Analysis of Hydrated copper sulphate Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Hydrated copper sulphate Essay Aim – To determine the molecular formula of hydrated copper sulfate. Requirements – Hydrous copper sulfate Electronic balance Evaporating dish Glass rod Tripod stand Bunsen burner Crucible Procedure – First I weighed 3g of hydrous copper sulfate on electronic balance and began heating it in an evaporating dish on top of a Bunsen burner. After the reaction was complete I measured the new weight to find a change in mass. Qualitative data – After the reaction was complete, the colour changed from blue to white due to a loss of water crystals. Faint green tinge became evident and fine white powder was formed from crystals. Continued heating led to formation of oliver green colour. Quantitative data – Original weight of hydrous copper sulfate – 3g Error in electronic balance  ± 0.001g (provided by the teacher) Data collection – Trial 1 1.96g Trial 2 1.87g Trial 3 1.94g Data Processing – To minimize the errors I conducted three trials and averaged the readings to find a more accurate answer. = 1.93 g  ± 0.001 Change in mass = (3  ± 0.001) – (1.93  ± 0.001) = 1.07  ± 0.002 The change in mass was due to the loss of water crystals. Water (H20) has a molar mass of 18g. Therefore the change in mass must be equal to the mass of water present in copper sulfate. No of moles of water evaporated = = 0.059  ± 0.002moles The molar mass of anhydrous copper sulfate is 159.6g. No of moles of = = 0.012  ± 0.001moles In the equation I took the no of moles of water as x because it is unknown. CuSO4.xH20 → CuSO4 + xH2O According to the equation the mole ratio between copper sulfate and water is 1: x. Therefore 1:x = 0.012  ± 0.001: 0.059  ± 0.002 x = = 4.9  ± 0.588 Conclusion – Hence the x value can be rounded off to 5 to get an integer answer. This means that in 1 molecule of hydrous copper sulfate there are 5 atoms of water present as crystals. The result is also equal to the literature value which was provided by the teacher and there seems to be no deviation because the answers are taken as integer and decimal points are excluded. The only systematic error present was in electronic balance. Moreover random error could have been caused during heating of the salt i.e. overheating or underheating. This error depends on the sight of colour change, therefore this is a very hard random error to eliminate. Evaluation – As the answer is taken as integer, there seems to be zero error however still a lot of errors are possible while conducting this experiment. During the heating of hydrous copper sulfate there maybe some water crystals still left due to inappropriate stirring and overheated or underheated salts could have also caused error. Main error which is inevitable is the hydration of crystals after being heated. The reaction is reversible and the after heating there could have been water vapour in the air which could have combined with the salt. Hence these can also lead to deviations in results. To improve upon these errors we must make sure that after the salt is heated, its weight must be measured immediately so that there is very less time gap between it. Furthermore proper stirring and care taken during heating can also minimize errors.

The purpose of accounting and its role in the management of a busienss

The purpose of accounting and its role in the management of a busienss Introduction Understanding how a business operates and what makes it successful requires knowledge of the accounting process. This unit introduces you to the purpose of accounting and its role in the management of a business organisation. Accounting involves the recording of business transactions, and this in turn, leads to the generation of financial information, which can be used as the basis of good financial control and planning. Inadequate record-keeping and a lack of effective planning ultimately lead to poor financial results. It is vital that owners and managers of businesses are able to recognise the indications of potential difficulties. Remedial action can then be taken. This unit should give you the skills and knowledge needed to understand and manage finances. The unit is divided into two distinct parts. The first is an understanding of the accounting processes necessary to provide accurate and relevant financial information. The second part is the practical aspect of carrying out those accounting activities. You will be introduced to accounting terminology as they study the purpose and function of accounting and consider the various categories of business income and expenditure. It is important to know the sources of an organisations income and the nature of its expenditure as this clarifies the basis of its profitability and enables more effective control of the business. This control begins with the planning process and learners will study the use of a cash flow forecast which requires managers to set cash flow targets that can be monitored and adjusted on a regular basis. You will consider the effective management of cash flow and the implications of cash flow problems. The link between business failures and cash flow problems will be highlighted. The measurement of an organisations financial performance and position requires an understanding of a basic profit and loss account and balance sheet. This understanding permits the analysis of profitability, liquidity and efficiency of the organisation through the application of ratio analysis. Analysis will always require comparison of current figures with those from a previous accounting period or those of a similar business organisation. You will discover the method of carrying out ratio analysis as well as the meaning and implication of the figures. General information Making the grade Each of the elements that make up a part of the assignment has been graded to show their level of difficulty. As you complete each element successfully you will have achieved the grade indicated for that particular element. There are four elements that have been graded as a Pass (P), two graded as a Merit (M) and two graded as a Distinction (D). It is important to remember that you must successfully complete all 4 Pass elements before you can be awarded a Pass mark for the assignment. Only when all 4 elements have been achieved can you be considered for a Merit grade. Equally, you must complete both Merit elements before you can be considered for a Distinction mark. Completing your assignment Here are a few tips to help you be successful; Begin your research straight away Keep a file with all your work, from rough research to final reports Keep a record of where all your research information came from and list them in your bibliography. Use the Assessment Evidence sheet in the assignment and the detailed explanations of each part to make sure you complete everything you are required to and keep all the evidence required to achieve PASS, MERIT and DISTINCTION marks. You will find that ticking each one off as you complete them will be really helpful. It is strongly recommended that