Case study #1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Case study #1 - Essay Example Thus, for the better understanding of the competencies and shortcomings of Forest International, aimed at suggesting rational strategies to overcome the identified issue, a SWOTT analysis has been assessed in the below mentioned section. Strengths. Forest International has annual revenue of $11 billion along with employee strength of 45,000, which makes it quite competent to invest in safety measures. Although employee turnover is negligible, it does not embark on the employee loyalty but rather on the economic construction of the region where workers are somewhat forced to work in hazardous conditions. Opportunities. In the course of improvement of safety records of the company, it can seek for the assistance of standards developed by Federal OSHA, to ensure the safety of paper mills industry. Correspondingly, the company must abide with the 1910.145 standard under the OSHO Code, which emphasizes the prevention of accidents during the duty work of the employees (US Department of Labor, â€Å"Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills†). Threats. The major threat that Forest International have been facing is the downfall of its market share as compared to that of its competitors. Due to its lack of sustainability concerns and frequent workplace accidents, the company also faces threats in terms of lowering stakeholders’ loyalty. Trend. In accordance to the past records, it was observed that the accidents occurred in Forest International was the consequence of the management’s negligence. Jack Taylor, crew leader had once reported an accident caused due to the loosened up jack in the machinery and suggested the management on ways of improving safety lines. However, it was ignored by the management. Thus, emphasizing this particular issue in the report, few of the measures for improvement of safety lines in the company is being suggested gauged with rational

Mobile television Essay Example for Free

Mobile television Essay Mobile television is television watched on a small handheld or mobile device. It includes pay TV service delivered via mobile phone networks or received free-to-air via terrestrial television stations. Regular broadcast standards or special mobile TV transmission formats can be used. Additional features include downloading TV programs and podcasts from the internet and the ability to store programming for later viewing. According to the Harvard Business Review, the growing adoption of smartphones allowed users to watch as much mobile video in just three days of the 2010 Winter Olympics as they watched throughout the entire 2008 Summer Olympics – an increase of 564%. [1] DMB in South Korea History The first pocket-sized mobile television was sold to the public by Clive Sinclair in January 1977. It was called the Microvision or the MTV-1. It had a 2-inch CRT screen and was also the first television which could pick up signals in multiple countries. It measured 102Ãâ€"159Ãâ€"41mm and was sold for less than  £100 in the UK and for around $400 in the US. The project took over ten years to develop and was funded by around  £1.6 million in British Government grants.[2][3] Mobile TV is one of the features provided by many 3G phones. In 2002, South Korea became the first country in the world to have a commercial mobile TV CDMA IS95-C network, and mobile TV over 3G (CDMA2000 1X EVDO) also became available that same year. In 2005, South Korea also became the first country in the world to have mobile TV when it started satellite DMB (S-DMB) and terrestrial DMB (T-DMB) services on May 1 and December 1, respectively. Today, South Korea and Japan are at the forefront of this developing sector.[4] Mobile TV services were launched by the operator CSL in Hong Kong, March 2006, on the 3G network.[5] BT in the United Kingdom was the among the first companies outside South Korea to launch Mobile TV in September 2006, although the service was abandoned less than a year later.[6] The same happened to MFD Mobiles Fernsehen Deutschland, who launched their DMB-based service June 2006 in Germany, and stopped it in April 2008.[7] Also in June 2006, mobile operator 3 in Italy (part of Hutchison Whampoa) launched their mobile TV service, but opposed to their counterpart in Germany this was based on DVB-H.[8] Sprint started offering the service in February 2006 and was the first US carrier to offer the service. In the US Verizon Wireless and more recently ATT are offering the service. In South Korea, mobile TV is largely divided into satellite DMB (S-DMB) and terrestrial DMB (T-DMB). Although S-DMB initially had more content, T-DMB has gained much wider popularity because it is free and included as a feature in most mobile handsets sold in the country today. Challenges Mobile TV usage can be divided into three classes: †¢ Fixed – Watched while not moving, possibly moved when not being watched †¢ Nomadic – Watched while moving slowly (e.g. walking) †¢ Mobile – Watched when moving quickly (e.g. in a car) Each of these pose different challenges. Device Manufacturers challenges †¢ Power consumption – Continuous receipt, decoding, and display of video requires continuous power, and cannot benefit from all of the types of optimizations that are used to reduce power consumption for data and voice services. †¢ Memory – To support the large buffer requirements of mobile TV. Currently available memory capabilities will not be suited for long hours of mobile TV viewing. Furthermore, potential future applications like peer-to-peer video sharing in mobile phones and consumer broadcasting would definitely add to the increasing memory requirements. The existing P2P algorithms wont be enough for mobile devices, necessitating the advent of mobile P2P algorithms. There is one start-up technology that claims patentability on its mobile P2P, but has not drawn attention from device manufacturers yet. †¢ Display – Larger and higher-resolution displays are necessary for a good viewing experience. †¢ Processing power – Significan tly more processor performance is required for mobile TV than that used for UI and simple applications, like browsers and messaging. Content Providers challenges †¢ Mobile TV specific content – Mobisodes: mobile episodes of popular shows which are relatively shorter (3 to 5 minutes), to suit the likely viewing habits of the mobile TV user. Digital TV North America As of January 2012, there are 120 stations in the United States broadcasting using the ATSC-M/H Mobile DTV standard – a mobile and handheld enhancement to the HDTV standard that improves handling of multipath interference while mobile.