Analyze and review general building design and construction methods Research Paper

Analyze and review general building design and construction methods and explain the types of collapses that may occur. Explain h - Research Paper Example Which review the issues and causes associated to it and then suggest a change in the building design or a recommendation in alteration is building codes. The organization of this paper is done very similar to the steps taken in the production and improvement process of building codes and reviews of field problem, the paper will focus on the following steps, 1. Causes of collapses of buildings 2. General building design and Construction types 3. Progressive Collapse Analysis and Fire-Induced Progressive Collapse 4. Impact and modification of Fire-Induced collapse on Building Codes Causes of collapses of buildings In order to diagnose a problem and its solution we first need to understand that from where the problem starts and initiates and what its causes are. There is a wide range of causes which lead to the collapse of the buildings which include bad design in which the engineers and designer are responsible for erroneous theories, improper choice of materials or misunderstanding of their properties and etc. Then comes the faulty construction as the major cause of collapse, it may occur by weak supervision and corruption of by the contractor, use of inferior quality of steel and other material. Then another cause of failure of the structure is Foundation Failure in which there is liquefaction of soil or excessive settlement which was not forecasted in geotechnical investigation made before construction of the facility. Then unexpected failure modes is also one of the emerging reason of failures of structures, this is due to the fact that we are having a new type of structural system every day, which might be architecturally sound but it is very unstable as a structure and the lack of systems to analyze these systems are not yet developed, so there might be a failure by an unknown reason. Lastly but most important cause of failure is the Extraordinary or accidental Loadings, this has caused more catastrophes more than any other. These loading include the wind l oads, exceptional earthquakes and impact of fire on structures. The codes have been really successful in developing standards and design procedures to cater to the problem such as earth quakes and hurricanes and broad research has been done in these areas, but lesser emphasis were been made on fire loading or fire induced collapse while the formulation of revised codes until the 9/11 event which caused a complete collapse of World Trade centre. Partly the reason for this was that the rare occurrence of fire in structures, even lesser forensic analysis of building and only a very few incidents were reported and recorded. The second major reason for this was that there were only a very few complete collapse of the structures due to fire. The Historical Survey of Multi-Story Building Collapses Due to Fire made by Hughes Associates, Inc , came to a conclusion that (Beitel, 2005) *1,only a data of 22 buildings(appendix 1) which had fire was available, and out of those only 6 buildings wa s higher than 21 stories. The World Trade Center case study made a clear to the world and especially the designer and engineers that fire poses more danger to multistory building and its inhabitants. Due to these facts there is a major change seen in the fire protection of buildings now and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) has come up with new standards and codes for a better. General Building Design & Construction Types According to National Fire Prot

Policy Critique New Jersey use of force Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Policy Critique New Jersey use of force - Essay Example The policy is legally sufficient based on the US Department of Justice guidelines and the concepts of the reasonable man and belief. While the policy encourages other officers to intervene to stop excessive force, the policy places no legal requirement that they do so. This portion may conflict with state and federal laws that require the intervention to prevent a deadly crime that is in progress. The policy on less-lethal ammunition creates a new category for the use of force that resides above mechanical force and below deadly force. While the policy comprehensively defines less-lethal ammunition and the situations where it may be allowed, the use of the word 'non-imminent' may become problematic, Courts may view the term as too vague as it opens up the opportunity to be defined as anytime in the future. The New Jersey Use of Force Advisory Committee is charged with formulating a policy that serves as a guideline for police that are faced with a situation that calls for the use of force. Well-armed criminals and new technologies have placed the police at greater risk and necessitated the need to be able to determine an appropriate level of force. Non-lethal technologies have also given the police greater options that must be considered when confronted with a dangerous, and possibly deadly, situation. This paper will examine the current policy in light of its strengths and weaknesses. It will evaluate its legal sufficiency and evaluate the recent less-lethal ammunition report of 2008. The New Jersey Attorney General's Use of Force Policy has its foundation in the principle that "the degree of force employed in any situation should be only that reasonably necessary" and officers should use "only that force which is objectively reasonable" (Office of the New Jersey Attorney General, 2000, p.1). As a guideline to making a reasonable judgment on the use of force, the level of force is categorized in escalating levels from constructive authority to deadly force. The policy uses examples of each type of force and provides a definition for each category. The use of deadly force may only be used to protect an officer or the public from the imminent danger of death or serious injury (Office of the New Jersey Attorney General, 2000, p.5). Deadly force can be used on a fleeing suspect when the suspect has caused death or bodily harm and the officer believes that the suspect poses an imminent threat (Office of the New Jersey Attorney General, 2000, 5). The legal sufficiency f or these guidelines, and the use of deadly force, is founded in 42 U.S.C. 14141, which makes it unlawful for "local law enforcement officers to engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives persons of rights protected by the Constitution" (Addressing police misconduct, 1999). While this has a solid legal foundation, its weakness lies in the reliance on the officer to make a snap judgment based on the interpretation on 'imminent'. The State's Attorney General or the US Department of Justice addresses complaints of police misconduct regarding deadly force. The policy further implements an obligation on other officers to be pro-active to reduce or eliminate the use of excessive force. Deadly force cannot be used against

Business ethics Essay Example for Free

