Competitive Advantage Of Airline Industry In Singapore Tourism Essay

Competitive Advantage Of Airline Industry In Singapore Tourism Essay Singapore economy is one of most prosperous in the world. Singapore airline industry accounted for 5% of GDP and the industry value-added rate is 15%. As an important role in Singapore economy, Singapore airline industry has growing fast. In this paper will use the Porters Diamond Model (Factor endowments; Demand conditions; Related and supporting industries; Firm strategy, structure and rivalry; Chance Government) to analysis the competitive advantage of Singapore airline industry and explain how the Singapore airline industry developed its competitive advantages. Introduction Singapore economy environment Singapore economy is one of most prosperous in the world. Singapore economy is a capitalist mixed economy, with minimal government intervention in the market. It has an open business environment, relatively corruption-free and transparent, stable prices and one of the highest per capita gross domestic products (GDP) in the world. Airlines industry in Singapore Air travel is a large and growing industry. It facilitates economic growth, world trade, international investment and tourism and is therefore central to the globalization taking place in many other industries. In Singapore economic environment, the Singapore airlines industry had total revenue of $5.8 billion in 2009, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.7% for the period spanning 2005-2009. Industry volumes increased with a CAGR of 4.1% between 2005 and 2009, to reach a total of 18.1 million passengers in 2009. The performance of the industry is forecast to accelerate, with an anticipated CAGR of 11% for the five year period 2009-2014, which is expected to drive the industry to a value of $9.8 billion by the end of 2014 (Airlines Industry Profile: Singapore, 2010). Porters Diamond Model of Competitive Advantage The diamond model is an economical model developed by Michael Porter in his book The Competitive Advantage of Nations (Porter, 1990), where he published his theory of why particular industries become competitive in particular locations. Porters diamond model suggests that there are inherent reasons why some nations, and industries within nations, are more competitive than others on a global scale. The argument is that the national home base of an organization provides organizations with specific factors, which will potentially create competitive advantages on a global scale. The analysis is classified into six broad factors incorporated into the Porter diamond, which has become a key tool for the analysis of competitiveness: Factor endowments a nations position in factors of production such as skilled labor or the infrastructure necessary to compete in given industry. Demand conditions the nature of home demand for the industrys product or service. Related and supporting industries the presence or absence of supplier industries and related industries that are internationally competitive. Firm strategy, structure and rivalry the conditions governing how companies are created, organized, and managed and the nature of domestic rivalry. Chance events are occurrences that are outside of control of a firm. They are important because they create discontinuities in which some gain competitive positions and some lose. Government can influence each of the above four determinants of competitiveness. Clearly government can influence the supply conditions of key production factors, demand conditions in the home market, and competition between firms. Government interventions can occur at local, regional, national or supranational level. Figure 1: Porters Diamond Model www.google.com_000.jpg Source: The Competitive Advantage of Nations By using Porters diamond, business leaders may analyze the competitive factors which may reside in their home country company, and what factors may be used to achieve global competitive advantage. Business leaders can also use the Porters diamond model during a phase of internationalization, the leaders can use the model to analyze whether the factors in the domestic market to support the internationalization process, and whether in the country eligible to create a global scale competitive advantage. Analysis of Airline Industry in Singapore Factor endowments The factor endowments of airlines industry include human resources, capital, equipment and facilities, air space resources, etc. In human resources, due to the characteristics of technology-intensive in airlines industry, the organization requires a lot of professional and technical personnel. Meanwhile, the aviation industry also needs administrative, financial investment and sales staffs. The multi-cultural Singaporean workforce is highly educated, highly motivated and highly productive. It is also proficient in English the language of international business. Singapore has a large base of engineering talent, with the number of engineers in universities and polytechnics expanding steadily each year, in addition to the sizeable pool of skilled technicians. In addition, Singapore government through the open immigration policy enhances Singapores talent pool. This gives companies the opportunity to source for the best personnel from anywhere in the world (http://www.edb.gov.sg/edb/sg/en_uk/index/why_singapore/knowledge.html). For these reasons, the Singapore airlines industries have good manpower. In