Strategics

What are the benefits of strategic  planning? Understanding the Benefits of Strategic Planning For Entrepreneurs Your venture’s goals and strategy define the purpose and competitive advantage that will set it apart from others. Your goals help define your intent, and strategy is the plan of action that describes activities for dealing with the environment and for reaching your venture’s intended goals. When combined, goals and strategies define the scope of operations and the relationship with employees, customers, competitors, and other stakeholders.The term â€Å"strategy† is widely used in the business world today. It is one of those words that people define in one way and often use in another, without realizing the difference. It is derived from the ancient Greek word meaning â€Å"the art and science of the general deploying forces for battle. † Your strategy is a plan for interacting with the competitive environment to achieve your intended goals. Some think of goals and strategies as interchangeable. For purposes of our research, goals define where your venture wants to go, and strategy defines how your venture will get there.This formal process of setting goals and creating a strategy adds legitimacy, provides employee direction and motivation, helps form decision-making guidelines, and provides criteria for your performance. In essence, the process of strategy formulation sets the general directions in which your venture’s position will grow and develop—your goals and objectives represent the ends that you are seeking to attain. Whereas the strategy is the means to these ends, strategic management is positioning and relating your venture to its environment in a way that will ensure its continued success and make it secure from surprises from competitors.This is competitive strategy, the search for a favorable competitive position in an industry, aiming to establish a profitable and sustainable position agains t the forces that determine industry competition. Benefits of Strategic Planning for Entrepreneurs Strategic planning is a logical, analytical process for choosing your venture’s future positions vis a vis the environment. The most common defect of entrepreneurs is myopia, a lack of long-range perspective in thinking or planning. In the sports world they say, â€Å"Luck is where preparation meets pportunity. † Lance Armstrong, a bicyclist with five consecutive Tour de France wins to his name, prepares by â€Å"thinking the race through† before he ever starts down the road. In the business world this preparation comes from strategic planning. As Michael Porter writes, â€Å"The essence of formulating competitive strategy is relating a company to its environment; the best strategy for a given firm is ultimately a unique construction reflecting its particular circumstances. † So look at new business venturing as a chess game.To be successful you must be able to anticipate several moves ahead in advance. Thinking about your strategy is like thinking about the scenarios of plans, for example, what to do if/when competitors come into your space. Strategic planning is the process of thinking about and creating these scenarios, and the business plan is the document that communicates the fact that you have figured it out. According to Henry Mintzberg, the key to successful strategic decision making is not just looking out into the future, but having a capacity and willingness to learn from experience.A new venture has to start somewhere, with a collective understanding of what it is supposed to be doing and where it should be going, and strategic planning aids in this learning. But entrepreneurs cannot wait until the competition is engaged before planning. The inevitable confusion that accompanies any battle and that renders the clearest plans difficult to execute is called the â€Å"fog of war,† a term first coined by the nineteenth- century Prussian general Karl von Clausewitz (1780–1831).Crafting Your Business Strategy Strategic planning is the process through which you profitably match your internal resources with shifting market demands and based on an opportunity. In a must-read article for all entrepreneurs learning about strategic planning, â€Å"Crafting Strategy† in Harvard Business Review, Mintzberg states that a business strategy should be crafted because â€Å"craft evokes traditional skill, dedication, perfection through the mastery of detail. His point is that â€Å"strategies can form as well as be formulated. † There are two key components that need to be crafted together to logically spell out, as Drucker calls it, the business purpose. The first is a coherent encapsulation of your products and services, the markets and types of customers you serve, and the benefits they derive. The second component should identify the â€Å"key activities and how they will be carried out to realize the logic for competing. It is this the tight integration of the reasons for competing and for organizing lays the foundation for your venture’s competitive advantage that becomes the basis of its superiority over rivals in serving a particular market or market segments. Strategies are not set in stone. In fact, 84 percent of the CEOs leading fast-growth ventures said their business had changed target markets, even from the time when they launched. Although the business may change, the questions that drive strategic planning remain fixed. Start thinking about the following key questions: – Where are we now? – Where

Practicum report sample for hotel and restaurant management Essay

COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT HRM 117- OJT in Hotel BSHM STUDENTS PRACTICUM EVALUATION FORM Aaron C. Magallon Student Front Office – Bell Service Department and Position DUSIT THANI MANILA Cooperating Hotel PERIOD COVERED: _________________________________ DIRECTION:The statement below represents the expected skills and other personal qualities of HM practicum students. Please rate the trainee accordingly by checking the appropriate box with the corresponding points relative to the acquired knowledge and skills. The five points Liker Scale below will guide in your rating. POINTS VERBAL INTERPRETATION EVALUATION SCALE GRADE 5 Excellent4.20-5.00 1.00 4Very Good (VG)3.40-4.19 1.25 3 Good (G)2.60-3.39 1.50 2 Fair (F)1.80-2.59 1.75 1 Poor (P)1.00-1.79 2.00 AREA 1: VOCATIONAL / TRADE SKILLS (25%) 5 4 3 2 1 1.1 Quality of work ability to meet Quality of Standards 1.2 Application of acquired knowledge and skills 1.3 Ability to use tools and equipment properly 1.4 Ability of work safety, effectively, and efficiency Weighted Mean AREA 2: WORK QUALITIES AND HABITS 5 4 3 2 1 2.1 Industry Personal application to assigned work 2.2 Reliability 2.3 Initiative 2.4 Punctuality 2.5 Ability to follow direction Weighted Mean AREA 3: PERSONAL AND SOCIAL QUALITIES 5 4 3 2 1 3.1 Cooperative-ability to work together with other people 3.2 Self-Control ability to control emotions 3.3 Poise-demonstrate level of self-confidence appropriate for the job 3.4 Reaction to advice and constructive criticism 3.5 Willingness to follow direction 3.6 Adaptability-capacity to adjust to new problem and changing situation Weighted Mean AREA 4: COMMUNICATION SKILLS 5 4 3 2 1 4.1 Ability in oral communication 4.2 Ability in written communication 4.3 Knowledge of vocabulary related to the job Weighted Mean AREA 5: PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP 5 4 3 2 1 5.1 Ability to work harmoniously with co-workers 5.2 Ability to work harmoniously with immediate supervisors Weighted Mean COMMENTS: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Grand Mean: ________Equivalent Grade: ________ EVALUATOR Signature over Printed Name Noted by: MS. DULCE B. AURELIO Practicum Coordinator

