Contagion And Gattaca Analysis - 1498 Words

In faces of crises, people may go to any lengths to pursue what they feel is necessary. The films Contagion, directed by Steven Soderbergh in 2010, and GATTACA, directed by Andrew Niccol in 1997, both explore themes of morality in times of crises, whether these crises are of personal nature or affect a widespread population. Both films explore ethical implications of technology as it pertains to scientific development, and in addition weaves in a narrative surrounding various moral decisions regarding the personal relationships between principal characters. Collectively, Contagion and GATTACA ultimately force their audiences to confront ethics regarding justice to the general population as well as individual justice, and each film does so†¦show more content†¦On one hand, â€Å"the state has a duty to treat each and all of its citizens impartially,† allowing the government a level of power maintenance via respect from those it serves (Wardrope 2012). On the other hand , this complete impartiality may not be the most effective solution. Wardrope explains this argument by presenting a model that consists of two groups, group A and group B, with a handful of vaccines able to be awarded to only half of the combined population. Supposing group A lives could only be exposed to the disease via group B, it makes little sense to randomly distribute a limited supply of vaccines among both groups. With this information, the most logical solution would be to vaccinate the entirety of group B, which would consequently also protect group A (Wardrope 2010). As a result, the concept of â€Å"equal lottery for vaccine distribution entails an unequal lottery for state financial expenditure on vaccination† (Wardrope 2012). The morality of the lottery system for vaccine distribution is blurry, for the government treats its citizens, save the scientists and authorities imperative to the survival of the nation, with genuine impartiality, which appears just. How ever, as Wardrope would argue, this may not be truly the most ethical decision in that it is inefficient, and may conversely hurt those it aims to protect in attempt at being just. Similarly, the

High Fashion And Streetwear Styles Essay - 1270 Words

Caesar Villaluz Mrs. Matagrano Dual Enrollment English 20 October 2016 High Fashion and Streetwear In modern society there exists an enormous spectrum of fashion, each individual person’s fashion style is heavily influenced by their environment, interests, and many other factors. Among the vast variety of styles present in today’s fashion culture, streetwear and high fashion are two of the most distinctive and prominent styles, having a huge influence on how the general population dresses. High fashion and streetwear are two styles that heavily influence the public and are often misinterpreted as the other, although the two styles may overlap and influence each other, the two styles both have their own definite differences ranging from their origin to where they fall in today’s fashion spectrum. Streetwear was born in the late 1970s / early 1980s, rooted in California and created by the skate and surf culture of the time. Streetwear is a style that heavily focuses on presenting a clean aesthetic while still remaining casual and comf ortable, the style is centered on casual pieces such as jeans, t-shirts, baseball caps, and sneakers, these basic articles of clothing remain a cornerstone in streetwear to this day. High fashion also known as Haute couture can be said to have originated from France in the 1700s. It was first introduced into French culture through a fashion designer for Queen Marie Antoinette, the culture began to spread throughout Europe and to all parts of theShow MoreRelatedThe Role Of Streetwear And Its Effect On Society3457 Words   |  14 Pagesall starts, from the ground up; street is the seed to all other fashion† says Kenta Goto from Brknhome, a now defunct Canadian t-shirt brand (Vogel 37). There are many voices that speak of the streetwear culture: what it is or once was, how it all started and where it is heading. Streetwear is not just some fad or a passing trend. 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Relationship Between the Business Issue

Question: Discuss about the Relationship Between the Business Issue. Answer: Effective Business Communication Business communication issues can occur when the receiver of the message cannot accurately interpret what the sender is saying. One of the real business issues that affect many employees and employers is physical destructions such as people and the environment. Research has established that people often like talking with people who are near them. However, in a business setting, workmates and supervisors have to communicate with other workers who are far away from them. Given the effects of globalization and technology, this business issue continues to become a serious problem. Consequently, it is necessary to use Shannon and Weaver model of communication to understand it and be able to solve it (Fiske Jenkins, 2011). Since Shannon was an engineer, the objective of developing this model was to enhance technical communication, particularly for telephonic communication. Shannon made it maximize telephone capacity with least possible noise. Much later, the engineer applied it for all types of communication to make it possible to realize effective communication, and it is today widely referred to as information theory in academic circles (Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication, n.d.; Goldman, 2005). The model was designed to develop effective communication between the receiver and the sender. It was initially developed to enhance technical communication. However, has been improved to meet needs in the field of communication. The model has six components that help to explain how physical disturbances, which it refers to as noise, can affect communication and also suggests how to solve it. These six components are defined below (Genosko, 2012; Shannon, Weaver, 1999). Sender The sender, also known as the information source, is the originator of the message. It is the responsibility of the sender to choose the appropriate channel to use and send the message. Encoder Encoder or the transmitter is the sender who uses machines that convert the messages into signals or binary data. This term can also refer to the machine that performs the same duty. Channel This component of the model is the medium for sending the message. Decoder A decoder is a machine that is used to convert signals into a message. It also refers to the receiver which translates the signals into a message. Receiver The receiver is the destination where the message must reach or the person who has to get the message. Noise Shannon and Weaver model of communication seeks to solve this business issues called Noise. This term refers to the physical elements, which include people, environment, and technical problems, which prohibits the message from reaching the receiver in its original form or prevents it completely from being transmitted to the intended receiver (Shannon Weaver, 1972). Application of Shannon and Weaver Communication Model When an employer sends a message through phone text to his employees about a planned meeting, it all begins with the sender encoding the message and sending it to the receiver through a phone, a technological channel. In this case, the sender converts this message into codes that are understandable to the machine and eventually this particular message is sent in codes through a medium (Blundel, 2004; Guidelines for Special Issues of the Journal of Business Communication and Business Communication Quarterly, 2009). In some cases, this receptor machine can be used as a decoder. When the channel has noise, the receiver might lack the capacity to decode it. This inability can lead to communication problems. The brain in these special circumstances can be the sender, and the mouth can be the encoder. The work of the mouth, in this case, is to encode the message to a particular language. The air can be the channel, while the ears of the receiver are the receptor and the brain is deemed as both the decoder and receiver. At the same time, air represents the channel here, and factors in the air that disturb communication are the noise. The receivers response is, therefore, the feedback (Trivedi Jani, 2012). If the businessman sends this message come for a meeting at my office (at 10 pm goes missing,) through a text message and the employee responds at what time, he will know his message was incomplete. The message may be sent partially as in this case because of a transmission error, and this is the noise. It is the receivers feedback that will let the businessman know that his message was incomplete, and that gives the receiver an opportunity to get the full information (Warner, 2001). This illustration shows this model recognizes that there are three levels of problems of communication. The first level is a technical problem, which refers to how a channel causes a communication trouble. The other one is a semantic problem, which is to the effect of noise on the meaning of the remitted message. The last one is effectiveness problem. This level is concerned about how the message causes reactions. Conclusion Shannon and Weaver model of communication introduces the concept of noise and helps businesses to remove it to ensure more effective communication is achieved. This model encourages employers and employees to be good listeners and ask for clarifications whenever they are in doubt. While it is possible to remove some physical disturbances, there is no guarantee that that will always make communication effective. This reality leaves attentive listening as one great component of effective communication at the place of work and in general communication. References Blundel, R. (2004). Effective business communication. Harlow: Financial Times Prentice Hall. Fiske, J., Jenkins, H. (2011). Introduction to communication studies. New York: Routledge. Genosko, G. (2012). Remodelling communication: from WWII to the WWW. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Goldman, S. (2005). Information theory. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications. Guidelines for Special Issues of the Journal of Business Communication and Business Communication Quarterly. (2009). Business Communication Quarterly, 72(4), 464-466. doi:10.1177/1080569909352851 Shannon, C. E., Weaver, W. (1972). The mathematical theory of communication. Urbana: Univ. of Illinois Press. Shannon, C. E., Weaver, W. (1999). The mathematical theory of communication. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication. (n.d.). Retrieved April 01, 2017, from https://communicationtheory.org/shannon-and-weaver-model-of-communication/ Trivedi, K. P., Jani, J. M. (2012). Effective communication skills. Jaipur: Shree Niwas Publications. Warner, J. (2001). Information, knowledge, text. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.

Peperomia Pellucida on Blood Pressure Among Pre

Peperomia Pellucida on Blood Pressure Among Pre-Hypertensive Individuals Sample Essay For old ages. high blood pressure has been one of the ground of mortality in the Philippines. Despite the attempts of the authorities in take downing instances of high blood pressure in the state. it continued to lift. Black. et Al ( 2009 ) . merely stated. arterial high blood pressure is high blood force per unit area. It is defined as a relentless lift of the systolic blood force per unit area ( SBP ) at a degree of 140 millimeters Hg or higher and a diastolic blood force per unit area ( DBP ) at a degree of 90mmhg or lower. Harmonizing to Kozier ( 2008 ) . normal systolic blood force per unit area is 120 millimeter Hg and the normal diastolic blood force per unit area is 80 millimeter Hg. A systolic blood force per unit area of 120-139 mmHg and diastolic blood force per unit area of 80-89 mmHg is considered Pre-Hypertensive. A systolic blood force per unit area of 140-159 mmHg and diastolic blood force per unit area of 90-99 mmHg is considered Hypertensive Stage 1 and a systolic b lood force per unit area of gt ; 160 mmHg and diastolic blood force per unit area of gt ; 100 mmHg is considered Hypertensive Stage 2. In add-on. harmonizing to Gould ( 2007 ) . work forces are more likely to hold high blood force per unit area than adult females until age of 55. The World Health Organization ( WHO ) ( 2012 ) asserted that high blood pressure causes 7 million deceases every twelvemonth while 1. 5 billion people suffer due to its complications. Furthermore. it is besides noted that tierce of the population. all over the universe. dwelling of grownups are considered to be â€Å"pre-hypertensive† . holding elevated blood force per unit area but are non taking any medicines. In the Philippines. Morales ( 2012 ) stated that 21 % of Filipino grownups are hypertensive. Recent consequences of the National Nutrition and Health Survey ( NNHeS II ) and Food and Nutrition Research institute ( FNRI ) ( 2009 ) showed that more Filipinos have high blood pressure. high fasting blood sugar. and high cholesterin and triglyceride degrees. which are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. diabetes. and other lifestyle-related diseases. They found out that one in every four Filipino grownups ( 25. 3 per centum ) has high blood pressure or a blood force per unit area ( BP ) reading equal to or higher than 140/90 millimeter quicksilver ( mmHg ) . a important addition in the prevalence of high blood pressure. In 2008. the prevalence of high blood pressure increased to 25. 3 per centum from 22. 5 per centum in 2003. Furthermore. the study revealed that 11 in every 100 Filipinos ( 10. 8 per centum ) have pre-hypertension or a BP reading at the scope of 130-139/85-89 mmHg. T his becomes dismaying every bit high BP additions with age get downing from age 40-49 old ages. Over the few decennaries. progresss on bar. sensing and intervention of high blood pressure have been documented. Several alternate herbal medicines were besides discovered and studied for its effectivity in take downing blood force per unit area. The Department of Health ( DOH ) provided a list of alternate herb tea medical specialties which have been studied for its positive consequence on blood force per unit area. Among these herbal medical specialties include garlic and blumea balsamifera ( Sambong ) . In add-on. included in the list of alternate herbal medical specialties by DOH. Peperomia Pellucida ( Ulasimang Bato or Pansit-pansitan ) is besides believed to hold an consequence on blood force per unit area because of its constituents but hasn’t been accredited by DOH. In the Philippines and other parts of the universe. Peperomia Pellucida a. k. a. Pansit-pansitan or Ulasimang Bato is widely used as an alternate medical specialty for urarthritis and arthritis. However. some states in the Philippines make usage of Peperomia Pellucida as an alternate herbal medicine for high blood pressure because of traditional beliefs and patterns. .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1 , .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1 .postImageUrl , .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1 , .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1:hover , .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1:visited , .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1:active { border:0!important; } .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1:active , .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1 .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uae0b4ce3f2ff7082bc08597d9f6ee8e1:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Enders Game EssaySeveral surveies about the contents of Peperomia Pellucida have found that it contains 1. 82 % Calcium. 0. 62 % of Magnesium and 0. 59 % of Potassium. It besides showed that a 100 grams part of Peperomia Pellucida has about 277 milligrams of K. It besides has 1. 1 grams saccharides. 0. 5 gram protein. 0. 5 gram fat. 94 mg Ca. 13 mg phosphoric. 4. 3 milligram Fe. 1250 milligram beta provitamin A and 2 milligram ascorbic acid. However. farther survey is needed to cognize it’s consequence in take downing blood force per unit area. A recent survey conducted by University of Nigeria ( 2011 ) showed that Peperomia Pellucida consists a really low sum of So dium at 17. 11 ppm which makes it a powerful herb in pull offing high blood pressure. Due to its low Na content and with the presence of high K content. which is a chemical that helps to take down blood force per unit area by equilibrating out the negative effects of salt. it can be considered a campaigner among herbal medical specialties that could take down blood force per unit area. With this information. the research workers would wish to carry on a survey to measure the consequence of Peperomia Pellucida infusion in blood force per unit area and better the bringing of wellness attention in communities.

