Monday, January 27, 2020
The Data Center Energy Efficiency Information Technology Essay
The Data Center Energy Efficiency Information Technology Essay Research green computing and projects that have been done or are being done by large organizations such as IBM, Dell, HP, and Google. See www.greenercomputing.com and similar sites provided on the companion web site or that you find yourself. Include your definition of green computing to including all of the topics listed in the background scenario. Describe each of these areas of green computing, including a detailed example of how at least one organization has implemented each one, and investigate the return on investment. Summarize your results in a two- to three-page paper, citing at least three references. What companies are currently implementing projects that involve green computing? Find a few website and discuss what they are implementing and if they include: Green computing, also referred to as Green IT, is the scientific study of efficient and effective designing, manufacturing, using, disposing, and recycling of computers and computer related products like servers, network systems, communication systems, monitors, USBs, printers, etc. (Kocherps, 2010). http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-computing/articles/62742.aspx. Kocherps describes the four paths to green computing that would help preserve natural resources and reduce the impact on the environment: Reducing energy consumption of computers and other related products as well a using them in an efficient manner. Refurbishing and reusing old computers as well as properly disposing and recycling unwanted computers and other equipment. Designing energy efficient and environmentally sound computers and accessories. Manufacturing computers and components with minimal effect on the evnrionrment (2010). There are several applications of Green computing available, which are explained below: Data Center Energy Efficiency Data center and overall energy efficiency refers to the energy consumption. According to a survey conducted in 2009, 44% of survey respondents have seen an increase in their power bills for their data centers, which is up from 36% the previous year who did not pay much attention (Stansberry, 2009). Fontecchio (2010) wrote that the Federal Government and other major industry groups are on developing widely accepted stands for measuring a data centers energy efficiency. Fontecchio also mentions that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are working with six data center industry groups to standardize data center efficiency metrics (2010). Electronic Waste and Recycling The disposal of electronic waste and recycling refers to proper disposal of used computer equipment and other electronics devices. Many government sponsored programs and manufacturers have extensive online information that details how their recycling is handled (Holcombe, 2007). Hewlett- Packard (HP) is one of many companies that takes environmental issues seriously and provides solutions where businesses and consumers can donate, trade-in, recycle, or return for cash their used computer equipment (HP, 2010). Telecommuting Telecommuting is a popular benefit wherein employees perform work for a company but not physically be in the business location. This is one way that businesses are becoming more greener and lowering their office space expense (Sanchez, 2008). Office space expense can include heating, air conditioning, electricity http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/06/26/ciscos-telecommuting-program-boosts-productivity-cuts-costs-and-emissions Virtual Server Resources Virtualization of server resources http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2008/07/08/virtualization-servers-new-green-platform-it Thin Client Solutions Thin client solutions http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/08/24/new-fujitsu-thin-client-uses-just-29-watts-full-utilization Open Source Software Use of opens source software, and http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2005/10/02/closing-knowledge-gap-open-source Software Development Development of new software to address green computing for internal use and potential sale to other organizations. http://www.dellenterprise.com/goto/client/business-pc-solutions.aspx?tab=lifecycleST=green%20computing%20phrasedgc=STcid=53849lid=1383155acd=78394,8,0,95093168,762624170,1271850709,,21878626,4381927447 Weighted Decision Matrix Prepare a weighted decision matrix using the template from the companion web site (wtd_decision_matrix.xls) for Ben to use to evaluate people applying to be the project manager for this important project. Develop at least five criteria, assign weights to each criterion, assign scores, and then calculate the weighted scores for four fictitious people. Print the spreadsheet and bar chart with the results. Write a one-page paper describing this weighted decision matrix and summarize the results. This Weighted Decision Matrix (Exhibit A) was designed to assist in selecting the appropriate candidate for the Project (or Project) Manager position. Different projects require different skills. As such, Ive created a matrix that lists seven of the most important skills required for successful completion of this project: Analytical Skills Microsoft Access Visual Basic Programming Written and Oral Communication Microsoft Office Excel Attendance Productivity Each criteria is given a weight percentage based on importance, the highest being 25% and the lowest being 10%. The combination of these weights equal 100%. After reviewing all of the resumes and past employee evaluations, the next four columns contained applicants best qualified for the Project Manager position. Ann and Danielle are existing employees within the company, and Stanley and Lisa are outside applicants applying for the position. On a scale from 1 to 100 (100 being the highest and best qualified), each application was given a rating based on their past or current experiences and skills. As you can see from the results, Ann is clearly the better of all candidates scoring 90 points in five of the 7 criteria, and 70 in the remaining two criteria, bring her average criteria score to 85. It is my recommendation that you consider Ann for the position of Project Manager. Business Case and Financial Prepare the financial section of a business case for the Green Computing Research Project. Assume this project will take six months to complete (done in Year 0) and cost $500,000, and costs to implement some of the technologies would be $2,000,000 for year one and $600,000 for years two and three. Estimated benefits are $500,000 the first year after implementing and $2.5 million the following two years. Use the business case spreadsheet template from the companion web site (business_case_financials.xls) to help calculate the NPV, ROI, and year in which payback occurs. Assume a 7 percent discount rate, but make sure it is an input that is easy to change. Project Charter Prepare a project charter for the Green Computing Research Project. Assume the project will take six months to complete and the budget is $500,000. Use the project charter template (charter.doc) and examples of project charters in Chapters 3 and 4 as guidelines. Assume that part of the approach is to select a project team as quickly as possible. Change Request Since people will request changes to the project, you want to make sure