capital, airlines industry needs a large finance support, the aircrafts and airport cost millions of money. In Singapore, the worlds major banks have opened branches or offices. Therefore, the Singapore airline industries do not have problem in capital. For example, Commerzbank Singapore branch has 30 years experience in financing aircraft to arrange and manage the entire deal, and a complete suite of financing products (https://www.commerzbank.com.sg/en/financing/aircraft/aircraft_financing.htm). Although the Singapores skies are limited, however the airline industry not far from reaching saturation point. According to Lee Kuan Yew (former Prime Minister of Singapore), due to the aid of advanced navigation technology, Singapore can shorten the distance of the aircraft flight and to increase flights density, therefore Singapore in terms of the open skies, still have a lot of space. Demand conditions Airlines generally have a large number of buyers. Many of these are individual consumers purchasing flights directly from the airline, although there are business to business sales to charter companies, discounters, and similar buyers. With the increasing living standard, the customers are demand on convenient, comfortable and fast transportation. Travel by air is one of the best choices for Singapore customers. Firstly, Singapore has a strong international trade link, there are thousands of businessmen which from different countries doing business in Singapore. The businessmen through the air travel to make sure they can reach the right place on time. Secondly, Singapore is one of the most popular tourist cities in Asia. There are 10.8 million tourists visit Singapore in 2008. Furthermore, due to the population growth, Singapore has a great potential demand for air travel. Table 1: Singapore Population Statistics Year 2007 Total Population (000) 4588.6 Singapore Residents (000) 3583.1 Birth Rate (Per 1000 Population) 10.3 Death Rate (Per 1000 Population) 4.5 Infant Mortality Rate (Per 1000 Live Births) 2.1 (Source : www.singstat.gov.sg) (Source: Airlines Industry Profile: Singapore, 2010) According to the tables, it obviously shows that the passengers of Singapore airlines industry have increasing by year. Related and supporting industries The related and supporting industries including airports, air traffic control, navigation information, aviation fuel, air material and other support services, and aircraft manufacturing and maintenance of related industries. From the supply-side perspective, the airport provide the basic conditions for airlines industry, it contains safety and quality service. Changi Airport is the main airport in Singapore which humble beginnings in 1981. Changi Airport also is a major aviation hub in Southeast Asia. Currently managed by Changi Airport Group, Changi Airport was corporatized on 1 July 2009 to bring Changi to the next level and deliver an even better Changi Experience. (http://www.changiairport.com/our-business/about-changi-airport) Serving more than 90 international airlines flying to some 200 cities in 60 countries, Changi Airport handles about 5,000 arrivals and departures every week and over 37 million passengers a year. With over 40,000 square meters of commercial space, Changi Airport is also one of Singapores largest shopping locations. As the air traffic controller, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) promotes a strong safety culture and embeds a robust safety framework, with a modern and progressive regulatory regime based on international best practices. Aircraft manufacturing and maintenance are the most important supporting industries for airlines industry. For Singapore airline industries, Boeing Company and Airbus is the main supplier for aircraft. Fortunately, Singapore also has its local brand. SIA Engineering Company is leading aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company providing total maintenance solutions to an expanding client base of international airlines (http://www.siaec.com.sg/). Firm strategy, structure, and rivalry Local conditions affect firm strategy. For example, German companies tend to be hierarchical. Italian companies tend to be smaller and are run more like extended families. Such strategy and structure helps to determine in which types of industries a nations firms will excel. Singapore is a hierarchical paternalistic authoritarian illiberal state. Cause of Confucianism is strong; Singapore society is based on a hierarchical order of things. Rivalry in the Singapore airline industry is strong. Local rivalry forces firms to move beyond basic advantages that the home country may enjoy, such as low factor costs. The competitive landscape has several large companies, such as Singapore Airlines, alongside smaller competitors. Rivalry is increased by the presence of low-cost carriers in the market, as these companies can compete more intensely on price. Switching costs for buyers are low, which means that it is easy for them to change to a competitor. Cause of the globalization, there are many international competitors join in the Singapore market, such as China, Japan and India, etc. Chance The demand for air travel to the Asia Pacific is rising which is driven by increased economic activity in emerging Asian countries such as China and India. Traffic is projected to grow at 7% in China and India combined, above the world average of 5% in the fiscal year ended December 2007. Further, the