Stages of Life Cycle Development free essay sample

Stages of Life Cycle Development Raytheon I believe that Raytheon is in the elaboration stage of life cycle development. The elaboration stage is described as mature stage of the life cycle in which red tape crisis is resolved through the development of a new sense of teamwork and collaboration. Raytheon employs a process of Integrated Product Teams. IPTs are focused on improving communication amongst team members. This structure creates an atmosphere where each employee is within close proximity and everyone knows what is being discussed at every stage in their area of responsibility. IPTs are broken down into four tiers that are integrated but independent with a customer support leader, production program leader, design engineering leader, and value stream leader that keep things flowing smoothly. Through the use of IPT production teams managers develop the skills necessary for confronting problems and working together. This in turn reduces the need for addition formal controls. We will write a custom essay sample on Stages of Life Cycle Development or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Raytheon has achieved collaboration throughout the organization by employing IPT teams. Raytheons leadership employs a Six Sigma business model and is routed within the acets of Raytheon management. This philosophy is embedded within the fabric of Raytheons business plan. It is used as a method for increasing productivity, growing the business, and building a new culture. Raytheon Six Sigma is the continuous process improvement effort designed to reduce overall costs. Structure and Control Raytheon is one of the largest military defense contractors in the world. The Raytheon Company designs develops manufactures integrates and supports technological products services and solutions for governmental and commercial ustomers in the United States and internationally. It is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts and employs about 73,000 people. Raytheons leadership employs a business model know as Raytheon Six Sigma is the philosophy of Raytheon management, embedded within the fabric of our business organizations as the vehicle for increasing productivity, growing the business, and building a new culture. Raytheon Six Sigma is the continuous process improvement effort designed to reduce costs. (Raytheon 2008) Six Sigma was developed by a rocess of benchmarking other companies and leveraging internal best practices. The philosophy of Raytheon Six Sigma is to bring a goal of making customer success a strategic focus for the company increase productivity transform the culture and grow the business. Raytheons employs a business model known as OpenAir which enables all ot its partners to contribute and capture value. It succeeds in bringing together innovators in a range of fields including academia large and small businesses and Raytheon customers. Raytheons OpenAir fosters collaboration. One key aspect of the OpenAir oncept is competition because the opportunity exists for suppliers of all levels to get involved in the overall design and production effort collaboration and creativity increase. This in turn drives costs down and accelerates time to market. As a result Raytheons customers receive best of breed and affordable solutions in a shorter span of time. The OpenAir business model will be a key enabler in Raytheon meeting or exceeding customer expectations. The concept will be used on all new captures which will allow Raytheon to deliver the most innovative products and affordable rices to different markets. The model can also be applied to existing programs driving Raytheon to higher levels of efficiency than ever before. (Raytheon 2007) The OpenAir concept unites diverse partners and encourages complementary efforts. For example a smaller supplier with an innovative technology may lack the infrastructure to bring the product to market. Under the guidelines set by the OpenAir model this same company can partner with a larger business that has the ability to integrate the new innovation and then market and sell the solution. Raytheon 2007) Raytheon also transformed its operating system from a traditional purchasing and supply chain organizations to an integrated supply chain. We intend to link our engineering groups and our performance excellence groups with our supplier base as early as we can in the process when building relationships with our suppliers. We need our suppliers to be an extension of ourselves. When dealing with our suppliers was focused on costs quality and schedule. (Bernstein 2005) Raytheon employs a process of Integrated Product Teams. IPTs are focused on mproving communication amongst team members and keeping them up to speed on their area of concern while also fostering a sense of responsibility for a given function or step.

Cocaine essays

Cocaine essays The topic for my research is the production and distribution of cocaine in South America. South America and especially in the areas of Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia are dominated by cartels that rule the drug trade, and are responsible for over 80% of the production and distribution of cocaine in the world. I choose this topic because I felt it was appropriate to talk about because cocaine dominates the South American economy and The international illicit drug business generates as much as $400 billion in trade annually in according to the United Nations International Drug Control Program. That amounts to 8% of all international trade,(according to United Nations Office for Drug Abuse and Social Consequences of Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking). The question that I am going to focus on is, Is it possible to stop the production of cocaine and the trafficking of this illicit drug out of South America and into United States? For someone who is not familiar with what cocaine is, it is simple the most potent natural stimulant which stems from the Andes Mountain area. There are three stages for the production of cocaine. The first stage for production is extracting coca paste from the plant; these areas for extracting the paste normally are located close to where the coca plant is grown. The second stage is Refining that coca paste into cocaine hydrochloride a lethal concentrate that is diluted with substances such as sugar, or flour before being sold on the street,(Geography Realms, Regions, and concepts,) according to our text book. The final stage is simply trying to get a way for the cocaine to enter areas for distribution and trafficking it onto the streets, wherever that may be. Usually this is a multi step process of delivering the cocaine in large quantities to areas closer to its destination and then broken down into smaller amounts to make easier for it entering the areas for distrib...

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 64

Assignment - Essay Example These rights normally depend on the reason for which this debt came about as well as the terms that have been agreed upon between the two parties to the debt (Twomey & Jennings, 2010). Their rights tend to also deal with the rights of creditors against other creditors. These legislations determine which of several creditors have the right to a particular debtor’s property in cases whereby more than one creditor lays a claim on a given debtor’s property. These creditors may be divided those who perfected their own interest by establishing a suitable public record of the said debt and any other property that is claimed as collateral for this debt and also by if the given debt came to be as a purchase money security interest (Twomey & Jennings, 2010). Creditors may request a court of law to set aside a fraudulent conveyance that is designed to put the property owned by the debtors out of the creditors’ reach. In Nebraska, property or money of a limited liability company cannot be seized by creditors in order to pay off the personal liabilities or debts of the owners of the limited liability company (Gless, 2008). If Adam opts to change his company to a limited liability company, Benhur as well as other creditors to the business will have to be aware of these rights and limitations in case the business acquires this legal status. However, there are other means through which creditors may use to go after the company while trying to recover the debts personally owed by the owner of the business (Gless, 2008). The state of Nebraska allows personal creditors of a LLC owner to get a charging order that is drawn against the membership interest of the owner. This is an order that is given by a court of law directing the business manager to authorize payment to the business owner’s personal creditor any profits or income that would otherwise have been distributed to the debtor-member. It should however be remembered that creditors

Forum 5 criminology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Forum 5 criminology - Essay Example definition:- there is lack of a central repository for data on the actual number of corporate crimes in the state and all the federal courts of the United states. Secondly, the only source of data in the United States sentencing commission, this does not accurately reflect the problem as it only collects data on corporations that have been convicted of federal offenses ("White-Collar and Corporate Crime." Criminology & Public Policy 1.1 (2008). It leaves out the other firms who may be the actual offenders or committers of corporate crime. The other problem comes when it comes to the definition, this term is not a concisely defined term, and this leads to additional difficulty when it comes to the determination as to what types of behaviors would fall under the category of corporate criminal offenses. The problem of defining corporate law has happened over the years. This is because of the dynamic evolution that this form of crime takes. Corporate criminal laws take five forms ranging from the consideration of separate legality, followed by review of criminal cases by courts. Thirdly, we have the growth of the regulatory agencies and law to influence them, the next is the joining of forces is the corporations and the government to fight it and lastly a call for reform because of the rampancy of these crimes (HASNAS 2005). To curb these problems start by the clear identification of the problems. This is because a problem normally arise with the sanctions of the corporate crimes where if the guidelines significantly increase the sanctions, the substantial reductions in fines is allowed in the case with the evidence of an organizational due diligence. Another solution for corporate crimes is derived from the â€Å"Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002† which is characterized by mandated auditor independence and increased penalties for securities fraud and this makes corporate heads refrain from fraud of any form of their companies (Keane 1993). The acts has helped but with a

LEADERSHIP CRITIQUE PAPER Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

LEADERSHIP CRITIQUE PAPER - Essay Example However, some critics feel that he too, like all other good leaders, suffered from some subtle weaknesses in his style of leadership. He is often charged with the accusation of being too much authoritative while making decisions, sometimes to the extent of imposing his autonomy on his fellow officials. We may take for instance his stop-and-frisk policy which unreasonably targets the Muslim and the black communities. But despite all these criticisms, the public believes that he possessed a kind of innovation and ingenuity never seen before in the NYPD. He resorted to the use of latest technology to strengthen the department’s hold on the crime rates. In 2012, he joined hands with Microsoft to launch a law enforcement technology for the real-time analysis of public safety data to predict latent threats and criminal activities. In 2013, he implemented the use of license plate readers in the traffic lanes which were linked to the domain awareness system to monitor the exit and ent ry points to the city. Some of the articles by his contemporary authors provide a deeper insight into Kelly’s leadership style and his effectiveness as a leader of the NYPD. An article that talks about the recent changes that have seeped into the law enforcement system of the US is â€Å"Policing by Numbers: Big Data and the Fourth Amendment† by Elizabeth E. Joh. The article, as the title suggests, focuses mainly on the use of data and figures in policing against domestic terrorism. For instance, police in Chicago employ a risk analysis of the criminals to ascertain their chances of getting involved in future crimes. In North Carolina, the police have prepared a map of high-risk regions that are more prone to be attacked by criminals. Similarly, in New York, the NYPD has tied up with Microsoft to launch a â€Å"Domain Awareness System that collects and links information from sources like CCTVs, license plate readers, radiation sensors, and

