A restaurant chain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

A restaurant chain - Essay Example Another important source of its revenue includes profits earned from its operated restaurants. In the year 2011, the company was able to make a profit of 5.5 billion dollars, and this amounted to annual revenue of 27.5 billion dollars2. The primary business line of McDonalds includes cheeseburgers, milkshakes, desserts, soft drinks, French fries, cheeseburgers, etc. Recently, the business performance of McDonalds has been falling down, reporting a negative growth in its markets, and revenues. For example, in the year 2014, the business performance of McDonalds in Europe and America experienced a slow down3. In Europe, the company posted a negative drop of its financial performance by 1.4%. This is despite depicting a strong financial performance in its UK market. In United States, the company was able to post a drop of its sales by 1%. Another problem facing this company is its weak and inefficient customer service capability4. The company employees are not good at catering for the needs of its customers, and this has an impact in affect the loyalty of the customers towards the business organization. In any organization, employees of the company play an important role in determining whether the company will succeed or not. An efficient and friendly workforce would ensure that they are able to know and serve the needs of its customers, and this is the key to increasing the market share of an organization5. For purposes of improving its financial performance, the management of the company has to solve the above mentioned problems. There are two major methods that the company can use to solve the mentioned problems, and they include, improving its marketing strategy and its customer service capability. However, the company cannot develop an efficient marketing strategy, without having information on the strategies of their competitors, and the needs of its customers. This would therefore force the company to

Cisco Systems, Inc Essay Example for Free

Cisco Systems, Inc Essay Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American-based multinational corporation that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking and communications technology and services. Headquartered in San Jose, California, Cisco has more than 65,000 employees and annual revenue of US$40. 0 billion as of 2010. The stock was added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on June 8, 2009, and is also included in the SP 500 Index the Russell 1000 Index, NASDAQ100 Index and the Russell 1000 Growth Stock Index. [4] Cisco is one of the worlds biggest technology corporations. Corporate history One of the many buildings on the Cisco Systems campus in San Jose Len Bosack and Sandy Lerner, a married couple who worked as computer operations staff members at Stanford University, later joined by Richard Troiano, founded Cisco Systems in 1984. Lerner moved on to direct computer services at Schlumberger, moving full time to Cisco in 1987. The name Cisco was derived from the city name, San Francisco, which is why the companys engineers insisted on using the lower case cisco in the early days. For Ciscos first product, Bosack adapted multiple-protocol router software originally written some years before by William Yeager, another Stanford employee who later joined Sun Microsystems. The companys first CEO was Bill Graves, who held the position from 1987 to 1988. [5] In 1988, John Morgridge was appointed CEO, and succeeded in 1995 by John Chambers. While Cisco was not the first company to develop and sell a router,[6] it was one of the first to sell commercially successful routers supporting multiple network protocols. [7] As the Internet Protocol (IP) became widely adopted, the importance of multi-protocol routing declined. Today, Ciscos largest routers are primarily used to deliver IP packets. In 1990, the company was listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. Lerner was fired; as a result Bosack quit after receiving $200 million. Most of those profits were given to charities and the two later divorced. Cisco acquired a variety of companies to bring in products and talent into the company. Several acquisitions, such as Stratacom, were the biggest deals in the industry when they occurred. During the Internet boom in 1999, the company acquired Cerent Corporation, a start-up company located in Petaluma, California, for about US$7 billion. It was the most expensive acquisition made by Cisco to date, and only the acquisition of Scientific-Atlanta has been larger. Several acquired companies have grown into $1Bn+ business units for Cisco, including LAN switching, Enterprise Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), and home networking. Cisco acquired Linksys in 2003. In late March 2000, at the height of the dot-com boom, Cisco was the most valuable company in the world, with a market capitalization of more than US$500 billion. [8][9] In July 2009, with a market cap of about US$108. 3 billion,[10] it is still one of the most valuable companies. [11] The company was a 2002-03 recipient of the Ron Brown Award,[citation needed] a U. S. presidential honor to recognize companies for the exemplary quality of their relationships with employees and communities. In 2010, Cisco bought Starent Networks, a mobile technology company and Moto Development Group, a product design consulting firm that helped develop Ciscos Flip video camera. [12] The Company has built its Globalization Centre East in Bangalore for $1 billion and 20% of Ciscos leaders will be based there.

Paul Cezanne :: essays research papers

When most people think of Paul Cezanne, they think of two words genius and painting. For these two words he is consider by far to be the Father of modern painting. Cezanne was born in Aix-en-Provence in 1839. He was to die in the same town in 1906. His life and art work was greatly influenced by this small town in France. He was the son of a shrewd business man, Louis-Auguste Cezanne. As a boy growing up in Aix, Cezanne loved to study Greek and Latin literature. At the age of thirteen, Paul met Emile Zola at the College Bourbon. The friendship was very important for both of the young men and lasted until the publication of Zola's novel L'Oeuvre in 1886, in which the writer portrays an unsuccessful artist whose character based upon Paul. Deeply hurt, Cezanne broke forever with his longtime friend. At school, the boys were nearly inseparable. Both were interested in writing and literature. Emile and Paul would write letters and rhymed verse to each other for the next decade or so in which they expressed their most intimate feelings and emotions together with information about their everyday life. Paul's father disapproved of Zola and his family especially after Emile's father had died. In February 1858 Zola moved to Paris together with his mother. Which made Paul want to go to Paris to join up with Emile. When in 1861 he finally obtained his father's permission to study art in Paris, Cezanne's first attempt to settle down there failed. Disillusioned with the art world, he returned to his family after only six months and entered his father's bank as a clerk. The following year he went to Paris again, and this time he stayed. During this years he lead a rather frugal life due to his father's meager allowance. Every year he submitted canvases to the artists' Salons, but was regularly rejected. Cezanne did his first show with a group named the "Society of Painters, Draftsman, Sculptors, and Engravers" comprised of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, Pissarro and Cezanne himself. The group's first show was in April in 1874, they received bad revise. Cezanne did one more show with that group, third for the group, in 1877. That show went better than the first one. "Unlike his artist friends, he generally avoided depiction's of modern life and instead painted landscapes and still-lives of more classical conception"(Lallemand 10). Cezanne had many different characteristics of his work enigmatic quality, the look of someone who were essentially a sculptor, no seasonal variance in his landscapes. In the painting The House of the Hanged Man ,painted in 1872-1873, there is an eerie feeling

Healthy Diet and Nutrition Tips :: Papers

People in America are becoming more and more overweight. They are lacking information about nutrition. They don't know that certain foods can prevent certain diseases. Here's some information to help you understand the importance of eating and dieting right. OBESITY IN AMERICA It seems that in today's society, families are too busy to sit down and eat dinner at the table like a family. The parents are too busy with work, and the children have after school activities. So they just grab something quick to eat through the drive through at their local McDonalds, and don't even think twice about the lack of nutrition they are receiving. "Today, approximately 35 percent of women and 31 percent of men age 20 and older are considered obese, up from approximately 30 percent and 25 percent, respectively, in 1980" (Losing Weight Safely, '1). "Men with more than 25 percent and women with more than 30 percent body fat are considered obese" (Losing Weight Safely,'1). This is an outrageous number. If people would just take a little time out of their day to watch what they eat, the people of this country would be some much healthier. "Fifty-eight million American adults ages 20 through 74 are overweight, and the number of overweight Americans increased from 25 to 33 per cent between 1980 and 1991". "One in five children are at risk of being overweight. Ten percent of children are overweight or obese. The number of overweight children had doubled over that past 15 years, and 70 percent of overweight children aged 10 to 13 will be overweight and obese adults." (President Clinton releases new dietary guidelines, '1). "Obesity is a risk factor for diseases such as coronary heart disease, certain types of cancer, stroke, and diabetes" Clintons, '1). The children of America need to be taken care of now so that later in life they won't have any medical problems. NUTRITON AND HOW IT CAN PREVENT DISEASES Nutrition is an everyday thing that people take lightly. They believe that it won't affect them one way or another. But it does. The first step in healthy nutrition should be to follow the food pyramid. It consists of (1) bread, cereal, pasta, rice; (2) vegetables; (3) fruits; (4) milk, yogurt and cheese; and (5) meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts. A sixth group (fats, oils, and sweets) should be eaten in moderation. " By law, most food labels now must display a Nutrition Facts panel containing information about how the food can fit into an overall daily diet.

