They both claimed to be royal descent. Jesus Christ traced his bloodline to that of King David. Buddha, whose father is Sodhodana, has the royalty also traced to the first dynasty of Maha Sammata. At the birth Christ was presented with gifts of myrrh, frankincense and gold. On the other hand, Buddha received precious substances and priceless Jewe ls.The synoptic gospel of Matthew tails of the transfiguration of Jesus Christ on the mountain. For Buddha, it also happened on a mountain where â€Å"A flame of light engulfed his head, shining as the sun or moon†. The scriptures tell of the â€Å"angels† praising in heaven at their birth. For Jesus, the bible records, â€Å"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill among men†. For Buddha it is written â€Å"Today, Bodhisattva is born on earth, to give joy and peace to men and Devas (angels), to shed light on the dark places, and to give sight to the blind†.De Bunsen, in page 45 notes that Buddha was baptized in the presence of the spirit of God. Jesus Christ in Matthew 3:16 is baptized in the presence of the spirit of God. According to Max. Muller in the book ‘Introduction to the Science of Religion’, two very similar incidences happened in the lives of Jesus and Buddha. Muller explains â€Å"Ananda, the disciple of Buddha, after a long walk in the country, meets with Matangi, a woman of the low caste of the Kandalas, near a well and asks her for some waters. She tells him what she is and that she must not come near him.Ananda replies â€Å"my sister, I ask not for your caste or family, I ask only for a drought of water. She afterwards becomes a disciple of Buddha. † The bible on the other hand tells the story of the Samaritan woman. According to the book of John 4:7-9 â€Å"there came a woman of Samaria to draw water Jesus said to her; â€Å"give me a drink† for his disciples had gone to the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him â€Å"how is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria? † for Jews have no dealing with Samaritans, They launched their careers at an almost similar age.It’s at age 29 that Buddha â€Å"went to the garden, saw a monk who was calm, tranquil, self possessed, serene and dignified. The prince, (Buddha, determined to become such a monk†. The Christian book says â€Å"Jesus, when he begun his ministry, was about 30 years of age†. Both were tempted by the devil. In Matthew 4:10, â€Å"All these I will give you if you worship me† Christ was told. And Buddha was told† go not forth to adopt a religious life but return to your kingdom and in seven days you shall become emperor of the world, riding over four continents†.Both celebrated overcoming evil, for Jesus, according to Matthew 4:11 the â€Å"angels come and ministered to him†. For Buddha, â€Å"The skies rained flowers, as delicious odors prevailed in the air† EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Perhaps the best conclusion to these differences and similarities are the actions made in the lives and times of these men. And this has to do with expressing faith where skepticism abounds. So another similarity among the two men is; â€Å"come†, so Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus, but when he saw the wind he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out.â€Å"Lord, save me! † as shown in Matthew 14:29-30. Buddha showed skeptical villagers his disciple walking across a river without sinking†. In addition some incidences attest to the similarity of their situation like the time that Buddha took a purifying birth in the river Nerajara, just as Christ Jesus too was baptized in the river Jordan. The bible recounts the journey of Christ riding on a donkey with fronds of palm spread out for him on the way. Though slightly different the story of Buddha is centered on his riding a horse, with flowers being tossed by angels.Jesus Christ was poor, lacking in earthly possessions and encouraging the wealthy to â€Å"sell all they had and follow him. † Buddha was no different; he took an oath of embracing poverty and even wondered home Less, advising his disciples, who were 12 as those of Jesus, â€Å"to travel without money, trusting to the aid of providence †. 1. http://www. probe. org 2. http://www. lucidcafe. com 3. http://www. encyclopedia. farlex. com/buddhist. 4. http://www. moonpointer. com 5. http://www. songha. org/index. html

