Integrated Case Study Bandon Group, Inc. Essay Essay Example

Integrated Case Study: Bandon Group, Inc. Essay Essay This paper is the continuance of Bandon Group Inc. integrated instance survey. This portion of the instance survey mines feasibleness of an ERP system at Bandon Group and measure alternate ERP and CRM bundles for Bandon Group and do recommendations for a solution which will run into their demands. Measure 8: Determining the feasibleness of an ERP system From the description of the executive directors of the divisions. it is pretty clear that Bandon Group has encountered large challenges with the current IT state of affairs. Many of the issues discussed perchance will be solved by restructuring and re-engineering the organisation. the concern procedure and by puting the bequest systems with an ERP system. ERP provides the anchor for an endeavor broad information system. A primary benefit of ERP is easier entree to reliable. integrated information. A related benefit is the riddance of excess informations and the rationalisation of procedures. which consequence in significant cost nest eggs ( Lau. 2003 ) . We will write a custom essay sample on Integrated Case Study: Bandon Group, Inc. Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Integrated Case Study: Bandon Group, Inc. Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Integrated Case Study: Bandon Group, Inc. Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer From the instance survey. we have learned that the co-owners are bespeaking eBusiness know-hows. on-demand studies that generates electronic studies. the demand to turn to for more information for tactical and strategic direction. the demand to standardise concern procedure and the demand for more targeted selling ( Sumner. 2005 ) . The quandary was to make up ones mind whether the system should be centralized or decentralized. The execution of the CRM packages in the divisions were decentralized and the division troughs were seeking better direction information but they were meeting informations relational job. In general. when we look at the current IT state of affairs particularly the usage and execution of CRM and OMD application. it is unbearable. The job get worse when the company plans to spread out its concern with the bing state of affairs. The reply for Bandon Group should prosecute and EPR solution perfectly is yes. That would be my recommendation. Basically ERP execution requires organisations to re-engineer their key concern in cardinal ways and reconstituting the overall organisation system because the ERP is at that place to turn to concern issues and to put the company in a better competitory environment and place. Kumar ( 2010 ) stress that directors must carry on a feasibleness survey of the current state of affairs to measure the organization’s demands by analysing the handiness hardware. package. database ad in house computing machine expertness and do the determination to implement ERP where integrating is indispensable. To make up ones mind whether Bandon Group should purse for ERP solution. we should reconsider the benefits of implementing ERP. As Sumner ( 2005 ) outlines the benefits. Some of the chief benefits ERP he mentioned. ERP maximizes throughput of information Minimize response clip to clients and increase interaction with clients. Increase interaction across the endeavor.Improve on-time bringing.Reduce direct operating disbursal.Increase interaction with providers. etc. When we come to the Bandon Group practical instance. integrating job was critical for all divisions. Some of the countries that ERP overcome are: Coordination: after implementing ERP. it has been confirmed that ERP has the ability to back up coordination across concern maps. Database: by implementing ERP. it is possible to incorporate informations so that informations will hold the same significance across multiple maps. Procedure: after implementing ERP. it has been realized consistent concern procedures which are based upon an information theoretical account. Information: Pursuing ERP makes real-time information consistent Information system: ERP has enabled stand-along systems to go incorporate systems. Once once more. it is my recommendation to Bandon Group to purse CRM solution. Like ERP. it is an incorporate attack to pull offing relationships by concentrating on client keeping and relationship development ( Chen and Popovich. 2003 ) and CRM initiatives additions fight. Adding to their notes. they said that CRM offers customization. simpleness. and convenience for finishing minutess. regardless of the channel used for interaction. Sumner ( 2005 ) portion their thought. The chief features he distinguished CRM facilitates client contact and name list direction. It maintains information on client contacts in a database and prognosis customer’s needs. It organizes selling runs.Enables questions to a merchandise selling database. Delivers online systems that enables clients to configure merchandises online. Handles customers’ services. It my recommendation to Bandon Group to implement EPR firs and CRM follows because ERP provides CRM package. Conceptually. ERP covers all the basic concern procedure but CRM systems focus specifically on procedures at the client interface ( Schubert. 2010 ) . The current state of affairs at Bandon Group is non limited to client relationship or the job of Bandon Group is non limited to deficiency of gross revenues and selling informations. the charge system. web enabled support system. better bill or the integrating of the package but the company and its procedure need overall concern restructure and re-engineering because that is all about ERP. Measure 9: Determining ERP/CRM design issues Business processing work loads are among the most demanding work loads in the endeavor. These include transactional work loads reflecting the â€Å"engine† of a business’ orders and gross revenues. ERP workloads for pull offing work flows. and CRM for pull offing client relationships and determination direction solutions. These work loads need to be available to stop users. terminal clients. and concern spouses. To accomplish that end. they are typically supported by a combination of hardware features. such as constitutional dependability and scalability characteristics. and package features. such as system direction and support for high handiness. In visible radiation of this. my recommendation of ERP and CRM bundles for Bandon Group would be implementing Microsoft Dynamics CRM. The Microsfot Dynamics ERP and CRM is designed to assist any organisation get and retain clients ( Microsoft. n. vitamin D ) . The package enables to execute and automatize common concern under takings including: Easily entree information about concern records from one topographic point. Agenda activities. track them. and send electronic mail.Generate studies.Manage selling lists.Track advertisement and selling runs. Sort client responses to gross revenues and selling enterprises. Keep elaborate notes and an activity history for each concern record. Microsoft Dynamics CRM besides can run from within Microsoft Office Outlook. On top of the other benefits and functionalities mentioned above. Rhodus and Paris ( 2013 ) said that Microsoft CRM and ERP helps the company in integrating by making one position of client experience. edifice stronger relationship and making client familiarity. bettering direction visibleness. supply visibleness and entree to client relationship. etc. I believe that Microsoft Dynamics is the best package solution for the current state of affairs at Bandon Group. MentionsChen. I. J. and Popovich. K. ( 2003 ) Understanding client relationship direction ( CRM ) . Peoples. procedure and engineering. Business procedure direction diary. Vol. 9 No 5. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //cis. csuohio. edu/~ichen/CRM. pdf Kumar. P. ( 2010 ) . Successful execution of ERP in a big organisation International diary of technology scientific discipline and engineering. Vol. 2 ( 7 ) . 3218-3224. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. ijest. info/docs/IJEST10-02-07-151. pdf Lau. K. L. ( 2003 ) Developing successful execution program for issues and challenges. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //iacis. org/iis/2003/Lau_ERP. pdf Microsoft ( n. vitamin D ) Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4. 0 User’s Guide. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //blogs. msdn. com/b/crm/archive/2008/07/21/crm-4-0-user-s-guide-now-available-in-pdf-and-word. aspx Rhodus. B. and Paris. E. ( 2013 ) CRM A ; ERP – better together. Retrieved fr om hypertext transfer protocol: //www. bkd. com/docs/webinars/2013/8-21-13-presentation. pdf Schubert. P. ( 2010 ) Recognizing Benefits from Current ERP and CRM Systems Implementations: An Empirical Study. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. uni-koblenz-landau. de/koblenz/fb4/iwvi/agschubert/publication/materialien/bled-23. 06. 2010 Sumner. M. ( 2005 ) Enterprise resource planning. Pearson Prentice hall. Upper saddle river. New Jersey

Penny Press Creator Benjamin Day Changed Journalism

Penny Press Creator Benjamin Day Changed Journalism Benjamin Day was a printer from New England who started a trend in American journalism when he founded a New York City newspaper, The Sun, which sold for a penny. Reasoning that a growing working-class audience would respond to a newspaper that was affordable, his invention of the Penny Press was a genuine milestone in American journalism history. While Day’s newspaper proved successful, he was not particularly suited to being a newspaper editor. After about five years of operating The Sun, he sold it to his brother in law at the very low price of $40,000. The newspaper continued to publish for decades. Day later dabbled with publishing magazines and with other business endeavors. By the 1860s he was essentially retired. He lived on his investments until his death in 1889. Despite his relatively short tenure in the American newspaper business, Day is remembered as a revolutionary figure who proved that newspapers could be marketed to a mass audience. Early Life of Benjamin Day Benjamin Day was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on April 10, 1810. His family had deep roots in New England going back to the 1830s. While in his teens Day was apprenticed to a printer, and at the age of 20 he moved to New York City and began working in print shops and newspaper offices. He saved enough money to start his own printing business, which nearly failed when the cholera epidemic of 1832 sent a panic through the city. Trying to salvage his business, he decided to start a newspaper. Founding of The Sun Day was aware that other low-cost newspapers had been tried elsewhere in America, but in New York City the price of a newspaper was generally six cents. Reasoning that working-class New Yorkers, including newly arrived immigrants, would read a newspaper if they could afford it, Day launched The Sun on September 3, 1833. At the outset, Day put the newspaper together by repackaging the news from out of town newspapers. And to stay competitive he hired a reporter, George Wisner, who ferreted out news and wrote articles. Day also introduced another innovation, newsboys who hawked the newspaper on street corners. The combination of a cheap newspaper that was easily available was successful, and before long Day was making a good living publishing The Sun. And his success inspired a competitor with far more journalism experience, James Gordon Bennett, to launch The Herald, another penny newspaper in New York, in 1835. An era of newspaper competition was born. When Horace Greeley founded the New York Tribune in 1841 it was also initially priced at one cent. At some point, Day lost interest in the day-to-day work of publishing a newspaper, and he sold The Sun to his brother in law, Moses Yale Beach, in 1838. But during the short time he was involved in newspapers he had successfully disrupted the industry. Day’s Later Life Day later launched another newspaper, which he sold after a few months. And he started a magazine called Brother Jonathan (named for the common symbol for America before Uncle Sam became popular). During the Civil War Day retired for good. He admitted at one point that he had not been a great newspaper editor, but had managed to transform the business â€Å"more by accident than design.† He died in New York City on December 21, 1889, at the age of 79.