[9] The defunct MediaFLO used COFDM broadcast on UHF TV channel 55. Like satellite TV, it was encrypted and controlled by conditional access (provided via the cellular network). It required a subscription for each mobile device, and was limited to the ATT Mobility or Verizon Wireless networks. Broadcast mobile DTV development While MediaFLO uses the TV spectrum and MobiTV used cell phone networks,[10] mobile DTV (ATSC-M/H) uses the digital TV spectrum. At the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show in April 2007 in Las Vegas, the ATSC and 8VSB methods for delivering mobile DTV were shown. A-VSB (Advanced VSB), from Samsung and Rohde Schwarz, was shown at the previous years show. In 2007, LG, whose Zenith Electronics came up with 8VSB, introduced (with Harris Group) its Mobile-Pedestrian-Handheld (MPH) system. As the broadcast networks began making their content available online, mobile DTV meant stations would have another way to compete. Sinclair Broadcast Group tested A-VSB in fall 2006, and its KVCW and KVMY were participating in the mobile DTV product demonstrations at the NAB show. A-VSB had worked in buses at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Mobile television Show. ION Media Networks started a test station on channel 38, which was to be used for digital LPTV, to use for a single-frequency network (SFN). In some areas, more than one TV transmitter would be needed to cover all areas. Mobile DTV could have been used at that time because it would not affect HDTV reception. A single standard, however, had to be developed.[11] At the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2009, the first prototype devices from LG and other manufacturers were demonstrated, including receivers for cars from Kenwood, Visteon and Delphi. It was announced that 63 stations in 22 markets would debut the service in 2009. Gannett Broadcasting president David Lougee pointed out that many of those attending the inauguration of Barack Obama would likely hear him but not see him; had the new technology been in place, this would not have been a problem.[12] In April 2009, the Open Mobile Video Coalition, made up of over 800 broadcast stations, selected four test stations: Gannetts WATL and IONs WPXA-TV in Atlanta, and Fisher Communications KOMO-TV and Belos KONG-TV in Seattle. WPXA had begun mobile DTV broadcasting on April 1. The others would start in May.[13] Later in 2009, ION said it was making available HDTV, standard definition and Mobile DTV streams using its affiliates in New York City and Washington, D.C. The triple-play concept was part of an effort to create a Mobile DTV standard. At the time, only those with prototype receivers could pick up the streams. ION Chairman and CEO Brandon Burgess said mobile DTV lets stations think beyond the living room and bring live television and real time information to consumers wherever they may be.[14] The Advanced Television Systems Committee started work on mobile DTV standards in May 2007, and manufacturers and sellers worked quickly to make the new technology a reality. The OMVC persuaded LG and Samsung to work together starting in May 2008 so that differing systems (possibly a self-destructing format war) would not delay or kill the technology. Early in July 2009, the ATSC Technology and Standards Group approved the ATSC-M/H standard for mobile DTV which all members green-lighted October 15. The public could be using the new devices by 2010, though watching TV on cell phones seemed unlikely in the near future since telephone manufacturers did not yet include that capability. The technology was expected to be used for polls and even voting.[15][16] By the end of the year, the ATSC and the Consumer Electronics Association began identifying products meeting the standard with MDTV.[17] Paul Karpowicz, NAB Television Board chairman and president of Meredith Broadcast Group, said This milestone ushers in the new era of digital television broadcasting, giving local TV stations and networks new opportunities to reach viewers on the go. This will introduce the power of local broadcasting to a new generation of viewers and provide all-important emergency alert, local news and other programming to consumers across the nation.[16] Later in July, the first multi-station tests began in Washington, D.C., while single stations in New York City and Raleigh, North Carolina already offered mobile DTV. The OMVC chose Atlantas WATL and Seattles KONG as model stations where product testing could take place. 70 stations in 28 media markets planned streams by the end of 2009. The Washington test would involve WPXW-TV, WUSA, WDCA, WRC-TV, WHUT-TV, WNUV in Baltimore, and WNVT, a part of MHz Networks, a multicasting service. All of the stations would have two of more channels each, with electronic service guide and alert data among the services. 20 sellers of equipment would use these stations to test using the existing standard, but testing the final standard would come later, and tests by the public would happen in 2010, when many more devices would be ready. Obviously, manufacturing large numbers of the devices could not take place without the final standard. LG, however, began mass-producing chips in June. ION technology vice president Brett Jenkins said, Were really at a stage like the initial launch of DTV back in 1998. There are almost going to be more transmitters transmitting mobile than receive devices on the market, and thats probably what youll see for the next six to nine months. Devices would eventually include USB dongles, netbooks, portable DVD players and in-car displays.[18] White House officials and members of Congress saw the triple-play concept in an ION demonstration on July 28, 2009 in conjunction with the OMVC.[19][20] Another demonstration took place October 16, 2009 with journalists, industry executives and broadcasters riding around Washington, D.C. in a bus with prototype devices. Included were those who would be testing the devices in the Washington and Baltimore markets in January 2010.[21] On August 7, 2009, BlackBerry service began on six TV stationsWISH-TV in Indianapolis; WAVY-TV in Hampton Roads, Virginia; KRQE in Albuquerque, New Mexico; WANE-TV in Fort Wayne, Indiana; WALA-TV in Mobile, Alabama; and KXAN-TV in Austin, Texas. 27 other stations will eventually offer the service, and LIN TV, which developed the BlackBerry service, has an iPhone application planned.[20] By October, 30 stations were airing mobile DTV signals, and that number was expected to be 50 by year-end. Also in the same month, FCC chair Julius Genachowski announced efforts to increase the amount of spectrum available to wireless services.[16] Also in August, WTVE and Axcera began testing a single-frequency network (SFN) with multiple transmitters using the new mobile standard. The RNN affiliate in Reading, Pennsylvania had used this concept since 2007.[22] Richard Mertz of Cavell, Mertz Associates says VHF wont work as well for mobile DTV because a 15-inch antenna or some other solution would be required, although he has heard from people who had no problems. An amplified antenna or higher power for the transmitting station would likely be needed, as well as repeater stations where terrain is a problem.[23] Lougee, whose company planned testing in its 19 markets in 2010, said the chip designs with the new devices made targeted advertising possible.