Database Implementation Plan for Riordan Manufacturing

Database Implementation Plan for Riordan Manufacturing Riordan Manufacturing has asked our firm, LTB and Associates, to develop a web-based plan to be used as a Business-to-Business web site in order to purchase materials from their vendors. We have examined Riordan’s products and business systems, interviewed Riordan’s employees, and have determined the best course of action to implement the plan. Riordan Manufacturing is a plastics manufacturer based in several locations across the world. With three plants based in the continental US, which are located in Albany, Georgia; Pontiac Michigan; and in San Jose, California, which is the company headquarters. A fourth plant is located in Hangzhou, China will not be part of the plan as they purchase materials locally. This where we explain how the database will be set up. Refer to the ERD, Sequence diagram, Use Case diagram, and Class Diagram that follow [pic] [pic] The following paragraphs will describe the considerations that Riordan Manufacturing will need to make in implementing the database plan.Database Management System and Data Where ever it is possible to for our firm to do so, LTB and Associates will make a recommendation on the choice to make. In order to implement the database properly, these recommendations should be implemented in order to offer the tightest amount of security that will be possible. Type of Online Processing Riordan Manufacturing will need to decide between real-time asynchronous processing and batch processing. Real-time asynchronous processing is applicable when the processing must be performed immediately or when the results must eventually be communicated back to an on-line user. One of the problems with real-time processing is that real-time timers and events are required; they are expensive as the computer resources that are used to raise, maintain and check events. Another problem with timer or even processes is that they create locking problems as they may contend with on-line processes for resources and for access the same data. Batch solutions are ideal for processing that is not real-time event based. Batch processes are data-centric and can efficiently process large volumes of data off-line without affecting the company’s on-line system. Batch processing will allow business function to execute on a periodic or recurring basis; or it can operate over data that matches a given criteria. After studying Riordan Manufacturing’s Inventory and Supply Chain processes, the recommendation is for the company to go with batch processing for replenishment of raw materials for the operations. With daily reporting of the materials used at the end of each manufacturing run as the current method of inventory control, batch processing will work well. While real-time processing works well for online shopping, it is not the best approach to take for this application. Access Privileges Normally it is not considered a good security risk to grant access to individuals/companies who are located outside of the normal company network and/or firewall. But in order to provide a better integration of the database between Riordan Manufacturing and vendors/suppliers it is necessary to allow limited access. Riordan shall determine the types of privileges to grant to vendors. These privileges include (a) view, (b) insert, (c) update, and (d) delete (logical deletion only). Riordan shall also determine the type of data vendor should be able to access. The data should only relate to the materials that have been used in the daily manufacturing run; materials that have been previously placed on order; and the estimated projections of materials needed for the upcoming week. This will allow both Riordan Manufacturing and the suppliers to determine the present and short-term inventory needs. Bandwidth High speed access of the Internet has decreased in cost in recent years and the increased utility and the increased ease of use versus the cost of acquiring and maintaining the access has become more financially feasible. LTB and Associates recommend that Riordan acquire the appropriate bandwidth that will allow for the effective flow of information and which will support concurrent access of the company database. Security With the ever-growing threats that are present in the web-based global economy, there is an increased awareness of security. This includes both corporate and political terrorism as well as the knowledgeable lone user bent on mischief. LTB and Associates recommend that the administration plan should ensure that there are methods of data security implemented as information travels over the internet. An effective firewall should be implemented to deny access to unauthorized people. Data should be encrypted. Whenever possible, a Virtual Private Network be established between Riordan Manufacturing and the larger and more critical suppliers Database Administration Plan To ensure the productivity, continuity, and performance of the database for Riordan, proper maintenance, database backup, and change management procedures must be developed and implemented. The database must be backed up regularly in case the system needs to be restored due to data corruption or the loss of the data center due to natural or man-made disasters. Database backups are also critical for testing upgrades, fixes, and enhancements that will need to be migrated into production. Periodic maintenance is also a key to database performance and continuity. Applying operating system patches and security updates to the servers that house the databases help keep the software updated and the servers performing efficiently. Consistent re-indexing of the database can help keep performance high as the database grows in size. Another very important part of administering a database is change management. Database upgrades, fixes, and enhancements must be tested and implemented in a manner that minimizes potential errors, disruption to users, and preserves an audit trail for troubleshooting and compliance issues. Database Backup Plan In order to minimize potential data loss and downtime, the database will be backed up each night and stored in a secure location on the network. Storing the backups on the network will help facilitate transferring the backup to the disaster recovery site. Once the backup is created and stored on the network, a copy will be encrypted and transmitted to the disaster recovery ite. The backup can then be easily restored at the disaster recovery site as needed, or used in a development environment for testing upgrades, fixes, and enhancements. Database administrators will also have the ability to create backups as needed for testing or emergency purposes. Database backups will be restored to the disaster recovery database at least bi-monthly to verify that the backups are generating correctly and that the disaster recovery-restore process is working as it should. Maintenance Plan Once a month, the database servers will undergo scheduled maintenance. Operating system patches, security updates, and database application patches will be applied to the hardware housing the database in order to ensure the system is kept up to date. Database hardware will also undergo diagnostic checks to ensure everything is working properly. At this time the database will also be re-indexed to preserve performance as the database grows. The patches, security updates, and database application patches will be applied to the development servers one week prior to implementation on the production server. Applying the maintenance related patches to the development system a week prior to implementation in the production system will allow time to monitor the development systems for any issues resulting from the patches and ensure the patches are safe to install into production. For emergency maintenance issues such as hardware failures or power outages, the disaster recovery database will be restored from the latest production backup and work should be closely coordinated with the server team to ensure proper procedures are followed. Change Management The backbone to any administration plan is change management. Maintenance, database backups, upgrades, and other events must be carefully tested, planned, and executed to minimize potential consequences including data corruption and downtime, and changes must be closely tracked to preserve the integrity of the database, maintain a log of changes for troubleshooting potential issues, and ensure proper testing and compliance controls are met. The database team will use Microsoft’s Visual Source Safe (VSS) as the main tool for version control. Patches, fix scripts, and any other code that applies to the databases will be stored in VSS and roper code check in and check out procedures will be followed to ensure the proper code changes are migrated to the database. Only database administrators will have the ability to migrate changes to the databases. Developers can check out and modify code, but cannot implement any changes in the databases. All changes will be properly tested in a development database and signed off on by the appropriate par ties. A network of IT and business â€Å"approvers† will be established for each business area (for example: accounting, procurement, sales, etc. ) and will be responsible for signing off on changes that affect their particular areas. There will be at least one main approver and one backup approver that are subject matter experts for their respective business areas so that all areas utilizing the database will have a representative. Approvers will be the preferred testers, but other users may test changes as long as the approvers review the test results prior to signing off on the test. Signoff for changes will be obtained via email using a template that details the change to be made, a tracking number for the change, and the location in VSS where the change is stored, so that the database administrators will be able to pull the change directly from VSS for implementation. Database administrators will not proceed with migration of a change until all appropriate approvers have responded in the affirmative. Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) While preparing a disaster recovery plan (DRP), it is essential to think about the hardware, software and data that will be used to allow for an organization to continue operations in the event of a natural disaster or a disaster caused by human hands. In considering the idea of protection of the database, this plan will not only help preserve the company’s investment but also secure the customers faith in Riordan. Some companies spend some 25% of their information technology budget on disaster recovery plans. LTB and Associates recommends the implementation of a DRP. The cost of implantation and the subsequent maintenance versus the cost of a data loss is negligible in the impact it would have. The first step in drafting a disaster recovery plan is conducting a thorough risk analysis of the database systems. Make a list all the possible threats to system operation and evaluate the likelihood of their occurrence. The threats can include electronic-based; such as virus attacks or data deletions, deliberate or accidental; and natural disasters, such as fire, flood, storm or earthquake. Once the threats have been identified and ranked in likelihood of occurrence; what can be done to minimize or limit the impact from these disasters. The more preventative actions we can establish in the beginning the better. It is better to take a proactive rather than a reactive approach in determining and documenting the DRP. The recovery procedure will be written in a detailed plan defining the roles and responsibilities of the IT staff. Defining how to compensate for the loss of various aspects of the network (databases, servers, communications links, etc. ) and specify who will arrange for these repairs and how the data recovery process will occur. Communication Plan During a disaster situation, all parts of the communication plan should be cleared with a central location. All information should be reviewed by management before being released. LTB and Associates recommend that the following steps be implemented. 1. Communication methods need to be established in advance. (Wireless or satellite telephone systems, email address, etc†¦) 2. Develop templates for press releases, and include the skill sets of key employees, customer information, supplier information. Include maps of locations that may be difficult to communicate in. Develop logs that can be used to track incoming and outgoing communications. 3. Make sure that these processes are easy to understand. 4. Develop a contingency plan should the computer network where data is stored is damaged. Use text files and several copies in different storage devices and store this information in a remote server or on removable media which is then stored offsite. 5. Determine what is to be considered as privileged/proprietary information; establish which levels of management and the key personnel to have access to the information; and the approvals for accessing the information 6. Develop a set of detailed documents and instructions that can be shared with employees. . Establish a set of technology based tools. 8. Develop a detailed training plan; be sure to include all key personnel, top management and support personnel that can interface with customer and/or suppliers. 9. Develop relationships with News Service agencies. 10. Establish and train employees as observers to watch for individuals with microphones and notepads; make sure they are aware of the proper channels of communications. 11. D o plan periodic mock scenarios and drills of disasters in order to review the DRP. LTB and Associates recommends that the follow items be purchased, maintained, implemented, and stringently adhered to at every Riordan Manufacturing plant in the continental USA. †¢ Prevention Plan †¢ An electronic manual. †¢ A printed hardcopy manual. †¢ Data and Software Backups †¢ Daily backups, local to each plant and stored offsite. †¢ Weekly backup, to be performed system-wide by the Atlanta, Georgia plant and stored offsite. †¢ Storage area networks. †¢ Surge Protectors and Power Supply Fault Switches. †¢ Anti Virus, Firewall and Security Software. †¢ Fire Prevention and Detection Smoke detectors and fire alarm systems. †¢ Fire extinguishers. †¢ Review and update insurance policies for all facilities and equipment. Disaster Recovery Process. In the event of a disaster occurring at any Riordan Manufacturing plant the following steps should be taken to restore the operation of the system to normal operation. The steps c an apply to any and all sites. 1. Contact the proper level of management and notify pertinent personnel a. Determine if the equipment is functional and has suffered no damage. b. Repair or replace the equipment as needed per the situation. 2. Retrieve the latest weekly backup from the Atlanta, Georgia server and/or facility. (Note – if the Atlanta plant is the affected plant, retrieve the last weekly back up from the offsite storage facility) 3. Restore the database to the server. Perform a system check for proper operation. 4. Retrieve the latest daily backup from the offsite storage facility. 5. Restore the database to the server. Perform a system check for proper operation. 6. Retrieve and key in any pertinent data that was recorded on hardcopy sources from the affected plant and double check accuracy with personnel if possible.