Information Management System and the IT Steering Committee Essay

Information Management System and the IT Steering Committee Essay Information Management System and the IT Steering Committee – Essay Example ï » ¿INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM The IT Steering Committee plays a major role in the allocation of resources and funding for IT projects. The management of these resources by the IT steering committee must follow certain principles. First, all It projects considered must support the long-term business aims of the department. This means that business and IT must work hand in hand. Second, the new IT initiative must be supported by a business case tackling the main concerns as determined in the informatics strategic and operational plans. Furthermore, all IT projects are subject to the governance process, as well as those related to application improvement, infrastructure adjustments, key projects and/or procurement of hardware or software (Ditsa 153). There are a number of roles that the steering committee plays including overseeing the work of the project team. Overseeing the project team involves a number of duties and these include ensuring that the project remains on schedule. This ensures that the project is completed in due time and all the team members do not slack in their duties and perform them to the latter. The steering committee also ensures that the project remains within its budget. This is an essential part of their job ensuring that the resources assigned to the IT project are reasonable and well used. If there was an oversight in any of the planning and the project requires more or less resources the steering committee would make recommendations to the management (Lucey 79). Lastly, the steering committee also ensures that they keep the project in sync with the business requirements it is meant to address. In the course of monitoring the IT projects underway, the steering committee resolves any problems related w ith the IT project. There are a number of ways to manage investments in corporate IT when the rate of change in the underlying technologies dictates that new systems are obsolete almost as soon as you can get them implemented. It is imperative for any institution to develop rational and viable financial strategies to accommodate technological change for effective information technology management. Due to short life cycle of many technologies, management need to determine the wisdom of investing and managing new technology systems. Management must recognize the economic life cycles of new information technology (Oz 212). Management also needs to know about asset management. This helps them to evaluate the risk of using new Information technology that may lose its life cycle in a short time. Furthermore, management needs to evaluate the financial pressures that come with new technology. This is because institutions expect that investing in information technology should bring about continual improvement in their returns. In order to be competitive in the market, institutions need to invest more of their budget in information technology today in hopes of better dividends tomorrow (Ditsa 152). To make well-informed decisions as regarding new information technologies decisions, investment ought to be viewed as an expense matter. In truth, it is a cost/benefit matter whose main goal is to improve the IT system. This is the business side in investing in new information technologies. The management also needs to assess the competitive economics of the new information technologies (Lucey 19). This means evaluating the potential impact of the technology on inter-institution competition. Work Cited Ditsa, George. Information Management: Support Systems & Multimedia Technology. Chicago: Idea Group Inc (IGI), 2003. Print. Lucey, Terence. Management Information Systems. New York: Cengage Learning EMEA, 2004. Print. Oz, Effy. Management Information Systems. New York: Cengage Learning, 2008. Print.

5 Types of Errors When Representing Numbers

5 Types of Errors When Representing Numbers 5 Types of Errors When Representing Numbers 5 Types of Errors When Representing Numbers By Mark Nichol Publications generally use one of two systems of referring to numbers: Spell out numbers to ten and use numerals for all larger numbers (with some exceptions such as informal usage of large round numbers such as â€Å"a thousand† or â€Å"a million†), or spell out to one hundred and use numerals otherwise (with the same exceptions). Beyond that, several subtle rules and conventions exist, often pertaining to use of punctuation and other symbols such as hyphens. This post presents five sentences that include types of errors pertaining to such use; each example is accompanied by a discussion and a revision. 1. The twelve jurors deliberated for 21/2 days before reaching their unanimous verdict. In a mixed fraction, the fractional element must be separated from the whole number with a letter space (unless the second element is formatted as a case fraction, with small numerals set vertically above and below a horizontal line): â€Å"The twelve jurors deliberated for 2 1/2 days before reaching their unanimous verdict.† 2. To that end, we suggested in 2014 12 ways our product contributes value. Two separate numerals placed consecutively, even when separated by punctuation, can confuse the reader’s eye, so recast the sentence so that the numerals are not adjacent: â€Å"To that end, in 2014, we suggested 12 ways our product contributes value.† (As mentioned above, many publications style numerals one hundred and below as words, which would obviate the problem shown here, but the publication this sentence is excerpted from uses Associated Press style, which spells out numerals only up to ten.) 3. An overwhelming majority of 18-to-29-year-olds get news from social media like Facebook. Number ranges involving more than just a pair of numbers are often treated using suspensive hyphenation, with the second element of a phrasal adjective, which would normally be repeated in two similar phrases, elided because it the omitted element is obvious from the context. Here, no symbol serves to bridge the number range; that function is performed by to, and the hyphens link elements of a phrasal adjective: â€Å"An overwhelming majority of 18- to 29-year-olds get news from social media like Facebook. (In a sentence referring, for example, to people ages 18–29, the symbol used is often an en dash, not a hyphen, though many newspapers and some other publications use the latter symbol.) 4. More than four-out-of-five members of that demographic use social media sources to read and watch news reports. The expression â€Å"four out of five† does not require hyphens; the phrase accompanies but does not modify members, so is not a phrasal adjective: â€Å"More than four out of five members of that demographic use social media sources to read and watch news reports.† (The same is true if numerals are used in place of words.) 5. 80-percent believe the region is a great place for career growth, 88-percent say it’s a prime place for innovation, and 70-percent say the Bay Areas economy is better than the national one. By convention, a number that begins a sentence is spelled out regardless of the prevailing style about spelling out numbers or using numerals, and numbers representing percentages are not hyphenated to the word percent: â€Å"Eighty percent believe the region is a great place for career growth, 88 percent say it’s a prime place for innovation, and 70 percent say the Bay Areas economy is better than the national one.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Format a US Business Letter40 Synonyms for â€Å"Different†A Yes-and-No Answer About Hyphenating Phrases

Economic Reform Outcomes in China and Russia Literature review - 5

Economic Reform Outcomes in China and Russia - Literature review Example Of all the reforms that took place in the twentieth century, the ones that took place in China and Russia are known to have been the most dramatic. During the first half of the twentieth century, both countries had communist economic systems. However, it was during the latter half of the 29th century that both countries start formulating reforms that were aimed at changing the manner in which their economies functioned. However, a difference in the exact date in which the reforms commenced in both countries existed. In China, the economic reforms commenced in the late 1970s, while in Russia they commenced in the early 1990s.   However, a notable difference exists at the pace in which the reforms were developed and enacted in the two countries (Lin & Tsai 2004, p. 34). In Russia, the market-oriented reforms were developed quickly, and enacted at the same pace, while in China the whole process of bringing the reforms was a little bit gradual. There are a number of factors that can be said to have contributed to the difference in pace at which the economic reforms took place in China and Russia.                                                                                         One of the things that are believed to have contributed to the difference in the pace of the economic reforms between China and Russia is the fact that China was reluctant to adopt foreign technology especially those from the west. At the beginning of the reforms, China mainly depended on the technologies that were locally available. This made it hard for the country to benefit from the technological advancements that were experienced in Europe, especially during the early stages of the reforms. Russia on the other side was willing to adopt new technology from all over the world as long as the technology being adopted was beneficial to the Russian economy in one way or another (Lin, Cai & Li 2009, p. 325). They made sure that their economy was open to new ideas at the early stages of the reforms making it easier for the reforms to have brought the changes that were experienced in their economy in such a short period.

Police discretion postion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Police discretion postion - Essay Example It is the action that a police officer takes, according to personal judgment, conscience, morals, attitude, and beliefs; as well as the officer’s education, training and experience. This paper proposes to discuss the use of discretion in police work. The mythical aspects of the use of discretion, the sources, and the methods by which police discretion may be controlled will be identified. From the analysis a list will be created of ten police actions in which discretion may be used, and the reasons for their use will be given. Further, the use of discretion in each of the police actions will be justified either as reasonable, or denounced as an abuse of power. In the maintenance of order and in crime prevention police officers play a complex and sensitive role which extends far beyond merely arresting law breakers. Historically, police have asserted authority in several ways, often not involving arrest. In more commonplace police actions such as handling alcoholics and panhandlers or resolving disputes between neighbours, the police do not generally make any arrests. Though exercising discretion is essential, the police should not be allowed to employ random or arbitrary policing. Also, rather than strictly following a rule book, policing should reflect a neighborhood’s values and sense of justice, and should be in line with residents’ concerns so that justice will be achieved. Increasingly, the police officer’s role in the justice process demands â€Å"greater commitment to developing policy guidelines that set standards, shape the inevitable use of discretion, and support community involvement† (Kelling, 1999 : iii). Furthermore, formal training of police personnel should include some basic factors to teach them to act democratically as well as judiciously in their work, in order to successfully achieve outcomes which are just (Marenin, 2004). Discretion in police work is