Public Involvement and Community Development in Australia

Public Involvement and Community Development in Australia Introduction Democracy is the system of government which is favored and held in high esteem by most countries in the 21st century. This system is characterized by fair and equal treatment for all members of the society and the right of every person to take part in decision making. Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Public Involvement and Community Development in Australia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Despite these lofty standards which are synonymous with democracy, it does not always result in everyone’s voice being heard. Instead, democracy is concerned more with achieving the common good at the expense of promoting the private good of each citizen (Young, 1997). While this approach may work in a homogenous society, it is detrimental in societies which have minority groups. This is because in direct democracy there are no political representatives who are used to make decision for their people. This paper will argue that deliberative democracy, which entails the involvement of the community in public affairs, is the most appropriate model and it results in community development. The paper will reinforce this assertion by critically reflecting two arguments presented in the article â€Å"Communication and the other: beyond Deliberative Democracy† by Young and â€Å"Local Cross-cultural planning and decision-making with indigenous people in Broome, Western Australia† by Kliger and Cosgrove. The Aboriginal Issue Kliger and Cosgrove (1999) highlight the situation of the Indigenous population of Australia. This people make up 2.4% of the Australian population, according to the 2006 Census, and face incredible social disadvantage with about two-thirds living in areas that are classified as rural. Debates are ongoing concerning land issues which white settlers from Britain annexed and subsequently assumed dominance over while ignoring the Aboriginal laws. The Ab original people were therefore sidelined in the decision making of their country but also lost their land due to the legal laws that were formulated by the government. Cultural difference especially towards the Aboriginal resulted in this people being termed as difficult people which resulted in discrimination (Kliger Cosgrove, 1999).Advertising Looking for critical writing on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Direct Democracy and the Aboriginal To most people, the ideals of democracy are symbolized by parliament where elected members go and hold debates that supposedly represent the views of the common citizen. Young (1997, p.63) asserts that parliamentary debates or arguments in court are not simply free and open public forums in which all people actually have the right to express claims and give reasons according to their own understanding. In direct democracy, once the government makes deci sions it rarely considers the different racial, cultural and other factors of the citizens. Kliger and Cosgrove (1999) reveals that while the state had developed welfare and service provision programmes for the Aboriginal and Torres, these indigenous people seldom participate in the development and implementation of the same. The government may therefore offend its citizens who perceive justice not followed and feel oppressed. Young (1997) proposes that democracy must involve listening to the opinion of people from a diverse cultural, racial and social background and recognizing the validity of the points they make. Direct democracy has failed to achieve the desired results in the case of the Aboriginal. Kliger and Cosgrove (1999) state that the Federal government, through the Shire of Broome, made little recognition of the Aboriginal. While there are forums in which the Aboriginal are asked to attend, they are not given a chance to voice their concerns. The hierarchical communica tion the government uses through representative on the Shire council only send paper to the Rubibi Working Group for them to see the they have already discussed as the Shire. The Aboriginal were therefore marginalized and disempowered. The choice of model used can work for the detrimental of a community almost facing it off despite them being the native of the land due to the injustice they have faced. Deliberative Democracy Applied to the Aboriginal Young (1997) defines deliberative democracy as discursive or communicative democracy and in it, the public is core to the decision making process.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Public Involvement and Community Development in Australia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The model borrows from direct and representative democracies and the system does not consist of voting; instead, it makes use of deliberation to form, endorse and implement the laws. Kliger and Cosgrove (1999) also reveal that there is a difference of deliberative democracy model and democracy where the decision making process relies on the discussions and exchanges between people. This thought is corroborated by Young (1997) who reveals that in deliberative democracy the participants of law making are free for they are not bound by any prior requirements, norms or authority. They hence act on the decisions they make and also state why they gave a certain proposal (Kahane, 2010). Their proposals are either endorsed or rejected due to the reasons given for reaching to a particular decision. Young (1997) states that one of the virtues of the deliberative model of democracy is it promotes a conception of reason over power in politics. The success of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) is attributed to the fact that it considers the needs, aspirations and requirements of the Aboriginal People of the Shire of Broome in relation to town planning and development (Kliger Cosgrove, 1999, p.54). Through this model, the Aboriginal can express their point of view in a forum where their view is respected. The success of the development plans is therefore greater since it involves the members of the community. Deliberative democracy results in all members of the constituency having a voice. Kliger and Cosgrove (1999) reveal that while Australia is a democracy, the local government while elected through the democratic process operations in a highly constrained manner and does not represent all the constituents. Having a voice in the affairs of the community is of huge significance since social conditions also impact the physical well being of communities. Gray and Saggers (2003) asserts that Poor Aboriginal mental health and risky health behaviors are not simply the fault of individuals. Advertising Looking for critical writing on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The authors declare that here is a link between health and social wellbeing of indigenous populations. It is therefore of great importance for the Aboriginal people to perceive the government as both fair and just. Justice can only come about from a democracy model that encourages collective decision-making. Young (1997) states that in most formal situations, the better educated people have a greater say over the less educated parties. Government and court debates do not allow for public forums for people to air their reasoning for the good of all in the community. Their method of argument is agonistic and not an open reciprocal acknowledgment of the public’s point of view. This is contrasted by the deliberative model where participants do not have to be formal or follow a particular hierarchical order but anyone can take part. They come to a conclusion after deliberating and reaching a consensus. Deliberative democracy thus allows for individual citizens to collectively sp eak about their problems, morals, actions and goals without competing endorsing individual ideas. The community gets a chance to reason together and thus distinguish the bad ideas from the good ones. Discussion From this paper, it is clear that while public involvement does not necessary mean that everyone will be involved in the decision making process, the opinions of the â€Å"common citizen† are taken into consideration. Public involvement and development of a community go hand in hand (Fishkin Laslett, 2003). The more engaged the community is in the formulation and implementation of developmental and laws. Kliger and Cosgrove (1999) demonstrate that the success by the RMIT is because it involved the Aboriginal people in the planning and development efforts. As such, development and success can best be achieved though a democratic process that involves all members of the community. Conclusion This paper set out to argue that public involvement is a necessary for any sust ainable community development to take place. The paper in particular discussed the deliberative democracy model with the Aboriginal people in mind. It has been stated that direct democracy has some major setbacks since it fails to consider the needs and views of some members of the community. Deliberative democracy on the other hand removes this obstacle by involving a wider range of people in the decision making process. From the arguments presented in this paper, it is clear that the deliberative model of democracy is not only desirable in Australia, but is the only way that justice can be served to the Aboriginal people. References Fishkin, J.S. Laslett, P. (2003). Debating Deliberative Democracy Philosophy, Politics and Society. Wiley-Blackwell. Gray, D. Saggers, S. (2003). â€Å"Substance Misuse in N. Thomson (ed) The Health of Indigenous Australians†. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Kahane, J.D. (2010). Deliberative Democracy in Practice. UBC Press. Kliger, B. Cosgrove, L. (1999). â€Å"Local Cross-Cultural Planning and Decision-Making with Indigenous People in Broome, Western Australia†. Ecumene, Vol. 6, no.1. pp.51-71. Young, I.M. (1997). Intersecting Voices: Dilemmas of Gender, Political Philosophy, and Policy. U.K.: Princeton University Press.

