Strategic Management Paper Chapter Essays

Strategic Management Paper Chapter Essays Strategic Management Paper Chapter Paper Strategic Management Paper Chapter Paper This can affect company performance in the long run especially if people will patronize the new entrants. Rt 3 Despite the entry of new competitors, Jollibee has been insignificantly affected because of its scheme of buying competitors and assimilating itself into the Company group. 06. There is an opportunity for competitors to agree upon a price ceiling to be able to maintain their customers. Wt = . 09 To maintain customers is to ensure that product prices are kept to an affordable value considering the competition. New products are normally created that are priced to a minimum to attract customers. Rt = 2 Jollibee has maintained that prices of new products are kept abreast with competitors. By doing this, the threat of new substitute products are minimized because pricing is adapted to address the potential threat. other fast-food products to satisfy their wants in terms of food service. Wt = success largely depends on its customers and their buying power. Rt = 3 By lowering food prices, Jollibee continues to address this disposable income rise so as to maintain constant or growing sales. By lowering prices, Jollibee attracts customer who can buy more in their stores compared to ther competitors. T2. Varying consumption patterns may lead consumers to find alternative food products other than that which Jollibee may offer. Wt= . 06 The growing taste of consumers affects the sales of companies for they continue to seek out new products offering a new taste. Nonetheless, almost all food chains do not significantly differ in product offering. Rt = 3 By continuous innovations of product development, Jollibee does not significantly lose in this threat. They are able to address the growing demands for new food products. T3. With more international franchise store entering the Philippines, consumers have a lot option to decide where to go sizeable exposure to multinational fast food chains, high-end dining. Wt= . 07 Globalization is imminent and the Philippines is a good place to start developing a new food business. Filipinos are basically food enthusiast with colonial mentality preferring foreign based chains over local ones. Rt 2 Jollibee has quite failed to address the influx of new and foreign competitors. It has stuck with its brand of promoting Filipino-oriented fast food until now. T4. Jollibee faces a huge market competition due to the fact that these two (McDonalds and KFC) chains are internationally-based and is rapidly expanding and are already established within the country. Wt = . 09 McDonalds and KFC are Jollibees biggest competitors in the country. Both have the resources to play step-by-step with Jollibee in terms of resources and product development. 4 Jollibee has stepped up efforts to compete head-to-head with these two giant ast-food chains by rigorous product development and innovation. The key is continuous progress and quick response to the needs of its market. T5. Lack of new entrants to the industry results to higher competition among existing and established businesses. Wt= . 08 There are little entrants in the caliber Of Jollibee, McDonalds, or KFC in terms of fast-food chain. Therefore, the competition is narrowed among the three big competitors. Rt = 2 Repsonse is basically the same as previous threat. Jollibee has stepped up efforts to compete head-to-head with these two giant fast-food chains by igorous product development and innovation. T6. Higher competition is expected due to the threats brought by substitute products. Wt = . 09 The fast-food industry plays on product innovation and development. Lagging into these will result in reduced sales output of fast-food companies. Rt 4 Jollibee has addressed this continuous progress and quick response to the needs of its market. B) Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM) A competitive profile matrix compares a company and its rivals. The matrix reveals strengths and weaknesses for each company, and critical success factors show areas of success or areas for improvement. Understanding a few key elements of a competitive profile matrix will help with interpretation. Jollibee McDonalds KFC Critical Success Factors Score 1 . Advertising . 4 0. 4 2. product Quality . 05 . 15 0. 15 0. 2 3. Price Competitiveness . 3 . 9 0. 9 0. 6 4. Management . 2 5. Financial Position 6. Customer Loyalty 0. 3 7. Global Expansion 8. Market Share 1. 2 Total: 100% 3. 57 3. 35 2. 65 4 = Major strength where the response is superior, 3 = Minor strength where the response is above average, 2 = Minor weakness where response is average, 1 = Major weakness where the response is poor. In the Philippines, it is evident that Jollibee is the leading fast-food brand overall. Although McDonalds is very close and KFC maintaining a good distance not to be left out, Jollibees SUCceSS is evident as against the other competitors largely because it is a locally-based firm unlike the other two which are internationally based. CSFI . Advertising Weight = Jollibee uses different strategies often seeking to generate increased consumption of their products or services through branding, which involves associating a products name or image with certain qualities in the minds of consumers. Jollibee Rate = 4 Jollibees revenue shoots up because of its strong marketing programs emanating from the Langhap Sarap motto. McDonalds Rate = 4 McDonalds invests on their marketing programs as well, ranging from its first, drive † thru facilities, the McSavers value meals and Happy Meals, and the introduction and re-launching of various McDonalds products. KFC Rate The chain is well known for the finger lickin good slogan which makes it such a household name in the fast food chain industry as well. CSF2. Product Quality CSF Weight = . 