Starbucks Coffee Company Research Paper Example

Starbucks Coffee Company Research Paper Example Starbucks Coffee Company Paper Starbucks Coffee Company Paper Starbucks had a humble beginning with one small store front in 1971 at the famous Pike’s Place in Seattle, Washington. The inspiration for Starbucks came from Peet’s Coffee and Tea who started importing fine Arabica beans from around the world (Arthur, 1999). At that time Starbucks had a simple mission of providing the world’s finest fresh roasted coffee to its customers, and it worked. A decade later in 1981, Howard Schultz, now Chairman, President and CEO, had entered Starbucks and was instantly captivated. For over a year, Howard pursued employment at Starbucks, wanting the job far more than Starbucks wanted him. Eventually, he convinced the three partners to take him on as head of marketing. He soon hung up his high profile New York City position and moved to Seattle. He quickly gained acceptance, knowledge and experience in all aspect of the coffee business. Howard’s trip to Italy a year later would change that one small store into the global corporation it has become today. He was be taken by the warmth and connectivity local Italians shared at their coffee bars, and wanted to combine the great coffee with the closeness of the community. After having a cafe latte, he concluded it was the perfect drink and no one in America knows about it. Upon returning, he had growing frustration as the owners did not want to leave the retail business for the beverage business. A year later, once the sixth store was open did Howard get his espresso bar? It was a huge success, but he could not convince the owners to expand the beverage business to the other stores. He left Starbucks to create his own coffee shop il Giornale with the financial help of Jerry Baldwin. He used Starbuck’s coffee to brew espresso and coffee beverages. Soon II Giornale’s three stores had annual sales of $1. 5 Million. In 1987, Jerry Baldwin and Gordon Bowker decided it was time to sell Starbucks and Howard knew this was his opportunity. He was able to obtain the $3. 8 Million in capital to purchase Starbucks. This acquisition started the chain of quick expansion for Starbucks. By the late 1980’s, Starbucks had a few years of unprofitability as the stock market had crashed in October of 87. Howard relentlessly pushed forward, battling with his board to better the company and continue expansion. By 1991, the financial performance had improved and Starbucks went on to introduce their â€Å"bean stock. † This was an employee stock option plan that all employees working more than 20 hours per week were granted 12 percent of their base pay with stock options (Arthur, 1999). These generous fringe and higher than average pay allowed for Starbucks to retain highly motivated and talented baristas. In 1992 Starbucks went public with one of the most successful IPOs of the year. This allowed for Starbucks to pursue their three year geographic expansion plan. They achieved their plan by opening a large store in a major city that acted as a hub. A team of professionals were located in the â€Å"hub† and were task with the opening, support, and development of 20 or more stores around the hub store (Arthur, 1999). To grow internationally, Starbucks sought out license agreements with local companies. In 1996, they made their first international expansion into Japan and Singapore. They identify reputable companies that had experience in retailing and strong local knowledge. Through their aggressive expansion strategy combined with their model to be a connected member of the neighborhood, they have stores in 61 countries and 18,066 shops. They have successful just launched the acquisition into India with the first stores opened in Mumbai in 2012. Starbucks has a diverse beverage product line. Their core business is fresh roasted Arabica coffee, and espresso beverages. From this base, Starbucks continue to innovate their beverage offering based on consumer’s wants where they offer a range of smoothies, teas and chocolate beverages. With tea being a substitute for coffee, they had acquired Tazo Tea and most recently Teavanna. They have expanded their food offering in every store with an emphasis on healthy options. Through a partnership with Pepsi bottling, Starbucks entered the soft drink retail business with bottled Frappuccino and other coffee drinks. The entered the instant home brewing market with the launch of the Starbucks K-Cups. They continue to grow their merchandising and equipment business. Starbucks have a diverse line of merchandise from coffee accessories to music that is played in the stores. They retail all the equipment necessary to properly brew coffee from home, and sell their fresh roasted coffee. Not just a coffee shop and retailer, Starbucks realized its strength and advantage came from motivated baristas who would positively engage customers. The baristas are the face of Starbucks, and to cultivate the Italian espresso bar image, Starbucks had to develop engaged employees. Starbucks is very committed to quality and the image of Starbucks that is why Starbucks does not operate any franchises. At the end of 2012, Starbucks had a total of 18,066 stores of which 9,405 were company owned and 8,661 were licensed stores. The mix of company owned stores and licensed stores allow Starbucks to retain authority while accessing difficult markets and reducing costs. Starbucks classifies its stores into a three-region structure which includes: 1) Americas; 2) Europe, Middle East, and Africa; and 3) China/Asia Pacific. As of September 30, 2012, Starbucks had 7,857; 882; and 666 stores opened in each region respectfully. Under their licensed agreements, Starbucks had 5,046; 987; and 2,628 stores respectfully in each region (Form 10k). Overall the licensed agreements accounted for 9 percent of total revenue in 2012. Since 2009, Starbucks have seen a rapid and steady increase in their stock price. From the low of $8. 45 per share to the recent value of $65. 11 per share as of June 24th, Starbucks is trading just under its 52 week high. Starbucks is financial sound, producing steady cash from operations indicating steady demand and innovation. Consolidated revenues for 201 were $13. 3 billion which is an increase of 13. 7 percent from 2012 revenues of $11. 7 billion. From the $13. 3 billion, company-owned stores contributed 79. 2%; licensed stores – 9. %; and CPG food serveries contributed 11. 7% (Form 10K). Starbucks has been making financial improvements to its operating income which is up 40% since 2010. Their net income is also up 46% since 2010. With this increase only brings marginal performance increase. The operating margin for 2012 was 15% up from 13% in 2010. This has only seen slight improvements due to the volatility in the commodity markets and high costs of operating the stores. Starbucks has been steadily improving and that have estimated a revenue increase of 10 to 13 percent for 2013. They continue to develop and expand their channel development line which includes K-Cups and bottled coffee and tea drinks. They will see a steady increase in revenue from their licensed stores as-well-as their company owned stores. Their stock is estimated to appreciate into the low $70 per share range for 2013. Starbucks faces extensive competition on their coffee beverage business from quick-service restaurants and specialty coffee shops. As more local coffee shops open, they pressure the sales of existing Starbucks. Dunkin Donuts has set its sight on Starbucks, and has rebranded them a beverage company. By 2015 they plan to have opened 15,000 stores west of the Mississippi with a large portion of those stores operating in California (O’Connor, 2013). In distribution and sale of coffee and premade coffee products, Starbucks faces completion from nationwide coffee manufacturers. Kraft Foods is the supplier of Maxwell house and Procter and Gamble is the parent company of Folgers brand coffee. Recently Starbucks had a deal fall through with Kraft over the distribution of coffee to supermarkets. Schultz’s vision to create a company with