Participation Exercise #9 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Participation Exercise #9 - Assignment Example Activity Based Costing is more efficient to manufacturing companies and provides a more efficient, effective and economical costing system. The different manufacturing companies have different activities that together make up the overheads that the company incurs in their operations. Its application to manufacturing companies will provide an easy accounting and costing system that will aid in providing more accurate accounting in an efficient manner. The costing system also considers the application of overheads to the different products produced in a manner more logical hence successfully compared to the traditional means that allocate costs to the different machine hours employed. The ability of the system to consider each activity and its costs makes it more efficient for manufacturing companies due to their approach to costing and operations. It bases on the different activities that prove to be the real cause of the

Behavioral and Social Learning Approaches Personality Assessment Essay

Behavioral and Social Learning Approaches Personality Assessment - Essay Example In social learning, behavior is developed through the adaptation of behaviors that are mimicry of the behaviors that one is exposed to within one’s social environment. One of the more controversial, and by today’s standards, unethical experiments in behaviorism was conducted by John B. Watson on a subject he called â€Å"Little Albert†. Watson proposed that a natural and innate response that an infant would experience to loud noise was fear. Watson introduced a white rat into an area where an 11-month old infant was sitting. The child did not exhibit a natural fear of the rat and attempted to reach for it and interact with the rat. Then Watson would introduce the rat and at the same time strike an iron bar with a hammer in order to evoke a response. As predicted, when the rat would be let into the area with the child, the child would then automatically begin to cry, associating the rat with the fear he had felt at the disruptive loud noise (Slee, 2002, p. 57). very quickly, creating the association that relates to the response. The concept that an internal process does not associate with the way in which a person responds does not seem to be accurate as it discounts the importance of decision. The way in which one decides to respond may not be under full control, but that does not mean that it is not done through a series of decisions. As in the example of ’Little Albert’, his thought process could be, ’I see the rat’, I like the rat, but when the rat shows up, a loud noise that I don’t like is present’. Behaviorism suggests that the response is solely instinctual and developed as a pure response to stimulus. Gabriel Tarde developed social learning laws of imitation in order to explain behavior. The laws were: 1. Imitation occurs through proximity to others, 2. Imitation flows from the superior to the inferior, and 3. New ideas can become part of the fabric of culture as the customs become imbedded, while others

Credo essay Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Credo essay - Coursework Example Although we might not always be able be in a position to see the foundations of grand skyscrapers, we know that there has to be one because without it, the tall skyscraper would collapse when faced with the smallest gust of wind. For me, my family is essentially this foundation, it is my biggest supporter when I need to be encouraged and assured, and it is where I run to when things do not work out and I feel insecure. Family is of great importance and has an influence on the individuals we turn out to be, we cannot hide our true feelings from our families as they can always see right through us. My family has been instrumental in teaching me how to relate and interact with others. From my family, I have managed to gain a number of strong role models, ranging from my father who is always strong in the face of any calamity and never runs away from bravely confronting any challenges in life, to my grandmother whose special brand of affection is truly one of life’s greatest treas ures, my small sister whose openness and vivacity is quite infectious to my mother endless love that we constantly draw upon. There is nothing as good as the joy that is shared all round when a family sits down to enjoy each other’s company and laugh together. At times families do tend to experience difficulties that cause them to close ranks and cry, but this is ultimately overshadowed by the certain morning that is sure to eventually breakout as the family overcomes the challenges in their paths and are able to once again able to enjoy the joy of sunshine after a dark moment and laugh together. My family comforts and helps me to deal with life’s challenges; whether it is something as relatively small as not finding a favorite pair of shoes to wear when I want to go out, or something as monumental as the cold touch of death. I go through life with the quite assurance that in the face of calamities and challenging situations, I can always look up to my family for support and

London Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

London - Essay Example However, temperatures below -20 degrees centigrade have been noted in the past one decade, but their accuracy is yet to be validated (Anderson, p. 27). The city has a cluster of activities, ranging from streets to places of entertainment. It is also a city with numerous economic activities since it is considered as a manufacturing center with a good industrial network. People working in the city engage in both official and casual activities. Examples of those who engage in official activities include teachers, lawyers, doctor and bankers. On the other hand, the casual workers include craftsmen, builders and wood choppers (Burling, p. 207). London has a rapidly growing population. The population has hit more than seven million over the past one decade. People are originating from all parts of the world to live in the city (Boulton, p. 105). They have come with different lifestyles and colorful festivals. That is why London is considered as a multicultural city since the Roman times. Currently, about a quarter of the city’s inhabitants are members of ethnic minorities. With the diverse culture of its inhabitants, London has a variety of dishes. These dishes include delicacies such as dosa deli, churros Garcia, grilling Greek and the orange buffalo (Lawley, p.