[21] In December 2009, Concept Enterprises introduced the first Mobile DTV tuner for automobiles. Unlike earlier units, this one will provide a clear picture without pixilation in a fast-moving vehicle, using an LG M/H chip and a one-inch roof-mounted antenna. No subscription wil be required.[24] Also in December, the Consumer Electronics Association hosted a plugfest in Washington, D.C. to allow manufacturers to test various devices. More than 15 companies, and engineers from different countries, tested four transmission systems, 12 receiver systems, and four software types.[17][25] On December 1, News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch said mobile DTV would be important to the future of all journalism, and he planned to offer TV and possibly newspaper content in this way.[26] At the January 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, NAB head Gordon H. Smith disputed the idea that broadcastings days were numbered, calling mobile DTV the proof over-the-air television would continue its popularity. He said people would use cell phones and other devices to watch, and broadcast technology would be the best way to do this. Wireless broadband, which some wanted to replace broadcasting, would not be able to handle the demand for video services.[27] IONs Burgess showed off one of the first iPhones capable of receiving mobile DTV, while IONs Jenkins showed an LG Maze and a Valups Tivit; the latter sends signals to the iPod Touch and will soon work with the Google Nexus.[28] Sinclair Broadcast Group director of advanced technology Mark Aitken said the mobile DTV concept of multiple transmitters would help free up spectrum for wireless broadband in rural areas but not large cities. He also explained to the FCC that mobile DTV was the best method for sending out live video to those using cell phones and similar devices.[29] The OMVCs Mobile DTV Consumer Showcase began May 3, 2010 and lasted all summer. Nine stations planned to distribute 20 programs, including local and network shows as well as cable programs, to Samsung Moment phones. Dell Netbooks and Valups Tivits also received programming.[30] On September 23, 2010, Media General began its first MDTV service at WCMH-TV in Columbus, Ohio and had plans to do the same a month later at WFLA-TV in the Tampa Bay, Florida area and five to seven more stations in its portfolio.[31] On November 19, 2010, a joint venture of 12 major broadcasters, known as the Mobile Content Venture, announced plans to upgrade TV stations in 20 markets representing 40 percent of the United States population to deliver live video to portable devices by the end of 2011.[32] Brian Lawlor, a Scripps TV senior vice president, said that, in September 2011, Scripps stations would offer an app allowing people with an iPhone or iPad to see emergency information (e.g. weather bulletins) in the event of a power outage.[33] In 2012, a number of stations plan to conduct tests of the Mobile Emergency Alert System (M-EAS), a system to deliver emergency information via mobile DTV.[34] In January, 2012, the MCV announced that MetroPCS would offer MCVs Dyle mobile DTV service. Samsung planned an Android phone capable of receiving this service late in 2012.[35] At the end of 2012, Dyle was in 35  markets and capable of reaching 55 percent of viewers.[36] At the NAB show in April 2012, MCV announced that 17 additional television stations will launch mobile DTV, bringing the total to 92, covering more than 55% of US homes. Included are stations in three new markets – Austin, Texas, Boston, Massachusetts, and Dayton, Ohio.[37] In September 2012, WRAL-TV announced rollout of a Mobile Emergency Alert System based around mobile digital television technology.[38] A process called Syncbak uses cell phones rather than TV spectrum.[39] References [1] [2] [3] [4] Looking for TV Genius? | Red Bee Media (http:/ / www. tvgenius. net/ blog/ 2011/ 01/ 31/ 4-ways-smartphones-save-tv/ ) Clives achievements (http:/ / www. sinclair-research. co. uk/ about-srl. php) Sinclair Research Video and TV gear (http:/ / www. retrothing. com/ video_tv/ index. html), Retrothing.com NYTimes.com via Yahoo! Finance: Mobile TV Spreading in Europe and to the U.S. (http:/ / biz. yahoo. com/ nytimes/ 080506/ 1194771946810. html?. v=18), May 6, 2008 [5] 3G UK: The service is based on the Golden Dynamic Enterprises Ltd. (http:/ / www. 3g. co. uk/ PR/ March2006/ 2732. htm)s VOIR Portal (http:/ / findarticles. com/ p/ articles/ mi_m0EIN/ is_2006_Dec_4/ ai_n16881105) and follows the 3GPP standard 3G-324 M. The same service is also deployed to Philippines in 2007. [6] ZDnet: BT ditches mobile TV service (http:/ / news. zdnet. co. uk/ communications/ 0,1000000085,39288247,00. htm), 26 July 2007 [7] Broadband TV news: MFD hands back German T-DMB licence (http:/ / www. broadbandtvnews. com/ ?p=4682), May 1, 2008 [8] The Register: DVB-H rockets ahead in Italy (http:/ / www. theregister. co. uk/ 2006/ 07/ 28/ dvbh_success_in_italy/ ), 28 July 2006 [9] OMVC announces sizable growth in number of MDTV stations at CES | RF content from Broadcast Engineering (http:/ / broadcastengineering. com/ RF/ OMVC-mobile-DTV-presence-announces-growth-CES-01192012/ index. html) [10] Thompson, Mark (2010-06-03). mobile tv cell phone networks: (http:/ / mobitv. com/ technology/ managed-service-platform). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2010-06-03. [11] Dickson, Glen (2007-04-14). NAB: Mobile DTV Hits the Strip (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 108538-NAB_Mobile_DTV_Hits_the_Strip. php). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2009-07-21. [12] Dickson, Glen (2009-01-11). CES: Broadcasters Mobile DTV Moment (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 161893-CES_Broadcasters_Mobile_DTV_Moment. php?rssid=20102 q=broadcasters+ mobile+ dtv+ moment). Broad casting Cable. . Retrieved 2009-12-03. [13] Dickson, Glen (2009-04-20). NAB 2009: Broadcasters Set Mobile DTV Test Markets (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 209447-NAB_2009_Broadcasters_Set_Mobile_DTV_Test_Markets. php?rssid=20068 q=broadcasters+ set+ mobile+ dtv+ test+ markets). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2009-12-17. [14] Dickson, Glen (2009-06-29). ION Broadcasts Mobile DTV in N.Y., D.C.: Hails Its Digital TV Triple Play (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 307120-ION_Broadcasts_Mobile_DTV_in_N_Y_D_C_. php?rssid=20068 q=digital+ tv). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2009-07-02. [15] Dickson, Glen (2009-07-06). ATSC-M/H voted to proposed standard status (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 307463-Mobile_DTV_is_Almost_Official. php?rssid=20065 q=digital+ tv). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2009-07-08. [16] Dickson, Glen (2009-10-16). Mobile DTV Standard Approved (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 358341-Mobile_DTV_Standard_Approved. php?rssid=20292 q=digital+ tv). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2009-10-16. [17] Dickson, Glen (2009-12-16). ATSC Launches Certification Program For Mobile DTV (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 440764-ATSC_Launches_Certifica tion_Program_For_Mobile_DTV. php?rssid=20102 q=digital+ tv). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2009-12-17. [18] Dickson, Glen (2009-07-13). Special Report: Mobile DTV Heats Up (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 314792-Special_Report_Mobile_DTV_Heats_Up. php). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2009-07-15. [19] Dickson, Glen (2009-07-22). ION, OMVC Organize DTV Showcase in D.C. (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 316065-ION_OMVC_Organize_DTV_Showcase_in_D_C_. php?rssid=20068 q=digital+ tv). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2009-07-22. [20] Eggerton, John (2009-08-07). LIN TV Develops Blackberry App For Mobile TV Service (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 326796-LIN_TV_Develops_Blackberry_App_For_Mobile_TV_Service. php?q=digital+ tv). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2009-08-11. [21] Eggerton, John (2009-10-16). OMVC Does Mobile DTV Tour (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 358415-OMVC_Does_Mobile_DTV_Tour. php?rssid=20103 q=digital+ tv). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2009-10-23. [22] Dickson, Glen (2009-12-18). WTVE Tests SFN For Mobile DTV (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 441031-WTVE_Tests_SFN_For_Mobile_DTV. php?rssid=20065 q=digital+ tv). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2010-01-13. [23] Jessell, Harry A. (2009-09-24). Digital VHF Needs A Power Boost (http:/ / www. tvnewscheck. com/ articles/ 2009/ 09/ 24/ daily. 2/ ). TVNewsCheck. . Retrieved 2009-10-15. [24] Gilroy, Amy (2009-11-09). First Mobile DTV Car Tuner At $499 (http:/ / www. twice. com/ article/ 388144-First_Mobile_DTV_Car_Tuner_At_499. php/ ). TWICE. . Retrieved 2009-11-10. [25] Dickson, Glen (2009-12-02). Mobile DTV Picks Up Speed (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 394993-Mobile_DTV_Picks_Up_Speed. php?rssid=20068 q=digital+ tv). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2009-12-03. [26] Eggerton, John (2009-12-01). Murdoch Says Mobile TV Is Key to Future (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 391233-Murdoch_Says_Mobile_TV_Is_Key_to_Future. php?rssid=20070 q=digital+ tv). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2009-12-03. [27] Dickson, Glen (2010-01-07). CES 2010: Broadcasters Tout Mobile DTV Progress (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 442953-CES_2010_Broadcasters_Tout_Mobile_DTV_Progress. php?rssid=20068 q=digital+ tv). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2010-01-13. [28] Dickson, Glen (2010-01-09). NAB Shows Off New Spectrum Applications (http:/ / www. broadcastingcable. com/ article/ 443352-NAB_Shows_Off_New_Spectrum_Applications. php?rssid=20068 q=digital+ tv). Broadcasting Cable. . Retrieved 2010-01-13.

Factors that cause effects on the airline industry

Factors that cause effects on the airline industry Introduction: Airlines overcome substantial strategic, financial and operational risks. In particular, the market changes in general economic conditions have influenced considerably the airline industry. Carriers have suffered losses of $50bn over the past 10 years  [1]  is the most specific evidence. Thus, this paper studies changes in four major fields confronting the airline industry including market forces, financial risks, government policies and global events as well. Simultaneously, this study illustrates different revenues to be derived from these points. Structure of this paper seeks to contribute in this way. After introduction, section 2 provides a theoretical analysis of market forces. Section 3, 4 and 5 describe the effect of financial risks, global event and government policies respectively. Finally, section 6 concludes the study. Analysis Market forces: First at all, the global airline industry faced intense impact as a result of the market forces of supply and demand. In fact, the change in demand is one of the most important factors which affected to the airline industry. The initial variable that can shift demand curve is income. In other words, if the passengers have the high income, obviously they will be able to get the tickets more in replacement of choosing car, train, etc. As a result, their demand to go by plane will definitely rise. However, over past 10 years, due to the global economic crisis, income has been decreased substantially which brings in the decline in demand of customers. This is illustrated by the Figure 1 below. Figure 1: Decline in demand Similarly, the wage of employees in the airlines industry has been varied considerably in the recent years. For instance, approximately 78% of employees at San Francisco Airport made under $10 per hour but this amount increased of 33% when there was a higher living wage ordinance  [2]  . All things said, the airline industry has been influenced frankly by incomes of their passengers and their own employees wages. In term of supply, input price is the essential variable to shift the supply curve. Indeed, fuel price is one of clear example. Because jet fuel costs comprise a significant component of airline operating cost, the airline industry also has been affected. While short term cash flows are related to changes in the fuel price which make revenue be slow initially, much of the price effects are likely to be passed on as all airlines face similar fuel costs in the long term. Indeed, there was an argument that airlines also face an underinvestment problem whenever profitable investment opportunities arise during times of high jet fuel costs.  [3]  About technology, due to the stronger development of technological system, the supply of world airline industry also rises. As a result, there are a huge number of both new and old airlines can provide the demand of customers. In term of competitors, if an airline sets up the higher price, they will obviously loss a large number of passengers at the same time which results in a lower revenue. The specific example is the differences in percentage of passenger seats sold (load factor) of 9 U.S airlines including Delta, American, United, Continental, US Airways, Southwest, Alaska, Jet Blue and Air Tran since they are competitors of each other. This following figure 2  [4]  describes this Figure 2: The rest variables also play an important role which affect to the demand curve of airline industry including tastes, expectation, technology and number of buyers or sellers but the most necessary factors are still the first two variables. Elasticity of demand is also the essential factor that influenced the airline industry. Indeed, competition consistently affects the price of airline tickets because it gives customers other options. When the demand is elastic, price and total revenue will be negative and when the demand is inelastic, price and total revenue will be positive. And this explains why the loss and earnings of world airline industry vary substantially. Hence, the table 1  [5]  below shows the annual loss and earnings of airline industry from 1990 to 2005 and figure 3 describes