poverty and the failure of macro economic policies

With the increasing tendencies of poorness and coupled with the failure of macro-economic policies in supplying recognition services to the hapless, micro-financing is progressively being advocated as an alternate agencies of recognition bringing to the hapless. Microfinance has bit by bit developed to be a world-wide motion, no longer being a capable affair of microfinance practicians entirely, Governments, givers, development bureaus, Bankss, foundations, corporations, concern communities, civil societies, research workers, universities, advisers, altruists and others are taking increasing involvement in it ( Latifee, 2006 ) . Microfinance is a general term that refers to the proviso of fiscal services for the hapless who conventionally have been excluded from the formal Banking system. Microfinance is hailed as a tool for poorness relief because entree to fiscal services assist the hapless families in run intoing their basic fiscal demands, protects against hazards and develop societal and economic authorization. Notwithstanding these potencies of microfinance towards helping the hapless, other surveies elsewhere have shown that microfinance does non relieve poorness as claimed by some surveies. In Nigeria, like most other developing states microfinance proviso is both undertaken by formal and informal agreements. Between 1977-1999 the Nigerian authorities have initiated and implemented no fewer than 5 microfinance plans in the signifier of microcredit to help the hapless as a manner of relieving poorness. However, with the drastic decrease of authorities subvention to them, they all ceased to run as all of them depended chiefly on Government support. ( Mohammed & A ; Hassan, 2008 ) . Sing the failure of the so top-down attack, the Government in 2005 came up with a new microfinance policy under the supervising of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The execution of this new policy led to the active engagement of the private sector runing along-side with the bing government-owned microfinance establishments in supplying fiscal services to the economically active hapless.1.1 Statement of jobBing a developing state and the most thickly settled state in Sub-Sahara Africa, Nigeria harmo nizing to 2006 nose count figures has a population of 150 million people. Available statics shows that out of the 150 million Nigerians, 70 million people are populating below poorness line ( World Bank, 2009 ) . Further, the highest poorness rate of 72 % is recorded in the Northern portion of the state compared to 43 % recorded in the southern portion of the state ( Kpakol, 2009 ) . This is an indicant that the incidence of poorness is more outstanding in the Northern portion of Nigeria. In an effort to turn to the job of poorness, Government had between1977-1999 initiated and implemented no fewer than 5 poverty relief plans in the signifier of microcredit proviso to help the economically active hapless as a manner of relieving poorness. However, with the drastic decrease of authorities subvention to them, they all ceased to run as all of them depended chiefly on Government support ( Mohammed and Hasan, 2008 ) . Sing the importance and increased protagonism of microcredit as a agency of relieving poorness, the Government in 2005 came up with a new microfinance policy under the supervising of Central Bank of Nigeria. Under the new policy, authorities and private persons are granted licence to open and run microfinance establishments. This development led to the outgrowth as of today, more than 900 registered microfinance establishments runing in the state which hitherto been entirely a authorities matter. Available statistics indicates that the formal microfinance establishments merely service less than one million clients in a state where over 50 % of the state ‘s population of 150 million unrecorded below poorness line ( Felix and Adamu, 2007 ) . In add-on, the formal fiscal system provides services to about 35 % of the economically active people, while the staying 65 % do non hold entree to fiscal services ( CBN, 2007 ) . In separate surveies about microfinance in Nigeria utilizing different sets of variables, shows that engagement in microfinance by and large improves the life conditions of its participants which constantly consequences in relieving poorness ( see for illustration, Irobi N C,2008 ; Felix & A ; Adamu, 2007 ; Mohammed & A ; Hasan, 2008 ; S B Williams et Al, 2007 ) . Of involvement to observe nevertheless, most of available literature on microcredit in Nigeria focused on the impact appraisal of microcredit towards poorness relief and more significantly, the surveies were carried out in southern parts of the state. However, small or nil is known about the state of affairs of microcredit in the northern parts of the state which statistics have shown to hold higher prevalence of poorness. The intent of this survey hence, was to understand the perceptual experience of selected communities in Northern Nigeria towards microcredit and how it has contributed towards elating the populating criterion of clients1.2 Significance of the surveyTaking into consideration the developmental challenges posed as a consequence of poorness peculiarly in developing states, the significance of the survey can non be over-emphasized. The variables involved in the survey viz. ; microfinance and poorness relief are of import issues environing modern-day development circles. Most surveies conducted on the viability and effectivity of microcredit towards poorness relief reveals that microcredit greatly enhances the life conditions of the hapless. In position of the foregoing, it is expected that the recommendations offered at the terminal of the survey, will travel a long manner in supplying informed advice and policy sentiment on ways and agencies of germinating echt microfinance activities pa rticularly in countries where poorness is still prevailing. Similarly, the findings of the survey will greatly lend to the bing literature for usage in academic and policy issues.1.3 Research QuestionsThe research inquiries are ; What is the general perceptual experience of these selected communities towards microcredit? In what ways does microcredit alleviates poverty among donees of microcredit?1.4 Purpose of the surveyThe survey seeks to understand the general perceptual experience of some selected communities in northern Nigeria towards microfinance. In making so, the survey will besides find the viability and effectivity of microcredit as a scheme for poorness relief. Contrary to earlier surveies on same issue that chiefly focused on formal microcredit establishments and the impact of loans peculiarly to adult females, this survey will analyze the function of the informal sector that is believed to be supplying fiscal services to more than 60 % of the economically active hapless with a position to understanding whether the informal microcredit can every bit lend towards relieving poorness as is obtained in the formal sector. Furthermore, the survey besides seeks to understand the ways in which the microcredit helps in elating the life conditions of the hapless.1.5 Restrictions of the surveyThis survey investigated the research job based on the relevancy and or effectivity of microcredit in selected communities in Northern Nigeria. Due to fiscal and clip restraints, the survey was limited to merely two communities where two community leaders were selected as samples of the survey. Similarly, the Chief Executive officer of Yerwa microfinance Limited was besides used, and two ( 2 ) donees of loans from the said Bank besides serve as samples of the survey. Otherwise, the sample would hold been much larger than this. One other thing to see as restriction in this survey is the inability of the research worker to be in the field for the behavior of interview. As such, a research helper had to carry on the in-depth interview with the respondents based on the interview usher sent to him, except for the CEO of Yerwa microfinance Bank who granted interview to the research worker straight through SKYPE. Chapter TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 The construct of microfinance As mentioned earlier, the failure of the conventional banking system to supply recognition services to the hapless led to the outgrowth of microfinance establishments as an alternate beginning of recognition bringing with the purpose of supplying little loans to the hapless without collateral. Microfinance hence, is a manner of funding to hapless for their concern, to relieve their poorness, authorising them and giving societal benefits on sustainable manner. Due to microfinance activities, many possibilities have emerged including widening markets, cut downing poorness and fostering societal alteration ( Agion & A ; Morduch, 2005 ) . Microfinance Bankss are establishments that are established to supply fiscal services to the active hapless. They can be non-governmental organisations ( NGOs ) , nest eggs and loan co-ops, recognition brotherhoods, authorities Bankss, commercial Bankss or non-bank fiscal establishments ( Ledgerwood, 1999 ) . One of import facet of microfinance to observe is its comparative success in intentionally making out to the hapless life in different socio-economic environment. It has been argued nevertheless, that the successes of microfinance mediation recorded in some cases can non be generalized taking into consideration the heterogenous nature of societies within which a microfinance establishment operates. Many research workers had conducted the impact assessment surveies on microfinance plans. Some of the research workers have concluded the positive impact of the microfinance on the socio-economic development ( Tripathy, 2006, Sundarapandian, 2006 ; Pandin, and Eswaran, 2002 ) in India and across the universe ( Hiatt and Woodworth, 2006 ) . At the same clip, some other surveies found that the microfinance intercession had small impact on the socio-economic development of people ( Kabeer, 2005 ; Shamsuddoha and Azad, 2004 ) . Besides ( Kabeer, 2001 ) found out with the negative impact of mic rofinance in Bangladesh. So, taking into awareness the conflicting results of assorted impact surveies conducted utilizing different methodological analysiss in different state of affairss the positive impact of microfinance can non be generalized and universally accepted in this regard. 2.2: Microfinance Approachs There are two diverse attacks in the literature handling microfinance ; the welfarist ( besides called the direct recognition attack ) and the institutionists approach ( or fiscal market attack. The welfarist attack focuses on the demand side, which is to state on the clients. This attack support the thought of subsidising microcredit plans in order to take down the cost for the microfinance establishments so that they can offer low involvement rates on their loans, the public presentation of the MFIs are measured through family surveies with focal point on the life criterions of the persons, figure of nest eggs histories, figure of loans, productiveness betterment, incomes, capital accretion, societal services such as instruction and wellness every bit good as nutrient outgos. ( Congo, 2002 ) The Institutionists criticize the subsidisation because it leads to high, unpaid rates dealing costs, which have led to the failure of many microcredit plans. They mean that it is non sustainable for the MFIs to be subsidized and that the subsidies lead to an inefficient allotment of the fiscal resources. The economic experts back uping this position mean that the welfarist made the incorrect premises when they say that the repayment involvement rate must be low, that the clients are non responsible and unable to salvage and that commercial Bankss can non last in rural countries because of high cost of offering fiscal services to the hapless families. The institutionalists suggest that the MFIs should run harmonizing to the conditions of the market, bear downing high involvement rates because of high costs and in that manner operate on a sustainable mode. They mean that hapless persons are willing to pay high involvement rates in order to hold entree to recognition. The public presen tation of MFIs is measured through the refund rates, dealing costs, fiscal autonomy of MFIs etc ( Congo, 2002 ) In malice of holding advanced thoughts for concern, if there is no entree to fiscal resources, these thoughts go in vain. Microfinance alterations whole scenario and reaches to the hapless to happen their thoughts and acquire fiscal benefits. Harmonizing to Sengupta, Aubuchon ( 2008 ) there are now about 70 million people who are acquiring benefits from 2500 MFIs in over 100 states by microfinance. Conditionss of the hapless are different in different states of the universe. These conditions are related to societal, ideological and political issues ( Weiss, Montgomery, 2004 ) . Therefore, there are typical differences between attacks and motivation of microfinance. We will see briefly two attacks, one is the celebrated Grameen theoretical account originated from Bangladesh and the other is Banco Sol, in Bolivia.2.2.1 Grameen ModelIn Grameen theoretical account, primary unit is a group of 5 members that organize and apply for a loan. In first unit of ammunition, loan is granted for tw o members to put in their concern. If these two members become successful to refund back, so four to six hebdomads subsequently, the following two members are granted besides. The last one will be eligible upon successful refund of the old two. If one member of the group defaults in refund, the whole group will be disqualified for farther loan. Similarly, alone and advanced attack of group loaning is used. As Sengupta, Aubuchon ( 2008 ) described that group loaning has many benefits. First, groups are normally organized in members who are neighbor to each other, those that can understand each other good and acknowledge their demands. Second, if any of the group members will non be present in a meeting, the leader or other group member can pay its installment. We can state there is common apprehension among members. Third, in south East Asia by and large, and in Bangladesh specifically, there are societal force per unit areas among members of society with societal binding in them. If one member of group will non pay even one installment, societal force per unit area will be levied from all eight groups on this member. Ultimately, this leads to decrease of hazard.2.2.2 Bonco Sol of Bolivia.While the Grameen theoretical account of microfinance emphasize on loaning to villagers, the other nucleus construct is the formation of groups and these groups are eligible to take loans, no option of loans to persons. The thought of Bonco Sol of Bolivia is progressive loaning where the sum of loan will increase after completion of every refund agenda. But other features of Grameen model ( Group loaning ) are included in this method like aiming to hapless, adult females, group formation and public payment. No uncertainty, progressive loaning is an extension of group imparting which many microfinance establishments are now following this attack. In this theoretical account of progressive loaning, micro-lenders are flexible about collateral and lend loan to groups and persons b esides. This method is really helpful in countries with low population densenesss or high diverse population where group forming is non so easy due to different ratio of safe and hazardous borrowers. While appreciating the differences in attacks as indicated above, one can state that microfinance are evolved