Brennaz

I have chosen to investigate the question Which of the qualities shown by an entrepreneur has most contributed to the success of their business? An entrepreneur Is a person who sets up a business, taking on financial risks In the hope of profit. Entrepreneurs need a lot of qualities In order to succeed In a business. An entrepreneur needs to be determined, persuasive, he also needs to use his Annihilative, be a good leader, a good decision maker and a good risk taker. I chose to use ‘manmade newsagents' as the business I wanted to investigate. Manmade Newsagents is a successful corner shop in Compton, Plymouth.They make money through a variety of ways such as selling food and drink, but the main way they make money Is by selling newspapers. They hire 30 paper boys at a time, who Individually deliver an average of 45 papers every morning. The owner of this shop is Graham Lam, a willing worker who is always happy to lend a helping hand and to make quick decisions, the workers at the shop say he is always happy and keeps the mood upbeat by making cups of tea often for the workers and allowing workers to have free food from the shop on certain occasions such as birthdays.The different entrepreneurial skills a business owner such as Graham needs are as listed: Determination – http://tolerance. Reference. Com/browse/determination Leadership – http://hob. Org/2004/01/watchmakers-leader/AR/1 Risk Taker An individual or business that tends to behave in a way that can potentially cause physical harm or financial loss, but might also present an opportunity for a rewarding outcome. Most business types that thrive on innovation will encourage a risk taker mentality among management to help support the creative process in other staff members.Source: http://www. Objectifications. Com/definition/risk-taker. HTML) Graham Lam used great leadership skills in order to succeed in his business. He did this by motivating staff on a regular basis, often offering a free compliment to those workers who he felt had impressed him over the course of the week, this seemed to work so he carried on doing It. The commitment and enthusiasm of a business leader shapes the common goals of the organization which provides inspiration and motivation for people to perform at a high level.When I asked his kills; 87% said yes and the other 13% said it didn't help them at all. To succeed with a business you must be a good leader, this keeps the people working for you organized and in order. A good leader is one Who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way Noon C. Maxwell). In a competitive business environment, effective leadership is an essential requirement in order to achieve organizational goals. To do this, leaders must be able to provide inspiration, motivation and clear direction to their team.

Coupon Accounting Abuse Essay

The incentive, opportunity, and rationalization to commit fraud have plagued business organizations for many years. There are numerous ways that managers and employees can commit fraud. This makes it a necessity for businesses to have quality internal controls that help prevent fraudulent activity. However, even with the best set of controls businesses are still susceptible of fraud. This paper will concentrate on the case study concerning coupon accounting abuse and will answer questions pertaining to company controls, ways to prevent coupon abuse, parties who may be harmed, and the type of fraud presented in the case. Coupon Accounting Abuse Question 1: Discuss whether the situation described can happen to a company with a good control environment. It is imperative for a company to have good accounting internal controls. A company that has a good control environment will help deter fraud, but these controls can only provide a company with reasonable assurance. In this situation the brand manager is committing the fraud. This would make it very hard even for a company with good controls to detect fraud. In what is known as management override, managers can simply circumvent a company’s internal controls. Question 2: Describe any steps a company could take to prevent such abuse. There are many steps that a company can take to prevent fraud abuse. A company should implement a strong code of ethics policy. Every manager and employee should be trained and very aware of the policy. This will help in maintaining the integrity of the workforce. There should be a strong screening process that includes background checks to help ensure the company is hiring honest employees. There should also be a segregation of duties. In this case the brand manager has complete control over estimating the coupon liability. This estimate should be approved by another manager at the company. The company should inform independent and internal auditors of the significance that coupons can have on the company’s financial statements. A risk management group should be established whose task is to facilitate and co-ordinate the overall risk management process. Depending on the size and nature of the organization, the risk management group may be in the form of a committee who meet from time to time (CIMA, 2009). Question 3: List those parties who might be harmed by this situation. Fraud is often mistakenly considered a victimless crime. However, fraud can have considerable social and psychological effects on individuals, businesses and society (CIMA, 2009). In this situation the brand manager is harming multiple parties. When the manager replaces the 4% estimated redemption rate with 2% he is increasing revenue making the company look more profitable than it really was. This is misleading to managers and shareholders who are reading the financial statements. It could be detrimental to the business if managers think a brand is doing better than it really is. The shareholder will also be impacted in the coming year because of the added liability expenses. The brand manager is putting himself at risk to be harmed because if he is caught his job will be terminated and he will be prosecuted. Question 4: Do you consider this example to be management fraud or employee fraud? I consider this to be management fraud. Management fraud often involves senior or high level management’s intentional misrepresentation of financial statements, theft or improper use of accompany resources. Employee fraud involves a non-senior employee theft or improper use of company resources (Gottlieb, 2011). The fraud that was committed was by the brand manager who developed a myopic view and knew that he would be managing another brand in the next year. This situation is becoming increasingly common in the workplace. In order to combat fraud and white collar crime in businesses, a concerted effort must be exerted by the management of the business, the external auditors, and by all employees of the business. Everyone must realize that fraud is not a victimless crime. The cost of fraud and theft are shared by all through higher costs and lower corporate profits. Through adequate internal controls by management, better working environments for employees, more stringent requirements for external auditors, and codes of ethics for employees, everyone can start to combat frauds and defalcations within corporate America (Farrell, Franco, 1999).

Real Estate Management in Guildford Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Real Estate Management in Guildford - Essay Example (i) A development appraisal to predict developer’s profit for the completed scheme. Your appraisal should be prepared both in a conventional format and by using a spreadsheet. Briefly comment on the accuracy of both methods. (30 marks) (ii) Returns for developer and fund if the scheme is funded long term by (a) Profit erosion with priority yield (b) commercial mortgage and (c) forward sale. Comment on the advantages and disadvantages of each method for developer and fund. (30 marks) Realizing the lucrative earning potentiality of the clustered land and building at in Guildford B1 zone with a high commercial value of properties it is worth to invest for double fold profit with minimum risk factors. It has been observed that a mere investment of GBP 10, 000, 000 straightway get a yield of 62, 203,68 while having the face value of the property integral. A real estate appraisal is a service performed by a licensed appraiser, who develops an opinion of value based upon the highest and best use of real property estimated the price that may go in multiple of ten in next two years. The highest and best use by our recent client after an innovative beautification produces the highest value for the land. This use is based on four parts; physically possible to acquire through our installment facility, appropriate estimation without any hidden cost, legally free from any incumbent, and economically feasible. Also of importance is the definition of the type of value being developed having its high market value and quick sale value. It is important to distinguish between Market Value and price of the property in Guildford highly commercial zone of the residential site. Market value is its fluid concept, ever-changing into ascending order, while the price is a historical fact at the time of a transaction while acquiring the land.  

Popular Culture in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Popular Culture in America - Essay Example Swann (2012) states that Cultural value of The Godfather trilogy begins in its depiction of the American Dream and effectively American culture. James Truslow Adams illustrates the American Dream in his book, Epic of America, as a â€Å"Vision and fantasy of a land-living in which lifecycle should be improved and more well-off and filled for all nobleman, with opportunities and chances for everyone according to their ability, skills or achievement† (Swann, 2012).The Godfather was based in the late 1940's in New York City. The story was concerning the Corleone family, which was headed by Vito Corleone. He had four sons, older son named Santino, also known as Sunny. After that son was Fredo and the youngest son was Michael which was in the military at the beginning of the movie and afterward stepped up to be the head of the family business (Swann, 2012). Lastly, there was the adopted son Tom.Vito too had a daughter, Connie who went during the pain of the family business and she was not even concerned in it.According to Cuizon, (2008) The Godfather was a sort of confusing, yet extremely entertaining movie in which the godfather, who was Vito Corleone, listens to needs and requests from other people. Sollozo propels some of his people to kill the godfather, and after he was shot, it was not identified whether he was alive or dead. Sonny, the eldest son in the Corleone family, go on with the family business, they send Michael to slay both Sollozo and his bodyguard. Later than he does this, Michael flee and goes to live in Sicily; and then Sonny gets slaughter, and Don Corleone go back to his home. After a few years, Michael came back to America and continues the business. And they end up by assassination of all the other Five Families; Don Corleone dies, and Michael Corleone becomes the new Godfathers. (Cuizon ,2008) 2.2: Analysis I consider this as a fantastic film; although at times I consider I was mystified, may be because of all the fresh characters, and the lengthy plot. Yet it amazed me, since it has a well-planned plot, and you can recognize the whole thing entirely well, however it doesn’t seem like it. The film was truly admired by audiences from all around the world. Each scene of this film was well designed and rich by the contextual aspects which have been waiting to be interpreted; such as the Baptism scene was able to be declared as master-piece work, and also the enormous filming work of all time. Coppola applies these exceptional aspects to generate the optional visual presentation throughout his film which not only enlighten the story but also position the thematic note, and in the same time

Applying Constructivism and Objectivism Learning Theories in the Essay

Applying Constructivism and Objectivism Learning Theories in the Design of Educational Package Software - Essay Example This essay stresses that a student with no knowledge and background of computers may find the program useless as he does not have even the basic skills. Hence for that situation introductory sessions would be required to make students acquainted with the basic computers skills. The assessment process should be such that it adds on the experience of the learners and helps them in self analysis and improvement. This paper makes a conclusion that technology on one hand has provided an effective means to learn and develop one’s skills. It requires proper introduction and facilitator, who can support the computer, based learning process. Objectivism and constructivism each has its own strengths and weaknesses and are mutually different from each other even in basic approach. Objectivism on one hand emphasizes on the realities existing in the society and focuses on the providing the same to the individuals to develop social reality and knowledge which is existing outside of learners mind. On the other hand constructivist believe that the knowledge and reality is constructed by the learners experience and do not exist outside the mind of learners. These are totally contrast approaches. But each of this approach can be useful in particular situation and conditions based on the learners learning needs. Each of the theory can be included for developing software educational program. The devel opers need to first know their target audience, their background educational requirements and objectives of the software educational program on the basis of which they can decide which