you have a good integrated change control process in place. You will also want to address change requests as quickly as possible. Review the template for a change request form provided on the companion Website (change_request.doc.) Write a two-page paper describing how you plan to manage changes on this project in a timely manner. Address who will be involved in making change control decisions, what paperwork or electronic systems will be used to collect and respond to changes, and other related issues. Appendix __ is an example of the Change Request Form which will be submitted by each individual associated with the project who wishes to make changes thereof. The process for submission, evaluating, and executing such request will be explained below. The Change Request (CR) form is a web form that needs to be submitted in order to make any change to the project that is not listed in the Project Charter, the Project Business Case, or the Work Breakdown Structure. The requestor must fill out section 1 in its entirety. Below is a description of the fields that must be completed: Requestor Name This field will be automatically filled in using the username of the individual logged into the Active Directory. Project Name and Number This field is required to identify the correct project and to electronically notify the correct Project Manager. Type of CR Indicate whether this change is an enhancement or defect. Brief Description of Change Briefly describe the nature of the change, such as the correct data is not being abstracted. Date Submitted date of submission. Date Required date that the change should be completed by. Priority Level -Select either Low, Medium, High, or Mandatory level. All request levels will be reviewed within 5 business days, however, all request marked Mandatory or high will be analyze before all others regardless of date of submission. Reason for Change: Attachments or References: Approval Signature and Date digital signature of the requestor will be captured with the current date. After all required sections are complete, a submit button will electronically be submitted to the program manager assigned to the project name and number entered on the form. An acknowledgement will be sent to the requestor when the form is submitted successfully. The Program Manager assigned to the project will be notified via email that a change request was submitted and will receive a link to the form. The Program Manager will then complete Section 2 Initial Analysis. The Project Manager will determine the impact of the change regarding hours, duration, schedule, and cost. The Project Managers recommendation will be entered and the request will be forwarded to the Change Control Board for their final decision. Electronic notification will be submitted to the Requestor indicating that the request has been submitted to the Board for final review. The Board will notify all parties regarding their final decision within 48 hours. The Boards final decision will now become a part of the projects history. 2. PROJECT SCOPE MANAGEMENT Define Project Scope Management here. 2.1 Requirements Matrix Document requirements for your project so far, including a requirements traceability matrix. Use the template provided (reqs_matrix.xls). Also include a list of questions you would like to ask the sponsor about the scope. Develop a scope statement for the project using the templates provided (scope_statement.doc). Be a specific as possible in describing product characteristics and deliverables. Make assumptions as needed, assuming you got answers to the questions you had in Task 1. Develop a work breakdown structure (WBS) for the project. Break down the work to level 3 or level 4, as appropriate. Use the template on the companion Web site (wbs.doc) and sam0ples in the text as guides. Print the WBS in list form as a Word file. Be sure to base your WBS on the project scope statement, stake holder requirements, and other relevant information. Remember to include the work involved in selecting the rest of your project team and outside resources as well as coordinating with the Environmental Technologies Program. Use the project management process groups as level 2 WBS items or include project management as a level 2 WBS item to make sure you include work related to managing the project. Use the WBS you developed in Task 3 above to create a Gantt chart for the project in Microsoft Project 2007. Use the outline numbering feature to display the outline numbers (click Tools on the menu bar, click Options, and then click Show outline number). Do not enter any durations or dependencies. Print the resulting Gantt chart on one page, being sure to display the entire Task Name column. 3. PROJECT TIME MANAGEMENT Define Project Time Management here. 3.1 Schedule Review the WBS and Gantt chart you created for Tasks 3 and 4 in Part 2. Propose three t five additional activities you think should be added to help you estimate resources and durations. Write a one-page paper describing these new activities. Identify at least four milestones for this project. Write a one-page paper describing each milestone using the SMART criteria. Using the Gantt chart created for Task 4 in Part 2, and the new activities and milestones you proposed in Tasks 1 and 2 above, estimate the task durations and enter dependencies as appropriate. Remember that your schedule goal for the project is six months. Print the Gantt chart and network diagram. Write a one-page paper summarizing how you would assign people to each activity. Include a table or matrix listing how many hours ea h person would work on each task. These resource assignments should make sense given the duration estimates made in Task 3 above. Assume that your project team starts falling behind schedule. In several cases, it is difficult to find detailed information on some of the green computing technologies, especially financial data. You know that it is important to meet or beat the six-month schedule goal, but quality is most important. Describe contingency strategies for making up lost time and avoiding schedule slips in the future. 4. PROJECT COST MANAGEMENT Define Project Cost Management here. . 5. PROJECT QUALITY MANAGEMENT Define project Quality Management here.
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Death of a Salesman - Linda Loman Essay -- American Literature
Death of a Salesman - Linda Loman In the play Death of a Salesman, Linda Loman serves as the family's destroyer. Linda realizes, throughout the play, that her family is caught up in a bunch of lies. Linda is the only person that can fix the problem and she doesn't. The first instance where Linda Loman serves as the family destroyer is in Act when Willy Loman comes home and tells her, "I suddenly couldn't drive any more. The car kept going off onto the shoulder, y'know?" (1402). Linda replies, "Oh. Maybe it was the steering again. I don't think Angelo knows the Studebaker" (1402). Willy says, "No, it's me, it's me. Suddenly I realize I'm going sixty miles an hour and I don't remember the last five minutes. I'm--I can't seem to-- keep my mind to it" (1402). Linda says, "Maybe it's your glasses. You never went for your new glasses" (1402). Linda knows throughout this conversation that her husband, Willy, is trying to kill himself in a car accident. Yet she continues to listen to the excuses Willy makes up for the car accident. To make matters even worse, Linda even makes up he...
