Japanese Haiku Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Japanese Haiku - Research Paper Example Based on Zen Buddhism (Purves), the genre of haiku as a means of poetic expression emerged as far back as in the 14th century, originally being a subgenre of traditional Japanese Waka poetry inspired by Chinese models of versification. At that time, this poetic form was referred to as hokku, yet later, in the 16th century, it acquired the shape of a separate genre and got its modern name from the poet Masaoka Shiki in the 19th century. One of the earliest remarkable haiku poets is Sogi, who lived between 1421 and 1502 and was a Zen monk from Kioto (Fig. 1). The poet writing haiku is commonly referred to as haijin, and Matsuo Basho is considered the most famous haijin in Japanese poetic history. The word â€Å"hokku† initially meant the first stanza of another poetic form, renga, or the first stanza of tanka poetry. However, feudal Edo period lasting from 1615 to 1868 brought huge popularity to it and made it a self-sufficient genre (Sher), which was later renamed by Masaoka Shiki. Gilbert and Yoneoka provide a quotation of R. H. Blyth describing the peculiar qualities of Haiku that – according to his statement – made this poetic form unique and so popular: â€Å"It is not merely the brevity by which [the haiku] isolates a particular group of phenomena from all the rest; nor its suggestiveness, through which it reveals a whole world of experience. It is not only in its remarkable use of the season word, by which it gives us a feeling of a quarter of the year; nor its faint all-pervading humour. Its peculiar quality is its self-effacing, self-annihilative nature, by which it enables us, more than any other form of literature, to grasp the thing-in-itself†. Therefore, it could be stated that the main peculiarity of haiku lies in its succinct nature and intense effect produced on the reader. Haiku as a rather free and expressive poetic form contributed to democratization of Japanese poetry and

Using an extended example critically examine whether the sector matrix Essay - 2

Using an extended example critically examine whether the sector matrix framework gives a better strategic understanding of product markets than the concepts of product or commodity chains - Essay Example ing, franchising and other similar concepts gave rise to the largely held belief that they are the result of the market oriented strategies however on much larger scale they were the result of larger shift into the overall perception in the market regarding how to achieve and sustain the competitive advantage. Many believed that strategic decisions like outsourcing was an attempt to focus one’s attention to core competencies of the firm however, what was not realized is the fact that the resulting chain effects were largely directed at creating linkages between the demand as well as supply dynamics of the respective industries. The evidence from Japan and other East Asian countries suggested that the inter-organizational cooperation between the different players in the market indicated towards a much larger picture of how the inter-relatedness between the industries as well as companies can lead to the creation of chains. The emergence of subsequent ideas on the value chain as well as commodity chains attempted to define such relationships and linkages however, they lacked the theoretical as well as empirical validity and as such a more unique and innovative method of sector matrix was introduced to overcome the deficiencies of the above two concepts. Michael Porter was one of the earliest proponents of the value chain concept as he considered it as something through which firms can achieve and sustain their competitive advantage. By focusing on the primary as well as secondary activities, firms can effectively achieve the competitive advantage as both the activities are considered as mutually reinforcing each other to achieve the desired strategic objectives. What is also however, critical to note that the value chain, for the first time presented a concept which linked different activities of the firm together and as such the overall success and failure of organizations largely depended upon how successfully the organization managers all these

Applications of Natural Science to Social Science

Applications of Natural Science to Social Science What can social science learn from natural science? Like all social sciences, the field of international relations attempts to provide both theoretical and practical insights into human behavior through the application of scientific principles. The inherent difficulty in social sciences, however, is just that – the attempt to provide insight into human behavior, which is notoriously resistant to attempts at predicting it through the means of logic. The personal relationship between the social scientist and the subject matter s/he studies, vs. and the natural scientist and the matter being studied tends to differ by virtue of both ideology and subjectivity; the natural scientist is bound, ethically, to conform his or her beliefs to the evidence gleaned from scientific method. Often, however, the ethical boundaries in the social sciences are less clear and more subject to the personal biases of the person doing the studying; the beliefs or theories are often used to tailor the evidence. The studied objectivity expected of the nat ural scientist is well-suited to the abstract or the impersonal elements of study; objectivity becomes more difficult to sustain when the inherently subjective matters of human behavior come into play in such social sciences as international relations. Given the often national or global human consequences of the application of theories of international relations, is it possible to remain neutral? Natural scientists believe that their work is ethically neutral. To be sure, their work can be put to good and bad uses, but this presumably reflects on the users rather than on the content of the science itself. The relationship between social science and the values of the social scientist seems far more immediate and direct than this, and this alleged contrast has been the subject for continuing discussion and debate†¦ Our observations of the social world seem even more coloured by the theory we employ than is the case in the natural sciences. (Ruben, 1998) Within the field of international relations, the aforementioned debate manifests itself in the competition between positivist and post-positivist theories. Positivist theories operate under the conviction that the principles of study as applied in the natural sciences, i.e. scientific method, and the analysis of quantifiable, measurable, and repeatable evidence, are applicable, valid, and valuable in the field of international relations. Positivist theories hold that the behavior of nation-states and the individuals who influence the policies of nation-states can be observed, studied, predicted, and reliably understood through the application of those theories. Examples of positivist international relations theories include liberalism, realism, neo-liberalism, and neo-realism (which we shall discuss in a moment). Post-positivist theories, such as social constructivism or international society theories, reject the notion that social systems, such as those in international relations, c an be studied in an objective manner that is free of value judgments. Scientific method, to adherents of post-positivist theories, is of little use in the field of international relations and those of this school of thought believe that ethics and other normative value concepts must be always be an inherent component of international relations studies. What exactly are the tenets of the scientific method, and how can they be usefully applied to social sciences such as international relations? In brief, the scientific method relies on the developing and testing of hypotheses designed to explain phenomena, in this case human phenomena, the behavior of nation-states. The studies are designed to test the hypotheses in a variety of different situations, tested by controlled experiments, the variables of which are carefully controlled and monitored by experts trained and qualified in the field of study. The evidence gathered by the studies is freely shared with other scientists for use in their own work, and theories that fail to hold up under rigorous examination must be discarded, modified, and/or updated without regard to personal attachment or subjective opinions. What is most difficult about the application of scientific method to the social sciences is the difficulty in maintaining consistency and reliability within controlled experiment situations. The ideal location for controlled experiments is, of course, a laboratory where scientists can carefully control any and all variables which might affect the outcome of the study and hence undermine or support the theory or hypothesis being tested. Human behavior is rarely confined to laboratory settings, however, and what is true about human behavior in this regard is even more true when it comes to collective human behavior, i.e., the behavior of nation-states. Further compounding the difficulty in maintaining controlled experiment environments with respect to international relations is that on the macrocosmic level of the world stage, the variables affecting the behavior of nation-states are not only numerous but their causal relationships are not always clear, linear, or even logical to an ob server, even if trained. There is little room for sentimental attachment to theories that fail to predict or solve international relations problems such as war or genocide, and to the extent that difficulty in adherence to scientific method leaves room for the dangerous influence of personal subjectivity, creative ways to maximize rigid application of scientific theory to international relations is key to the usefulness of positivist theories. One of the fundamental scientific theories underpinning most positivist international relations theories is a concept known as rational choice theory. (Rational choice theory is not unique or native to international relations; indeed, it is widely used in other social sciences such as economics and sociology.) Rational choice theory holds, on a basic level, that human beings generally use reason and rational processes to achieve a desired end or ends that they may seek at any given point in time – instrumental reason, in other words. Individuals, whether they be literal single human beings, or nation-states, who operate within the paradigm of rational choice theory are known as rational actors. Noted political theorists Shapiro and Green (1994) offered their analysis of how rational choice theory manifests itself in the context of international relations by identifying four elemental characteristics: 1) Rational actors employ the concept of utility maximization, which means th at where there are a variety of options for a rational actor to achieve its goals, it will choose the option calculated to have the maximum potential to improve its welfare; 2) The rational actor possesses the ability to evaluate the possible consequences of selecting any one of its various options to improve its welfare and prioritize the appeal of said options; 3) rational choice theory is at its core a theory of individual behavior, and though international relations is largely the study of groups of individuals who comprise the rational actors which populate the world stage, rational choice theory assumes and depends on the pre-eminence of the individual; and 4) rational choice theory is universally applicable. Rational choice theory in international relations is also closely related to rational choice theory in economics, insofar as economics describes the competition for allocation of finite resources,and in international relations, the competition between rational actors for those resources as they seek to improve their welfare and achieve their various goals. The two chief positivist manifestations of rational choice theory in international relations, then, are liberalism and realism, the former holding that nation-states are inherently predisposed to cooperate because of the self-evident futility of war, and the latter holding the opposite, that cooperation between nation-states is merely an incidental function of states seeking maximize their respective welfares and that the behavior of nation-states must always be seen through a prism which presupposes a primacy of self-interest among rational actors. The realist school of thought has largely predominated in the field of international relations for several decades, though it has been heavily criticized by those who believe realism is devoid of necessary ethical and moral compasses required to identify times when rational actors may not behave quite so rationally, thereby incurring human suffering. Realist international relations are heavily dependent upon multinational, multilateral go verning bodies such as NATO, the United Nations, etc., and individual nation-states’ adherence to the norms proscribed by membership in these types of institutions. Clearly, however, common sense provides us with numerous examples where both rational choice theory and realism have failed to accurately predict irrational behavior by nation-states and/or their leaders, and thus failed to predict and alleviate human suffering. Critiques of rational choice theory and realism point to the Holocaust, genocide in Sudan, Saddam Hussein’s attack on Kuwait, etc., as recent and painful examples of the failure of an over-dependency on theoretical models to predict complex human behavior. Realist international relations paradigms successfully guided the world through the Cold War without an additional conflict along the scale of World Wars I and II, however, so they cannot be held to be meritless. The application of scientific method to international relations is in part a function of necessity rather than any proof that the interactions of nation-states are easily describable by unassailably accurate theories; in short, attempts to analyze human behavior on a global scale, however imperfect, is a far preferable modus operandi than simply guessing as to why nation-states behave as they do. The stakes are simply too high – human lives, human welfare, for example for ad hoc guesswork to be the de facto methodology of international relations. An acknowledgement of the limitations of scientific method as applied in the social sciences is as important as its very application. BIBLIOGRAPHY Ruben, David-Hillel. (1998). â€Å"Social science, philosophy of,† In E. Craig (Ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. London: Routledge. Available from:  http://www.rep.routledge.com/article/R047 Coleman, J. S. and Ferrero, M. (1992) Rational Choice Theory: Advocacy and  Critique. London: Sage Green, D.P. and Shapiro, I. (1994) Pathologies of Rational Choice Theory: A Critique of Applications in Political Science. New Haven: Yale University Press. Shepsle, K. A. and Bonchek, M. S. (1997) Analyzing Politics. London: Norton.