Philomena: A Film Analysis Essay

Among the many good films of 2013, this one has to be on my top 5 list. Directed with passion by Stephen Frears, Philomena is a film that questions your beliefs regardless of which religious sect you belong to. As a little exposition, Philomena Lee (Judi Dench), way back 1952, was impregnated out of wedlock and was therefore sent forcibly to a convent where she gave birth to a son she named Anthony. She and other young women of similar situation were only allowed to see their children once a week. This and other practices including oppression and prejudice among the nuns are presented well in the film in a way that could condemn the Catholic Church. These are presented in a tone that is sarcastic and ironic, with a mood that is mild and forgiving. Visually, the setting and production design will bring you back to 1950s Ireland, which is highly distinct with the present time. The cinematography is nothing too special; it was shot in polished angles, and with dim lighting to establish the gloomy environment the film is trying to convey. In my opinion, this is the style used to make it closer to reality so it will capture the emotions of people. As the plot develops to the rising action, you start rethinking about â€Å"morality† drawn by the strict administration of the nuns. The irony will later be exemplified when you see babies sold to Americans without the consent of the mothers; one of these babies was Anthony. And while he is being sent away, Philomena was watching from afar, not knowing that it is the last time she is going to see her child. The cinematography at this point was brilliant where the angle is trying to show the innocence of Anthony, and the agony of Philomena through an over-the-shoulder shot. Fifty years later, with the help of Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), the search for the missing son will begin. Martin, who was rebuilding his career in writing, initially declined the idea of writing about Philomena’s lost son. However, as he hears more about the case and discovered that Philomena was only one of the many oppressed women, he decided to do it. Together, they travelled to the United States to find Anthony. Their journey together shows their stark differences. In most of their dialogues, it is very noticeable how different their perspective in life is. This is perfectly presented through the powerful performances by both actors, and subtle representations of their faith. Philomena believes  in God, Martin doesn’t. And while we see how unfortunate Philomena’s life can be, her faith is still strong. Martin, like probably many of the viewers, does not understand this irony. When they finally discovered who Anthony became, they found out that he died eight years ago from AIDS. Still, they traced back his identity just to know how he lived his life. Philomena wanted to know if Anthony ever thought of his hometown, or if she was ever thought of. As the plot boils down to resolution, they will discover that Anthony went back to Ireland and that his body was actually buried in that same convent because he knew his mother would find him. At this point, the film is scored with instrumentals that could bring hostility and liberation. Martin despised the senior nun who kept this a secret as part of her moral standards. She did not allow Philomena to see her son even once before he passed away—a suffering considered as â€Å"atonement for sin†. The tone at this point is aggressive while Martin demanded the nun to apologize. The nun did not ask for forgiveness, but Philomena forgave her anyway. This, I consider, is the best part of the film. It was t oo hard for her to forgive, but she did so. Why Philomena still has faith so strong despite all that has happened to her answers why we believe. At the end of it, they will find his grave and they will continue their lives. Martin will publish Philomena’s story not to upset the convent, but because it deserves to be heard by many. Like Philomena, we have beliefs; and even though these were taught to us by people who may hurt us or fail us, our faith clings to something unfailing. We believe because even if circumstances are not in our hands, we have the option to embrace them. And like Martin, although we do not understand other people’s beliefs, we respect them and we accept people for who they are. This is clearly presented when he gave a small sculpture of Jesus to Philomena. The film is not chronologically narrated, with an editing technique using flashbacks and home videos to illustrate what has happened in the past. It was well color-corrected to demonstrate tension and emotions through less-saturation. I find this very effective since the film does not hard-sell drama, yet can still give a highly emotional ride. The dialogue is  nothing so melodramatic and was instead written very lightly. This represents the character of Philomena as someone who is very graceful and humane. As for the performances, both Dench and Coogan did a brilliant job in portraying their roles. Frears was able to direct them so distinguished to the characters. This is probably one of the many strengths of this film. The acting was so balanced with the overall mise-en-scene that it easily captures the attention and the emotion of the audience. With a story so beautifully debauched, Philomena was told with heart and passion that even if it presents horrific things, it ended with a very positive attitude that is hauntingly terrific.

A Critique of Peter Maxs Versions of The Mona Lisa

A Critique of Peter Max's Versions of The Mona Lisa The second piece of artwork chosen is by the artist Peter Max and he displays his version of the iconic Mona Lisa. Peter Max’s versions are titled Mona Lisa, Version I #4 and Mona Lisa, Version I #5, respectively. The Mona Lisa is one of the most iconic and the most recognized portrait around the world. This particular portrait is known for the woman’s mysterious smile as well as the unknown identity of the woman in the portrait. Through Max’s versions of the renowned painting, he encourages the viewers to reexamine and interpret the embodiment of the woman’s beautiful features as well as her enigmatic stare. One way that is able to aid in the analysis of these pieces of work is the biographical analysis. There are numerous speculations about the ambiguity of the Mona Lisa along with the history that comes with it. In order to analyze Max’s work, more information would need to be provided to further understand why he had chose to create his own versions of the iconic Mona Lisa painting. In Peter Max’s versions of this iconic portrait, he uses a variety of colors and hues as well as altering the background of the portrait can also skew the interpretation or meaning of the original. As I did further research on this particular artist, he is mostly well known as a pop culture icon. He has inspired many with the use of his bold colors, images, and an uncommon artistic diversity in American culture. Most of his work features icons and symbols in his work, which in this instance, he uses the icon Mona Lisa. Many of his paintings included American icons and symbols such as presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush and others. He also features images of famous celebrities, politicians, and other popular culture subjects and events in his work. Now knowing more background information about the artist, my interpretation of Max’s Mona Lisa, Version I #4 and Mona Lisa, Version I #5 is to merely celebrate the renowned portrait and its demonstration of high culture as it still remains popular after centuries because of the ambiguous symbolism within the painting of the Mona Lisa. In my opinion and through observations, the work seems to be calculated. Since Max is well known for using bold colors and showing most or all of the colors of the spectrum. I believe that Peter Max’s purpose of creating these works of art was to transform the ordinary as well as change the ideas of art as a whole. As a pop culture artist, the goal was tarnish the boundaries of low and high culture and that art can be borrowed from almost anywhere, hence the fact that Max borrows most of his work from pop culture events or subjects. Questions that have been brought to my attention is that if there is any purpose to the use of colors and why those colors in particular. Are they unrelated to the interpretation or meaning of the original painting? Is the background significant in any way in these pieces of work? Other than making a point about low and high culture and its boundaries it is possible to make a reasoned statement about the artist’s aim as it serves its purpose by using a very familiar painting that is known around the world and is recognizable to many generations. Max was able to borrow an idea and was inspired to refresh this well known painting from centuries ago and made something new out of it.

Strategic Marketing Master Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic Marketing Master - Assignment Example These three elements form the basis of a marketing management audit. The following sections will explain how one can use the marketing audit to uncover the information one will need to shape one's eventual marketing activities. First point of comparison between the two is that marketing audit is a comprehensive, systematic and periodic examination of a firm's environment, objectives, strategies and activities to find problem areas and opportunities to recommend a plan of action to improve the performance of marketing strategies of the firm. Whereas an audit of financial statements is defined as the assessment by an autonomous third party of the financial statements of an organization or a company or other, ensuing in the publication of a sovereign view on whether or not those financial statements are appropriate, correct and comprehensive. Financial audits are characteristically carried out by firms of practicing accountants, due to the expert financial reporting information they need. The financial audit is one of many declaration or evidence of tasks provided by accountancy firms, whereby the firm offers an independent view on published data. Financial audits also help investors deciding whether to invest in a firm or not. Marketing audits are also performed by independent third party with the purpose of defining the shortcomings of the present strategies of the firm. The Market Audit Element A market audit is an attempt to define the structure of the environment in which a company operates-the marketplace. Its function is to collect information and organize it in a fashion that alerts one to marketing needs, problems, and opportunities. This information becomes a document that provides a detailed, accurate, and unbiased view of the marketplace. Why Perform a Market Audit The purpose of performing a market audit is to find out what to expect from the marketplace one are currently in or are considering entering. It provides one with data on any barriers or limitations one might encounter in entering or expanding into a market so that one can determine what it will cost to exist or compete. It also tells one what the possible return will be; in other words, what the market is worth to one (market value) or what one can expect in terms of revenue generation (sales volume/ earning potential). The market audit is the base from which one will develop tactic to get these returns. A market audit builds the foundation for future marketing decisions. The golden rule in performing a market audit is that one must be objective and read the market as it actually is. This means the audit must not be structured around one's product, service, or business. Though these may be mentioned as reference points, don't make them central to the audit. To do so could result in conclusions slanted toward one's business, giving one an inaccurate picture of the market and defeating the purpose of the exercise. The audit is based on market research activities and must be completely independent from research on the performance of one's product, se

