The impact of balanced scorecard on team dynamics Essay

The impact of balanced scorecard on team dynamics - Essay Example The dissertation explores the influence of balanced scorecard implementation on the team dynamics at a hygiene product manufacturing facility in the UK. The dissertation uses a qualitative approach to conduct the research for the subject and the findings are analyzed under an interpretivistic paradigm. One of the main strengths of the dissertation is that it includes a comprehensive introduction and literature review, which serves to orient the reader properly with regard to the topic of the dissertation and the direction of the research that is conducted. The introduction presents an introduction to the Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget and sets up the context for the balanced scorecard in the light of organizational management efforts towards scientific management, human relations approach, team-based structures, and so on towards balanced scorecards. The literature review also covers the essential seminal works or performance management systems including those by Taylor, Maslow, Herz berg, etc. as well as recent research by Fiske, Chan & Mak, and Clenhall among several others. In this way, the dissertation provides the reader with all the information necessary to appreciate the historical and intellectual context of the research. Another important strength of the dissertation is that it uses the triangulation approach which is necessary given that the research is conducted under the qualitative paradigm.

Economic Growth And Development Of Nigeria Economics Essay

Economic Growth And Development Of Nigeria Economics Essay Agriculture is an important sector in the developing world. It contributes to economic growth and development as well as a major employer to majority of the people of Sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria, especially those in the rural areas. This study investigated the role of agriculture to Nigerias economic growth and development. Secondary data were used for the analyses and were obtained from various publications of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Variables used for the estimations included overall gross domestic product (GDP) of Nigeria, agricultural GDP, government spending on agriculture, credit to agriculture and the population engaged in agriculture. The data cover the period between 1981 and 2010. Growth and Cobb-Douglas production models were estimated. The results showed that overall GDP, agricultural GDP, and government spending to the agricultural sector of Nigeria generally assumed upward trends during the period. Credit t o agriculture and government spending to the agricultural sector were the factors found to significantly influence the contribution of agriculture to national economic growth and development. It is concluded that agriculture continues to play important role in the economic growth and development of Nigeria. It is recommended that policies should be formulated to encourage the flow of more credit to the agricultural sector of Nigeria. Besides, it is important that the government of Nigeria to increase its spending on the agricultural sector since this positively and significantly influence the contribution of agriculture to national economic growth and development. 1.1 Background to the Study Nigeria is one of the largest countries in Africa, with an estimated population of about 158 million (World Bank, 2010). The country has highly diversified agro-ecological conditions, which makes it possible for the production of variety of agricultural products. Furthermore, agriculture constitutes one of the most significant sectors of the economy (Manyong, et. al., 2005). Agriculture in Nigeria employs about 70% of the working population and contributes with about 60% to the national income (Oluwasanmi, 1966). Its contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) accounted for about 40% in 2010 (CBN, 2011). During the early days of independence, Nigeria was and still is relatively self-sufficient in food production, and foreign exchange earnings from agricultural exports have been used over the years to support in financing imports needed for economic growth and development (Anderson, 1970). The role of Agricultural production in Nigeria is not only to provide the food needed to feed the rapidly growing Nigerian population, but also to provide the money and materials needed for industrialization and for bringing the country into the industrial and technical age (Oyenuga, 1967). In order to carry out this role, the agricultural system needs to be reorganized and new techniques of production have to be introduced, such as the use of more efficient implements, improved seed varieties and fertilizers. To do this, the country not only needs to co-ordinate its agricultural research projects and provides capital but also to make available trained field staff who can ensure the acceptance of these innovations by peasant farmers (Oluwasanmi, 1966). This is because majority of the peasant farmers live in rural areas where there is a high level of illiteracy and they hardly accept change. Despite the fact that Nigeria is buoyantly endowed with agricultural and other natural resources, the agricultural sector is still growing at a very slow rate. It is only a little over half of the countrys agricultural land is under cultivation (Manyong et al, 2005). Increased use of mechanization will help, but this is not going to be easy given that about 63% of the farms in Eastern Nigeria and 45% of them in Western Nigeria are less than an acre in size and many of them are much smaller (Oyenuga, 1967). The agricultural sector remained weak during the oil boom decade of the 1970s, and this accounted largely for the declining share of its contributions to economic growth and development of the country. The trend of the share of agriculture in national GDP reflects a substantial variation and long-term decline from about 60% in the early 1960s through to about 49% in the 1970s and only about 22% in the 1980s. It is believed that unstable and often-poor economic policies (of pricing, trade and exchange rate), the relative abundance of the sector and the negative impact of oil boom were all important factors responsible for the decline in agricultural sectors contributions to national economic growth and development. Since the oil boom of the 1970s, there has been a severe increase in the incidence and drama of poverty in the country as a result of the unstable performance of the agricultural sector, which employs majority of the poor. As a result of the dwindling performance of agriculture in the country, government have over many years formulated and implemented various policies and projects aimed at putting back the agricultural sector to its vital place in the economy. But with evidence from empirical literatures, no significant success has been achieved due to several problems confronting the performance of the sector (Yusuf, 2005). However, the contribution of agriculture in both gross domestic product (GDP) and non-oil GDP increased in the 1981-2000 periods. The share of total bank credit going into the agricultural sector increased rapidly between the 1981-1985 and 1991-1995 periods and then declined in the 1996-2000 periods. The share of the federal Governments capital expenditure going to the agricultural sector declined immensely over the periods. The share of total employment by the agricultural sector also declined. Generally, there was unstable growth performance of the agricultural sector between the periods 1981 to 2000, with some evidence of inconsistencies of trends, probably due to uncertainties in policies and policy implementation. Some of the problems leading to poor performance of the agricultural sector in the country include technical issues, resource constraints as well as socio-economic problems and organisational constrains. It has been observed that in past policies of the pre-structural adjustment period, sector-specific agricultural policies were made to improve agricultural marketing, to cut down production cost, and to enhance product prices as incentives for increased agricultural production. Important policy instruments are for agricultural commodity marketing and pricing, input supply and distribution, input price, Subsidy, land resource use, agricultural research, agricultural extension and technology transfer, agricultural mechanisation, agricultural cooperatives, agricultural water resource and irrigation development. Macro policies, institutional policies and legal frameworks complemented sector-specific policies. The structural adjustment period was enhanced more by structural adjustment pol icies. Problems to agricultural policy strength include policy instability, policy inconsistencies, weak policy formulation, poor policy implementation, and harsh institutional framework for policy coordination (Idachaba, 2005). With reference from the dual economy model, early writers predicted economic development as a growth process that needs the re-allocation of factors of production from a weak, low-productivity agricultural sector to a modern and commercialized industrial sector with higher productivity and more returns (Lewis, 1954). As a primary sector, agriculture was seen to contribute significantly to economic growth and development by providing labor and food to the industrialization process. However, this idea was taken away by the era of the Green Revolution in Asia during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The possibility of restructuring traditional agriculture into a modern sector shows agricultures capability as a growth sector and its effective role in emphasizing broader d evelopment (Adelman, 2001). Although the advantage of connectivity between agriculture and non-agriculture in achieving the growth and development process had long been recognized (Hirschman, 1958, Johnston Mellor, 1961), post-Green Revolution economists stressed the role of agriculture in rural growth and development (Haggblade, Hammer, Hazell, 1991; Haggblade, Hazell, Brown, 1989; Hazell Haggblade, 1991; Hazell Roell, 1983). The vital advantage of agricultural growth on rural development was found to be effective in countries (e.g. Nigeria and other developing countries) where small farms dominated agriculture (Rosegrant Hazell, 2000). Therefore, given massive rural poverty and small-scale farming in Africa, the conventional wisdom of agriculture emphasizes a strong role for agriculture in African growth and development. With reference to the conventional wisdom of agriculture, it is important that policy objectives to promote the role of agriculture in economic growth and development in Nigeria should be realistic and capable of transforming a backward agriculture, and at the same time would also encourage industrial growth and development. The experience of other developing countries has shown that policies that promote industrial development at the expense of agriculture have resulted in food shortages and economic stagnation. Given Nigerias present stage of development, a large-scale industrialization scheme that will tend to shut out 70% of the population who are engaged in rural pursuits is not the best for the long-term interests of the country (Adeyokunnu, 1971). This is contrary to the idea behind early development strategies advocated by Rosenstein Rodan, Nurkse, and Hirshman among others, who emphasized industrial development as the main source of economic growth and development and were biased against the agricultural sector (Schiff and Valdes, 1998). This work is principally concerned with showing empirically the role of agriculture to economic and development of Nigeria. It draws on the long standing empirical studies on the role of agricultural sector to economic growth and development across the world. Widespread rural poverty in Africa and the success of Asias Green Revolution suggests that agriculture is a key sector for African development. Since almost all rural households depend directly or indirectly on agriculture, and given the sectors large contribution to the overall economy, it might seem obvious that agriculture should be a key sector in economic growth and development. Most African countries have failed to meet the requirements for a successful agricultural revolution, and productivity in African agriculture lags far behind the rest of the world. This has recently led to renewed debate within the international development community concerning the role of agriculture in African economic growth and development. This study will therefore contribute to the debate. 1.2 The Problem Statement Decline on the role of the agricultural sector in terms of its contribution to Nigerias economic growth and development in the last three decades made the government to establish different agricultural schemes and programmes to enhance agricultural productivity in the country, which includes River Basin Development Authorities, National Accelerated Food Production Project, Agricultural Development Project, Operation Feed the Nation, Green Revolution, National Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure, Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund, National Special Programme for Food Security, Root and Tuber Expansion Project as well as National Fadama I and II programmes. This shows that aagriculture has been an important sector in the Nigerian economy for many years, and is still a major sector even with the oil boom. Basically it generates employment opportunities for the growing population, reduces poverty and contributes to the growth and development of the economy. Economic history provides sufficient evidence that agricultural revolution is important and a pre-condition for economic growth and development, especially in developing countries like Nigeria (Woolf and Jones, 1969; Oluwasanmi, 1966; Eicher and Witt, 1964). The basis of the problem in the Nigerian economy is as a result of poor concentration of the agricultural sector by the Government towards focusing more on a mono-cultural economy based on oil. Agriculture was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy before the discovery, exploration and exportation of oil and over dependence on its revenue for economic expenditure. Agricultural export was contributing to GDP with about 72% between 1955 and 1969 before it fell down to 35% because of the oil crises of early 1970s (CBN, 2002). Nigeria used to be one of the world leading countries in the exportation and production of some major agricultural products between 1940 and 1950. There is evidence from statistics which shows that the export of agricultural products in Nigeria accounted for over 75% of total exports in 1960 (Ekpo and Egwaikhide, 1994). This has changed in recent times as economic growth and development of Nigeria in recent times solely depend on the earning from oil exports that account for over 95%, but contribute with less than 25% in the real gross domestic product (RDGP). This over dependence on oil has affected the countries market forces as well as its economic growt h and development (Okoh, 2004). Because crude oil is an exhaustible asset, it is not advisable for Nigeria to depend on it for sustainable economic growth and development. Therefore, the need to push into competitive market in advanced countries with our agricultural commodities has to be considered, in order to achieve a prosperous economic growth and development in Nigeria (Thirlwall, 1999). Considering the large size of the Nigerian agricultural sector and its important role in the economy, positive reform and adjustment policies are needed in order to improve the overall performance of the countrys economic growth and development (Kwanashie et al., 1998). Besides the oil sector, agricultural sector contributes significantly to the Nigerian economic growth and development because of its rich resource base. Nonetheless, these endowments have to be used wisely so as to diversify the economy and reduce over dependence on the oil sector and on importation. As a result of unstable oil price and continues increase in the price of import goods, the Nigerian economy is not consistent. All these issues have negative effects on the countrys balance of payment, employment and other sectors productivity as well as the purchasing power of the people (Bukar, et al., 1997). At present, impact of the Nigerian agricultural sector to economic growth and development of the country is not as it was in the past periods (NPC, 2000). Nigerian agriculture is still traditional as it was in the pre-independence period (Adewumi and Omotesho, 2002). Even with the existence of the two major rivers in the country (river Niger and river Benue) the agricultural sector is still predominantly rain fed (NPC, 2004). Productivity in the Agricultural sector has declined seriously over the years and this has led to high incidence of poverty levels (Jeter, 2004). Results from the World bank data indicate that over 70% of Nigerians are living below the poverty line (less than $1 per day), showing that there has been an astronomical growth in the level of poverty in the country most of which is associated to poor agriculture since from independence up till today (Chigbu, 2005). Those engaged in farming are mostly rural people, cultivating small area of land using traditional tool s and getting low productivity (NPC, 2004). The problem therefore is that there is limited understanding of the role of agriculture in economic growth and development of Nigeria in recent times. This study seeks to address this gap by empirically examining the role of agriculture to economic growth and development of Nigeria. 