Police Brutality: A Minority Group Concern Essay -- Use of Excessive Fo

"Relations between the police and minority groups are a continuing problem in many multiracial societies. Surveys consistently document racial differences in perceptions of the police, with minorities more likely than whites to harbor negative views." (Weitzer and Tuch, Race and Perceptions of Police Misconduct, 2004) A great deal of society views law enforcement officers as heroic and honorable individuals, whose main purpose is to protect and serve the community. For many officers, this description is accurate, however for others; violence and brutality against innocent citizens is part of getting the job done. For years, minorities have fallen victim to police brutality based on racial profiling, stereotypes and other unjustifiable reasons that has cost innocent lives. The involvement of officers in police brutality against minority groups causes tainted and negative views on policing. This reduces their ability to protect and serve the community. Police brutality is a violent incident involving an officer and a victim, usually including excessive force, unnecessary violence and sometimes resulting in a senseless fatality. Minority groups such as African Americans and Hispanics have often been the victims of this form of abuse by officers, however little justice has been done in order to protect these individuals from this form of cruelty by the hands of those with the most power. For many individuals, police brutality is a non-existent matter because it does not directly affect them or the community in which they live. Yet for others, this is an everyday occurrence and few limitations have been set as to what is unjust and malicious behavior of an officer towards the public, therefore, several officers are rarel... ..., 747-763. Simmons, K. C. (2008). The Politics of Policing: Ensuring Stakeholder Collaboration in the Federal Reform of Local Law Enforcement Agencies. The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology (1973- ), 98(2), 489-246. Smith, B. W. & Holmes, M. D. (2003). Community Accountability, Minority Threat, and Police Brutality: An Examination of Civil Rights Criminal Complaints. Criminology, 41(4), 1035-1063. Tyler, T. (2005). Policing in Black and White: Ethnic Group Differences in Trust and Confidence in the Police. Police Quarterly, 8(3), 322-342. Weitzer, R. and Tuch, S. (2004) Race and Perceptions of Police Misconduct. Society for the Study of Social Problems, Inc. SOCIAL PROBLEMS, Vol. 51, No. 3, pages 305–325. ISSN: 0037-7791; online ISSN: 1533-8533 Web. 4 Sept. 2015. http://web.missouri.edu/~jlfm89/Race%20Perceptions%20of%20Police%20Misconduct.pdf

Only a belief in embodied existence after death is philosophically justifiable. Discuss Essay

1- Christian belief in resurrection- outline Jesus’ resurrection after death- Link to hicks idea of the replica. 3- The only meaningful way to talk about survival after death is to say that souls can be reunited- Peter Geach 5- Characteristics and memories can be changed and falsified- Bernard William Descartes said ‘ My essence consists solely in the fact that I am a thinking thing’. This, if true, implies that our consciousness is separate from our bodies and so we must be able to exist without said bodies. This of course would then falsify the statement as disembodied life after death would be possible. Indeed, there are many who dispute this argument and one who would agree with the given statement is Bernard William who claims that characteristics and memories can be falsified. He would argue that because our memories can be lost and altered with certain drugs, accidents and illnesses such as Alzheimer’s; the main part of what makes us- us is the link between our minds and our physical form (our bodies). It would then follow that the only plausible after-death-existence would be embodied. It is the first point made by Descartes and many others which this essay will lean towards as it will be argued that disembodied existence is as philosophically plausible, if not more so than embodied. Many would claim that Christianity can be used to argue both sides of this issue. An example of where it may be used to support embodied life after death is in the resurrection stories. In Thessalonians 4, we find a much talked about quote among philosophers; ‘..Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again..through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.’ This verse gives us a clear idea that the early Christians believed in full, embodied resurrection. Although it is unclear as to whether or not some would have also agreed with a disembodied afterlife before judgment day and resurrection, many devout Christians only accept the embodied resurrection at the end of days. The verse tells us that at first Jesus’ followers didn’t recognise him, as he had changed somehow but the main message is of fully embodied resurrection. However, due to the complexity of the bible, it is difficult to completely understand whether or not there is a state between death and resurrection and many may feel the argument is far from philosophically justifiable. There has of course also been a long tradition of belief in disembodied afterlife. The Greek philosophy Plato believed we have separate souls which leave our bodies at death in order to join another. In the Phaedo, he recorded a response from Socrates to a question put forward by Crito; ‘In what fashion are we to bury you?’ Plato’s answer clearly shows his belief in the afterlife. It is important to understand that Plato believed in the soul because he believed innate knowledge must just be memories from previous existences. Furthermore, Plato was part of the chain of thought that says that everything has an opposite but they are always in a cycle, hot becomes cold for cold to then become hot and living things die just for new life to emerge. Believing in the cycle of opposites makes it clear why Plato would have believed in some kind of disembodied soul. Returning to the question put to Plato mentioned at the start of this argument, we see his response makes his belief in the afterlife clear. ‘He imagines that I am the dead body he will see in a little while†¦ but†¦ when I drink the poison I shall no longer remain with you, but shall go off and depart for some happy state of the blessed†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ On the other hand, however, The philosopher; Peter Geach was a strong believer that any talk of life after death where the soul and body are separate is totally meaningless. Geach described the idea of a separate soul and body as a ‘savage superstition’ and he believed that the genius of Plato and Descartes had given the superstition an undeservedly long lease of life. Geach, along with many other modern philosophers argue that the idea of a separate body and soul has come from misunderstanding of scriptural language. In his book, ‘What do we think with’, Geach wrote ‘thinking is a vital activity of a man, not any part of him, material or immaterial.’ This shows quite clearly Geach believed that a human is a single entity which needs to think, rather than a body and a separate mind which just happens to have consciousness. Geach believed that the only reasonable theory of the soul was the Aristotelian idea that the soul is the form of a living body. Many would say that Geach’s argument is fairly week as there is little evidence to back it up and he seems to be ‘piggy-backing’ off other philosophers, namely; Aristotle. Reincarnation, or rebirth (afterlife in a physical form),are a key feature at the heart of Hindu beliefs. Hinduism teaches that every person has an essential ‘self’ known as an atman. They believe the Atman to be eternal and something which seeks to be united with God. Hindu’s believe that God manifests himself in the atman if each individual, and through a number of births, deaths and rebirths, the person comes to understand a relationship of the atman with God. Once this realisation of unity is reached, the atman no longer needs to continue in the cycle and so is released (moksha). For the Hindu, physical bodies are nothing more than a container for the atman, the atman which holds the persons nature. This means that after going round the cycle a few times, the atman (or soul) is released from the container and moves on to disembodied life after death. Hinduism is the oldest spiritual tradition in the world and there is evidence that it flourished long before recorded history in India which means that the idea of a separate body and soul could have been the original belief. Descartes is one of the most famous philosophers and dualists and his belief on life after death was that what makes us, us is our ability to think; our consciousness. His conceivability argument leads us to wonder whether or not we need our bodies at all. The argument was laid out with 3 steps, it begins with the premise that a thinking thing can imagine existing without a body. The argument goes onto say that anything which can be conceived is possible and from this that if X can exist without Y then X and Y aren’t identical. The result of the argument is that a thinking thing is not identical with its body and so, they must be separate. Descartes most famous quote to sum his arguments up is that ‘I think, therefore, I am’ For Descartes, being able to think about not having a body, but not being able to conceive of not thinking at all means our minds must be separate from our bodies and therefore, if we are to believe in an afterlife then there is no logical reason why our minds would die with our bodies. Many believe this Is a fantastic argument for disembodied life after death as it gets the opposition thinking about not thinking and so leaves them at a blank. I feel that the strongest argument covered in this essay is that put forward at the start and the end. For many, the fact that we cannot think of our minds not existing is a far stronger argument than that of say, Peter Geach as looking back over past scriptures is just like copying off of someone in a test who has made their answers up, we would just be looking at something which may or may not be true. While I was slightly swayed by the first argument in favour of the given statement, due to its use of past events and a tradition of belief, however in then end, I have maintained my view that it is just as philosophically feasible to think of a disembodied life after death then an embodied one., possibly more so.