due to different political, ideological and societal conditions. Harmonizing to Weiss Montgomery ( 2004 ) â€Å" Microfinance in Latin America developed under rather different conditions. In Bolivia, a fall ining democrat government led to widespread unemployment. Bonco Sol, a pioneering microfinance establishment in the part was developed to turn to the job of urban unemployment and supply recognition to the cash-strapped informal sector. The impression of commercial profitableness was embraced comparatively early in this attack.2.3 Microfinance- a Development ToolIn developing states, people from low income communities have advanced thoughts for their concern, even as shop-keepers or family merchandises maker, but they have no fiscal resources to implement their thoughts. This low economic activity in low income communities due to miss of fiscal resources lead them to more poorness and hapless life criterions. By and large, fiscal services screen nest eggs and recognition activities and there is same construct about MFIs. But harmonizing to Ledgerwood ( 2000 ) , MFIs work for general fiscal services with this they provide insurance and payment services to their clients. But of import facet of MFIs is non merely fiscal mediation but besides supplying societal intermediation and societal services to their clients. Social mediation and societal services contain many activities including preparations, direction development and fiscal literacy activities. Furthermore, many MFIs, arrange get-together where experient people guide others, where they give utile suggestions, tips and other tactics for their concern. Therefore, microfinance is supplying fiscal services with societal services. Normally, societal services are non applicable in general banking system. So, microfinance is non merely banking system but development tool, uniting both fiscal and socie tal intermediation. Therefore, microfinance provides the undermentioned services ;2.3.1 Fiscal IntermediationFiscal intermediation is by far the most primary aim of MFIs because without loan/money societal intermediation can non work. MFIs in this respect, becomes a span to entree finance and this consequences to poverty relief, wellness attention and instruction literacy ( Ledgerwood, 2000 )2.3.2 Social IntermediationSocial intermediation that covers the issues of group formation, leading preparation and concerted acquisition is secondary function of microfinance for borrowers of MFIs. Development in societal capital is a basic ingredient of sustainable development in hapless ‘s life and particularly in society. Social capital really links between clients of a group and multiple groups and between MFIs and borrowers ( Agion & A ; Morduch, 2005 ) . The ratio of societal capital will increase with the addition in concern activities among members and fiscal dealing between loane rs and borrowers.2.3.3 Enterprise Development ServicesMFIs provides support to persons or groups in different endeavor development services like selling, concern and accounting services etc. this service can be divided into two parts, endeavor formation and endeavor transmutation. In endeavor formation, MFIs provide proficient support to group or person in start up of concern with thoughts and accomplishments. While, in transmutation of endeavor, MFIs arrange preparations for borrowers, workshops and get-together for developing latest accomplishments in their concern countries ( Ledgerwood, 2000 ) .2.3.4 Social ServicesHarmonizing to microfinance practicians, poorness can be addressed by funding hapless for productive activities which in consequence come up to their entree to life necessities. Ledgerwood ( 2000 ) observes that MFIs serve to their clients with extra societal services and fiscal intermediation. The best manner to reach with their clients is in the signifier of group, that is the easy manner to educate them, giving wellness attention and other installations. So in this manner, MFIs function is productive in the life of hapless by offering fiscal services with supportive services. These supportive services really play of import function in sustainable human development and support of the hapless ( Khan, Rahman, 1998 ) .2.4 The Goals of MicrofinanceThe ends of Microfinance Bankss are ; To supply diversified, reliable and timely fiscal services to the economically active hapless. To mobilise nest eggs for fiscal intermediation. To make employment chances. To supply regular avenues for the disposal of the micro-credit plan of authorities and high net worth persons. To render payment services such as wages, tips and pensions on behalf of assorted grades of authorities. To affect the hapless in the socio-economic development of the state ( Egbu, 2006 ) .2.5 The Concept of PovertyThere is no individual definition of the word ‘poverty due to the relativity of the construct, it can take assorted signifiers depending on the context within which the construct is defined. In a more luxuriant definition, The United Nations defines poorness as â€Å" Fundamentally, poorness is a denial of picks and chances, a misdemeanor of human self-respect. It means deficiency of basic capacity to take part efficaciously in society. It means non holding plenty to feed and dress a household, non holding a school or clinic to travel, non holding the land on which to turn one ‘s nutrient or a occupation to gain one ‘s life, non holding entree to recognition. It means insecurity, impotence and exclusion of persons, families and communities. It means susceptibleness to force, and it frequently implies populating on fringy or delicate environments without en tree to clean H2O or sanitation † ( UN, 1998 ) . Poverty in many developing states is mostly a affair of non holding plenty on their tabular arraies to eat. Supplying the hapless with fiscal services is one manner to increase their income and productiveness e.g. through self-employment and therefore get away poorness ( Chowdhury, 2001 ) . Poverty is farther classified into three variables ; income poorness, exposure and authorization. Income poorness bases for deficiency of income to afford minimal basic necessities of life. Vulnerability involves the chance of hazards of today being in poorness or to fall into deeper poorness in the hereafter. Sing authorization, based on the focal point of this survey, to find the manner ( s ) microcredit alleviates poorness, most MFIs are working towards authorising economically active to partake in one signifier of endeavors or the other. Here, authorization is farther classified into three classs viz. ; Economic, societal and political authorization. They are defined as follows ; Economic authorization refers to economic security of oneself. Social authorization refers to the ability to take part in decision-making in the community including the family and non-family groups. Political authorization refers to the ability to interact in the populace sphere.2.5.1 What causes Poverty?Poverty is a macro job. The causes are every bit broad as they are deep besides. Some of the cardinal grounds why people all over the universe are hapless and remain hapless are political instability, natural catastrophes, corruptness, socio-economic disparities and bias, deficiency of entree to instruction, deficiency of substructure etc. Some other causes of poorness can be from acute conditions like warfare. The stuff and human devastation that is frequently caused by warfare is a major development job ( World Bank, 2000/01 ) . Apart from devastation caused by natural events such as hurricanes, environmental forces ever cause acute periods of crisis by destructing many harvests and animate beings every bit good.2.5.2 Measuring PovertyWhen poorness is defined in a broader sense, it can raise the inquiry of how to mensurate overall poorness and how to compare accomplishments in different dimensions. Below is how the different dimensions of poorness can be measured. Measuring material want: Under this we have the income and ingestion degrees of the family. This is measured by utilizing the national poorness line, a critical cut off in income or ingestion below which an person is deemed to be hapless. Measuring Vulnerability: Poverty can non be to the full alleviated in a sustainable manner unless mediators are designed to undertake the multi-dimensional nature of poorness. Vulnerability being a dynamic construct has its measuring centered on the variableness to income or ingestion and on the handiness of other dimensions of wellbeing like physical assets, human capital, societal capital and prevalence of non-income hazards like force, natural catastrophes and so on ( World Bank, 2000 ) . Measuring Authorization: Measuring authorization may change harmonizing to the context i.e societal, cultural and political context of a given society.under this we have: Economic authorization: This can be measured harmonizing to the ability of single to command sufficient resources. Social authorization: This can be measured in footings of the ability of single to partake in determination devising. Political authorization: This has to make with persons ‘ ability to take part in political personal businesss.2.6 Microfinance Profile in Nigeria.Variously described as the giant of Africa, Nigeria is the most thickly settled state in sub-sahara Africa with an estimated population of 150 million people. Divided into 6 geo-political parts, operates a federal system of authorities. Bing the 7th largest exporter of rough oil manufacturer in the universe which constitutes 70 % of the states gross and yet more than 70 % per centum of its 150 million people are populating below poorness line. In line with the desire to contend poorness, consecutive disposal in the yesteryear have initiated and implemented assorted poorness relief plans with a position to turn toing such job. Notwithstanding these far-reaching policies the issue of poorness has continued to be a repeating job as most of these plans failed to accomplish the coveted aims and by 1999 all authorities poorness relief plans ceased to work due to inadequate subvention from the authorities. In realisation of its duties to its citizens peculiarly the hapless, the authorities in 2005 came up with a new microfinance policy under the supervising of the cardinal Bank. Under this policy, prospective persons, corporate organisations and NGO ‘s willing to partake in microfinancing were granted licence to run. This new policy saw the outgrowth into operation of more than 900 microfinance Bankss across the 36 provinces of the federation. Of involvement to observe nevertheless, these MFIs provide services to merely 35 % of the 70 million economically active hapless Nigerians, the staying 65 % do non hold entree to credits ( Soludo, 2009 ) . One other upseting facet of microfinance activities in Nigeria is uneven spread of its operations to the hurt of the Northern parts of the state as most of these establishments are concentrated in the Southern parts of the state. By and large, microfinance establishments in the state are faced with legion jobs runing from deficient financess to deficiency of managerial accomplishments which in bend effected on the hapless outreach of its operations and their inability to provide for the pullulating economically active hapless. As specified by the new microfinance policy, microfinance establishments have the undermentioned aims: To better the socio-economic conditions of adult females, particularly those in the rural countries through the proviso of loan aid, skills acquisition, generative wellness attention service, grownup literacy and miss kid instruction ; To construct community capacities for wealth creative activity among enterprising hapless people and to advance sustainable support by beef uping rural antiphonal banking methodological analysis ; and To eliminate poorness through the proviso of microcredit and skill acquisition development for income coevals ( Anyanwu, 2004 ) . Chapter 3 Methodology3.1 Research Design:The survey is of qualitative nature which is besides referred to as inductive attack. Inductive attack is done by taking into consideration the empirical informations foremost and so research worker goes on to construct hypothesis which leads to the development of and consideration of new theories or doing add-on in bing theories ( Bryman, 2004 ) . It is of import to observe here that the pick of this attack was informed by ; non-sufficient informations of the researched subject and besides because of the argument on the impact of microcredit as a medium of poorness relief. Otherwise, the survey would hold employed the deductive attack in turn toing the research inquiries. Furthermore, it is appropriate to utilize qualitative attack as the survey seeks to understand the perceptual experience of donees of microcredit. It is believed that this method will supply rich and thick description from the participants sing their experiences, perceptual experience and apprehension of microfinance.3.2 participants and scene:The participants involved in the survey include the Chief Executive Officer of Yerwa Microfinance Bank, Maiduguri, 2 community leaders and 2 loan donees of the said Bank. The Chief executive officer who is holding 5 old ages experience in microfinance activities besides serves as the current director of the aforesaid Bank. He was chosen because of his wealth of experience and besides runing in one of the countries with high prevalence of poorness. The two back-to-back interviews he granted to the research worker through skype have provided an institutional position on the general nature of Nigerian microfinance industry. Two community leaders of Matara and Bulangu identified as samples of the survey represent the voices of the said communities that are considered to be among those countries worst hit by poorness. Their perceptual experience towards microfinance is by and large believed to stand for the position of their co mmunities. Similarly, the two donees were identified in coaction with Chief Executive Officer of Yerwa community as his clients, gave a self-account of their perceptual experience, experiences every bit good as their apprehension of microcredit as being direct donees. 3.3: Ethical Measure Attached as appendix 1 is the consent missive served to all participants seeking their consent to take part in the survey as respondents. The aim of the survey was clearly explained to them and were assured that all informations obtain from them will entirely be used for the intent of the survey and that they are at autonomy to retreat at any clip they deemed appropriate to make so. In add-on, they were promised a transcript of the work should at that place be a demand for them to verify the intent for which the survey is intended. 