Observation Paper - Organization Development Essay

Observation Paper - Organization Development - Essay Example ion statement of the firm is â€Å"what we stand for† which shows the commitment and dedication of the firm to what they do in the market (Frynas and Mellahi, 2011). As a fact, the firm states that it is objectively driven by performance, progress, innovativeness and it is responsible for its actions. The firm has a vision, which states that the firm is objectively focused on becoming a successfully recognized institution in the competitive world (Freeman, 2010). The firm wants to make immense progress in the already competitive oil industry. Therefore, it has to engage proven strategies in making such a performance (Pendergrast, 2013). Incidentally, the company wants to make a recommendable approach in its line of business. BP has unequivocally stated its objective in the oil industry, stating that it wants to bring change in the industry, be nurturing ethical and moral business strategies. As a result, it will be one of the largest firms in the industry (Lauby, 2005). Curren tly, it is the third largest firm dealing in the oil industry. For a firm to record consistent and significantly improving performance, it has to initiate various key competencies (Bodden, 2009). These factors have an ultimate influence on its performance in the market (Ansoff, 2007). BP has initiated various core competencies in the market, to ensure its performance is constantly improving. Its first key competency is the target audience. A firm that has a target audience is committed to satisfying the audience by providing the products and services the audience needs (Johnson and Scholes, 2004). For example, the firm deals in a wide variety of products and services in the market. These includes petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, lubricators and maritime. With such a varied target audience, the firm is sure of finding the much-needed demand for its products (Waters, 2013). Similarly, the firm has initiated plans to deal in bottled gas and other gasses that are used in industrial production. Since

