Iran's nuclear possession Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Iran's nuclear possession - Essay Example rguments "for" nd "ginst" Irn's power to use nucler wepon re provided s well s conclusions bout the issue given in the end of the pper. Irn is the poster-child for the nexus of terrorism nd WMD. It is the world's foremost stte-sponsor of terrorism, s well s one of the countries most ctively pursuing nucler wepons. Wshington is vigilnt bout Irn's support for network of Islmist terrorist orgniztions nd persistent in pressing Irn to end its finncil, politicl, mteril, nd opertionl support to them. Recently, Bush nd the Pentgon hve clled Irn "rogue ntion" ( Third World stte tht possesses wepons of mss destruction nd sponsors terrorism). Irn is depicted s sort of regime, supposedly pursuing nucler, chemicl nd biologicl wepons cpbility nd missile delivery systems, tht justifies the building of missile defences. Like North Kore, the Pentgon in fct needs Irn to ct "s the bd guy" nd hs little interest right now in ltering its "behviour". Current president of Irn, Mhmoud hmdinejd, ws not much better known when he entered the presidentil election cmpign, lthough he hd lredy mde his mrk s Tehrn myor for rowing bck on erlier reforms. Since his election he hs tken tough stnd on number of foreign policy mtters, in line with his hrd-line bckground. His comments tht Isrel should be "wiped off the mp" nd tht the Holocust ws "myth" drew widespred condemntion from the West. However, to proceed with tht gol, president needs tobe empowered to ct nd mke decisions, which in Irn is n unlimited option since Irn's Islmic constitution provides n extrordinry concentrtion of executive power not in the hnds of the elected president but in those of the Supreme Leder, or vli-ye fqih, ppointed by council of clerics dominted by hrd-liners. In fct, the Irnin president wields less rel power thn perhps ny other elected chief executive in the world. This new constitution defines the Islmic Republic s new kind of stte, one ruled by qulified Islmi c jurists until the missing Twelfth Imm, the lst rightful ruler who disppered in 941, mkes his nticipted return to erth to usher in the ge of perfect justice. rguments ginst Irn obtining nucler power Militnt Islm is tody's engine of interntionl terror. Islmist schools breed new militnt genertion, Islmist sermons mobilize opinion ginst the free world, Islmist ideology legitimizes recourse to terror nd Islmist "chrities" bnkroll the globl network of terror. While most Muslim sttes re wre of this thret to the world nd their own stbility, there is one tht is ctully governed by Islmists: The Islmic Republic of Irn. Therefore, the principl component of the wr ginst terrorism should be the wr ginst mitnt Islm, which over the lst 20 decdes hs been inspired, nurtured, nd funded by the Islmic Government of Irn. The demise of the clericl regime in Irn would go long wy in "drining the swmp" of militncy nd rdiclism in the broder Muslim world with enormous geopoliticl consequences for U.S. ntionl security interests. Therefore, the permnent success of this cmpign rests on regime chnge in Irn. In short, the United Sttes fces

Gender Inequality in the Workforce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gender Inequality in the Workforce - Essay Example Sexism is defined as a mindset or a belief that one sex is better or superior to another (Padavic & Reskin, 2002). It is actually discrimination based on gender. Males and females both can become the victim of sexism but usually, in workplaces, women face gender discrimination. Mostly gender discrimination is related to salaries, promotions, and recruitment. Also on a day to day situations, women encounter sexism. Â  Stereotypes are another form of popular belief about a particular group of individuals. These beliefs have no rational or logical basis but still, they are quite ubiquitous. Stereotypes can be related to genders, race, nationality or ethnicity. Any preconception about a social group without any logical and reasonable evidence can be categorized as stereotypes. They also play a role in discrimination in workplaces. Â  Both of these issues persist in workplaces today. This is mainly because of the diversity of the organizations. Today companies hire a diverse group of employees from different cultures and different genders. Because of this diversity issues like stereotypes and sexism come up regularly in organizations. Â  Females face both sexism and stereotypes. This is because of the mindset of the society regarding their kind. It was only in the 20th century when women were given the right to vote. Before them, they were considered unimportant to such an extent that their say in elections was not deemed important. Women are fighting with the same attitude even today in workplaces. The idea of female emancipation is not easy to digest for the society as a whole.

