Art Review Essay - 532 Words

Art Review If you have some free time and have always wanted to visit an art gallery, a start is the Art Sacrà © exposition. Just do not expect high quality art. Running from October twenty-third to December eight-teenth at Les Salles de Gesà ¹, the exposition features four artists depicting spirituality and inner self. The first artist in the exposition is Hannah Alpha. Born in Egypt, she’s a McGill alumni who uses the minimalism style of painting, which is the art of using simplistic design to create maximum impact. The paintings grab your attention due to their abstractness. However they fail to portray the artist’s meaning. Her collection, called â€Å"La danse cosmique† (The cosmic dance), is her search to â€Å"attain a state of supreme†¦show more content†¦Perhaps the only way to understand what Peneault was trying to portray is to ask her personally. In the next room I came across a very unique and interesting collection of pieces. If you especially like or have any interest in calligraphy, then you are going to love what Hongmo Ren has done. Calling it REN-script, Ren has created what he calls a calligraphy and linguistic â€Å"experimentale.† Consisting of seven English and six French pieces, he has combined the art and beauty of calligraphy with writing of equal stature. In ten of his pieces he elaborates on the beauty of nature during various seasons and includes a complete verse from the Book of Genesis. The rest of the pieces are large single word depictions again in calligraphy with intricate detail. REN-script is definitely the turning point of this art exposition. The use of words by the artist in the poems is lyrical and actually puts you in the place being described. Some of his settings include the sun shining on Mount Royal and the moon reflecting of the St. Laurent River. At times the writing is a bit hard to understand yet the more one stares at it the clearer it becomes. The amount of work the artist put into his pieces is evident when you examine the detail using ink on rice paper. Inner self is the main theme of the next and final artist in this exhibition. Using paper moldsShow MoreRelatedFinal Art Review: Marina Abramovic805 Words   |  3 PagesAssignment F - Final Art Review Marina Abramović Born in November 30th, 1946, the 67-year-old artist, Marina Abramović, has done numerous jaw-dropping performances throughout her entire existence. Also known as the â€Å"grandmother of performance art†, her work explores the relationship between performer and audience, the limits of the body, and the possibilities of the mind (Wikipedia, 2014) In her first few performances, it was clearly shown how Marina challenge her own body to its maximum limitRead More Art Exhibition Review: Valerie Andrianoff Essay1086 Words   |  5 PagesThe Gallery presented a set of bronze sculptures made by a French artist called Valerie Andrianoff. 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I was also very excited to have actually seen the piece called â€Å"Venus of Willendorf† that is featured in our book on page 164Read MoreReview Of The Principles Of Art 988 Words   |  4 PagesCollingwood begins â€Å"The Principles of Art† by determining to define what is a work of art. He suggests it is made, but not by turning a medium into some thing, and not by use of planning. Here Collingwood considers that it should be determined what sort of â€Å"making† it is when art is made. It is not construction, like a bridge, nor is it accidental. In the past, it was thought that neither the skill of the artist nor his conscious mind had anything to do with art, for it was inspiration given by GodRead MoreReview Of The Art Of Reinvention 1322 Words   |  6 PagesThe Art of Reinvention What is reinvention? Reinvention is the art of changing something or someone that existed previously, and assigning it a new designated role. Prior to undergoing a reinvention, someone must experience enough pain in their current situation to aspire a need for it. An effective reinvention is when someone is able to create something completely different out of the life they previously lived. Characters from The Americans, Breaking Bad, and Gone Girl all reinvented themselvesRead MoreArt Review Essay784 Words   |  4 PagesLast week on Friday, October 27th, Seth Speas and I decided to watch a play for our fine arts report. The evening started out rather rocky due to the fact that our original plans of going to see a play at Dalton Little theatre were changed after realizing that the show had been canceled, Thankfully, the kind man who informed us of the cancellation of the show also mentioned that the ACT, or Artistic Civic Theatre, was putting on a show later that night. While I am not able to confidently make thisRead MoreReview Of The Art Of Quilting Essay2018 Words   |  9 PagesThe Art of Quilting Quilting is an artform that has been passed down through generations. The origins of quilting is still unknown to the public but it is known that it has been around for centuries. The art has traveled through sad and happy times in our world s history, and it will continue to do that in the future. Quilting is defined as the joining together of layers of fabrics with lines stitching to form a bed cover, warm garment, or for decorative effect. Quilting has been pegged as beingRead More Criricism of Wilkie Collins’ Woman in White Essay1614 Words   |  7 PagesCollins belongs the credit of having introduced into fiction those most mysterious of mysteries, the mysteries which are at our own doors.† So said Henry James in an unsigned review of another author’s work. But his view was certainly not shared by all those who cast their opinions into the fray. An unsigned review in the Saturday Review said of Collins’ work, â€Å"Estimated by the standard of great novels, the Woman in White is nowhere. Somewhere between these two points are friends and correspondents of MrRead MoreThe Art of Change - Book Review Essay3307 Words   |  14 PagesSYNOPSIS Leadership and the Art of Change, gives an insightful look at how to lead change within an organization and most importantly do so with success. The author, Lee Roy Beach begins with a look at Wayne a young executive filled with desire to lead an organization on his own after several years of working closely with CEO’s. Wayne’s struggles are detailed by Beach as examples of how not to lead change in a struggling organization. In the end Wayne leaves the company for other opportunitiesRead MoreArt Review: Wolfgang Laibs Nowhere-Everywhere679 Words   |  3 PagesArt review: Nowhere- Everywhere (1998) by Wolfgang Laib Nowhere- Everywhere [title] (1998) [date] by Wolfgang Laib is a free-standing sculpture that consists of two large pyramids flanking one another. What I see: the pyramids are identical and each has steps climbing up the sides. The sculpture is made of blonde wood and beeswax and the steps are relatively rounded so the effect simultaneously recalls childrens blocks being stacked on one another as well as replica of an Egyptian pyramid [viewers

Molecular And Cellular Mechanisms Of Toxicity And Cancer

University of Birmingham Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Toxicity and Cancer Ana Luisa Perini Leme Giordano Mechanisms of neurotoxicity of Aluminum Birmingham 6 November 2014. The chemical compounds of Aluminum usually appear in the trivalent state of the molecule (Al3+) (House et al. 2010). The human exposition to Aluminum occurs mainly through alimentation, inhalation; it can also occur through drinking water, cosmetics and medicaments. (Greger et al.,1992). The occupational exposures to this metal occurs in mining and processing, also in the fabrication of Al products. (JL, Lin et al., 1997). A big number of epidemiologic studies relates the content of Aluminum in the drinking water with the increasing of the†¦show more content†¦The reason for the high concentration of Aluminum in the patient’s body can be the ingestion of aluminum hydroxide that is found in the medicine of the dialysis treatment. (Alfrey, 1796). Also, Aluminum is difficult to be dialyzable in the blood, because it is strongly bounded with proteins, and this makes it difficult to the membrane of the dialysis machine to remove the Aluminum of the patient’s body (D rueke T. 1980). The Aluminum also interferes in the Na+/K+ATPase, a protein that appears in high quantity in the neurons and in the glial cells. The main function of this protein in the brain is related with the fluidity of the membranes and the regulation of the excitability of the neurons and the maintainence of eletrochemicals gradient. (Roesky et al., 2002). The Aluminum inhibits the activity of the Na+K+ATPase, which is a target of the oxidative stress of the neuron, and this oxidative stress is a consequence of Alzheimer’s. (Roesky, 2002). The Aluminum is related to Alzheimer. Elevated levels of Aluminum in the brain can be a consequence of the Alzheimer disease. When you have the Alzheimer disease, the hematoencephalic barrier’s efficacy is reduced, and Aluminum gets in the brain easily (McLachlan). High level of Aluminum in the brain causes the formation of neurofibrilar tangles (the main characteristics of the

Identifying Possible Alternative Solutionsâ€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: How to Do Identifying Possible Alternative Solutions? Answer: Introduction A manager in an organization plays an integral role towards making and implementing decisions which are followed by the subordinates. It is the job of a manager to coordinate, plan and organize for completion of tasks. The manager focuses on the systems and structure of the organization and relies upon control. It is the duty of the manager to follow the instructions of higher authority and deliver the same to the subordinates as well as accomplishing the job in provided time bound. In this assignment, the learner has precisely described the decision-making process from the point of view of the manager of the company Apple Inc. The role of intuition, as well as the reasons behind making wrong decisions, is also broadly described in the assignment. The decision making the process from a managers point of view in the company Apple Inc After the death of Steve Jobs, the company is handled by the new CEO Tim Cook and maintained the standard of the company globally. The decisions that are being made by him is done with the consideration of the managers that are handling each division of the company. The decision-making process at present in Apple Inc. is completely done by the managers and then Cook gives his approval towards its implementation. The decision-making process by the managers are done by following the five steps- Establishing the objective The initial phase of the basic managerial process is to set up the goal of the business endeavor for the company Apple Inc. The imperative target of the business venture is to expand profit margin. This company has various objectives but mostly are based on increasing its profit margin (Anderson et al. 2015). This, in turn, reflects the increase in profit margin. Defining the problem Personifying the method of matter is essential basic decision making is oblique for attaining solution for the raised issue. The managers at Apple Inc. explore the reasons for the issue of diminishing profits. For attaining the position in the market the managers analyze the reason being declining profits in terms of pricing policy, labor management relation and primarily technology used by the company (Clemen Reilly, 2013). After the source of the issue has been found, the problem for lowering profits is identified. Identifying Possible Alternative Solutions When the matter has been recognized, subsequent stages that are taken by the managers are to determine optional responses for the matter. It requires evaluating the issues which impact the matter. In terms of the issues created, that is created which will wind up noticeably elective courses for solving up to the issue. For instance, in the event of the issue, it is recognized that the reason behind the failing of profitable income is sdistinctively due to the operation of lower technology features as well as the use of out-dated machinery (Dekker et al. 2013). Hence, the managers focuses on finding an alternative solution that will critically increase their profit margin. In cases like this, the managers decide to replace the old machinery and use the latest technological innovation that will be better accepted by the target customers. Evaluating Alternative Courses of Action This stage is critically assessed by the managers in business decision making. This needs the congregation and examination of pertinent evidence. Few of the material can be made available in the business organization Apple Inc. whereas the rest of the part can be acquired from the government and the business. The data and material received will be significantly utilized by considering each and every result that has been procured from each strategy (Wright Goodwin, 2009). Strategies, for instance, differential straight programming, analytics and cost-benefit analysis are critically made of use for the basic course of use. The perfect procedure is the one which significantly acquires the desire goal and success of the organization Apple Inc. Later, the strategy which will be benefitted for the company has to be selected and might be additionally observed in terms of the perfect solution for the matter the managers might face several constraints. The limitations might be lawful, for example, laws regarding the disposal of absconded product, financial resources, raw materials and technological limits. The critical part of a business manager is to adopt ideal solution and strategy. The managers of the company need to resolve on a choice under lawful limitations. Implementing the Decision When the course action has been evaluated and perfect strategy chosen, the final step is to realize the strategy that has been chosen. The usage of the choice necessitates constant evaluation for obtaining desirable results which are achieved and its the duty of the managers (Chai, Liu Ngai, 2013). Perfect execution of choice is required for obtaining fruitful outcomes and restorative measures must also be taken. However, one the course of action is chosen by the managers of the company for implementation and to attain the desired objective; critical changes have to be made by them to compete in the market as well as in terms of changing the environment. This will considerably earn a profit for the company Apple Inc. Role of intuition in decision making Intuition plays a huge role in the process of the decision-making process. There are critical times when managers do not find any precedent and they have to deal with conflicting, incomplete or ambiguous information. At these times, intuition takes a huge part for forming an effective decision. The reason behind the use of intuition is the problem is structured poorly which lets the managers take their decisions in an unambiguous way and also in a definite interval of time (Craft, 2013). The factors based on which the decisions has to be taken changes in a rapid manner due to which the base of the analysis for managers changes rapidly and intuition takes its place for making the decision. The rules and factors that are used for solving the problem cannot be analyzed due to less amount of time which led the manager to take decisions based on their gut feelings (Ford Richardson, 2013). It is evident that intuition can make a person a good decision maker typically when individual deals with expedient or non-standards situations of decision making. In the case of Apple Inc., the managers are efficient and reliable for making an effective decision during the time of crisis. Generally they do follow the steps that are required for making the decision-making process; however, during the time when a typical situation arises such as market crash down, the managers are efficient enough to make their own decision with their intuition power (Oshima Lee Emanuel, 2013). Although, after the decision has been made it is the duty of Tim to look at the matter and he does give his approval as currently, Apple Inc. has a democratic structure and each manager are given priority. The managers of the company are skilled at a higher level and they have the experience to tackle the situation during the time of crisis. Reasons behind wrong decisions taken by managers The basic reasons behind the wrong decisions taken by the managers are typically due to prejudgment and low experience. Prejudgment occurs when the managers pick a strategy and overlook any guidance or data that does not cut to that foreordained way. Low experience, in the meantime, is fundamentally a critical factor that creates irrational strategies which are tragically very regular in official meeting rooms (Hasan, Shamsuddin Aziati, 2013). It clarifies why budgetary firms like Apple Inc. got increasingly enmeshed in subprime credits and collateralized obligation commitments. Its not only the arrogance but the lower thinking ability and over proudness. This tends companies like Apple Inc. to risk their market position at few times. Sometimes the chosen framework might come in between solving the problem which leads to failure. Depending too much on gut feel and intuition might lead to failure due to ignoring the requirement of decision factors analysis (Levin Nolan, 2013). Hence , it can be said that intuition does give an additional advantage in decision making but brings disadvantage too for the company. Group pressure can also fail to eliminate the obstacles in terms of appraisal of an alternative course of action. Without following the structure and depending much on talented members can also lead to bad decisions which can cause huge loss for the company. Conclusion In this assignment, the learner has elaborately described the various steps for decision-making process which is well maintained in the company Apple Inc. The five steps are essential for formulating an effective strategy that will benefit the company in several ways. Intuition is an essential factor in terms of decision-making process and widely used in the company Apple Inc. as there are few times when managers need to take decisions rapidly due to various external and internal factors. However, intuition does bring disadvantages too which makes managers make poor decisions that critically affect the stability of the company. Poor decisions are made due to proudness, lower experience, prejudgment, intuition as well as a poor framework. Reference list Books- Anderson, D. R., Sweeney, D. J., Williams, T. A., Camm, J. D., Cochran, J. J. (2015).An introduction to management science: quantitative approaches to decision making. Cengage learning. Clemen, R. T., Reilly, T. (2013).Making hard decisions with DecisionTools. Cengage Learning. Dekker, R., Fleischmann, M., Inderfurth, K., van Wassenhove, L. N. (Eds.). (2013).Reverse logistics: quantitative models for closed-loop supply chains. Springer Science Business Media. Wright, G., Goodwin, P. (2009).Decision analysis for management judgment. John Wiley and sons. Journals- Chai, J., Liu, J. N., Ngai, E. W. (2013). Application of decision-making techniques in supplier selection: A systematic review of literature.Expert Systems with Applications,40(10), 3872-3885. Craft, J. L. (2013). A review of the empirical ethical decision-making literature: 20042011.Journal of Business Ethics,117(2), 221-259. Ford, R. C., Richardson, W. D. (2013). Ethical decision making: A review of the empirical literature. InCitation classics from the Journal of Business Ethics(pp. 19-44). Springer Netherlands. Hasan, Y., Shamsuddin, A., Aziati, N. (2013). The impact of management information systems adoption in managerial decision making: A review.The International Scientific Journal of Management Information Systems,8(4), 010-017. Levin, J., Nolan, J. F. (2013).Principles of classroom management: A professional decision-making model. Pearson Higher Ed. Oshima Lee, E., Emanuel, E. J. (2013). Shared decision making to improve care and reduce costs.New England Journal of Medicine,368(1), 6-8.