Schizophrenia Diagnosis and Treatment in the Family Unit

Schizophrenia Diagnosis and Treatment in the Family Unit Schizophrenia is a long term disorder with active symptoms for at least one month, including but not limited to delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or bizarre behavior, and/or a lack of organized speech, activity, or emotions as defined by the American Psychiatry Association(Delesi). This disorder can then be further broken down into subcategories. These subcategories include catatonic, disorganized, borderline and paranoia. Out of the four, paranoid schizophrenia a form of schizophrenia characterized by delusions of persecution, grandeur or jealousy (Mosbys Medical Dictionary). Acute schizophrenia can be fully understood if the adjective acute is examined. The disorder begins from early adulthood and continues until the sufferer passes away. Symptoms range from severe hallucinations to euphoria. Observation of odd behaviors should be reported by peers and family as early diagnosis can aid in the prevention of negative symptoms. Although there is no c ure, drugs and therapy are available to those with the disorder and can help ease the problem. Signs and symptom: The symptomatology is quite extensive and involves multiple types or classifications. The classification can be further broken down into two subcategories. The positive symptoms include the excess of or distortions of normal functions such as thoughts, emotions or behaviors (Lieberman, Stroup, Perkins, 195). Antipsychotic medications are usually constituted for the target of positive symptoms. Part of the positive symptoms includes delusions and hallucinations that contain subcategories. Delusions are incorrect ideas that can be perceived as truth or taken as actuality. These symptoms can especially be unique to paranoid schizophrenia. Paranoid delusions usually are mild and are based on one or two things. These delusions are triggered by real events in the individuals life and becomes elaborately embedded into their system. They are frequently chronic and capable of having duration of six months or more. Although it is presumed that hostility and violence are the characteristic of t he persons functionality, this might not be the case. Another case of delusions make the individual covetous of the people around them, especially his or her spouse. Inclined by the thoughts of a cheating or disloyal partner, they make attempts to find evidence that supports the delusional notion. In some cases this can lead to confrontations where which the significant other is wrongly accused. Further discussion will continue in the following paragraph under family standpoint. In addition to delusions, hallucinations also accompany positive symptoms. Hallucination, a sensory perception in the absence of any externally generated stimulus or perception(). Types of hallucinations involve auditory, olfactory and visual sensitivity of the human body and brain. Typically false perceptions and untrue intuition are a result of this. It can deemed as a bizarre behavior by another bystander. A diagnosis of schizophrenia is a highly stigmatised condition, and the media portray such people as dangerous, violent and unpredictable (Leudar, I. Thomas, P.). However, this is due to media representations of a schizophrenic and their actions. Generally, the diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia includes the association of anxiety, anger, aloofness and argumentativeness. Another kind of symptomatology is the negative symptoms which includes frequent and persistent characteristic of schizophrenia. They can emerge as early as during the prodromal stage of the disorder, long before the presentation of the first psychotic episode. As of recent, the negative symptomatology has been broken down into two subtypes: primary and secondary negative symptoms. Primary negative symptoms are deficit symptom, which may precede psychosis on set and usually persist between the episodes. Also the symptom of lack of pleasure, poverty of speech and reduce social activity. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder Fourth Edition Text Revision diagnostic criteria for paranoid schizophre nia states a preoccupation with one or more paranoid delusion, which may be systemize or frequent auditory hallucinations along with no prominent symptoms of disorganized speech or behavior, or flat inappropriate affect. Based on the countless amount of sources, it is safe to say that someone with schizophrenia is quite noticeable. So, is there a possibility of the disorder being transmissive to the ones offspring? The goes into detail on the topic ( Lieberman, Stroup, Perkins, 195). Causes: The causes of schizophrenia are still unbeknownst to psychologists and psychiatrists respectively. But certain research suggests the disorder is hereditary. One research in particular studies a genotypes in monozygotic embryos and came across a gene that contains the genetic defect for schizophrenia (Slatkin). The data shows à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦diseases such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, and multiple sclerosis that are relatively common (0.1-2% prevalence) and that have high similar rates for monozygotic twins (30-50%) and high risks to first-degree relatives of affected individuals. Although this information does not prove much about the specific nature of transmission of schizophrenia, it does point out that there is a gene for schizophrenia and the percent chance of the offspring getting it. In this case, it is more prevalent in monozygotic twins and first-degree relatives than any other individuals. Another source shows how relatives play a role in the transmission of th e disorder. As the chart shows, the more closely related individuals are the higher chance of the offspring acquiring schizophrenia. But keep in mind the risk of the actual coding in the gene being schizophrenia is still a new subject. Moreover, there are no clear statistics to dictate whether acquisition of the disorder is definite. Family Stand Point: Schizophrenia can be a burden for family members of the sufferer. This is because numerous amount of care is needed for the patient to ensure their safety. Research has shown higher amount of stress for the parents, most especially the mothers of low-income families (Gutià ©rrez-Maldonado, Caqueo-Urà ­zar, Kavanagh). The intensive amount of care needed for schizophrenics is probably a result of this. In another study, 31 families were assess continuously during a period that contained no further relapse episodes for burden and attitude. Out of the 31 families, 14 of them engaged in an educative intervention program of the psychology called Behavioral Family Therapy (BFT). The remaining 17 families, deemed as the contrast group, received conventional family support. The result showed that the family burden was significantly lower for the first 14 families than the contrast group. The same result states the self-assessed attitude towards continuing to care for the individual was mor e positive for the families who took the BFT program in association with the contrast family. This implies certain crucial information is thought to the family in the BFT classes that the contrast group lacks thereof. A wide array of information such as how to deal and cope with the individual during episodes and what to say to them are beneficial to the caretaker of the family. (Berglund Vahlne). Treatment: There are multiple ways for the disorder to be treated. Although schizophrenia is a long term disorder that still has no cure, treatment to ease the psychological pain is available. The most widely used treatment for schizophrenia are antipsychotic medications. These medications consist of neuroleptics and include phenothiazines, thioxanthenes, butyrophenones, diphenylbutylpiperidines, benzamides, benzisoxazoles and dibenzepines. However, the most effectiveness of theses drugs are seen in the acute phase of schizophrenia and the prevention of relapses. Nevertheless, the drugs get the job done, keeping the patient in a somewhat stable character(Mà ¶ller). Drugs, moreover, are not the only option for schizophrenics. Milieu therapy, another choice for treatment, seeks to counter schizophrenic patients tendencies to withdraw; it also fosters socialization, promotes responsibility, and provides retraining in interpersonal relationships. This is usually done after the soothing effects of shock therapies. The therapy includes a gamut of measures ranging from discarding restraints; minimizing isolation; giving attentive care and interest; fostering socializing, educational, and occupational activities; and providing group therapy to holding patient-staff meetings and setting up patient government to provide channels of communication and to encourage responsibility for the self and others.(Ed. David L. Sills.) Conclusion: All in all schizophrenia is a disorder that affects the social aspect of the individual suffering from it and accounts for 1% of the world population (Tybura, Grzywacz, Konopka, Samochowiec). From hallucinations to falsely accusing people around them, paranoid schizophrenics have the short end of the stick when it comes to most psychosis. The chronic character of the illness and the damage it causes in patients cognitive skills, emotions and social functioning provide a driving force for research on the causes of the disease to predict its course and establish possibly effective treatment with few side effects. (Tybura, Grzywacz, Konopka, Samochowiec).