1.3 The Research Questions The questions that this study sought to answer are: What are the trends and growth of agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP) relative to the overall gross domestic product (GDP) of Nigeria? What have been the commitments of successive governments in Nigeria to the agricultural sector in terms of public spending in the sector? What have been the contributions of agriculture to the economic growth and development of Nigeria over the past three decades? 1.4 The Research Objectives The main objective of this study is to examine the role of agriculture to economic growth and development of Nigeria. Specifically, the study seeks to: Describe the trends and growth of agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP) in relation to overall GDP of Nigeria. Examine the trends and growth of spending of successive Nigerian governments on the agricultural sector. Estimate the contributions of agriculture to economic growth and development of Nigeria over the past three decades. 1.5 Justification of the Study Policy makers can make use of the outcome of this study in multi-dimensional form. This can be done in terms of interwoven nature of rural employment with agriculture, food security and agricultural productivity. This is because the findings will provide the basis that economic growth and development in Nigeria should be led by agriculture and that the success of plans and policies implemented in the other sectors are depended on agricultural developments for their successful implementation. The outcome of the study will also help policy makers to critically examine the various key possibilities of promoting economic growth and development in Nigeria with regards to the role of agriculture in economic growth and development. Some of these which are of relevant to policy may include issues of: How different alternative economic growth and development states can be achieved using agricultural sectors contribution with the view to decide which one is the best. How societal welfare can be improved from a lower stage to a better stage using agricultural sectors contribution to the economy. How to identify all areas in which the agricultural sector fails and to consider corrective measures. How to evaluate different policy options that have been used to improve agricultural sector as well as determine their implications and consequences on the economic growth and development of Nigeria. How to provide a framework in which different agricultural growth policies can be compared using value judgement and common sense. How to make a critique of different postulates about how agricultural development policies can be improved so that it can provide a menu for better policy measures. 1.6 Scope and Organisation of the Study The scope of this study is to look at the role of agriculture to economic growth and development of Nigeria spanning the last three decades (i.e. 30 years). The study is organised into five main chapters. Chapter one is the introduction which consists of the background to the study, the problem statement, the research questions, the research objectives, the justification of the research and the scope and organisation of the study. Chapter two is the literature review which consists of literature on Agricultural Production in Africa and Nigeria, Agricultural Production and Economic Growth and Development, Commitments of governments to Nigerian agriculture, Agriculture as a Source of Employment for Poverty Reduction, Finally, summary of the literature review and conclusions. Chapter three is the methodology employed in order to achieve the research objectives which consists of profile of Nigeria, the theoretical and model specifications, data types and sources of data. Chapter four is presentation of the results and discussions. Chapter five is the summary of the findings, conclusion and recommendations. After this are the references and appendix. CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction This chapter presents an overview of the relevant empirical literature in the subject matter. The chapter is divided into five main subsections. The first subsection is presentation of Agricultural Production in Africa and Nigeria. The second subsection is presentation of Agricultural Production and Economic Growth and Development. Commitments of governments to Nigerian agriculture are presented in the third subsection. The fourth subsection brings to light literature on Agriculture as a Source of Employment for Poverty Reduction. Finally, summary of the literature review and conclusions drawn are presented in subsection five. 2.2 Agricultural Production in Africa and Nigeria There is a growing argument over whether agriculture is still playing important role in economic growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultures theorists explain that, in most of the African countries, only the agricultural sector has sufficient scale and growth-linkages to significantly influence aggregate growth and development. Achieving such growth and development will have to do with a large sector like agriculture, which accounts for one-third of gross domestic product (GDP) for the subcontinent as a whole, and an even larger share for two-thirds of African countries. Economists also explain that agricultures poor performance leads to inadequate investment and policies that are historically biased against the agricultural sector (Fan, Zhang, Rao, 2004; Schiff Valdez, 1992; Timmer, 2005). They show the large benefits from investing in rural infrastructure and agricultural technology, and the growth and development potential from catching up to the productivity leve ls of other developing countries. During the period from 1990 to 2004, African industry, including mining and mineral-based manufacturing, grew at 1.9% per year compared to 2.5% for agriculture (World Bank, 2006). This is an indication of the importance of agriculture to economic growth and development across Africa. By contrast, there are others who doubt whether or not agriculture can successfully generate sufficient growth and development in Africa today. This doubt shows the poor performance of agriculture, weak institutions for rural growth and development, and worsening agro-ecological conditions in most of the African countries (Collier, 2002; Ellis, 2005; Maxwell Slater, 2003). The large size of the agricultural sector may be the reason for Africas failure to grow and develop, especially since past experience forecasts a significant decline in the importance of agriculture over time in successfully developing countries (Collier, 2002). For those who argue that agriculture should not be put at the center of African growth and development, although the sectors sufficient growth and development linkages proved very strong during Asias Green Revolution, it may not be so much in Africa because of a more integrated global environment (Hart, 1998). Border prices determine food prices more than domestic supply when imports can enter freely, which reduces the need to invest in domestic agriculture to maintain urban food prices and real wages and hence industrial competitiveness. Under these conditions, it is difficult for agriculture to play important role of economy-wide growth and development as well as facilitating the economic transformation shown by theory or witnessed in the past successes of other developing countries. Agricultures skeptics therefore tend to be more concerned of African industry, emphasizing that mining and manufacturing may bring viable alternative sources of growth and development. Despite contrasting opinions on the relative importance of agriculture in generating overall growth and development, there should presumably be less contention surrounding the role of agriculture in poverty reduction, which is one of the key issues for achieving economic growth and development. This is especially so given the importance of agricultural incomes for Africas poorest populations. However, even among agricultures advocates, there are conflicting views over what should be the focus of an agricultural growth and development strategy for low-income Africa (Dorward, et al., 2004). Some suggest that the best opportunities for African farmers lie in high-value commodities and, given poor domestic demand in Africa, that production should focus on export markets. Small-scale farms are seen as irrelevant due to international competition and the growing difficulties of supply-chains for both domestic and foreign markets (Reardon, Timmer, Barrett, Berdegue`, 2003). It is argued tha t rural dwellers should plan on diversifying incomes away from agriculture (Ashley Maxwell, 2001) and focus on going to urban areas (Ellis Harris, 2004). On the other hand, others argue that rural income diversification has been a reality in Africa for many years (Barrett Reardon, 2000; Reardon et al., 2003) and has yet to achieve significant income growth. Furthermore, income diversification is not a significant positive phenomenon, especially if diversification is due to stagnant agricultural growth and development (Haggblade, Hazell, Reardon, 2002) or if migration is as a result of growth in low-productivity urban activities (Lipton, 2004). The biggest market benefits for majority of African farmers comes from domestic and regional markets for staples/food crops (Diao Hazell, 2004; Rosegrant, Paisner, Meijer, Witcover, 2001). 2.3 Agricultural Production and Economic Growth and Development Provision of sufficient food for the growing population puts agriculture at the center of current growth and development issue in developing countries. This is because the level of population growth in most developing countries is far more than the level of agricultural production and growth. Malthusian theory of population growth is becoming true in these countries; hence, the need to grow and develop agriculture to meet the food requirement of the people is very important. Looking at the Malthusian theory, if food supply fail to meet demand then food prices will rise. This will also have effect on workers wages and subsequently affect industrial profits, investment and overall economic growth and development in the society (Uniamikogbo, 2007). On the supply of raw materials to the industrial sector, agriculture have been seen as the major requirement for industrial growth and development because of the sectors role in providing the necessary raw materials for industries (Child, 2008; Uniamikogbo, 2007 and Abayomi, 2006). As a result of this, the need for increasing agricultural productivity has to be considered. There is the need therefore to put more emphasis on increasing domestic output rather than focusing more on the expansion of export to finance growing food export. This means that, agriculture is the most influential sector in developing countries. It should then make a significant contribution to the overall investment requirements needed by the industrial sector such as lowering the amount of raw materials supplied from abroad by increasing the output produced locally. Agriculture has been the main stay of the Nigerian economy providing employment and source of livelihood for the teeming population. It contributes with over half of the GDP of the Nigerian economy during much of post-independence in the country. Nonetheless, the role it plays in the economic growth and development of the country has gone down over the years due to the overwhelming and dominant role of the crude oil sector in the economy, on which the country extensively depends. With the high food demand in Nigeria, the country has to make use of its abundant natural resources and to take advantage of its current democracy to increase the volume of crop production towards satisfying the food and nutritional requirement of the rapidly growing population and to ensure food security in the country (Enoma, 2010) . Therefore, agriculture can be characterized as the source of national wealth and economic growth and development in Nigeria. Agricultural Development economists have researched significantly on how agriculture can best contribute to overall economic growth and development. Looking at Lewis theory of development, Todaro and Smith (2003) indicated that the underdeveloped economy consists of two sectors, which are the ancient and traditional agricultural sector characterized by zero marginal labor productivity and the modern industrial sector. In his historical approach to the process of economic growth and development, Rostow (1960) distinguishes five stages of economic growth and development, which are: Traditional society; Pre-conditions for takeoff; Take-off; Drive to maturity; and Age of high mass-consumption. According to Rostow, the take-off stage is the most important figure in the life of a society when growth becomes its normal condition. The significance and importance of the traditional society make a decisive breakthrough and a multiple interest gets built into the society structure with agricult ure playing significant role at this stage. From this theory, it is evident that agriculture plays a significant role in the first three stages of economic growth and development (Traditional society, pre-conditions for takeoff and takeoff stages). The agricultural sector greatly influences industrial and economic backbone from which a countrys economic growth and development can take off. Therefore, beyond reasonable doubt, agricultural activities are usually concentrated and more practiced in the less-developed countries where there is an urgent need for rural transformation, redistribution, poverty alleviation and socio-economic growth and development (Stewart, 2000). Indeed, agriculture has a significant role in an economy, without it a country will surely depend on importation from other countries to feed its population. The essential contribution of agriculture to economic growth and development has been an on-going subject of debate among development economist, several theorist argue that growth of the whole economy relies on the development of agricultural sector (Schuttz, 1964, Gollin, Parente and Rogerson 2002). The growth and development of the agricultural sector could result to national output increase through its effect on rural incomes and provision of resources for transformation into an industrialized economy (Eicher and Staatz, 1984; Dowrick and Gemmmell, 1991; Datt and Ravallion, 1998; Thirtle, Lin and Piesse 2003). Johnston and Mellor (1961) reported that agriculture improves and contributes to overall economic growth and development through various inter-sectoral linkages. Which include, provision of surplus labor to the industri al sector; supply of food for domestic consumption; creation of market for industrial output; provision of domestic savings and industrial investment and generation of foreign exchange from agriculture export earnings to finance import of intermediate and capital goods respectively. However, In addition to the above-mentioned direct market-based linkages, Timmer (1995) found out that agriculture indirectly contributes to economic growth and development through its caloric nutrient intake provision to the poor, food availability; stable food prices and poverty reduction. Going by all the debated arguments, it is clear that agricultural growth and development has played a historically important role in the process of economic growth and development. However, acts from developed countries as well as developing countries indicate that agricultural sector has been the engine that contributes to the overall growth and development of a countrys economy. Agriculture therefore plays an important role in achieving economic growth and development. 2.4 Commitments of Governments to the Agricultural Se