Difference - A platform to better understand human beings today Research Paper

Difference - A platform to better understand human beings today - Research Paper Example Looking back at world history, the Holocaust was one of the worst disasters the world has ever seen; under the orders of Hitler, millions of Jews were killed for no reason at all1, only because he believed that the world would be a better place without Jews living in it. This was a very conservative opinion which led to hatred and contempt among people and for a long time, these emotions persisted among the people. Even today, it is hard for many people to accept each other belonging to different nations, religions and castes; however such segregation and discrimination is condemned today by international laws of human rights. The Holocaust was carried out in various stages; concentration camps were set up where Jews were thrown in and treated worse than anything else on the planet, however it must be noted that Hitler wanted to display his hatred towards other groups of people like homosexuals, disabled people, political and religious opponents, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Prisoners of War from the Soviet, Polish and Soviet civilians etc. People belonging to all these categories, excluding Jews, were made to suffer in the concentration camps at Auschwitz where they were used as slaves or menial labourers following which most of them died of diseases and starvation. Those that survived such laborious work were ultimately thrown into gas chambers were they were finally killed. Women and children were also made to suffer along with men in these camps and many a times were even used to conduct medical experiments on2. Doctors and psychologists that took up such work were extremely cruel and heartless and tested out life threatening experiments on these people, using them as mere guinea pigs. This entire episode was extremely traumatising and shocking for people all over the world that heard about the news; the mention of Hitler’s name would send a chill down people’s spines. It was further decided, with the Nuremberg Laws that there needed to be a ce rtain code of conduct for people to follow and that those who violated the rules of human rights would have to pay for the consequences. At that time, there were very few men brave enough to stand up against the Reichs and tell the Nazi soldiers regarding the injustice that they were practising because of the fear that had been put in their minds against Adolf Hitler. Thus, people faced a harsh challenge of not being able to survive with cultural differences and practice civic responsibility. The punishment today for treating another human being in a cruel manner is extremely harsh and even imminent death. With the help of this shocking incident during Hitler’s reign, people today are able to understand that it is alright to have different kinds of people living in the world alongside each other. It is quite a normal and natural phenomenon to live in a community filled with people belonging to different religions, races and gender orientations. As opposed to the past, today, people have become increasingly efficient and do understand where their responsibilities lie with respect to treating other people in their vicinity. It is important to understand the philosophy of being able to deal with a community of different people in a fair and transparent manner. Governments all over the world

The impact of corporate financial performance on market value Essay

The impact of corporate financial performance on market value - Essay Example The process of internationalization, changes the possibility of creating higher values for the stakeholders (M. TÃ ³th, 2012). In a global business environment, we see different opinions calling for change of approaches to corporate governance and to control and manage companies in a way that will continue to achieve both effective performance and appropriate social accountability and responsibility(B.Tricker, 2009). The construct of firm performance is of central importance to management research because explaining variation in performance is an enduring theme in the study of organizations (e.g., Hoopes et al., 2003). Although firm performance has been recently proposed as a multidimensional construct that consists of many different aspects such as operational effectiveness, corporate reputation, and organizational survival (Richard et al., 2009), one of the most extensively studied areas is its financial component, the fulfillment of the economic goals of the firm (Barney, 2002; Venkatraman and Ramanujam, 1986). To assess the financial aspect of firm performance (i.e., financial performance), organizational researchers generally use either accounting-based measures of profitability such as return on assets (ROA), return on sales (ROS), and return on equity (ROE), or stock market-based measures such as Tobins Q and market return (Combs et al., 2005; Hoskisson et al., 1999; Hult et al., 2008). When the company grows as a result of a financial decision such as detention of profits, then that growth will be reflected on the current value of the shares on the grounds that it is the result of a reflection of what will happen in the future. The present value of the shares is the sum of the future cash flows, and this will be reflected on the accounting profits when they occur and they won’t reflect the historical accounting

Human Figures in Landscapes Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human Figures in Landscapes - Article Example These three paintings are placed on the timeline between the 1950s to almost the present time. The immediate years post-war witnessed a heightened level of cultural nationalism during which aboriginal cultures gained considerable weight (Foss, Paikowsky& Whitelaw, 2010, 357).The selected paintings also show a chronological growth from the 1950s to the present time in painting a theme like this. The paintings extend from 1956 to 2007 and that is a time in which a lot of things changed and many new techniques and schools emerged. But in my paper, I do not want to link these paintings to any such type of restrictions along the lines of schools of arts or any specific technique. I am going to compare them with each other only on the basis of the theme that I selected for the paper and that is Human figures in landscapes. So I will just compare them according to how well the theme is presented in all three of them.The first painting that I chose is isSun Dance Scene, Blood Reserve by Gera ld Tailfeathers. Tailfeathers was a Native Canadian artist and so he was close to heart with the Native aboriginal culture and their traditions. Being one of the very few Native Canadians who painted, he fulfilled his duty to the great colorful lost culture by painting their traditions. It is painted on paper using watercolors and watercolor is a wise medium for this painting because it gives the painting a tinge of easy simplicity and vividness. The painting shows a scene from the Native culture of Blood Reserve.

The Definition of Agriculture Essay Example for Free

The Definition of Agriculture Essay Agriculture is the production of food and goods through farming and forestry . Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of human civilization, with the husbandry of domesticated animals and plants creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more densely populated and stratified societies. The study of agriculture is known as agricultural science. Agriculture encompasses a wide variety of specialties and techniques, including ways to expand the lands suitable for plant raising, by digging water-channels and other forms of irrigation. Cultivation of crops on arable land and the pastoral herding of livestock on range land remain at the foundation of agriculture. In the past century there has been increasing concern to identify and quantify various forms of agriculture. In the developed world the range usually extends between sustainable agriculture (e. g. permaculture or organic agriculture) and intensive farming (e. g. industrial agriculture). Modern agronomy, plant breeding, pesticides and fertilizers, and technological improvements have sharply increased yields from cultivation, and at the same time have caused widespread ecological damage and negative human health effects. Selective breeding and modern practices in animal husbandry such as intensive pig farming (and similar practices applied to the chicken)have similarly increased the output of meat, but have raised concerns about animal cruelty and the health effects of the antibiotics, growth hormones, and other chemicals commonly used in industrial meat production. The major agricultural products can be broadly grouped into foods, fibers, fuels, and raw materials. In the 2000s, plants have been used to grow biofuels, biopharmaceuticals, bioplastics, and pharmaceuticals. Specific foods include cereals, vegetables, fruits, and meat. Fibers include cotton, wool, hemp, silk and flax. Raw materials include lumber and bamboo. Other useful materials are produced by plants, such as resins. Biofuels include methane from biomass, ethanol, and biodiesel. Cut flowers, nursery plants, tropical fish and birds for the pet trade are some of the ornamental products. In 2007, about one third of the worlds workers were employed in agriculture. The services sector has overtaken agriculture as the economic sector employing the most people worldwide. Despite the size of its workforce, agricultural production accounts for less than five percent of the gross world product (an aggregate of all gross domestic products).