Western civilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Western civilization - Essay Example This period has been marked by the changing way of life of the people. It was marked by changes in different spheres of life of the people. In particular there was marked rise of industrial systems, education, urbanization and other aspect of life of the western world. Among the things that marked the rise of western civilization was the rise in sovereignty of the nations. In this regard there was increased fall of empires and the rise of nations. The Western Roman Empire which ruled the modern states of Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and England for centuries had collapsed as a result of combination of a number of factors. One of such factors was economic decline which had an impact on the decline of the military spending leading to reduced military strength. The empires were based on the military strength and therefore the fall of military might led to invasion by other tribes. The fall of the Western Roman Empire in its military strength led to the invasion by the barbarian tribes which were coming from Scandinavia and other states like Germany. They invaded the Western Roman Empire and led to its eventual fall. This had an effect on other factors like racial, religious, and the political life of these empires. Increased warfare with the invading tribes and economic crisis could have contributed in a great way to the fall. (Hobsbawm, 1992) Therefore with the fall of the empires there was increased rise of the modern sovereign states. The fall of the empire led to the defragmentation to individual states which were sovereign with internal government. The fall of the Western Roman Empire led to the formation of the modern day states of France, Spain, Portugal, England and Italy. Owing to the factors that led to the fall of the empire such as racial, religious and political division, the emerging states were grouped in some aspects of community. It has been shown that racial and ethnic factors were the main leading

Cell phones. How have they changed us socially Research Paper - 1

Cell phones. How have they changed us socially - Research Paper Example Within less matter of time, people started buying cell phone widely as a communicating tool. No matter what people comment on cell phone usage, the place this has on our life is beyond expression. Initially only business persons and top most officials used to use a cell phone but now every person on the planet more or less owns it.In his journal (Banjo â€Å"Cell phone usage can be defined as any application of the cell phone as a tool, including talking, text messaging, game playing or the sheer accessibility of the instrument†. From a business tool, cell phone step into the hands of common people in a short time. Once people understood the advantages of cell phone, then it took a special place in the heart of people. From old to young understood the use of cell phone and invited it into their life and till now it holds a premium place in the hearts of men and women around the globe. Nowadays everybody owns a cell phone and it is the use of cell phone which has made it a universal electronic Gadget. All people use cell phone to get their things done in less time. When there is an emergency or casualty, cell phone, enables people to communicate with each other in one moment of time. According to (Roberts 127-35)â€Å"Fully 74% of Americans who own mobile phones say they have used their hand-held device in an emergency and gained valuable help†. In such cases, people use cell phone without a second thought. A couple of decades ago, the ordinary phone could only use from houses or phone booth but now anywhere and everywhere people can use the phone. Mostly the young generation is brainwashed by the use of cell phone as they can message their friends in less time span. Two decades ago, telephone was a communication tool at home and it was a medium to reach each other at times of emergency (PEW 2006).But now phone travels everywhere with the owner and give him an unlimited power and the ability to communicate with his kith and kin in no matter of time.