Anthropology - Primates Observations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Anthropology - Primates Observations - Essay Example Focusing on the Gibbon at first, I was able to obtain a lot of information on the creature. The animal bears the scientific name Hylobates simang. The observation made on the behavior for this animal was around 20 minutes. One of the characteristics noted about the animal in a clear manner is the high amount of social skills that it bears. This derivation attributes to the way the animal went about its activities and occasionally going over to other hears of its family. The vocalization of the Gibbon appeared to be very high as compared to other animals in the zoo. The animal has a very high vocal ability perceived from a distance that well exceeds one kilometer. Another characteristic observed from the creature is its high flexibility. This is from the manner in which it jumped from tree to tree at ease. These vigorous activities helped in putting the animal in good health. The animals have a very dynamic field of view and thus a high rate of accuracy while swinging. Moreover, their hands have a very large surface area and thus hard for them to miss a rope in their swinging activities. After a round of swings, the animal only rested for around five or less minutes. This was because it was the social responsibility of each of the animals to watch over each other (Stoinski 113). The feeding behavior of the animal was very typical of the primates in the same order. This is from the large amount of bananas that the animals consumed. In the feeding process, the animals were very kind as they shared the meal with the rest of the family members. The animals were very entertaining from the fact that they could occasionally sing for each other. This was from the male and female members of the animals. The singing was some kind of communication between the two sexes. The other animal to study was the Western Lowland Gorilla. Research led me to the understanding that the animal has the scientific name Gorilla gorilla gorilla. With the animal, I was also able to spend 20 minutes in its natural habitat observing its lifestyle and the noticeable features. For a gorilla, the animal was rather small and hence considered the smallest of the Gorilla family. Unlike other primates, the animal did not show any signs of territorial domination. This is from the manner in which other gorillas of the same type could interact freely with those of another family. The animals also generally fear areas that that are enclosed and do not find comfort in those areas. It is due to this that the animals are in the open multiple times. The feeding of the animals generally characterized high-energy foods due to the high amount of social activities witnessed from the animals. Bamboo plants are the favorite food types of these animals. This is because the plants bear lot of proteins that offer the animals a lot of energy to swing from tree to tree and run at a very high speed in an effort to run away from their predators. The animals stay in large groups for protection. This is very important as they have a natural fear of poachers hunting them down. The animals live in groups of around seven females together with their children and one dominant male. The animal spends around 5 hours daytime to sleep. This is after the consumption of a healthy and heavy meal. The male however does not enjoy this kind of comfort. This is because it is his role to take care of the

Michel Foucault Panopticism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Michel Foucault Panopticism - Essay Example al authorities have chosen to control citizens through the appointment of a syndic which will have an ‘absolute’ power over the town’s population. The term ‘absolute’ means that people in this ‘imaginary’ town are not allowed going out of their homes apart from the hours and the places indicated by the syndic in advance. This structure resembles with a prison and in this way the argument of Foucault that prison could be considered to have the same ‘structure’ as a hospital or a school, could be justified. On the other hand, in order for the above scheme to operate successfully, there should be provisions for the participation of citizens in it. In this context, it is noticed by Foucault that ‘this surveillance is based on a system of permanent registration: reports from the syndics to the intendants, from the intendants to the magistrates or mayor; at the beginning of the lock up, the role of each of the inhabitants pre sent in the town is laid down, one by one’ (Foucault, 1995). In other words, the effectiveness of this scheme could be based on the existence of a specific plan of registration through which all people participated in the relevant ‘project’ would be registered. Under these terms, every event in the town would be precisely checked and every aspect of citizens’ life could be controlled. In real terms, the above scheme could be partially applied. In modern towns where a series of tools of surveillance has been implemented in order to control crime, the life of citizens is under the control of the state. The above situation even if justified because of the need for the protection of citizens’ life and property, it should be carefully reviewed as of the appropriateness of the machines used for the surveillance of human activities. In fact, the conditions of life in modern town resemble the description of Foucault’s imaginary town. In accordance with Foucault this town will be a place ‘in which the individuals are

The Effects of Cigarettes Smoking on Low Birth Weights of Infants Term Paper

The Effects of Cigarettes Smoking on Low Birth Weights of Infants - Term Paper Example These pregnancy outcomes are known to be associated with infant mortality (Kochanek & Martin, 2005). Hypothesis In this observational study it has been hypothesized that women who are smokers, on average, will give birth to infants with birth weight less than 2500 grams than those who are non-smokers Cigarette Smoking in the United States The prevalence of smoking in the adult U.S. population in 1965 was 42.4% (51.9% of men in the U.S. and 33.9% of women) (Giovino, 2002). More men than women continue to smoke (25.1% of men and 21.2% of women), however the decline in women smoking is at a far slower rate than that observed in men. The gap in the rate of smoking between men and women has diminished from almost 20% in 1965 to less than 5% in 1997 (MMWR, 1999). In spite of numerous reports since the mid 1960s about smoking and health risks (U.S. Surgeon General, 2001), a Department of Health and Human Services report released stated that 23% of the U.S. adult population smoked cigarettes between 1999 and 2001 (DHHS, 2004). Ebrahim, Floyd, Merritt, Decoufle, and Holtzman (2000), using data from the National Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) of 187,302 non-institutionalized women aged 18-44, found that the prevalence of current smoking decreased significantly among both non-pregnant women (26.7% to 23.6% and pregnant women (16.3% to 11.8%) between 1987 and 1996. A 1999 report stated that 21 % of all U.S. women and 12.3 % of pregnant women in the U.S. reported smoking during pregnancy (Mathews, 2001). The Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Reproductive Outcomes Cigarette smoking has been known for decades to be related to poor reproductive outcomes (Annette, 2008). Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is associated with first trimester spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy, preterm birth, placenta previa and abruption, low birth weight, restricted intrauterine lung growth, and sudden unexplained infant death (Hofhuis, de Jongste, & Merkus, 2003). Further , cigarette smoking has been associated with fetal loss, respiratory distress syndrome and other respiratory conditions of the newborn, and sudden infant death syndrome (Schoendorf & Kiely, 1992). In addition, it is estimated that 17 to 26% of low birth weight infants, 7 to 10% of preterm deliveries, and 5-6% of prenatal deaths could be prevented if pregnant women did not smoke (Husten, Chrismon, & Reddy, 1996). In terms of birth defects, one study, using the 345 cases of infants with clubfoot and the 3,029 controls of the Atlanta Birth Defects Case Control Study database, Honein, Paulozzi, and Moore (2000) identified an approximate 20- fold increased risk for clubfoot to occur in infants born to women who had a family history of clubfoot and who also smoked cigarettes (OR=20.30, 95%CI: 7.90, 52.17). This risk for clubfoot was much higher when both factors were considered together than the risk associated with either of these risk factors alone (OR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.72 for cigare tte smoking alone; OR=6.52, 95%CI: 2.95, 14.41 for family history alone). There have been numerous studies published about the association of cigarette smoking in pregnancy and low birth weight. For example, a population-based Swedish study (n = 538,829) showed that smoking

The Influence Of High-Stakes Standardized Assessments On Pedagogical Essay

The Influence Of High-Stakes Standardized Assessments On Pedagogical Practices - Essay Example While evaluation has been a division of education for an extended time, Schoenfeld (2004) says that the existing augmented importance on consistency of curriculum and evaluation is exceptional. The author surveys changeable standpoints on evaluation considers the functional evaluation plays and then assess arguments on both sides of the discussion taking into consideration the present high-stakes testing surroundings which is fitting an essential constituent of education all around the world. As a final point, a debate of the suggestions of increased evaluation and chiefly that of high-stakes testing within the education prospectus discloses that noteworthy portions of imperative education conclusions are minimalized or unobserved because of the importance on standardized testing. Well on the system to apt a culture based on information, we are hearing progressively about the regeneration of education and confronts we face in changing the objectives and substance of the teaching/learning procedure (Wagner, 2005). The expression inventive is frequently used when we converse about fresh pedagogical methods and inventive educators who symbolize a divergence from conventional didactics. Efforts to begin modification in the classroom have got to now also add in the use of scientific resources that have enthused the beginning of the information society. Keeping swiftness with the progress of the age, AV equipment, computers and additional tools of communication have progressively established their place within the walls of enlightening institutions and the procedure of reorganization pedagogical practice. The manifestation of technological speculates and their exercise in the field of education, though, can not mechanically be looked upon as pedagogical innovation. Is it at all probable to describe the expression, and if so, how Education researchers are inquisitive about the response to this question when they evaluated the function of Information Technology in the ground-breaking pedagogical practice of different countries. Previous to assessing knowledge and opinions in association with ground-breaking pedagogical practice, it is worth investigative how the educational system of the culture is making the changeover to single based information. The altering roles of schools, students and parents in the course of education are vibrantly demonstrated by researchers in the following chart. Role Education in the developed Society (the conventionally significant paradigm) Education in the Information culture ( the promising paradigm) School out-of-the-way from society incorporated in society the majority information on the purpose of schools is not to be mentioned Information is candidly obtainable Teacher Initiates teaching Helps students find suitable pathway of teaching Teaches whole class Guides students' self-governing

Economic100 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Economic100 - Essay Example Their portfolio ‘also includes some of the nation’s fastest growing beer brands, such as Hahn Super Dry and Boag’s Draught, and the leading light beer, Hahn Premium Light’ (Lion Nathan 2010). Lion Nathan appears to be in big trouble at the time this article was written and is facing severe supply issues. The strike occurred at Lion Nathan’s factories as a result of a dispute on pay rises. Brewery technicians at the beer giants western Sydney factory began ‘a week of strike action aimed at starving the amount of beer the company can supply over the peak summer period. The factory, which has been at the Lidcombe site since 1978, produces all of Tooheys beer - about 3.3 million hectolitres each year. Brewery technicians make up 84 of about 1100 of the brewerys workers but oversee the recipes and ingredients. The technicians are calling for a 4.5 per cent pay rise and say a 3 per cent offer from Tooheys parent company Lion Nathan is unfair.’ (Hills 2010). The first economic issue in this situation is that there are fewer players in the market. Lion Nathan seems to dominate the market, with a 43% share of the market in 2007 (Hills 2010). This signifies that beer production is a market in Australia which is largely an oligopolistic structure with few large players controlling the supplies. This not only means that the large players control the prices but also that the supply is largely inelastic. With the inelastic supplies, a shift in the demand curve could have a greater impact on the price than if the supply was elastic. The supply is the willingness of the producers to supply to the market at a particular market price. This supply curve is affected by the cost of production among several other factors. In the case of beer manufacturers in Australia, this cost of production has gone up which means that the supply