5 Most business, such as Jollibee, that produce goods for sale have a product uality or assurance department that monitors outgoing products for consumer acceptability Jollibee Rate = 3 Jollibee has a strong understanding of Filipinos taste and preference as well as it is high quality with a tailored menu specifically for Filipinos. McDonalds Rate = 3 McDonalds is committed to provide customers with high quality products as well KFC Rate = 4 W hile KFC is known for its Quality Management Program as its standards for product quality exceeds the customers expectations. CSF3. Price Competitiveness weight = . 3 Competitive pricing is used by Jollibee often because they sell similar roducts to that of McDonalds and KFC, since services can vary from business to business while the attributes of Jollibees products remain similar. Jollibee Rate = 3 Its price competitiveness is lower than that offered by the competitors, or the price is made more attractive because of added incentives, such as longer payment terms. McDonalds Rate 3 McDonalds also offers food at prices that cannot be easily matched by other competitors thus making this an advantage. KFC Rate = 2 KFC uses this pricing strategy as well but compared to Jollibee and McDonalds, its approach to this strategy is less aggressive compared to the ther competitors. CSF4. Management weight = . 05 It is evident that the company uses effective and efficient planning strategies from goal and objective setting hierarchical structure to duty delegations and job specifications. Jollibee Rate = 4 Jollibee always makes sure that all aspects of the day-to-day running restaurant, from sales and operational management to budgetary control and team development. We are looking for leaders who will maximize the potential of the Restaurant and deliver exceptional resu Its through their people. McDonalds Rate = 4 McDonalds has provided the same techniques with regards its management. KFC Rate = 4 ike Jollibee and McDonalds, KFC hires the right candidates to manage its operations and strategy planning. CSF5. Financial Position The company is consistent with an increasing trend in terms of revenues, operating costs and expenses. Jollibee Rate = 4 Jollibee is in a secure financial position. However, improvements are needed in some areas for the company if it intends to grow. McDonalds Rate 4 It is discovered that efficient operations, strong short and long term solvency position, high profitability, highly loyal customer, broader ne?ork expansion nd the value adding menu are major factors Of its successful financial position. KFC Rate = 4 KFCs escalating ratio is a result of the higher increase in sales over its cost of sales and operating expenses, leading to a higher income before interest and taxes. CSF6. Customer Loyalty Weight Jollibee nowadays have capitalized making their loyalty programs, which often gives benefits that also cost a little, but it carries with them an assumed prestige. Jollibee Rate = 4 Instead of targeting all customers, Jollibee only needs to target new customers in order to grow their business. Their customer loyalty is an easily efendable qualitative factor, so competing institutions will have a difficult time overcoming it. McDonalds Rate † 4 McDonalds may not have Jollibees high Customer Loyalty but it does instil brand loyalty in customers as regards to introducing Ronald McDonald as its clown mascot. KFC Rate = 3 KFCs strategy in gaining Customer Loyalty actually targets the youth and the company focuses more on innovation. CSF7. Global Expansion Jollibee is aggressively entrusting its expansion both locally and globally which in the long term, more and more of the profit growth will come from franchising. Jollibee Rate = 2 Unlike its other competitors, this company has little exposure to competition with foreigners and has limited markets with overseas Filipino communities. McDonalds Rate 4 McDonalds adaptation to the local culture in every country is the way they have managed to successfully provide Global Expansion. KFC Rate = 4 Same as McDonalds, KFC has proven its ability to expand globally along with its diverse strategies. CSF8. Market Share Weight = . 3 This fast food chain not only to win the market share of fast food customers, but also to dominate the Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) industry in the Philippines. Jollibee Rate = 4 Jollibee now controls 18% of the market in Metro Manila, handily beating McDonalds which is said to only have 10% share of the market. McDonalds McDonalds is the worlds largest food service organization. McDonalds holds more than 40% share of the US fast-food burger market, many times the share of its nearest competitor. However, in the Philippines, Jollibee is considered as having more market shares. KFC Rate = 2 KFC is currently sharing its market to brands like McDonalds and Jollibee for under Chicken Dishes category, garnering at least 30% of its share. KFC is more focused on investing in advertising. C) Internal Factors Evaluation (IFE) Matrix This strategy-formulation tool summarizes and evaluates the major strengths and weaknesses in the functional areas of a business, and it also provides a basis for identifying and evaluating relationships among those areas. Intuitive judgments are required in developing an IFE Matrix, so the appearance of a scientific approach should not be interpreted to mean this is an all-powerful technique. A thorough understanding of the factors included is more important than the actual numbers.