soul derived the basis of Starbucks competitive advantage. Schultz’s dream to treat every employee with respect and to do better for the community became a way of life for Starbucks through good and bad financial times. Through extensive employee training and involvement, Starbucks developed actively engaged baristas that exceeds customers’ expectations of their coffee shops. Every new hire receives 24 hours of training within the first two to four weeks. They learn how to address and engage the customer, brew the perfect cup, and properly handle the coffee. Starbucks coffee line is hand chosen from around the world. Starbucks strives for the highest standard in the coffee industry and bypasses the coffee commodity market. They enter into fix-price contracts to secure their supply. This also allows Starbucks to exert considerable power of farmers to rely on the accuracy of the fair trade agreements. The stores ambiance of Starbucks is critically important to driving the culture and experiences at the coffee shop. Starbucks developed their own internal team of architects and designers to ensure that each store would convey the right image and character (Arthur, 1999). The company went to great lengths to make sure the store fixtures, the merchandise displays, the colors, the artwork, the banners, the music, and the aromas all blended to create a consistent, inviting, stimulating environment that evoked the romance of coffee, that signaled the companys passion for coffee, and that rewarded customers with ceremony, stories, and surprise (Arthur, 1999). Soon the cost of opening a new store became highly undesirable. Starbucks responded by centralizing buying which allowed them to realize a discount of 20 to 30 percent on orders from vendors. They focused on the equipment that was absolutely necessary for a successful new launch and employed a just in time management system on materials. This significantly cut costs and lowered store development time from 24 to 18 weeks. Through innovation Starbucks continues to remain competitive. Schultz’s built a company where employees can freely, without repercussions, submit ideas and comments about any aspect of the business. Through technological change, Starbucks have captured and stayed true to their promise of coffee and connectedness. Through digital applications, customers can pay for their order by using their phone to enhance the experience of their 14. 6 million loyalty card members. They adapt to consumer preferences and delivered Starbucks K-cups, a lighter roast coffee, and Starbucks refreshers. A constant problem that Starbucks faces is the increased competition from specialty coffee shops around the country. These shops possess a great threat to Starbucks because they specialize in fair trade organic coffee, but have a reputation of being the small business. Starbucks have been able to maintain a competitive edge over the small local coffee shop through their support of the â€Å"hub† system, high traffic locations, and Starbucks mission. The â€Å"hub† system allows for a highly talented team to quickly react to changes in the local market and satisfy consumers. The highly visible and high traffic locations make for convenience when consumers are in a rush on their daily routine. Starbucks involvement in the community through their extensive corporate social responsibility programs makes Starbucks seem like the local coffee shop. Starbucks Coffee Company (Starbucks) has five major stakeholder groups: customers, partners (employees), community / â€Å"neighbors,† suppliers and shareholders. Customers – Starbucks is incredibly dedicated to its customer base and emphasizes the human connection. Starbucks aims to, â€Å"connect with, laugh with, and uplift† (Starbucks mission statement) its customers, even though the customer interaction time is short. Partners (employees) – Starbucks does not simply call its employees, ‘employees,’ but rather partners because it is not just a job, but a passion (mission statement). Everyone within the organization â€Å"treats each other with respect and dignity. † All partners can feel comfortable being themselves because Starbucks is a place that embraces everyone’s individuality. Community / â€Å"Neighbors† – Starbucks has an extensive program around social responsibility and corporate citizenship. Starbucks believe that it should â€Å"have a positive impact on the communities it serves, one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time. † ( starbucks. com/responsibility) Suppliers – As part of its community and neighbor focus, Starbucks is passionate about ethically sourcing its coffee beans and â€Å"improving the ives of people who grow them. † (Mission Statement). Starbucks also makes it a point to work with suppliers that share the same vision of social responsibility. If a supplier is not meeting expectations, Starbucks will work with that supplier to make the necessary changes. Shareholders – Starbucks believes that if it can deliver in all of the above mentioned areas that it will be successful and be able to reward its shareholders. It wants its shareholder to â€Å"endure and thrive† (mission statement). Conflict among stakeholders can arise during changing economic conditions, specifically when suppliers are forced to raise prices. This increase in expense for Starbucks can translate into charging higher prices for its products. Customers may be turned off and change their habits and purchase their morning coffee from a competitor. This in turn will affect the financial success of the company and negatively impact the return to shareholders. (Annual report) However, interestingly enough coffee prices are actually falling but Starbucks has decided to increase its prices for certain products, as much as 10 cents. The shareholders will benefit from the extra money to the bottom line, but customers will be unhappy and may feel as though they are being taken advantage of. Table 1 (below), displays Starbucks’ top-management hierarchy, much in the same way the Jones text does in Figure 2. 1 (Jones, p. 38). Starbucks is a publically traded company so its shareholders are the legal owners of the organization. To oversee its governance structure, Starbucks’ Board of Directors adopted governance principles, committee charters and policies that guide the company to stay committed to its mission and maintain its uncompromising principles as it grows (corporate governance). The Board of Directors is also accountable for monitoring and evaluating the corporate-level management team that is responsible for Starbuck’s overall vision, strategic planning and goal-setting. Starbucks’ executive team is led by company founder and CEO, Howard Shultz. Schultz’s top-management team is made up of 14 executives that set strategy and oversee specific geographic areas (Americas, Asia, Africa, etc. ) and company functions like marketing, public affairs, community involvement, digital business, global strategy, and global coffee. Following down the chain of command are managers in line roles that are specifically responsible for the production of coffee in six roasting plants, and managers in staff roles that are responsible for overseeing specific organizational functions like communications, design, engineering finance, green coffee and tea management ,marketing, operations, procurement, quality, research and development, sales, social responsibility and supply chain management. Beyond the central functions are the divisional and functional management teams that oversee Starbucks’ 18,066 (annual report) company-operated and licensed stores throughout the world. In succession, regional directors oversee district managers that oversee store managers that supervise assistant store managers that supervise assistant store managers that oversee shift supervisors and baristas. Each position has its own responsibilities for meeting financial, management and customer service goals. One of the most important positions is probably that of the barista, as those partners are the face of Starbucks interacting with customers and create that personalized and unique customer experience.