you meet the interim deadlines shown in this document as your lecturer will have the opportunity to ensure you are making good progress and to help with suggestions for the next part of the assignment. Only work handed in by the interim deadline dates will be marked at that stage. It goes without saying that you must complete and hand in your final version of the Assignment on or before the final deadline date. Part One (relating to P1) Understand the purpose of accounting Scenario You have been recruited to helping your uncles family set up and run a clothing shop called DessiDesigns on the Broadway. In the past they set up and ran smaller scale businesses, but have muddled up their finances. Your knowledge and guidance regarding financial aspects will be essential to build this into a successful venture. Task 1 Prepare a short report (500 600 words) for your uncle and aunt explaining the purpose of accounting. Explain why it is important to record transactions. (P1) Hints from the syllabus Purpose: record transactions; monitor activity; control; management of the business (planning, monitoring, controlling); measurement of financial performance (gross profit, net profit, value owed to and by the business). Grade criteria P1 Describe the purpose of accounting. How you will be marked To achieve P1, learners will describe clearly the main purpose of accounting for an organisation. The description may be brief but it should be accurate and should incorporate the recording of historical data to be able to check on financial performance and position, as well as the planning aspect of management accounting. Part 2 relating to P2 Understand the categorisation of business income and expenditure Task 2 Write a short (200 words) explanation regarding the difference between capital and revenue items of expenditure and income. Use examples to help you so that your uncle understands each. Task 3 Complete the exercise (overleaf) putting various examples of income and expenditure into the revenue and capital categories. Task 3 relating to P2 Nameà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Put each of the following into the correct category below Advertising paid Investment from owner Purchase of stock Bank charges paid Investment from partner Rent paid Buildings bought Issuance of shares Rent received Business rates paid Land bought Salaries paid Cash sales received Lighting bill paid Sales commissions paid Commissions received Loan from bank Stationary bought Credit sales received Machinery bought Telephone bill paid Fittings bought Mortgage from bank Trademarks bought Furniture bought Office equipment bought Training paid for staff Goodwill bought Patent bought Transportation of goods Heating bill Pensions paid Vehicles bought Insurance premium paid Postage paid Wages paid Interest on loans payable Printing paid Revenue income Capital Expenditure Revenue expenditure Capital income Grade criteria P2 Explain the difference between capital and revenue items of expenditure and income. How you will be marked For P2, learners will be expected to identify the different categories of capital income, capital expenditure, revenue income and revenue expenditure as listed in the unit content. This may be achieved in a number of ways. For example, learners could examine a specific type of organisation, identifying the likely income and revenue and indicating in each case whether it is of a capital or revenue nature. They should also describe clearly what is meant by each category. At this stage, learners are not expected to calculate profit or to know the impact of the income and expenditure items on profit. Hints from the syllabus Capital income: sole traders; partners; shares; loans; mortgages. Revenue income: sales (cash and credit transactions); rent received; commission received. Capital expenditure: fixed assets (land and buildings; office equipment; machinery; furniture and fittings; motor vehicles); intangibles, eg goodwill, patents, trademarks. Revenue expenditure: premises costs, eg rent, rates, heating and lighting, insurance; administrative costs, eg telephone charges, postage, printing, stationery; staff costs, eg salaries, wages, training, insurance, pensions; selling and distribution costs, eg sales staff salaries, carriage on sales, marketing; finance costs, eg bank charges, loan and mortgage interest; purchase of stock (cash and credit transactions). Part 3 relating to (P3, M1, D1) Be able to prepare a cash flow forecast Task 4 To achieve P3 you must prepare and complete accurately a cash flow forecast for DessiDesigns. The scenario will be given to you to complete in class. Grade criteria P3 Prepare a twelve-month cash flow forecast to enable an organisation to manage its cash. How you will be marked. For P3, learners should construct a twelve-month cash flow forecast from the information given in a scenario, accurately calculating each months receipts, payments, opening and closing balances. Hints from the syllabus Cash flow forecast: structure; timescale; credit periods; receipts (cash sales, debtors, capital, loans, other income); payments (cash purchases, trade creditors, revenue expenditure, capital expenditure, Value Added Tax (VAT)); opening and closing cash/bank balances. Once you have accurately completed and passed the task 4 cash flow exercise, you will use the information for tasks 5 and 6 where you will analyse the cash flow forecast you have completed and identify potential problems of the business and move further to suggest possible solutions. Task 5 Analyse the cash flow for DessiDesigns and discuss problems the business might experience (M1). Use the figures you have prepared. (As a guide you should identify at least 3 issues and describe why this are problems for the business based on the cash flow forecast. In order to pass this section you must make your report relevant to your uncles business.) Grade criteria M1 Analyse the cash flow problems a business might experience. How you will be marked For M1, learners should comment on the cash flow, highlighting any problems that are evident, such as a shortage of cash as a result of costly capital expenditure in one month. Hints from the syllabus Cash flow management: problems within the cash flow forecast, eg insufficient cash to meet payments that are due. Task 6 Based on your uncles business DessiDesigns recommend and justify actions for them to help them improve the cash flow and overcome the cash flow problems identified in task 5. (D1) (As a guide your report should be approximately 1000 words and should give reasons for your recommendations. In order to pass this section you must make your report relevant to your uncles business). Be prepared for a viva of your work. (This will be in the form of a few questions to assess your understanding you will be given an appointment time to enable you to prepare for this). Grade criteria D1 Recommend and justify actions a business might take when experiencing cash flow problems. How you will be marked For D1, learners will make appropriate recommendations to solve the cash flow