Catcher In The Rye Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Catcher In The Rye - Essay Example It is my opinion that Holden Caulfield became such a universally loved fictional character simply because of his humanity - equally because of his faults and his sensitivity. Sensitivity, yes, as strange as it might sound, but Holden did possess an astute mind, a keen eye, an unadulterated understanding of human nature and at times betrayed a sensitivity towards others that he usually hid under layers of abrasiveness and insolence. This rudeness was a defense mechanism employed by Holden to intentionally protect himself from his fellow men. In order to reach a deeper understanding of Holden, it is imperative to analyze the reason behind his rudeness. It is my opinion that Holden usually brushed people off and never showed them his true inner feelings because he was afraid of opening up and making himself vulnerable to others. He understood that human beings were just as capable of hurting as they were of loving and he did not take a chance with any of his relationships simply because he dreaded being hurt by the ones he chose to love. After Holden's passage from childhood to maturity he became increasingly aware of the "phoniness" of the world around him and craved the innocence and purity of his childhood days.

Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Research Proposal

Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine - Research Proposal Example ell research, this paper proposes a framework for the formulation of guidelines towards the payment for the donation of eggs for embryonic stem cell production and research. Stem cells are naà ¯ve cells that have the capability of differentiating or developing into other types of cells in the body. Currently, many types of stem cells have been identified: embryonic, adult and induced pluripotent stem cells. Adult stem cells come from adult tissues like adipose, bone marrow, retina, muscle, heart; their main purpose is to repair and replace worn out tissues in which they were found. These cells are called multipotent because they can only differentiate into limited tissue types. Some adult stem cells can be induced to produce all types of tissues; these are called the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). Although the potential of these cells is quite high, studies are still underway to understand how they can be utilized fully (Webb). The most studied and with the most potential are the highly controversial embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells have two extraordinary properties that make them very medically useful. First, they are "pluripotent," with the capacity to become any type of the 200 specialized cells in the body; a heart-muscle cell that pumps blood, a cell in the retina of that sees light, an acid-producing cell in the stomach, or a brain cell that stores memories. Second, embryonic stem cells can keep dividing and making unlimited copies of themselves; an important property, since huge numbers of new cells may be needed to replace cells lost to disease. Embryonic stem cells, because of their ability to regenerate different tissue types, are thought by most scientists and researchers to hold potential cures for Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cancer, spinal cord injuries, Alzheimers disease, heart disease, hundreds of rare immune system and genetic disorders, and many more. Over 100 million people suffer from diseases that

Financial Institutions & Markets - Financial Innovation Essay

Financial Institutions & Markets - Financial Innovation - Essay Example Individuals and business concerns now have a wider range of options with respect to different types of borrowing facilities available to them. However, the recent Global Financial Crisis (GFC) is argued to be the result of this financial innovation. As a result of that most of the monetary policy makers have tightened their regulatory policies and have imposed several restrictions on the financial institutions worldwide. Borrowers have become more sensitive towards interest rates fluctuations in the financial market and the world is experiencing a situation of credit crunch now. Hence it is required to have a reassessment of the monetary policies by different nations in the world with its primary task being financial stabilization. It should also ensure development of financial innovations with more benefits and lesser costs and risks associated with it. Table of Contents Table of Contents 3 1.Introduction 4 2.Role of Innovation in Financial System 4 2.1Technological Impact 4 2.2Glob alization 5 2.3Deregulation 5 2.4Europe and its Financial Integration 5 Nature of Financial Innovation 6 Benefits of Financial Innovation 7 Demerits of Financial Innovation 8 Conclusion 8 References 10 1. Introduction Financial innovations can be defined as the improvements in the financial system through the development of new financial techniques and instruments. ... same time the impact of Global financial Crisis (GFC) on employment of strict regulatory policies to curb the development of financial innovation techniques has been studied. 2. Role of Innovation in Financial System Financial markets and financial system as a whole have experienced significant changes over the years. Innovations in the financial system have led to the formulation of various financial techniques and instruments. It has paved way to older techniques and instruments used in the financial market. With globalization there has been an increased competition amongst financial intermediaries (Cavanna, 1992, p.1). 2.1 Technological Impact Improvements in technology have a significant effect on the development of innovations in the financial system. Rapid advancement of microelectronics has resulted in the reduction of computer costs and enhancement of computer capabilities. World has become a small place and information can be shared with anyone in no time at all. It has led to financial market integration in the whole world. Share trading has been made easy through improved information systems. Information Technology and financial systems of most of the companies today are integrated and operated globally and adoption of IFRS is getting easier for them (AICPA, 2010, p.2). With advanced technologies available financial institutions are now engaged in financial instruments which are more complex in nature. 2.2 Globalization With globalization companies operate in different parts of the world. It has led to the development of international market which is growing at a rapid pace. Banks and other financial institutions have developed innovative products that could be transacted globally. Globalization has made it possible for a country to attract foreign

Should teens be allowed to drive at 16 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Should teens be allowed to drive at 16 - Essay Example However, processing a drivers license is one of the biggest status symbols among the teenager particularly the high school students. Getting a drivers license is not only a social asset but it makes the teenager feel more independent than ever before. According to the American Automobile Association, teenage drivers account for only 7% of the driving population but are involved in 14% of fatal crashes. Traffic crashes are the number one cause of death and injury for the teenagers between the ages of 15-19 (AACAP, 2005). According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 and 20. These deaths account for one-third of all fatalities in this age group. The NHTSA says three factors work together to account for these statistics for teen drivers: inexperience, risk-taking behavior and immaturity and greater risk exposure. Young drivers start out with little knowledge or under standing of the complexities of driving a car. Peer pressure and adolescent impulsiveness can result in poor driving judgment and participation in high-risk behaviors such as speeding, inattention and not using a seatbelt. Teens often drive at night with other teens in the vehicle. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says that 43 percent of teenage motor vehicle deaths occurred between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. In addition, two out of three teen passenger deaths occurred when the driver of the vehicle was also a teenager (Eldridge, 2005).