3.3: Ethical Measure Bing a qualitative attack, the research worker is the instrument of the survey. Data aggregation was at the same time obtained by both the principal research worker and the research helper employed due to some restrictions encountered as a consequence of the inability of the principal research worker to be in the field. While the principal research worker conducted an in-depth interview with the Manager of Yerwa microfinance Bank through Skype, the research helper conducted same with the community leaders and the donees of loans who every bit served as respondents guided by the interview usher prepared and sent to him for that intent. By and large, the following semi-structured inquiries guided the behavior of the interview ; Would you wish to state us about yourself and what you do for a life? Would you wish to state us what Yerwa microfinance Bank is making in this community? Have you of all time collected any loan from the bank? If yes, when? Would you wish to state us what has happened to you since you obtained that loan? Would you wish to state us who introduced you to Yerwa microfinance Bank as a client? What has been the procedure of obtaining the loan? How did you see that your life has changed as a consequence of the loan you collected. What advice would you give to others like you who have non collected the loan? Have you completed refund of the loan? If yes, would wish to travel for farther loan? All interviews were audio-taped and subsequently transcribed. Having transcribed the information, common tendencies and forms associating to the respondents ‘ perceptual experience of microcredit and its impact on the general betterment of their life conditions were marked and coded suitably. In add-on, similarities between coded statements were compared which enables grouping into major subjects for concluding presentation. In all, a sum of 49 codifications associating to the general perceptual experience towards microcredit and the ways in which it has improved the criterions of life of participants emerged. These codifications were farther categorized into major subjects as will be presented in the concluding analysis of the informations.Chapter FOURINTERVIEW RESULTS AND ANALYSIS Founded in 2006, the Bank as of today has a sum of 3,000 clients with one caput office every bit good as a subdivision office wholly situated within Maiduguri township. The operational system is fashioned along the Bangladeshs ‘ Grameen Bank in which loans are offered to groups of between 5-6 members. The sum of loan offered to groups scopes between N500,000 to N700,000 for the intent of puting into broad scope of economic activities like cowss rise uping, orienting, agricultural activities depending on the pick of donees. The sum of involvement charged harmonizing to the Bank Manager is for every N100,000 given out as loan, the Bank charges 5 % as service charges. These charges are chiefly used for employee rewards and payment of rents and other administrative costs. Though comparative new with a small capital base, deficient figure of staff and comparatively few clients, the Bank was able to go on with the hope of spread outing its services in the hereafter. 4.2 Data analysis Based on the informations generated from the interview, a sum of 56 statements refering to perceptual experience of the respondents every bit good as the impact of microcredit on donees were coded. These codifications were farther compared based on their similarities and subsequently grouped into two major subjects dwelling of several sub-themes as will be presented hereunder. The two major subjects are ; the general perceptual experience of the donees of microcredit and impact of microcredit towards poorness relief. Table 1 Percept towards microcredit Impact towards poorness relief Trouble in accessing loans. Limited finance. Default in loan refund. Lack of consciousness on the activities of MFIs Increase in income. Social coherence. Table 1 above shows the classs of major subjects with sub-themes.4.3 Data reading.4.3.1 Trouble in accessing loans: Most of the respondents interviewed complained about the trouble in treating a loan with the Bank. Harmonizing to one of the donees it took them as a group about six months before they eventually obtained the loan. This has to make with the weak capital base of Microfinance Bank. As found out in the survey this microfinance Bank is one of the few microfinance establishment operational in province that is estimated to be holding more than 1.8 million economically active hapless that require one signifier of recognition or the other to enable them partake in economic ventures that would take to fiscal betterments. Another factor responsible for the hold in treating the loans is that the Bank deficiencies adequate work force and even the available 1s lack proper preparation to run into the increasing client demands. The Bank harmonizing to the Manager has merely 10 employe es in its wage axial rotation. This figure is rather deficient compared to the figure of clients of the Bank. 4.3.2 Limited finance: One of the disclosures in this survey which is mentioned by both loan givers and receiving systems is deficient financess. Insufficient capital harmonizing to the Bank Manager is one of the jobs the microfinance industry is confronting. This has a attendant consequence on the figure or sum of loan the Bank is able to give out as loans. Apart from that, the bank could non ship on enlargement undertakings such as staff enlisting and preparation, gap of other mercantile establishments to diversify its operations etc. One of the donees interviewed besides testified to that fact he had ab initio applied for N100,000 but eventually secured N40,000 which harmonizing to him is grossly unequal to take attention of his planned enlargement of concern. 4.3.3 Default in loan refund: loan default is besides one of the jobs associated microcredit. Although harmonizing to the Manager the Bank was able to enter 87 % and 90 % in the preceding old ages, but still the Bank is seting all necessary steps to guarantee impressive rates in the coming old ages. On the portion of donees they normally complained of higher involvement rates and high inflationary rates as factors responsible for their refund as and when due. Short refund period is besides mentioned by clients as one of the grounds for their inability to refund back harmonizing to agenda. 4.3.4 Lack of consciousness on the operations of MFIs: though comparative new in their operations, Microfinance Banks are still non known to bulk of the hapless and even if they know they can non appreciate the differences between them and other conventional Banks. Most of the donees interviewed said that they were introduced by friends who have been clients of the Bank and they were besides told that it is a topographic point where one can borrow money even if do n't hold a house or land to demo as collateral. Harmonizing to the Bank Manager, due to the weak capital base of MFIs, they can non be able to patronize adverts in the print and electronic media and as such they have to trust on the bing method to make out to their clients. This, he added will be a history as the Bank is bit by bit turning twenty-four hours by twenty-four hours. 4.3.5 Increase in income: by and large, most of the donees acknowledge though non significantly, alterations in the general conditions of their life as a consequence of the loans they collected from the Bank. One of the donees said that because he has invested the loan he received, after paying back the loan he noticed an addition in his overall capital base from N200,000 to N500,000. With the enlargement of his concern he was able to use an helper and at the same clip enroll into grownup flushing category which he is about to graduate in the following three months. To him this loan has brought succor as it has empowered him economically and educationally. Similarly, another donee besides said that as a consequence of the loan was able to purchase a reasonably used bike which he uses for commercial intents. As a consequence, he is now gainfully employed, able to purchase another new bike which he will give out for same commercial intent. In add-on, he was able to buy a little piece o f land that he hoped to develop bit by bit. 4.3.6 Social Coherence: apart from the fiscal mediatory function that microcredit dramas, the survey besides found out that engagement in microcredit unites its participants socially as a consequence of group loaning policy of microfinance establishments. As pointed out earlier, the microfinance establishments merely lend money to groups. Coming together of group members to use for a loan has afforded them the chance to carry on meetings on how to obtain, use and pay back the loans. The single groups besides register themselves under one umbrella of association of microcredit donees within the whole community. This has non merely further their sense of belonging but besides afforded them the chance to organize themselves into a formidable group that in most instances influences the determinations taking by the community. As one of the respondents remarked, â€Å" â€Å" Because of the formation of this association we are now politically empowered as most of the political parties ev er seek our support and input as a group, we support campaigners that we feel capable of protecting our involvement. In this regard we can state that our engagement in microcredit has given us a stronger voice to be heard even by the leaders contrary to what it used to be before our engagement in microcredit † . In another case, another donee besides said â€Å" â€Å" Because we are now formed into a strong group, we ever during our meetings raised and help in work outing personal jobs of our members such as sing infirmaries to help the bed-ridden, go toing societal assemblages like matrimony and appellative ceremonials. Most significantly, we were able to enroll a instructor who conducts flushing grownup literacy category to us on hebdomadal footing. Besides, field officers from the Bank educates us on the rudimentss of accounting and record maintaining which has greatly helped us in carry oning and pull offing our concerns † .Chapter FIVECONCLUSION AND POLICY RECOMM ENDATIONS: In decision, the survey has succeeded in understanding the perceptual experience of some donees of microcredit in Northern Nigeria. The survey found out that though microfinance establishments are faced with series of jobs runing from deficient fund to give out every bit loans to prospective clients, inability to spread out its operations to make out to the bulk hapless who largely live in the rural countries. In add-on, the operations and ends of these microfinance establishments is non known to bulk of people due to their concentration in urban countries. Yet, with the small they were able to loan out, has made an appreciable betterments on the life conditions of its clients in different respects. As other surveies have indicated the positive every bit good as the negative impacts of engagement in microcredit plans, the findings of this survey suggest that microcredit has impacted positively in bettering the life conditions of participants. In position of the foregoing and as revealed by this and other old surveies I wish to propose as follows ; Government should as a affair of precedence, happen a agency of supplying more sufficient and accessible financess to this microfinance establishments so that they excessively can hold plenty to impart out to prospective clients. As most microfinance Banks are concentrated in urban countries to the hurt of rural countries where bulk of the hapless resides, the Bank should ship on witting attempts in opening their subdivisions in rural countries. By taking their services to the door stairss of the hapless, it is believed the that this will pull more clients and thereby ensuing in the enlargement and growing on the portion of the Bank and to function as a agency of relieving poorness amongst the generalization of rural inhabitants. Another issue that needs to be observed and which has ever been complained of by donees is the duplicate issues of high involvement rates and short refund periods. Government and these fiscal establishments should look into this facet with a position to supplying microfinance services with easiness to the hapless. It is believed that high involvement rate and short refund periods are the major obstructions militating against popular engagement of the economically active hapless section of the society in microcredit plans. Intervention of the Government and all stakeholders of Nigerias ‘ microfinance industry in this way will promote the hapless to take part and prosecute in micro-enterprises activities that will finally better poorness. Mentions A D Mohammed and Z Hassan ( 2008 ) Microfinance in Nigeria and the chances of presenting its Islamic Version, MPRA Paper. 2008. Agion, B. A.d. & A ; Morduch, J. , ( 2003 ) , â€Å" Microfinance, Where do we Stand? â€Å" , The Anyanwu, C.M. ( 2004 ) . â€Å" Micro finance establishments in Nigeria: policy, pattern and British Association for the Advancement of Science Meetings, University of Salford, UK, 3, pp.136-144. Bryman, A. , ( 2004 ) , Social Research Methods, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press Inc. , New York. 2004. CBN, ( 2007 ) Annual Report and Statement of Account for the year-ended 31st December 2006. Congo, Y. , Performance of Microfinance Institutions in Burkina Faso, Discussion Paper No. 2002/01, UNU World Institute for Development Economics Research potencies † paper presented at the G24 workshop on bottlenecks to growing in Sub-Sahara, Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, November Felix, M A and Adamu G ( 2007 ) Support to the Development of Sustainable Microfinance in Nigeria. Mid-term Evaluation Report. UNDP/UNDCF 2007. Khan, M.A & A ; Rahaman, M.A, ( 1998 ) , â€Å" Impact of Microfinance on Living Standards, Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation of Poor Peoples: A Case Study on Microfinance in the Chittagong District of Bangladesh † , Master thesis, diva-portal.org, pp.14-30. Ledgerwood, J. , ( 1999 ) , â€Å" Microfinance Handbook: an Institutional and Financial Perspective † , Washington DC: The World Bank, pp.1-2, 63-90. M Kpakol ( 2009 ) The Role of Government in Poverty Eradication. A public Lecture series held in Minna, Niger State 2009. Sengupta, R. & A ; Aubuchon, C.P. , ( 2008 ) , â€Å" The Microfinance Revolution: An Overview † , Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Review, Volume 90 ( 1 ) , pp. 9-30. UN – United Nations Capital Development Fund, Special Unit for Microfinance ( 2002 ) Weiss, J. , Montgomery, H. , ( 2004 ) , â€Å" Great Expectations: Microfinance and Poverty Reduction in Asia and Latin America † , ADB Institute Discussion Paper No.15, pp.3-7APPENDIX 1UNIVERSITY PUTRA MALAYSIA ( UPM )DCE 5920: Introduction TO QUALITATIVE RESEARCHINTERVIEW CONSENT FORMI, Sule Ahmadu a pupil of the above mentioned class is required to set about a qualitative survey entitled â€Å" Microfinance and poverty relief in Nigeria: perceptual experience of microcredit donees in Northern Nigeria † . You have been invited to be in this survey due to your experience either as an operator of microfinance Bank or as a client. Note that your engagement in this survey is wholly voluntary and you may make up one's mind to retreat at any point you may hold it appropriate. If you decide to take part you will be asked to give an history of your perceptual experience on microcredit. You will every bit good be asked to besides depict in what manner ( s ) does microcredit improves the life conditions of donees as a consequence of their engagement. As you may make up one's mind to conceal your individuality, you are assured that anonym will be used to depict your individuality throughout in the presentation and analysis of the research work. Additionally, if you wish to cross-check the genuineness of the informations obtained from you, a transcript of the research work will be forwarded to you for that intent. For farther elucidation and information, I can be reached on 0102737786 Thank you for your cooperation! Signature of participant Date aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦.. Bukar Modu Name of research Assistant Date & A ; SignaˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦.. Sule Ahmadu Name of Researcher Date & A ; SignaˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦..