Boosting a persons Esteem

Boosting a persons Esteem Introduction Human beings have a self image of how they look like, their weaknesses and strong points. This image is shaped from childhood and influenced by the society and the people we live with. This self image leads to self esteem. When a person think that he is inferior t0 their peers in one way or another, leads to low self esteem (McKay Patrick 2-12). This paper discusses methods that I can use to boost my esteem as learnt in class and how the methods learnt will be retained for a long period.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Boosting a person’s Esteem specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Four things that I can do to improve my self esteem Low self esteem is a creation of the mind and thus it can be boosted. The following are some of the possible ways to boost esteem; Rebut the Inner Critic Esteem emanate from what the inner self is telling us on who we are. There are some negative perceptions that we hold of ourselves. The most important thing to do is to develop self love and liking. This is done through focusing on ones strong points, talents and strengths. When a person realizes that he is hanging around with a group that is pointing on his weaknesses, there is no danger in changing the group. Choosing the rights friends is of importance and keeping those friends who build our strengths and don’t look us down our weaknesses. Practice Self-Nurturing A person should ensure that he is at his best at any one time. Doing what one likes and putting on measures to improve how we look physically in terms of the clothes we wear, the make ups and the scent of the perfume we put on. These are small things but they give someone confidence and self liking. Get Help from Others The society and our friends have a role in how we feel about ourselves. Keeping friends who have trust in us boosts ones esteem. The friend may do this by genuine and healthy criticism which can assist a pers on to improve his ways. Wide reading of motivational books and watching such movies Reading motivational books assists a person to realize the differences that people have appreciate then and know how to utilize the strengths that he has been given. Reading of such books will lead to someone appreciating himself (Burns 2-23).Advertising Looking for term paper on communication strategies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More What I have learnt from the key Idea I have learnt the need to self appreciate myself. I have learnt that if I don’t like myself, feel good about whom I am, and then the people around me will not be able to appreciate and respect me. Esteem is a creation of the mind and thus if I can deal with negative pictures and attitude about my own life, then I can raise my self esteem. The people around me have a role in shaping my esteem. I have realized that choosing friends is crucial for my esteem. If I hang around with people who recognize and respect my strong holds, then I will develop a high self esteem. Game plan for continuing to use esteem booting idea after class The initial step in developing high self esteem is by developing a self liking. Before I come of out of the house, I will be making sure that I dress those outfits that they are fashionable and well fitting. Gradually, I will watch may friendly closely and let go those friends who look down upon me or those who do not have confidence in me. With the genuine friends, I will ask them to constantly help me improve my esteem by appreciating what I do and criticizing me healthy. Fortnightly, I will make sure that I watch a motivational movie of read a book. This spirit will be maintained for a long period of time. I will also be conducting self talks. Conclusion Having a high self esteem is important in a person’s life. Sometimes we find ourselves suffering from self esteem. To boot the esteem we are supposed t o develop a self liking, associate with the right people and read and watch motivational materials. Burns, David D. Ten Days to Self-Esteem. New York: Quill, 1999. McKay, Matthew and Patrick Fanning. Self-Esteem: A Proven Program of Cognitive Techniques for Assessing, Improving and Maintaining Your Self-Esteem. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 2000.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Boosting a person’s Esteem specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

The Life and Death of a Star

The Life and Death of a Star Stars last a long time, but eventually they will die. The energy that makes up stars, some of the largest objects we ever study, comes from the interaction of individual atoms. So, to understand the largest and most powerful objects in the universe, we must understand the most basic. Then, as the stars life ends, those basic principles once again come into play to describe what will happen to the star next. Astronomers study various aspects of stars to determine how old they are as well as their other characteristics. That helps them also understand the life and death processes they experience. The Birth of a Star The stars took a long time to form, as gas drifting in the universe was drawn together by the force of gravity. This gas is mostly hydrogen, because its the most basic and abundant element in the universe, although some of the gas might consist of some other elements. Enough of this gas begins gathering together under gravity and each atom is pulling on all of the other atoms. This gravitational pull is enough to force the atoms to collide with each other, which in turn generates heat. In fact, as the atoms are colliding with each other, theyre vibrating and moving more quickly (that is, after all, what heat energy really is: atomic motion). Eventually, they get so hot, and the individual atoms have so much kinetic energy, that when they collide with another atom (which also has a lot of kinetic energy) they dont just bounce off each other. With enough energy, the two atoms collide and the nucleus of these atoms fuse together. Remember, this is mostly hydrogen, which means that each atom contains a nucleus with only one proton. When these nuclei fuse together (a process known, appropriately enough, as nuclear fusion) the resulting nucleus has two protons, which means that the new atom created is helium. Stars may also fuse heavier atoms, such as helium, together to make even larger atomic nuclei. (This process, called nucleosynthesis, is believed to be how many of the elements in our universe were formed.) The Burning of a Star So the atoms (often the element hydrogen) inside the star collide together, going through a process of nuclear fusion, which generates heat, electromagnetic radiation (including visible light), and energy in other forms, such as high-energy particles. This period of atomic burning is what most of us think of as the life of a star, and its in this phase that we see most stars up in the heavens. This heat generates a pressure - much like heating air inside a balloon creates pressure on the surface of the balloon (rough analogy) - which pushes the atoms apart. But remember that gravitys trying to pull them together. Eventually, the star reaches an equilibrium where the attraction of gravity and the repulsive pressure are balanced out, and during this period the star burns in a relatively stable way. Until it runs out of fuel, that is. The Cooling of a Star As the hydrogen fuel in a star gets converted to helium, and to some heavier elements, it takes more and more heat to cause the nuclear fusion. The mass of a star plays a role in how long it takes to burn through the fuel. More massive stars use their fuel faster because it takes more energy to counteract the larger gravitational force. (Or, put another way, the larger gravitational force causes the atoms to collide together more rapidly.) While our sun will probably last for about 5 thousand million years, more massive stars may last as little as 1 hundred million years before using up their fuel. As the stars fuel begins to run out, the star begins to generate less heat. Without the heat to counteract the gravitational pull, the star begins to contract. All is not lost, however! Remember that these atoms are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons, which are fermions. One of the rules governing fermions is called the Pauli Exclusion Principle, which states that no two fermions can occupy the same state, which is a fancy way of saying that there cant be more than one identical one in the same place doing the same thing. (Bosons, on the other hand, dont run into this problem, which is part of the reason photon-based lasers work.) The result of this is that the Pauli Exclusion Principle creates yet another slight repulsive force between electrons, which can help counteract the collapse of a star, turning it into a white dwarf. This was discovered by the Indian physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar in 1928. Another type of star, the neutron star, come into being when a star collapses and the neutron-to-neutron repulsion counteracts the gravitational collapse. However, not all stars become white dwarf stars or even neutron stars. Chandrasekhar realized that some stars would have very different fates. The Death of a Star Chandrasekhar determined any star more massive than about 1.4 times our sun (a mass called the Chandrasekhar limit) wouldnt be able to support itself against its own gravity and would collapse into a white dwarf. Stars ranging up to about 3 times our sun would become neutron stars. Beyond that, though, theres just too much mass for the star to counteract the gravitational pull through the exclusion principle. Its possible that when the star is dying it might go through a supernova, expelling enough mass out into the universe that it drops below these limits and becomes one of these types of stars ... but if not, then what happens? Well, in that case, the mass continues to collapse under gravitational forces until a black hole is formed. And that  is what you call the death of a star.