Theories of the process of lateralization

Theories of the process of lateralization The apparent specialization of the left hemisphere for language is usually described in terms of lateral dominance or lateralization. Lateralization process begins in early childhood. It coincides with the period during which language acquisition takes place. During childhood, there is a period when the human brain is most ready to receive input and learn a particular language. This is known as the critical period. The general view is that the critical period for first language acquisition lasts from birth until puberty. This process of development is called Maturation. The idea of a critical period for development of particular processes is not unique to humans. Songbirds display hemispheric specialization in that only one hemisphere controls singing. There are three accounts of how lateralization emerges (Bates Roe, 2001; Tomas, 2003). The equipotentiality hypothesis states that the two hemispheres are similar at birth with respect to language, each able in principle to acquire the processes responsible for language, with the left hemisphere maturing to become specialized for language functions. The irreversible determinism hypothesis states that the left side is specialized for language at birth and the right hemisphere only takes over language functions if the left is damaged over a wide area (Rasmussen Milner, 1975; Woods Carey, 1979). Irreversible determinism says that language has an affinity for the left hemisphere because of innate anatomical organization, and will not abandon it unless an entire center is destroyed. The critical difference between the equipotentiality and irreversible determinism hypotheses is that in the former, either hemisphere can become specialized for language, but in the latter, the left hemisphere becomes specialized for language unless there is a very good reason otherwise. The emergentist account brings together these two extremes, saying that the two hemispheres of the brain are characterized at birth by innate biases in types of information processing that are not specific to language processing, such that the left hemisphere is better suited to being dominant, although both hemispheres play a role acquiring language (Lidzha Krageloh-Mann, 2005). The Critical Period Hypothesis is the best-known version of the equipotentiality hypothesis. Lenneberg (1967) argued that a birth the left and right hemispheres of the brain are equipotential. There is no cerebral asymmetry at birth; instead lateralization occurs as a result of maturation. The process of lateralization develops rapidly between the ages of 2 and 5 years, and then slows down, being complete by puberty. The completion of lateralization means the end of the critical period. There are many theories about Critical Period Hypothesis, some of them confirm the existence of a critical period in acquiring a language and others bring this existence into question or make a distiction between the presence of a critical period in FLA and SLA. The idea of a Critical Period Hypothesis comes from the nativists, lead by Lenneberg and Chomsky, whose explanation is that there is a critical period because the brain is pre-programmed to acquire language early in development. Bever (1981) argued that it is a normal property of growth, arising from a loss of plasticity as brain cells and processes become more specialized and more independent. The Critical Period Hypothesis of Lenneberg (1967) comprises two related ideas, The first idea is that certain biological events related to language development can only happen in an early critical period. In particular, hemispheric specialization takes place during the critical period, and during this time children possesses a degree of flexibility that is lost when the critical period is finished. The second component of the Critical Period Hypothesis is that certain linguistic events must happen to the child during this period for development to proceed normally. Proponents of this theory argue that language is acquired most efficiently during the critical period. The most important idea of Critical Period Hypothesis is that unless children receive linguistic input during the critical period, they will be unable to acquire language normally. One of the most famous of these cases was the Wild Boy of Aveyron, a child found in isolated woods in south of France in 1800. Despite attempts by an educationalist named Dr Itard to socialize the boy, given the name Victor, and to teach him language, he never learned more than two words. It is less easy to apply this argument to the unfortunate child known as Genie. Genie was a child who was apparently normal at birth, but suffered severe linguistic deprivation. From the age of 20 months until she was 13 years and 9 months, when she was found, she had been isolated in a small room. Not surprisingly, Genies linguistic abilities were virtually non-existent. Critical period in SLA Theories in favour of the existence of a critical period in SLA According to the nativist theory, once the critical period is over, usually postulated to be sometime during puberty, it is assumed that a person who begins to learn a L2 will be unable to achieve the native-like competence and performance in it. The basic assumption of a biologically determined critical period is that some essential capacities of younger children are not available to adult learners. One such capacity is the learners access to Universal Grammar, that is, the innate system of linguistic categories, mechanisms and constraints shared by all human languages (Chomsky, 1995). Mark Patkowski hypothesized that only those who had begun learning their second language before the age of fifteen could ever achieve full, native-like mastery of that language. These results gave added support to the Critical Period Hypothesis for second language acquisition. Theories against the existence of a critical period in SLA There are two reasons for rejecting a strong version of the Critical Period Hypothesis. Children can acquire some language outside of the critical period, and lateralization does not occur wholly within it. A critical period appears to be involved in early phonological development and the development of syntax. The weakened version is often called a sensitive period hypothesis. There is a sensitive period for language acquisition, but it seems confined to complex aspects of syntactic processing. (BialystokHakuta, 1994). Locke (1997), argues that a sensitive period arises because of the interplay of developing specialized neural systems, early perceptual experience, and discontinuities in linguistic development. Lack of appropriate activation during development acts like physical damage to some areas of the brain. The distinction between the Critical Period Hypothesis and the sensitive period hypothesis is whether acquisition is possible only within the definite span of age or easier within the period. Seligers proposal (1978), is that there may be multiple critical or sensitive periods for different aspects of language. The maturational explanation is that certain advantages are lost as the childs cognitive and neurological system matures. In particular, what might first appear to be a limitation of the immature cognitive system might turn out to be an advantage for the child learning language. The results of experimental studies have two important implications for adult second language learning. One is that childrens acquisition of a foreign language is different from that of adults. The other is that acquisition of pronunciation and grammar is also different because it involves a problem of physiologic aging process. Adults can learn the grammar of a new language more easily and rapidly than children but that they retain foreign accents. Theories that consider the existence of a critical period in FLA but not in SLA It is widely believed that the ability to acquire language declines with increasing age. Today it is generally agreed that a critical period does exist for first language acquisition but the hypothesis is not as uniformly accepted as applicable to SLA. When considering separately the time required for L2 learning and the ultimate success achieved in the L2, some researchers suggested a compromise conclusion that older is faster but younger is better. At initial stages of L2 acquisition, older learners were at an advantage in rate of acquisition but only in limited aspects. In a recent critical review of the Critical Period Hypothesis literature, Marinova observed that, despite general perceptions that older learners are slower L2 learners, the research has long revealed that, in fact, older learners are faster in process of L2 acquisition, especially at the initial stages. Theoretically, if the critical period for L2 acquisition exists, and older learners are strictly at a disadvantage due to age and some biological or maturation constraints, then all late L2 learners should be performing well below the younger learners. However, many studies, whether supporting of challenging the Critical Period Hypothesis, have shown that younger learners tend to perform fairly similarly to one another, while generally older learners show greater variation in their L2 performances. The effects of the L2 learning process and the type of L2 learning environment have been studied more formally on a larger scale. It has been argued that if adults are able to learn an L2 implicitly in more natural settings, similar to the way children learn language, then they may achieve similar levels of performance at a faster rate (Neufeld). The Critical Period Hypothesis has traditionally been used to explain why second language acquisition is difficult for older children and adults. Johnson and Newport (1989) examined the way in which the critical period hypothesis might account for second language acquisition. They distinguished two hypotheses, both of which assume that humans have a superior capacity for learning language early in life. According to the maturational state hypothesis, this capacity disappears or declines as maturation progresses, regardless of other factors. The exercise hypothesis further states that unless this capacity is exercised early, it is lost. Both hypotheses predict that children will be better than adults in acquiring the first language. The exercise hypothesis predicts that as long as a child has acquired a first language during childhood, the ability to acquire other languages will remain intact and can be used at any age. The maturational hypothesis predicts that children will be superi or at second language learning, because the capacity to acquire language dismisses with age. Are children in fact better than adults at learning language? The evidence is not clear-cut as is usually thought. Snow (1983) concluded that contrary to popular opinion, adults are in fact no worse than young children at learning a second language, and indeed might even be better. Children spend much more time than adults learning the language. Snow and Hoefnagel-Hohle (1978) compared English children with English adults in their first year of living in the Netherlands learning to speak Dutch. The young children 3-4 years old, performed worst of all. In addition, a great deal of the advantage for young children usually attributed to the critical period may be explicable in terms of differences in the type and amount of information available to learners. There is also a great deal of variation: some adults are capable of near-native performance on a second language, whereas some children are less successful. They proposed that there is a change in maturational state, from plasticity to a steady state, at about age 16. The younger a person is, the better they seem to acquire a second language. There is evidence for a critical period for some aspects of syntactic development and, even more strongly, for phonological development. However, rather than any dramatic discontinuity, decline seems to be gradual. Second language acquisition is not a perfect test of the hypothesis, however, because the speakers have usually acquired at least some of a first language. Lenneberg supplied some evidence to support the CPH and he found that injuries to the right side caused more language problems in children than in adults. He also provided evidence to show that whereas children rapidly recovered total language control after such operations, and adults did not so, but instead continued to display permanent linguistic impairment. However, this evidence doesnt demonstrate that is easier to acquire a language before puberty. In fact he assumed that LA was easy for children. The CPH is an inadequate account of the role played in SLA, because this assumption was only partially correct. Only where pronunciation is concerned is an early start an advantage, and even then only in terms of success, not rate of acquisition. Developmental changes in the brain, it is argued, affect the nature of language acquisition, and language learning that occurs after the end of the critical period may not be based on the innate biological structures believed to contribute to first language acquisition or second language acquisition in early childhood. Rather, older learners may depend on more general learning abilities. In educational settings, learners who begin learning a second language at primary school level do not always achieve greater proficiency in the long run than those who begin in adolescence. The Critical Period Hypothesis is a particularly relevant case in point. This is the claim that there is, indeed, an optimal period for language acquisition, ending at puberty. However, in its original formulation (Lenneberg 1967), evidence for its existence was based on the relearning of impaired L1 skills, rather than the learning of a second language under normal circumstances. Conclusion As well as there is an agreement that corroborates the Critical Period Hypothesis set up by the nativists during the L1 acquisition, there is not such agreement when considering L2 acquisition. Contrary to what was thought about the impossibility to acquire an L2 after the end of the critical period, there is some evidence that show learning an L2 after puberty is also achievable. The theories that support this idea say that an adult or an adolescent learner will be able to acquire a native-like mastery in the L2 as a younger learner will do. Since the study of human brain is still very limited, some theorists contradict the non-presence of a critical period in SLA. For this reason, although it seems to be a prevalent theory about this aspect, it will be difficult to arrive to a general consensus.

SBS Leaving the ABC Unaccountable Essay -- Media

Introduction Whether the ABC broadcasts content sufficiently diverse to meet their original intent is widely debated among modern media scholars (Alexander 173). The creation of the SBS allowed the ABC to remain unaccountable in terms of their original purpose to provide high quality, impartial and educational broadcasting for a culturally and linguistically diverse audience. It is critical to understand the original purpose of the ABC’s creation, where and how the ABC failed to fulfill this purpose and how the SBS filled the niche left by the ABC’s downfalls. An evaluation of the ABC’s broadcast schedule for the first week of May 2012 will be included to provide current evidence for whether the ABC is fulfilling their purpose. Before we can evaluate ABC’s downfalls and why are in fact downfalls we must first understand what the original intent of establishing the ABC was. The ABC’S Purpose The ABC is an independent statutory authority whose role and function is established in legislation (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 1998). The legislation under which the ABC was establish is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act of 1983 also know as the ABC charter, it outlines broadcasting, programming and service requirements that as a whole aim to provide a sense of national identity through high standards of diversified content (Austrain Broadcasting Corporation, 1983). Section 6 of the ABC Charter outlines that the ABC amongst other things must: 1. â€Å"provide within Australia innovative and comprehensive broadcasting services of a high standard, 2. provide programs that contribute to a sense of national identity and inform and entertain, and reflect the cultural diversity of, the Australian community, 3. prov... ...issues-bias-funding-sponsorship/is-the-abc-biased/abc-bias-verdict-from-the-government-appointed Minchin, N. (2012, April 29). Climate Change - What the ABC edited out. No Carbon Tax Climat Sceptics Blog . Munsie, J. (2012). ACMA’s Ruling on Kyle Sandilands – Toothless Tiger or the Kitten Who Roared? Addisons Commercial Lawyers, Addisons Focus Papers. Addisons Commercial Lawyers. Nova, J. (2012, April 27). ABC Biased. Scientist Matthew England, outrageous error or dishonest? Nick Minchin owed an apology. Jo Nova . Reynolds, H. (2012, Feb 14). A very British summer on your ABC. Retrieved May 20, 2012, from Inside Story : http://inside.org.au/a-very-british-summer-on-your-abc/ SBS. (2009). Annual Report 2008-2009. Annual Report, SBS, Sydney. SECRC. (2011). Inquiry into recent ABC programming decisions. Senate Environment and Communications References Committee .