share of Asia Pacific region in world passenger traffic is forecast to rise from 25% in 2003 to 31% in 2023. According to the update of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the global tourism will rebound strongly in 2010. With the anticipated growth, business and consumer confidence has picked up. This growth in world tourism industry will enhance airline business. Singapore airlines industry can capitalize on this increase in world travel and tourism to enhance its business and generate additional revenues. Government Government is the important variable of affecting the competitiveness of the airline industry. In the past, the airline industry was at least partly government owned. The airline industry has been strongly controlled by agreements and policies. Airlines couldnt just fly to any destination or country without appropriate authorization. The deregulation of the Airline industry opens doors for more entrants to the market and increased competition. Singapore Airlines is still owned by the Singapore government and is still affected by such controls. Therefore, the government has great impact on the airline industry. In Singapore, the government is supporting the airline industry. The Singapore government has signed an agreement with the United States called Open Skies that gives both countries unrestricted flight access to each other countries. The open skies phenomenon is gathering momentum and more and more countries are signing up. Recently, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CA AS) will be setting up an S$100-million Aviation Development Fund to further develop the local aviation industry. Conclusion Airline industry in Singapore has growing fast. Its due to have a good economic environment and stable politics. According to the analysis of Porters Diamond Model of Competitive Advantage, it obviously shows what competitive advantages of the Singapore airline industry have. Firstly, Singapore airline industries have the good human resources, finance support and other factor endowments. Secondly, the strong demand of market and the related and supporting industries. Additionally, the good opportunities and the government support. My recommendation for Singapore airline industry: Keep strong emphasis on the brand name and quality of service. Stay with the competitive advantage what the industries have, using the differentiation strategy. Maintain the innovation and complimentary products.

Women In Art Essay examples -- essays research papers

Women throughout history, from the 1500’s till now have been looked at as objects. In the 1500’s during the time of the Renaissance woman were often portrayed in art in the nude. Curves at that time showed women as being goddess like. The more curvy and voluptuous you were the more beautiful men saw you. Artists who painted the female body were often commissioned by rich men to paint these paintings to hang in their houses. Women in this age are still portrayed in art in the nude. Mostly in nude magazines. Some people would consider these magazines to be vulgar and raw however men still look at these magazines for enjoyment making them a form of art.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In â€Å"Looking at Women†, by Scott Russell Sanders, he looks into his experiences with women throughout his life...

Martin Luther King, Marcus Garvey, & Malcolm X Discussion

2012: Segregation Still at Its Worst The way todays events and the lifestyle of living is approached, the people of our past would have been surprised to know how much we have accomplished, and even more surprised to know some things still remain the same. Since the beginning of mankind, people have fought for their rights in order to make life a much easier way to live with one another. Documents like the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and even far back to the Ten Commandments, have been written to show some sort of peace structure to live by, with out harming one another.In America, freedom, justice, and equality for all has been a major issue that is yet to be fully fulfilled. Although, America is all about supporting the three lifestyles, the people are the ones who make the situation almost impossible to reach. If the strong leaders from our past were alive today helping us reach the right decision to these matters, the solutions would come even sooner to socie ty based on their helpful ideas, or maybe even the people of today would still be capable of assassinating them for their wise words and leadership.Leaders like Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr. , and Malcolm X, already had strong voices of opinion then and would have even higher voices today. Taking that if with the advanced science there is today, we would be able to bring back in time the lives of Martin Luther King Jr. , Malcolm X, and Marcus Garvey; for them to be able to be the same age they were while showing activism, and have an intellectual conversation with one another about the issues we are still facing, what would they have to say about them?Matters to discuss like the campaign election with our black President Obama, gangs in the United States, or an even more poplar subject; the battle for legalizing gay marriage throughout the states. Since Egyptian times there have been records of same sex couples, this is not a new subject to mankind but yet we treat it as if it is something our ancestors have never heard