PROQUEST information for preparing the project Assignment

PROQUEST information for preparing the project - Assignment Example This gives them the opportunity to seek professional assistance (Arnold, 2012). Financial analysts as well investment analysts would then come in to review the operations of the company and the value system in place that either propels the company to higher levels or that which makes the investment get loses. In this process, one needs review past investments together with the new. The past investment review would give ideas and thoughts how the current investment can be improved. Also critical is that past investments can be helpful in forming the basis of policy formulation in a given investment. Past reflections are very important as it provides a platform where adjustments can be made as well as having a vibrant investment that is viable (Boehlje & Ehmke, 2012). Decisions made in the past can help in changing the future of an investment taking into consideration that past decisions can be useful in giving some advices. This makes an investment more vibrant. In any investment anal ysis, one should be able to look at the prevailing price at that particular time as well as well as having reasons for having an investment at that particular time. These then help in knowing whether the investment is having the best start or a false start. An analysis helps in reviewing the current investment as well as giving predictions based on future trends that could impact on the company. In having an investment that is viable, a lot of things need to be put into consideration. The most critical part in this exercise is continuous review of the data. From the data one is able to analyze and evaluate the data appropriately. An investment should be able to meet the expected financial goals set for it in terms of return on investments. Profits and risks are the main focus in an investment analysis. This is the most important aspect of an investment. Any analyst must look at the return on investments as well as the risks that are involved (Dong, 2008). These are important measure ments in a given investment portfolio. Risk analysis is very important in any analysis. In the event the risk is very high, then a loss is very likely. When the risks are very high such that it becomes likely that a loss is eminent, the investment becomes less worth. Resale value and cash flows do not have any significance when the risk is too high because the investment has zero prominence. It should then be noted risk is however not definite in giving a financial analysis. When giving an analysis, a lot more factors need to be looked into for the sake of an all round investment analysis. Cash flow is another single factor that needs to be considered in an investment analysis. One of the ways through which can occur is through the dividends traded on by the public. When the public trade on the dividends, then a lot of cash can be generated for the company. Based on this, analysis can be made based on the amount that has been received through the dividends in relation to the project s (Arnold, 2012). Another way through which cash can flow into an investment is through the interest. This comes from the payments from the bonds. This is on a sure way of having cash flow into the investment. An investor would be very interested to know what about the investment is generating into the system. Through this they are able to determine and evaluate if the returns are of any value to the business and if it meets the expectation of the risk of the investment. An analysis of cash flow can be done through the future

