Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Concepts on Strategic and Quality Management Dissertation

Ideas on Strategic and Quality Management - Dissertation Example Ireland (1991) states that quality definitions have concentrated on the fulfillment of clients rather than the proficiency achieved by frameworks to firms. The necessities of the clients fill in as the structure obstructs that aides firm in making quality frameworks. In the circumstance where the Company in question, the necessities of the clients significantly influenced the choice to change the stock framework. The organization, be that as it may, likewise viewed as different perspectives in conceiving the proposed conspire. The harmony between the necessities of the clients and the objectives of the Company is fundamental. There are some solid advances that should be embraced to guarantee that quality is accomplished. Kerzner (2003) gave an examination of experts’ sees on advisers for satisfy quality guidelines. The Company needs to ingrain mindfulness in the association that changes should be finished. Objectives must be set and appropriate assets must be pooled to understand these objectives. The Company needs to guarantee that progress of the venture is recorded and adequate alterations are made over the span of the usage. Generally significant, the Company needs to continue all the beneficial outcomes made by the stock framework and channel these to other feeble focuses. ... Venture chiefs for the most part separate the procedure into stages so extends are made do with proficiency. Dim and Larson (2003) expressed that the task life cycle gives a system that recognizes the key issues and wellsprings of contentions. As Evans and Lindsay (1993) recommended, arranging is a basic phase of value the board. The primary phase of the cycle identifies with the origination of activities. The administration defines elevated objectives that must be accomplished given a timeframe. The objectives are in accordance with the stock focuses of the organization. After the administration has chosen for the reasonable rules, the following move is to join the plans to all substances in the association. The last advance in the primary stage permits the administration to designate people who will be entrusted to oversee and keep up the venture. Quality faculty are chosen to guarantee that objectives are met. Hormozi et al (2000) clarified that the advancement of the task needs t o create a ground breaking strategy. The all-inclusive strategy will detail the way where the accessible assets will be utilized to cause the undertaking to succeed. The essential ascribes that must be advanced in this stage are forcefulness and breadth. The end-all strategy outlines the spending plan and the timetable. Planning is critical to forestall requirements once the task begins the acknowledgment stage. The timetable uncovers the quantity of days required for the undertaking to be done and in the end be joined with the current creation process. The execution covers the presentation of the venture that requires control (Evans and Lindsay, 1993). Customary observing and estimating of execution is favorable for the venture. The control stage additionally finds out territories where upgrades are required and the disappointments of the undertaking. The

Saturday, August 22, 2020

How I met Your Mother TV Show Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

How I met Your Mother TV Show - Essay Example Both Carter sounds and Craig Thomas had been companions for quite a while before collaborating to make this TV appear. Them two live in New York. The How I met your mom TV show has so far had 184 scenes and four unique chiefs all through the whole nine seasons. Pamela Fryman coordinated 172 scenes, Rob Greenberg coordinated seven scenes, Michael Shea has coordinated 4 scenes and Neil Patrick Harris has guided one scene of the show. How I met your mom is one of my preferred comedies ever. I have viewed the whole show from the principal season to the ebb and flow last season and it has never disillusioned. I like its setting and the entertainers additionally help to draw out an extraordinary comical inclination to split ones ribs. The show is focused on the fundamental character, Ted Mosby, along with his companions living in Manhattan, New York. The show is set in the year 2030, where Ted Mosby describes to his kids, child and little girl, about the happenings that prompted him meeting their mom before they got hitched. The show has moderately gotten positive audits since its debut scene and has gotten known for its unpredictable cleverness and remarkable structure. This has empowered the show to accumulate a large number of adherents throughout the years that it has been appearing. How I met your mom has won nine Emmy Awards and 28 selections for similar honors. The show’s on-screen character, Alyson Hannigan, was granted the People’s Choice Award for being the most loved TV satire entertainer in 2010. The show additionally won the People’s Choice Award for being the most loved satire appear on broadcasting company in 2012, 7 years after its presentation scene. Neil Patrick Harris has likewise won the People’s Choice for being the most loved TV satire entertainer. The Pilot venture for the show was shot at CBS Radford while every one of different scenes were shot at Soundstage Studio in Los Angeles over a time of three days. Every one of the scenes incorporates at any ra te fifty scenes. The snicker track of the show is later on recorded at a live crowd that was appeared in the last altered scene. The show’s signature tune, ‘Hey Beautiful’ was created by The Solids, a band that both Thomas and Bays are individuals. Creation of the show was incidentally stopped during the third season between during the strike of 2007-2008 including the Writers Guild of America. The strike finished on seventeenth March, 2008 and creation of the show’s scenes continued with nine new scenes being shot. There was a slight change in the vacancy for airing the show on CBS after continuing creation. The show flip-floundered with another sitcom, The Big Bang Theory throughout the mid year and publicized at 8:30pm ET/7:30PM CT. A fourth season was reestablished by CBS in 2008 and debuted on 22ndd September, 2008. First Evaluation of the Show How I met your mom has gotten agreed audits from a dominant part of film survey destinations and magazines o ver the world. The show has run for very nearly fifteen years and has an immense after, some of them who have likewise composed various sentiments about the show. The Guardian’s Anna Pickard is one of the film analysts for the paper and has tossed acclaim on the show. In her survey article in The Guardian Newspaper titles, ‘How I met Neil Patrick Harris’, she adulates the show and the on-screen characters as being probably the best show as far as its configuration and the parody in question. She says the show is ‘clever’ and the way that it has been set twenty years in to the future makes it additionally fascinating for the jokes to set in (Anna, 2009). The characters in the show are likewise extraordinary and help to make the show stunningly better by helping watchers to follow in their lives as