Advantages and disadvantages of the BBC Essays

Advantages and disadvantages of the BBC Essays Advantages and disadvantages of the BBC Essay Advantages and disadvantages of the BBC Essay With the growth of mass communication, travel and relocation, we now live in what has been called a global village. This new globalization and the cultural diversity it has created within nation states can also be seen as a threat to order as well as the above mentioned traditional family values, codes of good taste and decency. These perceived threats in turn lead to calls by both ordinary citizens and their governments for re-regulation. There is a built in conflict between change and order and it has become increasingly difficult for governments to get the balance right on regulation in the case of broadcast television as well as the media at large. BBC has to choose whether to stay home or move out to the global arena and compete globally. And this is the last dilemma they actually face. Now, the advantages of BBC for being a global player is: More growth under BBC brand reputation sustains: The BBC has been a global broadcaster through the world service since the early days of it development. International radio broadcasts began in 1932; by the end of the 20th century, the world service was broadcasting in over 40 languages to estimated audience of 151 million people around the world. BBC brand is one of the worlds most powerful brands, respected and trusted for its quality and integrity. The funding regulation role encourages the organization to compete for attracting more worldwide audiences. Which allow the BBC Worldwide to submit to utilize the brand in order to gain max. profits ,so the BBC success as a international broadcaster to exploit its programmes on the world market through developing and humanizing to gain the respect for both quality of its programmes and its independent, realistic reporting which become with the BBC responsibilities and that what make the BBC reputation grow worldwide. Attempt to enhance profits: the British governments have encouraged the development of the BBCs commercial activities to attempt to enhance the income. Under the direction of John Birts the expansion programme took off with new channels (e.g. BBC choice, BBC knowledge..) and alliances (e.g. the agreement with Discovery) that encouraged the corporations expansion into new markets, while serious investment in new technologies particularly digital and online- diminished the available funds for existing analogue service. Through the efforts of the commercial arm of the BBC- BBC Worldwide- they will have a remit to exploit the brand in order to gain maximum returns on the BBCs assets-its programmes- to generate revenues that are reinvested in public service programming. The disadvantages is: Uncertainty of success: to be a global player, BBC should consider some aspect in the international arena that the BBC did not do it before get into that filed which make me a faired that BBC has abilities to move from the local site to the global landscape productively. The BBC it self may not be able to have all the raw materials to use them in order to success in a highly competitive environment. It seems that the organization moved globally without an obvious strategy. They depended on their national successful to jump globally. Nevertheless, if they cannot manage to reach their target they could even loosen the national reputation especially after the ignorance of most of the minority interests of the U.K citizens. Therefore, they have to do the best they can to success or they will face a real problem. Loosing its nationwide identity: IN the way to inter the global landscape surly BBC will lose the concentration on the local arena it will lose some part of its pre-loyal audiences because of the global plan, it will focus on the global broadcaster. In the digital world of multimedia choice, the pressure on the BBC is greater than before to produce diverse programmes that assurance something for everyone even with low quality because the quantity is more important than the quality in commercial point of view. Most of those programmes are being produced for the global audience and being far away from the British tastes. People start to look at the BBC as a commercial company not public service broadcaster.  (word count: 1786) Q2: Based on the economic, organizational, socio-political and cultural features surrounding the BBC, which are outlined in the Case study, what is your advice to the top- level management of the BBC on the process of decision making which they should adopt in order to avoid making flawed decisions with respect to their response to the three strategic dilemmas?  No body denied that BBC has huge contribution on the British social life and culture both at national and international. Most of British citizens who want to see that contribution maintained into the multi-channel future. Which make the pressure on the BBC to change and adjust itself to the speedily changing demands of that future. The nation needs a BBC that delivers high standard, innovative broadcasting that nurtures British talent, which present the nation to itself, and that respects the contributions made by the other players in the media world. To fallow that changes needs right decision to avoid flawed decision to the organization has, decision-making is an important part of all managerial functions performed .BBC has to use the knowledge concentrated process that demands good management of information to produce a preferred process outcome. In taking decision-making I advice the top-manager in BBC to take in consideration the actual process of organizational decision making, which will not only avoid making flawed decisions with respect to their response to the three strategic dilemmas, also enhance the image of the BBC in the whole world the process of organizational decision making has the following: Organizational goals: which mean that the top manager in organization should consider how goals occur in an organization and how goals will change over time, and how they should act and respond to these changes of goals? In BBC the union members include managers, employees, stockholders, suppliers, clients, , tax collectors has one vision, that top manager have to take in consideration that the goals must deal effectively with the probable for internal goal conflicts existed in a coalition of diverse individuals and groups. Since the existence of unresolved conflicts among organizational stakeholders, which will reflect on the feature of the organizations, it is difficult to construct a useful descriptively exact suggestions of the organizational decision making process if they insist on internal goal consistency. My advice to the BBC top-manager is to adopt The Rational Model which consider decision unit behavior is reputed to be rational. Moreover, it assumes goal congruence and clarity which implies that all members of the decision making unit share a common goal and will collaborate to achieve this goal and that the goal is clearly defined and well understood by all members of the decision-making unit. The decision making process consists of problem recognition, formulation of alternative courses of action and selection of an alternative that accomplishes the predefined goal.

