The Superior Personality of Addams According to Psychologists Essay Example for Free

The Superior Personality of Addams According to Psychologists Essay The superiority in Addams’ personality marks her leadership and fame. Famous psychologists such as Sigmund Freud, Carl Rogers, Gordon Allport, John Watson, and Otho Rank have explored theories to explain reasons for these superior characteristics. According to Freud, a person is motivated to do something based on two aspects of the superego. The first is the ego which is the person’s conception of what his/her parents will approve, and the other is the conscience which embodies one’s conception of what should be condemned. In our review of Addams life, we may point out how her father served as a great influence in her actions. Her father, who served as a senator, basically provided the orientation to help other people, or to be of service to others. For Freud, the Electra complex could be at work here. Thus, Freudians would reasonably point out that Addams’ social behavior and achievements could have been dedicated in half towards pleasing father. Also, Addams had difficulty finding the same energy she had about medical school when her father passed away. Thus bereavement also provoked her to find the real meaning of life and her mission in the world. The other half could be dictated by her conscience to do as what the society told her. Raised in values by her father who admired Lincoln, Addams formed a conviction against racism and labor injustice, making her act against them, though it meant condemnation from other people in her society. The ego and the conscience worked together to bring out the leadership qualities that Addams possessed. Another famous psychological point of view to explain why a person excels highly above the rest is that of Carl Rogers’. According to Rogers, people are basically good and healthy. He argued that people’s motives are governed by the force of life or the â€Å"actualizing tendency†. Applying this to the personality of Addams, we may say that even at a young age, Addams always had an inclination to excel and achieve her best. Like a plant which grows up, buds flowers, and bears fruit, Addams was subject to her own natural â€Å"actualizing tendency†. In her biography, we can note that although her father disapproved of her studying and eventually becoming a doctor, Addams still pursued her life goal of being of service to others. Moreover, Rogers would also affirm that it was Addams’ nature to do what she felt best for the society and the world, which motivated her to do what she did. Furthermore, Rogers’ concept of positive self-regard tells us that Addams was provoked to act on the injustices in her society because she believed she could make a difference. Coming from a wealthy family, she knew what she had, which she could share with others. Going back to the time when she saw the outskirts of London, she was able to determine her purpose in life, and she was naturally led to her self-actualization. Likewise, Gordon Allport introduced a theory on psychological maturity. He called this state as a â€Å"well-developed proprium†. According to Allport, a person has achieved this when s/he has â€Å"specific, enduring extensions of self-involvement. † In the community works rendered by Addams, we see how she endured the sacrifices of helping and educating others. Specifically, one of the women who worked at Hull House commented, She is very tired . . . of course she did not let [that] deter her from tearing about. She preached for the Methodists last Sunday, entertained the Colored Women of the National Council (Mrs. Booker T. Washington et al) yesterday and later went to Winnetka . . . she runs over to Mrs. Jones-around to Mrs. Fiellras . . . up to Mrs. Kenyon-off with Mrs. Halderman, down to inquiring strangers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Davis, 1973, p. 82). Another characteristic of a person with well-developed proprium is having â€Å"dependable techniques for warm-relating to others†. This includes a person’s tolerance and sympathy of others. The third characteristic is having â€Å"emotional security† which is very evident in Addams. Fourth is having â€Å"habits of realistic perception†. When Jane saw the Toynbee Hall in London, she deciphered that the root cause of her own society’s dilemma was, â€Å"overaccumulation at one end of society, and destitution at the other† (Bush, 1993, p. 49). Fifth, Allport also identified â€Å"problem-centeredness† as another characteristic. Evidently, Addams possessed this as she responded to the labor problems of the factory workers in her hometown. Sixth is â€Å"self-objectification† which is the ability to reflect on one’s behavior. Although Addams was criticized and identified by the FBI as the most dangerous woman in America during her time, she still fought for peace against all odds. The last characteristic was to have a â€Å"unifying philosophy of life†. By putting up the Hull House, Addams reached out not only to the poor but also to the rich by making them contribute to the House’s projects. Another psychologist who can offer explanation to Addams’ leadership qualities is John Watson, the father of behaviorism. Exploring his theory, we may note that Addams’ personal qualities of being a leader were only her response to the stimuli given to her. Coming from a well-to-do family, Addams was affected by the sufferings she witnessed in her town, and this motivated her to act on the situation. Seeing the problems of the workers and the migrants, she responded to help alleviate their sufferings. Likewise, when America joined the World War I, she mainly reacted on the events happening, and voiced out her opposition with her idealistic regard for peace. While all these theories explain the superior leader in Addams, we may also expound on the theory of Otto Rank to explain another aspect of her personality. Breaking out from Freud, who was his mentor, Otto Rank extended the psychoanalytic theory by delving on myths, legend, and art. In particular, his belief that people can be categorized as â€Å"hero† and â€Å"artist† can be applied to the personality of Addams. In his theory, Rank stated that some people can be categorized as artists. As an artist, this person sees reality as his own image, thus reconstructs it as he would himself. In addition, Rank argued that a true artist needs immortality which he can achieve by identifying with the collective will of his environment. Furthermore, he also emphasized that among artists, there is the productive type—who is also the genius and creative—to which Addams can be categorized. Remember that Addams used the arts to relieve the sufferings of the workers in their town. Being able to teach arts and using it as a medium to attract people of their projects, we can say that the artist prototype was fully evident in Addams. Unlike other artists who worked for division or fame, Addams chose to work for the best of her people. As such, her qualities exemplified the productive type that Rank theorized. The inspiration that Addams offers each of us, especially women, should always be remembered. Her life constituted by breaking free from stereotyping, making both ends meet for the Hull House, opposing views of the majority regarding