Computer architecture Essay

Describe how analogue data can be converted and stored in computer systems Analogue data needs to be sampled in order to be processed by a computer. As computers deal in One’s and Zero’s it can only record specific intervals. For example, when recording a sound that gradually gets louder over a minute, a digital recording could record the level of sound every second, but would lose the information between seconds. If the sound was sampled every half second, there would be half as much information lost from the original source, but file size would be doubled. This is the trade off that has to be made between file size and quality. Bit depth is the number of bits of information recorded per second . The higher the bit depth means, the higher the sample rate and this results in higher quality sound file. A good example of bit depth is in CD quality audio which has a bit depth of 16 bits and a sample rate of 44. 1 kHz. Task 3 (P5) Describe the key components of a computer architecture and how they interact 1. Data Buffer – this is a region of memory used to temporarily hold data while it is being moved from one place to another. 2. Accumulator A – An 8 bit CPU has 1 register called the accumulator, this holds temporary data e. g. the carry-out when you do addition. 3. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) – this is the workhorse of the CPU because it carries out all the calculations. 4. Data Buses – the mechanism that moves information around a computer. 5. Address Buffer – this holds the address part of the instruction register, 6. Program Counter – this contains the location of the next instruction to be executed and, therefore, keeps track of where the computer is up to in a program. 7. Instruction Register (IR) – this divides the information it receives into two fields. One field in the IR contains the operation code that tells the CPU what operation is to be carried out. The other field, called the operand field, contains the address of the data to be used by the instruction. 8. Condition Code Register (CCR) – this takes a snapshot of the state of the ALU after each instruction has been executed and records the state of the carry, negative, zero, and overflow flag-bits. In the above diagram the flag-bits are H, I, N, Z, V & C. Task 4 (P6) Describe the features of a processor Multi-tasking. Multi-tasking is a method where multiple processes are dealt with at once sharing common processing recourses such as a CPU. It involves the CPU assigning which instructions to be carried out first but it only focuses on one instruction at a time. Pipelining Pipelining is a method in which the Processor begins to execute a second instruction before the first has finished. Every pipeline is divided into segments and each segment can be ran along side each other. When each segment completes its task it moves on to the next. Cache (Level 1 and Level 2) Cache is a portion of memory made of high-speed static RAM (SRAM). As a result Cache memory is much more efficient than the main memory (RAM) which is dynamic RAM (DRAM) that runs slower but also cheaper. The cache is a smaller, faster memory which stores copies of the data from the most frequently used main memory locations. DRAM is dynamic in that, unlike SRAM, it needs to have its storage cells refreshed or given a new electronic charge every few milliseconds. SRAM does not need refreshing because it operates on the principle of moving current that is switched in one of two directions rather than a storage cell that holds a charge in place. If the computer processor can find the data it needs for its next operation in cache memory, it will save time compared to having to get it from random access memory. Level 1 cache is normally built on to the processor chip. It is extensively used for all sorts of purposes such as data fetching, data shifting and data loops, storing only small amounts of data. Level 2 cache is normally located on the motherboard. L2 cache stores much more data, coming usually from the L1 cache. L2 cache can be up to sixteen times the size of L1 cache; this also means that it takes up much more room so it has to be located on the motherboard. Clock Rate The clock rate is the speed at which a processor clock oscillates constantly from a one to a zero, this is measured in hertz. The clock rates speed is determined by an oscillator crystal and amplifier circuit inside a clock generator circuit. The limiting factor of the clock rate is the time it takes for the signal line to settle down from its on state to off state. The Clock rate is also as fast as L2 cache. Task 5 (P7) Describe the operation of logic gates using truth tables NOT   AND (2 inputs) OR (2 inputs) Consider how these three main gates can be combined. NOR (2 inputs) NOT Logic Gate also known as (Inverter) The output is â€Å"true† when only one input is â€Å"false. † Otherwise, the output is â€Å"false†. A Not gate is a logic gate which reverses the state of the input. AND Logic Gate The output is â€Å"true† when both inputs are â€Å"true. † Otherwise, the output is â€Å"false. † OR Logic Gate The output is â€Å"true† if either one or both of the inputs are â€Å"true. † If both inputs are â€Å"false,† then the output is â€Å"false. † These three main logic gates can be used to make other possible combinations of logic gates such as a NOR gate. NOR Logic Gate. The NOR gate is a combination of an OR gate followed by an inverter. The output is â€Å"true† if both inputs are â€Å"false. † Otherwise, the output is â€Å"false. † Task 6 (M1) Explain using examples how data travels around the processor Task 7 (M2) Create logic circuits using simple logic gates and provide truth tables This is a circuit that shows binary addition. Here are a few examples of the circuit being carried out. The Red circle/circles show input and Green circle/circles show output data This can be shown in the truth tables below. Task 8 (M4) Provide a description of both astable and bistable flip- flops. A flip-flop is an electrical circuit that can be in one of two states. Astable flip flop Astable flip flop is an oscillator which regularly switches states all the time. It has one 1 input and 1 Output. It can be used as a clock. Bistable flip flop Bistable flip flop is a memory device/gate which keeps one state indefinitely while it has power it also has 2 inputs and 2 outputs. The difference between An Astable and Bistable flip flops. A bistable flip-flop is a multivibrator with two stable states and can be put into either of its two states and it will stay like that. An example of this could be: A simple light switch; turn it on, it stays on, turn it off, it stays off. Task 9 (D1) Create complex logic circuits made up of arrays of simple logic circuits. To produce an addition of two numbers each of four bit’s in length we must first. You can add two numbers together each four bit in length by extending the first full adder’s carry out to another full adder and so on. Until you get 4 full adder’s each following on from the last carry out. The way a full adder works: The circuit adds two bits Input A and Input B, taking into account the previous carry in, to give the Sum, and the carry out. Now we know how a full adder works we can now relate this to the idea of 4 full adders joined together by the last carry out and the diagram below illustrates this. Diagram 1 These diagrams (below) will show you how you can add two four bit binary numbers together using a logic circuit. Example 1 Binary 1111+ 1111 ______ 11110 These binary numbers with value of 1 stand for both switches (The inputs i. e. the two four bit numbers added together) and the sum which in this case are shown by the flashing of LED lights (The sum is the output). 0 means no switch or light is active. The first line of inputs for this study will always be A4,A3,A2,A1 The second line of inputs for this study will always be B4,B3,B2,B1 these two numbers will be added together Then it is a long underscore followed by Carrys C3,C2,C1 directly underneath And then finally the output sum shown as O Task 10 (D2) Compare and contrast two different processors I will compare the AMD Opteron quad core and the Intel core 2 quad processor q9650. AMD Opteron quad core 64-bit Computing Yes L2 cache 512kb x4 L3 cache 2mb Clock Speed 2. 1Ghz Special Features Rapid Virtualization Indexing AMD Smart Fetch Technology Front Side Bus (FSB) Speed 2000Mhz Watts 45 Price i 165 new Intel core 2 quad processor q9650 64-bit Computing Yes L2 cache 12mb Clock Speed 3Ghz Special Features Intel Virtualization Technology Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology Front Side Bus (FSB) Speed 1533Mhz. Watts 65 Price i 223 new Key components: Front Side Bus – The Front Side Bus allows the components to send and receive data from the CPU to the North Bridge and vise versa. The faster a computer’s bus speed, the faster it will operate, but a fast bus speed can’t make up for a slow Clock Speed. Clock Speed – The Clock Speed is the speed at which a microprocessor executes instructions these clock cycles per second are measured in hertz. Special Features: Virtualization -Virtualization also known as a virtual machine makes it possible to run multiple operating systems on one computer. SpeedStep Technology – SpeedStep Technology is built into some new Intel processors this can be used to change the clock speed by using a piece of software. Speed Step Technology allows the processor to keep up with performed operations. It greatly reduces power consumption and heat loss. Smart Fetch Technology – Smart Fetch Technology allows the processor core to enter a â€Å"halt† state and draw less power, which reduces CPU power consumption. Recommendation: Both processors have Quad-Core technology and 64 bit computing, however the difference is in the Clock speed, Cache memory and the extra features. Both processors have similar special features such as the AMD Rapid Virtualization Indexing and the Intel Virtualization Technology. Although the Intel core 2 quad processor q9650 has no L3 cache I think that the higher clock speed and L2 cache more than makes up for not having any L3 cache. Not to mention the Intel core 2 quad processor q9650 has Speed Step Technology which makes for a much greater performance. The Intel core 2 quad processor q9650 is more expensive but it is a price worth paying for such a greater performance.