Sports Information :: essays research papers

The Minnesota Vikings opened their developmental camp for veterans on Monday morning at Winter Park. The Vikings had a very high player turnout for their first session on Monday, including free agent signees Kenny Mixon, Lorenzo Bromell, Corey Chavous, and Henri Crockett. The developmental camp will run Monday-Wednesday and the Vikings will have workouts, classroom work, and weightlifting. â€Å"I thought the work was good,† Mike Tice said. â€Å"I thought the tempo was good today. I had to pull them back a little bit because I was worried about somebody getting hurt. But I thought the tempo was excellent and the guys understand that they have to be in good shape in order to keep up.† The only veterans not at Monday’s workout were defensive tackle Darius Holland and newly signed tight end Hunter Goodwin and punter Kyle Richardson. Tice said Holland had a death in the family and that Goodwin would likely be on the field tomorrow and Richardson on Wednesday. The Vikings will have their first mini-camp this weekend, when the team’s draft picks and rookie free agents will join the veterans for practices. â€Å"There is definitely a sense of excitement on both sides of the ball,† Byron Chamberlain said. â€Å"I think guys were eager to get out here after what seemed like a long offseason. Any time you win five games and lose 11, it tends to be a pretty long offseason. There is a sense of excitement with the moves we made in the draft and free agency and just seeing guys out here for the first time.† Notes The Vikings signed rookie free agent wide receiver Kelly Campbell on Monday. Campbell played for Vikings’ defensive line coach George O’Leary at Georgia Tech, where he had 56 catches for 708 yards and three touchdowns in 2001. He is Georgia Tech’s all-time leader in career catches (198), receiving yards (2,907) and touchdowns (24). Comments from Monday Daunte Culpepper On his knee I’m fine. I’ve just rehabbed it real good this offseason. I’m feeling real good. I’m over 90 percent and I’m ready to go. (It just) needs a little more strengthening, that’s all. I can run. I would like to strengthen it a little bit more so it’s equal to my right, or even stronger. On Bryant McKinnie He definitely is a blessing to us and definitely to myself. I’m glad that we got him. I was hoping and praying that we would, and I couldn’t believe that he dropped to number seven.

Psychological effects on women victims of domestic violence Essay

Campbell, Jacquelyn el â€Å"Intimate Partner Violence and Physical health Consequences†. Archives of Internal Medicine 162i 10 Article 7 (2002) The research was: â€Å"Intimate Partner Violence and Physical Health Consequence† where researchers were examining how violence affects a woman’s short term as well long term physical wellbeing. This study explored the area of abused and non abused women assessed the two groups for physical problems. Abused cases, either physically and or sexually were 201. This research employed Abuse Assessment Screen in its measurements (Wisner, 1999). Measures of physical abuse was done via use of Miller physical symptom and injury scale, that requires a woman to ascertain whether she has been to a doctor or nurse due to any of the 25 conditions related to domestic violence (Wisner, 1999). The results showed that women suffered more physical disorders as a result of abuse (Wisner, 1999). Such disorders were found to include headaches, back pain, STD s, vaginal bleeding, vaginal infections, pelvic pain, painful intercourse, urinary tract infections, appetite loss, abdominal pain as well as digestive problems, long terms effects were found to occur due to recurring central nervous system signals such as headaches, back pain, fading and hallucinations (Wisner, 1999). Domestic violence is associated with problems of the cardiovascular system, high blood pressure among others The importance of this study is that it offers clue on how women are fatally threatened by domestic violence (Wisner, 1999). Diseases such as cardiovascular and blood pressure are among the serial killer diseases within the society (women). This study relates to this topic in that psychological effects are secondary to physical effects. For instance, where a woman gets her back broken as a result of domestic violence, even if the back heals she remains psychologically affected by the memories of this ordeal for the rest of her life (Wisner, 1999). Future implications of the study are that it is important for the public to be educated on matters relating to domestic violence. There is also the need to provide better medical attention to women of domestic violence, that is, there should be well trained physicians to deal with female patients involved in domestic violence (Wisner, 1999). This would mean increased costs on health planners (Wisner, 1999). Reference Wisner, C. , Gilmer, T. , Saltzman, L. , Zinc. T (1999). Intimate Partner Violence Against Women. Do victims cost health plans more? Journal of Family Practice, June.