war, and serving people through her projects and writings, is what all of us should follow if we want to effect changes in our society. Although the explanations offered by theorists regarding her personality may vary, one thing remains constant: life would not be the same without the contributions of Jane Addams.It is through her aspirations and idealism that America learned to recognize more the rights and sufferings of its people. References Addams, Jane. (1960). A Centennial Reader, ed. by E. C. Johnson. New York: Macmillan Addams, Jane. (1910). Twenty Years at Hull-House. New York: Macmillan Boeree, George. (2006). Personality Theories. Retrieved December 21 2007, from http://webspace. ship. edu/cgboer/perscontents. html Bush, Malcolm. (1993). Jane Addams: No Easy Heroine. Free Inquiry, 13 (4), Fall 48-49. Davis, Allen F. (1973). American Heroine: The Life and Legend of Jane Addams. Oxford Press: New York. DeMar Gary. (1988). Behaviorism. In Surviving College Successfully: A Complete Manual for the Rigors of Academic Combat. Wolgemuth Hyatt Publishers, Inc. Retrieved December 22, 2007, from http://forerunner. com/forerunner/X0497_DeMar_-_Behaviorism. html Haberman, Frederick. (1972). In Nobel Lectures, Peace 1926-1950. Amsterdam: Elsevier Publishing Company. Retrieved December 22, 2007, from http://nobelprize. org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1931/addams-bio. html Lundblad, Karen Shafer. (1995). Jane Addams and Social Reform: A Role Model for the 1990s. Social Work, 40 (5), September, 661-669

Stephen King :: essays research papers

The relief Stephen King's Constant Readers feel at seeing the first full-length novel from the horrormeister since his accident most likely overshadows the weaknesses they might find in an effort that, while not King's best, is neither his worst. Set partially in the Derry, Maine, of It and Insomnia, and with shades of Tommyknockers in its subject matter, Dreamcatcher hearkens back to It and that novel's theme of the lifelong endurance of childhood friendships -- especially when something unspeakable bound those long-ago children to one another. Four men meet for their annual deer hunting party deep in the Maine woods in a cabin full of happy memories. Though they've inevitably grown apart, their childhood ties are still strong. In the cabin's great room hangs a Native American dreamcatcher, strings woven about sticks said to have the power to protect slumbering humans from night terrors. This year, though, that hanging talisman will prove scant protection against an unearthly horror that will require sacrifices of the highest order from the knot of friends. The animals are fleeing the surrounding forest, for they sense the unwelcome visitors whose precursors were the spate of recent strange lights in the New England sky. For Pete, Beaver, Henry and Jonesy, the nightmare begins when a disoriented hunter named McCarthy stumbles into their camp. The situation quickly degenerates. McCarthy unwittingly plays host to a deadly parasitic creature and brings a rapidly multiplying fungal growth into the midst of the group. While the childhood friends battle an inexplicable and implacable enemy, a government covert operations team seals off the area. Their plan: to destroy all evidence of a threatening alien invasion like nothing the pulp sci-fi purveyors has prepared the world for. Led by a man who is quite possibly insane, the black ops unit will stop at nothing to contain the menace -- including the slaughter of the bewildered hunters they've herded from the surrounding forest. Even so, the government's answer is insufficient to the problem. The combined will of the four men, and their reunion with the dying boy-man whose uniqueness bound them all together so wondrously those years ago, is the only hope against the unrelenting usurper from the heavens. The very best part of Dreamcatcher is undoubtedly the magic of the boys' relationship in the flashbacks to an earlier Derry. The easy way their small circle assimilates a specially-gifted Down's Syndrome child breaks your heart with its glimpse of humanity's potential actualized.

Analysis of a Pertinent Issue in Management from an Internet

Analysis of a Pertinent Issue in Management from an Internet Magazine ArticleThis is an analysis of Rodier’s (2007) write up focusing on the issue of risk management. First in the analysis is a discussion on risk management. Next, it embarks on the key points for a successful risk management. Finally, it weighs the soundness of the article’s recommendation.The Internet and digital transactions are a huge opportunity for businesses like banks and other financial institutions. Businesses may choose to exploit this opportunity or be petrified and refuse to jump in the next big thing. The first option requires risk management while the second option is plain risk avoidance that masks a bigger risk—that of being obsolete and hence, out of business. In the sample article, Rodier discusses risk management in the use or exploitation of a great business opportunity rather than being obsolete or out of business. Hence in this sense, risk management is really an issue of op portunity management. Simply put, a business action is a risk worth taking than inaction or doing nothing at all.Rodier’s key points for successful risk management are: a) industry collaboration; b) outsourcing specialized knowledge; and c) being informed about trends that are likely to turn into full blown threats in the operation of a business. Since the finance industry is affected as a whole, Rodier asserts that industry collaboration is necessary to counter a risk such as organized crime from all parts of the world. This is sound observation since the industry’s resources combined can be a great force in countering a serious threat. Moreover, faster learning curves in the industry will be possible to counter the growing community of cyber criminals. Outsourcing specialized knowledge also contributes to faster problem resolution while being informed makes businesses adapt to changes in terms of threats, vulnerabilities, and the various modus operandi of cyber crimi nals.Finally, the article’s final say in Josh William’s quote is very sound risk management advice. Processes, people and technologies indeed have to be consistently and constantly considered, reviewed, and changed. After all action is ultimately the best risk management strategy than doing nothing at all.ReferenceRodier, M. (2007). Online Security Attacks Against Financial Institutions Rapidly Increasing. WallStreet & Technology. US: CMP Media LLC. Retrieved October 7, 2007, from the WallStreet & Technology Web sites: http://www.wallstreetandtech.com/ showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201806928 for page 1 and http://www.wallstreetandtech.com/online-security-attacks-against-financial-institutions-rapidly-increasing/d/d-id/1258922?page_number=2 for page 2.Required Attachment of Reference – Page 1Online Security Attacks Against Financial Institutions Rapidly Increasing As the number of hack attacks continues to rise, experts say companies must use multiple factors of au thentication, risk analysis and people to protect themselves. By Melanie Rodier Wall Street & Technology September 17, 2007Hacking is a multibillion-dollar