Karl Marx Aruments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Karl Marx Aruments - Essay Example Whereas the Capitalists believed on the private ownership of means of production, Communisms was for the public ownership of means of production. Secondly, these philosophers were against alienated labor and job specialization, which they viewed as betrayal to multiple human potential. Thirdly, they were against exploitation of workers, brought by capitalism. Here workers would be exploited in terms of payment. They claimed that Capitalism was primarily for making money rather than the common good for all. For instance, among the few rich, money would determine their relationship even in the institutions of marriage. Job instability is another factor that these scholars viewed as a brought by the industrial age. Here most workers would be rendered jobless as machines take up most jobs (Riggins 1). Some of these arguments are still seen to be relevant to date. For instance, in some of the most industrialized nations, machines tend to do most jobs, which human beings would have done. For example, in Britain, cotton gene replaced human labor. Secondly, the idea of job specialization has transformed most human beings to a machine like creature, preventing them of being dynamic and innovative (Caldwell 3). In conclusion, the ideologies of Marx and Engels can help in building economy that brings better relationship with nature and society. Moreover, there is no country in the world to date which practice communism or capitalism to the letter. In one ay or another, changes have been realized in countries that were first viewed as extremists. For instance, communist China now gives her citizens opportunity to keep some of their earnings. The same appears to have been adopted and adapted in USA that currently has social security systems and postal services owned by

Security Planning and Assessment - protection Essay

Security Planning and Assessment - protection - Essay Example It can also say that the security related to aero plane from the hijacking and terrorism crimes. Airport is one of the large gathering places and there is high risk of terrorism there. Now days it is seem that there is high rate of attacks on aircrafts. The high rate of hijacked the aero plane as a lethal weapon target for terrorism. These things facilitate understanding, clarification, or get evidence. These things are helpful for security control existence, functionality and potential for improvement. There is a local examination that included the information security methods; plans and processes; analyzing the system design documentation; view the system backup; observe the incident-response operation; review the security configuration settings; and user/administrator guides. CASTA is responsible for pre-board all persons screening. In this way they have contract with such service provider like Aeroguard Ltd Company. This company is responsible for train and guides the officer for screen test and its all methods and planning. These authorities are later privatized in 1990. The risk of any terror is remain although there is screening but there are many different methods from which the terrorist enter into the airport or they attempt to hijack the aero plane. The risk is every very high although the security measures have done. Sort out the threats In CASTA there are special trained officers that detect threats instead of that they completely rely on equipment to find threats. As aero plane perimeter for defenses get better at repelling the external attacks such as hijack, bombing or any data theft. But the criminals are ever engage to developing and creating new ways to break the securities and get the unauthorized access to system. Analysis of instrument CASTA uses x-ray machines to verify the contents of all