of and a new discovery. Gay marriage has been an on going debate in our society. The government trying to control who someone marries is limiting human rights. May 3rd, 2012.Walking along the beachy streets of Venice, California; Malcolm, Martin, and Marcus, run into each other while still in shock to be alive again where they are. Malcolm and Martin recognizing one another, Malcolm recognizing Marcus, and Marcus not being able to recognize neither since he came from an early time of theirs. After being together for a short amount of time in present day era, they have already learned about many events, issues, and problems there has stumbled through time. Taking a seat on a park bench, they begin to assemble some of their findings and ideas.Marcus: So men, one topic I've been hearing about both negatively and positive about has been the issue on either banning same-sex marriage or legalizing it. What do you all think should be done abou t that? Malcolm: Well beginning off with that, it brings back the dilemma we were fighting for back in our days for the right of our freedom because of the color of our skin. Even though the issue today is whether or not the same sex should be able to marry, but who is the government to tell someone who they could marry or who they cannot?Marcus: If it really is this big of an issue, all homosexuals who want to marry should just move to a state like Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage is legalized, and they could colonize there to be able to marry and be more comfortable in the communities they are in rather than fighting for it where their state will not allow it. Malcolm: Marcus, my father, may he rest in peace, had a big admiration for you and your ideas about how we should have handled racism your way about moving back to Africa to avoid the segregation here.And so do I. But in this country, we have learned to build up our nation and overcome issues like racism, not fully sin ce it still exists in some ways, but its been handled to avoid discrimination. Now we believe in equality, and equality means that you have to put the same thing over here that you out over there (Malcolm 139). Our country is a nation of freedom, but yet that is taken away when the freedom of others choosing the one to marry, the ones they love, comes to place. Since the beginning of our nation we have been fighting for eligious, racial, and many other basic human rights. Denying gay marriage is fighting against a human’s basic right to love. Marcus Garvey in the beginning of this conversation, is trying to state that if it is really important to homosexuals, they should just leave their state and enter one where same-sex marriage is legal. Something he had also been saying to his people during his reign of leadership, enduring in people's mind to simply go back to Africa where they are sure to receive equal treatment within their colored people.Readings had been done about t he topic by Martin Luther King, who wanted to uncover deeper about the subject of gay marriage. He learned that conservative Theodore B. Olson, of the republican party, states in his article; â€Å" The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage†, that legalizing same-sex marriage would be a recognition of basic American principles, and it would represent the culmination of our nation's commitment to equal rights. Theodore also states that it is the last major milestone to be over came in our fight towards civil rights.After accomplishing the black and white racism battle over the years, much is still the same. Martin Luther King: Well men, after hearing you two discuss yesterday a little of what should be done about the fact of gay marriage, I went off to uncover more about the issue. According to a man by the name of Gary Gates, he did a study of how many homosexuals there are in the United States alone, and it came out to over four million gays, that’s more than four millio n people we are denying equal rights too!This does not include people who claim to be bisexual as well. Marcus: Nothing has changed. These white folks have poisoned the rest of our country to harm not only the rights of a negro anymore, but the rights of regular human beings that would only want to be one and marry. They have lost their sympathies throughout, heterosexuals have settled down to see nothing but their own interest (Garvey 205). Martin Luther King: That is right. The tables have turned that even the white folks, deny their own people of color. Only because of the sexuality they have.Imagine being told the way you were born or see things or feel for them, is wrong? And it had to be untaught to you only because others do not approve for it? Or your religion does not? That is not the way this country should be heading. Malcolm: The internal consciousness of this country is bankrupt. They make it appear they have our good interests at heart, but when you study it, every tim e, no matter how many steps they take us forward, it's like we're standing on a–what do you call that thing? (Malcolm 143). Marcus: †¦ A treadmill! Malcolm: A treadmill!The treadmill is moving backwards faster than we're able to go forward in this direction. We're not even standing still–we're going backwards. If this country really wants to find a solution to gay marriage, I suggest we take it as an aggressively strong approach to get our voices heard, heard aboard! To where others believe this country is all about equality, we