Free Essays on East Of Eden

Love is the inspiring force behind all conflicts in the book East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Every character, in one way or another, is possessed by love, to do things that aren’t always well thought out. Cyrus, Charles, Adam, Cathy, Aron, and Cal Trask are all in a continual battle for each other’s love. In certain cases this battle ends in death or close to. Cyrus Trask established his love for his family by training his boys all their lives to prepare for war. To Cyrus, the army was the most respectable job that one could have. So he saw no conflict (even though it was an apparent one) in the fact that even though he loved his son, he was sending him off to his death. He picked the son he loved best, Adam, even though Charles Trask was clearly the natural soldier of the two brothers. In chapter 3 Steinbeck explains, "Charles was a natural athlete and the competitor’s will to win over others, which makes for success in the world†. (Steinbeck 20) â€Å"Young Charles won all contests with Adam whether they involved skill, strength, or intelligence and won them so easily that quite quickly that he had to find his competition among other children." (Steinbeck 20) When Cyrus decided that it was Adam who was to go to into the army it was made apparent that he loved Adam more than Charles. He would only give the distinct order to go and become a soldier to his most prized son. Charles loved his father more than Adam ever did. In fact, Adam claims to hate his father. Charles and Adam have a divided relationship when Adam gets back from the war. Charles wants nothing more than to know that his father loves him. He does everything he can, buys him nice presents, is very obedient, and takes care of the farm when both men leave. It is ironic that the one who wanted and needed love the most was the one who received it the least. This lack of love creates jealousy that comes out as violence from Charles. After Cyrus had chosen Adam, Cha... Free Essays on East Of Eden Free Essays on East Of Eden If I could recommend a work of fiction to read and be contemplated by my fellow classmates, it would be John Steinbeck’s East of Eden. East of Eden parallels Genesis times, with a traditional good versus evil story line. The profound depth of the novel leaves one with knowledge and insight for everyday life. East of Eden is the most stimulating novel I have ever read. It is set in the early twentieth century, a time of hardships and a specific struggle for identity. Steinbeck gives the readers Cathy, the incarnation of evil. He symbolically has Adam as the protagonist of the novel. Cathy fights against the traditional role of women and is determined to be in control, while Adam, the innocent bystander, has an almost fatal downfall caused by being too trusting. Caleb and Aron, Adam‘s sons, relive the story of Cain and Abel while learning the consequences of favoritism and preferred love. Everyone can connect to a character in East of Eden and the inner struggles the characters experience, while also relating to the bigger conflicts exhibited. Steinbeck seems to ask the question, â€Å"Is life a carousel revolving around predestined fate or can we choose our own destiny and not repeat the mistakes of history.† To read the novel means the reader is certain to judge the battles in their own life. East of Eden carries a hopeful message to all readers that the endurance of love and decisions from the heart will prevail over all obstacles.... Free Essays on East Of Eden In East of Eden, John Steinbeck explores man’s role in the battle of good versus evil. The story of the Trask family strongly mirrors the story of Cain and Abel in the Bible. Steinbeck questions throughout the novel whether or not the descendants of the Trask family, particularly Adam’s son Cal, can escape the pattern. Steinbeck expresses his opinion through Adam’s insightful Chinese servant, Lee. After much research, Lee tells Samuel Hamilton and Adam Trask: Don’t you see? The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in â€Å"Thou shalt,† meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word, the word timshel â€Å"Thou mayest† – that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if â€Å"Thou mayest† – it is also true that â€Å"Thou mayest not.† Don’t you see? In this passage, Steinbeck explores man’s role in the central theme of the novel, the battle between good and evil. Lee’s thoughts about the story of Cain and Abel contribute greatly to both the plot and the theme of the novel. His studies of the Hebrew word timshel provide hope to Adam’s son Cal that he will be able to break the chain of the Trask family. It also foreshadows Cal success in completing the task. As far as theme is concerned, Lee’s studies of the word timshel show that man can affect the battle between good and evil by his choice. Steinbeck discovered through the novel the importance of choice in every man. Lee’s exploration of the Hebrew word timshel shows that man can truly affect his life. The one flaw in East of Eden, as most critics agree, is Cathy. Steinbeck describes Cathy as being born evil, so she did not have a choice. However, this flaw makes East of Eden more realistic because perfection would make the story see... Free Essays on East Of Eden The central point that I’ve seen so far in East of Eden is that it dramatizes the continuous conflict between good and evil within individuals and in society as a whole. The most important contrast explored in this first section, however, is that between the large, loving Hamilton family and the small, tension-ridden Trask family. The difference between these two families represents the differing moral environments in which their children later develop. In this essay, I will try to explain how Steinbeck explores the clash between good and evil through a number of contrasts; his introduction, and the main focus who are Adam and Charles. Steinbeck begins the novel with a detailed description of the natural landscape and beauty of the Salinas Valley where he grew up, establishing an important early symbol for the conflict between good and evil: the contrast between the dark, threatening Santa Lucia Mountains to the west and the bright, welcoming Gablian Mountains to the east. The narrator, whose voice is really that of Steinbeck, says that he learned to tell east from west by looking at these mountains, symbolizing the human dilemma of having to find the way between light and darkness, goodness and evil. The narrator then tells about his grandparents, Samuel and Liza Hamilton, who arrive in the valley from Ireland. They have to settle on the worst land, as the best is already taken. Samuel begins working as a blacksmith to support his nine children; he also works as a well digger and as an unlicensed doctor. Samuel Hamilton is a powerful symbol of good and his bond with his family is very strong. Cyrus Trask, on the other hand, is a menacing symbol of corruption and familial divisiveness. Within the Trask family, the focus of this section, the contrast between Charles and Adam is of significant importance. The plot is essentially a complicated retelling of the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. Adam is kind and good-natured, while C... Free Essays on East Of Eden Love is the inspiring force behind all conflicts in the book East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Every character, in one way or another, is possessed by love, to do things that aren’t always well thought out. Cyrus, Charles, Adam, Cathy, Aron, and Cal Trask are all in a continual battle for each other’s love. In certain cases this battle ends in death or close to. Cyrus Trask established his love for his family by training his boys all their lives to prepare for war. To Cyrus, the army was the most respectable job that one could have. So he saw no conflict (even though it was an apparent one) in the fact that even though he loved his son, he was sending him off to his death. He picked the son he loved best, Adam, even though Charles Trask was clearly the natural soldier of the two brothers. In chapter 3 Steinbeck explains, "Charles was a natural athlete and the competitor’s will to win over others, which makes for success in the world†. (Steinbeck 20) â€Å"Young Charles won all contests with Adam whether they involved skill, strength, or intelligence and won them so easily that quite quickly that he had to find his competition among other children." (Steinbeck 20) When Cyrus decided that it was Adam who was to go to into the army it was made apparent that he loved Adam more than Charles. He would only give the distinct order to go and become a soldier to his most prized son. Charles loved his father more than Adam ever did. In fact, Adam claims to hate his father. Charles and Adam have a divided relationship when Adam gets back from the war. Charles wants nothing more than to know that his father loves him. He does everything he can, buys him nice presents, is very obedient, and takes care of the farm when both men leave. It is ironic that the one who wanted and needed love the most was the one who received it the least. This lack of love creates jealousy that comes out as violence from Charles. After Cyrus had chosen Adam, Cha...

The eNotes Blog Unpublished Novel by Pearl S. Buck Found in Texas StorageUnit

Unpublished Novel by Pearl S. Buck Found in Texas StorageUnit I live for stories like this. My children are regularly subjected to garage and estate sales.   They tap their feet and emit long, angsty, teenage sighs as I go through ancient, musty-smelling boxes, looking and hoping for such a gem. It happened to  someone.  After forty years, an unpublished manuscript by Pearl S. Buck  has been discovered in a Texas storage unit.   The New York Times  reports that the manuscript was returned to Bucks family for a small fee.   How the manuscript came to be in Texas is a mystery;   Buck, a West Virigina native,   never lived in Texas, nor did she have family in Texas. Although Bucks best-known work today is  The Good Earth, in the early twentieth century, many of her other works were widely read. A prolific author, Buck wrote dozens of novels, works of non-fiction, and short stories. In 1938, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, the first woman upon which the honor was bestowed. The new novel titled  Ã‚  The Eternal Wonder  is described as â€Å"the coming-of-age story of Randolph Colfax, an extraordinarily gifted young man whose search for meaning and purpose leads him to New York, England, Paris and on a mission patrolling the DMZ in Korea that will change his life forever - and, ultimately, to love.† The publisher,  Open Road Integrated Media,  says the novel will be released on October 22, 2013, in both paperback and eBook formats.

10 Success Lessons from Successful People

10 Success Lessons from Successful People We all have a different definition of success. Some people define success by having a loyal family and children. But most of the world would identify it as achieving power and wealth. Here are some tips from successful people, you can use in college, future career and personal life. If You Want to Learn Something – Just Do It. â€Å"The best way of learning about anything is by doing.† Richard Branson Richard Branson is a very successful English businessman, whos inspiring a lot of young people to start their own business and stop being afraid of doing something new! Richard can give us valuable advice – you cant learn about anything without actually doing it. You can read a lot of books on how to ride a bike, but unless you start riding it, you wont be able to know how to do it well. Develop Yourself â€Å"If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control myself.† Stephen R. Covey How can people control others without knowing how to control themselves? If you want to be successful and improve some things around you – start with yourself. Every person should improve themselves before trying to influence the others. Very often it becomes the hardest thing to do. Everybody can see mistakes in others, but when it comes to yourself – its hard to notice anything wrong. Be Persistent I have not failed. Ive just found 10,000 ways that wont work. - Thomas A. Edison Thomas Edison is one of the most successful American inventors. If his new invention didnt work right away, Edison started trying so many times, until it worked. Simple as that. You shouldnt give up as soon as something doesnt go your way. Edisons key to success is to be persistent and confident. Eventually, youll be able to achieve great results. Many people give up without understanding that next try could be successful. Love What You Do â€Å"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. † Steve Jobs Many people settle on their lousy jobs and work until retirement. It is not necessary! Everyone has a thing they love to do. It can be programming, singing or writing, it doesnt really matter. Your work will be truly successful only if youre passionate about it. Start chasing your dreams, try different jobs. If youre young, you have a lot of possibilities to choose from. Steve Jobs doesnt want you to settle until youre sure its what you want to do! Work Hard â€Å"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.† – Colin Powell Colin Powell is right. You may think there are some secrets to success you dont know. Or that you have to be talented in one area to achieve wonderful results. To be honest, it is result from very hard work and learning from failure. It is important to learn from mistakes to not let them happen again. Before you start doing something, you need to prepare, research and work as long as it takes. Dont Procrastinate â€Å"Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases and its toll on success and happiness is heavy.† Wayne Gretzky No more â€Å"Ill start on Monday/tomorrow/next month/year† words! Its now or never. We all know what it is to be a procrastinator. You just cant do anything, you want deadline extension, even if it takes less than an hour to do something. Stop looking for excuses! Successful people dont procrastinate. This is their key to success. Be Passionate Stop chasing the money and start chasing the passion. Tony Hsieh Weve all heard about Zappos – a company with the happiest employees. Tony Hsieh realized that he didnt have to chase the money. He should find his passion and go for it! If you manage to find that passion, youll see it can bring money as well. Tony used to spend days, not even hours at work, because he loved it! If youre not ready to devote most of your time and energy on your work, maybe its not for you. Choose Wisely â€Å"It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.† J. K Rowling You may have some great abilities and talents. But the most important thing is what you do with those abilities. You need to make a lot of choices in your career and they define who you really are. So make sure they are the right ones. Dont let others influence your choices and stay true to your principles. Revenge Your Enemies by Being Successful The best revenge is massive success. Frank Sinatra Be ready to hear a lot of meaningless critics. But listen to Sinatras words – the best revenge is to show all these people how successful you are. There is no need to worry about someones mean words. All you should do is forget about the bullies and show the world youre better than them. Stay Focused The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.† – Bruce Lee Bruce Lee was a wise man, who thought it was important to stay focused all the time. You should think only about things, which matter and ignore all the distractions. There are some long-term goals you should think about, so be focused on them. Decide whats important to you and motivate yourself to reach all your goals. You wont find some extraordinary secrets to success. The most important part is to work hard, believe in your dream, be persistent and dont listen to meaningless critics. Be confident and dont let others stop you. And always practice! Even the most talented people had to spend hours every day to become great. So get rid of procrastination and enjoy improving your skills! Any success tips you would like to share? Dont be shy! Go to the comments below!

