America as an Empire :: essays research papers

America as Empire: Global Leader or Rogue Power? Jim Garrison   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jim Garrison’s book addresses a poignant theme faced by American culture today. Garrison explains that America must tread carefully in the present as to avoid crossing the fine line of acting as a â€Å"global leader† and acting as a â€Å"rogue power.† To begin with, I found it necessary to look up the word ‘rogue,’ which dictionary.com defines as â€Å"vicious and solitary,† clearly a negative term. This being established, Garrison is attempting to address what it is that would make a country appear to be overbearing, overly aggressive and power hungry rather than as a respected, admired superpower.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Contrary to my belief upon picking up the book, Garrison quickly enlightened me to the other option. I had never thought of America as a â€Å"rogue power.† However, after giving it a few thoughts, and having Garrison’s input on the matter, it seems quite apparent that America has in fact become a rogue power. America, which was once seen as a picture-perfect place where dreams could be achieved and freedom be found, has indeed become a dominant solo power. It is the unmatched superpower of the world, unmatched by any foreign nation since the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, I found it quite strange to see in such black and white print, an assertion of America as a ruthless master in commander. Though the charm of living in America is that we have the ability and the freedom to criticize whatever we feel, it is rare for me to encounter an American with such a seemingly un-American point of view. Never the less is was quite informative. I also agree with Garrison that the principles and practices upon which America was founded 225 years ago have drastically changed. Garrison stated that America â€Å"used to represent freedom. It now represents power.† After reading that, I was forced to take a step back and really consider that statement. To my own dismay I could not think of any grounds to disprove this statement. I found it quite disheartening to suddenly realize that America had in all essences of the word, had come to define the word â€Å"power.† Garrison examines what makes a nation considered to be a republic, verses what makes a nation considered to be a republic. If a republic implies a democratically run single nation, then that term cannot completely apply to America. America as an Empire :: essays research papers America as Empire: Global Leader or Rogue Power? Jim Garrison   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jim Garrison’s book addresses a poignant theme faced by American culture today. Garrison explains that America must tread carefully in the present as to avoid crossing the fine line of acting as a â€Å"global leader† and acting as a â€Å"rogue power.† To begin with, I found it necessary to look up the word ‘rogue,’ which dictionary.com defines as â€Å"vicious and solitary,† clearly a negative term. This being established, Garrison is attempting to address what it is that would make a country appear to be overbearing, overly aggressive and power hungry rather than as a respected, admired superpower.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Contrary to my belief upon picking up the book, Garrison quickly enlightened me to the other option. I had never thought of America as a â€Å"rogue power.† However, after giving it a few thoughts, and having Garrison’s input on the matter, it seems quite apparent that America has in fact become a rogue power. America, which was once seen as a picture-perfect place where dreams could be achieved and freedom be found, has indeed become a dominant solo power. It is the unmatched superpower of the world, unmatched by any foreign nation since the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, I found it quite strange to see in such black and white print, an assertion of America as a ruthless master in commander. Though the charm of living in America is that we have the ability and the freedom to criticize whatever we feel, it is rare for me to encounter an American with such a seemingly un-American point of view. Never the less is was quite informative. I also agree with Garrison that the principles and practices upon which America was founded 225 years ago have drastically changed. Garrison stated that America â€Å"used to represent freedom. It now represents power.† After reading that, I was forced to take a step back and really consider that statement. To my own dismay I could not think of any grounds to disprove this statement. I found it quite disheartening to suddenly realize that America had in all essences of the word, had come to define the word â€Å"power.† Garrison examines what makes a nation considered to be a republic, verses what makes a nation considered to be a republic. If a republic implies a democratically run single nation, then that term cannot completely apply to America.