WILL THE NEW ARCHITECTURAL ICONS CARRY THE SAME INTRINSIC ROLE IN Essay

WILL THE NEW ARCHITECTURAL ICONS CARRY THE SAME INTRINSIC ROLE IN DEFINING CITIES - Essay Example 11-12, 2007) Moreover, since antiquity until present, humans have advanced significantly in every sector, and so, humans have achieved pinnacle by the advancement in architectural designs, which can be noted by observing existing modern architectural icons, as well as, designs and plans of future architectural icons that are being built in different parts of the globe. It is observed that technology has become an important tool of humans, which is being used intellectually and imaginatively by ingenious and inspiring architects around the globe. As time is passing by, more and more improvement is being made in technological sector, as well as, in the architectural sector. On the other hand, environmental resources are reducing rapidly due to excessive utilization of humans for their personal purposes. (Ford, pp. 34-37, 2004) In this regard, it is a debatable topic whether new architectural icons will be able to carry the same intrinsic and natural role that was carried by historical architecture in the absence of technological tools and tactics. Studies have indicated that a number of factors are affecting the architectural discourse, such as technology, economy, and especially, culture. All these factors are shaping the contemporary modes and designs of architectural outcomes, and this paper will discuss whether new architectural icons that will be outcome of these factors will be able to acquire an intrinsic value, or natural relation will eliminate in few years. Experts have indicated that culture plays a significant role in the creation of any architectural icon, as it facilitates the specific place in expressing its cultural identity to other parts of the globe. In this regard, it is very essential for an architect to relate with the historical architectural icons, in order to continue the relation according to some experts. On the other hand, some other experts argue that it is not essential to relate with historical architectural icons, and a new

Gore-Tex Patents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Gore-Tex Patents - Essay Example At the end of the patent protection phase, the best strategy is to increase R&D investment as well as repositioning the product whose patent is expiring at a lower price point in order to continue to generate sales. 2. The fabric technology of the firm has been utilized in a wide range of products. The company has applied for winter coats, backpacks, shoes, and trousers. The firm has been able to obtain prestigious contracts such as the 1969 contract that enabled the company manufactured cables to reach outer space US-led moon missions. The firm has diversified product portfolio with multiple application which includes: new standards for comfort and protection for work wear and active gear; advanced the science of regenerating tissues destroyed by disease or traumatic injuries; next-generation materials for printed circuit boards and fiber optics; and new methods to detect and control environmental pollution. 3. The emphasis on technology and innovation has helped Gore become a multinational firm whose market value exceeds one billion dollars. Despite the company’s success, the continuous emphasis on technology is a strategy that has drawbacks and increases overall business risk. Once the patent of technology expires any firm can imitate the company’s product without incurring in any of the original research and development investment the firm incurred in. Another major drawback about placing a high emphasis on technology is that these types of products at times become obsolete very fast as other more advanced technology begin to appear in the marketplace. When a company becomes a victim of obsolete technology all the inventory of the product that became obsolete becomes worthless.

The Process Analysis Essay Example for Free

The Process Analysis Essay Introduction    An essay is a comprehensive form of true and fair view of representing facts in a particular style of writing [APA, Harvard, MLA, Oxford etc.,] about a subject, issue or a topic. It   defines, briefs, describes achievements, discusses facts and ideas and projects future claims of any paramount discussion or subject.  Ã‚  Ã‚   An essay is immensely useful to students, lecturers, professors, employees and to business entrepreneurs. It   provides large amount of information in snippets while saving time and enabling the process of decision making much easier. A well-written essay is easily readable, delivers accurate dialogue,   serves the purpose of writing and is in close relevance with the usage of terms and phrases. Essay: How useful it is:    Students: Essay can be used as preparatory notes for final exams and also as a gist of main points to work in detail and prepare notes. It is also used for evaluation purposes by teachers in schools. Lecturers Professors: Essays provide new information to lecturers, while evaluating, although it is a hard job to go through students essays over and over again about the same topic, to grade the essays of students.   Most of the students never give up to improve their grades and in order to upgrade their levels, efforts are hard to bring out the best in sources, ideas, and include in writing which results in   a refined work. Employees and Business Entrepreneurs : An essay provides details about a particular field. For example, if a small nursery garden is to be opened, for selling plants, a complete detailed planning is required for a beginner.   This can be discussed through essay as it serves   the purpose of even a small home business.   For an employee, essay is a media of communication for motivation, instruction or explanation for any matter that cannot be discussed over table on a personal or management level. Look more:  process essay III. Kind of Essays:   The usage of words and framing of sentences is dependent on the level or grade of student. i.e. school, college, university/Master or research.  Ã‚   Basing on the level of education, simple, medium, high-level of English language can be used. Students: Grade :8-10+2, essays are informative and in order with curriculum, easily readable and vivid in concept presentation while written in simple English. College: 12+ : Essays are written according to the expectations of lecturers. Lecturers would like to ascertain the level of understanding of students.   Therefore, the emphasis is on understanding of concept rather than providing information from various sources.   For example, if a student is asked to write about FIFA as a current sport in trend, student is expected to brief   about   the sport, its importance and what is the personal approach of the student, towards FIFA.   This will also entertain the lecturer and builds the rapport with the student. University Research: Working on essays in this particular level, require utmost hard work, care and excellent usage of English language. Students are in great benefit for their sincere efforts at a later point of time in career, therefore, any lacunae in writing essays, or researched essays will result in lowering their image. A detailed and thorough hard work is required, even if it is time consuming. As they say â€Å" paper always speaks† of what we are. Concentration is required in the following areas while writing University and Research essays: Collection of facts and preparing draft notes. Collection of views, surveys and opinions. Collection of advantages, disadvantages, remedies and future claims. Excellent usage of English language, with proper punctuation and grammar. Read, re-read, print draft, correct the draft, read and finally print. WYSIWYG : what you see is what you get. Application of four ‘W’s: [why, who, what and where A good beginning is always impressive and encourages reader to look further. Apart from writing facts, encourage and entertain the reader with new and accurate information. Attempt to prove that â€Å"pen is mightier than sword† in writing which will definitely results in achievement of good grades. Essays :Provide information for multi-projects For a venture capitalist or a novice in business, web provides a complete information for all. Gathering information, processing and framing as an essay is a perfect outlook for essay form of writing. Perfect essay works and achieves its target.   Therefore, it is important to analyze what is required in essay and its emphasis while taking up a subject for details.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Without proper and exact analysis of what information is required, many a times, essays do not serve the purpose. Concentration is required in the following areas for gathering details: Purpose of essay : whether it is for real time project/business or a student-based. What is required: A clear writing of the requirements in essay will make the job easier and fast in collecting details. A quick short break : While preparing essays, short breaks will provide fresh ideas, words and sentences. Always jot down the points and tick as and when the writing is finished. Adopt and practice professional writing and presentation. What are the components of a good Essay Use best English Simple style of writing, neat, professionally presented, using not too difficult jargon, is appropriate and considered good for essays. Avoid pessimism, criticism [different from advantages and disadvantages] and negativity in essays. Represent facts in short sentences, paragraphs and numbered sub-headings.   Usage of business terms, legal phrases or with respect to any other field are considered appropriate and suit the need for a good essay. References References are best sources to prove, the kind and quality of essay.   Quality essays always provide and present professional sources. Browsing through a well-written, informative source will assist a student to understand, assess and re-write which is an excellent job in quality writing. What is required in the content? For example, a Microwave oven does baking, cooking, defrosting, grilling and heating. It also heats on the levels. i.e. 100%, 80%, 60%. The user has to press the indicator for a particular task.   Similarly, each particular subject/topic/issue, has varied forms. What is required in the content has to be absolutely clear and concise. Conclusion Before beginning of writing an essay, question should be well read, understood, and analyzed as to what is expected in an essay as answer. Further work on jotting down points according to the number of pages, whether more details can be written or to be in brief. A single source cannot provide the entire information, if more number of facts or details are to be worked out, it is required to visit more number of sources, collect points and frame notes. Dos Walk an extra-mile for research on a topic. Allocate specific hours to think and write on a particular issue. Provide accurate, consistent and tidy work. Re-assess the final job before submission. Don’ts Avoid rush-up work as per the proverb â€Å"haste makes waste†. Never get disheartened if grading is not up to the expectations, but try to work hard to bring the essay to the standards. Reference: How to write an essay: http://www.How to write an essay.htm

