Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Battle of Corregidor, 1942 - World War II

Battle of Corregidor, 1942 - World War II The Battle of Corregidor was fought May 5-6, 1942, during World War II (1939-1945) and was the last major engagement of the Japanese conquest of the Philippines. A fortress island, Corregidor commanded access to Manila Bay and housed a multitude of batteries. With the Japanese invasion in 1941, American and Filipino forces withdrew to the Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor to await assistance from abroad. While fighting raged along the Bataan line in early 1942, Corregidor served as the headquarters for General Douglas MacArthur until he was ordered to leave for Australia in March. With the peninsulas fall in April, the Japanese shifted their attention to capturing Corregidor. Landing on May 5, Japanese forces overcame fierce resistance before compelling the garrison to capitulate. As part of the Japanese terms, Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright was made to surrender all American forces in the Philippines. Fast Facts: Battle of Corregidor (1942) Conflict: World War II (1939-1945)Dates: May 5-6, 1942Armies Commanders:AlliesLieutenant General Jonathan WainwrightBrigadier General Charles F. MooreColonel Samuel Howard13,000 menJapanLieutenant General Masaharu HommaMajor General Kureo TanaguchiMajor General Kizon Mikami75,000 menCasualties:Allies: 800 killed, 1,000 wounded, and 11,000 capturedJapanese: 900 killed, 1,200 wounded Background Located in Manila Bay, just south of the Bataan Peninsula, Corregidor served as a key element in the Allied defensive plans for the Philippines in the years after World War I. Officially designated Fort Mills, the small island was shaped like a tadpole and was heavily fortified with numerous coastal batteries which mounted 56 guns of various sizes. The wide western end of the island, known as Topside, contained most of the islands guns, while barracks and support facilities were located on a plateau to the east known as Middleside. Further east was Bottomside which contained the town of San Jose as well as dock facilities (Map). Looming over this area was Malinta Hill which housed an array of fortified tunnels. The main shaft ran east-west for 826 feet and possessed 25 lateral tunnels. These housed the offices for General Douglas MacArthurs headquarters as well as storage areas. Connected to this system was a second set of tunnels to the north which contained a 1,000-bed hospital and medical facilities for the garrison (Map). General Douglas MacArthur, 1945. Library of Congress Further to the east, the island tapered to a point where an airfield was located. Due the perceived strength of Corregidors defenses, it was dubbed the Gibraltar of the East. Supporting Corregidor, were three other facilities around Manila Bay: Fort Drum, Fort Frank, and Fort Hughes. With the beginning of the Philippines Campaign in December 1941, these defenses were led by Major General George F. Moore. The Japanese Land Following smaller landings earlier in the month, Japanese forces came ashore in force at Luzons Lingayen Gulf on December 22. Though attempts were made to hold the enemy on the beaches, these efforts failed and by nightfall the Japanese were safely ashore. Recognizing that the enemy could not be pushed back, MacArthur implemented War Plan Orange 3 on December 24. This called for some American and Filipino forces to assume blocking positions while the remainder withdrew to a defensive line on the Bataan Peninsula to the west of Manila. To oversee operations, MacArthur shifted his headquarters to the Malinta Tunnel on Corregidor. For this, he was derisively nicknamed Dugout Doug by the troops fighting on Bataan. Allied anti-aircraft gunners on Corregidor, 1941/2. Photograph Courtesy of the US Army Over the next several days, efforts were made to shift supplies and resources to the peninsula with the goal of holding out until reinforcements could arrive from the United States. As the campaign progressed, Corregidor first came under attack on December 29 when Japanese aircraft began a bombing campaign against the island. Lasting for several days, these raids destroyed many of the buildings on the island including the Topside and Bottomside barracks as well as the US Navys fuel depot (Map). Preparing Corregidor In January, the air raids diminished and efforts commenced to enhance the islands defenses. While fighting raged on Bataan, the defenders of Corregidor, consisting largely of Colonel Samuel L. Howards 4th Marines and elements of several other units, endured siege conditions as food supplies slowly dwindled. As the situation on Bataan deteriorated, MacArthur received orders from President Franklin Roosevelt to leave the Philippines and escape to Australia. Initially refusing, MacArthur was convinced by his chief of staff to go. Departing on the night of March 12, 1942, he turned over command in the Philippines to Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright. Traveling by PT boat to Mindanao, MacArthur and his party then flew to Australia on a B-17 Flying Fortress. Back in the Philippines, efforts to resupply Corregidor largely failed as ships were intercepted by the Japanese. Prior to its fall, only one vessel, the MV Princessa, successfully eluded the Japanese and reached the island with provisions. As the position on Bataan neared collapse, around 1,200 men were shifted to Corregidor from the peninsula. With no alternatives remaining, Major General Edward King was forced to surrender Bataan on April 9. Having secured Bataan, Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma turned his attention to capturing Corregidor and eliminating enemy resistance around Manila. On April 28, Major General Kizon Mikamis 22nd Air Brigade began an aerial offensive against the island. A Desperate Defense Shifting artillery to the southern part of Bataan, Homma began a relentless bombardment of the island on May 1. This continued until May 5 when Japanese troops under Major General Kureo Tanaguchi boarded landing craft to assault Corregidor. Just before midnight, an intense artillery barrage hammered the area between North and Cavalry Points near the islands tail. Storming the beach, the initial wave of 790 Japanese infantry met fierce resistance and was hampered by oil which had washed ashore on Corregidors beaches from the numerous ships sunk in the area. Hospital in the Malinta Tunnel, Corregidor. US Army Though American artillery exacted a heavy toll on the landing fleet, the troops on the beach succeeded in gaining a foothold after making effective use of Type 89 grenade dischargers known as knee mortars. Fighting heavy currents, the second Japanese attack attempted to land further east. Hit hard as they came ashore, the assaulting forces lost most of their officers early in the fighting was largely repulsed by the 4th Marines. The survivors then shifted west to join with the first wave. Struggling inland, the Japanese began to make some gains and by 1:30 AM on May 6 had captured Battery Denver. Becoming a focal point of the battle, the 4th Marines quickly moved to recover the battery. Heavy fighting ensued which became hand-to-hand but ultimately saw the Japanese slowly overwhelm the Marines as reinforcements arrived from the mainland. The Island Falls With the situation desperate, Howard committed his reserves around 4:00 AM. Moving forward, approximately 500 Marines were slowed by Japanese snipers which had infiltrated through the lines. Though suffering from ammunition shortages, the Japanese took advantage of their superior numbers and continued to press the defenders. Around 5:30 AM, approximately 880 reinforcements landed in the island and moved to support the initial assault waves. Four hours later, the Japanese succeeded in landing three tanks on the island. These proved key in driving the defenders back to concrete trenches near the entrance to the Malinta Tunnel. With over 1,000 helpless wounded in the Tunnels hospital and expecting additional Japanese forces to land on the island, Wainwright began to contemplate surrender. Surrender of American troops at Corregidor, Philippine Islands, May 1942. Photograph Courtesy of the National Archives Records Administration Aftermath Meeting with his commanders, Wainwright saw no other option but to capitulate. Radioing Roosevelt, Wainwright stated, There is a limit of human endurance, and that point has long been passed. While Howard burned the 4th Marines colors to prevent capture, Wainwright sent emissaries to discuss terms with Homma. Though Wainwright only wished to surrender the men on Corregidor, Homma insisted that he surrender all remaining US and Filipino forces in the Philippines. Concerned about those US forces that had already been captured as well as those on Corregidor, Wainwright saw little choice but comply with this order. As a result, large formations such as Major General William Sharps Visayan-Mindanao Force were forced to surrender without having played a role in the campaign. Though Sharp complied with the surrender order, many of his men continued to battle the Japanese as guerillas. The fighting for Corregidor saw Wainwright lose around 800 killed, 1,000 wounded, and 11,000 captured. Japanese losses numbered 900 killed and 1,200 wounded. While Wainwright was imprisoned in Formosa and Manchuria for the remainder of the war, his men were taken to prison camps around the Philippines as well as used for slave labor in other parts of the Japanese Empire. Corregidor remained under Japanese control until Allied forces liberated the island in February 1945. USS Claxton provides fire support during the Battle of Corregidor (1945). Photograph Courtesy of the US Government

