Evaluating a technology concepts lesson Essay

The learning environment observed was one that had the use of computers in mind. The classroom size was big enough to seat around twenty or so students that had a student:computer ratio of 1:1. The computers were arranged in such a way that two rows of computers were back to back so that students would be facing each other. There were four rows in all with the teacher seated on the end of one row. This arrangement allowed easy student to student interaction and at the same time easy teacher to student interaction since the teacher was situated where she had a full view of all the students. An overhead projector was also set up beside the teacher with the screen facing her and the students, allowing a real time view of what the teacher was doing on her own computer making it for her to explain the tasks she gave to her students. This made it easy for students to easily check their work against the teacher’s without having to disrupt the class. 1-b: Many education activities could be observed in the class. The given task was to identify from the given paragraphs the main ideas and the supporting details to the main ideas. The students were then tasked to use the computers to put their ideas down and make sure they edited their work. Thus, the most important parts of the whole activity were brainstorming, graphic organizing, and word processing. In the brainstorming activity, the students had sharing in ideas in small group discussions that the teacher utilized to give the students time talk about their ideas. These helped the students in identifying the main ideas and supporting details. They then summarized their discussions. These small group discussions help the students learn better since they are able to check whether their ideas have merit or not. In a way, they are doing checks and balances. The graphic organizing and word processing then bring them to the realm of technology where they can put their ideas and their work to life. They can actually view the work they came up with by typing these in, editing it, and checking whether the spelling and grammar are all correct. 1-c: Effective teaching is always seen when a teacher begins the lesson with a short statement of goals, presents the material in small steps with clear instructions and explanation, and provide a high level of practice for all the students. An effective teacher also checks for student understanding and guide the students through the exercise. The teacher also provides a venue for feedback to see whether the lesson was understood and know what areas can be improved (Rosenshine & Stevens, 1986). Keeping that in mind, my observation was that the teacher did exactly what is expected of an effective teacher. She stated the goals of the lesson and delivered the instructions of the lesson step-by-step. She also gave examples of what she meant and used the computer and overhead projector to show the students what she meant. She provided the students a venue to discuss their ideas and thereby giving them a high level of practice within the lesson. Not only that, by letting the students do their work with the use of the computer, she provided another venue for real life situations wherein writing is done on computers including editing and revising. At the end of the lesson, she asked one student to read to the class his writing output and gave feedback by acknowledging that the student was able to do his work correctly since the student had a main idea and some supporting details in his work. 2-a: The students were very much engaged with the task and the vehicle of technology used to deliver the lesson. They seemed comfortable with the use of the technology and I attribute this to the teacher’s step-by-step delivery of the lesson. Her style of going through the task by showing the students what she meant made it easy for the students to follow and most likely gave them the courage to do the task. 3-a: The instructional purpose of the lesson was to simulate real life writing wherein writers make use of the computer to write, edit, and revise their work. Her additional goals included a better knowledge of the use of graphic organizers after the lesson. Her choice of technology was the best choice in terms of simulating real life situations. Not only that, it gave her students an introduction to the use of a computer in writing. This is important since this knowledge is very important not only in real life situations but also in schooling. Evidently, most assignments nowadays are expected to be handed in typewritten, in a certain format, and in a certain font. Her choice then was the best choice in driving home the lesson that students should learn to use the computer in doing the task of summarizing an essay an identifying the main ideas with supporting details included. 4-a: The effectiveness of the lesson delivery is seen in how a student is able to achieve then endpoint of the lesson. The use of technology then is a vehicle towards that endpoint. Now, if a teacher is able to effectively deliver the lesson, the endpoint can easily be achieved. This was clearly seen in the video. The teacher was able to use the computer technology in arriving at the endpoint of having a professionally made summary containing the main ideas and supporting details of her given essay at the start of the class. In the same vein, she was able to improve the students’ abilities in the use of the graphic organizer and word processor. Also, since the ratio of student:computer was 1:1, it gave the students a certain satisfaction that the work they did was actually work made by their own hands. They could say that it was a product of their own hard work and be proud and they were proud of their achievement. 4-b: I was trying to analyze how best an English lesson could be incorporated with the use of technology and tried to reflect how I could maximize not only the use of technology but also maximize the endpoints that is always best when teaching English—meaning I would not only want that my students know how to use a graphic organizer and word processor, I want them to learn how to brainstorm, share ideas, work on their own to arrive at the correct answers, and still achieve metacognitive learning by letting the students themselves arrive at reflection on whether the lesson did improve their knowledge and by how much. This is the kind of endpoint I would want in every lesson I have. Thus, this is why my evaluation of this evaluation came about from this viewpoint and why it mattered much to me that the students were able to get the best of the world of English writing and technology. 5-a:One alternative or additional form of technology that could have been useful was the use of audios. Students could be given separate paragraphs or essays that they had to listen to individually or in small groups. This would also test their listening skills as well as their comprehension skills. This alternative would make use of what is known as the VAK attack or Visual, Auditory, and Kinetic learning. This can increase learning since more senses are used. 5-b: My choice of recommendation relies in my belief that multisensorial learning is a good way to increase their chances of remembering the lesson. It also give a wider range of engagement in terms of capturing students’ attention since some students are visual, some auditory, and others kinetic. When a teacher tries to deliver a lesson that makes use multiple senses, it increases the chances of more students retaining the lesson. 6-a:My initial reaction to the use of technology in the observed classroom was one of approval. I find that the use of modern day technology should be used more often in the classroom setting since I believe that learning should reflect situations in real life. It would not be beneficial for a student to be kept ignorant of the use of technology when in school since once they are out of the campus they face a different situation. The use of modern day technology is very evident in every corner of our lives. A good example would be the use of ATMs which needs at least a very basic knowledge of keyboard use or touchscreen interface knowledge. It may be difficult to accept especially if the teacher belongs to an older generation that did not incorporate as much technology but I believe that it should be part and parcel of most lessons today. 6-b: As I expressed in my thinking process of this evaluation, I really considered how technology can be maximized in teaching as much to a student without giving them an information overload. My personal view has always been a multisensorial approach to learning helps. The professional implication of this is that I always try to incorporate a multisensorial approach to my teaching style. REFERENCES Rosenshine, B. , & Stevens, R. (1986). Teaching functions. In M. C. Whittrock (Ed. ), Handbook of research on teaching (3rd ed. , pp. 376-391). New York: Macmillan.