Powdered zinc and copper sulphate Essay Example for Free

Powdered zinc and copper sulphate Essay Temperature after 1minute (i C) Change in Temperature (i C) 1g 17 19 2 As I had decided I was going to use 40cmiof copper sulphate solution in my experiments I was able to calculate the amount of mols of copper sulphate I was going to use, knowing that the concentration of the CuSO4 was 0. 5m/dmi. Amount of CuSO4 (mols) = concentration x volume = 0. 5 x 0. 04 (40cmi = 0. 04dmi ) = 0. 02mols Know that I knew the amount of CuSO4 used I was able to work out the amount of powdered zinc needed to give the highest change in temperature using the calculation shown below: Amount of substance needed = mass / molar mass (Mr of Zn = 65) therefore mass = amount x Mr = 0. 02 x 65 = 1. 3g Thus 1. 3g of zinc should give me the highest change in temperature. As I am not using exactly 1. 3g of zinc I predict that either 1. 25g or 1. 5g of zinc will show the highest change in temperature. Practical Obtaining my evidence Apparatus: powdered zinc, copper sulphate solution, beaker, measuring cylinder, pipette, balance, 5 evaporating dishes, thermometer, polystyrene cup and lid, stop clock. Method: I measured out amounts of   of the powdered zinc separately, using the balance to ensure accuracy. I put the amounts into the evaporating dishes. Using the measuring cylinder and a pipette, I then put 40cmi of copper sulphate solution into the polystyrene cup, which I placed into a beaker for stability. I then added an amount of zinc, placed the lid and thermometer onto the cup and took the temperature of the solution. After a minute I took the temperature again. I repeated this process for each amount of zinc powder. I completed my experiment three times to each amount of zinc powder. I did it three times to establish an average change in temperature for the different amounts of zinc used. Results: Experiment 1: Amount of Zinc (grams)3 Conclusion: As I predicted 1. 5g of powdered zinc gave me the highest change in temperature. After this amount the change in temperature slowly began to decrease. Between 0. 5g and 1. 5g the temperature change increased rapidly. Specific Heat Capacity of Zinc The specific heat capacity (s. h. c. ) of a material is the amount of heat needed to change the temperature of 1kg of the material by 1i C or 1K. Different substances take different quantities of heat energy to heat them up. Specific heat capacity = energy released / (mass x temperature rise) As I know this equation I can rearrange it to find the energy released during a reaction. If I also know the amount of a substance used in the reaction I can calculate the specific heat capacity of it. Energy released = temperature rise x specific heat capacity x mass of solution . 76 KJ/mol (exothermic reactions are always negative) From my results I have calculated that the specific heat capacity of zinc is -32. 76. This is inaccurate as from my data book I was able to find that the correct ? H of zinc is -219KJ/mol. This inaccuracy shows that although my results followed the expected trend, they were not accurate. Analysis In my plan I predicted that either 1. 25g or 1. 5g of zinc would show the highest change in temperature. After this mass I predicted that the change in temperature would either decrease or level off. This is what happened. In my average results 1. 5g of zinc gave me the highest change in temperature and after this the increase in temperature decreased because a layer of copper formed on the zinc, thus making it less reactive. If I were to continue with my experiments I would investigate higher amounts of zinc to prove this theory completely. In all of my experiments the copper sulphate lost its blue colouring and the zinc became red in colour. The copper compounds in copper sulphate cause the solution to be blue in colour. As the zinc displaced the copper, the solution lost its colour. As the copper layer formed on the zinc it became red, as copper is a red metal. My graphs show the general trend that I predicted and concluded on yet there were a few anomalies. I believe that these will have been caused by factors such as contamination and heat loss to the surroundings. The thermometer may also have been inaccurate. An exothermic reaction is one which gives out energy to the surroundings, usually in the form of heat and usually shown by a rise in temperature. I have successfully proved that the reaction between powdered zinc and copper sulphate is exothermic as I recognised a rise in temperature in all my experiments. I have also shown that the reaction between zinc and copper sulphate is a redox reaction (see my plan). Evaluation The anomalies in my results prove that there were points during my investigations where my accuracy left a little to be desired. An inaccuracy occurred in my time keeping, as there was often a small difference in when I began timing e. g. when I added the zinc or when I secured the lid on top of the polystyrene cup. Overall even though my experiment was open to some inaccuracies I believe it was accurate enough to support my predictions. To improve my results I would increase the period of timing from 1minute to 5minutes so that the temperature could be allowed to rise more. I would extend my investigations into the reaction between zinc and copper sulphate by using a finer powder of zinc, which would give it a larger surface area, to see if this would cause the temperature to rise more rapidly. I would also like to complete the experiments using better equipment to prevent heat loss to the surroundings, to see if it has an effect on my results and thus, my conclusion. I would have liked to use better equipment in my practical but they were not available. If I had more time I could use different metals and different solutions to further test the displacement rule e. g. the reaction between magnesium and zinc sulphate. Sources: G. C. S. E Chemistry Revision Guide Richard Parsons Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Patterns of Behaviour section.