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Battle of Hastings and Williams Conquest

Battle of Hastings and Williams Conquest The Battle of Hastings was part of the invasions of England that followed the death of King Edward the Confessor in 1066.  William of Normandys victory at Hastings occurred on October 14, 1066. Armies and Commanders Normans William of NormandyOdo of Bayeux7,000-8,000 men Anglo-Saxons Harold Godwinson7,000-8,000 men Background: With the death of King Edward the Confessor in early 1066, the throne of England fell into dispute with multiple individuals stepping forward as claimants. Shortly after Edwards death, the English nobles presented the crown to Harold Godwinson, a powerful local lord. Accepting, he was crowned as King Harold II. His ascension to the throne was immediately challenged by William of Normandy and Harold Hardrada of Norway who felt they had superior claims. Both began assembling armies and fleets with the goal of supplanting Harold. Gathering his men at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, William initially hoped to cross the Channel in mid-August. Due to foul weather, his departure was delayed and Hardrada arrived in England first. Landing in the north, he won an initial victory at Gate Fulford on September 20, 1066, but was defeated and killed by Harold at the Battle of Stamford Bridge five days later. While Harold and his army were recovering from the battle, William landed at Pevensey on September 28. Establishing a base near Hastings, his men constructed a wooden palisade and commenced raiding the countryside. To counter this, Harold raced south with his battered army, arriving on October 13. The Armies Form William and Harold were familiar with each other as they had fought together in France and some sources, such as the Bayeux Tapestry, suggest that the English lord had sworn an oath to support the Norman dukes claim to Edwards throne while in his service. Deploying his army, which was largely composed of infantry, Harold assumed a position along Senlac Hill astride the Hastings-London road. In this location, his flanks were protected by woods and streams with some marshy ground to their front right. With the army in line along the top of the ridge, the Saxons formed a shield wall and waited for the Normans to arrive. Moving north from Hastings, Williams army appeared on the battlefield on the morning of Saturday October 14. Arraying his army into three battles, composed of infantry, archers, and crossbowmen, William moved to attack the English. The center battle consisted of Normans under Williams direct control while the troops to his left were largely Bretons led by Alan Rufus.  The right battle was made up of French soldiers and was commanded by William FitzOsbern and Count Eustace of Boulogne. Williams initial plan called for his archers to weaken Harolds forces with arrows, then for infantry and cavalry assaults to break through the enemy line (Map). William Triumphant This plan began to fail from the outset as the archers were unable to inflict damage due to the Saxons high position on the ridge and the protection offered by the shield wall. They were further hampered by a shortage of arrows as the English lacked archers.  As a result, there were no arrows to gather and reuse. Ordering his infantry forward, William soon saw it pelted with spears and other projectiles which inflicted heavy casualties. Faltering, the infantry withdrew and the Norman cavalry moved in to attack. This too was beaten back with the horses having difficulty climbing the steep ridge. As his attack was failing, Williams left battle, composed primarily of Bretons, broke and fled back down the ridge. It was pursued by many of the English, who had left the safety of the shield wall to continue the killing. Seeing an advantage, William rallied his cavalry and cut down the counterattacking English. Though the English rallied on a small hillock, they were ultimately overwhelmed. As the day progressed, William continued his attacks, possibly feigning several retreats, as his men slowly wore down the English. Late in the day, some sources indicate that William altered his tactics and ordered his archers to shoot at a higher angle so that their arrows fell on those behind the shield wall. This proved lethal for Harolds forces and his men began to fall. Legend states that he was hit in the eye with an arrow and killed. With the English taking casualties, William ordered an assault which finally broke through the shield wall. If Harold was not struck by an arrow, he died during this attack. With their line broken and king dead, the many of the English fled with only Harolds personal bodyguard fighting on until the end. Battle of Hastings Aftermath In the Battle of Hastings it is believed that William lost approximately 2,000 men, while the English suffered around 4,000. Among the English dead was King Harold as well as his brothers Gyrth and Leofwine. Though the Normans were defeated in the Malfosse immediately after the Battle of Hastings, the English did not meet them again in a major battle. After pausing two weeks at Hastings to recover and wait for the English nobles to come and submit to him, William began marching north towards London. After enduring a dysentery outbreak, he was reinforced and closed on the capital. As he approached London, the English nobles came and submitted to William, crowning him king on Christmas Day 1066. Williams invasion marks the last time that Britain was conquered by an outside force and earned him the nickname the Conqueror.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Women's Rights Movement Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Women's Rights Movement - Research Paper Example The call for feminist rights movement for inclusion into more legal and social rights was largely as a result of the abolitionist movement that occurred prior to the Civil War. This was in itself due to the women’s realization that their slave rescue efforts were being hindered by lack of their own freedom. Several literatures have suggested that there existed a close relationship between these two occurrences. Within these developments, two organizations were subsequently initiated so that they look into issues of expanded women’s rights. Of historical significance was the â€Å"National Organization for Women† which was formed around1966 with statement of purpose to â€Å"Fight for equal rights with men† (National Organization for Women) In effect many women found solace in joining feminist organizations. There were widespread public lecture, newspaper articles, billboards, women parades and other variety of tactic that were used by these organizations i n attempt to communicate the message of equality. Other authors suggest that during this 70year struggle individual campaigns and petitions were carried out in attempts to elucidate the women’s state of affairs at every level. The feminist movement draws from a series of historical, political and public campaigns and advocacy undertaken by many women suffragists to deliver the modern day American woman. The background and the Beginning: Around 1800s women’s life was characteristically quite hard. Earlier works by Lucy Stone, the founder of â€Å"American Woman Suffrage Association† asserting that most of the women during this period worked in unbearable cotton mills and associated poor living conditions with peanut pay. Women oppression was so widespread that women were never allowed opportunities to testify in court cases nor speak before a gathering. (Friedan)Within these developments, Lucy goes ahead to say that marital rights of women were limited with women being regarded as property that were owned by their husbands, and therefore, â€Å"Out of indignation at the condition of women, the suffrage movement was born. For 70years it played a leading role in great struggle to raise womankind to equality with men† with suffrage becoming the main focus of these movements. (National Organization for Women) With the first Women Convention Conference held in 1848 in New York, several declarations by the participant at the Convention called for women to be given equal opportunities and rights in issues that included education, property and right to vote. While drawing from the United States’ independence declaration, this Convention thus declared that, â€Å"We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men and women are created equal†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (National Organization for Women) though it did not escape without saying that these movements faced strong opposition from their male counterparts who still believed that women we re better if they were represented by men. The Opposition Within this paradigm of increased interest to deliberate the womankind, several other opposing forces opposed the women’s quest for equality. In this situation were a mixture of complexities and personalities drawn from various societal spheres. Religion for instance was opposed to this movement arguing that the Bible recognized women’s position under a man. Strong family moralists also expressed fears that equality cause