Computer Development from 1970-1990

Alienation. Computerization. Employment. Mass-production. These are some of the words associated with the introduction of computers into the work environment, mainly beginning on a large scale basis in 1970 and continuing on to the present day and beyond. Between the 1970†³s and 1990†³s, the work environment was impacted significantly. This initial development of computers for use in industry and business played an important role in the development of businesses. New jobs have been created to deal with computers. Mundane, repetitive jobs have been taken over by computers. The computer has even been introduced to the management level of businesses to assist in decision making. All around the office, computers have become commonplace (Spencer 107). But what were these industries like before computers came to their assistance? Obviously, commerce functioned prior to the introduction of computers. However, employees were required to perform many tasks that automation eventually made easier. These tasks have predominantly consisted of clerical operations, such as check processing, payroll, inventory control, bookkeeping, etc. However, automation lso included other tasks at the industrial and management level such as business planning, marketing reports and sales reports. Most of these tasks were performed using pencil and paper, or in some cases, the typewriter, and every record or other document was stored by means of some filing method such as filing cabinets or book shelves. Other tasks, such as those involving the manipulation of machinery were done by hand. If a machine had to be assembled, it was assembled using â€Å"mostly-human† assembly lines. Machines were not around to assist in handling substances; substance manipulation and ata reception from chemicals was also dealt with by hand (Stern and Stern 238). In essence, many tasks that were dealt with by hand were either repetitive, dangerous, or both. As one might speculate, problems then arose from the methods of handling these tasks. Every task was subject to some type of human error, whether it was a mistake in adding, a misspelling of a name or organization, the improper filing of a certain document, etc. At times, employees were simply not able to process the volume of data coming into their workplaces. This caused companies to get behind in their operations nd records, which in turn yielded a loss in revenue. Many companies fell behind in this way because of the manual system†s inability to accommodate for the growth of the industry. In turn, this affected the management departments of businesses, which relied upon up-to-date information from their employees in order for them to make decisions on time (239). Also, workers accidentally injured themselves in some of the dangerous work environments involving machinery and volatile chemicals, because many of the employees were required to work very near to machinery or toxic chemicals, and were ot given much protection from the hazards created by the noxious vapors rising from chemicals or malfunctions in machinery. An answer to these problems needed to be Perhaps that answer lied in computers. They provided the solutions businesses and industries needed to handle repetitive and dangerous jobs. Computers were able to assist clerks in their operations. Injuries could be reduced that were caused by accidents with chemicals or machinery (237). These solutions impacted the employment aspect of industry by making jobs become safer and less repetitive. Employees began to be hired to erform different tasks as a result of the change in the tasks to be performed (de Ferranti 70). Employees began to become involved with computers in business in order to satisfy several objectives. Systems were installed for employees to assist in the reduction of record-keeping by automating most of the functions performed by the clerks. Files were automatically inserted in their proper order, and could be recovered from the computer†s memory and reviewed almost instantaneously. Also, inputting the information into the computer and allowing it to perform certain operations such as adding and sorting esulted in the reduction of errors in record-keeping operations. Computers also assisted the management of a company by providing managers or executives with up-to-date information used for decision making (Stern and Stern 237). Computers provided employees with a way to more quickly and accurately process larger volumes of business data, thus being beneficial to the company as a whole by allowing them to operate more The types of business data that many of these employees had to process include all the information received by a company. When these data are processed, their information s outputted, and is needed by the managers of the business. The managers, using these data, then establish, evaluate, and adjust the goals of the business, develop plans and standards and initiate the actions needed to accomplish them, and measure the actual performance of the company and take appropriate action when it is needed to improve the company†s performance. All of these tasks are essential to the function of any business, and the business data from them was processed using a number of steps (Dorf 135-136). First, the data must be separated into their appropriate classification. Second, the data must be sorted into a pre-arranged sequence designated by the manager or some other employee involved in the sorting process. Third, any mathematical operations that must be performed on the data are carried out. Finally, the data is summarized for use in reports. After the data has been summarized, it is stored for future use or retrieved. Sometimes the data need to be duplicated for documents or communicated to an employee (136). These employees needed to process many different types of these data. Some of these types included account reception, which involved the processing of records nvolving the reception money owed to the company by others; account payment, which handled the processing of the money that the company owed to others; payroll, which dealt with the records of employees to be paid, the pay rates of the employees, the hours that the employees worked, etc. inventory control, which encompassed the holding of records of goods on hand, the quantities of the items to be ordered by the company, and the records of the items that the company had currently run out of in stock; and marketing and sales, which determined from sales statistics the best combination of products to sell or a maximum profit for the company. It was important that each of these types was properly processed, and the computer allowed employees to more easily process this wide variety of data that was generated (Stern and Stern 238). Because employees were more easily able to manipulate the business data they received, the automation of these processes in the office allowed for greater efficiency. Clerks were no longer obligated to file documents using filing cabinets or shelves. Instead, they recorded and stored the information inside of the memory of a computer. Also, clerks could use word processing systems to minimize the need to retype erroneous pages, create standardized letter heads, and maintain letters in files containing text, providing a tremendous advantage over the use of the typewriter, which did not allow for any of these options. Sometimes letter heads did not even need to be printed; primitive office e-mail developed in the 1970†³s allowed for the quicker transmission of information to branch offices without the cost of postage or postal services and was also faster. Sending information to companies through the postal system took days while the ransmission of data with e-mail took mere seconds or minutes. By giving branch offices information more quickly, businesses enabled themselves to increase their production, because they did not need to wait to receive information or reports from other offices or departments that was being sent through the mail (251-253). This increase in production that resulted from the computer allowed for a big step in the direction of maximum efficiency for a businesses. The great efficiency potential of computers shone the brightest when their rapid speed was used to perform repetitious tasks handling these large amounts of data (Dorf 137). Handling large amounts of data allowed companies to better interact with one another, because they allowed companies to get more recent information on the production and financial well-being of their competitors. The estimated increase in the amount of business transactions between companies and people per year during the 1970†³s was 8 to 15 percent. The mass of data transmitted through lines was growing by a rate of 25 percent. Because the mass of data received by companies was growing, it was necessary to use computers to capitalize on Partly contributing to the increase in data was the improvements made in the ediums in which data was transmitted. As well as needing accurate and up-to-date information, business managements needed information that was also easier to read and comprehend. In order for information to be reviewed more efficiently and more comprehensively, graphics systems were developed to improve the readability of the information. The development of graphics in business data began in the early 1970†³s with text-drawn images of bar graphs and simple charts. The computer was utilized to create these graphs because it could prepare them quickly by immediately calling upon the data within its memory. Later, graphical input/output devices were developed to display and manipulate this data directly to some type of screen. The graphical information display monitor was (and still remains) the most effective method of presenting information to users. Clear and understandable information, as well as fast, accurate, and up-to-date information, is essential for the success of the management in The introduction of computers into the management environment naturally changed it as well. The managers of businesses altered their techniques in order to accommodate for the changes in industry and business brought on by the computer and apitalize on the benefits. These techniques changed in several ways. For instance, executives were put into closer contact with the activities that they controlled. This was because the computer enabled them to access facts from databases, immediately giving them information on the status of the department they oversaw. In some situations, the computer even allowed executives to give instructions more quickly directly to their subordinates. Also, management was affected in each of its 3 sublevels: low, middle, and top. Low management was provided with all the facts essential to the activities of the usiness such as awareness of employee activities, the availability of materials, work flow, and details about their field. Middle management was involved with the progress of the work under its control. Top management concerned itself with summarized reports and analyses that were free of the details used by middle management. By being able to process data more quickly and accurately, the computer could be used to send the appropriate information to its corresponding level more quickly, sifting through the facts and details in the business data, and discarding useless information for each level of By being able to manage data on each level more efficiently, the life of the manager was made easier by computers. Computers assisted the manager in several other processes besides error reduction and data handling. The speed at which computers work helped managers deal with time management in business. In reducing the cost for an item so that more items will be bought by the consumer, the production time should also be reduced and the efficiency of computers allowed for businesses to become cost-efficient. Besides being cost efficient where production is concerned, computers also reduce the eed for a clerical workforce. Clerical tasks, which tended to be more mundane, could be performed by computers. Clerical employee costs for the business could then be reduced, but this resulted in layoffs and alienation amongst employees. This rapid, low-cost, low-error business that computers assisted managers in running became the fuel for employees† fears about computers (Dorf 136). These fears were one of the problems produced by computers. However, in addition to some of the problems it created, it also revealed new solutions. One problem actually results from the faster rate at which computers process data. Because they process data faster, any mistakes made due to incorrect programming will be much larger since more information will have been processed incorrectly. Any manager must plan alternatives to their computerized methods just to accommodate for unexpected errors produced by unique data streaming through the computer. At many times, â€Å"bugs† in programs may not be realized until a certain unique type of data is entered and processed, and because of the large mass of data processed by the computer in businesses on a daily basis, it is only a matter of time until these hidden bugs are revealed. Even though their are some negative repercussions to using computers, businesses are made more flexible by computers because they are multi-functional and can be used to perform more than one task. Computers also allow for the establishment of control over manufacturing by allowing the management to more directly observe the function of the business by reviewing the data the computer returns about the status of the business (155-156). These examples illustrate how the computer†s impact cannot only be positive, but negative also. In order to capitalize on the positive aspects, an important factor in effective anagement with computers is detailed planning. Proper planning can allow for the smarter choosing of workers, the right amount of materials, etc. Computers can help planners optimize schedules by choosing the best employees for a type of job from an index. Computerized information storage and retrieval systems are capable of storing vast amounts of data in a centralized data bank that can be accessed from miles away. This allows access to the data from anywhere, letting business managements stationed in different branches of a company in different locations have access to the same data bank s the rest of the company. Because information does not have to physically be transferred from one place to another, planning can take place faster and with greater In addition to being most effective with proper planning, computers are used most effectively within a business of any moderate size or larger, and are most successful in business data processing operations possessing one of the following characteristics: when the business receives a large volume of data generated from transactions on a regular basis, when an operation is repeated many times in order to make investments in ebugging, development, and improvement worth the financial expenditure to have software updated, when the business has a need for information quickly; and when the business has a need for reliable and accurate results. However, the success of computers in a business is more dependent on the effectiveness of the management rather than on the actual hardware capabilities. Computers can be a useful tool for managements to control and guide businesses, but they must be used properly and to their fullest capabilities to ensure the success of the business to make them worth the investment. This investment can only be capitalized on when computers are used to their full ability. The gap between computers† capabilities