Comparing the Themes of Vincenzio Bellini’s Norma and Euripedes Medea

Comparing the Themes of Vincenzio Bellini’s Norma and Euripedes' Medea Vincenzio Bellini’s opera Norma is considered by many to be a reworking of Euripedes' classic Greek tragedy Medea. Both plots have many identical elements of Greek tragedy such as a chorus, unity of location, and a human decision and action culminating in tragedy. Richard Wagner greatly admired Greek tragedies, believing them to be â€Å"The highest point ever reached in human creative achievement†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Wagner 1). In his essay Theories of Art, Wagner gives five reasons for this â€Å"artistic perfection:† 1. It represented a successful combination of the arts-- poetry, drama, costumes, mime, music, dance and song-- and as such had greater scope and expressive powers than any of the arts alone. 2. It took its subject matter from myth, which illuminates the human experience in universal terms. (â€Å"The myth is true for all times.† (Wagner 2)) 3. Both the content and the occasion of performance had religious significance. 4. It was a religion of humanism and a celebration of life, even in death. 5. The entire community took part. Medea also deals heavily with the themes of female jealousy, its capabilities, and infanticide, as does Norma. Norma exhibits not only the embodiment of these themes, but also exhibits Wagner’s theories of effectiveness of Greek tragedy, therefore qualifying Bellini’s opera to be as effective in portraying the classic ideals of Greek tragedy as its counterpart, Medea. Wagner believed that as time went on, Greek art slowly disintegrated, each individual art going a separate way, developing alone—instrumentals without words, poetry without music, drama without either, etc. He believed it further disintegrated with the introduction of Christiani... ...s; Medea; Trans. Rex Warner. The Harcourt Brace Anthology of Drama: Third Edition. Orlando: Harcourt, 2000. Georgousi, Fotini; Tragic Women: Plotting and Transgressing; Minnesota University Press; 2001. McIver, Barbara Basore, B.A., M.A.; Good Girls, Bad Girls and Heroines; Models from Myth; University of Akansas Press; 1968. Plunka, Gene A. Ed. Antonin Artaud and the Modern Theater; New Jersey: Associated UP, 1994. Romani, Felice; Norma (libretto) trans. Olcese, Stefano, 2000. Romani, Frederico; Alexandre Soumet and his Three Muses; Minnesota Opera Pubs. 2003. Schumacher, Claude and Brian Singleton. Eds. Artaud on Theatre; London: Methuen, 1989. Sferro, Nuccio; Norma Libretto Notes; Stanford University Press, 2000. Wagner, Richard; Bellini: A Word in Season; trans. William Ashton Ellis; Wagner’s Prose Works Vol. 8 pp. 67-69, 1899.