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

How to create resilient supply chains Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

How to create resilient supply chains - Essay Example The process is also critical in planning of the production and supply process, improvement of relationships with suppliers, event management, international trade logistics, and transportation management (Fawcett, Ellram & Ogden 2007). This management is necessary for any enterprise that aspires to improve efficiency. The outcome of a well-managed is the difference between the success and the failure of the enterprise. Creation of a resilient chain is, therefore, an important part in the success of a business entity. Objectives of a supply chain management system An example of a supply chain is a manufacturing chain, which involves the procurement of raw materials, transformation of these raw materials into finished goods, and then transportation to distribution centers, and eventually to consumers. According to Beckmann (2003) the primary objective of the process is to maximize the general value generated. This value is the difference between effort expended in satisfying the custome r’s request and the final products worth to the consumer. These chains are strongly connected with the profitability, which is the margin between the proceeds generated from the consumer and the general cost across the chain. This system is, therefore, aimed at reducing costs related to customer satisfaction (Mentzer et al. 2001). Effective management of the process can results can also reduce the risks associated with breakdowns in the chain. Management also ensures that resources are used elsewhere. Through the reduction in costs, it is possible to transfer the resources that are saved to other productive activities. The management is also influential in the enhancement of management operations (Tan 2001). A steady chain implies more efficient operations which improves the overall productivity and profitability of the business. A properly managed chain also facilitates delivery of quality products over a smaller period (Cohen & Roussel 2005). Issues that affect the supply c hain process A major issue that affects the supply chain is strategy alignment. It is crucial that the business strategy must be in line with the supply strategy in order to attain its desired results (Chen & Paulraj 2004). However, where these strategies are not aligned, there is a higher risk of breakdown in the chain. If the strategy does not work in synchrony with the business strategy, it becomes difficult to properly coordinate the entire process (Arend & Wisner 2005). A poor strategy can also undermine the effectiveness of the supply process. A good strategy must focus on both customer satisfaction and effectiveness, and where these objectives are not met the supply process cannot be effective (Gunasekaran & Ngai 2005). Strategic alliances are particularly essential for the flow of materials, information or money in the supply chain and it needs to be even. This can be achieved through proper communication with strategic alliances (Storey et al 2006). Supply chain risks Busin ess risks can be externally driven such as customers, competitors, regulations or internally driven risks that include processing and operations. Risks can also be decision-driven such as erroneous or insufficient decision support (Stadtler 2008). In assessing risks, that affect supply chains, it is imperative to categorize these risks according to risk sources,

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Developing as a hr practitioner Essay Example for Free