Introduction of mung bean free essay sample

The mung or moong bean[1] (also known as green gram or golden gram) is the seed of Vigna radiata,[2][3] native to the Indian subcontinent,[4] and mainly cultivated in India, China, The mung bean was domesticated in Mongolia, where its progenitor (Vigna radiata subspecies sublobata) occurs wild. [6][7] Archaeological evidence has turned up carbonized mung beans on many sites in India. [8] Areas with early finds include the eastern zone of the Harappan civilization in Punjab and Haryana, where finds date back about 4500 years, and South India in the modern state of Karnataka where finds date back more than 4000 years. Some scholars therefore infer two separate domestications in the northwest and south of India. In South India there is evidence for evolution of larger-seeded mung beans 3500 to 3000 years ago. [7] By about 3500 years ago mung beans were widely cultivated throughout India. Cultivated mung beans later spread from India to China and Southeast Asia. Archaeobotanical research at the site of Khao Sam Kaeo in southern Thailand indicates that mung beans had arrived in Thailand by at least 2200 years ago. We will write a custom essay sample on Introduction of mung bean or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Finds on Pemba Island indicate that during the era of Swahili trade, in the 9th or 10th century, mung beans also came to be cultivated in AfricaMung bean starch, which is extracted from ground mung beans, is used to make transparent cellophane noodles (also known as bean thread noodles, bean threads, glass noodles, fensi ( ), tung hoon ( ), mi? n, bun tau, or bun tao). Cellophane noodles become soft and slippery when they are soaked in hot water. A variation of cellophane noodles, called mung bean sheets or green bean sheets, are also available. In Korea, a jelly called nokdumuk. Is made from mung bean starch; a similar jelly, colored yellow with the addition of gardenia coloring, is called hwangpomuk (hangul: ). In northern China, mung bean jelly is called liangfen ( , meaning chilled bean jelly), which is very popular food during summer. Jidou liangfen is another flavor of mung bean jelly food in Yunnan, in southern China. The starch of mung beans is also extracted from them to make jellies and transparent or cellophane noodles. Mung batter is used to make crepes named pesarattu in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Free Essays on Argumentation Essay

And a woman spoke, saying, "Tell us of Pain." And he said: Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain. -The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran Pain can be all-consuming, pervading our senses and making us despondent and irrational; we dread our darkest hours with the same intensity that we look forward to the happiest days of our lives. But pain is a natural element of our existence, providing us with the means to know ourselves better, and giving us the ability to experience ultimate happiness. Pain is a necessary condition of human existence; we must embrace and accept it. Pain is a vital, natural ingredient in our lives. Sorrow is as natural as happiness; the happiness surrounding the birth of our children is as natural as the melancholy surrounding the deaths of our parents. The grieving process that takes place after the loss of a loved one is excruciatingly painful but it must be surmounted in order for us to move on. We must realize that pain is the result of happiness and happiness is the result of pain. For instance, the happiness that we feel from being a loving relationship makes a break-up all the more painful, while the pain that we feel from that loss makes our next love all the more joyful. Although we are sometimes overcome with sadness so acute that it causes us irrepressible pain, we must accept that pain is nature’s way of alleviating sorrow; we must also accept that the end result of pain is happiness. Pain allows us to confront the hardship in our lives, allowing us to put sadness behind us. By realizing that pain is natural and healing, we can understand that without it we can never truly know ourselves; it is often in our darkest hours that we begin to gain insight into our true character. When we disappoint ourselves and those we love, it is painful. But it is pain that provide... Free Essays on Argumentation Essay Free Essays on Argumentation Essay And a woman spoke, saying, "Tell us of Pain." And he said: Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain. -The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran Pain can be all-consuming, pervading our senses and making us despondent and irrational; we dread our darkest hours with the same intensity that we look forward to the happiest days of our lives. But pain is a natural element of our existence, providing us with the means to know ourselves better, and giving us the ability to experience ultimate happiness. Pain is a necessary condition of human existence; we must embrace and accept it. Pain is a vital, natural ingredient in our lives. Sorrow is as natural as happiness; the happiness surrounding the birth of our children is as natural as the melancholy surrounding the deaths of our parents. The grieving process that takes place after the loss of a loved one is excruciatingly painful but it must be surmounted in order for us to move on. We must realize that pain is the result of happiness and happiness is the result of pain. For instance, the happiness that we feel from being a loving relationship makes a break-up all the more painful, while the pain that we feel from that loss makes our next love all the more joyful. Although we are sometimes overcome with sadness so acute that it causes us irrepressible pain, we must accept that pain is nature’s way of alleviating sorrow; we must also accept that the end result of pain is happiness. Pain allows us to confront the hardship in our lives, allowing us to put sadness behind us. By realizing that pain is natural and healing, we can understand that without it we can never truly know ourselves; it is often in our darkest hours that we begin to gain insight into our true character. When we disappoint ourselves and those we love, it is painful. But it is pain that provide...

Carta de invitación para sacar la visa de turista EE.UU

Carta de invitacià ³n para sacar la visa de turista EE.UU Las cartas de invitacià ³n se utilizan frecuentemente como parte de la documentacià ³n que se entrega a una embajada o consulado americano cuando se solicita una visa de turista para Estados Unidos. No es un documento necesario, pero sà ­ que es  frecuente  porque puede ayudar a que el oficial consular se decida aprobar la visa que se solicita. Pero es importante entender que, por sà ­ sola, la carta de invitacià ³n no es suficiente para obtener la visa, sino que es un elemento ms a tener en cuenta y para inclinar la balanza a favor del solicitante.   Asimismo, si no se presenta una carta de invitacià ³n eso no quiere decir que la visa no pueda obtenerse. En otras palabras, es un documento de presentacià ³n voluntaria que puede ayudar a obtener la visa. En este artà ­culo se informa sobre quià ©nes pueden escribir la carta de invitacià ³n, quià ©n es el destinatario de la misma, cul es el formato adecuado y quà © documentos adicionales se pueden incluir en apoyo de la veracidad de la carta. Quià ©nes pueden escribir la carta de invitacià ³n para sacar la visa de turista La carta de invitacià ³n no la escribe la persona que solicita la visa, sino otra distinta que es a quien se va a visitar en Estados Unidos. En este punto, es fundamental el estatus migratorio de dicha persona en Estados Unidos ya que determina si tiene capacidad para redactar este tipo de documento. Pueden hacerlo las siguientes personas: En primer lugar, los ciudadanos americanos, que debern acreditar tal situacià ³n mediante documentos como copia del pasaporte americano o del certificado de nacimiento en Estados Unidos. En realidad, cualquier documento oficial que pruebe su condicià ³n de estadounidenses. En segundo lugar, los residentes permanentes legales. En este caso, debern incluir con la carta una fotocopia legible por los dos lados  de su tarjeta de residencia, tambià ©n conocida como green card. Y, en tercer lugar, pueden redactar la carta de invitacià ³n los extranjeros que se encuentran legalmente en Estados Unidos  porque tienen una visa vigente. En este caso  debern adjuntar a la carta de invitacià ³n su certificado original de nacimiento, fotocopia de todas las hojas de su pasaporte y, si su visa estuviera en otro ya expirado, tambià ©n incluir copias de à ©ste. Si la visa est expirada pero se ha pedido su renovacià ³n, una copia de dicha peticià ³n. Adems de esos documentos los extranjeros con visas L1 de transfer entre sedes de una misma empresa  o H1  para profesionales debern incluir su à ºltimo I-797, una carta que reciben del Servicio de Inmigracià ³n y Ciudadanà ­a (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglà ©s). Por otro lado,  los migrantes que està ©n en situacià ³n de ajuste de estatus pendiente  se recomienda que envà ­en junto a la carta de invitacià ³n una copia del documento que pruebe tal situacià ³n, como por ejemplo el permiso de trabajo, conocida en inglà ©s como  EAD card. Por à ºltimo, tener en consideracià ³n que si la invitacià ³n se hace a favor de un familiar por razà ³n de matrimonio, como por ejemplo un suegro o un cuà ±ado, deber acompaà ±arse la carta de invitacià ³n con una fotocopia del certificado de boda de la persona que invita y fotocopia del pasaporte de su marido o de su mujer. Por ejemplo, si un ciudadano americano est casado con una mexicana y quiere invitar a su suegra a que les visite en EEUU con ocasià ³n del bautizo de su hijo deber incluir no sà ³lo prueba de su ciudadanà ­a estadounidense, sino tambià ©n de estar casado con su esposa mexicana y copia del pasaporte de à ©sta. Finalmente, los migrantes indocumentados no deben  escribir una carta de invitacià ³n. No facilitarà ­a la solicitud de visa del solicitante y, por otro lado, servirà ­a para revelar la situacià ³n de indocumentado de dicho migrante y datos importantes como, por ejemplo, dà ³nde vive. Adems, si una persona invita a sus padres a visitar Estados Unidos y esos padres tienen ms hijos en ese paà ­s, deber tambià ©n acreditarse el estatus legal de todos los hijos que viven en el paà ­s y no sà ³lo el del hijo que extiende la invitacià ³n. Destinatario de la carta de invitacià ³n para sacar la visa de turista La carta se envà ­a a la persona que se desea invitar y  no al consulado  o embajada que debe tramitar el visado. Este punto da lugar a mucha confusià ³n ya que es comà ºn creer que el consulado es el destinatario de esta carta. Sin embargo, esa creencia es equivocada. En todos los casos, la persona que invita debe enviar la carta a la persona invitada. Formato de la carta de invitacià ³n para la visa de turista para EE.UU. No hay una forma determinada que diga expresamente cà ³mo tiene que ser la carta. Es decir, cada persona puede escribir lo que quiera, pero utilizando un lenguaje formal, respetuoso y claro. Adems, deberà ­a seguir las siguientes pautas: Estar escrita en inglà ©s.  Incluir la fecha en la que se escribeNo olvidarse de firmarIdentificar expresamente  a la persona que se quiere invitar. Por ejemplo, si son padre e hijo, hermanos o simplemente amigos.Redactarla en una computadora e imprimir el documento. Documentacià ³n adicional que deberà ­a aà ±adirse a la carta de   invitacià ³n Se recomienda enviar documentacià ³n que pruebe la capacidad econà ³mica de la persona que invita a un extranjero a visitar EEUU y puede ser uno o varios de los documentos siguientes: Copia de la declaracià ³n de impuestos federales de los à ºltimos tres aà ±os. Si no se tienen tantos aà ±os declarados, los que se tengan. Y tambià ©n copias de los W2. Si se es empresario por cuenta propia, enviar prueba de tal situacià ³n y cuentas bancarias corporativas. Tambià ©n serà ­a apropiado enviar una copia de los extractos bancarios de al menos los à ºltimos seis meses. Deben demostrar cierta fortaleza econà ³mica. Otra opcià ³n es incluir una carta en papel oficial de la empresa que emplee a la persona que hace la invitacià ³n y que identifique al empleado, desde cundo trabaja allà ­, cul es su salario y si su contrato es temporal o no. Finalmente, tambià ©n es vlido una carta del banco en papel oficial en el que se diga cundo la persona que redacta la carta de invitacià ³n abrià ³ la cuenta en una de sus oficinas, cunto dinero se deposità ³ el aà ±o anterior y el saldo en el momento actual. Ejemplos de cartas de invitacià ³n Aquà ­ se puede consultar  ejemplos de cartas de invitacià ³n. Estn en inglà ©s porque es el idioma en el que deben escribirse.   Consejos migratorios para turistas en Estados Unidos No todos los extranjeros necesitan sacar una visa de turista para ingresar a Estados Unidos. Y es que los ciudadanos de los paà ­ses acogidos al Programa de Exencià ³n de Visas  pueden ingresar solicitando una Autorizacià ³n Electrà ³nica conocida como ESTA si llegan al paà ­s por avià ³n o llenando el formulario I-94 si llegan por barco o se presentan en una frontera terrestre. Como no necesitan visa, tampoco precisan de una carta de invitacià ³n. Por à ºltimo, destacar que las visas de turista se pueden negar por muchas causas, pero que pueden resumirse en dos grandes categorà ­as: por ser inadmisible para ingresar a Estados Unidos y/o por ser inelegible.   La causa ms comà ºn de rechazo de la aprobacià ³n de la visa de turista es que el oficial consular considere que no se ha probado ms all de toda duda que el solicitante tiene lazos familiares y econà ³micos fuertes en su paà ­s de origen o de residencia habitual. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Reflective personal learning journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Reflective personal learning journal - Essay Example These four subjects are motivation, leadership, conflict management, and teamwork. I will now describe each of these four areas in turn by showing what I have learned, how I have applied what I have learned to real situations, and how the insight gained has influenced how I will manage employees. One of the important topics covered in the course was motivation. Motivation has been described saying, â€Å"Motivation refers to the forces either within or external to a person that arouse enthusiasm and persistence to pursue a certain course of action† (Daft, 1997, p. 526). As a manager, an important part of my duties will be to ensure that employees are motivated. For this reason, I have considering how motivation applies within the organisation so that I can gain insight into methods I can use to motivate employees. The organisational behaviour approach to motivation includes considering how the organisation impacts on the motivation of employees and how employees can be motivated. This includes recognising that the characteristics that result in a person being motivated are not often simple or obvious. An approach to the issue that does not look at the behavioural aspects but only looks at the problem on the surface may see employees as being rewarded financially and assume that they should be motivated by this financial reward. The behavioural aspect goes a lot deeper than this and considers the complex issues that contribute to motivation. This approach may recognise that while financial rewards are received, employees do not receive adequate recognition or praise for their efforts. This approach may also recognise that employees feel pressured in the workplace and that this stress causes a decline in motivation. By focusing on the behaviour of employees, the many aspects that contribute to motivation are noted. I think this is important because it will allow me to take positive actions to motivate employees. I will