Free Essays on Queensland, Australia

Queensland Australia is known to be the lowest, flattest, and the driest of all the continents. Australia’s shape comes from a long period of earth’s movements, caused by plate tectonics. The river erosion has made many of the details in its shape. Queensland is the second largest state in Australia. Its exact location is 25 º S, 141 º E. The population is 3,757,300. Brisbane is its capital city. Another city is Cairns, which is the tropical capital of Queensland. The Atherton Tablelands border it. MacKay is a city just north of Brisbane. It contains twenty-five percent of Australia’s sugar yields. Climate Queensland is famous for its sun, but the climate does vary from coastal plain and the inland. Even though Queensland is referred to as the â€Å"holiday state† it is subject to monsoon rains. Its wet seasons are from December to March. The annual rainfall in the northern part of Queensland can exceed 4000 mm. Brisbane can high rainfall month is March. The annual rainfall for March can get as high as 141 mm. In 1974 a severe flood hit Queensland, because of Cyclone Wanda. It was the nation’s worst city flood. It killed sixteen people. There was another flood in 1990 that happened in Queensland and in New South Wales, which is south of Queensland. During this flood seven people were killed. Many of the floods that happen in Queensland are results of tropical cyclones. Cyclone Mahina had the greatest death toll of any natural disaster. It killed over 400 people. The cyclone hit in March of 1899, taking the fleet at Bathurst Bay. One of the most recent cyclones was Cyclone Steve. It was not a severe cyclone, but is know for the longevity that it had. It traveled through Queensland, the Northern Territory of Australia, and Western Australian. The cyclone never intensified further than Category one. The way the cyclone category system works is there are five categories. Category one means there will be negligible house damage, t... Free Essays on Queensland, Australia Free Essays on Queensland, Australia Queensland Australia is known to be the lowest, flattest, and the driest of all the continents. Australia’s shape comes from a long period of earth’s movements, caused by plate tectonics. The river erosion has made many of the details in its shape. Queensland is the second largest state in Australia. Its exact location is 25 º S, 141 º E. The population is 3,757,300. Brisbane is its capital city. Another city is Cairns, which is the tropical capital of Queensland. The Atherton Tablelands border it. MacKay is a city just north of Brisbane. It contains twenty-five percent of Australia’s sugar yields. Climate Queensland is famous for its sun, but the climate does vary from coastal plain and the inland. Even though Queensland is referred to as the â€Å"holiday state† it is subject to monsoon rains. Its wet seasons are from December to March. The annual rainfall in the northern part of Queensland can exceed 4000 mm. Brisbane can high rainfall month is March. The annual rainfall for March can get as high as 141 mm. In 1974 a severe flood hit Queensland, because of Cyclone Wanda. It was the nation’s worst city flood. It killed sixteen people. There was another flood in 1990 that happened in Queensland and in New South Wales, which is south of Queensland. During this flood seven people were killed. Many of the floods that happen in Queensland are results of tropical cyclones. Cyclone Mahina had the greatest death toll of any natural disaster. It killed over 400 people. The cyclone hit in March of 1899, taking the fleet at Bathurst Bay. One of the most recent cyclones was Cyclone Steve. It was not a severe cyclone, but is know for the longevity that it had. It traveled through Queensland, the Northern Territory of Australia, and Western Australian. The cyclone never intensified further than Category one. The way the cyclone category system works is there are five categories. Category one means there will be negligible house damage, t...

How to Call in Sick Without Putting Your Job at Risk

How to Call in Sick Without Putting Your Job at Risk Calling in sick has almost fallen out of fashion. Ever heard of â€Å"presenteeism†? That’s the idea that really committed employees come to work no matter what- even when they shouldn’t. Don’t buy into this theory–there are definitely  legitimate reasons for calling in sick from time to time. Follow these rules to make sure you’re using this rare privilege appropriately.1. If you’re really sick,  please stay home.If you have a virulent new cold- or the flu- or any other highly contagious situation, STAY HOME. You won’t be productive, and you could get other people sick and then take down everyone’s productivity. Stay home for a day or two and come back refreshed. Your team will thank you.Oh, and a hangover does not count. Have an aspirin and some coffee and get your butt to work. You can’t call in â€Å"bad choices.†2. Protect your mental health.If you really need a mental health day, take one. Try sche duling in advance to avoid leaving your colleagues in the lurch. If you need to take one spontaneously, it can be okay to use a sick day. A simple â€Å"stomach bug† ought to do the trick, without requiring you to invent many details. Tickets to something cool don’t count as reasons to take a mental health day, by the way. Keep it legit.3. Assess the number of sick days to take.Does your job even give sick days? It’s a sad world when we have to ask this question, but if you don’t have any sick time, or you’ll be taking a pay cut by staying home, you’ll have to be even more discerning making your day-of decision. But again, if you’re contagious- especially if you work for the elderly or in food service- you just might have to stay home.4. Follow the rules.Remember that employee handbook you got on hiring? Look up the protocol for whom to notify and how to set up an away message on your voice and email. Make sure the chain of command is notified. Protect yourself from scrutiny. When in doubt, think about how your boss and coworkers have reacted to others calling in sick, and try to make it as uncomplicated on yourself as possible.5. Make it easy for your team.If you routinely do good and thorough work, keep your team updated, and keep all shared files and resources updated and ready for anyone to jump in and use, then taking a sick day won’t ruin anyone else’s week. Make a habit of keeping your tasks in order and dotting all your ‘i’s at the end of every day. This will make it easier for you to tag out for one day when you’re really suffering.6. Take care of your family.If you have a sick kid at home, stay home and take care of them if you can. Or if your spouse or aging parent needs urgent care, make that a priority. Most workplaces will be tolerant of a few of these emergency situations per year- just make sure you don’t abuse the privilege. Only take it when you have to and it’s legit.7. Be smart and safe.If there’s a hurricane or blizzard or monsoon out there and you don’t have a safe and ready way to work, it’s okay to stay home. Don’t put yourself in bodily danger navigating dodgy roads to get to work. That said, if the weather isn’t seriously dangerous, you should just suck it up. Sometimes it rains.8. Understand that things happen.If your toilet explodes, or you have a job interview, or something else emergent comes up, it’s okay to call in sick. Just make sure you have a really good reason and that you don’t pull this trick too often. Take care of yourself, but be sure to also take care of your job.

Thalassaemia Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Thalassaemia - Lab Report Example Then there is the ÃŽ ±-thalassaemia trait characterized by two affected ÃŽ ±-globin genes. Hemoglobin H disease is the third type classification of ÃŽ ±-thalassaemia which has three affected genes. Finally, there is the ÃŽ ±-Thalassaemia Major that has four affected ÃŽ ±-globin gene (Weatherall and Clegg 2008). There are three different types of ÃŽ ²-thalassaemia. The first one is ÃŽ ²-thalassemia trait which has one mutated ÃŽ ²-globin gene and one normal one. The second one is Thalassaemia Intermedia, which has two abnormal l genes although there is a little production of ÃŽ ²-globin. The third is Thalassaemia Major in which there are two abnormal genes that cause extreme decrease or complete lack of ÃŽ ²-globin production (Weatherall and Clegg 2008). Haemoglobin electrophoresis is a method used to separate the different blood haemoglobin types in a procedure that uses cellulose acetate in alkaline buffer. The process involves the use of extremely small samples of haemosylates prepared from whole samples of blood. These samples are applied to the Titan III Cellulose Acetate Plate whereby the haemoglobins in the samples undergo separation by electrophoresis with the use of an alkaline buffer. The pH of the buffer ranges between 8.2 and 8.6. They are then stained with Ponceau S Stain and the resulting patterns that form are scanned on a scanning densitometer followed by determining the relative percentage of each band. TF is diluted to 15ml, and SF is collected in 3ml so as to maximize absorption in the spectrometer. This, however, does not affect the results because they were diluted using distilled water. Distilled water is free of ions and other soluble contaminants and; therefore, cannot affect the result of the experiment. The pH of the solution in which amino acids are dissolved mostly determine their ionic state. Cationic amino acids exist at low solution pH of approximately 1. An increase in solution pH causes the

The Importance of Cultural Ties Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Importance of Cultural Ties - Essay Example It's vital that people who find themselves in this position find new ways to cope with that loss, maintain a sense of their cultural heritage, and create some form of identity with their country of birth. Cross culture adoption, a trend that has become more popular in recent years, points to the child's need to maintain close cultural ties with their birth country. In a recent study of Asian American adoptions it was found that while growing up, the children often considered themselves white. As they reached adulthood, that trend had reversed and most considered themselves Asian American (Dong). As adults they would seek out ways to connect to their country of birth through language, art, and ethnic organizations. Many of the adoptees in the survey reported lifelong feelings of alienation and isolation. Nancy Ng, member on the board of the Palo Alto group Families Adopting in Response (FAIR) asserts the importance of "the need to honor the birth country and raise them with knowledge of their birth culture" (Dong), Developing a cultural awareness and close ties to your ethnic heritage is more than just the curiosity to discover who you are. Lacking the knowledge of ones background can lead to more serious issues and manifest in an identity crises.