Developing as a hr practitioner Essay The CIPD Profession map is a strategic tool used to help ensure HR is fully utilised in the organisation it operate in. It is used to add value to the organisation and define the highest level of professional competency required. The Profession Map is made up of 2 core professional areas, 8 specialist areas, 8 behaviours and 4 level Insights, strategy and solutions is the first core professional area, which helps the organisation to make informed choices about the direction of business. It allows decisions to be made about how the business will operate and identifies opportunities for improvement and development. Leading HR is the second professional area, which focuses on ensuring HR own, shape and drive themselves and the development of others within the organisation. They cover 3 key leadership areas, Personal leadership, leading others and leading issues. HR are seen as proactive rather than observational. Organisation design This ensures that the organisation is correctly setup to deliver it objectives in the short, medium and long term and a robust plan is in place to deal with restructuring.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Essay --

A1. Documents ïÆ' ¼ Fourth quarter balanced scorecard attached with excel spreadsheet. ïÆ' ¼ Balance sheet attached with excel spreadsheet. ïÆ' ¼ Income statement attached with excel spreadsheet. B1. Adequacy of Funds According to Ralph Estes’ Dictionary of Accounting (1981), a pro forma financial statement is described as â€Å"a financial statement created on events and transactions that are assumed, but has not yet happened.† On the other hand, a historical financial statement gives organizations financial measurements on how well the company has performed in the past. For that reason, without financial statements it would be difficult for management, investors, executive board members, and customers to analyze and evaluate how well a company does financially. The format in pro forma financial statements are similar to historical financial statements, but primarily focuses on the future theories and not past factual financial information. Also, a budget is a financial disposition to control future aspects in operations of money. Therefore, having a financial budget is extremely important especially when starting a business. During my simulation, I focused more on using a financial budget throughout to predict how much money I would spend during the expansion process of building the company. I kept my financial risk managed, so the company would not have any debt in the process. Unfortunately, this also backfired against me when I needed to invest more for the future of the company. The two points in my balanced scorecard are how well I did against the average companies. (Below is part of the final Balanced Scorecard for Investment in Future and Financial Risk). Average Typhoon Investment in Future 85.62 1.00 Financial Risk 0.91 1.00 Now... ...tion provided a purchase of the market search, but could have used a better overview of what tools or directions a business owner could use to succeed. There are many ways to achieve the ultimate goal of perfection towards the customer’s expectation in my simulation and benchmarking would have been an impactful improvement to achieve quality assurance goals. That being said, in the simulation there should be some evaluation of defects of the units that were sold to the customers. In a few of the quarters, feedback review of the quality of the product would also be another part of the simulation. Therefore, the quality assurance from the customer’s standpoint is vital in order to gain revenue and manufacturing growth for a company. Benchmarking would be an impactful improvement towards new business owners for this simulation to achieve quality assurance goals.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Cultural enrichment Essay

Last February 17, 2009, I went to the ISU Juried Student Exhibition which was located in the Center for Performing and Arts Gallery building. The juror of the exhibition was Mr. Ronald Leax, Halsey C. an Ives Professor of Art in Washington; University, St. Louis, MO. Most of the paintings that were being exhibited illustrate beauty and nature. I’ve noticed that most of the people that were there during the time of my visit appear uninterested with the art that was surrounding them. They barely noticed and appreciated art in its raw form because most were just busy eating and chatting. They practically didn’t understand why their teacher sent them to the gallery; I believe they just went there for the sake of the class credits that they are going to get. But they were also a few who knew what art and beauty was, they showed their appreciation by praising and scrutinizing the works in the gallery. Other people were also busy having their pictures taken beside the beautiful paintings. As for myself, I was really intrigued by the works and the masters behind those paintings. How I wished I could come up with such art pieces that to me seemed like it was done during the middle ages. It was also entertaining to watch how some paintings depicted things about religion and politics it shows that people are really concerned with the current events happening and are even able to express it through art. It was also fascinating to watch the paintings that were cross-over from realism to non-objectivism. Those kinds of paintings are the ones that entertain the naked eye without much thought provocation. Those paintings are the ones that caught my eye because it is relaxing and entertaining to look at them. At the end of the day, I just hope that more would learn to appreciate the beauty of art rather than be overly absorbed from school or from work. They should see that art is relaxing to the soul and to the mind so people who are stressed out could go to art exhibits to unwind and to refresh their souls.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Is 533 Homework 4