Psychology in a Prayer for Owen Meany Essay Example for Free

Psychology in a Prayer for Owen Meany Essay Thoroughly leading up until the climactic ending in A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving explains to his readers just how important it is to Owen Meany to fulfill his duties and obligations to God. Like a hobbit traveling to Mt. Doom in Mordor, he is determined and dedicated more than anyone in the novel to achieve his goals, despite his responsibilities and, what should be, his major concerns in his life. Owen completely envelopes himself in the fact that he is an instrument used by God, and doesn’t even stop to think to realize and remember his loved ones, whom are Hester, his love struck girlfriend, and John, his best friend who has been with him through thick and thin ever since they were children. It is bittersweet, I suppose, about the choices he ultimately ends up making until the end. On one hand he will miss out on the opportunities he can easily obtain through attending Harvard and making a life for himself with his most important people by his side (Hester and John); on the other hand, however, by choosing to follow God’s calling for his life, he will conclusively act upon the happening that impacts the ending of the novel altogether. Owen, as one finds out throughout the novel, is excessively brilliant, surpassing the intelligence of other people his age by far. Tabitha Wheelwright acknowledges this special gift in Owen insisting that he attend Gravesend Academy, where his brilliance be put to good use. It turns out that it was, for Owen ends up being the best student at the Academy, which almost guarantees him the ability to attend Harvard to now receive the best college education possible, but certain setbacks keep him from doing so. His careless mistake of getting caught making fake IDs for other students opens the door for the principle to seize at the opportunity to expel Owen, which severely hurts his chances to get into any worthwhile colleges. But with this, Owen understands that his purpose must lie elsewhere, because nothing happens for no reason. Even before this incident occurs, he knows his death will be undeniable for it is a part of God’s plan for him, and that â€Å"the shot† is involved in this future incident. Owen’s responsibilities to his education is nothing, however, compared to the conflicting feelings Hester and John feel about Owen’s prophecies and predictions about his death. â€Å"Owen knows that he must sacrifice his life to save others, both physically and spiritually (Rosefeldt, 1). Following this, he joins the army to go to Vietnam in an attempt to seal his fate as he believes God wants him to do. Hester practically resents Owen for his stubbornness in doing this, placing that as more important, his passion, in front of her, his implied â€Å"responsibility. † After his death, Hester becomes a hard rock sex icon in the music world in a ways to cope, and John completely unaware how he will now live his life, for Owen was always such a compass in his life, that he feels helpless without him. Owen’s obsession with his passion has completely blinded him to the fact that his responsibilities, the ones that care about him the most, need him the most, but even with them he puts his God given goals first, as always. Lastly, toward the end of the novel, Owen’s only, and I mean that literally, thing on his mind, is fulfilling his purpose, which he ends up doing in the chapter â€Å"the shot† where he sacrifices himself, as Jesus Christ did for the world, for the sake of the Vietnamese orphan children. â€Å"When Owen Meany said ‘READY? ’ I figured we had about two seconds left to live. But he soared far above my arms-when I lifted him, he soared even higher than usual; he wasnt taking any chances. He went straight up, never turning to face me, and instead of merely dropping the grenade and leaving it on the window ledge, he caught hold of the ledge with both hands, pinning the grenade against the ledge and trapping it there safely with his hands and forearms. He wanted to be sure that the grenade couldnt roll off the ledge and fall back in the room (Irving, 623-624). † Here Owen proves the symbolism for the concept of sacrifice, and just how much of a Christ-like figure he is, practically mirroring Christ’s life. From the mysterious secret revealed that Owen is actually from a virgin birth, to the sacrifice he makes for the sake of others, this mirror image is quite apparent. From the start Owen knew he would become a hero for those in need of one, and his lifelong passion for it is finally is proved to be worthwhile in the final chapter. Owen Meany has to be one of the most admirable characters in any novel ever written by the fact that once he sets his mind to something, there is absolutely no changing it by any means. Regardless of his loved ones, he new this is what he had to do, and did not want to disrupt God’s plans that He had for him. He knew being a sacrifice as well as a hero to others was his fate, and he learned long ago fate is not something to be messed with. This also reveals just how similar God and Owen are to each other, and how each other’s lives are identical in almost all means- they are selfless, and just want to prove to others, as well as themselves, tha t their purpose on this earth is put too tremendous use, despite the clashes with the outcome of their responsibilities.

Technology Advances Enterprise-Wide Planning Essay -- Technology Busin

Technology Advances Enterprise-Wide Planning Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems utilize internal and external management information across an entire organization (Alshare & Lane, 2011). This systems embraces finance/accounting, manufacturing, sales and service, customer relationship management, and many more. The ERP system uses an integrated software application that helps the system to become automated. Its purpose is to facilitate the flow of information between all business functions inside the boundaries of the organization and manage the connections to outside stakeholders (Alshare & Lane, 2011). ERP systems typically include the following characteristics: a complex system that operates in real time without relying on periodic updates, a common database that supports all functions, a consistent model throughout each module and installation of the system without much hassle and development (Wixom, Watson & Werner, 2011). In 1990 Gartner Group first carried out the ERP as an extension of material requirements planning and ERP came to represent a larger whole, reflecting the evolution of application integration beyond manufacturing (Alshare & Lane, 2011). By the mid–1990s ERP systems addressed all core functions of an enterprise. Governments and non–profit organizations also began to employ ERP systems. The ERP systems experienced rapid growth in the 1990s because the year 2000 problem and introduction of the Euro disrupted legacy systems. Many companies took this opportunity to replace such systems with ERP. This rapid growth in sales was followed by a slump in 1999 after these issues had been addressed. The ERP systems, in the beginning, focused on automating back office functions that did not directly af... ...eed to take this into consideration. In the deployment presented in this paper, we have achieved ROI in both R2R control and FDC related to the early deployment phases. The APC technical and business models will allow organizations to complete the remaining phases, and migrate into new areas such as fault prediction and APC incorporation with yield management. References Alshare, K. A., & Lane, P. L. (2011). Predicting Student-Perceived Learning Outcomes and Satisfaction in ERP Courses: An Empirical Investigation. Communications of AIS, 2011(28), 571-584. Wixom, B. H., Watson, H. J., & Werner, T. (2011). Developing an enterprise business intelligence capability: The norfolk southern journey. MIS Quarterly Executive, 10(2), 61-71. Moyne, J. (2009). A blueprint for enterprise-wide deployment of advanced process control. Solid State Technology, 52(7), 35-37.