Starbucks Market and Customer Analysis Research Paper

Starbucks Market and Customer Analysis - Research Paper Example The research paper "Starbucks Market and Customer Analysis" presents the strengths and weaknesses of Starbucks’s products and services as it ventures into the new target market. One of Starbuck’s key strengths is seen to pertain to the company’s strong market position and global brand recognition. Starbucks enjoys a significant geographical presence across the world in addition to its maintaining an estimated 36.7% of the market share within the United States. The company will be able to leverage is rich brand equity by merchandising a wide range of products as well as licensing its brand logo to outlets across its new venture market of Xiamen, China. The company produces products of the highest quality. Starbucks gives the highest importance to the quality of their products as well as avoids the standardization of quality even in the face of higher production output levels. This attribute is expected to aid the company in the quick capture of a significantly large share of the Xiamen market. As a result of its numerous social responsibility initiatives, Starbucks benefits from enjoying the goodwill of all its customers across the world. Starbucks stores are designed to be community friendly and focused on the recycling and reduction of waste products. This attribute is expected to help the company attract more customers as it expands into the new market. And one of Starbucks’ key weaknesses is the fact that most of its products are generally perceived to be quite expensive.

Causes of Immigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Causes of Immigration - Essay Example Let us discuss both of these factors in some detail. The economic factor is the most considerable factor for many people who migrate or want to migrate to the developed countries. Better job opportunities, wage differences, better standard of living, and growth opportunities are some of those economic factors, which motivate a large number of people to migrate to the developed countries. Some other economic factors, which make migrate, include overpopulation, lack of jobs, and the high cost of living in their home countries. On the other hand, there also exist many economic pull factors, which make developed countries allow immigration. Some of such factors include cost-effectiveness of the immigrant labor, less number of native workers, and economic expansion. Today, people seek better employment opportunities to excel in life. If they do not find such opportunities in their home countries, they move forward to such countries where they can easily find such opportunities. The economic benefits of immigration attract many people towards developed countries. The average income of a person is generally very low in a developing country due to poor economic conditions of that country. A person finds it very difficult to fulfill all requirements of life with such level of income and plans to move to a developed country to earn more money. Second most important factor, which makes people migrate to other countries, is the presence of social networks and connections in the developed countries. Today, many people have their relatives living and working in different countries. When people see the standard of living of their relatives living in other countries, they also want to have such living standards. Therefore, they try to migrate to those countries where someone is already there to assist them in getting suitable job and housing facility.

Ken the Drunkard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ken the Drunkard - Essay Example Maggie has been married to Ken for ten years and their two kids are now eight and six years old. At the time the two met, Ken never used to drink in fact they met in a church function. Maggie had gone to pay a visit to her aunt in Brooklyn. It happened that on her first Sunday at the place, she and her cousins went to church when Ken happened to be worshipping. Ken took notice of Maggie when she and her cousins entered the church. After the church service, Ken approached Maggie and they exchanged contacts. They became friends for quite sometime and Maggie would go and visit him. As time went by, they became lovers an affair which led to their marriage five years later. By then Ken was an engineer in a certain firm where he worked for eight years and afterwards got retrenched. Consequently, he turned to drinking in trying to cope with the situation. Ken would go drinking and would go home as early as nine but on one particular night, he was late. After knocking the door for sometime a nd no one opening, he decided to sleep on the veranda. Fortunately, Ken used to snore while asleep and thus at some point, Maggie woke up and realized her husband had not come home yet. She went to the living room, turned on the lights and on looking at the watch it was three in the morning. Shortly after, she heard some sounds emerging from the door. At first, she was afraid and decided to peep through the window since the front side of the house was lit up by the security light. Surprisingly, she saw her husband lying down just at the door. She opened the door and woke him up. After waking up, Ken started shouting at Maggie telling her what a non-caring wife she was and that she refused to open the door for him despite the fact that the house was his. Maggie tried explaining to him that she did not hear his knock but he could not listen. Ken’s voice was so loud that, the kids woke up. When the kids showed up at the living room, Ken went ahead and started telling the kids ho w useless their mother was and that he was going to chase them away from his house together with their mother. There and then, Ken told Maggie that, he did not care what time it was but she and the kids should pack their things and leave the house. Maggie in response told him that neither she nor the kids were going anywhere. At that time, their voices were so loud and the kids were crying aloud which woke up their neighbours who started streaming in the compound one by one to know what the matter was. Ken kept on repeating to Maggie to leave the house before he did something crazy but Maggie could not listen. At some point, he pushed her through the front door only for her to fall on the rough surface of the veranda where she secured some knee and arm bruises. The neighbours were now increasing in number and Ken viewed it as some sort of interruption to his family affairs. What followed next was a very terrifying scene to Maggie, the kids and the neighbours. Ken who happened to be at the door of the house entered inside and came out with a gun. He started chasing everybody in the compound shouting that Maggie should leave his house and the neighbours should leave his compound. Some of the male neighbours tried their best to take hold of Ken but their efforts where all in vain since Ken was too strong and they were still afraid of the weapon. At first, Ken fired in the air to scare away the crowd. A philosopher once said that, when a person is terrified or exposed to a frightening situation or a

Building a Services Brand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Building a Services Brand - Essay Example Striking a balance between the customer-centered approach and the internal orientation towards the centrality of staff is the key to the development of a service brand. This paper attempts an overview of the available literature on services brand building and then correlates it with the opinions of leading-edge brand consultants. Literature Review: The existing models of brand building, by and large, are biased towards the goods sector with little or no relevance to the services sector. Aaker’s brand identity planning model (Aaker et al. 40), Kapferer’s hexagonal brand identity prism model (Kapferer 182) or Ind’s insistence on organization-wide commitment and employee-centric approach (Ind 24) hardly has any principles that can have useful application in services brand building. However, the four-dimensional brand asset management strategy proposed by Scott M Davis (Shay 438) and the four-step process suggested by Gregory and Sellers focus on a combination of int ernal and external factors and are therefore worth considering in the present discussion. Davis’s model includes the phases of developing a brand vision, determining the brand picture, devising a brand asset management strategy and devising a supporting culture. ... According to de Chernatony, the definition of brand image includes the three components – promise, emotional values and rational values (Schmid 1). Overall, there is a paucity of literature about building services brands and this could be because brand building, by its very nature, is dynamic. Moreover, new services are often included under the existing and established corporate brands. The need to build a corporate brand from scratch rarely arises. As for the question of who must take charge of the task of building services brands, the limitations in the traditional brand manager concept have already become obvious and category managers are replacing brand managers (Batra et al. 25). Considering the multi-faceted role of CEOs and the declining role of marketing departments (Hulbert et al. 55), it certainly is a good idea to have an exclusive executive and a cross-functional team with sole responsibility of brand building. Toffler ventured a little further and advocated user g enerated branding by way of prosumerism (Burmann et al. 75). In all this, the HRM has a crucial role to play as recruiting, training and motivating employees is as important as understanding and fulfilling customer needs (Thomson et al. 819). Kaplan and Norton too endorse the idea of internal / external balance through their ‘balanced scorecard’ (7). Ambler goes to the extent of saying that internal marketing should precede external efforts (113). What the experts say: With respect to developing service brands from scratch, the questions that precisely need to be answered are: (i) Who is involved? (ii) What are the stages that firms go through? and (iii) Which orientation is

Temporal pattern of a cell Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Temporal pattern of a cell - Essay Example The cardiac myocyte is an extremely active cell and it contracts one to three times in one second. This contractility is far greater than the contraction of the skeletal muscle. Owing to this, the cardiac myocyte requires a large amount of energy in the form of ATP. The high metabolism of the cardiac myocyte is the reason why these cells possess an extensive amount of mitochondria. Furthermore, the cardiac myocyte also cannot generate ATP without oxygen. It meets its demand of generating ATP oxidatively by utilizing different energy sources which include fatty acids, lactate and glucose (Klabunde 2005). The cardiac myocyte has the capability of altering its function of contraction as per the requirements of the human body. Its contractility varies throughout the different times of the day according to the needs of the body. Another important feature of the cardiac myocyte is that this cell does not have the capability of undergoing mitosis and the cells do not increase in number. But when there is a greater load, the cardiac myocyte undergoes the process of hypertrophy to compensate for the increased work load (Abel & Wilkins 2004; Hill & Olsen 2012; Walker & Spinale 2006). The cardiac myocyte exhibits varying functions over the 24 hour interval. During the period of sleep, the cardiac myocyte maintains decreased contraction and the metabolic needs of the cardiac myocytes are also low. This is owing to the fact that the body is not in need of an increased blood supply and is in a resting state. The major factor which is responsible in the maintenance of the changing functions of the cardiac myocyte is the calcium ions. During the hours of sleep, the entry and the exit of the calcium ions in the cardiac myocyte are very low. This is the main reason why the cardiac myocyte retains slow contractions (Hill and Olson 2012). When an individual wakes up, the cardiac myocyte starts functioning at a faster pace. An important research has