The Cross-border Merger of Kraft and Cadbury Term Paper

The Cross-border Merger of Kraft and Cadbury - Term Paper Example An overview of the Kraft –Cadbury merger In February 2010, Cadbury gave in to Kraft’s US$ 19.7 billion takeover after a fierce battle lasting over 100 days. Kraft Foods US is a major confectionary maker. The British chocolate maker had earlier in 2009, rejected a US$ 16.4 billion hostile takeover bid from Kraft, stating that the value did not represent the intrinsic value of the Cadbury brand. Industry experts believe that the combined group is the number one in chocolate and confectionary segments, as well as the second in the high growth gum segment (Ralph & Olesseni, p.61). Cadbury had agreed for 840 pence per share which would give them a total valuation of $19 billion. Media reported that Cadbury slipped into US giant Kraft Foods and the British Prime Minister committed that the jobs in UK could be protected. It was estimated that Cadbury employees numbered more than 45000 worldwide. It was expected, Kraft Cadbury combined would generate large cost savings, enablin g Kraft to become a global market leader. The conglomeration would also generate annual sales of more than $ 50 billion. The market reaction was mixed especially from UK where the fear of job loss came up and cultural reaction was that the country’s honor namely Cadbury’s brand, had been given to US. Kraft Foods was one of the major US confectionery manufacturers with net revenue of $42 billion and operating in 150 countries as of 2008. It was founded 1903 as a cheese company by James L. Kraft (Funding Universe, 2002) and over the years established fine brands like Milka, Toblerone, Jacobs, Oscar Mayer and Oreo. Even though Kraft was able to capture US and European markets, it was the second largest food company in the world and Nestle, Switzerland continued to occupy the premier position with its brands firmly established not only in developed countries but also in developing countries. Nestle had reported a net profit of $9.55 billion with an annual turnover of $99 b illion in 2009. Next in the race for second position was Cadbury, UK with its popular brands like Dairy Milk bars, Roses chocolates, Trident gum and Halls cough drops, built over 150 years not only in UK and developed countries but also firmly established its presence in the developing countries like India, Mexico and Brazil for over 50 years. Cadbury’s revenues in 2008 stood at ?5.4billion. Kraft Foods US with an ambition to reach the top slot in the global confectionery market made a bid for $10 billion to acquire a 100% stake in Cadbury at the end of 2009. The bid was rejected outright as the market value of the share was more than ? 7 per share and Kraft Foods had to reconsider the valuation process of Cadbury and made a revised offer of around $ 19.6 billion in early 2010 over which the shareholders of Cadbury numbering over 90% consented to the acquisition. Evolution and Growth of Kraft Foods Kraft Foods Inc., the second largest food company in the world, had brands spr ead over five consumer sectors – snacks, beverages, cheese, grocery and convenient meals. Kraft Foods had strong presence worldwide and operated in150 countries as of 2008. The company had evolved from a cheese company, started by James L. Kraft in 1903. James L. Kraft had started his cheese business to relieve the grocers from travelling daily to procure cheese. The merger of Kraft – Phenix and National Dairy Products Corporation in 1930 led to the further growth of Kraft. New brands such as Miracle Whip salad dressing, Velveeta pasteurized process cheese spread, were launched and turned to be successful. Innovative advertising strategy followed by Kraft was another driving force for Kraft’s success. The company was renamed as Kraft Foods Company in 1945 and during the post war period Kraft Foods continued with its new product launches and innovative advertising. In spite of various restructuring activities, Kraft General Foods’ financial results were no t rosy. In early 1995, the three units, Kraft USA, General

Advanced Audio Coding and Walkman Essay Example for Free

Advanced Audio Coding and Walkman Essay Technology has played an important in part in market and in the society. It has brought positive as well as negative changes. The progression from sheet music to the invention of a phonograph to the walkman, CD player and the iPod has created a modernized society. People tend to move along with these changes creating a market. The idea of transferring digital music to your iPod without purchase of a CD or an audiotape may seem like an extraordinary idea but the idea of digital music has led to the downloading of illegal music. The Walkman may have been the turning point in the music recording industry. It was a chain reaction for later products such as the iPod and the CD player. Long before the iPod made its way into the market making millions; the Walkman was the trendy technology. Sony introduced the Walkman in the 1970s, a new invention that led to be a massive hit. Sony ended up selling around fifty thousand pieces by the end of two months after its release. Eventually, other famous brands such as Toshiba and Panasonic entered the walkman market creating a market in the early 1980s. Surprisingly, the production of the Walkman led to an increase in physical activities. This portable device could be carried anywhere and had a hook to attach to any item of clothing. People started exercising more as one can listen to his or her choice of music while working out especially in gymnasiums. This brought a change in the society as people began to implement physical training more often. This also had a disadvantage since people who had their headphones plugged in tend to be more indifferent to their surroundings. This created an environment, where everyone is tuned in into their little environment being oblivious to what is happening around them. With the creation of walkman, the sale of digital audio tapes also increased. As iPods are the 21st century popular forms of music player technology, the walkman was the latest thing. This generation became more ‘wired’ as teenagers started to grow apart from the notion of young people together singing the songs of the day or the old songs in front of their houses. Sheet music became obsolete, as fewer and fewer people moved to a more modernized technology and era. Comparing to the advances in the 21st century, the walkman is seen as an old portable audio cassette player, where rewinding and forwarding a song would take twenty or thirty seconds. The latest music technology, mp3s or iPod, have put people at an ease with sophisticated technology and its touch screen display has bought a change in this profit-making business. The slick structure and the advanced A Walkman today would cost you merely twenty dollar where as an iPod can cost anywhere from a hundred to a couple hundred dollars. How digital music is illegally downloaded and used today on music players, Walkman on the other hand required the purchase of audiotapes. As Paul Du Gay notes in his book ‘Doing cultural studies: the story of the Sony Walkman’, the walkman accustomed individuals to tune out from the surroundings and caused them to be reclusive. This also led to a cause of a gneration gap between teenagers and their parents or older siblings. The walkman was used by people when in crowded places, such as trains or buses as a means to drown away noises. This seemed as an effective way to creating your own space but this eventually leads to people tuning themselves out even when at home. Teenagers liked to keep their headphones on throughout the day; I believe this led to a distance between them and their peers. Eventually, a type of distance grew among people, sheet music was nearly extinct and the customary ritual of singing together was far disappeared. In conclusion, the Walkman has definitely been a jump from the traditional tape recorder players to portable audio players. Its creation has had its advantages and disadvantages. The increase in the level of physical activity has increased among the owners of Walkman due to the fact that it is portable. Although, on a downside the Walkman has also led to the creation of a secluded attitude.

Essay --

Executive Summary The Sun Products Corporation has designed a product that offers buyers an easy and affordable way to effectively soften their laundry. Proper fabric softening is the most effective process available to reduce static cling and stiffness in clothing. Improper laundry techniques result in wrinkles, faded materials, and the breakdown of fabrics. Studies have shown that proper washing procedures can slow down the deterioration of fabrics and lengthen the life of clothes while making the whites whiter and colors brighter over a longer period of time. The greatest solution to this problem stems from the lack of use of fabric softeners. Existing products offer no effective or affordable solutions for ensuring laundry comes out soft and snuggly. Treatment of clothes costs Americans over $4 Billion in direct costs each year. The Sun Products Corporation is the first line of laundry products to answer this problem and provide proven results that using fabric softener lengthens the overall life and quality of clothing. After washing, the unique additive in our fabric softener remains on the clothes. This will allow protection from dangerous UV rays, immense dryer and iron heat, daily usage, as well as future laundry cycles. Though our brand Snuggle, we shall provide this in a new product line under the registered brand name Snuggle Dri, which not only provides the advantages stated above but also creates a water repellant coating. No other product on the market offer similar results along with trusted quality and assurance of Snuggle. The Company The Sun Products Corporation was founded in 1975 as Huish Detergents Inc. by way of Wilton, Connecticut. The Sun Products Corpo... ...ed on detailed financial projections, Snuggle Dri will require $300,000 in start-up capital, but will bring in positive cash flow practically instantaneously which will handle any unexpected expenses and generate profit by the end of Year 1. By the end of Year 3 the brand will be generating $30,000,000 in sales with a sizeable net profit. Sales - Sales growth is projected at a constant rate of 90% annually, which based on growth from existing channels of distribution and positioning Operating Expenses - After the first 24 months we project an increase in operating expenses caused by higher advertising, marketing, and promotion costs Inventory Turnover - We will launch with a test run with purchase of 30,000 gallons of Snuggle Dri. We will keep this as a minimal inventory stock at our distribution hub. On average, we will have three months worth of inventory on hand.