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Nike in China
Executive Summary Overview Nike is the market leader in athletic shoes in the United States. The Oregon based company has always utilized offshore facilities in low-income countries to produce at minimal costs followed by importation into predominantly the US for sales. Nike is quick to divest from emerging markets as costs rise and has recently signed short term production contracts with a long term strategy of production in China. Unlike Nikeââ¬â¢s previous global endeavors, the political and cultural atmosphere in China has made the collaboration more demanding. Opportunities As the South Korean standard of living continued to improve, expected wages grew forcing Nike to look elsewhere for low cost shoe production. Market research identified China and India as the best long term possibilities for the new production facilities based on finances. Due in part to a trusting relationship between Nike and the Chinese government based on the family lines of vice president David Chang, China was determined to be the optimal location to grow. The possibility of a joint venture giving Nike access to a possible billion customer market was another opportunity that could only be found in China. Issues in China Nike has spent the last four years building facilities, training staff, and developing relationships in China. Unlike other facilities in low GDP countries that had been utilized previously, the China collaboration has been less than successful. The current infrastructure combined with landlocked facilities made transportation logistics difficult. The Chinese government had certain expectations and standardization requirements that were misaligned with Nikeââ¬â¢s incentives in terms of quality, pay, pricing, and employee motivation. The PRC government also created difficulties in import/export restrictions causing logistical problems with raw materials, specifically anything entering the country through South Korea, a major Nike supplier. While a foothold in China could eventually lead to an enormous new customer base, the current global strategy was ill suited to take advantage at the current time. Options * Shift strategies in China from global to multi-domestic to take advantage of the market. This option would require the formation of a joint venture with the Chinese government. Move factory locations to reduce transportation and logistics issues. * Pull out of China completely. Recommendations We believe the government regulations will make quality improvement and cost effectiveness highly unlikely in China. Furthermore, a multi-domestic strategy requiring a high investment rate would be required to take advantage of the Chinese population as a new customer market. With low expendable income and a forced jo int venture with the government necessary to sell Nike in China, we determined that selling in China is not currently an option. As such, the team recommends an urgent identification of new possible production environments with a concerted and eventual total divestiture in China. Questions a. How has Nike conceptualized the athletic shoe industry: global or multi-domestic? Justify your answer. What are the implications of this conceptualization? Nike instituted a global strategy, as opposed to a multi-domestic strategy, from the companyââ¬â¢s onset to compete in the athletic shoe industry. Knight identified opportunities abroad to reduce costs in the upstream functions of the value chain. Through the coordination of overseas operations integrated with US downstream functions focused on local US markets, Nikeââ¬â¢s utilization of a Porter-defined global strategy has brought the company to China. The Far Eastââ¬â¢s Role in the Value Chain Beginning with the first Japanese facilities, Nike factories located in the Far East, Europe, and South America have accounted for approximately 93% of shoe production with only minor assembly in the US. The identified regions within this concentrated configuration were almost exclusively production-only facilities without the R&D, sales and marketing, and other downsteam services required for a successful multi-domestic strategy. The countries had been targeted due to low costs with certain factories being divested over the years due to increasing wage rates and political uncertainty. Competition to reduce costs between different countries was key to identifying new opportunities and deciding on which factories would remain open as economic factors changed. While reducing costs was the main concern in global production, Nike could not accept a subsequent loss of quality. Previous experiences in Far Eastern plants had proven successful via quickly accepted technology transfer and ratios of grade-B shoes falling below 5% at rapid rates. Without the combination of high value and low cost, the strategic competitive advantage would be lost. Assumptions and Implications of a Global Strategy Nike moved to China based on their strategic history of standardizing the operations life cycle. Knight believed China would mirror other Far Eastern locales. Cost cutting assumptions included pay based on relative Chinese wages (as opposed to relative Nike production wages), employee incentives capabilities, minimal import/export barriers, and an infrastructure for facile distribution logistics. For each unforeseen difficulty encountered along these assumptions, Nikeââ¬â¢s costs would increase and could drive margins down to a point where China would no longer be financially competitive. The Olympic team public relations venture attempted to further the relationship between Nike and the Chinese government, not to present a new product for the public. The millions spent were misaligned with a low cost model and were identified with past exploitations by the West. While the possibility of two billion feet was enticing, Nike was in China to produce, not sell, shoes. There was no plan to market, distribute, or sell in China. Accordingly, the idea of a joint venture should not be on the table under the current strategy. However, the PRC strongly pushed JVs and the lack of a true collaborative environment could be detrimental in an environment so heavily regulated. b. Speculate on the reasons for Nike wishing to enter China. Before the entry do you think these reasons were valid? Justify your answer. Chinaââ¬â¢s Excellence in Manufacturing China is known for their excellence in manufacturing. Nike intended to exploit this excellence in order to drive down their supplier costs, while maintaining their customerââ¬â¢s willingness to pay constant which creates value for Nikeââ¬â¢s customers and shareholders. Prior to entry and based on Nikeââ¬â¢s due diligence, this was a valid reason. However, Nike either underestimated or did not entirely comprehend the challenges of conducting business is China. From the difficulty of sourcing local materials to the inconsistency in quality of the finished product, China was not the optimal manufacturing location for Nike. Rapid Growth of the Athletic Footwear Market in the 1970ââ¬â¢s (& Bad Forecasting) Perhaps Nike did not do enough high quality market research to see that the growth was slowing in their market. Nike may have become complacent due to their dominance in the industry or Nike may have discounted the market trends in the athletic footwear industry that showed a decline in the rate of growth, when comparing the 1970ââ¬â¢s to the 1980ââ¬â¢s. The bottom line is that Nike did not accurately forecast and adjust their strategy to the athletic footwear industry trends and market conditions. Prior to entry and based on Nikeââ¬â¢s due diligence, this was a valid reason. Nike chose to enter China, in part, to meet the demand of the growing market. However, perhaps they should have spent more time and resources on market research, which would have revealed that the growth rate was declining, and perhaps additional suppliers were not necessary to carry out their business plan after all and that a