will show them we still aren't. Because thats the only way America finds conclusions to her problems. When America is afraid of outside pressure, or when she's afraid of her image abroad (Malcolm 159).Martin Luther King: Wait here Malcolm, I love your enthusiasm when it comes to doing the right thing for our people, but the way we approach this issue should not be aggressively to the point where we involve outside allies to help us solve o ur problems. The government will hear it from us, and only us. Our most powerful nonviolent weapon is, as would be expected, also our most demanding, that is organization. To produce change, people must be organized to work together in units of power. Malcolm: So once again King you think we should still be resolving important issues of our society with the help of nonviolence?Now, I am not judging you on your practice of nonviolence, but I believe that I myself would go for nonviolence if it was consistent, if everybody was going to be nonviolent all the time. I'd say, okay to you King, let's get with it, we'll all be nonviolent with the homosexuals. But I don't go along with any kind of nonviolence unless everybody's going to be nonviolent. And once that happens, well then, life has really changed. But up until now 40 something years later, things still seem to be the same. So in order to get the human rights there still seems to be achieved, power and aggression should be shown ( Malcolm 139).Martin Luther King: When Negros marched back in our days, so did the nation. If we could only get all the devoted homosexuals who want to marry to unite and march together, the results would be extraordinary. The power of the nonviolent march is indeed a mystery. It will be surprising to have a few hundreds, maybe even thousands, of gays marching to produce a strong reaction in their nation. When marches are carefully organized around well-defined issues, they represent the power which Victor Hugo phrased as the most powerful force in the world, â€Å"an ideas whose time has come. Marching feet announce that time has come for a given idea. When the die is a sound one, the cause is just one, and the demonstration a righteous one, change will be forthcoming. And marching once is not going to get us straight to the conclusion we want, it will take several marches to show how serious this really is to different types of peoples lives (Nonviolence 59). Marcus: I'm beginning to agree with what King here has to say†¦the technique of nonviolence shows to have worked before and it will be a continuous practice to be done in the future obviously.I still think gays should just move together to find their comfort zone where they are accepted, but that does take away from their pride and human rights they deserve. Now I too did more research on this, and sadly marrying the same sex denies you from even greater problems that are plain out unfair. Many people suggest that same sex couples just get domestic partnership or a civil union, but this does not allow them to benefit from health insurance. They cannot gain from their title of being a wife or husband. Employers don't allow spouse or children of same sex to have health care coverage and will only extend it through marriage.Malcolm: That is a big problem. Come to think of it, when someone in your family is hospitalized, the only visitation under critical conditions, are allowed by intermediate family and spouses. So most of these same-sex domestic partnerships are not allowed to see one another if even on the verge of dying. Martin Luther King: They are making it feel that perhaps homosexuals are less than human. The white men at first refused to accept change. And now not only is it the white man who is refusing to accept change it is also the black, the yellow, the brown.The struggles these gays are going through will begin to help them to evaluate themselves, and with their determination to struggle and sacrifice, until the walls of segregation have been fully crushed by the battering rams of justice, should be met again (Nonviolence 7). Facts about how Gay marriage is illegal is unconstitutional, this law takes away basic rights to gays that are important, it really all comes down to love. Looking around at so many gay couples around America, they were so devoted to one another, as a heterosexual couple is as well.After discussing this issue with many people who are against same-sex marriage, one was a changed person in regards to it. Marriage is not just a government form to people; it is a way of expressing their life long commitment to one another. Same sex marriage should be legalized because it supports what our nation believes in and will only unite our nation more. If Martin Luther King Jr. , Malcolm X, and Marcus Garvey were still alive today, this issue would be one they too would be battling for because banning same sex marriage goes against our nations fight towards equality.Basic human rights are taken away from gay couples, the last thing these leaders wanted to leave the Earth by was to know that human rights are still taken away from their own people. Something that they fought so hard to get out of. They would want everyone to see same sex marriage as nothing new or different from heterosexual marriage, just as they taught America and the world to see black and white people no different or greater than one another. Gays are humans too a nd should have the right to commit to the ones they love.