business. Gone are the days of teenagers sitting in their parents' basements trying to hack into a company's computer system just to prove a point. Today, hacking is an organized crime enterprise — and it is bigger than ever.The number of online hack attacks against banking organizations soared 81 percent in the first half of this year, according to U.S. security services provider SecureWorks. At the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, Vint Cerf, one of the codevelopers of the TCP/IP standard that underlies all Internet traffic, said up to a quarter of computers on the Internet might currently be used by cyber criminals in so-called botnets. Botnets are made up of large numbers of computers that malicious hackers have brought under their control after infecting them with Trojan virus programs. While most owner s are oblivious to the infection, the networks of tens of thousands of computers are used to launch spam E-mail campaigns, denial-of-service attacks or online fraud schemes.Cerf, who now works for Google, likened the spread of botnets to a pandemic. Of the 600 million computers currently connected to the Internet, between 100 million and 150 million are already part of these botnets, he said.The dramatic rise in the number of hack attacks is being driven by the increase in transactions now taking place online. â€Å"People are depending on the Internet for all sorts of services, and as usage increases so does negative fraud,† explains Joe Stensland, SVP at Scivantage, a provider of Web-based front- and middle-office solutions for financial services.And as the stakes rise, so does the sophistication level of attacks. Today's IT attacks are regional, targeted after specific people and companies, and entirely driven by profit, experts warn.â€Å"Hackers are professional, motiva ted, have lots of cash and are doing it for the cash,† says David Rand, CTO of security firm Trend Micro. â€Å"It's all about the money, and the money is huge.† In today's underground economy, consumers' stolen account information is currently priced at $1,000 to $5,000, a credit card number with PIN is valued at $300, birth certificate information goes for $150, and a credit card number with security code and expiration date is currently valued at $7 to $25, according to Rand.A large number of hackers are based in Eastern Europe. â€Å"It's a big source of blackhat hackers who are finding vulnerabilities,† says Gartner analyst Peter Firstbrook. â€Å"But attacks are coming from all over. Malicious Web servers are evenly distributed across the world,† he adds, noting that attacks also originate in Brazil, India, Thailand, Argentina and the United States.An Elaborate UnderworldCriminals operate in an elaborate networked underworld of Web sites and chat roo ms, where they tout their wares and avidly recruit new members. They sell each other stolen account numbers, tools for making credit cards, scanners to pick up card numbers and PINs from ATMs, and viruses and other malicious software, relates Karim Zerhouni, an analyst with BearingPoint. Recently, he says, criminals were offering on the Internet a Trojan virus for $600.â€Å"They were even offering you one year of technical support for free with the Trojan,† Zerhouni adds. â€Å"With that you can target specific financial institutions to get all the information you want.†Bulletin boards used by fraudsters are often â€Å"set up like eBay, with a reputation system,† points out Louie Gasparini, chief technology officer for the consumer solutions business unit with security vendor RSA. â€Å"They'll say, ‘Hi, I'm a good fraudster — you can trust me.' Or, ‘Buyer beware — fraudster unverified,'† he explains. â€Å"Then you have secti ons talking about informants, where they'll say, ‘Don't do business with John. He ripped me off.' There's also a whole training section — Fraudster 101 — which shows how to change billing addresses of credit cards, how to change PINs. They talk about new scams and new vulnerabilities.†Online criminals are also quick to tailor their scams to any newsworthy event. When Wells Fargo's computer system crashed in August, knocking out its Internet, telephone and ATM banking services for several hours, criminals immediately started discussing plans on bulletin boards to send out E-mails to the bank's clients acknowledging the computer problems and asking victims to log on to phony Wells Fargo sites to validate their user information, which could then be used to steal their account information.Required Attachment of Reference – Page 2Online Security Attacks Against Financial Institutions Rapidly IncreasingAs the number of hack attacks continues to rise, exper ts say companies must use multiple factors of authentication, risk analysis and people to protect themselves. By Melanie Rodier Wall Street ; Technology September 17, 2007A Constant VigilSo how can companies protect themselves against the looming threat of hackers? One key is to be constantly aware of the threats lurking on the Internet. As such, security watchdog Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) announced a partnership with MessageOne to provide urgent, fully automated cyber (and physical) security alerts to its 4,000-member firms. Members are automatically notified of a new threat by their preferred method of communication — cell phone, E-mail, home phone, etc. Firms also receive recommendations for solutions and can join conference calls to brainstorm about the threats.Smaller organizations that might not have invested in top-notch security need to be particularly vigilant. â€Å"Everyone is going to concentrate on [large institutions s uch as] Citigroup,† says BearingPoint's Zerhouni. But since a bigger firm usually has relatively tight security, â€Å"The value of hacking into them is not very high,† he adds. But a small community bank with lesser defenses still might have more than $100 million in assets, Zerhouni notes.Security professionals agree that multifactor authentication is essential. You have to make sure the people who come through the front door are who they say they are. Experts suggest that employees or clients should input at least two or three nuggets of information before they receive access to a network.To prevent phishing, users also can be asked to recognize a picture they had previously selected. Tokens, which are increasingly popular in the financial industry and are used by firms such as JPMorgan, provide a new six- or seven-digit password every 15 seconds — a better method than trying to commit a range of different passwords to human memory. (According to a recent RSA survey, almost a quarter of employees are required to remember 15 passwords or more at work.)But while having multiple layers of security is important, it is not enough. â€Å"Once hackers are able to phish for one thing, they can phish for others. Plus, it won't protect you from inside threats, such as if an employee puts an infected USB device in their own office computer,† says Zerhouni. â€Å"This happened at one bank, and 5,000 credit reports were compromised.†Ultimately, experts say, the best solution is to use multiple methods of authentication in conjunction with risk analysis — looking at someone's normal behavior, such as an IP address usually located in Manhattan, and verifying that this behavior is consistent.Bank of America, for instance, uses RSA's SiteKey to help clients recognize that they're at the valid online banking site at Bank of America, rather than at a phony look-alike site, and to help the bank recognize the clients as the true owners o f the accounts. SiteKey is made up of three parts: an image, an image title and three challenge questions. If a user suddenly signs on from a different computer, the bank asks one of the client's challenge questions to verify his or her identity. If answered correctly, the secret SiteKey image title and image will then appear.However, no single method is foolproof. Ultimately, says Josh Williams, manager in the business consulting practice for Devon, Pa.-based SMART Business Advisory and Consulting, â€Å"Any solution has to be a blend of processes and people and