Power is more important than culture in determining I whether human Essay

Power is more important than culture in determining I whether human rights norms should are upheld or not - Essay Example Social status, morals, merits, religion cast, creed, race are immaterial in this case. Such rights are not static and keep on changing depending upon changing human needs. The interest shown by the United Nations, to protect the human rights reflects the rising alarm of the entire world to deliver freedom to each and every human being. Treaty like the United Nations Charter serves two main objectives i.e. it serves as an international standard which can be referred to by any nation to examine its own journey, its achievements, lacunae, standards and values; next, it gives inspiration to the countries to frame and implement policies protecting human rights in order to match the standard of the universal effort. However, it is to be noted that since the concept of protection of human rights is made with individualistic mindset a thorough investigation is needed as to where the treaty is leading us to. (Shimray, 2013, p. 72-73) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) has come a long way in the last 60 years. Despite its history of failures and the relative incremental successes the work of the UDHR in sync with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, suggests a bright future for the human rights system. Now after 60 years, the main challenge is effective implementation and scrutiny of such laws in as many areas as possible. However, the major gain has been the manifestation of the idea that human rights cannot be done away with to upheld State sovereignty. However major lacunae still exist in the regime and one of which is the lack of a successful system to guarantee the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples. (Castellino, 2010, p.393-394) If one delves into the past, it will found that in the 1600s, the concept of state sovereignty was so rigid that it even gave a nation to kill its own people or to displace large groups of people by force and that no other nation was supposed to interfere with that. However, after the second world war

Abacus Distribution plc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Abacus Distribution plc - Essay Example The Group has adopted a customer service policy with more personalised local service and a strong technical support. This ensures the company’s performance in providing quality products and support from a strongly motivated workforce. The company has an office in Asia with manufacturing operations extended in the Far East to supply European customers, quality products at competitive prices. In general, the objective of a company must be to create value for its shareholders. Value is represented by the market price of the company’s common stock, which in turn is a function of the firm’s investment, financing, and dividend decisions. The basic idea of managing finance in any business venture therefore is to acquire assets and invest in new products and services where expected return exceeds their cost, to finance with those instruments where there is particular advantage, tax or otherwise and to undertake a meaningful dividend policy for stockholders. (Ross et al.) These functions define the scope and role of financial management in any organisation. The financial management function thus concerns the acquisition, financing, and management of assets with the overall organisational goals in mind. In line with the above principles of financial management the company has taken the following actions in the financial discipline. During the year 2004 the company embarked on a major capital expenditure in upgrading the business system of the company scheduled to be completed in the year 2007. The company has adopted a policy of acquiring large properties on a freehold basis. In line with this policy the company has invested in the acquisition of subsidiaries to the extent of  £2.1 million, a net investment of  £1.1 million in plant, machinery, and equipments, and a small investment of  £0.1 million in land and building. There is an investment of  £50 million representing the acquisition of Deltron Electronics Group UK having subsidiaries in

Cultural Adaptations to Heat Stress in Dry Environments

Cultural Adaptations to Heat Stress in Dry Environments Human beings have long inhabited hot environments, and have developed several physiological mechanisms in order to deal with heat stress. We are exposed to two kinds of heat stress, environmental and metabolic, on a regular basis. Heat can be gained from the environment through radiation, convection and conduction, as well as created during the course of metabolic activity, which is compounded by exertion. The heat gained from these sources must be balanced by convective heat loss to the environment and through the evaporative cooling mechanisms (Hanna and Brown). Failure of these cooling mechanisms can result in heatstroke, a serious condition which can cause severe damage to the central nervous system (Bouchama and Knochel 2002). Over reliance on evaporative cooling can lead to another debilitating condition, dehydration. Hot desert environments, such as those found in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, are a perfect storm of stresses on human heat tolerance. High ambient temp eratures maximize heat gain from the environment, while severely reducing our ability to lose both environmental and metabolic heat by convective means. This causes an increase reliance on evaporative cooling in order to deal with rising body temperature. Increased sweating, combined with the lack of readily available water in desert climates severely increases the risk of dehydration. Populations native to desert areas exposed to the dual stresses of heat and lack of water employ a variety of cultural adaptations in order