Do Contrast in the Long-term Financing and Ownership of Business Essay

Do Contrast in the Long-term Financing and Ownership of Business Explain National Differences in the Governance and Management of Firms, and Fundamentally Account for the Success of Major Economies - Essay Example In the paper, the case of KFC in the UK, US, Japan, and China will be compared and contrast in terms of the nature of ownership, governance, business strategy, corporate objectives, power/authority of management, nature of strategic decision-making, nature of decisions on building corporate capabilities, the long-term and short-term investment in technology, investment in plant and machinery in relation to productivity, and management of people. Eventually, a comparison will be made in the four countries’ degree of relationship between performance and finance systems, forces of convergence, and internationalization before and after 1990. Prior to a conclusion, the extent to which the crisis of 2008 has transformed the nature of the debate about the financial system and types of capitalism will be tackled in details. KFC was first established in the US and was eventually sold to PepsiCo back in 1986 and eventually became a subsidiary of YUM!. As part of its globalization strate gy, KFC entered the UK market via 60% franchised + 40% equity, Japan via the joint venture (JV) through the franchise with Mitsubishi Corporation (62%), and China through franchising. Since the Chinese government did not recognize the term â€Å"franchising† back in the 1990s, most of the first few KFC stores in China were company-owned. Governance is all about having the best and most legal and ethical system that can be used in directing or controlling the business. In most cases, corporate governance aims to regulate the corporate conduct by creating a balance between the internal and external stakeholders, the government, and the local communities. Aside from being able to fulfill the Board’s responsibilities to its shareholders, the top management of KFC strongly believes that the process of creating good corporate governance is one of the key factors that will make their business a success.

Training and Development Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Training and Development Paper - Essay Example This can be done with proper training and education system in place. Following paper deals with 3 aspects: Importance of training and education in health care: It is of vital importance to create awareness among masses and it can be done through training. Importance of measuring competencies: This helps to understand abilities and requirements of people. The process of tracking and evaluating training effectiveness: This forms an important step to understand if efforts are in right direction. Training and Education in Health Care Health care is amongst the most serious problems faced by many countries today. One of the most influential economies; the U.S. economy, has had a huge impact because of rising health care costs associated with health insurance and medical care (â€Å"Health care†, 2011). Because of increasing expenditures on health care, it has become essential to address this issue. Importance of training and education in health care: Let us understand the importanc e of healthcare from a very basic point of view. Each time that a kid enters his house after playing, how many times does he touch food items only after washing his hands clean? The answer is ‘almost never’, until his parents shout at him. Point to take from this is that psychologically we all neglect taking care of our health unless something adverse happens to us. Neglected health care can be fatal at times! For the same reason, training and education is of vital importance in health care. Training basically includes imparting knowledge about certain issues. This is done to improve the skill sets of a person in order to benefit the individual personally or the organization he/she is working with. Training and education are also the ways to spread awareness and hone skills. We are familiar with a popular saying: Health is Wealth. And right it is! If we are able to maintain our health and stay fit, only then we can successfully march towards achieving our goal. With rap id scientific progress, health care is associated with constant introduction of newer technologies. For example, few decades back, it was not possible to measure blood sugar level at home. However with the advent of new technology and better devices which were compact and portable, this measurement became possible within our homes. Thus, developing awareness about the importance of maintaining blood sugar level within certain limits and therefore monitoring it regularly became evident. Here arose the need for training and education in this area. To put forth another simple example, the spot bicycles and the treadmills used for exercises were not available long back. People never knew how to keep track of calories burnt. With the introduction of these machines, our tasks became easy. Being obese or unfit is a sign of bad health. The use of these machines required many dieticians/doctors to explain the importance of fitness and maintaining good health. Health care comes in many facets related to: skin, general cleanliness, hygiene, women’s healthcare, midwifery practice, family planning, nursing, children’s health, dietary health, etc. (Johnson, 2006). Training for all these things can be arranged in various ways as mentioned below: 1. Seminars. 2. Workshops. 3. Case study analysis and evaluation. 4. On-task training. 5. Lecture series. 6. Group projects. 7. Surveys. 8. Short time voluntary service with institutions providing health care support, etc. Importance of

Identifying Long Term Trends SLP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Identifying Long Term Trends SLP - Essay Example have sufficient funds to fully invest there business in Canada, and as a result the financial managers may decide to source some funds from a financial institution. However, these funds will be associated with an interest rate set by the lender. During inflation period, the interest rates will tend to be higher, this will affect the amount of interest that will accrue to the loan borrowed (Mankiw, 2012). Financial managers of Fedex corporation should therefore, consider interest applicable before deciding where to source there funds. As an economic variable, the stock market affects FedEx Corporation, Canada’s expansion program. This is because the stock market index based on Canada’s stock exchange gives a prediction of the expected future value of stock prices. In case, there is a high value index FedEx Corporation should continue to carry out its expansion to Canada because the financial managers expect high profits as a result, of rapid economic growth accompanied b y low levels of unemployment. Financial managers need to also determine the rate of inflation in Canada before carrying out there investment. If inflation is high it then means that consumers prices will be high, and in turn will affect how they spend there money (Mankiw, 2012). If inflation is high FedEx Corporation will fix the prices of there services high, and as a result, consumers will not use the services because they cannot afford it. During inflation, it is extremely difficult for FedEx to determine how much income to generate, this is because it is difficult to determine the demand for there services at the higher prices (Mankiw, 2012). In addition, the financial managers of FedEx Corporation should focus on the trends of the real gross domestic product as it gives a measure of what the economy produces goods and services besides giving an accurate measure of changes in the price levels. In addition, the financial managers of FedEx Corporation should take into consideration the