MOther Courage essays

MOther Courage essays Mother Courage is an unbraidable knot of contradictions: both fearless and feckless, wise and uneducable, maternally caring and emotionally aloof. A camp-following trader, she picks the bones of a war-withered economy to feed her fatherless children. Yet her nose for business leads Mother Courage away from those children when they need her protection, leaving them easy victims of the battlefield scavengers who prey upon the weakest of the human flock. Trapped in a system driven by greed and self-interest, war and profiteering, Mother Courage plays by its rules with the result that she both wins and loses. She succeeds in surviving at the cost of her children. In his production, director Michael Kahn hopes to communicate these contradictions of character that make Mother Courage, in his words, "one of the most extraordinarily interesting and unique characters on stage." To this end, he has cast Pat Carroll, an actress of immense warmth, vitality and humor, in the role of the flinty-hearted tragic heroine. "Mother Courage has an ironic sense of humor that, allows her to survive the most difficult situations. She is also a tenacious fighter, unwilling to be averted from her goal of providing for herself and her children. Certainly, her behavior is disturbing. But she acts out of necessity and her mistakes are the result of character flaws, not vices." Explaining how Mother Courage contributes to her own tragedy, Kahn compares her to the flawed giants of dramatic literature: Oedipus, King Lear and Falstaff. "Like the old figures of comedy and tragedy who are brought low by a fatal flaw, Mother Courage is unable to understand something about herself that ultimately ruins her. Her inability to extend her understanding of the past to the present is a failure she pays for dearly. She never learns from past experience how to avoid mistakes." Rather than calculating an emotional response to Mother Courage;s actions, Brecht intended an in...

American Political Thought Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Political Thought - Essay Example Ever since Cain killed Abel, it became necessary to protect future Abels, and to restrain the Cains. And after the concept of private property became established, it became crucial to protect that as well. Thus was born the 'state'. The government is the manifest spirit of the state - constituted by a group of people who represent it. The legitimacy of the state and its government is thus based on the interests of the people it serves; and this dictum holds true for even the most autocratic state governed by the most despotic of rulers. Is the role of the government, one of mere maintenance - of peace and security, and private property, or should it concern itself with much more than that Let us examine this question, with reference, primarily, to the views of Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) a naturalist and 'philosopher cum political theorist' (perhaps the term reminds us of the Platonic, 'Philosopher-King Though Thoreau himself would have been quite appalled to have himself be compared to any 'king', despite the addition of the title 'philosopher'!) Thoreau's views on the state, which are set down in his work Civil Disobedience, influenced not only Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, but also those who struggled for the abolition of apartheid in South Africa, and more recently into the '70's and till today - those (especially in America) who have taken an ethical stand against war. Thoreau unequivocally rejected the right of the state to impose taxes, and stated that "that government is best which governs the least" (website thinkexist.com) The immediate reason for Thoreau's writing, summarily rejecting the authority of the state was on account of his being imprisoned (this was only for a day, as he was bailed out by his family, much to his discomfiture!). He had refused to pay a poll tax, and his refusal was a deliberate act of defiance, as he stated that the government had no right to tax him. He declared that it was against his conscience to pay taxes to a government, which indulged in acts he did not approve of. Although the government, especially in a democracy, represented the voice of the people, Thoreau stated that it also stood for the interests of elite politicians, which he was in no way ready to support. He went to the extent of arguing that even if the government did right, and followed the will of the majority, those who chose to disagree with the majority also had their right to not follow the diktats of this majority as expressed through the government; they (the minority) should be permitted to live on their own, unconnected with the state. (McElroy) He was, in fact, recommending a situation of peaceful and constructive anarchy, where each individual could choose to dwell within or without the 'confines' (in the abstract and not a physical sense) of the state, as he pleased. What did Thoreau find so repugnant with the government of his day He objected to the government's support and continuance of slavery and also the Mexican-American war. Thoreau wrote his Civil Disobedience roughly fifteen years before slavery was abolished in the US, and the debate over its abolition was just gaining momentum. Apart from this, the government had embarked on a policy of expansion, based on a common perception that it was the "Manifest Destiny" (McElroy) of America to expand and bring under control the native populations. In this process, Texas was annexed, and this led to a