and the actual use of those capabilities has been increasing since computers became more prominent in businesses in the 1970†³s and the 1980†³s. Computers often were used for very simplistic tasks such as simple arithmetic, despite the fact that they possessed the capabilities to perform more complex tasks such as controlling manufacturing operations, optimizing the transportation of products, and improving the quality of managerial decisions (144). In many cases, omputers have not reduced the cost of operations in a company, but have rather simply provided better data processing and better service. Basically, a simple principle can be seen in the use of the computer for business tasks: if the functions of the computer are used poorly, the company may actually incur financial losses. However, if the functions of the computer are used to their full potential efficiently and effectively, the financial return will definitely be positive. (145). Several general businesses have experienced positive financial return as a result of the utilization of computers. One of these businesses is banking. Between 1940 and 1970, the volume of check transactions in banks has increased 1100 percent, which is an unbelievably large mass of data to be processed. Normally, this would be the archetypal work of a bank clerk; however, because of the introduction of the computer, this immense volume can be handled with relative ease by allowing banks to process checks faster and more cost-efficiently because the computer is able to record, compute, and edit the balances of myriad†s of accounts in seconds by calling upon them in its memory (Spencer 107). When one went to the bank to process a check, his or her checks were utomatically processed then credited to or drawn against the individual†s bank accounts in hours instead of days or weeks. This made it possible for large banks to process millions of items per day. Now, the use of computers for the day-to-day processing of customer accounts and checks has become routine (107). Another use for the processing power of computers was in the stock market, where an immense volume of trading occurs daily. This large mass of trading creates an equally large mass of paperwork. In the 1970†³s, sometimes the trading needed to be halted to allow brokers to catch up with their aperwork. Every broker had to figure every transaction the day before they had to open again for business. Naturally, because they had to act quickly, brokers would also make errors. The introduction of the computer into their domain allowed brokers to process millions of accounts daily and remain in business. Also, bookkeeping errors are always avoided with the computer (provided that the data was inputted correctly by the user), and information was even posted faster (109). Without the assistance of computers, stock transactions would not be able to occur at the rates they do today. Payrolls in business ere also significantly affected by computers. Computers could generate pay reports to handle the employees of a large corporation. Because payroll involves many functions repetitively, such as earning rates, tax withholdings, net pay, year to date quantities, pay deductions, union dues, etc. it becomes a task very suitable to a computer†s purpose; it eliminates the time-consuming and tedious review of employee files and records (115). Factories and manufacturing industries did not escape the positive and negative influences of the computer either. It was predicted that computers would bring about a quiet revolution† in industry. In 1970, it was estimated that 5 percent of the GNP was produced by some means of computing. Despite this figure, many companies did not totally opt for computer systems. Instead, they employed the assistance of agencies called bureaus, â€Å"largely providing for managements who have opted out of computing (de Ferranti 65-66). † Bureaus were companies that specialized in the management of business using the computer. Instead of actually purchasing a computer, the management of a company could employ the services of the bureaus, which would assist them in the anagement of their companies the use of the computers the bureau used. In this way, the companies would be â€Å"indirectly† using computers through the bureaus to manage themselves. It was thought that the bureaus would grow more quickly than the industries they supported as a result of the large profit they received for their services. This was proven true in England, where the amount of computers purchased by 1980 was only 6 times what it had been in 1965, while the bureaus grew by a rate of 30 times. However because bureaus were very sparse in the United States, the number of computers in ndustry expanded partly as a result of them not having to invest in the services of the bureaus. Industries tended to invest in their own computer systems in order provide their management with direct control over the industry†s employees and production (66). These industries bought several types of computers in the 1980†³s, useful for various tasks. One type of machine was the Turnkey System, which was a hardware and software package that was designed to perform one specific task. As the name implies, the user â€Å"turns a key† and the machine operates automatically. The advantage to this ystem is that it may be used without any computer expertise. The disadvantage, a rather obvious problem, is that the machine can be used to perform only one task, the task that it was written to do. The other type of computer was the special-purpose computer, which could be programmed to perform a variety of tasks. The advantage to using this system is that it is versatile and can perform different tasks. However, the drawback is that computer expertise is required to operate and change the tasks of the system (Stern and Stern 262). Another type of computer system was Computer Aided Design (CAD). CAD onsisted of a system that was equipped with CAD software that could be used for the design, development, and testing of any type of equipment. It could also handle fine details in drawing, and makes use of the computer†s ability to measure to very small units. CAD allowed engineers of systems to do stress analyses, weight analyses, and structural analyses to be simulated on a model construction that appeared on the computer monitor. In essence, engineers could test something†s design before it was built to determine design flaws and save on cost (263). With a small variety of computerized systems to use, manufacturing also mployed the computer in its operations. In the 1980†³s, 20 percent of all computers were being used for manufacturing purposes. Twenty-billion dollars were spent on computers for manufacturing. The ultimate goal of automating the factory was to, as always, maximize efficiency and minimize the need for operator intervention (254). In fact, computers controlled several activities manufacturing. One such activity was called process control, which used computers to process the continuous flow of materials in a system such as in the production of chemicals in a chemical plant or oil in a refinery. The omputers were involved in measuring and regulating the flow of the fluid into the tank, the pressure in the tank, the temperature in the tank, etc. As the system monitored the tank, it would inform the user of problems and sometimes would attempt to fix the problems on its own (254). The reason computers were used in process control was because computers had the ability to operate and take data samples efficiently and for an infinite time period (until the machine eventually broke down years later). Also, while it was gathering data, the computer could monitor the levels of material and its attributes all the time to maximize safety. Sometimes process control systems were controlled with feedback mechanisms, which allowed them to evaluate and correct their own efficiency by adjusting their operation to meet certain criteria of efficiency (255). Another type of activity performed by computers in manufacturing was production control, where computers monitored, controlled, and scheduled assembly lines. In this situation, the computer was used to monitor the time spent on certain activities at given stations, specify the status of the products and tools needed for them, indicate any faulty equipment, and alert supervisors of timing problems that tend to form ueues at each station. Because computers are inanimate machines, they could be relied upon to supervise an assembly line indefinitely, which was one of the main advantages for using computers along the assembly lines. As well as having â€Å"infinite patience,† computers also could perform a repeated task identically, because the exact movements it was to follow were programmed into it, and unless another operator altered these instructions, it would not deviate from them. A good example of this uniformity resulting from computer use is in the use of it to monitor and control robots in car manufacturing Computers in manufacturing yielded many benefits to companies, both tangible, and intangible. The tangible benefits included faster processing, greater accuracy, flexibility in design modifications, independent machinery which could be run unchecked for some time, cost reduction, larger output, and an increased uniformity in the products produced because each was produced using the same abstract programmed into the computer which performed the task the same way every time (260-261). The intangible benefits included better quality control, more effective scheduling of shipments, simpler lanning requirements because the machines functioned the same way every time they were run, need for a reduced inventory, and increased job satisfaction, because the workers were free to work in less mundane positions. Workers with tedious or monotonous jobs often had little incentive to work and this therefore impacted production. However, when the computer was introduced, the workers could be put to use in more interesting tasks that did not always require repetitive work. However, some factory managements were striving for the ideal goal of manufacturing: to create the automated factory† where computers would handle every step in the manufacturing process (261-262) and would be maintenanced only occasionally by manufacturing supervisors. This goal would certainly increase revenue for the company, however, it would also increase unemployment and poverty throughout the country, so it would be a very unrealistic possibility that factories will ever become fully automated. The use of computers in business and industry increased dramatically over the period between 1970 and 1980, where it was estimated that every businessman was involved with computers and their techniques in one way or another. Such businessmen were called â€Å"New Businessmen† because they were involved with the new field of computers, and every new businessman needed at least a basic knowledge of the computer for employment. In the mid 1970†³s, the total number of terminals installed in businesses and industry was estimated to be greater than 7000. The amount of terminals explicitly used for business exceeded 250,000 by 1980 (de Ferranti 70). The government use of computers surpassed businesses† use of computers however, and was operating 20,000 machines in 1970, which means they were using 3 times the machines that the people were using at that time (70-71). In 1974, the Wall Street Journal conducted a survey on the computer use in businesses, surveying their subscribers. Two-thirds of the surveyed group said that their companies owned at least 1 computer. Ninety percent of the large companies surveyed owned a computer, and 73 percent of companies employing less than 100 people owned a computer. The leading applications used by the companies were; accounting, with 76 percent; sales analysis, with 46 percent; and inventory control, with 43 percent. Clearly the nation†s economy, as a result of the investment for computers and the use of them in industry, had been affected (Dorf 137). Even in 1970, businesses were connected to online systems that allowed them to transfer data to other companies. The ways of accessing online services were increasing at that time, and allowed information to be inputted into one computer and sent to others in the area quickly (de Ferranti 67-68). Cable connections were used to connect systems to local branch companies to allow for quick information transmission. By 1980, the connection speed of a computer was one-third of the time it used to take in the 1970s. This increase in connection speed led to the use of businesses spending more hours online ransmitting data. This was a big increase from the time users in plants used to spend on the phone with other companies — 6 minutes. This also increased a company†s expenditure on phone line connections. In house machines also enabled the â€Å"New Businessmen† to transmit work to terminals in their homes and back to manipulate the information they need without having to physically transport it (70). However, none of these achievements in computers was without some cost by the United States and its population. In 1970, $25. 5 billion were spent to utilize computers for all purposes. In 1975, $51. billion were spent for the same purpose, which was a triple of what the expenditures were 10 years before. About $8. 3 billion of the $25. 5 billion spent in 1970 was spent on equipment. Managements often began purchasing computer power as if it were a utility like natural gas or electricity. However, the revenues generated by the installations of these systems most likely offset the actual cost for the systems (Dorf 137). In essence, the machines paid for themselves by allowing the company to increase its efficiency and increase its overall revenue. And what about the common working man? Computers were generally a benefit o the working man or trained employee because they provided better jobs . However, one-fourth of the computer jobs were left to computer specialists in the 1970†³s. Another effect of computers on workers in the 1980†³s was alienation. Alienation was a term used to describe those people who were directly affected by automation in jobs or in everyday life. Computers created a feeling of displacement and dissatisfaction in them, and felt that computers would take the place of human labor and activities. A survey in the 1980†³s revealed that almost 50 out of the 1513 people surveyed felt alienated. When omputers began to replace the jobs of some men, they lost pride in themselves. They felt that they were being told that their jobs were too menial and worthless after being told that computer would be performing them. Many workers were affected emotionally because they felt that they had become inferior to computers (Stern and Stern 266). Employers had to be take steps to quell the discomfort felt by some workers over the introduction of the computer into their lives. And steps were taken to prevent alienation in the workplace. A famous experiment conducted by Elton Mayo and Fritz J. Roethlisberger at the Western Electric Co. in Hawthorne, NJ, from 1927-1932 called the Hawthorne Experiment accidentally revealed a method of preventing alienation. Mayo and Roethlisberger were studying what balance of physical conditions, labor, and coffee breaks would maximize productivity. However, regardless of the ways they changed the physical conditions, the productivity rose. Upon investigating by interviewing the workers, they were told by the workers that they were flattered that anyone would take notice of them and wish to do an experiment that would benefit them, so they felt as if they should work their best (267). Thus, they disco

