Slave Dbq free essay sample

Africans were bought to America and sold to Americans as workers. It wasnt long before slavery became a controversial issue. Over the course of almost two and a half centuries the debate of weather to continue or abolish slavery went on. The supporters and the abolitionist had their arguments on how they viewed slavery, and the government played their part too. Those who supported slavery were for the most part southerners. Senator John C. Calhoun states that slavery is a positive good.He says that through slavery, the conditions Of the races improved physically, morally, and intellectually and the two races of black and white were brought together. Calhoun also says that the living conditions for the slaves were good and they were taken care of. But in reality, the slaves were living in shacks fearing for their lives and hoping not to get beaten by their slave owner after a long hard day of working in the blistering sun on the plantations (document 2). We will write a custom essay sample on Slave Dbq or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Another man against the abolition of slavery is Chancellor Harper.According to Harper, the emancipated slaves would harm the economy of the United States and Europe. This is because he believed that the free laborers would strike against working for higher pays and they wouldnt do their jobs, thus affecting the trade. The slaves did get paid but very low amounts compared to the hard work that they put into their jobs (document 3). Those were some arguments of people who supported slavery and believed that it should be contain due. People who didnt believe in slavery are known as abolitionist.

Influence of Changes in Exchange Rate on Imports and Exports

Influence of Changes in Exchange Rate on Imports and Exports Introduction The exchange rate refers to the â€Å"rate at which one nation’s currency can be exchanged for that of another† (Beardshaw 45). There are two types of exchange rates namely; the fixed exchange rate and the floating exchange rate. Under the floating exchange rate, the demand and supply forces determine the rate at which the currency of a country is exchanged with that of another country. The government usually determines the rate at which its currency can be exchanged with a foreign currency in the case of a fixed exchange rate.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Influence of Changes in Exchange Rate on Imports and Exports specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The factors that cause changes in exchange rate include â€Å"inflation, balance of trade and the real interest rate† (Beardshaw 46). The changes in exchange rate have both positive and negative impacts on economic activities. It partic ularly influences the level of import and export in a country. This paper will focus on the impact of changes in exchange rate on imports and exports in an international business. Impacts on Exports and Imports Prices of Commodities Changes in the exchange rate can result into either an increase or a decrease in the prices of imports and exports. In the context of exports, an appreciation of the local currency will result into an increase in the prices of the exports in the international market. This is because when the currency of the exporting country becomes stronger than that of the importing country, traders in the later purchase the currency of the former at a high rate in order to pay for the goods (Case and Fair 67). This means that the traders will be spending more on the goods even if their actual prices have not been increased. Thus an appreciation of the domestic currency will make the business’s products to be more expensive in the foreign market. However, a depr eciation of the domestic currency will make the exports cheaper (Lipsey and Hurbury 23). This is due to the fact that the customers will purchase the local currency at a low rate in order to pay for the products. An appreciation of the domestic currency will make the imported goods to be cheap. This is because the business will purchase the currency of the country from which the goods have been imported at a low rate (Thurbecke 113). This means that importers will spend less money to import the goods and this translates into low prices. On the other hand, a depreciation of the domestic currency will force the business to purchase the foreign currency at a high rate. Thus it will spend more in importing the goods and this translates into higher prices (Kwack 61). Demand and Supply The demand for the export products will be high if the domestic currency depreciates. This is due to the fact that the customers in the export market will spend less to import the goods and this translates into low prices. The low prices will increase the demand and supply of the export products (Mallick and Marques 770).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, the demand for the export products will reduce if the local currency appreciates. This is due to the fact that such appreciation will translate into high prices as customers spend more in importing the goods. This leads to low demand and supply of the export products. The demand for imports will be low if the domestic currency becomes weak (Amor 113). This is because the business will spend more to import the goods as the cost of purchasing the foreign currency in order to pay for the goods increases. This leads to high prices and this translates into low demand and supply. However, the demand for imports will be high if the local currency appreciates since the favorable exchange rate will lower the costs of importing the goods. Marketing The marketing of both imports and exports is directly influenced by changes in the exchange rate. It particularly influences the marketing mix and segmentation process in regard to the exports and imports (Blinder and Baumol 134). A depreciation of the domestic currency results into high demand for the export products. Thus the business will focus on increasing distribution and identifying new segments in order to increase sales. However, an appreciation of domestic currency lowers the demand for the export products. Thus the focus of marketing will shift to promotion and segmentation. Promotional activities will be emphasized in order to increase sales. Besides, only products whose demands are not price elastic will be distributed. As the demand for the imports increases due to the appreciation of the domestic currency, the marketing team will focus on increasing distribution and identifying new segments in order to increase sales (Ito, Isard and Bayo umi 23). However, as the demand for the imports reduces due to the depreciation of the domestic currency, the marketing team will focus on promotion and selective distribution in order to increase the sales of the imported goods. Sources of the Imports Changes in exchange rate will influence the diversification of the sources of import goods. In order to avoid the risks associated with fluctuations in exchange rate, businesses usually diversify their sources of import goods. This means that they import the same product from different countries. They will always import from countries whose currencies are depreciating or are weaker as compared to that of their country (Thorbecke 509). This enables them to take advantage of the low cost of purchasing the foreign currency in order to pay for the imports. This leads to low prices and high demand for the products.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Influence of Changes in Exchange Rate on Imports and Exports specifi cally for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Currency Selection and Payment Contracts Since countries use different currencies, an export and import business must decide its preferred currency for accepting payments or making payments. As discussed above, the fluctuations in the exchange rate has a direct impact on prices and demand for both imports and exports. Thus in order to avoid or to reduce the risks associated with exchange rate flactuations, international businesses always focus on sharing such risks with their partners (Blinder and Baumol 79). This has always been done by choosing a currency that is relatively stable. The selected currency must be accepted by both the exporter and the importer. For example, the US dollar is commonly used in international trade due to its stability. Thus changes in exchange rate determines the currency for paying for the imports and exports. Returns on Exports and Imports The changes in exchange rate have a direct imp act on the profits that accrue from both import and export trade. A depreciation of the local currency will increase the demand for the export goods. This leads to high sales and an increase in profit margins (Case and Fair 75). However, an appreciation of the local currency leads to a reduction in sales and profit margins as the products become more expensive in the export market. In the case of imports, an appreciation of the local currency leads to high demand and this translates into high sales and profits. However, the depreciation of the local currency will negatively affect sales as prices increase due to the high cost of purchasing foreign currency in order to pay for the imports. As the sales reduce, the profits also reduce. Product Development A stable exchange rate will enable the business to sustain the desired level of revenue. This is because the demand and supply as well as sales will not be adversely affected by the fluctuations in exchange rate as discussed above. T hus the company will be able to obtain the funds that are needed for research and development in order to produce the goods and services that meet the expectations of the customers. However, fluctuations in the exchange rate undermine the financial performance of an import and export business (Kwack 62). This forces international companies to direct a high percentage of their revenue towards the implementation of strategies that enables them to survive the negative effects of exchange rate fluctuations. Such strategies include sales campaign and sharing the costs of importation or exportation with the customers. Consequently, very little funds are allocated for research and development and this undermines the process of product development.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conclusion The above discussion shows that the exchange rate has a great influence on import and export businesses. The businesses gain when the exchange rate is favorable as discussed above. However, they lose when the exchange rate is unfavorable. The undesired effects of changes in exchange rate on exports and imports include increase in prices and reduction in demand and profit margins (Case and Fair 58). Changes in the exchange rate can also lead to a reduction in prices and an increase in demand and profits. Thus it is upon the business owners to understand the dynamics of the exchange rate in the market in order to avoid the risks associated with exchange rate fluctuations. Amor, Thouraya. Financial integration and real exchange rate volatility. International Journal of Business and Management 3 (2007): 112-115. Beardshaw, John. Economics. New Delhi: Pearson Education, 2001. Print. Blinder, Alan and William Baumol. Economics: principles and policy. New York: Cengage, 2009. P rint. Case, Karl and Ray Fair. Principles of economics. New York: Prentice Hall, 2004. Print. Ito, Takatoshi, Peter Isard and Tumim Bayoumi. Exchange rate movements and their impact on trade and investment . Washington DC: International Monetary Fund, 1996. Print. Kwack, Sung. Exchange rate and monetory regime options for regional cooperation. Journal of the Japanese and International Economics 16 (2008): 503-517. Lipsey, Richard and Colin Hurbury. First principles of economics . London: Oxford University Press, 1992. Print. Mallick, Suschanta and Helena Marques. Passthrough of exchange rate and tariffs into prices of India. Review of International Economics 16 (2008): 765-782. Thorbecke, Willem. Global imbalances, triangular trading patterns and the yen/dollar exchange rate. Journal of the Japanese and International Economics 22 (2008): 503-517. Thurbecke, Willem. Investigating the effects of exchange rate chnages on Chinas processed exports. Journal of Japanese and International E conomics 10 (2010): 101-126.