A written analysis of the ethical dilemma Essay - 1

A written analysis of the ethical dilemma - Essay Example The physicians are often perplexed to reach a particular point of conclusion that would provide best moral support to their patients. On one hand, their professional philosophy, in particular, suggests them to perform certain acts that are aimed at serving best interests of patients and on the other, the broad humanist outlook prevents them from performing those acts. Thus, remaining within the limits of a professional boundary, as sensitive as healthcare services, it really becomes tough for professionals to assimilate both these sides and churn out a constructive decision that would fulfill best interest of patients. There is no denial of the fact that since very childhood, every individual adheres to some extent or the other to the â€Å"institution of morality† (Beauchamp, and Childress, 2001, p. 3). This institution of morality provides certain basic principles to all human beings. According to general understanding, â€Å"All persons who are serious about living a moral life already grasp the core dimensions of morality. They know not to lie, not to steal property, to keep promises, to respect the rights of others, not to kill or cause harm to innocent persons †¦. All persons serious about morality are comfortable with these rules and do not doubt their relevance and importance† (Beauchamp, and Childress, 2001, p. 3). However, problem or confusion arises when it comes to assimilating both these aspects and the situation practically reflects one of the very common ethical dilemmas that a physician encounters. Morality, though the term encompasses within its broad scope a number of issues, however, it can be classified into two segments, depending over its application separately in universal and specific situations. The aspects of ethical conflict, which confuse most of the people both in professional and personal dimensions of life, actually arise due to the conflict between common and specific morality. There are certain

The Readers Response To The Novel Essay Example for Free

The Readers Response To The Novel Essay Written by Mary Shelley in 1816, Frankenstein is a novel that conveys several messages and themes. It was written at a time of social and political upheaval: the incredible advances in science and movements in art and culture were changing the way people lived dramatically. For example, the use of electricity, the French Revolution and the Romantic Movement, were leading people to have totally radical, bohemian lifestyles. Shelley allowed these revolutionary ideas to move and inspire her, enabling her to write one of the most remarkable and intriguing pieces of literature in the world. In the novel, Shelley uses three narrators: Robert Walton; Victor Frankenstein; and the monster, or modern Prometheus, as he was intended to be. The purpose of this essay is to explore what effect this has on our response to the novel overall. I shall do this by explaining how they affect our understanding of the main themes of the novel; the complex time and structure; and the narrators as characters. Mary Shelleys classic novel discusses three major themes: ambition and its consequences; the importance of family; and community and isolation. Victors horrific tale shows how blind ambition and ruthlessness can destroy you morally and physically. This happens to Victor as he loses everything dear to him and eventually his own life. Upon hearing Victors story of death and revenge, suffering and loneliness, Walton gives up his own ambition of discovering the North Pole, realising that he has sacrificed his sister for his obsession with success. Thus he is saved before it is to late. Victor on the other hand has caused his own downfall: he becomes so obsessed with his creation that he neglects his family by refusing to go home when Elizabeth writes to him. This ultimately leads to the deaths of his family, Justine and William are killed in the monsters fit of revenge, and his suffering and loneliness begin to devour him. The theme of the importance of family is reinforced throughout the novel. From Victors idyllic childhood, My mothers tender caresses, and my fathers smile of benevolent pleasure while regarding me, are my first recollections, to the monsters grief at his fathers death, close family relationships are regarded as precious and wonderful. This may be because Shelley lost her own mother when she was very young, and used her own personal experience to inspire her. Both Walton and Victor take their relationships with their sisters for granted, sacrificing them to pursue their own dreams. Victors experience shows that you cant have both: your family and your career to flourish. This idea id introduced very early in the book, when Victors departure to university is delayed by the death of his mother from Scarlet Fever.