The Gap Between Rich and Poor In Canada :: Canada Economics

National economies are extremely complex. The level of economic development is the major indicator of the place that the country stands on the international economic scene or economic staircase. Many factors are responsible for economic growth and sustainability as well as for crisis and disruption. Nowadays, all the countries of the globe are interconnected and closely intermingled with each other in the net of international economic relations due to globalization. Therefore, Canadian citizens should prevent the gap between rich and the poor to make Canada a greater society. Canada is a country famous for the growth of the national wealth, its transformation into financial and economic, and political leader of the capitalist world. Canada uses any opportunity to take control over new markets, to increase the production and export products and investments. Canada has become a country many people want to invest in; â€Å"people follow stability and strength, and so there's people investing in Canada like they used to invest in England, the United States and German. The world feels our affluence† (Serving Up the City to the Super-Rich 2007). Investment is an integral part of the country’s policy and making investments in an economically strong and stable country like Canada often guarantees the development and preservation of the company’s well-being. Therefore, there is tremendous amount of cash influx from foreign economies into Canada, making more investments in Canadian economy, -like this case of construction of 14 hyper-luxury con dos- accompanied by buying lots of Canadian dollars, thus rising demand for it and making the value of Canadian currency grow. â€Å"There is a stealth influx of foreign capital changing the face of downtown Toronto from the waterfront to Yorkville† (Serving Up the City to the Super-Rich 2007). In Canada today, the middle class is shrinking, while the percent of the rich and the poor continues to grow. The average work hours of Canadian working individuals in April 2009 were 36.2 hours per week, but very large percentage of 9.2% of Canadians still falls in the category of low income. Yet, the number of millionaires and billionaires is growing. In 2002, the number of persons with income of $250,000 and over were 94,020 but in 2006, the number has increased to 144,830 (Statistics Canada). As one of the results of increased number of these rich people, we can now even witness a gigantic project like this: â€Å"Welcome to Toronto's new era of wealth.

Accounting Homework

Fletcher Company manufactures and sells one product. The following information pertains to each of the company’s first two years of operations:| | | | Variable costs per unit:| | | Manufacturing:| | | Direct materials| | $ 20 | Direct labor| | $ 12 | Variable manufacturing overhead| | $ 4 | Variable selling and administrative| | $ 3 | Fixed costs per year:| | | Fixed manufacturing overhead| $| 200,000 | Fixed selling and administrative expenses| $| 80,000 | | During its first year of operations, Fletcher produced 50,000 units and sold 40,000 units.During its second year of operations, it produced 40,000 units and sold 50,000 units. The selling price of the company’s product is $50 per unit. | 1. | Assume the company uses variable costing:| a. | Compute the unit product cost for year 1 and year 2. (Omit the â€Å"$† sign in your response. )| | Year 1| Year 2| Unit product cost| $ | $ | | b. | Prepare an income statement for year 1 and year 2. (Input all amounts as positive values except losses which should be indicated by a minus sign. Omit the â€Å"$† sign in your response. )| | Year 1| Year 2| | $ | $ | | | | Variable expenses:| | | | | | | | | | | Total variable expenses| | | | | | | | | | | | Fixed expenses:| | | | | | | | | | | | Total fixed expenses| | | | | | | $ | $ | | | | | 2. | Assume the company uses absorption costing:| a. | Compute the unit product cost for year 1 and year 2. (Omit the â€Å"$† sign in your response. )| | Year 1| Year 2| Unit product cost| $ | $ | | b. | Prepare an income statement for year 1 and year 2. (Input all amounts as positive values except losses which should be indicated by a minus sign. Omit the â€Å"$† sign in your response. )| | Year 1| Year 2| | $ | $ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | $ | | | | 3. | Reconcile the difference between variable costing and absorption costing net operating income in year 1 and year 2. (Input all amounts as positive values except losses which should be indicated by a minus sign. Omit the â€Å"$† sign in your response. )| | Year 1| Year 2| Variable costing net operating income (loss)| $ | $ | : | | | : | | | | | | Absorption costing net operating income| $ | $ | Fletcher Company manufactures and sells one product. The following information pertains to each of the company’s first two years of operations:| | | | Variable costs per unit:| | | Manufacturing:| | |Direct materials| | $ 20 | Direct labor| | $ 12 | Variable manufacturing overhead| | $ 4 | Variable selling and administrative| | $ 3 | Fixed costs per year:| | | Fixed manufacturing overhead| $| 200,000 | Fixed selling and administrative expenses| $| 80,000 | | During its first year of operations, Fletcher produced 50,000 units and sold 40,000 units. During its second year of operations, it produced 40,000 units and sold 50,000 units. The selling price of the company’s product is $50 per unit. | 1. | Assume the company uses variable costing:| a. | Compute the unit product cost for year 1 and year 2. Omit the â€Å"$† sign in your response. )| | Year 1| Year 2| Unit product cost| $ | $ | | b. | Prepare an income statement for year 1 and year 2. (Input all amounts as positive values except losses which should be indicated by a minus sign. Omit the â€Å"$† sign in your response. )| | Year 1| Year 2| | $ | $ | | | | Variable expenses:| | | | | | | | | | | | Total variable expenses| | | | | | | | | | | | Fixed expenses:| | | | | | | | | | | | Total fixed expenses| | | | | | | $ | $ | | | | | 2. | Assume the company uses absorption costing:| a. | Compute the unit product cost for year 1 and year 2. Omit the â€Å"$† sign in your response. )| | Year 1| Year 2| Unit product cost| $ | $ | | b. | Prepare an income statement for year 1 and year 2. (Input all amounts as positive values except losses which should be indicated by a minus sign. Omit the â€Å"$† sign in your response. )| | Year 1| Year 2| | $ | $ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | $ | | | | | 3. | Reconcile the difference between variable costing and absorption costing net operating income in year 1 and year 2. (Input all amounts as positive values except losses which should be indicated by a minus sign. Omit the â€Å"$† sign in your response. | Year 1 Year 2 | | | Variable costing net operating income (loss) 160,000 270,000 Add Fixed manufacturing overhead cost deferred in inventory under absorption costing 40000 Deduct fixed manufacturing overhead cost released inventory under absorption costing ______ Absorption costing net operating income 20000