IS 533 HOMEWORK 4 BY AHMET CAN AYKUT (1835917) 1. What is meant by a symptom versus a problem? Relate these ideas to the case. (5 points) In the Intelligence Phase of the Decision Making Process, the decision maker, Elena, attempts to determine whether a problem exists, identify its symptoms, determine its magnitude and explicitly define it. What is described as a problem may only be a symptom, or measure, of a problem. In the case, MMS sales are off by 10 percent, which is the main problem.In the intelligence phase, the CEO calls the Board of Directors to search through the procedures in order to state and classify the problem. She consults Directors to reach the main reason for the problem or to find the real problem which the off-sales are symptoms of it. 2. Why is problem ownership so important? (5 points) A problem exists in an organization only if someone or some group takes on the responsibility of attacking it and if the organization has the ability to solve it.The assignment of authority to solve the problem is called problem ownership. When problem ownership is not established, except for professional employees, there will be an uncertainty of who is responsible to solve the problem and role diffusions/shifting, tendency to avoid form responsibility may occur easily. Problem ownership ensures accountability. 3. Even though the problem was not identified at the end of the intelligence phase, what was? (5 points) Effects were identified and problem ownership was established. Effects of the problem: . Rentals did not increase while the total market did. (CMO) 2. Sales are dropping fastest on primary markets. (CFO) 3. Advertising expenditures are up. GMC Spiders should be a hot seller but they are off by 50 percent. All the new cars came on in on schedule and inventory is OK from CLAUDIA. (CEO) 4. Half of the GMC Spiders are rented although some local agencies set the prices 15 percent less. Rentals are down 8 percent nationally on the other classes of ca rs. (COO) Problem Ownerships: COO assumes the ownership of the problem.CIO will look at the underlying structures and parameters of the forecasting models (for weird economic trends or events); CMO will look into the advertising for external events, trends or reports on the cars that could affect the rentals 4. How was the design phase performed in this case? (10 points) Search and Scanning Procedures: 1. The problem statement has not been clearly stated. So the next step is the investigation of symptoms. 2. A collaboration group is formed with analysts from different departments: Operations and Marketing.Data Collection: 3. Databases of Operational and Economic Data were checked by data mining tools; relationships and assumptions in the forecasting models and RMS were verified; artificial neural networks, clustering analysis algorithms and statistical regression models were also benefited. It was noticed that the neural networks outperformed the regression-based systems a bit. 4. A n information system and marketing group was set up to look into how they could improve the regression-based models with neural networks. 5.An e-meeting was held to decide on what they were going to do next and sharing information. Problem Identification: 6. After the meeting OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) software was used to â€Å"slice† multidimensional data. The group noticed a slight inverse relationship with sales and advertising and the followings: a. There is a problem in the distribution. Over half of the cars are in the wrong places. b. GMC Spider was entered to the system as a four-seat compact with two doors. System automatically decides this car ideal for a small family or a single business person.This decision rent well rent in Midwest in the secondary markets but badly in the convention areas where there are men and women who like to rent sporty cars. Problem Statement /Search for Alternatives/Create Models: 7. After further analysis and investigation the real problems and alternatives were stated: a. Data Accuracy Problem–? Profile of the spider should be changed to a sports car from a compact car. b. Inventory Imbalance Problem-? 15 percent of the fleet should be moved to secondary markets. All the Spiders should be moved from secondary to primary markets.Some of minivans and full-size cars should be moved to secondary markets. Secondary market demand should be pushed by adjusting advertisement. c. Advertising Imbalance-? Customer locations should be identified well to determine what to advertise where. d. †Try before you buy† campaign should be campaign should be established in the secondary markets. e. In secondary markets people want full size cars. Company advertising features Spider but not the other types of cars. (Advertise backfire problem)-? Substitutes for the Spider should be discounted. f.Florida theme park demand: Florida theme parks are advertising in Europe because the euro is economically stronger than the dollar. -? Advertising in Europe, either with the theme parks or separately, should be increased. 5. The choice phase seemed like a combination of design, choice, and implementation. Is this a problem? (10 points) Both it is a problem and not. It is not a problem because in intelligence, design and choice steps there are feedback points which are Validation of the model, revision of criteria for choice, evaluation of risk and rating the alternatives; verification, testing of proposed solution.It is a problem because the intricate structure of phases may lengthen the choice phase and cause missing the business opportunities. Organizational responses to solution implementations may be slower so that verification and testing of the solution, the sensitivity analysis and plan for implementation may take some time so that phases may become intricate. Also sub optimization and satisficing are potential threats for decision making. 6. The implementation phase seemed to involve el ements of all the phases. Is this a problem? (10 points)It is not a problem because in case of failure all the remaining 3 phases should be revised until the solution is succeeded. Indeed it is hard to implement a solution successfully at the first trial. Making a decision, carrying out a project requires a plan-do-check cycle to get the best. It is a problem because the intricate structure of phases may lengthen the implementation phase and cause missing the business opportunities and not adapting the business environment. 7. How were new problems or opportunities handled as they arose? 10 points) New problems (Data inaccuracy, Inventory Imbalance, Advertising Imbalance) and new opportunities (Discounting substitutes Florida Theme Park Demand and â€Å"Try Before You Buy† Campaign) were handled by identification, problem ownership and implementation. 8. Why do you suppose some alternatives were either modified or postponed? (10 points) First of all, alternatives should be pr ioritized to decide what to first and which one is more/less important than the others; there is a sequential relation between the alternatives whether the 3rd alternative cannot be achieved before completing the 2nd.In the Decision Making Process in each phase there may be updates and changes that may affect the alternatives until the solution is succeeded. All alternatives cannot be applied simultaneously. 9. How can computerized DSS support the management at each stage of the Simon's Decision Making Model? In which phase is the major contribution of made? Why? (15 points) Decision Support Systems may comprise one or more of the systems mentioned below, which are beneficial in decision making phases. Let’s consider each phase separately: Intelligence Phase:Web tools and sources are useful for environmental scanning. Web browsers provide OLAP, data mining and data warehouses. Data warehouses continuously monitors internal and external information, looking early signs of prob lems and opportunities through an enterprise information portal (i. e. dashboard). Also web mining, Expert Systems, Management Information Systems, Artificial Neural Networks, Genetic Algorithms and other Automatic Decision Making systems also support this phase by identifying relationships among activities and other factors.Geographical Information Systems can be utilized so that the decision maker can determine opportunities and problems in a spatial sense. CRM systems can identify classes of customers to approach with specific products and services. Knowledge Management Systems can be used to identify similar past situations and how they were handled. Group Support Systems can be used to share information and brain storming. Business Activity Monitoring, Business Process Management and Product Life Cycle Management can also provide decision makers the capability of monitoring the current status of operations.Expert Systems can render advice regarding the nature of the problem, it s classification, seriousness and the like. They can advise on the suitability of a solution approach and the likelihood of successfully solving the problem. OLAP tools are excellent tools for routine and ad-hoc reporting. Design Phase: This phase involves generating alternative courses of action, setting criteria for choices and their relative importance and forecasting the future consequences of using various alternatives. OLAP and data mining software are useful in identifying relationships that can be used in models.CRM, Revenue Management, Enterprise Resource Planning and Supply Chain Management Systems can provide models that can test assumptions and scenarios. GSS and cognitive mapping tools can help identifying important issues and options. Risk analysis can also be carried out in this phase. Choice Phase: DSS can support this phase through what if and goal seeking analyses. Different scenarios can be tested for the selected option to reinforce the final decision. KMS can he lp identify similar past experiences.CRM, ERP and SCM systems are used to test the impacts of decisions in establishing their value. ES can be used to assess the desirability of certain solutions and recommend an appropriate solution. GSS can support to lead to consensus in a group decision. Implementation Phase: DSS can be used in implementation activities like decision communication, explanation and justification. BAM, BPM, PLM, KMS, CRM, SCM, ERP and EIS are useful in tracking how well an implementation is working. GSS is useful for team collaboration for implementation effectiveness.ES’ can be used as an advisory system regarding implementation problems. Also they can provide training that may smooth the course of implementation. A CRM Systems can identify classes of customers to get rid of unprofitable customers so that implementation can be focused on profitable customers. Also they report and update internal records, based on the impacts of the implementation so that n ew problems and opportunities can be identified and one or more of the Decision Making Phases can be revisited. In Intelligence phase the major contribution is made. 10.What is the contribution of using Simon's model for rational decision making for the analysis of this case? (20 points) Decision Making is a process that the Decision Maker should know what, why, when, where, how and with whom to start and how to proceed. Defining, categorizing and modeling the steps of decision making and systematically working on them is crucial. Since humans have a limited capacity for rational thinking, we tend to construct and analyze a simplified model of a decision making process. Simon’s model serves as a principal blue print, a basic guide.According to the problem complexity the decision maker can elaborate on the model and improve the phases according to the problem complexity and solution requirements. For example in the design phase normative, descriptive and nonmathematical descri ptive models, scenarios can be benefitted specifically. Simon’s model reminds us that such models may/should be used primarily in the design phase. For example HP developers consider three phases in developing a model (See 2. 1 Opening Vignette: Decision Modeling at HP using Spreadsheets): Problem Framing, Actual Design and Development of the Tools and Handoff.Each of these phases has sub phases like Problem Framing has â€Å"Will analytics solve the problem? †, †Can an existing solution be leveraged? † and â€Å"Is a tool needed? †; Design and Development of the Tools has â€Å"Develop a prototype as quickly as possible†, †Build Inside, not black boxes †, etc. HP is a major manufacturer of computers, printers and industrial products. They formed this model to solve their repeating business problems. Simon’s model can also be adapted to HP’s decision modeling processes but their model is much specific and ready-to-use because of their need for agility.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Classification Essay Sample on Halloween Costumes