The benefits of international portfolio investment Essay

The benefits of international portfolio investment - Essay Example There are numerous benefits of internationalizing the portfolio. By internationalizing, the individual or firm will be able to minimize the risk; invest in growing markets thus benefiting from their growth; hedge the prices of goods in the consumption basket; enjoy higher return than expected; diversify investments; and enjoy lower variation of return. High economic growth leads to the higher GDP and high growth level. This attract other investors from other countries in invest in the growing economies. Growing economies are determined by the World Bank as the ones which have average income levels but high economic growth levels. These emerging economies can be of Middle East, Asia, Africa or Latin America. The growth levels attract the foreign investment which further improves their economy. These economies including some of the developed ones such as Japan and Netherlands provide tremendous opportunities to foreign investors. The financial investment in these countries enable indiv iduals and firm to increase their investment by two fold within a couple of years. Hence, it is seen as a good opportunity by investors. However, the small economies are still riskier compared to developed economies. In small economies, the prices might fluctuate rapidly and in case of liquefying the investment, losses might have to be borne. Also, the emerging economies might not be too stable politically. Thus, there is a political risk involved such as instability of political system, change of policies regarding foreign investment and remittances, change in foreign exchange policy and change of property rights. These factors make the investment in emerging markets riskier compared to developed economies where there is political stability. ... (Perry) However, the small economies are still riskier compared to developed economies. In small economies, the prices might fluctuate rapidly and in case of liquefying the investment, losses might have to be borne. Also, the emerging economies might not be too stable politically. Thus, there is a political risk involved such as instability of political system, change of policies regarding foreign investment and remittances, change in foreign exchange policy and change of property rights. These factors make the investment in emerging markets riskier compared to developed economies where there is political stability. (Yavas, 2007) In contrast to this, the overall portfolio risk will be reduced because there will be less, no or negative correlation between markets which will be beneficial for the investor. On the other hand, there is a difference in taxes, potential information and forecasts. Some of the forecast made by countries might differ significantly from actual result. Thus, th e exact picture or perfect information regarding investment might not be available. The markets are seemed to have integrated over the years and are considered negatively or not at all correlated to each other. Thus, the investors benefit from investing worldwide because it one investment’s return are falling, other investment’s return might increase or remain same. Thus, the investor will be better off. However, each country has its own investing and currency exchange policy which might be a hindrance for the investor. The investor benefits from ‘pure diversification’ by investing worldwide but might face policy restrictions. (Bartram & Dufey, 2001) Factor influencing the structure of International Portfolio Investment The factors