La Conciencia de la Mestiza Towards a New Consciousness

In this world of dualities—male-female, whites-other races, subject-object, self-society, among others—we are always confronted with identities. Essentially, these are struggles that co-exist, overlap, cascade and confront each other. Anzaldua’s concept of divided loyalties seeks to find the allies in the other, the Whites. The recognition of the truth is at the foremost of the consciousness call. Instead of disengaging or spreading animosity, Anzaldua aspires to transcend the world of dualities by engaging the â€Å"other† and creating something new out of this experience. Ultimately, I agree with Anzaldua’s concept of divided loyalties, specifically in the discussions on the duality of race.This paper seeks to present Anzaldua’s perspective of the new mestiza and her cognizance of the different struggles of dualities. This discussion will be followed by the discussion of divided loyalties and Anzaldua’s call towards acts of recogniti on and revisiting of buried truths that are indispensable features towards a more dignified humanity.Anzaldua’s argument inductively starts from a description of the self. The fact that the individual of the 21st century has her crisis of self-identity because of the problematic definition of boundaries is enshrined in the statement: â€Å"Because I, a mestiza/ continually walk out of one culture/and into another/ because I am in all cultures at the same time.† (Anzaldua 99) From this initial discussion the attempt to challenge the dualities of race and ultimately of identities is already surfacing. I also envision that this discussion is a vague description of the reality that every human being experience today—that of globalization, not only on the macro-level plane such as the political-economic sphere, but also on the level of the self.While â€Å"being in all cultures† seems like a very beautiful phenomenon, it is actually presented as a confrontatio n or struggle. The presence of different opposing cultural forces takes on the â€Å"self† as its battlefield. There is a clash happening within: â€Å"The ambivalence from the clash of voices results in mental and emotional states of perplexity†¦ The mestiza’s dual or multiple personality is plagued by psychic restlessness.† (100)Imagine this phenomenon of psychic restlessness taking place not just in a single person but collectively happening in commonly held boundaries such as race and culture. We then would have, what Anzaldua calls, un choque or a cultural collision. It is safe to assume that her understanding of un choque is comprehensive considering that she recognized that the struggle for collective identity takes its root on the struggle within the self.One might ask: why is an understanding of the iconic, self-identity-struggling mestiza essential in presenting an argument that would validate the concept of divided loyalties? Simply put the †Å"mestiza connection† is important because the struggle of the mestiza is a struggle of identity, a confrontation between mutually exclusive variables of cultures. Loyalties are given to defined boundaries of an identity; in this case, the boundary is culture. The dilemma of the mestiza lies in her multiple cultural boundaries. Most of the time, the mestiza identity is challenged by paradoxical cultural realities. Divided loyalties exist because of the constant redefinition of the self in the context of â€Å"conflicting information and points of view† (101). Why is there a tolerance for ambiguity? Anzaldua captures this in the statement: â€Å"Rigidity is death.† (101)The concept of divided loyalties elucidates the readers in the intricacies of the dualities of race. Before the â€Å"new consciousness†, people are consumed in the dualities of culture and race but Anzaldua recognized that without a transcendence of this bipolarization, a new consciousness will never be attained. The dual and mutually exclusivist nature of culture is fertile soil for hostility and animosity. The concept of divided loyalties is unique in such a way that the other (i.e. Whites) is perceived as allies instead of enemies.This is what I would call the â€Å"recognition of allies outside the boundaries of our identity.† Next to this recognition is the others’ revisiting of truths that were denied, forgotten or disregarded. Anzaldua affirms this by stating: â€Å"We need you to accept the fact that Chicanos are different, to acknowledge your rejection and negation of us. We need you to own the fact that you looked upon us as less than human, that you stole our lands, our personhood, our self-respect†¦ by taking back the collective shadow, the intra-cultural split will heal.