Ceres Gardening Company Case Study Essay

1. How has the company grown? What is its basic strategy + how has it evolved? What have been the key factors in the company’s growth? The growth of the company has been fueled by the market demand growth in organic products. Ceres increased their revenues by over 75% in just five years, while growing profits by over 25% (based on Exhibits 2, 3 & 4). Ceres’s basic strategy started with its founder, Jonathan Wydown, to promote sustainable organic gardens and landscapes to environmentally conscious consumers. Mr. Wydown has been a proponent of soil preservation, biodiversity, and natural fertilizers and pest control. Mr. Wydown was confident that the same principles behind organic farming would eventually apply to home gardens and lawns. Mr. Wydown’ s vision evolved into the creation and development of a market niche of selected certified organic seeds and seedlings for vegetables, culinary herbs, and flowers – bringing the farm to the home per se. This market niche and products became the company’s differentiator and competitive edge. The key factors that drove the company’s growth are: * Market demand and segmentation – Ceres developed a market niche for organic-conscious consumers who are concerned about the environment. Although products are priced at a higher premium, the value from the company’s environmentally conscious go-to-market strategy and segmentation allowed Ceres to develop a loyal consumer community. * Product Offerings – Ceres expanded its products offerings to include open-pollinated, organically grown, and heirloom varieties of seeds and seedlings for vegetables, culinary herbs, and flowers. The company also added live plants, such as one-year-old trees. * Production Strategy – Ceres’ principal farm was located in central  California. As the demand for Ceres’ products increased, Ceres’s production capability was challenged. To keep up with the increased demand, Ceres developed a network of small, independent organic farms, offering them a commitment to purchase goods in exchange for an exclusive supplier relationship. These further strengthened Ceres’ production capability. * Distribution Channel – In the early years, Ceres operated primarily as a mail-order catalog company. This was their main distribution channel. The operation was ran well and valued for its quality, reliability, and hands-on customer service. Moreover, Ceres provided a free bimonthly company newsletter, which included gardening tips, introduced new products, and created a sense of community among the expanding customer base. This alternative marketing expanded Ceres’ channel from one time purchase to future incremental (post-sale) revenues. Eventually, Ceres expanded its channels to include retail channels, and direct sale through a sales force model. * GetCeresâ„ ¢ Program – enabled the average nursery or garden center to stock a sufficient inventory of Ceres’ products to meet the seasonal demands of the customer. If a retailer ran out of seasonal products, the customer would probably not return later, thus a potential loss of sale. Essentially the program meets the challenge of having the plenty of stock of the right product in the store at the right time based on consumer attitudes, behaviors, and preferences. The program also provided incentives to retail storeowners by offering deep discounts to carry inventory and extended payment plans. 2. Questions 3.1. How is Ceres’ financial health? Which specific items in the supplemental financial statements + which ratios might you calculate/research to help you assess its financial health? The financial health of Ceres is excellent and continues to show a positive trend from 2002 to 2006. (Please refer to Table 1) * Current Ratio shows Ceres’ ability to pay short-term obligations. The current ratio indicates that the company would be able to cover its liabilities in 2002 2 times over. * Quick Ratio measures Ceres’ ability to meet its short-term obligations with assets excluding inventory. The quick ratio indicates that Ceres would be able to cover liabilities 1.6 times over. * Debt Equity shows Ceres’ financial leverage and its aggressive posture in financing its growth with debt. The company could potentially generate more earnings than it would have without this outside financing. This indicates that even with Ceres’ expansion of distribution channels, extension of payment terms, and the creation of a direct sales force, Ceres was able to manage to stay below 1 with a mean average of .74. * Inventory Turnover shows an efficient turnover of inventory. Ceres does not hold inventory for long periods of time, which can incur additional costs by having assets sit without revenue generation. It shows Ceres’ ability to manage inventory in a seasonal cycle and further indicates their ability to forecast demands on product movement. * Accounts Receivable shows Ceres’ effectiveness in extending credit as well as collecting debts. The extended payment terms appear to be working. The prompt collection of debts enables Ceres’ to use the monies to reinvest into the business. 3.2. What should Ceres’ strategic plan be, given the trends in the organic gardening market? A move forward strategy is a renewed focus on market penetration and diversification of product portfolio. As the CMO, Annette O’Connell reported, â€Å"Growth in organic gardening products is strong, and the trends should support long term growth.† Market Penetration – capitalize on the movement from wholesale organic farming to weekend home gardeners and food service industries. While Ceres can continue to cement their market share in organic farming, the weekend gardener and food industry market are prime market niches. To reach these markets, Ceres has to diversify its product portfolio. Product Portfolio Diversification – Ceres’ has to consider diversifying its product portfolio from materials (i.e. seeds, samplings, 1-year-old fruit trees, etc.) to services and solutions to help organic farmers, food service industries, and weekend gardeners on the â€Å"how to’s† of organic gardening. You not only sell the seeds but also help the consumers manage the gardening process thus providing Ceres a â€Å"market differentiator† as a one-stop consumer experience. 