Change and Continuity in L’Oreal

Change and Continuity in L’Oreal Introduction There have been plenty of cosmetics that have been produced and released in the market by various companies in the previous five years. The reason behind this is that more and more people especially women are becoming more conscious of their physical appearance that they are prepared to spend their hard earned money even on expensive but high quality and effective cosmetics. While the cosmetics industry is comprised of many companies that offer unique cosmetics at varying prices, it remains clear the LOreal remains as one of the more dominant and successful organizations at present. Since its establishment in 1909, LOreal has since become a significant force to reckon with in the cosmetics industry (LOreal Official Website, 2010). The advent of globalization has enabled the company to diversify its products to cater to various target markets with distinct beauty needs. Because of the massive profits that LOreal consistently gets from its local markets, the company has been able to effectively allocate its financial resources towards its expansion activities that have helped solidify the companys dominant position in the cosmetics industry. Guided by the effective leadership headed by CEO Jean-Paul Argon, LOreal has amazingly continued to make strides even in the presence of the global economic crisis that has resulted in many of its competitors experiencing significant declines in productivity and profitability. It is clear that the deep wealth of financial and human resources of LOreal along with the effective strategies to take advantage of the benefits provided by globalization has helped sustain the productivity of the company and it is expected that LOreal would be able to maintain its strength in the next couple of years. Part A: Internal / External Analysis Internal Analysis: Strengths LOreal is very much a recognized and admired company in the field of cosmetics. The organization is actually the most dominant and productive cosmetics producer over the past decades. This dominance consistently allows LOreal to attract more followers and convert them as loyal customers by making them satisfied with the beauty products that they buy. The growing population of LOreal has always been the stable source of revenues for the organization which makes it easy for them to achieve financial strength. The effective leadership of LOreal is doing a great job in adjusting the organizations plans and initiatives based on the latest trends in the cosmetics industry. This signifies the dedication of the management to maintain the positive image of the organization by always offering the more reliable beauty products that people will really enjoy and love. LOreal functions under the principle that to maintain its top position in the cosmetics industry, the focus and emphasis of their activities have to be geared to what their customers really aim for in terms of being beautiful (Begoun 2004, p. 560). LOreal does not take chances and is noted for making smart moves to beat its competitors in launching the most innovative beauty products all the time. LOreals cosmetics do not really come at cheap rates but the huge number of loyal customers is a sufficient proof that these products really work. LOreal is also known for its remarkable capability to always be the first company to find the latest beauty ingredients that will work well. The organization possesses deep financial resources to use in extensive research efforts that will help them to check the typical beauty problems of people. Consistent assessments of the cosmetics of LOreal are also being undertaken so that the organization is assured of the sustained effectiveness of their products. Any moves done by its competitors are also being monitored by LOreal for the organization to be able to respond quickly with better products and initiatives. Internal Analysis: Weaknesses The major point of vulnerability of LOreal is the alarming truth that the organization seems to neglect the idea of selling its cosmetics to the people belonging to the lower classes. The inability of the organization to keep in touch with the lower classes is a huge obstacle that continuously denies them the opportunity to clearly separate itself from the rest of its rivals. Because the prices of LOreal products are not considered as budget friendly among the lower class families, they are consistently being beaten by their rivals in this market segment (Kapferer 2008, p. 379). This is absolutely where the rivals of LOreal are striking back in an effort to somehow catch the company The usual criticism that LOreal receives regarding its cosmetics is that they are only made for the wealthy people to enjoy. The advertisements of LOreal boast of the numerous celebrities that endorse their products, and these send the wrong signals especially to the people belonging to the lower classes that these beauty products were not intended for them to use. This has sparked rumors that LOreal is biased when selecting their target markets that will use their cosmetics (Turner 2005, p. 226). This negative publicity and the failure of the organization to clarify these nasty rumors have somehow cast doubts even on their loyal customers regarding the true intentions of the organization. Critics also always question the corporate social responsibility initiatives of LOreal. Since LOreal has diversified its operations in numerous locations involving more than 80 countries, an evident weakness is that handling and monitoring its global activities have truly turned into significant challenges for the company. It only becomes harder for the company on the areas where LOreal products are not really very much patronized by the public due to the expensive prices and lack of familiarity. If LOreal is not going to do anything to improve its poor status in these countries, their competitors will someday take advantage of these weaknesses and may displace them at the top of the cosmetics industry. External Analysis: Opportunities LOreal is always presented the opportunity to offer its loyal clients with the best cosmetics that are impossible for their competitors to imitate. Even though the company is criticized for its selective target marketing initiatives, it could always help to silence their critics by always coming up with high quality products that are reasonably priced. The company has to continue taking advantage of its excellent research and development team that has proven its capabilities time and time again. The chance to respond to the criticism that LOreal is afraid to deal with the consumers from the lower classes must be grabbed by the company to once and for all settle this issue. Perhaps an important move connected to this would be finding ways to make their products more affordable for the public (Capon 2008, p. 263). This way, the consumers from the lower classes can be able to start appreciating the cosmetics of LOreal and not simply dream of using them just like what they always see and hear in the advertisements. It is always important that the consumers feel that their needs are being addressed by the companies whose products they patronize. LOreal can still keep on searching for other struggling cosmetics organizations and perhaps make intensive moves to acquire them to further expand their operations and strengthen their grip at the top spot in the cosmetics industry. It is no secret that the ongoing financial crisis has affected most companies and minimized their effectiveness, but remarkably LOreal has stayed strong even through the tough circumstances (Tang 2008, p. 20). The deep resources of the company significantly helped them to coast along the difficult stretch of 2008 and 2009 when the financial crisis struck. By making efforts to acquire or strike partnership deals with other smaller cosmetics companies, manufacturers and suppliers, LOreal can be able to take advantage of the financial crisis to pull away from their competitors and pounce on the problems that continue to hound them. External Analysis: Threats Since LOreal is the most dominant cosmetics company at present, the rest of the field is always waiting for any potential mistakes that LOreal is going to make so they can take advantage and pull themselves closer to the top (Doz 2001, p. 44). The intense rivalry is very typical in the cosmetics industry, and if LOreal becomes complacent and starts underestimating the capabilities of their competitors to beat them in sales and profits, it could be a costly mistake and something that the company could regret later on. Whether LOreal admits it or not, the financial crisis sooner or later will become an imminent problem that they will have to deal with especially if the crisis extends for the next two to three years. It can become more problematic if LOreal fails to adjust the prices of its beauty products, as the financial crisis has made most people to hesitate spending their money on expensive beauty products. Therefore, LOreal cannot simply keep relying on its deep financial resources to save them from the impacts of the financial crisis because eventually they will get depleted if even their loyal customers decide to refrain from buying their cosmetics. It is a must for LOreal to be able to find other ways to sustain their financial