Exile, loss, and alienation in Walcotts The Schooner Flight Essay

Exile, loss, and alienation in Walcotts The Schooner Flight - Essay Example The voice is conversational and narrative, at times detached, at times emotional, but always introspective. The poem also used sound and rhythm to reflect the sounds of the Caribbean’s ocean and the texture of their conflicted lives. The paper employs an eco-critical perspective and argues that the environment, both the nation and the sea, are depicted in different images, the nation both home and alien, while the sea, also uncertain, but lovelier because it allows flight and introspection. The paper argues that the writing poems and exploring the sea are similar to the process of exploring one’s individual and national identity that cannot be easily attained because of the Caribbean’s history of colonization and slavery that leads to themes of exile, loss, and alienation. Shabine experiences loss of identity because of being exiled and alienated in a nation where he is not considered white or black. Though he had personal conflicts with his division over his wif e (and their children) and Maria Conception, the poem also touches on socio-economic and political issues of slavery and lack of freedoms and rights in the Carribean. Clearly, Shabine is a divided individual, as divided as the structure of his poem that has enjambed lines and caesuras, but as a poet and a mariner, he left a positive image of being one with his true identity. Derek Walcott’s â€Å"The Schooner Flight,† published in1986 as part of the Collected Poems 1948-1984, depicts a schooner’s life, its making and his becoming. The speaker is a mariner mulatto, Shabine, who speaks as a poet and a â€Å"red nigger.† His diction and choice of words manifest both his education as a colonized object and a subject-poet. The iambic pentameter maximizes inner rhymes that express his frustrations and ideals as a mulatto and a poet. The paper uses eco-critical perspective and argues that the environment, both the nation and the sea, are depicted in different im ages, the nation both home and alien, while the sea, also uncertain, but lovelier because it allows flight and introspection. The narrative poem compares writing poems and exploring the sea as the convoluted process of exploring one’s individual and national identity that cannot be easily attained because of the Caribbean’s history of colonization and slavery that leads to themes of exile, loss, and alienation. Walcott used a mixture of English and Caribbean language and the diction of a seaman to portray his cross-cultural identity from a colonized viewpoint that can help explain his nomadic tendencies. He selected words that showed different factors that shaped and controlled his identity. Carenage is located in Saint Barthelemy in the Caribbean. He is an islander, but he wants to be more of a mariner, which is asserted when the title of the first stanza is â€Å"Adios, Carenage† (Walcott). By saying these words immediately, Shabine expresses his original inte ntion, to leave the island that is both alien and home to him. Shabine also used the word â€Å"bohbohl,† when he said: â€Å"But they had started to poison my soul/with their big house, big car, big-time bohbohl,† (Walcott, 1.30-31). â€Å"Bohbohl† means corruption that people in the government or anyone in power is involved with. It is a local word that describes local political issues. Shabine is tired of his nation’s corruption that he has been part of too. In addition, Meerzon (2012) argued that â€Å"The Schooner Flight† uses Shabine as a conduit for Walcott’s political and artistic ideas (p.76). Shabine expressed his racial and ethnic identity directly when

Parkinson's Disease Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Parkinson's Disease - Term Paper Example Parkinsons disease is found all over the world and all different races. Parkinsons is the 4th leading cause of death for older adults and rising. The symptoms of Parkinsons disease are numerous. The first which is usually the "tip off" is shaking of a limb especially if the body is at rest. Other systems are sleep disturbances, slow movement, not being able to move, personality changes, rigid limbs, speech impairments, sexual difficulties, dementia, and depression. People with this disease usually walk with a shuffling gait, and a stooped posture. The severity of Parkinsons tends to worsen over time. There is no definite answer what causes Parkinsons but there are many theories. Many believe that it is a genetically inherited disease that is passed on from generation to generation. There are also connections with the illegal drug MPTP, and many of the people who get Parkinsons are people that got a server cause of influenza during an epidemic in the early 1900s. This disease might also because by chemicals or other types of pollution that were unaware of or that were unaware that were in feting are selves. Parkinsons disease has no confirmed date of when it was first found but researchers have documents of what they think is Parkinsons disease as far back as 3,000 BC. There is no definite cure for Parkinsons disease. Doctors usually prescribe levodopa which increases dopamine levels in the brain. In server cases some patients get brain surgery and implants have been done or used. A surgery which takes dopamine-producing tissue is transplanted into the brain is now being tested. If the surgery works it will prevent the dopamine-producing brain cells from dying. The 4 major symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are "Tremor" which is the rhythmic back and forth motion of the hands and fingers, "Rigidity" or a resistance to movement, in which there is a stiffness of the muscles. "Bradykinesia" (Brady-slow, kinesis-movement) or the slowing down and failure of

Cauda Equina Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cauda Equina - Assignment Example Apparently, the Cauda equina syndrome is a neurological disorder which affects the Cauda equina located in the spinal cord of the human body. Evidently, this condition causes acute function loss of the lumbar plexus, in other words, the nervous root of the spinal cord. Notably, the disease has some distinct symptoms for instance back pains, saddle anesthesia among others. Evidently, other etiologies of the caunda equina syndrome are spinal fractures and any compression in the affected nerve root in the spinal cord. However, fractures in the thoracolumbar spine do not necessarily attribute to caunda equina syndrome. In summation, most injuries in the neural spine usually postulate caunda equina condition therefore, any instance of back pain should be examined before it turns into fatal caunda equina syndrome. Notably, we are told that patient was unable to straighten this signifies thatthe Cauda equina infection had spread vastly the vertebral region thus causing the stiffness. Evidently, numbness over the left anterior region served as a vital signature that the Cauda equina syndrome was present in the patient. However, this are some of the significant symptoms that are key markers of the infestation of the disease. Therefore, if the above symptoms were diagnosed much earlier, the condition would have been managed by the uses of medication to prevent further spread. On the same note, the only remedy for the advanced form of this ailment is through surgery. In conclusion, this condition is curable if detecting early enough. However, if detected at an advanced stage it may be fatal since the individual may suffer from spine fractures hence fatal. To this end, it is necessary to go for regular checkup if the symptoms are viewed in an individual in a bid to curb instance of progression of the condition in the

The Rise of China, its effect on Reshaping the Business Environment Essay

The Rise of China, its effect on Reshaping the Business Environment and how this Affects Multinational Enterprises - Essay Example Disadvantages include increased competition in the export market and increased competition for raw materials. In addition, it is unknown what China will be like as a world economic leader and what effects this will have on the rest of the world. Introduction The economic boom in China has resulted in continued significant growth to the Chinese economy and the growth is predicted to continue. Already China has the second strongest economy worldwide and projections indicate that this growth is likely to continue. Calculations suggest that by 2035 the economy of China will have completely overtaken that of the United States, who is the current economic world leader. As the economy of China continues to grow, there is already evidence of the country reshaping many economic variables and the environment for businesses. There are a large number of implications for businesses as a consequence of this growth particularly those which span multiple countries. A multinational enterprise (MNE) i s a corporation or enterprise that has its headquarters in one country, and operates in other countries also. This operation may be in terms of having distinct branches or stores in other countries, or it may mean outsourcing production or a portion of production to a different country. MNE’s vary significantly in size, with some being small, and others large, with budgets that are so large they exceed the gross domestic products of some countries. The countries in which MNE’s have their headquarters play an important role in the way in which they operate and their ability to generate revenue, however the international economic situation also plays a significant role. The rise of China has already significant affected economic relationships and trends internationally and there are strong indications that this trend will continue. As a consequence, the rise of China has many potential effects for MNEs including both positive and negative effects. The Economic Rise of Ch ina The financial crisis which has been affecting enterprises, governments and countries worldwide has provided significant opportunity for the economy of China to strengthen itself and emerge as one of the fastest developing economies worldwide. The economic boom that has caused this rise has been steady for four decades, and indications suggest that the rise is sustainable. Already it ranks as the second strongest worldwide economy, after that of the United States. It is the largest exporter of products worldwide, and the second largest importer of goods. It has been projected that the economy of China will be stronger than that of the US by 2035, and will be twice the size of the US economy by 2050 . The growth of China’s economy has always been independent of the US, having low growth when the US economy was soaring, and now growing rapidly as the US economy is having significant difficulties. As China is gaining economic strength and power internationally, the consequenc e is a shifting of economic power and the redistribution of economic linkages as well as the creation of new ones. The continued growth and development of China’s economy will eventually result in the displacement of the US as the predominant market economically, resulting reassessment and changes within all major economic markets worldwide. Before the financial crisis, China used an export model for its economy, exporting goods to

Doing Business in New Zealand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Doing Business in New Zealand - Essay Example   However, political stability in New Zealand is comparatively satisfactory for which it has ranked fifth in the world. The country relies on foreign investment inflows and recently the government has reviewed its tax policies and tariff to enhance a favorable environment for international trade. Therefore, despite certain legal constraints, New Zealand offers comparatively favorable environment to new business entrepreneurs. New Zealand’s close traditional relationship with Australia has enabled free movement of both goods and labor. The condition is attributed to the political stability and the traditionally competitive economy.Legal Implications: The regulations associated with food industry include business income tax laws, food hygiene Regulations, and food packaging regulations. 1. Low tariff has become the major facet of business in New Zealand which commenced since 1980 with the unilateral tariff cuts. Since October 2008 a new tariff schedule was introduced which rep laced the tariff on industrial products with three ad valorem rates. In the same way, since the introduction of the Closer Economic Relations Agreement of 1983, the government ceased all duties on goods between New Zealand and Australia. 2. Companies in New Zealand pay income tax on their net profit (at 30%) of each financial year which usually runs from 1st April to 31st March. At the end of the financial year, the company can file a tax return according to which the payment accuracy is calculated.  