Apples Ethics and Social Responsibility Essay

Apples ethics and social responsibility In researching the Apple Company’s Social (Supplier) and ethical responsibilities I found that their initiatives are geared toward Empowering Workers, Labor & Human Rights, Health & Safety, Environment and Accountability. I think their approach is interesting but I feel that a large company like Apple can do way more for the local communities and country as a whole. Apples stance on empowering their workers is a wonderful thing. I think more companies need to recognize that a happy workforce makes for an overall greater employee and customer experience. Apple Inc. employs staff all over the world and is committed to treating employees with respect and dignity. The company provides educational resources for all of their employees giving them the opportunity to earn an undergraduate degree. Apple has very high standards and expectations in the industry. They provide their employees with the appropriate tools necessary to meet the high bar set forth; communicate and maintain a safe and respectable workplace. Training on the Apples Code of Conduct is mandatory for all new and existing employees. When it comes to Labor & Human Rights Apple is committed to ending excessive work hours, providing a foundation for ethical employment, preventing underage labor, stopping excessive recruitment fees and bonded labor and responsible sourcing of minerals. Apple only does business with companies that uphold the highest commitment to Human Rights. Apple has very high standards in Health & Safety, Environment and Accountability. They believe that every worker has the right to a safe and healthy workplace. Improving health and safety is essential and all workers receive the appropriate education on the topic. All apple suppliers must work alongside of apple to reduce their environmental impact and use a number of methods to identify risks. Apple believes in accountability for themselves and suppliers and has strengthened their code of conduct to meet the responsibility standards. In my opinion Apple has not quite met their  Social Responsibility standards, and can do more. In 2012 the NY Post reported that Apple was trying to get rid of the reputation as stingiest company. They made over $150 million in charitable donations split between multiple organizations that year. They donated 500,000 to â€Å"SF Gives† in May of 2014. But giving back has never been an immediate priority of Apple as Steve Jobs stated. Not to mention all of the negative publicity Apple has received in reference to the working c onditions of their overseas warehouses. Apple’s Reputation Have you ever heard the saying you are â€Å"guilty by association†? Unfortunately that is the way the world works. Foxconn is the main producer of Apple’s products along with a number of other well-known companies. Based out of China the Foxconn-Apple warehouse that employs over 500,000 workers has been in the media in recent years regarding violation of the Labor & Human rights laws. In July 2009, an employee at the Foxconn warehouse that makes iPad committed suicide after his home was raided; he was badly beaten and humiliated over a missing iPhone. In a report released in early 2011 by the Guardian there were a large number of suicides from Foxconn-Apple facilities in China. It is said that the tragic suicides were a result of the employees being overworked and deplorable working conditions. The guardian also reported in late 2012 91 children working at one of Apple’s Foxconn suppliers which is almost ten times more than what was reported in the previous years. This does not meet the very high standards set forth by the company in the eyes of the general public. In 2009, 137 employees were poisoned by n-hexane use at one of the Apple- Wintek LCD plants in East China. N-Hexane is a narcotic that attacks the nervous system when exposed to it. This poison was used for drying touchscreens in order to speed up production to fill larger orders received by the factory. Most of the workers impacted were forced to resign and absolve Wintek of all future responsibility. It is rumored that Apple and Wintek were very slow to react to the incidents. Apples reputation has definitely taken a hit from the negative publicity surrounding their overseas suppliers. In an effort to clean all of this up Apple has vowed to eliminate child labor and excessive work hours throughout the complete supply chain. They want to ensure that the supplier code of conduct is being enforced and practiced at all times.  Foxconn has taken steps to prevent future suicide attempts by installing preventative suicide nets around their buildings, providing counselling and requiring employees to sign a no-suicide agreement prior to employment. Apple has also prohibited the use of n-hexane and states that the product is no longer in use at any facility associated with the company. Suppliers Adherence to Wage and Benefit Standards The various labor practice violations among Apple’s suppliers still remain very high. In 2012 China Watch reported- after investigating the working conditions of 10 of Apple-Foxconn facilities. They determined that it was not only the Foxconn facilities with deplorable work conditions, but it exists within Apple’s supply chain. According to epi.org Apple itself finds that in more than 28% of cases, suppliers are not compliant with the wage and benefit standards set. In early 2012 the Fair Labor Association (FLA) conducted a month long investigation and uncovered significant issues at three Foxconn facilities in China. Among the issues found were -excessive overtime, issues being compensated for overtime, severe communication gaps which led to unsafe working conditions amongst the workers and an overall unhealthy deplorable environment. Although Apple is â€Å"committed† to ensuring fair Labor and Human rights, they should take additional steps to enforce their Supplier Responsibility Standards. I’d first recommend for the company to have a