Economics in an international context Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Economics in an international context - Essay Example In addition, there is a huge lot of pollution that is increased due to road congestion. It is more probable for an accident to occur when there is increased congestion as well as an increase in stress on driver, pedestrians and also the cyclists. Economists, through the concept of demand and supply theory, assume that the road-space demand will always go down when the price paid for it increase. This is so due to the income and substitution effect of a higher price. When the road-space is free, its demand becomes more than its supply. This can lead to expressing congestion as an external cost of consumption. It means, there is a welfare loss due to too much driving. To provide economic solutions to road congestion problem, economists can apply three main methods. They can either increase the supply for road-space, increase the price for road-space or reduce its demand. This is the most direct way of sorting out the problem of congestion on roads. It is logical that congestion could be caused when there are few roads in a city or a town or anywhere that we demand the road-space supply. It is also true that when there is when there is a low supply of any good, other factors remaining constant, its demand increases. Therefore, with an increased demand and the available roads that can be used are few, there will be congestion (Lave, 2001). To increase the supply of road-space, the government can build more roads that can be enough for its users. When there are more road space added, all the road users will find adequate space to use without necessarily causing congestion. However, other problems are there that are associated with increasing of road space. When doing this, the government must meet some opportunity costs. As we know that the government usually works on a budget and building roads is usually a very expensive

Identifying Long Term Trends SLP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Identifying Long Term Trends SLP - Essay Example have sufficient funds to fully invest there business in Canada, and as a result the financial managers may decide to source some funds from a financial institution. However, these funds will be associated with an interest rate set by the lender. During inflation period, the interest rates will tend to be higher, this will affect the amount of interest that will accrue to the loan borrowed (Mankiw, 2012). Financial managers of Fedex corporation should therefore, consider interest applicable before deciding where to source there funds. As an economic variable, the stock market affects FedEx Corporation, Canada’s expansion program. This is because the stock market index based on Canada’s stock exchange gives a prediction of the expected future value of stock prices. In case, there is a high value index FedEx Corporation should continue to carry out its expansion to Canada because the financial managers expect high profits as a result, of rapid economic growth accompanied b y low levels of unemployment. Financial managers need to also determine the rate of inflation in Canada before carrying out there investment. If inflation is high it then means that consumers prices will be high, and in turn will affect how they spend there money (Mankiw, 2012). If inflation is high FedEx Corporation will fix the prices of there services high, and as a result, consumers will not use the services because they cannot afford it. During inflation, it is extremely difficult for FedEx to determine how much income to generate, this is because it is difficult to determine the demand for there services at the higher prices (Mankiw, 2012). In addition, the financial managers of FedEx Corporation should focus on the trends of the real gross domestic product as it gives a measure of what the economy produces goods and services besides giving an accurate measure of changes in the price levels. In addition, the financial managers of FedEx Corporation should take into consideration the

Analytical Critique of the Novel Ionization Device for Controlling the Term Paper

Analytical Critique of the Novel Ionization Device for Controlling the Charge States of Peptides - Term Paper Example Therefore understanding current improvements in the analytical procedures such as the inductive ionization technique is vital in the progress of proteomics. This paper by Peng et al (pp.8863) presents an improvement of the electrospray ionization method used in mass spectrometry, the inductive electrospray (inductive ESI). This work provides a background of the existing electrospray (conventional electrospray) method, its short comings and then attempts to introduce the novel technique. The benefits of the new technique are highlighted in the study together with a simple experiment giving a comparison of the mass spectrum produced by the conventional ESI and the one produced by inductive ESI. A background Mass spectrometer is used to measure samples by producing ions and separating them according to their mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio. In mass spectrometric analysis various steps are carried on the sample to be analysed. These include atomization, conversion of the atomized portion into a stream of ions. The streams of ions are then separated based on their charge-to-mass ratio (m/z). Final step in mass spectroscopy involves measuring the current when these ions hit appropriate transducers. Major components of a mass spectrometer are an inlet system for injecting micro amounts of the sample to the ion source. Conversion of the sample into ions is achieved by bombarding the sample with electrons, ions or molecules. Upon samples being converted into ions, the stream of ions is directed into a mass analyzer which disperses the ions based on m/z ratio. From the mass analyzer, the transducer converts the beam of ions into electrical signal which are processed to generate a mass spectrum of the analyte. Method for ionization falls into two categories; the gas phase and desorption methods. Gas phase involves the vaporization and ionization of a sample whereas in desorption method; solid or liquid sample is converted into a gaseous phase directly. Matrix-assisted desorpti on-ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) are examples of desorption ion sources for mass spectrometry and bear the advantage of being applicable to thermally unstable samples as well as in non-volatile samples. Electrospray ionization(ESI) is based on extraction of ions from solution (Rosenberg 845). ESI is amenable in the analyses of biomolecules such as polypeptides, proteins and oligonucleotides which have high molecular weight (100, 000 kDa) (Skoog pp560). Multiple charged ions are produced in ESI which enable measurement of high mass species. This is achieved by reducing m/z ratio to a range appropriate for mass spectrometry application. Samples used in ESI are usually non-volatile and the method is amenable for mass determination of biomolecules, analyzing and sequencing of proteins as well as analyzing drugs. Description of the chemical target to be measured, desired precision, accuracy and cost of the measurements/instrument. The mass spectrum in an electrospr ay depends on the generation of ions in an aerosol. Usually ion formation in the aerosol is a competitive process where the sample of interest in this case peptide will compete for formation of ions with contaminants such as phosphates