The conflict between the Arabs and Jews Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The conflict between the Arabs and Jews - Essay Example The partition of Palestine resulted in the creation of the State of Israel, and of the Palestine refugee problem. The dispute has resulted in major regional wars and two Palestinian Intifadas with tragedies on both sides. Throughout, there have been repeated attempts to resolve the conflict, from Bernadotte in 1948 through to President George W. Bush's roadmap in 2003." (Book Description, 2007). Therefore, the Arab-Israeli conflict, which started almost a century ago, continues to be one of the most serious issues of international dispute. Investigating the roots of the conflict, it becomes lucid that the establishment of the Zionist movement has been a major reason for the Arab-Israeli conflict. Similarly, following the Zionist movement, the modern State of Israel was established in the region which was regarded by the Jews as their historical homeland. However, the Pan-Arab movement maintained that it was a territory belonging to the Palestinians. All these issues contributed to th e deepening of the conflict between the Arab and the Israelis and the religious dimension of the conflict is often emphasised. This paper makes a profound analysis of the background of the Arab-Israeli conflict, incorporating the history of the Arabs and the Jews, the religious dimension of the conflict, Judaism and Islam, and the history of the land of modern Israel, in order to determine the basic issues involved in the conflict. In a reflective exploration of the ancient history of Israel and Palestine, one comes to recognize that the ancient Jewish kingdoms of Israel and Judea were consecutively conquered and subjugated by several foreign empires and kings. One of the major empires to conquer the land was the great Roman Empire and there were several revolts against the foreign rule in the region. In 135 CE, the Roman Empire overpowered the third revolt against its rule in the region and consequently expelled the surviving Jews from Jerusalem and its surroundings. Many of these Jews were sold for slavery and the Roman province was then renamed'Palestine'. "After the Arab conquest of Palestine in the 7th century the remaining inhabitants were mostly assimilated into Arab culture and Muslim religion, though Palestine retained Christian and Jewish minorities, the latter especially living in Jerusalem. Apart from two brief periods in which the Crusaders conquered and ruled Palestine (and expelled the Jews and M uslims from Jerusalem), it was ruled by several Arab empires, and it became part of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire in 1516." (The Arab-Israeli Conflict). Therefore, the land of the Palestine was occupied by people belonging to Arab culture and Muslim religion, although there were Christian and Jewish minorities. Represented by twenty one separate countries, the Arab nations today form a significant power in the region and there is only one Jewish nation with a tiny country in the region, i.e. Israel. To trace the history of the people of Israel (also called the 'Jewish People'), they trace their origin to Abraham of the Old Testament and they regard Abraham, his son Yitshak (Isaac), and grandson Jacob (Israel), as the patriarchs of the Israelites. It has been emphasised by several writers that the very embodiment of Jewish continuity is Israel which inherits all the

Love in Different Country Essay Example for Free

Love in Different Country Essay Studying in the U.S. for nearly a year, I learned a lot of knowledge and I made a lot of friends. Some of them are foreigners. This years study is very effective for me. In the United States, I found some phenomenons are different between my country and the U.S. Now I mainly want to talk about love in the U.S. and China. The United States is a free country. The United States advocates free development. It pays attention to every persons personality. Some American friends told me that love is very easy in the United States. Both men and women like each other, then they can fall in love. The parents will not hinder the childs decision. So children can choose their partner if they want. In China, love and marriage is a very serious and very important thing. The parents always provide a lot of requirements to their children. For example, if my child is a boy, I will tell him, â€Å"Your wife in the future must be a very nice woman. Her family condition must be consistent with our condition.† because in China, many parents consider that only if both parties are consistent with their conditions, the future life can help each other, and the lives will be happy. In my opinion, I think the two points of view are so different, but each opinion has its reason. My questions are: What makes loving anybody in the United States not similar? How do different people in the U.S. falling in love It also represents the different cultures between China and the U.S. If I were allowed to choose which waysuits me, I will choose the American way because I love freedom. Notes: This needs more information in the second and third paragraphs about the reasons why each country has these â€Å"rules† about love. Then, in the conclusion, you can talk about how freedom is an American trait of love and that these reasons are why you want to choose an American style of love or choosing a partner.