3. How would you evaluate Ceres’ marketing efforts? Should the Ceres program be expanded? Why or why not? The GetCeresâ„ ¢ Program is a sound marketing plan but can be fraught with challenges if not managed effectively. The main purpose of the program is to address inventory and â€Å"enable the average nursery or garden center to stock a sufficient inventory of Cere’s organic products† by having the right products in the stores at the right time. Bottom line – help Ceres increase sales by helping business partners manage their inventory. With that said, stores and business partners are not willing to carry inventories on their books if they are not able to churn it appropriately. To alleviate angst and potential cost exposure, Ceres extended their payment terms from 75 to 90 days to 120 days and a 15% discount the storeowner or business partner agrees to hold a minimum stock inventory. To help protect Ceres’ average gross margins, it successfully raised prices slightly on most of its products. 4. Questions 5.3. In your opinion, did Ceres hire the right CMO? What role did that play in its financial situation? In our opinion, Ceres hired the right CMO. Through the CMO leadership, distribution channels were expanded from mail order catalog to an expanded network of storeowners and retail merchants. The CMO further increased their market reach by developing a direct sales force and the appropriately compensation plan. Inventory was managed efficiently through the introduction of the GetCeresâ„ ¢ Program. Overall, the company’s debt equity, inventory turnover, and accounts receivable ratios showed a positive trend and continue to forecast a better future. 5.4. Why is it important to ensure that you hire someone who is the â€Å"best fit† – for a position? It is important to hire someone who is a best fit because of the notion of a â€Å"shared vision† and â€Å"common values.† A strategy remains to be a strategy without the proper tactical execution. Both Wydown and O’Connell agreed,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The best way for Ceres to build its competitive position would be to push even more aggressively† to increase profits and lower margins by expanding distribution channels and market footprint. O’Connell had a background in retail and consumer packaged goods. This was the â€Å"best fit† for Ceres’s CEO, Jonathan Wydown whose strategy for growth was to move from a mail order catalog model to building a retail presence. Wydown and O’Connell believed that Ceres’ reputation for quality and customer service would give the company an advantage over the competition. 5. If you were CEO Jonathan Wydown, what would you plan to say during your upcoming meeting with the bank – regarding Ceres’ growth prospects + cash flow projections for 2007 and the near future? During the upcoming meeting with the bank, the focus should be given on the debt equity, inventory turnover, and accounts receivable ratios and how well the company has managed its operations over a sustained period (i.e. 2002 to 2006). From the Balance Sheet provided, it is evident that operational, financing, and investment cash flow is positive. The market-projected growth is 8% to 10% per year. Ceres has kept pace with the overall industry, but Ceres has to review its financing model to sustain their own growth in the market they chose to compete in order to continue having a competitive edge. As such, the bank discussion should center on the increase of revolving credit and capitalization of investments to continue to fund the retail distribution model.

Logitech Introduction Essay Example

Logitech Introduction Essay Example Logitech Introduction Paper Logitech Introduction Paper With an annual turnover of $1 billion, Logistic has been able to establish Itself as the pioneer in products like mice, keyboards, low -cost video cameras etc. Logistic made its name as technological innovator in the highly competitive business of personal computer peripherals. Logistic is different from its competitors by continuing innovations. Furthermore, the company has also adopted the strategy of cost differentiation by configuring Its global value chain to lower production costs. Legally speaking, Logistic is a Swiss company. But to harmonize with the cost and other arms of advantages, It carries different actively In different part of the world. The corporate headquarters are in Fremont, California where companys global marketing, finance and logistics are carried out whereas designs of its products are done in Ireland. Majority of its products are manufactured in Asia. Specifically, China and Taiwan have been the most desirable places main reason being the availability of low labor cost In these countries. 1 . Choice of Taiwan as a major manufacturing site for Logistic and its explanation from Porters diamond The diamond model of Michael Porter for the Competitive Advantage of Nations offers a model that can help understand the competitive position of a nation in global competition. It explains the reason to why some areas or more generally, countries are good In particular Industry and what Is the mall reason behind such business being a success. It also tries to explain the specialization of a geographic area in some definite type of business thus gaining a competitive edge over its competitors. Various factors that may contribute for the competitive advantage maybe land, action, resources, labor etc. These factors are further examined and following factors are derived that can best explain the diamond model of Porter. L. Factor conditions Porter argues that key factors of production or specialized factors are created, not inherited. Specialized factors of production are skilled labor, capital and infrastructure. Because of availability of these factors in Taiwan in abundant, it is selected as a major manufacturing site of Logistic. As Porter has argued that advanced factors give companies competitive edge availability of these factors elementally in Taiwan has caused it be a rewarding destination. T. Related and supporting industry Porter argues that the presence of upstream or downstream industries facilitates the exchange of Information and promotes a continuous exchange of idea and innovation. Taiwan has a well developed supply base for the parts required to nutcracker ten mall advantageous products AT Logistic n. Nine available TTY AT raw materials or the upstream products re quired for manufacturing process of products of Logistic is fully supportive in Taiwan. This validates the argument of Porter and he production of Logistic products in Taiwan. Ii. Demand condition Porter forwards an assumption that, the more demanding the customers in an economy, the greater the pressure the firms face to constantly improve their competitiveness through innovative products, high quality etc. With growing computer and information technology in Taiwan along with in the whole world, the local demand of the products of Logistic in Taiwan has also been an influential factor in the choice of the place. This is also the reason why Logistic started its production in Taiwan. Lb. Firms strategy, Structure and Rivalry Logistic faced a high level of competition those days and at present at well. To gain the advantage over its competitors, Logistic has adopted the strategy of producing high volume and low cost products. This was only possible if they could grasp a production site which has abundant labor, raw materials and other resources and at the same time produce