Inventory and Alliance Supermarkets

Alliance Supermarkets has been using a point-of-sale (POS) system for some time to track its inventory. The system uses a laser scanner to read the universal product code (UPC) on each item at the checkout container. The UPC is a number that uniquely identifies the product on which it appears. Currently, Alliance is using the UPC information to update inventory records for each item. Although the system has greatly improved the company’s ability to replenish inventory promptly, the company still has some problems.For example, sudden changes in demand for a particular item can catch the company by surprise as it bases inventory replenishment on historical demand patterns. Further, demand patterns and preferences may vary from one store to another depending on the customers served by each, but the inventory system groups all demand information together and treats each store equally. Finally, the manufacturers that make the products stocked by Alliance Supermarkets are always pre ssuring Alliance to help them target appropriate customers for special promotions and sales.The chief information officer (CIO) of Alliance realizes that much more could probably be done with the data collected from its POS system. For example, the company could analyze the relationship between each product’s sales and weather patterns. It is even possible to analyze an individual customer’s buying habits and identify instances when a customer may be persuaded to try a different brand of a certain product. Suppose you have been asked to study this situation and suggest possible new and innovative uses for the information generated by the POS system.Ideally, these ideas should help Alliance better serve its customers by ensuring that adequate quantities of each item are available, that costs are kept low, and that customers are made aware of new products that may interest them. 1. What information may help Alliance reduce costs while providing better service? 2. If purc hase information can be obtained on individual customers, what new approach could be used by Alliance?Your paper should be in paragraph form (avoid the use of bullet points), and supported with the concepts outlined in your text. Do not include the original questions of the assignment in the paper. Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment. Alliance Analysis The CIO for Alliance Supermarkets desires to make better use of the volume of data retrieved with each sale via the Point of Sale (POS) software that documents the sale of each product as it is bar coded.There are three key issues which the CIO wishes to address: 1) be able to respond to sudden, unanticipated inventory demand; 2) identify demand patterns that vary from store to store; 3) assist the manufacturers to better target customers for special promotions and sales. With the use of POS, Alliance Supermarkets have the ability to track sales of products and reorder the m automatically. With this type of information, the manufacturers have ready access to what products have been sold as they are scanned.Scanning the bar code for each product sends a signal to the manufacturers documenting the sale of each item in inventory as the sale occurs. When predetermined levels are reached, an order is placed with the manufacturer to replenish the inventory. The POS information can also help manufacturers â€Å"analyze an individual customer's buying habits and identify instances when a customer may be persuaded to try a different brand of a certain product† (Vonderembse & White, 2013).Alliance Supermarkets can better serve its customers by having adequate supplies of inventory based upon the ways that the store tracks its inventory. Not only will regular order replenishment of inventory improve customer satisfaction, but it will have the added effect of improving efficiencies and making the best use of capital resources. A perpetual inventory system of some merchandise such as perishable foods like meat, dairy products, and vegetables can help lower costs through greater efficiencies in processes.By avoiding Stock Outs, customers will have the ability to purchase their desired products without inventory costs. Adding Safety Stock to the inventory control plan can also aid Alliance in flexing up for sudden surge demand. Taking advantage of volume discounts is another way that costs can be controlled more efficiently. There is not always a cost savings in buying in volume. Therefore, using the formula of OP = dL can be used to determine an optimum point to reorder. OP = order point. d= daily use, and L = lead time.This helps determine how much advance notice is needed in order for the store not to run out of inventory. (Vonderembse & White, 2013 p. 10. 4) Alliance can also make use of demographic and purchasing decisions based upon POS transactions. Sorting the data individually by each store will help Alliance identify purchasin g trends. Orders can be placed specific to each stores demographic. A periodic inventory control system of non perishable items such as dairy products, meat and vegetables could be used to help assess the grocery stores replenishment goals without running out of goods.