Business Intelligence Solutions for Organisational Goals

Business Intelligence Solutions for Organisational Goals Information System is becoming an important framework that can assist organizations to manage, develop and communicate their intangible assets such as information and knowledge. Therefore it can be considered as a necessary framework in the current knowledge-based economy arena. In this paper, I will also explain the role of Business Intelligence in providing organizations with a way to plan and obtain their strategic managements objectives. Than others. Theres almost always a prominent firm. In the automotive industry, Toyota is considered an exceptional performer. In pure online retailing, Amazon.com is the leader. In off-line retailing Wal-Mart, the largest retailer on earth, is the also leader. In online music, Apples iTunes is considered the superior with more than 75 percent of the downloaded music markets, and in the related industry of digital music players, the iPod is the best. In Web searching, Google is considered the leader. Firms that do better than others are said to have a competitive advantage over the others: They either have access to specific resources that others do not, or they are able to use generally available resources more efficiently-usually because of superior knowledge and information assets. In any event, they do better in terms of revenue growth, profitability growth, or productivity growth (efficiency), all of which eventually in the long run translate into higher stock market valuations than their competitors. But Why do some firms do better than the others and how do they obtain competitive advantage? How can we analyze a business and recognize its strategic advantages? How can we build a strategic advantage for our own business? How do information systems cause to strategic advantages? One answer to questions above is Michael Porters competitive forces model. Arguably, the most famously used model for understanding competitive advantage is Michael Porters competitive forces model (See Figure 1).This model provides a common view of the firm, its competitors, and the firms environments. Porters model is all about the firms common business environment. In this model, five competitive forces form the fate of the firm. Figure 1- Porters competitive forces model Customers A profitable company depends in large criterion on its ability to attract and hold customers (while denying them to competitors), and charge more expensive prices. The power of customers becomes larger if they can easily switch to a competitors products and services, or if they can force a business and its competitors to compete on price alone in a clear marketplace where there is slightly product differentiation, and all prices are known immediately (such as on the Internet). For example, in the used college textbook market on the Internet, students (customers) can find various suppliers of just about any current college textbook. In this case, online customers have high power over used-book firms. Suppliers The market power of suppliers can have a important impact on firm profits, particularly, when the firm cannot increase prices as fast as can suppliers. The more different suppliers a firm has, the greater control it can practice over suppliers in terms of price, quality, and delivery timetables. For example, manufacturers of laptop PCs almost always have various competing suppliers of key components, such as keyboards, hard drives, and monitors. Competitors All firms share market space with other competitors who are continuously making new, more efficient ways to produce by introducing new products and services, and attempting to attract customers by developing their brands and compelling switching costs on their customers. New Market Entrants In a free economy with moveable labor and financial resources, new companies are always entering the marketplace. In some industries, there are very low barriers to entry, whereas in other industries, entry is very troublesome. For instance, it is easy to start a pizza business or just about any small retailing business, but it is much more costly and difficult to enter the computer chip business, which has very high capital costs and requires a considerable amount of expertise and knowledge that is hard to achieve. New companies have several possible advantages: They are not locked into former plants and equipment, they often employ younger workers who are less expensive and maybe more innovative, they are not burdened by old, worn-out brand names, and they are more hungry (highly motivated) than traditional occupants of an industry. These benefits are also their weakness: They depend on external financing for new plants and equipment, which can be costly; they have a less experienced manpower; and they have little brand identification. Substitute Products and Services In just about every industry, there are substitutes that the customers might use if our prices become excessively high. New technologies make new substitutes all the time. Even oil has substitutes: Ethanol can substitute for gasoline in automobiles; plant oil for diesel fuel in trucks; and wind, solar, coal, and hydro power for industrial electricity production. Likewise, Internet telephone service can substitute for customary telephone service, and fiber-optic telephone lines to the house can substitute for cable TV lines. And, of course, an Internet music service that permits us to download music tracks to an iPod is a substitute for CDbased Music shops. The more substitute products and services in industry, the less we can control pricing and the lower our net profits. Information System Strategies for Facing up to Competitive Forces How can firms use information systems to neutralize some of the forces outlined in Porters competitive forces model? Four general strategies are outlined in Table-1 Strategy Descriptions Example Low-cost Leadership Use information systems to produce products and services at a lower price than competitors while enhancing quality and level of service. Wall-Mart, Dell Computer Product Differentiation Use information systems to differentiate products, and enable new services and products. Google, eBay, Apple, Lands End Focus on market niche Use information systems to enable a focused strategy on a single market niche; specialize. Hilton Hotels Harrahs Customer and supplier intimacy Use information systems to develop strong ties and loyalty with customers and suppliers. Chrysler Corporation, Amazon.com Table 1-Four basic competitive strategies Low-Cost Leadership Use information systems to obtain the lowest operational costs and the lowest prices. Firms such as Wal-Mart have utilized IT to make an efficient customer response system that directly links customer behavior back to production, distribution and supply chains. Product Differentiation Use information systems to allow new products and services, or greatly change the customer convenience in using our existent products and services. Through mass customization, organizations are capable of to offer individually tailored products or services by using mass production resources. Focus on Market Niche Use information systems to enable a particular market focus, and serve this narrow target market better than competitors. Information systems support this strategy by producing and analyzing data for extremely well tuned sales and marketing techniques. Information systems enable companies to analyze buyer buying patterns, tastes, and preferences closely so that they efficiently establish advertising and marketing campaigns to smaller and smaller target markets. Strengthen Customer and Supplier Intimacy Use information systems to make tight linkages with suppliers and develop intimacy with customers. Amazon and Chrysler Corporation are both excellent instances that are quoted in the text of how these firms used information systems to fortify their customer and supplier relationships. Strong linkages to customers and suppliers raise switching costs (expense a customer or company incurs in lost time and expenditure of resources when changing from one supplier to a competing supplier). The Business Value Chain Model Although the Porter model is very useful for identifying competitive forces and suggesting general strategies, it is not very specific about what accurately to do, and it does not provide a methodology to follow for obtaining competitive advantages. If our aim is to achieve operational excellence, where do we start? Heres where the business value chain model is really helpful. The value chain model highlights specific activities in the business where competitive strategies can best be applied (Porter, 1985) and where information systems are most likely to have a strategic effect. This model recognizes specific, critical-leverage points where a firm can use information technology most effectively to improve its competitive position. The value chain model shows the firm as a series or chain of basic activities that add a margin of value to a firms goods or services. These activities can be classified as either primary activities or support activities (see Figure 2). Figure 2-Business Value Chain Model Now, How can we use information systems to enhance operational efficiency, and improve supplier and customer intimacy? This will encourage us to critically examine how we perform value-adding activities at each phase and how the business processes might be enhanced. We can also begin to ask how information systems can be used to improve the relationship suppliers with customers who locate outside the firm value chain but belong to the firms extended value chain where they are absolutely crucial to our success. Here, supply chain management (SCM) systems that arrange the flow of resources into our firm in proper order, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems that coordinate our sales and support employees with customers are two of the most common system applications that derive from a business value chain analysis. Using the business value chain model will also bring about us to consider benchmarking our business operation versus our competitors or others in related industries, and recognizing industry best practices. Benchmarking involves comparing the effectiveness of business processes against severe standards and then measuring performan ce versus those standards. Industry best practices are usually recognized by consulting companies, government agencies, industry associations and research organizations as the most successful solutions for consistently and effectively achieving a business goal. Once we have analyzed the several stages in the value chain at our business, we can come up with proper applications of information systems. Then, once we have a list of proper applications, we can decide which to build first. By making enhancements in our own business value chain that our competitors might miss, we can obtain competitive advantage by attaining lowering costs, operational excellence, enhancing profit margins, and forging a closer relationship with suppliers and customers. If our competitors are making similar enhancements, then we will not be at a competitive disadvantage-the worst of all cases Synergies and Core Competencies A large firm is typically a collection of businesses. Often, the firm is managed financially as a collection of strategic business units, and the returns to the corporation are directly tied to the performance of all the strategic business units. Information systems can enhance the overall performance of these business units by promoting core competencies and synergies. Synergies The aim of synergies is that when the output of some units can be used as inputs to other units, or two organizations pool markets and expertise, these relationships reduce costs and make profits. Recent bank and financial firm mergers, such as the mergers of JPMorgan Chase and Bank One Corporation, FleetBoston Financial Corporation and Bank of America, and Deutsche Bank and Bankers Trust, occurred exactly for this intention, One use of information technology in these synergy situations is to fasten together the operations of dissimilar business units so that they can work as a whole. For instance, merging with Bank One provided JPMorgan Chase with a enormous network of retail branches in the Southwest and Midwest. Information systems assist the merged banks lower retailing costs and increase cross marketing of financial goods. Enhancing Core Competencies Another way to use information systems for competitive advantages is to think about ways that systems can improve core competencies. The argument is that the performance of all business units will rise insofar as these business units improve, or make, a central core of competencies. Core competencies may include being the, the best packaged delivery service, worlds best miniature parts designer or the best thin-film manufacturer. In general, a core competency leans on knowledge that is gained over many years of experience and a first-class research organization or simply key people who pursue the literature and stay side by side of new external knowledge. Any information system that supports the sharing of knowledge across business units enhances competency. Such systems might encourage or improve existing competencies and help employees become conscious, of new external knowledge; such systems might also facilitate a business leverage existing competencies to related markets. The Impact of Business Intelligence on Competitive Advantage Business Intelligence is becoming crucial for many organizations, particularly those have extremely large amount of data. Decision makers depend on detailed and exact information when they have to make decisions. Business Intelligence can provide decision makers with such precise information, and with the suitable tools for data analysis. Business Intelligence is an umbrella term that combines tools, architectures, applications, data bases, practices, and methodologies [20, 6]. Gartner Group (1996) (the first company used Business Intelligence in marker in the mid-1990) defined Business Intelligence as information and applications available broadly to employees, consultants, customers, suppliers, and the public. The key to thriving in a competitive marketplace is staying ahead of the competition. Making sound business decisions based on accurate and current information takes more than intuition. Data analysis, reporting, and query tools can help business users dig in the mine of data to extract and/or synthesize valuable information from it today these tools collectively fall into category called Business Intelligence [9]. Many organizations who built successful Business Intelligence solutions, such as Continental Airlines, have seen investment in Business Intelligence create increases in revenue and cost saving corr esponding to 1000% return on investment (ROI) [22]. A critical question that was raised by many researchers [16, 18] as to what were the main reason pushing companies to seek for business intelligence solutions, and what distinguishes Business Intelligence from Decision Support System (DSS) systems? Actually, over the last decades, organizations built a lot of Operational Information Systems (OIS), resulting in an enormous amount of dissimilar data that are located in different geographic locations, on different storage platforms, with not the same forms. This situation impedes organization from building a general, correlated, integrated, and instantaneous access to information at its global level. DSS developed during the 1970s, with the objective of providing organizations decision makers with the demanded data to sustain decision-making process. In the 1980s, Executive Information System (EIS) developed to supply executive officers with the information needed to support strategic decision-making process. Business Intelligence developed during the 1990s as data-driven DSS, sharing some of the tools and objectives of DSS and EIS systems. Business Intelligence architectures comprise: business analytics, data warehousing, business performance management, and data mining. Most of Business Intelligence solutions are facing up to structured data [1]. However, many application domains need the use of unstructured data or at lowest semi-structured data e.g. customer e-mails, web pages, sales reports, competitor information research paper repositories, and so on [4, 21]. Any Business Intelligence solution can be divided into the following three layers [1]: data layer, which is accountable for storing structured and unstructured data for decision support objectives. Structured data is usually collected in Data Warehouses (DW), Operational Data Stores (ODS), and Data Marts (DM). Unstructured data are managed by using Content and Document Management Systems. Data are extracted from operational data sources, e.g. SCM, CRM, and ERP or from exterior data sources, e.g. market research data. Data are taken out from data sources that are transformed and loaded into DW by ETL (Extract, Transfer, and Load) tools. Logic layer prepares functionality to examine data and provid e knowledge. This obtains OLAP, data mining. And finally access layer, realized by some type of software portals (Business Intelligence portal). My main focus in this paper is to explain the function of Business Intelligence solution that facilitates organizations in formulating, implementing, and obtaining their strategies. Many researchers [5, 17, 10, 12] were emphasizing the IT alignment in general, with businesses, without clearly describing what are the technologies, and tools that can assist organizations in achieving their strategy. The next section will describe the role of Business Intelligence is taking as an IT-enabler to obtain organizations strategy; such role will be emphasized by using strategic alignment model proposed by Henderson and Venkatraman (1993), explaining how this alignment can assist organizations in becoming flexible organizations, concluding how could Business Intelligence solution prepare organizations with sustainable competitive advantages. Business Intelligence as an IT-Enabler to Achieve Organizations Strategy Nowadays, Information System in general, and Business Intelligence as a strategic framework, is becoming increasingly significant in strategic management, supporting business strategies. IT-enabled strategic management addresses the IT role in strategy formulation and implementation processes [19]. Drucker, the pioneer of management by objectives, was one of the first who recognized the surprising changes IT presented to management. Strategic management theories were widely geared towards gaining competitive advantages. Porter (1979) proposed a number of very influential strategic analysis models, such as the five-force model of competition, the value chain and generic competitive strategies that I mentioned above. Porter (1979) said The essence of strategy formulation is coping with competition [14]. Many researchers have indicated the importance of IT alignment with business strategy in order to enhance corporate strategy [5, 17], (Figure3). Figure 3-IT alignment with Business Strategy [5]. Strategic Alignment Model was developed by Henderson and Venkatraman (1993) was one of the first models that explained in a clear way the interrelationships between business strategies and IT strategies [10]. This model is based on two principal concepts (Figure 4): strategic fit that identifies the necessity to position the firm in an external marketplace where growth can take place, and functional integration which addresses how to best structure internal systems to carry out the business strategy of the firm [12]. IT alignment is not only formulating IT strategy to fit business strategy. It has to consider exterior forces and the environment uncertainty. Such alignment facilitates organizations becoming flexible organizations. Due to accelerations in the rates of innovation and technological changes, markets develop rapidly, products life cycles get shorter and innovation becomes the principle source of competitive advantage. And so, organizations look for flexibility to meet market demands. Drnevich and other; (2006) illustrated that flexibility-based perspectives evolved from Schumpeters concept of creative destruction [8]. Operationalization of these perspectives in strategic management is done by way of dynamic capabilities and real options views. Dynamic capabilities view refers to the firms abilities to maintain and fit its internal resources to environment changes to maintain sustainability of competitive advantages. It applies to the capability of obtaining new ways of competitive advantage. It causes to be concerned with continuous search, innovation and adaptation of firm resources and capabilities to reveal and tape new sources of competitive advantages. Real options outlook is effective in dealing with issues of uncertainty. It allows the firm to postpone investment decisions until uncertainties are resolved. New IT organizational adoption expedites the transition into flexible organizations. Business Intelligence is one of these new IT frameworks that can assist such transition. Business Intelligence technologies become a source of competitive advantages and differentiation [13, 11]. Tang and Walters (2006) hint that competitive advantage became a hot strategic management topic [19]. They also view that making new knowledge in a continued way is the single way to achieve competitive advantage. There are many reasons for organization to adopt business intelligence systems in order that achieve organizations strategy: Business Intelligence is considered as an expansion to corporate strategy activities. Herring (1988) considered that Strategy can be no better than the information from which it is derived [11]. Data analytics can be used efficiently to create future business strategy. Data analytics and data mining could disclose hidden reasons for some deficiencies as well as possible high-yielding new investments. Corporations require to be sure that they are receiving the right information related to their long-term strategy. Herring (1988) considered that business intelligence can facilitate organizations in [11]: Supporting the strategic decision making process of the firm. Supporting SWOT analysis Supporting strategic planning and processes. All the mentioned advantage should provide organizations with sustainable competitive advantages. Conclusion In this paper, I explained the use of one aspect of Information System (Business Intelligence) in formulating, implementing, and achieving organizations strategy. I also demonstrated how Business Intelligence solution could provide organizations with sustainable competitive advantages. This survey can be extended by integrating knowledge management (KM) with Business Intelligence (IB) solutions, as it can assist deriving more value (knowledge) from the explosion of textual information(tacit to implicit), which can add more inputs for strategic decision makers. Another important factor is the take advantage of agile methodologies in order to manage the high-change high-speed current environment. Such complicated and dynamic environments highly affect organizations strategies.