Safety in high rise buildings role of a project manager Essay

Safety in high rise buildings role of a project manager - Essay Example Fay (2007), Craighead (2008) and Adler (1993) generally define high-rise buildings as structures that extend higher than the maximum reach of available fire-fighting equipment. More specifically, these are the structures whose heights fall between 75 feet (23 meters) and 100 feet (30 meters) or approximately seven to ten stories, depending on the height between the floors (Fay, 2007). Security, on the other hand, coming from the Latin word securus, means freedom from danger or risk (Fay, 2007). This term has become relatively synonymous with safety, which also connotes one’s freedom from danger (Fay, 2007). Having recognized these terms then, the researcher then discusses the common problems being experienced by workers who participate in the construction of high rise buildings that often pose threats to their safety and security. The issue with regard to the safety and security of workers in high rise building construction sites has often been a subject of many researches. In fact, the construction industry has been considered to be one of the most dangerous sectors due to the number of accidents being experienced by the workers while they are working on their projects, most especially, the high rise buildings (Rowlinson 2004). The industry, because of the abovementioned has then also produced the worst safety record all over the world. One of the most common problems experienced by workers in the construction of high rise buildings that threaten their safety and security has something to do with the climate. Apparently, the current temperature in the area where a certain worker is employed tends to affect the building materials, especially those that is being handled or walked on (Oliver, 2005). It is then for this reason that Oliver (2005) deems it important that a worker or most importantly, the climate manager, be informed of the

Game Advertising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Game Advertising - Essay Example PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates that the online gaming industry is set to grow $55 billion in 2009 (Video Games 2006). It should also be noted that the gaming industry grows at an astounding double digit rate of 25% annually. Business organizations have been very quick to realize the potential profit gain from this segment. Massive Incorporated, which is the world's first video game company, operates with the mission of "aggregating the gaming audience to deliver advertising across a network of premier video titles and providing measured results on consumer interaction with the advertising." Double Fusion is an Israeli in-game advertising company established in the summer of 2004. The business model of Double Fusion is very much similar to that of Massive. The product line of Double Fusion ranges from dynamic advertisements, integrated advertising, and "around game" inventory (Double Fusion 2006). In Game Advertising (IGA) seeks t o provide advertising services with its global computer video game media and advertising network.