to buffer their natural thermoregulatory processes. Primary amongst these adaptations is the creation of a favorable microclimate through the use of clothing and architecture. (Hanna and Brown). Human heat tolerance can be summed up through the equation; Mb + Ma + S = E + R + K + C In this equation Mb and Ma represent heat generated by the body through basal metabolic activity and physical activity respectively. S is representative of the amount of heat stored by the tissues of the body. The right side of the equation represents environmental heat, with E, R, K, and C standing for evaporation, radiation, convection and conduction, the primary methods by which heat is lost to, or gained from, the environment. Evaporative cooling takes place as water secreted by the endocrine glands onto the skins surface undergoes a phase change and draws heat away from the body. Radiative heat gain is based on the transference of wide span length electromagnetic waves. Factors such as an objects temperature, reflectance and surface area, as well as those of objects around it, affect the net heat flow through this mechanism. While there is a positive gain of radiant heat by the human body from the sun under all circumstances, environmental conditions can greatly affect the magni tude of this gain. Heat flow by conduction functions in a manner similar to diffusion, between materials in contact with one another and from high to low heat areas. Environmentally, conductive heat exchange can occur between the body and the ground, while with-in the body it is the mechanism by which heat is transferred from the core to the surface of the skin. Convective heat flow occurs between an object and a moving fluid. The movements of the fluid can carry heat away from the body; this is the reason why a cool breeze can be so refreshing on a warm day. When ambient temperatures are at or above body temperature, however, convective currents can significantly increase heat load, sometimes beyond the bodys ability to compensate through other means (Hanna and Brown). Heat stroke is caused by an elevation of body temperature, usually due to failure of cooling mechanisms caused by exposure to high external temperatures, and is the most severe form of heat illness. Exertion can accelerate the onset of heat stroke by increasing metabolic heat production in active muscles. Symptoms of heat stroke include confusion and irrational behavior, weak pulse, elevation of breathing rate and unconsciousness. Severe cases can cause brain damage and organ failure, leading to death. An early symptom of the onset of heat illness is profuse sweating, caused by the bodys attempts to return to homeostasis. Salt loss through this excess perspiration can lead to muscle cramps, while the increase in water loss itself further elevates risk of dehydration (Heat Emergencies). Dehydration is the result of an imbalance between fluid loss and intake. Illness is a common cause of this condition, especially in children and the elderly. Reliance on sweating as a cooling mechanism without adequately rehydrating is another frequent cause of this condition. In hot dry environments, where increased sweating is required in order to maintain body temperature, dehydration is particularly common. Cases of Dehydration can randge from mild to severe, depending on the percentage of overall body water lost. Mild dehydration is easily treatable, and has relatively few long term consequences. Severe dehydration, if not treated quickly can result in damage to the central nervous system or death. Symptoms of dehydration include low blood pressure due to reduced fluid volume, elevated heart rate, dry mouth, low urine production, and in severe cases, lethargy and coma. One sign of dehydration is a reduction in skin turgor. Reduced water levels in the tissues cause skin to lose its elasticity, causing it to slowly return to position after being pinched upwards (. Cultural adaptations can serve as a buffer between the environment and the body, allowing survival in environments where physiological responses would be inadequate for or impede survival. Remarkable examples of this are seen in the populations of Northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The populations native to these regions, such as the nomadic Bedouin and semi-nomadic Tuareg have developed specialized clothing and architecture that allow them to survive in some of the hottest, driest areas in the world, the Sahara and Arabian Deserts. The specialized material culture utilized by these groups facilitates the creation of a favorable microclimate around the body which allows them to maintain homeostasis without relying as strenuously on physiological mechanisms. A desert environment is defined by the KÃ ¶ppen-Geiger climate classification system as a region where the mean annual participation in mm is less than or equal to 5 Pth, which is defined by the following equation, In order to be designated as a hot desert, the region must also have a mean annual temperature greater than or equal to 18ÂÂ °C (Kottek et al). The Sahara Desert is the largest in the world, covering an area of 9,100,000 km2 across the breadth of North Africa. The central region of the desert receives less than 25 mm of rainfall annually, while regions on the eastern margin receiving as little as 5 mm annually. Rainfall is extremely sporadic when it does occur; a single storm sometimes accounts for multiple years worth of precipitation. The region is also amongst the hottest on earth, with temperatures exceeding 50ÂÂ ° C in the summer months. Diurnal variation in temperature can be considerable, the recorded maximum variation being 38ÂÂ ° C. Extreme winds are common in the Sahara, which when laden with dust make the environment even less hospitable. Underground aquifers occasionally break the surface and create oases amongst the otherwise barren landscape of stone plat eaus, salt