the annual net profit of the world airline industry  [6]  . Annual Loss and Earnings 1990 $   3.9 billion loss 1991 $   1.9 billion loss 1992 $   4.8 billion loss 1993 $   2.1 billion loss 1994 $   0.3 billion loss 1995 $   2.3 billion profit 1996 $   2.8 billion profit 1997 $   5.2 billion profit 1998 $   4.9 billion profit 1999 $   5.4 billion profit 2000 $   2.5 billion profit 2001 $   8.3 billion loss 2002 $11.0 billion loss 2003 $   2.4 billion loss 2004 $   7.6 billion loss 2005 $   5.7 billion loss Figure 3: Annual Loss and Earnings Figure 4: Financial risks: There are three factors that cause financial problem for airline industry: fuel price, interest rate, currency rate. Fuel price: In general, fuel price always plays an important role in the world economy. That is the reason why either increasing or decreasing of fuel price affect deeply on airline industry. It is easy to see that fuel and airline are complements. Airline cannot operate without the existing of fuel. Gasoline, oil, or other products from crude oil are utilized as irreplaceable fuel in airline industry. According to the theory, complements are two goods for which an increase in the price of one leads to a decrease in the demand for the other  [7]  . A change in price of fuel will shift the demand curve. In the other hand, assume that fuel is input and airline transportation is output. Rising in input price leads to a leftward shift the supply curve. The following diagram describes how fuel price causes a change in both demand and supply. Figure 5: Changes in both Demand and Supply Based on the diagram, when price of fuel increases from P1 to P2, the quantity demanded and quantity supplied decreased an amount computed by (Q1 Q2). As the result, both demand curve and supply curve shift to the left. Airline market reaches a new equilibrium E2. Applying those theories into the reality, the annual report 2009 of IATA stated that the surge in fuel prices in the first half of 2008 meant fuel represented more than 50% of many airlines operating costs  [8]  . By year-end 2009, crude oil prices had risen 85%, to $74 a barrel, as economic recovery began to raise demand and as futures markets, anticipating strengthening economic recovery, added to upward pressures  [9]  . Figure 6: Fuel price throughout the year, 2010  [10]   Higher jet fuel prices automatically eat into airlines profits; meanwhile improved economic conditions are boosting passenger numbers. For instances, in 2004, many nations including British Airways, had already added fuel surcharges to ticket prices or raised fares to counter higher fuel costs. Many of Asias major carriers, including Singapore Airlines, Australias Qantas, Malaysia Airlines and Indonesias Garuda had also introduced surcharges  [11]  . Fuel price cannot remain a stable status for a long run period then airline industry should be flexible to react quickly. Interest rate: Interest rate is other factor that effect on market economy in general and airline industry in particular. The interest rate connects the price of goods today and their price in the future. Higher interest rate increase expected cost of distress and this is particularly so for the airline industry where leverage is high and distress costs are substantial. Exchange rate: Exchange rate risk is important as airline profitability is related to currency values. Tourism demand is one of reasons that show how exchange rate cause changes of airline industry. Both inbound and outbound are influenced by exchange rate levels. When the exchange rate is high, tourist will receive benefits. The result is they are willing to travel more, thus, quantity demanded of airline tickets will be increased. In contrast, the depreciation of domestic currencies make tourists consider whether they should travel or not. Travelling in recessive period is a typically example. If the exchange rate falls down, customer might save their expenditure by not travelling or they might wait for promotion tickets. It means that foreign demand for international and domestic flights move inversely with the value of the home currency  [12]  . Global events The airline industry in the world has many changes every year. The more global event has happened, the more the affection has an effect on the airline industry. In 2001, after the terrorization 11/9 happened, the industry of airline decreased very quickly. Follow the number of airline industry, US airline posted they have net loss $7 billion. 20% staffs and employee lay off by US airline. The number of passenger reduce continuous and have criterion recovered in 2003  [13]   Figure 7: US Airline industry passenger revenues 1999 2004 Beside, the price of oil have effected on this industry. When the price of oil increase, the fees for material grow up .If the airline do not rise up the price of ticket, they will decrease their net profit. If the price of oil falls off, there are more than promotion tickets for passengers. Moreover, the disease can be affected to the industry .Example, when the SARS disease happened, many countries have not allowed passengers to come to place where SARS disease has. Government policies The government policy is another factor what can be effect on the airline industry. Because the government policy control on price, so the airline industry have 2 legal price such as price ceiling and price floor .The price ceiling is a legal maximum on the price at which a good can be sold  [14]  . For example, a airline has good quality, so they want increase fees. The price ceiling applied to fees to help people can be paid. When the airline wants to attracted passenger, they create promotions about the price their ticket. So the price floor is the price minimum at which ticket can be sold and the company airline still has net profit. P Surplus S E D 0 Q Figure 8: Taxes is a important factor of the government policy .When the taxes of the passenger increase ,the price of ticket rise up , so if the airline industry want to grow up, they need decrease another fees in ticket. When the taxes of the airline industry increase, the price of ticket will increase or the industry will cut off something to protect their profit. Conclusion: The above analysis showed that factors like market forces, financial risks, global events and government policies cause effects on airline industry. In order to overcome and continue develop own airlines, carriers should seek a suitable way. In details, by successfully managing opportunity cost, and adapting to an ever changing economic environment, airline industries can have economic success. However, the well-being of the nations economy will have a direct impact on the level of success experienced in the airline industry. During economic shortfalls in the nations economy, travellers will have fewer resources available to travel for pleasure. Contributing to the negative economic influences in the airline industry, future and existing policies targeting the airline industry will continue to hinder the industrys ability to recover losses in periods of economic hardships.