† (107-108).While there is an attempt to seek for allies in â€Å"others† (i.e. enemies), there is also the need for revisiting past injustices. Without re visiting them, there would be reconciliation for the clashes, the un choque, within and without the self. Anzaldua’s call for an acknowledgement of mistakes and recognition of White allies might seem to be an anomalous response to the clash of cultures and yet ushering in a new consciousness calls for a new approach, a possible paradigmatic shift.It is tempting to assume that Anzaldua’s thoughts focus on the differences among the different dualities. The concept of divided loyalties is evidence supporting this fact. It is interesting to understand that divided loyalties show only one side of the multi-faceted and dynamic relation of identities and cultural boundaries. Crucial to the act of defining what makes different groups or individuals unique is also the act of finding the sameness co-existing among these differences.While there is the duality of Anglo and the Mexican, there is also the opposing identities and social constructions based on sexes. Male dominance fe atures strongly in Anzaldua’s discussions. The configurations of identities are complex that an area of sameness (i.e. Mexican culture) can also have independent elements that show differences (i.e. Mexican men and Mexican women). More importantly than posing the question what makes us different, is asking what makes us the same?The mestiza capability of â€Å"walking in and out of different cultures† can present a danger namely having a divided loyalty. Conversely, this same ability of the mestiza enables her to identify with others that are different by probing and looking into boundaries that are common denominators in different cultures. Of the Mexican-Indian difference, sameness can be found. Anzaldua writes, â€Å"It is imperative that mestizas support each other in changing the sexist elements in the Mexican-Indian culture. As long as woman is put down, the Indian and the Black   in all of us is put down. The struggle of the mestiza is above all a feminist on e.† (106).Despite the concept of divided loyalties and the conventional behavior of animosity towards the other, Anzaldua emphasizes on creating avenues of action that would highlight sameness in the midst of differences. This phenomenon actually transfigures the mestiza into someone transcendent of her boundaries. I allude to this as â€Å"reaching out to humanity.†One undeniably appropriate example for divided loyalties is the struggle of indigenous people, specifically Native American Indians, for their identity which is juxtaposed with the desire to belong to the American way of life. Ideally, one might pursue a life exclusively rooted in indigenous cultural identity or to embrace the American dream which leaves indigenous lifestyles behind. Surprisingly, Native American Indians show a hybridization of ideas and cultures. Some might call it a post-modern worldview—taking in, reinterpreting, reimagining and redefining the world and the self as one pleases. Cle arly, when an individual or the collective consciousness of a culture aspires for such hybridization, loyalties are automatically compromised or divided.It is important to reiterate that this new consciousness and new identity should not be seen in a negative way. In spite of the challenges to the indigenous peoples of the world, their identities thrive. Remember, â€Å"Rigidity is death.†Another example for divided loyalties is the diffused way of looking at things, as if we â€Å"have all melted in the pot, but haven’t.† (108). It is a conventional way of thinking for the rest of the world to abhor the US. Americanism, in a cultural sense, is largely detested. Politically, the US remains the world’s hegemonic power although many Americans would deny this as a fact. While Anzaldua does not point this out, the world has become an American mestiza. The countries of the world look at themselves and their clear-cut boundaries of identity are prominent.Howeve r, under this presupposition is the subtle trend towards Americanism, as evident in the world’s knowledge of American culture, love of Brangelina, desire for the American dream, skill of the English language, use of American technology, among other things. While the countries of the world quintessentially retain their identity, the majority have collectively fallen into the concept of divided loyalties. The countries still have their identities, but they take on new forms, they have the ability for mutually exclusive concepts such as nationalism diffuse with Americanism or internationalism.One might consider that the new consciousness ushered is a necessary embrace of the minorities towards its melting into the greater majority. Ironically, the melting happens, and yet the inimitable identities of the selves remain. While Anzaldua believes in compromise such as finding White allies to further the cause of minorities, and the concept of divided loyalties might show how one exc lusive boundary of identity can melt into the boundaries of another, her idea of a new consciousness still recognizes the legitimacy of the struggle of the less powerful. Talking in terms of race, this implies minority-majority conflictions that would need to be addressed. Furthermore, Anzaldua does not conform to passivity in the midst of constant changing of forms. This is indicated in the statement: â€Å"This land was Mexican once/ was Indian always/ and is./ And will be again.† (113).Divided loyalties exist because the boundaries of identities (both of the self and the collective) are no longer defined structures. Conflicting realities will never co-exist, albeit the mestiza has the capacity to transcend its dualities. While divided loyalties can be a threat to the self, it is capable of bringing forth a new beauty of a newly defined identity.Bibliography:Gloria, Anzaldua. â€Å"La Conciencia de la Mestiza, Towards a New Consciousness† Borderlands, La Frontera: Th e New Mestiza. 2nd Edition. Aunt Lute Books:

Coconut Oil Essay

The United States Food and Drug Administration, World Health Organization, International College of Nutrition, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Â  American Dietetic Association, American Heart Association, British National Health Service, and Dietitians of Canada recommend against the consumption of significant amounts of refined/hydrogenated coconut oil due to its high levels of saturated fat. Advocacy against coconut and palm oils in the 1970s and 80s due to their perceived danger as a saturated fat caused companies to instead substitute trans fats, unaware of their health-damaging effects. Coconut oil contains a large proportion of lauric acid, a saturated fat that raises blood cholesterol levels by increasing the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol that is also found in significant amounts in laurel oil, palm kernel oil (not to be confused with palm oil), human and animal breast milk and sebaceous gland secretions. This may create a more favourable blood cholesterol profile, though it is unclear if coconut oil may promote atherosclerosis through other pathways. Because much of the saturated fat of coconut oil is in the form of lauric acid, coconut oil may be a better alternative to partially hydrogenated vegetable oil when solid fats are required. Â  In addition, virgin coconut oil is composed mainly of medium-chain triglycerides, which may not carry the same risks as other saturated fats. Early studies on the health effects of coconut oil used partially hydrogenated coconut oil, which creates trans fats, and not virgin coconut oil, which has a different health risk profile. A repellent made from coconut oil can be used to prevent tungiasis-causing sand fleas from invading the body.

mass customization essays

mass customization essays Customization means manufacturing a product or delivering a service in response to a particular customers needs, and mass customization means doing it in a cost- effective way. The concept can be customized either very broadly as a business strategy for profitably providing customers with anything they want, anytime, anywhere, in any way; or narrowly as the use of flexible processes and organizational structures to produce varied and often individually customized products and services at the price of standardized mass produced alternatives (1). The concept of a mass customization strategy in today's business environment has great appeal especially as the driving force in the marketplace is the customer. Increasingly, customers expect delivery of high-quality, customized products and services at affordable prices. Which means that firms must be competent to quickly respond to changing customer desires, keep pace with innovation and at the same time operate at a low cost to make the products or services affordable. It calls for a customer-centered orientation in production and delivery processes requiring the company to gather information about every customer and collaborate with each individual to design the desired product or service. Achieving this customer focus can be quite a massive undertaking since firms may require new organizational structures, values, management roles and systems, learning methods and ways of relating to customers. It may require company wide technology that uses specifically computerized programs that synchronize the supply chain, allowing manufacturers to input supplier information, raw material availability, engineers' CAD drawings, production schedules, costs and distribution data, which will enhance communication between salespeople, customers, suppliers, distributors, engineers and the factory floor (2). The cost of such a technology driven system is not only expensive but can be difficult to...