Thinking Before You Start Inking Essay -- Health

The lives of average teenagers are filled with perceived angst, usually due to the pressure to conform by society, and more and more of them are trying to claim independence by permanently marking their skin. A survey conducted by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that 36 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have at least one tattoo (Associated Press). However, the study did not look at minors who had tattoos, probably due to the fact that 39 states have laws prohibiting minors from getting tattoos and thirty-one states have laws that prohibit both piercing and tattooing on minors without parental permission (National Conference of State Legislatures). However, the focus of this paper will be on the state of Texas, and Texas Health and Safety Code Ann.  §146.012, which â€Å"Prohibits anyone from performing a tattoo on a person under age 18 without the consent of a parent or guardian who believes it is in the best interest of the minor to cover an obscene or offensive tattoo. Required consent may be the physical presence of the individual's parent or guardian or the provision of evidence that he or she is the parent or guardian of the person who is getting the tattoo† (National Conference of State Legislatures). While the law prohibits minors from getting tattoos in Texas, there may be heated debate in households as minors try to convince their parents to give them permission to tattoo. Minors need to realize that tattoos are permanent, and that waiting until they are of age will give them a better sense of judgment when it comes to permanently scarring their bodies. Much of the non-tattooed population does not truly understand the tattoo process, and how it has become safer. However the process o... ...ercare of their tattoo if they want it to heal quickly and be as bright as possible" (Beckerman). Trusting a minor to do that, might make them better adults, but learning to take the time for big decisions is lesson that will help them get along in life on a much smoother path. Works Cited Associated Press. Survey Shows That 24 Percent of Americans Ages 18-50 Are Tattooed. 23 July 2006. Web. 14 March 2012. Beckerman, Gerry. Interview with Tattoo Artist, "Inkslinger" Karen L. Hudson. 13 March 2012. web. Bernstein, Niel. How To Keep Your Teenager Out of Trouble and What To Do If You Can't. New York City: Workman Publishing Company Inc., 2001. Print. Dickson, Amy. "Why Not Tattoo." Time (1999): 41. Print. National Conference of State Legislatures. Tattooing and Piercings for Minors. October 2011. Web. 14 March 2012. Tattoos. April 2009. Web. 14 March 2012. Thinking Before You Start Inking Essay -- Health The lives of average teenagers are filled with perceived angst, usually due to the pressure to conform by society, and more and more of them are trying to claim independence by permanently marking their skin. A survey conducted by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that 36 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have at least one tattoo (Associated Press). However, the study did not look at minors who had tattoos, probably due to the fact that 39 states have laws prohibiting minors from getting tattoos and thirty-one states have laws that prohibit both piercing and tattooing on minors without parental permission (National Conference of State Legislatures). However, the focus of this paper will be on the state of Texas, and Texas Health and Safety Code Ann.  §146.012, which â€Å"Prohibits anyone from performing a tattoo on a person under age 18 without the consent of a parent or guardian who believes it is in the best interest of the minor to cover an obscene or offensive tattoo. Required consent may be the physical presence of the individual's parent or guardian or the provision of evidence that he or she is the parent or guardian of the person who is getting the tattoo† (National Conference of State Legislatures). While the law prohibits minors from getting tattoos in Texas, there may be heated debate in households as minors try to convince their parents to give them permission to tattoo. Minors need to realize that tattoos are permanent, and that waiting until they are of age will give them a better sense of judgment when it comes to permanently scarring their bodies. Much of the non-tattooed population does not truly understand the tattoo process, and how it has become safer. However the process o... ...ercare of their tattoo if they want it to heal quickly and be as bright as possible" (Beckerman). Trusting a minor to do that, might make them better adults, but learning to take the time for big decisions is lesson that will help them get along in life on a much smoother path. Works Cited Associated Press. Survey Shows That 24 Percent of Americans Ages 18-50 Are Tattooed. 23 July 2006. Web. 14 March 2012. Beckerman, Gerry. Interview with Tattoo Artist, "Inkslinger" Karen L. Hudson. 13 March 2012. web. Bernstein, Niel. How To Keep Your Teenager Out of Trouble and What To Do If You Can't. New York City: Workman Publishing Company Inc., 2001. Print. Dickson, Amy. "Why Not Tattoo." Time (1999): 41. Print. National Conference of State Legislatures. Tattooing and Piercings for Minors. October 2011. Web. 14 March 2012. Tattoos. April 2009. Web. 14 March 2012.

The performance of this sector

Bangladesh are primarily an agrarian economy. Agriculture is the single largest producing sector of economy since it comprises about 30% of the country's GDP and employing around 60% of the total labor force.The performance of this sector has an overwhelming impact on major macroeconomic objectives like employment generation, poverty alleviation, human resources development and food security. Meeting the nation's food requirement remains the key-objective of the government and in recent years there has been substantial increase in grain production. However, due to calamities like flood, loss of food and cash crops is a recurring phenomenon, which disrupts the continuing progress of the entire economy. Agricultural holdings in Bangladesh are generally small. Through Cooperatives the use of modern machinery is gradually gaining popularity. Rice, Jute, Sugarcane, Potato, Pulses, Wheat, Tea and Tobacco are the principal crops. The crop sub-sector dominates the agriculture sector contributing about 72% of total production. Fisheries, livestock and forestry sub-sectors are 10.33%, 10.11% and 7.33% respectively. Bangladesh is the largest producer of Jute. Rice being the staple food, its production is of major importance. Rice production stood at 20.3 million tons in 1996-97 fiscal year.Crop diversification program, credit, extension and research, and input distribution policies pursued by the government are yielding positive results. The country is now on the threshold of attaining self-sufficiency in food grain production.Land Use by AgricultureGovernment has the primary responsibility of ensuring optimum use of land. Although land is a privately owned property in general, its use has to be compatible with the overall social goals and utility. Moreover, it is important to consider that the interests of small and marginal farmers and the sharecroppers are protected, as they constitute the majority of farmers.Following steps will be taken to ensure planned utilization of land for crop production:Land zoning programme will be taken up by the Soil Resources Development Institute SRDI) on a prio rity basis. Integrated approach of SRDI will be further strengthened for this purpose.To ensure maximum utilization of land, bottom up planning through people. Participation and its implementation will be started from the mouza or village level.In most areas the same land is suitable for more than one crop. Therefore, farmers will be encouraged to grow more profitable crops as an alternative to only rice-rice cropping pattern.Fertile agricultural land is going out of cultivation due to its use for non-agricultural purposes such as private construction, house building brickfield, etc. Appropriate measures will be taken to stop this trend in the light of the Land Policy of the government.Maximum utilization of land will be ensured through promotion of inter-cropping with the main crops.Acquisition of land in excess of requirement for non-agricultural purposes will be discouraged.Programmes will be taken up to motivate the landowners not to keep their land unused without any acceptable reason. Appropriate measures will be taken in the light of the Land Policy so that the interests of small and marginal farmers and the sharecroppers are protected and that the agricultural land is not kept fallow for a long period. Â  