Analysing Market Competition of British Petroleum and Compempetitors

Analysing Market Competition of British Petroleum and Compempetitors British petroleum was originally created by a German firm as a way of marketing its production in Britain. British petroleum started 1908 in a rugged part of Persia(history of Bp 2010) and has had a lot of oil and gas in the proverbial pipeline(Bp New millenium2010). ,including discoveries from BPs own research facilities. British petroleum is one of the worlds largest energy companies, providing its customers with fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, retail services and petrochemical products for everyday items(Bp At a Glance2010).BP is the worlds second biggest oil firm by market value. BP had grown to become a global energy company, providing large quantities of oil while also making strides along a promising path towards oils alternatives(Bp At a Glance2010). British petroleum cost profit as at year end 2009 was 14.0 billion and reserves at 18.3billion barrels of oil equivalent i.e. its exploration and refines wholly and partly owned are in 30 countries. This paper analyses BP and its competitors such as Exxon Mobile, Shell, Chevron in terms of the market competition as well as its position within the petroleum industry. This essay is also aimed at assessing both the internal and external factors that greatly influence the business activities of the global petroleum company. Relevant emphasis would be made on the analysis of the critical success factors of BP alongside its business strategies over the past five years. Nevertheless, the essay will appraise the survival of BP in the competitive nature of oil and gas/renewable energies as well as an analysis of the resources and capabilities acquired by the company over the period of five years demonstrating the extent to which such resources have been effectively utilised to gain competitive advantage over its competitors within the oil and gas industry. 2.0 COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT OF BRITISH PETROLEUM Oil and Gas companies such as British Petroleum yields a huge amount of turn over for industries. In 2005 Bp delivered a record level of cash flow of $25billion and yielded cash proceeds of $8.3billion and launched the alternative BP business, also distributing $19billion of cash to share holders(Bp Presentation Script 2006). As at 2007 end oil and gas reserves were valued at 177.9billion, which is an increase from the previous year of $120.9billion, while gas was estimated to be worth $68.3billion in the UK(National statistics2010). Oil and gas industries remain highly attractive due to its favourable market position with strong financial make-up and strong earnings growth and by this barrier to entry to oil and gas industries is very high. However the oil and gas industry consist of a few players such as Exxon mobile, shell, Saudi Aram co, chevron which are involved in the large scale of International operations which increases the rivalry level(Energy Business Daily 2010).(energy 2010) argued that threat of new entrants is low due to the fact that leading oil companies as mentioned earlier are very large in size and highly integrated which make use of the large scale of their production and distribution to reduce cost and increase profit and also by investing heavily on drilling rig, technology and innovation that are hard to replicate which leads to manufacturing capabilities and investment which is a significant barrier to enter. Strong players such as BP, Exxon mobile, Shell, Saudi Aramco and few others use their scale of economies ,strong research and development(RD) which act as a significant barrier to entry. Major disadvantage of high barrier to entry is it increases rivalry between competitors and most especially declining industries which is related to the competitive rivalry between BP and competitors such as chevron, shell, Exxon mobile (Energy Business Daily 2010). However in 2009 BP marked the seventeenth year of delivering reserves replacement consecutively of more than 100%, invested $20billion in its business and gained $4billion in cash cost savings approximately 40% of lower fuel cost(annual review 09). Production grew by 4% while production cost reduced by 12% which makes BP the largest producer in deep water field globally(Annual. Reporting 09). On the other hand shell seeks a large rival method by re-enforcing its position as a leader in the industry with the ability to provide competitive shareholders return and the projection of 8billion barrels of oil to improve its financial position till 2020(Shell strategy 2010). 2.1 CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS Critical success factor is important as it allows firms concentrate on building their capabilities and allows firms to make a decision on whether they have the capability to build the necessary requirements to meet its Critical success factors(Rockart J Bullen C 1981). Rockart in (Mind tool 2010) states that critical success factors are The limited number of areas in which results, if they are satisfactory, will ensure successful competitive performance for the organization. They are the few key areas where things must go right for the business to flourish. If results in these areas are not adequate, the organizations efforts for the period will be less than desired.. Critical success factors are those major factors of a company such as reputation, brand, excellent services, delivery, product range and innovation (Johnson Scholes2002). Presently Bp is facing a huge loss in the business related to the oil spill with the effect on the environment at large in April. Early this year BP has paid $11.6bn in total costs on the gulf of Mxico oil spill, but still faces ongoing clean-up charges which is estimated to be $39.9billion).(Guardian2010). 2.1.1 Cost reduction: Bp suspended its dividend quarterly payments made to shareholders, which is about 9.5pence per share amounting to $2.6billion as a result of the oil spill making all efforts to cut cost and maximise profit(BBC New2010). Bp laid off thousands of workers ,about 20% by cutting down capital expenditure significantly as part of bps plan to reduce annual cost (BBC News Channel2008). Bp sold four oil and gas stakes in the gulf of Mxico to Marubien corporation at $650billion as a result to raise funds to pay part of the damages of oil spill which is as a result of cutting cost(Euro News 2010). BP agreed to sell part of its assets in North America and Egypt for $7 billion which is part of BPs plan to get money to pay out of the damages they caused in the gulf of Mxico which is another process of cutting cost (Bloomberg Business week 2010). (Market Watch2010). Bp established $20billion escrow fund for victims of the oil spill spreading out the payment quarterly, initial p ayment of $3billion in 3rd quarter, $2billion in 4th quarter and $1.5billion per quarter till its fully paid as a result of cutting cost . 2.1.2 Sales and Marketing: British Petroleum is into all kinds of energy products such as wind, solar, bio fuel, carbon, hydrogen power, gas fired power and storage systems(Bp 2008 pg33-34). British Petroleum invested $1.4billion in as part of the commitment of the company to spend $8billion in 10years by developing alternative energy such as wind, bio fuel, carbon and storage(Bp 2008 pg 33). The industry is currently facing a down turn in alternative energy by closing factories around the world and cutting alternative budget from $1.4billion(850m) to between $500million and 1billion(Guardian article 2009). 2.1.3 Process Innovation: British petroleum invented Bright Water with the use of polymer popcorn as a process of recovering oil from the deep shores of the sea which helps Bp to boost its oil out significantly, which is an advantage for British petroleum to improve its research and development and gain competitive advantage over its rivals(Bp report 2010). 2.1.4 Research and Development: British petroleum commenced on a $500billion research in Illinois on farm bio-energy production(Tech 2010). Bp launched a major new personal development programme which would give young people from different parts of the world the opportunity to have a better life and the positively influence local communities(London 2012). Bp has established a new research of $500million studying the impact of the deep water horizon(Bp2010). Bp is the leading player in the global bio fuel market, Bp and martek bio science corporation entered a jointed agreement to prove microbial oil for bio-fuels(Bp press 2010). Bp in 2008 commenced on a project of exploration and extraction of crude oil and natural gas from wells of 8 different countries and also completed 9 major production projects which led to record profit of $37.9billion before tax approximately 39% higher than the previous year(Bp2008 pg13-14). Bp is the largest producer of oil and gas in the US Gulf of Mexico , producing about 400,000 barrels of oil every single day. It has also made progression on nine projects n the Gulf of Mexico such as Atlanta Phase2, Tubular Bells, Kodiak, Freedom, Kaskida, Isabela, Santa Cruz, Mad Dog Tie Backs and Great White(Bp Press Releases 2009). Therefore British petroleum has a good reputation on research and development which as a result, increase competitive advantage over it rivals. 