Saturday, August 15, 2020

St. Johns Wort Benefits, Side Effects, Dosage, and Interactions

St. Johns Wort Benefits, Side Effects, Dosage, and Interactions Depression Treatment Print The Health Benefits of St. Johns Wort St. Johns wort may ease depression symptoms By Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard Fogoros, MD on August 05, 2016 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywells Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Medical Review Board Richard Fogoros, MD Updated on February 03, 2020 Avalon_Studio / Getty Images More in Depression Treatment Medication Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Types Childhood Depression Suicide In This Article Table of Contents Expand Health Benefits Possible Side Effects Dosage and Preparation What to Look For View All Back To Top St. Johns wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a flowering plant in the Hypericaceae family named for its bright yellow flowers that were said to bloom for the first time around St. John the Baptists birthday. The word wort means plant in Old English. Commonly Known As St. Johns wortSaint Johns wortHypericum (from the scientific name)GoatweedKlamath weedTipton weed People have been using St. Johns wort for centuries. Today, the popular herb is often used to ease the symptoms of depression. Verywell / Jessica Olah Health Benefits St. Johns wort is widely believed to boost mood and provide some relief from depression, but its not exactly clear how it works. Researchers suspect that ingredients in the herb (hypericin and hyperforin) may increase levels of certain brain chemicals, like serotonin. People with depression often have low levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters.?? One reason people may wish to try the natural remedy for depression (as opposed to antidepressants that can increase serotonin) is that St. Johns wort tends to have fewer side effects than medications.?? The herb is also being explored for the following health concerns: Anxiety  Menopause-related symptomsPremenstrual syndrome  (PMS)Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)Smoking cessation An oil made from St. John’s wort has also been used topically for wound healing and a variety of other skin conditions such as eczema and hemorrhoids. Depression Although the benefit of St. Johns wort  is still being explored, research suggests the herb can be more effective than a placebo in alleviating mild-to-moderate depression. A 2015 review published in the Annals of Family Medicine examined whether antidepressants were more effective than a placebo for patients being treated for depression by their primary care doctor.?? The researchers examined 66 previously published studies (with a total of 15,161 participants) and found that both antidepressant medications and St. Johns wort extracts were more effective than a placebo for treating mild to moderate depression. People taking St. Johns wort were also more likely to continue treatment, as the herb was associated with fewer adverse effects compared to tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (NRI), a serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), and noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant agents (NaSSAs). Major Depression The most comprehensive research on St. Johns wort and major depression includes a 2018 report published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.?? Researchers looked at 29 previously published clinical trials (with a total of 5,489 participants) that compared the effects of St. Johns wort to a placebo or standard antidepressant medication for a period of four to 12 weeks. The studys authors found that St. Johns wort extracts may be more effective than a placebo  and were as effective as standard antidepressants. Additionally, the herb appeared to have fewer side effects.   The authors noted that the studies conducted in German-speaking countries (where St. Johns wort has a long history of use and is often recommended by physicians) reported more positive results than studies conducted in the United States and other countries. Possible Side Effects People taking an oral St. John’s wort supplement for a short period of time may experience side effects. These may include: Mild stomach upsetDiarrheaDry mouthHeadacheTirednessDizzinessAnxietyRestlessnessTinglingAllergic skin reactionsSexual or erectile dysfunctionVivid dreamsLiver injuryPsychosis (rare) When used topically, St. Johns wort may cause a skin rash. St. John’s wort (both oral or topical) can also increase the sensitivity of your skin and eyes to sunlight. If you have a condition such as lupus or are taking medication that can cause photosensitivity (such as some acne medications), review the risks and benefits of taking St. Johns wort with your doctor or pharmacist. Possible Drug Interactions St. Johns wort can cause serious interactions with commonly used medications because of how it gets broken down by the liver. The herb can interact with medication in different ways. It can make some drugs less effective while making the effect of others stronger.?? The types of medications that may interact with St. Johns Wort include: AntibioticsAntidepressantsOral contraceptivesImmunosuppressantsBlood thinners such as warfarinSedatives and medications used to treat anxietyDrugs used to treat cancer, heart conditions, and HIV/AIDSOver-the-counter medications (for sleep, coughs, and colds) St. Johns wort can also interact with other herbs and supplements. You should avoid taking any nutritional supplement or remedy that can raise serotonin, such as 5-hydroxytryptophan  (5-HTP), L-tryptophan, or  SAMe if you are taking St. Johns wort. Taking St. Johns wort with antidepressants or any substance that raises serotonin can cause serotonin syndrome, a potentially dangerous condition resulting from an excess of serotonin.  Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include confusion, fever, hallucinations, nausea, loss of muscle coordination, sweating, and shakiness. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking St. John’s wort and seek immediate medical attention. Without treatment, the condition can be fatal. Symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome Contraindications There may be certain situations where it would be unsafe for you to take a supplement such as St. Johns wort or you will need an adjusted dose. For example, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to conceive, or taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills), its important to talk with your doctor before you start taking St. Johns wort. St. Johns wort may worsen symptoms in people with certain conditions?, including: Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)Bipolar disorder (may bring on mania or increase speed of cycling)Major depressionSchizophrenia (may increase the risk of psychosis)Alzheimers disease Some research has indicated taking certain herbal supplements, including St. Johns wort, may increase your risk of complications if you are put under anesthesia. You should not take St. Johns wort for two weeks before having surgery.?? If you have received an organ transplant, you will need to avoid St. Johns wort as it can interact with the medications given to help prevent transplant rejection. Dosage and Preparation There is not enough scientific data to provide a standard recommended dose of St. Johns wort, though there are doses commonly used by researchers who are investigating the herbs effect on depression. In NIH-funded trials, participants were given a 300mg dose of a specific concentration of St. Johns wort extract three times a day (900mg daily total). The maximum dose given was 1,800mg per day. By the end of the eight-week trial, the average daily dose was 1,300mg per day. The appropriate dose of St. Johns wort for you will depend on several factors including your age, biological sex, and medical history. Its best to work with your doctor, pharmacist, and/or an alternative health practitioner to personalize your dose to ensure effectiveness and safety. St. Johns wort can be found in several different preparations depending on how it will be used. There are dry, oil, and liquid preparations, including tinctures, capsules, and elixirs.?? Each preparation of St. Johns wort will have different potencies. The strength may also vary from one supplement brand to another. If you are taking St. Johns wort for depression, you may find taking a daily capsule more effective than using a topical treatment (which may be better suited to treating muscle pain, for instance). To help maintain its effectiveness, all preparations of the herb should be kept in a cool, dry, place. Active ingredients in St. Johns wort may be affected by light, which is why the supplements are often packaged in a dark-colored container. Make sure to store the bottle or package out of direct sunlight. St. Johns wort products need to be stored safely, just like any other medication. Unlike prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal supplements dont always come in child-proof containers. What to Look For St. Johns wort is widely available in pharmacies, supermarkets, and health food stores and comes in different doses. Check the Supplement Facts label for the product you choose to ensure you are getting the appropriate dose. This label also provides information about other ingredients the supplement may contain. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests looking for products with a seal of approval from a third-party organization that provides quality testing, such as U.S. Pharmacopeia, Consumer Lab, or NSF International. A seal of approval from these organizations assures a product was properly manufactured, that it actually includes the ingredients listed on the label, and does not contain harmful levels of contaminants. A seal of approval does not, however, guarantee a products safety or effectiveness. A Word From Verywell If you or someone you know is living with depression, you may be seeking different options to manage your symptoms. While the research on St. Johns wort is promising, its crucial that you work with your healthcare provider and discuss whether its appropriate for you, rather than trying it on your own. Delaying or forgoing treatment for depression can have serious consequences. As you are deciding on treatment, remember to tell each health care provider you work with about all the medications you are taking, including herbal or nutritional supplements, to ensure no potentially dangerous interactions occur. Overview of Treatment Options for Depression