Linden Hills and the Struggles That Come with I

There are three ways Luther Nedeed is simultaneously a positive and negative role model for young men who represent the ages of Willie and Lester. First, Luther Nedeed believes in the importance of family but while doing so, he destroys many people, especially his wife and son. This is important because it shows that people can feel a certain way, but in the end, actions speak louder than words. Second, Luther Nedeed inspires hope and shows that the American dream is possible but while achieving this dream, it causes some people to sell themselves out.This is significant because it shows that if the prize to achieve the dream is the loss of one’s soul or compromise of one’s standards, the price is too high to pay. Third, Nedeed wants to preserve the integrity and value of Linden Hills but the power he holds goes to his head and he begins to care more about himself than others. This is relevant because life holds the most meaning and opportunity for personal satisfaction in the connections people make with one another and without those, the missing human element will destroy the individuals that choose to turn their backs on society, and therefore, humanity itself.Luther Nedeed believes in the importance of family but while doing so, he destroys many people, especially his wife and son. Luther shows us that he believes in this because he is upholding the Nedeed tradition of working to take care of Linden Hills and creating offspring to take over for him when he passes away. Luther also shows us his belief in family when he thinks about how lonely he is on Christmas and wishes his wife was there with him enjoying the holiday and everything that comes with it.This makes Luther a positive role model because young men who represent the ages of Willie and Lester need to know that family is important. Family will always be there for you, and if you don’t keep them around, you’re going to face some difficult situations later in life without much help. Even though Luther believes family is important, he contradicts himself by destroying people, especially his wife and son. When his son was born, he was light-skinned so he banished him and his wife into the basement where his son would die of starvation.He also ruined Laurel Dumont after her husband left her by telling her that her lease was no longer valid and she had to leave. As a result, Laurel commits suicide by jumping into an empty swimming pool. This is the negative side of this coin. Young men such as Willie and Lester do not need to see people ruining other people’s lives. They need to realize that what they say and preach should be how they act. Unfortunately, Luther fails to do that. Luther Nedeed inspires hope and shows that the American dream is possible.Linden Hills is an affluent black community where many people strive to live because of its fame and what it immediately does to your status once you move in. The Nedeed family started from scratch, one of them with just a cardboard suitcase and a dream, another one who poured cement for numerous foundations, and another who gambled every dime to keep the community afloat during the Depression. Young men who represent the ages of Wilie and Lester need to know that if you work hard enough, the American dream is achievable.It shows them that you must work hard and if you work hard enough, your opportunity may come one day. However, the American dream will cause some people to sell themselves out. By creating Linden Hills and maintaining it, Luther Nedeed has created monsters in the people who will do anything and everything they can to rise to fame and live in Linden Hills. For example, Lester’s sister, who idolizes Eleanor Roosevelt and Diane Ross, and who had enrolled in black history classes in college, now employs bleaching cream and hair relaxer.Her dream is to have a good marriage in Linden Hills. Maxwell Smith, who is a high-ranking executive at General Motors, has achieved perfect physical control of himself and the environment around him. He says that he spends every waking moment trying to be no color at all. This makes Luther a negative role model because people are foregoing their moral standards and values. They are giving everything up to gain that status and young men such as Willie and Lester need to know that the price for that is too high to pay.Luther Nedeed wants to preserve the integrity and value of Linden Hills. He tries to preserve the integrity by writing leases that are good for one thousand years and a day, which will preserve the family tradition for a long time. He tries to protect his wealth and inheritance by working to make Linden Hills better and by making sure that a lease can only be passed down to one’s children or sold to another black family. This is important for young men who represent the age of Willie and Lester to see because it shows one’s loyalty and sense of pride to something.In this case, for Luther, it’s Linden Hills. For someone else, it