3.0 CONCLUSION 4.0 PORTERS GENERIC STRATEGY OF BRITISH PETROLEUM Cost leadership strategy, differentiation strategy and focus strategy are the three main strategic approach that can be applied to any products of any industry to gain competitive advantage(mind tool 2010). Cost leadership strategy is also referred to as low cost leadership strategy which is aimed at gaining competitive advantage by reducing cost below its competitors(Ecofine 2003). Differentiation strategy is a competitive business strategy in other to gain competitive advantage by the differentiations of product and services from that of competitors(Ecofine 2003). Focus strategy is the use of core competencies of an industry to serve a group of customers Niche Market(Ecofine 2003). Bps method of gaining competitive advantage is by cutting cost which led to the explosion in 2005 in Texas. It was stated that Bp implemented a 25% cut on fixed cost from 1998 to 2000 which impacted the maintenance and infrastructure of the refinery(Washington post 2006). Four successive accidents took p lace between 2005 and 2006, the explosion at the Texas city refinery, the oil spills in Alaska, the $1billion thunder oil rig in the gulf of Mxico was as a result of poor maintenance and cost cutting(The Sunday Times 2010). As at 2007 year end Bp shed more than 7500 jobs and contractors swinging its profit to $4.3billion after a loss of $3.3billion the previous year which is as a result of cutting cost(SA Business2010). The newly appointed CEO in 2008 carried out a program on cutting cost on job cuts of 14500 workers and $1billion over head cost cut by maximizing its profit with a much greater investment in Canadian oil sands(Guardian2008). A savings of $1billion and a cost cut of $2billion and the lower oil price led to increase in profit(BBC New2009). It has always been a tradition of Bp to cut cost by maximizing profit their by increasing its competitive advantage in the business, however cutting cost in 2010 has left Bp with a shredded reputation as a result of poor performance and safety caution(Panel 2010). Furthermore British Petroleum has also imbibed differentiation strategy by engaging in new projects and new researches and developments which would enhance its competitive advantage over its rivals. Bp and Edison Mission Group a sister company to Edison International in 2005 planned a project of $1billion that would generate electricity with the use of minimal carbon using hydrogen fuelled power plants in California(Green Car Congress2006). Bp is committed to developing other new project of bio fuel such as Algae, Diesel and Butanol (Good Clean Tech 2009). Bp differentiates itself from its rivals by new researches and developments, involving in new projects by creating and expanding energy products. Bp and Emerson Project Management increased the flow of wireless network technology by expanding its cherry point refinery application and installing Emersons smart wireless throughout its RD facility in Naperville(Control Global 2009). However Bp imbibed marketing and refining strategy by processing crude oil to petroleum products and selling them around the world in over 100 countries operating in 17refineries worldwide at the capacity of 2,155million barrels per day, while its retail network consists of 22600 stations branded Bp, Amoco ,Arco, Castrol brand as part of its means of differentiating itself within the energy industry and a means of gaining competitive advantage(Bp2008 pg27-28). The company has set a standard with the use of cost leadership strategy, market strategy, differentiation strategy and a bit of focus strategy to maximize profit, generate revenue and having a competitive advantage in the energy industry. 4.1 CONCLUSION This report has shown that British petroleum used cost leadership strategy which is also known as low cost strategy as a way of gaining competitive advantage which in turn had diverse effect on the business due to the explosions and positively impacted on the business. Also British petroleum has used differentiation strategy as part of its business strategy by differentiating its products by creating and developing alternative energies to yield more proceeds for the business alongside and also incorporating marketing strategy by placing the business outlets in over 100 countries around the globe as a means of having an advantage of its rivals. 5.0 RESOURCES AND CAPABILITIES OF BRITISH PETROLEUM The Value chain are the activities through which it develops competitive advantage through its production, sales and marketing, maintenance, through the use of administrative infrastructure, human resource management and research and development in which put together builds products and services(Johnson schools 2008). Primary activities; A Companys primary activities are the processes involved in producing or manufacturing a product or products(Richard lynch 2006). Bp is well known for its cost reduction strategy, sales and marketing strategy, research and development strategy which are alternative energys and exploration and production of oil and gas and renewable energys, its innovation strategy which are the primary activities of British petroleum. Research and development; After the major disaster British petroleum caused in the gulf of Mexico, and the ongoing debt it still has to pay, BP is still pushing further on its business by signing a deal with verenium for cellulosic ethanol technology which is a process of fermentation of biomass into ethanol which is one of British petroleum technology on bio fuel which is an alternative energy(C Net News 2010). Sales and Marketing; Despite the huge loss in the Gulf of Mexico crisis early this year and the damaged image of Bp, Bp is back in profit in relations to the increase in oil price which boosted its earnings in the exploration and production division to 1.3billion(BBC News by Peston Picks 2010). Bps exploration and development activities include production of natural gas and oil and drilling of wells to complete production and such activities take place in UK, USA, Canada, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Trinidad and Tobago, Norway and many others while BPs refining and marketing section is involved in crude oil, petroleum products, petrochemical products and aluminium products by supplying these products to customers such as Amoco, Arco, Castrol brands and also producing alternative energies which are the primary activities of BP(Business Week 2010). TNK-BP produces natural gas in subsidiary areas in West Seberia and also in the core areas in West Seberia known as Nizhnevartovsk(TNK-BP2010). Bp s ells its products through powerful brands such as ARCO, Castrol, Amoco, Aral and BP in more than 250,000 filling stations all over the world, Bp is also the largest retailer in petroleum products in Germany and has about 2,700outlets there. Bp is also planning to build outlets in china which would be named Petro china and Sinopec(BP Investment and income2010). However BP has divested a number of its oil and natural gas properties which means selling off a part of its exploration and production infrastructure businesses and examples are BP sold four drilling rigs such as Magnolia, Merganser, Nansen, and Zia which produced a total of 15,000 barrels of oil per day which is as a result of exploring new energies in the vicinity and the cash from the sales all four drilling rig would be used to pay out of the violation charges of the gulf of Mxico oil spill(Guardian 2010). Supportive activities; supportive activities are activities that support the primary activities that makes it more efficient and effective such as procurement, infrastructure, Human Resource Management and technology development(Johnson. G Scholes. K 2002). Bp new strategy of low cost is divestment of its telecommunication technology section of the business to Telekom system in other to save cost and continue its efficiency. CONCLUSION This report shows how British Petroleum has achieved its competitive advantage through its business strategies b cutting cost, innovating new products such as renewable energies, efficiently working on research and development and also utilizing its sales and marketing strategies. In the past five years has aligned its business strategy to resources and capabilities their by giving it competitive advantage. Bp has also faced a lot of challenges relating to the oil spill in 2005-2006 but has also gradually gained its stands in the oil and gas industry. However there are recent challenges due to the recent explosion in the gulf of Mxico causing Bp to lose its licence to extract oil and facing a six month suspense due to the explosion. Bp should focus more safety measure and environmental issues by preparing for any further damages and also training workers in fields on how to quickly spot problems with oil rigs and quick solutions to the problems. Bp ; oil and gas exploration; what we do(2010) Retrieved [online] November 8 2010 http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9021489contentId=7039991 1.History of BP(2010); Our history. The bps story from first oil to tomorrows energies. BP 2010 retrieved [online] November 11 2010 http://www.bp.com/multipleimagesection.do?categoryId=2010123contentId=7059226 2.Bp New Millennium. 2000 and beyond. Looking ahead to new energies 2000 retrieved [online] November 11 2010 http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9014445contentId=7027526 3.Bp at a Glance 2010; about BP. Retrieved [online] November 8 2010 http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=3contentId=2006926 BP presentation script 2006: Strategy Presentation 2010. Retrieved [online]14 November 2010 .http://www.bp.com/extendeddownloadscript.do?categoryId=9028227contentId=7051331 National statistics November 11 december 2008 [online]: Oil and Gas Values. Retrieved 14/11/2010 http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=149 Energy business daily : Barriers to entry into the energy industry ; Retrieved [online] 14 November 2010; http://energybusinessdaily.com/power/barriers-of-entry-into-the-energy-industry/ BP Annual Report 2009; BPs annual summary of group strategy and performance. Retrieved [online] 16 November 2010 http://www.bp.com/extendedsectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9021605contentId=7040949 Royal Dutch Shell Plc update on strategy to improve performance and grow; Our s http://www.shell.com/home/content/aboutshell/our_strategy/update_2010/ mind tool 2010; porters generic strategy; choosing your route to competitive advantage [online] retrieved 16 2010 from; http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newSTR_82.htm British petroleum press office 2010;by Cassie France Kelly; Bp pledges $500million for independent research into impact of spill of marine environment. 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Female Genital Mutilation: A Gross Violation of Human Rights Essay