Vignette

Application of ethical theory to a case study vignette Instructions: †¢ Choose ONE of the following four cases †¢ Identify key stakeholders in this case. Identify and discuss main (ethical) issues of this case in relation to the stakeholders. †¢ Evaluate the case using TWO ethical theories (you must use the theories that were taught in the lectures apart from Ethical Egoism). †¢ Explain how you would act / you would have acted in this situation, and why. Your word limit must not exceed 1,700 words. Do not forget to include your word count in Your essay.The essay will be marked using the following criteria: †¢ Identification of stakeholders and issues †¢ Outlining of main features of ethical theories and application of theories to case †¢ Style and Presentation (including authenticity and accurate referencing) Submission deadline is Friday, 25 January, 2013, 9pm. Failure to submit on time will result in a fail grade. You are required to submit your c oursework both electronically through TurnItIn (see instructions in module handbook), and as hard copy to the UniHelpdesk in the Sheppard Library.Please ensure that you submit exactly the same versions of your work as hard copy and electronic copy. The electronic copy is the one that will be marked. You should also be aware that students may beasked to attend a viva should there be any doubts regarding the authenticity of their work. Case 1 Safia, having completed her Business Management degree at Middlesex University, has found a job as executive assistant in a medium-sized city law firm. She very much enjoys her job and, although she has only been working for the firm for a few months, has already become a valuable and trusted employee.She has been asked by Jamal, the partner in the firm for whom she works, to organise the event that the firm hosts every year for its corporate clients. Her brief includes organising the catering (finger food and drinks) and because they are expecti ng up to 200 guests, she is required to follow the company guidelines, which state that she has to get quotes from four catering firms and then give the contract to the firm that offers best value for money. Meera, a close friend of Safia’s, has recently taken over her father’s struggling catering business.Meera’s father has been suffering from a long-standing and severe illness, which forced him to retire from the business. Safia knows that a large catering contract would provide a much needed boost to Meera’s business, and therefore includes it in the list of firms who she will ask to produce a quote for her. Even though the food and service offered in each quote is not exactly identical, Meera’s quote is not quite the best value for money. Safia asks Meera to revise her quote so that she can give her the business.Has Safia done the right thing? Case 2 Tom works for a small firm specialising in textile print designs. The firm has recently landed a contract with a large supermarket chain. Among other things, they have been asked to produce a print design for a sweatshirt, to be sold to young adult females. Tom is given the brief. He drafts various designs but is not very happy with them, neither is the managing director, who occasionally asks how Tom is getting on with his work. Tom is also busy working on a range of other projects.As the deadline approaches, Tom gets slightly desperate, but then while browsing the internet during his lunch break he comes across a girl called Nina’s internet blog. Nina is a fashion student and uses pictures of herself on her blog to advertise her own fashion designs. One of the photos depicts her in a dreamy-looking pose, and Tom thinks that with some flower pattern placed around the photo, that would make the perfect print design for the sweatshirt. Nina has a statement on her blog that says that all the content featured on her site belongs to her and permission for use any of her ph otos is required.He emails her to ask her permission to use her photo but does not hear back from her. The deadline arrives, he still hasn’t heard from Nina but he does not want to ask for an extension of deadline, knowing that the supermarket chain would not be pleased about it and also because he has been in trouble before for not meeting deadlines. He passes his design on to the managing director, who likes it. The managing director usually trusts that his employees work within copyright rules and therefore does not ask Tom any questions regarding the photo.The designs the company has produced find the supermarket’s approval and shortly afterwards clothes with the new print designs are going on sale in all their large stores across the country. Did Tom do the right thing? Case 3 Dr Victoria Patel is a non-executive board director at SuperSoftware, a FTSE 250 company. The company had been struggling for some time to retain its market share. As a result, SuperSoftware hired a new CEO called Richard Smart, with the aim to turn the company’s fortune around.Victoria is a member of the company’s nomination committee and as such was responsible, together with the other committee members, for the hiring of the new CEO. What impressed her and her fellow board directors was not only the experience Richard brought from his previous work roles but also his qualifications, which include a computer science degree from Harvard University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. One year on, SuperSoftware’s board directors are very happy with Richard Smart’s work.Following the implementation of his new strategic plan, the company has been gaining significant ground on its competitors. Furthermore, the CEO has been playing a vital role in the development of SuperSoftware’s CSR policy, which now includes a workplace scheme that the company offers to disadvantaged young people in the community. At a school reunion, Victoria r uns into her old friend Janet, with whom she had lost contact over the last few years. Victoria remembers that Janet also went to Harvard to study computer science and that would have been around the same time that Richard Smart was a student there, too.Victoria decides to mention her new CEO to Janet and ask her how well she remembers him from her time at Harvard. Janet gives Victoria a blank look and says that she had never heard Richard’s name before, she is nearly absolutely certain that no student with that name studied on the university’s computer science programme. Victoria is a little puzzled by this. She decides to check with the university herself and they confirm that Richard Smart has not been among their computer science graduates. What should Victoria do?Case 4 (adapted from Siu and Lam 2009) Sam works in the design department of Baby Mobile, a pram and children’s accessories manufacturer. In the past, the company has been quite successful in selli ng infant carriers that can also be used as infant car seats. However, the current models are relatively expensive to manufacture so profit-margins are rather low. Sam is member of the project team that has been asked to design a new, lighter weight model that should be in line with current trends but is also less expensive to manufacture.Michael, the head of the design department, makes it clear to the team that he expects them to develop the new model within the set deadline, especially as executive management have already communicated to shareholders their plans of launching a new, more profitable product. On the day of the deadline, the team reports to Michael that they have come up with a new design that meets the project brief. However, the new model, because of its lighter materials, currently has a slightly higher risk of handle collapse, which could cause injury to children.Their report states that they would need a few more weeks to find a solution to the problem with the handle. Michael Says that he will pass on their report to the executives. Two days later, Sam’s team learns that the executives have decided to treat the ‘handle problem’ as a quality issue and launch the model as it is to satisfy shareholder expectations, although Improvements to the product may be incorporated later on. Sam thinks of his sister who has not Too long ago given birth to a baby girl†¦ What should Sam do?