Human Resources Information Essay

Introduction This report on data management; has been compiled to explain to you the reasons why HR data is important to an organisation, the types of data that should be recorded, the methods for collecting HR data and some of the UK legislation surrounding the recording, storing and accessibility of HR Data. Types of Data That Should Be Recorded and the Reasons Why â€Å"HR records include a wide range of data relating to individuals working in an organisation, for example, pay or absence levels, hours worked and trade union agreements. This information may be stored in a variety of media, such as computer databases or paper files.† (http://www.cipd.co.uk/hr-resources/factsheets/retention-hr-records.aspx#link_0, accessed 3/3/2015) There are some statutory records that need to be recorded and stored; these statutory records must be kept because the law requires them. Statutory records will include things like the job title, address and emergency contact. Records such as pay and working hours will  be stored to help management adhere to the Working Time Directive and the Minimum Wage Act 1998. Non-statutory records are kept for the internal purposes of the organisation. These records such as attendance, punctuality, skills, strengths and weaknesses can all be used to recognise trends within the company and aggregate management or big data so that managers can act on any trends that may need sorting. For example at P.P. Plasma Ltd there is only one person in the sales department who is trained to read and understand technical drawings. This person is currently in line for a promotion within the group of companies and will no longer be part of the sales team in the next eighteen months. After aggregating the records it has been identified that the manager of the drawing office has the skills to teach the other sales team members enough to fill this skills gap. Other reasons for storing records could be to review capability issues; induction records, training records and health and safety documentation should all allow the organisation to challenge staff on the reasons that they are not following procedures when they have had training and have signed to show understanding. These will also show any other training that may be necessary. As evidence in case of any tribunal or discrimination challenges; recruitment and selection data and termination of employment data will show the organisation has been fair and unbiased in its selection process or how they have dealt with a termination without discrimination. Methods of Storing HR Data Paper Method The paper method of storing records has many more disadvantages than advantages; but for small organisations would still be a viable solution to storing HR records. â€Å"Data relating to employees is of a highly contentious and potentially litigious nature and has to be managed in accordance with compliance regulations. To do this manually is a daunting task and often liable to malpractice.† (http://www.ipcgroup.co.uk, accessed 7/3/2015) There are time limits on the information that can be kept and if you are storing this information manually then this also means that you must remove or redact information every so often. This means that data could be stored for too long. Aggregating all of the data collected into big data can also be a challenge; most of this data will need to be entered into spreadsheets  manually in order to create the management data needed. Other issues with paper records are the cost of floor space needed to store the information, the difficulty of backing up such a system; this would require the same amount of floor space on an alternate site and the security of the records; some filing cabinets may be locked with a key but if somebody were to forget to lock the cabinet then these files are open to anybody with access to the room. Digital Method The digital method could be a cheaper, much more secure, simple and timesaving solution to all organisations but especially the larger ones. â€Å"Given the low cost and the easy accessibility of electronic records storage, many employers are making the digital leap to â€Å"paperless† HR. These days, most records are created and maintained electronically, and some never even make their way to paper.† (http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com, accessed 7/3/2015) Security on a digital system whether it be local or cloud based would be much easier to manage, an electronic record of anybody that as accessed data can be kept automatically and permissions can be set to allow some people to see records that others do not have permission to see; for example at P.P. Plasma Ltd the Managing Director will have access to the HR of everybody in the organisation whereas a departmental manager will only have access to the records on their own staff. Space is only an issue of how much cloud space you can afford or how big a hard drive you can have in your server if you are doing it locally. When using a cloud based service you need to ensure that the cloud service that you are using has a backup system in case of a failure or natural disaster and what the time constraints on these being implemented if needed. Whereas if you are using a local system you will need to speak with your IT department and ensure that the system is backed and removed from the site, this solution will also need a time constraint on how long the system will need to be put back into place. Other reasons to use a digital HR system would be that the data could be aggregated into management and big data easily, whether the HR system has this built in or the data needs to be copied into a spreadsheet or database in order to create graphs, charts , tables and reports. Searching digital records could be done with a few clicks of the mouse and as long as the permissions are set up correctly this could also tell you who you need to  speak to in order to gain access to the information that you are searching for. UK Legislation regarding HR Data There are many pieces of legislation surrounding the recording, accessing and storing of HR data but the two that I am going to explain are the Date Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Data Protection Act 1998 controls how your personal information is used by organisations, businesses or the government. Anybody responsible for storing and accessing HR data has to follow the data protection principles. They must make sure the information is: used fairly and lawfully used for limited or specifically stated purposes used in a way that is adequate, relevant and not excessive accurate kept for no longer than is absolutely necessary handled according to people’s data protection rights kept safe and secure not transferred outside the UK without adequate protection Anybody who feels that there data has not been used in accordance to these principles can make a complaint to the organisation themselves and if they are still unhappy with the response can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives the general public right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities and those providing services for them. It also sets out exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on public authorities. Recorded information includes printed documents, computer files, letters, emails, photographs, and sound or video recordings. In order to adhere to the Freedom of Information Act; any person making a request to a public authority for information will be entitled to be informed whether that information is held. The Freedom of Information Act does not give people access to their own personal data such as their health records or credit reference file. If a member of the public wants to see information that a public authority holds about them, they should make a subject access request under the Data Protection Act 1998

Books vs Ebooks Essay

Now days with the rise of digital technology many physical items such as pen and paper are slowly being replaced by computers and smart phones. But is this really a good thing? I read books and of course so do many other people in this class and around the globe. But since the creation of ‘e-readers’ more and more people have been converting to the technology based side of reading. Although technology is slowly becoming more predominant in this era we should not rely on it to always entertain and keep us occupied. I think ‘real, physical’ books are better than e-books because you can truly own a book. As Mortimer J. Adler, a popular author, says, ‘Full ownership comes only when you have made [the book] a part of yourself, and the best way to make yourself a part of it is by writing in it. ’ When owning an e-book it is more like owning ‘insurance’ than owning a camera. In one case ownership of books is physical and irrevocable but e-books are not and can be taken away easily as Kindle users discovered when one day their copies of 1984 suddenly disappeared. You will know a book that is truly owned because it will be ‘dog-eared and dilapidated, shaken and loosened by continual use, marked and scribbled in from front to back,’ says Adler. It also lets you know how old and how well enjoyed a book was. E-readers are beginning to allow some interactivity, but it is of a very different order. Taking a note in an e-book or making a highlight in it is independent of the book; all of that information is stored apart from the book in a file or a database. Send the book to another person and you’ll find that all of the notes and highlights are gone. They belong to you or your device, not to your book. One of the most disappointing aspects of e-books is that they cannot be loaned out. Most have some kind of digital rights management which ties a book to a particular owner. When you buy a Kindle book, you might have a copy of that book on up to 5 of your devices, but they must be devices tied to your Amazon account. You cannot loan your book to your friend; you cannot even loan it to your mum if she has a Kindle of her own. Of course that’s not strictly true—you can loan your book by loaning your reading device, but that’s like giving someone access to one of your books by loaning them an entire library, book cases and all. And books are a tactile experience, meaning they are supposed to be experienced through touch and smell (especially for the old books). A book is meant to be an experience that can have depressions and elevations on the cover and text, feeling the weight of the pages as you turn them and all of these elements when combined make a book what it is, but when you read an e-book you are exposed to digitized text and a screen. And it’s been proven that when people are exposed to screens of TVs or computers they are less likely to have a good night sleep. On a web poll about e-books vs. books one person commented, ‘I’ve tried reading a few e-books but I’ve always given up. I just don’t like looking at digitized text when I’m reading a novel. I like the feel, the weight and even the smell of books,’ many of the following comments made by others agreed with this persons thoughts. A book is a single-task item that is written to distract the reader from everything else happening around them, they are technology designed for the best possible reading experience. An e-reader, however, tends to be a multi-tasking item with the ability to play music and videos as well as hold books. The iPad has a reading function but the focus is usually on the masses of games and the ability to search the internet. They beep, they buzz, and they disengage in a thousand ways. I don’t ever anticipate searching quiet side streets in old towns hoping to find used e-book stores. That’s because there is no such thing as a used e-book. E-books are never used, even when they have been read. They are still just files, as unblemished after ten years as they were the day they were duplicated. They will never suddenly appear as hidden treasures, dug out of a box in an old, rundown book store. They can never be loaned out and they can never be resold. They are forever new, forever fresh, forever unused and unstained. There will be no rare first editions, no beautiful special editions to be searched for decades from now. But whether used or new physical books can have sentimental value, you can get given a book for you birthday from your aunt but she can’t buy you an e-book, although she can give you the money for one, there won’t be a sweet message in its cover and you probably won’t remember if you bought the e-book or not. Books have sentimental value to them and are special reminders of times in you life because you can see them age and they will always be a physical reminder where they came from. We may be replacing things for easy technology even though some of it keeps us occupied. We still use old fashion books and letters because it connects us to what is happening, the letter you got from your grandma is special because its physical and you can keep it without it somehow disappearing. You can mark a book to show others its yours and to show them how you felt about it, you can lend them to a friend so they can enjoy it too and you can really get into a book that you can feel and smell and hide away from the world to find somewhere you can be or do whatever you want.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Cutting for Maggie monologue essays

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Cutting for Maggie monologue essays One of those no-neck monsters hit me with a hot buttered biscuit so I have to change! Well, I! - just remarked that! - one of th no-neck monsters messed up my lovely lace dress so I got to cha-a-ange! I swear theyve got no necks. None visible. Their fat little heads are stuck on their fat little bodies without a bit of connection. An its too bad, cause you cant wring their necks if theyve got no necks to wring! Yep, theyre monsters, all right. All no-neck people are monsters. Hear them? Hear them screaming? I dont know where their voice boxes are located since they dont have necks. I tell you I got so nervous at that table tonight I thought I would throw back my head and utter a scream you could hear clear across the Arkansas border and parts of Louisiana and Tennessee. I said to your charming sister-in-law, Mae, honey couldnt you feed those precious little thing at a separate table? They make such a mess and the lace cloth looks soooo pretty... She made enormous eyes at me and said, Ohhhhhh, no! On Big Daddys birthday? Why, he would never forgive me! Well, I want you to know, Big Daddy hadnt been at that table two minutes with them no-neck monsters slobbering an drooling over their food before he threw down his fork and shouted Fo Gods sake, Gooper! Why dont you feed them pigs at a trough in the kitchen?! Well, I swear, I simply could have dii-ie-ed! -Big Daddy shares my attitude towards Brother man and that monster of fertility Mae! As for me, well - I give him a laugh now and then and he tolerates me. In fact, - I sometimes suspect that Big Daddy harbors a little unconscious lech for me. Way he always drops his eyes down my body when Im talking to him, drops his eyes to my boobs an licks his old chops! Ha ha! - Why are ...

Quotes from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Quotes from 'Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Brave New World deals with issues of technological advancements, sexuality, and individualityin a dehumanizing society. Huxley explores how his characters react to living in a dystopian future society, in which everyone’s place in society is strictly defined. Here are a few quotes from the novel.   Our world is not the same as  Othellos  world. You cant make flivvers without steel- and you cant make tragedies without social instability. The worlds stable now. People are happy; they get what they want, and they never want what they cant get.† (ch. 16) With these words which Mustapha Mond speaks to John, in a philosophical-debate-like fashion, he details why Shakespeare is obsolete in the World State. Being a highly educated man, he admits to them being beautiful, but his words are old, and, thus, unfit for a society that is primarily oriented to consumerism. What’s more, he belittles John for using Shakespeare as  a paradigm of values and ethics, because Shakespeare’s world is very different from the World State. His was a world subjected to turmoil and instability, while the World State is essentially stable, which, in turn, is not a fertile ground for tragedies.   Quotes about Love and Sex â€Å"Whore! he shouted Whore! Impudent strumpet!† (Ch. 13) John yells these words at Lenina as she gets naked in front of him. Citing his beloved Shakespeare, he addresses her as a â€Å"disrespectful whore.† It’s a line coming from Othello, where the titular character is about to kill his wife Desdemona as he became convinced she had been cheating on him. Both instances of the use â€Å"impudent strumpet,† are misdirected, though: Desdemona was faithful all along, while Lenina had been sleeping around because the society she was raised in conditioned her to do so. Both Othello and John see their love interest as both sleazy and beautiful, which disturbs John, since he is not able to compute feelings of repulsion and attraction at the same time. In fact, such contrasting feelings eventually lead him to madness and death. Mother, monogamy, romance. High spurts the fountain; fierce and foamy the wild jet. The urge has but a single outlet. My love, my baby. No wonder those poor pre-moderns were mad and wicked and miserable. Their world didn’t allow them to take things easily, didn’t allow them to be sane, virtuous, happy. What with mothers and lovers, what with the prohibitions they were not conditioned to obey, what with the temptations and the lonely remorses, what with all the diseases and the endless isolating pain, what with the uncertainties and the poverty- they were forced to feel strongly. And feeling strongly (and strongly, what was more, in solitude, in hopelessly individual isolation), how could they be stable? (Chapter 3) In Chapter 3, Mustapha Mond explains the history of the World State to a group of boys touring the Hatchery. â€Å"Mother, monogamy, and romance† are concepts that are reviled in the World State, as is the whole idea of â€Å"feeling strongly,† and they are the core values of John, who is devoted to his mother, strives for monogamy and romance while still experiencing feelings unfiltered by soma. However, eventually, abiding by those feelings causes him to try to purify himself with self-flagellation, which, in an unfortunate turn of events, leads to his madness and to his suicide. His demise does, indirectly, prove Mustapha Mond’s point, as, by eliminating â€Å"mother, monogamy, and romance† alongside â€Å"feeling strongly,† the World State succeeded in creating a stabile society where everybody was, indeed, superficially happy. Sure, human beings are indoctrinated to behave in one way and one way only according to their caste, and the whole Stat e is a system founded on production and consumptions, fueled by the consumeristic tendencies of its inhabitants. However, they are happy. They just need to drink soma and choose merriment over truth. A good trade-off. Politics â€Å"When the individual feels, the community reels† (various locations) This is a Society’s teaching of the World State, which goes hand in hand with â€Å"never put of till tomorrow the fun you can have today.† Lenina pronounces it to Bernard after they had spent a night together in his rooms, which he regretted, saying he wished it had ended differently, especially considering it was their first day together. She claims it’s pointless to put off having any fun, while he wants to â€Å"feel something strongly,† which is largely discouraged in the world state, as feelings can overthrow any form of stability. Yet, Bernard yearns for some reeling too. This conversation makes Lenina feel rejected. Yes, and civilization is sterilization.† (Ch. 7) Civilization is sterilization is one of the main Society’s teachings in Brave New World, and different characters utter it throughout the novel. Sterilization can mean different things: one is sanitation and cleanliness, as opposed to the filth people in the Reservation live in. â€Å" I had an awful cut on my head when they first brought me here. You cant imagine what they used to put on it. Filth, just filth† Linda recalls before uttering the statement. Similarly, Lenina equates sterilization with cleanliness, which, she insists â€Å"is next to fordliness.† However, sterilization can also be interpreted with regards to making women unable to bear children. In the World State, 70% of the female population are made into freemartins, meaning sterile women. They achieve that by injecting the female embryos with a low dose of sex hormones. This makes them sterile and fairly normal, except for the slight tendency to grow a beard.   Happiness And if ever, by some unlucky chance, anything unpleasant should somehow happen, why, there’s always soma to give you a holiday from the facts. And there’s always soma to calm your anger, to reconcile you to your enemies, to make you patient and long-suffering. In the past you could only accomplish these things by making a great effort and after years of hard moral training. Now, you swallow two or three half-gramme tablets, and there you are. Anybody can be virtuous now. You can carry at least half your morality about in a bottle. Christianity without tears- that’s what soma is. (Chapter 17) This quote is excerpted from a conversation between John and Mustapha, which takes place in Chapter 17. Mustapha is trying to convince John how soma is a cure-all remedy for any unpleasant emotion, which, in turn, lead to inefficiency and conflict. Unlike the hard moral training of the past, soma can solve any ailment of the soul almost instantly. Curiously, the parallel between moral training, which is usually a core aspect of religion, and soma, hints at the origin of the word soma itself. It used to be an entheogenic draught that was consumed during rituals in the Vedic religion. Several myths also see two opposing factions of deities fighting over the ownership of soma. But while, originally, soma was consumed by gods and humans alike in order to attain â€Å"the light† and immortality, the soma, which, in the world state, comes in convenient tablets, and it’s mainly used to deal with any â€Å"unpleasantness†: Lenina knocks herself out with it after being un able to endure the horrors she witnessed in the Reservation, while Linda who, in her isolation in the Reservation had been looking for a substitute for the soma in mescaline and peyotl, eventually is prescribed a lethal dose of soma once she gets back to the World State.