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has often been viewed as a rite of passage for women in various countries within Africa, South America, the Middle East and Asia. However, due to societal norms and pressures, whether it based in culture or religion, forces women to partake in a practice that has serious health risks and takes away the rights of women who believe they have no other choice. The Universal Declaration of Human rights are applicable to all member states including most of the countries that still practice FGM. However, despite claiming that the human rights set forth would be observed as obligated in terms of their memberships, FGM violates numerous rights and freedoms that claim to be recognized but, are not known to the people. These rights are neglected, and frequently go unacknowledged within communities because of denied access to media or information. Nonetheless whether it is intentional or a direct result of the poverty levels within these countries these are rights that the people deserve to know they have. If women were exposed to various forms of media and knew of their rights, FGM would not be so highly practiced. Female Genital Mutilation is a flagrant violation of one’s human rights. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is also known as female circumcision. There is this passivity and social acceptance that implied when using female circumcision versus FGM because, circumcision of males in western cultures is a norm and therefore, not viewed as a violation of one’s rights. However, if female genital cutting is referred to as female circumcision then it equating the severity of FGM with that of a male which is not the case. FGM is more harmful to the health of the woman at question and in no means beneficial to... ... Study Using Female Genital Mutilation†. Health and Human Rights. The President and Fellows of Harvard College. Vol. 2, No. 2 (1997), pp. 137-146. Web. Dorkenoo, Efua. â€Å"Combating Female Genital Mutilation: An Agenda for the Next Decade†. Women's Studies Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 1/2, Teaching About Violence Against Women, The Feminist Press at the City University of New York (Spring - Summer, 1999), pp. 87-97. Web R. Beitz, Charles. â€Å"Human Rights as a Common Concern†. The American Political Science Review, American Political Science Association, Vol. 95, No. 2 (Jun., 2001), pp. 269-282. Web N. Davis, Aisha. â€Å"Female Genital Cutting: The Pressures of Culture, International Attention, and Domestic Law on the Role of African Women†. Gender and Sexuality Law Online. Columbia Law School. 25 January 2012. Web. http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml#a3