The Freedom of Information Essay -- Technology Computers Essays

The Freedom of Information There are different kinds of freedoms: freedom of expression, of opinion, of speech, of information, to copy, to own and to read, and freedom from interference and observation. This research is an ethical analysis of the freedom of information in the new Internet era and how the new technology should be implemented globally as a universal human right. Not so many years ago, I still remember in High School my research with books, magazines, and newspapers as the only resources to get information. When I did my undergraduate thesis in Direct Reduced Iron, I could get information thanks to my brother in law directly from the company that owns the technology. It is not possible to get all the information that you want from the Internet, because some are confidential documents or data with personal information, but there are people that find ways to access information illegally that is not open to the general public. These people called Hackers are not acting morally, because they are not respecting the people’s rights of privacy. This case is not included in the freedom of information mentioned in this research, but the issue itself is affecting in some way the freedom of information. Global Information Infrastructure Something that brought my attention to this subject was the speech of the Vice President Al Gore in 1994 at the International Telecommunications Union Conference about his determination for the creation of a network of networks to all members of our societies and his ethical analysis in Global Information Infrastructure (GII). The plan was based on five principles: Encourage private investment Promote competition Create a flexible regulatory framework Provide open access to the network Ensure universal service Now in 2003 we can see the tremend us benefits of GII in all the countries where it has been implemented. When I started to do this research I didn’t realize all the advances in communications this commitment made. Most of these advances were in the telecommunications industry with private investments and free competition in an industry that was in the past a monopoly. Each country has their own laws in telecommunications, and it is a universal right from an ethical point of view that each individual around the world has to have some kind of access to get information. Let’s say a li... ...f the person is literate or illiterate. Endnotes [1] Deborah G. Johnson and Helen Nissenbaum, Computers, Ethics & Social Values (New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1995), 621. [2] John Weckert and Douglas Adeney, Computer and Information Ethics (Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc., 1997), 32. [3] Johnson and Nissenbaum, 622. [4] â€Å"Motivating a Human Rights Perspective on Access to Cyberspace: The Human Right to Communicate†. CPSR Newsletter Vol. 18, Number 3.6 June2003 http://www.cpsr.org/publications/newsletter/issues/2000/Summer2000/mciver.html [5] Richard A. Spinello, Case Studies in Information and Computer Ethics (New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1997), 249. Bibliography Hester, D. Micah, and Paul J. Ford. Computers and Ethics in the Cyberage. Prentice-Hall, Inc., 2001. Johnson, Deborah G. Computer Ethics. Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1985. Johnson, Deborah G. and Helen Nissenbaum. Computers, Ethics & Social Values. Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1995. Spinello, Richard A. Case Studies in Information and Computer Ethics. Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1997. Weckert, John and Douglas Adeney. Computer and Information Ethics. Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc., 1997.

Effect of Exercise on Squeezing a Clothespin

IntroductionDoes exercise make your muscles tired? In my controlled experiment I investigated this problem. My hypothesis was â€Å"If I rest first then I can squeeze the clothespin more times† My reason behind this is because during exercise I think you tire yourself out more, so resting before squeezing could increase number of squeezes. Methods and Materials The materials I used in this experiment were 8 people (subjects) and 8 clothespins of the same type.First I recognized my dependent variable, how many times you can squeeze clothespin, and my independent, exercise. I took a group of 8 classmates, excluding myself and instead including my younger brother. I decided to let the control group also serve as the experimental group. The steps I took were to let the control group rest before starting, and then they squeezed the clothespin for one minute and counted how many times they could squeeze it. After that they rested for another minute, then exercised by jogging in plac e for one minute and after they immediately squeezed the clothespin.Results SubjectExperimental GroupControl Group:Megan 205 226Dane 277 307Nick B 209 235My younger brother 152 136Nick C 194 214Vinny 195 234Dan Average 192 280More subjects squeezed the pin more times resting first. The average of all the data shows this also. Looking at the graph it’s easier to see the results and compare them than the table. The table does not show a visual comparison but shows the data and numerical information. The table takes longer to read and is harder to understand. The bar graph is easy to point out trends and patterns. The bars, exercising and resting give an easy understanding and show relationships in the data. They compare the different amounts of how many times the clothespin was squeezed with each subject.Discussion and ConclusionsExercise does make your muscles fatigued according to my data results. It also supports my hypothesis. If you rest first you can squeeze the clothespi n more times. From the data I collected the average of the eight people concluded exercise makes your muscles more fatigued and less able to squeeze the clothespin compared to resting before squeezing. Majority of the subjects used in my experiment concluded with this result too. Muscle fatigue occurs when the muscles have an increase in activity so certain  waste products of muscle cell activity build up in the cells. This is could be true with the results I have concluded.Suggestions for Improvement and Further ResearchTo improve my experiment I could have changed the amount of time you rest squeeze the pin, how long you rest before exercising, how long you exercise, and what type of exercise is done. Changing some of these things could change my results, and result in some further research to be done. To improve my experiment’s accuracy I could have used more people and have everyone be the same age. A big error made was using my younger brother because being much younge r he had results lower than many other subjects. Making some of these improvements could make my experiment more reliable. For further research I could research how age affects the hypothesis, or see how things like gender or weight effects the results. Further investigation could help answer these questions.

Superfund Program

Superfund Program Peggy Toler E. Hansen/EVS1001-31 March 31, 2011 Peggy Toler 2 Superfund Program I did not know what a Superfund program was until I looked it up and then I found out that it is an act that is the cornerstone legislation that provides the mechanism and funding for the cleanup of potentially dangerous hazardous-waste sites and the protection of ground water and human health. When you live near a superfund site, you and your family are at risk of developing a disease from the exposure of the different pollutants in these sites and may experience a loss of value of your property.The EPA says that there are steps that we can take to fight back. They have also said that they have set up a â€Å"Post Construction† strategy to ensure that Superfund response actions provide for the long-term protection of human health and the environment. The Construction Completion activities also involve optimizing remedies to increase effectiveness and /or to reduce cost without sa crificing long-term protection. There is still a health hazard for those who live close to a Superfund site.The site that I have found in my state was the Chemtronic, Inc. in Swannanoa, NC. It is about 1,027 acres and only about 20 acres in total are contaminated with these pollutants. This property has had several owners and operators and it was first developed as an industrial site in 1952. After first opening the first products that were manufactured on this site were explosives, incapacitating agents, and chemical intermediates. There are about 23 individual on-site disposal areas that were identified during the investigation activities on this site.During 1971, the disposal practices were not well defined. Solid waste materials and possibly solvents were reportedly incinerated in pits dug in the burning ground these pits are known as the Acid Pit Peggy Toler 3 area. There are the chemical wastes that were also disposed of in the trenches located in the Acid Pit Area. All of the activities at this site ended in 1994, and no new activities are occurring on this site. There is no on-site ground water and surface water being used in any way for anything.This site is bordered up on the North and West sides by woodlands and primarily national forests. There are several industrial facilities to the immediate South of this site. In the contaminants contained in these on-site disposal areas there are volatile organic compounds which include (1,2-dichloroethane, trans-1,2-dichloroethane, trichloroethane, and tetrachloroethane), semi-volatile organic compounds which include benzophenone, benzylic acid, and explosives, and then there are the metals like chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc.The contaminants that are detected in the ground water include benzene, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, trans-1,2-dichloroethane, trichloroethane, benzophenone, benzylic acid, picric acid, explosives, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc. The site cleanup plans were issued i n 1988. The major cleanup elements for this site include the installation of a ground water extraction and treatment system down gradient of the disposal areas in both the front valley and the back valley which is known as the Gregg Valley, capping and fixation/stabilization for contaminated soil in the disposal areas.These capped areas are fence with a chain-link fence and marked. Then they have a monitoring program to be established for the surface water. The ROD has issued an amend for this site in 1989, that specified the deletion of the requirement to solidify soil in Disposal Area (DA-23) as a result of an error in the remedial investigation data which was carried over into the initial ROD. Peggy Toler 4 With the cleanup progress with the capping and stabilization/solidification or the contaminated soil in the disposal area began in 1991, and was completed in 1993. They have placed multi-layer caps in the following areas DA-6, DA-7/8, DA-9, DA-10/11, DA-23 and in the Acid Pit Area. They have also installed a gas venting system at the Acid Pit Area. The Rod of 1988, addressed only those disposal areas that were deemed CERCLA related. The other disposal areas on the property were considered Resource Conservation and Recovery Act also known as (RCRA) areas as prior to 1994.The potentially responsible parties (PRPs) for the site undertook corrective actions to improve the operation of both the extraction systems and treatment systems in both valleys. The corrections that have taken place have significantly reduced the down time to these systems experienced in the past. There have been two reviews that have been developed for the site in 2002 and 2007. The review that was done in 2007, they found that the site was protective of the human health and the environment in the short-term.The NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources requested that the EPA consolidate oversight of all site environmental remediation activities under the EPA’s superfun d authority and relinquished the state’s RCRA oversight responsibilities for the site to the EPA’s Superfund program in March 2007. Recently the PRPs submitted the draft RI/FS Work Plan based on the Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) and accompanying statement of work. These cleanup activities have been undertaken by the PRPs with EPA’s oversight. Peggy Toler 5 There are three viable PRPs for the site that has been identified by EPA and they are Chemtronic, Inc. Northrop Grumman System Corporation, and CAN Holding, Inc. In 2008 the AOC signed by the PRPs and the EPA will address the cleanup for the former RCRA areas at the site that will now be addressed under CERCLA. The EPA has conducted a range of activities for the community to get involved at the Chemtronic site to solicit the community input and to ensure that the public remains informed about any of the site activities throughout the site cleanup process. These outreach activities include public notice s, interviews and public meeting on these cleanup activities and updates.In the future they are monitoring the ground water at the site, they say that the field work for the revised RI/FS should begin in the summer of 2009, and the next FYR for these sites is expected in 2012. As you will find out the more we try to cleanup areas like this, we have other pollutants in the world. There are things that we can do to help with these pollutants like cleaning everything that we can and stop putting things into the ground.References * Boorse, D. F. & Wright, R. T. (2011) Environmental Science (11 Edition) * www. epa. gov/region4/waste/nplnc/chemtrnc. htm