Classification Essay Sample on Halloween Costumes A classification essay is not the most popular type of academic paper which students are required to write during their studying process. However, most of the academic subjects imply the demonstration of critical thinking, which means that at least once in their lifetime, all students will be supposed to create a classification essay sample. Therefore, being familiar with the steps of writing on the classification essay topics is necessary whether in humanitarian or technical disciplines. First of all, the core element of the classification essay is a category, namely a group of objects united by similar characteristics of the specific criteria. Hence, the second necessary element of the categorization process is the classification criteria according to which objects or their characteristics will be categorized. For instance, while writing about the literature genres, one may choose a â€Å"fiction/non-fiction† system of categorization, which means the division of literature genres in two categories: â€Å"fiction† and â€Å"non-fiction,† depending on the following categorization criteria that are the verity of the events. If the events stem from the author’s imagination with no relation to real experiences, the genre refers to the fiction literature. The opposite category to the fiction is non-fiction, which means that any story of non-fiction genres is based on real-life experiences. For instance, Alice in Wonderland is an example of fiction literature, while Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury, written as a memoir, is an accurate example of the non-fiction. ‘Halloween Costumes: Hold Your Heroes to High Standards’ Essay Sample There are two types of people: those who prepare for a holiday in advance that can take an entire year, and those who do their preparations at the last moment. It is not difficult for one to define themselves according to the classification above. However, when a person faces another classification, which is a classification of holiday costumes, namely the Halloween ones, the impediments of choice occur due to the variety of categories according to which the Halloween costumes can be categorized as following: metaphorical or real objects, real people or fictional characters, hand-made or bought, simple or complex, traditional or innovative. Each category is based on a specific criterion that defines the division of the groups: meaning, the truthfulness of the character, the way of creating the costume, the complexity of the latter, and time. All Halloween costumes can be divided into those based on metaphor, namely pun-based costumes, and those based on the meaning of real objects. A costume of a cat that includes ears, a tail, mustache, and black jeans reminds the viewer of a common cat anyone can meet in the street. However, if the costume has such details as the mask of Zorro and a bag with the sign of money, the viewer thinks of a â€Å"cat burglar† which changes the meaning of the entire costume from the direct to a metaphorical one. Another example is a costume of a sheep, where white color reminds the viewer of a farm animal, but when the color changes into the black, the whole costume obtains a different meaning, which is â€Å"black sheep† an extraordinary person, who does not suit into the crowd. Therefore, being based on the â€Å"meaning† criteria, the category discussed above is vast due to the variety of puns occurring each year in the spoken language. The second category of Halloween costumes unites the groups of â€Å"fictional† and â€Å"non-fictional† costumes. Here, the main criterion is the realness of the character. One can draw a parallel between the literary genres when differentiation is based on the real-life experiences or pure imagination of the author. The significant part of the Halloween costumes belongs to the fictional characters: Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Vincent Vega and Mia Wallace from the iconic Pulp Fiction, Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians, and others. The list of fictional characters may endlessly continue due to the variety of the latter having been created for centuries. The group of non-fictional characters encompasses fewer characters than that of the fictional. Nowadays, the holiday participants prefer fictional characters due to the variety as well as the outer vividness and instant recognition in the crowd they possess. If one chooses the costume of a non-fictional character, then he or she may find some of them entertaining and meaningful enough for the fact that modern popular stars have turned their life into a life-lasting narration with an extraordinary image of themselves. While the costume of Abraham Lincoln or Thomas Jefferson is quite traditional and one-dimensional, the costumes of the modern stars may be challenging to compose. For instance, if one decides to dress like Lady Gaga or Beyonce, they will have to make reference in their attire to a specific music video that would make the costume recognizable for everyone. Therefore, both non-fictional and fictional characters may be a source of inspiration if one uses their imagination. The third category of costumes based on the criteria of item-making divides Halloween costumes into handcrafted or ready-made. Hand-made clothing is a costume manually created, commonly by a holiday participant, while ready-made costumes are available in any clothes stores and vary in price. Here, opinions about the advantages and disadvantages regarding both groups differ: while hand-made costumes are considered cheap because they do not require much time or financial resources, the ready-made costumes are expensive and unoriginal. However, the need for handcrafted or ready-made costumes depends on the simplicity and the required details. For instance, a plain white T-shirt, baggy jeans and a cap are enough to create an image of Eminem. Meanwhile, the creation of a Wonder Woman image will require the exact tiara, metallic bracelets and the entire outfit that the character wears in the same-called comics and the movie. The following category is based on the complexity of the Halloween costume according to which one can easily guess whether the person did the last minute or the whole-year preparations. Simple costumes are not complicated for anyone to create due to the clothes and details anyone can find at their home. For instance, the costumes of the Breakfast Club characters will require the vintage clothes everyone can find in their parents’ old wardrobe from the 1980s or 1990s. Further, the creation of a hippie image is also a simple task, as it will need grandmother’s clothes from the sixties. Meanwhile, if one’s grandmother was not a hippie but a common young woman and had pink clothes, then the creation of the Marvellous Mrs. Maisel’ character can be quickly planned. Meanwhile, the complex-made costumes require specific details that one has to buy at online costume shops or fan sites. For instance, the creation of the Harry Potter characters will require special robes, scarfs, and magic wands from the stores devoted to the Harry Potter books and films. The same refers to the construction of the Deadpool or Spiderman costume. The last category of the Halloween costumes encompasses two groups, which are traditional or innovative costumes, depending on whether the idea is new or old. As time passes, people innovate their old ideas about traditional costumes or create new images. However, innovations always coexist along with the traditions, which means that by innovating the traditional image, the latter acquires a new meaning. For instance, the notorious image of a witch from the folklore has been renovated in the 1990s by the iconic Halloween movie Hocus Pocus, a film telling a story of the three witches. Winifred Sanderson costume, one of the sisters, is the most popular among the Halloween fans famous for its â€Å"googly-one-eyed spell book, followed closely only by Winifred’s lust for eternal youth† (Horvat para. 4). Until then, people keep dressing in the costumes of such traditional creatures as ghouls, werewolves, cats, and ghosts that besides considered old-fashioned, can be still â €Å"terrifying or outright incomprehensible† (Edwards para.1). Without additional meaning, traditional costumes are considered unoriginal, and that is why, as it has been mentioned, the Halloween participants create innovative ideas that are mostly based on puns or the impersonations of characters from the late movies and series. Among the latter, the most popular Halloween costumes are an image of a prisoner from Orange is the New Black, a handmaid from The Handmaid’s Tale, as well as Daenerys Targaryen or Jon Snow from The Game of Thrones (Teather para. 16). Though the boundary between the traditional and innovative Halloween costumes is blurred, the definition of the costume’s traditionalism or innovativeness depends on the meaning of the image. Conclusively, Halloween costumes fall in different categories depending on the judging criteria. According to the meaning, the costumes are divided into metaphorical or real objects. According to the fictional or non-fictional experiences of the impersonated character, the costumes are the ones of real people or fictional characters, while according to the way the costume has been created, the Halloween attire can be hand-made or bought. As for the complexity, the costumes are simple or complex, and as for the time of creation, the Halloween wardrobe is traditional or innovative. However, all characteristics above can be changed by the addition or elimination of a certain meaning as it has been discussed in the examples of the Hocus Pocus witches or the costumes of modern celebrities. Concluding Remarks In brief, the classification essay divides objects into categories according to specific characteristics. The essay above demonstrates that the author has divided the Halloween costumes into categories, opposite to each other. For instance, the category of meaning encompasses two opposite groups of metaphorical and real-objects costumes. In the Introduction, the author summarizes the issue and the general categories with their determining criteria. Further, each paragraph of the Body explains the strengths and weaknesses of the category’s groups. For each category, the author has provided examples. The Conclusion paragraph summarizes the categories and restates the thesis statement. We hope that the example of the classification essay above not only helped you find an appropriate Halloween costume but also served as an accurate explanation for writing the classification essay. Edwards, Wyatt. â€Å"Old-Fashioned Halloween Costumes.† Halloween Costumes, 12 Jan. 2018, www.halloweencostumes.com/blog/p-1105-old-fashioned-halloween-costumes.aspx. Horvat, Kate. â€Å"DIY Hocus Pocus Costumes.† Halloween Costumes, 3 Oct. 2014, www.halloweencostumes.com/blog/p-566-diy-hocus-pocus-costumes.aspx. Teather, Charlie. â€Å"Netflix-Inspired Halloween Costumes That Will Have People Saying I Wish Id Thought of That!† Glamour: Netflix, 18 Oct. 2018, www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/gallery/netflix-halloween-costumes.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How to use capital letters - Emphasis