flats and dunes (Berrahmouni and Burgess). The Arabian Desert is the dominant eco-region on the Arabian Peninsula, covering 1,851,300 Km2. Contained within the larger desert region is the vast Rubal-Khali, the Empty Quarter, which is the largest continuous area of sand in the world, stretching 500,000 km2. Salt flats and limestone cliffs are present in other regions of the desert. Average annual rainfall is less than 35mm, while temperatures average around 47ÂÂ ° C in summer. Temperatures drop significantly at night, sometimes reaching low enough for frost to form (Llewellyn-Smith). The Bedouin are a primarily nomadic pastoralist group located in the desert regions of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa. Their subsistence is based around the raising of sheep, goats and camels, with limited dependence on seasonal agriculture in groups inhabiting regions with more predictable seasonal rains. The Bedouins traditional form of shelter is the bayt, a large rectangular tent constructed from sheeps wool. The roof is supported by a series of tall poles, while the walls of the tent are pinned onto the edge of the roof. The bottoms of the wall pieces are buried in the sand or pegged down, depending on the nature of the terrain. The interior is divided into sections, one for cooking and storage, the other for the entertaining of visitors. (Chatty) The tent is typically open along one of its long sides. This open wall, called the face of the tent or wej al bait, is on the leeward side. In the event of a sudden change in the wind, the back wall of then tent is unpinned and moved to what was formerly the face of the tent. In particularly hot weather parts of the side walls are unpinned to increase air flow throughout the tent. Carpets are sometimes employed to thicken the roof of the tent when the sun is stronger than usual (Dickson). When the wind is not particularly strong the side walls can be lowered entirely in order to maximize ventilation and cooling (Musil). The Bedouin traditionally dress in long, light garments that cover a majority of the bodys surface. For men, typical garments include a long tunic like shirt with wide sleeves that reaches to the ankles, loose trousers, a sleeveless cloak and a head cloth held in place by a woolen cord wound around the head. Womens clothing is similar, consisting of a long sleeved dress, black cotton over garment, loose trousers, cloak and various degrees of head covering, depending on the region the particular group hails from (Dickson). The Tuareg are a predominantly nomadic group inhabiting the nations of Mali, Algeria Niger and Libya. Different Tuareg groups practice widely different modes of subsistence, ranging from nomadic stock-breeding and trading to oasis gardening, although the latter is viewed with somewhat of a social stigma (Rasmussen). The Tuareg utilize a variety of both portable and non-portable dwellings, depending on their particular mode of subsistence. Nomadic Tuareg generally utilize a combination of mat and skin tents depending on regional conditions and availability of materials. Both of these tent forms follow the same basic layout, with the roof and sides suspended from a series of poles anchored in the substrate, while a wooden bed forms the floor of the structure. The particular arrangement of the poles varies significantly by region and preference, ranging from a small number of arches to a series of upright posts. The more sedentary groups amongst the Tuareg construct a variety of mud and mud coated stone houses, some of which are subterranean or semi-subteranean. These houses are typically rectangular, with small windows and flat roofs, although conical and domed forms are not uncommon in some regions of the Tuaregs territory. The most conspicuous aspects of traditional Tuareg clothing amongst both men and women are elaborate head coverings, taking the form of a veiled turban-like garment amongst men and a less elaborate head cloth for women. The mens veil, called a teguelmoust, is typically worn so that only a small space for the eyes is exposed. The amount of the face exposed varies considerably, however, depending on social circumstances. Mens garb consists of loose trousers and multiple sleeveless gandurah (a loose fitting cloak-like garment). Although sleeveless, the gandurah is loose enough that it typically extends below the hands. It is folded up over the forearms or shoulders when necessary to free the hands for manual labor. Womens costume includes either baggy trousers or a cotton skirt reaching to the knees, a gandurah similar to those worn by men but stitched higher on the sides, and a combination of shawl and headscarf made from the indigo dyed cotton popular amongst the Tuareg. This is often folded across the face for protection from the elements when riding or in the sun (Briggs). The primary benefit of clothing in a desert environment is its ability to minimize radiant heat gain by blocking solar radiation. Layers of clothing and air pockets caught between the layers insulate the body and prevent heat from being transferred to it. Baggy clothing allows for ventilation and air flow around the body, which encourage both convective and evaporative heat loss while still protecting the individual from environmental heat gain. Traditional populations in the regions of the Sahara and Arabian Deserts benefit from these concepts by dressing in layers of loose clothing that covers a majority of the body. A study performed by Henschel Hanson demonstrates the effectiveness of protective clothing in maintaining body temperature. This study demonstrated that acclimatized individuals wearing desert fatigues sweat 30% less than unclothed individuals when at rest, due to protection from radiant heat gain. Further benefit is seen in a lower core temperature and reduced heart rate relative to unclothed resting individuals. Clothing becomes less effective protection