Research objectives Essay Example for Free

Research objectives Essay Because of the success of balance scorecard, there are enormous volumes of information on the practice of BSC, but this study will examine the phenomenon of balance scorecard with Saudi Pepsi as the reference agency. The study will review the book (Translating strategy into action) by Kaplan and Norton as well as many relevant literature on the subject. It is the position of this study that BSC is a genuine business elevator, so this project will make the necessary efforts to present authentic evidence in support of that position. research objectives: The objectives of this study are to outline and analyze the fundamental principles of the Balanced Scorecard system. The paper will trace the formulation of the system and review some of the available data on its effectiveness. Also the paper will make an objective judgement on the advantages and disadvantages of its application. Since this is designed to ascertain the adaptability of BSC to Pepsi of Saudi Arabia, the paper will conclude with a critical insight on how Pepsi could benefit from BSC, based largely on data from  the performance review of other corporations that have implemented the BSC management system. QUESTIONS EXPECTED TO BE ADDRESSED BY THIS STUDY: Though questions abound on this study, but this discourse will focus greatly on the matters that address the application, and the structure of Balance Scorecard. The major perspectives as advanced by Kaplan and Norton will be presented and analyzed in depth . It must be emphasized that the system is an objective, responsive system. It could be followed with appropriate data analysis, and adjustments could be made when  desirable. The paper will provide the necessary steps that could be followed in order to attain a desired result. Because this dialogue has taken sides in favor of the BSC, it will clearly present the known benefits of implementing the system. But it must be emphasized that there are some drawbacks in the BSC system. Those drawbacks would equally be outlined. All the important steps in the implementation of the BSC will be discussed, and the different roles that different levels of a corporate entity would need to play will be enumerated as well. All of the team members must not only make a commitment, they must participate in the process. Every department must know its participating role in the implementation of BSC, and this work will detail what those roles ought to be, and how to ensure that they are diligently executed. It should also be recognized that it is not enough to design and construct a BSC, the question is would it be used? No benefits would accrue if the built BSC is not used. Of course the most important question is that of the applicability of the system by Pepsi Saudi, that question  will be adequately addressed in this process. CHAPTER TWO: BOOK AND LITERATURE ANALYSIS. PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT: Before the advent of BSC, a questionnaire by the national association of accountants indicated that about 60% of accountants were â€Å"not satisfied by their performance measurement system†, primarily because of its reliance on purely financial metrics. But since the implementation of BSC that dire view is turning around. (Nevin 2003). Performance measurement technique is used to compile data on many subjects, high  school academicians use performance measurement to keep record of behaviors of students whose behaviors required to improvement. The significant point here is that the actual behavior improvement could be measured empirically, scientifically and with discerning accuracy. So it is not surprising that corporations would also adopt performance management system. Corporations use performance measurement to keep record of its effectiveness, and its efficiency. It is used to tabulate quality and productivity. It is also used to keep records of timeliness and safety. (Nevin, Paul 2003). With an effective performance measurement system, companies can a develop a sustainable structure for its strategic planning, and its goals. It helps companies assemble a clear mission, with appropriate resources, on long term intervals. With it companies can maintain accountability for its performance or lack of performance. By using performance measurement companies are better able to analyze and validate its results. It can also use it to acquire timely feedbacks, which could be used to change the direction of a given project or to move a project forward. So in total, performance measurement could help and organization to make informed decisions, to appraise its performance and to initiate an improvement as needed. (Nevin, Paul 2003). I suppose we can say that performance measurement is a close â€Å"cousin† of BSC. However a performance measurement system could limit its benefits if it loses sight of key performance drivers. And it could be quite expensive to set-up a performance measuring unit, but most companies seem to agree that the cost is worth it at the long run. (Kaplan Norton 1996).