Business ethics Essay It is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in business environment. It applies to all aspect of business and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and entire organization. Ethics is mainly concerned with what is good versus bad, what is right versus wrong. Deontology is an ethical theory that holds that actions are right or wrong independent of their consequences. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that holds that actions are right if they produce the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people. Corporate social responsibility is the obligation towards the society assumed by business. The business maximizes its positive effects on society and minimizes and its negative effects. An illustration of of an ethical and social responsibility issue related to the textile manufacturing business. In today’s global business where large multinational corporations like the textile industry face charges of violating human rights in third world countries. Using child labor questions the human rights, ethics and social responsibility of the textile manufacturing industry. An analysis of how the textile manufacturing illustration applies to decision making and operations in an ethical and social responsible business. The economic responsibilities of business would produce products that society wants at a price that perpetuates the textile business. The textile manufacturing business decides on legal responsibilities where the obey local state federal and global laws. The textile manufacturing business makes decision based on their ethical responsibilities of meeting other societal expectation written or not written by law. Ethical obligations are a set of â€Å"ought to† standards that define a moral course of action and draw a line between right and wrong. Although ethical obligations in business share similarities with legal rules and regulations in determining how a business conduct itself while striving to make profit and achieve strategic company goals. Ethical obligations are really more about discretionary decisions value guided behavior. For example respecting the religious sentiments and dignity of people while advertising for a product. Legal obligations every business has a responsibility to operate within the laws of the land. Since these laws are meant for the good of the society, a law abiding enterprise is a socially responsible enterprise as well Scope and objectives The scope of ethics indicates its subject matter. Ethics as normative science deals with moral ideal or the good in order to enquire the nature of our conduct. It enquires into the nature of the springs of action, motives, intentions, and voluntary actions and so on. It determines rightness or wrongness of human action. As a science of morality ethics discusses the contents of moral consciousness and the various problems of moral consciousness. Ethics is concerned with the highest good or absolute good. It investigates the nature of its fundamental notions that is right, duty and good. It includes whatever has reference to free human acts, weather as principle or cause of action or as effect or circumstance of action (merit, punishment etc. ) Ethics discuss the nature of human freedom . ethics investigates what constitutes good or bad, just or unjust. It also enquires into what is virtue, law, conscience and duty? What obligations are common to all? What is good in all good acts? These questions lie within the scope of ethics. Objectives: Some of the most common ethical obligations in business relate to recruiting and hiring staff, maintaining safe and healthy work environment use business resources wisely and avoiding situations that have the potential to create a conflict of interest, such as accepting gifts from suppliers or making a hiring decisions not because the applicant has the best qualifications but because the applicant is a relative of the business owner. It also includes considering how and where suppliers get their products and weather to sell the products that are detrimental to the health of customers such as cigarettes and fatty foods.

Market Entry Into Turkey For Lifeway

Market Entry Into Turkey For Lifeway The term global business is becoming more familiar in the current business context where, more and more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) trying to expand into overseas market. A similar company called Lifeway is a U.S.A. SME, which is rapidly growing in the home market. In 2008, the company was named 49th Fastest Growing Business by an American Magazine, Fortune Small Business (Lifeway, 2008). Given that Lifeway intends to expand into overseas market (outside U.S.A), the Group report requires to provide analysis for the proposed host countrys strategic environment as well as a properly evaluated market entry mode for the company. We used three different analytical tools for analysing host countrys strategic environment that are described below: Hofstedes Model of National Culture Porters Five Forces PEST Analysis We evaluated different Market Entry Modes for Lifeway and selected Exporting as a Market Entry from the following: Licensing Strategic Alliances Foreign Direct Investment Export We selected Turkey as a host country for Lifeway to expand its operations into overseas market. Turkey is one of the largest producers of dairy products in its region as well as the countrys location is of a strategic importance, as its geographical location is connected to both sides of East and the West (Europe). We chose exporting as a market entry for Lifeway to expand into Turkish market. Host country strategic environment analysis It is crucial for Lifeway to critically evaluate Turkeys strategic environment. The strategic environment comprises of various variables such as Government regulation, Countrys financial risks, culture, political stability, economy security risks, competitors, suppliers and technology. Hofstedes Model of National Culture According to this model a countrys cultural values can be implicated with different aspects of the business e.g. Human Resource Management, Leadership Styles, Motivational Assumptions, Decision Making and Organisational Decisions and Strategy (Hofstede Bond, 1988). Power Distance According to Hofstede, Turkey is a comparatively high power distance culture as compare to U.S.A. Organisational structures of companies in Turkey are likely to be tall pyramid with many supervisors and managers. Only top level management has the power to make strategic decisions. The wage difference between superiors and workers is high; management is authoritative and high level education takes precedence over performance. In contrast the opposite is true for the companies and businesses in U.S.A. like Lifeway. Individualism The figure-1 (see p.2) shows clearly a huge difference in both the countrys cultural values in individualism. In collectivist society like Turkey, job selection process for management is usually based on family references. It is also assumed that managerial promotions are based on seniority and age. Conversely in U.S.A. an individualistic society, promotions are based on an individuals ability and qualification rather than age and personal references. Masculinity According to Hofstedes model masculinity in Turkey is low, 45 and high in United States, 62. In most cases Turkish leadership styles emphasise on quality of life rather than work. Moreover organisational structure is small with decision making mainly by groups. This is quite opposite to American society where organisational structure is usually large; emphasis is on achievement, motivation and self reliance. Uncertainty Avoidance There is a high level of uncertainty avoidance in Turkish cultural as compare to American culture. In business perspective, organisations in Turkey would have clear rules, regulations, standardise procedures, formalised structure and risk avoidance. People want job security, are committed to long-term contracts as well as loyal and predictable. It reduces potential employee turnover in the organisations. However organisations and people of U.S.A are willing to take risks, businesses have less regulation and workers have autonomy. Long-Term Orientation There is no data for Turkey; however United States is a short-term oriented society (see figure-1, p.2). In U.S.A., employees are selected on the basis of skills and ability with quick rewards and promotions having less job security unlike long-term