Mathematics

Math has been developed to aid human understanding .More the math associated with a subject, better is our quantitative understanding of the subject. Calculus is a great tool in this regard. If we look at individual tools of mathematics they may fail to be useful. But when different branches of mathematics are used together they will definitely help in all subjects. One more thing â€Å"If we don’t use a tool doesn’t mean that it’s useless, There are many things that can be done with it but we don’t require it in everyday life so we just don’t use them.† Specifically looking at examples :-   1) Minister  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   : one of his main job is campaigning. He should campaign more in areas where he has chances of winning than in areas where he is sure to win. This can be found out by survey of last elections, general notion prevailing among people that time. He must also campaign in areas where there’s high probability of people turning up for his lecture and for voting. When he becomes minister, he has to look for the development of the region. This involves all branches of mathematics. His long term aims, promises etc. Fore most is to manage the funds available. Suppose he decides to construct a bridge or flyover or any such Infrastructure project, he has to think of funds for construction. If he keeps some toll tax than how much should he keep? This can be decided by how many people would use it everyday? How much he is targeting to collect? Inflation etc.etc. This all are determined using calculus. 2) Kindergarten teacher : She has to look on child’s growth. Some child can catch things fast. It’s not needed to spend a lot of time on them. Teachers should concentrate more on average child. Also it is sure that not everyone will understand all the things. So teacher has to do some calculations as to when be the right time to move to next topic. If she plots a graph of ‘how many people have understood versus time.’ Definitely she would get a Gaussian curve. This will come handy for subsequent classes. She can ask some simple question to all students and carry out this survey. Also, marks scored by students will have a Gaussian curve shape. Now suppose she has to convert it some other grading standards. (Example from a scale of 100 to relative grading of scale of 10).It would be good for her to know of calculus. She can figure out How much area (integration) is covered by the above mentioned graph?   How much percentage of people are present in which area? What is the average grade she wants to keep etc. etc. These are some of things which directly come to my mind. Tell students to think more in this line and they will surely find out more uses. Or better still put some enthusiastic calculus teacher in the above post for a day and He/she will think of a 100 more uses. Someone may argue that they are specific cases but remind them that jobs not only require to be proficient in everyday work but of special cases also which are likely to be encountered. Mathematics The most common error committed by students is the sign error.   Consider, for example the following instance.   A seventh grade teacher is to provide instruction in the multiplication of signed numbers. The teacher walks through the room, observing progress of each student as they work on a number of sample problems at their seats. The teacher notices that several students consistently make the following error: (-5) x (-6) = -30. One misconception is that the students think that signs do not matter.   In solving these kinds of problems, they tend to disregard the number signs.   This might be because of lack of knowledge of the concept.   The teacher may not have given the importance of number signs.   In this regard, the teacher should give the reason why they should not disregard number signs.   This will help students be more careful in solving numbered signs because they know its importance. Another is that some students tend to believe that since the sum of two negative numbers is a negative then their product might also be a negative number.   Students may overlook the details on the difference between adding and multiplying negative numbers.   The teacher, for this matter, may have not emphasized or given a thorough detail on multiplying a negative number.   This misconception can be diminished if the teacher gives the difference between adding and multiplying negative numbers.   This will help students to keep in mind that the product of two negative numbers is NOT a negative number since they know that multiplying two negative numbers is different from adding two negative numbers. There are many other underlying causes on why students commit this common error.   One major reason is because teachers often overlook the details and skip the important ones.   This error may be reduced if teachers emphasize on the details especially the importance of what they are doing. SOURCES: Ball, D. L., Hill, H. C., & Bass, H. (2005). Knowing Mathematics for Teaching. American Educator. Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences. (2001). The Mathematical Education for Teachers. Providence RI and Washington DC: American Mathematical Society and Mathematical Association of America. Misconceptions in Mathematics: Calculations with Negative Numbers.  Ã‚   Retrieved November 1, 2006 Patterns of Error. (2002).  Ã‚   Retrieved November 1, 2006, from http://math.about.com/library/weekly/aa011502a.htm Schechter, E. (2006). The Most Common Errors in Undergraduate Mathematics.  Ã‚   Retrieved November 1, 2006, from http://www.math.vanderbilt.edu/~schectex/commerrs/#Signs Yetkin, E. (2003). Student Difficulties in Learning Elementary Mathematics. ERIC Digest.  Ã‚   Retrieved November 1, from http://www.ericdigests.org/2004-3/learning.html                  