Dieting Can Change a Person’s Life for the Better or Ruin One’s Health Completely

Dieting can change a person's life for the better or ruin one's health completely. What is your opinion? You are advised to spend the maximum time (40 minutes) on this task. Nowadays, Dieting is the most discussed topic worldwide. It can be beneficial or destructive either for an individual's life based on one's understanding the concept of this matter. This essay intends to outline the both situations which a society faces. The majority of the people want a good shape. That is why we are able to find a diet programme almost everywhere in the country.Most of the them have tought and gone on a diet before either to slim down or just for health problem. Dieting, judging from its original purposes, is designed to help a person to control his food consumption pattern and to restrict the amount of food he can eat. One performs diet programme in order to have an ideal shape of his body. Others undertakes the part of the medical treatments. Both objectives Improve his quality of life and we llbeing. Having a beautiful body his self esteem, probably, should be increased. Similarly, a diet prescribed by a professional will avoid certain illnesses.On the other hand, compulsive dieting can also create some problems like malnutrition due to the lack of enough food required by the body. Furthermore, when a person does not have a balanced diet needed to support his daily activities, such as carbohydrate, vitamin and protein, this can cause a weakness in the body due to lack of energy and provkes diseases such as hypotension and hypoglicemia Moreover, the diet compulsive can also create some problems such as malnutrition due to lack of enough food required by the body.Furthermore, when a person does not have a balanced diet needed to support their daily activities, such as vitamin carbohydrate and protein, this can cause a weakness in the body due to lack of energy and cause diseases such as hypotension and hypoglycemia. In conclussion, I personally believe that appropriate di et programme can help a person improve his quality of life and body wellbeing, but only when that person follows the correct procedures. As a suggestion, I believe that a person needs to discuss his diet programme with an expert so that compulsive dieting can be avoided. Enviado via iPad

Free Essays on Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of the United States of America is the topic of this report. In this report I will discuss many supreme court cases, those cases precedence, and how I feel this topic has effected our society as a whole. The main part of this report will be just summaries of what has happened before, during, and after the cases take their place in front of our greatest court in our great nation. I will try to keep this report as an informational piece, but I do apologize for letting how I feel on a specific issue run its way into this paper. I’ll start this report off with the court case which gave the Supreme Court most of its powers today. Marbury vs. Madison. On the eve of his last day in office outgoing President John Adams, a Federalist, nominates 82 Federalist justices. These "midnight judges" as they were called represented a threat to incoming President Thomas Jefferson, a Democrat-Republican. Jefferson feared Federalist interpretation of the law for the next 20 years, a fear that ended up coming to fruition. Among these midnight judges was one William Marbury. Jefferson ordered his Secretary of State, John Madison, not to deliver the official documents granting Marbury his position. Based upon the Judiciary Act of 1801, Marbury appealed directly to the Supreme Court asking for a "writ of mandamus" or an order to act. Chief Justice John Marshall recognized he would be correct in ordering Madison to deliver the papers but feared weakening the image of the Court if President Jefferson refused to comply. Instead Marshall ruled that the Judiciary Act of 1801, which Marbury had used to submit his claim directly to the Court was unconstitutional, and it was. In this way the Court was able to rule a law unconstitutional and thus created the important precedent of judicial review. This court case alone made the Supreme Court more powerful then the other two branches of the government. Of course President Jefferso... Free Essays on Supreme Court Free Essays on Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the United States of America is the topic of this report. In this report I will discuss many supreme court cases, those cases precedence, and how I feel this topic has effected our society as a whole. The main part of this report will be just summaries of what has happened before, during, and after the cases take their place in front of our greatest court in our great nation. I will try to keep this report as an informational piece, but I do apologize for letting how I feel on a specific issue run its way into this paper. I’ll start this report off with the court case which gave the Supreme Court most of its powers today. Marbury vs. Madison. On the eve of his last day in office outgoing President John Adams, a Federalist, nominates 82 Federalist justices. These "midnight judges" as they were called represented a threat to incoming President Thomas Jefferson, a Democrat-Republican. Jefferson feared Federalist interpretation of the law for the next 20 years, a fear that ended up coming to fruition. Among these midnight judges was one William Marbury. Jefferson ordered his Secretary of State, John Madison, not to deliver the official documents granting Marbury his position. Based upon the Judiciary Act of 1801, Marbury appealed directly to the Supreme Court asking for a "writ of mandamus" or an order to act. Chief Justice John Marshall recognized he would be correct in ordering Madison to deliver the papers but feared weakening the image of the Court if President Jefferson refused to comply. Instead Marshall ruled that the Judiciary Act of 1801, which Marbury had used to submit his claim directly to the Court was unconstitutional, and it was. In this way the Court was able to rule a law unconstitutional and thus created the important precedent of judicial review. This court case alone made the Supreme Court more powerful then the other two branches of the government. Of course President Jefferso...

Free Essays on Before The Law

In Franz Kafka’s "Before the Law", a man from the country seeks admission to the Law. He can see through the open door into the house of the Law but the doorkeeper refuses him entry-and warns him that this is just the first of many doors and doorkeepers, each more forbidding and terrifying than the last. But the man is convinced that his salvation lay in the Law and year after year he comes to the door, asking and answering questions, looking for permission to enter. He even tries to bribe and flatter his way in. The doorkeeper takes the bribes but only so that the man will not think he has neglected anything. He is still refused entry. Finally, as the man lay dying, he sees a radiance streaming from the gateway to the Law. He thinks of a question he has never asked, and calls the doorkeeper over. Why in all these years has no one else come to this gate? The doorkeeper’s answer, "No one else could ever be admitted here, since this gate was made only for you. I am now going to shut it." In â€Å"The Hanging of the Mouse†, Elizabeth Bishop paints a colorful and dramatic setting and very detailed character descriptions. A mouse is to be publicly executed, though there is no indication of what crime he is guilty of. The other animals present, witnessing the mouse’s death, seem to have no idea of this either, though it doesn’t appear to make a difference to them. Some animals have been wandering about town for hours awaiting the event; others woke up early to be there. As they gather in the town square, the atmosphere appears very subdued, and not much can be heard except for the mouse’s cries. After the King’s messenger has read the mouse’s death sentence, the noose is place around his neck - his struggles being worthless, and the execution is performed rather swiftly. Bishop concludes with the image of a cat, clearly saddened at the sight of the lifeless mouse. It’s very ironic, because traditionally cats and ... Free Essays on Before The Law Free Essays on Before The Law In Franz Kafka’s "Before the Law", a man from the country seeks admission to the Law. He can see through the open door into the house of the Law but the doorkeeper refuses him entry-and warns him that this is just the first of many doors and doorkeepers, each more forbidding and terrifying than the last. But the man is convinced that his salvation lay in the Law and year after year he comes to the door, asking and answering questions, looking for permission to enter. He even tries to bribe and flatter his way in. The doorkeeper takes the bribes but only so that the man will not think he has neglected anything. He is still refused entry. Finally, as the man lay dying, he sees a radiance streaming from the gateway to the Law. He thinks of a question he has never asked, and calls the doorkeeper over. Why in all these years has no one else come to this gate? The doorkeeper’s answer, "No one else could ever be admitted here, since this gate was made only for you. I am now going to shut it." In â€Å"The Hanging of the Mouse†, Elizabeth Bishop paints a colorful and dramatic setting and very detailed character descriptions. A mouse is to be publicly executed, though there is no indication of what crime he is guilty of. The other animals present, witnessing the mouse’s death, seem to have no idea of this either, though it doesn’t appear to make a difference to them. Some animals have been wandering about town for hours awaiting the event; others woke up early to be there. As they gather in the town square, the atmosphere appears very subdued, and not much can be heard except for the mouse’s cries. After the King’s messenger has read the mouse’s death sentence, the noose is place around his neck - his struggles being worthless, and the execution is performed rather swiftly. Bishop concludes with the image of a cat, clearly saddened at the sight of the lifeless mouse. It’s very ironic, because traditionally cats and ...

What Makes Truckers Stick with a Company

What Makes Truckers Stick with a Company Recent surveys conducted in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, showed that drivers, ranging from their early 20s  to 60+, stayed with one company an average of 5.73 years and were spending 2.61 weeks away from home on average each trip. In an industry where employers tend to focus on turnover rather than retention, it was an unexpected shift towards what trucking companies tend to forget about- that loyalty is its own reward. The company’s surveys found that the majority of drivers value â€Å"a respectful, friendly, understanding, and kind† environment, followed closely by independence. Practices that incited loyalty included listening to suggestions, providing incentives, and covering benefits.Top companies for retention include:Motor Carrier Service (Ohio), which issues a driver scorecard and asks drivers for input before releasing it. Managers also work closely with drivers to implement suggestions and critiques.Interstate Distributor (Washington), which  focuses on ethics and leadership, features consistency throughout its operations, and has retained 55% of its drivers for more than 5 years.Fremont Contract Carriers (Nebraska), which  surveys its drivers frequently, and provides clear responsive adjustments based on driver feedback.

Document analyzation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Document analyzation - Essay Example His life, thoughts and action can be seen, heard and read in his own works called the â€Å"General Outline of Measures for the Reconstruction of Japan.† The document that strongly advocated national distribution of wealth had given much hope followed by an intense longing for reforms by the poverty-stricken citizens of the pre-industrial era. It had its own dire effect and far-reaching consequences. The string of events prior to and on the day of the February 26, 1936 incident several years after his first mimeographed publication of the banned document had cost him his life when he was executed together with the conspirators of the military uprising. Kita’s daring attempts to overhaul the feudal system and disturb the status quo of the Japanese aristocracy is rarely mentioned in many historical accounts. Nonetheless, his death and the subsequent recognition of his ideas stirred the Japanese consciousness into treading the path of ultra-nationalism. The imminent build- up of a national frame of mind that has dealt Japan so much progress as it has given them grief and humiliation as an offshoot to its military adventurism and expansionist policy, most of which was believed to have taken roots from the minds of Kita. 2 In life and in death, Kita Ikki and the likes of him are just blatantly daring.