oriented societies. Turkey can be classified as a long-term oriented society on the basis of other Hofstedes dimensions. There are a few question marks about Hofstedes cultural dimensions concerning the accuracy of the data. Information found may be contradicting e.g. Turkey, a high uncertainty avoidance culture implicates larger organisations however it is also low in masculinity which implicates smaller organisations. Hence information should be considered as a guideline therefore cultural pa, therefore, stereotyping should be avoided. However it is a good starting point for Lifeway to have an idea of a very diverse culture as compare to its own. Porters Five forces Porters five forces is a widely known strategic business analytical tool which helps managers to understand better the industry context in which the firm operates. Industry competitors There are numerous competitors in the probiotic industry. All of these companies operate internationally as well as in Turkey. This indicates the presence of market within the country. According to a new market research report, Probiotics Market (2009-2014), published by (Marketsandmarkets, 2010), the global probiotics market is expected to be worth US$ 32.6 billion by 2014, with the Europe and Asia accounting for nearly 42% and 30% of the total revenues respectively. The global market is expected to record a CAGR of 12.6% from 2009 to 2014. The following list below mentions Lifeway main competitors. Group Danone: their main probiotic product is Actimel probiotic yoghurt drink containing a unique culture called L.casei Imunitass, which is exclusive to Danone. (Presence in Turkey). Yakult Honsha: they produce a drink called Yakult. Yakult is a fermented milk drink containing lactobacillus casei Shirota Developed by Dr Minoru Shirota, the drink has been around for about 70 years in some form. It was initially only produced in Japan but is now made in Holland for distribution throughout Europe. (presence in Turkey) Nestle Nutrition Nestlà © probiotic products are mainly based on its LC1 brand and include: Ski BioVita: probiotic yoghurt containing LC1 culture. Sveltesse Optimise 0%: a probiotic, fat free, dairy drink containing a probiotic and fibre, available in Strawberry and Pineapple flavours. Munch Bunch Drinky (UK): a yogurt drink designed for children, containing fruit puree and a gentle probiotic for children. It is claimed that the probiotic, lactobacillus fortis, is specially designed for children. (Presence in Turkey) Probiotics Whilst functional drinks still occupy the largest market share (at around 50% of all sales) probiotics (mainly dairy products) and probiotics (comprising mainly dairy products, cereals and baked goods) are the next largest sectors. Across Europe, the probiotic industry accounts for more than à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.4bn at consumer prices. These figures speak for it, the probiotic drink market has been rising since the year 2000 and the forecast is increasing (RTS Resource Ltd., 2010). Potential Entrants Entry Barriers: The capital cost of entry into the food industry is high especially since it will have to compete with the big name such as Danone, Yakult and also Lifeway Kefir. Substitutes These are some examples of substitutes to probiotic drinks: Probiotic capsules (new trend) Symprove (new probiotic in a non-dairy drink) The level of differentiation for Lifeway products is moderate as they manufacture all of their range, quality being one of the most important feature as well as health and wellbeing. Bargaining Power of Buyers Buyers on the food market have high power as there is a large range of probiotic drinks, therefore competitors will be offering similar products and prices. Buyers will go to the store that offers a lower price. Everyone needs food on a daily basis; the number of buyers involves everyone. Lifeway could introduced their latest ranges created recently which could lead to product differentiation in regards to other probiotic drink, these approach could lead to a decrease in the bargaining power of buyers. The cost of switching from one brand to another is very low; usually there is more than one probiotic drink on the shelf of supermarkets. New trends have pushed buyers to purchase their goods online. Bargaining Power of Suppliers In this particular case the business is considering expanding to Turkey, suppliers will have less power. Lifeway is attempting to gain competitive advantage by cheaper outsourcing; a search for best suppliers in Turkey should result in a good deal. Suppliers in Turkey will want to secure a contract with a company with Lifeways profile. However at the present Lifeway is only intending to export their goods to Turkey. Lifeway is the countrys leading manufacturer of Kefir, these represents a main advantage as the organization enjoys the benefits of economies of scale in the home country. Pest Analysis In view of Lifeway new environment (Turkey), the PEST analysis is a critical analytical tool for evaluating a countrys strengths and weaknesses. It focuses on political, economical, social and technological factors and also helps to develop a broad view of a countrys landscape. Political Factors Turkeys policy is based on liberalisation and free trade and also attempts to create location advantages to attract foreign companies (Datamonitor, 2009). In 2003, the Turkish government introduced the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Law to improve FDI policy. It mainly contains the abolishment of restrictions which leads to an equal treatment of foreign and domestic companies. Furthermore, Turkeys main political goal is to achieve EU membership. This is a major political advantage if the country achieves EU membership, as companies would benefit from EU free trade policies in Turkey. This in turn opens the door to invest easily in other EU member countries for companies based in Turkey. Lifeway is one of the first companies in the dairy sector intending to expand in Turkey. In contrast, there still exists a high political risk in Turkey. According to A.M. Best Company (2009), Turkey seems to be unstable especially focusing on regional, social and governmental aspects. Major reasons for these instabilities are the terrorist groups, who are responsible for a mass of attacks in recent years and the existence of high corruption (Datamonitor, 2009). In addition, the tax system is very unstable according to OECD. The IMF, the World Bank and the investment environment by FIAS (Foreign Investment Advisory Service) have signaled concerns about the complexity of Turkeys tax system. This complexity has been exacerbated by tax policy instability coupled with high and unstable inflation rates (OECD, p.6). These high inflation rates, e.g. 10.4% in 2008 are quite higher than inflations rates of other western European countries (PRS Group, 2010). Generally Turkey indicates a high political risk (CRT-4) which is defined as Relatively unpredictable and nontransparent political, legal and business environment with underdeveloped capital market, stated by AMB (2009, p.4). Hence high political instabilities and risks have an adverse effect on foreign companies like Li feway where it takes time to adapt to the political condition in Turkey. Economic Factors Due to the political instability in Turkey, this has a negative impact on the overall economy. Comparing the GDP growth rate during last year decreased from 9.2% in 2004 to 1.1% in 2008 meaning its economy is in recession (PRS Group, 2010, Country Forecast, p.8). Besides the financial crises above all high inflation and interest rates 6.5 % in 2009 (fxstreet.com) caused this economic downturn. Turkeys economic risk is moderate because it experienced an erratic growth over the last few years due to a weak banking