Outlook of Gulf Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Outlook of Gulf Politics - Essay Example Essentially, politics in the Gulf basin are sectarian-based. The division between the Shia and the Sunni, though emerging from the historical issues has been used by the powerful monarchs in the Gulf basin to further regional and self-interest. The Persian Gulf faces a number of challenges that might bring intense conflicts in the region. Religious extremism is a serious issue that has emerged as a potential area of conflict. The emergence of the Islamic state and the demanding ideological goal furthered by the group have brought into focus on the vulnerability of the Persian Gulf4. The Islamic state has been accused of massive atrocities, including terrorism, genocide and human rights violations. Balance of power is another area that may bring about conflicts in the Persian Gulf. The urge by different sects wanting to wield power and have control of the region is a potential issue of conflict, and though the struggle has been witnessed over the years5. Kristian, Coates Ulrichsen. Internal and External Security in the Arab, Gulf States. 2009. Available at:

Internship report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Internship report - Assignment Example the company, I was holding the position of jvs preparation and filing, payment request preparation, payroll and employee benefit, petty cash controlling as well as preparation of P&L preparation on monthly basis. In this, the company, under the supervision of Hashim Al Shuaili, ensured that I was fully trained in these areas. This made me gain tremendous experience needed in the employment sector. Other than the experience, I also made several networks in the company. I was introduced to several departments and made several contacts with different personnel. This is an important leverage when it comes to job seeking. This has ensured that I have an edge in the job market. In addition to the above, the internship with the Modern Jozze Company made me apply classroom knowledge in the positions I was assigned. This ensured that I applied the skills gained in classroom into a real world setting. This was very important in proving my worth in the positions that I was assigned. The internship has made me develop professional behavioral and social skills. This is due to increased interactions with different individuals as well as customers. As such, I have been able to get a head start on classroom learning through working as an intern at Modern Jozze

Facility and venue management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Facility and venue management - Assignment Example Located directly opposite the transit centre, this facility is accessible by both train and bus terminals and one would just walk a few minutes to be in within minutes. On arrival by plane into the international or domestic terminal, one takes an air train to Roma Street Transit centre and this takes very little time. Arrival bus is followed by disembarking at the transit centre on level 3 then level 2 before walking over the skylink to the escalators and the guest is at the doorstep of this paradise on Earth. The hotel is a multi-purpose and ultra-modern hospitality facility with different kinds of rooms and hall including a main hall, meeting rooms, stage, and kitchen as well, which suits various groups of clients. This facility offers wide variety of services from private functions such as internet surfing, to public activities like social events, meetings, community recreational activities and even travel desk for consultations. 2.0 Design Analysis 2.1 External Design Features Ba sically, Tinbilly Travellers Hotel has a one storey building, which is located on the edge of a 20-acre Roma street Parkland, with brown brick walls and grey top. The building ever looks very clean, sparkling and new. The size of the building is quite big, which is able to contain more than 400 people at the same time and accommodate others in its hostels. Since Tinbilly Travellers Hotel is located within the busy Roma street transit centre, it has a lot more open spaces on the ground floor available for use and a serene water body behind it in Brisbane River which is relatively close to the building. The landscaping in there is good, with a lagoon around the hotel at the back and along the street in which it is located. When one just gets there, local and international guests can feel fresh air and see the wide spaces all over the ground floor. The facility is easy to find and trace due to the big signade â€Å"Tinbilly Travellers Hotel† name on it near the main road along t he Roma street transit centre. With respect of the other feature of open spaces, the quality of the paving and corridors is excellent, probably because of regular maintenance by the hardworking staff and the Tinbilly Travellers Hotel seems quite new comparing to other hospitality facilities in this location. Besides, there are also a few rubbish bins around the building for dropping small scale refuse which is important considering its location within a cosmopolitan environment. There are various options of transport to access the hotel due to its strategic location within the busy city centre. One can drive to the building or readily walk after a short time connection from the air train or bus. Tinbilly Travellers Hotel has no private parking but the guests can use the free street parking that can accommodate many vehicles. The challenge is the ever increasing number of visiting people that strains the street parking and almost locks out some guests besides the gradually fading col our of parking spots lines. The entrance and exit to the Tinbilly Travellers Hotel is just faced to the main road. As the main road has high traffic flux due to the

Internship report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Internship report - Assignment Example the company, I was holding the position of jvs preparation and filing, payment request preparation, payroll and employee benefit, petty cash controlling as well as preparation of P&L preparation on monthly basis. In this, the company, under the supervision of Hashim Al Shuaili, ensured that I was fully trained in these areas. This made me gain tremendous experience needed in the employment sector. Other than the experience, I also made several networks in the company. I was introduced to several departments and made several contacts with different personnel. This is an important leverage when it comes to job seeking. This has ensured that I have an edge in the job market. In addition to the above, the internship with the Modern Jozze Company made me apply classroom knowledge in the positions I was assigned. This ensured that I applied the skills gained in classroom into a real world setting. This was very important in proving my worth in the positions that I was assigned. The internship has made me develop professional behavioral and social skills. This is due to increased interactions with different individuals as well as customers. As such, I have been able to get a head start on classroom learning through working as an intern at Modern Jozze

Rising Tuitions are Keeping Many Students Out of College Essay

Rising Tuitions are Keeping Many Students Out of College - Essay Example The researcher states that while the rising costs of college tuition are due to a number of different factors, the result is that fewer think they can afford it, especially since degrees from non-prestige universities or less technical degrees are simply not valued as in the past. Grant used to cover far more than now, so more financial aid becomes debt. Even well informed students, who know their actual cost after scholarships may balk at incurring such high debt. It is a fact that tuition has far exceeded inflation and wages have not kept up for middle and low income families In light of the tremendous burden the debt load would become, many students will elect to get jobs and train as they go up the corporate ladder. Rising tuitions are definitely keeping more students out of college than ever before. In looking at the documented raises in tuition over the past twenty years, wages have not kept pace. This means the burden on the family will be proportionately higher. In addition, financial aid grants cover less than before, leaving the balance to be covered by loans. Some institutions perceive the extension of financial aid as an inducement to raise their tuition. In addition, the tuition is no longer carved in stone, as most universities offer scholarships to accepted students, thereby reducing the cost. To conclude, it is evident that the better quality they perceive the student, the higher the scholarship will be. This allows colleges to filter out some applicants in preference for others.

Core Competency Essay Example for Free

Core Competency Essay Walt Disney once noted: â€Å"I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse†. (Disney Dreamer, 1998). Walt Disney’s original core competence was cartoons and animated movies. By combining Imagineering with engineering Disney’s company reached unparalleled success with the creation of the first full length animated movie. This success led to new ideas and one of them was to open a park, a different kind of park. In Disneyland Walt used new technology to bring his characters to life. He called them â€Å"Animatronics†. (Magical Kingdoms, July 2008) Together with unique storytelling and high quality of service Walt Disney created a magical environment for his guests which none of the competitors could quite duplicate. It became Walt Disney’s core competency. Disney once said: â€Å"Anything that has the Disney name to it is something we feel responsible for.† (Disney Dreamer, 1998) This competency is driven by superior Disney products and most of all by cast members and their renowned guest service. It’s always been a challenge to keep up with high expectations of the guests. To continue to improve its business Disney has set up new cast member standards in the form of the Basics (Meeting the new standards, December 2007). The new standards expect cast members to create and reinforce â€Å"magical† experience for the guests by being approachable, engaging, and willing to go above and beyond. As the company developed, many new lines of businesses have been added such as retail, media, and sports. The danger has been to overextend and lose track of what the company does best. In order to stay competitive the company had to realign and shifted attention from retail to those which are the cornerstone of the company – intellectual property. To reinforce its animation business Disney purchased Pixar in 2006. In the acquisition statement it read: â€Å"Animation is the foundation upon which the Company was built and for years was a core competency. However, in recent years Disney placed less emphasis on animation and, as such; the Company was not at the forefront of the digital revolution and did not produce many animation movie hits. With Pixar, Disney is now further on the technology curve and can  exploit some synergies in marketing, production, and distribution.† (Walt Disney Company release, January 2006). In 2009 Disney purchased another company, Marvel. This move further enhances Disney’s competitiveness and extended the collection of its characters. (CNN, August 2009). The special strength of the company is diversification. In addition to four parks in the US Disney currently has a park in Europe, plus two parks and one more on the way in Asia. Disney’s largest sales revenue is from media sold outside the US. Disney has its own cruise line with regular operation of two boats and is adding two more in January of 2011. (Cruise Talk, June 2010) Many regular Disney guests own part of the Walt Disney World resort through â€Å"Disney Vacation Club†, the company’s timeshare program. Disney’s tour operation business â€Å"Adventures by Disney† offers guests special tours around the world. (Adventures by Disney, n.d.) Everything the company does carries the special â€Å"Disney touch† – a seal of quality and outstanding service. Though the company has some challenges with the economic downturn, it continues to grow leaning heavily on what the company does best providing â€Å"magical† experiences to guests and consumers. References: Disney Dreamer (1998), Walt Disney Quotes. Retrieved from: http://www.disneydreamer.com/walt/quotes.htm Josh Buchanan, Matthew Covarrubias, James Gills, T.J Lovejoy, Craig Wuollet, Meeting the new Standards (December, 2007), Executive Summary, P. 3 Retrieved from: http://www.slideshare.net/jamesrg6/disneypaperfinal Walt Disney Company release (January, 2006) Comments on Acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios. Retrieved from: http://www.dbrs.com/research/206997/walt-disney-company-the/comments-on-acquisition-of-pixar-animation-studios.html David Goldman (August, 2009), CNN, Disney to buy Marvel for $4 billion Retrieved from: http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/31/news/companies/disney_marvel/index.htm The History of Disney’s Animatronics (July, 2008), Disney Blog at Magical Kingdoms Retrieved from: http://www.magicalkingdoms.com/blog/2008/07/08/the-history-of-disneys-audio-animatronics/ Mr. Papa (June, 2010) Cruise Talk Retrieved from: http://cruisetalk.org/2010/06/disney-cruise-line-adds-final-building-block-to-new-cruise-ship-disney-dream.html Adventures by Disney, Retrieved from: http://abd.disney.go.com/abd/en_US/index?name=HomePage