Employed in 'Sao Mai' Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Employed in 'Sao Mai' - Essay Example He is given with the charges of directing, monitoring and managing almost every operational process in the company. His responsibilities in the company include managing a group of 20 architects and engineers along with taking any decision for the benefit of the company. He completely utilizes his power to accomplish his targets that assists the company to grow. Discussion The power gained by Mr. Tam Nguyen has three sources. These are interpersonal source, vertical or hierarchical source and horizontal or situational source. The influences of these sources on the power of Mr. Tam Nguyen are as follows. Interpersonal Powers Person Based power The personality traits of Mr. Tam Nguyen play a vital role in making him the most powerful employee in ‘Sao Mai’. He has been associated with the company over a long period. This gave him a considerable experience to control the organizational processes with efficiency. He is also a good trainer because he always keeps pressure on hi s subordinates to perform better increasing the potentiality of the workforce. He is a very ambitious in directing his subordinates that creates tremendous pressure over the workforce. This often tends to hinder the morale of the employees giving rise to the turnover rate. He desires the entire workforce to perform as he did without providing consideration to the eligibility of the employees. His current position in the company is certainly due to his personal qualities that has a significant influence on the CEO as well. Position Based power Mr. Tam Nguyen is assigned to segregate the diverse construction project related responsibilities including designing and allocation of resources. This is generally determined on the basis of the abilities and competences of the architects and engineers. The responsibilities are also often segregated according to his choice and perceptions. His responsibilities include convincing and persuading the clients regarding any impasse with ‘Sao Mai’. He is also solely responsible for taking any decision regarding financial matters or employee evaluations. He possesses the liberty to offer bonus or rewards to the high performers of ‘Sao Mai’. He is also liable to terminate any employee in case of inefficiency. Mr. Tam Nguyen liberally utilizes his position based powers over the employees of ‘Sao Mai’. He often praises the performing employees and motivates them to work harder. He also tends to terminate inefficient employees whose acts might have hindered customer satisfaction or the commitment of the company towards its services. Whatever the decision he takes is explicit within the knowledge of every employee in ‘Sao Mai’ that creates a pressure on the workforce to perform better. Vertical/ Hierarchical Based Power In case of urgencies, Mr. Tam Nguyen possesses the authoritative rights to approve certain changes in the blueprints of the construction projects to satisfy the cus tomers’ demands. He believes that maintenance of long term relationship with the clients is crucial as customers are the fundamental elements of any organization. Once, a client wished to make certain changes in the blueprint of the house. He wanted to elevate the designs of the roofs of the window and the door at a reasonable cost. This was likely to hinder the quality of the project causing safety issues. The proposal was approved so to retain a good relationship with

Treatment versus Punishment - That is the Question Research Paper

Treatment versus Punishment - That is the Question - Research Paper Example The juvenile courts, in large part, exist so as to rehabilitate the youth who have done wrong. To that end, the paper will discuss treatment as the most effective juvenile intervention strategy to counter crime since it bests support the over arching concept of social justice. Based on the current population reports, there are more than 75 million children who are under the age of 18 years in the U.S. This is more that 25% of the total population. This number is projected to rise to over 100 million in 2050. These indicate that there are various issues that affect the American children, and there an increased risk of these children falling into the juvenile justice system. The Federal Bureau of Investigations in its 2013 report, Crime in the United States, reported that about 2 million youths below the age of 18 are apprehended every year for crimes ranging from loitering, to kidnappings, to arson, to drug dealing, to murder, and even terrorism. Besides that, the report also found that more than 850,000 youths belong to street gangs. The statistics also indicate that most youths were arrested for arson attacks and crime on property with 1% having driven a car after drinking alcohol, 25% arrested for robbery, and 41% were arrested for vandalism. Most states and cities across the nation have enacted laws that automatically bypass the Juvenile Justice System. In Boston, New York and Chicago, there are higher rates of detention as well as probation within the minority ethnic and minority groups. Averagely, 57% were Black, 22% Hispanic, 10% White, 5% Asian, and 1% American-Indian. According the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (2012), there are over 7 million youths in Massachusetts. Youths aged 19 years and below make up 27% of the population in the state of Massachusetts. In Boston, 89% of the youths apprehended in 2010 were charged with nonviolent crimes.

Key terms, Issues & Conditions for legal confessions Essay

Key terms, Issues & Conditions for legal confessions - Essay Example Lastly informants may give a wrong or unreliable testimony in return for money or special treatment. In U.S.A alone, there have been about 303 convictions that end up exonerated after proper DNA examination (Fender, 2012). In June 1994, Jacie Taylor, a 19 years old girl body was found on a bathtub in her apartment after she was raped and murdered. During the house search for any evidence that would be useful in the case, the police found a blanket with semen on the victims couch. They also spotted and collected a bloody shirt belonging to Robert Dewey, the only and major suspect, during an interview in his apartment. The shirt was then sent to an investigations DNA laboratory for further examination (Fender, 2012). A year later a scientist from a Texas laboratory was brought before the court to testify. He said that the blood on Mr. Robert Dewey was a mixture and that some of it would be Miss Jacie Taylor’s. Mr. Robert Dewey went to prison and the evidence was contained in a laboratory in California. In 2000, Colorado introduced new medical technological tests known as STR testing that could examine and show more complex DNA features such as double helix. They also began uploading the DNAs of all the convicts in the CODIS database. Six years later even a more refined and accurate DNA technology known as YSTR test was introduced (Fender, 2012). YSTR tests could separate female DNA from that of male in case the two happened to mix up. With this technology, Danyel Joffe the Dewey’s post- conviction attorney, with the help of New York Innocence Project had the evidence held in the laboratory in California to be re-tested. The case was reviewed and the evidence at hand retested using a â€Å"mini filer† technology that could pull more comprehensive profiles from ruined DNA samples. The new evidence revealed that the blood on Mr. Robert Dewey’s shirt did not contain Miss Taylor’s blood. The technology also revealed

Unit1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Unit1 - Essay Example Most climate experts expect unequivocal greenhouse warming in the 21st century, and some predict the first clear signs in the 1990s. If they are right, what people are doing to the atmosphere is arguably as important as what they do to the economy, domestic politics or international relations. Former Vive President Al Gore has been integral on the forefront of combating global warming. His work on the book An unfamiliar Truth then made into a movie, provided first hand accounts of global warning in process. A steady decline in recourses followed by startlingly snow less snow cap mountains known for their glaciers. Projections are made by Gore that if we do not ALL discontinue eating and buying fish, there will be no fish left in the tear 2040. Trapping and keeping or reusing heat from the greenhouse effect seems legitimate but without following the steps involved in the scientific theory, one may never know for sure and it may always remain a hypothesis or even theory. The large controversy that surrounds global warming is that many individuals refuse to look at the date. If they do look at the data, they find themselves investigating something they may not see happening in fron of them with out empirical evidence.. The empirical evidence stands clearly that math and chemistry don’t lie. On the advent of global warming studies and Oxygen dioxide emissions were many times what they are now. In fact they are higher now than at any time in history Fossil fuels burn in order to create heat to run an engine. Heat is energy and the energy source to frive a car is paramount. Nothing moves without energy as energy is movement. In larger cities like Ney Your and Chicago, their emissions are off of the charts due to how much fossil fuel is being burned each day. Fuel provides have gone p so high that most people can’t afford to eat out or do a little extra shopping and there is no sight in the future. We

Compare the education between Saudi Arabia and United state Essay

Compare the education between Saudi Arabia and United state - Essay Example Saudi Arabia and the United States are allies. However, while learners in the United States continue to access valuable education and subsequent employment, learners in Saudi Arabia continue to undergo substandard education. Saudi Arabia needs to be at the same level of education as the United States, if the two countries are to gain meaningful cooperation. A lot of scholars have written on the current trends in education in Saudi Arabia and what future holds. Such literature acknowledges that most of the elite in Saudi Arabia have schooled in the United States and provideslessons that Saudi Arabia can learn from the United States (Lippman, 2012). In order for Saudi Arabia to compete globally with nations such as the United States, theformer needs to borrow from the educational system of the latter. It would be very beneficial for Saudi Arabia to emulate the United States in terms of learner-centered instructional methods, more investment in libraries, more emphasis on higher education, and the use of online

Unit1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Unit1 - Essay Example Most climate experts expect unequivocal greenhouse warming in the 21st century, and some predict the first clear signs in the 1990s. If they are right, what people are doing to the atmosphere is arguably as important as what they do to the economy, domestic politics or international relations. Former Vive President Al Gore has been integral on the forefront of combating global warming. His work on the book An unfamiliar Truth then made into a movie, provided first hand accounts of global warning in process. A steady decline in recourses followed by startlingly snow less snow cap mountains known for their glaciers. Projections are made by Gore that if we do not ALL discontinue eating and buying fish, there will be no fish left in the tear 2040. Trapping and keeping or reusing heat from the greenhouse effect seems legitimate but without following the steps involved in the scientific theory, one may never know for sure and it may always remain a hypothesis or even theory. The large controversy that surrounds global warming is that many individuals refuse to look at the date. If they do look at the data, they find themselves investigating something they may not see happening in fron of them with out empirical evidence.. The empirical evidence stands clearly that math and chemistry don’t lie. On the advent of global warming studies and Oxygen dioxide emissions were many times what they are now. In fact they are higher now than at any time in history Fossil fuels burn in order to create heat to run an engine. Heat is energy and the energy source to frive a car is paramount. Nothing moves without energy as energy is movement. In larger cities like Ney Your and Chicago, their emissions are off of the charts due to how much fossil fuel is being burned each day. Fuel provides have gone p so high that most people can’t afford to eat out or do a little extra shopping and there is no sight in the future. We

How useful are Marx ideas to understanding the problems and struggles Essay

How useful are Marx ideas to understanding the problems and struggles of our 21st century - Essay Example According to Marx, the problem of society is rooted in equality between classes. Free trade had unmasked the true picture of society by giving us a clear image of â€Å"brutal exploitation† in the face of civilization. In the 21st century, the picture painted by Marx during his time can still be vividly seen and observed all over the world. If you take a closer look at the big establishments that ruled the industries nowadays, you will notice that these companies and are becoming like dynasties where the top ranking corporate executives lord the place and the lives of the employees. Although learned individuals may argue that employment is but a matter of choice, such choice is not easy to make nowadays for the lack of better opportunities available. This scenario is comparable to the time of landlords and serfs where the farmers don’t really have a choice but to toil in the face of unfair conditions for fear that he/she will lose the land and compromise the survival of his/her family. Much as we would like to view labor in our present time as a form of capital, it is still viewed as a form of commodity that people trade and is subject to market fluctuations of supply and demand thus the continuing antagonism between class of individuals such as the skilled and the unskilled labor. This phenomenon cause the prices of labor in other parts of the world to be cheaper than that in the United States and other developed countries.