system, large current account deficits, and a lack of structural reforms (AMB, 2009, p.2). It means that although there is the existence of an economic upswing during the last decade but overall economy is still not recovered e.g. imports are still higher than exports. In contrast, plans for the implementation of free trade agreements raise hope among the Turkish population (Datamonitor, 2009). These agreements shall increase the international competitiveness and boost the relationships with foreign countries. In addition to that by starting to act and trade more internationally Turkey could also implement the EU criteria very soon. This would help the company in the future to expand the investment. Social Factors The unemployment rate of 10.4 % in 2008 is obviously caused by the lack of investment in education. Only 34.5 percent complete vocational or higher education which signifies a weak distinct tendency in the range of the service sector (PRS Group, 2010, Country Conditions, p.9). On the contrary primary and secondary sector workforce is about 59% which shows that Turkeys excellence in these two sectors. For further analysis of social and cultural factors of Turkey see section 2.1 on page 2-4. Technological Factors Turkey only spent 0.71% of GDP in 2007 for research and development according to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (2010). The lack of support in this sector would have an immense negative impact on foreign companies. Particularly the number of patent applications which is a major indicator of rating a countrys development in RD and it was 24.50 per million inhabitants in 2007 (Federal Statistical Office, 2010). Although the Turkish dairy sector is distinctive, its products are still behind the quality of the EU (Reuters, 2009). Equipment and hygiene have fulfilled the recent EU standards but Turkish milk quality can still be considered as low. However established government institutions try to compensate such deficits by giving financial aid to companies and private citizens in the form of subventions and loans for RD projects (PRS Group, 2010, Country Conditions). Additionally there is an appearance of drain brain (Datamonitor, 2009). It means that Turkish academics that are living abroad are coming back to their native country, recognising the potential of Turkey becoming an EU member. Thus foreign companies like Lifeway with the intention of expanding could profit by future trends. DIFFERENT MARKET ENTRY MODES There are four major market entry types which will be analysed and evaluated in order to make a decision that which market entry Lifeway should choose for Turkey. Licensing Licensing is a contractual transaction in which the firm-the licensor-offers some proprietary assets to a foreign company-the licensee-in exchange for royalty fees (Kotabe, 2008, p.293). For instance, a company is allowed to use the technology, know-how or even a whole product itself of another company against payment of so-called royalty fees. Licensing does not need investing capital and is especially used by small companies which are looking for a fast and easy access to a foreign country (Kotabe, 2008). Lifeway could for example save transportation costs and tariffs and invest them in other branches. This is an easiest way of investing where there is no financial risk involved, no risk of product or performance failure. By licensing, the company would get its profits (royalty fees) and it would also benefit the Turkish government and national suppliers. In contrast licensing may result in a firms giving away valuable technological know-how to a potential competitor (Hill, 1999, p.202). Lifeway loses its competitive advantage by sharing knowledge of producing the different kind of flavours that are very popular among the US. Adopting technology could improve the partners business and lead from co-operation to competition. Additionally, Licensing does not give a firm the tight control over manufacturing, marketing, and strategy in a foreign country that may be required to maximize its profitability according to Hill (1999, p.202). Lifeways brand name might become weak with the possibility of losing the license as a result domestic companies could gain success. Strategic Alliances Strategic alliances are cooperative agreements between two or more firms from different countries to participate in business activities, as stated by Parboteeah Cullen (2011, p.161). Lifeway especially focuses on the International Joint Venture (IJV) which is the most common form of strategic alliance. International joint ventures bring together otherwise independent firms to share resources in product design, production, marketing, and/or distribution (Chan et al., 2007). The company can gain the knowledge and the know-how of similar companies which could improve Lifeways Kefir. Lifeway could obtain the possibility to share its losses and it will reduce its amount of investment in Turkey (Kotabe, 2008). Additionally, by cooperating with a domestic Turkish company Lifeway can fit its Kefir to the peoples taste. Consequently additional costs for introducing and adoption can be reduce and Lifeway could get an insight of how to avoid cultural misunderstandings (Kotabe, 2008). However at the same time cultural misunderstandings might appear within the alliance, especially when it comes to controlling the company, see Hofstede (section 2.1, p.2). Furthermore, Lifeway might lose its competitive advantage of developing and creation which made it unique in the US by sharing know-how and technology (Kotabe, 2008). Like it is said before that the Turkish dairy industry is behind the EU standard in the development of equipment and technology. Gaining the same knowledge as Lifeway, competitive companies in Turkey could conquer the European market and further expansion in Europe could result in increasing the competition. Evidently this would lead to a disadvantage for Lifeway. Foreign Direct Investment Parboteeah Cullen states a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) occurs when, a multinational company owns, in part or in whole, an operation in another country (2011, p.161). Investing in manufacturing or RD (research development) facilities that are made or bought in foreign countries can be considered as FDIs, for example. Turkeys strong FDI policy is especially attractive to foreign companies because of its market potential, geographic proximity, and low labor costs (Deichmann et al., 2003, p.1771). This type of market entry potentially leads to higher profits in the early expansion of the company because it also avoids transportation costs. Lifeway can even save more money, in virtue of prevention of double taxation agreement between Turkey and the US (worldwide-tax, 2008). In Turkey huge proportion of the workforce works within the primary and secondary sector because of the low education this provides low cost labour making Turkey even more attractive (Turkish Embassy, 2008 PRS Group, 2010, Country Conditions). However based on the low quality production of milk in Turkey Lifeways brand image could be damaged resulting in the production of the low quality of Kefir (AgriPolicy, 2009). (Paliwoda, 1997 p.154) described his point of view for FDI as, a wholly owned subsidiary is slow to achieve, expensive to maintain and slow also to yield any tangible results. Lifeway that just developed during the last few years the decision of such a risky market entry might be too early on the evidence of a country which is still characterised by uncertainties, instabilities and insecurities. A high risk is also applicable to the acceptance of the product among the population. Furthermore, there is a huge cultural difference in the society as well as in a business context. Therefore it is difficult for Lifeway to adjust quickly