Technology in Greg Bears Blood Music Essay -- Blood Music Essays

Technology in Greg Bear's Blood Music      Ã‚   Different genres of literature are particular responses to society; therefore, cyberpunk, as a genre, is a response to our contemporary society, known as the information age. One of the attributes given the genre is that it has an apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic tone, warning the reader of the perils of technology, while at the same time celebrating the possibilities of technology, usually through a strong character in the novel. In Greg Bear's Blood Music, technology is seen as having a destructive and creative forces as it reshapes the world biologically, and incorporates every living thing, including a slow girl named Suzy, into the system. Blood Music demonstrates the perils and benefits in a world full of diverse technology, typical of the cyberpunk genre, responding to frightening and powerful possibilities in the secrets of technology which are just on the brink of discovery.    First, a demonstration of the kind of technology available today would lend to a better understanding of some of the biological possibilities. Already we can clone and manipulate individual genes. We can replicate DNA patterns and build proteins. Information is available at the touch of a button on the newest technology, so that it can be ingested by the younger generations just by browsing the Net. Also, the beginnings of nanotechnology, manipulating individual atoms to create new structures, is beginning to develop. James Graves wrote in a paper focused on the technological advances in our time, that nanotechnology, not too unlike the theories behind Vergil's experiments in Blood Music, would allow us to create tiny "organisms" that could show us more about ourselves, r... ...ction is a particular response to society, and our society is in the information age, then it is incredibly appropriate to include Blood Music to the genre when we are making biological leaps and bounds today. Bear uses his characters to show that the effects may not be so bad for the individual, although technology will probably change the entire face of society as a whole. Perhaps someday cosmetic things will matter less, and we will be able to include a slow child into the ranks and make her feel whole, just like a part of each personal wants to feel at least normal, hopefully exceptional.    Works Cited Bear, Greg. Blood Music. New York: Ace Books, 1996. Graves, James C. "Technology and Its Effect on Society." Online. Purdue Lib. Internet. 9 October   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1997.(http://nonotech.rutgers.edu/nanotech/papers/graves.hist).      

Creating an Immersive Video Game Environment

People play video games for a wide variety of reasons today. They are fun, exciting, and challenging. They are also extremely popular among the generation of digital natives. Digital natives today rely heavily on electronics and computer devices to keep them entertained and interactive. So as a game developer, how do you create an immersive video game environment that is invigorating, interactive, and unique? There are tons of different types of video games out there, which appeal to different age groups, genders, hobbies and interests.Games designed today should feature a number of effects that would rank the particular game high on the recommendations and most played lists. Video games today should feature transformations on 3D models, striking visual effects, and should incorporate all of the newest technologies in order to create some of the best and most unique effects that appeal to all, regardless of the kind of video game, or the target age audience. Many would argue that vid eo games are considered works of art.One would agree that there are various interpretations of what is considered â€Å"art†. However, despite popular belief, an extensive amount of technical knowledge and graphic design experience and knowledge goes on behind video game development. If this wasn’t true, video games wouldn’t become the industry that we all know it as today. As a result, the knowledge of color schemes and visual effects is extremely necessary and essential.In fact, many screenshots of video games today can appear as individual works of art. Of course there is also a great deal of technical knowledge involved, particular in the programming area – such as HTML or JavaScript, and even coding in some cases – but all in all, graphic design and art are underlying areas of video game creation and development. All in all, video games should be exciting experiences that are both stimulating and interactive and with the right amount of advent ure and challenge tied into them.Video games should enhance the adventures and capabilities that one wish he or she could experience in real life. Sometimes when we are stuck in traffic or stuck at a traffic light, we sometimes envision ourselves monster trucking the other cars, or in any scenario where we wish we had the powers of a super hero, or that we could fight our enemies in battles and almost always win. Therefore, creating an immersive video game environment truly is a spectacular feat.This is the opportunity for video game designers – whether you are advanced or a beginner – to truly create the ultimate universe where anything and anything is possible. It takes an artistic and creative mind to be able to really create the desired immersive video game environment. However, diving into the world of video games gives us the power to be a part of a world that isn’t reality but perhaps is our dream worlds, where we become a version of our character that we wish we could be. That is the true art, and the true immersive experience.

The Hamilton Health Inc Marketing Research

The Hamilton Health Inc Marketing Research Introduction Marketing research is a strategy that businesses use to amass information regarding their operations from production to supply. In order to do this, the marketing research uses a systematic process of collecting, recording and assessing information dealing with marketing of the companies productions. The objective of the process is to identify and analyze how variation of the factors of marketing mix can influence the behavior of customers.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Hamilton Health Inc Marketing Research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Why hire Marketing Research Suppliers The Hamilton Health, Inc – HHI needs to find out its actual market size so that to determine its potential of growth. This will entail determining the buying behavior of its clients, its distribution channels and the type of competition that the organization is facing. This is necessary in order for it to get professional advice of what the results of this would translate to when marketing the personal treadmills that are used for managing health and exercises. Since the founder of the business, Eric Hamilton is devoted to see that the business expands; he needs to get professional understanding of how that growth will be achieved. This is what will form the basis for a strategic plan that the firm will adapt for its expansion which will be based on accurate information, reasoned and timely decisions. HHI can make use of the marketing research suppliers to grab the competitors’ market share and also be enlightened on how to improve its products. Choosing a partner There are several companies that offer marketing research services to companies. However, for Eric’s HHI, the best company for partnering with is the one that will position it better to compete well with its competitors (Wiid Diggines, 2010, p. 134). The criteria of selecting such a partner will include choosing a company that has specialized in doing targeted market research for medical and sports equipment. Such a company will be very considering that the owner may know very little in terms of marketing. This will also give HHI an upper edge over its competitors. This is because the trained consultants are informed of the buying trends, marketing dynamics, ebbs and flows of customers among other facts (Wiid Diggines, 2010, p. 137). This type of knowledge is worth spending on especially when there is observable difference in the performance of the business. It’s important also to understand that the marketing research suppliers will not have all the answers to the company’s position at the moment. To begin with, there are several types of supplies.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The limited-service suppliers are those firms that focus their servi ces provision of one aspect of marketing research of few stages of the entire research process (Burns Ronald 2010, p. 178). These services are in most cases referred to as field services and may include data analyses, branding strategies and interviewing and coding of information among others. Full marketing research suppliers on the other hand are those businesses that will offer a full range of services that deal with the process of marketing. This means that they are able to collect information by developing research questions, conduct the research, analyze the data and come up with finding which they can use to draw conclusions and make recommendations (Burns Ronald 2010, p. 178). They utilize both the qualitative and quantitative methods of research and assessments of data. Expectations from the Supplier HHI should expect that the marketing research suppliers will free the company from the hustle of seeking customers and collecting information for analysis and so on. Therefor e Eric Hamilton will have ample time to focus on other issues of the company which include marketing, selling and studying the business trend. This means that other business aspects that would have gone unattended will be dealt with by the owner during this time (Crouch Housden, 2003, p. 145). By hiring the marketing research supplier, HHI anticipates that it will be eventually a worthy investment. Basically, Eric will be at peace knowing that the investment has a good success track record and therefore expect better and reliable results. The suppliers can always send reports on weekly, monthly or quarterly basis so that HHI can begin making strategies to move forward as the marketing research continues. The reports are likely to be more detailed than those that could have been generated by HHI. Do – It Yourself? In reality, the cost of company doing a research on its own is not just about the huge money that will be spent on the project, but it’s a matter of time th at will be invested and the quality of work done that will be realized. There are many instances where various firms opt to carry their research on their own, but later realize that they did not have adequate skill or time for the job. Many day pass-by, they turn into months and then years of a failed project because the owner may not find sufficient time for the job (Malhotra Birks, 2007, p. 256). Doing it by yourself can be cheap in terms of money, but costly in terms of failed project or lack of results. Therefore it is not advisable for anyone to pursue such a project without hiring assistance from professionals (Malhotra Birks, 2007, p. 256). This can only occur only; When one can realistically find time for the project in his own company When one has the skills and tool to analyze the data and draw conclusions When one has skill for making a report that will be credible to other users When one can be able to sustain an blind research or be able to find a sample qualified en ough to take part in the study Conclusion Marketing research will play a critical role in the growth of HHI as it fights to establish a strong market share. The information from the marketing research will enable the company develop strategies that will help it boost its operations and market share, hence making it to grow and expand steadily.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Hamilton Health Inc Marketing Research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reference List Burns, A.C. Ronald F.B. (2010) â€Å"Marketing Research,† 6th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson-Prentice Hall. Crouch, S. Housden, M. (2003) â€Å"Marketing Research for Managers,† 3rd Ed, Oxford, ButterworthHeinemann Malhotra, N. Birks, D. (2007) â€Å"Marketing Research: An Applied Approach: 3rd European Ed,† Harlow, UK, Pearson Education Wiid, J Diggines, C. (2010). â€Å"Marketing Research,† 3rd Ed. New York, John Wiley Sons

The Eastern Red Cedar and Other Popular Christmas Trees

The Eastern Red Cedar and Other Popular Christmas Trees Americans buy about 20 million real Christmas trees  each holiday season, most at retail lots and Christmas tree farms. Depending on where you live, the kind of evergreen youll find will vary. In fact, there are dozens of evergreens native to the U.S. Cant decide which one you like best? The trees below are some of the most popular Christmas varieties. Fraser Fir The  Fraser fir  is perhaps the most popular variety of Christmas tree because it is hardy enough to survive being cut and shipped across long distances. The Fraser is a native southern fir and grows at elevations above 5,000 feet. The tree has excellent needle retention along with a pleasing piney scent. The Fraser fir was named for Scottish botanist John Fraser, who explored the southern Appalachians in the late 1700s. Douglas Fir The  Douglas fir  is another common variety of Christmas tree found throughout the central and northern U.S. It is not a true fir and has its own unique species classification. Unlike those of true firs, the cones of the Douglas fir hang downward. They have a sweet scent when crushed. The tree was named after David Douglas, who studied the tree in the 1800s. Balsam Fir The Balsam fir is a beautiful pyramidal tree with short, flat, long-lasting aromatic needles. The Balsam fir and the Fraser fir have many similar characteristics and some botanists consider them extensions of the same species. However, balsams prefer cool climates and are native to the northeastern U.S. and Canada. They have a nice, dark green color and are very fragrant. The Balsam fir was named for the balsam or resin found in blisters on its bark, which was used to treat wounds during the Civil War. Colorado Blue Spruce The  Colorado blue spruce  is most familiar to people as an ornamental landscape tree. It has dark green to powdery blue needles and a pyramidal form when young. The Colorado blue spruce is very often sold as a living Christmas tree,  which includes an entire root ball and can be planted after the holidays. Its also popular because it rarely sheds its needles indoors. The spruce was chosen in 1978 and planted as the official living White House Christmas tree and is the state tree of both Utah and Colorado. Scotch Pine The  Scotch pine  is one of the most popular Christmas tree species because it rarely sheds its needles and has excellent water retention when cut. The Scotch pine is not native to America; its origins are European. It was first used in reforestation efforts in the New World. The Scotch pine tree has stiff branches and dark green needles that are retained for four weeks. Its aroma is long-lasting and lingers through the entire holiday season. Eastern Red Cedar The  Eastern red cedar  is a popular Christmas tree in the southern U.S., where it is a native species. This evergreen isnt a true cedar; its a member of the juniper family. Unlike some species that must be pruned regularly to maintain the traditional cone shape, the Eastern red cedar comes by its pyramidal crown naturally. The trees ease of maintenance makes it a favorite at cut-your-own tree farms. Its needles are a dark, shiny green color and sharp and prickly to the touch. White Spruce The white spruce is native to the northeastern U.S. and Canada, and one of the most common varieties sold as Christmas trees in that region. Like the Eastern red cedar, the white spruce has a natural conical shape that makes it easy for tree farmers to maintain. Its a common  choice for cut-your-own farms. However, some people dont like white spruce trees because they tend to shed their needles, which have an unpleasant odor. On the plus side, the trees thick branches make it ideal for heavy ornaments. Eastern White Pine The  Eastern white pine  has been valued as a timber tree for centuries, and it is commonly sold in the mid-Atlantic states as a Christmas tree. Because this variety of evergreen has very little scent, it is popular with people who suffer from tree-related allergies. Eastern white pines have excellent needle retention and stout branches to support heavy decorations. White or Concolor Fir The White fir, sometimes called the concolor fir, is known for its long, blue-green needles, excellent needle retention, and pleasing pine scent. Its commonly sold as a Christmas tree in California, where it is a native species. Virginia Pine The Virginia pine is a newcomer to many Christmas tree lots, particularly in the South. This variety was developed as a heat-tolerant alternative to the Scotch pine and has only recently been used as a Christmas tree. The Virginia pine has wide tufts of soft needles ranging from dark green to gray in color. Its limbs are stout with woody branches.