Diffusion Coefficient of 2m NACL in Water

Diffusion Coefficient of 2m NACL in Water This experiment aims to determine the diffusion coefficient of a liquid mixture, sodium chloride solution, in de-ionized water. This is done through the use of a honeycomb diffusion cell which consists of 121 vertical capillaries which are 5mm long and 1mm in diameter. Ficks Law of Diffusion is used in this experiment to calculate the diffusion coefficient of sodium chloride solution in de-ionized water. The change in concentration of the sodium chloride in the de-ionized water is measured by using the conductivity meter, since sodium chloride dissociates in water. The calculated value of diffusion coefficient was compared with the literature value derived from Eletrochemistry textbook, and the difference in values will be discussed. Some assumptions are being made to make the calculations much simpler. The concentration at the lower end of the diffusion cell is assumed to be equal to 2M, which is the molarity of the sodium chloride solution. The concentration at the upper end of the diffusion cell is taken to be effectively zero. Certain factors that affect diffusion and the calculation of the diffusion coefficient are also discussed to understand more about their effects on diffusion. However, this experiment did not place emphasis on these factors, and these factors are assumed to be negligible in the experiment as steps have been taken to minimise their presence in this experiment. Objective The objective of this experiment is to determine the diffusion coefficient of 2M Sodium Chloride solution in de-ionised water. Principles 1. Diffusion Molecular diffusion, or simply known as diffusion, is a spontaneous process that results in the net transport of molecules from a region of higher concentration to another region of lower concentration. This net transport is a result of the intrinsic thermal energy present in all molecules at temperatures above absolute zero. The phenomenon of diffusion can be mathematically described using Ficks Law (or Ficks 1st Law), which states that for a two component system consisting of A and B, the molar flux, Ni , of the individual component (i = A, B) is defined as: (1) where D is the diffusion coefficient , Ci is the concentration of component i, and is the concentration gradient in the z-direction. The negative sign indicates the flow of transport is from region of higher concentration to region of lower concentration. In the context of this experiment, Ficks law in one-dimension is considered, and there is no mean flow of mixture in the experimental set-up. Therefore, Equation (1) for the molar flux is valid for this experiment. 2. Experimental Set-up A diffusion cell is an instrument that is used to study the diffusion of liquid or gaseous mixtures. The diffusion cell used in this experiment consists of a honeycomb of 121 accurately dimensioned vertical capillaries that are 5mm long and 1mm wide in diameter. This is to restrict the diffusion to a one -dimensional diffusion. To prepare the diffusion cell for use, a small volume of concentrated solution is first placed on one side of the honeycomb, whilst the other side consists of a large volume of pure solvent (de-ionized water). The concentration within the larger volume will increase gradually as diffusion of the solute occurs. This change in concentration is monitored closely with a conductivity sensor and meter. To ensure a uniform concentration within the larger volume, the mixture is continuously stirred with a magnetic stirrer. (Figure 1) The concentration at the lower end of the tube is in fact constant and is equal to the molarity of the solution. The concentration at the upper end of the tube is effectively zero (Figure 2). Honeycomb structure with capillaries Concentration of solution outside tube is zero Concentration of solution inside tube is 2M NaCl Therefore it can be said that: (2) where M is the molarity of the solution and L is the length of the tube. The amount of sodium chloride diffusing per unit time from the capillary is approximately: (3) where d is the diameter of the capillary, n is the number of capillaries and L is the length of the capillary. Outside the tube, since sodium chloride is able to dissociate in water into sodium and chloride ions, the accumulation of the sodium chloride salt in the de-ionized water can be easily calculated by the measurement of change in the conductivity k of the solution with respect to time t. The amount of sodium chloride accumulating per unit time outside the vessel is approximately: (4) where V is the volume of water in outer vessel and CM is the conductivity change for unit molarity change and has the value of 0.41ÃŽÂ ©-1M-1 for the solution used in this experiment. Mass balance requires that the amount of sodium chloride going out of the capillaries must be equals to the amount of sodium chloride accumulated in the de-ionized water. (5) Therefore, (6) By rearranging Equation (6), (7) All the terms in equation (7) are constants and known, except for . However, to determine, we can plot a graph of conductivity as a function of time and find the gradient, which is equals to. Thus, by plotting conductivity as a function of time, the value of the diffusion coefficient D for the sodium chloride solution can be determined. Equipment and Materials One litre vessel with cell holder (Figure 3) Magnetic stirrer with variable speed (Figure 3) Magnetic stir bar (Figure 3) Diffusion cell (Figure 4) Conductivity meter (Figure 5) Conductivity leads Stopwatch (Figure 6) A bottle of de-ionized water (Figure 7) 50 ml beaker (Figure 8) 2M sodium chloride solution in a 100ml glass bottle (Figure 9) Experimental Procedure The one litre vessel was filled with de-ionized water up to 1cm below the graduation (black) mark. The magnetic stirrer was set to the lowest setting. The conductivity meter was connected to the electrodes and then switched on. The reading on the conductivity meter was noted to be less than 10-4ÃŽÂ ©-1 (1 ÃŽÂ ©-1 = 1 Siemens). The diffusion cell was completely filled with 2M (molarity) sodium chloride solution (116.9g NaCl/litre). Excess solution on top of the capillaries and on the sides was wiped off gently with a soft tissue. The diffusion cell was clamped in its position with the top of the capillaries lying parallel with the graduation mark on the vessel. The vessel was carefully filled to the graduaton mark with the provided de-ionized water bottle. The nozzle of the bottle was aimed away from the capillaries and towards the wall of the vessel, so as to minimise the turbulence caused. The timer was started immediately when the vessel was filled to the graduation mark. The reading on the conductivity was noted down at the same time. The conductivity readings were noted down every 200 seconds till 3600s. After the end of Run 1, the solution in the vessel and diffusion cell was disposed. Both the vessel and the diffusion were washed thoroughly with de-ionized water. Steps (1) to (10) were repeated to get another set of readings for Run 2. Results The results are tabulated in Table 1. Questions Plot conductivity (k) versus time (t) and determine the slope of the best fit straight line through the points. From the plot, the gradient of slope of the best fit straight line for Run 1 and Run 2 are 4 x 10-8 and 3 x 10-8 respectively. Determine the diffusion coefficient of 2M NaCl using equation (6). To use equation (6), we need the value for . The value for is determined from the graph. We will take the average of the gradient of the 2 slopes we get from the graph. = = 3.5 x 10 -8 Where, V = 1 Litre = 0.001 m3 L = 5mm = 0.005 m CM = 0.41ÃŽÂ ©-1M-1 n = 121 M = 2M d = 1mm = 0.001 m (gradient of slope) = 3.5 x 10^-8 (ÃŽÂ ©s)-1 For = 3.5 x 10^-8 (ÃŽÂ ©s)-1, How does your value(s) compare with literature values? Comment on sources of error. Table 2 is obtained from the literature of an Electrochemistry textbook. The data in the table are obtained by various experimental techniques, such as tracer diffusion determination. The diffusion coefficient of Na+ and Cl- ions in water, extracted from relevant data in Table 2, are found to be 1.33 x 10-5 cm2/s and 2.03 x 10-5 cm2/s respectively. These ionic diffusion coefficients do not take into consideration the effect of solvation of the water molecules on the ionic species. From Table 2, both the sodium ion and chloride ion have different diffusion coefficient from each other. However sodium chloride diffuses with only one coefficient, therefore we need to compute the average diffusion coefficient, DNaCl. From the equation: (8) j1 = j2 = Dc1 = [] c1 The average diffusion coefficient of the electrolyte NaCl , DNaCl = 2 (9) (1/DNa+ + 1/DCl- ) = 2 (1/1.33 + 1/2.03) x 105 = 1.607 x 10-5 cm2/s = 1.607 x 10-9 m2/s Percentage difference between experimental and literature values of diffusion coefficient = (2.246 1.607)/(1.607) x 100% = + 39.8% The experimental diffusion coefficient values of 2.246 x 10-9 m2/s is slightly higher than the literature value of 1.607 x 10-9 m2/s, and this could be due to some possible sources of error (Will be further discussed in the next section). The calculated value (DNaCl) based on Table 2, equation (8) and (9) does not take into consideration the effect of hydration of the water molecules on the ionic species. The phenomenon of solute-solvent interaction between sodium chloride and water is called hydration. The solute and the solvent both interact to form a new species, which is the actual species diffusing in the solvent Hence, it should be expected that our experiment value will be different from the literature value (DNaCl), as hydration do play a part in the experiment. In addition, the high concentration of the sodium chloride solution (2M) may result in convection, which will also affect the rate of diffusion. (Will be further under Discussions) Possible Sources of Error S/N Possible Sources of Error Solution 1. If thewalls of the capillary tubes arewet, or if the diffusion tube is filled up too slowly or wrongly, air bubbles may form underthe capillariesin the honeycomb structure. The bubbles can significantly impede diffusion through the capillaries, affecting the rate of diffusion. Ensure that no air bubbles are formed in or under the honeycomb structure. This can be achieved by filling the diffusion cell slowly. 2. Evaporation of water from the 1 litre vessel during the experiment could affect thevolume present in the vessel and hence diffusion coefficient would be affected, since the calculation of the diffusion coefficient involves the volume of water present in the vessel. The vessel could be covered with a cover or lid to minimise evaporation of water. 3. The stopwatch should be startedas close as possible to the instant when the water covers the surface of the capillaries. This is because significant changes in concentration can occur at this pointintime due to the steep concentration gradient between the 2 solutions. However, human reaction time will result in some delay. Have one person to fill up the vessel until the honeycomb structure is fully submerged in water, while another person looks from the side and starts the stopwatch once the honeycomb structure is fully submerged. This will minimise the human reaction time. 4. The solution may not be well-stirred enough, thus resulting in a higher concentration at the diffusion surface than the rest of the solution. Have more than one conductivity sensor at various locations or depth along the vessel enables us to get more accurate conductivity readings by averaging the values obtained. 5. The needle was fluctuating at some of the instant when readings were supposed to be taken, making it hard to determine the value to be recorded. By the time the needle stabilised, it has already exceeded the stipulated time (e.g. 1000s), and the reading obtained from the meter would not reflect the conductivity of the solution at that particular time but instead for another timing. A data logging system should be used where signals from the conductivity meter used for the diffusion cell can be recorded into a computer at fixed regular time interval. This helps to eliminate human error from poor judgment in the reading of results as well as allows for a more accurate reading of the conductivity. 6. The vessel may not be thoroughly cleaned from previous experiment by other students, therefore leaving sodium chloride residue at the wall of the vessel. This may add to the conductivity of the solution during the diffusion experiment when the vessel is filled with de-ionised water and therefore lead to an error when calculating the diffusion coefficient of sodium chloride. Clean the equipments thoroughly once more with de-ionised water to ensure that no residues are present on the equipment. 7. Small air bubbles could have been trapped at the opening of the capillaries of the diffusion cell before the start of the experiment. This would affect the diffusion rate of the sodium chloride solution. A porous plate can be used. It enables the solute and solvent to pass through freely, minimizing the chance where the molecules are stuck at the pores or in the capillaries. 8. Convection occurred in the experiment is a major factor that will affect the accuracy of our experiment. Effort has been made to minimized convection. However, the extent in which convection has affected our experiment values is unknown. The rotation of the magnetic stirrer could introduce convection currents in the water. The addition of dye to the vessel containing watercan be used to determine whether the magnetic stirrer is causing too much convection. This should be done before the commencement of the actual experiment to ensure minimal or no convection are present. The dye should never be used during the commencement of the experiment as it might interfere with the diffusion rate of sodium chloride solution. 9. The changes in the conductivity may be so small such that the analog meter is not able to detect the changes. The use of an analog meter also depends on how the person judges the values of the readings when the needle is in between the markings on the meter. This might result in random errors. A digital conductivity meter or data logger should be used to minimise the random errors that might be introduced if an analog meter is used. A digital conductivity meter or data logger would be more able to reflect the small changes in conductivity of the solution, giving us readings that are more accurate and more precise. 10. The temperature of the sodium chloride solution in the diffusion cell and the water in the vessel is assumed to be the same and constant throughout the experiment. However, this may not be true due to the fact that the experimental setup is exposed to the surroundings, thus it is very difficult to ensure constant temperature within the system, unlike the case of a water bath. Temperature, however, does affect the diffusion coefficient. Conduct the experiment in an enclosed environment to minimise contact with the surroundings. Measure the temperature of the water and sodium chloride solution constantly to ensure constant and identical temperature throughout the experiment. Discussions Solute-Solvent interaction (hydration) In the experiment, the species that are diffusing are not just pure sodium and chloride ions. In fact, sodium chloride and water interact to give a new species which is the actual species diffusing in the solvent. The effect of hydration can be studied by using the following flux equation: (10) j1 = D0 (1 + ) c1 (11) j1 = (1 + ) c1 where D0 is the new diffusion coefficient, ÃŽÂ ¼ is the solvent viscosity, R0 is the solute radius, and Ɔ1 is the activity coefficient. Equation (10) and (11) can be affected by hydration in two ways. These two factors are the hydrated species radius R0, and the concentration dependence of diffusion. From equation (11), the solute radius R0 is that of the hydrated species. This can be related to the true solute radius R0 by the following equation: à Ã¢â€š ¬ R03 = à Ã¢â€š ¬ (R0)3 + n() (12) Where VH2O is the molar volume of water and n is the hydration number. The third column of Table 3 shows the values obtained from equation (12). If we were to take the values of Na+ (0.5) and Cl- (-0.7) and compute the average radius R0, the radius obtained will be a smaller value as compared to the case when no hydration is considered. Therefore, we will obtain a larger D0 if we substitute a smaller R0 into equation (11). This explains why we get a larger D0 from experimental results as compared to literature values. Convection In our experiment, the sodium chloride solution has a molarity of 2M, which is a concentrated solution. Such concentrated solution may cause convection in our experiment, thus affecting the rate of diffusion. Total mass transported = Mass transported by diffusion + Mass transported by convection (13) The total mass flux n1, (mass transported per unit area per unit time): n1 = j1a + c1va where j1a is the diffusion flux and c1va represents the convection. From equation (7): (7) D = If we add in the convection term, it becomes (7.1) D = + (convection) From equation (7.1), we can see that the presence of convection in the experiment will mean a bigger value for diffusion coefficient since the total mass transported is now dependent not solely on diffusion only. Convection does play a part in the transporting of mass. In order to examine whether the effect of convection is significant in our experiment, we can carry the experiment with sodium chloride solution at lower concentrations. The diffusion coefficient obtained will then be compared against literature values. If the degree of difference between experimental results and literature values is similar to that of using 2M sodium chloride solution, then we can say that the effect of convection is negligible in our experiment, and vice versa. Temperature dependence of diffusion coefficient In our experiment, the temperature of the water in the vessel and the sodium chloride solution is assumed to be the same and constant throughout the experiment. The dependence of diffusion coefficient on temperature in liquids can be determined using the Stokes- Einstein equation: (14) where T1 and T2 denote temperature 1 and 2 respectively D is the diffusion coefficient is the dynamic viscosity of the solvent From the equation, we can see that temperature does affect the diffusivity of the sodium chloride ions. In order to ensure that this problem does not affect our experiment, we should continuously measure the temperature of the water in the vessel and the sodium chloride solution to ensure identical and constant temperature throughout the experiment. Conclusions The aim of the experiment was to determine the diffusion coefficient of 2M Sodium Chloride solution in de-ionised water. The purpose of the experiment is achieved through the use of diffusion cell and the conductivity meter to study the change in concentration along the vessel at regular intervals. The value of our experimental result is of the order of 10-9 m2/s, which is common for liquid mixtures. This implies that the method of using honeycomb diffusion cell and measuring the change in conductivity to calculate the accumulation of the sodium chloride in the de-ionized water is appropriate for the determination of diffusion in a liquid mixture in this experiment. However, one should be aware that the conductivity method is only applicable for solute which fully dissociates in water. Solutes which do not dissociate in water will not give any changes in conductivity of the de-ionized water. It was found that the diffusion coefficient determined in the experiment is 39.8% larger than the literature values. This is most likely due to the fact that the literature values did not consider the effect of hydration on the sodium and chloride ions. The effect of hydration tends to increase the rate of diffusion, and this was the case for sodium chloride solution. Therefore, if we were to take into consideration the effect of hydration on the ions in our calculation of the literature values, the diffusion coefficient calculated will be close to our experimental value. We have discussed that convection is an important factor that might affect the reliability and accuracy of the experimental results. Due to the limitations of the experiment procedure, we were unable to determine the extent in which convection affects the experiment. Dyes could have been used to detect the presence of any significant convection currents due to the rotation of the magnetic stirrer. This experiment has showed that it is very difficult to calculate the actual diffusion coefficient very accurately using mathematical models and scientific concepts that we currently have. Due to the fact that the values of diffusion coefficients for liquid mixtures are very small, of the order of 10-9 m2/s, any slight error during the experiment will result in a big difference from the actual value. This difference might be small in magnitude, but the application of this value may have large implications in actual situations, such as in chemical plants. Therefore, much effort should be utilised for future research works to accurately determine the actual diffusion coefficients under different situations and conditions.