as metabolic heat production increases through exertion. The same study demonstrated that the benefits experienced by the individuals in desert fatigues were reduced by half (15% less than unclothed individuals) while engaged in physical labor (Hanna Brown). This reduction is due to an increased need to vent internally produced heat as compared to the benefit of preventing the uptake of environmental heat. The traditional clothing worn by the Bedouin and Tuareg is looser than typical fatigues, allowing for better circulating and larger pockets of insulating air, as well as providing superior protection to the head, neck and shoulders. This would likely increase the protective benefit gained by an individual at rest. The design of the clothing, allowing for more significant ventilation than desert fatigues, would likely allow an individual at work to still reap the maximum protective benefit w hile at the same time shedding metabolically generated heat. Another benefit of the head coverings worn by the Bedouin and Tuareg is their ability to protect the lungs and face from the desiccating effects of the hot dry winds. When pulled across the face, these veils can maintain a small pocket of air which is relatively humid compared to the environment, which greatly reduces the discomfort caused by exposure of the mucous membranes to the dry desert air (Briggs). Amos Rapoport describes in his book House Form and Culture several architectural traditions employed in hot dry climates that create favorable microclimates for human survival. Amongst these cultural adaptations are the use of stone and clay as building materials, small windows, use of courtyards, mutual shading and underground construction (Rapoport). Building materials such as stone or mud have a significant advantage in desert environments due to their high heat capacity. These materials function as a heat sink, absorbing radiant and convective heat during the day without significantly transferring heat to the shaded interior of the building. An added advantage to this style of architecture is its ability to hold onto heat gained over the course of the day, which can help deal with the low overnight temperatures common to deserts. A similar tactic is seen in underground construction. Dwellings constructed underground can take advantage of the tremendous heat capacity of the soil i tself to buffer interior temperatures from the outside environment. An example of this can be seen in the Matmata house found in parts of the Sahara. This structure takes the form of a series of subterranean rooms built around a central, pit-like courtyard. Upwards of 30 feet of earth shield the interior rooms from the heat of the sun, allowing the inhabitants to remain significantly cooler than they would be able to in an above ground structure (Rapoport). Surface Buildings in deserts are frequently constructed with few and small windows. This functions to reduce the amount radiant heat reaching the interior of the building directly. Placing windows high in the walls further serves this purpose. Permanent dwellings constructed by the Tuareg conform to these design standards; utilizing materials with a high heat capacity and minimizing opportunities for radiant and convective heat to enter the interior through windows or large doors (Nicholaison). The tents employed by the Bedouin cannot employ the techniques described above to the same degree, but instead function in a fashion similar to that of dessert clothing. Like the long robes worn by the Bedouin, the tent absorbs radiant heat, but prevents it from reaching the cooler microclimate within the tent. Attaching extra rugs to the roof of the tent in particularly hot weather furthers its ability to block and absorb radiant heat by increasing the amount of material able to take in heat and the distance that heat has to diffuse to reach the interior of the tent. The ability to adjust the walls of the tent in accordance with the need for ventilation and the strength of the wind also is a significant advantage. Ventilation can be adjusted in order to maximize air flow through the interior of the tent, and therefore cooling, while minimizing convective heating. Even with the back walls of the tent all the way up, enough air should penetrate through gaps in the panels to create a c urrent through the tent and out the front opening, removing hot air from the interior of the tent. The mat tents used by the Tuareg are thought to be vastly superior to the skin tents in the hot, dry season. They are better ventilated and, according to claims made by anthropologist Johannes Nicolaisen, the mat covering is not heated to any great extent by the sun (Nicolaisen, p. 375). Desert environments are extremely difficult conditions under which to live. They combine high ambient heat with a lack of water, pushing the human ability to maintain thermal homeostasis to its absolute limit. This taxing environment has encouraged the use of cultural adaptations to provide a buffer between the environment and the physiologic mechanisms necessary to keep cool. The primary areas in which these adaptations are applied are clothing and architecture. Loose, light clothing is utilized to block the absorption of radiant and convective heat from the environment, while at the same time creating an environment that maximizes convective and evaporative heat loss by creating a cycling zone of cool air next to the skin, allowing thermoregulation while only minimally engaging homeostatic mechanisms. Desert architecture utilizes high heat capacity materials and the earth itself as a heat sink to keep indoor temperatures at reasonable levels. The microclimate created through these cultural techniques provides a buffer zone that protects desert populations from the harmful effects of overtaxing their bodies cooling mechanisms and allows them to survive under some of the harshest conditions on earth.