stability and make contingency plans in case the number of their loyal customers begins to decrease. LOreals promotional activities have also been attacked by critics for being biased and providing statements about their products that are merely lies (Sandhusen 2008, p. 52). These are absolutely not good for the long term progress of the company, as these controversies will forever be remembered by the public which could prevent LOreal from stabling bigger and stronger customer bases. The image of the company may be that of a dominant organization in the cosmetics industry, but if the public would believe that they are involved in illegal and unfair practices, they would eventually be losing majority of their precious clients. Summary What LOreal has to focus on is guaranteeing that they continue to capitalize on their strengths while their vulnerabilities are identified and resolved immediately. The various strengths of LOreal are unique and have been obtained through the hard work and commitment of the company to excellence. It would only be logical for LOreal to keep utilizing their strengths to their advantage given that its competitors are still struggling to the impacts of the economic crisis. The company also has to be resilient to monitor any available opportunities that could emerge and should not hesitate to grab them. LOreal, though, must be extra careful because their competitors are always significant threats to their dominance in the cosmetics industry. They need to pay close attention to their activities especially their marketing programs that have been the subject of controversies and fix the issues immediately. Task 2: Globalization and LOreal How globalization influences policies and decision making in LOreal The advent of globalization has had significant impacts on the policies and decision making of LOreal. Globalization has enabled LOreal to formulate policies that are geared towards utilizing its distinct operational structures to produce cosmetics that can be well appreciated by the public consumers all over the globe (Floyd 2004, p. 77). The policies of LOreal have always been based on globalization, and these include addressing the beauty needs of clients all over the globe, utilizing its resources to produce the best cosmetics, advocating diversity in their workforce to obtain better capabilities, improving its knowledge of world trends in cosmetics as well as establishing effective partnerships with providers and manufacturers all over the world to enhance the outputs and minimize their expenses. Through creating policies and decisions that aim to sustain LOreals dedication in offering the best beauty products to its global clients, the company believes that it is able to use globalization to its advantage. LOreal is aware that establishing a global presence is important for them to achieve success, which is why their policies and decisions are geared toward being involved in the cosmetics industries all over the world. LOreal aims to help establish an excellent business environment all over the world while expanding its operations in various sectors (Haig 2006, p. 27). For LOreal, globalization signifies the necessity for them to broaden its operations to enable more individuals from different cultures to get to know and use their beauty products. This global expansion initiative, though, is being done by the company in an organized and effective manner. LOreal has effective guidelines that help safeguard the environment of the foreign countries where they have operations. T he company also offers employment opportunities that are loaded with excellent incentives. They also have policies in interacting effectively with their providers to advocate the maintenance of excellent guidelines in the production of cosmetics. Of course, LOreal does not forget to recognize the policies and traditions of their global partners for development. The advent of globalization has also heavily influenced the policies and decisions of LOreal with regard to workforce diversity. LOreals policies and decisions are geared towards improving its operations through harnessing the knowledge and skills of their workforces all over the global and getting their precious suggestions and contributions. The company understands that the presence of globalization implies the need for them to rely on their diverse workers and address their typical concerns. The policies of LOreal also include guidelines to coordinate with the leaders of foreign countries where they have operations in offering sources of livelihood for their people in exchange for the continued stay of LOreal. This way, the company is able to maintain good relations with more than 80 countries where they currently have production plants and offices. It has become very clear for LOreal that to achieve global dominance in the cosmetics industry of the world, they have to use the diversity of their workforces to their advantage (Finkelstein 2007, p. 132). While the company has successfully expanded its operations in various continents, it remains a challenge for LOreal to penetrate certain underdeveloped countries due to cultural and language barriers. This is the reason why the management is working to break these barriers through new policies that will enable the company to finally penetrate in these tough locations that will contribute to their long term success. LOreal also has policies that aim to build strong relationships with its global business partners, including material providers and manufacturers. This is based on the philosophy of the company that it cannot achieve success by relying only on its own efforts. The company understands that by encouraging the participation and support of other important business organizations, LOreals aim to succeed can have a better chance to happen (Khanna 2010, p. 101). This structure of operation also helps the company to delegate its responsibilities effectively and trust that their business partners will be able to accomplish the tasks and responsibilities given to them by the LOreal management. Another impact of globalization in the policies and decision making of LOreal is the obvious focus on recognizing the rights, traditions, beliefs and norms of every foreign country where they have operations. The company understands that they have to be careful not to violate any of these international laws and policies if it wants to remain productive in these foreign locations. The policies of LOreal in this regard require the constant communication of the corporate leaders and the government representatives to discuss effectively the guidelines and other agreements that need to be approved. This way, any unexpected problems or concerns that could happen in the international locations can be easily resolved and their potential negative impacts are significantly minimized. Part of the policies of LOreal in respecting the international laws of their global business partners is the policy of maintaining the cleanliness of the environment. As LOreals products involve chemical wastes, the company assures the governments of their global business partners that waste disposal is always done effectively to prevent environmental damage and other hazardous impacts. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of LOreals response to globalization In terms of addressing the beauty needs of clients all over the globe, LOreal has mostly been successful in this regard. LOreal views the existence of globalization as a force that makes the beauty needs of their global clients even more complicated. This is because the existence of globalization can easily change the mentalities of people through what they see, heat and read in the media (Mueller 2004, p. 180). This means that what the beauty products that they might like today may be irrelevant for them tomorrow. However, because of the competent and hard working research and development team of LOreal, the changes in the consumer trends and behavior are easily monitored and thoroughly evaluated by the company. The successful response of LOreal to globalization in terms of addressing the needs of their global customers can be attributed to the hard work of its research and development team. The advent of globalization has also challenged LOreal to utilize its resources effectively to produce the best cosmetics. This is because globalization has also been beneficial to the competitors of LOreal. Its competitors have also acquired the new technologies, information and expertise that have significantly improved their operations and their chances to topple LOreal at the top of the cosmetics industry (Kurtz 2009, p 45). However, LOreal has been able to prove time and time again why it would be hard for its competitors to displace them at the top. Under the guidance of effective leaders, LOreal has consistently been able to maximize the depth of its financial and technological resources to create unique, innovative and relevant beauty products that cater to the beauty needs of its global clients. LOreal has never shown any hesitation to spend significant amounts of money in order to always be the first company to launch cosmetics that can catch the attention of global consume rs. LOreal has also been effective at responding to the challenges of globalization through the presence of diversity in their workforce