The Implementation Of Policies And Legislative Social Work Essay

The Implementation Of Policies And Legislative Social Work Essay Children are de ¬Ã‚ ned as in need when they are unlikely to achieve or maintain, or have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining, a reasonable standard of health or development; or whose health and development are likely to be signi ¬Ã‚ cantly impaired, or further impaired without the provision of services under s.17(10); o are disabled as defined in s.17(11); or those who are in specific need of safeguarding under Part V of the (CA)(1989). Ann had recently been separated with her husband due to domestic violence and is currently living in a womens refuge with her 12 years old daughter. She had reported feeling depressed and lack resources. The development of a definition of domestic violence in Yemshaw v Hounslow LBC [2011] UKSC 3 (SC), decision by the court set a precedent that was used in meeting the needs of families. Children witnessing domestic abuse have now been included in the definition of harm under s.31(9) of the CA (1989). Section 17(1) of the CA (1989), places a general duty on Local Authorities (LA) to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within its area who are in need. It is based on the presumption that so far as it is consistent with their duty, children upbringing should be promoted within the family with an emphasis on parental responsibility as defined under s.3(1) of the CA (1989). This is complemented and reinforced under s.10(3) of the CA (2004), which requires LAs to have regard to the importance of parents and other persons caring for children in improving the well-being of children. LAs are directed through their specific duties and powers specified in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to provide services considered appropriate to meet the needs of children in need with the aim of avoiding the need for care proceedings . This includes homelessness, the psychological effect of witnessing abuse and disruption with school. Under s.17(6) the LAs can provide accommodation, counselling or as in th e cash of domestic violence, assistance in cash. Social workers are charged with discretion in making ethical decisions and should therefore use case law for additional guidance (Brammer, 2010: 190). In R v Nottingham City Council [2001] EWHC Admin 235, it was established that assessment is not a discretionary duty. Additionally, In R. (on the application of MM) v Lewisham LBC [2009] EWHC 416, it was held that the consideration given to the referral fell far below the standard required by law. The CA (1989) stipulates the legal framework within which Social Work practice with children in need is situated. Its child-centred approach is embodied in the welfare paramountcy principle s.1 and the welfare checklist s.1(3) states factors that must be considered with respect to determining the childs best interest. This welfare principle is also evident in s.3(5) and s.17. It adopt the principle that any delay s.1(2); in considering whether to make, vary or discharge s.31 and s.8 orders, s(1)(4); is likely to prejudice the childs welfare; and no order should be discharge except it is unequivocally in the childs best interests. The complexities and uncertainties of family life have brought about evolving policies and guidelines to complement the legislative framework (Davis, 2009). An understanding of childrens needs requires a multidisciplinary evidenced-based assessment, which is prescribed under The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (DoH, 2000). This is conferred under s.7, LA Social Services Act (1979) and requires LAs to comply with their duties. The Every Child Matters (DfES, 2003) led to the enactment of the CA (2004): it requires LAs under s.11(4) to have regards of statutory guidance to cooperate and make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Working Together to Safeguard Children (DCSF, 2010) specifies how agencies should work together: it states unequivocally the proactive early identification of additional needs and the provision of appropriate services. The complexities and tension of multi professional perspective is recognised in The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) (DfE, 2009) and based assessment on consistency and coordination between agencies (Brammer, 2010). There are potential dissonances between legislative framework and the ethical frameworks, which informs social work practice. Parton (2006) noted the complexities of balancing child empowerment and professional judgement, and suggested that Social workers should advocate for children through their active participation in accordance with s.17(4A and 4B). Graham (2011: 1541) highlighted a substantial cultural shift to include children in planning and decision-making through the construction of the social model of childhood. This principle sought to reconcile the concept of child autonomy and right, with professional accountability and responsibility (Williams, 2008). The concept of best interest and the welfare of the child set out in s.1(3) and A8 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) is also embodied in decision-making (Butler and Hickman, 2011). In a speech at the Institute of Public Policy Research, Educational Secretary Michael Gove claimed that safegu arding children is inundated with optimism bias (Media, 2012). The law confers both a discretionary and obligatory duties, and the prediction of impairment is given emphasis under s.31 and s.17. It is therefore critical for social workers to have an ethical consideration when discharging their powers and duties, and reflect social work values in their proportionality of intervention under the Human Rights Act (HRA) (1998) which is seen as an additional scrutiny of practice (Brammer 2010: 114). The value of outcome focus needs analysis and multi-agency working is compatible with social work values. It recognise the complexities and sensitivity of domestic violence, and emphasis on the compounding effect of stereotypical assumptions and stigma faced by individual and families (Sheppard, 2006). Social workers conceptualisation according to Connolly, et al (2006) is invaluable in promoting social inclusion. This is particularly relevant to Anns situation. Assessment should not be based on a single event; careful consideration must be given the long-term effect of domestic violence (Williams, 2008). It must be conducted sensitively with an emphasis on respectful uncertainty, flexibility, openness and honesty about professional involvement (Laming, 2003). Strafford,et al (2010:13) locates the process of assessment in the context of a Systems approach. Social workers need to be aware of the likely impact of any intervention on the family. Social workers are required to adopt a principled approach based on negotiation and partnership. The CA (2004) requires LAs to coordinate services with relevant agencies: this gained explicit recognition in the Working Together to Safeguard Children guideline and reflects an acknowledgement that disadvantage occurs within a context of multiplicity of interlocking factors and social dynamic of the family (Graham, 2011). Social workers must therefore, integrate best-known evidence to inform professional judgement to accounts for the uniqueness, uncertainties and potential value conflicts (GSCC, 2003). Anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practices are integral to social worker practice and enshrined in law. The GSCC (2003: 1.5) code of practice stresses the importance of respecting diversity and different culture and values. Further, s.22(5) requires due consideration to be given to a childs religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background which is also encapsulated in A.14 of HRA (1998), the right not to be discriminated against. The amendment of parental responsibility by the Adoption and Children Act (2002) to include adult with real relationship accounts for value placed on recognition of diversity of families to combat social exclusion (Strafford,et al 2010: 16). Millar and Corby (2006) highlighted the positive effect of a detailed assessment: Munro (2011) and Wise et al (2011: 95) are however, critical of the bureaucracy and the prescriptive nature of the Assessment Framework, which distracts social workers from their core therapeutic function. This presents a dilemma of balancing the need of a more rigorous assessment framework with the CAF (Crisp, et al, 2007). Social inclusion and integration are intrinsic to social work, however, Palmer (2003) and Goldthorpe and Monro (2005) notes that there is concern amongst social workers that the high eligibility criteria have seen a shift from family support to reactive child protection practice thereby further excluding and marginalising families. This have led social workers to question the concept of needs led service provision. Stafford, et al, (2011) reports on the conflicts and complexities around issues of confidentiality and information sharing within multidisciplinary teams. This posed a dilemma between the welfare of the child and Anns right to confidentiality. Domestic violence occurs within the context of both civil and criminal domain. This present are a wide range of shared and diverse models of knowledge and practice amongst professionals involved with children and families (Graham, 2011). OLoughlin and OLoughlin (2008: 41) noted the complexities of balancing the rights and responsibilities of parents and the rights and needs of children. This present a dilemma between a principled welfare approach and s.8 orders as highlighted in Debbonaire (2012). Cleaver et al (2010) noted that whist childrens needs occur within the family and environmental context and often interlinked with those of their parent: It is crucial that practice is child-centred and needs considered separately through childrens active participation (Mullender 2002: 121). The complexities of parental contact from the perpetrator of abuse might expose the children to witnessing more abuse. The legislative framework and policies have an enormous impact on social work practice. The complex interplay of skills, values and knowledge; the prevailing social attitudes; and the conflicting and overlapping imperative, have been analysed as the range of dilemmas and conflicts faced by social workers. What is most noteworthy, however, is the need for sound professional judgement and ethical consideration.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Essay -- essays research papers fc