may be their child, their house, their car, or anything else that they hold true to their heart and love. People need to be loyal to certain things in life and must do everything they can to preserve traditions and values. However, the negative side of Luther comes out becausehis power goes to head and he begins to care more about himself than others. For example, he doesn’t care what type of wife he marries and has a child with.He selects one who he feels will produce a good offspring, bears a child with her, and then has no sexual contact with her thereafter. He also opposes a low-income housing project planned for Putney Wayne, which is a neighboring black ghetto and proposes to join forces with the racist Wayne County Citizens Alliance so property values would not decline. Although this would help black people, Luther is against it because all he cares about is himself and what he loves.People such as Willie and L ester need to recognize this and know that you have to balance what you love and your feelings for others and society. You cannot turn your back on society and mankind because all you care about is yourself and your future. Those who represent the ages of Willie and Lester need to realize that life holds the most meaning and opportunity for personal satisfaction in the connections people make with one another and without those, the missing human element will destroy the individuals that choose to turn their backs on society, and therefore, humanity itself.Luther’s actions eventually did come back to haunt him in the end, specifically his decision to banish his wife and son into the basement. Willa eventually comes up due to an accidental unlocking of the basement door bolt and when she does, a struggle ensues and the house along with everything and everyone inside of it burns to death. All of these actions and decisions show that there are different ways Luther Nedeed is simu ltaneously a positive and negative role model for young men who represent the ages of Willie and Lester.First, Luther Nedeed believes in the importance of family but while doing so, he destroys many people, especially his wife and son. This is important because it shows that people can feel a certain way, but in the end, actions speak louder than words. Second, Luther Nedeed inspires hope and shows that the American dream is possible but while achieving this dream, it causes some people to sell themselves out. This is significant because it shows that if the prize to achieve the dream is the loss of one’s soul or compromise of one’s standards, the price is too high to pay.Third, Nedeed wants to preserve the integrity and value of Linden Hills but the power he holds goes to his head and he begins to care more about himself than others. This is relevant because life holds the most meaning and opportunity for personal satisfaction in the connections people make with one a nother and without those, the missing human element will destroy the individuals that choose to turn their backs on society, and therefore, humanity itself.

John Ericsson - Designer of the USS Monitor

John Ericsson - Designer of the USS Monitor John Ericsson invented an early locomotive, the Ericsson hot-air engine, an improved screw propeller, the gun turret, and a deep-sea sounding device. He also designed ships and submarines, most notably the USS Monitor. Early Life of John Ericsson in Sweden John (originally Johan) Ericsson was born on July 31, 1803, in Vrmland, Sweden. His father, Olof Ericsson, was superintendent of a mine and taught John and his brother Nils the skills of mechanics. They received little formal education but showed their talent early. The boys learned to draw maps and finish off mechanical drawings when their father was director of blastings on the  Gà ¶ta Canal  project. They became cadets in the Swedish Navy at ages 11 and 12 and learned from instructors in the Swedish Corps of Mechanical Engineers. Nils went on to be a prominent canal and railway builder in Sweden. By age 14, John was working as a surveyor. He  joined the Swedish Army at age 17 and worked as a surveyor and was noted for his mapmaking skill. He began constructing a heat engine in his spare time, which used the heat and fumes of fire rather than steam. Move to England He decided to seek his fortune in England and moved there in 1826 at the age of 23. The railroad industry was hungry for talent and innovation. He continued to design engines that used airflow to provide more heat, and his locomotive design  Novelty  was barely beaten by the Rocket designed by George and Robert Stephenson in the Rainhill Trials. Other projects in England included the use of screw propellers on ships, a fire engine design, large guns,and a steam condenser that provided fresh water for ships. American Naval Designs of John Ericsson Ericssons work on twin screw propellers attracted the attention Robert F. Stockton, an influential and progressive U.S. Navy officer, who encouraged him to relocate to the United