Feminist Readings of Weltys The Golden Apples :: Endora Welty The Golden Apples

Feminist Readings of Welty's The Golden Apples Jennifer Thomas writes in her article about a study of short fiction done by Carol Ann Johnston. The study targets feminist readings of Welty's writings and focuses primarily on female characters of her works. When discussing The Golden Apples, Thomas determines it was the 'tour de force', or exceptional achievement, in Johnston's study of Welty's collections. In Johnston's study she writes of the 'self-realized women' of The Golden Apples, using character Virgie Rainey as her example. The critical article contends that in Johnston's study, her selection of contemporary critics Daniale Pitavy-Souques and Patricia Yaeger are excellent choices to include since they had recently assessed Welty within currents of modernism and feminism. She then goes on to critique Johnston for oversimplification of the terms of the stories she is analyzing by citing an example from "June Recital": An angry old man flaps open his bathrobe, exposing himself to young girls taking their piano lessons in "June Recital," a display that provides, according to Johnston "a blatant show of phallic strength, [as] he attempts to silence the female voice."In the context of the story, however, the narrator freely voices her estimate of this "old turkey gobbler" and suggests he poses no such potent threat. Some of Johnston's most convincing readings concern Welty's identification with her characters, refuting the assumption that the heroine is the author's stand-in. By keeping her eye on the writer of "June Recital," Johnston astutely reminds us: "Welty identifies with Miss Eckhart, but she writes Virgie's story. (Thomas) I strongly agree with Johnston's statement that Welty has identification to her characters, whether intentional or not. She notes that although she believes Welty identifies with Miss Eckhart in "June Recital", she writes the story for Virgie. Consistently in her stories in The Golden Apples, she writes of sheltered individuals within a close community. Johnston addresses only the identification Welty has to her characters, instead of digging deeper into relational issues. I find it fascinating that in The Golden Apples, Welty paints a picture of Miss Eckhart's life as being ideal, free to follow her own passion and art, which in Miss Eckhart's case was her piano teaching, or in Welty's life, her photography and even her writing. And at the same time, Miss Eckhart has failed relationships and an overall lonely sense about her.

No Child Left Behind

The government’s legislative body has made a number of programs aimed to deal with education problems without knowing the impact of these programs to the local needs. Every child and parent is greatly affected with the quality of education being given in public schools. The No Child Left Behind Act (2001), generally acknowledged as NCLB, is a United States federal law signed by President Bush on January 8, 2002 reauthorizing several federal programs endeavoring to advance the performance of American primary and secondary schools through escalating principles of accountability for school districts and states as well as offering parents supplementary flexibility in preferring which schools their children will go to (U.S. Department of Education, 2003). Its main objective is improving the standard of education for all schools in America. The three key provisions of the act are: annual reading and math assessment of students in grades 3 to 8; awareness of parents, teachers, administrators and students regarding the test results, including the quality of the education provided by the school and the qualifications of teachers; and putting or assigning students according to categories such as economic status, sex, and learning ability to determine the school capacity to cope with the needs of learners. (The White House, 2007). NCLB has four important goals: †¢Ã‚   Increase accountability for student performance Each state must have standards in math, reading, and science, annual testing for all students in grades 3-8, and adequate yearly progress (AYP) objectives for all student subgroups. Successful schools will be rewarded; continually failing schools will eventually be restructured. †¢Ã‚   More choices for parents and students Students attending schools identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring must be offered a transfer to a better public school and/or supplemental academic services. †¢Ã‚   Greater flexibility for states, school districts, and schools This pertains mostly to streamlining federal funding, including grants. †¢Ã‚   Putting reading first More money will be available for scientifically based reading instruction programs (phonics) so that all children will read by third grade. Competitive grants are available through the Reading First Initiative and Early Reading First program. Overview and Purpose The USCO or Unsafe School Choice Option (Elementary and Secondary Education Act, section 9532) of 1965, as improved by the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act, states that each State getting finances under the ESEA should employ and create a state-wide rule obliging that students who are enrolled in a continually unsafe public elementary or secondary school, or learners who happen to be victims of a violent illegal offense while in or on the public school premises that they attend, be permitted to attend a safe public school (Department of Education United States of America, 2004).   Each State in America should write a letter to the Secretary confirming that the State has complied with the requirements, as a condition of obtaining funds from ESEA. Local and school board policy/rules Policy is a very important role of the school board in our education system. Like the city coucils, state legislatures and Congress, school boards created the structure and direction of their schools by implementing policies through the power granted by the state representatives. The Board of Education is dedicated in upholding a secure and drug-free location in all school districts. Policies of school boards have the same power as decrees and ordinances. They set objective, assign authorities and create rules that make school management and authority possible (Canal Winchester Local School District Bylaws & Policies, 2007). Policies and Guidelines of School Boards are checked as it deals with the 2001 No Child Left behind Policy. School Board Policies should include: safety measures at school and while learners are on the way to and from school, suitable and effective school regulations that forbid the illegal custody of weapons, unruly behavior and the illegal distribution, use and possession, and trade of drugs, tobacco and alcohol by students; prevention actions designed to keep the environment safe and drug-free; and a system policy for all students that affirms the tasks of administrators, instructors and students in preserving a safe classroom environment (Canal Winchester Local School District Bylaws & Policies, 2007). NCLB is the most recent federal legislation ratifying theories of standards-based schooling restructuring, previously acknowledged as outcome-based education that is derived from the principle that high prospect and setting of objectives will bring about achievement for students (U.S. Department of Education, 2003). The act requires that schools allocate the name, address and home phone number of all students enrolled to armed forces recruiters. The district will use the school choice option as one response to incidents of victimization.   Additionally, the district will develop and implement appropriate strategies for addressing the circumstances that contribute to or support victimization, as well as consistently and proactively manage individuals who have victimized pupils.   The district will promote the importance of school safety and respond to the needs of pupils and staff.   