Critical review of Crafting Strategy

Introduction Strategic management contains various subjects and topics, most of which do not have the consistent identity (Ketchen, Boyd and Bergh, 2008). It is no doubt that there are still many debates towards strategy concept. In this essay, the article â€Å"crafting strategy† will be reviewed. This is analysed by putting the article in to a wider debate about strategy, then discussing its main strengths and weaknesses. Placing of the article in the wider strategy debate This article’s view fits the debate of prescriptive and emergent strategy.According to Whittington, prescriptive strategy is a rational approach in which planning plays a vital role, and it is more appropriate for large and mature industries (2002). However, Mintzberg challenged this perspective, saying that the process of strategy is distorted by the planning that misguides the organisations (1987). The differences between prescriptive and emergent strategy can be identified in two points. Prescrip tive strategy means formal planning, which involves an analytic process by top executives to set up a long-term mission and later undertaking by staff (Ansoff, 1965).However, in the view of emergent strategy, â€Å"It is not possible to develop a perspective of the future and formulate explicit objective in an unpredictable environment; instead, it is necessary to react in a flexible, opportunistic and accidental manner to new, unpredictable developments† (Idenburg, 1993: 136). In addition, due to the volatility and variability in market conditions, management decisions depend on information that is imprecise and fluctuated.As a result, an emergent strategic approach is more suitable for forms to conduct and business strategy should be adjustable instead of developing a prescriptive strategy with a foreseen result (Marlo, 2000). Moreover, the difference can also be shown by the attitude towards learning. â€Å"Purely deliberate strategy precludes learning once the strategy i s formulated; emergent strategy fosters it† (Mintzberg, 1987:69). Emergent strategy refers to the strategy formulation process which focuses on understanding of strategic learning and let the firm to experiment in a dynamic environment.Though agreement and compromise are part of the formulation process, there is an evident lack of knowledge in the performance system, which leads to a process featured with the emergency of meaning (Lowe and Jone, 2004). In terms of how learning applies to make the strategy, Mason (2007) states that emergent strategy making means all the employees utilise the flexible and strong adaptability to equalise structure and rapid change rather than responding to external change.The basic problem in strategy making is to achieve innovation and remain consistent and reliable strategy implementation. This may include adapt faster than other companies and responding and learning quickly from flaws. In another word, emerging organisation is able to improve employee 3 effectiveness, resulting in a positive influence to greater creativity and motivation in the organisational processes, and it, in turn, leads to better organisational performance (Huselid, 1995).In this article, it discusses emergent strategy, strategic reorientations and how to manage strategy. This is explained by compare and contrast with the deliberate strategy. Mintzberg’s article clearly belongs to prescriptive and emergent strategy debate and it gives strong support towards emergent strategy. Discussion of Strengths and Weaknesses This article involves some main strengths and weaknesses in terms of the strategy debate. In reality, there is no entirely prescriptive strategy or entirely emergent one, many approaches fall between these two extreme points.Most efficient strategy blends organisational learning with flexibility and deliberation and control, such as umbrella strategy and process strategy (Mintzberg, 1987). This idea fully reflects the complexity fo r the business world, even though Mintzberg has an ardent preference towards emergent strategy, there is no guaranty that this is the most suitable or perfect method for all business. Besides, other analyses also illustrate the importance of strategy-making blends autonomy and planning in emergent strategy mode.To be more specific, by combining those two modes, organisation is able to gain productive adaptive capability and optimal alignment in firm through adapting to unpredictable environment in emergent strategy mode and coordinating business activities to complete company’s efficiency in strategy planning (Andersen and Nielsen. 2009). Another strength of this article is the statement about strategic thinking. Fiona (2002) points out that the central to sustain competitive advantage is to have a creative and divergent strategic thinking.This fresh perspective represents a new way for managers to consider and evaluate the operation of organisation. Just as Mintzberg mention s, strategic thinking is captured by informal learning from diverse sources included experiences, leading to an integrated view towards the firm, and then synthesizing the learning into an image of the business direction (1994). In contrast, many administrators merely analyse the figures and graphs, but those are the analysis of past information and predictions, which hold a substantial risk for business.Moreover, strategic thinking displays a whole perspective of mutual influences between each part of the company and its related environment. It also considers the interlinked relationship of past, present and future in order to think in time and utilise newly emerging chances (Liedtka, 1998). However, there still exists criticism about this article as well. One drawback is Mintzberg failed to study the problems of emergent strategy in the business environment. To begin with, sometimes this strategy may consume too much time. As this process includes various 4 experiments, it keeps t rying to identify new method until it successes.No doubt that this involves a long period since no one can find a suitable compromise every time. Apart from that, each time firm tries a new strategy, it costs an enormous amount of resources such as labours or machines use, which is a waste of capital. As Ansoff point out, Mintzberg does not consider the consequence of using a trial and error approach in various programs. In fact, this approach costs hugely, and research presents that acquisitions can achieve better financial results by conducting a planned approach to diversification instead of trial and error one (1991). ConclusionIn summary, this article presents the crafting strategy that is a metaphor towards strategymaking, and it considers the process of strategy making as craftsmen make their clay, which gives readers a vivid image of how the strategy formulates and implements. This practice is valuable at both beginning of strategy development and strategy review processes ( Heracleous and Jacobs, 2008). However, as this article was written in 1987 and many revolutions have happened in these decades, more researches need to carry out to review whether this strategy still fits well in modern business.

Beethoven Essays - Age Of Enlightenment, Ludwig Van Beethoven

Beethoven Essays - Age Of Enlightenment, Ludwig Van Beethoven Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer who is considered to be one of the greatest musicians of all time. He was born in Bonn. Beethovens fathers harsh discipline and alcoholism made his childhood and adolescence difficult. After his mothers death, at the age of 18, he placed himself at the head of the family, taking responsibility for his two younger brothers, both of whom followed him when he later moved to Vienna, Austria. In Bonn, Beethovens most important composition teacher was German composer Christian Gottlob Neefe, with whom he studied during the 1780s. Neefe mostly used the music of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach in his instruction. He later encouraged his student to study with Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whom Beethoven met briefly in Vienna in 1787. In 1792 Beethoven made another journey to Vienna to study with Austrian composer Joseph Haydn, and he stayed there the rest of his life. Having begun his career as an outstanding improviser at the piano and composer of piano music. Beethoven went on to compose string quartets and other kinds of chamber music, songs, two masses, an opera, and nine symphonies. Perhaps the most famous work of classical music in existence is Beethovens Symphony No.9 in D minor op. 125. Like his opera Fidelio and many other works, the Ninth Symphony depicts an initial struggle with adversity and concludes with an uplifting vision of freedom and social harmony. Yet just as his success seemed assured, he was confronted with the loss of that sense which he depended on, his hearing. This impairment gradually put an end to his performing career. However, Beethovens achievements did not suffer from his hearing loss but instead gained in richness and power over the years. His artistic growth was reflected in a series of masterpieces, including the Symphony No.3, Fidelio, and the Symphony No.5. These works were from his second period, which is called his heroic style. Beethovens fame during his lifetime reached its peak in 1814. The enthusiastic response from the public to his music at this time was focused on showy works, such as Wellingtons Victory. During the last decade of his life Beethoven had almost completely lost his hearing, and he was increasingly socially isolated. Plagued at times by serious illness, Beethoven nevertheless maintained his sense of humor and he often amused himself with jokes and puns. He continued to work at a high level of creativity until he contracted pneumonia in December 1826. He died in Vienna in March 1827. Beethovens music is generally divided into three main creative periods. The first, or early. Period extends to about 1802, when the composer made reference to a new manner or new way in connection with his art. The second, or middle, period extends to about 1812, after the completion of his seventh and Eighth symphonies. The third, or late, period emerged gradually; Beethoven composed its pivotal work, the Hammerklavier Sonata.