Psycho Analytic Theorist And The Concepts Essay

Psycho Analytic Theorist And The Concepts Essay This paper discusses about psycho analytic theorist and the concepts of theorist according to the psychology. It also details the influential of Freuds work in the case of psychoanalytic theory and the concept of Freud. This paper explains the importance of Sigmund Freuds work and the suggestions about psychology. It also details how the analysts that followed Freud dissent from did his viewpoint. This paper links the theorist in the psychoanalytic group. It also concludes with this concept by providing the psychoanalytic concepts and how the concepts are relevant to todays culture. Psychoanalytic theory The psychoanalytic theory is the theory that is the dynamic of personality development and the personality development guides psychoanalytic theory. The method of psychoanalytic theory was associated by Sigmund Freud and the analysis of psychology is used to explore unconsciousness impulses, internal conflicts and anxieties etc. The psychoanalytic theory also focuses the concepts of infantile sexuality, transference and the resistance. The psychoanalytic theory is used to learn and behaviours of human being. 1. Sigmund Freud is a great psychoanalytic theorist and his psychoanalytic concepts are used in many ways among the world. The Sigmund Freuds concepts are influential to the people in the case of improving their personality and mental activities. His work was more influential to the people in the case of providing the solution for unconscious, childhood memories, dream analysis, and for the personality development. He had offered the complete explanation about the human condition. Sigmund Freud had given the perfect value to the psychoanalyst in the case of improving the human being activities, personality development and so on (Sigmund Freud, 2007). Human being utilizes the concept of Sigmund Fused in order improve themselves. His work was understandable and detailed for the people and he has written a broad range of subjects such as culture, dreams and religion that shows the Freuds perspectives in order to improve the human being activities. His theories were enormously influential in order to fabricate the culture of human being. His concept is very effective in the case of enhancing the psychology of human being. 2. Freud had believed the behaviour is the one that is driven from the fears and the desires and the behaviour is locked in the unconscious. The psychoanalysts had followed the point of Freud in order to improve the psychology. The psychoanalytic followers are believed that the concept of Sigmund Freud will be used for shaping the psychology environment and life of human being. Freud had made the consciousness thoughts that are very powerful for human beings life. The psychoanalysis is also the part of popular human culture and that was implemented by Sigmund Fraud thats why psychoanalyst noted him as the father of psychoanalytic theory. According to Freuds viewpoint, the psychoanalytic factors are provided effectively hence other analysts are giving the value to his point. Several psychoanalysts are attracted by the effective points of Sigmund Frauds. They are positively affected by the concepts of Sigmund Fraud. The impact of Sigmund Freud is the valuable one in the case of psychological theories. The psychoanalysts are followed the concepts of infantile sexuality, transference, and the superego that are made by the points of Sigmund Freud. Sigmund Freud is a great founder of psychoanalytic theory for the enhancement of people. His points are also very effective in the case of giving the personality development, motivation and perception to human being. Psychoanalysts are treating Freud as an inspiration for them and they are also following the methods and guideline of Sigmund Fraud to the people. The psychoanalyst concepts are very useful today for enhancing the activities of people in this world. Sigmund Freud was the doctor and he was delivered many psychoanalytic theory books in order to improve the psychological factors. These books are followed by psychoanalysts. 3. The theorists are contributing more in the case of psychoanalytic group by providing effective philosophy methods to them. The contribution and the value of theorist are very significant in the case of improving the psychological factors. The psychoanalytical theory is the most influential factor in the case of twentieth century and because the people in the twentieth century needs to have the better psychology theory for their enhancement. The theorists are also the responsible for the implementation of psychoanalytic theory. Hence the theorists are linked with the psychoanalytical theory. The theorists are linked with the psychoanalytic groups by emphasizing the role of unconscious impulses and overcoming conflicts. The theorist are decides the psychological stage, age, virtue that are related with the psychopathology for the psychoanalytic theory. The psychoanalytical group is concentrated in the case of child psychology, treating couples and conducting the family therapy conditions. In this case, the guidelines of psychological theory and the theorists are very helpful to psychoanalytical theory. The theorists and psychoanalytical groups link with the psychoanalytical group in the case of providing the better solution for the human beings problems. The theorists are providing the theories for psychological factors in order to improve mental health professionals and practises. The theorists are also delivering the concepts in the case of handling the feelings, thoughts and actions that are linked with the psycho analytical theories. The attachment theory, transference, and rà ©sistance are the theories that are contributed by the theorist for the psychoanalytical theory groups. The psychoanalytic theory group is depending upon the theorists and the contribution of theorist and hence theorist must link in the case of psychoanalytic theory groups. 4. The three types of psychoanalytical concepts are relevant to todays culture and the modern culture is affected by those psychoanalytical concepts. These psychoanalytic concepts were provided by Sigmund Freud and his concepts very effective to modern world. The three concepts are unconsciousness, resistance and transference and so on. The unconsciousness is the psychoanalytical concept that provides the development of adult emotional problems in the world. This unconscious treatment method is involving in the case of free association of ideas, interpretation by patient, discover the ling buried events. The unconsciousness concept is making the present relationship to patient in the current culture. The resistance is the concept of psychoanalytic theory that was initiated by Sigmund Fraud. It also plays the vital role in the culture of human beings. This resistance is referred to the patients in the case of blocking memories from the unconscious memory. This is related with the modern culture in the case of developing the thoughts and feelings of patients. In this case, the patient can automatically resist the self exploration that makes the comfortable environment to patients. Then the patients can experience the life as happier because the painful emotions can be resisted by this concept thats why this concept also relevant to todays culture (Ruth Stein, 1999). The third concept is the effective one that concept also plays the vital role in the case of current culture. It is the phenomenon that is characterized by unconsciousness redirection of feeling among the human being. The transference is utilizes for better understanding of the patients feelings and thoughts in this world. The transference makes the better positive relationship to the patients hence it is also related with the current culture. Conclusion The psychoanalytic theory and the concepts of psychoanalytic theory were discussed. The concepts of Sigmund Freud to the psychoanalytical theory were described. The relationship of theorists with the psychoanalytical theory was detailed. The contribution of psychoanalyst to the psychoanalytic theory by Sigmund Freud was explained. The three psychoanalytical concepts that are related with the current culture were provided and the supporting points for them were concluded.