different international location might better meet their sourcing needs and goals. Rising Costs from Existing Suppliers One of the reasons Nike planned to enter China was due to the costs of conducting business in other countries (for example, South Korea and Taiwan) had been increasing. Nike thought that they could source product from China at a lower cost than their current offshore producers. Prior to entry and based on Nikeââ¬â¢s due diligence, this was a valid rationale. Due to the multiple issues that Nike faced in China, the costs associated in producing a pair of shoes were actually higher in China than their other international producers. See Table A in the appendix for a landed cost comparison from the case. Two Billion Feet Although the case clearly specifies this is not a reason for entry into China, one of Changââ¬â¢s motives may have been to sell directly to the Chinese. The size of the Chinese population is over three times the size of the United States. Even though the shoes produced in China were for the US, Chang may have considered producing a low cost shoe for the Chinese. Perhaps Nikeââ¬â¢s long term strategy was to navigate the Chinese political system, develop a strong local production presence, and then ultimately sell low cost footwear directly to the Chinese market. This reason was not valid prior to their entry. Nikeââ¬â¢s product was not produced for the Chinese, as the average Chinese consumer could not afford the product. b. How did the decision to enter China complement Nike's overall strategy? Nikeââ¬â¢s decision to enter China was based on flawed information. Nike underestimated the inherent challenges (political bureaucracy, materials sourcing, shipping and transportation, quality control and the Chinese culture of non-motivation and non-commitment) they faced when conducting business in China. Nike also failed to accurately forecast the demand in the athletic footwear industry. The decision ultimately hurt Nikeââ¬â¢s overall strategy, as their production costs rose, while the demand for their product was declining. Higher cost and declining demand both negatively affected Nikeââ¬â¢s bottom line. c. Identify the entry and ownership strategies used by Nike in entering China. Do you think they were appropriate? Base your analysis on the entry and ownership strategies outlined by Robock and Simmonds, referenced above. Justify your answer. As costs started to rise in other Asian markets, Nike made the strategic decision to open new full-scale manufacturing facilities in China, with the goal to reduce production costs. Nikeââ¬â¢s entry strategy into China created obstacles in achieving their long-term goals, which they should have foreseen. Below are a few factors that contributed to the obstacles. External Factors Nike underestimated the scope of the Chinese bureaucracy. Nikeââ¬â¢s only choice was to hire a consultant to navigate the issue. This consultant increased Nikeââ¬â¢s costs of doing business in China. Furthermore, Nike overestimated the size and future growth potential of their target market. Nike should have conducted additional due diligence and more thorough market research before deciding to move into China. In addition, Nike did not forecast the materials sourcing issue, which added to product costs. Internal Factors Nike failed to forecast/implement some key factors when deciding to enter China. Nike lacked the necessary internal operations to actively manage and solve production problems in real time. Also, Nike had great difficulties communicating the issue of quality control to the Chinese. Furthermore, the Chinese managers and workforce lacked motivation to perform their jobs to levels satisfactory to Nike. Ownership Nike chose to be wholly owned. Nike did not pursue the joint venture route, even though China tried to persuade Nike otherwise. Nike did, however, hire a consultant as a strategic partner to help them navigate the challenging bureaucracy. Given the political climate in China, perhaps Nike should have approached China with a joint venture agreement. Having China as a partner may have saved Nike time and resources when launching a new manufacturing platform. Or, perhaps Nike should have formed a strategic partnership with a local footwear manufacturer in order to bypass some of the issues with starting an entirely new facility and would have had some assistance in navigating the local market. d. Would you say Nike's entry into China was a success? Give reasons for your view, explaining why the entry was successful or a failure. At the time of case study, Nikeââ¬â¢s entry into China was not a success. This evaluation is based on several reasons primarily due to the cultural clash between Nike and Chinese production. By 1984, Nike encountered a range of problemsââ¬âfrom quality issues (only 80% of Chinese shoes were A-Grade), to inventory management (records kept on a guess method of expected usage), lack of flexibility from Chinese managers, motivational issues with management and workers, as well as complex and difficult government relations. Quality Issues in Product and Management When Chinaââ¬â¢s reformist leader, Deng Xiaoping, opened China to foreign investment and global market opportunities, Nike seized the opportunity to buy a finished shoe product from the PRC as a long-term, low-cost supplier. However, despite Chinaââ¬â¢s opening to the global market, it still existed as a socialist state with severe trust issues and obstructions to the free flow of information. These factors compounded to cause an array of production difficulties. Due to the Chinese factories still producing 20% B-grade shoes (significantly higher than both South Korea and Taiwan), Nike management not only wasted additional time arguing with Chinese managers on the quality problems (rather than actually improving the problem) but Nike also had to hire additional inspectors for each factory. While the money spent to hire these inspectors was relatively low, this illustrates the need for oversight and the lack of faith and trust in the Chinese managers to run the factories to Nikeââ¬â¢s standards. Governmental Regulation Additionally, as a socialist state, Chinese workers lacked motivation to increase production (factories at a standstill by midday) and to adhere to production schedules since they would be paid the same regardless of output. Even attempts by Nike of monetary incentives only appeared to have an effect for approximately 60 days. Because of the central planning system, the Chinese managers were used to stable prices. Price negotiations proved extremely difficult as none of the actual participants in the negotiations (foreign trade bureau, factory directors, local production bureau leaders) had the authority to make price decisionsââ¬âeverything relayed to authorities in Beijing. Compared to Korea or Taiwan, negotiations were slow which was extremely detrimental in a global and ever-changing environment. The levels of bureaucracy in China were much higher than those encountered in South Korea or Taiwan. Although Nike tried to establish a positive relationship with China (through contributions to the countryââ¬â¢s sports activities and hosting various Chinese officials visiting the U. S. ), meeting with the high-live leaders in China did not prove useful. The Chinese bureaucracy made making decisions difficult as it was never apparent who was in charge of what and Chinese officials did not show the same level of interest in establishing a relationship with Nike (leaders sometimes did not show up for appointments). Ultimately, all of the cultural difficulties resulted in extremely low production numbers (Nike originally targeted production growth to 1,000,000 pairs per month by mid-1980ââ¬â¢s but annual production in 1984 was only 700,000 pairs), significantly lower than both South Korea and Taiwan. Although Nike had ultimately hoped for a 20% price advantage over Korea, they were still losing $1. 