Pursuant to the law, the district will provide an opportunity for pupils, parents and school district and law enforcement personnel to discuss methods for keeping schools safe from violence; to create school safety plans; and to recognize pupils in need of help. The district will organize activities to prevent school violence, including, but not limited to, age-appropriate opportunities for pupil discussion on conflict resolution, issues of pupil diversity and tolerance.   Law enforcement personnel will be invited to join members of the teaching staff in the discussions.   Programs shall also be provided for school district employees that are designated to help school district employees recognize warning signs of school violence and to instruct school district employees on recommended conduct during an incident of school violence. Each State Educational Agency or SEA must increase objective standards to apply in classifying persistently dangerous schools, which are merely not influenced by assumption, emotion, and impartiality.   Such standards should include areas that parents would consider in deciding on a level of safety for the school, and the number of violent offenses. Objective information that could be used as objective criteria consist of records that detail the number of recommendation to law enforcement group for carrying a firearm to school, physical fights or presence of gang on school premises. On the contrary, subjective data might consist of information gathered in a focus faction concerning community-wide view of safety. The gathered objective data that aid each State to identify persistently dangerous schools will have to be attributable to individual school locations and must be both reliable and convincing (Department of Education United States of America, 2004). The objective of the statute is to avoid unnecessary hindrance to student’s learning and to promote a better safety and security for the children. Elementary teachers have to pass state tests indicative of their subject familiarity and teaching proficiency in writing, reading/language arts, mathematics and further subjects of basic elementary school syllabus.   The teachers of middle grades and high school have to pass state examinations in all academic subject categories they teach, along with an undergraduate major, graduate degree, coursework corresponding to undergraduate major or higher qualifications. Teachers are not new to the occupation must have a bachelor’s degree and should pass state test indicating teaching skills and subject knowledge. These credentials have caused some dispute and complexity in implementation particularly for the special education teachers and teachers in rural schools who are commonly requested to instruct various subjects and grade levels (U.S. Department of Education, 2003). Schools acknowledged as needing enhancement are requisite to give students with possibility to make use of public school selection no later than the start of school year following their credentials for school enhancement. NCLB sanctioned (and Congress has consequently appropriated) a considerable boost in financial support for Title I aid, to give subsidy for school districts to put the law’s parental option requirements into practice. Advocates of the Act state the legislation offers parents better educational options for their children, supports accountability within public schools, and helps close the accomplishment gap between white students as well as the minority. The NCLB aims to demonstrate achievement en route for these goals through federally directive standardized assessment therefore, this Act should extend to levels of learning (The White House, 2007). Opinios and Views In summary, I support No Child Left Behind because it gives importance on methods and instruction that have been confirmed to work. Making billion-dollar investments yearly, this policy ensures children on their third grade, learn how to read. Since the law’s reaction if the school fails to make sufficient development is not simply to offer further aid for students, but to entail as well disciplinary measures on the school, the encouragements are to place expectations lesser than higher and to augment separation by race and class and thrust low-performing learners out of school in general. References Canal Winchester Local School District Bylaws & Policies (2007). School Safety. Retrieved August 31, 2007, from http://www.neola.com/canalwinchester-oh/search/policies/po8400.htm Department of Education United States of America (2004). Unsafe School Choice Option. Retrieved July 18, 2007, from http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/unsafeschoolchoice.doc NCELA (2006). Montana and No Child Left Behind. Retrieved July 18, 2007, from http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/policy/states/montana/04_nclb.htm The White House (2007).  Ã‚  Ã‚   Foreword by President George W. Bush. Retrieved July 18, 2007, From http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/reports/1 U.S. Department of Education (2003). No Child Left Behind A Parent’s Guide. Retrieved July 18 2007, from http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/involve/nclbguide/parentsguide.pdf    No Child Left Behind The school has failed the â€Å"No Child Left Behind† requirements for the past 2 years. In order to change the situation, the strategy of appreciative inquiry was implemented. Owing to this step, all of the school’s employees got a new vision of what cultural activities children really need. The concentration of past successful experiences instead of problems was very useful to achieve present success. Since the school has failed the â€Å"No Child Left Behind† requirements for the past 2 years, it requires an efficient change strategy in order to achieve positive results in future. The strategy of the appreciative inquiry is the most efficient in culture change in the public school. The strategy consists in making investigations of all the cultural activities which have been successful in this school during the last couple of years, identifying their positive influence on children, and looking for ways to repeat the previous success through the series of new cultural activities. The strategy of appreciative inquiry is the only strategy which would be efficient in such a case. Traditional change management activities are not going to help because they focus on the problem. In order to make a radical culture change in this school, it’s necessary not to focus on the problem but to investigate pervious positive experience in order to inspire the members of the team. The strategy of appreciative inquiry is applicable in this case because it â€Å"takes a different approach by focusing on what works in an organization and creating a series of statements that describe where the organization wants to be, based on the high points of where they have been. Because these statements are grounded in real experience, people know how to repeat the success and thus have a greater energy to make more moments of success than when presented with a nebulous vision of the future.