problems, such as retiming large payments or arranging an overdraft. Learners should show awareness of the dangers and costs of poor financial planning. Hints from the syllabus Solutions, eg overdraft arrangements, negotiating terms with creditors, reviewing and rescheduling capital expenditure Part 4 relating to P4 Understand profit and loss accounts and balance sheets Task 7 Explain the component parts of a profit and loss account and balance sheet provided for DessiDesigns. Describe the purpose and use of the trading, profit and loss account and balance sheet. Explain how gross profit and net profit are calculated. You will be given a sample PL statement and a Sample Balance Sheet for DessiDesigns to comment on. Grade criteria P4 Explain the component parts of a profit and loss account and balance sheet in a given organisation. How you will be marked For P4, learners will describe the purpose and use of the trading, profit and loss account and balance sheet. They will also explain how gross profit and net profit are calculated by indicating the kinds of income and expenditure that are included. Learners will be presented with a trading and profit and loss account and a balance sheet for a business organisation, which should be set out using the vertical style. Learners will label the cost of goods sold section and the overheads section of the profit and loss account. Hints from the syllabus Profit and loss account: purpose and use; trading account and calculation of gross profit (sales, purchases, opening and closing stocks); calculation of net profit (overheads, other revenue income, eg discounts received); commission received; transfer of net profit to balance sheet. Balance sheet: purpose and use; vertical presentation; order of permanence; fixed assets; current assets; intangible assets; long-term liabilities; current liabilities; working capital; net assets; transfer of net profit from profit and loss account; capital employed. Part 5 relating to P5, M2, D2 Be able to review business performance using simple ratio analysis Task 8 P5 Perform ratio analysis to measure the profitability, liquidity and efficiency of DessiDesigns. Calculate the following ratios for the business given show the formulas and all the working out. Explain what each ratio tells us about your uncles business. Profitability Liquidity Efficiency Gross profit % of sales Current ratio Debtors payment period Net profit % of sales Acid test ratio Creditors payment period Return on capital employed Rate of stock turnover Grade criteria P5 Perform ratio analysis to measure the profitability, liquidity and efficiency of a given organisation. How you will be marked For P5, learners will outline clearly what is meant by the terms profitability, liquidity and efficiency. That description will include the meaning and relevance of each ratio. Hints from the syllabus Profitability: gross profit percentage of sales; net profit percentage of sales; return on capital employed (ROCE). Liquidity: current ratio; acid test ratio/liquidity ratio. Efficiency: debtors payment period; creditors payment period; rate of stock turnover. Task 9 (M2) Analyse the following ratios for the DesiDesigns and explain what each means for your uncle. Relate these to the strengths and weaknesses of the business. Profitability Liquidity Efficiency Gross profit % of sales Current ratio Debtors payment period Net profit % of sales Acid test ratio Creditors payment period Return on capital employed Rate of stock turnover Grade criteria M2 Analyse the performance of a business using suitable ratios. How you will be marked For M2, learners will identify the accounting ratios they will use to measure profitability, liquidity and efficiency and will calculate these accurately, based on the trading and profit and loss account and the balance sheet. The relevant accounting ratios from the previous year, or from another similar type of business organisation, will be given to the learners. Hints from the syllabus Profitability: gross profit percentage of sales; net profit percentage of sales; return on capital employed (ROCE). Liquidity: current ratio; acid test ratio/liquidity ratio. Efficiency: debtors payment period; creditors payment period; rate of stock turnover. Task 10 (D2) Prepare a power point presentation to evaluate the financial performance of your uncles business using ratio analysis. You will be given a second set of ratios to compare your first set of businesses ratios with. Look for trends. Is the business doing better or worse? Make suggestions on what can be done about this. Make sure you give appropriate evidence for your conclusions and recommendations. The presentation will be done individually and will be followed by a few questions by the lecturer or fellow classmates. Grade criteria D2 Evaluate the financial performance and position of a business using ratio analysis. How you will be marked For D2, learners will demonstrate a good understanding of the meaning of the accounting ratios used by comparing the figures calculated with those given. Learners will work in groups to evaluate the performance and position of the business organisation, based on the ratio analysis, giving appropriate evidence for any conclusion made. Learners could present their evidence and findings as part of a group using a PowerPoint presentation or OHTs. Assignment Part 1 Task No Criteria Interim date 1 P1 describe the purpose of accounting P1 Assignment Part 2 Task No Criteria Interim date 2 3 explain the difference between capital and revenue items of expenditure and income P2a P2b Assignment Part 3 Task No Criteria Interim date 4 prepare a twelve-month cash flow forecast to enable an organisation to manage its cash P3 5 analyse the cash flow problems a business might experience M1 6 recommend and justify actions a business might take when experiencing cash flow problems D1 Assignment Part 4 Task No Criteria Interim date 7 explain the component parts of a profit and loss account and balance sheet in a given organisation P4 Assignment Part 5 Task No Criteria Interim date 8 Perform ratio analysis to measure the profitability, liquidity and efficiency of a given organisation. P5 9 Analyse the performance of a business using suitable ratios. M2 10 Evaluate the financial performance and position of a business using ratio analysis. D2 Part 1 P1 describe the purpose of accounting Part 2 P2 explain the difference between capital and revenue items of expenditure and income Part 3 P3 prepare a twelve-month cash flow forecast to enable an organisation to manage its cash M1 analyse the cash flow problems a business might experience D1 recommend and justify actions a business might take when experiencing cash flow problems Part 4 P4 explain the component parts of a profit and loss account and balance sheet in a given organisation Part 5 P5 perform ratio analysis to measure the profitability, liquidity and efficiency of a given organisation. M2 analyse the performance of a business using suitable ratios. D2 evaluate the financial performance and position of a business using ratio analysis.