into the local way of doing business, see Hofstedes cultural dimensions (section 2.1, p.2). Hence its not in the interest of the company to choose this market entry. Export According to (Hill, 1999, p.201) export can be defined as, producing goods at home and shipping them to the receiving country for sale. There are two major forms of export: direct and indirect export (Kotabe, 2008). In direct exporting, a company will appoint an internal team that is responsible for exports by trading goods or services with a foreign middleman. While indirect exporting is when a company will sell its goods or services through some other domestic companies, so-called intermediaries (Kotabe, 2008). Some major advantages could be attained by direct or indirect exporting. This type of market penetration is easiest and cost effective (Kotabe, 2008). Firstly, Lifeway doesnt have to invest in production facilities such as building factory, warehouse, overhead costs and also labour costs etc. Lifeway, which is considered as an SME having small amount of equity (as compare to large MNCs) would want to have minimum financial risk. Secondly, time is an important factor, exporting makes it possible to get an immediate market access (Kotabe, 2008). Especially entering in a Turkish market which might experience an upswing in the near future, it should be realised that the company could profit from new regulations and subventions. In contrast, exporting is unprofitable because of the existence of high transportation costs, tariffs and trade barriers (Hill, 1999). The Turkish government intervened to protect and support domestic companies of the dairy sector by demanding high tariffs for importing dairy products (Export.By, 2010). Products like Lifeway Kefir can be produced in almost any location because of a low value-to-weight ratio (Hill, 1999, p.201202). As a result it can be said that the demand of Lifeway Kefir in Turkey may not be equal to other diary producing companies in Turkey. Benefits of direct exporting would be to avoid information asymmetries because Lifeway would be still responsible for major orders and dispositions (Parboteeah Cullen, 2011). Furthermore direct exporting is connected with higher sales potential and profit as compare to indirect exporting. However indirect exporting causes less committing errors. New environment, culture and language barriers could be avoided by this market entry mode or at least reduced (Kotabe, 2008). Therefore, it is decided that Lifeway should pursue indirect exporting for market penetration in Turkey. This is because of various reasons such as Lifeway is relatively a small company with limited finances, the product is a simple and standardised hence no need for training and after sale support and also Turkish culture is very different than Lifeways business culture which is American, according to Hofstede (see section 2.1 on p.2-4). The company would achieve foreign market presence in less time at low cost and also with the passage of time increase market knowledge and reduce psychic distance (cultural differences). This would increase companys prospects of investing further in the country. Conclusion After critically analysing Turkish strategic environment, it is suggested that exporting is the best suited form of market entry for Lifeway. The company is a relatively small and medium size enterprise and is only locally based in U.S.A. hence essentially it would have limited finances as compare to other large global companies. Finance is the biggest asset that any company holds thus cost effectiveness is the one of the fundamental strategic principles in businesses. Exporting could be viewed as the quickest and most cost effective form of market expansion. It doesnt require complex activities and Lifeway could focus its efforts mainly on the marketing area to attract the new target market in Turkey for its Kefir products. It should also be considered that the desire of Turkeys inclusion into EU makes it a safer choice as it complies with the laws and regulations of EU countries than others in the Far East. Although there are some drawbacks of exporting for example, high tariffs, transportation costs and trade barriers. Nevertheless looking at Lifeways context and comparing the disadvantages of other market entry modes it is clear that exporting is the easiest and most cost effective form of expansion. Subsequently the company could invest further and make strategic alliance as a joint venture with the local popular branding company upon success in Turkey. With the passage of time and depending on Lifeways success the best form of investment would be having a production unit in Turkey. This would also be very beneficial for the company if Turkey becomes EU member. It would open the doors for Lifeway to easily expand and penetrate into EU market. Even if Lifeway doesnt get the best responses from exporting, it would not be a disaster. Since the company would have taken minimum financial risk in expanding into foreign market. It would be a good learning experience for Lifeway. Whenever business environment becomes viable the company could strategise again and correct the mistakes.

Gun Controls Do Not Control Criminals Essay -- Argumentative Persuasiv

Gun Control Does Not Control Criminals    "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed" (Bill of Rights, Article II). This seemingly simple phrase is probably the source of more debate and argument than any other single sentence in American history. The argument is not black and white, rather, it encompasses many shades of gray. At the one end of the spectrum you have the National Rifle Association (NRA) which currently views any type of gun control as an infraction against the Second Amendment of the Constitution ("What is the NRA" 1). At the other end of the spectrum you have groups like the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) and Handgun Control, Inc. seek to make most firearms accessible only to law enforcement and the military("CSGV" 1). In the middle there are organizations such as the American Firearms Association, who seek compromise regarding our rights (Lissabet, "Return" 2). Some organizations that one would expect to participate in this debate are noticeably quiet. One such group is the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). In "The ACLU on Gun Control", the national ACLU policy is neu trality (1). All factions in this debate have some merit, some more than others. All use a mixture of facts, figures, and emotions to express their views. I will be presenting some of their history, their views, and how they make their cases. The NRA is perhaps the most well known of the participants. They were formed after the Civil War, in 1871, as an organization dedicated to the rifle marksmanship of the state Militias. This was due to Union Army's lack of marksmanship. Following World War II, many returning veterans joi... ... Works Cited Cloud, David. "Anti-Gun Study Highlights Failure of Gun Control." Fundamental Baptist News Service 3 May 1996: 1 Lissabet, Ernest. "Anti-Federalism and the Second Amendment."   American Firearms Association WWW Site: http://www.firearms.org/afa/federal.html. Lissabet, Ernest. "The Return of the Old Guard."   American Firearms Association WWW Site: http://www.firearms.org/afa/return.html. "The ACLU on Gun Control." ACLU WWW Site: http://www.aclu.org/library/aaguns.html. "The Facts of Gun Violence_"   Coalition to Stop Gun Violence WWW Site: http://www.gunfree.inter.net/csgv/basicnfo.html. "What is the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence?" Coalition to Stop Gun Violence WWWSite: http://www.gunfree.inter.net/csgv/csgvsumm.html. "What is the NRA and how does it work?"   National Rifle Association WWW Site:http://www.nra.org/nra-precis.html.