Family and Abbey Essay

Blonde hair, blue eyes and a sad look. This was the face of an innocent little girl named Abbey. Abbey was only 10 years old and she lived at home with her mother and father. She had no one to play with and her only friend was a little toy bear, it was old and falling apart and it had patches of hair. Abbey was an only child and was just about to start year 5 at Howard Pubic School. The poor little girl wasn’t so much bullied at school, but she was always left out. She was too young to understand why it was happening to her and why the children were always being mean to her. I guess you could say, most 10 year olds love going home at the end of the day to see their family but not Abbey. Abbey’s father had a beer in his hand as per usual and her mum had bloodshot eyes as always. The only time she was allowed out of her room was to go to school, other than that her parents always kept her locked in an attic because they had no time for the poor little girl and they never cared about her. Every afternoon she would come home from school and sit in her room talking to her toy bear when no one was around. She used to lie on the floor and not make a sound. She hides in a corner while she hears her parents come up and unlock the door. Some more and more pain Abbey has to go through for no reason at all. There are scars on her face and bruises on her legs. Out of everyone, why is she is such a horrible place? The poor little girl cries herself to sleep every night because all she wants to do is to fit in with everyone and have a family that loves her dearly but she thinks to herself why she is not belonging. She holds her toy bear close and sobs. Meanwhile in her room, she sits in the corner quiet but yet thinking â€Å"God why? Why did my life turn out like this?† Everyday is a struggle for the little five year old and she prays before she goes to bed â€Å"Dear Jesus, I know that my mummy or daddy do not care about me but please promise me you’ll take good care of them. I also pray that tomorrow I will make friends because it is hard for me to go to school and not play with anyone. No one wants to be friends with me and I don’t know why. Thank you and I love you†. One night before school, her mum came home high. The mother and father were having an argument and the police were called. The poor little girl was slapped, beaten and hit as hours went by. When the police showed up, they took Abbey to a foster home to be looked after. When she leaves, Abbey suddenly runs back inside and grabs her teddy, as that is the only thing she took with her. The mother and father said goodbye to the little girl as the police took her away. Abbey is now in a safer environment with carers that she loves. She has put everything past her and started a new life. She will always remember what happened when she was young but now all she can think of is how happy she is.

Trolley Crane Design Essay Example

Trolley Crane Design Essay Example Trolley Crane Design Paper Trolley Crane Design Paper Introduction For this project, the aim was to research different geared trolley cranes and come up with a brief outline/ design which would meet some specific design limitations. The trolley crane that we had to come up with was meant to be designed to lift and carry a load of 1. 5 tones along I-beam of 4 meters long. The research that we did was mainly on existing trolley cranes and the configurations of these cranes which allowed us to familiarize ourselves with what the crane does and how It works. The way that the crane operates Is by having a person pull a chain. This chain Is connected to a drive shaft which In turn Is connected too pylon and two wheels. These wheels allow the crane to move horizontally along the I-beam whilst sustaining a load. For our crane design, as mentioned above, the I-beam must be able to support the load of 1. 5 tones without failing under the load and the beam length must be 4 meters long. The trolley crane must also be manually operated with one person pulling the chain to operate it. The way that we can ensure that the trolley crane and I-beam will support the specified load is by using some of the basic beam bending theory in strength of trials and by using different tolerance and bearing data from previous notes. 2. 0. Research As a group we researched many trolley cranes currently on the market, this gave us an idea of the competition for our trolley crane and helped clarify the workings of such mechanisms. (See appendix) 3. 0. Product Design Specification 3. 1. Design Brief The alma of this project, is through the researching of other products, Is to produce a design for a geared trolley crane which fits the given specification for our group. 3. 2. Performance The trolley crane should be capable of sustaining a load of 1. tones with a safety factor of 20%. Should run along a 4 meter I-beam. Trolley crane should be operated and manually moved via a chain/gear system. The weight of the trolley must provide stability along the selected I-beam. The Trolley should be removable from the beam for maintenance and re- installation. 3. 3. Environment The trolley will be available to a global market. Being used in a diverse environment, the trolley crane will be subject to a humid/ wet environment and as such will need to be treated in order to resist corrosion. The trolley will be stored in suppliers warehouses before sales. . 4. Product life span The product will be on the market for 7 years. Spare parts will be available for a further 3 years 3. 5. Life in service Should withstand an operating period of 1 hrs uninterrupted use per day for 3. 5 years. Life in service should be assessed against the criteria outlined in the Performance and Environment categories. . 6. Shelf life The product may be stored on-site for up to 2 weeks before being dispatched. Distributor may additionally store the product for several months. 3. 7. Target costs The product should have an end-user cost of IEEE within Britain. Cost of manufacture should not exceed 50% of this cost. The cost of packaging and shipping should be no more than 15% of the manufacturing cost. 3. 8. Quantity Dependent on market demand 3. 9. Maintenance To be maintenance free except for light lubrication once a month and a recommended service every two years. Parts requiring lubrication should be accessible within 10 minutes without the use of special tools or equipment. All fasteners used should comply with BASSES. Spares should be available for 3 and a half years after the product is replaced with a new model. No special tools should be required for maintenance. . 10. Marketing The trolley crane should be used in competition with other models. Some markets which will use the trolley crane are:- small car garages, storage warehouses, workshops etc. The trolley should be light and therefore be able to be moved easily by no less tan two people. It should allow for operation by one man. 3. 11. Packaging The trolley packaging and transportation should be reasonably inexpensive. No more than 5% of the total cost. 3. 12. Size and Weight Restrictions Length of the beam should be no more than 4 meters long. Width and Height to be no more than mm Weight should be no more than keg. Height should be no more than mm 3. 13. Manufacturing process Bearings, pin/bolt and chain will be bought in from a supplier. The wheels and the pinion will be CNN machined using the milling process.