00 on each pair of PRC shoes while the quality was much lower on these shoes as well. e. Identify the options available to Nike regarding its operations in China. If you were Chang at the time of the case, what future course of action would you recommend in China? Options Some of the options available to Nike regarding its operations in China are to pull operations out of China completely or consider entering into a joint-venture agreement with China. As of 1984, Nikeââ¬â¢s foray into China has not been a success due to a variety of reasons (listed above). If Nike were to pull operations out of China, they would risk losing all of the equipment investment as well as damaging the sensitive and already tenuous relations ith the government. Other countries would have to be evaluated as a low-cost source of production. Some possible countries could be Indonesia or shifting a greater percentage of production to Taiwan as their comparative changes in unit labor cost, although increasing, were significantly lower than Korea or Taiwan. However, if Nike did decide to stay in China and enter into a joint-venture agreement, this step would potentially be viewed as a sign of trust and evidence of commitment by China. Nike would also be allowed to sell its products in Chinaââ¬âa significant market to consider with a population of 1 billion people. Nike would also have additional freedoms with regards to hiring and dismissing personnel. The costs of a joint-venture agreement though, were estimated at $500,000 per factory and worker salaries would be about 20% higher than local factories. Recommendations to Nike If we were Chang at the time of the case, the future course of action that we would recommend to Nike would be to pull out of China operations. Although the possibility of access to a market with 1 billion people seems counter to this decision, Chinaââ¬â¢s great strides in opening to global markets indicates the likelihood that Nike will be able to access this consumer at some point without having to make the commitment of a joint-venture agreement. Additionally, while recognizing the sunk-costs bias, we feel that the potential costs to continue operations in China would result in Nike still losing money on each pair of shoe produced instead of cutting their losses and finding another profitable production avenue. Conclusions Nike saw China, as well as the many impoverished nations where previous production had occurred, as a part of the supply chain with a cost effective advantage. Korea and Taiwan had become increasingly expensive and China was a long term option. Unfortunately, Nike did not understand the political or cultural implications for utilizing China as part of a global strategy. The political environment and infrastructure in China created unforeseen difficulties for Nike in building an efficient production system. Government controlled wages reduced the influence of incentives for both work efficiency and quality. Strained relationships with the South Korean government made importation of materials slow and expensive. Transportation logistics and regional cultural differences made the government suggested sites for initial factory locations less than ideal. Chinaââ¬â¢s two billion feet did not align with Nikeââ¬â¢s global strategy. The Chinese public could not afford the high costs for the Nike brand and current ROI expectations could not be achieved. The Chinese governmentââ¬â¢s relationship approach to external companies would have much greater acceptance towards a mutually beneficial joint venture. Some saw Nikeââ¬â¢s global strategy as exploitation. The financial impact of Nikeââ¬â¢s strategy could not be delivered in China. The collaborative relationship desired by the Chinese government was misaligned with Nikeââ¬â¢s needs. Together, it becomes apparent that the best option for Nike is to locate a better location for production urgently and completely divest in China.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Human Nature - Are Humans Naturally Good or Evil
What is thought of as immoral to one person can be seen as ethical to another, and vice versa. This is due to the difference in the way humans perceive things, which is part of the intricacy of mankind. During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that conditions called war; and such a war, as if of every man, against every man. (Hobbes) Hobbes states that Humans are naturally evil and need a powerful government to control them. Is it true? Rousseau thinks otherwise. In reasoning on the principles he (Thomas Hobbes) lays down, he ought to have said that the state of nature, being that in which the care for our own preservation is the least prejudicial to that of others, was consequently the bestâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The dog has tried to jump on the door before, and had received the attention of someone who thus let him in. This leads the dog to believe that what he is doing is the right thing to do. After all, he just wants in, right? So the dog is evil because someone inside says he is, but then he is not evil because he doesnt think he is. The opinions on what is evil and what isnt disagree with each other because of how it was perceived by each side. In Lord of the Flies there is a situation that deals with Piggys glasses, which is the key to fire on the island. The glasses were stolen in the middle of the night that leads to a fight in the dark among the boys. The fact that the glasses were stolen, and they were Piggys only aid for sight, can be seen as evil, but what about Jacks side? Jack acts upon his devoir to light a fire in order to cook the pig he killed with his tribe to fully enjoy their prize. Ralph and Samneric engage in a fight with whosoever they can touch first, without an attempt to reason. Which is evil in this situation? Humans are simply complex animals that respond to complex impulse, and their behaviors are influenced or are a product of everything that they learn starting from the day of their birth to the day of their death. Society sets a mold for the good and bad conditions that humans are learning from day to day. The role of society in being good or evil is that it actsShow MoreRelatedHumans Are Naturally Evil1507 Words à |à 7 PagesHUMANS ARE NATURALLY EVIL The question regarding to the nature of human beings being related to the word evil has been a topic for controversial discussion and debate among scholars and philosophers alike. According to the ardictionary.com, the word evil is defined as Having or exhibiting bad moral qualities; morally corrupt; wicked; wrong; vicious; as, evil conduct, thoughts, heart, words, and the like ,anything which impairs the happiness of a being or deprives a being of any good; anything whichRead MoreMencius And Xunzis View Of Human Nature Is Evil868 Words à |à 4 Pagesview that human nature (xing) is good, while Xunzi is known for his view that human nature (xing) is evil. This paper will demonstrate the substantive differences between Menciusââ¬â¢ and Xunziââ¬â¢s ethical thinking that are conveyed through these two slogan-like statements, while also considering the implications of such differences for other aspects of their different views like the self-cultivation process. This paper will b egin by explaining Menciusââ¬â¢ reasoning for why our human nature is good followedRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Human Nature1423 Words à |à 6 Pages 1st is about Evil, 2nd is about Good, 3rd is about Every Man for Themselves and 4th is about experience. We are going to learn about four men known and revered for their philosophical teachings on human nature, unfortunately all four have very different opinions. Human Nature what is it? Where does it come from? Why, after so many years do we still not know the answer? The philosophers Mencius, Husun Tzu, Hobbes, and Locke are all very passionate in their beliefs and have written different argumentsRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne Essay879 Words à |à 4 Pagesacknowledged the reality of evil. Hawthorne believed that every society needed to have a jail and grave yard, ââ¬Å" The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of a prisonâ⬠(2331). He thought that people are naturally evil and sin so a jail was needed to keep evil people and influence awayRead MoreThe Evil Of Evil People975 Words à |à 4 PagesEvil People By nature, humankind tends to be more evil than good. Even though, some people are born with kinder temperament than others, everyone is conceived and birth in sin (Psalm 58.3). For this, in many traditions, once a woman gives birth, the baby is either baptized or blessed by his community to welcome him into the world, and to remove him from sin. People are naturally self-centered, jealous, mean individuals who want to gain, but not work hard. They crave violence, and would instantlyRead MoreHuman Nature Essay1665 Words à |à 7 Pagesââ¬Å"It is a sin to believe evil of others, but it is seldom a mistake.