What are the starting activities that the Municipality of XXXX in Research Proposal

What are the starting activities that the Municipality of XXXX in Cyprus need to manage in order to implement successfully Citizen Relationship Management - Research Proposal Example It makes for greater convenience, accountability and reliability on part of a public organization to its citizens. This concept has yet to develop fully in Cyprus. European policymakers hope CzRM would be implemented in all governments to improve overall operations. Although CzRM has been implemented in other regions of Europe, the local authorities of Cyprus are in initial stages of investigating it for their own communities. That is one reason why conducting an investigation of the feasibility of CzRM for the Municipality of Ayia Napa in Cyprus is so important. The aim of this research project will be to suggest to the Municipality of Ayia Napa a list of starting activities for the successful implementation of CzRM according to their existing conditions and needs. These results will help the Municipality of Ayia Napa implement CzRM to increase their effective efficiency. It will ultimately help guide other municipalities in Cyprus because of developmental and operational similarities. There are challenges in CzRM system development. One is interpersonal. Niehoff and Moorman found that direct observation negatively influenced a group’s overall opinions of the monitor but positively affected their opinions of his or her fairness (1993). The other is procedural. According to Lytras, CzRM requires in-depth analysis of infrastructures and knowledge processes (2006). Nevertheless, Thai Government has studied this new stage in participative democracy. They promoted participation through e-forums. (Komolrit 2004). CitiStat is a method of data collection and analysis including behavioral feedback to help city administrators coordinate compartmentalized efforts. Ultimately, it is a technology augmenting management practice including citizens in optimizing participation CzRM connect online portals, electronic case management, call centers, physical one-stop service centers and CRM software (Schellong 2008). Participating municipalities can be in different stages

Doing Business in New Zealand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Doing Business in New Zealand - Essay Example   However, political stability in New Zealand is comparatively satisfactory for which it has ranked fifth in the world. The country relies on foreign investment inflows and recently the government has reviewed its tax policies and tariff to enhance a favorable environment for international trade. Therefore, despite certain legal constraints, New Zealand offers comparatively favorable environment to new business entrepreneurs. New Zealand’s close traditional relationship with Australia has enabled free movement of both goods and labor. The condition is attributed to the political stability and the traditionally competitive economy.Legal Implications: The regulations associated with food industry include business income tax laws, food hygiene Regulations, and food packaging regulations. 1. Low tariff has become the major facet of business in New Zealand which commenced since 1980 with the unilateral tariff cuts. Since October 2008 a new tariff schedule was introduced which rep laced the tariff on industrial products with three ad valorem rates. In the same way, since the introduction of the Closer Economic Relations Agreement of 1983, the government ceased all duties on goods between New Zealand and Australia. 2. Companies in New Zealand pay income tax on their net profit (at 30%) of each financial year which usually runs from 1st April to 31st March. At the end of the financial year, the company can file a tax return according to which the payment accuracy is calculated.  

Video games kill Essay Example for Free

Video games kill Essay Video games have become very popular among many age groups especially teenagers. Its common for teenagers to spend hours playing video games, particularly games with violence, sex, and criminal behavior. This is a huge concern for many parents. One parent says, My kid is so lazy, all he does is play video games in the basement! I dont know what to do. Susan, another parent says, Its frustrating when my son plays video games when its a beautiful day out. I dont get it! Many parents tend to believe video games are a waste of time, antisocial, and believe their child will become violent. But most young people, especially teen boys describe video games as fun, exciting, and another way to spend time with friends. An interesting fact parents should know is video game violence can increase aggression in only some individuals, depending on their personalities. Research by Patrick Markey, PhD, sampled 118 teenagers and participants played a violent or a non-violent video game and then hostility levels were tested. Teenagers who were highly neurotic, less agreeable and less conscientious, are more likely to be affected by violent video games. Participants who didnt have these personality traits were not affected or only slightly affected. Surprisingly, research has also found violent content isnt the main draw for the younger audience. Boys especially, surround friendships around video games and are more interested in playing to compete and win. It can be similar to rough-housing play boys engage in as part of normal development. Its another outlet for competition, status or to establish a hierarchy in the group (Olson CK. Childrens Motivations for Video Game Play in the Context of Normal Development). One teen, Alastair says, Its exciting, its like playing football, a way to bond. Another teen, Mike C. said, Some of my favorite high school memories were on xbox live. Its an easy way to connect with friends. Teenage boys want to compete with one another but it doesnt necessarily mean that because a kid plays a violent video game theyre immediately going to go out and beat somebody up, says Dr. David Walsh, president National Institute on Media and the Family. Researchers at Mass General Hospital Center for Mental Health and Media, discovered teenagers who play violent video and computer games use it as a way to cope with feelings, such as aggression, frustration, and stress. Many other scientists and psychologists also think video games can make your child smart, teaching high level thinking skills such as multitasking, quick thinking, working cooperatively, memory and self-confidence. Playing a video game is similar to working through a science problem. Like students in a laboratory, gamers must come up with a hypothesis, says James Paul Gee, Professor of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For example, players in some games constantly try out combinations of weapons and powers to defeat an enemy. If one does not work, they change hypothesis and try the next one. Video games are goal-driven experiences, which are fundamental to learning. With a combination of concentration and rewarding surges, video games exercise and build muscle for the brain caused from neurotransmitters such as dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical released when we encounter something pleasurable, like when someone surprisingly finds a $20 dollar bill in their pocket. A teenager beating a level or using their favorite weapon to beat the enemy will release pleasurable feelings. Dopamine is very important for learning behavior and motivation for activities in our lives. This is a main reason teenagers love to play video games. But too much dopamine can become addicting. Parents should know the difference between a teen having fun and passing time opposed to being addicted to video games. Some signs of addiction are losing track of time, not eating and becoming irritable. One way to avoid video game addiction is teaching your children how to develop a balanced lifestyle. Also, create dialogue with your teen about the content of the video game. Showing interest in what your teen enjoys can open the door to a better relationship, improved communication and trust. If youre still frustrated with your teen, create an agreement about what you want changed. An agreement can be written or verbally explained about what is expected when it comes to chores, school, video games, or other responsibilities. If the teen, or even the parent breaks the agreement, both can talk about what happened or changes needed. Remember, be non-judgmental, acknowledge feelings, and listen when talking with your teen. Another form of effective communication is the use of I statements. It should replace the opposing You statements which implies judgment and blame, saying theyre at fault for playing video games. For example, a parent telling their teenager, You spend so much time playing video games, is not as effective as I am interested in knowing why playing video games are fun for you? Also, telling your teen what to do or how to feel will most likely upset them, making them feel controlled. Its best to be patient, manage anxiety and exemplify good behavior by showing them how to balance activities and express feelings. In addition, exposing your child to different activities can be very beneficial. Taking a trip to an art exhibit or sporting event can help teenagers discover new interests and learn other ways to be engaged. To sum up video game violence, one person who I think says it best is renowned comic-book author, Gerard Jones. He says, When we try to protect our children from their own feelings and fantasies, we shelter them not against violence but against power and selfhood. See more at: http://www. strugglingteens. com/artman/publish/DoVideoGamesKillES_130114. shtml#sthash. wtWmToi9. dpuf.