at very high volume. Taiwan probably was the best alternative Logistic could come up with so they shifted their production center to Taiwan. Fig: Porters diamond for Logistic selecting Taiwan as their production center. Theory of comparative advantage and Logistic Global operations According to Orchards theory of comparative advantage, it is advantageous for a country to produce good that it has specialized on. This gives overall advantage by creating trade and reducing the cost of production. The main motive behind Logistic configuring its global operations such that it manufactures in china and Taiwan, undertake basic R in California and Switzerland, design products in Ireland, and coordinate marketing and operations from California is because of the competitive advantage. It is comparatively advantageous to undertake those certain activities in certain places. This is why Logistic does so. Logistic and manufacturing activities in Taiwan and China High volume of production ensuring quality is required by Logistic to face the fierce competition from its competitors. This high volume of production would give economic advantage if the labor wage can be maintained low. China and Taiwan are best known for their high population and thus low labor cost. This drives Logistic to install a manufacturing plant there. For the same volume of work in America, Logistic old probably have to pay twice than what it really pays in china or Taiwan. Lectern Ana research Ana development (R) actively In clamatorial Ana saltcellars Well qualified labor is required for constant innovation of new ideas. This helps the firms gain a competitive edge. California and Switzerland have proximity to modern technologies and high technology enterprises. Furthermore, they have the availability of the highly qualified labor in abundance. This is the reason why Logistic has placed it R activities in California and Switzerland. Logistic and designing products in Ireland Ireland is known for its new and attractive designs. An attractive design can be a factor that creates an advantage. A design that is better than that of competitors obviously creates a differentiation of the product. It is for this reason that Logistic has to focus on design and for this purpose; Ireland seems to be the best alternative. Logistic and coordinating marketing and operations from California There are numerous companies in California which has gained competitive advantage by good marketing and operation management. California is close to many of the Americas gig technology enterprises. Less government intervention and support from government are also striking reasons for Lighters corporate office located in California. Additionally, the presence of skilled employees in these fields in California attracts Logistic to have a corporate headquarter in Fremont, California. Factor condition: Low production cost; qualified people Competition/Rivalry: Japanese firm Demand Condition: Need of increase in capacity Related and Supporting Industries Science based industrial park providing space at modest fee Chance Government

Personality Identifier Essays

Personality Identifier Essays Personality Identifier Paper Personality Identifier Paper Personality Identifier: the four temperaments According to some psychologists, bible scholars and theologians there are four basic temperaments that determine our personality types. Research reveals that this study goes far back as many as a thousand years. When we are able to identify who we really are and our temperamental tendencies, we are better able to regulate ourselves. Being aware of our personal tendencies allows us to create self-control and self-discipline within ourselves to avoid unnecessary pitfalls within our lives. If someone is aware that they are more prone to succumbing depression, that person can lean on God to help them control negative emotions and harmful thoughts that would encourage that depression. Knowing our own personality type better assists us in our relationships with others. Everyone that we do not get along with cannot be deemed evil sometimes its as simple as a clash in personality types. What If that person Is someone that you cannot avoid, Like your boss? Understanding your personality type and your bosses personality type will give you the Information that you need to properly manage that relationship. There Is thing worse than going Into work every day to work for a boss that you do not get along with. But when you can navigate others by identifying their personality type you are more likely to have a better relationship with that person. Aside from boosting our relationships, understanding your personality type can better your ministry, your family relations (especially if you are a parent) and even your business. Although there are four basic temperaments, many of us are a combination of two. The following are examples of the combinations: Mel-Color, Color-San, San-phlegm, Phlegm-Mel, Melisa, Color-Phlegm; as well as the reverse of the latter: Color-Mel, San- Color, Phlegm-San, Melville, San-Mel, and Phlegm-Color. The order of temperaments Is determined based on which temperament was the dominant temperament within an Individual. SANGUINE The first temperament type is called sanguine. This is the most emotional type. The Sanguine is the popular person who wants to fun out of every situation and always wants to be the life of the party. Sanguine love to talk and carry lot of influence. The Sanguine are the easiest to spot because they make grand entrances, love attention, attract people with their magnetism, exude charisma, and tell funny stories. What they want to hear from you is how attractive they are, how you like their hair, make-up, clothes, dangling rhinestone earrings or anything else they have put on to ensure that you notice them. They live for the externals and want you to get excited over their style, sense of humor or new red sports car. Sanguine are popular, talkative and the center of attention at all times, no matter the setting. They are warm, caring, and enjoying?its easy for something to warm tenet near Ana teen nave an tourist AT response. Although at times, teen may speak before they think they are sincere and loving. Never at a loss for words, this extrovert is everybodys friend but this person will also be the first one to forget you. The Sanguine lives for the moment, and tends to go with the flow easily. They are quickly distracted, therefore not very reliable. But shes so lovable that her friends tend to pass off her weaker tendencies, saying, Thats Just the way Sandy is. A person with a sanguine temperament is affectionate, loving, cheerful, optimistic, hopeful, and confident. Because of their bubbly personality, they often appear phony ND comes on too strong. They are apt to dominate the conversation or talk too much about themselves. In their enthusiasm, they may exaggerate the truth, waste time, and forget obligations. The Sanguine has more natural inner-beauty qualities than the other temperame nts. They can work on calmness and on controlling their tongue. This trait can be assisted by using Gods Word, particularly in Colombians 4:6, Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man. Sanguine are frequently not disciplined, and this is, of course, very