Beauty and Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Beauty and Art - Essay Example The thing may not necessarily be beautiful, but the individual’s point of view is indeed, beautiful! On the other hand, culture is the general way of living of a nation which signifies its trends, traditions, norms, values, moral standards, ethics and common practices. Culture of a nation is essentially its identity. Different nations are identified by their individualistic cultures. Like the difference of their meanings, beauty and culture both have their own individualistic uses. It is hard to identify particular uses of beauty since it is required in everything. It is used everywhere. Crockery is made beautiful to increase its market value. Makeup is worn to look beautiful and presentable so that a woman can work. The fundamental use of culture is that it lends identity to the people who belong to that culture. Culture is used to benchmark ethical standards which can be used to compare an individual’s performance against. Owing to their common identity ingrained in t heir culture, people of one nation become united and a strong force.

Critical Appraisal of a Piece of Research Essay - 1

Critical Appraisal of a Piece of Research - Essay Example frequently not implemented in health care systems because of doctors being unwilling to take the initiative to discuss alcohol problems with their patients. With decrease in state controls on the availablility of alcohol, effective interventions are required, which can be administered to many people with the purpose of reducing the demand for alcohol. Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI) is an approach which systematically identifies people with hazardous drinking, and provides concise advice on reducing this behaviour (Kypri et al 2004). Yes, a double-blind randomized controlled trial, the study used a random method of selecting an experimental group and a control group, at the university student health service. Participants scoring 8 or more on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and consuming more than 4 to 6 standard drinks, both males and females, on one or more occasions in the previous 4 weeks were assigned randomly by computer to either the control group or the intervention. The computer carried out the randomization in blocks of 10 consisting of 5 control and 5 intervention, so that equal numbers of participants could be recruited in a short period in both groups. Equal numbers of men and women were ensured through separate recruitment by sex (Kypri et al 2004). Yes, a total of 167 students in the age group of 17 to 26 years were recruited. They were required to complete a three-minute web-based screening test â€Å"including the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire† (Kypri et al 2004, p.1410). Of the 167 students, 112 tested positive; from among them a total number of 104 students including 52 women who had agreed to receive the follow-up intervention participated in the trial. The participants were randomized to two groups: the intervention group of 51 students who received 10 to 15 minutes of web-based assessment and personalized feedback on their drinking, and the control group of 53 students who received

Financial and Mangement Accounting (Cable and Wireless Plc) Essay

Financial and Mangement Accounting (Cable and Wireless Plc) - Essay Example Cable & Wireless Plc is a company with operations scattered around the world. It has maintained a good profitability performance during 2008 despite the fact that revenue in 2008 declined as compared 2007. The emphasis was to economize the cost of sales. Liquidity is a definite problem with the company as is with other companies as well. Efficiency on inventory turnover has covered up lot of operational weaknesses of the company in 2008. The company is highly geared and the equity holders are presented with a stage to have benefits of trading in equity. Investors are ever willing to invest as it clear from it price earning ratio. The company is following strictly the provisions IAS 14 in maintaining its accounting policy of segment reporting. The information is exhaustive under primary segments that are business wise; and adequate in secondary segments that are created on the basis geographical areas covered by the company in its business operations.

Different Types of Database Management System Essay Example for Free

Different Types of Database Management System Essay A database can be a set of flat files stored on computer tape or disk or it could consist of database tables that are managed by a Database Management System (DBMS). There are different types of DBMS products: relational, network and hierarchical, multidimensional, object. The most widely commonly used type of DBMS today is the Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS). Database management systems (DBMS) are designed to use one of five database structures to provide simplistic access to information stored in databases. The five database structures are: the hierarchical model, he network model, the relational model, the multidimensional model, and the object model. Inverted lists and other methods are also used. A given database management system may provide one or more of the five models. The optimal structure depends on the natural organization of the applications data, and on the applications requirements, which include transaction rate (speed), reliability, maintainability, scalability, and cost. Hierarchical Model The hierarchical data model organizes data in a tree structure. There is a hierarchy of parent and child data segments. This structure implies that a record can have repeating information, generally in the child data segments. Data in a series of records, which have a set of field values attached to it. It collects all the instances of a specific record together as a record type. These record types are the equivalent of tables in the relational model, and with the individual records being the equivalent of rows. To create links between these record types, the hierarchical model uses Parent Child Relationships. These are a 1:N mapping between record types. This is done by using trees, like set theory used in the relational model, borrowed from maths. For example, an organization might store information about an employee, such as name, employee number, department, salary. The organization might also store information about an employees children, such as name and date of birth. The employee and children data forms a hierarchy, where the employee data represents the parent segment and the children data represents the child segment. If an employee has three children, then there would be three child segments associated with one employee segment. In a hierarchical database the parent-child relationship is one to many. This restricts a child segment to having only one parent segment. Hierarchical DBMSs were popular from the late 1960s, with the introduction of IBMs Information Management System (IMS) DBMS, through the 1970s. The hierarchical structure was used in early mainframe DBMS. Records’ relationships form a treelike model. This structure is simple but nonflexible because the relationship is confined to a one-to-many relationship. IBM’s IMS system and the RDM Mobile are examples of a hierarchical database system with multiple hierarchies over the same data. RDM Mobile is a newly designed embedded database for a mobile computer system. The hierarchical structure is used primarily today for storing geographic information and file systems. Network Model The popularity of the network data model coincided with the popularity of the hierarchical data model. Some data were more naturally modeled with more than one parent per child. So, the network model permitted the modeling of many-to-many relationships in data. In 1971, the Conference on Data Systems Languages (CODASYL) formally defined the network model. The basic data modeling construct in the network model is the set construct. A set consists of an owner record type, a set name, and a member record type. A member record type can have that role in more than one set, hence the multiparent concept is supported. An owner record type can also be a member or owner in another set. The data model is a simple network, and link and intersection record types (called junction records by IDMS) may exist, as well as sets between them . Thus, the complete network of relationships is represented by several pairwise sets; in each set some (one) record type is owner (at the tail of the network arrow) and one or more record types are members (at the head of the relationship arrow). Usually, a set defines a 1:M relationship, although 1:1 is permitted. The CODASYL network model is based on mathematical set theory. The network structure consists of more complex relationships. Unlike the hierarchical structure, it can relate to many records and accesses them by following one of several paths. In other words, this structure allows for many-to-many relationships. Relational Model (RDBMS relational database management system) A database based on the relational model developed by E. F. Codd. A relational database allows the definition of data structures, storage and retrieval operations and integrity constraints. In such a database the data and relations between them are organised in tables. A table is a collection of records and each record in a table contains the same fields. Properties of Relational Tables: Values Are Atomic Each Row is Unique Column Values Are of the Same Kind The Sequence of Columns is Insignificant The Sequence of Rows is Insignificant Each Column Has a Unique Name Certain fields may be designated as keys, which means that searches for specific values of that field will use indexing to speed them up. Where fields in two different tables take values from the same set, a join operation can be performed to select related records in the two tables by matching values in those fields. Often, but not always, the fields will have the same name in both tables. For example, an orders table might contain (customer-ID, product-code) pairs and a products table might contain (product-code, price) pairs so to calculate a given customers bill you would sum the prices of all products ordered by that customer by joining on the product-code fields of the two tables. This can be extended to joining multiple tables on multiple fields. Because these relationships are only specified at retreival time, relational databases are classed as dynamic database management system. The RELATIONAL database model is based on the Relational Algebra. The relational structure is the most commonly used today. It is used by mainframe, midrange and microcomputer systems. It uses two-dimensional rows and columns to store data. The tables of records can be connected by common key values. While working for IBM, E. F. Codd designed this structure in 1970. The model is not easy for the end user to run queries with because it may require a complex combination of many tables. Multidimensional structure The multidimensional structure is similar to the relational model. The dimensions of the cube-like model have data relating to elements in each cell. This structure gives a spreadsheet-like view of data. This structure is easy to maintain because records are stored as fundamental attributes in the same way they are viewed and the structure is easy to understand. Its high performance has made it the most popular database structure when it comes to enabling online analytical processing (OLAP). Object/Relational Model Object/relational database management systems (ORDBMSs) add new object storage capabilities to the relational systems at the core of modern information systems. These new facilities integrate management of traditional fielded data, complex objects such as time-series and geospatial data and diverse binary media such as audio, video, images, and applets. By encapsulating methods with data structures, an ORDBMS server can execute comple x analytical and data manipulation operations to search and transform multimedia and other complex objects. As an evolutionary technology, the object/relational (OR) approach has inherited the robust transaction- and performance-management features of it s relational ancestor and the flexibility of its object-oriented cousin. Database designers can work with familiar tabular structures and data definition languages (DDLs) while assimilating new object-management possibi lities. Query and procedural languages and call interfaces in ORDBMSs are familiar: SQL3, vendor procedural languages, and ODBC, JDBC, and proprie tary call interfaces are all extensions of RDBMS languages and interfaces. And the leading vendors are, of course, quite well known: IBM, Inform ix, and Oracle. The object oriented structure has the ability to handle graphics, pictures, voice and text, types of data, without difficultly unlike the other database structures. This structure is popular for multimedia Web-based applications. It was designed to work with object-oriented programming languages such as Java. Object-Oriented Model Object DBMSs add database functionality to object programming languages. They bring much more than persistent storage of programming language objects. Object DBMSs extend the semantics of the C++, Smalltalk and Java object programming languages to provide full-featured database programming capability, while retaining native language compatibility. A major benefit of this approach is the unification of the application and database development into a seamless data model and language environment. As a result, applications require less code, use more natural data modeling, and code bases are easier to maintain. Object developers can write complete database applications with a modest amount of additional effort. The object-oriented database (OODB) paradigm is the combination of object-oriented programming language (OOPL) systems and persistent systems. The power of the OODB comes from the seamless treatment of both persistent data, as found in databases, and transient data, as found in executing programs. In contrast to a relational DBMS where a complex data structure must be flattened out to fit into tables or joined together from those tables to form the in-memory structure, object DBMSs have no performance overhead to store or retrieve a web or hierarchy of interrelated objects. This one-to-one mapping of object programming language objects to database objects has two benefits over other storage approaches: it provides higher performance management of objects, and it enables better management of the complex interrelationships between objects. This makes object DBMSs better suited to support applications such as financial portfolio risk analysis systems, telecommunications service applications, world wide web document structures, design and manufacturing systems, and hospital patient record systems, which have complex relationships between data.

The Garment Industry :: essays research papers

Globalization is basically about attempting to make things global and expanding products and companies over seas to countries all around the world. It can also be classified as the process of creating languages, services, and products that apply not just to an individual neighborhood or city or country, but to the whole world. Canadians have experienced many benefits that globalization has brought to their lives including the availability to products and services from all around the world. However, at the same time on the other side of the world it has had many pessimistic or negative effects on workers in developing countries. As Globalization began to boom, the number of sweatshops also increased greatly and its effects were most definitely harming in many ways to the individuals employed by them; mainly women and children. Out of all the industries that have become globalized, the textile and garment industries are amongst the most. Mutually the textile and garment industries mak e up one of the largest sources of industrial employment in the world. In virtually every country around the world clothing is being produced but being sold somewhere else. Around 30 million people are making clothes and textiles around the globe and out of those thirty million, most of them are women. Around the world women and children are suffering because of the introduction of sweatshops, low wages, unsafe working environments, free trade zones, foreign control, sub contracting and abuses of human and worker rights. Historically, the word "sweatshop" originated in the Industrial Revolution to describe a subcontracting system in which the middlemen earned profits from the margin between the amount they received for a contract and the amount they paid to the workers. Today a sweatshop is defined by the government as any business or factory that violates one or more of the federal or provincial labor laws which are as follows: minimum wage and overtime, child labor, industrial homework, occupational health and safety, workers compensation, or industry registration. Originally when the garment industry went global it was all about the positive effects it was having on the developing countries in which the factories were located and about all the jobs that were introduced to those who once could not ever imagine getting paid to work. As Globalization began to show more of its negative effects on those lives of the individuals in developing countries, it became more evident that because of this globalization people on every continent and territory were exposed to and forced to consume a North American culture.