Department of Marketing, Tourism and Hospitality Essay Example for Free

Department of Marketing, Tourism and Hospitality Essay 1. Introduction and welcome Marketing is part of all of our lives and touches us in some way every day. It is also a key factor in business success and is increasingly used by organisations in a wide range of sectors. The unit begins with an examination of the marketing concept and marketing theory. It goes on to consider the various issues that marketers face in marketing decision making and the concepts and theories that can help. The unit helps you to understand the challenges of marketing management in manufacturing and service industries: analysing marketing environments; evaluating strategic alternatives and designing marketing programmes involving decisions about products/services and important concepts of the services marketing theory. The focus in this unit therefore is on the theory and practice of marketing in the context of organisations. On completion of the unit you will have gained understanding of the decisions that face marketers in a complex and dynamic environment and the concepts and theories that can be used to inform these decisions. This handbook outlines the content and key features of the unit. We hope you enjoy this unit and find the variety of tasks and assessments both interesting and challenging. The unit essentially continues the theme of integration by providing the necessary marketing input into the Applied Integrated Business core unit. Accordingly, the subject content will serve to reinforce and contextualise the learning within that unit. The focus will be on an interactive and active learning environment to engage students in learning activities throughout the sessions. This handbook should be your first point of reference. It outlines everything you will need to know about how this unit is structured, the assessments and the reading that is required. Please take some time to read it carefully. This handbook will help you progress smoothly and enjoyably through this unit. You will also find a regularly updated source of information and an electronic copy of this handbook in the unit website on Blackboard BREO. The address is: http://breo.beds.ac.uk (no www required) 2.Unit leader and team details Unit Leader Ioannis Kostopoulos Ioannis Kostopoulos is a Lecturer in the Department of Marketing Tourism and Hospitality at University of Bedfordshire. His research interests are in services marketing, internal marketing and market research. During his consulting work he has worked with many large organizations in the hospitality, telecommunications and sports’ industry. He holds a PhD in Services Marketing, a master’s degree in Marketing and Communications and a bachelor’s degree in Statistics. Email: [emailprotected] Office hours: Wednesday 10-11 am and Thursday 12- 13 pm Office: To be arranged (Students will be informed through BREO) Telephone Number: To be arranged (Students will be informed through BREO) Other Lecturers Tony Pyne Tony Pyne, now semi retired, has taught marketing at the University of Bedfordshire for 20 years. His research interests are in not for profit marketing and services marketing. Prior to becoming an academic he was the marketing director of a small international market research agency specialising in high tech products and before that its operations director. He has a masters degree in marketing, a PGCE and is a graduate chemist Email: [emailprotected] Office hours: Fridays 10am -2pm Office: JM02 Telephone Number: 3457 Field Administrator Sally Mayne Vicarage Street (H Block). Email: [emailprotected] 3. Aims and learning outcomes 3.1 Unit aims The focus in this unit is on the theory and practice of marketing in the context of organisations. On completion of the unit you will have gained understanding of the decisions that face marketers in a complex and dynamic environment and the concepts and theories that can be used to inform these decisions. 3.2 Learning Outcomes | On completion of this unit you should be able to:| To achieve the learning outcome you must demonstrate the ability to:| LO1| Understand the nature, scope and role of marketing in organisations| Describe and apply the basic marketing tools and concepts and articulate the role of marketing in a variety of organizations| LO2| Be able to identify and discuss the key issues that marketers face as they make decisions| Critically review published work on a range of marketing issues| LO3| Understand and discuss the key concepts and theories that inform marketing decisions| Propose well researched and theoretically underpinned solutions to marketing problems | LO4| Identify and analyse marketing problems and plan appropriate courses of action| Be able to formulate plans for marketing activities, including appropriate marketing mix policies and be able to defend and justify proposals for marketing plans and actions.| L05| Apply marketing theory in different organisational contexts| Be able to formulate plans for marketing activities, including appropriate marketing mix policies and be able to defend and justify proposals for marketing plans and actions.| LO6| To express ideas and findings and proposals both verbally and in writing| Write coherently on the subject with accurate referencing, spelling, punctuation and grammar and make clear, timely and well structured presentations.| 4. Approach to learning * Unit delivery will use a combination of lectures and seminars, with the emphasis in seminars being on discussion and debate providing students with an opportunity to relate theoretical content to real-life practical situations. The one hour lecture aims to provide students with useful elements from the pertinent theory and increase their theoretical knowledge and technical skills. Practical seminar activities will be used where appropriate (for example video material, case studies, role play) and students will be encouraged to work individually and in groups to develop a thorough appreciation of the many issues examined. The use of small groups to prepare and present case studies in workshops will aim to provide further experience of working collaboratively, the opportunity to manage a problem-solving group, and the ability to present material clearly and concisely. The primary objective of the presentation is to further develop the ability to present complex ideas orally in a clear, coherent and concise fashion. There will also be a need to defend the ideas in the subsequent group discussion. The presentation topics, which are an integral part of the module, are designed to enhance and deepen understanding of the subject material. * * Attendance and participating in classes Studying at the University of Bedfordshire is not just about subject knowledge. We are also concerned to help you develop your wider attributes and skills. To do this you will need to attend and actively engage in the range of learning activities the course provides. Because attendance is fundamental to your development we do expect you to attend. We will monitor your attendance and contact you if it gives cause for concern. The Division operates a strict non-attendance policy which is available to view on BREO. You can help us by notifying us of any factors that affect your ability to attend. If you are absent from your studies through illness then it’s important that you let us know. You should contact the unit leader or the Field Administrator, Sally Mayne at [emailprotected] If your absence is likely to affect your ability to complete your studies or submit assignments then you can apply for an extension or deferral through the Student Engagement and Mitigating Circumstances Teams. If you feel that your problems are serious enough to be considered for Mitigating Circumstances you will need to apply before the deadline by filling in a Mitigating Circumstances form. Forms can be printed from SiD online or a hard copy can be collected the Student Information Desk (SiD). A decision will normally be available to you within 48 hours of receipt of the claim form and evidence. Progress of the application can be checked by accessing SiD online or by visiting the Student Information Desk (SiD). They can be contacted at [emailprotected] or by telephoning 0300 300 0042. 5. Assessment brief 5.1 Assessment Overview No| Assessment method | Description of assessment methods| Weight (%)| Submission date | Form of feedback| 1| GroupAssignment| Group Presentation with Report| 30%| 7th December 2013| Summative Formative| 2| IndividualAssignment| Progress Portfolio| 30%| 22nd March 2013| Summative Formative| 3| UnseenExams| End of Unit Examination (2 hours)| 40%| End of Unit| Summative| 5.2 Group Assignment You are asked to form groups of 5-6 persons. Then you should visit a store(s) of a chosen international chain of coffee shops (e.g. Starbucks, Costa Cafe) or fast food restaurants (e.g. McDonalds, KFC ), observe and make notes regarding the following: * Store’s Service capes * Service delivery process * Customers and employees’ reactions during the service encounter * Service quality You may use photographs to support your discussions. However, please ensure that you ask permission from the store manager before doing so. Then you should prepare and hand in an audio visual podcast presentation and a written report that should contain the following: Presentation Your presentation is to be in the form of an audio visual podcast submitted via DVD, memory stick e.t.c. There will not be an in-class presentation. The presentation should be no longer than 10 minutes and it is a presentation to a formal business committee. In this presentation you will point out any fail points or points that need improvement, in the delivery of the provided service in the store and suggest ways in which the store can upgrade the level of quality of the service provided to customers without significantly increasing the cost of the service delivery. Written Report For your report you should use your notes from the store observation, general information you will collect on the international chain of your choice as well as material from the pertinent literature and include in your report the following: * A blueprint of the provided service * An evaluation of the store’s physical evidence and the degree to which they are aligned with the company’s general profile * An evaluation of the degree to which the specific chain is market oriented Format for submission Presentation The length of the presentation should not be longer than 10 minutes The presentation is to be in the form of an audio visual podcast submitted via DVD, memory stick or Utube, i.e. there will not be an in-class presentation. Written Report * The word limit for is 2000 words. * All work should be word processed using either Times New Roman or Arial font, Arial 12 point; 1.5 line spacing; single side A4 paper with numbered pages with line spacing of 1Â ½ and justified. * Left hand margin of 3cm; Right hand margin 2 cm; Header 2.5 cm and Footer 2 cm * A bibliography and referencing (where applicable) is essential * Harvard system of referencing * A minimum of 10 referenced academic sources is required. * No more than 50% of references may be from the internet. Extent of collaboration allowed: All members of the group should contribute equally to the research and preparation of the report. Average peer grade: All individuals will receive a mean average peer grade (out of 16), based upon a detailed diary addendum completed by all group members, confirming individual weekly contributions and responsibilities toward the completed report. Full group names and accompanying averaged grades should be clearly presented. The tutor reserves the right to adjust any grade if upon evidence /or investigation any student is deemed to have failed to effectively contribute. Failure to include diary and peer grades will result in the loss of the 25% overall peer grade. Marking Criteria Excellent work, 16 14 points *An analysis which deals fully with the major elements from a services marketing point of view *Selection and amplification of ideas which accord with the analysis presented . *Work which shows very good grasp of the concepts in services marketing *Effective use of formatting and layout *An excellent and cohesive report. Above average work, 11 13 points *A report which is attractive in appearance which addresses the key issues of the assignment competently and creates a positive overall impression *An analysis which deals competently with most of the assignment’s tasks. *A reasonable choice of ideas which in aggregate show the students understanding of the major elements of the assignment. *Answers which are appropriate and show a good awareness of the services marketing concepts and principles which relate to the assignment areas. *Good use made of formatting and layout. *A good cohesive report. Average work, 8 10 points *An analysis, which deals with most areas in a manner which, is correct. * A report which is in the main appropriate and shows a good awareness of the services marketing concepts and principles and which relate to the key areas designated in the assignment *Reasonable use of formatting and layout *A cohesive report. Below average work, 5 7 points *A report which would be considered very poor in a commercial or industrial context and which do not allow the assessor to identify most of the achievement of specified tasks. *An erroneous or substantially incomplete analysis from a services marketing point of view *Answers which show poor understanding of the concepts in question. 5.3 Individual Assignment Picton and Broderick define integrated marketing communications as A process which involves the management and organisation of all agents in the analysis, planning, implementation and control of all marketing communications contacts, media, messages and promotional tools focussed at selected target audiences in such a way as to derive the greatest economy, efficiency, effectiveness and coherence of marketing communications effort. Select a large service organisation (e.g. Bank, Airline Company, Telecommunications Company, Hotel) that advertises heavily in many media and by way of a portfolio show how it makes use of the integrated marketing communications concept. You will need to collect your examples over a period of several weeks. If you leave it to the day before it is due in you will inevitably receive a failing grade. This is an individual assignment and I would expect 1500 words plus several examples which may include your notes on what you observe on a store visit. Format for submission Written Report * The word limit for is 1500 words. * All work should be word processed using either Times New Roman or Arial font, Arial 12 point; 1.5 line spacing; single side A4 paper with numbered pages with line spacing of 1Â ½ and justified. * Left hand margin of 3cm; Right hand margin 2 cm; Header 2.5 cm and Footer 2 cm * A bibliography and referencing (where applicable) is essential * Harvard system of referencing * A minimum of 10 referenced academic sources is required. * No more than 50% of references may be from the internet. Details for the assessments will be supplied as separate documents throughout the unit. They will also be available on BREO. Please read the assessment instructions very carefully. 5.4 Submission details Plagiarism You should hand in assignments through the Assignment Hand in point, located outside the LRC in Park Square next to the Book Return point. For LRC opening times please see http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/. You can deposit your assignments at any time throughout the opening times of the University building. Although you will be able to submit your piece of work until 8am the next day and it will be accepted as on time, for example: if an assignment is due in on Monday 19 April it can be submitted up to 7.59am Tuesday 20 April, this is NOT recommended and you should submit your assignment by 4pm on the published due date. You will need to print your own top cover sheets from eVision (these carry the details of the unit and assessment on the front). Attach the top sheet to the assignment securely and then collect a barcode label from the dispenser located at the Security Desk next to the LRC. Follow the instructions on the Assignment Hand in point display to submit the assignment. Collect the receipt which indicates that a piece of work has been handed in. A receipt confirming the unit, assessment and time of submission for the assignment will be sent to your email account. Receipts must be retained as proof that the work has been submitted. You must also submit a copy of your assignment through TURNITIN via BREO. It will graded as a non-submission if written work is not submitted on time through TURNITIN. Coursework must be handed in by the date and time specified in your student handbooks or on BREO. Late work is not accepted, and will be deemed a fail and graded G(0) (no work submitted). Written work must be legible and comprehensible, work may be rejected work which does not meet reasonable standards of presentation, and this may result in you failing or being referred. Written work must be presented in English. Extenuating Circumstances If you believe that you are likely to miss a deadline because of extenuating circumstances (for example illness), you should apply to apply for an extension through the Student Engagement and Mitigating Circumstances Teams via SID. Your application should be accompanied by documentary evidence of your extenuating circumstances. Individual tutors are not able to extend published deadlines. Plagiarism Plagiarism takes the form of repeating another person’s words or images and claiming them as your own, or presenting someone else’s line of thinking as if it was your own. To plagiarise is to give the impression that you have written or designed or thought something that you have in fact borrowed from someone else. You can use other people’s ideas, words and images, but it’s important that you acknowledge them through appropriate referencing. Remember that your examiners are wanting to assess your ability, not those of others, so it’s important that you also interpret others’ work and that there is sufficient of your own work in your assignments that your ability can be assessed. You should keep a careful record of all the sources you use, including all internet material and ensure that you understand correct referencing practices. These are outlined the course handbook and online at: http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/guides/resources/referencing You are also not permitted to re-present any assessment already submitted for one unit as if for the first time in another unit. Double counting of assessed work is not normally allowed. If submitting work previously included in another assessment then you should attribute the section of text from the earlier work so that it can be taken into account by the examiners. Plagiarism Detection Service To help address plagiarism and protect your award, please also ensure you submit a copy your written work electronically through ‘Turnitin’ via BREO. We may also submit your assignment to the UK universities’ JISC Plagiarism Detection Service. Working together Discussing ideas with your fellow students is part of learning and we would encourage you to do this and to exchange interesting and relevant sources and references. However, there is a distinction between sharing ideas and collusion which is an academic offence. You must not work with others to the extent of exchanging written materials you have prepared, such as notes or drafts of assignments unless you have been expressly told that this is permissible. If these types of materials are shared this will be regarded as an assessment offence for the person who lends the material as well as for the person who uses it. Your own work should be regarded as your own property and you should protect it. If you are working in a shared space, log off from the computer you are working on whenever you take a break so that others cannot access or copy your own work; take care to destroy printed drafts or copies of work, rather than just discarding them; and, don’t give your work to others in any format. If you are working on a group assignment make sure you understand the allocation of responsibilities between yourself and the other members of the group. 5.5 Feedback Assessment will be provided individually to students, through group feedback (where relevant) and on your individual student BREO site. There are also opportunities for formative feedback on your work throughout the unit which will help you complete your final assignments. Marked work will be available for collection from the tutor three weeks after the assessment deadline. 6. Teaching and reading schedule You can check your timetable at: http://timetable.beds.ac.uk then follow the links under ‘units’. If there are changes to the timetable, you will be notified on the BREO site for this unit. Please check it regularly. *Further reading suggestions will be provided to students in a weekly basis through BREO. Further reading includes academic articles, book chapters and case studies. 7. Reading and resources The majority of directed readings will be in the form of books, published conference papers, and case study materials. You will be advised of essential reading relating to each topic covered and directed towards the most relevant textbooks and articles for these subjects. This guidance will be communicated by tutors and via BREO. In addition, you are encouraged to access journal articles via electronic databases and encouraged to search for appropriate examples of relevant research. You are strongly encouraged to access information electronically but to exercise critical judgement when identifying useful sources. The Learning Resources Centre at Park Square houses our main tourism collection. Here you can expect to find copies of essential texts on your reading lists as well as supplementary reading. Many of our resources are in electronic format and can be accessed off-campus. Extensive reading is essential and it is important you reference this work accurately and correctly. Please make you sure you read and follow the guide to referencing found at: http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/guides/resources/referencing Subject –specific library guides are available in printed format in the Learning Resource Centre and on the Learning Resources web site http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/guides/subjectguides. Go to Advice and Help, then Subject Guides. These guides tell you which resources are important for your particular course. The Subject Librarian is Bill Mortimer who can be contacted by e-mail [emailprotected] or by phone 01234 351671, ext.4374. Bill is based in the Polhill campus, Room: R1.01. If you want to call him free of charge, that’s possible from the LRC. Essential reading Brassington, F and Pettitt,S (2006) Principles of Marketing, Fourth Edition, Prentice Hall, NJ. ISBN 0-273-69559-2. Recommended reading Christopher H. Lovelock, Jochen Wirtz, Patricia Chew (2009), Essentials of Services Marketing First Edition, Prentice Hall ISBN-13 978-981-06-7995-8 Kotler, P., Wong, V., Saunders, J. and Armstrong, G. (2005) Principles of Marketing: 4th European Edition, Prentice Hall International/Pearson Education Limited. ISBN: 0273 68456 6 Groucutt, J, Leadley P, Forsyth P (2004) Marketing: essential, principles, new realities First Edition, Kogan Page ISBN 0-7494-4114-3