India a Global Economic Super Power Essay Example for Free

India a Global Economic Super Power Essay New parts of the world that were not long ago considered undeveloped, backwater countries, are now taking center stage in the global economy. Much has been publicized about the ascendance of Chinas economy, as it has become a major venue for the manufacturing of products sought after by worldwide consumers eager for cheaper goods. However, Chinas Asian neighbor, India, also has a vigorously growing economy. Indias economy is partly being fueled by companies around the world seeking to reduce their costs by outsourcing some of their operations there. A March 9, 2005 article in the International Herald Tribune reported that within 30 years, India is projected to have the worlds third largest economy and more people than China. Russell DSouza, International Credit Risk Manager for Hallmark International, pointed out that India implemented modern, capitalistic economic reforms in the early 1990s that are producing positive results. The Tribune article reported that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who as Finance Minister championed these reforms, proposed major investments in his first budget for education, modernizing Indias colonial-era infrastructure, and lowering tariffs. DSouza also noted India has modernized its banking regulations. India has liberalized its laws to allow foreign banks to take over branches. Local Indian private banks are allowed to set up foreign bank branches. The banking rules have been liberalized considerably. The CIA World Factbooks website estimates that by July 2005, Indias population will be slightly fewer than 1. 1 billion, of nearly 16 percent of the worlds population, not far behind Chinas, which is projected to be 1. 3 billion. Market Place PRI, a business radio program, reported on March 14, 2005 that a recent economic survey predicted India would grow at 7 percent this year. However, the report went on to assert that many economic analysts say that India needs to improve its infrastructure. DSouza, who grew up in India but now lives in the U. S, experienced the problems India has with the Lagging state of much of its infrastructure. Youve got an infrastructure that is woeful. Its one of Indias biggest Achilles heels. Its worse than Chinas. Just the sheer size of its growing middle class provides a huge potential market for India-based companies. DSouza said the size of Indias middle class is over 200 million people. Consumer goods are exploding in India. There are people with cash like Ive never seen before. Indias geopolitical importance and stature are growing too. U. S. foreign policy officials view India, with its strategic location, as an important counter-balance to the growing political and military power of China. U. S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began a six-nation tour of Asia in India on March 16. An article that same day in the Tribune noted that analysts in Delhi viewed her stop there as a positive sign the United States was eager to underline Indias increasing importance on the U. S. foreign policy agenda. Talks between Rice and Singh focused on defense and military cooperation, economy and trade and synergies in energy and environmental protection. India possesses some advantages that make it especially suited to provide less expensive business services for companies. China, on the other hand, has excelled in the manufacture of cheaper products. The two main advantages for India is that it has an estimated 200 million people who speak English and also a world-class education system. India is a bilingual country, DSouza said. He noted this is a byproduct of its former status as a British colony. It has an advantage over China, he said, in that respect. The educational system in India has produced a significant number of chartered accountants, doctors, MBAs, lawyers, research analysts and other professionals, many of whom will work in India for much less than their professional counterparts in the U. S. and Europe. Alok Aggarwal, Co-founder of Evalueserve, which offers business intelligence, market research and intellectual property services to clients in North America, Europe and Asia, noted there are two types of services offered on an outsourced basis. Business Process Outsourcing, or BPO, involves more routine processing of data. Ravi Aron, Professor of operations and information management at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School, said examples of BPO involve more routine functions where there is a predefined way of doing tasks or even reaching conclusions, as in data entry, accounts maintenance and customer service activities such as those performed at call centers. BPOs typically provide such services as setting up bank accounts, selling an insurance policy and voice and e-mail-based computer support. Aggarwal said that a higher Level of service than BPO is called Knowledge Process Outsourcing or KPO. KPO involves high-end processes such as investment research and Legal and insurance claims processing. In a March 21, 2005 article in the Indiatimes News Network, Pavan Bagai, Vice President, strategic businesses, EXL said, Imagine unsorted data going through a black box and coming out as useful information. In KPOs the black box is your mind. There is no predefined process to reach a conclusion. In either BPO or KPO, India often offers a huge cost savings potential over those functions being performed by American workers in the U. S.  Aron said that in credit card-related functions, the cost of an American worker, including benefits and overhead, ranges from $48-55 per hourwhile in India, those costs are only $18-24. A report by Hay Associates estimated that the fully burdened costs of an accounting clerk in Stamford, CT, is $69 per hour, while in Bangalore, India it is $4 per hour. (Though Alok disputes that number saying that currently the loaded costs in Bangalore would be $7-$8 per hour the cost differential is still staggering. ) French Associates reported that a $50,000 U.  