The Plan for a Two

The Plan for a Two Introduction Every year, we experience various forms of disasters, where we lose lives, property, and people are injured. In such circumstances, the business operations usually come to a halt, and this causes the cost of running the business to rise. This cost is occasionally passed over to the shareholders, employees, consumers and other organs of the state.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Plan for a Two-story Office Building in Colorado that Houses 50 Employees specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, all these can be managed, thereby, the injuries can be reduced in the event of a disaster, deaths can be reduced and losses in the business can be managed. With a unique and effective disaster and recovery plan for the building, we can manage various forms of disasters. A good disaster and recovery plan for the building is instrumental in ensuring that we formulate a unique plan that is based on the building, whi ch is located in Colorado and houses 50 employees. This paper will evaluate various potential risks to the facility from the natural disasters as well as the man-made threats. The paper will also develop a disaster and recovery plan that is unique to this facility. It is critical to ensure that every plan is effectively implemented in order to realize the full benefits of the plan. For this reason, this paper will give a detailed explanation on how the unique plan will allow the facility to respond to possible events, either natural or man-made. Finally, the paper will describe the actions, which must be taken in order for it to be fully implemented (Gustin, 1996). Evaluation of the Potential Risks to the Facility from Natural Disasters and man-made Threats A fundamental understanding of various complexities associated with disasters is instrumental in the preparedness. The continuity of any business is based on the ability to prevent and mitigate any form of a disaster that may ari se. The understanding of the various forms of disasters that the building is vulnerable to is critical to the developer of the facility. This assists in developing a unique plan, which is effective in dealing with forms of disasters that may occur at any particular time. The understanding is also important for the purpose of fast response in the event of an emergency. It is for this purpose that the plan will be developed based on the evaluation of the various forms of disasters that exist. For the purpose of this plan, the disasters will be classified into two broad categories discussed below. Natural disasters The natural disasters that are common in this region include hurricanes, winter storms, tornados, floods, earthquakes and fires. It is worth noting that fires may also be occasioned by arson, and this paper has classified it under this category due to the natural causes that may result to fire. Each of these causes is illustrated herein. A hurricane is basically a tropical s torm, which is associated with winds that travel at a constant speed of up to 74 miles per hour.Advertising Looking for essay on architecture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The speed can be higher, depending on the circumstances of the hurricanes. In normal cases, a large spiral is formed by the hurricanes around the calm centre. This can cause a drastic impact because the winds usually grow with strength. An effective disaster plan is critical because the hurricane brings torrential rains with high winds as well as storm surges. The hurricane may even last for several days (Federal Emergency Agency, 2006). The plan for this ideal building is designed to ensure that once the hurricane watch is issued, a good response is affected by securing the physical property. The plan has an ideal evacuation area, where the entire occupant should assemble. The building has link paths that assist the occupants to collectively as semble without occasioning any form of confusion to the occupants. The house will be fitted with effective communication materials to ensure that all the occupants of the facility are effectively informed about the disaster in the shortest possible time. The arrangement of the facility is designed to ensure that all the occupants have an easy access to the exit paths (Gustin, 1996). Tornadoes are natural disasters that are characterized by twisted funnel shaped clouds that create thunderstorms. They are associated with high wind velocity. They last for shorter durations, but they are very destructive on physical properties. With this in mind, the disaster management plan for this particular building is designed to ensure that there are minimal loses to the facility. Owing to the fact that deaths associated with tornadoes are caused by the collapse of the building, the facility in this case is designed to endure pressure from such tornadoes that may hit the building. The building is designed to have a banker in the basement, which can serve as an interior room where the occupants of the building assemble in the event of tornadoes. This ensures that the occupants are secured from windows, doors and other flying objects that are associated with tornados (Federal Emergency Agency, 2006). The facility is designed to ensure that all the occupants of the house have access to the interior room. The room is constructed with reinforced a heavy concrete floor and a roof with overhead systems. There are personnel who are assigned to modular offices where the occupants should be moved to. Winter storms occasion devastating effects, and they may last for several days. The winter storm is usually accompanied by high winds, rains or the sleet, snowfall and extremely cold temperatures. The building is structured to withstand the storms and it has a power backup system that is instrumental in the event that the power lines are knocked off by the storms. The building is also fit ted with a heating system because of the low temperatures associated with the storms.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Plan for a Two-story Office Building in Colorado that Houses 50 Employees specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Floods are usually common and widespread and they can be very devastating if they are not well managed. The floods are caused by heavy rains, the melting of the snow, tides and storms among other things. The Building is situated in a high rise landscape besides being fitted with good drainage facilities. In the event of floods, the facility is designed to withstand the floods through the additional drainages that are connected to main tunnels and trenches (Federal Emergency Agency, 2006). Fire is hazardous. It is attributed to deaths, injuries and the loss of property. The disaster management plan for this facility is designed to prevent fire through effective training program for the occupi ers. The building is well fitted with fire extinguishers, and the occupiers are given periodical training on their use. The building is designed to have a fire assembly point, where the occupiers can assemble in the event of the fire for the purpose of evacuation. The disaster management structures in the building are designed to ensure that the information is well relayed and understandable by the facility’s occupants. The building is clearly marked with exit signs as well as a definition of the emergency procedures as part of fire prevention strategies (Federal Emergency Agency, 2006). Earthquakes are usually sudden shakings of the earth that are caused by the rapid breaking and shifting of the rocks in the earth’s surface. The earthquakes cause buildings to collapse, and this may be followed by a disruption of electricity, gas and others services. However, good pre-planning controls are instrumental in managing the level of disasters. It is clear that a stable found ation of the building may be helpful in minimizing the level of risks associated with earthquakes. The building is designed to have firm concrete walls, because the greatest dangers during an earthquake are outside the building. The walls are well-constructed to withstand the movements (Federal Emergency Agency, 2006). Man-made Disasters The man-made disasters are mostly associated with technological incidences and human errors. The main forms of man-made disasters that are associated with the building scenario include the hazardous materials accidents, transportation accidents, terror threats, power failures and civil disturbances. Hazardous Materials include flammables, toxics, explosives, noxious, corrosives and radioactive materials among others. These hazardous materials pose a danger to the property as well as the human beings in the premises. Terrorism is the most heinous modern day crime that targets such facilities. The act causes panic to the occupiers of the building. To avoid this, the facility is well-planned and secured through safe and restricted access systems that are fitted with explosive detectors with manned access points. The facility is also designed to withstand minor explosives.Advertising Looking for essay on architecture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The security personnel are well trained to secure the facility from threats, and the occupants are well trained on how to conduct themselves in the event of an attack. They are provided with the contact details of local authorities, who include the police, government agencies, fire agencies and the bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms. These groups are mandated to assist in planning and training of the employees (Federal Emergency Agency, 2006). Civil disturbances include rioting, picketing and demonstrations, and they pose a security threat to the occupants of the property. The security personnel are trained to handle such cases. The facility is also fitted with secure doors that are instrumental in locking out unauthorized persons. The windows are secure and fitted with blinds and drapes in order to avoid direct confrontation of the occupants with the demonstrators (Gustin, 2004). Power failure is also a potential source of danger because it interrupts computers, communication equipments, security systems, lighting systems and elevator systems. The building is fitted with stock battery-operated radios and flashlights for combating the power failure. The house is also fitted with an emergency standby power supply system that ensures that the operations of the organization are not interrupted (Federal Emergency Agency, 2006). The Developed Disaster and Recovery Plan for the Facility The disaster and recovery plan for the facility is designed to support the growth of the business and it explains the importance of this disaster and recovery plan. The cost of a disaster and recovery project is a priority for the purpose of having good business components. The disaster and recovery plan is essential for the continuity of the business plan. The disaster and recovery plan has been tested and refined for implementation. It is designed to serve as a long-term backup program (Federal Emergency Agency, 2006). The periodic tests and consultations have been instrumenta l in the development process of an effective disaster recovery plan. The audit and defined process are thus said to be a sound investment. It has managed to identify the loopholes by individuals, who have more familiarity with the disaster and recovery plan. The plan has been developed by a team that has a clear understanding of the facility. This is a critical point for the purpose of addressing the infrastructures that are related. Being a multi-site location, the facility requires a comprehensive disaster and recovery plan (Gustin, 1996; Federal Emergency Agency, 2006). The disaster and recovery plan for the facility has an eye on the equipment that is used for the recovery during the disaster. The facility is coordinated by a disaster recovery coordinator, a team leader and other team members. The other persons are designated as primary. The main goal of this is to ensure that there are representatives from all the technical areas of the organization, who have the expertise to d evelop the various recoverys procedures. This also ensures that these representatives are committed to the overall success of the disaster and recovery plan (Gustin, 2004; Federal Emergency Agency, 2006). The recovery plan also addresses the buildings functional areas that need a recovery. This is realized through the order of priorities and cost benefit analysis. This is critical in assessing whether the recovery is worth. The disaster and recovery plan has also incorporated the legal requirements as well as the specific business requirements. The plan has also identified the single points of failure for the purpose of mitigating the risk. This level involves the personnel, software, and other equipments as well as infrastructures. The plan has also incorporated the impact of the failure, the probability of the failure, the estimated incidents, the annualized loss expectancy and the cost of mitigation (Gustin, 1996). Explanation of How the Plan Would Allow the Facility to Respond t o Possible Events The plan is designed to allow the facility to respond to possible events through the recovery of data. It is noteworthy that the recovery may not be up to the point of the failure, but it clearly identifies the process. It has the ability to call all the data feeds on the system through identification. It also minimizes damage on the data, particularly in the distribution process within the environment where the whole process is dependent. It also identifies the action to be taken upon inconsistence of the data (Gustin, 2004). The plan also incorporates the audit trail of work that has been performed during the period. Upon the recovery of the data, there is a validation process, which is designed to ensure that the complete recovery is attained with a consistent within the working environment. The restoration of the operations of the business is also supported by the system through service levels that are defined by the documents. The date is also transferred back to the production machines, which are omitted. In regards to the issue of hardware, the configuration is done through the device names, file systems, operating systems as well as the patch levels (Gustin, 1996). The safety of the 50 employees is also a priority in the process of disaster and recovery plan. The plan gives a detailed account of the transportation of the employees as well as their families. It is also important to note that each of the employees in this case is assigned a role for the purpose of the disaster and recovery plan. Some of the personnel are assigned the back-up in the event of absenteeism of the other members. The plan is also reinforced with frequent audits. The building is designed to have multiple line communication as part of the disaster and recovery plan. The building has a conferencing and emergency communication service, which sends automated massages in the event of a disaster to a platform phone number. Description of the Actions which Must be Ta ken in Order to Implement the Plan There is a third party recovery specialist, who ensures that the organization is provided with workspaces in the event of an emergency. The workspaces are well fitted with the necessary equipments for the purpose of the organization’s business. The workspaces are connected to access the organization’s data in the off-site facility (Gustin, 1996). Upon the personnel rescue and the back-up of data, recovery is the next goal. It is planned based on the back-up of the data in hard disks that are stored in an off-site facility once per week. The data should also be classified depending on the nature of the data at hand. The data recovery plan takes the order of priorities. The security measures of the process include a group of well trained employees within the building, who play a crucial role in the safeguarding of the systems of the company and particularly, the sensitive data (Gustin, 2004). A secure data recovery plan is set through t he development of a proper outline of the action plan. This ensures that the organization resumes its operations quickly, even in the cases of major interruptions. It is critical to establish the activities that are fundamental for the purpose of minimizing the potential losses. The organization also takes all the necessary measures to anticipate and plan for the disasters by placing a plan and a network that are designed to manage the disaster. Although development of the plan is not a guarantee, the exercising of the disaster and recovery plan ensures that the firm with the trained staff is ready for any form of disaster (Gustin, 1996; USDLOSHA, 2005). The disaster and recovery testing is important in the development of an effective disaster and recovery strategy. The fact that this recovery plan can fail makes it fall short, but it plays an important role in preparation for possible disasters that may arise. The evaluation of the effectiveness of all the procedures is thus critic al in the management of the disaster. The employees also act as a part of the team that is instrumental in the performance of the disaster and recovery plan, because they determine what works and what does not work by planning for the unexpected. Therefore, the disaster and recovery plan is a flawless teamwork that requires rapid execution. References Federal Emergency Agency. (2006). Top Ten Natural Disasters-Ranked. Washington, DC: FEMA Relief Costs Publication. Gustin, J. (1996). Safety Management: A Guide for Facility Managers. New York, NY: UpWord Publishing. Gustin, J. (2004). Disaster Recovery Planning: A Guide for Facility Managers. Atlanta: The Fairmount Press. USDLOSHA. (2005). OSHA Handbook for Small Business, Small Business Safety and Health Management. OSHA, 2 (4), 23-27.