John Fitzgerald Kennedy John F. Kennedy ( JFK ) was known throughout the world for his heroic deeds. He has helped many Americans many different ways from saving a mans life and keeping him from drowning, to helping African Americans. He had come from a very political family, and knowing that he felt that he had to carry on the tradition of that after his brother Joe had past away. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917, the second oldest in a family of nine children. Although their families had not come to the United States with much money, both of John Kennedy's grandfathers became political leaders in Boston. One of them, John Fitzgerald (for whom he was named), was elected mayor in 1905. John Kennedy's father, Joseph Patrick Kennedy became a very wealthy businessman, an adviser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the United States Ambassador to Great Britain from 1938 to 1940. John Kennedy (his family called him "Jack") moved to New York when he was ten years old. Since the family spent the summer months at their home in Hyannis, Cape Cod, Jack still lived a good part of his life in Massachusetts. As a boy and a young man, he traveled to other parts of the United States and to other countries. After graduating from the Choate School in Connecticut in 1935, he went on to Harvard College and graduated in 1940. That same year he wrote a best-selling book, Why England Slept, about some of the decisions which led to World War II. Kennedy described himself as â€Å" an idealist without illusion â€Å". He considered his best quality to be curiosity, and he worst irritability. Kennedy’s charm, grace, and wit were to a great extent responsible for his immense popularity as president. He remained a bit detached from things in order to counter his extremely sensitive side, for the most part he controlled his temper. Kennedy met his future wife at a dinner party in Washington, D.C. Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was the daughter of a wealthy Wall Street broker, John V. Bouvier III. She had attended Vassar College and the Sorbonne in Paris. When she met Kennedy, she was a student at George Washington University in Washington. Later, she worked as an... ...uals, like the African Americans. He treated people equally, no matter who they were or what color there skin was. As the years have gone by and other Presidents have written their chapters in history, John Kennedy's brief time in office stands out in people's memories--for his leadership, personality, and accomplishments. Many respect his coolness when faced with difficult decisions--like what to do about the missiles in Cuba. Others admire his ability to inspire people with his eloquent speeches. Still others think his compassion and his willingness to fight for new government programs to help the poor, the elderly and the ill were most important. Like all leaders, John Kennedy made mistakes, but he was always optimistic about the future. He believed that people could solve their common problems if they put their country's interests first and worked together. Bibliography Michael D. Cole John Kennedy President of New Frontier Springfield, 1996 Andrew Langley John F. Kennedy New York, 1985 Zachary Kent Encyclopedia of Presidents John F. Kennedy Chicago, 1987 Scott Fetzer Company The World Book Encyclopedia Chicago, London, Sydney Toronto, 1992 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Essay -- essays research papers fc John Fitzgerald Kennedy John F. Kennedy ( JFK ) was known throughout the world for his heroic deeds. He has helped many Americans many different ways from saving a mans life and keeping him from drowning, to helping African Americans. He had come from a very political family, and knowing that he felt that he had to carry on the tradition of that after his brother Joe had past away. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917, the second oldest in a family of nine children. Although their families had not come to the United States with much money, both of John Kennedy's grandfathers became political leaders in Boston. One of them, John Fitzgerald (for whom he was named), was elected mayor in 1905. John Kennedy's father, Joseph Patrick Kennedy became a very wealthy businessman, an adviser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the United States Ambassador to Great Britain from 1938 to 1940. John Kennedy (his family called him "Jack") moved to New York when he was ten years old. Since the family spent the summer months at their home in Hyannis, Cape Cod, Jack still lived a good part of his life in Massachusetts. As a boy and a young man, he traveled to other parts of the United States and to other countries. After graduating from the Choate School in Connecticut in 1935, he went on to Harvard College and graduated in 1940. That same year he wrote a best-selling book, Why England Slept, about some of the decisions which led to World War II. Kennedy described himself as â€Å" an idealist without illusion â€Å". He considered his best quality to be curiosity, and he worst irritability. Kennedy’s charm, grace, and wit were to a great extent responsible for his immense popularity as president. He remained a bit detached from things in order to counter his extremely sensitive side, for the most part he controlled his temper. Kennedy met his future wife at a dinner party in Washington, D.C. Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was the daughter of a wealthy Wall Street broker, John V. Bouvier III. She had attended Vassar College and the Sorbonne in Paris. When she met Kennedy, she was a student at George Washington University in Washington. Later, she worked as an... ...uals, like the African Americans. He treated people equally, no matter who they were or what color there skin was. As the years have gone by and other Presidents have written their chapters in history, John Kennedy's brief time in office stands out in people's memories--for his leadership, personality, and accomplishments. Many respect his coolness when faced with difficult decisions--like what to do about the missiles in Cuba. Others admire his ability to inspire people with his eloquent speeches. Still others think his compassion and his willingness to fight for new government programs to help the poor, the elderly and the ill were most important. Like all leaders, John Kennedy made mistakes, but he was always optimistic about the future. He believed that people could solve their common problems if they put their country's interests first and worked together. Bibliography Michael D. Cole John Kennedy President of New Frontier Springfield, 1996 Andrew Langley John F. Kennedy New York, 1985 Zachary Kent Encyclopedia of Presidents John F. Kennedy Chicago, 1987 Scott Fetzer Company The World Book Encyclopedia Chicago, London, Sydney Toronto, 1992

Times Have Changed Essay -- essays research papers

Times Have Changed Times have changed dramatically in the past thirty years. The style of living, the sizes of families, and education have all changed dramatically. During the fifties, sixties, and most of the early seventies teenagers were thinking about going off to war or starting a family. Very few teenagers coming out of high school were thinking about college. Slowly as times started to change, more and more people were going off to college. Today at the end of the nineties, very few people do not go off to college. Instead of high school students thinking about starting families or going off to war, they have a bigger decision to make. What college to attend. This decision will affect one's entire life; how they live, where they work, what size family they are going ...

Influence of Advertising

Terese Kruszka Beth Lewis How Advertising Influences Us 1. Calfee made it a point in his advertising that Kelloggs all-bran cereal is high in fiber. With being high in fiber it can reduce the risk of some kinds of cancer. He also used the advertising to inform people on their diet and how it can improve with that particular cereal. An advantage of Kelloggs coming out with high fiber cereal would be more brands would come out with other cereals with other nutrients that our bodies could use. Some other brands have cereals high in calcium which some people think it is just as good as high fiber. A disadvantage would be that all the brands are constantly trying to out do each other, by making their cereals much healthier and needed in consumers diets. 2. The spillover benefits of advertising are when people who have useful information that failed to reach people who need it because producers could not change a price to cover the costs. 3. Some of the ways free marketing competition in advertising benefits consumers is by reducing the cost of the ads. Calfee advertisement is regulated by the FTC who encourage his ads and make it perfectly legal. 4. The tone of this article is that Calfee is proving his advertisement is a huge success. He also proves that throughout the years he has been successful by informing people on what the effects may be from using the products. Calfee has information and facts of each point he tries to get across in the article.