Dalai Lama :: Essays Papers

Dalai Lama His Holiness, the XIVth Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso was born in a small village called Takster in northeastern Tibet. Born to a peasant family, His Holiness was recognized at the age of two, in accordance with Tibetan tradition, as the reincarnation of his predecessor the 13th Dalai Lama. His enthronement ceremony took place on February 22, 1940 in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. The Dalai Lamas are the manifestations of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, who chose to reincarnate to serve the people. Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom. Tibetans normally refer to His Holiness as Yeshin Norbu, the Wish-fulfilling Gem, or simply, Kundun, meaning The Presence. Born Lhamo Dhondrub, he was, as Dalai Lama, renemaed Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso - Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom. He began his education at the age of six and completed the Geshe Lharampa Degree (Doctorate of Buddhist Philosophy) when he was 25. At 24, he took the preliminary examination at each of the three monastic universities: Drepung, Sera and Ganden. The final examination was held in the Jokhang, Lhasa, during the annual Monlam Festival of Prayer, held in the first month of every year. In the morning he was examined by 30 scholars on logic. In the afternoon, he debated with 15 scholars on the subject of the Middle Path, and in the evening, 35 scholars tested his knowledge of the canon of monastic discipline and the study of metaphysics. His Holiness passed the examinations with honors, conducted before a vast audience of monk scholars. In 1950, at age 16, His Holiness was called upon to assume full political power as head of State and Government when Tibet was threatened by the might of China. In 1954 he went to Peking to talk with Mao Tse-Tung and other Chinese leaders, including Chou En-Lai and Deng Xiaoping. In 1956, while visiting India to attend the 2500th Buddha Jayanti, he had a series of meetings with Prime Minister Nehru and Premier Chou about deteriorating conditions in Tibet. In 1959 he was forced into exile in India after the Chinese military occupation of Tibet. Since 1960 he has resided in Dharamsala, aptly known as "Little Lhasa", the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. In the early years of exile, His Holiness appealed to the United Nations on the question of Tibet, resulting in three resolutions adopted by the General Assembly in 1959, 1961 and 1965.