Examining and Evaluating the Globalization of Globacon Nigeria

Examining and Evaluating the Globalization of Globacon Nigeria Modern global businesses have to satisfy a myriad of conflicting demands coming from different directions. In a competitive world, firms use integrated controls to preserve corporate standards and strategies, which help attain economies of scale. They also make certain innovative decisions that help in sustaining the growth of the business and create competitive edge over the other firms in the industry. Some of these core decisions is on participating more actively in the local and global market, while bearing in mind that to operate efficiently and effectively on the global platform needs sensitivity to indigenous market situations, adaptability under varying circumstances, and responsiveness to new prospect. Multinational companies increasingly face intense competition globally. In these emerging situations, companies seek to implement strategies that will improve and sustain the growth of their business. Because of this, multinational companies are changing the way they structure their businesses, changing their modus operandi in order to conform to todays business environment. For todays business managers the need to understand this strategic motivation for change is of utmost importance. For they to be responsive, there must be concern not just for the now, but also for the companys unforeseen future. This entails planning, organizing, directing, and controlling resources and managing a diverse labour force in a way that will be beneficial to all structures of businesses internationally. Overview of Globacom Nigeria Limited Globacom Limited is a Nigerian multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, a privately owned company and one of Africas fastest growing telecommunications company. Globacom is the market leading mobile service provider in Nigeria and operates in the neighbouring West African states (Globacom Limited n.d.). According to (Globacom Limited n.d.) it is reputed to be one of the fastest growing mobile service providers in the world, and aims to be the biggest and best mobile network in Africa. The telecommunication industry in Nigeria in particular and the world at large characterized by huge investments in technology and is exposed to rapid fluctuations in the market environment, such as consolidation of both telecom operators and network providers. The providers are competing for the limited number of customers, present on the global stage. Competitors can be either large multinational companies, such as Vodafone, or small regional companies, such as MTN, Za in etc. The global industry performance is largely dependent on continued growth in mobile and fixed communication in terms of both number of subscriptions and usage per subscriber. Moreover, the current merging of the telecom, data, and media industries changes the conditions in which the telecom operators do business. Consequently, the competitive environment is changing and novel strategies, addressing the new market conditions, are developed. Now in its bid to meet the organisational aims and objectives, the company wants to know the possibility of increasing its participation in the local and global market. Thus, this paper seeks to outline the key issues involved in localisation and globalisation, strategic decisions involved and implementation challenges with Globacom as reference. THE CONCEPTS OF GLOBALISATION AND LOCALISATION Globalisation is a term that denotes the process of strengthening political, economic, social and cultural relations across the world. Different authors and scholars have tried to define or explain globalisation. (Ohabunwa 1999), understands globalisation as a development which is analytically reforming interactions among different countries by eliminating bottlenecks in the areas of communication, commerce, culture. According to (Ohiorhenuan 1998), globalisation is the widening and deepening relations of national economies into a worldwide market for goods and services, especially capital. (David 2009) Sees globalisation as international way of doing business using strategic decisions based on global profitability rather than local considerations. Generally, globalisation is the integrated and co-ordinated approach by which industries evolve from multi-national to global competitive structures through trade, financial transactions, and exchange of information, ideas, technology, and the movement of people. Localisation on the other hand is the opposite of globalisation. Localisation entails that multinational companies recognises national economic issues and are locally responsive in meeting local demands. With this perspective in mind, (Meyer and B.D.Wit 2004) opined that managers in the international departments of multinational companies, should then be permitted to be responsive to particular local conditions. Arguing a case for localisation, (Chen Jun 2008), stated that companies localise their operations because of the various differences and political obstacles between different local markets, and that the cost of neglecting or disregarding local uniqueness in preference to that of global setting is too high. The choice of increased participation in the local and international market has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of global are cost-based, maximizing economies of scale and reducing repetition of processes and materials, thereby rea lizing efficiency. The advantages of localization are on the other hand are revenue-based, promoting variation to reach all customer positions and customer satisfaction (Buckley Ghauri, 2004). Porter,(1989) a proponent of global convergence perspective, argued from an international integration angle in his article The competitive advantage of nations that the world is becoming globally integrated but that the competitive advantage of a company is dependent on a combination of both its national circumstance and its strategy of harnessing it. He further opined that it behoves on the company to seize the opportunity of competitive advantage existing in its country. However, a globalisation perspective that is becoming more globally accepted by both the academic world and decision makers of multinational companies is that of Douglas and Wind who does not agree with the principal assumptions of the global standardization philosophy. Firstly, they opine that there is absence of evidence about uniformity in global customer taste, as there is diverse customer behaviour and taste even within the same country. Secondly, Differentiation as against low price strategy is more profitable and can reduce over competition in the industry. Thirdly, economies of scale of product is not the only credible reason for global convergence, research and development, marketing and after sale service sometimes are even more important than production. There is a consensus that multinational companies should not just focus on one side of the divide, but try to adjust the balance between localization and globalization. Multinational companies should deal with the problem differently according to different strategic contexts. (Douglas and Wind n.d.). Consequently, from the analysis, it is clear that the study of the dilemma of localization and globalization is approachable from different angles. The magnitude of globalization is different from country to country and there is no one best organizational response to globalization, every organization should balance those factors dynamically and find the strategy best suited to their company. PARADOXES For a firm to participate in local and global environment, some underlying internally and externally issues have to be analysed, rationalised and dealt with according the situation on ground. Meyer highlighted some paradoxes that exist and are instrumental to final strategic decisions by multinational companies. Globalization and localization Multinational companies are facing the paradox of globalization and localization in breaking into each emerging market. Generally, there are various ways on how multinational companies organise its global activities: The first according to (Chen Jun 2008) is global convergence perspective, which lays emphasis on taking advantage of their corporate resources and attaining global interactions, while the other is international diversity perspective, which lays focuses on adapting to local difficulties. According to (Tallman and Yipp 2001), the three basic strategic issues involved in multinational companies operating globally are geographic spread, localisation and global integration. The question here lies in whether companies should consider the global market in its entirety or recognise the local market structure as its main stream of business. Profitability and Responsibility The dichotomy (globalisation and localisation) pushes the companies into understanding their purpose in business. Different businesses have different visions and mission as seen in their various statements. According to (Meyer and B.D.Wit 2004), some of their motives is to maximise profit for the owners (a shareholder value approach), or to meet the requirements of the general populace (a stakeholders values approach). In deciding on increased participation in the market, Globacom will have to decide which is more germane to its core values. Why Firms Globalise From the discussion, companies that decide to globalise, or use global strategies will have some beneficial consequences such as gaining new customers for their products and services, other advantages are: According to (Yip, Mintzberg and Quinn 1991), companies can reduce costs by pooling production or other activities for multiple countries. They further opined that other methods such as exploiting lowers factor cost i.e. moving manufacturing activities to countries with low costs, moving production between countries to take advantage of lowest costs at a particular time, also reduces costs. Excess capacity and economic risks can be absorbed through foreign operations (David 2009) There will be increased competitive advantage as companies will act as checks and balances on each other. With joint venture programs, companies will learn the culture, technology, and business practises of the host nation. Global savings distributed more efficiently as countries higher productive capacity for capital e.g. UK, can borrow from countries with excess fund. (David 2009), also stated that economies of scale can be achieved as large scale production and better efficiency allow higher sales volume and lower price offerings. Other factors such as economies of scale in production, purchasing, faster accumulation of learning from operating worldwide, decrease in transportation and distribution cost, reduced cost in product adaptation, and the emergence of a global market segments have encouraged the competition on a global scale. However, the decision to globalise has some inherent drawbacks. Barriers such as governmental policies and institutional limitations, tariff barriers and duties, transportation cost, variances in customer preference and demand, are some of the drawbacks enumerated by (Douglas and Wind n.d.). Seizure of foreign operations by nationalists as stated by (David 2009), is one of the disadvantages. The economic changes fashioned by globalisation have brought about business displacements and job losses in many countries, changed the commodity composition of trade and led to distortions in local consumption patterns, thereby bringing about relative price changes that local consumers find difficult to adapt. Globalisation has also led to a situation where financial disturbances emanating from one country quickly spreads like wildfire to other countries with destabilizing consequences. (Obadan 2004). STRATEGIC GLOBAL DECISIONS In order to achieve an objective, aim or goal, every business must have a strategy. There is no common or single definition of strategy as it relates to and can be applied to many contrasting fields such as marketing ,economics, investment, military, gaming, and as well as corporate global environment. Strategy can however be generalised to mean a plan of action, thought out in advance, aimed at achieving a particular objective, with particular reference to gaining competitive advantage for an business over other businesses in the same industry. (Barney and Hesterly 2010) , defines strategy as a theory by a firm on how to gain competitive advantages. (Mintzberg 1988), proposed five definitions of strategy Plan A conscious thought out course of action, a guide made in advance before implementation. Ploy made with the intentions of outsmarting other competitors. Pattern i.e. a consistent and accurate behaviour resulting from the plan. This can be realised, unrealised and emergent strategies. As a position i.e. the way, a company positions itself in the market in terms of locating particular product brands at particular markets. Perspective i.e. the fundamental way of doing things in the business and way the managers of the company perceive the world from the companys point of view. (Lewis 1999), added a sixth definition, by defining strategy as a process of sensing, analysing, choosing and acting. According to (Johnson and Scholes 2007),Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long-term: which achieves advantage for the organisation through its configuration of resources within a challenging environment, to meet the needs of markets and to fulfil stakeholder expectations. They also posited that there are different strategies used at different levels of a business. Corporate Strategy is concerned with the generally purpose and scope of the business to meet consumers expectations. Investors interactions in the business