Hindu Wedding Ceremony Essay -- Descriptive Wedding Hindu Culture Essa

Hindu Wedding Ceremony Introduction The tradition Vedic wedding ceremony is about four thousand years old. The ceremony is a religious occasion solemnized in accordance with the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of the Hindus. It is a collection of rituals performed by the bride’s parents. Each steps in the ceremony has symbolic philosophical and spiritual meaning. The Maharaj (priest) conducts the ceremony by chanting Mantras (bridal altar). The ceremony is performed in Sanskrit, the most ancient surviving language.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lagna, the marriage, is performed to unite two souls so firmly that after marriage although their bodied remain separate, their souls merge and become harmonious. They become spiritually one. Swagatam (Welcoming the Groom) Jay arrives amid much celebration with his family and friends at the doorsteps. Hiral’s mother welcomes Jay and asks him if is prepared to make the life long commitment and is ready to deal with the bittersweet experience that marriage will present in the future. He is then asked to brake a clay pot filled with curd, honey, ghee (clarified butter) and cottonseeds. The clay pot represent the world and the materials symbolize the different experience he will encounter in the journey of life ahead. Hiral’s mother then leads him to the Mandap (bridal altar) where the wedding ceremony will take place. Ganesh Puja, Kalash and Navagraha (Invocation to Lord Ganesh)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The wedding ceremony begins with the worship of lord ganesh, the remover of all obstacles. Hiral’s parents attend the ceremony with jay, and the Maharaj (Priest) guides the rituals. The kalash (pot) contains sacred waters with coconut and flowers symbolizing the universe. Prayers are rendered to the kalash. This portion of the ceremony represents the worship of five basic elements; earth, air, fire, water and sky. The Navagraha (the nine planets of the solar system) are involved for their blessing. Kanyagaman And Manglashtak   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hiral is brought to the Mandap by her maternal uncle(kanyagaman).A white curtain, antarpata ( a symbol of traditional barriers) is held between the couple. The bride’s relative (Mangalashtak) chant blessings. The curtain is then removed and Hiral and Jay exchange garlands. Madhuparka, Kanyadaan, and Hastamelap (Giving Away of the bride and joining of the Hands)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hiral’s father offers jay ghee and curd... ...a necklace made of sacred black beads (Mangal Sutra), signifying his abiding love, integrity and devotion. Then he places sindoor, a reddish powder in her hair. The priest then blesses the wedding ring and the couple exchanges them. These acts represent Hiral and Jay’s new status as a married woman and man. Kansar Bhojan (Nourishing the relationship)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jay and Hiral feed each other four times with sweets, signifying their pledge to love and care for each other, and accept the blessing to have a harmonious marriage. Khand Saubhagyavati (Blessing from the married women)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hiral and Jay now seek the blessing of their parents and their elderly relatives by bowing to their feet (ashirvaad). Married women form the bride’s side bless the couple by whispering â€Å"saubhagyavati Bhav†(blessing for abiding martial happiness)into the bride’s right ear. Then seek blessing from relatives and friends. Vidaai (Farewell)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The last ritual of the ceremony is a touching and emotional farewell to the daughter. Hiral now begins her new role as a wife and as a member of the Warner family. She throws a fistful of rice, so that the house of her children remains prosperous and happy.

Microsoft: Trust or Antitrust? :: Argumentative Persuasive Argument

Microsoft: Trust or Antitrust? "Oh, come on, just trust me." Those six simple words have been the pleadings of many when, for whatever reason, they find themselves in a situation, where others don't give their actions or claims any credibility. They have nothing left to fall upon, except the hope that they can be thought of as trustworthy, and that others are willing to give them an opportunity. This is the situation Microsoft has found itself in, and in response, they have launched "Trustworthy Computing," a campaign to help gain credibility and respect in the marketplace. Why, you might ask, is a company that controls 90 percent of its market worried about public perception? Why would such a major influence in the computer industry shut down production of new software, in an attempt to correct countless errors? Why did Bill Gates hire Wieden and Kennedy, the advertising agency that gave us such things as the Nike Swoosh, to change Microsoft's public image? It is because the people at Microsoft have realized that consumers use their software not because they want to, but because they have no other choice. As I sit here writing my paper in Microsoft Word, listening to a CD play in Windows Media Player, surfing the internet for sources in Microsoft Internet Explorer, all parts of my Windows XP setup, it might seem that Microsoft has itself entrenched in my life and that of the computer industry. Yet, the powers that be at Microsoft aren't just sitting around watching their MS Office licensing fees come in, they've sounded the alarm. "There must have been a moment of crisis, either they were feeling insecure, or Microsoft was putting pressure on them," Erik Adigard, a former consultant for Microsoft, suggests. The root of the problem may be, as Sara Basse observed, "Programmers and system designers are often overconfident too, and do not give enough thought to the potential consequences of errors or poor design." Those oversights are the reason that Microsoft shut down most of its production of programs, and instead shifted resources to correct bugs and errors in pre-existing programs. One might then, wonder why Microsoft has sold programs with errors, and instead of taking the time to correct the mistakes of past versions, they have moved on to completely new concepts. It appears that Microsoft has gotten the message from its consumers. They have begun unprecedented disclosures of their codes to their competitors, so that they are better able to integrate their programs into Windows.