How to become a delivery driver

How to become a delivery driver Delivery drivers are not just necessary for logistics, but also bringers of good things. Think about it- when was the last time a delivery driver brought you bad news? Now think about the last time a delivery driver brought you something awesome, like pizza or the Amazon package you just ordered, like, 10 minutes ago. As a delivery driver, you’re making good things happen. And whether it’s a right-now job or a starting point on a road to a broader career in shipping and logistics, here’s what you’ll need to get started. What does a delivery driver do?Delivery drivers deliver goods or products, either on a route (like packages) or on demand (like food delivery). They’re responsible for making sure the product gets to customers as completely and efficiently as possible, while limiting damage or delays that can lead to a negative customer experience. A delivery driver’s duties may include:Loading and unloading trucksDriving within a set area in varying road or weather conditionsTracking shipments and deliveries and recording dataTroubleshooting customer issues if there is damage or a problemBasic truck maintenanceProcessing customer paymentsHandling food safelyDelivery drivers may work around the clock, especially as companies push to deliver goods on Sundays and holidays. These shifts may increase around holidays or other busy times of the year (depending on what they deliver).What skills do delivery drivers need?As logistics professionals, delivery drivers need to be schedule-oriented, and customer service-oriented.Driving Skills:Â  A valid license and a clean driving record are key here. Drivers who use cars to delivery may not need a special license, but delivery drivers who work with box trucks or larger trucks will likely need to complete a training course and pass a special commercial driver’s license (CDL) test.Customer Service Skills:Â  No one wants to get a mangled box or a pizza where all of the cheese is stuck to the top of the box. The delivery driver is responsible for making sure the customer is getting what he or she expects. And even if that can’t be resolved right away, that means working with the customer to escalate the issue to the right people who can help.Time Management Skills:Â  Delivery drivers are always on a schedule, no matter what they’re delivering. That means figuring out efficient routes, managing downtime, and staying on track during delivery hours.Problem Solving Skills:Â  Serving the public is full of variables, as is anything related to driving. A flat tire or an irate customer, can derail an entire schedule. So a delivery driver should be well-versed in solving problems on the fly, or at least coming up with a game plan that can help get things back on track.What do you need to become a delivery truck driver?Delivery truck drivers typically have a high school degree or equivalent certificate, plus receive on-the-job training. You’l l also need a valid driver’s license- either a standard state-issued license or a specific CDL if you plan to drive large vehicles. Each state has its own CDL requirements, so be sure to check out what your own state requires before you hit the road.How much do delivery drivers get paid?According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for delivery drivers is $28,390. This can vary depending on the driver’s experience and the type of delivery.What is the outlook for delivery drivers?The growth in this field is steady, especially as shipping and delivery logistics continue to take center stage as part of the growth of e-commerce.

Income inequality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Income inequality - Essay Example The rich tend to earn more income than the poor, and so more wealth seems to fall majorly in the hands of a few rich people while the majority earn very little. One’s earnings depend on several factors such as the demand and supply for the person’s skills. As the factors influence wages, they end up affecting the distribution of a country’s income. With income inequality, the rich tend to earn higher income while the poor earn low incomes. That differentiates the poor from the rich. Such inequality has several impacts on the economy and the population. To measure inequality, economists use some measures. Through one such measure, they compare household incomes through surveys. The process involves a comparison of the sources of income and the consumption patterns of the households that participate in the survey. To rank individuals in accordance to per capita income for each household, economists subtract direct taxes from the total income for the household. They then divide the amount by the number of individuals in the household. The calculation and the ranking give the Gini coefficient. The Gini coefficient is a method applicable to the measurement of inequality. The Gini coefficient has a range of 0 to 100 whereby 0 represents a period when everyone has the same income (Milanovic, 2011 p.7). The income inequality in a country would generally range between 25 and 60 in the Gini range. In the assessment of income inequality, household surveys come out as the best instruments. However, they have some drawbacks. At times, the rich may refuse to participate in interviews or at times they may understate their incomes. Another useful measure of income inequality is the Lorenz curve. With this measure, economists seek to determine how cumulative percentage of households links to cumulative percentage of income (Mankiw and Taylor, 2014 p.386). By plotting the cumulative percentage of income against

Sikhism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sikhism - Research Paper Example Thesis statement: The research on Sikhism proves that its evolution is interconnected with different religious beliefs in India; its doctrinal and philosophical dimensions prove that it is related to universal brotherhood and monotheism, and the acceptance of differences proves that the same exerts positive impact in and outside of this religious belief in general. As pointed out, the origin of this religion is interconnected with the spiritual leader, whose name is Guru Nanak. Besides, the evolution of this religion from an Indian religion to a global religion is indebted to migration, especially from India to different parts of the world. On the other side, Guru Nanak did not limit the growth of this religion within his own teachings. Instead, he started ‘guruship’ or the process of accepting different people as spiritual leaders during different time intervals. J. S. Grewal states that, â€Å"During the last fifteen years of his life Guru Nanak settled down at Kartarpur, a place founded by him then on the right bank of the river Ravi, represented by the present Dera Baba Nanak on the left bank† (39). After Guru Nanak, spiritual leadership was vested upon Guru Angad. The political advancement known as Khalsa, is another example for the evolution of this religion. So, one can see that open mindedness towards change and acc eptance shown towards different religious beliefs is the reason behind the success of this religion. As pointed, Granth Sahib is generally considered as the doctrinal aspect of Sikhism because it contains the basic teachings of important gurus. Within this scenario, the fundamental aspects/ doctrinal dimensions of Sikhism include the teachings of their religious/spiritual leaders. First of all, the concept of ‘Nam’ is symbolic of monotheism because this religion asks the followers to believe in oneness of the God. To be specific, this