Global strategy of computer manufacturers and the digital divide

Global strategy of computer manufacturers and the digital divide Introduction The computer industry had not existed before the Second World War, but today it will be difficult to imagine an office without a personal computer (Dedrick, 1998, 4). Over the years, the continuing changes in computing and information technology (IT) have confounded expectations and challenged the traditional concept of competition. Improvements in performance and capabilities of computer-related technologies have been dramatic to say the least and prices have declined substantially over the years. Public and private sector research on computer-related technologies is considered as being critical for advancement and multinational corporations from the United States of America have created a massive production network to cater for global demand. However, ongoing competition, changes in the market for computers and computer-related technologies together with changes in technology keep computer manufacturers on their toes. Yet, despite the advances in computer-related technologies, imp rovements in global standards of living and declining prices of the previously mentioned technologies, exclusion or a lack of access to computers and computer-related technologies continues to present a threat to the establishment of information societies in many countries in the developed and the developing world (Ferro, 2010, Chapter 1). Access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is important for effective participation in the twenty-first century (Ferro, 2010, Chapter 1). Without access to the ICT, it is impossible to tap into the knowledge and information available on the World Wide Web and the ability to communicate with others becomes restricted. Computers are not only needed for a wide variety of tasks that are now considered as being a part of life, such as word processing or quantitative manipulation, these tools are also useful for sophisticated modelling and simulation for business and a wide variety of other fields of human endeavour. Skills in computing are essential for employment that is better than the mediocre and without ICT lifelong learning is likely to remain a dream. Thus, those without access to computers lose out and find it difficult to progress materially or intellectually. Communities without access to the ICT find that they are cut off from the world, and that they can do lit tle to improve their lot and that of those who are a part of them. Those who can develop websites to present their business messages find that they do have access to a global market, even if they must compete with their products and ideas. Although the capacity of an individual or a community to afford ICT, including personal computers and the Internet access hardware and infrastructure that enable computers to communicate is a factor that contributes to digital divide, this is not by any means the only one (Ferro, 2010, 8 10) and (Partridge, 2007, iv). In addition, the digital divide is not a phenomenon that only afflicts the underdeveloped world. However, computer manufacturers can play a role in helping individuals and communities have better access to the ICT and their global strategy does make a difference. Clearly, the computer industry and manufacturers together with many millions around the world will benefit if many more pieces of ICT equipment are made available to users. However, global manufacturing, markets, innovation and developments in technology together with a concern for profits influence the global strategy of multinationals and other manufacturers of ICT. Thus, it makes sense to try to understand better perspectives related to digital divide and global manufacturing strategy of computer manufacturers. A literature review for global strategy of computer manufacturers and digital divide will be of interest to anyone who has an interest in technology, computing, multinationals, development and the ICT. It is with the previously mentioned considerations in mind that a literature review for the topic of discussion is attempted. Literature Review IBM had played a unique role in the evolution of the computer industry in the United States of America from the 1950s to the 1990s by being both a path definer and a protagonist which integrated electronics technology with its punched-card tabulators to capture most of the worlds computer market in 1954 (Chandler, 2001, 245 250). Later, this firm was to develop the System 360 after very substantial investments in research to create formidable barriers to entry into the computer industry which were only challenged by Japan at a later stage. United States of America continued to dominate the computer markets when Intel released its first microprocessor and Microsoft developed an operating system for the first personal computer. Because all personal computers had to use the Intel microprocessor and the Microsoft operating system, a superb competitive advantage was created for the previously mentioned firms and their home country, the United States of America. This competitive advantage was pushed further by other firms including Sun Microsystems, Texas Instruments, Silicon Graphics, Motorola and Compaq, which developed the first laptop computer. Thus, even today, relatively few firms control computer technology and its ongoing development resulting in a situation that is close to being oligopolistic. According to Johnson (2005, Chapter 2), a need for capturing more income and global markets prompted players in United States computer industry to try to capture overseas markets, but many other nations were only able to purchase readymade or assembled products. The very large investments required to develop computer technology, together with what was required in the form of skills meant that only Japan could present a challenge to the United States computer industry. Constant innovation and improvements in design and technology presented serious problems for those wanting to catch up. Proliferation of new ICT technology was only gradual even in the United States of America, because knowledge of core technology was lacking and licensing, external research contracts, hiring of former skilled employees and alliances or joint ventures only resulted in a gradual transfer of the core technologies (Viardot, 2004, 58 64). However, after core technologies had gradually proliferated, further innovation and improvement determined market leadership. Those that were committed to developing state-of-the-art technology and helping customers to apply it to solve their problems were more successful, but when technology evolved and the nature of customers problems changed, the firm had to change too (Viardot, 2004, xiii). Viardot (2004, Chapter 1) goes further to suggest that high-tech products have a short life-cycle and use sophisticated core technologies that are difficult to copy. Moors Law for integrated circuits suggests that markedly superior integrated circuits, including microprocessors or memory chips, are likely to become available every eighteen month or so. Thus, after developing a high-tech product, the firm must rapidly bring it out to market and sell it to recoup its research and development expenses and the investments made in manufacturing operations. In addition, uncertainty about the direction of evolution of new technology and a need for upgrading product models requires that funds are made available for further research, development and innovation. Thus, the pricing strategy for a high-tech product requires that the sales margins provide for manufacturing costs, distribution costs, channel costs, innovation costs and costs for bringing out new models and for retooling as well as reserves for a competitor response, etc. This clearly means that, unless markets guarantee that products will sell well, the price will remain high (Jain, 1999, Chapter 15). Economies of scale operates when a high-tech manufacturing firm is assured that it can recoup its costs or when a enough units had been sold to provide for development costs. Clearly, high tech innovators and manufacturers cannot supply ICT free to everyone because this will not make economic sense (Keyes, 2010, 59 73). In addition, fundamental business values and capitalism cannot permit everyone around the world to be taught how to design an integrated circuit and be provided all the sophisticated equipment required for integrated