Flexural Response of Concrete Structures

Flexural Response of Concrete Structures Literature Review Introduction This chapter provides a literature review on the previous studies that have been conducted on the flexural response of FRP/FRC structures. Previous studies related to the effect of using discrete fibers on the concrete properties are first presented with a focus on the use of non-metallic fibers. Later in the chapter, previous studies conducted on continuous FRP-reinforced structures are presented. The chapter ends with a presentation on the research needs and the current research objectives. Fiber-reinforced concrete Background Concrete is known for its superior compressive capabilities. However, it has certain deficiencies like weak tensile strength, low durability, and brittleness. The high demand on more resilient concrete with better durability properties led to the development of fiber-reinforced concrete. Adding discrete fibers to concrete mixtures helps in bridging the micro and macro cracks. The random distribution of fibers resists the propagation of cracks in all directions unlike the longitudinal reinforcing bars that resist in only one direction. Fiber bridging allows stress to be transferred across the cracks, enhancing both flexure and shear resistance. In addition, fiber bridging enhances crack controlling by reducing the crack width and spacing. These enhancements result in better post-cracking ductility and energy absorption capacity. Fiber types Fibers are added to concrete mix to restrict the growth of cracks. Several types of fibers are commonly used in concrete construction. These fibers can be metallic like steel fibers, synthetic as polypropylene or natural like jute. The first two types of fibers are the most commonly used in civil engineering applications. Metallic fibers are known for their high ultimate strength, while the alkaline resistance of synthetic fibers makes them suitable for harsh environments. The usage of fibers depends on the required behavior of concrete. A comparison between the physical properties of different fibers is found in table 2-1. Metallic fibers Steel fibers are the most common metallic fibers, and the most frequently used fibers in concrete structures. They are known for their high tensile strength, availability and their reasonable cost.   Their high strength enhances the post-cracking behaviour of the concrete. This enhancement boosts concrete ability to control cracks and shrinkage. Different shapes and geometries are available to use in market. The typical diameter varies between 0.10 to 1 mm. Steel fibers could be straight, end-hooked, crimped, and flattened-end (Figure 2-1); this versatility helps in fulfilling market needs. Figure 2- 1: Various steel fibers shapes (Susetyo, 2009) Synthetic fibers Recently, the desire to use synthetic fibers, as an additional reinforcement for concrete,  Ã‚   has significantly grown. Known for their resistance for alkaline conditions, synthetic fibers became an attractive substitute for steel fibers in concrete applications.   In addition, they are chemically inert and have high melting point, which make them appropriate for structures subjected to aggressive environmental attacks. Synthetic fibers, figure 2-2, can be categorized according to their modulus of elasticity. Except for carbon and kelvar fibers, most of the synthetic fibers fall in low modulus of elasticity category, such as polypropylene, polyester and nylon. Synthetic fibers are very flexible, which prevent fibers from sticking or breaking during concrete pumping. Figure 2- 2: Synthetic fiber (adapted from testilelearner.ca) Natural fibers Fibers extracted from animals, such as hair and jute, are the oldest type of fibers used in fiber reinforced concrete. Comparing with their fibers counterparts, they are considered cheap, eco-friendly and available in many countries. With the implementation of new technology, fibers could be extracted from new sources such as basalt rocks. Due to their high resistivity to alkalis and acids, basalt fibers (Figure2-3), made themselves an appropriate candidate for concrete applications. Recent studies conducted by Jianxun Ma et al (2012) and Kizilkanat et al (2015), demonstrated the ability of basalt fibers to enhance the durability and post cracking behavior of concrete. Figure 2- 3: Basalt fibers (adapted from technobaslat.com) Table 2-1: Different fibers and their properties Fiber Diameter Youngs Modulus Tensile strength Type mm GPa MPa Metallic Steel 0.10-1.0 180-200 700-1800 Synthetic Polypropylene 0.02-1.0 5 450 Polyester 0.01-0.10 10-150 150-3000 Kelvar 0.01-0.03 50-70 3500-4000 Natural Wood 0.02-0.15 10-50 300-1000 Jute 0.10-0.20 25-35 250-350 Factors affecting the properties of FRC Fiber volume fraction The amount of fibers added to a concrete mix is measured as a percentage of the total volume of concrete and fibers. This percentage is called fiber volume fraction (Vf).   It generally ranges from 0.5 to 3%. Previous studies showed that the fiber volume fraction is the most influencing parameter on the properties of FRC. It has been shown that increasing the fiber volume fraction enhances the compressive strength, the post-cracking behavior, and the ductility of the concrete element (Jianxun Ma et al., 2012). The increase in the fiber content increases the probability of intersecting the cracks and therefore boosts the ability of concrete to resist cracks. However, higher fiber contents could lead to workability loss and segregation of the concrete constituents. Problems associated with the high fiber content occur as a result of the decreased paste volume fraction available for the free movements of the fibers and aggregates. Kakooei et al. (2012) investigated the properties of concrete mixes reinforced with polypropylene fibers. The concrete compressive strength, its permeability, and its electric resistivity were evaluated. The fibers were added in amounts that ranged between 0 to 2 kg per cubic meter. It was reported that concrete samples with 1.5 kg per cubic meter of polypropylene fibers showed better results in comparison with other samples. The concrete compressive strength was found to be proportional to the amount of fibers added in the mix. The study conducted by Jianxun Ma et al (2012) on the influence of basalt fiber content (added in amounts of 1 to 3%) on the physical and mechanical properties of traditional cement-based materials. Fluidity and cube compressive strength tests were carried out. Test results showed that the above-mentioned properties were inversely proportional to the added fiber content. In addition, it was proven that the toughness index was directly proportional to the fiber content up to 2%. Kizilkanat et al (2015) studied the effect of fiber dosage of basalt and glass fibers on the mechanical properties of FRC. Basalt fiber reinforced concrete (BFRC) specimens showed the highest compressive strength at 0.50% whereas the glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) showed the highest compressive strength at 0.75%. Both mixes showed a reduction in their modulus of elasticity with the increase of the fiber dosage. A40% increase in the splitting tensile strength was observed in the BFRC mix at 1.0%. The increase in the flexure strength was more pronounced in the BFRC mix and was directly proportional to the fiber dosage used. BFRC specimens showed flexural strengths13 and 34% higher than those of the plain concrete specimens at Vf= 0.5 and 1%, respectively. On the other hand, GFRC specimens showed marginal increase in their flexural strengths with Vf= 0.5%. Fiber dosage of 0.25% had no effect on the fracture energy for both types of mixes. However, the fracture energy increased b y 50% at Vf=1% in both mixtures. Fiber aspect ratio Fiber aspect ratio is defined as the ratio of the fiber length to its diameter (.Previous studies havedemonstrated that the fiber aspect ratio affected the properties of fiber reinforced concrete. High aspect ratios enhance the bond between the fiber and the matrix, which creates a stiff matrix and enhances the bonding between concrete and fibers. Shah and Rangan (1971) stated that the higher the aspect ratio the greater the ability of fibers to transmit stresses through cracks. Iyer et al. (2014) evaluated the 28-day compressive strength and modulus of rupture of basalt fiber reinforced concrete beams. Specimens had different volume fractions and aspect ratios (same diameters but varying lengths). Plain concrete and steel fiber reinforcement specimens were cast as references. It was found that increasing the fiber length and the fiber amount considerably reduced the workability of concrete. The fiber length had an insignificant effect on the modulus of rupture and the compressive strength of concrete when low percentages of fibers were used. For high fiber percentages, the results showed an increase in the modulus of rupture with the increase of the fiber length. The study showed that a major improvement in the compressive strength could be achieved by using 36 mm basalt fibers with Vf = 0.31% but not as high as steel fiber reinforced concrete specimens. Fiber geometry Commercially-available fibers have different shapes namely, straight, end-hooked, crimped, and flattened-end (Fig XXX). Recent experimental studies by Susetyo (2009) showed that concrete matrices reinforced with shorter fibers have higher deformation ductility and better crack control over those with long fibers. This was attributed to the large amounts of short fibres that could exist within the matrix, which improves the concrete ability to control cracks and bridge the tensile stresses across the cracks. Figure 2- 4: Commercially available steel fibers (adapted from steelfiber.org) A study by Branston et al. (2016) investigated the mechanical properties of two types of basalt fibers (chopped basalt fibers and minibars). It was observed that adding chopped basalt fibers retarded the first crack but had no effect on either the compressive strength or the post cracking behavior. Further examination using scanning electronic microscope showed that the chopped basalt fiber specimens failed due to rupture of the fibers while the minibars-reinforced specimens failed due to fibers pullout. Figure 2- 5 Chopped basalt fibers and Minibars used in Banstons experiment Basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) bar This section reports on the use of continuous fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars in reinforcing concrete elements. Due to the wide range of FRP types that are commercially available, this section will focus on the recently developed basalt FRP (BFRP) bars and their use as reinforcing bars for concrete sections. BFRP bars are the newest members in the FRP bars family. They consist of basalt fibers impregnated in polymeric resin. The fibers are extracted from natural basalt rocks through a melting process. They are known for their high tensile strength, high modulus, and large strain to failure. Furthermore, they are known for their better durability and chemical stability over their glass FRP (GFRP) counterparts, which make them adequate for use in alkaline environments. To date, few studies have focused on the use of BFRP bars as internal reinforcement. The literature presented below is divided to three main sections as follows: Literature on the durability of BFRP bars; Literature on concrete elements reinforced with BFRP bars; and Literature on concrete elements with fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) reinforced longitudinally with BFRP bars. Durability of BFRP bars El Refai et al (2015) investigated the bond performance of BFRP bars to concrete through direct pullout test. Cylinders reinforced with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) were cast for comparative purposes. Different diameters of BFRP and GFRP bars, with variable embedment length in concrete, were used in this study. Results proved that BFRP bars could be a proper alternative for GFRP bars; as they attained 75% of GFRP bond strength. Smaller diameters of BFRP bars were more adhesive to concrete over the larger bars. This adhesion led to better bond between the concrete and the BFRP bars. It was noticed that BFRP and GFRP bars had similar trend regarding the effect of embedment length on the bond stress; as bond strength of both bars were inversely proportional with the embedment length. Altalmas et al (2015) studied the effect of various environmental conditions on the bond strength of pullout concrete cubes reinforced with sand-coated BFRP bars. Acid, saline and alkaline solutions were used to simulate different harsh environmental conditions.   The program consisted of 62 cube specimens reinforced with either BFRP or GFRP bars. Specimens were either unconditioned or subjected to exposure conditions for 30, 50 and 90 days. Results showed that BFRP specimens had better bond strength with concrete over the ribbed GFRP specimens, regardless the exposure condition,. BFRP specimens subjected for saline and alkaline solutions showed a 25% bond reduction after 90 days, while 14% reduction were reported for those immersed in acidic solution for the same duration of exposure. 25% bond loss was the highest bond reduction reported by GFRP specimens after 90 days. This reduction was reported by the specimens submerged in acidic solution, while 17% reduction was observed for specimens subjected to saline and alkaline conditions. Elgabbas et al (2015) investigated the short- and long-term properties of three different types of BFRP. The bars were conditioned in alkaline solution simulating the concrete environment to assess their ability as an internal reinforcement for concrete elements. The physical and mechanical properties of the bars were determined according to ACI-440 and CSA-807 test procedures. Concerning the short-term properties, the results showed that BFRP bars met the physical and mechanical requirements stated by ACI and CSA and could be placed in the same category as grade II and grade III GFRP bars. However, the long-term mechanical properties for the alkali-conditioned specimens showed significant degradation.   Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) confirmed that this degradation was attributed to the poor bonding between the resin and the fiber. Hassan et al. (2016) studied the bond durability of BFRP bars embedded in concrete in aggressive environments. A total of 50 BFRP specimens were immersed in alkaline solution at three different elevated temperatures (40, 50, and 60o C) for 1.5, 3, and 6 months. Five unconditioned specimens were tested at room temperature 28 days after casting for comparative purposes. The bond strength generally increased with the increase in the surrounding temperature. Exposure for 1.5 months increased the bond strengths by 25% and 26% in the specimens conditioned at 50 and 60oC, respectively, whereas a minor reduction in the bond strength (about 4%) was recorded for specimens conditioned at 40. Specimens conditioned for6 months at 40 had the maximal bond loss (about 16%). However, all specimens met the minimum bond strength reported by ACI 440.6 and CSA-S807. Depending on the environmental conditions, the long-term bond-strength-retention predications of the BFRP bars after 50 years of service lif e ranged from 71% to 92%, Durability of BFRP bars Mahroug et al. (2013) studied the flexural response of simple and continuous slabs reinforced with BFRP bars. A total of 6 slabs having different reinforcement ratios and bars arrangement were tested in flexure. One continuously supported slab reinforced with steel bars was also tested as a reference slab. Results showed that slab reinforced with BFRP bars had higher deflections with deeper cracks than the reference slab. Over-reinforced BFRP-reinforced slabs showed higher loading carrying capacity. The authors reported that ACI 440.1R-06 overestimated the flexural capacity in most of BFRP-reinforced concrete slabs. ISIS-M03-07 and CSA-S806-06 reasonably predicted the deflections of the BFRP-reinforced slabs whereas ACI 440-1R-06 underestimated their deflections. Lapko and UrbanÃÅ' ski (2014) presented a comparative analysis of experimental and theoretical analysis of concrete beams reinforced with BFRP bars. The research consisted of three beams reinforced with BFRP bars and three reference beams reinforced with conventional steel bars. The results showed that the BFRP-reinforced beams showed higher deflections and crack width in comparison with their steel-reinforced counterparts. CSA806-02 accurately predicted the beam deflections at the initial loading level (up to 20% of critical load) with 9% discrepancy between the theoretical and experimental deflections. As the load increased, the CSA806-02 showed large discrepancy between the theoretical and the experimental deflections (up to 49%). Deflections based on the provision of ISIS (2007) and and by modified equation of Bischoff were the most accurate throughout all phases of loading. PawÅ‚owskia and SzumigaÅ‚aa (2015) investigated the flexural behavior of full-scale BFRP-reinforced beams. Three beams with different reinforcement ratios were tested until failure. Results showed that BFRP-reinforced beams having high reinforcement ratios experienced higher ultimate loads and stiffness that those having low reinforcement ratios. However, the former beams showed less ductility than the later ones. It was proven that the flexural design of BFRP-reinforced members is governed by serviceability limits since the ultimate deflections of beams were six times greater than the permissible values. Numerical analysis using ABAQUS showed a good agreement with the experimental results. Zhang et al. (2015) studied the flexural deflections of concrete beams reinforced with BFRP bars. Six beams reinforced with different ratios in addition to one control steel-reinforced beam were tested under four point loading. Results showed that BFRP-reinforced beams exhibited brittle failure especially the under-reinforced beams. ACI 440.1R-06 accurately predicted the flexure capacities of the beams but underestimated their deflection capacities. A modified equation considering the influence of the increased compressive zone was proposed. This equation showed higher accuracy in predicting the deflections of the BFRP-reinforced beams than the ACI equation. Finite element modeling (FEM) using ABAQUS package was used to model the BFRP-reinforced beams and showed good agreement with the experimental results. Elgabbas et al (2016) investigated the structure performance of six concrete beams reinforced with BFRP bars. The beams had different reinforcement ratios, number of reinforcement layers, and bar sizes. It was found that the ACI and CSA overestimated the cracking moment by an average of 27% and 24%, respectively. The average bond-dependent coefficient (kb) was estimated at 0.8, which was in agreement with the recommendation of the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code. The obtained results confirmed that the pre-cracking response of all beams was similar until cracking occurred with no evidence of being affected by the reinforcement ratio. However, after cracking, it was reported that beams with higher reinforcement ratios had better crack distribution and less crack width. The authors concluded that CSA provisions provided reasonable deflection yet conservative values over the ACI for beams reinforced with BFRP. Tomlinson and Fam (2015) evaluated the flexural and shear performances for concrete beams reinforced with BFRP bars and stirrups.   A total of nine specimens were reinforced with BFRP bars were tested under four-point loading. Steel reinforced specimens were cast for comparison purposes. The parameters investigated included the type of stirrups (steel or BFRP) and the reinforcement ratio (varying from 0.28 to 1.60). Results showed that the service and ultimate loads of BFRP specimens were directly proportional to the flexural reinforcement ratio, regardless the shear reinforcement type.   In addition, BFRP-reinforced beams showed significantly higher strengths (2.8 times) in comparison with their steel-reinforced counterparts having the same reinforcement ratio. ACI and CSA adequately predicted the flexural strength of the BFRP-reinforced beams. Ge et al. (2015) studied the flexural behavior of hybrid concrete beams reinforced with BFRP and steel bars. Three hybrid concrete beams reinforced with BFRP bars and steel bars, one concrete beam reinforced with BFRP bars and one concrete beam reinforced with steel bars were cast. Results showed that the ratio between the area of FRP bars to that of steel bars () governed the deflection and the crack spacing properties of the hybrid beams, as both decreased with the increase of this ratio. It was observed that under same loading, the deflection and crack spacing were maximal in the BFRP-reinforced beams and minimal in the steel-reinforced ones. Hybrid beams showed deflections less than those encountered in the BFRP-reinforced beams but higher than those of the steel-reinforced ones. It was also proven that the average crack spacing calculation theory is valid for hybrid-reinforced beams, while a new formula for calculating the flexural capacity was proposed for those beams. Hybrid FRC/FRP specimens Won et al (2010) investigated the flexural cracks of 16 beams reinforced with FRP bars. Parameters used in this study were the reinforcement bars type (GFRP or CFRP) and the reinforcement ratio. Steel reinforced specimens were cast for comparative purposes. 1% by volume of crimped polypropylene fibers was added to the concrete mix. Results showed that adding polypropylene fibers enhanced the cracking response of the concrete. However, it reduced its compressive strength by 23%, in comparison with the plain concrete. Both GFRP and CFRP under-reinforced FRC beams had smaller cracks, while the over-reinforced ones had an increased number of cracks formed. Polypropylene fibers didnt have much of an effect on steel reinforced specimens; as beams with plain concrete and with FRC had similar cracking response. A total of 36 specimens were fabricated by Belrabi et al. (2011) to investigate the effect of environmental exposure on the long-term bond behavior of FRP/FRC structures. Specimens were subjected to combined freez eand thaw cycles and high temperature while being submerged in salt solution. FRP bars in plain concrete were subjected to the same environmental conditions for comparative purposes. It was found that 0.5% of polypropylene fibers significantly enhanced the bond durability. An average of 28% reduction in bond strength was observed for FRP bars in plain concrete whereas only 6% reduction was observed for FRC specimens. Furthermore, 26% average reduction in design bond strength was reported for plain concrete specimens while only 10% reduction was reported for FRC specimens. Wang and Belarbi (2013) investigated the long-term flexural performance of FRP/FRC beams. Beams cast with plain concrete served as controls. Twenty-six over-reinforced concrete beams were subjected to freeze and thaw cycles followed by high temperature cycles before being tested in flexure. It was reported that all specimens failed due to concrete crushing. Results showed that conditioning had slight effect on the flexural capacities of both plain and FRC beams. However, 0.5% of polypropylene fibers enhanced the ductility index of both conditioned and unconditioned specimens by an average of 30%. Wang and Belrab (2015) conducted a research to investigate the possibility of using steel-free system to overcome corrosion problems associated with steel.   Their systems consisted of hybrid CFRP/GFRP bars and 0.5% randomly distributed polypropylene fibers. A total of 12 over-reinforced specimens were subjected to four-point loading configuration. The investigated parameters included the size and type of FRP bars and the concrete mix (FRC and plain concrete). All plain concrete specimens failed by concrete crushing. However, FRC beams failed in a more ductile behavior that was attributed to the bridging effect of the added fibers. Results showed that the fibers had significantly enhanced the concrete ultimate stain to an average of 3,300 micro-strains while 2,950 micros-trains were measured in theplain concrete beams. The addition of fibers improved the flexural capacity for the FRC beams up to 9% and the ultimate deflection up to 27%. High et al. (2015) conducted an experimental program to investigate the use of BFRP bars as flexural reinforcement for concrete members. In addition, they studied the effect of using chopped basalt fibers as an additive to enhance the mechanical properties of concrete. Six one-way slabs reinforced with BFRP bars were tested in flexure and their results were compared with those predicted by ACI 440.1R-06.Under-reinforced slabs showed a lower carrying capacity than the balanced and over-reinforced slabs due to the rupture of BFRP bars.   It was proven that ACI 440.1R-06 adequately predicted the flexure capacities of the slabs but significantly underestimated the deflections at service loads. More precise deflection values were predicted by using the equation proposed by Bischoff and Gross (2011) while neglecting the effect of tension stiffening. The use of chopped basalt fiber resulted in an increase in the modulus of rupture of concrete with a slight effect on the compressive streng th. Conclusions: A summary of the previous studies that have been carried out on the flexural response of concrete structures reinforced with FRP, FRC or hybrid has been presented. Parameters recognized to have a significant effect on the behaviour of these elements are identified. The previous studies were categorized the reinforcement type; FRC, FRP or hybrid. An overall review on the factors affecting the behaviour of FRC is presented with a focus on non-metallic fibers. In addition, factors making non-metallic fibers more preferable than metallic fibers are highlighted. From the previous literature review, the following points are concluded: The presence of fibers in concrete has a great influence on the behavior of concrete structures. They have been successfully known for their ability to control cracks and shrinkage and enhance the post-cracking behavior. Those enhancements occur as a result of the bridge action caused by fibers. Fiber volume fraction is the most influencing parameter on the properties of FRC. Sufficient fibers are required to enhance the bridging action, while excessive fibers could lead to workability and segregation issues. Synthetic fibers are considered a promising candidate for reinforcing concrete structures. Owing to their alkaline resistivity, high melting point and high tensile strength, they are measured as a promising replacement for steel fibers in reinforcement concrete applications. Aspect ratio of the fiber is another important factor which influences the behavior of FRC. It has been reported that compressive strength and concrete toughness are considerably affected by the aspect ratio of fibers used in the concrete mix. The type of bars used as flexural reinforcement has a major effect on the behavior of the concrete elements. This occurs due to the variance in the physical and mechanical properties of the materials used in forming the bars. Reinforcement ratio is a significant parameter in BFRP concrete structures. It was found that specimens having high reinforcement ratios experienced higher ultimate loads and stiffness. ACI 440.1R-06 and CSA S806-06 were accurate in predicting the flexure capacities of BFRP structures however, they underestimated their deflection capacities. There is a noticeable lack of studies on the flexural response of BFRP slabs in the presence of basalt mini-bars. Among the few studies, this mentioned hybrid system proved to be efficient in enhancing the compressive strength of the concrete and improving its overall durability. None of the previous studies has investigated the effect of different fiber volume ratios of basalt mini-bars on the behavior of concrete structures reinforced with BFRP bars. None of the previous studies has developed a numerical model that is capable to simulate the flexural response of BFRP reinforced concrete structures in the presence of different volume fractions of basalt mini-bars. Research objectives: The overall objective of the current study is to investigate the flexural response of BFRP slabs reinforced with different volumetric ratios of basalt mini-bars. The detailed procedures of the current study are presented