A Brief Explanation of Evolution

A Brief Explanation of Evolution The theory of evolution is a scientific theory that essentially states that species change over time. There are many different ways species change, but most of them can be described by the idea of natural selection. The theory of evolution through natural selection was the first scientific theory that put together evidence of change through time as well as a mechanism for how it happens. History of the Theory of Evolution The idea that traits are passed down from parents to offspring has been around since the ancient Greek philosophers time. In the middle 1700s, Carolus Linnaeus came up with his taxonomic naming system, which grouped like species together and implied there was an evolutionary connection between species within the same group. The late 1700s saw the first theories that species changed over time. Scientists like the Comte de Buffon and Charles Darwins grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, both proposed that species changed over time, but neither man could explain how or why they changed. They also kept their ideas under wraps due to how controversial the thoughts were compared to accepted religious views at the time. John Baptiste Lamarck, a student of the Comte de Buffon, was the first to publicly state species changed over time. However, part of his theory was incorrect. Lamarck proposed that acquired traits were passed down to offspring. Georges Cuvier was able to prove that part of the theory incorrect, but he also had evidence that there were once living species that had evolved and gone extinct. Cuvier believed in catastrophism, meaning these changes and extinctions in nature happened suddenly and violently. James Hutton and Charles Lyell countered Cuviers argument with the idea of uniformitarianism. This theory said changes happen slowly and accumulate over time. Darwin and Natural Selection Sometimes called survival of the fittest, natural selection was most famously explained by Charles Darwin in his book On the Origin of Species. In the book, Darwin proposed that individuals with traits most suitable to their environments lived long enough to reproduce and passed down those desirable traits to their offspring. If an individual had less than favorable traits, they would die and not pass on those traits. Over time, only the fittest traits of the species survived. Eventually, after enough time passed, these small adaptations would add up to create new species. These changes are precisely what makes us human.   Darwin was not the only person to come up with this idea at that time. Alfred Russel Wallace also had evidence and came to the same conclusions as Darwin around the same time. They collaborated for a short time and jointly presented their findings. Armed with evidence from all over the world due to their various travels, Darwin and Wallace received favorable responses in the scientific community about their ideas. The partnership ended when Darwin published his book. One very important part of the theory of evolution through natural selection is the understanding that individuals cannot evolve; they can only adapt to their environments. Those adaptations add up over time and, eventually, the entire species has evolved from what it was like earlier. This can lead to new species forming and sometimes extinction of older species. Evidence for Evolution There are many pieces of evidence that support the theory of evolution. Darwin relied on the similar anatomies of species to link them. He also had some fossil evidence that showed slight changes in the body structure of the species over time, often leading to vestigial structures. Of course, the fossil record is incomplete and has missing links. With todays technology, there are many other types of evidence for evolution. This includes similarities in the embryos of different species, the same DNA sequences found across all species, and an understanding of how DNA mutations  work in microevolution. More fossil evidence has also been found since Darwins time, although there are still many gaps in the fossil record. The Theory of Evolution Controversy Today, the theory of evolution is often portrayed in the media as a controversial subject. Primate evolution and the idea that humans evolved from monkeys has been a major point of friction between scientific and religious communities. Politicians and court decisions have debated whether or not schools should teach evolution or if they should also teach alternate points of view like intelligent design or creationism. The State of Tennessee v. Scopes, or the Scopes Monkey Trial, was a famous court battle over teaching evolution in the classroom. In 1925, a substitute teacher named John Scopes was arrested for illegally teaching evolution in a Tennessee science class. This was the first major court battle over evolution, and it brought attention to a formerly taboo subject. The Theory of Evolution in Biology The theory of evolution is often seen as the main overarching theme that ties all topics of biology together. It includes genetics, population biology, anatomy and physiology, and embryology, among others. While the theory has itself evolved and expanded over time, the principles laid out by Darwin in the 1800s still hold true today.

5 Cases of Extraneous Hyphenation with Numbers

5 Cases of Extraneous Hyphenation with Numbers 5 Cases of Extraneous Hyphenation with Numbers 5 Cases of Extraneous Hyphenation with Numbers By Mark Nichol The combination of numbers, spelled out or in numerical form, and hyphens is a volatile mixture that often confuses writers. Here are five sentences in which hyphens are erroneously inserted into constructions that do not require them, with explanations and corrections. 1. â€Å"Four-percent of adults may have ADHD.† There’s no reason to combine four and percent. The writer might have incorrectly extrapolated from the use of fractions in the same type of construction (â€Å"One-third of respondents agree with the statement†), but the sentence should read, â€Å"Four percent of adults may have ADHD.† 2. â€Å"Astronomers say an object five-times bigger than Jupiter is the first planet outside our solar system to be imaged.† The reference to the exoplanet’s magnitude of size in comparison to Jupiter requires no linking hyphen. The misunderstanding perhaps arises from the fact that â€Å"five times† modifies bigger, but bigger is an adjective, not a noun, and words combining to modify adjectives are not hyphenated. The correct form is â€Å"Astronomers say an object five times bigger than Jupiter is the first planet outside our solar system to be imaged.† 3. â€Å"This monk began his vow not to speak with a 2-1/2 year walk up the coast.† Writers often erroneously insert a hyphen between a whole number and a fraction in a mixed fraction. It’s not necessary, but it is required between the mixed fraction and the noun that follows when they combine to modify another noun, as in this example: â€Å"This monk began his vow not to speak by taking a 2 1/2-year walk up the coast.† (2 1/2 is considered a single element, so omit the intervening hyphen.) Note, too, the slight revision to eliminate the suggestion that the monk conversed with a 2 1/2-year walk up the coast. 4. â€Å"The electrified border, 10-feet-high, is to be completed across the border with India.† If this sentence used the phrase â€Å"10 feet high† as a modifier preceding â€Å"electrified fence† (â€Å"a 10-foot-high electrified fence†), the hyphens linking the elements as a unified description would be valid. But in a simple reference to physical dimensions, no hyphens are necessary: â€Å"The electrified fence, 10 feet high, is to be completed across the border with India.† 5. â€Å"You must have a keen sense of how to capture the attention of the 18-34 year-old news junkie.† This sentence tries to observe the basic rule about connecting the numbers in a range (preferably with an en dash rather than a hyphen) but errs in its failure to recognize the special case of suspensive hyphenation that overrules that usage. The sentence refers to a demographic cohort consisting of 18-year-old news junkies and 34-year-old news junkies and all news junkies in between. When using a range involving a number compound, elide most of the first element, retaining only the number (spelled out or in numeral form) and a hyphen, followed by a letter space: â€Å"You must have a keen sense of how to capture the attention of the 18- to 34-year-old news junkie.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:85 Synonyms for â€Å"Help†Capitalization Rules for Names of Historical Periods and Movements20 Names of Body Parts and Elements and Their Figurative Meanings