Apologetics Essay

1. What are some ways the Christian gospel is perceived in our culture? To many individuals, the Christian gospel is seen as selective and intolerant. Although we are all free to accept the gift of salvation through Christ, He tells us in John 14:6 that He is â€Å"the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.† To many, this will seem intolerant and almost haughty. How can a God who wants nothing more than to have a relationship with us say that there is only one way to do so? 2. What are some specific moral reasons people may reject the Christian gospel? Many individuals who will reject the Christian gospel do so for moral reasons such as their sexual preferences (gay, bi, or straight), their marital status, or the apparent intolerant moral code found in the Word of God. People believe that you have to give up everything that is worldly to follow Christ, and that Christians think they are more righteous than others. The fact is, you will have to give up living in sin, and you will have to give up treasures of the world, but the heavenly treasures that you gain will outshine any possession that you will have on this earth. 3. What are some specific emotional reasons people may reject the Christian gospel? One specific emotional reason that people will reject the Christian gospel is that they cannot grasp the concept of God’s unconditional love. God loves each and every one of us, even the worst sinner, and tells us in His Word. People will say things like â€Å"God would not let me be poor, or God would not have let me be abused like I was.† Even though we are all loved by God, and He wants us to have a relationship with Him and be happy and well, even the most devout Christian has to go through trials and tribulations. 4. What are some specific intellectual reasons people may reject the Christian gospel? For most Christians, believing in God is â€Å"faith-based,† and that there is no room for science and fact in Christianity. Many non-Christians will say that the Bible is nothing more than a collection of fairy tales for those who are easily enchanted and to make the people who read them feel good. The intellectual non-believer’s insistence that the Bible has no basis in fact  is one reason that they will reject the message, even though there is historical proof to show that Christ lived, died, and was resurrected, as well as that many other Biblical places and people existed at one point in time, even if they do not anymore. 5. What can Christians do to address these objections and better communicate the Christian gospel? As Christians, when we approach someone and begin to talk about our faith, it may seem like they are a little frightened, or maybe just upset and unwilling to take a leap of faith. They maybe feel like we have come on too strong, even though we know that we are just eager to talk about our faith. It is important for Christians to learn that we need to be patient with others but also diligent as we share the gospel of Christ.