Me and the Moon :: Something Corporate Me and the Moon Essays

Me and the Moon Music has always been a crucial part of the way society views the world. Some songs have hidden messages that can change’s one’s life and opinions. Today many songs become popular without having meaning. Something Corporate is a fairly new band, which sings, â€Å"Konstanine†, â€Å"You’re gone†, â€Å"Only Ashes†, and â€Å"Me and the Moon†. Being a new band in the music scene, they have caught many listeners attention through their lyrics. One of their more interesting songs is, â€Å"Me and the moon†. Something Corporate’s song â€Å"Me and the Moon† succeeds because it makes you think about relationships through subliminal messages. Obviously, the author of the song â€Å"Me and the Moon† is the new and up coming band Something Corporate. This song brings in an audience of women who have difficult relationships with their significant other. Many of their songs tell their listeners real life experiences. â€Å"Me and the moon† appeals to people in relationships because it describes someone in a relationship that is suffering. Being alternative music, it appeals to people who are interested in rock music or like different kinds of music rather than the popular music. Most songs use pathos because of their emotional lyrics. We realize that this song is pathos because of the extremely personal experience represented in this song. Throughout the song, he uses emotional lyrics that touch your heart. Many people in unhealthy relationships can identify with this song In the beginning verse of the song, the first line â€Å"It’s a good year for murder. She’s praying to Jesus. She’s pulling the trigger. There’s no tears, cause he’s not here. She washes her hands, and she fixes dinner, but soon they’ll be coming to rush her away. No one’s so sure if her crime had a reason†. This lyric tells us that a woman is trying to kill her husband. We can infer this because they describe the presence of a gun and her committing a crime. We can tell that they are married because they state activities that would be associated with being a house wife. The murder would be considered a crime because no one knew the pain her husband caused her. She has no feelings because she does not cry after she murders her husband. After killing her husband she has no remorse because of the damaged he caused. In the next verse, Something Corporate tells us that â€Å"Reasons like seasons.

Introduction to Economics Essay

The variation in the price of the houses from various cities can be attributed to many different economic factors that could affect the price of the commodity or merchandise. There are sometimes other indirect factors that affect the price of a commodity or merchandise, like the rising of the price of crude oil. Crude oil serves as an input for most of the industries in our economy, and thus, if the price of the crude oil increases, commodities that use crude oil as a part of the production costs would also have to increase so as not to affect their revenue. Well of course in this paper; we are going to give more attention on the reason behind the differences in the prices of houses on every city as well as finding the root of the problem. Based from realtors. com, I observed that houses with the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms differ in terms of prices (realtor. com, 2007). As I analyze the given data on the site, I come up with the following possible answer to the problem. The reason behind the differences in the prices of houses from city to city is based on the type of living that the city has. The higher the standard of living would mean that the citizens there are more capable of buying expensive houses or appliances. Whereas, those cities that has lower standard of living denotes that the person living in those place has a lower â€Å"willingness to pay† than with the higher standard of living. Because of this, the firms in the city with lower standard of living would be forced to set their prices reasonable to maintain their market share. Another reason would be, those cities with lower standard of living has only a simple design for their houses as compared to those people living in the â€Å"rich† city and because of this, only those â€Å"rich† cities can afford to buy such beautiful house. With this, raw material in making the house become expensive to match the kind of living the citizen has. 2] The Effects of Supply and Demand If we are going to graph demand and supply, we could see that the demand is downward sloping and supply is upward sloping. Refer to appendix page, at first when there are no distortion in the economy happens, the supply and demand for houses are in the equilibrium [the intersection of Po and Qo. Now suppose that the demand for houses increased due to higher incomes of the citizen, then, the demand curve will shift to the right while maintaining the original supply curve. With this, we now arrived at a higher price level (Zilberman, 2002). It is logically for the house producers to increase their prices because people demand more of houses and they can afford to buy houses even if you raise your charge. Now let’s go back to the equilibrium position, as for the effect of supply on prices, suppose that the firms can now produce more houses because they become more competitive and efficient, with this, the supply curve will shift to the right while maintaining the original demand curve. As we can see in the graph, the prices now decreased due to the inverse relationship of demand to supply (Zilberman, 2002). According to the law of supply, if the supply of a certain commodity increased, its demand would go to fall. This is the reason why demand is downward sloping while supply is upward sloping (investopedia. com, 2007). Well, it is rational for the producers to lower down their prices to attract more customers to purchase their surplus in the production since they produce more than the needed number in the market. In short, the effect of demand to prices would be positive and negative for supply; this is based on the producer’s point of view most of the relationships here would be reversed if we would use the point of view of the consumers. REFERENCES investopedia.com. (2007). Economics Basics: Demand and Supply [Electronic Version]. Retrieved August 19, 2007 from http://www. investopedia. com/university/economics/economics3. asp. realtor. com. (2007). Home Plan HPG-1855 Details [Electronic Version], 1. Retrieved August 19, 2007 from http://www. homeplans. com/exec/action/plans/browsemode/details/filter/PlnID. 24346/hspos/hsnet/page/1/planid/24346/section/homeplans. Zilberman, D. (2002). Market Policies and Incentives [Electronic Version], 1. Retrieved August 19, 2007 from http://images. google. com. ph/imgres? imgurl=http://are. berkeley. edu/courses/PMB10/fall2005/Lecture19files/Lectur17. gif&imgrefurl=http://are. berkeley. edu/courses/PMB10/fall2005/Lecture-19. htm&h=487&w=576&sz=6&hl=en&start=18&tbnid=5Ht0lrADVcB2LM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=134&

My school Essay

I,________,have been a part of the _________School District my entire life. For me school has been a mixture of emotions. Some years I loved school and learning and other years I hated school and felt as if I would never amount to anything. The movie Stand and Deliver made me wonder how much better of a student I could have been if all my teachers cared as much as Mr. Escalante. In elementary school I had mixed emotions. I loved school up until about 3rd grade but then I started to hate school. It became harder for me to get good grades and I  felt dumb. Many of my teachers also had my sister, who was an A+ student so they would always make statement about how I should follow in her footsteps and such. But I was never as smart as her or good at school like she was. Once I was in the 3rd grade I began to struggle with all subjects except reading, once this struggle began I started to care less about school and grades. Middle school is where things began to turn around for me. In the 6th grade I had Mr. Pollock as one of my teachers. He was the most caring teacher I have ever had,  he showed me I could do anything I put my mind too and he pushed me to succeed the way Mr. Escalante pushed his students. In the movie Mr. Escalante says â€Å"Students will rise to the level of expectations† and this is exactly what my teacher did to me, he set the expectations high and then pushed me to exceed them. High school was another good experience. I always was a â€Å"teacher’s pet† and got good grades without really trying. I never studied while in high school and was very involved in extracurricular activities. This was good for me then but has caused me problems now. Now that I am in college and have to study and really work hard I don’t do as good as I would like. In my opinion my past schooling has set me up to fail in college. Even though I was taught the things I needed to be taught. I didn’t learn to push myself. I got by either just barely or passing with flying colors†¦ I, Thanh Nguyen, I have been grown up in Vietnam, so I went to elementary, middle, high school there. And the education is a lots harder here in States. For me school has been a mixture of emotions. Some years I loved school and learning and other years I hated school and felt as if I would never amount to anything. In elementary school I had mixed emotions. I loved school up until about 5rd grade but then I started to hate school In my opinion my past schooling has set me up to fail in college. Even though I was taught the things I needed to be taught. I didn’t learn to push myself. I got by either just barely or passing with flying colors†¦