Quality Services Improvement

Quality Services Improvement The Quality of Services in Emirates Airlines: The Challenges of Continuous Improvement Summary This study examines quality of services at Emirates Airlines and reflects on the associated market orientation. The study also examines challenges and avenues for continuous improvement. These inter-connected objectives shape three research questions that are addressed based on customer responses to a structured instrument. This instrument has its origins embedded in the wealth of developments in methodological aspects to do with service quality assessment. The ‘perception- expectation gap and the gap with respect to ‘service delivery are reviewed across a multitude of research studies that are pegged around the central conceptual feature of SERVQUAL. This concept is discussed in detail including instances of its use in examining the airline industry. A structured close ended questionnaire informs this study that uses data generated from 250 respondents. The study is limited in methodological rigor due to use of descriptive statistics alone but at the same time provides a rich narrative using the data that is often not possible unless results are very strongly skewed in the case on inferential statistics. The lack of robustness has arisen due to data gaps which the study acknowledges. Findings suggest that staff training on understanding the scope of service quality, and continuing with modernization and infrastructure upgrade- should be on top of the agenda at Emirates. The results also show that personalized attention provided to customers is a key selling point in why customers choose Emirates, but that there is lack of understanding related to proper customer relations management. Some conflicting results also tend to suggest that the dichotomy between customer expectations and perceptions is influenced by the relative offerings competitor airlines make. There is also a hint that short term resource impetuses like frequent flyer schemes do not do much to improve service quality perceptions. It is the long term embedded development of staff capabilities and understanding about the holistic nature of service quality that may prove to be ‘the competency for sustained competitive advantage. The study posits a need for further research in developing comparabl e service quality metrics across international airlines that are available only in the US at present (AQR), and also a need for comparative case studies in the industry to inform globalization intentions. Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1. Background Emirates airlines is one of the largest and probably the most consistently profitable airlines of recent times. Since its inception in 1985 it has grown astronomically and in the last couple of years it has embarked upon a fleet upgrade and expansion that dwarfs other major airlines. It sailed through the 9/11 related downturn in aviation business, and the disturbance in the gulf to become an airlines whose success formula mystifies management wisdom. Off the cuff solutions to issues and problems as they arise seems to have worked exceedingly well for the airline. The airline claims to have an open culture and an open agenda where the need of privacy does not subsume the need to deliver from individual competencies under what can be termed a ‘fluid strategy process (Sull et al, 2006). The focus on fine issues and macro aspects alike are shared across all management levels comprising a multi-cultural workforce like no other airline. The company is used to making leaps whether it is by using the recognition from airline of the year award in 1994 to establish itself among the giants, to the massive fleet expansion in 2004-2005- to become the envy of even the giants. Surviving the 9/11 depression clearly points to the merits in Emirates approach. The key issue seems in operating as a family, where when other airlines were downsizing and cutting staff, Emirates kept status quo on these fronts and communicated a feeling of belonging in its staff. This was the crucial lever that kept Emirates going- and in fact even prosper in times that were so trying for the industry. As Carlzon (1989) notes in his aft cited work ‘Moments of Truth this is flattening of structure in the true sense so that messages get across quickly and effectively makes for a â€Å"powerful organisation that serves customers better and unleashes the energy in employees†. However, putting both these together to fine tune the market orie ntation through service quality is a challenge especially in times of growth and high momentum in external factors affecting the industry. Other beliefs at Emirates like around the prosperity of Dubai that it keeps as the nerve centre of its network, and keeping a rather conservative outlook towards alliancing with other airlines are not conventional. These shape a flexible core around which other attitudinal and behavioral aspects of the business model emerge. This emergence has often been punctuated with imposed or deliberated change this study takes place at a time of deliberated change that of rapid expansion of Emirates airlines across the globe (Leckic, 2007). The openness also transcends into the beliefs the airline has. The airline now seeks to grow more aggressively and reduce overt centering on Dubai. Creating a global brand based on current success is on the agenda. The airline realizes that reputations in a service industry are leveraged around service quality. In this light as it stretches out to routing across the globe and hiring more staff and acquiring physical infrastructure, that service quality does not get compromised remains a concern close to heart (Sull et al, 2006; Byles, 2007, Leckic, 2007; Sending 2008). 1.2. Motivation The international airline industry has seen a struggle to deliver profitability alongside ‘truly satisfying the flying public (Van Pham and Simpson, 2000). The alliancing arrangements, route mapping and offering packaged services through such alliances have tried to affect industry standards of service quality- which may not be the true reflection of customer expectations. The perception of customers about what is central to service quality vis-à  -vis the state of affairs in crucial for informing service quality initiatives and the market orientation of a firm. Needless to say given the dynamic nature of offerings that exist across industries including the airline industry, such expectation-perception balances are continuously shifting, and are even more fast moving for an airline that is growing rapidly and encountering new customers around the globe. The challenge also thus extends to one of continuous improvement (Emirates, 2005-2007). Given the success of Emirates and its unprecedented growth and plans for growth, it is clear that customer perceptions will be central to deciding performance in the future. In times of growth and expansion to new routes the probability of variation in service quality levels and variation in customer expectations is likely to be higher. How the airline can absorb such feedback to modify and fine tune its strategic marketing in the global environment is intriguing for managers, academics, and the wider industry -all having been amazed at the Emirates story so far. This study examines customer perceptions about service quality and relates it with market orientation to ponder over the way forward for Emirates, clearly something very central to research and practitioner interests in Emirates. The recommendations may also have some food for thought for the airline itself as it seeks continuous improvements for a story that is already a bestseller. From a methodological perspective the use of service quality assessment approaches like the SERVQUAL and its interface with the market orientation of the company has been a motivation (Webb, 2000; Engelland, 1998; Devlin et al; 2002; Van Pham and Simpson, 2006). That these have informed the airline industry among others on service quality, customer and market orientation among others make this research founded on robust theoretical and methodological grounds. 1.3. Research Questions This dissertation seeks to examine service quality at emirates, and examine the way forward as the airline seeks to market its image in times of rapid investment and growth. The first builds upon the second as it is service quality perceptions as customer views that need to be the focus when shaping marketing strategies. This is in particular for a business model that is well resourced as in the case of Emirates and the main concern seems to be of monitoring and improving customer uptake of service quality as the airline grows. This is to be contextualized with the market orientation of the company so far for shaping key initiatives that can augment the alignment between customer perceptions of service with their expectations of the same. Thus three central questions that inform this dissertation are: What factors affect service quality perceptions about Emirates airlines? What factors are perceived to be central in informing continuous service quality improvement initiatives? How do these perceptions associate with the market orientation of the airline from past initiatives? 1.4. Dissertation Outline The dissertation starts with an introduction to the context, scope and potential contributions from this study as here. The next chapter examines the literature in detail examining the concept of quality before leading on to the idea of service quality and research to develop methodological and conceptual paradigms around it. The idea of market orientation as a complement and associated aspect is also dwelled upon before closing the literature review that also uses research evidence across industries including the airline industry. The hypotheses development chapter links the research questions to the backdrop of service quality drawing upon the research site of the airline industry and the conceptual orientation from the literature review. The Hypotheses are aligned closely with a structured instrument that is discussed in the approach and methodology chapter. The approach and methodology chapter also provides for a rationale for selection of methodology, issues in conducting the study, limitations, and a time plan based narrative of how the study has been conducted. The sample profile, data and methods in analyses description here is carried forward in the findings chapter where results associated with each of the hypotheses are presented. A discussion chapter connects the results for a further discussion on implications and then leads on to conclusions. Here the recommendations are once again highlighted as study deliverables under each of the research questions. This is followed by a discussion on study li mitations that include revisiting methodological limitations discussed before. The final chapter closes by some focused suggestions about future research in the area of service quality that are argued to be of much use for the industry and for globally expanding firms like the Emirates Chapter 2: Literature Review 2.1 Introduction This comprehensive literature review builds up the agenda of examining service quality in extant literature by starting off in the realm of Quality itself. In discussing TQM and consumer expectations it opens up a window to start examining the specialized concept of service quality. This concept is discussed in all its nuances especially around SERVQUAL definite leap both conceptually and methodologically in this area. This is linked up with the idea of market orientation to extract a conceptual backdrop relevant to the investigation under this study. The use of extant research both in the airline industry and in other industries provides for resources to adapt the concept of ‘gaps and dichotomy between service expectations and perceptions to shape hypotheses and instrument to collect data for this study. 2.2 The concept of Quality Quality has always concerned the societal intent of consumption. The reasons are fairly colloquial at one level where lack of quality can result in insufficient and unsatisfactory delivery of requirements from a product or service. At another level given the growing complexity of the business processes over the last century quality has evolved into a discipline characterized by an equally intertwined interface between control, assurance, and management in general (Dooley, 2006). Broadly speaking in the business context quality is the ‘perception of the ability of a product to satisfy its users. By extension it also applies to the processes and management of the processes that shape the product. However, the satisfying paradigm underpinning quality has multiple manifestations: â€Å"conformance†, â€Å"fitness for use†, â€Å"basic minimum requirements vs. attractiveness†, and as a matter of â€Å"interest and individual disposition† to name a few (e.g. Juran, 1945; Pirsig, 1974; Corsby, 1981; Kano, 1984; Reeves and Bednar, 1994). The definition of quality is rather difficult to come by because of the sheer nature of its wide applicability and strands of origin- ranging from the practical business origins to metaphysical origins. The American Society for Quality aptly captures this subjectivity in understanding quality by stating it as †¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"a subjective term for which each person has their own definition† (Wade, 2005; ASQ, 2007). Quality management is made up of two complementary aspects one is quality assurance and the other is quality control. The former is about ensuring a basic minimum standard through upfront production process design. The latter is about reviewing and monitoring output to wean out the ‘defectives. Assurance is thus inherently preventive and control is mainly curative in a functional sense (Gunter, 1998). Irrespective of the disparate origins, quality management can be safely said to be largely associated with the idea of excellence. A range of concepts and their operationalisation stem from this broader view of quality and mark the growth in research and practice of quality management. Six Sigma, Quality Circles, and Total Quality Management- are but a few from amongst numerous such frames of reference (dti, 2007). The idea of quality at the advent of the century had been around as a selection paradigm- accepting the superior and rejecting the inferior and biased towards ‘control at best- most of the time the evaluation came from the end user. Along the business value chain as production became large scale after the 1st World War- quality assurance procedures started becoming formalized. It was not only the ‘end of the road customer assessment but also a series of filters ensuring only the better quality output being delivered to the customer made control and assurance an important in house practice . The inspection oriented quality control schema had its problems mainly in terms of competent individuals that could ensure monitoring despite not being the ‘know all skill set champions. Formalized roles of inspection and quality manager thus emerged and along side assurance models provided a great lift to quality management as a capability. Generic tools for quality management l ike the control chart emerged in the 1920s and statistical process control matured towards the middle of the century. The revival of the manufacturing of war torn Japan on mature principals of quality control and management finally brought quality management into the forefront. By the end of 1970s it was a global pre-occupation with everyone trying to imitate the success of Japanese low cost and high quality products (dti, 2007; Dooley, 2006). When the word total quality came to the fore in 1970s and finally pinned quality management as a