Ikea Paper

IKEA Business Analysis Industrial Organization – Essay I March 17, 2013 Word count: 3397 Introduction IKEA is a privately held, Swedish multinational company that is one of the world’s largest furnishings retailers. This international home products company designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds, chairs, and desks, appliances, and home accessories. The company is the world’s largest furniture retailer. IKEA was founded in 1943 in the South of Sweden, and its name is an acronym of the initials of the founder’s name, Ingvar Kamprad and of Elmtaryd and Agunnaryd, the farm and village where Kamprad grew up.The company is known for its modern architectural designs on various types of appliances and furniture, often associated with a simplified eco-friendly interior design. In addition, the firm is known for the attention it gives to cost control, operational details and continuous product development, allowing it to lower its prices by an ave rage of two to three percent over the decade to 2010, while continuing its global expansion. As of October 2011, IKEA has 332 stores in 38 countries. Most of these stores are directly owned but some are managed under franchise by owners outside the company.By doing this, IKEA faces a higher chance of success than in a sole proprietorship. In fiscal year 2010, it sold $23. 1 billion worth of goods, a 7. 7 percent increase over 2009. In recent years, IKEA purchases from developing countries have grown from 32% in 1998 to 48% in 2003; 29% of its output comes from Asia, 67% from Europe and 4% from the USA (Arrigo, 2005). For a long time, Poland was the second supplier of raw materials after Sweden, but there was recently a giddy increase in China which, in 2004, accounted for 14% of total output, followed by Poland with 12%, Sweden with 8%, Italy with 7%, and Germany with 6% (IKEA. com).To achieve its goal of boosting efficiency while cutting costs and prices to the end consumer, IKEA i s constantly looking for convenient new locations. This paper will focus on strategic investments decisions with regard to innovation and advertising and strategic product feature decisions. IKEA & Supply IKEA's vision is â€Å"To create a better everyday life for the many people. † To meet its vision IKEA provides many well-designed, functional products for the home. It prices its products low so that as many people as possible can afford to buy them. However, in creating low prices IKEA is not willing to sacrifice its principles. Low price but not at any price† is what IKEA says. This means it wants its business to be sustainable. IKEA supplies goods and services to individuals in a way that has an overall beneficial effect on people and the environment. Customers all over the world have responded positively to IKEA's approach. This is evident in its increasing sales. Supply chain IKEA has an extremely efficient supply chain and its management was the key source in IK EA in cost management which gave it a cutting edge among its competitors as it products where charged 30% lower than the cost of its rivals.With regard to the supply chain, the flow of production and processes go through three industrial sectors before the end product reaches the customer. Firstly, it starts with the primary sector concerning raw materials. Natural resources such as timber are extracted and developed. IKEA buys products from more than 1,300 suppliers in 50 countries (The Times 100). It uses a number of trading service offices across the world. They negotiate prices with suppliers, check the quality of materials and analyze the environmental impacts that occur through the supply chain.IKEA aims that all the products and materials it takes from the primary sector do not harm the environment. They also keep an eye on social and working conditions at suppliers. The second step is manufacturing where primary materials are used to build, manufactured and developed to fini shed goods. A key part of IKEA's success is due to its communications with materials' suppliers and manufacturers. During manufacturing IKEA specifies to its producers that waste should be avoided. Where waste does occur the firm encourages suppliers to try to use it in the manufacture of other products.IKEA has a code of conduct called the IKEA Way of Purchasing Home Furnishing Products, the IWAY (The Times 100). This contains minimum rules and guidelines that help manufacturers to reduce the impact of their activities on the environment. IKEA aims that all there products are manufactured in a responsible way. The tertiary sector provides services needed to meet the needs of the end users such as retailing, distribution, insurance, and customer services. IKEA's retail stores add value to manufactured goods by providing a form of shopping different to the usual high-street experience.They meet the needs of the consumers in a number of different ways. Each IKEA store is large and hol ds more than 9,500 products giving lots of choice. Within each store, there are a number of realistic room settings that enable customers to see what the products would look like in their own homes. In addition, the IKEA store is built on a concept of â€Å"you do half, we do half; together we save money†. This refers to, for example, the customer assembling furniture at home. Customers handpick products themselves using trolleys. Also, IKEA provides catalogues and home delivery to save customers’ time.IKEA stores also have restaurants that provide Swedish dishes alongside local food choices. IKEA & Competition To define the relevant market, IKEA operates in a perfectly competitive market. IKEA is a furniture store and there are many other furniture stores owned by various different entities (so there are many suppliers in this market). Normally the firms in a perfectly competitive market would be price takers. However, IKEA has a lot of market power as it is able to r aise its prices above the perfectly competitive level without losing many consumers. Therefore it can be stated that IKEA is a price setter.There are off course competitors, however it seems that IKEA does not really take competitor’s decisions into account as they are not really relevant to their own decisions. IKEA sets its prices very low because they face low production costs as a result of strong relationships with its suppliers. Competitors are predictable but even if they were unpredictable, IKEA would not be affected by their decisions as the firm is already at the bottom end of the market. IKEA makes use of their concept in a global strategy that designed furniture for a lower price than other competitors offer that can be sold everywhere for the targeted market segment.Sometimes regional differences appear that arise form national habits, lifestyles and culture. What gives IKEA a huge advantage in selling its products at a lower price springs from their â€Å"young † concept is that the customers have to bring home the products and assemble it themselves. No other firm manufactures as much furniture as IKEA. The firm can and will eliminate any local competition by using their global position. It is a fact that they have no competitors on the global market. IKEA’s success was recognized to its vast experience in the furniture retail market, its product differentiation and cost leadership.Across markets where it presently has a presence, products are sold at prices that are 30 to 50 percent lower than competing products. This penetration pricing enables IKEA to gain significant market share. Low prices are a result of large-quantity purchasing, low-cost logistics, and store location in housing areas. In addition, IKEA also benefits from economies of scale and healthy supplier-firm relationships. IKEA enters into long-term contracts, provides leased equipment and technical support in exchange for exclusive, low-cost manufacturing fro m suppliers.For new markets, IKEA should retain its price-image to maintain the brand’s positioning. IKEA strives for cost leadership, and for this reason it negotiates the most cheap conditions with a very large number of suppliers, a large part of whom live in eastern Europe and Asia, where the cost of raw materials, manpower and warehouse rentals is lower than elsewhere. IKEA always tries to acquire raw materials at the best price, choosing the suppliers with the cheapest price but it is equally focused on maintaining good relationships with them to avoid late deliveries or poor workmanship.IKEA’s low cost policy is based on several factors. Firstly, and previously already mentioned, it is based on economies of scale where large volumes reduce the unit cost of production. Secondly, the low cost policy is based on economies of transport where large orders of products permit to IKEA to transfer transport costs to suppliers. Low running costs inside the stores is also a factor. For example, the group uses buildings that are easy to build and inexpensive to manage, and it also has a ‘dressdown policy’, with all employees wearing the same uniforms, which are very simple and ractical. A last factor with regard to low cost policy is the purchases of unassembled products from suppliers with a consequent reduction of costs (taxes are lower for components than for finished products). IKEA & Demand With regard to the number of buyers, this market faces a great number of buyers as IKEA wishes to reach everyone who needs a new piece of furniture or accessory. IKEA provides its products to end consumers as it only supplies their final products. These consumers can be households, other companies, or governments for example.On the demand side, the active participation of its customers, who are seen as genuine partners, is a source of economic saving for IKEA. Most of its products are packed in flat packs and the customer has to take them home and assemble them, paying the cost of transport and assembly, and thus reducing storage costs for IKEA. Wherever consumers go to IKEA stores, products are always the same. Consumers therefore know what they can expect and for what price. This is a very strong characteristic of IKEA because familiarity with a brand makes consumers come back.The 9,500 products that IKEA supplies is available in all IKEA stores and customers can order much of the range online through IKEA’s website. By doing this, IKEA makes products easier accessible, reducing the distance a consumers has to travel when choosing to purchase IKEA products, and bundles its good together with home deliveries of the orders. An IKEA market strategy in terms of service providence to their customers is always a unique one. The stores and services of IKEA are very much different from the other furniture vendors. The stores are very much spacious and divided into cheerful model rooms.This provides wide range of services to its customers to choose the furniture according to the measurements of their house along with the prices and variety of designs that are showed in kiosks. In addition, IKEA also provides childcare centers and include restaurants and cafes serving typical Swedish food. They also have small food shops selling Swedish groceries, everything from the famous meatballs to jam. Stores are located worldwide. It welcomed a total of 565 million visitors to the stores during the year 2008 and a further 450 million visits were made to the IKEA website.Low prices are one of the cornerstones of the IKEA concept and help to make customers want to buy from IKEA. IKEA's products cater for every lifestyle and life stage of its customers, who come from all age groups and types of households. This is vital in times when the retail sector is depressed, as it increases IKEA's potential market. The wide range of products that IKEA offers are of most value for consumers. Consumers prefer to have a lot of c hoice for good quality and low prices. IKEA’s product based market strategy drew many customers to their store and kept it the top position in the global market of the furniture companies.As previously mentioned, IKEA issued variant catalogs of their products in different native languages so as to reach all sections of their customers. IKEA also adopted some of the experimental marketing strategies for the publicity of their products. In earlier years it has taken decision to decorate a chain hotel with their furniture that has become a beneficial market strategy for both the parties. Its main aim is to target the customers of that hotel and market their products. Even the chain hotel gets benefit to decorate their hotels with lavishing furniture at low cost.Furthermore, the most important strategy of IKEA is not providing the exit for the customers who had entered in to their stores without having seen all the furniture in store. In this phenomenon there is scope that the cu stomers may go for the more furniture that is not actually needed (Kotelnikov, 2005). Since it was founded IKEA has always had concern for people and the environment. The IKEA vision â€Å"to create a better everyday life for the many people† puts this concern at the heart of the business. IKEA has responded to the public's rising concern for sustainability in its choice of product range, suppliers, stores and communication.It has also spotted business potential in providing sustainable solutions. IKEA's concern for people and the environment encourages it to make better use of both raw materials and energy. This keeps costs down and helps the company to reach its green targets and have an overall positive impact on the environment. IKEA aims to be a responsible organization and believes that a strong environmental stance is good business practice, as it also has shown as the current trend of more â€Å"green† and environmental friendly preferences of consumers when ch oosing their products.Demand & Supply Function Demand Function There are a couple of variables that are relevant to the quantity (Qd) of IKEA goods and services that consumers are willing and able to purchase, in other words demand. First of all the price of the goods (P) IKEA sets affects the demand. Next to P, prices of related goods and services (PR) are also important as those are goods from which inputs are derived to be used in the production of the primary good. The prices of related goods and services are therefore taken into account when IKEA sets its price (P).The expected future price of products (Pe) might also influence demand because if a consumer believes that the price of the good will be higher in the future, he or she is more likely to purchase the good now. In addition, prices of all other companies’ products (P1†¦Pn-1) have an influence on the demand function of IKEA. If their prices are much lower than IKEA prices, consumers will buy from other firms . However, as already mentioned, this is not the case for IKEA as they offer products for low prices. Also, if the consumer expects that his income will be higher in the future, the consumer may buy the good now.Therefore, expected future income (Ye) also affects demand. Thirdly, the incomes of consumers (Y) are also relevant to demand because this influences the ability to purchase the IKEA goods. Demand is also affected by the number of consumers in the market (N), the more consumers in the market, the higher the demand for the IKEA products. Moreover, advertising expenditure (A) affects demand as well. The more advertising, the more consumers are informed or persuaded to come and buy at IKEA. IKEA shows to be very efficient at this with providing their catalogs.Lastly, consumer tastes and preferences (T) also affect demand. It seems that consumers prefer IKEA products over other products because of its low prices and quality of the products. However, consumers incur transportatio n costs (t) that have an effect on preferring to buy from IKEA (which is often located just outside the city center) or to buy from a shop closer to their homes. Consumers know that IKEA provides very high quality products no matter in which shop they will buy the products and consumers could therefore prefer IKEA products over other. The general demand function for IKEA would therefore be:Qd = f (P, PR, Pe, Y, Ye, N, A, T(t)) or, Qd = a + bP + cPR + dPe + e(P1†¦Pn-1) + fM + gYe + hN + iA + jT(t) Where b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, and j are slope parameters that measure the effect on Qd of changing one of the variables while holding the others constant. We assume that, all in the short run, there is no change in taste and preference, that the income of the consumer is constant, that there is no change in customs, habit and quality of goods, no change in substitute products, related products and the price of the product, and finally, that there are no complementary goods.Supply Funct ion There are a couple of factors that affect supply, the amount of products IKEA is willing and able to sell at a given price all other factors being held constant. Firstly, the price of IKEA’s products (P) influences the supply function. Ikea can be seen as a leader in this market and therefore it might be the case that the firm cuts its price, possibly as an attempt to keep the number of entrants low. Secondly, the price of related goods (PR) influences the supply function.If the PR increases, the cost of production will increase and therefore supply would decrease. Thirdly, technology (T) with regard to production affects supply in a way that whenever there is a technological advancement or technology used making production very efficient, the supply increases as production costs decrease. In addition, the price of inputs (PI) such as labor, energy, raw materials, influence supply. When PI increases, sellers are likely to raise P for each unit of output.For IKEA it is kno wn that they have access to relatively cheap raw materials and an increase in PI would not quickly lead to an increase in P because IKEA aims to keep its prices low. Moreover, the number of suppliers (N) in this market might have a small effect on the supply function of IKEA. There are already many suppliers in this market and an increase in N would not lead to a significant decrease in P of IKEA. As stated previously, in creating low prices IKEA is not willing to sacrifice its principles (â€Å"low price but not at any price†).Expectations (Em) concerning the future market condition can directly affect IKEA’s supply in that whenever IKEA believes that the demand for its product will increase in the foreseeable future, IKEA will immediately increase production in anticipation of this increasing demand and therefore future price increases. Lastly, government policies (G) and regulations can have a significant effect on IKEA’s supply. For example environmental reg ulations could influence decisions IKEA has to take in consideration when switching to a new supplier of raw materials. The general supply function for IKEA would therefore be:Qs = f (P, PR, T, PI, N, Em, G) Assuming that all consumers know all things, about all products, at all times (including knowing the probabilistic outcome of all future events), and therefore always make the best decision regarding purchase. In addition, assuming that Ikea is the leader in a market with a large and endogenous number of firms. Decisions As IKEA is already at the bottom end of the market and operating very efficiently and profitably, the only decisions that they will face would be concerning future investments, advertising, and product features. One of the things that IKEA is now able to do is expanding more to new markets.So far, IKEA has limited its store locations to some of the most heavily populated markets in the countries in which it competes. To continue its growth trends, IKEA may have to begin investigating other (smaller) communities. IKEA has to consider how it will respond if and when a lower priced competitor enters its market. Also, IKEA may want to consider that its product assortment and promotions may not appeal to all cultures. However, for new markets, IKEA should retain its price-image to maintain the brand’s positioning. New cultures mean also that branding has to adapt to popularity in those particular new countries.For IKEA, despite the history of success the company has enjoyed thus far, there are no guarantees for the future. If IKEA does not keep on innovating and making the right expansion decisions, the company will become increasingly vulnerable to new competitors. Word count: 3397 References Arrigo, E. (2005). Corporate Responsibility and Hypercompetition. The IKEA Case. Symphonya, 2, pp. 37-57 Facts and figures, www. IKEA. com. Kotelnikov, V. (2005) Experimental Marketing. Retrieved from: http://www. 1000ventures. com/business_guide/m arketing_experiential. html Building a sustainable supply chain: An IKEA case study. The Times 100.