Mothers Day Quotes - What Writers Say About Mothers

Mothers Day Quotes - What Writers Say About Mothers What do the writers have to say about Mothers Day? From Edgar Allan Poe to Washington Irving, read what famous writers have written about their mothers. Writers Quotes The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. - Honore de Balzac (1799-1850) Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; A mothers secret hope outlives them all. - Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894) The real religion of the world comes from women much more than from men - from mothers most of all, who carry the key of our souls in their bosoms. - Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894) Where we love is homehome that our feet may leave, but not our hearts. - Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894) A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavour by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. - Washington Irving (1783-1859) Whatever else is unsure in this stinking dunghill of a world a mothers love is not. - James Joyce (1881-1941) Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. - Marcel Proust (1871-1922) Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children. - William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. Thats his. - Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895 How have mothers influence the lives of writers? How have women writers balanced the demands of motherhood with the need to write? And, what have authors written about their mothers? Celebrate mothers in literature! Mothers in LiteratureTo My Mother - Edgar Allan PoeMother o Mine - Rudyard KiplingMother and Babe - Walt WhitmanMothers Day Proclamation - Julia Ward HoweAh, Woe is Me, My Mother Dear - Robert BurnsLittle Women - Louisa May AlcottEmilys Mother  - Emily Dickinson

House of Quality Essay Example

House of Quality Essay Example House of Quality Paper House of Quality Paper The House of Quality by John R. Hauser and Don Clausing Harvard Business Review Reprint Design is a team effort, but how do marketing and engineering talk to each other? Digital Equipment, Hewlett-Packard, ATT, and ITT are getting started with it. Ford and General Motors use it at Ford alone there are more than 50 applications. The house of quality, the basic design tool of the management approach known as quality function deployment (QFD), originated in 1972 at Mitsubishis Kobe shipyard site. Toyota and its suppliers then developed it in numerous ways. The house of quality has been used successfully by Japanese manufacturers of consumer electronics, home appliances, clothing, integrated circuits, synthetic rubber, construction equipment, and agricultural engines. Japanese designers use it for services like swimming schools and retail outlets and even for planning apartment layouts. A set of planning and communication routines, quality function deployment focuses and coordinates skills within an organization, first to design, then to manufacture and market goods that cus HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW May-June 1988 tomers want to purchase and will continue to purchase. The foundation of the house f quality is the belief that products should be designed to reflect customers desires and tastes so marketing people, design engineers, and manufacturing staff must work closely together from the time a product is first conceived. The house of quality is a kind of conceptual map that provides the means for interfunctional planning and communications. People with different John R. Hauser, at the Harvard Business School as a Marvin Bower Sloan School of Management. He is the author, with Glen L. Urban, of Design Marketing of New Products (Prentice-Hall, 1980). Don Clausing is Bernard M. Gordon Adjunct Professor of Engineering Innovation and Practice at MIT. Previously he worked for Xerox Corporation. He introduced QFD to Ford and its supplier companies in 1984. Copyright 1988 by the Presidents and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. HOUSE OF QUALITY Whats So Hard About Design David Garvin points out that there are many dimensions to what a consumer means by quality and that it is a major challenge to design products that satisfy all of these at once. l Strategic quality management means more than avoiding repairs for consumers. It means that companies learn from customer experience and econcile what they want with what engineers can reasonably build. Before the industrial revolution, producers were close to their customers. Marketing, engineering, and manufacturing were integrated in the same individual. If a knight wanted armor, he talked directly to the armorer, who translated the knights desires into a product. The two might discuss the material plate rather than chain armor and details like fluted surfaces for greater bending strength. Then the armorer would design the production process. For strength who knows why? he cooled the steel plates in the urine of a black goat. As for a production plan, he arose with the cocks crow to light the forge fire so that it would be hot enough by midday. Todays fiefdoms are mainly inside corporations. Marketing people have their domain, engineers theirs. Customer surveys will find their way onto designers desks, and RD plans reach manufacturing engineers. But usually, managerial functions remain disconnected, producing a costly and demor- alizing environment in which product quality and the quality of the production process itself suffer. Top executives are learning that the use of interfunctional teams benefits design. But f top management could get marketing, designing, and manufacturing executives to sit down together, what should these people talk about? How could they get their meeting off the ground? This is where the house of quality comes in. Consider the location of an emergency brake lever in one American sporty car. Placing it on the guaranteed that women in skirts could not get in and out gracefully. Even if EXHIBIT II Japanese automaker with QFD made fewer changes than U. S. company without QFD U. S. ompany Design changes problems and responsibilities can thrash out design priorities while referring to patterns of evidence on the houses grid. Japanese company of total Japanese changes complete 20-24 Months 14_17 1-3 +3 Months Job #1 Months EXHIBIT I Startup and preproduction costs at Toyota Auto Body before and after QFD January 1977 pre QED April 1984 post QED (39% of pre QFD costs) Preproduction costs S tartup costs Source for Exhibits I and II: Lawrence P. Sullivan, Quality Function Deployment, Reprinted by permission. the system were to last a lifetime, would it satisfy customers? In contrast, Toyota improved its rust prevention record from one of the worst in the world to one of the best by coordinating design and production decisions to focus on this customer oncern. Using the house of quality, designers broke down body durability into 53 items covering everything from climate to modes of operation. They obtained customer evaluations and ran experiments on nearly every detail of production, from pump operation to temperature control and coating composition. Decisions on sheet metal details, coating materials, and baking temperatures were all focused on those aspects of rust prevention most important to customers. . David A. Garvin, Competing on the Eight Dimensions of Quality, HBR November- December 1987, p. 101 . 4 HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW Today, with marketing tech EXHIBIT III iques so much more sophisticated than ever before, compacustomer attributes and bundles of CAS nies can measure, track, and for a car door compare customers perceptions PRIMARY SECOND ARY TERTIARY of products with remarkable acEasy to close from outside curacy; all companies have opStays open on a hill Easy to open from outside EASY TO OPEN portunities to compete on quali AND CLOSE DOOR Doesnt kick back ty. And costs certainly Justify an Easy to close from inside emphasis on quality design. By Easy to open from inside looking first at customer needs, Doesnt leak in rain then designing across corporate No road noise and use Doesnt leak in car wash functions, manufacturers can rel SOLATlON No wind noise duce prelaunch time and afterDoesnt drip water or snow when open Doesnt rattle launch tinkering. Exhibit I compares startup and Soft, comfortable ARM REST In right position preproduction costs at Toyota Auto Body 1977, before QFD, Material wont fade INTERIOR TRIM Attractive (nonplastic look) to those costs in 1984, when QFD was well under way. House of CLEAN Good appearance Easy to clean No grease from door quality meetings early on reduced costs by more than 60%. Uniform gaps between matching panels Exhibit II reinforces this evidence by comparing the number f design changes at a Japanese auto manufacturer noise. Some Japanese companies simply place using QFD with changes at a U. S. automaker. The their products in public areas and encourage potenJapanese design was essentially frozen before the tial customers to examine them, while design team first car came off the assembly line, while the U. S. embers listen and note what people say. Usually, however, more formal market research is called for, company was still revamping months later. via focus groups, in-depth qualitative interviews, and other techniques. Building the House CAS are often grouped into bundles of attributes hat represent an overall customer concern, like There is nothing mysterious about the house of open-close or isolation. The Toyota rustquality. Th ere is nothing particularly difficult prevention study used eight levels of bundles to get from the total car down to the car body. Usually the used to its conventions. Eventually ones eye can project team groups CAS by consensus, but some bounce knowingly around the house as it would over a road-map or a navigation chart. We have seen companies are experimenting with state-of-the-art research techniques that derive groupings directly some applications that started with more than 100 rom customers responses (and thus avoid argucustomer requirements and more than 130 engiments in team meetings). neering considerations. A fraction of one subchart, CAS are generally reproduced in the customers in this case for the door of an automobile, illusown words. Experienced users of the house of qualitrates the houses basic concept well. Weve reproty try to preserve customers phrases and even duced this subchart portion in the illustration clich? ©s knowing that they will be translated siHouse of Quality, and well discuss each section multaneously by product planners, design engistep-by-step. eers, manufacturing engineers, and salespeople. Of course, this raises the problem of interpretation: What do customers want? The house of quality What does a customer really mean by quiet or begins with the customer, whose requirements are easy? Still, designers words and inferences may called customer attributes (CAs) phrases cuscorrespond even less to customers actual views tomers use to describe products and product charand can therefore mislead teams into tackling probacteristics (see Exhibit Ill). Weve listed a few here; lems customers consider unimportant. a typical application would have 30 to 100 CAs. A Not all customers are end users, by the way. CAS car door is easy to close or stays open on a hill; can include the demands of regulators (safe in a doesnt leak in rain or allows no (or little) road HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW 5 EXHIBIT Relative-importance weights of customer attributes BUNDLES RELATIVE IMPORTANCE AND CLOSE DOOR Easy to close from outside Stays open on a hill 7 ISOLATION Doesnt leak in rain 3 2 A complete list totals 100% side collision), the needs of retailers (easy to display), the requirements of vendors (satisfy assembly and service organizations), and so forth. Are all preferences qually important? Imagine a good door, one that is easy to close and has power windows that operate quickly. There is a problem, however. Rapid operation calls for a bigger motor, which makes the door heavier and, possibly, harder to close. Sometimes a creative solution can be found that satisfies all needs. Usually, however, designers have to trade off one benefit against another. To bring the customers voice to such deliberations, house of quality measures the relative importance to the customer of all CAs. Weightings are based on team members direct experience with customers or on surveys. Some innovative usinesses are using statistical techniques that allow customers to state their preferences with respect to existing and hypothetical products. Other companies use revealed preference techniques, which Judge consumer tastes by their actions as well as by their words an approach that is more expensive and difficult to perform but yields more accurate answers. (Consumers say that avoiding sugar in cereals is important, but do their actions reflect their claims? ) Weightings are displayed in the house next to list totaling 100% (see Exhibit V). Will delivering perceived needs yield a competitive advantage? Companies that want o match or exceed their competition must first know where they stand relative to it. So on the right side of the house, opposite the CAs, we list customer evaluations of competitive cars matched to our own (see Exhibit V). Ideally, these evaluations are based on scientific surveys of customers. If various customer segments 6 evaluate products differently luxury vs. economy car buyers, for example product-planning team members get assessments for each segment. Comparison with the competition, of course, can identify opportunities for improvement. Take our car door, for example. With respect to stays open on hill, every car is weak, so we could gain an advantage here. But if we looked at no road noise for the same automobiles, we would see that we already have an advantage, which is important to maintain. Marketing professionals will recognize the righthand side of Exhibit V as a perceptual map. Perceptual maps based on bundles of CAS are often used to identify strategic positioning of a product or product line. This section of the house of quality provides a natural link from product concept to a companys strategic vision. How can we change the product? The marketing domain tells us what to do, the engineering domain ells us how to do it. Now we need to describe the product in the language of the engineer. Along the top of the house of quality, the design team lists those engineering characteristics (ECs) that are likely to affect one or more of the customer attributes (see Exhibit VI). The negative sign on energy to close door means engineers hope to reduce the energy required. If a standard engineering characteristic affects no CA, it may be redundant to the EC list on the house, or the team may have missed a customer attribute. A CA unaffected by any EC, on the other hand, presents opportunities to expand a ars physical properties. Any EC may affect more than one CA. The resistance of the door seal affects three of the four customer attributes shown in Exhibit VI and others shown later. Engineering characteristics should describe the product in measurable terms and should directly affect customer perceptions. The weight of the door will be felt by the customer and is therefore a relevant EC. By contrast, the thickness of the sheet metal is a part characteristic that the customer is only by influencing the weight of the door and other engineering characteristics, like resistance to deformation in a crash. In many Japanese projects, the interfunctional team begins with the CAS and generates measurable characteristics for each, like foot-pounds of energy required to close the door. Teams should avoid ambiguity in interpretation of ECS or hasty Justification of current quality control measurement practices. This is a time for systematic, patient analysis of each characteristic, for brainstorming. Vagueness will eventually yield indifference to things customers need. Characteristics that are trivial will make the team lose sight of the overall design and stifle creativity. EXHIBIT V Customers evaluations of competitive products CUSTOMER ATTRIBUTES Worst 1 CUSTOMER PERCEPTIONS 5 Best How much do engineers influEASY TO OPEN Easy to close from outside 7 AND CLOSE ence customer-perceived qualiDOOR ties? The interfunctional team now fills in the body of the house, the relationship matrix, indicating how much each engineering characteristic affects each customer OUR CAR DOOR attribute. The team seeks consenCOMPETlTOR AS sus on these evaluations, basing COMPETITOR BS them on expert engineering experience, customer responses, and tabulated data from statistical studies or controlled experiments. course, there might be an entirely new mechanism The team uses numbers or symbols to establish that improves all relevant CAs. Engineering is crethe strength of these relationships (see Exhibit VI). tive solutions and a balancing of objectives. Any symbols will do; the idea is to choose those The house of qualitys distinctive roof matrix that work best. Some teams use red symbols for rehelps engineers specify the various engineering fealationships based on experiments and statistics and tures that have to be improved collaterally (see Expencil marks for relationships based on judgment hibit X). To improve the window motor, you may or intuition. Others use numbers from statistical ave to improve the hinges, weather stripping, and studies. In our house, we use check marks for posia range of other ECs. tive and crosses for negative relationships. Sometimes one targeted feature impairs so many Once the team has identified the voice of the cusothers that the team decides to leave it alone. The tomer and linked it to engineering characteristics, roof matrix also facilitates necessary engineering it adds objective measures at the bottom of the trade-offs. The foot-pounds of energy needed to house beneath the ECS to which they pertain (see close the door, for example, are shown in negative Exhibit VI). When objective measures are known, relation to door seal resistance and road noise the team can eventually move to establish target reduction. In many ways, the roof contains the values ideal new measures for each EC in a remost critical information for engineers because designed product. If the team did its homework they use it to balance the trade-offs when addresswhen it first identified the ECs, tests to measure ing customer benefits. benchmark values should be easy to complete. Enlncidentally, we have been talking so far about gineers determine the relevant units of measurethe basics, but design