significant increase in the number of independent audits performed annually on overseas warehouses. This will help ensure that employees are not working excessive overtime or receiving lower than minimum wages. Communication is an absolute necessity in large warehouses, and every incident should be documented. The audits can also be vital in making sure that the workers are in a reasonably safe and healthy environment. Apple Inc. needs substantial improvement in the realm of transparency and secrecy in order to eliminate labor rights abuses by its suppliers. The majority of the company’s â€Å"secretive practices† involve the complete supply chain. Some of their factories are said to be gated off and have police /security to prevent trespassing, workers must sign confidentiality agreements and live in dorms within the factories. Apple reports the percentage of their suppliers that violate the code of conduct, but will not release the names of the actual facilities that were not compliant. The company needs to be  more forthcoming and discontinue the secretive practices that prevent the general public from observing working conditions and business practices within its suppliers. Customer Loyalty Apple has a very loyal customer base despite the despicable acts the company has been associated with throughout the years. In my opinion, most of their customers are working class and know how vital it is to be reasonably compensated for their work. Apple’s customers may have some concerns if the prices increase, but they will buy the products. You may have a customer like me that feels like the current price point of Apple’s products is already high. There are four Apple products in my home 1- IPad 1-Ipad mini 1-MacBook and an IPhone 5s totaling close to $4,000 retail. That is how much Apple made from 1 household in a matter of a year. If all of their customers are paying those types of prices, that is more than enough for Apple to ensure that all workers have reasonable wage and benefit packages. This is a company that has customers waiting in line for days to buy new innovative products regardless of the price. Apple is known for making a higher profit by paying overseas companies next to nothing for production. As I previously stated Apple customers are very loyal. I believe the customers would pay more for products if the prices increased. Simply because once you start using apple products it’s like you have to have the next best thing. They definitely live up to the reputation of providing new technology and innovative top of the line products. The company may receive negative feedback from current and new customers, but they will still buy the products out of necessity. Apple’s Marketing Approach In my opinion Apple’s overall marketing strategy is one of the best in the industry. Anytime a new IPhone is released customers wait in line for days leading up to just to get the latest and greatest. Online orders go through the roof and the waiting lists get quite long. So clearly Apple is doing something right to market their products to customers. According to Forbes magazine Apple is such a great marketer that they won the 2012 CMO Survey Award for Marketing Excellence and has been the co-winner for five consecutive years. In the late 1970’s Apple adopted a 3 point marketing philosophy that remains at the core of their brand today. The original  three points are Empathy, Focus and Impute and are taken into consideration when implementing current market strategies. Apple is known to have top of the line products and technicians to match. Their employees are very knowledgeable and eager to assist in giving their customers the best experience possible. That will take any company a very long way as customer satisfaction and experience is vital to the success of any business. On paper Apple looks great, but in order to improve its competitive advantage in the global marketplace a few recommendations should be made. The Apple logo is one of the most recognized, respected and trusted names in the world today. Apple has already established competitive advantage in the global marketplace around constructing a top of the line, small and innovative product line. I feel like they should continue to put time and resources into capitalizing on the advantage and enhancing the reputation of the Apple brand. Things appear to be going great for Apple, but achieving an ongoing competitive advantage requires constant monitoring of the organizations competitive landscape. Openness to rethinking the company’s current advantages is vital in remaining competitive. Works Cited Apple Inc. (2013). Supplier Responsibility Standards. http://www.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/pdf/Apple_Supplier_Responsibility_Standards.pdf. China Labor Watch. (2012). Beyond Foxconn:Deplorable Working Conditions Characterize Apple’s Entire Supply. http://www.chinalaborwatch.org/news/new-415.html. Christine Moorman, Forbes. (2012). Why is Apple a Great Marketer. http://www.forbes.com/sites/christinemoorman/2012/07/10/why-apple-is-a-great-marketer/. Connie Guglielmo, Forbes. (2012). Apple’s Supplier Labor Practices In China Scrutinized After Foxconn, Pegatron Reviews. http://www.forbes.com/sites/connieguglielmo/2013/12/12/apples-labor-practices-in-china-scrutinized-after-foxconn-pegatron-reviewed/. Dunstan Pria, Fox. (2012). Apple’s Chinese Manufacturer To Fix Labor Violations. http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2012/03/29/apples-chinese-manufacturer-to-fix-labor-violations/. Fair Labor Association. (2012). FAIR LABOR ASSOCIATION SECURES COMMITMENT TO LI MIT WORKERS’ HOURS, PROTECT PAY AT APPLE’S LARGEST SUPPLIER. http://www.fairlabor.org/blog/entry/fair-labor-association-secures-commitment-limit-workers-hours-protect-pay-apples-largest. Scott Nova, Isaac Shapiro, EPI. (2012). Polishing Apple Fair Labor Association gives Foxconn and Apple undue credit for labor rights progress. http://www.epi.org/publication/bp352-polishing-apple-fla-foxconn-labor-rights/.