to obtain better capabilities. With its global operations anchored on the strong contributions of its more than 100 production sites with almost 60,000 workers coming from various cultural backgrounds, LOreal has been successful in maximizing the availability of the skills, knowledge and expertise of its diverse workforce to its advantage. It is quite evident that the presence of globalization has made it mandatory for companies to really use a diverse workforce to be able to cope up to the challenges that it presents (Morck 2005, p. 211). The success of the response of LOreal to globalization in this aspect can be directly attributed to the excellent work of the human resources department of the company. The department is able to effectively select the right combinations of people from various cultures to handle the responsibilities inside the company, and does a good job in making sure that the needs and concerns of the employees are always addressed. As a result, the employees of LOreal all over the world are able to contribute significantly to the overall success of the organization. Globalization has always been connected to modern technologies and mass media, and LOreal has successfully used them in improving its knowledge of world trends in cosmetics. The negative consequences of failing to know and understand the latest developments in any market or industry have always been costly and disastrous for companies, which is why LOreal has significantly invested in modern technologies and production equipment as a proof of their readiness and willingness to embrace the challenges brought about by globalization. LOreal does not really worry about the huge funds that it shells out to acquire these technologies and equipment, because it understands that eventually the advantages of their investments would eventually outweigh the expenses. Aside from expanding its operations globally, LOreal has also been successful at establishing effective partnerships with providers and manufacturers all over the world to enhance their outputs and minimize their expenses. Over the last three years, LOreal has engaged in various acquisitions in an effort to cope up to the expansion activities of its competitors as dictated by globalization. Because of globalization, the implementation of free trade has made it easier for the competitors of LOreal to also engage in expanding their operations especially in areas where LOreal has been having difficulties in penetrating. Nonetheless, the strength of the significant acquisitions of LOreal most notably its acquisition of the Body Shop and Sanofi-Aventis is still much better compared to the minor transactions being done by their competitors. Perhaps the only aspect where LOreal has not achieved any satisfactory results is with regard to the environment (Peng 2008, p. 92). It is a well known fact that globalization has been criticized for causing environmental degradation, and the complaints being received by LOreal with regard to waste management are proofs of this. The company has been blamed for polluting water systems due to the chemicals involved in its production wastes, and this has surely caught the attention of the public. Complaints also with regard to the company making use of live animals to test their products have been condemned by animal rights advocates, and numerous protests have been initiated all over the world to stop LOreal from continuing such initiatives. While the company has always denied being involved in these animal testing activities, animal rights groups have yet to be convinced that LOreal is not guilty of these violations. These negativities are definitely undesirable and need to be fixed b y the company before they get blown out of proportions and become more complicated. Areas for improvement in the response of LOreal An important area of improvement for LOreal is concerning its research and development department. This unit deserves to be given credit for its excellent outputs and performances that have enabled the company to maintain its dominant position in the cosmetics industry. It is safe to say that the challenges brought about by globalization in terms of addressing the unpredictable beauty needs of the people have all been shouldered and correctly identified by the tireless researchers of LOreal (Flapper 2005, p. 80). This does not mean though that there is no more room for improvement for this department. The management of the company can keep allocating funds to this department to make sure that the researchers are able to keep doing their studies and activities without any limitations. It is important to remember that the research team is doing its studies on consumer behavior on a global scale, so financial assistance will definitely be needed by the department. The management of cultural diversity among its employees is also an important area of improvement for LOreal. While the company has done a good job in taking advantage of the diverse skills, knowledge and expertise of its employees all over the world, it will be beneficial for the company if there would be clearer methods of conflict resolution especially as cultural diversity is also the usual culprit of frequent disagreements among the employees. It is impossible to think that the employees of LOreal will always agree to all aspects of their work so it will help that methods of conflict resolution are firmly in place. This is an important impact of globalization that LOreal cannot afford to neglect since it could really have negative consequences on the performance of the company. The company is already doing a great job addressing the needs of their global workforce, but ample focus has to also be given to ensure that the diverse employees of LOreal are all on the same page. The use of mass media for its marketing efforts can also be improved by LOreal in response to the challenges of globalization. LOreal has been criticized for unfair advertising practices which have been denied by the company. Nonetheless, to make sure that all these criticisms are answered effectively, perhaps it is now time for the company to step up their efforts in utilizing various types of media outlets to improve its marketing outputs and reach more consumers from faraway places (Rugman 2005, p. 167). The use of Internet as an effective marketing strategy can be an excellent move for LOreal to intensify its marketing efforts and take advantage of its extensive reach. The marketing team also has to monitor the contents of their advertisements to check if there are indeed signs or indications of racial discrimination to prevent unnecessary controversies and issues from emerging. Perhaps the most important area of improvement that LOreal has to focus on is concerning ethics and environmental issues connected to globalization. This has been the major cause of controversies and problems for the company and it is only a matter of time before lawsuits will be filed against LOreal for continuous violations on animal rights and environmental policies. The improvement necessary for this starts with the employees of the company learning to follow the policies especially since they are operating in foreign countries. The management and the employees of LOreal really need to make serious discussions regarding these matters because if they are left unresolved, they will really start pulling the company down. These controversies are not good for the image of LOreal, so the sooner they are able to provide remedies to these problems, the better it will be for the company as they can start concentrating on issues and concerns that are more important than dealing with the co nsequences of their inability to follow policies. Conclusion There is no doubt that LOreal is at present at the top of the cosmetics industry because of its effective strategies that are geared towards taking advantage of its strengths and opportunities as well as reducing the impacts of its weaknesses and the threats being imposed by its competitors. It has also helped the company in having excellent leaders and hardworking, diverse employees. LOreal firmly believes that cultural diversity is an asset for the company, which is why the skills, knowledge and expertise of its employees are always developed to maximize them and put them to good use. Globalization is perceived by LOreal as a challenge and an opportunity to keep improving its operations all over the world. LOreals policies and decisions have undoubtedly been influenced by the impacts of globalization, and the company does not see anything bad at it for as long as the activities that they do are always in accordance to their mission, vision and objectives. The policies of LOreal have always been based on globalization, and these include addressing the beauty needs of clients all over the globe, utilizing its resources to produce the best cosmetics, advocating diversity in their workforce to obtain better capabilities, improving its knowledge of world trends in cosmetics as well as establishing effective partnerships with providers and manufacturers all over the world to enhance the outputs and minimize their expenses. There have also been negative impacts of globalization that LOreal needs to resolve immediately to make sure that they are able to maintain at the top of the cosmetics industry for the long term.