circuit fabrication or research. Wages for those working with high-technology in developed countries are far higher than in other countries, even though the laws of supply and demand do dictate what is possible to be asked for a high-tech ICT product. Dedrick (1998, 50 55) states that it was the invention of the personal computer (PC) which led to the globalisation of the computer industry, with multinationals creating a production network that took advantage of local capabilities to serve markets around the world. Parts used for assembling a PC were outsourced competitively, and it was in Microsofts interest to be able to license its operating systems for use by all computer manufacturers because this meant capturing the market. Thus, even today Microsoft operating systems and other software products, such as Microsoft Office, remain the most popular around the world. Because Microsoft had early mover advantage, it could develop its products to present quality that remains unmatched by others even today. By trying to seek the lowest prices for its PC components, IBM encouraged suppliers to enter large volume manufacturing and this meant that prices gradually dropped. By copyrighting the Basic Input Output System (BIOS) for its c omputers, the program which connects computer hardware to the operating system, IBM had tried to ensure that others could not copy its personal computers. Despite this, Compaq reverse engineered the BIOS by analysing leading software applications to produce its own computer, but others who had directly copied the IBM BIOS were sued. Standardisation provided Microsoft and others in the industry with greater leverage, creating an open architecture that encouraged new players who could build their own PCs provided, they purchased microprocessors from Intel, BIOS from a suitable supplier and operating system from Microsoft. Dedrick (1998, 58 75) goes on to suggest that the evolution of the global PC industry was moulded by intense competition among PC manufacturers who now had an open architecture, but could purchase licensed BIOS and Microsoft operating systems. Thus, the actual manufacturing of PCs was located in regions that presented cheap labour and close to markets in locations that optimised the interests of manufacturers. Massive investments in DRAM memory chip developments by Japanese and South Korean electronic multinationals were to mean that they retain leadership in this technology even today, but actual manufacturing has now shifted to East Asia from where labour costs are low and shipments to Japan, North America, Europe and other markets are possible. Only designing, new technology development and marketing are retained in the United States of America, with a certain shift to cheaper locations, such as Bangalore in India, where skills and expertise in certain technologies are available cheaply. Thus, it is only proper to conclude that computer manufacturers have tried to do that which will reduce prices together with making profits while providing funds for future research. However, despite this many around the world suffer from a lack of access to ICT. A shift towards horizontal integration rather than vertical integration was the driving force behind the globalisation of the PC industry (Dedrick, 1998, 68 75). East Asian countries could develop strong linkages with the global production system for PC coordinated by the United States of America because they possessed national industry infrastructure and had gained an expertise in exporting, they indulged in aggressive outward-oriented national policies to develop national industries, and they had prior experience in electronics manufacturing. Although, it may appear a casual observer that superior design and technology alone will provide a competitive advantage for the marketing of high-tech products, including the ICT, this is not quite correct. Jager (1997, Chapter 8), which presents the story of Dell Computer Corporation indicates that offering superior service and ease in purchasing quality computers over the phone can help support a superior product. In addition, reducing cost overheads involved with retail could benefit both Dell Computer Corporation and its customers. Thus, Dell Corporation which had revolutionised the idea that customers could purchase direct from the manufacturer over the phone without any retail store being involved provided better deals to its customers. This company was to grow from a $6 million company in 1984 to $69 million in 1987 and $546 million in 1991. Clearly, better pricing made possible by eliminating the retailer, superior service and the high-quality computing machines sold by Dell Corporation satisfied a vast majority of customers to make such spectacular growth possible. Obviously market capture is important, and it is right to do that which will appeal to the market. It will be right to say that over the years, economic development and consolidation of the global production system for PC has presented established markets and locations. However, the opening up of China not only provided a vast new market in which multinationals could compete, but this also enabled Chinese multinationals to compete more aggressively on international markets (Larcon, 2009, 195 205). Lenovo Group has been a unique success story in Chinas corporate world and this group recently strengthened its position in global markets by acquiring the PC division of IBM for US$1.25 billion in cash and shares, with US$500 million in debts. IBM was more interested in focusing on service, software development and server technology. In addition, IBM hoped to benefit from the sale of its PC division to Lenovo by targeting Chinese banks, government agencies and manufacturing companies, while Lenovo was to remain a preferred supplier to IBM global services. Lenovo, which had a 27% share of the PC market in China, with an iron grip on government and education markets, and a 12.2% share in the Asia-Pacific region, (excluding Japan), now derives only 2% of its annual global sales from the Chinese markets and can compete with Dell Corporation and Hewlett-Packard. The world is now witnessing a large scale reconfiguration of value chains related to ICT as large Western firms focus their activities on core and more profitable markets in comparison to the mature markets. According to Larcon (2009, 198 200), the sources of competitive advantage now exhaust progressively, possibilities for differentiation are now thinner and margins erode as products become commoditised. Innovations in products are difficult to sustain because these innovations are now easily copied and claims of technical superiority are difficult to prove due to product commoditisation. However, locating in cheap labour markets with high automation in production can provide China with opportunities for co mpeting. The Research Markets (2004, â€Å"Computer Company Strategy Their New Developments in the Digital Consumer Electronics Market†) states that many computer manufacturing firms were now poaching into each others markets and looking for new sources of competitive advantage. According to the previously mentioned report, household penetration of computers in the United States of America had reached 80%, and it was unlikely that any further growth could be sustained even by estimates presented by the computer industry. Subsequently, the prevailing global financial recession of 2008 2010 adversely impacted global sales of computers and all computer manufacturers, including Dell Corporation, were trying to find ways for sustaining price declines in an effort to increase sales. Thus, moving to cheaper locations for manufacturing computers and cutting costs proved to be essential for everyone. Computer manufacturers in China continued to adjust their strategies in the face of shrinkin g demand and Dell Corporation announced the closure of its plant in Ireland to shift production to Poland, which offers cheaper operating cost for manufacturing (Wikipedia, 2009, â€Å"Dell†) and (C114, 2008, â€Å"Chinese computer manufacturers adjusting strategies for 2009 as market demand shrinks†). Manufacturers in China are now targeting rural markets with the assistance of the government of China, which has decided to include computers among its list of household subsidised goods for its citizens. Clearly, the previously mentioned strategy will work to bring computers into the lives of very many more people to diminish the effects of the digital divide and boost the rural areas of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). Examination of news headlines associated with major computer manufacturers, including Dell Corporation and Hewlett-Packard, on Yahoo Finance and Google Finance suggest that efforts are ongoing to bring more innovation into offerings made available by the global computer industry (Yahoo Finance, 2010, â€Å"Search Results for Dell and HP†) and (Google Finance, 2010, â€Å"Search Results for Dell and HP†). However, it will appear that price competition will intensify in the computer industry because according to Acer CEO, Stan Shih, the trend for low price computers will continue for the coming years, but the high wages of US$20 per hour in the United States of America in comparison to US$1 in PRC make it impossible for United States manufacturers to compete with cheap products (Alberts, 2010, â€Å"Asias Laptop Ascendance?