How to use capital letters How to use capital letters Were often being asked about when to use capital letters. Why is it so confusing? The answer lies somewhere between what were used to seeing (beginning, as ever, with our school habits) and the seeming inconsistencies of best practice. As a general rule, capitals are for specific and formal; lower-case for unspecific and informal. Capital offence Avoid using all capital letters. Its very heavy on the eye; and the lack of differentiation in height and shape (compared with lower-case lettering) actually makes it more difficult to read. Also, the consensus particularly in the virtual world is that it appears as shouting, so youll come across as aggressive and alienate your reader. Initial capitals You might think the rules get murkier here. Certainly, it may come down to an issue of style within your workplace, but always bear in mind that its very easy to overdo these. Typically, use initial capitals for: proper nouns places, peoples names, company names Mr Jones, formerly of Emphasis Training Ltd, went to Swansea. official job titles Mr Jones new position was Chief Executive of Capital Placement. trade names or brands I like to have a cup of Ovaltine and read the Write Away e-bulletin on my Mac. But, generally, dont use them for: every first letter in a heading or sub-heading (check your company style on this one): its An exploration of capital letters, not An Exploration of Capital Letters compass points, unless they are part of a definable region/area/country Should we head north or north-east now? Im either moving to South Korea or the Middle East. Subsequent words (beyond the first) in a sign-off Yours sincerely Best regards Lots of love Clarifying apparent contradictions Sporadically sprinkling this or that word with a capital can lend undeserved import to certain concepts, which, in turn, implies a kind of inferiority in others. While we may be used to seeing Mum and Dad capitalised (or Doctor if we are one, President if we are Barack Obama and so on), that doesnt mean those words should always be capitalised. Where a noun stands in for a proper noun (like a name), it is capitalised; if not, it isnt. Hello Mother, hello Father. Is that my mother with your father? What are you doing, Mum? Job titles and ranks used in conjunction with the holders name are capitalised; if the title is used alone, they arent. Have you met Mr Jones, Chief Executive of Capital Placement? Yes, but Ive met many chief executives. Who is the president? Do you live under a rock? You must recognise President Obama. For governments, use lowercase unless youre referring to a particular administration. The Government announced the abolition of the 10p tax band. Representatives from governments across Europe were united in their disgust. Institutions and organisations will be capitalised when their name is used in full; on subsequent references to it, when the name is shortened, use lowercase. Ill have to refer you to the Central Committee of Capital Measures. What was the name of that committee? The exception to this rule is when the shortened reference word might be mistaken for a regular noun. The National Trust is fantastic. Yes, its the best kind of Trust. Have you heard of the African National Congress? Im well aware of that Congress. So, just remember with capitals: less is more. Exceptions that may seem inconsistent and confusing are only for clarity. If you have any more queries about capital letters or anything else leave a comment and well get back to you.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Empirical Evidence - the Evolution of Consolidated Financial Reportin Essay