environment, has an influence over and is a guide to strategic decision-making within the business. Corporate Strategy is also part of the mission statement of most firms. Business Unit Strategy This deals more with how a business competitively successfully a business is in a particular market. It is about the strategic decisions of choice of products, customer satisfaction, competitive and comparative advantage over competitors, development or creation of novel ideas and opportunities. Operational Strategy This handles the issue of how each the component parts of the business is organised in other to deliver the corporate and business-unit level strategic direction required for growth. Operational strategy therefore focuses on subjects of resources, processes, and people. Companies can use any or all of these strategies but also have to bear in mind that there are some globalisation drivers affecting the prospective use of global strategy. Lewis et al (1999) opined that managers shoul d be able to recognize when these drivers provide opportunities to use these strategies. In explaining thes drivers, Lewis et al (1999) said that Market drivers, are those characterised by homogenous customer needs, global consumers, global channels of distribution and transferability. Cost drivers on the other hand are the drivers that are dependent on the economies of the business and are characterised by economies of scale and scope, learning and experience, sourcing efficiency, favourable logistics and product development costs. Governmental drivers are those dependent on government policies and an influence over the use of all the other global strategies. It comprises of favourable trade policies, compatible technical standards and common marketing regulations. Fina lly, they named competitive drivers as those comprising of the interdependency of countries and globalised competitors. Although these drivers are individually powerful, they are not on their own formulae for sure success. A combination of two or more can be viable in an economy. Lewis et al (1999) PESTEL Creating a global strategy involves an initial step of an environmental analysis of political, economic, social, and technological trends that are pertinent to operating on a global level. (Kotler 1998), claims that this analysis is useful strategic tool for learning the direction a business is going with reference to its growth or deterioration, business position, potentials. PESTEL ANALYSIS Economic Factors Political Factors Social Factors Legal Factors FIRM Technological Factors Political factor: These refer to government policies such as the degree of intervention in the economy. Political decisions can have an effect on many vital areas for business such as the education of the workforce, the health of the nation and the quality of the infrastructure of the economy. African governments are taking steps in opening their economies to international trade. Most countries have started trade and exchange liberalization process, eliminating multiple exchange rates and nontariff barriers, and reducing the degree of tariff protection. Economic factors: These include interest rates, taxation changes, economic growth, inflation and exchange rates. , the restructuring of many African economies is gaining momentum. Throughout the continent, government intervention in economic activity is on the decline. Administrative price restrictions and agricultural marketing has been widely eased up. Social factors: Changes in social trends can affect the demand for a firms products or services and the availability and enthusiasm of the work force. Technological factors: new technologies create new products and new processes. There can be cost reduction, improvement in quality and innovation through technology. These developments can have a positive effect on consumers as well as firms concerned. Environmental factors: this includes weather and climate change. Fluctuations in temperature can have a negative on many industries including the telecoms industry. With the advent of global warming, there is greater environmental awareness and this is becoming a significant concern for firms to ponder. Legal factors: the legal setting in which firms operates determines the progress of the business. With ever-stringent laws in the telecoms industry on provision of services, Globacom will have to improve on its service provision. The managers of Globacom need to think about the factors that are likely to change and in what direction and which factors will have the greatest influence on them. PORTERS FIVE FORCES According to Michael Porter (1985), for a firm to seek for a favourable competitive placing in any industry, it will have to find out how attractive the industry is. To be able to analyse any industrys attractiveness, either domestically or internationally, there are five competitive forces: the threat of new entrants, the bargaining power of suppliers, the bargaining power of consumer, the threat of substitutes and the intensity of rivalry competitors. The five forces is the focal determinant of the industry profitability, as they have tremendous influence on price, costs and profits of the product. (De wit Meyer, 2004: p.259) Porters five forces model The threat of new entrants: In the telecommunication industry, the threat of new entrant is relatively low as the stringent barriers high initial cost of start-up and fixed cost associated with the business is extremely high. This works to the advantage of Globacom and others in the industry. Bargaining power of suppliers: There is a myriad of telecommunication companies worldwide but there limited number of telecommunication equipment suppliers in the industry. Here, Globacom is disadvantaged as there are limited alternatives. Bargaining power of consumers: bargaining power is high in this industry because of presence of many competitors. In Nigeria alone there are about ten telecommunication companies fighting for the same customers. Globacom is only at the moment differentiated in price and customer loyalty. Threat of substitutes: in the telecoms industry, threat of substitution is high as all the telecoms companies sell virtually the same product and or services. Globacom should determine the extent of customer switchover and try make customer satisfaction a priority. However, other companies in the industry may decide to go into price war, which reduces the profit margin of the companies involved. Degree of rivalry: the telecoms industry is a highly competitive as each company is trying to outdo the other in other to increase their subscriber base. Here as stated before, Globacom should have customer satisfaction as its watchword. Managers of Globacom should as a matter duty identify the key aspect or elements of each competitive force that influences the firm, assess how strong and vital each element is for the firm and decide whether the combined strong point of the element is worth the firm entering or staying in the country. Limitations Globacom has used this model as a strategy. Since growth is of core importance to the company, it has shown this by rolling out different services such as Glo mobile, Glo gateway, Glo 1, and Glo broad access, across West African sub-region (Globacom Limited n.d.). Globacom is using the strength of large customer base and name to keep itself in the forefront of the telecoms industry. PORTERS GENERIC STRATEGY Multinational companies are able to achieve competitive advantage, mainly through differentiating their products and services through low costs. Companies can broaden their market scope or they can focus on a refined target in the market. According to (Porter,1989), strategies allow companies to gain competiive advantage via three bases : cost leadership, differentiation and focus. It is imperative for companies to use the cost leadership strategy if they try to become low cost producers in their industry. Globacom pricing strategy is among one of the best in the industry in the sub-region. The other telecoms companies are trying hard to meet the price standard set by Globacom and this makes it easier for them to locate to other countries. N Nigeria, they have the lowest price tariff coupled with other added services. Globacom is also one of fastest growing companies in the industry it showed tremendous growth through sale of 600,000 sim cards in its first ten days of operation in republic of Benin (Cellular-News 2008), and planned to capture 30% of the 11 million subscribers within a short period of its commencing business in Ghana (Oruame 2008). Differentiation as used by many firms cannot in the telecoms industry as virtually all the product and services are similar in nature. However, the per-second billing method for calls, has been used by Globacom to dif ferentiate its product and services. Globacom on the other hand is not pursuing the focus strategy as it is directing its effort in a particular section of the industry. Limitations Companies pursuing the strategic generic model, have to make a choice between cost leadership and differentiation and avoid the stuck in the middle syndrome, which results in poor financial performance (Porter, 1980). Globacom does not pursue either low cost strategies or differentiation. It merges both techniques as its strategy. THE ANSOFFS GROWTH MATRIX (Lewis 1999), in citing Ansoff (1965), opined that the tool is used in detecting options available to firms wanting to widen their competitive edge, as it helps these businesses decides the strategy they will use in their product and market growth. Some of these options include: Ansoffs growth matrix Product Development Market Penetration (Existing product) (New product) (New market) Diversification Market Development (Existing market) Market penetration: This focuses on increasing market share of existing products into existing markets. The objectives of this option are to maintain or increase the market stake of current products through combining competitive pricing strategies, advertising, and sales promotion, ensure supremacy of growth markets, increase usage by existing customers Market development: This is a growth strategy where companies want to sell its existing products into new markets through new geographical areas, new product sizes or packages, or new distribution channels. Product development: this is the growth strategy where a business creates new products for augmenting existing products in existing markets. Diversification: This is the growth strategy where businesses introduce new products into new markets. However, for a business to implement a diversification strategy, therefore, it must have a knowledgeable idea of its gains and accompanying risk. Limitations: Globacom as a company uses this strategy extensively as seen in the number of countries it had moved into within a short span of time, the number of products it had introduced into these markets and the rate of diversification. However, it needs to monitor the trend in customers, demands in other to be responsive to them. PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE Most products pass through for basic phases i.e. introduction, growth, maturity and decline. From a strategic point of view, knowledge of the products life cycle helps a company to manage the introduction of a new product. (Barney and Hesterly 2010), speaking from an international perspective, opines that that the product life cycle of a product or service can be at different stages of its life cycle in different countries. Consequently, the resources developed by a firm during a particular stage in the life cycle of the product in the home market to the same stage of another product in the international market (Barney and Hesterly 2010). The PLC of a product consists of introduction, growth and maturity, and companies use this to analyse and assess how they believe their product will perform through its PLC and the marketing strategies and marketing mix implemented at each stage. (Lewis 1999), warned that firms that do not pursue strategies appropriate to the life cycle stage of the ir product, might lose competitive advantage. Globacom is increasingly expanding its range of products to retain its competitiveness in the market and hence important that they invest make sure their customers demand are satisfied. CONCLUSION Every strategic model is an instrument used for gathering strategic information from the international perspective and a process for perceiving a number of different futures for any organisation. Undeniably, globalization for the telecommunication industry is a persistent trend. The international low cost of both material and labour, the low price of the resources, and the most advanced technological expertise are all required for increasing competitiveness in the industry. Furthermore, for these firms to be able to manage the intricacies involved in globalization entails including new tools, structures and strategic models added to the ones already in use as the knowledge and application of strategic models is a prerequisite for the survival of any business in its industry. Globacom should adhere strictly to the laws of the relevant strategies and integrate them into the corporate business model to ensure and sustain its leadership role in the telecoms industry. Managers have to dec ide how to modify their products, make changes in their marketing policies to suit the situation on ground, formulate human resource practices and business strategies to deal with national differences in culture, language, business practices, and government regulations. In addition, managers have to decide how best to tackle the threat posed by efficient foreign competitors entering their home market and how to effectively and efficiently enter a foreign market and create a positive impact.