“Variations on the Word Sleep” By Margaret Atwood Essay Essays

â€Å"Variations on the Word Sleep† By Margaret Atwood Essay Essays â€Å"Variations on the Word Sleep† By Margaret Atwood Essay Paper â€Å"Variations on the Word Sleep† By Margaret Atwood Essay Paper In Variations on the Word Sleep the storyteller of the verse form instantly addresses his/her scruples demand to link with the other individual. and they besides recognize the hopelessness of this end: â€Å"I would wish to watch you kiping. which may non happen† ( 1-2 ) . The gap to the verse form. as we see here. could be considered typical of Atwood’s composing in the sense that one individual longs to bond with another. and recognizes the trouble. It is this type of exposure that we have come to anticipate in Margaret Atwood’s Hagiographas. because. as with many feminist Hagiographas. we are cognizant of the power battle between work forces and adult females. and even between adult females. But this verse form refrains from placing sexes ; it merely discusses a deeply internal demand of one individual for another. who is on a journey through the dark labyrinth of their consciousness. The first stanza evolves from a simple supplication from the genderless talker to watch their lover slumber. to a deeper. religious demand. Atwood chooses to stay equivocal in this regard. which helps a wider audience identify with the work. The verse form besides has virtue because within seven short. simplistic lines we glide from a soft yearning to a love composite and intense. with two heads unifying together in a dream: â€Å"I would wish to watch you. kiping. I would wish to kip with you. to come in your slumber as its smooth dark moving ridge slides over my caput. ( 3-7 ) † The action of the verse form continues to germinate as Atwood carries the reader through what appears to be a lover’s dream or phantasy. The storyteller at first wants merely to watch their lover slumber. so he/she desires to come in the same slumber. so envision him/her falling through the beds of consciousness. As the reader follows along with the look up toing storyteller and his or her comrade. they become progressively cognizant of the narrator’s need for transcendency. In the first. 2nd and 3rd stanzas. Atwood uses words that help steer us along the action. such as â€Å"watch. † â€Å"enter. † â€Å"over. † â€Å"descend. † â€Å"follow. † and â€Å"become. † All of these words are effectual in doing the reader feel as if they excessively are faltering along side of the storyteller. urgently seeking to come in the deepnesss of their love. The storyteller is so dying and passionate. that they are willing to follow their lover towards their worst fright in order to protect them â€Å"from the heartache at the centre. † ( 16 ) This is particularly interesting in the facet of feminism because Atwood’s female characters are normally model of accomplishment and authorization. If one is to presume the storyteller in this verse form is female. than Atwood is depicting a adult female trailing her adult male in a despairing effort to go his centre. and even to â€Å"be the air that inhabits you for a minute merely. I would wish to be that unnoticed that necessary. ( 27-30 ) † The word â€Å"unnoticed† here could be seen in a couple different visible radiations. as could the full subject of the verse form. On one manus. the storyteller is cut downing him or herself to being virtually unseeable. by going the air of their lover. Yet on the other manus. she has abstained from placing sexes. and the poesy itself is distressingly honorable and romantic in its portraiture of forfeit. The storyteller is acknowledging that the object of their fondness. whether they are male or female. has a consciousness worth researching. and they are willing to transport this individual off from darkness. The other ground that this verse form should be valued is because of Atwood’s usage of the elements. The imagination of the verse form moves from H2O â€Å"smooth dark wave† ( 6 ) to earth â€Å"forest. cave† ( 6. 9 ) to H2O once more â€Å"become the boat that would row you† ( 21 ) to fire â€Å"a fire in two cupped hands† ( 23 ) so eventually. air â€Å"I would wish to be the air that inhabits you† ( 27-28 ) . The poem â€Å"Variations of the Word Sleep† is an first-class illustration of Atwood’s endowment for uncovering feelings of separations and besides for demoing the love affair in giving up ones’ ain individuality for the interest of love. This subject is non typical to what the populace would see ruthlessly feminist. but Atwood’s Hagiographas redefine the kingdom of what adult females desire and deserve in love.

The Longest Words in the German Language

The Longest Words in the German Language The classic longest German word is Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitn, clocking in with 42 letters. In English, it becomes four words: Danube steamship company captain. However, its not the only super long word in the German language and, technically, its not even the longest. German Spelling Most languages, including English, string smaller words together to form longer ones, but the Germans take this practice to new extremes. As Mark Twain said, Some German words are so long that they have a perspective. But is there really such a thing as the longest German word...  das lngste deutsche Wort? Some of the suggested longest words are artificial creations. They are never used in daily spoken or written German, which is why well look at some words that far surpass our 42-letter title winner mentioned above.   For all practical purposes, this longest-word contest is really just a game. Its more fun than practical and German just happens to offer us some really long words. Even a German or English Scrabble board only has room for 15 letters, so you wont find much use for these. Yet, if youd like to play the longest-word game, here are a few selected items to consider. The 6 Longest German Words (Lange  Deutsche  Wà ¶rter) These words are listed in alphabetical order, with their gender and letter count. Betubungsmittelverschreibungsverordnung(die, 41 letters) Its a mesmerizing word that is rather difficult to read. This lengthy one refers to a regulation requiring a prescription for an anesthetic. Bezirksschornsteinfegermeister(der, 30 letters) This word may be short in comparison to those below, but it is a real word that you might be able to use someday, but even thats not likely. Roughly, it means a head district chimney sweep. Donaudampfschiffahrtselektrizittenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft(one word, no hyphen)  (die, 79 letters, 80 with the new German spelling that adds one more f in ...dampfschifffahrts...) Even the definition is a mouthful: association of subordinate officials of the head office management of the Danube steamboat electrical services (the name of a pre-war club in Vienna). This word is not really useful; its more of a desperate attempt to lengthen the word below. Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitn(der, 42 letters) As mentioned, in classic German this is considered the longest word. Its meaning of Danube steamship company captain makes it unusable for the majority of us, though. Rechtsschutzversicherungsgesellschaften(die, plur., 39 letters) This is one you might actually be able to pronounce if you take it one syllable at a time. It means, legal protection insurance companies.  According to Guinness, this was the longest German dictionary word in everyday usage. However, the word below is a longer legitimate and official longest word- in semi-everyday usage, anyway. Rindfleischetikettierungsà ¼berwachungsaufgabenà ¼bertragungsgesetz(das, 63 letters) This hyper word references a beef labeling regulation and delegation of supervision law.  This was a 1999 German Word of the Year, and it also won a special award as the longest German word for that year. It refers to a law for regulating the labeling of beef- all in one word, which is why it is so long. German also likes abbreviations, and this word has one: ReÃÅ"AÃÅ"G. German Numbers (Zahlen) There is another reason why there really isnt a single longest German word. German numbers, long or short, are written as one word. For example, to say or write the number 7,254 (which is not really a very long number), the German is siebentausendzweihundertvierundfà ¼nfzig. That is a single word of 38 letters, so you could imagine what larger and more complex numbers may look like. For this reason, its not difficult at all to make a number-based word that far exceeds any of the other words weve discussed. Longest English Words For comparison sake, what are the longest words in English? Contrary to popular belief, the record holder is not supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (an invented word made famous in the movie Mary Poppins). Just as in German, there is disagreement about which word is actually the longest. Theres little argument, however, that English cant keep pace with German in this department. The English languages two contenders are: Antidisestablishmentarianism  (28 letters):  This is a legitimate dictionary word from the 19th century meaning opposition to the separation of church and state. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis  (45 letters):  The literal meaning of this term is lung disease caused by breathing in silica dust. Linguists claim this is an artificial word and that it does not deserve true longest word billing. Likewise, there are many technical and medical terms in English that qualify as long words. However, they are usually excluded from consideration for the longest word game.