Machine shack management system Essay

Options – This will take you to the options menu where additional features of the system will be shown. Stock Table Menu The Stock Table Menu has options relating to the stock table.   Add Record – This will take you to a screen where you can add records to you database.   View Edit Delete – This will take you to a screen where you can view the records using the up and down keys as well as let you delete or edit records.   Search Record – This will take you to a screen where you can search for records, once found it will display the record. Items Needing Reordering – This will take you to a screen which will display only the items which need reordering.   Back to Main Menu – This will take you back to the main menu. Sales Table Menu The Sales Table Menu has options relating to the stock table.   View or Delete Sale – This will take you to a screen where you can view all the sales and delete sales, using the down key to scroll through records and the ‘d’ key to delete sales.   Search Record – This will take you to a screen where you can search for Sales records, once found it will display the record.   Return Item – This allow you to return an Item which has been sold. Back to Main Menu – This will take you back to the main menu. 2. 7 Data Capture 2. 7. 1 Input Forms and Output Forms Add Record Add record will bring up the form used to add items to the stock table. The add record form will look like the illustration below: View, Amend and Delete a Record This Form will be used to view, amend and delete records, you simply use the up and down keys to scroll available records, if you would like to delete a record you press ‘d’ and it will be deleted or if you would like to amend a record you press the ‘e’ key and it will ask you which part of the record you want to amend. Search Records for sales and stock. This feature will be used to search through the database to find a specific record, it will work by asking for a item code, then searching for the item code, using an IF statement in a loop to compare ever item code with the entered value until the record is found, else if it reaches the end of the file and has not found any matching record it will display a message saying ‘record not found’. View Items which Need reordering Here items will be compared that are available in stock with the minimum stock level, if the values are the same or the value of items available is smaller then that record will show up in this output form. View or Delete Sales Record Here you can view all sales that have taken place using the up and down keys, to delete a sale you simply press the ‘d’ key and that record will be deleted. Return Item from Sales Record Here you scroll down to the sale which you want to take back and it will delete the record and if the item is still in good condition it will add it back to the stock table. Check Out The Check out is the main form used and the most complex which uses the most types of file manipulation. Here you enter Items the customer wants, it will then calculate a total for the customer and print a receipt. It will also subtract items sold from the stock table and put them into the sales table. When entering items it will display the description of the item to validate if the code it correct. 2. 8 Sample of planned data validation An Example of where I will use data validation can be taken from when you will enter an Item Code, in the add stock form, when you enter a code, the system will check the entire stock table to see if that Item Code exist if it does you will be given an error message. 2. 9 Description of record or database structure. The Database structure is mainly two files one which holds the stock details â€Å"Stock. dat† and the other which holds the Sales information â€Å"Sales. dat†, the structure and formats of these files can be found in the â€Å"Definition of data requirements† section. Details can be added to the stock file through the stock options. The Check Out will read items codes display the Name and Price of the items, you enter into it and calculate a total. Then it will subtract the items from the stock table and add them to the sales table. 2. 10 Sample of Planned data entry. An example of data entered into the add stock form. 2. 11 Sample of planned valid output An Example of Data output in the View Edit Delete Stock Form. 2. 12 File Organisation and Processing The file organisation used in the database will be a serial organisations, so when a record is added to a file it will add it to the end of the file. Searches will be preformed using a serial search, basically it will go through each record using a repeat loop and an if statement will be used to check for valid results. 2. 13 Database design including E-R Model. There are be 2 main entities in this system, a one to many relationship 2. 14 Security and Integrity of Data Firstly physical access to the computer will be pretty hard since, the end user will always be at the shop, when it is open, and the shop is locked when it is closed. The data that will be stored in this database is just mainly data about stock and sales so methods like encryption are a little too extreme. The data stored in files can really only be made sense out of if read by the database, opening them up using a text editor like notepad will give, just you lots of jumbled data. Integrity of the data will be mainly maintained by the validation rules present in the database, another way integrity is maintained is most of the complex procedures have been simplified to entering minimal data, for example entering an item into the check out just required the item code, which after entering displays the name to further make sure it is the correct information entered. 2. 15 System Security A number of steps will been taken to ensure that the system is secure and maintains the integrity of data. For security purposes the system will have a password at the start up, this will prevent unauthorised access to the system, the password and system will automatically activate at computer start up, this will be achieved by modifying the computer boot files (autoexec. bat) adding the program path and executable location. In this case like:- Since with this modification the system password will start instantly on the computer booting, It makes it harder for anyone to access the data of the system in other ways, like notepad, edit, etc. Another Security feature will be that the password can only be entered 3 times after which the computer will halt (freeze), and the only way to get back is to restart the computer, which again will take you to the password, the freeze process will be achieved by using a simple endless loop like:- Repeat Until restart; Since the Boolean variable restart is set to false and will never equal true in this case it will just keep looping. Thus making it extremely hard for the computer to be accessed in any way other then through the system, which will require a password. 2. 16 Overall Test Strategy. Test Strategy The test strategy will include:   Test all input forms, if they accept all the data   Testing of individual Menu System Options   Testing of inputting invalid or extreme data   Check backup and restore features   Test security features   Test system by inputting dummy data to simulate real events End-user tests it, to see if it meets his requirements 2. 16. 2 Test Plan Test No. Test Expected Result 1 Test Auto Boot Feature Boots straight into system, with no errors 2 Test Password Only â€Å"hello† accepted 3 Test all menu system options All options lead to the right place 4. Stock Table accepts all data sets from data set 1 All data accepted with out error 5 Test if only unique Item Code can be entered and not one that is already in the database Accepts only unique Item code 6 View Feature tested All entered data is displayed properly 7 3rd data set in stock table will be edited Changes accepted 8 8th data set in stock table will be deleted Record deleted successfully without any other affects. 9 Test Item Re-stock Feature If Items which need restocking appear in the records, these should be records, 5, 8 and 10 9 Test Check Out, Total feature Should give a correct total. Test if items sold in check out appear in sales table Should appear in sales table 11 Delete item from sales table Should delete 12 Test Return feature, if item returns to stock Should return to stock table and be deleted from sales table 13 Test Password Change Feature New Password should be accepted 14 Test Back up feature if database backs up to floppy disk Should copy stock and sales table to a floppy disk 15 Check Exit Feature Program should return to dos 16 Enter very large integer into an integer field Program may crash 17 Entering character into a integer field Program may crash. Entering more then 20 characters in the Item Name Field Since the variable for this is string[20] program may crash 2. 16. 3 Test Data Being used Test data set 1: Stock Table Item Code Item Description Price Amount in Stock Minimum Stock level 0001 Mobile Phone 35.   