† (Geof Cox, 1998, p.1) In order to achieve maximum success, the team has include school teachers of all levels, school’s principal. The project has to begin with making all of the teachers in the team remember all kinds of cultural events which took place at school and were enjoyed by students. During this meeting, all of the children’s needs have to be identified through the prism of the results of previous activities which they were engaged in. In the research process the following activities would be identified as the most interesting for children: acting in plays, participating in poetry and music contests, taking part in sports competitions. All of these activities had a great success among kids in the previous years, therefore the success of them in future can be predicted easily. f) The intervention of the new vision would have to last for about 2 months during which all of the mentioned activities had to take place. Many teachers were involved in the process of preparing the activities for children, and their current vision would adapt to the new one in the period of around 2 months. g) The results of appreciative inquiry strategy could be seen in the next half a year because all the teachers got a new vision of their role in the school- not only as people who have to bring knowledge to kids about different subjects, but also as leaders of different cultural activities in which kids could apply all of their talents and abilities. The chosen strategy has turned out very successful, and brought positive results. The strategy of appreciative inquiry is very efficient in such a case because â€Å"by focusing on the successful examples in the past and present, we build a picture of the themes and ideas that we know we can do, and that work. We develop an individual and collective mindset of what we are capable of that is grounded in reality.† (Geof Cox, 1998, p.2) The main implications which could occur in the strategy implementation consist in some teachers’ resistance to change and their little desire to participate in the change process. However, by making them realize the positive influence of the strategy on the cultural life at school, this resistance could be brought to the minimum. The strategy of appreciative inquiry has turned out very efficient in making the school fit into the requirements of the â€Å"No Child Left Behind† vision because owing to it, all of the school’s employees got a new vision of what cultural activities children really need. The concentration of past successful experiences instead of problems was very useful to achieve present success.                                              Bibliography. Geof Cox. Appreciative inquiry. Edinburgh, Scotland., 1998. www.aradford.co.uk      

Learning Team Deliverable Week 4 Essay

TA-4D) Recessions seem to show up every so often and create economic hardship. One might think that macroeconomic policymakers could tame the business cycle and implement policies that would end recessions. Are recessions a necessary fact of macroeconomic life? If not, what would it take to eliminate them? If they are unavoidable, what types of business can benefit from them? How would a recession affect your firm? Economists identify business fluctuations in the economy by measuring the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) output. This fluctuation of output is called the business cycle. McConnell (2009) states, â€Å"Many economist prefer to talk of business fluctuations rather than cycles because cycles imply regularity while fluctuations do not (p. 984). The business cycle is distinguished by four phases: Peak, Recession, Trough, and Expansion, always starting with the peak (McConnell, 2009). The motion of the business cycle propels with alternating rises and declines in the level of economic activity with each portion varying on duration and intensity. At the peak of the cycle, business activity has reached a temporary maximum. Here the economy is at full employment and the real output is close to the economy’s capacity. With a price level rise during this phase, either resources or consumers will eventually dwindle causing a decrease in output. A decline in total output, income, and employment of the business cycle is called the recession period (McConnell, 2009). During a recession the GDP will decrease, manifesting a notable increase in unemployment which leads to economic hardships in many sectors of the economy. A macroeconomic policymaker could try to keep business activity at an equilibrium by reinforcing a policy framework for businesses to abide by. Examples to the policy framework could include pricing rules, along with having resources available to companies for production. Whatever the details of this policy framework, one still must consider that an expansion leads to recession, and vice versa. It is evitable. So yes, recessions are a necessary fact of macroeconomic life. Consider a farmer with crops in his field and his inability to stop a storm that wipes out his crop, or a business executive with the best business plan who is vulnerable to the fluctuations of the stock market. These examples reinforce that recessions are a necessary fact of macroeconomic life and they are unavoidable. The types of businesses that could benefit from a recession are companies providing nondurable goods or business with a combination of both durable and nondurable goods with the ability to bridge the output until the recession moves back into motion with an expansion. Consumers cannot postpone the buying of nondurables such as food; therefore recessions only slightly reduce nondurable output. The last recession hurt the high end retail optical business moderately because they carry such an expensive product to begin with sales dropped dramatically until people were comfortable with the economic situation again. Our company had to compensate for this decline by laying off over half of the corporate staff, between the periods of October of 2008 through April of 2009. We now operate with half the amount of employees and even though the economy has started to come back the company will not hire any new staff. Other ways the company compensated was forgoing any rate increases for everyone until 2010. Recessions definitely hurt companies that sell durable goods; however, it also forces companies to look how to trim the business and cut costs during the time of a recession. (TA-4C) Deflation has serious economic effects; deflation is the falling of prices, according to National Center for Policy Analysis, 2001) deflation can increase interest rates so the market rate minus the change in price. For example, if the prices fall six percent per year and the nominal interest rate is four percent, the real interest rate will calculate at ten percent. According to National Center for Policy Analysis, 2001) â€Å"Deflation is negative price inflation or a simultaneous fall in a broad range of prices for goods and services†. Deflation will raise current wages and can lead to major layoffs as employers try to reduce costs. Many organizations will need to reduce labor coast and because it is the quickest way to free cash flow layoffs will be the first to be considered. Deflation will also influence consumer spending because people become more conscious when spending creating a decrease in sales for businesses. One comely used method for reducing deflation is influencing the interest rates. The Federal Reserve influences interest rates to help cause the supply of money to change and create movement. When the supply of money changes it reduces major drops in inflation and deflation (Bernanke, 2002). Deflation can affect numerous businesses, for example Citicorp, although Citicorp is a large financial institution, a large number of the company’s employees are employed in the call centers. The call centers provide customer service for credit cards. With deflation people are more conscious with spending and are more focused on paying down debt, without the consumer spending on his or her credit cards Citicorp is forced to reduce customer service jobs. References Harvey, J. (2011). Why do recessions happen? A practical guide to the business cycle. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/johntharvey/2011/04/18/why-do-recessions-happen-a- practical-guide-to-the-business-cycle/ on October 18, 2013. McConnell, C. (2009). Economics, principles, problems, and policies (18th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Company. National Center for Policy Analysis. (2001). Economic Problems of Deflation. Retrieved from http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=7473 on October 20, 2013. Bernanke, G. B. S. (2002). Deflation: Making Sure â€Å"It† Doesn’t Happen Here. The Federal Reserve Board. Retrieved from http://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/2002/20021121/default.htm on October 20, 2013.