Dams :: essays research papers

Many people have already dammed a small stream using sticks and mud by the time they become adults. Humans have used dams since early civilization, because four-thousand years ago they became aware that floods and droughts affected their well-being and so they began to build dams to protect themselves from these effects.1 The basic principles of dams still apply today as they did before; a dam must prevent water from being passed. Since then, people have been continuing to build and perfect these structures, not knowing the full intensity of their side effects. The hindering effects of dams on humans and their environment heavily outweigh the beneficial ones. The paragraphs below will prove that the construction and presence of dams always has and will continue to leave devastating effects on the environment around them. Firstly, to understand the thesis people must know what dams are. A dam is a barrier built across a water course to hold back or control water flow. Dams are classified as either storage, diversion or detention. As you could probably notice from it's name, storage dams are created to collect or hold water for periods of time when there is a surplus supply. The water is then used when there is a lack of supply. For example many small dams impound water in the spring, for use in the summer dry months. Storage dams also supply a water supply, or an improved habitat for fish and wildlife; they may store water for hydroelectricity as well.2 A diversion dam is a generation of a commonly constructed dam which is built to provide sufficient water pressure for pushing water into ditches, canals or other systems. These dams, which are normally shorter than storage dams are used for irrigation developments and for diversion the of water from a stream to a reservoir. Diversion dams are mainly built to lessen the effects of floods and to trap sediment.3 Overflow dams are designed to carry water which flow over thier crests, because of this they must be made of materials which do not erode. Non- overflow dams are built not to be overtopped, and they may include earth or rock in their body. Often, two types of these dams are combined to form a composite structure consisting of for example an overflow concrete gravity dam, the water that overflows into dikes of earthfill construction.4 A dam's primary function is to trap water for irrigation. Dams help to decrease the severity of droughts, increase agricultural production, and create new lands for agricultural use. Farmland, however, has it's price; river bottomlands flooded, defacing the fertility of the soil. This agricultural land may also result in a loss of natural artifacts. Recently in Tasmania where has been pressure

Psychoanalytic Theory and Tony Soprano

Soprano, the main character of the HBO series â€Å"The Sopranos. † This paper will attempt to contain specific examples in the show where the theory applies and as such the psychiatric session between Tony and his therapist will also be analyzed with the purpose of knowing the extent of application of Freud's theory.The theory of personality developed by Freud that focused on repression and unconscious forces and included the concepts of infantile sexuality, resistance, transference, and division of the psyche into the id, ego, and superego, is hoped to be better understood in the fabricated character of Soprano as the head of the most powerful criminal organization in New Jersey. The Soprano character, played by James Gandolfini, is the series' exceedingly complex protagonist and as such is the only character to appear in every episode of the show as the Boss of the DiMeo Family.Throughout the series, Tony Soprano has to juggle the ongoing needs of both his personal family a nd his professional family and in these episodes and sequences this paper will analyze the indication of the Freud's theory. Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory and Tony Soprano Sigmund Freud was born Sigismund Schlomo Freud on May 6, 1856 and until his death on September 23, 1939 was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist.He founded the Psychoanalytic School of Psychology and was best known for his theories of the unconscious mind, especially involving the mechanism of repression; his redefinition of sexual desire as the primary motivational energy of human life, directed toward a wide variety of objects; and his therapeutic techniques, especially his theory of transference in the therapeutic relationship and the presumed value of dreams as sources of insight into unconscious desires.Commonly referred to as â€Å"the father of psychoanalysis,† Freud's work has been highly influential, popularizing such notions as the unconscious, the Oedipus complex, defense mechanisms, Freudian slips and dream symbolism. However great and despite his contributions, numerous critics disputed Freud's works and in particular the Psychoanalytic Theory because of its characterization as complex counterfeit of science. Also a physiologist, medical doctor and psychologist, Freud was generally recognized as one of the most influential and authoritative thinkers of the twentieth century.In elaborating his Psychoanalytic Theory, Freud stated that the mind is a complex energy-system, the structural investigation of which is proper province of psychology. He articulated and refined the concepts of the unconscious, of infantile sexuality, of repression, and proposed a tripartite account of the mind's structure, all as part of a radically new conceptual and therapeutic frame of reference for the understanding of human psychological development and the treatment of abnormal mental conditions.Notwithstanding the multiple manifestations of psychoanalysis as it exists today, it can in almo st all fundamental respects be traced directly back to Freud's original work. Further, Freud's innovative treatment of human actions, dreams, and indeed of cultural artifacts as invariably possessing implicit symbolic significance has proven to be extraordinarily fertile, and has had massive implications for a wide variety of fields, including anthropology, semiotics, and artistic creativity and appreciation in addition to psychology.However, Freud's most important and frequently re-iterated claim, that with psychoanalysis he had invented a new science of the mind, remains the subject of much critical debate and controversy. (Jones, 1981). Psychoanalysis Based on Freud, Psychoanalysis is a set of techniques for exploring underlying motives and a method of treating various mental disorders. It comprises several interlocking theories concerning the functioning of the mind.The term also refers to a specific type of treatment where the analyst, upon hearing the thoughts of the â€Å"an alysand† (analytic patient), formulates and then explains the unconscious basis for the patient's symptoms and character problems. Unconscious functioning was first described by Fred who modified his theories several times over a period of almost 50 years (1889-1939) of attempting to treat patients who suffered with mental problems. During psychoanalytic treatment, the patient tells the analyst various thoughts and feelings.The analyst listens carefully, formulates, then intervenes to attempt to help the patient develop insight into unconscious factors causing the problems. The specifics of the analyst's interventions typically include confronting and clarifying the patient's pathological defenses, wishes and guilt. Freud devised it in Vienna in the 1890s because he was interested in finding an effective treatment for patients with neurotic or