Becas para estudiar en la universidad en Estados Unidos

Becas para estudiar en la universidad en Estados Unidos Los estudiantes domà ©sticos (ciudadanos, residentes, indocumentados) y tambià ©n los internacionales que desean estudiar en una  Ã‚  universidades o colleges en Estados Unidos se enfrentan a grandes costos de matrà ­cula, alojamiento, libros, seguro, etc. A la hora de buscar fondos econà ³micos que paguen o ayuden a pagar por los estudios,  tener presente que la gran fuente de ayuda financiera son las propias  universidades, que ofrecen sus propios paquetes de ayuda: becas, crà ©ditos, trabajo o una combinacià ³n de esas posibilidades. De hecho, algunas de las mejores universidades de Estados Unidos -incluso Ivy League- siguen un sistema de admisià ³n need-blind que garantiza importantes becas a todos los alumnos admitidos, incluidos los internacionales con expedientes acadà ©micos sobresalientes, que es necesario convalidar o sellar con la Apostilla de la Haya, segà ºn las reglas de cada institucià ³n.. Otras universidades ofrecen paquetes financieros ms limitados, pero importantes y tambià ©n se puede buscar becas en organizaciones externas, como las siguientes. Listado de 25 organizaciones que becan a estudiantes -incluidos internacionales- en Estados Unidos AACE International Competitive Scholarship Program Para quià ©nes: estudiantes a nivel universitario, incluidos los internacionales, que centren sus estudios en Negocios, Tecnologà ­a de la Informacià ³n, Ciencias de la Computacià ³n, Ingenierà ­a y Gerencia o Construccià ³n de Edificios. AAUW International Fellowships Para quià ©nes: estudiantes internacionales que son mujeres y que estudian a nivel de maestrà ­a, doctorado u otro postgrado. El importe de las becas va desde los $18,000 a los $30,000. Annie ´s Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Para quià ©nes: estudiantes de cualquier paà ­s que realizan estudios relacionados con la agricultura sostenible en Estados Unidos. Los importes de las becas oscilan entre los $2,500 y los $10,000. AORN Foundation Para quià ©nes: estudiantes de cualquier nacionalidad que realizan estudios de enfermerà ­a de quirà ³fano o pre-operacià ³n. ASHFoundation Graduate Scholarship for International Students Para quià ©nes: estudiantes internacionales y residentes permanentes legales en Estados Unidos a nivel de maestrà ­a o doctorado que cursan estudios en Ciencias de la Comunicacià ³n y Desà ³rdenes, como es Lenguaje de Signos, Enseà ±anza a alumnos con desà ³rdenes de lenguaje. Se concede una beca anualmente por importe de $5,000. Broome Allen Scholarship Para quià ©nes: estudiantes de cualquier nacionalidad pero que està ©n estudiando en EEUU. Es un requisito para poder aplicar ser de origen sefardà ­. Est abierto a estudiantes en à ºltimo aà ±o de liceo, en college, haciendo cursos de maestrà ­a o doctorado. Charles and Lucille King Family Foundation Scholarship Para quià ©nes: Estudiantes de cualquier nacionalidad que realicen estudios de televisià ³n o produccià ³n de cine en una universidad de los Estados Unidos. Chefs4Students Para quià ©nes: estudiantes universitarios de cualqueir paà ­s que realizan en EEUU estudios de cocina, horneado, pastelerà ­a, dietà ©tica, nuticià ³n y similares. El importe de las becas es de $1,000 y se conceden cuatro anualmente. Concursos Ayn Rand Para quià ©nes: estudiantes estadounidenses y extranjeros. Para participar debe escribirse un ensayo basado en una obra de esta autora. Las becas varà ­an en su compensacià ³n. Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Para quià ©nes: estudiantes de cualquier nacionalidad que estudian en una institucià ³n educativa en los Estados Unidos. Para participar para poder ganar la beca hay que crear una tarjeta con una foto o un diseà ±o grfico generado por computadora. Para presentarse el candidato ha de tener entre 14 y 35 aà ±os de edad y el premio al que se opta es una beca de $10,000. Fullbright Scholarship for International Students Para quià ©nes: estudiantes internacionales (los estadounidenses tienen su propia versià ³n). Cada aà ±o unos 4,000 estudiantes acceden a estas becas gestionadas por el Departamento de Estado. Son la crema de la crema. El proceso de seleccià ³n es riguroso y muy largo, por lo que es muy conveniente estar atento a los plazos. Earl Warren Scholarship Para quià ©nes: estudiantes de cualquier paà ­s que vayan a estudiar Derecho en los Estados Unidos. La beca es de $3,000 y premia a los candidatos que tengan un historial extraordinario de participacià ³n en asuntos de derechos civiles o interà ©s pà ºblico. Esta beca est gestionada por NÇAACP. Elie Wiesel Price in Ethics Essay Contest Para quià ©nes: estudiantes de cualquier nacionalidad enrolados en una universidad en Estados Unidos. El importe de estas becas est entre los $500 y los $5,000. Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship Para quià ©nes: mujeres de cualquier nacionalidad en su à ºltimo aà ±o de licenciattura o que van a iniciar cursos de maestrà ­a o doctorado en los Estados Unidos en las reas de Ingenierà ­a, Ciencias de la Computacià ³n o semejantes. Se exige una nota media en los estudios realizados de GPA 3.5. El importe de la beca es de $10,000. Google Lime Scholarship Program Para quià ©nes: estudiantes de cualquier nacionalidad con una discapacidad, que en la actualidad està ©n estudiando en una universidad de EEUU o Canad y cuyos estudios se centran en Ciencias de la Computacià ³n, Ingenierà ­a de la Computacià ³n o similares. Se conceden anualmente 15 becas cuyos importes oscilan entre los $5,000 y los $10,000. Google Science Fair Para quià ©nes: estudiantes de cualquier paà ­s que presenten un proyecto en un rea predeterminada de Ciencias, bien individualmente o bien como miembros de un equipo. Las becas oscilan entre los $25,000 y los $50,000. Global Scholarship Alliance Para quià ©nes: estudiantes internacionales a nivel universitario, de maestrà ­a o doctorado en reas relacionadas con la enfermerà ­a. Tambià ©n brinda la oportunidad de realizar prcticas de entenamiento en las propias universidades o en instituciones mà ©dicas. HENAAC Scholars Program Para quià ©nes: estudiantes de cualquier nacionalidad pero hispanos que estn estudiando para licenciarse o a nivel de maestrà ­a en Ciencias, Ingenierà ­a, Matemticas o Tecnologà ­a (STEM, por sus siglas en inglà ©s). Se requiere calificaciones de un GPA de al menos 3.0 para aplicar. LMSA Scholarship for US Medical Students Para quià ©nes: a pesar de su nombre, esta beca est abierta a todos los estudiantes de medicina en EEUU que sirvan a la comunidad latina u otra en situacià ³n de desventaja. Microsoft Scholarship Program Para quià ©nes: estudiantes de cualquier nacionalidad en Estados Unidos (en algunas modalidades se admite tambià ©n Canad y Mà ©xico) que realicen estudios de Ciencias de la Comunicacià ³n, Ingenierà ­a Computacional y campos semejantes. Hay que destacar que adems del programa general de becas, Microsoft tambià ©n ofrece ayudas centradas en grupos de poblacià ³n especà ­fico para las que tambià ©n pueden aplicar los estudiantes universitarios, como son las becas para mujeres, para minorà ­as o para personas con una incapacidad. El importe de los premios varà ­a. PEO International Peace Scholarship Para quià ©nes: Mujeres estudiantes internacionales de maestrà ­a o doctorado. Se conceden hasta 200 becas de $10,000 cada una. Para recibir este premio es necesario comprometerse a regresar al paà ­s de origen tras finalizar los estudios. Point Foundation Scholarship Program Para quià ©nes: ciudadanos americanos y estudiantes internacionales enrolados en una universidad estadounidense. Los candidatos deben participar de algà ºn modo en actividades de la comunidad lesbiana, gay, bisexual o transexual (LGBT, por sus siglas en inglà ©s). El importe del premio es de $10,000. Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Para quià ©nes: estudiantes universitarios, de maestrà ­a o doctorado cualquiera que sea su nacionalidad y sin importar la ubicacià ³n de su universidad que realicen estudios de Contabilidad, Administracià ³n de Negocios, Finanzas o Justicia Criminal. Se conceden 30 becas anualmente por importes que van desde los $1,000 a los 10,000. Society of Exploration Geophysicist Foundation Para quià ©nes: estudiantes de à ºltimo aà ±o de liceo, universitarios, de maestrà ­a o doctorado cuya finalidad es una carrera en Geofà ­sica o en un campo estrechamente relacionado. Pueden aplicar ciudadanos de cualquier paà ­s y no es necesario cursar los estudios en EEUU. El monto de las becas varà ­a grandemente pero la media es de $2,500. Women in Aerospace Foundation Para quià ©nes: mujeres de cualquier paà ­s que realizan sus estudios aeroespaciales en Estados Unidos. Se conceden anualmente dos becas por importe de $2,000 cada una. Testimonial Lee esta entrevista a Miguel Pà ©rez, quien llegà ³ a Estados Unidos como estudiante universitario con una beca y en la actualidad es residente permanente. De interà ©s Ya que se gasta mucho dinero, elegir una universidad cuyo tà ­tulo amerite el esfuerzo econà ³mico, estas son las  10 mejores universidades para estudiar ingenierà ­a. A tener en cuenta Los muchachos no conoceros de las leyes de los Estados Unidos deben de saber cul es la edad del consentimiento sexual en cada estado. Tener relaciones sexuales consentidas con un menor de edad puede tener consecuencias legales serias.