The Life Of Jesus Christ Religion Essay

The Life Of Jesus Christ Religion Essay Jesus Christ is a central figure for the Christianity. Christians picture him as the Messiah (Son of God). Jesus reconciled the Christians with God by dying for their sins and raising himself from the dead. Jesus had an peculiar personality, and made a lasting notion on the on his followers. He was charismatic in the deepest sense of the word. Jesus Christ is an exemplary and perfect leader. Jesus Christ is a divine and legendary being; he is allegorical for the Christians. Jesus indicated the coming of a new age where all people would live as Gods children to serve and believe in Him. Jesus taught the fundamental moral values of brotherhood and benevolence, which became the central thesis of Christianity. The life and teachings of Jesus Christ are the motivations for Christians. The Birth of Jesus Christ Jesus Christ was born during the life and reign of Herod the Great who ruled Palestine at the end of the 1st Century B.C. on the 25th of December, which is celebrated by Christians every year in remembrance of the day Jesus Christ was born. Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea by Virgin Mary in a manger. Joseph was the father of Jesus. Joseph was a carpenter. When Jesus was born the three wise men fro the east followed to star (Star of Bethlehem) to where Jesus was born. The three wise men bore with them gifts, Gold, Myrrh, and Frankincense. About that same time king Herod was deeply disturbed by the birth of Jesus Christ, because he heard a new king has been born. Herod became furious and sent his soldiers into Bethlehem to kill all the boys around two years and under. Joseph and Mary fled from Bethlehem to Egypt before the soldiers could get to them. Herods plan turned out to be a fiasco. When Herod died and everything had calmed down, Joseph and Mary with Jesus went to Galilee and settled down in a town called Nazareth, were Jesus grew up, where Jesus Christ was called the Nazarene (Jesus of Nazareth). Jesus was a leader all through his life even from birth. The Baptism of Jesus John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ the (son of Zacharias). John the Baptist preached baptism for the forgiveness of sins and in so doing he was preparing the way for the Lord. Jesus went to the Jordan River in Galilee so that john could baptize him. John remonstrated because he felt that Jesus Christ was the one who should be baptizing him. According to the gospel of Mathew Jesus said, It must be done, because we must do everything that is right. After John heard what Jesus said he now baptized him. After baptism, Jesus came out of the water and the heavens opened and the spirit of God descended like a dove from above and settled upon his head, and a strange voice said, this is beloved son, and I am fully pleased with him.(New international version). The Temptation of Jesus Christ After the baptism of Jesus Christ the, Jesus was led by the Holy spirit into the wilderness where he could be tempted by the devil. He fasted in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights, without having anything to eat. The devil came out to Jesus and said if you are the Son of God change these stones to loaves of bread. Jesus relied No! The scripture say man shall not leave by bread alone but by every word of God. Then Jesus Christ was led by the devil to the highest point of the temple in Jerusalem, and then the devil told him to jump off that his angels will protect and nothing would happen to him, and Jesus replied The scripture says, do not test the lord your God. Finally the devil took Jesus to the highest mountain, and showed him all the nation and all its glory, then he said, I will give it all to you, if only u knell down and worship me. Jesus replied Get out of here, Satan, for the scripture says you must worship the lord your God; serve only him. Jesus Christ was a flawless leader. He overcame temptation, he would have change the stones to bread, or protected by the angels, but know he humbled h imself. Jesus Christ is an exemplary leader, which is why the Christians believe in him so m uch. Jesus Christ was no hypocrite. The Ministry of Jesus Christ Jesus traveled throughout Galilee teaching and preaching in different synagogues and spreading the good news about the kingdom of God, by this time he had only four disciples, these were called the first disciples. Jesus Christ taught people a lot of things, he healed people of various kinds. News about him spread far beyond Galilee, and people with various illnesses and pain, the possessed, epileptic, and paralyzed people. Large crowds followed Jesus to wherever he went. People leart a lot from him, there were various teaching by Jesus: Teaching about Salt and Light Teaching about the Law Teaching about anger Teaching about Adultery Teaching about Divorce Teaching about revenge Teaching about Love for Enemies Teaching about Giving the Needy Teaching about Prayer and Fasting Teaching about money and possessions Effective prayers The Golden Rule The Narrow Gate The tree and its fruit True Disciples Building on a solid foundation And many others but these ones are the most important ones. The Golden is one of the most important teachings of Jesus Christ. The golden rule says: Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. (New Living Translation Bible). So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophet. (English Standard Bible). Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. (King James Bible). Another important teaching of Jesus Christ was the Beatitudes. The great beatitudes: God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of haven is given to them. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them. God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see god. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs. (New living translation, Matthew 5) There were a lot of teachings, Jesus Christ cares about his people (Christians) that is why he tries to put us in the right path by telling the Christians, to do what is right and deviate from their wrong ways and doing. As time went on Jesus had twelve disciples: First Simon (Also called Peter) Andrew James (son of Zebedee) John Philip Bartholomew Thomas Matthew James (son of Alphaeus) Simon (son of Zealot). Jesus taught his disciples a lot; they passed through a lot of test. One of the tests they passed through was the heavy storm. Jesus and his disciples traveled across the lake to spread the gospel. Suddenly, there was a terrible storm. The disciples became petrified because Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went to him and woke him up, shouting that he should rescue them from danger and Jesus replied why are you afraid? You have so little faith! (New living translation). Then he stood up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm. The disciples were marveled at what he had done. Jesus went from city to city with his disciples, and kept on healing the demon possessed and paralyzed. Jesus kept on spreading the news and healing people in other to get more workers (Christians). He wanted a lot of people to hear the good news so they would help in passing the news to other people. At a certain time Jesus said to his people Then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few, Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. (King James Bible). Jesus Christ predicts his death Jesus Christ predicted his death three times. Jesus Christ knew his time on earth was coming to an end so he told his disciples; They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life. And the disciples were filled with grief. (New international Version). When Jesus Christ was traveling to Jerusalem with his disciples, he told them privately again that he was going to be betrayed and killed. He told them that he would resurrect after three days. After he told them everything they now went into Jerusalem to spread the news. Death of Jesus Christ Jesus Christ prayed before he was arrested, he knew his time had come. Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ who betrayed him. He led the roman soldiers into the Kidron valley where Jesus Christ was with his disciples. As soon as Judas Iscariot saw Jesus he identified him and Jesus was arrested. One of the disciples, Simon drew his knife and attacked the High priest Servant, Malchus and slashed off his ear. Jesus commanded Simon to withdraw and then Jesus healed Malchus. After Jesus was arrested he was brought before Caiaphas, the high priest for trials. After the trials with the high priest he was sent to the headquarters of the Roman Governor, Pontus Pilate for another trial. The Jews accused Jesus of being a criminal. The men who accused Jesus didnt go in with Jesus for his trial, because they knew it was a false accusation. Pontus Pilate found Jesus not guilty, but the Jews wanted him to be killed and Barabbas, a criminal released. Pontus Pilate had Jesus flogged in the open with lead-tipped whips, and they crowned him with thongs. Pilate didnt want to kill Jesus, but the Jewish leaders kept on pressurizing him to do so. Pontus Pilate was left with no option but to crucify Jesus, he was afraid that the leaders might turn against him. Jesus led to where he was going to be crucified. His disciples and Mother, Mary Magdalene, watched him carry his cross with thongs on his head. Jesus knew it was finally over, and he said I am thirsty then they soaked a sponge into a sour jar of and gave him. He replied, it is finished, and he gave up the ghost. Jesus was buried in a tomb, which has never been used before close to a garden. Nicodemus was the man who brought white linen and seventy-five pounds of ointment, which was made of myrrh and aloes. The Resurrection Early on Sunday Morning, Mary mother of Jesus went to the Tomb and it was open, so she ran back to the disciples telling them that the body of Jesus had been taken away. The disciples rushed to confirm if what Mary Magdalene said was true, on getting there the body was no longer there, they were all marveled and they left. Later that day Mary was crying outside the tomb, when Jesus appeared to her and told her to stop crying. After Mary saw Jesus she ran to the disciples to tell them what had happened, but one of disciples, Thomas didnt believe. Later that day Jesus appeared to them, after they saw what Jesus had done they believed that he is the Son of God, and that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have life. Jesus instructed his disciples to spread his word that he would be back to judge the living and the dead. Qualities of a leader Jesus Christ was a perfect leader with no weakness. He had a lot of strengths. Jesus Christ had no weakness because he was not human, he came down in human form, but still he wasnt human. The life of Jesus was peculiar; he lived his whole life acting as a leader. Jesus never hated anybody; he had love for both his enemies and his friends. He had no weakness unlike human leaders. According to Paul in Corinthians; We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than mans wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than mans strength. (New international version, 23 24). Man cannot understand his weakness. Jesus performed a lot of miraculous signs. People loved him a lot. Jesus Christ was a great leader. The life and teachings of Jesus Christ are the motivations for Christians. Jesus Christ was no selfish leader he always thought about his people before himself. Work Cited

Parents Should Be Involved in Their Children’s School :: Argumentative Essays

There are many reasons that parents should get involved in their children’s school. Students who have concerned and involved parents tend to get better grades. When a parent asks questions about homework and assignments, supervises to make sure that they get done, and even helps with homework, it is more likely that assignments will be completed and handed in on time. Another factor in grades is attendance. With a low attendance rate, assignments will be missed, and the student will get behind in content as well. Parents who do not get involved in the school might not know that their child is not attending on a regular basis, or even care if their child goes. When children are first starting school, or transitioning from pre-school to elementary school or elementary to middle school, the transition is easier when parents are involved. If a child is unhappy about being in school, but their parents volunteer in the school, the child will see their parents there and be less upset because they will not be separated from them. For whatever reason, if a child is nervous or simply misses his or her parent, seeing the familiar face in the hallway or just knowing that they are in the building is comforting and makes the transition into school easier. Along with parents helping with homework and supervising that projects are completed, giving support to a child will make them more likely to pass from grade to grade. Without parent involvement, unless a child is self-motivated to go to school and do their work, it will be difficult to pass to the next grade level, and in time, graduate. When students see that their parents are involved in their school, it shows them that their parents care about their education. This sets a good example for the student, and they are likely to model their parents and believe that education is important and beneficial. This is especially true when students see their parents volunteering in their school. In order for a child to see their education as something important, they have to believe that their parents feel the same, especially at a young age. Reasons Parents Don’t Get Involved Sometimes parents do not get involved in their child’s education for a completely different reason than not caring.