â⬠-H.L Menckens From the moment they are born, humans have a naturally evil predisposition. Although the term ââ¬Ëevilââ¬â¢ is difficult to define, there are various views on morality. The most commonly referenced one, Moral Objectivism, holds that moral standards are universally transcendent, and that certain acts are right or wrong independent of human subjectivity. It is by this unspoken moral code that humanityââ¬â¢s acts are judged. ThereRead MoreThe True Nature Of Humankind1309 Words à |à 6 PagesThe True Nature of Humankind Throughout the development of philosophy and human examination as a species, one problem has always seemed to be at the root of all the questioning. Philosophies exist that justify even the most extreme of governmental styles and world attitudes, from draconian governments which attempt to keep order at all costs, to carefree ruling styles which seem to suggest we should just let people self-govern. Many of these different justifications take their root in differingRead MoreIs Man Naturally Good Or Evil?972 Words à |à 4 Pagesman is inherently good or evil has vexed humanity since its appearance. Is man naturally good? Does he live in a state of the noble savage? Or was his natural habitat ,nasty , brutish and short? These questions are important because they help inform the way in which we treat our fellow human beings and structure of society. If man is in fact naturally bad then there is little to be gained in trying to make bad people better. Similarly, if we think that peopl e are naturally good, then one would tendRead MoreHuman Nature And The Mind974 Words à |à 4 PagesHuman Nature and The Mind Human nature and the mind have been studied for ages. As humans, we tend to think, feel, and act in certain ways that are often elucidated by nature and evolution. In fields such as Psychology, Philosophy, and Science, human nature and the mind have been extensively studied to develop theories about why humans act, think, and feel that way that we do. It is believed by some that humans are born a certain way by nature. There are three ways that people tend to believe humansRead MoreAristotle s Virtue Ethics And Aquino s Natural Law1639 Words à |à 7 PagesPeople, in their free actions, naturally notice the rightness or wrongness of such actions. Everyone has experienced some satisfaction or remorse for actions taken. When this spontaneous knowledge of the events is integrated into an orderly knowledge, based on some understanding of the causes, it originates ethical science. Ethics is a practical science because it is not limited to the theoretical study of the good of human acts , but also seeks to apply this knowledge to human actions. Ethics is not studied
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Martin Luther King Juniors Inspirational Speech, Iââ¬â¢ve...
Can you imagine being in Martin Luther King Juniorââ¬â¢s position in a hall or church somewhere speaking to people with the hope of challenging and inspiring them? Iââ¬â¢ve Been to the Mountaintop is a speech made by Martin Luther Kingââ¬â¢s Junior or 3rd April 1968. It is a speech that presented a long term mission for the City of Memphis. It was a time when African Americans struggled with racial prejudices. There were inequalities whereby the African-Americans were forced to live separately from the whites. Martin Luther King believed that if they join hands together, African-Americans will be able to fight against the unfair inequalities. King wanted to inspire the people that they can achieve justice without the use of violence. Martin Luther King used elements of logos, ethos and pathos in his speech to inspire the audience. Martin Luther King uses ethos to grab the attention of his audience in his introduction where he says, is ââ¬Å"am delighted to see each ââ¬â here tonightâ⬠(King 3rd April 1968). He is very confident in delivering his speech because a large umber of people has turned up. Martin used words such as ââ¬Å"victoryâ⬠, ââ¬Å"rightful placeâ⬠, and ââ¬Å"freedomâ⬠to create a sense of pathos in his audience. These words inspired his audience because the wanted that freedom and justice and through Martinââ¬â¢s inspiration that they can get it through non-violent means, they were convinced with his speech. In his speech, Martin speaks slowly, with lots of pauses and with great passion of what he
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Financial Crisis Of 2008 Essay - 956 Words
With the Financial Crisis of 2008, many governments and regulators were forced to relook at their regulatory policies taking into consideration the innovations that the financial services world is continuously subject to. In European Markets particularly, the market was fragmented as well as the regulations were limited in scope. This called out for the need of MiFID II, which not only widens the scope of directive, but also addresses the issues which came out during the crisis. Given the directive, the global investment research industry is on the cusp of major disruption. While a plethora of issues confront both the buy- and sell-sides in the lead up to the implementation in January 2018, pricing appears to remain the key area of concernâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦With the MiFID II regulations to go-live shortly and a largely negative outlook for major sell-side players on the horizon, brokers will need to make bold decisions around their future business models. II. Introduction European Union (EU) observed Investment Services Directive from 1993 to protect its investors. However, with technological disruptions taking place, the directive became irrelevant. Hence, under circumstances of growing competition, EU came out with Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) in 2004 to improve its competitiveness. The regulations, implemented in 2007, sought to create a single market for investment services and activities to ensure a high degree of harmonised protection for investors in financial instruments. Yet, the shortcomings of MiFID became evident during the financial crisis of 2008. To improve these weaknesses inherent in the MiFID structure, MiFID II was introduced to increase transparency in the system. While MiFID was focused on opening up markets to greater competition, MiFID II seeks to improve the business practices, and bring trading activities on to a transparent and organised trading venue. In doing so, MiFID II seeks to directly address major shortcomings that precipitated during the financial crisis, such as opacity in derivatives and other over-the-counter markets. One of the guidelines of MiFID II states that investment firmsShow MoreRelatedThe 2008 Financial Crisis Essay2289 Words à |à 10 PagesIntroduction In 2008, the world experienced a tremendous financial crisis which rooted from the U.S housing market; moreover, it is considered by many economists as one of the worst recession since the Great Depression in 1930s. After posing a huge effect on the U.S economy, the financial crisis expanded to Europe and the rest of the world. It brought governments down, ruined economies, crumble financial corporations and impoverish individual lives. For example, the financial crisis has resulted inRead MoreThe 2008 Financial Crisis Essay1326 Words à |à 6 Pagesintroduction The 2008 financial crisis led to a sharp increase in mortgage foreclosures primarily subprime leading to a collapse in several mortgage lenders. Recurrent foreclosures and the harms of subprime mortgages were caused by loose lending practices, housing bubble, low interest rates and extreme risk taking (Zandi, 2008). Additionally, expert analysis on the 2008 financial crisis assert that the cause was also due to erroneous monetary policy moves and poor housing policies. The federal governmentRead MoreFinancial Crisis 2008 Essay1160 Words à |à 5 PagesJust after ten years of Asian financial crisis, another major financial crisis now concern for all developed and some developing countries is ââ¬Å"Global Financial Crisis 2008.