hysterical symptoms.This new theory, which addressed the cause of neurotic symptoms — phobias, compulsions, obsessions, depressi ons, and â€Å"hysterical† conversions — amongst others, suggested that such problems were created by conflicts among various wishes and guilt, which produced anxiety. Freud and Psychoanalysis In 1886, Freud abandoned the hypnosis form of treatment, in favor of a treatment where the patient talked through his or her problems. This came to be known as the â€Å"talking cure. † The â€Å"talking cure† is widely seen as the basis of psychoanalysis.In his 40s, Freud â€Å"had numerous psychosomatic disorders as well as exaggerated fears of dying and other phobias† (Corey 2000, p. 67). During this time Freud was involved in the task of exploring his own dreams, memories, and the dynamics of his personality development. During this self-analysis, he came to realize the hostility he felt towards his father (Jacob Freud), who had died in 1896, and â€Å"he also recalled his childhood sexual feelings for his mother (Amalia Freud), who was attractive, warm, and protective† (Corey 2000, p.67). Corey considered this time of emotional difficulty to be the most creative time in Freud's life. In a more vivid identification of the personality of Freud, Historian Peter Gay (2000) said that the former opened a window on the unconscious where he said, lust, rage and repression battle for supremacy and changed the way we view ourselves. There is nothing new about such embittered confrontations; they have dogged Freud's footsteps since he developed the cluster of theories he would give the name of psychoanalysis.His fundamental idea that all humans are endowed with an unconscious in which potent sexual and aggressive drives, and defenses against them, struggle for supremacy, as it were, behind a person's back has struck many as a romantic, scientifically unprovable notion. His contention that the catalog of neurotic ailments to which humans are susceptible is nearly always the work of sexual maladjustments, and that erotic desire starts no t in puberty but in infancy, seemed to the respectable nothing less than obscene.His dramatic evocation of a universal Oedipus complex, in which (to put a complicated issue too simply) the little boy loves his mother and hates his father, seems more like a literary conceit than a thesis worthy of a scientifically minded psychologist. As he pursued his medical researches, he came to the conclusion that the most intriguing mysteries lay concealed in the complex operations of the mind.By the early 1890s, he was specializing in â€Å"neurasthenics† (mainly severe hysterics); they taught him much, including the art of patient listening. At the same time he was beginning to write down his dreams, increasingly convinced that they might offer clues to the workings of the unconscious, a notion he borrowed from the Romantics. He saw himself as a scientist taking material both from his patients and from himself, through introspection. Freud was intent not merely on originating a sweepin g theory of mental functioning and malfunctioning.He also wanted to develop the rules of psychoanalytic therapy and expand his picture of human nature to encompass not just the couch but the whole culture. As to the first, he created the largely silent listener who encourages the analysand to say whatever comes to mind, no matter how foolish, repetitive or outrageous, and who intervenes occasionally to interpret what the patient on the couch is struggling to say. The efficacy of analysis remains a matter of controversy, though the possibility of mixing psychoanalysis and drug therapy is gaining support.Freud's ventures into culture – history, anthropology, literature, art, sociology, the study of religion – have proved little less controversial, though they retain their fascination and plausibility and continue to enjoy a widespread reputation. Tony Soprano Played by James Gandolfini, Tony Soprano is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. The series' exceedingly complex protagonist, he is the only character to appear in every episode of the show. He is the Boss of the DiMeo Family.Throughout the series, Tony Soprano has to juggle the ongoing needs of both his personal family and his professional family. He has a volatile relationship with his wife, Carmela and a loving if somewhat strained relationship with his two children, Meadow and Anthony, Jr. Passionate and often hotheaded, he is nonetheless intelligent and struggles to conduct his personal and professional lives with reason rather than passion. Tony is often portrayed as a loving father he attends his children's sporting events and wants them to be safe, happy and to have every opportunity in life.He hopes that both his children will escape the life of crime he has led. The Theory and the Character Examples of Freud's theory of the unconscious mind, especially involving the mechanism of repression; his redefinition of sexual desire and his therapeutic techniques were mani fested in selected episodes of the series. In Season 1 he is moved close to tears by her performance at a choir recital. He often tells people about her aspiration to become a pediatrician. Tony has suffered from panic attacks that sometimes cause him to lose consciousness since his childhood.He has his first on-screen panic attack while cooking sausages at his son's birthday party – this occurs in a flashback in the pilot episode. Tony loses consciousness and causes a small explosion when he drops a bottle of lighter fluid onto the coals. Tony describes the experience of the panic attack as feeling like he had â€Å"ginger ale in his skull†. This prompts him to seek help for the attacks. After extensive testing that includes an MRI scan and blood work no physical cause can be found so Dr. Cusamano referred Tony to psychiatrist, Dr.Melfi. Tony's referral to therapy allowed a discussion of his thoughts and feelings away from both aspects of his life — this forum for reaching into the characters thoughts has been described as a Greek chorus and key to the viewers understanding of the character. Tony was initially very resistant to the idea that there was a psychiatric cause for his symptoms. He resented being in therapy and refused to accept the diagnosis of panic attacks given him by the neurologists who had investigated his illness. Tony begins to open up once Dr.Melfi explains the doctor-patient confidentiality rules. He tells her about the stress of his business life – he has a feeling that he has come in at the end of something and describes a reverence for times past. Tony leaves out the violence associated with his criminal career. Tony tells Dr. Melfi a story about ducks landing in his pool. He also tells her about his mother, Livia, who is relentlessly pessimistic and cynical, at once demanding and resentful of assistance. By the end of the first session Tony has admitted that he feels depressed but storms out when Dr.Melfi p resses him further about the relationship between his symptoms and the ducks. n the episode â€Å"46 Long† they continue discuss Tony's mother and her difficulties living alone. Tony admits that he feels guilty because his mother could not be allowed to live with his family. We learn that he has been left to care for his mother alone by his sisters. When Dr. Melfi asks him to remember good experiences from his childhood he has difficulty. It is clear that Tony's perception of his mother does not meet with the reality of her personality.He also shows that he blames Carmela for preventing his mother from living with them. Later they discuss Livia's car accident and