difficult for the third personality yep called melancholy to understand. Sanguine wear their heart on their sleeve, but they very easily forgive and forget. As quickly as a Sanguine will discover a new hobby or pursuit, that love of it can be lost when it ceases to be engaging or fun. An example of a sanguine in the bible is the Apostle Peter. Another example is King Saul. Both were quite unstable in their emotions. That is why even why Jesus changed his name from Simon meaning reed to Peter meaning stone. We saw how Peter changed dramatically when he was filled with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2 and 3). He came a Christenings, stable, reliable and faithful man of God and one of the greatest apostles that ever lived. This is what happens when we allow the Spirit of God and Gods word to shape our emotional life. CHOLERIC The second temperament or personality type is called choleric. The Choleric is the powerful person who wants to take control of every situation and make decisions for others. Choleric love to work and they possess dominance. They are identified as the Powerful Person and are easy to spot because they walk with authority and appears to be in charge of everything. Such people dont want to waste much time on trivial activity with no obvious results or converse with people who have nothing to say of significance. They are frequently telling other people what to do and pointing out the dummies of life. They accomplish more than any of the other personality types, can quickly assess what needs to be done, and are usually right. They dont need to be affirmed on their looks, but they love praise for their accomplishments; their speed in problem solving; their constant goal setting, their loyalty to God, church, mother, business, or country; and their sense of fair play. If you are a Phlegmatic- the fourth personality type; you get worn out Just watching these people, but if you want them to be impressed with you, tell them how amazed you are at how much teen accomplish In a very snort time. I nee may never nave notable you Detour but they will suddenly see you as a person of great discernment. The Choleric is the no-nonsense person?practicality is her way of life. Self-sufficient, active, and hard- working, the Choleric gets it done. Ill do something, right or wrong, is a phrase that characterizes them. They get the Job done, whether the results are perfect or not. Choleric plan quickly, almost intuitively sizing up what needs to be done, then follows through with the plan. You wont catch them deliberating too long over details. This dogmatic person is a born leader, very keen and capable of responsibility. They will take a stand and stick to it, no matter what?a good and bad aspect of the temperament. As they will not be influenced by what others think and is also the least sensitive or sympathizing of the other four temperaments. You learn to steer clear of the Choleric if you want a shoulder to cry on?theyll Just diagnose your problem and give you a solution. Yet, when you come to understand their personality, they are fun to be around and very capable. The choleric person is an extrovert. They are sure of their ability to handle any situation and can motivate others to action. Their personality perhaps has more weaknesses than strengths. For instance, they are quick tempered and easily angered. Choleric temperaments are irritated easily. The Choleric will have to work at developing the inner beauty of a calm spirit. The person who identifies with this personality type can find in Gods Word the best way to grow, in Philippians 2:13, which says, For it is God which works in you both to will and to do f his good pleasure. The words of James chapter one verse nineteen may also be helpful: Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. An example of the choleric in the bible is the Apostle Paul. But when he encountered Christ, he became a very broken and changed man. MELANCHOLY The third temperament is called melancholy, who is also known as the perfect person who wants everything done in order and done properly and who appreciates art and music. Melancholies love to an alyze are cautious. The Melancholy Perfect Person is usually neatly put together and intellectual looking person. These people are usually quiet, reserved, and a little ill-at-ease in social situations where they dont know everyone. They would rather talk quietly with one person in depth than banter with a group. They consider compliments on clothes and external niceties to be trivial and want to hear about the inner virtues of integrity, wisdom, and spiritual values. Often times melancholies marry Sanguine who cant find their way inside these deep virtues and who keep telling them how cute they look. When we dont understand these differences, we are giving out the very treasures that everyone wants but the melancholies. The Melancholy is very sensitive and easily hurt and tends to take what others say in humor as personal and hurtful. Since Sanguine and Choleric say whatever comes to their minds without weighing their words, they often deflate the Melancholy who is waiting for someone to approach them and say, l understand you. And really mean it. The Melancholy is ten analytical, systematic person, won ladder over eat a ills. An extreme Introvert art, teen are constantly analyzing themselves, and others. Though sometimes they can be at the height of happiness, they are more prone to the dark, gloomy and depressed odds, during which they are extremely withdrawn. Not given much to large crowds ?they usually detest group gatherings and doesnt seek to make new acquaintances. They have a few friends, to whom they are extremely faithful. Self-sacrifice is a great pleasure for a Melancholy, and they feel things rather intensely, though you wouldnt always know it. They are the studious, brainier type, and facts roll easily off their tongue. They can hide much away their brain and would rather read or study than interact with others. Gloominess, irritability, and depression characterize the Melancholy. They often times can be sad and unhappy. A melancholic personality type is very frequently gifted with intellect and talent. They are self-disciplined and usually finishes every project they start. The Holy Spirit may have more work to do in the Melancholy because of the need to develop qualities of their inner beauty. The Melancholy will find help in such verses as Colombians 3:15 and 16: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colombians 3:2 will also help, And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth An example of melancholy in the bible is Moses. When he met God in the burning bush, his life changed, and he became a very meek man. Because of the change within Moses God was truly able to place Moses in his divine destiny, to be a deliverer of Gods people. PHLEGMATIC The fourth personality type is called phlegmatic. The Phlegmatic is the peaceful person who wants to stay out of trouble, keep life on an even plane and get along with everybody. Phlegmatic like to rest and show steadiness. I have met many in my life and it is amazing how quickly we can learn to spot these people therefore giving us the ability to approach them correctly. The Phlegmatic Peaceful Person is amiable, easy