Monetary Transmission Mechanism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Monetary Transmission Mechanism - Essay Example The priors that have been utilized in VARs inculcate, making use of several variables. VARs can result in analytical conclusions for predictive densities. Furthermore, VARs can be applied for shrinking of forecasts that are provided by prior facts. The priors differ from how well they are capable of handling the departures. In accordance, the Structural VAR (SVAR) method is also used in MTM at note-worthy frequencies. The structural form of VAR helps in forecasting the effects of different interventions that can relate to monetary policies. To be noted in this regard, MTM uses three different procedures to interpret a VAR approach. These procedures involve casualty tests that can be used to evaluate the causal relationships between several variables. Apart from finding out the association among variables, these tests can also help in finding lags among those variables. Secondly, impulse response procedure is deemed useful for assessing the dynamic consequences of the shock while impl ementing VAR approaches in MTM. Finally, Variance Decompositions procedure is exploited for examining the percentage of variance, elucidated through shock to variables and aggregate shocks from the remaining variables (Brooks, 2008). Channels of Transmissions Approach The mechanism consists of two types of channels including the ‘neoclassical’ and the ‘non-neo classical channel’. The neoclassical channel deals with perfect financial markets, whereas, the neo-classical channels deal with imperfect financial markets.

Finance For Managers Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Finance For Managers - Assignment Example 1 Profitability Ratios â€Å"It is impossible to assess profits or profit growth properly without relating them to the amount of funds (capital) that were employed in making the profits. The most important profitability ratio is therefore return on capital employed (ROCE), which states the profit as a percentage of the amount of capital employed† (BPP 2009). Profitability ratios are usually calculated in order to perform vertical analysis or to compare one year with another. These ratios include net profit margin and gross profit margin, return on capital employed (ROCE), earning per share (EPS) and price earning (P/E) ratio. The net profit margin, gross profit margin and ROCE are the only ones that are relevant for this exercise. The calculations for the four divisions are shown in Table 1 in the Appendix. Profitability The ROCE may be used to assess how well the management of the divisions have performed (BPP 2009, p. 306). Two ratios may be used to help explain ROCE. They a re profit margin and asset turnover. These ratios are described as secondary ratios while ROCE is described as a primary ratio. Profit margin is calculated under profitability while asset turnover has been included with efficiency ratios. ROCE can be used to determine whether the divisions are getting value for money from borrowings to make it worthwhile. Quality Products Division The figures for ROCE suggest that there have been consistent improvements over the three year period. The figures have increased from a negative 6.9% return to a 7.7% return in 2008 and a 9% increase in 2009. However, management indicates that the division needs to achieve a 10% return on investment (ROI) and it is currently below that level. The figures also indicate that the profit margin of the Quality Products Division has improved over the past years from a negative 5.7% in 2007 to 5.7% in 2008 and 6.4% in 2009. The gross profit margin has also increased consistently from 38.9% in 2007 to 40.4% in 200 8 and then to 41.4% in 2009. Kitchen Division There was a significant decline in the ROCE from 16.9% in 2007 to 11.9% in 2008, followed by and small decline to 11.4% in 2009. This is above the 10% ROI that the division needs to achieve. There have been inconsistencies in the profit margin over the period. The profit margin declined from 5.3% in 2007 to 3.6% in 2008. However, there was a marginal increase to 3.9% in 2009. The gross profit margins for the period declined from 39.2% in 2007 to 36.2% in 2008 and increased to 37.6% in 2009, which is not consistent with the changes in net profit. This was due to a more than proportionate increase in cost of sales. Bedroom Division The ROCE declined from 11.8% in 2007 to 11.2% in 2009. This is above the 10% ROI required by management. However, the profit margin is very small even though it increased from 3.5% in 2007 to 4.1% in 2008 and declined to 4% in 2009. This was in spite of the consistent decline in turnover. The gross profit margin increased from 26.4% in 2007 to 31.4% in 2008 and a decline to 29.8% in 2009. This was so because the ratio of cost of sales to turnover was proportionately higher in 2007 then in 2008 and 2009. Office Division The ROCE declined for 14.2% in 2007 to 11.2% in 2008. However, it improved during 2009 to 12.5%. These percentages are above the ROI of 10% required by the management. There was a decline in

Routines and Capabilities of Walt Disney Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Routines and Capabilities of Walt Disney - Essay Example The resources of Walt Disney are the firm’s most fundamental characteristics which are their tools and their personality. These are the individual assets of the firm such as items of capital equipment, employee skills, brand names, and the like. The resources are firm-specific assets that are useful for creating a competitive advantage which few competitors can acquire easily. A company that has resources that are valuable, rare, costly to imitate and organized to exploit resources, then the company can sustain its competitive advantage. Organisational resources can be classified into tangible and intangible resources. Tangible resources include cash, financial assets, land and capital equipment. Intangible resources include brand reputation, technology, employee skills and goodwill. Like most firms, Walt Disney recognises the intangible resources as the most valuable and most strategically important items. They invest in training and development of workers, research of new te chnologies, and marketing its brand.

Safety Plant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Safety Plant - Essay Example In the 1980s, the platform received an overhaul to allow for natural gas production, which changed some of the dynamics of its operational and technological systems. Piper Alpha was a fixed platform in the North Sea, consisting of four modules that were segregated by a series of firewalls. Two modules were isolated for gas and oil production, with one module for gas compression and a fourth containing platform wellheads. Later analysis indicated that these firewalls were inefficient for the multiple activities occurring on the platform. The remaining levels of Piper Alpha contained control rooms, helipad operations, and personnel areas (e.g. sleeping quarters and recreational centres). On board were a variety of life rescue boats to facilitate evacuation in the event of emergencies. The events leading to the disaster and occurring during the series of fires were attributed to operational deficiencies, management failures, and process/procedure dysfunction, making this a complex scena rio of human and tangible factors. This report highlights the inter-connectivity of these failures as well as discussion of the sweeping safety and procedural changes that occurred in the industry post-disaster. The events leading to Piper Alpha destruction Piper Alpha maintained two different condensate pumps (Pumps A and B). A condensate pump is designed to remove excess condensate (water vapour) to facilitate compression and production functions. On the morning of July 6, routine maintenance was scheduled for Pump A which called for the removal of the pressure safety valve. For reasons unknown, the actual maintenance was delayed and instead of reassembly, Pump A was closed off with a temporary metal flange and scheduled for lock out. As was part of the Piper Alpha operations and safety processes, a work permit was handwritten by the current technician with information that Pump A should not be turned on due to the temporary inability to handle pressure loads. Up until this point, the safety and operational processes were in-line with platform practice and expectations. Six hours later, the written permit indicating that Pump A should, under no circumstances, be turned on was somehow misplaced by the next shift working in the operations control room. Unknown to the technician who wrote the permit, there was a supplementary permit already posted that authorized construction overhaul of Pump A in the control room. No verbal exchanges occurred between the technician in charge of Pump A lockout and the control room operators as another problem was being dealt with on the platform at the time (Caplan 2005). Thus, the permit was left in the control room and the technician returned to the employee housing area. Earlier in the day, Piper Alpha had been experiencing blockage problems caused by hydrate buildup, a form of ice produced when gas and water molecules form solids under certain temperature and pressure conditions (Sheen 1987). This hydrate blockage stopped P ump B and the control room was unable to get the pump back online. The significance of this was that operations of Pump B were inter-connected with every power system on Piper Alpha, therefore there were only a matter of minutes after Pump B ceased production to ensure no power supply disruption. The control room identified an overhaul permit for Pump A, but no indication about the warning of not turning on Pump A since, as previously identified, it had been misplaced. Therefore, the manager of the control room determined that Pump A was an effective

Age of info 7osam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Age of info 7osam - Essay Example The big question however is whether the ICT revolution has actually been taken advantage of uniformly by all sections of people in a country and by all countries. This has obviously not happened. Within the same country, ICT has not pervaded in all sections of people; and between different countries, ICT development has varied from country to country. This has resulted in what has come to be termed as the Digital Divide. Fink and Kenny (2009) gives four possible interpretations of ‘Digital Divide’: â€Å"a gap in access to use of ICTs, crudely measured by the number and spread of telephones or web-enabled computers, for instance; a gap in the ability to use ICTs, measured by the skills base and the presence of numerous complimentary assets; a gap in actual use †¦; and a gap in the impact of use, measured by financial and economic returns†. Since the very early days of the ICT revolution, it has been increasingly apparent that even though ICT development may not be an end in itself, the application of ICTs and ICT tools is instrumental in enabling development. If this is the case, then it would imply that countries on the lacking side of the Digital Divide would be at a distinct and definite disadvantage compared to countries that have been able to take full advantage of the ICT revolution. Countries which, for whatever reasons, have lagged behind in the adoption of ICT would also lag behind in overall development, this in turn would again restrict them from adopting ICT, resulting in a vicious cycle that would divide the world into haves and have-nots. When speaking from the perspective of countries as a whole, the digital divide has been noticeable especially in the case of developed and developing countries. â€Å"The core of the digital divide creed is that the spread to ubiquity of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in developed countries is leaving the developing world behind, with potentially cataclysmic consequences in terms of