Membrane: Structure And Function

Membrane: Structure And Function Chapter title: Membrane Structure and Function. The ability of the cell to discriminate in its chemical exchanges with the environment is fundamental to life, and it is the plasma membrane that makes this selectivity possible. Membrane The membranes that are found within cells (plus the plasma membrane surrounding cells) consist of phospholipids (and other lipids plus membrane proteins) arrayed by hydrophobic exclusion into two-dimensional fluids known as known as lipid bilayers Phospholipids Phospholipids are amphipathic molecules meaning that they have both a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic end Lipid bilayer Phospholipids can exist as bilayers in aqueous solutions The hydrophobic portion of the phospholipid is shielded in middle of these bilayers The hydrophilic portion is exposed on both sides to water Lipid bilayers are held together mainly by hydrophobic interactions (including hydrophobic exclusion) Fluid mosaic model The plasma membrane contains proteins, sugars, and other lipids in addition to the phospholipids The model that describes the arrangement of these substances in and about lipid bilayers is called the fluid mosaic model Basically, membrane proteins are suspended within a two-dimensional fluid that in turn is made up mostly of phospholipids Cholesterol Cholesterol, a kind of steroid, is an amphipathic lipid that is found in lipid bilayers that serves as a temperature-stability buffer At higher temperatures cholesterol serves to impede phospholipid fluidity At lower temperatures cholesterol interferes with solidification of membranes (e.g., cholesterol functions similarly, in the latter case, to the effect of unsaturated fatty acids on lipid-bilayer fluidity) Cholesterol is found particularly in animal cell membranes Membrane proteins Proteins are typically associated with cell membranes Integral membrane proteins are typically hydrophobic where they interact with the hydrophobic portion of the membrane or hydrophilic where they interact with the hydrophilic portion of the membrane and overlying Functions of membrane proteins Functions of membrane proteins include: Transport of substances across membranes Enzymatic activity cell communication Cell-to-cell joining Attachment to the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix Selective permeability Lipid bilayers display selective permeability In general, intact lipid bilayers are permeable to: Hydrophobic molecules (including many gasses) Small, not-ionized molecules   Simultaneously, lipid bilyaers are NOT permeable to: Larger, polar molecules (e.g., sugars) Ions, regardless of size Thus, lipid bilayers are selectively permeable barriers that allow the entry of small or hydrophobic molecules while blocking the entry of larger polar or even small charged substances Transport across membranes Movement across membranes is important, for instance as a means of removing wastes from a cell or bringing food into a cell Categories of substance transport across membranes include: Passive transport Facilitated diffusion Active transport (including cotransport) Endocytosis, phagocytosis, and exocytosis, also considered below, technically are not mechanisms of movement of substances across lipid bilayers (though these do represent movements of substances into and out of cells; to be movement across the euakaryotic cell membrane, a substance must actually pass through an endomembrane lipid bilayer) Note that in considering transport across membranes we will once again confront the concept of movement away from or towards equilibrium, i.e., endergonic and exergonic processes There are three basic types of movement across membranes: simple diffusion, passive transport, and active transport: Simple diffusion Simple diffusion is the movement of substances across lipid bilayers without the aid of membrane proteins This image (below) shows how substances move through membranes, regardless of net direction and concentration gradients: This image (below) shows how substances net move through membranes in the direction of their concentrations gradients (i.e., with their concentration gradients)-note that regardless of how net movement is accomplished, all simple diffusion across membranes occurs in the manner illustrated above, i.e., it is a process that is driven by the random movement of molecules: This figure (below) indicates the kinds of molecules that are capable of moving across membranes via simple diffusion: Passive transport Passive transport is the term used to describe the diffusion (as well as what is termed facilitated diffusion, below) of substances across lipid bilayers Passive transport is a consequence of movement through the lipid bilayer (whether by diffusion through the membrane or with movement across facilitated by an integral membrane protein) a concentration gradient thereby contrasting with active transport Down the concentration gradient Diffusion is a random process that tends to result in the net movement of substances from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration This includes movement from one side of a permeable lipid bilayer to the other from the higher concentration side to the lower concentration side (i.e., passive transport) Movement from high to low concentration areas is described as going down its concentration gradient. The direction of movement of substances across lipid bilayers by passive transport is controlled by concentration gradients Osmosis Movement of water across selectively permeable membranes down the water concentration gradient is called osmosis Note that this is movement toward equilibrium (exergonic process) Tonicity (isotonic, hypertonic, hypotonic) Picture a membrane separating two solutions, one side with a higher solute concentration than the other The side with the higher solute concentration is said to be hypertonic The side with the lower solute concentration is said to be hypotonic (I keep track of the difference by recalling that a hypodermic syringe is so named because the tip of the needle is placed beneath the dermis, i.e., under the skin; a hypotonic solution has a solute concentration that is beneath, i.e., lower than that of the reference solution) If both sides have the same solute concentration, they are said to be isotonic Animal cells and tonicity Normally animal cells are bathed in an isotonic solution Placement of an animal cell in a hypertonic solution causes the cell to shrink (i.e., water is lost from the cell by osmosis) Placement of an animal cell in a hypotonic solution causes it to take on water then burst (lyse, i.e., die) (water is gained by the cell, lost from the environment bathing the cell, both by osmosis) Turgidity Normally a plant cell exists in a hypotonic environment The hypotonicity causes the plant cytoplasm to expand However the plant cell does not lyse and this is due to the presence of its cell wall This conditions is known as turgidity (i.e., the pressing of the plant plasma membrane up against its cell wall) Plant cells prefer to display turgidity Plasmolysis A plant or bacterial cell placed in a hypertonic environment will show a shrinkage of its cytoplasm This shrinkage is called plasmolysis At the very least plasmolysis will inhibit growth Often plasmolysis will lead to cell death This is the principle upon which foods are preserved in highly osmotic solutions (e.g., salt or sugar); such solutions impede most microbial growth Flaccidity Plant cells bathed in isotonic solutions will fail to display turgidity Instead they display flaccidity At a whole-organismal level, flaccidity is otherwise known as wilting Transport proteins Substances (e.g., sugars) that are not permeable through lipid bilayers may still cross via membrane-spanning transport proteins Facilitated diffusion Facilitated diffusion is the movement of a substance across a membrane via the employment of a transport protein, where net movement can only occur with the concentration gradient, is called facilitated diffusion The key thing to keep in mind is that facilitated diffusion, in contrast to other mechanisms of transport-protein-mediated membrane crossing, does not require any input of energy beyond that necessary to place the protein in the membrane in the first place (i.e., facilitated diffusion is an exergonic process) Passive versus active transport Two general categories of transport across membranes exist: Those that dont require an input of energy (passive transport, simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion) Those that do require an input of energy (active transport) Passive Transport Active Transport Concentration gradient With (Down) Against (Up) Without Integral Protein Yes (Simple Diffusion) No With Integral Protein Yes   Yes Examples Small or Hydrophobic Substances, Osmosis(by simple diffusion) or Not-Small or Charged Substances (by facilitated diffusion) Cotransport, Proton Pump, Sodium-Potassium Pump Active transport Active transport is the movement of substances across membranes against their concentration gradients Moving things against their concentration gradients requires an expenditure of energy (i.e., it is an endergonic process) This energy can be in the form of ATP (e.g., sodium-potassium pump) This energy can also be in the form of electrochemical gradients (i.e., cotransport) Note that the movement of substances by active transport is in a direction that is away from equilibrium Sodium-potassium pump One means by which cells actively transport substances across membranes is via the sodium-potassium pump The sodium-potassium pump is important especially in animal cells, and is the means by which the sodium-potassium electrochemical gradient is established by these cells Proton pump The sodium-potassium pump is the means by which animal cells generate membrane potentials In bacteria, plants, and fungi, proton pumps play the same role The proton pump is simply ATP-driven active transport in which the substance pumped across the membrane is a hydrogen ion Cotransport Much of the active transport accomplished by a cell isnt directly powered by ATP Instead, much active transport is powered by membrane potentials (i.e., electrochemical gradients) Such electrochemical-gradient-driven active transport is called cotransport In cotransport, one substance, such as a sugar, is driven up its concentration gradient while a second substance, e.g., sodium ions or protons, are allowed to fall down their electrochemical gradient; the energy gained from the latter is employed to power the former (i.e., energy coupling) Endocytosis Endocytosis is a general category of mechanisms that move substances from outside of the cell to inside of the cell, but neither across a membrane (technically) nor into the cytoplasm (again, technically speaking) Instead, substances are moved from outside of the cell and into the lumens of endomembrane system members To enter the cytoplasm an endocytosed substance must still be moved across the membrane of the endomembrane system, e.g., following their digestion (typically hydrolysis) to smaller molecules Examples include: phagocytosis, pinocytosis, and receptor-mediated endocytosis Phagocytosis Phagocytosis is the engulfing of extracellular particles is achieved by wrapping pseudopodia around the particles, thus internalizing the particles into vacuoles Amoebas employ phagocytosis to eat Most protozoa obtain their food by engulfing, i.e., via some form of endocytosis The advantage of endocytosis as a mechanism of food gathering has to do with minimizing the volume within which digestive enzymes must work in order to digest food, i.e., the engulfed food particle Cells in our own bodies, called phagocytes and macrophages employ phagocytosis to engulf (and then destroy) debris floating around our bodies as well as to engulf and destroy invading bacteria Pinocytosis Pinocytosis is the engulfing of liquid surrounding a cell This is how developing ova obtain nutrients from their surrounding nurse cells (ova are very large cells so have surface-to-volume problems-pinocytosis solves the problem of nutrient acquisition by allowing nutrients to be obtained across many internal membranes rather than being limited to crossing the plasma membrane) Receptor-mediated endocytosis Receptor-mediated endocytosis involves the binding of extracellular substances to membrane-associated receptors, which in turn induces the formation of a vesicles Exocytosis Exocytosis is more or less the mechanistic opposite of endocytosis