Thoughts and Feelings ‘on the Grasshopper and the Cricket’

What are your thoughts and feelings about the poem â€Å"On The Grasshopper and The Cricket†? In the poem ‘On The Grasshopper and The Cricket’ by John Keats, the poet seems at a first glance to just to be describing a grasshopper and a cricket and how they inhabit a garden and the kitchen of a home respectively. However, once we understand the poem, it is not so straightforward. In the second to the sixth lines of the poem, it shows how carefree the life of a grasshopper is in the â€Å"summer luxury† as opposed to the cricket in the â€Å"lone winter†. As it is mentioned that the grasshopper hops ‘from hedge to hedge about a new-mown mead’, we know that it is probably in a garden where it does not have to worry. It also gives us a young and lively feel to the poem because it shows that all the grasshopper does the entire day is play among the hedges and live a luxurious life. In the sixth and seventh lines, it is shown that the grasshopper is never bored because in this case, the grasshopper himself is capable of having his â€Å"delights† and â€Å"fun† with minimal effort and is able to rest if it feels tired beneath some â€Å"pleasant weed†. It's so hot that the usually chirpy and active birds have taken shelter amongst the shady trees and the whole countryside seems to be quiet, but just then one can hear the ever active grasshopper chirping away merrily in the hedges. We also know that there are birds in the garden as said in the second line â€Å"when birds are faint with hot sun† so it is believed that the grasshopper is never lonely because there are other animals around. Similarly, when one is cozily sheltered in the comfort of his home in front of a warm stove from the cold, frosty winter and is beginning to feel lonely, an atmosphere of silence and loneliness prevails. However, the silence is shattered by the shrill chirpings of the cricket and this silence, which was forced by the cold, is gently calmed by the cricket’s song. But even then the poetry of earth continues without a break. In a way, the grasshopper can be seen as selfish because when it plays among the hedges and freshly cut grass, it does not do anything else that implies that it is helping anyone other than itself. On the other hand, the cricket is seen to be somewhat of a good friend to those who are lonely on winter nights as it breaks the silence that was forced by the cold winter. The grasshopper could be compared to a young person who is usually carefree and does not worry much. In comparison, the cricket could represent someone in his or her old age who is there for people when they are in need or are lonely.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Video Games Essay

Everybody knows something about Super Mario or Pac-Man. These two and some others have started a new trend which called ‘playing video games’. Most people have spent their free time with playing video games and it still keeps going in that way. But for years people asking this question. ‘Do video games are bad or good? ‘ One of the advantages of playing video games is improving your vocabulary. Most games are online now and you can’t do anything without making a contact with other players. These players are live in another countries and the only way to communicate with them is using a common language. 90% this is English. I’m playing video games and i can say that video games really improves your vocabulary skills. When you don’t understand a word in a game you have to check dictionary to understand the meaning of it. To be honest,I have learnt a lot of words from video games. Actually more than my English lesson in highschool. Another advantage of playing video games is improving computer skills. Sometimes you have to set some options to play your game better. While doing that you learn about your computer’s hardware too. For example:there is a part in options called ‘graphics’. You have to use a better graphic card to see better images. To get a better graphic card,first you have to know how we can compare them and by that we learn more and more about our computer’s system. But of course there are disadvantages too. One of the is it’s harmful for your eyes and other body parts. I know there are some games which you can play by Nintendo Wii or PlayStation Move. They give you some kind of camera and your moves can be seen in game. But it’s unnecessary to do something like that. There are lots of sports which you can do outside. You can go on a jogging or play basketball,tennis etc. You don’t have to do this by playing video games. Another disadvantage is that,sometimes children access games which are not proper to their age and that is harmful for children. But I think the problem is not games are too reachable. The problem is parents are don’t care enough about their children. What I mean is you can’t ban something global but you can limit them. And it’s not so hard to do it. Maybe you can limit the internet or you can use some kind of programme like Family Security System. But these are the things which you can made with using a computer. Also you can stop your children with spend more time with them. Then they can feel video games are not the most important thing in the world. In conclusion there are bad and good sides of video games. But some other things have good and bad effects too like TV or food. If you don’t become and addict I think all of them are useful. You have to control yourself and your time to don’t become and addict. All is up to you.