States. They worked together in New York to design a twin screw-propelled warship. The USS Princeton was commissioned in 1843. It was armed with a heavy gun 12-inch gun on a revolving pedestal that Ericsson designed. Stockton worked to get the most credit for these designs and designed and installed a second gun, which exploded and killed eight men, including Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur and Secretary of the Navy Thomas Gilmer. When Stockton shifted the blame to Ericsson and blocked his pay, Ericsson resentfully but successfully moved on to civilian work. Designing the USS Monitor In 1861, the Navy needed an ironclad to match the Confederate USS Merrimack and the Secretary of the Navy convinced Ericsson to submit a design. He presented them with designs for the USS Monitor, an armored ship with guns on a rotating turret. The Merrimack had been rechristened the USS Virginia and the two ironclad ships did battle in 1862 to a stalemate that nonetheless aved the Union fleet. This success made Ericsson hero and many Monitor-type turret ships were built during the rest of the war. After the Civil War, Ericsson continued his work, producing ships for foreign navies and experimenting with submarines, self-propelled torpedoes, and heavy ordnance. He died in New York City on March 8, 1889 and his body was returned to Sweden on the cruiser Baltimore. Three U.S. Navy ships have been named in honor of John Ericsson: the torpedo boat Ericsson (Torpedo Boat # 2), 1897-1912; and the destroyers Ericsson (DD-56), 1915-1934; and Ericsson (DD-440), 1941-1970. Partial List of John Ericssons Patents U.S. #588   for a Screw Propeller patented February 1, 1838.U.S. #1847 for a Mode of Providing Steam Power to Locomotives patented November 5, 1840. Source: Information and photos provided by U.S. Naval Historical Center

Joint Venture Investment Appraisal Report Assignment

Joint Venture Investment Appraisal Report - Assignment Example This essay stresses that NPV calculates the net value of the investment while taking into consideration the changing value of cash. This method tries to calculate the amount need to be invested to attain certain annual revenue in a specified period of time. The value of money will be affected by interest rates payable on a certain investment. This method is good in comparing alternative investments. NPV assumes a constant capital gearing. This rarely happens as constant refinancing the project will be needed according to. This method cannot be used in environments where companies are facing capital rationing. Capital rationing is where there is a limitation to the amount that can be invested. In this situation it is important to use both profitability indexing and NPV to evaluate the viability of an investment. This paper makes a conclusion that discounting of trade bills is a short-term financing method that many corporate can enjoy. This method is widely used in Asia and Europe making it a perfect method for short-term finance for IFM. It can be used for both international and domestic finance needs. Companies holding bills get to cash them before they mature through a bank. The cashing of the bills is through a discount. Development Banks – financing can be sort from development backs which operate in many countries. They fund large companies and large projects. The investment needs of IFM qualify them to get a long term loan from a development bank. Asian countries are likely to offer incentives to companies of the size of IFM so as to invest in the country.

Critical thinking Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Critical thinking - Assignment Example to use simple dictions that can be understood even by the common reader who is not so much specialized and familiar with medical issues and, most importantly, his desire and strong determination to obliquely make would-be-doctors of the great perils that surround the career for which they have plumped. Unlike other journals that look badly organized in so far as the form is concerned, Tien’s journal seems well organized and well developed given the effective and efficient writing techniques he deployed in his addressing of the issue. There is an introduction, a body and even a conclusion, all of which make his journal purposeful and worth-reading. What is more is that the presentation he attended paved the way for him to better approach the field of medicine he is engaged in and helped him a lot discover some striking and dangerous facts of which other would-be-doctors were heedless. Last but not least, I think that Tien’s journal seems coherent in that it abides by the linguistic rules. Besides, his critique is by no means very constructive. Initially, He started from something general and was capable of narrowing down the topic to reach the aim after which he was hankering. Thus, after the presentation, he did develop many good ideas that utterly changed his view of the work and these ideas shall unmistakably lead him to be so successful in his