to get along with and relaxed. These people fit into any situation, can blend in with the wallpaper and modify their personality to get along without conflict. They laugh with those who laugh and cry with those who cry. Everyone loves the low-key nature of the inoffensive phlegmatic, and though they are not loud like the Sanguine, they do have a witty sense of humor. They often lean while standing and sit in enforceable recliner chairs if at all possible. They dont need a lot of praise like the Sanguine, nor do they want to be in charge like the Choleric or get to deeply involved like the Melancholy. They do appreciate being noticed every once in a while, being included in conversations that they themselves wont push into on their own. Being told that they are of value and their opinion is respected means much to them. Since they often marry Choleric, whose idea of value is wrapped up in how much is accomplished in a given day, they do not get appreciate much Tort tenet quiet Ana gentle split. I nee, In turn, Tina It Doolittle to praise the constant projects of the Choleric because it wears them out Just thinking of them. The phlegmatic is a super introvert. It is difficult to rouse them to action. At times they can be selfish and stubborn but most of the time they are easy to get along with and cheerful. Phlegmatic people are conservative and usually neat, efficient, and dependable. The Phlegmatic is the easy-going, happy-go-lucky person. They are enjoyable to be around, is always happy and gets many pleasures from life, yet he is quite laid-back and doesnt get too excited about much. Phlegmatic would rather take the blame, whether its their fault or not, than stir up controversy or pick a fight. On the Job, they do not seek out the power or the limelight, but rather they work steadily, patiently, and methodically. They are reliable, patient, and methodical in their dealings, and can either work alone or with the most difficult personalities. They naturally have a dry sense of humor and their wittiness keeps their companions laughing constantly. Phlegmatic dont get ruffed about much and is the same, consistent, caring person each time you see them. They tend not to get too involved n things, and would rather sit back and watch the action. A phlegmatic is gracious and kind to all?they love every one and they all love him back. The phlegmatic has some natural inner beauty. Compassion for others is an area they may need to improve. Romans 12:10 says, Be kindly affectionate one to another In honor preferring one another. An example of a phlegmatic in the bible is Abraham. After he listened to Sarah about having a baby with her servant Hager, he did not have a problem with allowing Hager and Shame to live with he and Sarah. Hussars attitude began to change toward Sarah and their relationship become very toxic. Sarah pleaded with Abraham to send Hager and Shame out but Abraham contested.

A Primer on the Price Elasticity of Demand

A Primer on the Price Elasticity of Demand Price elasticity of demand (sometimes referred to simply as price elasticity or elasticity of demand) measures the responsiveness of quantity demanded to a price. The formula for price elasticity of demand (PEoD) is: PEoD (% Change in Quantity Demanded)/(% Change in Price) (Note that price elasticity of demand is different from the slope of the demand curve, even though the slope of the demand curve also measures the responsiveness of demand to price, in a way.) 2:48 Watch Now: How Does Price Elasticity of Demand Work? Calculating the Price Elasticity of Demand You may be asked the question Given the following data, calculate the price elasticity of demand when the price changes from $9.00 to $10.00. Using the chart on the bottom of the page, well walk you through answering this question. (Your course may use the more complicated Arc Price Elasticity of Demand formula. If so, youll need to see the article on Arc Elasticity) First, well need to find the data we need. We know that the original price is $9 and the new price is $10, so we have Price(OLD)$9 and Price(NEW)$10. From the chart, we see that the quantity demanded when the price is $9 is 150 and when the price is $10 is 110. Since were going from $9 to $10, we have QDemand(OLD)150 and QDemand(NEW)110, where QDemand is short for Quantity Demanded. Thus we have: Price(OLD)9Price(NEW)10QDemand(OLD)150QDemand(NEW)110 To calculate the price elasticity, we need to know what the percentage change in quantity demand is and what the percentage change in price is. Its best to calculate these one at a time. Calculating the Percentage Change in Quantity Demanded The formula used to calculate the percentage change in quantity demanded is: [QDemand(NEW) - QDemand(OLD)] / QDemand(OLD) By filling in the values we wrote down, we get: [110 - 150] / 150 (-40/150) -0.2667 We note that % Change in Quantity Demanded -0.2667 (We leave this in decimal terms. In percentage terms this would be -26.67%). Now we need to calculate the percentage change in price. Calculating the Percentage Change in Price Similar to before, the formula used to calculate the percentage change in price is: [Price(NEW) - Price(OLD)] / Price(OLD) By filling in the values we wrote down, we get: [10 - 9] / 9 (1/9) 0.1111 We have both the percentage change in quantity demand and the percentage change in price, so we can calculate the price elasticity of demand. Final Step of Calculating the Price Elasticity of Demand We go back to our formula of: PEoD (% Change in Quantity Demanded)/(% Change in Price) We can now fill in the two percentages in this equation using the figures we calculated earlier. PEoD (-0.2667)/(0.1111) -2.4005 When we analyze price elasticities were concerned with their absolute value, so we ignore the negative value. We conclude that the price elasticity of demand when the price increases from $9 to $10 are 2.4005. How Do We Interpret the Price Elasticity of Demand? A good economist is not just interested in calculating numbers. The number is a means to an end; in the case of price elasticity of demand it is used to see how sensitive the demand for a good is to a price change. The higher the price elasticity, the more sensitive consumers are to price changes. A very high price elasticity suggests that when the price of a good goes up, consumers will buy a great deal less of it and when the price of that good goes down, consumers will buy a great deal more. A very low price elasticity implies just the opposite, that changes in price have little influence on demand. Often an assignment or a test will ask you a follow-up question such as Is the good price elastic or inelastic between $9 and $10. To answer that question, you use the following rule of thumb: If PEoD 1 then Demand is Price Elastic (Demand is sensitive to price changes)If PEoD 1 then Demand is Unit ElasticIf PEoD 1 then Demand is Price Inelastic (Demand is not sensitive to price changes) Recall that we always ignore the negative sign when analyzing price elasticity, so PEoD is always positive. In the case of our good, we calculated the price elasticity of demand to be 2.4005, so our good is price elastic and thus demand is very sensitive to price changes. Data Price Quantity Demanded Quantity Supplied $7 200 50 $8 180 90 $9 150 150 $10 110 210 $11 60 250