The Historical And Social Background Of Mauritius Education Essay

The Republic of Mauritius lies in the south West of the Indian Ocean. It is comprised of the chief island of Mauritius and the islands of Rodrigues, Agalega and Saint Brandon every bit good as a figure of outlying smaller islands. The chief island of Mauritius is situated about 900 kilometers to the E of Madagascar, at latitude 20 South and 57 East. Mauritius was an uninhabited island. It ne'er had an autochthonal population. The Portuguese foremost discovered the island in 1513. Then came the Dutch who rediscovered the island in the late 17th century and abandoned it around 1710. A few old ages subsequently the Gallic came and decided to remain. It was during the period of the Gallic colonization that the island acquired the features of a society and the economical, educational and cultural constructions they established formed the base of development. In 1810, the island was taken over by the British. The British introduced alterations in the island in many Fieldss particularly in the Education Sector. Mauritius became an independent crowned head province on 12 March 1968 and a Republic in 1992. Mauritius is divided into nine territories. The territories are Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Moka, Flacq, Black River, Savanne Pamplemousses, Riviere du Rempart, and Grand Port. The Mauritanian society is a multicultural as a consequence of its historical factors. Its population consists of emigres and posterities of emigres from three continents – Europe, Africa and Asia. The assortment of cultural beginnings coupled with the Franco- British historical background gave rise to a complex linguistic communication state of affairs. Gallic Creole is spoken by about the whole population. English is the official linguistic communication and medium of direction for all the other academic topics in schools and French is the 2nd chief linguistic communication taught in schools. Apart from these, a assortment of oriental linguistic communications are taught in schools- Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Mandarin and Arabic. The web of mass media is efficient. Several day-to-day and hebdomadal documents are printed, chiefly in Gallic but besides in other linguistic communications ; wireless, and telecasting broadcasts are in English, French and Oriental Languages. The communicating web is now farther strengthened by the latest information and communicating engineering ( ICT ) services like the Internet. All the primary and secondary schools have computing machine labs and cyberspace services. Some schools even have their web sites. The Mauritanian economic system is turning quickly. It is in the procedure of transmutation from a low accomplishment, low labour-cost economic system to a much more skill-intensive one in which high degrees of instruction and preparation are necessary at all degrees. It is hence of import to maximize the quality of instruction provided at all degrees and to guarantee that pupils go forthing school are equipped with cognition, attitudes and accomplishments that are appropriate for employment in this altering economic system. The population statistics for Mauritius are shown in Table 1.1.1. Table 1.1.1: Population Statisticss for Mauritius. 2000 2007 2008 Population Male Female 1,686,900 588,200 598,700 1,260,400 622,900 637,500 1,268,600 626,600 642,000 Under 15 old ages 15-59 old ages Above 59 old ages Percentage of 25.7 65.2 9.1 Population 23.3 66.7 10.0 32.8 66.9 10.31.2 The Educational System in MauritiusThe battle for ‘Education for All ‘ began in the 1930s and 1940s. With the accomplishment of the constitutional reforms in 1948, there grew a steadfast committedness to it. This was seen in the addition of instruction proviso and more school registration. After Independence in 1968, the accent was on increasing the figure of schools and bettering the school substructure. In the 80 ‘s this changed to the betterment of the quality and the effectivity of those schools. Today, after holding achieved the first end of cosmopolitan primary instruction, the displacement in accent is from enrolment rates and good school substructure to quality and relevancy of instruction. The state ‘s committedness to ‘Education for All ‘ is reflected in its Budget Outgo on Education. Table 1.2.1: Public Recurrent Outgo on Education 2007/08 Sri lanka rupees 2008/09 Sri lanka rupees Pre-Primary Education 110,132,076 116,934,998 Primary Education 1,868,909,408 1,862,261,704 Secondary Education 4,107,591,263 4,212,434,404 Particular Education Needs 17,707,557 18,348,269 Technical & A ; Vocational Education and preparation 293,646,227 299,735,575 Third Education 825,424,624 858,743,267 Continuing Education 166,588,844 173,632,783 Entire 7,390,000,000 7,542,000,000 Schooling in Mauritius is based on the 6 + 5 + 2 system, inherited from the British, with 6 old ages of primary instruction taking to the Certificate of Primary Education ( CPE ) , followed by 5 old ages of secondary instruction taking to the Cambridge School Certificate ( SC ) and a farther two old ages taking to the Cambridge Higher School Certificate ( HSC ) or GCE ‘A ‘ degree scrutinies.1.2.1: Pre Primary EducationAround 95 % of our kids attend pre-primary schools. In 2008, about 1070 pre-primary schools were officially registered with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources with a population of 29,738 kids, 2,541 instructors and 919 non-teaching staff. A pre-primary unit has been established in the Ministry to beef up the pre-primary sector and to supervise its advancement. At this phase itself, the students are bit by bit exposed to English and Gallic linguistic communications. The lessons ( chiefly mathematics and life accomplishments ) are conducted in Engli sh.1.2.2 Primary EducationPrimary instruction is free and compulsory, for kids belonging to the age group of 5-12 old ages, in Mauritius. There are 302 primary schools out of which 220 are run by the authorities and 51 by the Roman Catholic Education Authority ( RCEA ) , 2 by the Hindu Education Authority and the other 29 are Private non-aided schools. Legislation has been introduced since 1991 to do primary instruction compulsory and a common school course of study is used. In 2008, the primary school population was 114,007 ( 58128 male childs and 55879 misss ) . Consequently 98 % of the Mauritanian population of primary school age attended school. Currently, the topics taught are English, Gallic, Mathematics, Environmental Studies, Creative Education, and Physical Education. Seven Asiatic Languages, viz. , Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Modern Chinese are besides taught to students who opt to analyze any one of them. Students enter Grade 1 ( besides called Standard I in Mauritius ) at the age of five and take CPE scrutiny after six old ages of schooling. This scrutiny is mandatory and is besides used to rank students for entree to topographic points in the extremely rated secondary schools. From Grade 1, the pupils under the primary instruction in Mauritius automatically travel up to Rate 4. After Grade 4, the pupils undergo a biennial readying for the CPE scrutinies and end-of-year concluding scrutinies for both classs 4 and 5 are prepared at national degree by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources. Progress towards quality in primary instruction is seen in high registration rates, investing in infrastructure- school edifices, resort areas, school- gardens, audio-visual installations, school libraries, diminishing pupil-teacher ratio, control of school conveyance, school feeding plan, school wellness plan, proviso of free text-books, teacher instruction and an effectual appraisal system. Of the 7542 million of rupees budget in 2008/2009 devoted to instruction, 24.7 % goes to primary sector. Soon, there are 8090 instructors involved in the Primary schools. In peculiar, 5454 are learning staff, 4080 General Purpose Teachers and 1374 Oriental Language Teachers. The staying 2636 comprised 303 Head Teachers, 918 Deputy Head Teachers and 1415 Administrative and other workers. Table 1.2.1.1 shows the Certificate for Primary Education ( CPE ) scrutiny consequences for last four old ages. Despite the consistent care of the per centum base on balls, the high failure rates can non be ignored. Capable 2004 2005 2006 2007 English 71.3 73.3 75.8 74.7 Gallic 71.8 69.7 76.6 71.1 Mathematicss 73.9 73.1 73.6 72.6 Electron volt 71.0 75.1 73.4 70.0 Science 77.4 75.0 70.1 72.3 Table 1.2.1.1: Percentage Base on balls at CPE Examination1.2.3 Secondary EducationFree secondary instruction was introduced in 1977. In 2008, there were 69 State Schools and 106 private schools which were supplying secondary instruction. The private schools are besides allocated authorities financess through the Private Secondary Schools Authority ( PSSA ) , which besides provides proficient advice and counsel. In 2008, there were 112,995 students in secondary schools ( 55 873 misss and 58 730 male childs ) . Some secondary schools are considered as ‘star ‘ schools. This accounts for the high competition at the CPE scrutiny, as merely those ranked are chosen to travel to these schools. This state of affairs is likely to prevail until all secondary schools are considered ‘equal ‘ in resources and quality. To fulfill the demands of the labor market, alterations are being introduced bit by bit, at the upper secondary degree with Business and Technical watercourses. The Industrial Vocational Training Board ( IVTB ) , which was established in 1989, provides vocational preparation. Other administrations such as Handicraft Centres and the Lycee Polytechnique besides help out in Vocational Training.1.2.4 Teacher TrainingIn primary schools, instructors are classified into two classs: the General Purpose instructors and the Oriental Language instructors. The General Purpose instructors have to learn at least four topics including Mathematics, English Language, Gallic Language and Environmental Science. The Oriental linguistic communication instructor has to learn merely one oriental linguistic communication. They have all followed a biennial pre-service preparation class, taking to a Certificate in Primary Education. This class is conducted by the Mauritius Institute of Education ( MIE ) . The class involves pedagogical, learning methods and regular visit to primary schools. During the preparation, instructors besides have to make learning pattern in schools. There is a major programme for upgrading primary school instructors, taking to an Advanced Certificate. Particular preparation for remedial instruction is besides being provided. Most of the instructors recruited to work in the Secondary Schools possess a Bachelor ‘s grade. Every instructor is required to learn one topic merely. However, there are some instructors who possess a sheepskin merely and accordingly they are allowed to learn pupils up to School Certificate ; nevertheless, these instructors can follow a Bachelor in Education grade at the MIE. Courses taking to Post-Graduate Certificate in Education ( PGCE ) are besides organised for in-service secondary school instructors. Recently, classs taking to Masters Degree Education are being conducted jointly by MIE and abroad universities.1.2.5 Third EducationThird Education was made free in Mauritius in 1988. This sector comprises the University of Mauritius, University of Technology Mauritius, Mauritius Institute of Education, Mahatma Gandhi Institute and Mauritius College of the Air. The Mauritius Institute of Education ( MIE ) runs classs in Pre-School Education and Educational Administration every bit good as preparation classs for Primary and Secondary teachers- Certificate and Advanced Certificate for Primary School Teachers ; Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor in Education and PGCE for Secondary School Teachers. Recently, it has started a Maestro in Education class in coaction with the University of Brighton, UK. The Mahatma Gandhi Institute ( MGI ) , in coaction with University of Mauritius ( UOM ) and the MIE, runs classs at degree degree and Teacher Training Certificate classs in Asiatic Languages, every bit good as Diploma courses in Indian Music and Dance, the Humanistic disciplines and Hindi Studies. The Mauritius College of the Air ( MCA ) provides media support in assorted educational spheres, with wireless and telecasting programmes at different degrees. It is to be used as a Resource Centre for Distance Education. The Tertiary Education Commission ( TEC ) established in 1988, is the agent for planning and co-ordination of third instruction. It has established machinery for advancing research in different countries in the different establishments. By and large, the primary-level instructors join the profession with Higher School Certificate ( HSC ) as making. Nowadays, there are many new instructors who already possessed a sheepskin or grade from a university ( chiefly MIE or UOM ) . Then they undergo mandatory 3-year preparation at the MIE on full-time footing. During their preparation, they are besides posted to schools under counsel of experient instructors for learning pattern.1.2.6 Curriculum DevelopmentThe National Centre for the Curriculum Research and Development ( NCCRD ) has been set up to fix curriculum stuffs and circulate them efficaciously to schools. The kernel in the invention of puting up a separate Centre for course of study development is that: It is designed to work with students, instructors, caputs of schools who constitute the most of import portion of the system. Ultimately, it is the schools which will do the procedure of course of study development an effectual agencies of conveying about reform and alteration in the system. It pools limited fiscal resources in order to work the cardinal issues in course of study development. It has become the focal point for partnerships for like-interest groups by tapping the best professional expertness at all degrees and in making so it has become the chief beginning of invention and betterment in schools. The inventions undertaken in course of study development have led to a replacing of unequal traditional processs for course of study preparation through ad-hoc commissions, a re-appraisal of the lower-secondary and primary school curricular and in the devise of a new course of study model. For each topic and each degree, course of study panels consisting representatives from MIE, Mahatma Gandhi Institute ( MGI ) , Mauritius Examination Syndicate ( MES ) , Ministry of Education and Human Resources, caput instructors and instructors prepare the course of study stuffs harmonizing to national, educational, pedagogical and psychological norms. These are trialled before concluding printing and distribution to schools. The NCCRD is governed by a board that controls and proctors book production harmonizing to national norms. Textbooks are prepared for all degrees: pre-primary, primary, lower secondary and basic secondary schools- for all topics including Movement Education and Creative Education. Together with text editions, instructors ‘ ushers and other instructional stuffs are prepared for distribution to schools. Regular sensitization workshops are held both in Mauritius and Rodrigues on the usage of the books.1.2.7 Examinations and AppraisalsExaminations have an of import function in bettering the quality of instruction. The Mauritius Examination Syndicate is the chief establishment concerned with scrutinies. At the primary degree, for class 1 to 5, each school has its ain appraisal patterns based on the national course of study aims as spelt out in the text edition. The Ministry of Education, and Human Resources prepares the terminal of twelvemonth scrutinies for classs 4 and 5, nevertheless, these are school based. The Certificate of Primary Education ( CPE ) is a national scrutiny held at the terminal of six old ages of primary schooling. It is both a trial of the degree of attainment of every kid every bit good as a selective device for admittance to the best secondary schools. The MES takes luxuriant attention in the design, disposal, taging, security and equity of the scrutinies. To supervise learning accomplishment and to better criterions on instruction, the MES has developed a Learning Competency Project and laid down Learning Competencies for each age degree in footings of Essential and Desirable Competencies. The doctrine behind the puting down of ELCs ( Essential Learning Comp etencies ) for all kids and DLCs ( Desirable Learning Competencies ) for those who can travel beyond the indispensable is that no kid should be hurried along in order to finish the ‘syllabus ‘ without understanding but besides that no kid should be held back because of others who need a longer clip to understand and absorb what they learn. Therefore, the CPE scrutinies are based on ELCs and DLCs. As yet, there is no formal system of Continuous Assessment in our primary schools, although there have been a few efforts to present it. The new educational reforms emphasise the demand for a sound system of Continuous Assessment in primary schools. At secondary degree, the MES organises and behaviors scrutinies in coaction with the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate. The scrutinies are held at the terminal of the 5th twelvemonth ( 16+ ) of the secondary rhythm taking to the attainment of ‘O ‘ degrees ( School Certificate Examination ) and the terminal of the 7th twelvemonth ( 18+ ) of secondary rhythm taking to the attainment of ‘A ‘ degrees ( Higher School Certificate Examination ) . The MES plays an of import function in mauritianising the scrutinies, therefore doing the scrutiny geared to the demands of the state every bit good as maintaining international criterions. Through the puting up of Examinations Capable Advisory Panels- which comprise all spouses in each subject- the course of study, text editions, etc. are closely monitored and alterations are subtly brought to the system. For School Certificate scrutinies, 17 topics are locally marked. Campaigners have a wider scope of topics, 45 at School Certificate degree and 40 at Higher School Certificate degree. Each campaigner chooses 7 to 8 topics at SC degree and 3 chief topics and 2 subordinate 1s at HSC degree. Regular preparation of instructors in the usage of the scrutinies course of study, taging strategies, paper scenes etc. is done and therefore doing scrutinies an of import agencies of bettering criterions and the quality of instruction.Understanding GeometryThe term â€Å" geometry † merely means â€Å" earth step † ( ‘Geo ‘ intending ‘Earth ‘ and ‘metry ‘ significance ‘measurement ‘ ) . Geometry is one of the longest constituted subdivisions of mathematics and its beginnings can be traced back through a broad scope of civilization and civilizations. Several research workers have defined geometry in their ain footings and experience. Some common 1s are discussed in this subdivision. Geometry is the term given to the apprehension of hold oning infinite. Such understanding helps pupils represent and do sense of the universe. In order to develop spacial sense, pupils must make more than larn the names of forms. They need to analyze features and belongingss of geometric forms and develop an apprehension about relationships that exist among them ( Gould, 2003 ) . Geometry, says the celebrated UK Mathematician Sir Michael Atiyah ( 2001 ) , is one of the two pillars of mathematics ( the other being algebra ) . Sir Michael Atiyah writes: Spatial intuition or spacial perceptual experience is an tremendously powerful tool and that is why geometry is really such a powerful portion of mathematics- non merely for things that are non. We try to set them into geometrical signifier because that enables us to utilize our intuitionaˆÂ ¦ ( Atiyah, 2001, p.50 ) By concentrating on geometry, the focal point is on the development and application of spacial constructs through which kids learn to stand for and do sense of the universe. â€Å" Geometry is hold oning spaceaˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦that infinite in which the kid lives, breathes and moves†¦ ..the infinite that the kid must larn to cognize, explore, conquer, in order to populate, breathe and travel better in it † ( Freudenthal, 1973, p.403 ) . Geometry is an abstract subdivision of mathematics that helps pupils ground and understand the self-evident construction of mathematics. It is concerned with happening the belongingss and the measuring of certain geometric objects. Geometric belongingss are those belongingss of the objects that remain invariant under certain transmutations when the sizes and measurings of the objects change ( National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 2000 ) . Godfrey, a taking reformist in England at the start of the twentieth century, argued that mathematics is non undertaken entirely by logic but that another power is necessary. He called this ‘geometrical power ‘ , depicting it as ‘the power we exercise when we solve a rider ( a hard geometrical job or cogent evidence ) . To develop this power, Godfrey argued, it is indispensable to develop pupils ‘ â€Å" geometrical oculus † , something he defined as â€Å" the power of seeing geometrical belongingss detach themselves from a figure † ( Godfrey, 1910 ) . Piaget relates geometry as the scientific discipline of infinite. He describes the development of the kid ‘s representational infinite every bit good as the mental image of the existent infinite in which the kid is moving where â€Å" mental representation is non simply a callback from a memory bank but it is an active Reconstruction of an object at the symbolic degree. Therefore, geometry is the survey of points, lines, angles and forms, and their relationships and belongingss. It sounds like a batch to cognize, but much of it is already in your caput. Geometry is all around us. If people did n't believe about geometry, they would n't be able to construct great constructions such as pyramids or even simple things that are level as a tabular array.1.4 Geometry as a Basic SkillGeometry is besides considered as a basic accomplishment. Sherard ( 1981 ) provinces seven grounds that show geometry is a basic accomplishment: Its usage as an assistance for communicating. Its application in real-life jobs. When depicting the location of topographic points or when giving waies, geometric footings such as â€Å" parallel to † and â€Å" diagonally from † are used extensively. It is used as an application in other subjects in mathematics and to fix pupils to analyze classs in higher maths and scientific disciplines. It helps pupils to develop spacial perceptual experience and stimulate & A ; exercise general thought and problem-solving accomplishments. It helps pupils to understand and appreciate the beauty of the physical universe. Many of the footings used to place, infer and ground can be used outside of the geometry sphere. As stated, geometry is a basic accomplishment since it is an of import assistance for communicating. Our basic speech production and composing vocabularies have many geometric footings: e.g. point, line, plane, curve, angle, analogue, circle, square, rectangle and trigon. If we are to pass on to others the location, size or form of an object, geometric nomenclature is indispensable. We use geometric nomenclature in depicting forms of objects: â€Å" The floor tiles are trim or the headlamps on that theoretical account of the auto are rectangles † or in giving waies: â€Å" Church Street is parallel to Main Street or do a right bend at the 2nd traffic visible radiation † ( Sherard, 1981 ) .1.5 Importance and Applications of GeometryUnderstanding of form and infinite begins with babes as they learn to creep and walk, detecting the universe and infinite around them ( Doverburg & A ; Prambling Samuelson, 2001 ) . Children come to school holding some ocular and spacial accom plishments. Many kids have experienced building of playthings, saber saw, mystifiers, drama dough, computing machine games, mounting, resort area equipment at place and kindergarten. Children foremost develop inactive schemes as they explore their physical environment and stuffs. As they notice belongingss and develop constructs about forms around them, they begin to understand dynamic imagination and are able to work out spacial jobs. Geometric and spacial thought are non merely of import in their ain right but besides because they provide a foundation for much mathematical acquisition in other countries ( Clements, 2000 ) . An illustration of this is the usage of drawings and manipulatives in the development of apprehension of fractions ( e.g cut a circle into 4 equal parts to explicate one-quarter ) . The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics ( NCTM, 2000 ) recognises its importance as a foundation: ‘As pupils become familiar with form, construction, location, and transmutations and as they develop spacial logical thinking, they lay the foundation for understanding non merely their spacial universe but besides subjects in mathematics and in art, scientific discipline and societal surveies ‘ ( p.97 ) . Geometry can be used to visualize other signifiers of mathematics. Rectangles can be used to show the distributive belongings during direction of arithmetic, in general, and to exemplify happening binomial merchandises during direction of algebra. Using and understanding the belongingss of geometric figures as manipulatives can assist pupil understand combinatorics, analysis of inequalities, and analytic geometry ( Schielock, 1987 ) and geometry representations are used to understand certain constructs in concretion ( Balamenos, Ferrini- Mundy & A ; Dick, 1987 ) . Willson ( 1977 ) further advocates that geometry has an of import topographic point in mathematics because it Enables the survey of the Physical universe. Deals with visual image, pulling, and building of the figures. Enables the representation of the constructs in mathematics which are non ocular. Gives us pleasance and it is aesthetic. Hershkowitz et Al. ( 1987 ) provinces, â€Å" This basic cognition which comprises geometric constructs, their properties and simple relationships should, in general, be acquired through geometrical experiences prior to secondary school † . In fact, direction of informal geometry at the simple degree is needed to construct a foundation of vocabulary, explorative accomplishments, intuitive point of view, and apprehension of geometric relationships, in readying for analyzing the formal, demonstrative, geometry offered at the secondary degree and beyond ( Trafton and LeBlanc, 1973 ) . Geometry is one strand of mathematics that has application in callings necessitating advanced direction such as art, architecture, interior design and scientific discipline, but it besides has its applications in proficient callings such as woodworking, plumbing and drawing every bit good as day-to-day life. Transformational geometry is seen in art and that construct is integrated into archeology in the survey of the designs applied to pottery and other artifacts in different civilizations and different epochs. In day-to-day life and vocational calling, many constructs and techniques are transferred from the geometry schoolroom to the field ( e.g. woodworking & A ; plumbing ) . Geometry is besides rich in other applications like Computer Aided Design ( CAD ) and geometric modeling ( including designing, modifying and manufactured constituents ) . Roboticss. Computer life and ocular presentations. However, there is an even more of import ground for puting greater accent on the instruction of geometry. It involves the use of mental images, which is frequently called ocular thought. Problem work outing in all strands of mathematics depends on organizing mental images of the state of affairs in which the job is embedded and so ‘finding ‘ a image of the mathematical thought that lucifers. The ability to mentally organize, rearrange and lucifer images is important to all facets of mathematics, peculiarly job resolution.1.6 Purposes of Teaching GeometryThe purposes for mathematics learning in general are frequently listed in footings of the demand of life and work ; the demand to develop logical thought ; mathematics as a signifier of communicating ; and the development of an consciousness of mathematics as portion of our civilization. Purposes which might be appropriate for the geometry course of study could be a subset or amplification of these. We might believe that geometry is an country of mathematics in which it is peculiarly appropriate for students to develop the accomplishments needed for the universe of work ; develop logical thought accomplishments ; clear up the precise usage of linguistic communication ( e.g. through sorting forms in a survey of transmutations ) ; see the nexus between mathematics and other topics ; get down to understand the nature of cogent evidence ( e.g. through researching what â€Å" being convinced † has meant at different points in history ) ; understand the cardinal topographic point of job work outing in modern civilization, e.g. in a mathematically based design undertaking ; import the cognition needed to analyze more mathematics ; and learn the reading and reading of mathematical statements ( Jones, 2000, pp. 38-39 ) . The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics ( 1989 ) Curriculum has elaborated on the undermentioned geometry competences that pupils must take to: identify, describe, comparison, theoretical account, draw and sort geometric figures in two or three dimensions ; develop spacial sense ; explore the effects of transforming, uniting, subdividing, and altering geometric figures ; understand, apply and deduce belongingss of relationships between geometric figures, including congruity and similarity ; develop an grasp of geometry as a agency of depicting and patterning the physical universe ; explore man-made, transformational and coordinate attacks to geometry, with college-bound pupils besides required to develop an apprehension of self-evident system through investigation and comparing assorted geometric system ; and explore a vector attack to certain facets of geometry.1.7 The Geometry Curriculum at Primary-level in MauritiusThe indispensable acquisition competences for the subject geometry at the primary degree are as follows Rate One Recognizing, calling and following circle, rectangle, square and trigon. Indentifying forms placed horizontal, perpendicular and in oblique ( slant ) places. Grade Two Recognizing and calling the following 3D forms: regular hexahedrons, cylinders, cones, domains and cuboids. Identifying the above mentioned 3D forms in different orientation. Grade Three Forming forms with squares, rectangles and trigons ( besides involves coloring ) . Introducing footings associated with regular hexahedron and cuboids: face, vertex and border ( besides include cut & amp ; paste to organize regular hexahedrons and cuboids ) . Pulling activities affecting symmetricalness. Rate Four Pulling and placing horizontal and perpendicular lines. Identifying objects placed horizontally or vertically. Pulling and placing parallel lines. Pulling and placing diagonal lines in 2D forms. Recognizing and pulling parallelogram, diamond, kite, square and rectangle. Writing belongingss of each of the five 2D forms. Identifying parallelogram, diamond, kite, square and rectangles from 2D forms. Pulling squares and rectangles on square documents. Researching symmetricalness of forms and geometrical objects. Pulling lines of symmetricalness on objects in square paper. Completing objects when half of it is given together with the line of symmetricalness. Grade Five Pulling, mensurating and comparing angles. Identifying right angles and complete bends. Identifying and calling different types of trigons. Learning the belongingss of the different types of trigons. Pulling lines of symmetricalness for different figures. Identifying objects with or without lines of symmetricalness. Grade Six Further illustrations on different types of Quadrilaterals and their belongingss: rectangle, square, parallelogram, diamond, kite, arrowhead and trapezium. Recognizing and appellative Pentagons and hexagons. Identifying and pulling diagonals in polygons. Further illustrations on different types of trigons and their belongingss: equilateral, isosceles, scalene and right-angled.1.8 The Decline in Geometry PerformanceResearch has shown that we can better pupils ‘ cognition and ability to visualize and ground about the spacial universe in which they live but are the pupils accomplishing this cognition and these abilities. Third International Mathematics and Science Study ( TIMSS ) and National Assessment of Educational Progress ( NAEP ) have collected informations that show that pupil public presentation in geometry at all degrees is rather alarming ( Lappan, 1999 ) . To some extent, these jobs may be due to the comparatively limited measure of research that has been undertaken into pupils ‘ thought in geometry at the school degree, which in bend, may stem from a sensed absence of a theoretical model ( Pegg & A ; Davey, 1998 ) . For case, harmonizing to extended ratings of mathematics larning, simple and in-between school pupils in the United States are neglecting to larn basic geometric constructs and geometric job work outing ; they are deplorably underprepared for the survey of more sophisticated geometric constructs and cogent evidence ( Carpenter, Corbitt, Kepner, Lindquist & A ; Rey, 1980 ; Fey et al. , 1984 ; Kouba et al. , 1988 ; Stevenson, Lee & A ; Strigler, 1986 ; Strigler, Lee & A ; Stevenson, 1990 ) . Extensive ratings of mathematics larning indicate that simple pupils are neglecting to larn basic geometric constructs and geometric job work outing. Apparently, much acquisition of geometric constructs has been by rote ; they often do non recognize constituents, belongingss and relationships between belongingss ( Clements & A ; Battista, 1992b ) . It is observed that kids learn small about forms from preschool to middle school. For illustration, Approximately 60 % of kindergartners identified right trigons and 64 % to 81 % of simple pupils were successful in the same undertaking. Approximately 54 % of kindergartners & A ; 63 to 68 % of simple pupils were able to place rectangles. ( Clements et al. , 1999 ) . Another major job, as identified by the International Commission on Mathematics Instruction ( ICMI ) Study, is that, unlike in Numberss and algebra, â€Å" a simple, clear, ‘hierarchical ‘ way from first beginnings to the more, advanced accomplishments of geometryaˆÂ ¦ has non yet been found and possibly does non be at all † ( Mammana & A ; Villani, 1998 ) . This means that the dealingss between intuitive, inductive and deductive attacks to geometrical objects, the usage of practical experiments and the age at which geometrical constructs should be introduced are far from clear. Many research workers ( Usiskin, 1987 ; Swafford et al. , 1997 ; Clements, 2003 ) have agreed that the degree of understanding that pupils achieve for any construct is limited by the degree of understanding of their instructor and the school course of study. Anecdotal grounds suggests many instructors do non see geometry and spacial dealingss to be of import subjects which give rise to the feelings that geometry lacks steadfast way and intent. Besides, Porter ( 1989 ) reported that the 4th and 5th class instructors spent virtually no clip learning geometry. Even when taught, geometry was the subject most often identified as being taught simply for â€Å" exposure † , that is, geometry was given merely brief casual coverage. For case, the Program for International Student Assessment ( PISA ) Survey shows that in Belgium, primary school instructors are uncomfortable in learning geometry. They tend to avoid the topic in the first and 2nd class and they barely of all time approach solid geometry ( Demal, 2004 ) . Besides, the demand for betterment in geometry instruction and acquisition in the primary, in-between and high school classs is clearly apparent in international comparings such as Tendencies in International Mathematics and Science Study and PISA. The study on the instruction and acquisition of geometry by the Royal Society and Joint Mathematical Council ( 2001 ) argues that â€Å" the most important part to betterments in geometry instruction will be made by the development of good theoretical accounts of teaching method, supported by carefully designed activities and resources † ( p.19 ) . In fact, a primary cause of this hapless public presentation in geometry may be the course of study ; both in what subjects are treated and how they are treated. The failure of bing pedagogic theoretical accounts for geometry means that across many states of import facets of geometry ( such as work in 3D ) are omitted, there is an over-reliance on learning methods that rely entirely on memorisation. It is claimed that current primary geometry course of study disregards and do non advance chances for pupils to utilize their basic intuitions and simple constructs to come on to higher degrees of geometric ideas. This job becomes more evident in high school where pupils are required to use their deductive logical thinking ( Hoffer, 1981 ; Shaughnessy & A ; Burger, 1985 ) . As the ICMI Study inside informations, the chief effects of these jobs have been that many states have tried to short-circuit the obstructions by cutting down the sum of geometry taught or fall backing to pedagogical attacks that rely to a great extent on memorization. As a consequence, there is non much in the manner of a base if good pattern on which to establish development. This is why the Royal Society and Joint Mathematical Council ( 2001 ) study argues that there is a farther job: â€Å" We believe that there are many instructors who have been taught geometry through manners of learning which we would non recommend as appropriate † ( p.19 ) .1.9 Significance of the StudyThis survey will stand for an overall analysis of instruction and acquisition of 2D geometry among upper primary degree in Mauritius. The relevancy of the existent instruction and acquisition of geometry will be discussed. As such, this survey will do a important part to our speculating with regard to classroom instruction and acquisition of geometry, to our apprehension and optimisation of the patterns employed in schoolroom scenes and to our apprehension of those facets of scholars and instructor patterns ( and their interrelatedness ) . It will assist to find whether the usage of inquiry-based instruction along with concrete stuffs and manipulatives can better acquisition of 2D geometry. It will besides assist to analyze the impact of linguistic communication and socio-economic position of students on acquisition of 2D geometry.2.0 Research QuestionsA series of chief research inquiries together with their sub research inquiries are addressed in this survey. Each sub research inquiry is described along with a brief sum-up of how it will be addressed.Research Question 1Is the 2D geometry course of study at the upper primary degree in Mauritius appropriate and relevant? Are at that place ways to farther better it? This chief research inquiry is further divided into a more specific set of inquiries. 1.1 What is the degree of 2D geometry acquisition among upper primary students in Mauritius? This research work will measure the students apprehension of the different content countries of 2D geometry via the experimental instruction and their public presentation in the multiple pick inquiry paper and open-ended inquiry trial. The students ‘ new wave Hiele degree of believing in different 2D geometry points will be tested. Misconceptions about 2D geometry will be detected and remedial actions proposed. The keeping ability of the 2D geometry lessons taught to the upper primary degree student will be examined. 1.2 Is the upper primary 2D geometry course of study run intoing its end? Are at that place ways to better it? This survey will affect a scrutinize analysis of the content countries of the 2D geometry course of study at the upper primary degree. All its positive and negative facets encountered in the experimental instruction will be discussed. Ways to better the 2D geometry course of study will be proposed. 1.3 Do the students ‘ gender and/or grade flat influence their acquisition of 2D geometry lessons significantly? This survey will besides prove whether acquisition of 2D geometry is perceived otherwise by male childs and misss and whether the keeping ability of students is gender dependant. Both 4th and 5th graders are taught the same 2D geometry lessons. It is farther targeted to analyze whether ripening ( gradewise ) has a important impact on public presentation and keeping ability of the 2D geometrical constructs.Research Question 2Can the usage of different learning schemes improve the instruction and acquisition of 2D geometry at the upper primary degree in Mauritius? This chief research inquiry is further divided into a more specific set of inquiries. 2.1 Can the utilizations of manipulatives, concrete stuffs and inquiry-based instruction methods significantly influence 2D geometry acquisition at the upper primary degree in Mauritius? This survey will compare instruction of 2D geometry utilizing usual instruction methods ( utilize blackboard and notes from text edition for account and do exercisings from text edition for consolidation of larning ) and usage of probe and enquiry to learn 2D geometry lessons with the extra assistance of concrete stuffs and manipulatives. The efficiency of the methods will be foremost judged utilizing 2 instruments. First, 2 geometry trials will be conducted, one affecting multiple pick inquiries merely and the other affecting open-ended inquiries merely. Second, the students ‘ engagement, involvement, interaction in category with instructor and friends, engagement and enthusiasm in the geometry lessons will be determined. For this intent, the lessons will be videotaped so that the students ‘ reactions, involvement and gestures during the lessons can be analysed. 2.2 Does the usage of different learning schemes influence the students ‘ keeping ability significantly? The two instruments used for comparing of larning through different instruction schemes will be once more conducted after 7 or 8 hebdomads in order to prove which of the methods better aid to retain the lessons taught. 2.3 Do gender and/or class degree interact significantly with the different instruction schemes in the learning procedure of 2D geometry? It is besides aimed to prove the multivariate interaction between the 4 instruction schemes, grade degree and gender in the procedure of larning 2D geometry. It will analyze whether male childs and misss from classs 4 and 5 interact otherwise with the learning schemes in their public presentations.Research Question 3Is linguistic communication a barrier to acquisition of 2D geometry? This chief research inquiry is further divided into a more specific set of inquiries. 3.1 Does the usage of mother-tongue Creole influence the acquisition of 2D geometry significantly? Creole is the most normally spoken linguistic communication in Mauritius whereas the foreign linguistic communication English is the official linguistic communication used in learning at schools. This survey will prove whether the engagement of a foreign linguistic communication in the instruction of 2D geometry addition its trouble. Since Creole is non yet a linguistic communication with its proper grammar for authorship, it is merely widely spoken. Therefore, the geometry are written in English but explained in Creole. The purpose is besides to happen if the usage of Creole helps the kid to better retain the lessons. 3.2 Does linguistic communication factor combined with different learning schemes improve acquisition of 2D geometry significantly? English and Creole are combined with the 2 instruction schemes proposed ( usual schoolroom learning utilizing text edition merely and inquiry-based instruction with concrete stuffs and manipulatives ) to analyze whether linguistic communication interact with the learning schemes to better public presentation in 2D geometry significantly.Research Question 4What are the comparative impact of place and student features in finding public presentation of students? This chief research inquiry is further divided into a more specific set of inquiries. 4.1 What are the important home-related factors act uponing public presentation of students? Based on extended research available on impact of place environment on scholastic public presentation, home-related indices ( refering kid SES, handiness of educational resources at place and parent attitude towards educating kids ) will be constructed from a questionnaire filled by the parents of all surveyed students. Using structural equation modeling ( AMOS in this survey ) , the important home-related factors will be extracted to make latent variables in order to better mensurate their impact on kids public presentation. 4.2 What are the important pupil-related factors act uponing public presentation of students? It is good known that student ‘s personal features contribute tremendously towards his/her academic success. Based on a questionnaire filled by surveyed students, pupil-related indices ( refering pupil attitude towards prep, school and instructor ; reading corner ; pupil reading stuffs at place and students ‘ linguistic communication ability ) will be constructed. Using structural equation modeling ( AMOS in this survey ) , the important pupil-related factors will be extracted to make latent variables in order to better mensurate their impact on kids public presentation. Taking these research inquiries in combination, this research work seeks to find the instruction and learning patterns of 2D geometry in the upper primary schools in Mauritius. It besides involves proving of new experimental instruction schemes in order to optimise acquisition of 2D geometry locally. As Mauritius is a multiracial state where the societal background of the kids can play a really important function in their acquisition procedure, the survey will utilize the informations collected to pull decisions refering critical contextual factors act uponing acquisition.