Deep into Darkness Peering Essay -- Poetry Analysis

Edgar Allan Poe is considered to be one of America’s most prominent poets. While his reputation precedes him, there is little that is actually known about the famous author. His life can only be accurately summed up by a few historical accounts and a series of letters written in his own hand. These, of course, do not even come close to describing the man behind the pen, as it were. One critic writes, â€Å"monomania can easily be developed over the motely tragedy of the personal life of Poe, so deeply buried under a shifting mass of conflicting rumours, echoes of rumours, and downright lies† (Bradsher 241). He was, socially, a private man, but he gave the world something more interesting and powerful that can be told in letters and biographies; he gave us himself. Every poem, short story, or piece of literature that his ink marked upon paper was a part of him. They are these things we must study in order to understand Poe. What’s more is that we must understand these things in order to see him. Poe even states that â€Å"the mind of a painter is expressed in his pictures† (Poetical 360). His entire repertoire is the key to the proverbial lock of his intent behind his own masterpiece. These are what have made Poe such a notorious figure in American culture. Experiences within Edgar Allan Poe’s life lead to his different perspectives on death. By analysing Annabel Lee, The Raven, The Masque of the Red Death, we can see that these perspectives include: hope; despair; and fear. Annabel Lee is one of Poe’s more famous poems. It is about a young man (the narrator) that falls in love with a girl when they are both children. Their love was so strong that it made even the angels jealous, so Annabel Lee was stricken ill by the heavens and perished... ...out the nature of yourself and man more interesting than giving us the answers. After all, where’s the fun in knowing? â€Æ' Works Cited Bradsher, Earl L. "The Poetic Works of Edgar Allan Poe." Review. The Sewanee Review Apr. 1918: 241-44. Print. Campbell, Killis. "Contemporary Opinion of Poe." PMLA 36.2 (1921): 142-66. Print. Campbell, Killis. "Selected Poems of Edgar Allan Poe." Review. American Literature Mar. 1929: 103-04. Print. Law, Robert A. "A Source for Annabel Lee." Journal of English and German Philology 21.2 (1922): 341-46. Print. Poe, Edgar Allan, and J. Montgomery Gambrill. Selections from Poe. Boston: Ginn &, 1907. Print. Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Poetical Works by Edgar Allan Poe." The Crayon 5.12 (1858): 360. Print. Werner, W. L. "Poe's Theories and Practice in Poetic Technique." American Literature 2.2 (1930): 157-65. Print. Deep into Darkness Peering Essay -- Poetry Analysis Edgar Allan Poe is considered to be one of America’s most prominent poets. While his reputation precedes him, there is little that is actually known about the famous author. His life can only be accurately summed up by a few historical accounts and a series of letters written in his own hand. These, of course, do not even come close to describing the man behind the pen, as it were. One critic writes, â€Å"monomania can easily be developed over the motely tragedy of the personal life of Poe, so deeply buried under a shifting mass of conflicting rumours, echoes of rumours, and downright lies† (Bradsher 241). He was, socially, a private man, but he gave the world something more interesting and powerful that can be told in letters and biographies; he gave us himself. Every poem, short story, or piece of literature that his ink marked upon paper was a part of him. They are these things we must study in order to understand Poe. What’s more is that we must understand these things in order to see him. Poe even states that â€Å"the mind of a painter is expressed in his pictures† (Poetical 360). His entire repertoire is the key to the proverbial lock of his intent behind his own masterpiece. These are what have made Poe such a notorious figure in American culture. Experiences within Edgar Allan Poe’s life lead to his different perspectives on death. By analysing Annabel Lee, The Raven, The Masque of the Red Death, we can see that these perspectives include: hope; despair; and fear. Annabel Lee is one of Poe’s more famous poems. It is about a young man (the narrator) that falls in love with a girl when they are both children. Their love was so strong that it made even the angels jealous, so Annabel Lee was stricken ill by the heavens and perished... ...out the nature of yourself and man more interesting than giving us the answers. After all, where’s the fun in knowing? â€Æ' Works Cited Bradsher, Earl L. "The Poetic Works of Edgar Allan Poe." Review. The Sewanee Review Apr. 1918: 241-44. Print. Campbell, Killis. "Contemporary Opinion of Poe." PMLA 36.2 (1921): 142-66. Print. Campbell, Killis. "Selected Poems of Edgar Allan Poe." Review. American Literature Mar. 1929: 103-04. Print. Law, Robert A. "A Source for Annabel Lee." Journal of English and German Philology 21.2 (1922): 341-46. Print. Poe, Edgar Allan, and J. Montgomery Gambrill. Selections from Poe. Boston: Ginn &, 1907. Print. Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Poetical Works by Edgar Allan Poe." The Crayon 5.12 (1858): 360. Print. Werner, W. L. "Poe's Theories and Practice in Poetic Technique." American Literature 2.2 (1930): 157-65. Print.

Electrical :: essays research papers

Bailiff: All rise, the honorable Judge James Means presiding over the case of Brown vs. Rowe. You may be seated. Judge: This is the case of a one Darius Brown versus Jason Rowe in a matter dealing with the harmful effects of Electrocovulusive Therapy. Councilmen, your opening statements please. Prosecutor: Electroconvulsive Therapy, also known as ECT, is an appalling, not to mention, harmful practice used in mental treatment. This practice is not safe and it does not improve the patient’s condition. My client, having experienced these treatments will testify against this unethical practice. Brandie: Your Honor and ladies and gentlemen of the jury. My client Psychiatrist Rowe is being put on ‘[ trial for his practices of ECT. ECT has been incorporated for many years. It is one of the safest medical procedures involving regular anesthesia and its effectiveness has been proven beyond doubt. Judge: Prosecution, you may call your witness. Prosecutor: Your Honor, I call Darius Brown to the stand. Judge: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you god? Darius: I do. Prosecutor: Isn’t it true that you had to undergo treatments of ECT? Darius: Yes and it was bad. They shocked me and I started shaking. Prosecutor: Were there any adverse effects after you received ECT? Darius: Yes, its brain damaging. I often have trouble remembering and sometimes I get headaches. Prosecutor: So what you’re saying is, that ECT is harmful? Darius: Yes Brandie: Objection, Prosecutor is leading the witness! Judge: Sustained, the jury will disregard Mr. Brown’s last statement. Prosecutor: Did ECT improve your medical condition? Darius: Yes, but only to a small extent and only after altering my brain. Prosecutor: Thank you, Sir. Judge: Your witness, Ms. Cohen. Brandie: Mr. Brown, didn’t you just testify that your condition was improved? Darius: Yes Brandie: So how can you argue that it is not effective? As with any medication or surgical procedure, sure ECT has adverse effects. What is your major complaint? Darius: I can’t remember†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦oh, yes it’s memory disturbance. Brandie: So everything is fine? You can breathe, comprehend, and function normally. Perhaps even better than before your treatments. The only problem is a little memory complications? Nothing major right? Darius: I guess you could say that. Brandie: No further questions, your Honor. Judge: You may step down. The defense may call its witness. Brandie: Your Honor, I call Dr. Rowe to the stand. Judge: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you god?