Melfi suggests depression may have contributed to the accident – Tony misunderstands her and becomes angry. Tony has a panic attack while visiting his mother's home after she moves to Green Grove. In a later session Dr. Melfi pushes Tony to admit he has feelings of anger towards his mother and he again storms out. During this episode Tony introduces the concept of him acting like the sad clown – happy on the outside but sad on the inside.In the episode, â€Å"Denial, Anger, Acceptance,† Tony discusses Jackie's cancer with Dr. Melfi. She tries to use it as an example of Tony's negative thinking contributing to his depression. Tony becomes angry and storms out because he feels she is trying to trick him and manipulate his thoughts using the pictures that decorate her office. After Jackie worsens and Tony is called a Frankenstein by a business associate he returns to therapy to discuss these things with Dr. Melfi — she asks him if he feels like a monster. In the â€Å"Fortunate Son† episode, Tony discusses a childhood memory of an early panic attack.He saw his father and uncle mutilate Mr Satriale, the local butcher, and later fainted at a family dinner consisting of free meat from the butcher. Dr. Melfi makes a connection between meat and Tony's panic attacks an d also explores his mother's attitude to the fruits of his father's labor. Later Dr. Melfi tries prescribing Lithium as a mood stabilizer. In the episode â€Å"Isabella† Tony sinks into a severe depressive episode and experiences hallucinations — he sees a beautiful Italian woman named Isabella in his neighbor's garden.Tony sees Isabella several times during the episode and later learns that she never existed. Melfi theorizes that Isabella was an idealized maternal figure that Tony's subconscious produced because of he was deeply upset at his own mother's actions at the time. In â€Å"I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano† episode, Tony abruptly ends his therapy and convinces Dr. Melfi to go into hiding when he discovers that his Uncle Junior has found out about their sessions. The stage on which its drama unfolds is the relationship between Tony and Dr.Melfi, a duet blistering with so much heat and so authentic in its depiction of what actually happens in psychoanalytic psychotherapy where you fell as if you are in the room yourself eavesdropping on another patient's session. The relationship between Tony and Dr. Melfi has been up-and-down, with Tony reaching a level of comfort with Dr. Melfi that he has never experienced with anyone else before, not even his wife. This closeness leads Tony to have something of a â€Å"crush† on Dr. Melfi, something that is unattainable. However, the â€Å"prying† from Dr.Melfi is uncomfortable for Tony and he often turns sarcastic and antagonistic towards her, leading to an ongoing strain in their relationship. During the episode â€Å"The Second Coming,† aired in part II of season six, Melfi's own therapist suggests to her that therapy like which she administers to Tony has been considered to be an enabler to certain sociopathic personalities. In the episode â€Å"46 Long† they continue discuss Tony's mother and her difficulties living alone. Tony admits that he feels guilty because hi s mother could not be allowed to live with his family. When Dr.Melfi asks him to remember good experiences from his childhood he has difficulty. It is clear that Tony's perception of his mother does not meet with the reality of her personality. He also shows that he blames Carmela for preventing his mother from living with them. Later they discuss Livia's car accident and Melfi suggests depression may have contributed to the accident – Tony misunderstands her and becomes angry. Tony has a panic attack while visiting his mother's home after she moves to Green Grove. In a later session Dr. Melfi pushes Tony to admit he has feelings of anger towards his mother and he again storms out.During this episode Tony introduces the concept of him acting like the sad clown – happy on the outside but sad on the inside. Finally, in the penultimate episode of the series, â€Å"The Blue Comet,† Melfi severs her relationship with Tony as his therapist. In psychoanalytic terms, To ny is split, so split that he is an ambulatory. One part of himself – the thrill-seeking mob boss trying to cling by his brass knuckles to a world where nobody plays by the rules anymore – is alienated from the other part, the devoted family man trying to survive in the quicksand of Nero-fiddling-while-Rome-burns middle-class America.It's a toss-up which culture is more empty, dysfunctional and corrupt. In any event, the breach is causing him grievous suffering. Tony tries to put up a wall between the two worlds but inevitably they start to bleed into each other. The more he tries to ignore or paper over the cracks, the more his psyche rebels. He has anxiety attacks, blacks out, tumbles into a depression. Tony may be in denial about why his system is on red alert but it is impossible to watch the show without developing an armchair theory. Tony's gangster personal provides him with constant excitement and action, a sense of power and control, a definition of masculinit y.Through violence rationalized as business or impersonal soldiering he also gets to express his considerable unacknowledged rage without encroaching on his alter ego as benevolent husband and father. But when the center fails to hold, the result is panic, depression, self-hatred, sexual collapse and engulfing, ungovernable anger. Tony's panic attacks are an undeniable signal that his defenses are deserting him. Psychoanalysis is about transformation. When transformation happens, it can seem quite magical. It can involve gaining the ability to make previously unthinkable choices or living a life that once felt beyond reach.It can be about achieving the freedom to be oneself instead of feeling inhibited, stuck and frightened. It can be about something as simple and earth-breaking as locating oneself differently in the world . If there is change, people are not the same as they used to be. References Bender, William. (2006). The Last Aria of Tony Soprano. The New York Times. Berman, J . (2003). The writing cure: How expressive writing promotes health and well- being. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 20(3), 575-578. Bolognini, Stefano (2004). Psychoanalytic Empathy. Free Association Books, London. Cf. Blum, Harold P. (Ed. ) (1977). Female Psychology.New York: International Universities Press. De Mijolla, Allain. (2005). International Dictionary of Psychoanalysis. Thomson/Gale. Dennis, Wendy. (2205). Why Psychoanalysis Matter. The Walrus Magazine Eagleton, Terry. (1983). Literary Theory: An Introduction. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. 153-4. Elliott, Anthony (2002). Psychoanalytic Theory: An Introduction, Second Edition. Duke University Press. Fisher, Seymour. (1985). The Scientific Credibility of Freud's Theories and Therapy. University Press. Flax, Jane. Political Philosophy and the Patriarchal Unconscious: A Psychoanalytic Perspective on Epistemology and Metaphysics.Discovering Reality. 252. Gay, Peter. (1998) Freud: A Life for our Time. New York: W. W. N orton & Co. , Inc. 810 pp. Reprinted from Gerald, Corey. (2000). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. 6th ed. Jacobson, Edith. (1976). Depression; Comparative Studies of Normal, Neurotic, and Psychotic Conditions. International Universities Press. Jones, Ernest. (1981). The Life and Work of Sigmund Freud. Basic Books. Laplanche, Jean and Pontalis, J. B. (1974). The Language of Psycho-Analysis. W. W. Norton & Company.