Classroom Management and Diversity

Samantha Formato Classroom management and diversity are two very important concepts to consider because classroom management in diverse environments can be a lot different than in less diverse environments. There is so much diversity going on now that everyone should be aware of the importance of classroom management inside the diverse environments. When I talk about diversity in this paper I am referring to ethnic and cultural diversity. There are many different strategies that can help students in more diverse classrooms feel more comfortable and be in a better learning environment.In my paper, I will be touching on five major strategies that help classroom management in more diverse classrooms. These strategies are building trust, engaging personal culture, confronting social dominance and social justice, transforming instructional practices, and engaging the entire school community. I will be talking about all of the advantages to these strategies. Another thing I will be touchin g on is the importance of classroom management in these diverse classrooms.I will also look at the differences between classroom management in less diverse environments and classroom management in more diverse environments. I will talk about my experiences observing classrooms and the differences between the classroom management strategies each teacher uses. Classroom management is a very critical part of teaching and having good classroom management in a more diverse classroom is a challenging task, but also a very important one. In more diverse environments especially, it is sometimes harder for teachers to have good classroom management.Mainly because the students in more diverse settings tend to act out more or disobey the rules. If students feel like they are in an open and trusting community at school they are more likely to succeed and listen to the teacher’s directions. Building trust, engaging personal culture, confronting social dominance and social justice, transfo rming instructional practices, and engaging the entire school community is five very important strategies that make classroom management easier. Building trust is one of the most important strategies that help classroom management in more diverse environments.Building trust entails being honest with students and having discussions about race and ethnicity with the entire class. Talking about students different cultures instead of just simply acting like they are not there. One teacher from the Apple Valley School District says, â€Å"I need to move beyond being color-blind. † The main idea of this strategy is to establish positive leaning communities in each classroom. If the students feel like their cultures and ethnicity are accepted they will feel more comfortable. Trust is such an important thing to have in a classroom in order to be able to have good classroom management.If the students feel like they can trust the teacher they will be more open and the teacher will have better control over his or her management (Howard, 2007). The second strategy is engaging in personal culture. This strategy is very important because it can be the difference between high school students dropping out of school or continuing on. The main reasoning of engaging in personal culture is to form authentic and effective relationships across differences. These relationships are very important to students who are going through school.If students feel that their teachers do not care about them they are more likely to drop out of school. Forming relationships with your students is important in order to maintain good classroom management. If the students feel like you enjoy getting to know them and that you respect them then they are more likely to listen and follow directions. If students feel like you do not respect them and could care less about them they are more likely to disobey and possibly even drop out of school all together (Howard, 2007). Confronting social dominanc e and social justice is the third strategy to better classroom management.This strategy is about making teachers aware of their surroundings and the issues that surround race and class. It forces teachers to think about race and class in a different way and causes them to better understand their students and what their students are going through. During this strategy teachers will come together and have discussions about race, class, gender, immigration, and other forms of diversity. They will open up and get a better consciousness about social dominance and diversity. This will help teachers teach their students better and make them more aware of what is going on around them (Howard, 2007). The fourth strategy is ransforming instructional practices. This strategy is crucial to having good classroom management. The main focus of this strategy is for teachers to shift their teachings to meet the diverse learning needs of students. Also, to use curriculum that honors each student†™s culture. For example, if a teacher was working in a school district that was mainly a Spanish speaking area if the teacher had to send something home to the parents they could send one paper home in English and on the back have the same paper written in Spanish. This would make it a lot easier on parents and students of mainly Spanish speaking families.This would also help classroom management because it is very important that your student’s parents understand you (Howard, 2007). The fifth and last strategy is engaging the entire school community. This strategy talks about how if you want to have good classroom management in diverse environments you not only have to involve the students, but also their parents. If the students are not getting any support from their parents it is hard for them to succeed. Teachers can help parents get more involved by sending home news letters and letting them know about any activates going on around the school.Even though this might not always get the students parents involved it still good to try. It is a lot easier to have classroom management when the students feel supported by not only the teacher, but also by their parents (Howard 21). Also students in schools with a strong sense of community are more likely to be academically motivated (Schaps, 2003). I recently observed two different classrooms, one in a diverse environment and one in a less diverse environment. The classroom I observed that was diverse is in the Northeast school district in Reading and the less diverse classroom is in the Pleasant Valley school district in Brodheadsville.The way the teachers in each of these schools manage their classrooms is completely different because of the diversity differences. The biggest difference I came across while observing these two classrooms was how serious each of the teachers has to be. From observing I realized how much harder it is to have good classroom management in more diverse classrooms. For example, in the more diverse classroom the teacher had to be very serious and the teacher in the less diverse classroom joked around a lot.The teacher in the