Empirical Evidence - the Evolution of Consolidated Financial Reporting Can Be Explained By Contracting Cost Variables - Essay Example At the extreme, some researchers have titled their studies as examining the 'determinants' of economic choices (Hagerman and Zmrjewski, 1979; Lekme and Page, 1992; Aitken and Loftus 1994; Whittred and Zimmer, 1994)" Studies carried out by Whittred n 1987 have in fact mistook to analyze the set of amended rules of the Sydney Stock Exchange which was evidently an optional norm. However regulatory requirements regulatory requirements since 1921 have progressively encouraged the presentation of the consolidated statements. A meagre number of companies have voluntarily presented consolidated statements of their own under the regulatory influence. Statutory requirements were found influential than listing rules of the stock exchange leading a vital role in disseminating knowledge about the techniques of consolidated statements through a seminar, professional literature and public examinations. Whitted's study further highlights the speculative assumptions of data where high levels of debt were assumed to mean there had been incidents of contractual arrangements between lenders and beneficiaries as minimum agency cost. The study albeit failed to explain the use of consolidated statements based on cost variations. Many of the practitioners were not familiar with the techniques of consolidations even when the Institute of Chartered Accounts and the Australian Society of Accountants made their first pronouncements on the subject of consolidation in 1946 and 1956 respectively. The accounting literature hereafter included more discussions about the virtues of consolidated statements as a means of reporting to a range of stakeholders. Nevertheless, changes in regulations were associated with the changes in practices in accounting education. This hypothesis yields an evidence of a mere causal relationship between accounting writers and its regulatory practices. Doubtlessly consolidation evolved in the demand of necessity for monitoring performance in compliance with the contracts between the firms and their suppliers of debt and equity capital aimed at reducing agency cost. The characteristic difference of early consolidators with more subsidiaries than non-consolidators disappeared in 1950 following the introduction of taxation incentives. Institutional requirements were ruled out by the sample selection criteria promoting the growth of holding company form and thus it gradually established the necessities towards the descending towards the extent of political cost. G. Whittred gives us a solid ground of its existence as follow According to Clifford W Smith as described in the Incentives for Unconsolidated Financial Reporting says â€Å" We provide a positive analysis of Firms decision to report the operations of a financial subsidiary on a consolidated versus unconsolidated basis.†Ã‚     

Friday, November 1, 2019

Forrest Gumps and Michael Herrs Depictions of the Vietnam War Essay

Forrest Gumps and Michael Herrs Depictions of the Vietnam War - Essay Example Forrest Grump and Michael Herr depict the Vietnam War in more or less the same way although the former portrays the events more lightly. Michael Herr who was a writer in his twenties was a correspondent for the Esquire Magazine. The two major operations covered in the book are the siege of KheSahn and recapture of Hue that was the old capital of Vietnam. He happens to meet many soldiers and other correspondents in the process of gathering information about their experiences. Herr favors field work over tasks at Saigon that is relatively safer but the reality of the matter is that all Vietnam is unsafe. The enemy dominates the atmosphere with sounds of explosions and mortar attacks and bombs that go off all over the city (Knopf para. 1). The Vietnam War reaches the peak during the Tet offensive that started in January 30th, 1968 and from which it was named. A short time before Tet, the operation of seizing KheSahn begins on 21st January and ends in April 1968. Herr got to Khe Sahn by mode of a helicopter which is the primary transportation mode in the time of war. Here he encounters two marines with whom he shares a bunker. The two are Mayhew and Day Tripper along with others. The author gives a description of how the North Vietnamese Army besieges the base and digs ditches in preparation for a big operation. Everybody expects them to make a huge assault after they probe the fence regularly at night and marines shoot flares that are mortar-fired. The NVA, however, surprises by leaving the area quickly after the airstrikes take a bigger toll than anticipated (Knopf para. 2). Herr tells stories of the marines some of which are bizarre and others very touching. He portrays a deep sense of admiration for the troops that are fighting a dangerous war in a dangerous country. He also portrays the propaganda happening in the country but this time with less admiration.