How to Fix a Dried out Sharpie

A Sharpie is a great permanent marker, but its prone to drying out if you use it a lot or dont seal the cap perfectly. You cant wet the pen with water to get the ink flowing (a tip that works for water-based markers) because Sharpies rely on organic solvents to dissolve the ink and make it flow. So, before you throw out dead, dried-out Sharpies or other permanent markers, try this tip: Sharpie Rescue Materials 91% Rubbing AlcoholDried Out Sharpie Pen Permanent markers contain organic solvents, which are notoriously bad about evaporating away before you get a chance to use all of the ink. To rescue a dried pen, you need to replace the solvent. The easiest option is to use rubbing alcohol. If you can find 91% or 99% rubbing alcohol (either ethanol or isopropyl alcohol), those will be your best bet for fixing your marker. If you have access to other chemicals, you could also use another high-proof alcohol, xylene, or possibly acetone. You probably wont have great success with rubbing alcohol that contains a lot of water (75% or lower alcohol). 2 Easy Ways To Save a Sharpie There are two quick and easy ways to fix a dried Sharpie. The first is for emergency use, when you dont need a lot of ink or for the pen to last forever. Simply pour a bit of alcohol into a small container or the pen cap and soak the tip of the Sharpie in the liquid. Leave the pen in the alcohol for at least 30 seconds. This should dissolve enough ink to get it flowing again. Wipe any excess liquid off the nib of the pen before using it or else the ink could be runny or paler than usual. A better method, which makes the Sharpie good as new, is to: Grasp the pen in your hands and either pull it open or use pliers to separate the two parts of the pen. Youll have a long portion that contains the pen and pad that holds the ink and the back portion that basically keeps the Sharpie from drying out when its capped or spilling ink on your hands when you write.Hold the writing part of the pen down, as if you were going to write with it. Youre going to use gravity to feed the new solvent into the Sharpie.Drip 91% alcohol (or one of the other solvents) onto the ink pad (same piece, but opposite side of the writing part of the pen). Continue adding liquid until the pad seems saturated.Put the two pieces of the Sharpie back together again and cap the Sharpie. If you like, you can shake the pen, but it doesnt really make a difference. Allow a couple of minutes for the solvent to completely saturate the pen. The solvent needs a bit of time to work its way into the nib of the pen, but you dont need to wet the writing part to get the ink flowi ng.Uncap the Sharpie and use it. It will be good as new! Just remember to recap the pen tightly before storing it for future use or youll be back to square one again.

Women in Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing and Taming...

During the early modern period, despite Queen Elizabeth’s powerful rule in the mid-sixteenth century, women in England had very few social, economic, and legal rights. According to the British system of coverture, a married man and wife became one person under the law, thus, â€Å"all the legal rights and responsibilities a woman had when she was single transferred to her husband upon marriage† (McBride-Stetson 189). Additionally, once married, the entirety of a woman’s property and wages came under the husband’s control; thus, in essence, women became the responsibility and property of their husbands (McBride-Stetson 189). Shakespeare, through his writings, illustrates the early modern period’s obsession with maintaining the legal†¦show more content†¦Had Petruccio exclaimed that his goal was to â€Å"thrive and wive,† one may be able to argue that he planned on making money in order to attract a wife; however, the order of Petrucci o’s proposed goals imply that his â€Å"wiving† will, in turn, effect his â€Å"thriving.† Furthermore, Petruccio’s note that he will â€Å"happily† â€Å"wive and thrive† suggests that the source of his happiness will come from his financial gain, a result of his marriage. Petruccio again confirms this by announcing â€Å"I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;/ If wealthily, then happily in Padua† (1.2.72-73) Thus, according to Petruccio, if a man can â€Å"wive† a woman with a grand dowry that will cause the man to become â€Å"wealthy,† he will inevitably live â€Å"happily.† Additionally, Petruccio admits, â€Å"wealth is burden of my wooing dance† and even if his wife is â€Å"foul as†¦Florentius’ love,† or â€Å"As old as Sibyl,† it would not â€Å"move him† (1.2.69). Clearly, as the passage describes, Petruccio’s â€Å"wooing dance,† or courtship, is mot ivated by â€Å"wealth† and the nature of the woman will not defer him from goal of financial wealth. Petruccio’s disregard for the character of his future wife as well as the identification of the cause-effect relationship between marriage and his personal financial gain resulting in happiness, places the woman outside of the marriage equation. For Petruccio, marrying a wealthyShow MoreRelated Comparing Katharina, of The Taming of the Shrew and Beatrice of Much Ado About Nothing1317 Words   |  6 PagesComparing Shakespeare’s Katharina, of The Taming of the Shrew and Beatrice, of Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare’s Katharina, of The Taming of the Shrew and Beatrice, of Much Ado About Nothing, are very similar characters.   Each is plagued with unrequited love, and depressed by their inability to woo the suitor of their choosing.   Neither will accept the passive female role expected by society. Yet, both women seem to accept their role as wife by the conclusion.   Upon further examination, oneRead More Portrayal of Women in William Shakespeares Plays Essay3560 Words   |  15 PagesWilliam Shakespeares characterization of women varies immensely from one comedy to another. In his works, Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice, and Much Ado About Nothing, he portrays both dominant and submissive women. 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