†). Tech vendors are now developing new products faster and chip sales have improved due to demand for newer chips for new types of computers an d high-tech gadgets (Wall Street Journal, 2010, â€Å"Search Results for Computers†). Thus, it will appear that the price of the latest computer with the latest technology will fall but the prices of second hand computers, which can still work will fall even more. Thus, it appears that computers are now even more affordable than ever and this trend will continue for the future. Although today computer manufacturers have to think hard and deep to innovate new products that attract customers, it will appear that further developments and improvements in personal, handheld or notebook computers are still possible. Research in ubiquitous, mobile and context aware computing will suggest that many new innovations are possible to be included into the portable gadget that individuals are likely to carry around with them as their personal computer (Stojanovic, 2009, Chapter 1) and (Symonds, 2009, Chapter 1). It is likely that a personal computing device of the future will contain a number of sensors that will enable it to determine its location and depending on where the device is located and the context that dominates within this location, the personal computing device will interact with its human user to suite the location and the dominant context. Thus, much more can be added to what is available in the form of a laptop, notebook or a mobile computing device. Howe ver, it is likely that the computer manufacturers are waiting and saving to get out of the economic downturn to bring new futuristic products when they are likely to sell. Obviously, standardisation and further developments in networks will have to support such mobile context aware devices and this means that the economic climate must right to be able to support implementation of ideas, which have been demonstrated in the laboratory. The technology exists, but it as to be rolled out for commercialisation and mass production. Even those living in developed countries and their communities cannot upgrade their networks, computing hardware and software every day. Although laptop and notebook computers today have built-in cameras and Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) as well as finger print identification, the developed world still waits for ubiquitous grids, ambient intelligence, ubiquitous networking and proliferation of applications for RFID, such as contactless payment sy stems (Symonds, 2009, Chapter 1). The previously mentioned will only appear when the economy is right. Gupta (2009, Chapter 7) states that in the relatively near future, organisations will have to change their mindset to thrive and to sustain competitive advantage. It will be necessary for all to rethink their global strategy, rethink innovation, organisation and to develop a global mindset rather than a local or a national mindset. Global strategy must be designed with a view to trying to capture the largest share in the global market. Thus, emerging economies of China and India should be considered for inclusion even though the purchasing power of consumers in these countries is far below that of the developed West. Perhaps if Microsoft had been willing to sell its operating systems and other software in emerging economies at prices that considered local spending power, software piracy would have been much reduced and earnings for Microsoft boosted. Such a strategy would have benefited everyone, but this did not materialise. Customised solutions to suite the local market should be a vailable with global players. It is important to judiciously globalise the corporate resource base and to balance the need for global integration with the need for local responsiveness. It is likely that the end game in globalisation will not be global standardisation, but global customisation to suite local markets, local requirements and local conditions. Obviously, customisation for emerging and low income countries should perhaps tilt towards making products more affordable. Innovation needs to focus on saving resources that have become depleted due to human activity and extravagance. It is important to remember that dwindling reserves of fossil fuels cannot sustain the huge international trade volumes that persist today. Thus, sustainable production for sustaining standards and innovation on all fronts is important. Gupta (2009, Chapter 7) continues on to state that in the future, manufacturers will have to contend with a constant and rapid evolution of technology that will require that products change to suite. The author presents an example of books that used to be purchased in brick and mortar stores now being downloaded into book readers, PDAs or laptops, with these books changing dynamically as authors add new material. In the future, it will be difficult for a firm to remain secretive about its operations because the Internet will make news, information, balance sheets and other matters transparent to everyone with an interest. New competitors and alliances from emerging countries will have an impact on business and the previously mentioned example of Lenovo presenting a new force in production serves to illustrate this. Innovation directed towards developing new products in a collaborative manner to combine knowledge, resources and technologies will become necessary. Global hubs that coor dinate together to operate synergistically for the global and local benefit will be the shape of the organisation of the future. A strong corporate culture will act as a cohesive force and executives will be willing to benefit from and present benefits to the global diversity rather than succumbing to it by building bridges rather than moats. It can be hoped that when gradually conditions emerge that will enable global multinationals to give and to receive from all, digital divide will diminish more, but it is important to remember that all, including the disadvantaged, will contribute to improve the future (United Nations ESCAP, 2006, 20 26) and (United Nations ESCAP, 2005, 1 23). Governments, the civil society, the individual and ICT manufacturers must all work together to create sustainable solutions because it is important to remember that products of innovation that benefit humanity are made possible by sharing skills, knowledge, effort and making judicious investments. It costs to acquire skills, learn and to take risks to innovate. Thus, it will be unfair to blame entirely the manufacturers for not trying hard enough. However, ICT manufacturers too must be willing to lean towards customisation to suite market conditions rather than insisting on standardisation that will deliberately the underprivileged at an even greater disadvantage. Conclusion It is clear from the discussion presented that although the global economic recession of 2008 2010 and saturation in the developed markets has contributed to the downturn in the ICT industry, computer manufacturers are not yet out of ideas for new products and innovations that will benefit humanity and present a demand in the market. However, it is in the interest of ICT manufacturers to take a global view to do more to benefit and to benefit from emerging markets. Standardisation of products and prices has failed to deliver. Customisation for local conditions will result in benefits for all, but all parties including the individual, government, civic society and the non-governmental sector must contribute while trying to understand perspectives.