Reflective Statement

Introduction This project involved creating a strategic report covering all aspects of the operation of the Walt Disney Group. The report entailed drawing on a relatively broad analysis of the workings of the Walt Disney Group, with each member of the team contributing certain parts of the report, before then coming together to undertake an overall analysis. This reflective statement looks at how I personally worked within the team and any areas that I feel I could improve upon, in the future. The reflective statement will also describe the way in which I worked within the team to assist others and how we dealt with any conflicts which occurred, during the length of the project. Individual Contribution I was personally responsible for specific aspects of the actual research and for writing up the project. At the outset, we sat down with the team to allocate certain areas of work, with a view to meeting regularly to combine our findings and to ensure that the report, as a whole, read as if it were one voice. As the project involved some form of strategic analysis, I was particularly concerned that if each individual simply worked on their own section, it would not come together as a sensible whole (Forsyth, 2009). I personally felt that I took the lead, when it came to communicating amongst the team and also when ensuring that we met up regularly to discuss progress. I myself as one of the other team members took the lead in arranging these meetings. Whilst this was successful, initially, we soon found that other members of the team were not responding to the suggestion of meetings and were not sending their own work in good time, thus creating difficulties amongst the team and also making it harder for me as an individual to complete my element of the project (Boud & Walker 1993) If I were to undertake the project again, I would ensure that, from the outset, much greater emphasis was placed on setting out the full scope of each individual’s work assignment, as it quickly became apparent that each individual within the team was relying on others to undertake their part of the report. Therefore, when one individual was failing to keep pace with the rest of the team, this created a much greater problem than simply one person not â€Å"pulling their weight†. As a relatively strong individual, I would personally put myself forward as more of a co-ordinator, at the outset, to ensure that this lack of cohesion did not happen in future (Jarboe & Witteman, 1996). When we encountered difficulties at the end of the project, with one individual not being available in the few days prior to the deadline, I took on another section of the writing in order to ensure that we were then able to meet the deadline, something which put me under increased personal pressure. Based on the problems that we were having, at that point in time, it was the only reasonable solution available; however, better team management, at an earlier stage when it became apparent that some individuals were not going to make the deadline would have prevented such a high level of personal pressure and this additional workload could then have been spread more evenly. Working with Others and Resolving Conflicts As noted above, it became apparent, as the project progressed, that there were certain key individuals within the team who were becoming increasingly unresponsive to setting up meeting times and were not presenting their work when requested. This could have put the entire project in jeopardy and was exacerbated when one individual was not available at all, in the few days prior to the deadline. The fact that some of the key individuals were not responding to requests for meetings or submitting their work on-time became apparent midway through the project. Yet, action was not positively taken by myself and the other organising team members who were still responding until just a few days before the deadline (Coleman, 2011). Effectively, our approach to dealing with this matter was to ignore it and simply continue with our own activities, something which potentially jeopardised the project in its entirety. With a project of this nature, merely ignoring conflict was not an option. Furthermore, although regular negotiations were attempted by suggesting meeting times, communication between team members had already broken down. In reality, this conflict could have been resolved, at the outset, before any difficulties emerged, by setting out a team leader who was going to be responsible for keeping everybody on track and ensuring that the meetings took place as arranged. As soon as it became apparent that the timeframe for the project was not being kept, the appointed team leader could then have taken a more aggressive stance to ensure that such failings did not jeopardise the overall project. It was arguably this failure that was instrumental in creating a last-minute panic and rush. Individual Improvement for the Future Bearing all of this in mind, I feel that my own areas for improvement, in the future would be to take a much more active stance, in terms of project management, from the outset (Schon 1996). I would also ensure that all team members complied with the timeframes set out. I became personally aware that there were difficulties with communication and timeframe, at a relatively early stage, yet I largely chose to ignore this in the hope that matters would improve of their own accord. This approach led to me personally being put under considerable pressure, towards the end of the project and, as such, my own individual performance was not as good as it could have been, particularly with the last section of the project being rushed, over a period of 2 to 3 days. I therefore feel that I could have improved my own personal performance by taking a much more active role in project management. This would enable me to ensure that each individual was working within the timeframe and I was not requ ired to rush during the last few days of the project, potentially sacrificing the quality of the work. References Boud D & Walker D (1993) Barriers to Reflection on Experience. In Boud D,. Cohen R & Walker D. Using Experience for Learning. Buckingham: Society for Research into Higher Education & Open University Press. Coleman, P (2011). The Five Percent: Finding Solutions to Seemingly Impossible Conflicts. Public Affairs. New York, p.26 Forsyth, D. R. (2009). Group dynamics (5th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Jarboe, S. C., & Witteman, H. R. (1996). Intragroup conflict management in task-oriented groups: The influence of problem sources and problem analysis. Small Group Research, 27, 316–338. Schon D. (1996). From Technical Rationality to Reflection in Action, In: Edwards, R., Hanson, A., and P Raggatt (eds) Boundaries of Adult Learning, London, Routledge.

Kallipolis: the City of the Ideal

Around the time of 380 BCE, a philosopher by the name of Plato wrote one of his most famous works: The Republic. Within the text of this dialogue, Socrates and his fellow conversationalists discuss a morally and socially sensitive issue: what, per se, is justice? Throughout the work, there were several definitions ranging from â€Å"the power of the strong† to â€Å"rewarding good and punishing evil. † To help bring clarity to their discussions, Socrates proposes that in order to discover justice as a concept, they must apply it holistically as opposed to an individualistic, circumstantial criteria.In order to accomplish this, the group imagines what the ideal city would be like. In this ideal place, there would be three classes of people (producers, auxiliaries, and guardians) which would told they have have a corresponding metal which makes up their soul. Bronze for the producers, silver for the auxiliaries, and gold for the guardians. Each class would be determined b y individual merit in accordance with what tasks they best perform. For example, if a man is best at digging ditches he will dig ditches for the rest of his life.Additionally, the members of one class can only produce children with members of the same class. The citizens of this city (a total of around 30,000 individuals) would all share wealth, food, and shelter communally. Several core virtues such as wisdom (through the guardians), courage (through the auxiliaries), and moderation (through all classes dwelling together peacefully) will be emphasized to help preserve justice. Socrates emphasizes that the goal is to make a city as good as possible so that the populace is as content as possible.The end-goal is not just to make one person as happy as possible. As a pupil of Socrates, Plato's construction of this ideal city, named Kallipolis, was much more than hypothesizing about mortar and stone. For Plato, Kallipolis was meant to reflect two drastically different things on two tota lly different levels. On the baser level, Kallipolis' inclusion of human virtues just as justice and moderation mirrors the individual. On the other side, Kallipolis also represents the entirety of the cosmos with its realm of infinite possibly and wondrous ideals.To Socrates and Plato, this city was a sociopolitical organization which allowed citizens to achieve their potential, serve the state, and live according to the absolute truths which govern our existence. Unfortunately, the ideal Kallipolis is just that: an ideal. It may be all well and good to construct an ideal city in the mind, but unfortunately this utopian system lacks a firm foundation in reality. Kallipolis is a utopia: an imagined society put forward by its author as better than any existing society, past or present.Specifically according to Plato, Kallipolis is not just a better city, but rather is the best city. This makes creating Kallipolis impossible because there was nothing to from the real-world to model it self after. This is what makes construction of a place like Kallipolis to hard to even pragmatically imagine. It is not that obscure for one to even assume that in actuality, Plato never meant for Kallipolis to be a reality, but rather to have it serve as a goal for other poleis or nation-states to model themselves after.Plato planned for the society described in his Republic to not just be a utopia, but to rather be the best utopia, making this ideal even more difficult to properly realize. If one were to look into his work, one would certainly see that Plato never advocates revolution or legislation to bring his Republic into existence. On the contrary, Plato knew that Kallipolis was an impossibility and that the Republic would only live on in the minds of those who read his works.His message was that if all individuals (be they king, peasant, or representative) were just, the ideal city would exist. Thus, people must strive on their own to better themselves if they ever wish to b ring about a better society overall. This is the beauty of Plato's theorem: it is impossible for this utopia to fail because this city is only actually meant to exist as the hypothetical dream of an aging philosopher. Because of this, Kallipolis was able to evade some of the stubborn realities existent on Earth.The purpose for this city is not necessarily to exist, but rather to be the ideal which the contemporary cities (such as Athens or Sparta) and the ruling bodies (the people or the aristocracy, respectively) may be judged. Instead of looking at other countries, cities, and nations which dwelled in the real world to compare one's city to, Plato thought it would be best if a city was compared to the ideal, Kallipolis. Even in modern times, Kallipolis is a suitable standard concerning how a society made of of many different factions can live harmoniously.Personally, it is my viewpoint that this city is just for a community, but unjust for the individual. For this, I would not wan t to live in a governing system such as this. It is reasonable to assume that Plato's city might not be so â€Å"ideal† in the 21st century world of digitalized information and civil liberties. Through a primitive eugenics program, avid informational censorship, and telling a â€Å"noble lie,† Kallipolis' people do not so much choose what they wish to accomplish as much as they are conditioned to perform what tasks must be done.The individual rights of the people are cast aside for the sake of the â€Å"greater good† in a very utilitarian system which contains a harsh pragmatism in its application. One needs to look no further than Nazi Germany, Socialist Russia, Fascist Italy, or Communist China to see the problems with this worldview and the mindset it supported. The end game for Plato's Republic is not so much to have citizens who ponder life's deeper meanings, but to rather have mindless drones performing the tasks they were instructed to do.Yet even with th ese numerous infractions against the core of humanity, the ruling body of Kallipolis is incredibly legitimate. The guardians (who are more than qualified for their positions) rule both effectively and efficiently for the sake of the nation-state. Overall, they provide the proper protection for their people and preserve their well being. The guardians attempt to honor the welfare and well-being of all citizens by promoting justice, striving for class harmony, and defending their people within the walls of their ideal polis.However, the flaw lies not in the people themselves, but rather in the system they were placed into. After all, such a sense of loyalty to homeland is desirable, but the system's cost to individuality and free will is simply too much. All Men have certain rights ordained to them at birth by nature (or whichsoever deity a people worships) which include a right to life, a right to liberty, and a right to property. Socrates' and Plato's Kallipolis strips away its citi zens' rights to such things, such as when it dictates an individual's lot from the beginning.First, a person's life will be channelled into one of three categories. Second, (and based on the category) that person will instructed only on what they will be doing the rest of their lives. Finally, he or she will share all personal possessions with others, losing a sense of identity one moment at a time. Kallipolis, with all of its peaceful and harmonious benefits, eliminates certain rights which were made self-evident long before Socrates or Plato ever lived. The elimination of those rights is unacceptable and ought not be tolerated.

To what extent was the USA a Divided Union in the years 1941-1980?