Regional Connectivity

Though this reticular Issue has somehow reduced the limelight of proposed â€Å"Aslant Highway; but It Is something that represents even bigger prospect for Bangladesh as the road connecting 23 countries through proposed Asian Highway network. The proposed deep sea port is also opening up the prospect of connectivity as it might be accessible for whole region. Neighboring countries like Sardinia has created a deep sea port in recent times and so far it has been a success story. That might prompt Bangladesh to push this plan forward. By utilizing these opportunity eloquently Bangladesh might turn Into a hub of connectivity.But It's a country that Is suffering to construct necessary infrastructure for the internal demand. In this situation if given access of connectivity then it will be worse and might cause a negative impact. So, the necessary infrastructure should be build before giving any such access. What is the ultimate benefit of connectivity? How one can resolve the issue of S overeignty vs. Connectivity? Will the extended connectivity result In an expansion of drug trafficking and Illegal trade? These are some questions which ultimately come Into play. Many uses this Issues as an argument against connectivity.It is unlikely to enjoy benefit only through a policy. Especially when it comes about the question of issues like this one got to take all the aspects into consideration. Connectivity and development In this era of globalization the world is more connected then before. Day by day this connectivity is increasing more and more. Now a day it's quite impossible for the states to take alienated policy. Today we see ideology is playing trivial role then It played before. Today International system Is moving on the three fast highways of globalization, liberalizing and vaporization In a unpopular world.Economic development seems to be the common goal of every nation. This commonality has made it possible for the states to become physically connected throug h the flow of – people and trade. That's why the idea of â€Å"interconnected world† is getting more and more voice. Even States that have traditionally been sovereignty sensitive, at least in terms of Integrating themselves through roads, today, are trying to negotiate multilateral economic arrangements that Include transit and transportation across their national boundaries But this interconnectivity is not purely interconnected.As it's the connectivity driven by interest so countries that have common interests or the egging which represents more opportunity are the one to be connected or willing to establish connectivity. As a result regional connectivity is becoming more fashionable. E is a perfect example. Following the success of E regional organizations and regional connectivity Is getting stronger. Also countries are more higher investment in public infrastructure brings invariably in its wake economic prosperity and improved quality of life.It's also used as a remedy of eradicating inequality which has emerged as a threat of the present time. The improved transport facilities impact through faster mobility of labor, materials, and gods, in hat way reducing transport costs as well as saving time for further engagements. Transport cost is an important determinant of competitiveness, making an integrated and capable transport networks an essential element of the enabling environment for economic integration at any level.The provision of physical infrastructure in the form of an integrated transport network is essential, but not a major condition in itself for efficient and effective international movement. It is necessary to have adequate facilitation measures to address all the non-physical barriers so that goods, icicles and people can move freely across international borders. Bangladesh prospect as a hub of connectivity: Location and gee-spatial reality: Bangladesh is a country which is virtually â€Å"India locked†. So, the geogr aphical point of view it apparently seems to be a disadvantage for her.But it has many geographical advantages. The access of Bay of Bengal , and through to the wider open seas and to the sea routes towards the strategically important regions such as East and Southeast Asia, on the one hand , and West Asia and the Middle East on the other. This geographical and location can be utilized by Bangladesh for her own benefit. That's the reason why a deep sea port or the modernization of Chitchatting sea port can have a better prospect it can be both economically beneficiary and strategically an important point. Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan are landlocked countries in this region.Bangladesh can benefit tremendously through opening up transit and great opportunities for crossing from east to west and giving the land-locked neighbors access to the sea. But it's not given proper attention like the issue related transit. As said earlier Bangladesh is virtually an â€Å"India locked† co untry; so it's almost impossible o improve connectivity excluding India. It has massive territorial depth and the biggest democratic country. India over the years has made massive progress and it's the regional super power. So, when we talk about the country that comes first is India.But India has some vulnerability that can be used in favor of Bangladesh. Bangladesh occupies an important strategic position for India. Slinger Corridor is the only access of the North Eastern state which separates Nepal from Bangladesh only by a few miles. During Indo-China war this situation became more eminent. This vulnerability is still present. Right now, anything produced in that region can't be marketed in the rest of India, due to the distance from port (Kola). From past decade, India is becoming more dependent on foreign and private investments in growth picture.But, no company will want to invest in this remote corner of the Northeast, because of the logistical problems of Sevens Sisters lin king in with the rest of India. So the only real economic future of Northeast lies in reopening its route through Bangladesh to its West and with Manner and South-East Asia to the East. For additional benefit, if they are allowed to use a Bangladesh port, the export oriented business can also come up in this region. The region is rich in energy resources, like natural gas and hydro-electricity.The economic progress in this region recent times has increased greatly and has become a real headache for the Indian government. It's now creating a threat for national integrity. It's obvious that the insurgency is not going to stop until a drastic economic development take place. But Indian government is finding it hard without the access of Bangladesh. Many in India perceived Bangladesh as an â€Å"economic bridge† between Indian's north-eastern states and the rest of the country. For India, it makes extremely good economic sense to be able to use a corridor to its northeastern stat es.It would spare them constructing a long and tortuous road through hostile territory, infested with insurgents of many hues. It had been estimated – in the ‘ass – that construction of new tracks would cost RSI. 2 core per kilometer. It would cost many times more that amount now. For India, access through Bangladesh makes extremely good economic sense to be able to use a corridor to its northeastern states. India has to across Kim to passage its goods & passengers from its mainland to its north-eastern dates, which is expensive & time consuming as well as inefficient in economic sense.If Bangladesh allows transit, India will require to across only km to complete same job. The Chitchatting port can become a modern busy port like Singapore serving the SCARS countries and even China. Huge foreign investment may be attracted to Bangladesh and finally a throbbing service sector like banks, insurance, hotels, rest houses, petrol pumps etc. May develop around the Tarn' s continental roads and railways. There is an estimate of direct economic gain from transit fees. It ranges from 500 core take to 4,666 core take. The last but not the least, is the mutual transit.Bangladesh, in return, will get a much shorter route to China, which already is its second largest trading partner. Unfortunately, most of the trading nowadays takes place through sea-route. The cost of import increases, as well as Bangladesh goods loose competitiveness in Chinese market. If Bangladesh wants to access South Chinese underdeveloped market, they must go through India. This was a point of concern for the Chinese delegates during Gumming initiative in 1999, an initiative to link Chinese province of Yuan with Seven Sisters of India, Manner, Thailand and Bangladesh.Better Co-operations for Connectivity South Asia inherited an integrated transport infrastructure from the British. This was fractured not only by the partition of India but by its political aftermath. The transport ne twork still continue to remain fragmented due to various historical, political and economic reasons which needs to be rebuilt within the context of greater political harmony in South Asia. The transport system of the main land countries of South Asia has developed only in a national context with little consideration given to cross border issues of compatibility, uniformity of standards in infrastructure and equipment design.It is felt that for socio-economic development if South Sais's intra-regional trade is to grow rapidly, among others, this will require integration of the transport infrastructure of the region. This calls for cooperation in the strengthening of transportation, transit and connectivity across the region, including harmonistic of standards and simplification of customs procedures and other similar trade facilitation initiatives to minimize the non-physical trade barriers in support of investment in the transport infrastructure.The decisions of Islamabad SCARS oper ation in a number of areas including strengthening transport, transit and communication links/connectivity across the region. Recognizing the importance of transport integration in South Asia, SCARS initiated the SCARS Regional Multimode Transport Study (SORTS) with the main objective of enhancing multi-modal transport connectivity among SCARS member states, so as to promote intra-regional trade. Since then the issue of connectivity has been the highlighting issue in every SCARS summit.Though the countries of this region have many things in common and there re better prospect of development through the process of connectivity; but it's the most poorly connected part of the world. For example – Bangladesh products constituted only 0. 5 percent (approximately) of total Indian imports. Indian's informal and formal exports to Bangladesh stand at around $5 billion dollars while Bangladesh exports are about $ 358 million during the financial year of 2007-08. This shows the poor con dition of connectivity.Also the imbalanced situation is eminent of trade between the small country (Bangladesh) and big country (India). As aid earlier Bangladesh has a territorial advantage and India is pushing hard for the access of transport from mainland India to North-East India. So, Bangladesh can use this opportunity to gain economical balance and also to resolve her unresolved issues. One of the main obstacles for regional connectivity is the hostile relation between India and Pakistan. This hostility has made the SCARS ineffective. They are the two big powers in this region.Both of them have nuclear weapon and plays important role in the world politics. Especially India is moving fast as a regional power and also as a world power. So no progress can be made without the improvement of these two nations. Though over the years little progress has been made, but we see a kind of rational approaches from both the parties in recent time. For example-After the recent Bomb attack i n Bombay Indian unlike the previous incident did not blame Pakistan took cautious attitude . Pakistan on the other hand immediately after the attack expressed deep sympathy about the incident.Both the parties have expressed hope about continuing the ongoing peace process. This shows that they are serious about the issue and if in the future these co-operative environment progress then surely connectivity will increase in this region. Trading in transport connectivity with neighboring countries could reduce trade deficit. It is crucial to understand clearly that these transport connectivity will have no market elsewhere outside this sub-region and that these opportunities of trading in transport services may not continue long.It is also important for the sub-regional countries to recognize that no country other than Bangladesh can provide these transport connectivity and services. Issues to tackle: Politics of regional connectivity Though it's an issue which is a part of foreign poli cy, closely interlinked with economic policy, but political relation can't be separated from economic and foreign relation. It has been seen that in most case progression has been from close political relations to the deepening of economic relations.Political relationships that are not characterized by mistrust or suspicion allow first steps in economic relationship which would then expand and generate vigorous inter-state economic activities. But unfortunately this has not been the case with us. Our political culture is marked by tit India exploited by both the political parties as a political agenda. We see a lack of proper planning or commitment on the question of connectivity. All the major aspects such as-Asian Highway, Transit with china or even the Deep sea port there is clear distinction among the political parties and also among the people.Security The issue of security is closely linked with the issue of connectivity. The fear that connectivity will increase security threa t is not without basic. The north eastern region of India is a war prone area. Here the most powerful Indian forces are failing to maintain stable situation. The threat of ALFA and Moist insurgency can poise real problem for us. Also in the region of Manner there are rebel forces fighting against the Junta government. Also the religious extremist groups may misuse the connectivity. So, the security threat should be taken into consideration.Lack of infrastructure The road and ports of Bangladesh could get overcrowded, thus resulting in poor efficiency in domestic industries. Keeping in view the benefits, it seems the above mentioned risks are too small, from economic perspective. But, a country is not made up of its economy only; it has its political, ideological and popular faces also. To sum up the whole condition, Bangladesh currently does not allow grater connectivity because of non-economic reasons. Lack of co-operation from Big Brother As we all know India at present stage has huge economic advantage with all the countries of this region.The reason that she is pushing hard for transit is mainly for her own stake. India doesn't want to allow Bangladesh to have land route with Nepal and Bhutan which is purely for trade purpose, India shows the excuse that it goes against its territorial integrity, using the same logic Bangladesh cannot allow transit. The proposed Asian Highway route provides transit rights to India through Bangladesh because both the entry and exit are with India from Bangladesh. Bangladesh government is naturally concerned about it without reciprocal transit rights from India.It seems that this is a misplaced concern in view of the fact that at the Dacha SCARS Summit, Indian's Prime Minister made it clear that India was agreeable to provide transit rights to SCARS countries. But India is not interested to progress over the issue. The Indian proposal is not a transit facility; it is a â€Å"corridor facility† which is internationally discouraged. As said earlier Bangladesh already has huge trade deficit with India. So allowing India the access on bilateral basic has little chance through which we can get benefited.There are many unresolved issues on which India over the years has shown little interest. The worst act was the Freak barrage. Bandstand's trust in India was not honored properly. We are suffering from less supply of Ganges water than committed. BBS are killing Bangladesh without adequate reasons. Maritime boundaries need to be finalized, issues like Tailgate, demarcation of 6. Skims borders, stoppage of push-in, and Bangladesh-Nepal ND Bangladesh-Bhutan corridors can be solved without much difficulty.But in the process of connectivity mutual co-operation and trust is the key and it should be formulated through a win-win situation. Connectivity should be implemented in such a way so that all the parties can get the benefit. Conclusion: â€Å"Connectivity is the key' a popular dialogue of the present time. Day by day world is getting smaller through the advancement of globalization and technological connectivity. Singapore is a perfect example of connectivity and progress. â€Å"Connectivity' has worked as the key for them as key in real sense. The success story of E.IS is the perfect example of regional connectivity. This connectivity has been a trademark for the European countries. South-Asia is one of the poorest regions of the world. Being the part of world's most poorly connected region, one can obviously say that there are prospects for development through connectivity. As Bangladesh has certain benefits and strategically constitutes an important position so the connectivity can provide greater opportunity for us. But creation of a win-win situation is what that can ensure better progress and ensures equal opportunity for all countries.