Personal life mission statement Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal life mission statement - Assignment Example The present paper is an attempt to produce a mission statement regarding my views and ambitions to be observed and carried out in my personal and professional life. The paper will also elaborate the social and moral values, my personal beliefs, social role and domestic obligations and responsibilities Part I Moral Values: Definitions Being the true follower of Christian faith, I strictly adhere to the code of moral ethics described in the Holy Bible. These moral principles include truth, justice, compassion, sacrifice, love, and humility. In addition, creating comforts for others and abstaining from harming and hurting the humans as well as other creatures come under the definition of adopting compassion and morality (Hollis 124–25). Truth Truth simply stands for depicting and adopting reality and actuality based on facts by presenting the exact scenario of a situation. While dwelling on the significance of truthfulness, it is evident that faith (New International Version, Lev . 19.11–14) and social values strictly lay stress upon providing a correct and accurate account of the events taking place within one’s natural, physical, and cultural environment. Abstaining from lies and exaggerations also falls within the definition of truth. Justice Justice refers to implication of impartiality and righteousness while reaching a conclusion or making a decision; similarly, dealing with others on the principles of equality and fair play without applying bias or prejudice may as well be referred to as justice. Individual Autonomy Individual autonomy simply means having personal freedom and liberty of expression and movement. In other words, individual autonomy seeks to allow people to exercise their abilities and get involved in activities of their choice provided the activities are not detrimental or harmful to others. Part II I strictly believe in speaking the truth and producing the exact scenario of a situation without having any fears with regard to the consequences. I unconditionally argue in support of preserving honesty and ingenuousness in one’s personal and professional life instead of concealing the truth under the pile of deceit. Sometimes, one has to pay a ransom amount for observing integrity, honesty and straightforwardness; somehow, I am determined to reveal the truth whenever I obtain an opportunity of exercising the same, even if it hurts someone very close to me. I would be open in my personal and professional relationships, and would never deceive my family, friends, associates or other members of society by shaking their trust they have developed in my personality. Identical with truthfulness, justice also enjoys a respectable position in my heart and mind. Being a rational, well-groomed, highly-educated and socialized person, I aim to treat all humans on the foundations of equality and fairness. Hence, instead of demonstrating any ethno-racial, regional, religious, gender-based or other prejudice, I am determined to make my decisions without having bias, grudge or the background of people, while living and working in a multinational and multicultural environment. I personally believe in granting of the freedom of thought and action; nevertheless, I would not allow others to practice the things that are in sharp contrast to the social norms and religious, moral and ethical values. Consequently, I will not support prostitution, gambling, extra-marital cohabitation and other immoralities being witnessed by people in the name of freedom and individual autonomy. Not only will I never observe injustice of any kind, I also am resolute to resist and discourage such actions. Consequently, I will attempt to add my share in the construction of a balanced and just atmosphere all around me. Part III Social Roles It is a reality beyond suspicion that social norms, moral values,

Does physical location impact collaboration between groups Essay

Does physical location impact collaboration between groups - Essay Example People from one PC could connect to any other who is in any part of the world with one of the medium called as Net Meeting which is provided by the Microsoft. CMC (Computer mediated Communications) which is in short for communications takes place between people through supported media which can either be audio/video conferencing, emails, chat rooms etc. In a global scale this technology helps organizations to gain competitive advantage as they respond to the customers needs quickly. There have been a number of researchers that has been going on to make a break through in this particular area. Usually, GSS (Group Support Systems), and groupware represent trends in practical collaboration that have fulfilled the demands. A large number of people who have been using the internet as a tool for communication, over the last few decades have faced a significant change and have been a considerable growth as well. A speculation is been carried out whether having to attend a meeting in person is as important as it is in the virtual world in a group. The issues that are occurring when 2 different technologies communicate with each other are emphasized here. Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) and GroupWare are the 2 technologies, with the help of these technologies; people can work as virtual groups from any part of the world which makes it convenient. There is a certain improvement of the results when these technologies are implemented and the decisions are made real quickly. The relevance of the present work lies in the fact that the scarce amount of literature on similar topics does not represent the scope of the problem and the real impact of the groupware in the fulfilling of the common tasks by virtual groups should be subjected to close consideration and research. The core idea of the work is whether the physical location (or, better, co-location) if the groups influences their performance in the fulfillment of the common tasks, and how the effects differ between co-locative groups and those which simply use groupware in their collaboration. For the aims of the present work it is necessary to look at the process of the performance of virtual groups in the use of the groupware for the fulfillment of the common tasks. It is also necessary to use the AST as the basis for the present research, as this theory allows deeper understanding of the processes which take place among the members of the virtual group at the time they us groupware for the fulfillment of the common task. It is necessary to define the changes which occur to each of the four decision-outcomes criteria for the better understanding of the impact of groupware. The data acquired through the work will be analyzed through comparison between the co-locative group and the one locating in different parts of the world but using groupware for the fulfillment of similar tasks. Adaptive Structuration Theory In management science, Adaptive Structuration describes the theory which was described by Anthony Giddens, which was further expanded and modelled by DeSanctis and Poole. The social and Intrapersonal affects that use technology on groups is emphasized here. Giddens rejects the extreme positions in the agency-structure debate, positioning in the process that human action, while institutionally constrained,