â⬠It is beginning with the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers on Sunday, September 14, 2008 and spread like a flood. At first U.S banking sector fall in a great liquidity crisis and simultaneously around the world stock markets have fallen, large financial ins titutions have collapsed or been bought out, and governments in even the wealthiestRead MoreEssay On The 2008 Financial Crisis964 Words à |à 4 PagesThe 2008 financial crisis can be traced back to two factor, sub-prime mortgages and debt. Traditionally, it was considered difficult to get a mortgage if you had bad credit or did not have a steady form of income. Lenders did not want to take the risk that you might default on the loan. In the 2000s, investors in the U.S. and abroad looking for a low risk, high return investment started putting their money at the U.S. housing market. The thinking behind this was they could get a better return fromRead More2008 Financial Crisis Essay2286 Words à |à 10 PagesQuestion 1 Hank Paulson played a critical role in the financial crisis of 2008. How did Mr. Paulson help create the environment that led up to the financial crisis? What mistakes did he make as Secretary of Treasury when he had to manage the financial crisis of 2008? Do you think Mr. Paulson acted as an unbiased Secretary of the Treasury or did his background at Goldman impact his thinking and his actions? As Secretary of Treasury, Hank Paulsonââ¬â¢s lax supervision let too many subprime mortgageRead MoreEssay on Financial Crisis of 2008 Analysis528 Words à |à 3 PagesIn 2008, the US experienced the traumatic chaos of a financial downturn, whose effects rippled throughout Europe and Asia. Many economists consider it the worst crisis since the Great Depression, and its alarming results are still seen today, a long six years later. Truly, the recessionââ¬â¢s daunting size and formidable wake have left no one untouched and can only beg the question: could it have been prevented? The causes are manifold, but can be found substantially rooted in illogical investments andRead MoreEssay about The 2008 Financial Crisis3160 Words à |à 13 PagesHave banks responded to the public accusation that the 2008 financial crisis was caused by a ââ¬Å"crisis of characterâ⬠in their industry by actively seeking candidates of integrity and character? There are two components to this research question: The first draws on strategic management research and the notion of organizational legitimacy and to what degree organizations operationally respond to public opinion; the second is the concept of ââ¬Å"character,â⬠what it means, how it is conceptualized, measuredRead MoreEssay The 2008 Irish Financial Crisis526 Words à |à 3 PagesThe 2008ââ¬â10 Irish financial crisis is a most important political and financial crisis in the Republic of Ireland, consider being responsible for the countrys fall into recession for the first time since the 1980s. The Irelandââ¬â¢s economy expanded rapidly during the Celtic Tiger years due to a low corporate tax rate, low ECB interest rates, and other systemic factors. Ireland has transformed in recent years from an agricultural focus to a modern knowledge economy, focusing on services and high-techRead MoreThe Bank of England and The 2008 Financial Crisis Essay610 Words à |à 3 PagesDue to the 2008 financial crisis, the Bank of England employed quantitative easing (an unconventional monetary policy used to stimulate the economy) by cutting interest rates down to 0.5 % and has been keeping it until now. The Bank made the decision to keep QE and the interest rate unchanged in March. Spare capacity (the ability of a firm to produce more of a product than is now being produced) is used by the BoE to justify its use of forward guidance policy (a communicative tool for monetary policy)Read More2008 Financial Crisis: Icelands Then Now Essay examples1558 Words à |à 7 PagesCauses of the Cri sis On September 15, 2008, the American bank Lehman Brothers, with holdings over 600 billion USD, filed bankruptcy. This was by far the biggest bankruptcy in U.S history and it marked the beginning and the largest financial crisis ever. How can one of the biggest banks in the world fail? How can a bankruptcy in US make someone on the other side of the world unemployed? The answer is Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs) and it all started by new innovations in the financial sector combined
Monday, December 9, 2019
Film and Television
Question: Write about theFilm and Television. Answer: According to Bordwell and Thompson, Classical Hollywood Cinema has a definitive style, which cannot be understood by the average spectator. It refers to the traditional filmmaking style that was established between 1920s and 1930s in Hollywood. The style was very much dominant in the western world among all the other styles that were adopted during that period. The plots in the movie maintain linearity all throughout the movie because of the editing style is continuous in nature and the action is based on the characters (Lay 2014). The features of this style of narrative are that it follows a three-act narrative structure that includes orientation, complication and resolution. The situation is presented and a disruption in the scenes is introduced where it is seen that the entire movie is based on solving the disruption. Another feature of this style is that it includes objective storytelling, which means that the audiences have a better knowledge than the characters in the films. In this way, it allows time for parallel editing as well. One of the main features is that the movies of this genre are mainly concerned with the individual characters, which is very different from the montage style that is present in Soviet Union filmmaking (Fabe 2014). The films of this genre have a strong character build up who tries to fulfill their goals and objectives that is being shown in the movie. The characters follow a hierarchical pattern where the protagonists come first followed by the antagonists and the minor characte rs after them. Mise-en-scene is another property where the main function is to produce realism in these films (Dunn 2016). Spatial time is another feature of this genre where the movement of the film is through time and maintains a straightforward flow of events episodically. According to Bordwell and Thompson, the movement through time and space has to be in action subordinately. The editing style is continuous in nature, where the changes in the shots are invisible in the eyes of the audience (Martin 2014). It means that it tend to hide the discontinuities that the viewer may claim as non-real. The progressions of the shots in this genre are basically elongated long shots (ELS), long shots (LS), mid-shots (MS) and close ups (CU). There are even point of view (POV) shots along with t he application of 180-degree camera rule. The use of three-point lighting and music helps in reinforcing the meaning in the films (Padilla 2016). With more than forty films under his credit, Alfred Hitchcock directed the movie The Birds (1963). This movie is considered