Implications of Differences in National Culture for International Assignment

Implications of Differences in National Culture for International Business - Assignment Example Due to the tight spot that is progressively afflicting the large global companies, international business ethics has ascended to facilitate in attending to these oppressive subject issues. International business ethics makes an effort to contend with inquiries of what to accomplish in circumstances where ethical morals are scrapped and become at odds in consequence of different and, oftentimes, opposing cultural practices. Negotiations in the international business platform can be deliberated from a wide or a restricted sense: negotiations in a wide sense comprise nearly all, if not all, forms of "consultation, communication, discussion, exchanging of views, reaching a consensus, and formal negotiations" (Chang, 2006). Those which are in a restricted sense comprise the undertakings that are accomplished in locations that are openly or officially arranged for negotiations (Chang, 2006). The academic sphere of discussions gained differing stance towards the relationship between culture s and the manners of negotiations. A few people are certain about the fact that negotiations have turned out to be a collective and shared behavior, and notwithstanding the cultural upbringings of those involved in the negotiations, and in the international business in general, the manner of negotiations is achieved inside the pre-set structure. Nevertheless, there are still those who are positive about the fact that negotiations in different nations are divergent from each other in that they manifest manifold and, more often, conflicting forms, and are basically diverse. To a wide-ranging expanse, varying cultural backgrounds result in varying kinds of organizations. This relationship is not complete and conclusive, nonetheless, and labeling, categorizing should be evaded (Liu, 1996). To appreciate the influence of national cultural difference on multinational business and negotiations, as well as in terms of the decision making process, a multi-cultural study and the varying natio nal cultural strengths and weaknesses can be employed in order to project a differing countries’ potential behaviours in negotiation process, and to recognize the cultural factors that may impact the decision making process (Chang, 2006). It is normally considered that multicultural investigations are concentrated on particular occurrences and deliberate the parallels and differences among countries. While this type of investigation may have limited potential in terms of the selected nations or particular behaviors on international business negotiations, it remains to hold a considerable importance in terms of facilitating individuals to understand business negotiations in a global perspective considering that it touches on different values, behaviors, and decision-making models of individuals coming from different nations (Ghemawat & Reiche, 2011). For instance, China and the United States have absolutely varying styles in carrying out a negotiation owing to: (1) Americans h ave diverse personalities in so far as the geographical divisions of Americans are concerned: â€Å"southern, eastern, and western regions are like different worlds† (Chang, 2006), as compared to (2) China’s extremely analogous, communism-inspired personality traits. National Cultural Differences and International Business Negotiations Regardless of the nature of the discussion of the personality traits as influenced by one's national culture, it is quite thought-provoking and challenging to profoundly comprehend and figure out international business negotiations considering that it involves manifold complex factors.

Paraphrase Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Paraphrase - Essay Example Over the past two decades, there has been a rapid increase in outbreaks of foodborne illnesses and other cases that are due to fresh produce. Estimates show that produce accounts for about 20 million illnesses in the US, which is about 24% (Farber, Crichton, and Snyder, 2014). That leads to an estimated cost of $38.6 Billion every year. In the 1970s, produce rarely earned recognition as a major vessel of outbreaks and cases of illnesses in the US. It only accounted for 0.7% of the outbreaks and 1% of cases of the illnesses. However, due to increased evidence, the numbers increased in the 1990s and produce now accounted for about 6% and 12%. Between 1990 and 2003, there was a further increase and the estimates in the US were now 16% of outbreaks and 30% of total cases. Some estimates also indicate that between the year 1990 and 2005 produce accounted for about 13% of all outbreaks of illnesses and 21% of the cases in the US. Using a more recent interval from 1998 to 2007, the estimate s show that produce accounts for about 14.8% of the outbreaks and 22.8% of all cases of foodborne illnesses that occurred in the US. Produce, which includes fruits, vegetables and salads contributed to about 111, 228 and 345 illness outbreaks respectively (Farber, Crichton, and Snyder, 2014). Of the illnesses reported, vegetables and salads contributed the largest number of illnesses. That was about 11,200 illnesses caused by each of the two categories. According to an analysis of data concerning outbreaks in the US for the period between 1988 and 2008, on average, the illness outbreaks caused by produce amount to between 6.3 and 13.2 per year. In recent times, leafy greens contribute to a third of the outbreaks. Reports indicate that in Canada, produce accounted for 15 outbreaks for the period between 1991 and 2000. The cases due to foodborne illness in that period were about 1360 (Farber, Crichton, and Snyder, 2014). There are several microorganisms, which

PERSONAL STATEMENT Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Personal Statement Example mmunications and social marketing and specifically e-marketing; this has me achieve distinctions at the school of Business for Top Athletes in Austria. Further, a degree in +Apprentice for the profession of Retailer as well as a High school Diploma in Business Administration with distinctions. The culmination of my academic qualifications will be later this year at St. Poelten University of Applied Science on acquisition of my Degree in Media Management. With my experience at Bene AG as an intern this year in corporate communications and e-Marketing; my passion for marketing programs and campaigns was realized. Crucial skills in the world of technology were archived that incorporated web page optimization, e-newsletters preparation, e-marketing and e-mails. These gave me great impetus with respect to the contemporary world media skills. This was an extension of what I had achieved in my other placements at NXP for Event Management and Communications in 2009, as well as Camp Echo New York PR. The placement at Camp Echo was also a fascinating one that gave me overwhelming exposure with respect to publicizing and event managements for sports. This was realized alongside organization of trip, Presentation and Moderation of events. To top up on the above, with photography skills incorporating artistic, portrait, commercial and reportage; music and its production, as well as writing scripts, I worked for Hobby Photograph for NOEN particularly covering my hobby sports events. I am also a member of the â€Å"Event, Film and Radio’ team at the university as well as the Campus Magazine- SUMO. These activities have prepared me for the media activities and heightened my passion for further studies. This will make me realise the dream of my interests in social affairs, media and sports, America, forego languages encounter as well as travelling to experience different cultures. Media is a great part of my academic and career achievement and I truly feel that my Masters will