If le Fait Que Is Supposition, Use the Subjunctive

If le Fait Que Is Supposition, Use the Subjunctive The subjunctive after le fait que (the fact that) is optional: It depends on what you mean.When youre actually talking about  a fact, you do not need the subjunctive, as in: Le fait quil le faitThe fact that hes doing it(You know for a fact that hes doing it.)However, when youre talking about a supposition, you do need the subjunctive, as in:Le fait que tout le monde sacheThe fact that everyone knows(Youre supposing that everyone knows, but you dont know it for a fact.) The Heart of the Subjunctive This goes to the heart of the subjunctive  mood, which  is used to express actions or ideas that are subjective or otherwise uncertain, such as will/wanting, emotion, doubt, possibility, necessity and judgment.   The subjunctive can seem overwhelming, but the thing to remember is: the subjunctive subjectivity or  unreality. Use this mood enough and it will become second nature...and quite expressive. The French subjunctive  is nearly always found in dependent clauses introduced by  que  or  qui, and the subjects of the dependent and main clauses are usually different. For example:      Je veux que tu le fasses. I want you to do it.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Il faut que nous partions. It is necessary that we leave. Dependent Clauses Take the Subjunctive When They: Contain verbs and expressions that express someones will, an  order, a need, a piece of advice or a desire.Contain verbs and expressions of emotion or feeling, such as fear, happiness, anger, regret, surprise, or any other sentiments.Contain verbs and expressions of doubt, possibility, supposition  and opinion.Contain verbs and expressions, such as  croire que  (to believe that),  dire que (to say that),  espà ©rer que (to hope that),  Ãƒ ªtre certain que (to be certain that),  il paraà ®t que  (it appears that),  penser que  (to think that),  savoir que  (to know that),  trouver que  (to find/think that) and  vouloir dire que (to mean that), which only require the subjunctive when the clause is  negative or interrogatory. They  do  not  take the subjunctive when they are used in the affirmative, because they express facts that are considered certain- at least in the speakers mind.Contain French  conjunctive phrases  (locutions conjonctiv es), groups of two or more words that have the same function as a conjunction and imply supposition.   Contain the  negative pronouns  ne ... personne  or  ne ... rien, or the  indefinite pronouns  quelquun  or  quelque chose.Follow main clauses containing superlatives. Note that in such cases,  the subjunctive is optional, depending on  how concrete the speaker feels about what is being said.   Why le Fait Que Sometimes Takes the Subjunctive Le fait que (the fact that) is an example of number 4:  an expression of doubt, possibility, supposition  and opinion. There are many expressions in this category and for all of them, its the same. If they are expressions of uncertainty and subjectivity, they, of course, do take the subjunctive. When they talk about an actual fact, they do not take the subjunctive. So think before you write or speak these common expressions, which most times take the subjunctive: accepter que  Ã‚  to acceptsattendre ce que   to expectchercher ... qui   to look fordà ©tester que   to hatedouter que  Ã‚  to doubt thatil est convenable que  Ã‚  it is appropriate/proper/fitting/suitable thatil est douteux que  Ã‚  it is doubtful thatil est faux que  Ã‚  it is false thatil est impossible que  Ã‚  it is impossible thatil est improbable que  Ã‚  it is improbable thatil est juste que  Ã‚  it is right/fair thatil est possible que  Ã‚  it is possible thatil est peu probable que  Ã‚  it is improbable thatil nest pas certain que  Ã‚  it is not certain thatil nest pas clair que  Ã‚  it is not clear thatil nest pas à ©vident que  Ã‚  it is not obvious thatil nest pas exact que  Ã‚  it is not correct thatil nest pas probable que  Ã‚  it is improbable thatil nest pas sà »r que  Ã‚  it is not certain thatil nest pas vrai que  Ã‚  it is not true thatil semble que  Ã‚  it seems thatil se peut que  Ã‚  it may be thatle fait que     the fact thatnier que  Ã‚  to deny thatrefuser que  Ã‚  to refusesupposer que  Ã‚  to suppose, hypothesize Additional Resources The French SubjunctiveFrench ConjunctionsThe Subjunctivator!Quiz: Subjunctive or indicative?