ISP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

ISP - Essay Example For individuals and small individual internet is provided by use of cables, broadband wireless, dial up, integrated services digital network (ISDN) and several other methods. For large organizations, Ethernet, gigabit Ethernet, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) is used. The services that ISP provides are, provision of a world wide web, electronic mail service, internet relay chat for customers to chat with third party, servers that allow customers and interested parties to share on a forum or a certain topic online and a file transfer protocol that enables customers to store their data and other documents and for third parties to retrieve them Internet security has in recent times deteriorated because security measures have not been appropriately taken keen off especially by the individuals and small business owners who leave loopholes for fraudsters and boot-nets who then conduct malicious activity and send large amounts of spam. Some content that have been made available are threatening, malicious and even sexually violating. Internet service providers have been protected by the communication decency act sec 230 that free them of liability caused by irrelevant material posted by third party on the websites. The liability of an ISP may arise when a third party publishes malicious material on their communication infrastructure. With the increased accessibility of the internet to millions of people every day, the internet has become a big gateway of information to diverse people. The information that flows through it has content enough for any operation whether positive or negative. Therefore there is a need and a big one at that to provide protection for the people who use it at any given time. The communication decency act, section 230 provides immunity for internet service providers against material posted by third party. The section states that, â€Å"No provider or user of an interactive computer

Age of info 7osam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Age of info 7osam - Essay Example The big question however is whether the ICT revolution has actually been taken advantage of uniformly by all sections of people in a country and by all countries. This has obviously not happened. Within the same country, ICT has not pervaded in all sections of people; and between different countries, ICT development has varied from country to country. This has resulted in what has come to be termed as the Digital Divide. Fink and Kenny (2009) gives four possible interpretations of ‘Digital Divide’: â€Å"a gap in access to use of ICTs, crudely measured by the number and spread of telephones or web-enabled computers, for instance; a gap in the ability to use ICTs, measured by the skills base and the presence of numerous complimentary assets; a gap in actual use †¦; and a gap in the impact of use, measured by financial and economic returns†. Since the very early days of the ICT revolution, it has been increasingly apparent that even though ICT development may not be an end in itself, the application of ICTs and ICT tools is instrumental in enabling development. If this is the case, then it would imply that countries on the lacking side of the Digital Divide would be at a distinct and definite disadvantage compared to countries that have been able to take full advantage of the ICT revolution. Countries which, for whatever reasons, have lagged behind in the adoption of ICT would also lag behind in overall development, this in turn would again restrict them from adopting ICT, resulting in a vicious cycle that would divide the world into haves and have-nots. When speaking from the perspective of countries as a whole, the digital divide has been noticeable especially in the case of developed and developing countries. â€Å"The core of the digital divide creed is that the spread to ubiquity of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in developed countries is leaving the developing world behind, with potentially cataclysmic consequences in terms of

Emerging trends in Human Resources Management Essay Example for Free

Emerging trends in Human Resources Management Essay Session Outcomes: †¢ Discover the global trends affecting human  resources management, †¢ Describe the impact these trends are having on  organizations and the management of human  resources, †¢ Develop an appreciation of the changing role of  human resources management in supporting  organizational strategy. Emerging Trends in Human Resources Management (HRM) †¢ How would you define or describe Human Resources  Management (HRM)? – What is it? – How do you define it? †¢ Turn to the person next to you and share your thoughts  regarding what you think what Human Resources  Management is. †¢ I will select a number of people to share what they came up with. †¢ You have 2 minutes to do this.