Psychology- Human Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Psychology- Human Development - Essay Example The second approach, â€Å"The native perspective† unlike learning theorists minimize the role of the language environment and maximize the role of child’s biologically programmed capacities in explaining language development. The third approach known as â€Å"The Interactionist Perspective† believes that both learning theorists (nurture) and nativists (nature) are correct: Childrens biologically based competencies and their language environment interact to shape the course of language development (Bloom, 1998; Bohannon & Bonvillian, 2005).They emphasize that acquisition of language skills depends on and is related to the acquisition of many other capacities: perceptual, cognitive, motor, social, and emotional. Obviously, there is no doubt that males and females differ biologically. Yet we have to ask ourselves one question, do we form our ideas of gender roles according the influence of our society, or does biological predisposition outweigh the cultural influence? Gender refers to the cultural and social definition of feminine and masculine, it bears no relevance to the biological sex. Rather, it is the socially constructed expectations placed on a person because of their sex. Socialization is defined as the process by which we learn the ways of a given society or social group so that we can function within it. We are born either male or female, but not boy or girl. Femininity and masculinity do not bubble up from our genetic makeup. The distinction between boy and girl is taught. Therefore, gender is a learned identity. From the moment a child is born, (s)he begins the process of gender socialization. There is no nation where men and women are not gendered. The gender system organizes s ociety in such a way that boys and girls are treated differently, and the expectations for boys and girls differ. Family and peer relationships, schools and religious institutions, and media exposure

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Management - Essay Example Therefore the relationship between product-mix flexibility and capacity utilization is that the two factors are directly related. A higher degree of product-mix flexibility leads to a higher degree of capacity utilization. Because the company is able to vary output according to demand, idle capacity is minimized. As a result capacity utilization is maximized. By implementing the strategy of product-mix flexibility, the company is able to manufacturing a range of different products by using the same equipment. As a result the management is able to recoup the maximum return from the investment made in the equipment. In this manner the utilization rate of the production line is maximized. Thus product-mix flexibility is directly related to capacity utilization. Higher levels of product-mix flexibility reduce the production lines’ sensitivity to demand fluctuations. By implementing a flexible manufacturing system (FMS), the production line is able to maintain a mix of products tha t is able to adapt to any changes in the demand structure. In order to implement the strategy of product mix flexibility, the management has to introduce the technology of the flexible manufacturing system. The FMS facilitates the building of a production line that can produce a range of different products with minimal changes required in the same. ... This was the innovation introduced by Fiat’s management. By implementing the Robogate technology, Fiat aimed to create a flexible production system which would be able to achieve product-mix flexibility according to market demand. The technology was developed in-house. It was deployed in the spot-welding shop and was so named because the nine welding stations were called gates. The deployment of Robogate signaled Fiat’s quest for increasing production flexibility. The production limit for Robogate technology deployed at Rivalta and Cassino was set at 1400 cars per day. However it could vary the output levels between different models, Uno and Ritmo at Rivalta, Regata and Ritmo at Cassino. By allowing production managers to process a range of cars in a random sequence, the Robogate technology aimed to incorporate market-driven fluctuations into capacity utilization. However whether this innovation enabled the company to maximize capacity utilization is questioned by the a uthor in this article. The technology was certainly able to minimize the cycle-time of finishing but capacity utilization still fluctuated as before in the traditional system. The problem with implementing the technology was that the production philosophy was still defined according to the traditional system of cycle-time minimization rather than flexibility maximization. As a result, the Robogate technology failed to increase the rate of capacity utilization. But aside from that question, the superiority of the Robogate technology over other techniques was overwhelming. The Robogate itself was flexible. However because the platform and body welding lines upstream were still