Politically the USA has always been a democracy, with an allowance for all political parties to express their opinions. But there have been times in the aforementioned decades from 1941-1980 where political beliefs, like socialism and communism have been feared in the government to such an extent that McCarthyism was allowed to become mainstream in the 1950's. This fear was so great that people were tried and prosecuted on false allegations, and that based on these lies most were sentenced to jail, and some were even killed, like the Rosenbergs. The Rosenbergs were nuclear scientists who during the Second World War, while the USA was allied with the USSR, gave some non-classified information to the Soviets. They were tried and executed in 1953. True, some of the accused were indeed communists, or had communist beliefs, but none of them had ever done anything to jeopardise the security of the USA, nor had the power to. Also in the American political system there did not exist anyone to represent the minority blacks, as they did not have the power to vote until the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and even then there never was a black president voted into power as there is still a certain amount of non active racial discrimination in the American governmental system till the 1980's. Socially, Racism has always existed between the minority WASPs who hold the power in America and other racial groups, mainly the black American population who were originally brought to the USA as slaves. This discrimination on basis of skin colour was against the American constitution, and should have been illegal, but it was legalised with the inception of the ‘Jim Crow' laws. These sets of corrupt racist laws had many preposterous clauses such as the ‘grandfather law' and others, which basically denied black Americans of their inalienable civil rights. This started the Civil Rights movement, but one case of racial discrimination was the trigger. This was the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 in which the black American majority bus users boycotted the bus service on command of Martin Luther King, later to be the leader in black civil rights. His movements gained many successes, such as the pre-mentioned 1965 Voting rights Act, which outlawed the discrimination of voting on basis of race, and most importantly the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which gave black people the equal rights to do whatever they pleased, and gave them equal employment opportunities. Other more radical black American movements also came into being, such as Black Power, with the Black Panthers being the main case. This movement charaded in the guise of militants, wearing a uniform and carrying unloaded guns, to show that they would use violence if needed, but they were indeed a charity organisation, providing shelters and soup kitchens for the poor. They were feared because of their leftist beliefs and were hunted down by the FBI. Protest movements later became much more common in the 60s and 70s, following the lead of the Civil Rights movement. The Women's Movement fought for equal rights based on sex and won their legal battle. The student movement generally rebelled against the norm, but they mainly protested against the Vietnam War as they felt there was no need for it. The Native Americans were the most disadvantaged minority, but their formation of AIM was a success in itself, and they still to this day fight to try and regained their lost balance of life. Economically the USA has prospered, but not all parties in the USA have taken their share of prosperity. There is an increasing underclass, stuck in a vicious circle, with no education, therefore no employment, and no employment, therefore no money. This still mainly made up of black Americans living in the slums and ghettoes of modern day America. Also up to the 1970's black Americans and women were discriminated against in the workplace, and their chances of getting jobs were minimal. Many different cultures exist in the USA, mainly because of the largely immigrant population. This brings a lot of different cultures into the mainstream, creating such phenomenon as hippies. These people follow strange religions and practises, completely ignoring the age-old idea of civilisation and ‘pop' culture. The government liked to think of things the ‘American way', a father coming home from work to his wife who has baked him and his children an apple pie, but in most cases this almost ceased to exist, swamped by the counter-culture of drugs and outlandish clothes. Overall I think that the USA was a greatly divided union in the decades from 1941-1980, and that this was destined to be in a new land full of immigrants from different societies, races and creeds.

Choosing the Correct Daycare

Tyree’s Child Care 2 John and Sue have been seeking a new child care facility for their eight week old baby, Tyree. Unfortunately, they have been unable to come to a decision between two of the best centers. The high point of Center A is that there are many teachers and they are always speaking to and cuddling the infants. The high point of Center B is not only is it safe and clean like Center A, it is less expensive, as well. However, upon professional evaluation of the two centers, Center A was chosen for baby Tyree.The center meets the state licensing requirements, has a nice atmosphere, is safe, clean and has plenty of amiable staff members. A safe environment and trusted caretakers are factors in building resilience in children (Bukatko, 2008). Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity or trauma and most children are highly resilient because they generally feel safe and protected (Bukatko, 2008). The center feels like a safe place for Tyree, with plenty of safe people to cuddle her. Center A was the more expensive of the two because it has tunnels for crawling and extra play areas.Although this was not a factor for Tyree immediately as she is only 8 weeks old and is unable to crawl at this stage in her development, babies grow quickly and those areas will come in handy soon. Important to Tyree’s development, is the interaction with the many child care teachers that the center employs. The teachers enjoy talking to the babies during feeding times and diaper changes. They also are always available to hold and cuddle the babies and do so often. Tyree is in the first stage of Erickson’s stages of psychosocial development called Trust verses Mistrust (Bukatko, 2008).During this stage, a baby must find consistency and reliability in their caretakers so that they can develop a sense of hope and trust (Bukatko, 2008). This is a very important first stage that lasts for the first year. A failure to establish connections during th is stage could lead to trust and abandonment issues in adulthood. Luckily for Tyree, at this center, that will not be an issue. The center has many brightly colored objects and pictures. Bright colored toys and pictures stimulate a baby’s senses and help their brain’s develop.Cognitive development is imperative and Tyree is in the sensorimotor stage (Bukatko, 2008). She is responding to bright objects around her and soon enough, she will be grasping for those objects. The center also has safe, low shelves. This is important because as Tyree develops and her motor skills advance, she will begin to scoot and then crawl. Safety is extremely important when babies get mobile so it is important for shelves that contain toys Tyree will be interested in to be low and sturdy because during the sensorimotor stage she will have hand and eye coordination to grab whatever she wants (Bukatko, 2008).Tyree also could start using that same shelf to pull herself to stand. Finally, as Ty ree’s motor skills develop further, she will become more visually and physically coordinated (Bukatko, 2008). The sorting and stacking toys will challenge Tyree mentally and help her learn new skills. She will begin to interact with her peers and begin to learn what is socially acceptable as she makes friendships and enters Erickson’s second stage (Bukatko, 2008).Tyree’s Child Care 3 Tyree will then continue on her path of continuous development, reaching milestones, stage after stage. Tyree’s Child Care 4 Bukatko, D. (2008). Child and Adolescent Development. A Chronological Approach. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.

Women Heads of States in Latin America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Women Heads of States in Latin America - Essay Example More so, there were virtually no female heads of state in Latin America as late as the 1980s. Nevertheless, beginning the 1990s to present, the number of women in executive positions and especially as presidents in Latin America has increased drastically. In this essay we look at two women who have made political impact in Latin America, both in the 20th and 21st centuries. We briefly look at Evita Peron, a 20th century woman and the role she played in shaping the future for Latin American women of the 21st century. Secondly, we look more extensively at Michelle Bachelet, her presidency in Chile and how she has continually championed for women rights. Evita Peron was the most influential woman in Latin American history until the late 20th century. Although Evita never officially held a post in the executive, she was a powerful advocate of women rights in the political arena. Until her death in 1952, Evita was actively engaged in designing policies intended to benefit women in Argenti na. In association with other feminists, Evita formed the â€Å"Peronist Feminist Party† that was designed to help women ascend the political ladder and occupy important political posts (Keen & Haynes, pp. 383). In the social sector, Evita founded a charitable organization that gave financial and legal aid to disadvantaged women in Argentina.

Daniel Rutherford Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Daniel Rutherford - Essay Example Daniel Rutherford, from Holl, 1804 It was a natural academic progression to attend the University of Edinburgh where his father was a professor of medicine. Daniel would also graduate with a degree in medicine, but it was the experiments he conducted as a student that helped unlock the mysteries of combustion, life, and the composition of 'vital air' ("Daniel Rutherford"). At the time, it was known that a quantity of air that had been subjected to combustion would no longer support life. It was mistakenly believed that the only gas left was carbon dioxide (CO2), and it was considered noxious because of its in inability to support life. Rutherford, through a series of experiments, was able to extract the CO2 and found that it still would not combust or support life. Though he is credited for isolating nitrogen, a more accurate portrayal is that he discovered that air was a mixture of many gases and there was the existence of 'vital air', that would later be known as oxygen. In 1772, he published his thesis titled On A ir Said to be Fixed or Mephitic (Daintith 467). This enabled other scientists that were doing similar research to be moved down the path of discovery. Rutherford's thesis helped guide the current thinking and has been credited with spawning many of Joseph Priestley's later experiments.(Daintith 467).

The law of international commerce is subject to increasing Essay

The law of international commerce is subject to increasing harmonization - Essay Example One can trace the establishment of trade fairs, from the Frankfurt Book Fair to the Antwerp Cloth Fair, to the 1200’s to 1400’s, at which time producers and buyers would meet on a regular basis to exchange goods for currency or promissory notes. This safe passage was ensured by the increasing influence of kings and rulers, who were able to tame warring factions and create a system of tolls, laws and enforcement which did not exist during the Dark Ages. Although it was expensive to take a trade route (the Rhine, for example, had over 40 toll stations), the benefit of security outweighed the cost for those who had high-value goods and ready markets in other areas. Trade posed some specific problems which required harmonisation relatively early on. A couple of examples will suffice to explain how these problems arose, and how they were solved. If a trader, for example, were to go to the Frankfurt Book Fair in the Spring of 1450, he might want to find books for his patrons and residents of his home area (say, Tuscany and the de Medici’s). The trader, fearing the dangers of robbery on the roads, or perhaps just lacking the resources, does not take gold with him on the long, arduous journey from Tuscany to Frankfurt. Rather, he brings along letters of introduction from his patrons. In some cases, if the trader was rich enough or well-known, he could trade ‘on his reputation.’ In either case, when he arrived at the Book Fair, he brought documents with him. If our Tuscan trader visits a stall of, say, a Stuttgart bookmaker and decides to buy a few of his books, the bookmaker would like to be paid. Since the trader didn’t have gold or silver with him, he offered to pay the bookmaker with a promissory note. This method of payment led to a series of questions: (1) how do I (the Stuttgart bookmaker) know that this person is who he says he is? And (2) what