Benefits of Internet Opportunities for SMEs in Mauritius

Benefits of Internet Opportunities for SMEs in Mauritius Acknowledgement Many individuals have played an important role in our upbringing and education To our parents, who deserve special recognition. We would also like to extend a special acknowledgement to our lecturer, Mr. D Seethiah for giving us the opportunity to reflect and work on such a project. Thanks to our group who have been working very hard for accomplishment of this assignment. Finally, we extend our appreciation to the Almighty for granting us good health and prosperity. Executive summary SMEs are called upon to play a competitive role in the economy of Mauritius. Adoption of ICT by SMEs can a have positive impact on the national economy. The reasons are: (a) Internet based infrastructures are relatively cheap; (b) they provide an ever converging and rich environment for effective business networking; and (c) they provide SMEs access to a larger market. This assignment examines the extent internet provides opportunities for business expansion of SMEs in Mauritius. It also identifies the enablers and barriers to the use of internet by SMEs. A questionnaire was used to collect data among some SMEs. They were classified as follows: IT Novice, IT Savvy and e-Commerce Specialist. The findings are reported, based on the analysis of the data collected. Several key findings emerge from the research in this assignment: IT Savvy and e-Commerce Specialist use computers, they have internet connection that they exclusively use for email and they have a website too. The degree of diffusion of the internet is high among IT Savvy and e-Commerce Specialist. For SMEs to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the internet for business expansion, they will have to acquire knowledge and skills in using the internet and be made aware of the facilities being offered by the NCB and the existing laws in the field of e-commerce. They will also have to bank on the vulgarization of the use of internet amongst customers or at least, for the time being, design/customize products that could help target a certain market segment. Introduction Internet has revolutionized and continues to deeply impact on the way one does business. It is now a major tool for conducting business. It allows buyers and sellers to meet online, communicate and exchange information on goods and services. Besides, it does away with the geographical boundaries, the time zones and, in some cases, the need for physical space to transact business. With its tremendous potential, it has become commonplace for businesses and consumers to transact business via the Internet through email or online purchasing. For the SMEs, it offers a vista of opportunities for business expansion. However, many SMEs do not take advantage of the Internet thinking that their goods and services do not lend themselves to Internet transactions. Moreover, they do not possess the managerial knowledge and skills for e-business. Hiring an IT-expert or an e-business consultant to fill this gap requires relatively huge sum of money, which they cannot afford. Sometimes, the availability of broadband connections may affect the decisions of SMEs to adopt e-commerce. Further, sound government policies should be in place to create the necessary environment and incentives to encourage SMEs to take advantage of the Internet to create business opportunities. Many unscrupulous persons are interested in the huge potential of the Internet for their own selfish motives. In countries where there are no appropriate legal instruments, there may be a host of possible attacks that compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information that they exchange through the Internet. Consequently, people may lose trust on the security of doing business in the Internet and thus forego it huge potential for business. Literature Review SMEs in MAURITIUS According to the minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr. R. K. Sithanen: A key component in the governments agenda for economic development and democratization is the development of the small and medium enterprise sector into a competitive force (April 2006). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are widely acknowledged as an important sector for national and international economic development. Growth oriented small business make a major contribution to economic development and employment generation within local communities and national economies. (Smallbone and Wyer, 2000) SMEs contribute substantially to national economies (Poon and Swatman, 1999) and are estimated to account for 80 per cent of global economic growth (Jutla et al, 2002). It is no secret that globalization (r)evolution and communication technologies (ICT) are going to change the structure of the any economy. (Kaushalesh Lal and Aveeraj Sharma Peedoly, 2006). With the government of Mauritius promoting small and medium enterprises as a competitive sector of the economy, organizational and technological changes in these firms are expected to have significant impact on the national economy. Proponents of globalization argue that it will open a window of opportunities for SMEs while networking capabilities of ICTs suggest that SMEs can augment their competitiveness in global markets. In fact several studies (Lal, 2004 and Drew, 2003) found positive impact of the adoption of ICTs by SMEs. Although there is very little data pertaining to the evolution of SMEs across time, the origins of SMEs in Mauritius can be traced back to the 1960s when Mauritius was witnessing the beginning of a timid industrialization process with an import-substitution strategy with the main objective of supplying the local market and giving certain autonomy to the country. The inward-looking industrial policy of the Government of the day was of encouraging the production of such commodities as the manufacturing of blades, electrical bulbs, batteries, soap, welding and steel work for construction, refining edible oils, plastic industry, food canning, industrial poultry breeding, yogurt manufacturing, biscuits, shoes, matches etc for the domestic market; this was also the prevailing orthodoxy of the time especially for African developing economies. Many critics (see e.g Maujean, 1996) argue that this programme was superficially planned with no support schemes nor incentives proposed to the enterp rises. Although, the import substitution strategy was soon overshadowed by an export-oriented strategy with the setting up of Export-Processing Zones, many small-scale enterprises exploited the products mentioned above for the domestic market. In fact, most SMEs today cater for the local market in similar areas as mentioned above. According to Maujean (1996) the early enterprises were attempts to reproduce locally models which existed abroad. In food processing, firms like Purlait Ltd, La Boulangerie Industrielle and Lyons Maid which pioneered private, small-scale enterprises in the country started off with enormous difficulties in spite of being relatively modern with an important capital investment and sophisticated distribution network. The concern with survival in a largely traditional and poorly developed society meant that the local market was not yet ready for such products. Nevertheless against this background a protectionist strategy which involved high tariff against competitive goods helped these industries to operate. As Wignaraja and Oneil (1999) argue, for the size of the country and its stage of development, Mauritius has a particularly wide range of support services for the SME sector. Beyene (2002) makes a largely similar argument especially when looking at it by African standards. This wide array of support is provided mainly through Government and parastatal agencies or financial institutions. The Small Enterprises and handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA), Enterprise Mauritius (EM), the Development Bank of Mauritius Ltd (DBM), the Small Medium Enterprises Partnership Fund (SMEPF), the National Computer Board (NCB) are generally regarded as the main institutions which provide support to SMEs by operating schemes to enhance the setting up or development of enterprises. They act mainly as facilitators, providing financial support, training and consultancy services, marketing and export assistance. The Small Enterprises and Handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA) The Small Enterprises Handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA) was created following the merger of the Small Medium industries Development Organisation (SMIDO) and the National Handicraft Promotion Agency (NHPA). The aim of the merger is to rationalize and optimize the use of resources dedicated to the small business sector in Mauritius. SEHDA, falling under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry, SMEs, Commerce Co-operatives, provides support to potential and existing small entrepreneurs with a view to enable them to start new enterprises or to improve their existing businesses. Enterprise Mauritius (EM) Enterprise Mauritius operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry, SMEs, Commerce Co-operatives and we have one primary objective, driving growth in exports both regionally and internationally through export sectors at 3 levels: Assisting in the development of Industry Sector strategies and Action plans The facilitation of Strategic Clusters to meet commonly shared group objectives And ultimately, working with individual businesses to help them develop an integrated market and capability development plan to provide access to resources that meet their specific requirements Development Bank of Mauritius An important part of the Banks resources is geared towards the development, consolidation and modernization of the SME sector. A separate department at the DBM is in fact dedicated to promote entrepreneurship development. Loans are provided at competitive rates for start-ups, financing of production equipment, technology improvement and also for working capital with the maximum quantum allocated varying according to industrial sectors. With respect to exports, the DBM runs the Export Development Fund for participation in overseas trade fairs and market surveys and also provides loans for joint ventures with overseas partners. Together with the DBM, other commercial banks such as the Mauritius Post and Cooperative Bank (MPCB), the MCB and the STB offer credit facilities albeit at less competitive rates and relatively more important collaterals to small entrepreneurs. Recently most of the main banks in the country (MCCB, MCB, Barclays and the State Bank) have also announced preferentia l interest rates for SMEs. Small and Medium Enterprises Partnership Fund (SMEPF) A parastatal body set up to provide funding ranging from Rs. 300,000 to Rs. 3 million amounting up to 50% of the total capitalization of the business. The criterion used is the evaluation of the business plan of the proposed venture to assess its feasibility to allow the return of the allocated funds within a period of five years. SMEPF is gradually gaining more importance as a source of funding to SMEs. National Computer Board (NCB) The NCB was set up as the apex organisation to develop and promote ICT and ICT-related services in Mauritius. Its main contribution towards SME development has been in terms of its incubator centre mainly for ICT start-ups with the main objectives of promoting entrepreneurship in the ICT sector by providing the necessary infrastructure and logistics, the development of linkages with other institutions and marketing. Moreover it runs sensitization programmes regularly for SMEs in order to familiarize and influence them to the strategic and financial benefits of integrating ICTs in the running of their enterprises. Information and Communication Technology Authority (ICTA) The ICTA is a regulatory body set up in 2001 replacing the former Mauritius Telecommunications Authority. The main objectives of ICTA are listed below: To democratize access to information, taking into account quality, diversity and plurality To license and regulate the information and communication services To encourage optimum use of ICT in business, industry and government at large, the introduction of new technology and the investment in infrastructure and services Other SME Supporting Institutions Together with the above institutions there are others, which mainly private sector bodies such as the Mauritius Employers Federation (MEF), and Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) do provide miscellaneous facilities for SMEs more specifically in terms of documentation, training, advice and consultancy. Despite the variety of measures described above, it is acknowledged that the full potential of the SME sector has yet to be unleashed, the more so in the contemporary context of globalization which calls for greater competitiveness and efficiency in both local and overseas markets. A review of the existing literature on the difficulties faced by the SME sector pinpoints the shortcomings of the existing support system. As Wignaraja and ONeil (1999, p 64) argue: Undoubtedly the investment in SME support is not delivering the growth required or expected at the enterprise level and this must be improved. An overhaul of the entire support system is required to address the deficiencies () and to create a more cohesive integrated framework. It has been noted that owing to the fact that SMEs are quite flexible, they sometimes lack the vision and discipline to maintain a coherent strategy to wards the market. IFC (2004) proposed that an aggressive push to be given to the sector of training and education. One of the most important barriers to the adoption of e-business in Mauritius remains the lack of trust into the system. Indeed, (Kuwayama, 2001) found that companies believed that transactions on the internet were very unsafe. This situation seems to be recurrent in other developing countries as suggested by (Payne, 2002) Aspects of Internet and Issues The use of internet in business is one of the tools that e-commerce offers. We start therefore by overseeing some general facts about e-commerce as pertains to SMEs. General e-commerce facts related to SMEs The use of the Internet and communication technologies has been found to improve business competitiveness, with the Internet providing the opportunity for SMEs to compete on equal terms with larger organizations (Chapman et al., 2000). The development of e-commerce in the last ten years all over the world has involved a growing number of businesses. E-commerce has been used as an important lever to promote business growth (Bianchi and Bivona, 2002). It is important for a firm grow continuously if the firm wants to maintain competitive advantage. Thus firms should struggle for continuous growth keeping the aim of increasing or simply maintaining their sales and profits levels, to ensure their survival (Claver et al., 2006). Throughout management literature, many successful stories are spread and researchers are encouraging SMEs to start e-commerce ventures in order to increase their sales (Bianchi and Bivona, 2002). At the same time there is considerable effort expended, both in time and money, by governments to encourage small and medium sized enterprises to invest in the use of the Internet (Beckinsale and Levy, 2004). According to Levy and Powell (2002) most SMEs do not view the Internet as the key to their business strategy. Strategy is rarely raised as an enabler or as an inhibitor in the literature. The entrepreneur is critical in determining the Internet development. However, strategic commitment has been shown to be critical in SMEs. Research in several countries show that SMEs have been slower to adopt e-commerce than their larger counterparts, but the rate of the Internet usage in SMEs is growing quite rapidly. Internet has focused on large firms, new business models, the growth and development of dot-coms and the new economy. SMEs in traditional industries have been slower to adopt e-commerce than their larger competitors and research into the use of the Internet by such firms is more recent. (Drew, 2003) Furthermore, compared to the extensive literature on the importance and potential of the Internet as component of the business environment, research on organizational evolution and strategy for the Internet in businesses is limited and sketchy. The majority of publications, text books, press articles, and white papers on the Internet strategy deal with this issue on a somewhat tactical level: How to build up unique competitive position, attract customers, and increase sales. (Constantinides, 2004) In many ways the field of entrepreneurship and small medium sized firm research seems no closer to understanding the dynamics of small business growth after decades of empirical studies (Lowe and Henson, 2004). Whilst the issue of growth in small firms is topical and well researched, the literature on growth processes and transitions in high-growth small firms is sparse and underrepresented in the entrepreneurship and small business journals. A recent content review of abstracts obtained via a database search identified only two percent addressing issues of high growth, growth processes and transitions as being key elements of the published papers. Saulnier and Rosson (2004) further mention that expressions made about the importance of e-business have not been fully matched by actions taken, particularly in the areas of staff training, technology infrastructure, and applications to deal with growth. The use of ICT, technology upgrading, and continuous innovation are paramount to being competitive and run at optimum efficiency. However there is relatively little empirical data pertaining to SMEs in Mauritius and more particularly regarding the extent to which they have adopted ICTs in day to day running of their businesses. A survey by Matadeen (2004) showed that most of the Mauritian companies were managed by the owners themselves irrespective of the fact that they may have management skills or not. With this in mind, the strategy to develop for SMEs and e-business must take into account the local culture and customs in Mauritius. Possible Role of the Internet in Specific Growth Strategies Adopted by SMEs The Internet is usually presented as an opportunity for smaller firms because it helps reduce transaction costs and level the playing field. Often cited benefits include expanding the scope of marketing, wider and richer communication, reaching new markets, reducing the cost of operations and partnering with suppliers and other collaborators. (Drew, 2003) The Internet provides a unique opportunity to examine the evolution and growth of a business sector because it has taken place over a relatively short time period (Javalgi et al. 2004). The initial Internet environment might be described as a virgin environment, in which rapid growth could be expected. Among emerging technologies, the Internet is a new channel for commerce applicable in a wide variety of industries around the world. As a new strategic tool, it is transforming businesses and creating new opportunities as well as challenges for international marketers as many nations are fast connecting to the global marketplace. Information technology is continuing to be an integral part of the business plan. Electronic commerce is affecting the way business are planning growth strategies and is the leading driver of corporate growth. The key is for IT to be seen as the new engine for growth, and not as a frustrating cost center. This result in a new way of thinking: The focus should be not on how much new technology should cost, but on how much revenue it will bring in. (Fruhling and Digman, 2000) Many SMEs have made innovative uses of the Internet to invent new business models or to enhance existing practices (Drew, 2003). Firms with a history of innovation are embarking on a full- scale electronic commerce strategy. These firms are tying innovation with electronic commerce with the hopes to ensure company growth. Fruhling and Digman (2000) mention electronic commerce enables business to quickly and efficiently implement growth strategies. One of the main reasons this strategy is so attractive is the incredible growth rate of the Internet users. Key Drivers for adoption of the Internet in SME Growth Levy and Powell (2002) explored the adoption of the Internet among SMEs and formulated a model for the Internet adoption. This model identifies four roles for the Internet in SMEs brochure ware, support, opportunity, and network. These are driven by business growth planning and perceived the Internet value as shown in figure: Business Growth Levy and Powell (2002) advocate two key drivers in determining the use of internet by SMEs. The first driver is business growth. In some firms business growth is planned and investments are made ahead of need. In many other SMEs growth may occur but not as a result of planning. Attitude to business growth often determine whether SME owners consider resource investment in the business. IT investment is traditionally restricted in SMEs, with many investing at start-up, but no further investment is made until business outgrows existing system. It is reasonable that attitude to growth will impact SMEs decision to invest in the Internet. Business Value from Use of the Internet The second driver is business value from use of the Internet. Business value of the Internet is identified through response to the firms competitive positioning and their knowledge of respective industries. SMEs do consider the role of the Internet for their business generally with cautious approach. Most firms do not see the value of the Internet to their growth strategy. However, a number of visionary owners believe they can change their business through the use of the Internet. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Brochureware are those firms that do not plan business growth and see the value of the Internet as low. Owners generally think about the Internet but cannot see its relevance to their business. One of the reasons is nature of industry in which SME operates. Hence, there is a role for the Internet for these firms but it is restricted to the presentation of on-line firm information or brochures and for e-mails. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Business Opportunity is SMEs with recognition that the Internet has some value to them, in the future. However, it is limited to improving efficiency internally, customer communication, and research. The contrast between this category and Brochureware is that owners recognize the business value of the Internet and although not seeking growth, recognize that competitive pressure demand investment. These firms see a business opportunity from use of the Internet and related. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Firms using the Internet for Business Support are planning growth, but currently see little future for their businesses from the Internet. Most of time these SMEs are innovative firms seeking growth. They have a number of innovative products that are sold to large firms, so personal contact is regarded by customers as important and there is little indication that the Internet is of value. These SMEs seek to grow but do not believe that industry demands investment in the Internet to support that growth. These firms see the worth of the Internet as a medium for business support. (Levy and Powell, 2002) In Business Network opportunity from the Internet is seen as key to the development of SMEs. Firms see their future tied into using the Internet. Firms develop IT strategy alongside their business strategy most of the time. These are well positioned to take advantage of e-Business. These firms possesses effective internal network accessible by all employees as means to manage the business processes. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Advantages of the Internet for SME Growth According to Davis et al. (2000) a firm-specific advantage in penetrating international markets and facilitating organizational growth may stem from investments in technology or the use of specific technologies, such as the Internet. There is a long history of research linking technology and internationalization. Researchers advocate that to enter foreign markets, a firm must possess some clear advantage that will allow it to overcome native firms more thorough understanding of the local market. Traditionally, multinational corporations use economies of scale and other advantages of large size. However, many entrepreneurial firms can overcome the disadvantage of small size through their use of technology, such as the Internet, to reach consumers beyond their borders. Certain technologies can provide an advantage that widens market opportunities and serves as a platform for expansion. The Internet is widely considered to be one such technology rapid internationalization. (Davis et al. 2000) Authors argue that internationalization and growth of firms are positively affected by increased use of the Internet and increased investments in information technology. In addition, more attention is to be paid to the application of the Internet as well as to the pattern of investments in information technology to explain international expansion and growth among entrepreneur- led businesses. The continued globalization of the world economy makes the realization of role of technology in expanding overseas and maintaining healthy growth. Davis et al. (2000) mention that firms with more aggressive use of technology are likely to engage more in international activities. Their study of internationalization among new, high-tech firms reveals that firms with higher levels of technology usage incur costs associated with internationalizing to be significantly lower than firms with lower levels of technology usage. It appears that companies with a technological advantage have an incentive to expand overseas because they can use that advantage in overseas markets at little or no marginal cost over the cost of developing the advantage in the domestic market. Role of the Internet in Product-Market Development Strategy Market Development Online channels are used to sell into new markets, taking advantage of the low cost of advertising internationally without the necessity for a supporting sales infrastructure in the customers regions (Chaffey et al. 2003). This is a relatively conservative use of the Internet, but is great opportunity for SMEs to increase exports at low cost. A less evident benefit of the Internet is that as well as selling into new geographic markets, products can also be sold to new market segments or different types of customers. This may happen simply as a byproduct of having a web site. The Internet may offer further opportunities for selling to market sub-segments that have not been previously targeted. For example, a product sold to large businesses may also appeal to small firms. Product Development The Internet can be the basis for product development, information sharing, resource sharing, knowledge sharing and task assigning between different businesses. This can improve product quality and decrease development time and cost. (Yujun et al., 2006) Product development is innovative use of the Internet (Chaffey et al., 2003). Howe et al., (2000) report that the Internet provides global access to people, data, software, documents and multimedia have allowed organizations to shorten the development cycle of new products, to communicate with experts from around the world, to receive immediate customer feedback, and to access supercomputers for industrial research and development. According to Howe et al., (2000) the Internet and its related applications can be effectively implemented at various stages of product development. For example, online forums, newsgroups, and Web sites provide an external source for product ideas. Market research can be performed on the Internet as numerous Web sites provide demographic information useful for estimating market size and potential. Surveys can be conducted on the Internet during the business case preparation to determine consumers needs, wants and preferences. Web-based and intranet applications can play an important role in the development phase, particularly when projects involve numerous teams at various locations. Providing effective media for communicating and disseminating information, these technologies also facilitate concurrent engineering. The Internet can be used for beta testing of new products, allowing lead users and firms to collaboratively eliminate product defects prior to market introduction. The Internet and its related technologies can add significant value to new-product development projects. The main value lies in the acceleration of profitable ideas through the new product development process. At the same time, risks associated with this `rush to market are minimized as a formal system to weed out poor ideas quickly and to suggest modifications to product concepts. The use of the Internet and/or intranet at various stages not only minimizes time to launch but can also increase the integration of constituent viewpoints/recommendations, example consumers, engineers, marketing, etc., during development. This integration of the `voice of the customer and other functional members of the firm are critical in successful new product introductions. Need for speed is becoming more salient in todays competitive arena. The firm that is first to launch a new product/technology, i.e. the pioneer, can accrue several pioneering advantages. These advantages include, but are not limit ed to: establishing product standards, building brand equity (combination of awareness, perceived quality, brand loyalty, etc.), securing distribution channels, and setting initial customer expectation for all other products. (Howe et al., 2000) The Internet offers opportunities for firms in their new product development pursuits in terms of enhancing their abilities to collect, categorize and use information needed for product development; helping them understand their market better and thus target it more effectively; generating a wider range of new product ideas from a wider range of sources; making the concept screening process more comprehensive, flexible and objective; increasing the speed and the quality of business analyses; facilitating the collaboration of new product team members and enhancing operational performance; increasing the speed and the quality of testing and validation; improving the effectiveness and the efficiency of manufacturing development; enhancing the effectiveness and the efficiency of new product launch. (Howe et al., 2000) LEGAL ASPECTS Laws Covering Cross-Border Electronic Transactions between a Buyer and a Seller Business to Business (B2B) transactions differs from Business to Consumer (B2C) transactions on the way an agreement is entered. In the case of a B2C transaction, the parties involved have to abide by the public policy laws of the consumers country, which are meant to protect the consumer. On the other hand, parties have the freedom to choose which law will govern their contract. They have to state which law will govern their transaction(s). In case they have not specified, the jurisdiction responsible for the case will have to decide which law is applicable. In general, two solutions are most commonly applied: The applicable law will be the law of the country of the seller or The applicable law is that of the place of the signing of the contract. Point of Sale for Which the Buyer and the Seller Become Legally Bound Benefits of Internet Opportunities for SMEs in Mauritius Benefits of Internet Opportunities for SMEs in Mauritius Acknowledgement Many individuals have played an important role in our upbringing and education To our parents, who deserve special recognition. We would also like to extend a special acknowledgement to our lecturer, Mr. D Seethiah for giving us the opportunity to reflect and work on such a project. Thanks to our group who have been working very hard for accomplishment of this assignment. Finally, we extend our appreciation to the Almighty for granting us good health and prosperity. Executive summary SMEs are called upon to play a competitive role in the economy of Mauritius. Adoption of ICT by SMEs can a have positive impact on the national economy. The reasons are: (a) Internet based infrastructures are relatively cheap; (b) they provide an ever converging and rich environment for effective business networking; and (c) they provide SMEs access to a larger market. This assignment examines the extent internet provides opportunities for business expansion of SMEs in Mauritius. It also identifies the enablers and barriers to the use of internet by SMEs. A questionnaire was used to collect data among some SMEs. They were classified as follows: IT Novice, IT Savvy and e-Commerce Specialist. The findings are reported, based on the analysis of the data collected. Several key findings emerge from the research in this assignment: IT Savvy and e-Commerce Specialist use computers, they have internet connection that they exclusively use for email and they have a website too. The degree of diffusion of the internet is high among IT Savvy and e-Commerce Specialist. For SMEs to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the internet for business expansion, they will have to acquire knowledge and skills in using the internet and be made aware of the facilities being offered by the NCB and the existing laws in the field of e-commerce. They will also have to bank on the vulgarization of the use of internet amongst customers or at least, for the time being, design/customize products that could help target a certain market segment. Introduction Internet has revolutionized and continues to deeply impact on the way one does business. It is now a major tool for conducting business. It allows buyers and sellers to meet online, communicate and exchange information on goods and services. Besides, it does away with the geographical boundaries, the time zones and, in some cases, the need for physical space to transact business. With its tremendous potential, it has become commonplace for businesses and consumers to transact business via the Internet through email or online purchasing. For the SMEs, it offers a vista of opportunities for business expansion. However, many SMEs do not take advantage of the Internet thinking that their goods and services do not lend themselves to Internet transactions. Moreover, they do not possess the managerial knowledge and skills for e-business. Hiring an IT-expert or an e-business consultant to fill this gap requires relatively huge sum of money, which they cannot afford. Sometimes, the availability of broadband connections may affect the decisions of SMEs to adopt e-commerce. Further, sound government policies should be in place to create the necessary environment and incentives to encourage SMEs to take advantage of the Internet to create business opportunities. Many unscrupulous persons are interested in the huge potential of the Internet for their own selfish motives. In countries where there are no appropriate legal instruments, there may be a host of possible attacks that compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information that they exchange through the Internet. Consequently, people may lose trust on the security of doing business in the Internet and thus forego it huge potential for business. Literature Review SMEs in MAURITIUS According to the minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr. R. K. Sithanen: A key component in the governments agenda for economic development and democratization is the development of the small and medium enterprise sector into a competitive force (April 2006). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are widely acknowledged as an important sector for national and international economic development. Growth oriented small business make a major contribution to economic development and employment generation within local communities and national economies. (Smallbone and Wyer, 2000) SMEs contribute substantially to national economies (Poon and Swatman, 1999) and are estimated to account for 80 per cent of global economic growth (Jutla et al, 2002). It is no secret that globalization (r)evolution and communication technologies (ICT) are going to change the structure of the any economy. (Kaushalesh Lal and Aveeraj Sharma Peedoly, 2006). With the government of Mauritius promoting small and medium enterprises as a competitive sector of the economy, organizational and technological changes in these firms are expected to have significant impact on the national economy. Proponents of globalization argue that it will open a window of opportunities for SMEs while networking capabilities of ICTs suggest that SMEs can augment their competitiveness in global markets. In fact several studies (Lal, 2004 and Drew, 2003) found positive impact of the adoption of ICTs by SMEs. Although there is very little data pertaining to the evolution of SMEs across time, the origins of SMEs in Mauritius can be traced back to the 1960s when Mauritius was witnessing the beginning of a timid industrialization process with an import-substitution strategy with the main objective of supplying the local market and giving certain autonomy to the country. The inward-looking industrial policy of the Government of the day was of encouraging the production of such commodities as the manufacturing of blades, electrical bulbs, batteries, soap, welding and steel work for construction, refining edible oils, plastic industry, food canning, industrial poultry breeding, yogurt manufacturing, biscuits, shoes, matches etc for the domestic market; this was also the prevailing orthodoxy of the time especially for African developing economies. Many critics (see e.g Maujean, 1996) argue that this programme was superficially planned with no support schemes nor incentives proposed to the enterp rises. Although, the import substitution strategy was soon overshadowed by an export-oriented strategy with the setting up of Export-Processing Zones, many small-scale enterprises exploited the products mentioned above for the domestic market. In fact, most SMEs today cater for the local market in similar areas as mentioned above. According to Maujean (1996) the early enterprises were attempts to reproduce locally models which existed abroad. In food processing, firms like Purlait Ltd, La Boulangerie Industrielle and Lyons Maid which pioneered private, small-scale enterprises in the country started off with enormous difficulties in spite of being relatively modern with an important capital investment and sophisticated distribution network. The concern with survival in a largely traditional and poorly developed society meant that the local market was not yet ready for such products. Nevertheless against this background a protectionist strategy which involved high tariff against competitive goods helped these industries to operate. As Wignaraja and Oneil (1999) argue, for the size of the country and its stage of development, Mauritius has a particularly wide range of support services for the SME sector. Beyene (2002) makes a largely similar argument especially when looking at it by African standards. This wide array of support is provided mainly through Government and parastatal agencies or financial institutions. The Small Enterprises and handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA), Enterprise Mauritius (EM), the Development Bank of Mauritius Ltd (DBM), the Small Medium Enterprises Partnership Fund (SMEPF), the National Computer Board (NCB) are generally regarded as the main institutions which provide support to SMEs by operating schemes to enhance the setting up or development of enterprises. They act mainly as facilitators, providing financial support, training and consultancy services, marketing and export assistance. The Small Enterprises and Handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA) The Small Enterprises Handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA) was created following the merger of the Small Medium industries Development Organisation (SMIDO) and the National Handicraft Promotion Agency (NHPA). The aim of the merger is to rationalize and optimize the use of resources dedicated to the small business sector in Mauritius. SEHDA, falling under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry, SMEs, Commerce Co-operatives, provides support to potential and existing small entrepreneurs with a view to enable them to start new enterprises or to improve their existing businesses. Enterprise Mauritius (EM) Enterprise Mauritius operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry, SMEs, Commerce Co-operatives and we have one primary objective, driving growth in exports both regionally and internationally through export sectors at 3 levels: Assisting in the development of Industry Sector strategies and Action plans The facilitation of Strategic Clusters to meet commonly shared group objectives And ultimately, working with individual businesses to help them develop an integrated market and capability development plan to provide access to resources that meet their specific requirements Development Bank of Mauritius An important part of the Banks resources is geared towards the development, consolidation and modernization of the SME sector. A separate department at the DBM is in fact dedicated to promote entrepreneurship development. Loans are provided at competitive rates for start-ups, financing of production equipment, technology improvement and also for working capital with the maximum quantum allocated varying according to industrial sectors. With respect to exports, the DBM runs the Export Development Fund for participation in overseas trade fairs and market surveys and also provides loans for joint ventures with overseas partners. Together with the DBM, other commercial banks such as the Mauritius Post and Cooperative Bank (MPCB), the MCB and the STB offer credit facilities albeit at less competitive rates and relatively more important collaterals to