One Era To Another: The Telephone Essay -- Inventions, Alexander Graha

The modern version of the telephone has proven a significant change over the years from what it was at one point. What allows us to communicate with the world at any hour; minute and second of the day only exhibits how significant the invention has been for individuals. It is one of the most used pieces of electronics in the world today. Over time research has not only led to different versions of the phone, but to the developments of different tones, caller id’s, dialing, call tracing and allowing a person to listen to music while on hold. Alexander Graham Bell was born in March of 1847 in Edinburgh to a family whose life revolved around sound, speech and communication (Stern and Gwathmey 1). It was at the beginning of the second decade of the rule of Queen Victoria and Britain was entering an age of industrial expansion, with science on the rise. Bell at a young age proved to be quite the gentlemen, his training in etiquette and public speaking only proved to serve him well throughout life. It was during a visit to the London workshop of Sir Charles Wheatstone, he discovered the scientist’s invention of the speaking machine that fascinated him (Stern and Gwathmey 2). Curious and ambitious he set out and took a position as a professor of music and elocution, the study and art of speaking clear at a boarding school. Shortly thereafter tragedy struck in the Bell family and fearing further loss the family relocated to Brantford, Ontario in 1870. Bell spent a short time in Canada and quickly found his love of lif e in Boston. Bell began teaching deaf children and it was here he met Thomas Sanders and Gardiner Greene Hubbard. Little did Bell know these two men would play a prominent role in the patent of the telephone and directio... ...phone service. Here we sit in the 21st century and look at the one instrument that once brought people together, and has now spawned an industry that keeps them apart. Ultimately the telephone led in a new era, in which it has changed the way we talk to people and access information. Having a telephone allows families to stay in contact, business’s to advertise and one of the largest contributions is how it has brought on the ability to call during emergencies. Bell once wrote in 1878: "I believe in the future wires will unite the head offices of telephone companies in different cities, and a man in one part of the country may communicate by word of mouth with another in a distant place." (Marples, thehistoryof) From the telephone's earliest days and little did one know, it is safe to say Bell understood his invention's vast potential and what it would be today.

Recycling :: essays research papers

Five years have passed since the Earth Summit. Have we made any progress? Have we moved closer to the goal of sustainable development in the last five years? Is the world better off today than it was five years ago? A pessimist will say that the glass is half empty. As an optimist I prefer to say that the glass is half full. Let me count the main achievements", asserts Ambasador Tommy Koh of Singapore. The following is adapted from his article. First, the Earth Summit has brought to a final resolution the age-old debate between economic development and protection of the environment. The new wisdom is that we want economic progress, but we also want to live in harmony with nature. To be sure, Governments have to make hard choices and there are trade-offs between the two objectives. But since the Earth Summit, it is no longer possible to talk about development without considering its impact on the environment or to talk about protecting the environment without considering its impact on sustainable development. Many countries have enacted legislation to provide for environmental impact assessment. Second, the Earth Summit has empowered the environmental movement. Within national Governments, the ministries of environment and environmental protection agencies have become more important. The NGO (non-governmental organization) community has gained in stature and influence. Many countries have established national councils on sustainable development. The business community has rallied to the cause and established the Business Council on Sustainable Development. Business leaders have become aware that support for the environment is not inconsistent with profitability. Third, the Framework Convention on Climate Change has come into force. The States Parties are engaged in the difficult process of negotiating a Protocol which would contain legally binding limits on the emission of greenhouse gases. Fourth, the Convention on Biological Diversity has also come into force. States Parties are required to undertake inventories of their biological diversity. They are also required to publish Red Data Books containing their endangered species of flora and fauna. Although we continue to lose about three species of flora and fauna every day, the prospect is better today than five years ago that the world will arrest and reverse this trend. Fifth, in response to the urgent need of Africa, a Convention to Combat Desertification has been negotiated and adopted. It will enter into force in December 1997. I hope the international community will back the Convention with the requisite political will and economic resources to make it work.