Descartes Dream Argument Essay

How do we know we are not dreaming some particular experience we are having, or we are not dreaming all our experience of this world? When we dream we imagine things happening often with the same sense of reality as we do when we are awake. In Descartes dream argument, he states there are no reliable signs distinguishing sleeping from waking. In his dream argument, he is not saying we are merely dreaming all of what we experience, nor, is he saying we can distinguish dreaming from being awake. I think his point is we cannot be for sure what we experience as being real in this world is actually real. When Descartes remembers occasions when he is dreaming, he falsely believes he is awake. Reflecting on this, Descartes thinks he cannot ever tell whether or not he is dreaming. How can he know he perceives his hands right now? Maybe, it is all just a dream. If it were just a dream everything would seem to be the same. In order to have knowledge the suggestion he is dreaming is false, he somehow has to have some knowledge of being awake. I believe his dream argument could be formed in this way: 1. When we are dreaming we are not in a good position to tell whether we are actually dreaming or awake. 2. Any experience you are having right now could also mean you are dreaming. In other words, you can’t possibly know you are dreaming even if it is a dream. 3a. For each of your experiences, you can’t tell whether your experience is a dream or not. (You can’t tell which of your dreams is a waking experience or a dreaming experience). 3b. For all you know, all of your experiences may be dreams. (You may be walking around in a dream, never having any walking experiences) Most philosophers think the dream argument supports both conclusions, but many philosophers also think this argument is strong enough to support 3a but not 3b. It is not really clear whether Descartes is arguing for the stronger claim or the weaker claim. It could be 3b, the weaker claim, is enough to support his purpose. Maybe he does not need a stronger claim to prove his theory. The last step in Descartes argument says if he cannot tell whether he is dreaming, then how can he trust any of his senses telling him about the environment? To know anything about the external world on the basis of his sensory experiences, it seems like Descartes would have to know those experiences are not all just a dream: To know anything about the external world on the basis or your sensory experiences, you have to know that you are not dreaming. I believe the things in my dreams must have been patterned after real things. So, even if I might be dreaming now, I know the world has colors, things that take up space, have shape, quantity, and a place in space and time. Now if you pull premises 1-4 together, we get the result of the conclusion: 5. Therefore, you can’t know anything about the external world based on your sensory experiences. In an interpretation of Descartes Dream Argument, premise 1 supports premise two and premise 3a and 3b support premise 4. So let us take a look at premise 2, 4, and the conclusion. This looks like the valid inference rule, such as modus ponens. P ? Q P__________ Therefore, Q However, that is not what is exactly happening in the dream argument. For premise 4 says to know you would have to know you are not dreaming. But premise 3 says you cannot know you are dreaming. In order for Modus Ponens argument to work, it would have to contain the premise: â€Å"I know I am dreaming. † Since Descartes cannot actually declare he is dreaming, it will not work. So there goes the premise of the argument. The most Descartes can say in his argument is â€Å"you can’t tell whether you experience is a dream,† premise two states â€Å"You can’t possibly know you are dreaming,† to premise 3, â€Å"you can’t tell if you are dreaming† to the conclusion, â€Å"You can’t know anything. † In order for Modus Ponens to work once again Descartes would have to know he was dreaming. As stated above he cannot state his position as if he is dreaming, so there goes the premises argument. So if this is not a valid argument, then perhaps there is a way to revise my interpretation on Descartes’ Dream argument so it turns out to be a valid rgument. Can we make the argument valid by changing premise 4? 2. Any experience you are having right now could also mean that you are dreaming. In other words, you can’t possibly know that you are dreaming even if it really is a dream. 4. I know that I am dreaming. Therefore, you can’t know anything about the external world based on your sensory experiences. This is now valid but is Descartes actually dreaming? Lets try switching around premises one. 1. If I cannot distinguish with certainty between sense perceptions and dreams, then I cannot believe anything based on images as true. . I cannot distinguish with certainty between sense perceptions and dreams. 3. Therefore, I cannot believe as true anything based on images. The argument is now valid again. But the question remains, whether the argument is sound and all the premises are true. A dream is a dream because its external conditions make it a dream and not because of a sense perception. If I am asleep and having an image of a body, than I am dreaming. If I am awake and having an image of a body, then I am not dreaming. Usually I am having a sense perception, but it could also be a hallucination. Dreaming is a certain kind of state. The only way to know you are not dreaming is to know you are not in a state of being asleep and having mental images, sounds, etc. No amount of images, sounds, can tell me I am in the state of being asleep and having images, sounds, etc. before my mind. If premise 2 is true, you can never be certain you are dreaming, as opposed to having sense perception. For instance, I can never step outside of myself to check what state I am in. It is indeed possible I could be dreaming. Descartes, however, has a very different kind of reply to the dream argument. He does not challenge premise 2 at all, instead he challenges premise one: If I cannot distinguish with certainty between sense perceptions and dreams, then I cannot believe as true anything based on images, etc. Descartes states in meditation one, â€Å"Nevertheless, it surely must be admitted that the things seen during slumber are, as it were, like plain images, which could only have been produced in the likeness of true things, and these general things —eyes, hands, head, and the whole body,–are not imaginary things, but are true and exist. This statement is actually very clear because the reply is the contents of dreams (Mt. Everest, other people, houses, etc) must come from reality. We get images through the world that we live in, so even if I am dreaming, I know there are mountains, people, and houses. They must exist in order to have dreams like the ones I have. If the world was different then I would have different kinds of dreams. † In Descartes final thoughts he admits it seems to be possible I am now dreaming even though no one could know anything about the world around us. I think Descartes point to be made throughout the dream argument is we are able we are not dreaming if we are to know an external world around us. If we are to know our external world around us, then we would have a better understanding of why we dream. It would also give us a better understand to distinguish from being awake to dreaming. It seems to me the point throughout his dream argument the point he is trying to make is we cannot be sure of what we experience as being real in the world is actually real. Descartes may have not made his point to be valid or true, but made us think outside the box, there are other possible choices to why we experience these thoughts when we dream.

Prepare a Strategic Plan Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

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It Is All About You Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

It Is All About You - Essay Example It is much not the same as the United States. My culture is extremely deeply immersed in custom. As a Muslim, I follow a much firmer pattern of guidelines than most of my youths, and, at times, it is a little annoying to see a transparent disrespect for the self that I see on university grounds. Because of my religious background, I am much firmer about what I eat and drink. The biggest influencing issue on who I am today is certainly the emphasis on family. Everything ranging from my preferred career route to my ambition for success is rooted in my devotion to my family. As formerly indicated, my parents have a very traditional, Islamic opinion concerning the universe. Things are pretty clear and direct; this implies that either it is in agreement with the Quran and should be performed unswervingly or it is against the willpower of Allah and should never be done. I have always obeyed my parents and I have never questioned their instructions to me lest they see it as disobedience. However, as I become older, I essentially begin to recognize much more carefully with what they have taught me. I have discovered that their strictness regarding my education has taken ahold of me and developed. I currently hold myself to as great a standard in my education as they do, if not greater. Nevertheless, there are some extents where we vary deeply, however. For instance, I know that some of the films I watch or music I listen to would not be received well by my parents. I consider this to do more with a generational gap than a difference in the culture from Saudi Arabia to the United States. I have never encountered any definite form of preconception from the elders in my family. In fact, the lack of any allusion to an issue is the largest, and perhaps even more profound, form of prejudice. Rather than oppose issue with someone I know they see different and not good, it is like emptiness in the discussion, a plain discrepancy of any

Nussbaum on Religion and Women's Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nussbaum on Religion and Women's Rights - Essay Example In most of those works, she has taken stance strongly favoring the rights of the humans, including men and women, to freely practice their religions. At the same time, she also opined that those religions could have certain practices and traditions which restrict women’s freedom and go against their equality. This paper will first discuss Nussbaum’s views on religion and women’s rights, particularly focusing on why states should not intervene in this complex issue. Then, in the second part of the paper, we will critically discuss these views of Nussbaum on religion and women’s rights, from personal perspective and with perspectives from other thinkers. Martha Nussbaum in most of her works, including her books and various essays, took a balanced stance regarding religion and women’s rights, without criticizing either of the two key integral components. She is of the opinion that good aspects of religion has to be followed without fail, and at the sam e time, the aspects, which are in contravention with the women’s rights have to be viewed critically.... â€Å"Incidentally, this echoes her recent indictment of Susan Okin’s Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women and Okin’s Western secularist dismissal of religion† (Hackett 8). Nussbaum criticized those views of Western feminists by pointing how women particularly in non-Western countries view religions favorably for its optimal mobilizing properties, and how they give more importance to religion even forgoing their personal rights. States understanding this perspective of women avoid intervening in areas where there are complex conflicts between religion and women. In addition, Nussbaum points out more certain aspects regarding how religion can have a positive influence on all humans, particularly the women. First, she puts forward the perspective that religious tenets including faith, membership and related religious activities can aid the humans optimally, in the pursuit of general capability goals, including in the search to find inner peace and other ultimate meani ngs. When one focuses on religion based restriction on women, the religion of Islam is viewed in negative stereotypes. However, according to Nussbaum, Islam does not view women inferiorly, and has a set of moral code, which is similar to both men and women. Nussbaum further states that this fact is being accepted by the Islamic feminists as well. â€Å"Is Islam sexist in its origins? Not to many Islamic feminists, who stress that women and men are held to share a single essential nature, and that the Koran recommends similar norms of modest conduct to both women and men† (Nussbaum 106). Thus, Nussbaum views religion not in negative light in relation to women’s rights, and even criticizes the western feminists for treating non-western religions as patriarchal and regressive. In line