fundamental capability that ran through the organization. The Wests take on quality management was more about ‘standards than ‘culturalisation-but based around the same operational frameworks as in Japan. These gave rise to national standards in response to the need to have a quality association with the national economy as a whole. At the business level quality is now a key management responsibility and a functional paradigm that has continuous improvement at its very heart (Gitlow et al., 1989). Aside from the generalized profile of emergence of quality management above there are a few key landmarks that need to be noted. The first is probably the statistical developments in the 20s and 30s and the emergence of concepts related to probability of acceptance, risk, tolerance levels, and sampling aspects (Shewart, 1931; Dodge and Romig, 1959) establishment of standards and societies also marked the 1930s and 40s (Hutchins, 1995; Dooley, 2006). Industrial production was never under as much pressure as in the II world War. While quality assurance could not keep up with the pressure control came to the forefront to ensure acceptable working products. The maturing of the statistical processes and standards in this regard was a key development. The large scale transmission of these standards to the then military suppliers ensured that the War provided an acceleration to the diffusion of quality management standards and systems (Dooley, 2006; Grant and Lang, 1991). With the end of the war in the formative phase of reconstruction quality was again given a ‘less rushed attention. The role of top management, the interface between organisation wide processes, among others found attention. Total quality control came to the fore as a holistic concept with a stage gate approach right from design to delivery to consumer (Fiegenbaum, 1951, 1957, 1961). As mentioned, the post war Japanese revival is a key factor in development of quality management. Over the 1950s and 1960s the ideas of cultaration of quality with pride in workmanship, top management support, liberalized communication and quality circles took hold stemming from Japanese success. The good practice concepts like quality circles emerged as competencies that were tightly woven into the culture of business unique to Japan and required some effort when it came to imitation by the west (Koyangi, 1964; Deming, 1967; Juran, 1967). Quality became integral to organisational behaviour, goals, and associated personnel development. 2.3 Total Quality Management, Consumer Expectations and Continuous Improvement The coining of ‘Total Quality Management (TQM), encapsulates this coming of age of quality management as an indispensable competency in the competitive arena that is augmented by increasing customer expectations (Deming, 1986; Anderson et al., 1994; Akers; 1991; Stratton, 1990). The main characteristics-changes and developments though numerous can be safely said to be around making quality: -a responsibility for everyone, -a necessity rather than a differentiator, relate better to services and information, and ever increasing set of non-manufacturing industries. relate to best practices, dissemination and learning -recognized a key function and accordingly resourced in organizations reinforce the primacy of the customer (Green and Welsh, 1988; Marquardt, 1991; Dooley, 2006) As TQM goes from strength to strength the balance between assurance, control, and the new fangled third strand learning is becoming vital given the dynamic nature and complex requirements that are associated with quality (Green and Welsh, 1988). The standardized tools need to be customized for organisational applications with a sense to create the competitive edge-because the omnipresent paradigm itself is tending to defeat the objective to seeking the competitive edge through quality (Dean and Bowen, 1994). Context specificity or in other customization of model and tools is the call of the day for research and practice alike The generic nature however needs to be preserved in the background given wider economic and societal association of quality management. For instance, as new frontiers like e-commerce open a fertile bed of quality concepts and models will be very valuable for learning and adaptation to the economic and social context (Doty et al., 1993; Dooley, 2006). . However, having an adaptable bed for quality management across diverse industries to draw from is not sufficient. The societal realties have also undergone transition quality needs to broaden its founding grounds to reflect on new aspects like information management and the virtual realm where quality may have to question its own foundations that are deeply rooted in manufacturing. The successful adaptation to non-manufacturing i.e. services however, is evidence of the emergent nature of quality management that can take on fresh challenges that include alignment to ever changing marketing and consumer orientation needs. 2.4 Service Quality Service quality is a subjective concept that remains challenging to define and to measure (Cronin and Taylor, 1992). This associates itself and can be understood as the application of total quality in the service sector in the main and also implying the service function in frontline delivery of product in other industries. The understanding of service quality has been synthesized from extant literature by Jennifer Rowley (1998). In her work it is seen as a â€Å"perception judgment from a comparison of what they feel service organizations should offer and the performance of the organisation offering the services†. There is no dearth of definitions that try to pack in comprehensiveness to this abstract concept. For instance, Hedvall and Paltschik (1989) refer to ‘willingness and ability to serve with a mention of ‘access, Lehtinen and Lehtinen(1982) view service quality in a three-dimensional space that looks at ‘interactive, physical and corporate quality fac ets. Furthermore Gronroos (1984) simplifies the idea by seeing service quality as shaped by ‘technical and functional aspects of quality (Rowley ,1988). The link between service and performance and by extension satisfying the customer is challenging because services have a unique combination of characteristics. The first of these combinations is their intangibility- causing issues in measurement as they are a function of the ‘experience of the customer. The next is their perish ability -meaning that they cannot delivered from existing stock and thus lending a dynamic nature to service delivery that is difficult to condition. The third is inseparability between production and consumption of service and the last is heterogeneity or customizability as each end user receives a different level-nature of service partly owing to individualized perceptions that are involved in assessment (Zeithaml et al., 1985; Rowley, 1998; Engelland, 1998; Webb, 2000;; Devlin et al; 2002). The need is thus to work on ‘perceptions to assess quality given the cognitive frame of reference that dominates the characteristics of service. The associated requirement is to be able to classify services so as to peg a cognitive frame on a type of service. Such an attempt has provided for groupings within the service industry as a starting point to deliver customized measurement models (Dotchin and Oakland, 1994). The influences on consumer expectations have also been classified to augment such efforts (Gronroos,1994) . While the seminal work towards generic developments like SERVQUAL (Parasuram et al., 1988), provide founding grounds to service quality measurement- literature sees several issues in the applicability of this generic framework. This also relates to the inclusion exclusion and reconfiguration of the understanding of service attributes and the industry categories discussed before (e.g. Sasser, 1978; Dotchin and Oakland, 1994). A critical perspective on SERVQUAL comes later but upfront it is of essence is to recognize the importance and complexity in measurement given the sheer abstractness of the idea of service and its quality. The customization of measurement efforts and models in light of different service industry groups has been key to efforts at improving measurement (Dotchin and Oakland, 1994). In SERVQUAL the conceptualization of satisfaction has been found to be too simplistic and the multiplicity of the ‘total experience is arguably not captured this is in addition to the non-customized generic nature of the SERVQUAL. A longitudinal and sometimes phenomenological analysis is suggested to capture these nuanced but important characteristics of service quality (Singh, 1991; Rowley, 1994). However, the difficult in devising a comprehensive tool still disposes wider practice of measurement to simplistic methods. Important adjustments and realizations like the use of ‘importance and satisfaction grid (Harvey, 1995) provide a very useful feedback and prioritization. For instance, high importance and poor satisfaction is a combination that merits urgent management attention. Another important variable in the service quality metric that needs to be accounted for is the nature of the contract. Again this is because of the attribute of ‘psychological contracts that is unique in nature to services (Thornrow, 1998). This has found particular appeal in measurement related to provision of public services. Having formal, informal and psychological components in service contracts provide a platform for balancing expectations and perceptions. These are otherwise very difficult to manage given the basic characteristics of service discussed at the onset of this section. Finally the perceptual plane needs to be also looked at with a balance though by classical definition the perception of the customer is the defining feature of quality-for service quality in particular the perception of the provider and the resultant psychological interface is also key to the metric. The role of customers is also not to be taken uni-dimensionally. There are different stakeholde r brackets eg. users, influencers, deciders, approvers that associate with a service category and also vary in their significance (Rowley, 1988). These influence the generic satisfaction and associated performance variable. Given this multiplicity and the psychologically complex nature of interactions, the ‘relationship exchange process (Morgan and Hunt, 1994) is key to providing some cognitive stability to overtime service quality measurement. It is also a suitable conduit to ensure that feedback is smoothly translated into strategic action for improvement. Such relationships can be supported by associating service with some ‘bonds (Chu and Lin, 2004). For instance, providing unique services, incentives, and even building social ties between provider and customer. However, on the other hand, the impact of such relationships on service quality needs to be moderated for a reliable assessment. They provide grounds for stabilizing the psychological map to better associate performance and expectations but at the same time bias it. 2.5 Customer Satisfaction and Service Quality Perceptions Broadly speaking customer satisfaction is a performance indicator of the extent to which a firm has managed to meet customer expectations through its business deliverables. Having formed the foundation of the marketing concept for nearly half a century the attempts at harnessing the good practices and measurement approaches is a much explored realm when it comes to customer satisfaction (e.g. Drucker, 1954; Levitt 1960; Gronroos, 1990). Over the last few years customer satisfaction has received a reinvigorated interest. Possible reasons for this have been seen as the after effects of a maturing TQM paradigm that is linked with several recognition awards, and also, arrival of national customer satisfaction barometers (Garvin, 1991; Johnson et al., 2001; Helgesen, 2006) The associated concept of customer relationship orientation is posits a strong link between customer loyalty and profitability with customer satisfaction (Zeithaml, 1988; Oliver, 1996). While customer loyalty has been referred to as central to ‘competitive advantage (Porter, 1985; Chao, et al., 2007)- this is delivered through customer -satisfaction. This is the basic rationalization behind customer satisfaction being so central to both short term and long term performance assessment. That the ‘ultimate aim of any firm is to achieve customer satisfaction remains the central thesis of market orientation (Levitt, 1960). Customer orientation seeks to align â€Å"organizational values, beliefs, assumptions and premises† to deliver a mutually enabling relationship between the customer and the firm (Day, 1994; Strong and Harris, 2004). Strong and Harris ( 2004), define a set of tactics that can deliver customer orientation. They define three sets of tactics. The first define relational tactics (essentially relationship marketing) that engages a nurturing philosophy for long run gains. The second tactic as human resource tactic is more about the direct interface with frontline of the customer and rest of the organisation -essentially empowering the front line through training and support to reap rewards of realized quality of experience of the customer. The final tactic relates to procedural aspects that routinise and systemize customer care and support systems. The study posits that there is a strong interaction and dependency between the three tactics. This key work that examines customer satisfaction and its manifestations under the customer orientation paradigm shares ground with some key extant literature (Narver and Slater, 1990) However, other studies tend to put one set of such aspects though differently labeled as more important than the others. For instance, Chao et al. (2007) say that while satisfaction remains an abstract idea sometime there is an overt component of interpersonal relationship building that because of over emphasis- instead of complementing customer orientation tends wean resources away from conditioning deliverables to meet consumer expectations. Research suggests that such a lopsided drive is ill-found in the long run While relationship marketing remains important it has to be pegged on consumer satisfaction from products and services for sustainability (Chao et al., 2007). Businesses need to focus attention on relationship building. This however has to be conditioned for long run profitability. Customer satisfaction through meeting expectations from goods, transaction services and pure services, and a sustained follow up and support culture has to be the basis for relationship building. For instance, financial incentives/offers are likely to be ineffective and short lived if quality is undermined. As most of the research in customer orientation gets focused on relationship building this is an important consideration to use as a moderator. Value to the customer can never be undermined for seeking short term profitability. This is because such profitability is not suitably tied in with satisfaction which in turn guides customer loyalty. Views to the contrary also exist mainly from some practitioners. Bruce Clapp (2007) of the Carlson marketing group says that â€Å"relationship strength is more important than satisfaction as a true indicator of loyalty. Customizing the experience of our customers, in-branch and in home, impacts the strength of relationship as it builds. In the experience, ensuring our message is relevant requires that we be closer to our customer. The communication we use, whether direct mail, e-mail or in person, must be tailored to the needs of the customer at an individual level. The term mass customization has gained ground as we look for ways to become partners with our customers and be there when they have a financial nee