Recruitment Policies in IKEA

Recruitment Policies in IKEA Scenario: Human, physical, technological and financial resources are at the core of every organisation. The efficient management of these resources enable organisations to achieve their objectives. Also, for an organisation to survive, its finances need to be sound and secure, and the level of an organisations performance can be seen in its financial statements. A poor management of resources can have a negative impact on an organisations performance. You just been appointed as HR manager of newly opened IKEA in London and as part of your role, you have to recruit 7 sales assistants, undertake the following tasks in relation to the above: 1. Describe the recruitment documentation used in Ikea. 2. Describe the main employability, personal and communication skills required when applying for the job role of Sales Assistant in Ikea. 3. Describe the main physical and technological resources required in the operation of Ikea. 4. Describe sources of internal and external finance for the business of Ikea 5. Interpret the contents of a trading and profit and loss account and balance sheet for Ikea 6. Illustrate the use of budgets as a means of exercising financial control of Ikea. 7. Illustrate the financial state of Ikea. Summary of the unit: Business resources encompass different types of resources like human resources, financial, technological and physical. Proper human resources team can bring a good result in achieving a companys objective and success. In terms of financial management and financial control, is playing an important role in establishing a company. Besides this, business plan will assist and guide to where a company will go in present and in future. Overall, a good combination of business resources will bring success for any establishment of business. Introduction and Background of the organisation, companies or businesses:   IKEA Introduction IKEA is a private and known home furnishing company. Also it is an international home products retailer that sells flat pack furniture, accessories and kitchen items in their retail stores around the world. Mainly this company is pioneer in flat pack design furniture at affordable prices, is now the worlds largest furniture retailer. There are main chains of IKEA. The chain has 301 stores in 37 countries, most of them in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. Background IKEA was founded in 1943 by 17 year old Ingvar Kamprad in Sweden and it is owned by a Dutch registered foundation controlled by the Kamprad family. The name IKEA comes from the initials of Ingvar Kamprad, I and K, plus the first letters of Elmtaryd and Agunnaryd, which are the names of the farm and village where he grew up. The headquarters of IKEA is in Netherlands. IKEA owns and operates 384 stores in 48 countries. IKEAs mission, vision and purposes: IKEAs main passion to work hard to achieve quality at affordable prices for the customers through optimising the entire value chain, by building long-term supplier relationships, investing in highly automated production and producing large volumes. The vision of IKEA also goes beyond home furnishing. They want to create a better thing for all people from this business. Mission: IKEAs mission is to offer a wide range of home furnishing items of good design and function, excellent quality and durability, at prices so low that the majority of people can afford to buy them. Vision: The IKEA vision is the foundation for its growth strategy. to create a better everyday life for the many people. To meet this vision IKEA provides many well designed and functional product for the home. Objectives: IKEAs business strategy focuses on growth in three main areas: Quality products at low prices through its unique design processes A sustainable future through its people and planet positive approach Also co-workers are essential in growth strategy Size of Business: In the IKEA Group, they have 328 stores in 28 countries (as of 31 August, 2015). Products range is about 9500. Around 1,002 home furnishing suppliers in 51 countries. 59% of IKEA production is in Europe.   Only in Europe there are 222 stores. Excluding the stores, at the end of FY15 they had 27 Trading Service Offices in 23 countries, 33 Distri ­bution Centres and 15 Customer Distribution Centres in 17 coun ­tries, and 43 IKEA Industry pro ­duction units in 11 countries. Corporate Structure: The IKEA corporate structure is divided into two main parts: operations and franchising. Most of IKEAs furniture, including the management of majority stores, the design and manufacture, purchasing and supply functions are overseen by INGKA holdings. Group franchises the IKEA retail system from Inter IKEA Systems B.V. in the Netherlands. Inter IKEA Systems B.V. is the owner of the IKEA Concept and the worldwide IKEA franchisor. The IKEA Group of companies (INGKA Holding B.V. and its controlled entities) has an ownership structure that ensures independence and a long-term approach. The IKEA Group operates throughout the whole value chain from range strategy and product development to production, distribution and retails. IKEA Group of companies Stakeholders: The key stakeholders in a company impacted positive or negatively. As IKEA is not a primary sector organization but it needs raw materials to develop its products. Hence primary sector suppliers, manufacturer for secondary sector are the stakeholders of IKEA. The key stakeholders of IKEA are the customers and employees, both are considered main stakeholders. Besides this, suppliers, internal employees, trade union, managers, owners, shareholders play an important role. Type of ownership IKEA is actually a privately held company owned by Stichting INGKA Foundation, a non-profit registered in Leiden in the Netherlands that is controlled by the Kamprads three sons. IKEA Limited is licensed to sell under the IKEA brand name by Inter IKEA Systems B.V., a company registered in the Netherlands. IKEAs Company Structure The structure of business can affect the way it works and performs. An organisational structure is when employees are grouped into functional areas, which relate to their job, so that people doing similar jobs work in the same area. Inter IKEA Group (Inter IKEA Holding B.V. and all its subsidiaries) is owned by Interogo Foundation, based in Liechtenstein and established in 1989.   Ã‚   The foundation is an independent entity with legal personality and its own governing bodies. The foundation exists for an unlimited period of time. Inter IKEA and Interogo were established during the 1980s to secure independence and longevity of the IKEA Concept. The IKEA Concept is the core asset of Inter IKEA Group and its franchisor operation. The overall purpose of Inter IKEA Group is to secure continuous improvement, development, expansion and a long life of the IKEA Concept. This will require investments in both good and bad times. 1. Describe the recruitment documentation used in Ikea. There are different types of documentation used in recruitment process, such as application letter, form, CV, person specification, interview, JD, Letter of appointment. The details are as follows: Application Letter A letter of application, also known as cover letter, is a job application document to provide detailed information of the candidate. The employers will able to know in which position a candidate apply for and why the employer will select the candidate. When writing an application letter should include: subject, greetings, body of letter and signature. Application Form An application form is an essential part of the job search for a candidate to fill for the company so that they can get the information they want. In addition, many large commercial companies are use standard job application form because they are much quicker and time saving. CV of a candidate A curriculum vita is a written overview of a persons experience and other qualifications. Businesses will use application forms and CVs to see whether an applicant matches the job specification or not. The closest matching applicants are invited to interviews in the selection stage. Interview: Interviews are the most popular form of selection. Interview can be one-to-one, two-to-one or a panel of people to interview people which is used to select people for important jobs. Some businesses include tests in their selection. Person specification: The person specification is the single most important document in effective recruitment and selection. It allows defining the kind of person a company want and so accordingly helps you to write an accurate job advert. It enables to assess each candidate fairly and objectively. Recruitment process of IKEA The traditional methods of job vacancies are to make people aware of the need to compete with the recruitment web-based systems. Traditional methods: newspaper advertising, paper-based curriculum vitae (CV), letter, word of mouth, the paper-based application form, job opportunities and the fair poster. Internet-based methods: online application form, online Curriculum Vitae, e-mail, Internet advertising, Curriculum Vitae information on the web page, the web page of the working group and the pop-up Web page. Online Recruitment is much faster than traditional methods and has a number of benefits over using paper. It is possible to monitor how many people have gone on to a website to look at a job. But each and every company has followed its own recruitment process. IKEAs recruitment process runs like following. First of all if anybody is interested in working in IKEA, he/she has to go through a list of open positions. If any post are suitable or challenging and moreover if he/she meet the requirements, apply via a button directly in an advertisement. If there is no open position interesting for a person but want to work in IKEA, send the CV to IKEA. IKEA will give an e-mail answer about receiving the request or CV in both cases. Then IKEA management will assess delivered applications then and choose from applicants several most suitable candidates for the particular job position. After that a formal invitation sent to the candidates via e-mail or phone to participate in a selection process. How a selection process runs Selection process usually consists of three rounds. First of them is assessment centre, second one is a personal interview with a future manager and third one is a personal interview with a boss of this manager. Assessment centre Assessment centre is a way to know more about their future colleagues when they are solving different tasks and discuss with others. There are about 10 applicants participating. Both group tasks which a person will solve together with other participants and individual tasks are included. The great advantage is that candidate can get a feedback from one of the assessors if he/she wants to. They can know about their own strengths and weaknesses important for the career, where the advantage lies for a candidate and where they can improve. Second round Two or three candidates who pass to the second round are chosen based on the assessment centre results. The second round is a personal interview with a future manager. Usually IKEA personnel do not ask tricky questions. They appreciate the most candidates honesty. They could ask to fill in a personal test as a part of the interview. If you want to ask anything about the future job, this is the right time to ask. 3. Personal interview The third round is a personal interview between the most suitable candidate and the boss of the persons future manager, so called grandparent principle. IKEA are also interested in a candidates motivation to work in IKEA in this phase and what expectation he/she has. JOB ROLE: HR Manager As a HR Manager I need to set some criteria regarding the scope of work within the organisation. IKEA always look for the following things within a candidate and thus they issue job description. This is a task of a HR manager. The manager should be aligned with other departments during the process of recruitment. Practical skills Ability to understand and get along with other people Ability to ask questions and give inputs Encouraged employees to question the management and express their ideas and belief Co-workers who had mastered their current jobs were encouraged to seek new challenges Job enlargement or enrichment Value fit was the selection criteria Why Savers- ideas to improve store The company even gave an advertisement inviting Why Savers to join the company Express Yourself- share companies concerns and complaints with Spiers Lopez This improved the morale within the company as she responded to their complaints personally It had a comprehensive communications system for employees like IKEA Radio and intranet. It also reached employees through printed material as well Job description: This document provides an understanding of the positions major responsibilities, details how the responsibilities are accomplished, and identifies the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the job. In the organization a job description sets out the scope of work of the main responsibilities and the main tasks to be done. A job description is needed to set out how to fit into the work structure a particular employee. So it sets out: The title of the job To whom the employee is responsible For whom the employee is responsible 2. Describe the main employability, personal and communication skills required when applying for the job role of Sales Assistant in Ikea. IKEA is an equal opportunity employer. IKEA does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring or terms or conditions of employment on the basis of race, religious creed, colour, age, sex, gender identity, genetic information, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws and ordinances. IKEA called all its employees, regardless of rank, coworkers. To promote open communication, IKEA adopted a structure with no hierarchical distinctions. Employees were encouraged to express their opinions and ideas directly to the top management. Employees were rewarded with high level of empowerment. Cost consciousness was deeply embedded in IKEAs culture. IKEAs culture promoted diversity. Openness to change and adaptability were stressed at IKEA. Week-long orientation program in Sweden on the IKEA WAY An IKEA co-workers main task is to maximize sales and profitability in his/her area of responsibility using knowledge of the IKEA product range, local market conditions and the needs of customers. Candidate employability skills required when applying for the job role of Sales Assistant in Ikea include: Suitable qualification and experience in same role which helps to maximize sales and profitability by ensuring area of responsibility. Knowledge of product or services are required for the job role of Sales Assistant in Ikeato provide the company best sales performance. Need to share knowledge with customers and colleagues. Experience of specific industry will help to provide best input for a company Preparing area of responsibility for stock replenishment and next days business. Ability to observe and raise professional standards of production/service delivery. Candidate personal and professional skills required when applying for the job role of Sales Assistant in Ikea include: Patience and hardworking are the key elements in sales profession. Self-confidence about approaching and talking to people in a polite and friendly manner. Able to work with others in a team. Flexible approach to work and are open to change. Should have an interest in home furnishing and peoples everyday life at home. Ability to priorities and organize assigned work to make efficient use of time. Negotiation skills in sales work enhance the development in career Agreed with the sales target is a reflection of confidence Able to resolving conflicts 3. Describe the main physical and technological resources required in the operation of Ikea. Physical Resources Physical and technological resources are always required in the operation of a company. Whether these resources are physical resources, such as property, equipment and materials, or less tangible human resources, emergency provision, insurance and security, money is required to pay for their use. As a result, the management of finance is inseparable from the management of the business as a whole. Land, Labour, Capital and Enterprise are also referred to as the Factors of production. Physical resources of IKEA include machines which are used to fill the stock in self-serve and full serve areas are checked and charged daily. Physical Resources used in IKEA include: Buildings and Facilities IKEA has expanded its product base to include flat-pack houses and apartments, in an effort to cut prices involved in a first-time buyers home. The IKEA product, named BoKlok was launched in Sweden in 1996 in a joint venture with Skanska. Now working in the Nordic countries and in the UK, sites confirmed in England include London, Ashton-under-Lyne, Leeds, Gateshead, Warrington and Liverpool. The Ikea store on Yas Island will have a total floor area of 32,000 square meters and a sales area of 19,150 square meters. It will have a restaurant of 2,100 square meters with a seating capacity of 550, as well as 1,500 parking places. Yas Island store are providing a strong impetus for the Swedish furniture and Furnishings Company to push ahead with plans to expand in the region. Materials and Waste IKEA will need to make sure that all of their stores have the right amount of their products in the store to keep up with the demand of the customers buying them. In the warehouse, IKEA will need to make sure that they have the materials stored in a format where they are easily accessible so they can be made into the products being sold. IKEA needs to get rid of their waste and therefore may ask the government to help them with this. Plant and Machinery: Physical resources of IKEA like machines which are used to fill the stock in self-serve and full serve areas are checked and charged daily. The machines, building and production capacity are all well maintained to survive in retail business. They need to improve on POS terminal at exchange and returns where there have been cases of money laundering. Employees have stolen money and caught after many days. So these things need to be taken care of from the management and finance department. This leads to decrease in profits. IKEA Dubai has more than 300 employees from different nationalities and regularly they are given training in their training centre. Expert professors and managers give them training to increase employee knowledge of products and increase skills at their work. Equipment including ICT IKEAs IT facility is related with the other resources within and outside this company.   The company is planning to launch a new website, ikeabusiness.com, where small business owners can discover new ideas for designing their offices and share them with other entrepreneurs. Families can design their kitchens at IKEA Home planning service where once they design their kitchen they have to pay 500Dhs kitchen charges which is refundable once the customer buys the kitchen. Planned Maintenance and Refurbishment Important feature of IKEA stores is their long opening hours. Many stores are in operation 24 hours a day with restocking and maintenance being carried out throughout the night. Warehouse maintained in planned way. Emergency Provision IKEA have emergency provision in case of an accident and incident. Workers may have an emergency situation in that case after verification, documents provide to IKEA. Insurance The people who are engaged with IKEA FAMILY, they can enjoy free product insurance facility. They can insure their new products against accidental damage on the way home and during assembly by swiping the IKEA family card at the check outs. Security IKEA use the latest security technology to encrypt all personal information which a person submits through the IKEAs website, including card numbers, address and other information. They encrypt this information using SSL technology which allows it to be transmitted securely over the Internet without anyone else having access to it. The machines, building and production capacity are all well maintained to survive in retail business. At IKEA, they want to have a positive impact on people and the planet. Thats why theyre going all-in on things that really matter, from switching their entire lighting range to energy-efficient LED to sourcing all of the cotton they use in their products from more sustainable sources. They are also working towards 100% renewable energy producing as much as they consume in their operations and sourcing all of their wood from more sustainable sources by 2020. And the IKEA Group and IKEA Foundation have made new commitments that add up to $1 billion for climate action. IKEA resources can be classified tangible and intangible. The tangible resources available to the company IKEA, they may differ in Physical and Financial. Within the physical resources, find machinery, which is characterized by modern and specific. Secondly, they have distribution centres, which are computerized and automated hierarchical systems, and finally they have additional shops and services that have standard models, in which they can find special services such as restaurant, day-care and parking. Concerning financial resources, they have used Reinvestment in IKEA as a key resource. There are two types of intangible resources, human and non-human, as nonhuman, can highlight the technology, they find patents according to the composition of materials. Another thing is that IKEA has a unique company culture, since the vision, mission and values are present in every business process, plus annual management meetings are held to improve all business activities. Finally they find organisational resources, which are business ideas. Regarding human intangible resources, they can cover in this area to permanent workers, average wages and high standards of the company. Technological resources include operation systems and tools required to effectively produce or create a product or service. These include energy, information, people, tools, machines, capital and time. Technological resources help production processes and service delivery in companies and organizations. The main Technological resources required in the operation of Ikea include the following: intellectual property, for example designs, drawings, text, music, video Having the right type of intellectual property protection helps people to stop anybody stealing or copying: the names of products or brands inventions the design or look of the products things the company write, make or produce Copyright, patents, designs and trademarks are all types of intellectual property protection. So IKEA have their own design, drawing for their furniture. accumulated experience and skills; The accumulated experience is what people have gained over years of working. Employees with more experience are likely to better than new employees. Also there should be enough people with the skills to carry out the operations in the business. At IKEA they believe in people. Behind every product are humble, enthusiastic teams that make it possible. They offer exceptional career and learning possibilities. They encourage a person to try different roles, change between functions and even move abroad. A Person can design their own career path according to their development plan and future goals. IKEA believe in everyones ability to develop. Because as a person grow, IKEA grows too. software licences There are many businesses that they have to invest their money into specialists software programmes so that they can operate properly. They have their own software module which consists of various software and material for which the intellectual property rights are vested in companies in the IKEA group. protection via patents and copyrights IKEA can use their money to protect their technological resources, but they can also use legislation to protect their ideas that they have come up with and they will need to be able to prove that their idea has been used without permission. 4. Describe sources of internal and external finance for the business of Ikea Mainly IKEA is a privately owned company, hence they are not bound to disclose their financial information in the form of GPFRs i.e. balance sheets and PL statements. Therefore they only disclosed limited amount of information to the public. Objectives of financial management profitability, growth, efficiency, liquidity, solvency short-term and long-term These objectives remain constant for every business and due to the nature of IKEA efficiency is quite a major component of their management strategy. Also as IKEA is privately run and Ingvar Kamprad is one of the wealthiest men (currently 4th richest) on the planet then it could be easily seen that return on equity is a major financial objective. Inter dependence with other key business function  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   They have their own software module with Influences on financial management Internal sources of finance retained profits External sources of finance Debt: short-term borrowing (overdraft, commercial bills, factoring), long-term borrowing (mortgage, debentures, unsecured notes, leasing) Equity ordinary shares (new issues, rights issues, placements, share purchase plans), private equity Internal owners equity, retained profits Internal sources would be used by IKEA to a certain degree in particular retained profits. As IKEA is not a publicly listed company and is operated through a trust structure, share issue is not particularly relevant to IKEAs current financial structure external short-term borrowing, (overdraft, bank bills), long-term borrowing (mortgage, debentures) leasing, factoring, venture capital, grants. External borrowings through debt financing are much more likely to be used by IKEA. The combination of short and long term would be utilized to maximize advantages to IKEA. Financial institutions banks, investment banks, finance companies, superannuation funds, life insurance companies, unit trusts and the Australian Securities Exchange Influence of government Australian Securities and Investments Commission, company taxation. Global market influences economic outlook, availability of funds, interest rates 5. Interpret the contents of a trading and profit and loss account and balance sheet for Ikea. IKEA produces the financial statement each year for their company. These statement is appear as company report. There are two main financial statement: The profit and loss account The balance sheet The profit and loss account may be updated regularly and shows how much profit or loss a business is making. A profit can be made in several ways, for example; From trading, in the case of a high street shop, i.e. buying and selling items such as home furniture, like IKEA From manufacturing, for example a company like IKEA made affordable prices furniture. It buys raw materials such as wood, bamboo, cane and Jute which helps to processes to make furniture. The top section of a PL account is known as the trading account for a business that buys and sells items e.g. a furniture shop. What is known as the gross profit is calculated by deducting cost of sales from turnover. The Balance Sheet The Balance Sheet is a snapshot taken at a particular moment in time giving a summary of the overall financ