to be one of his greatest films and one of his finest. The director made a transformation of the ignored creatures into a fearful and a destructive power by using the tricks that he had up in his sleeves. The narration through the camera in this film is to show the impact of birds when the characters in the movie are in intense conversation. The birds from the beginning dominate the entire movie where it can be seen that the establishing frame has a shot of the birds swooping down on the protagonist as the person is approaching the pet store. While being en route to the shop there is a whistle with a sound of birdcall when the camera pauses for a moment (Haeffner 2015). This makes the protagonist shift her vision towards the sky where it can be seen that the entire space is filled with birds in flight. When the actor is seen entering the pet store, another place , which is again surrounded by birds and the chirping madness is seen as a growing threat. The presence of the actor in the store signifies that she wants the possession of a rare bird, as all the birds are caged around her again signifies that they are under control of the humans. The climax of the movie shows that the protagonist is entirely caged under the birds that are attacking her (Bass 2015). In one of the scenes, it can be seen that the director uses the camera in a climbing frame, which shows that the birds are inescapable. It can be seen that the actress is on the playground where the jungle gym is on the backdrop. It is seen that the actor is petitely dressed and the ominous birds flock the background perched on the jungle gym. The birds in the movie are portrayed from an aerial point of view. This makes it look like the eyes of God, which drives the intensity of avian attacks (Brown 2014). The director of the movie follows the classical narrative approach very keenly as it plays with the mind of the audience. This is one of the important strategies of this genre where the screenplay is changed in a timely interval so that the audience cannot guess the climax. It considers that the viewer is affected from each of the scenes of the film. The characters in the film try to tease the viewer so that they keep the audiences desperate in wanting more. The director uses the darkened theatre in a way so that it helps in attracting the attention of the audience (Driscoll 2014). The director also uses the theory of proximity, which has helped him in planning the scenes of the movie. These helped in controlling the intensity and relaxation of the audience accordingly such as instead of relying on the instruments for music, the director uses the audience. The use of the camera has been done in an efficient manner, which allows the audience to be involved while the film tries to unearth the story that it is revolving around. He uses a lots of panning shots along with close-ups of the objects, which helps in explaining the elements that are present in the plot. After the era of silent film, when talkies were introduced, it was seen that the talking of the actors were centrally based and the art of visual storytelling was almost sent out of the picture. This made the use of camera more than just a way of using the camera, as it helped in depicting many things that were present in the film (McEntee 2014). According to Perry and Sederholm (2014), the use of montage in the movie helps in giving complete control over the mind of the audience. The impression that depicts strong violence are done by quick editing and when something important is happening in a particular scene, it is shown in close up so that the audience can relate the matter with themselves. The story has to be kept simple, as the audience does not want to memorize the entire movie or to identify the suspense beforehand. The director in the movie tries to keep it simple with the linear stories, which will help in making it easy for the audiences to follow the narrative. The story is not abstract in nature as it will make the audience bored and that is the reason why the use of spies and assassinations are a part of his movies. According to Pheasant-Kelly (2014), the narrative form that is followed in the scene is that the director has tried to setup the scene by establishing the protagonist in the first instance. This has been followed by the induction of the birds in the background, which is the dominating character in the entire movie. This has led to the introduction of the main conflict in the movie that is the protagonist with the antagonist. The development of the entire act is the next step where the director has created a sense of urgency by creating obstacles, which the actor has to cross through to complete his journey. After the completion of the resolution, the movie then moves towards the necessary climax point. This cause and effect relationship helps in propelling the main characters in the movie. This effect helps in involving the actions that acts as a force for the characters in introducing a new action in the scene. The resolution is the final element in the scene, where it helps in esta blishing the dramatic confrontation, which is derived from the main conflict. According to Padilla (2016), from the point of view of the audience, it can be seen that the director has maintained all the aspects that will make the movie pass as a classical narrative form. The director with respect to the angles and the camera movements has maintained the history that the Hollywood movies at that period were following. The main signature of the director is to make the plot as suspicious as possible, which helps in playing with the minds of the audience. This has left the audiences intrigued in the process and wanting to know more as to what will happen in the scenes in the later period. In this way, the director has tried to play with the minds of audiences, which was very much prevalent in that period. This cult helped the next generation in producing movies that were based on new narrative that was slowly developing for Hollywood to sustain in the future. Reference List Bass, T.W., 2015.Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Adaptation(Doctoral dissertation, Brunel University London). Brown, N., 2014. Alfred Hitchcocks Missing Children: Genre, Auteurship, and Audience Address.Children in the Films of Alfred Hitchcock, p.11. Driscoll, P.A., 2014. The Hitchcock Touch: Visual Techniques in the Work of Alfred Hitchcock.International ResearchScape Journal,1(1), p.4. Dunn, J.T., 2016.The Representation of Disability in the Music of Alfred Hitchcock Films(Doctoral dissertation, The University of North Texas). Fabe, M., 2014.Closely watched films: an introduction to the art of narrative film technique. Univ of California Press. Haeffner, N., 2015.Alfred Hitchcock. Routledge. Lay, S., 2014. In many Alfred Hitchcock films, childrens primary significance resides in their relation to adults, and often, when children are accorded a measure of importance, it is when they are examined through a psychological lens. The Birds (1963) is no exception, as 11-year-old Cathy Brenner is usually discussed in relation to the.Children in the Films of Alfred Hitchcock, p.175. Martin, C., 2014. Its the End of the World!: The Influence of The Birds on the Evil Child Film. InChildren in the Films of Alfred Hitchcock(pp. 193-217). Palgrave Macmillan US. McEntee, J.T., 2014. The Futures Not Ours to See: How Children and Young Adults Reflect the Anxiety of Lost Innocence in Alfred Hitchcocks American Movies. InChildren in the Films of Alfred Hitchcock(pp. 31-46). Palgrave Macmillan US. Padilla, M.W., 2016.Classical Myth in Four Films of Alfred Hitchcock. Lexington Books. Perry, D.R. and Sederholm, C.H., 2014. Dark Adaptations.Hitchcock and Adaptation: On the Page and Screen, p.245. Pheasant-Kelly, F., 2014. Between Knowingness and Innocence: Child Ciphers in Alfred Hitchcocks Marnie (1964) and The Birds (1963).Children in the Films of Alfred Hitchcock, p.161.
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