S. clerical worker would cost only $10,000 in India and would be a top graduate. This huge gap in employee direct and indirect costs is even more dramatic with KPO services. When you go with high-end work thats when the game gets interesting, Aron said. He said employee costs per hour for an equity research analyst in the U. S. would range from $230-$250 while in India it would only be about $30. Should you find it suitable to relocate, (to one of the countries that offers much cheaper employee costs) you will experience huge savings, Aron said. If you look al the labor cost difference there is a 5-1 to 8-1 cost factor, added Aggarwal, whose firm actually provides equity research and investment banking research services. American doctors are very hard workingbut they dont work five times harder than Indian doctors. The March 21 Indiatimes Network article reported that India, with its knowledge base and lower costs, will be leading the pack in the race for KPO business. The article referred to a report by Evalueserve that India will capture more than 70 percent of the KPO territory by 2010. Indias software trade body reported that export revenues from software outsourcing will reach $17. 3 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2005. In a presentation by Marc Vollenweider, President and CEO of Evalueserve, it was projected that by 2010 India will have about 1. 1 million people employed in BPO. According to Vollenweider, U. S. companies may be compelled to outsource due to his projection of a labor shortage. According to his figures, by fiscal year 2010, the U. S. is projected to experience a shortfall of 5. 4 million workers. In that same timespan, the U. Ks shortfall is projected to be . million workers. Vollenweiders presentation concluded that, Global Sourcing has become an economic imperative for the developed nations to maintain and sustain their historical and current growth. Offshoring IT and BPO services to low-wage destinations provides a viable solution to developed nations who are struggling against the significant shortage of skilled labor. Evalueserve projects that by 2010 India will have 820,000 employed in low-end BPO services generating total revenues of USD 18 billion and 250,000 workers employed in high-end KPO services generating USD 12 billion. A number of major U.  S. -based corporations have set up operations in India or have outsourced certain business services to Indian firms. A report by French Associates indicated India has become a venue for major development centers for IBM and Microsoft. Major corporations like Ford, JP Morgan Chase and HP are currently setting up operations there. General Electric, however, probably has utilized the manpower resources of India more extensively than any other major American Corporation. GEs involvement in India began in September 1989, according to a front-page, March 23, 2005, The Wall Street Journal article. Al that time, then-CEO Jack Welch flew to India for a sales meeting to sell products to India. During that stop in India, Welch met with Indian government officials who pitched him the idea of having some of his companys needs provided by its emerging high-tech sector. Today, The WSJ article pointed out, India earns more than $17 billion from corporations worldwide seeking low-cost overseas talent Although GE is hesitant about taking credit for a trend that has taken many American jobs overseas, most corporate observers agree GE played a major role in the outsourcing boom. The WSJ article further noted that in 1995, GE created GE Capital International Services, now known as Gecis, to handle backroom work and market analysis. In 1999 Gecis established the first international call center in India and in 2000 GE opened a research center in Bangalore to tap the skills of Indian engineers. The WSJ article reported that in November 2004, GE sold a controlling interest in Gecis and now the company will seek business from other companies. French Associates estimated that GE had 5,000 FTEs (full-time equivalents) in India in 2000. That number grew to 12,000 FTEs by the end of 2003. The WSJ article also reported that in 2000, GE opened the Jack F. Welch Technology Center in Bangalore that employs thousands of researchers working on everything from new refrigerators to jet engines. A recent GE report indicated the company plans to spend about $600 million this year on computer-software development from Indian companies. Val Venable, CCE, Credit Manager for GE Advanced Materials, in reference to GEs outsourcing efforts in India, said, We certainly have been a major player. For our company and a lot of companies, youre always looking for quality suppliers at low cost. It makes business sense to do it. Venable, who spoke in India in late March during a five-week business trip there, said that her operations are split between the U. S. and India. Part of my collections team sits in the U. S. and some of it is in India. She said that employee allocation between that in the U. S. and India is proportional to the workload. If I have 70 percent of my people in India, I look to have 70 percent of my work there. My people in the U. S. have a lot more credit experience, so they do a lot of the credit decisions. In Venables case, even though GE does not wholly own Gecis anymore, it has not changed her operations. My relationship with my team has not changed. We work together and we have sub-teams. For our credit and collections teams we didnt see a difference. My people from the India and the U. S. have been trained the same. The cost savings of operations in India arent just confined to personnel expenses Venable said. Its not just the cost of the people. Over here I have different IT costs and I have different training costs. She acknowledged that many Indian employees are well educated and enthusiastic about their work. Theres a huge emphasis on education here. Its their first experience in business. On the issue that some Americans have complained about not being able to understand customer services representatives in India, Venable said, Some of my team have fairly strong accents, but have you ever called Texas of Mississippi? They have accents too. We usually work on that. Thats part of the service to the customers. An unavoidable drawback Venable mentioned of outsourced services emanating from India to American consumers is, If youre going to have a team in India, theres a time zone difference. She said the time zone difference between India and the U. S. is 9. 5 hours and 4. 5 hours between India and the U. K. She san the time zone difference actually has not been a major problem for her operations. The areas around the call centers are becoming a 24-hour culture. Probably in the next 20 years were going to have virtual offices and it wont matter where people sit. Does everybody need to sit in the same room? Probably not. †