small entrepreneurs. Recently most of the main banks in the country (MCCB, MCB, Barclays and the State Bank) have also announced preferentia l interest rates for SMEs. Small and Medium Enterprises Partnership Fund (SMEPF) A parastatal body set up to provide funding ranging from Rs. 300,000 to Rs. 3 million amounting up to 50% of the total capitalization of the business. The criterion used is the evaluation of the business plan of the proposed venture to assess its feasibility to allow the return of the allocated funds within a period of five years. SMEPF is gradually gaining more importance as a source of funding to SMEs. National Computer Board (NCB) The NCB was set up as the apex organisation to develop and promote ICT and ICT-related services in Mauritius. Its main contribution towards SME development has been in terms of its incubator centre mainly for ICT start-ups with the main objectives of promoting entrepreneurship in the ICT sector by providing the necessary infrastructure and logistics, the development of linkages with other institutions and marketing. Moreover it runs sensitization programmes regularly for SMEs in order to familiarize and influence them to the strategic and financial benefits of integrating ICTs in the running of their enterprises. Information and Communication Technology Authority (ICTA) The ICTA is a regulatory body set up in 2001 replacing the former Mauritius Telecommunications Authority. The main objectives of ICTA are listed below: To democratize access to information, taking into account quality, diversity and plurality To license and regulate the information and communication services To encourage optimum use of ICT in business, industry and government at large, the introduction of new technology and the investment in infrastructure and services Other SME Supporting Institutions Together with the above institutions there are others, which mainly private sector bodies such as the Mauritius Employers Federation (MEF), and Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) do provide miscellaneous facilities for SMEs more specifically in terms of documentation, training, advice and consultancy. Despite the variety of measures described above, it is acknowledged that the full potential of the SME sector has yet to be unleashed, the more so in the contemporary context of globalization which calls for greater competitiveness and efficiency in both local and overseas markets. A review of the existing literature on the difficulties faced by the SME sector pinpoints the shortcomings of the existing support system. As Wignaraja and ONeil (1999, p 64) argue: Undoubtedly the investment in SME support is not delivering the growth required or expected at the enterprise level and this must be improved. An overhaul of the entire support system is required to address the deficiencies () and to create a more cohesive integrated framework. It has been noted that owing to the fact that SMEs are quite flexible, they sometimes lack the vision and discipline to maintain a coherent strategy to wards the market. IFC (2004) proposed that an aggressive push to be given to the sector of training and education. One of the most important barriers to the adoption of e-business in Mauritius remains the lack of trust into the system. Indeed, (Kuwayama, 2001) found that companies believed that transactions on the internet were very unsafe. This situation seems to be recurrent in other developing countries as suggested by (Payne, 2002) Aspects of Internet and Issues The use of internet in business is one of the tools that e-commerce offers. We start therefore by overseeing some general facts about e-commerce as pertains to SMEs. General e-commerce facts related to SMEs The use of the Internet and communication technologies has been found to improve business competitiveness, with the Internet providing the opportunity for SMEs to compete on equal terms with larger organizations (Chapman et al., 2000). The development of e-commerce in the last ten years all over the world has involved a growing number of businesses. E-commerce has been used as an important lever to promote business growth (Bianchi and Bivona, 2002). It is important for a firm grow continuously if the firm wants to maintain competitive advantage. Thus firms should struggle for continuous growth keeping the aim of increasing or simply maintaining their sales and profits levels, to ensure their survival (Claver et al., 2006). Throughout management literature, many successful stories are spread and researchers are encouraging SMEs to start e-commerce ventures in order to increase their sales (Bianchi and Bivona, 2002). At the same time there is considerable effort expended, both in time and money, by governments to encourage small and medium sized enterprises to invest in the use of the Internet (Beckinsale and Levy, 2004). According to Levy and Powell (2002) most SMEs do not view the Internet as the key to their business strategy. Strategy is rarely raised as an enabler or as an inhibitor in the literature. The entrepreneur is critical in determining the Internet development. However, strategic commitment has been shown to be critical in SMEs. Research in several countries show that SMEs have been slower to adopt e-commerce than their larger counterparts, but the rate of the Internet usage in SMEs is growing quite rapidly. Internet has focused on large firms, new business models, the growth and development of dot-coms and the new economy. SMEs in traditional industries have been slower to adopt e-commerce than their larger competitors and research into the use of the Internet by such firms is more recent. (Drew, 2003) Furthermore, compared to the extensive literature on the importance and potential of the Internet as component of the business environment, research on organizational evolution and strategy for the Internet in businesses is limited and sketchy. The majority of publications, text books, press articles, and white papers on the Internet strategy deal with this issue on a somewhat tactical level: How to build up unique competitive position, attract customers, and increase sales. (Constantinides, 2004) In many ways the field of entrepreneurship and small medium sized firm research seems no closer to understanding the dynamics of small business growth after decades of empirical studies (Lowe and Henson, 2004). Whilst the issue of growth in small firms is topical and well researched, the literature on growth processes and transitions in high-growth small firms is sparse and underrepresented in the entrepreneurship and small business journals. A recent content review of abstracts obtained via a database search identified only two percent addressing issues of high growth, growth processes and transitions as being key elements of the published papers. Saulnier and Rosson (2004) further mention that expressions made about the importance of e-business have not been fully matched by actions taken, particularly in the areas of staff training, technology infrastructure, and applications to deal with growth. The use of ICT, technology upgrading, and continuous innovation are paramount to being competitive and run at optimum efficiency. However there is relatively little empirical data pertaining to SMEs in Mauritius and more particularly regarding the extent to which they have adopted ICTs in day to day running of their businesses. A survey by Matadeen (2004) showed that most of the Mauritian companies were managed by the owners themselves irrespective of the fact that they may have management skills or not. With this in mind, the strategy to develop for SMEs and e-business must take into account the local culture and customs in Mauritius. Possible Role of the Internet in Specific Growth Strategies Adopted by SMEs The Internet is usually presented as an opportunity for smaller firms because it helps reduce transaction costs and level the playing field. Often cited benefits include expanding the scope of marketing, wider and richer communication, reaching new markets, reducing the cost of operations and partnering with suppliers and other collaborators. (Drew, 2003) The Internet provides a unique opportunity to examine the evolution and growth of a business sector because it has taken place over a relatively short time period (Javalgi et al. 2004). The initial Internet environment might be described as a virgin environment, in which rapid growth could be expected. Among emerging technologies, the Internet is a new channel for commerce applicable in a wide variety of industries around the world. As a new strategic tool, it is transforming businesses and creating new opportunities as well as challenges for international marketers as many nations are fast connecting to the global marketplace. Information technology is continuing to be an integral part of the business plan. Electronic commerce is affecting the way business are planning growth strategies and is the leading driver of corporate growth. The key is for IT to be seen as the new engine for growth, and not as a frustrating cost center. This result in a new way of thinking: The focus should be not on how much new technology should cost, but on how much revenue it will bring in. (Fruhling and Digman, 2000) Many SMEs have made innovative uses of the Internet to invent new business models or to enhance existing practices (Drew, 2003). Firms with a history of innovation are embarking on a full- scale electronic commerce strategy. These firms are tying innovation with electronic commerce with the hopes to ensure company growth. Fruhling and Digman (2000) mention electronic commerce enables business to quickly and efficiently implement growth strategies. One of the main reasons this strategy is so attractive is the incredible growth rate of the Internet users. Key Drivers for adoption of the Internet in SME Growth Levy and Powell (2002) explored the adoption of the Internet among SMEs and formulated a model for the Internet adoption. This model identifies four roles for the Internet in SMEs brochure ware, support, opportunity, and network. These are driven by business growth planning and perceived the Internet value as shown in figure: Business Growth Levy and Powell (2002) advocate two key drivers in determining the use of internet by SMEs. The first driver is business growth. In some firms business growth is planned and investments are made ahead of need. In many other SMEs growth may occur but not as a result of planning. Attitude to business growth often determine whether SME owners consider resource investment in the business. IT investment is traditionally restricted in SMEs, with many investing at start-up, but no further investment is made until business outgrows existing system. It is reasonable that attitude to growth will impact SMEs decision to invest in the Internet. Business Value from Use of the Internet The second driver is business value from use of the Internet. Business value of the Internet is identified through response to the firms competitive positioning and their knowledge of respective industries. SMEs do consider the role of the Internet for their business generally with cautious approach. Most firms do not see the value of the Internet to their growth strategy. However, a number of visionary owners believe they can change their business through the use of the Internet. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Brochureware are those firms that do not plan business growth and see the value of the Internet as low. Owners generally think about the Internet but cannot see its relevance to their business. One of the reasons is nature of industry in which SME operates. Hence, there is a role for the Internet for these firms but it is restricted to the presentation of on-line firm information or brochures and for e-mails. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Business Opportunity is SMEs with recognition that the Internet has some value to them, in the future. However, it is limited to improving efficiency internally, customer communication, and research. The contrast between this category and Brochureware is that owners recognize the business value of the Internet and although not seeking growth, recognize that competitive pressure demand investment. These firms see a business opportunity from use of the Internet and related. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Firms using the Internet for Business Support are planning growth, but currently see little future for their businesses from the Internet. Most of time these SMEs are innovative firms seeking growth. They have a number of innovative products that are sold to large firms, so personal contact is regarded by customers as important and there is little indication that the Internet is of value. These SMEs seek to grow but do not believe that industry demands investment in the Internet to support that growth. These firms see the worth of the Internet as a medium for business support. (Levy and Powell, 2002) In Business Network opportunity from the Internet is seen as key to the development of SMEs. Firms see their future tied into using the Internet. Firms develop IT strategy alongside their business strategy most of the time. These are well positioned to take advantage of e-Business. These firms possesses effective internal network accessible by all employees as means to manage the business processes. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Advantages of the Internet for SME Growth According to Davis et al. (2000) a firm-specific advantage in penetrating international markets and facilitating organizational growth may stem from investments in technology or the use of specific technologies, such as the Internet. There is a long history of research linking technology and internationalization. Researchers advocate that to enter foreign markets, a firm must possess some clear advantage that will allow it to overcome native firms more thorough understanding of the local market. Traditionally, multinational corporations use economies of scale and other advantages of large size. However, many entrepreneurial firms can overcome the disadvantage of small size through their use of technology, such as the Internet, to reach consumers beyond their borders. Certain technologies can provide an advantage that widens market opportunities and serves as a platform for expansion. The Internet is widely considered to be one such technology rapid internationalization. (Davis et al. 2000) Authors argue that internationalization and growth of firms are positively affected by increased use of the Internet and increased investments in information technology. In addition, more attention is to be paid to the application of the Internet as well as to the pattern of investments in information technology to explain international expansion and growth among entrepreneur- led businesses. The continued globalization of the world economy makes the realization of role of technology in expanding overseas and maintaining healthy growth. Davis et al. (2000) mention that firms with more aggressive use of technology are likely to engage more in international activities. Their study of internationalization among new, high-tech firms reveals that firms with higher levels of technology usage incur costs associated with internationalizing to be significantly lower than firms with lower levels of technology usage. It appears that companies with a technological advantage have an incentive to expand overseas because they can use that advantage in overseas markets at little or no marginal cost over the cost of developing the advantage in the domestic market. Role of the Internet in Product-Market Development Strategy Market Development Online channels are used to sell into new markets, taking advantage of the low cost of advertising internationally without the necessity for a supporting sales infrastructure in the customers regions (Chaffey et al. 2003). This is a relatively conservative use of the Internet, but is great opportunity for SMEs to increase exports at low cost. A less evident benefit of the Internet is that as well as selling into new geographic markets, products can also be sold to new market segments or different types of customers. This may happen simply as a byproduct of having a web site. The Internet may offer further opportunities for selling to market sub-segments that have not been previously targeted. For example, a product sold to large businesses may also appeal to small firms. Product Development The Internet can be the basis for product development, information sharing, resource sharing, knowledge sharing and task assigning between different businesses. This can improve product quality and decrease development time and cost. (Yujun et al., 2006) Product development is innovative use of the Internet (Chaffey et al., 2003). Howe et al., (2000) report that the Internet provides global access to people, data, software, documents and multimedia have allowed organizations to shorten the development cycle of new products, to communicate with experts from around the world, to receive immediate customer feedback, and to access supercomputers for industrial research and development. According to Howe et al., (2000) the Internet and its related applications can be effectively implemented at various stages of product development. For example, online forums, newsgroups, and Web sites provide an external source for product ideas. Market research can be performed on the Internet as numerous Web sites provide demographic information useful for estimating market size and potential. Surveys can be conducted on the Internet during the business case preparation to determine consumers needs, wants and preferences. Web-based and intranet applications can play an important role in the development phase, particularly when projects involve numerous teams at various locations. Providing effective media for communicating and disseminating information, these technologies also facilitate concurrent engineering. The Internet can be used for beta testing of new products, allowing lead users and firms to collaboratively eliminate product defects prior to market introduction. The Internet and its related technologies can add significant value to new-product development projects. The main value lies in the acceleration of profitable ideas through the new product development process. At the same time, risks associated with this `rush to market are minimized as a formal system to weed out poor ideas quickly and to suggest modifications to product concepts. The use of the Internet and/or intranet at various stages not only minimizes time to launch but can also increase the integration of constituent viewpoints/recommendations, example consumers, engineers, marketing, etc., during development. This integration of the `voice of the customer and other functional members of the firm are critical in successful new product introductions. Need for speed is becoming more salient in todays competitive arena. The firm that is first to launch a new product/technology, i.e. the pioneer, can accrue several pioneering advantages. These advantages include, but are not limit ed to: establishing product standards, building brand equity (combination of awareness, perceived quality, brand loyalty, etc.), securing distribution channels, and setting initial customer expectation for all other products. (Howe et al., 2000) The Internet offers opportunities for firms in their new product development pursuits in terms of enhancing their abilities to collect, categorize and use information needed for product development; helping them understand their market better and thus target it more effectively; generating a wider range of new product ideas from a wider range of sources; making the concept screening process more comprehensive, flexible and objective; increasing the speed and the quality of business analyses; facilitating the collaboration of new product team members and enhancing operational performance; increasing the speed and the quality of testing and validation; improving the effectiveness and the efficiency of manufacturing development; enhancing the effectiveness and the efficiency of new product launch. (Howe et al., 2000) LEGAL ASPECTS Laws Covering Cross-Border Electronic Transactions between a Buyer and a Seller Business to Business (B2B) transactions differs from Business to Consumer (B2C) transactions on the way an agreement is entered. In the case of a B2C transaction, the parties involved have to abide by the public policy laws of the consumers country, which are meant to protect the consumer. On the other hand, parties have the freedom to choose which law will govern their contract. They have to state which law will govern their transaction(s). In case they have not specified, the jurisdiction responsible for the case will have to decide which law is applicable. In general, two solutions are most commonly applied: The applicable law will be the law of the country of the seller or The applicable law is that of the place of the signing of the contract. Point of Sale for Which the Buyer and the Seller Become Legally Bound