Love Me If You Dare †Movie Analysis Essay

Love Me If You Dare is a French love-story film that released in 2001. It doesn’t have the typical arragement of plot that is commonly used in Hollywod cinema, so this film is categorized as Non-Classical Narative Structured film. The narrative structure itself is engaged with the content of a story and the form used to tell the story. In order to analyze the narrative structure of Love Me If You Dare, here we are going to discuss more about â€Å"what†, â€Å"where†, â€Å"who† and â€Å"how† the story is. 1. Where is the story set? The story takes setting in France. It is not only the language used in this film that can be apply as a reason to prove, but also many French words that explicitly appear on the scenes. Such as ‘capus’ that printed on the body of school-bus, and ‘M.Le Directeur’ that hangs on the door of principal’s room. 2. What event begins the story? The story begins by depicting a block of cement whose a can of merry-go-round is planted on the top of it, then the voice of narrator starts playing to explain about the story behind that game. 3. Who are the main characters? The main characters are Jullien Janvier, a guy whose Mom has a serious illness and really adored to play ‘game-or-dare’ with his merry-go-round can; and Sophie Kowalsky, a naughty girl that always enjoys to play ‘game-or-dare’ with Jullien through years. 4. What conflict do they face? The conflict begins when both of Jullien and Sophie grow older and they have been realized by people around them that time has changed; it is not a time to do such a childish game anymore. Jullien has to pass an exam, Sophie too. The last time they see each other, Sophie forces Jullien to admit that the feeling they have is not only game, but Jullien refuses his own feeling. However, Jullien’s life after that goes much easier than Sophie’s. He becomes a success youg executive (proven by his vehicle and suits), while Sophie becomes a waitress in a cafe, and also has to deal with many junk guys. They finally meet again for over four years promise not to see each other. Jullien comes with the gesture of proposing Sophie, but actually what he’s done is asking Sophie’s permission to marry another woman. That’s when the story begins more complicated. 5. What happens to the character as they face conflict? Jullien fails to marry with the woman he choose because Sophie comes and messes it up. Jullien is angry, then he tries to kill Sophie by asking her to stand in the middle of railway. Sophie can survive herself and she’s angry to Jullien in return. They agree not to see each other again in ten years. 6. Who wins the conflict? In a particular time when Jullien and Sophie decide to separate, each of them tries to have their own life. But when the ten years has come to an end, they prepare themselve to see each other. From this scene, the audience can infer that none of them are win or lose the conflict. Because it reaveals that they actually miss, and still need each other. 7. What reward do they achieve? After getting unite and admitting that actually they made for each other, they decide to live togeteher forever by sinking theirself into flan mud of cement, so that they will be statued forever. 8. How is the major conflict in the story set up? Stressing how important the game for Jullien and Sophie ïÆ'   showing that much things is need to be thought seriously by the goes of the time ïÆ'   Jullien’s dad refusal towards Sophie ïÆ'   major conflict begins. 9. How are the main character introduced? Jullien as the first speaker and narrator ïÆ'   introduces who are around him 10. How is the story moved along so that the characters must inevitably face the film’s central conflict? Condition forces them to separate ïÆ'   Jullien changes in the first meeting after four years ïÆ'   Sophie tries to make Jullien be her again ïÆ'   fails ïÆ'   Jullien hates her ïÆ'   Jullien tries to kill her ïÆ'   they hate each other. 11. How is the dramatic confrontation set up as the film draws to its close? Jullien and Shophie hate each other ïÆ'   emptyness while they are apart ïÆ'   problems with their ow wife/husband appear 12. How does the film resolve most of the major conflicts set up at the outset? They prepare a meeting after ten years ïÆ'   Sophie traps Jullien ïÆ'   thing beyond their control happens ïÆ'   Jullien traps Sophie back ïÆ'   they reveal and admit their feeling.

Dispersion and Deviation

In the world of data analysis, it is important to take note of the variability of data values for computation. Technically, variability provides an outlook whether there is a certain condition that data follows to achieve a certain computational characteristic. It comes from the root word â€Å"varied† and depicts a notion to analyze whether data sets are varied from each other or not. Usually, variability can be structured among randomly selected numerical values and intends to measure how spread out a group of data is (Lane, 2003).Dispersion is considered to be a measure of variability because it provides a big picture of how scattered the data values are. In gathering data sets, there is always a possibility for the numerical values for them not to align in a certain average. Therefore, dispersion gives the researcher an idea how widely dispersed each of the data is with respect to each other. Another measure of variability is deviation. Deviation is the actual distance of a measurement data from the average of the whole data set or the Mean (Wiley, 2000).There are two forms of computational deviation, the variance and the standard deviation. The variance is the average of the squared deviation measured from the population or sample average (Star Trek, 2007). Meanwhile, Standard Deviation is the variance’s square root. In the research that intends to provide alternative Treatment Educational Course for Parents of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, the possible areas where variability can be seen is with regards to the variables involved under measurement.There might be some variations about the effect of the parents’ gender to nurturing their child with ADHD. Variation between the male and female perspectives can be measured by using implicit data acquisition such as surveying, interviewing or experimental design. Another possible source of variability can be considered in the education background of the parents. Peo ple who were able to complete their education and people who have not will more likely result to some variations with their answers on the surveys, evaluations and impression on the proposed alternative treatment for ADHD. References Lane, David (2003). Measures of Variability. Retrieved November 6, 2008, from Connexions Web site: http://cnx.org/content/m10947/latest/ Star Trek, (2007). Statistics Tutorial: Measures of Variability. Retrieved November 6, 2008, from Star Trek Web site: http://stattrek.com/Lesson3/Variability.aspx Wiley, (2000). Statistics Measures of Variability. Retrieved November 6, 2008, from CliffsNotes Web site: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/CliffsReviewTopic/Measures-of-Variability.topicArticleId-25951,articleId-25906.html