New Trends and the Evaluation of Scholarship :: Essays Papers

New Trends and the Evaluation of Scholarship Introduction The advancement of information and communication technologies over the past decade, particularly the growth of the Internet, the World Wide Web (Web), and email, have had an impact on how scholarship is conducted and are re-defining many aspects of scholarly communication. Interdisciplinarity, collaboration, and disintermediation are three aspects of scholarly communication that are on the increase as a result of the advancement of information and communication technology. The trend towards increased interdisciplinary and collaborative scholarship, combined with the disintermediation of traditional journal publishers and publishing as more scholarship is made directly available electronically, make the evaluation of scholarship more difficult. This paper will briefly examine these trends, the advancement of new technology, and how they may effect the evaluation of scholarship. Backgound Changes in scholarly communication and the evaluation of scholarship are discussed in this paper in the context of several concepts. Operationalizing the key concepts used in this discussion results in the following definitions. Scholarship is both the work, and the result of the work, performed by scholars to produce new information to be added to a body of knowledge. The addition of scholarly work to a body of knowledge is accomplished by communicating, usually in writing, either in print or digital format, the findings produced by scholarship to the wider, usually academic, community. Borgman (2000) defines scholarly communication as â€Å"†¦the study of how scholars in any field†¦use and disseminate information through formal and informal channels† (p. 144). Evaluating scholarship entails examining the written results of scholarly work, but it also includes examination of the methods and procedures used to produce that work. Interdisciplinarity refers to the increasing trend of scholars to participate in research and publication activities with other scholars outside of their own academic discipline. Webster’s online defines discipline as â€Å"a branch of knowledge or teaching; the subject matter of instruction† (Webster’s, 2003). â€Å"Interdisciplinarity is a term which refers to the integration of concepts across different disciplines† (Wikipedia, 2003). The most complete definition found was one quoted in Lattuca (2002) and specifies the different types of interdisciplinary actions that are at the core of interdisciplinarity. Interdisciplinary – An adjective describing the interaction among two or more different disciplines. This interaction may range from simple communication of ideas to the mutual integration of organizing concepts, methodology, procedures, epistemology, terminology, data, and organization of research and education in a fairly large field. An

Feminist Perspectives in a Story of an Hour Essay -- essays papers

Feminist Perspectives in a Story of an Hour A Woman Far Ahead of Her Time, by Ann Bail Howard, discusses the nature of the female characters in Kate Chopin’s novel’s and short stories. Howard suggests that the women in Chopin’s stories are longing for independence and feel torn between the feminine duties of a married woman and the freedom associated with self-reliance. Howard’s view is correct to a point, but Chopin’s female characters can be viewed as more radically feminist than Howard realizes. Rather than simply being torn between independent and dependant versions of her personality, â€Å"The Story of an Hour’s† Mrs. Mallard actually rejoices in her newfound freedom, and, in the culmination of the story, the position of the woman has actually been elevated above that of the man, suggesting a much more radically feminist reading than Howard cares to persue. Much of what Howard has to say about Chopin’s protagonists is appropriate. Her criticism operates from the standpoint that â€Å"marriage, said Chopin’s world, was the goal of every woman’s life; service to her husband and her children her duties, passionlessness and submission her assumed virtues, selflessness her daily practice, and self sacrifice her pleasure† (1). Mrs. Mallard definitely lives in a world where these gender values abound. Chopin, for example, describes Mrs. Mallard’s face as one â€Å" whose lines bespoke repression† (439). This is obviously a direct reference to the submission Mrs. Mallard has had to yield up to the patriarchy thus far. She has always had a â€Å"powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature† (440). Her husband’s will is describ... ... as the martyr who dies for feminism, ultimately choosing death over marriage. This ending inevitably elevates the woman’s position to the highest status, while the men are made to look silly and unaware. When Howard asserts that â€Å"it is the woman who demands her own direction and chooses her own freedom that interests Chopin most† (1) she is right on target. Howard only fails when she chooses not to expand that vision to include the truly feminist perspectives that differentiate Chopin as a woman far ahead of her time. Works Cited Howard, Ann Bail. â€Å"A Woman Far Ahead of Her Time†. 1997. Online. Virginia Commonwealth University English Department. http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/eng384/chopinhoward.htm. Chopin, Kate. â€Å"The Story of an Hour†.The Norton Introduction to Literature 7th Ed. Ed. Jerome Beaty, and J. Paul Hunter. New York: Norton, 1998. 438-440.