Moral Philosophy of Global Peace Essay -- Philosophy Philosophical Pap

Moral Philosophy of Global Peace ABSTRACT: Global Peace is the summum bonum, so we must know its negative as well as positive meanings. Simultaneously peace must be understood in all its interrelated but theoretically differentiated dimensions as personal, social, national, international and global. Today, humankind is suffering from multidimensional crises such as terrorism, population-explosion, denial of human rights, economic inequality, racial discrimination, ideological extremism, religious intolerance, social injustice, ecological imbalance, consumerism, oppression of weak, etc. These peace-related issues compel us to lay down the fundamental principles of a radical global ethics that expects us to realize our roles and duties regarding global peace. It includes the role and ideals of educationalists, the duties of scientists, philosophers, and thinkers, the inculcation of human values such as nonviolence, love, etc. "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed" -Preamble to the Constitution of UNESCO Global peace is the supreme ideal, or the Summum Bonum, so in order to know the exact meaning and real nature of peace as-well-as the ways to realise it, first of all, we have to rectify the prevailing tendency to think of peace only in negative terms as absence of bilateral war, since it encourages the pacifism, which does nothing, but denounce such war, while global overview confirms the presence of ethnic and civil war etc. Accordingly the negative definition of peace should also include the elimination of such wars. Sometimes peace as "Opposite of Violence" , as is done by Daisaku Ikeda. (1) Of course peace will be achieved by removing all k... ...r, Peace Research Center, Gujrat Vidyapeeth Ahemedabad). (5) British Writer Arthor Koestler being his works "Janus" with these lines. (6) Gorbachev, M. Perestroika, PP 225-266 (Chapter 7). (7) Jonas, Hans. , The Imperative of Responsibilitive, P.7. (8) Philosophy Today, spring, 1988, Vol.32, No.1/4 P. 77. (9) Soka Gakkai News, Vol. 18, No. 286, March 1993 P.7. (10) Murty, K.S., The Quest for Peace, P. 214. (11) In his book "Reconstruction of Humanity ". (12) Acharangasutra (a Jain Treatise). (13) Dammapad 3.5 - Never in thise world is hate appeased by hatred. It is only appeared by love. This is an eternal law. (14) Mac Bride Report, Many Voices, One World, UNESCO, 1980. (15) Dimensions of Peace and Non-violence: The Gandhian Perspective P. 22. (16) The Moral Law, P. 90. (17) The quest for peace, P. 196. (18) Rgvedic Prayer.

Shoppers Beware Essay -- Internet Shopping E-commerce Web Papers

Shoppers Beware Today the Internet provides a vast number of services to people all around the world, and is a way to make life easier. People can purchase everything from groceries to drugs (legal and illegal), skateboards to automobiles, land and houses, not to mention all the items that people auction off at places like ebay.com and ubid.com. There was even a high school girl, freshly turned 18, who decided to auction off her virginity. But that creates an entirely different discussion topic. Right now people all over the world use online shopping instead of actually traveling to the store. Shopping online is a way of conveniently purchasing things from the comfort of your own home. People no longer have to get dressed, comb their hair, or put on makeup. Despite all the conveniences of shopping online, the growing dependency on the Internet as a medium of communication will slowly begin to adversely affect society as we know it. As I was browsing through the L.A. Times, I came across an interesting article, written by Christine Frey, entitled You Can Rest in Peace After Choosing Your Burial Option. The article informs readers of the growing trend in Internet funeral services. It appears that the Internet houses dozens of shops ready to sell you the latest in burial options, from pet caskets to mausoleums (1). Possibly one of the largest Internet funeral services, Webcaskets, offers a huge selection of caskets. With prices ranging from as little as $50 for a cardboard cremation casket to as much as $11,000 for a solid walnut casket with velvet interior and a range of burial options. Webcaskets also carries special art caskets as well as a variety of urns, which start at under $100. In addition to a huge selection, Webca... ...ym to the word lazy. Be warned, Forster agrees that the Internet can be a dangerous tool when abused by society. Who is to say that 50 or 100 years from now things wont be exactly as Forster foretold? Living as a swaddled lump of flesh (Forster 187) in a small room, something resembling a bee cell (Forster 187), with only a chair and a reading desk is not the way to live. Unless we realize the dangers of the Internet and machine dependency Forsters future, could become ours. Works Cited Frey, Christine. You Can Rest in Peace After Choosing Your Burial Option. January 31, 2002. L. A. Times. 28 February 2002. Forster, E. M. The Air-Ship. Composing Cyberspace. Ed. Richard Holeton. San Francisco: McGraw-Hill, 1998, 187-195. Holeton, Richard. Composing Cyberspace. San Francisco: McGraw-Hill, 1998.

Imagery of Dark vs Light in James Joyce’s “Araby” Essay

The most remarkable imagery in Joyce’s’ â€Å"Araby† is the imagery of dark and light. The whole story reads like a chiaroscuro, a play of light and darkness. Joyce uses the darkness to describe the reality which the boy lives in and the light to describe the boy’s imagination – his love for Mangan’s sister. The story starts with the description of the dark surroundings of the boy: his neighborhood and his home. Joyce uses these dark and gloomy references to create the dark mood and atmosphere. Later, when he discusses Mangan’s sister, he changes to bright light references which are used to create a fairy tale world of dreams and illusions. In the end of the story, we see the darkness of the bazaar that represents the boy’s disappointment. On the simplest level, â€Å"Araby† is a story about a boy’s first love. On a deeper level, however, it is a story about the world in which he lives – a world inimical to ideals and dreams. This imagery reinforces the theme and the characters. Thus, it becomes the true subject of the story. The prevailing imagery of darkness shows that the boy’s spiritual environment is musty and dark.. â€Å"Araby† begins at dusk and continues through the evening during the winter. He chooses gloomy setting to be the home of a young boy. The houses in the street where the boy lives have â€Å"brown imperturbable faces† (40) ,his home has â€Å"gloomy rooms†(44) and the gardens where they play are dark. In this darkness only the boy and his laughing and shouting companions â€Å"glow†. They are still too young to have succumbed to the spiritual decay of the adult inhabitants. But the boys must play in â€Å"dark muddy lanes,† in â€Å"dark dripping gardens,† near † dark odorous stables† and â€Å"ash pits† (40 ). They use to â€Å"hid in shadows† (40 ) which are also part of the dark imagery. Into this world of darkness appears a figure representative of the light and all that is ideal, Mangan’s sister. She is the contrast to the boy’s dark world so she stands out in his dark environment. The narrator describes her figure as: â€Å"defined by the light† (40). His youthful imagination sees her as a figure always surrounded with light. â€Å"The light from the lamp opposite our door caught the white curve of her neck† (43). Because of her the boy feels a surge of hope that now, in her love, he will find light. This girl becomes  an image to him of all that he seeks in his dark surroundings. She has the power to set a flame in him. The boy tells us that her image, constantly accompanies him: â€Å"at night in my bedroom and by day in the classroom her image came between me and the page I strove to read†(43). Her image accompanies him even in places â€Å"the most hostile to romance† and makes him feel as though he bears a holy â€Å"chalice† through a â€Å"throng of foes†-the Saturday evening throng of â€Å"drunken men, bargaining women, cursing laborers† (41), and all the others who represent his dark surroundings and have no conception of the mystical beauty his young mind has created in this world of material ugliness. Joyce refers to bright light when discussing Mangan’s sister in order to give her a heavenly presence. Plainly he has felt the summons to cherish the holy, the â€Å"light,† in this dark world of those who are hostile to the sacred. The most significant role of the dark and light imagery appears in the end of the story in the bazaar. Here, the two imageries appear together but the end of the story is dark as the beginning. When finally the girl speaks to the boy she asks him if he is going to â€Å"Araby†. From that moment, the boy loses interest in his school and in everything around him. He thinks of nothing but the girl and the bazaar. He can see nothing but her â€Å"dark house† and â€Å"her brown-clad figure touched by lamp-light† (44). He feels that if he can gain the girl the light will be restored to his dark existence. He goes to â€Å"Araby† to buy her some gift and win her heart. James Joyce uses the lights of the bazaar to illustrate the boy’s confrontation with reality. When the boy reaches the bazaar he expects it to be open and lighted. However ,†nearly all the stalls were closed and the greater part of the hall was in darkness† (45 ). When he sees some lights there he remembers the reason he is there † The sight of the streets†¦glaring with gas recalled to me the purpose of my journey† (46) – Mangan’s sister. But the light is there for a very short time. In the end, we see again the darkness image: â€Å"the light was out† , â€Å"the upper part of the whole was now completely dark†(46), the boy is â€Å"gazing up into the  darkness† (46). With this darkness Joyce shows us the boy’s disappointment with his quest. The dark imagery shows that when he finds out that the bazaar isn’t what he expects it to be he realizes that his love exists only in his mind. The theme of the story-the discrepancy between the real and the ideal is made final in the dark description of the bazaar, a place of tawdry make-believe. The story that begins with the light-dark contrasts ends with it. The fact that in the end of the story the bazaar is dark shows that his love, like his quest for a gift to draw the girl to him, ends with his realizing that his love exists only in his mind. The experiences of the boy illustrate how people often expect more than ordinary reality can provide and then feel disillusioned and disappointed. This disillusion is shown in the end when the boy tells that he sees himself as a â€Å"creature driven and derided by vanity† (46). The boy senses the falsity of his dreams. He sees the dark reality and his eyes burn â€Å"with anguish and anger†. The last sentence reveals anger, hostility and a sense of harsh realization that his love for the girl was based on ignorance and self-deception. Realizing this, the boy takes his first step into adulthood.