Caring for an elderly person with Alzheimer's disease Essay

Caring for an elderly person with Alzheimer's disease - Essay Example Last year, my grandmother of eighty-seven years of age finally succumbed to disease. I can explain with certainty that it was a long and painful demise. People that develop Alzheimer’s disease change. First thing to go is the memory. Many people have regular memory issues, but when they repeat themselves constantly, occasionally are violently angry, and are taken over by dementia, caring for them becomes extremely difficult. Alzheimer’s is an unfortunate and incurable disease that affects a great deal of people. Family members, caretakers, and nursing homes are frequently burdened with patients with this terrible disease. These are some of the many reasons why I have chosen caring for those with Alzheimer’s as my topic for the final paper.   Slowly but surely, ‘Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients lose their memory and their cognitive abilities, and even their personalities may change dramatically. These changes are due to the progressive dysfunction and death of nerve cells that are responsible for the storage and processing of information. Although drugs can temporarily improve memory, at present there are no treatments that can stop or reverse the inexorable neurodegenerative process. But rapid progress towards understanding the cellular and molecular alterations that are responsible for the neuron’s demise may soon help in developing effective preventative and therapeutic strategies’ (Mattson 2004). ... To avoid Alzheimer’s, Mattson suggests mental as well as physical exercise, a low calorie low saturated fat diet, and specifically targeted drugs. Although not required to understand the article, I believe it helped me to have a brief neuromotor background from my exercise science classes. This is a well cited and well written article, but definitely on the level of neuroscience. Mattson suggested ways to avoid Alzheimer’s, but lacks findings and I would recommend long term follow up studies.   ‘Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that currently affects nearly 2% of the population in industrialized countries; the risk of AD dramatically increases in individuals beyond the age of 70 and it is predicted that the incidence of AD will increase threefold within the next 50 years’ (alz.org). Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. â€Å"It’s overwhelming, worse every day,† Mrs. Dillon said in Jane Gross’ article ‘Alzheimer’s in the living room: how one family rallies to cope’, â€Å"I don’t have any life. Whatever happened to the golden years? Both of us have been robbed of everything we worked for.† The Dillons' ordeal is familiar to families of the 4.5 million American men and women with Alzheimer's disease, which progressively destroys the cerebral cortex and thus the ability to think, communicate and comprehend. The number of afflicted will more than triple to 14 million by midcentury, according to health care experts and demographers. For their caregivers, life is a

Business Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 4

Business Economics - Essay Example There are many reasons behind this phenomenon. Kapferer (2008) has argued that one of the main reasons added in this list is that United Kingdom had been counted among the agricultural sector but now the country’s agricultural sector has been replaced with the manufacturing one. This replacement took place during the end of the eighteenth century. Since then economic growth seen in the United Kingdom has been because of the manufacturing sector rather than the agricultural one. Recently the manufacturing sector has been replaced by the service sectors. The effect of manufacturing as well as the service sector on the economy of United Kingdom has to be kept in mind. The replacement of the manufacturing sector with the service sector might be one of the main factors because of which the economy of United Kingdom has been affected. Here the main factor that affects the economy of United Kingdom is de industrialization. The term de industrialization needs to be defined as it has been used very frequently. In the business world the de industrialization is rather a concept and by many researchers it is defined as a decline in the ratio of the workforce that work in the industrial sector of the particular country. Ingram and Hong (2007) have argued that the greater the work force in the country, greater is the economic boom and greater is the development. There are many measures that have been seen to affect industrialization. Some of the main factors that have been counted to analyze the de industrialization within the country is the number of the people that are employed in the manufacturing industry within a certain country. Moreover, some of the other main factors that have been added in this list is the manufacturing output in the form of the export and imports that are generated from this manufacturing industry. As de industrialization has been the main change noticed in the country, the change in the

Leading and Managing in Organisations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Leading and Managing in Organisations - Essay Example Moreover, they also point out that interpersonal relationships are formed and reinforced on the basis of trust, openness and support. Communication is regarded as effective when the intended information is delivered in the right manner to the right person/people and in the right time. This process involves various elements such as the people involved in communication, i.e., communicator and the recipient, context/situation, method, and skills. More often, these elements vary with the situation/context. Skills required for communication include speaking, listening, writing, reading, and expressing (Adair, 2011). Effective communication ensures that information being shared is accurate, which is a very important requirement in building strong interpersonal relationship. ... scribes interpersonal communication as everyday encounters, and that interpersonal communication has a significant role in creating, maintaining and/or affecting personal, social and professional relationships. Since communication is the medium of expressing oneself and to know others besides transferring information, its impact penetrates or intersects all activities concerned with human behaviour. Keeping in mind such a significant impact of communication, Whetten and Cameron’s (2011) assertion of supportive communication with honesty and accuracy stands true and also seems important in difficult situations. The need for supportive communication is felt greater when the information to be delivered might not be in favour of the recipients but the intention of communication would be to improve the relationship, status, and/or situation; this process of communication would require specific approach and skills in order to achieve the purpose of communication. Examples of situati ons that necessitate supportive communication include providing negative feedback, handle conflicting views and resistance, problem-solving etc. The ultimate goal of supportive communication is to reinforce interpersonal relationship among two or more people by building trust and understanding while solving the issue/challenge through approaches that would not offend any person involved in the communication process. 2. There are eight principles to supportive communication. Four of the eight principles are: Congruence not Incongruence, Descriptive not Evaluative, Problem not Person Oriented and Specific not Global. Explain the meaning of the concepts and using ideas from your own experience give examples of their meaning. Whetten and Cameron (2011, p.265) have identified eight attributes of

A World without Television Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A World without Television - Essay Example On its part, the television touched our lives in more than one way, some good and some bad. The television made our life colorful (even the earlier black and white variety). It presented us with so many live entertainment options: the musicals, the stage plays, the soap operas, the fashion shows, and that too, without having to step out of our homes. It gave us the power to dream, to identify ourselves with the mannerisms of the most glamorous stars and celebrities, projected in larger-than-life roles. It taught us to desire and acquire things of luxury, through scores of advertisements, by creating an image of reality that is not real. By wanting more and more of these goodies, we helped our industries to innovate, produce more, flourish, and, in turn, enrich our lives further. Television became the homemaker, bringing a sense of togetherness in our families, taming our mischievous children with visual treats specially planned for them, discouraging husbands and wives from quarreling, and taking away the loneliness out of the lives of the elderly and infirm. It also helped us to integrate, not only our nation, but the whole world into a global village, by showing the live images of people from distant regions and countries, share their joys and sorrows, problems and achievements, cultures and traditions, during special shows and news programs. We became visual participants in the grim realities of life, through scenes from accident sites, war fronts, natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, and learnt to have compassion for the less fortunate fellow humans. No other medium could have matched the impact of the real-life visual images of television on our collective psyche. Of course there are certain undesirable things too. It has produced a generation of couch-potatoes who depend only on passive entertainment, and has stripped us of the opportunity and inspiration to do things ourselves. We are forced use less and less of our thinking faculty, creative imagination, and physical effort. Books and other elaborate written materials, which require a certain amount of contemplation, are no longer attractive to the younger generation. Unless controlled properly, unhealthy viewing content can also creep in, and spoil the morals of the society. In spite of good and ugly sides to it, the reality is that Television has grown with us as a family member, and it is already a partner in our social evolution. We can no longer allow it to disappear out of our lives. Our World view in absence of Television: Since olden days, people were interested to know about other civilizations across the globe. In those days, the main source of information was from the personal accounts of the voyagers and travelers. This interest was generally limited to the members of the trading communities, explorers or royal expeditions. Later, with the development of printing technology, written matter became easily transportable and transferable, and helped in creating a better and consistent understanding of the outside world. The nineteenth century saw a sudden rise in industrial activity, made possible by a series of inventions in the field of technology. This triggered a growth cycle of such magnitude that the whole society evolved into a large mass of affluence. This affluent mass of people had the time and