more diverse classroom had to be serious because the students were constantly acting up. The teacher did not have time to joke around because at every moment she had to keep her students on track of what they were supposed to be doing. They constantly needed guidance. When I was observing the less diverse classroom I saw that the teacher joked around a lot. He made funny references and was all around less serious and strict. This was because his students were better behaved. They did act up at certain times, but they were always quick to get back on topic.Another thing that I realized was that the teacher in the diverse environment used all of the strategies that help classroom management and the teacher in the less diverse environment only used two of the strategies. There were a few kids in the less diverse environment that were dive rse but the teacher did not recognize them. He did not confront social dominance and justice, transform practices, or engage school community. He just acted as if everyone was the same ethnicity and ignored all differences. Which, is not always the best way to act. When a teacher acts this way even though they are teaching all of the students the same.Sometimes the students that are ethnically different can fall behind or feel as if they are not cared about. Where as the teacher in the diverse environment took advantage of her student’s differences and did all of the strategies, which helped her classroom management become better. By enforcing the strategies the classroom management becomes better because the students respect the teachers more and also usually listen better. The students and teacher benefit from using the five strategies. Keeping control of diverse classrooms is much more challenging than keeping control of less diverse classrooms.There is a big difference be tween diverse and less diverse classrooms, that is why classroom management is so important. If the teacher in the diverse environment did not use the five strategies I think it would have been very hard for her to have good classroom management in her classroom. The teacher in the less diverse environment however was able to get away with not using the five strategies because his classroom was less diverse so the students were not as hard to handle. Achieving classroom management in diverse classrooms is a very important and challenging task.Classroom management continues to be a serious concern for teachers and especially in urban and diverse learning environments (Milner 2010). Classroom management is so important in order to have a successful running class. It is easier to obtain classroom management in less diverse classrooms but there are five major strategies that help teachers achieve classroom management in diverse classrooms. I mentioned these strategies earlier, they are again building trust, engaging in personal culture, confronting social dominance and social justice, transforming instructional practices, and engaging the entire school community.Without these five strategies it would be almost impossible to gain good classroom management in diverse environments. If a teacher did not use the five strategies it is possible that his or her classroom would not have very good classroom management, depending upon if the classroom was in a diverse environment or not. Like I mentioned earlier in my paper, classrooms in less diverse environments can often get away with not using the five strategies. This is because the students are easier to manage.It is crucial however, for the teachers in the diverse environments to use the strategies. If in the future teachers decided not to use the strategies and instead decided to just ignore the differences between diverse and non-diverse environments it would cause major problems with classroom management. If a clas sroom had bad classroom management the students would suffer terribly. Some students would not care about their work, some would not listen, and some would just simply drop out.If teachers did not have control over their classrooms the students would not have anyone to listen to or pay attention to. That is why classroom management is so important. There is a way however, to help classrooms in diverse environments have good classroom management and it is to use the five strategies. If teachers in diverse settings continue to use the strategies it will help not only the teachers, by making good classroom management easier to achieve, but it will also help the students because they will learn more if they are listening and paying attention to the teacher.H. Richard Milner IV, B. T. (2010). Classroom management in diverse classrooms. Retrieved from http://uex. sagepub. com. ezaccess. libraries. psu. edu/content/45/5/560. full. pdf html Herbert Elizabeth, A. (1998). Design matters: How school environment affects children. Realizing a Positive School Climate, 56(1), 69-70. Howard Gary, R. (2007). As diversity grows, so must we. Responding to Changing Demographics, 64(6), 16-22. Schaps Eric. (2003). Creating a school community. Creating Caring Schools, 60(6), 31-33.

Drinking and Driving Essay Essay

I am not yet 16 and do not have my license so I do not drive. I am not 21 which means drinking is illegal. I have witnessed events that have happened because of drinking and driving. The penalty for drinking and driving should be more severe. Being intoxicated while behind the wheel is extremely dangerous for oneself and everyone else on the road. The deaths per year because of drinking and driving are one of the top causes of deaths in teenagers and young adult drivers. The number of casualties increases every year due to the young, irresponsible drivers of our society. Drinking clouds the brain and alters ones judgment. The first offence of drinking and driving now is being arrested but no jail time. In order to really enforce the law and make it harsher, the first offence should be include jail time. That would really wake someone up and think twice before driving after having a couple drinks. Receiving a DWI can be an automatic â€Å"good-bye† from a job position or dismissal from college. This can really ruin a person’s life. They no longer can provide for themselves or their families. Most likely one cannot find work with a DWI on their record. Families can break up and lives destroyed, just because of a very remedial decision. People drink because is relaxes them, or makes them feel better. While they are under that influence their correct judgment is whipped out and they choose to drive home or somewhere else with their life on the line or the possibility of killing an innocent person. There are many solutions to stop people fro getting behind the wheel while they are intoxicated. But it all starts with responsibility, like leaving a car behind and taking a can or having a designated driver. If society could wise up and understand drinking and driving is no joke and the law enforced a harsher punishment, then death rates would decrease.

Civil Rights And Gender And Sexual Orientation - 849 Words

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