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Morality, Religion, And Morality - 1103 Words

There are millions of people in the world who use religion as a guide to what is morally right or wrong in society. They have the perception that morality is impossible without a belief in a higher power or that religion and morality cannot be separate. On the other hand, there are also many people who believe that the only real basis for morality should be separate from a belief in a god and from religion itself. So does society really need to believe in a higher power to have morals? The answer is no for a few simple reasons. Morality is not necessarily a part of religion, nor is religion the essence of anything moral. Religion and morality can be separable in many different aspects along with the fact that not everyone who is moral is religious. Society can in fact have moral values regardless of whether a belief in a higher power is present or not. It can be argued that someone who is religious has a higher sense of morality than someone who doesn’t practice a religion at all, but does practicing a religion make you a better person than someone who doesn’t? The world has a large number of people who do not practice any religion but still live moral lives. â€Å"Atheists and agnostics do not behave less morally than religious believers, even if their virtuous acts are mediated by different principles. They often have as strong and sound a sense of right and wrong as anyone, including involvement in movements to abolish slavery and contribute to relief efforts associated withShow MoreRelatedMorality And Religion : Morality985 Words   |  4 PagesMorality and Religion: a Response to Does Morality Need Religion (Prompt 1) Some people believe our life is based off of morals, a belief of right/justification or wrong/ unjust. Living this way perceives their ways of the world by doing what they feel is good or bad or what is lead by their conscience regardless of religion. Others believe in religion, a feeling or act of faith, from God or â€Å"gods† ( Merriam-Webster). These acts motivated by faith and God/ â€Å"gods† provide a comprehension betweenRead MoreReligion and Morality1263 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿RELIGION AND MORALITY (i)Examine the views of scholars concerning the idea that religion and morality are linked. In this essay I am going to be looking at all the different view points on why some people may think religion and morality are linked. I will talk about a few things that link them such as conscience, divine command ethics, Kant s view and Aquinas view. Many people believe that morality is based upon religion and the rules written in the Bible and other holy books, althoughRead MoreReligion and Morality1563 Words   |  7 PagesIn this paper I will discuss the relationship between religion and morality. I will first address the question asked by those with religion, how are atheists moral? Then I will examine morality and its relativity to culture. Next I will explore whether those without a religion are actually more moral than those with a religion. And finally, I will discuss any possible objections to my claims. This argument is in no way saying that those that believe in God are unmoral but that those who don’tRead MoreRelation Between Religion And Morality An d The Perception Of Morality1588 Words   |  7 PagesName: Course: Lecturer: Date: Morality and Murder In every setting, be it cultural or social, there are the fundamental principles that guide the lives of the people in the area. The guidelines express the desirable actions from the undesirable ones. The society brings up the young ones in the community using the helpful principles as a way of ensuring they lead respectful lives avoiding evil practices. In philosophy, morality is the distinction of the things that are right from those that are notRead MoreMorality, Metaphysics, And Religion1480 Words   |  6 PagesTHE PARTICULAR AND THE UNIVERSAL IN MORALITY, METAPHYSICS, AND RELIGION In his second speech to the literary salon of Henrietta Herz, Friedrich Schleiermacher dismantles the perception of religion as a blending together of morality and metaphysics. He argues that such a hybrid can never truly function as religion and that to attack such a false construct is to fight against a shadow, rather than to engage the true subject (21). Morality, metaphysics, and religion all address the same subject matter—theRead MoreMorality And Its Impact On Religion2185 Words   |  9 Pagesargue for the view that Morality does depend on religion due to the following: God s existence, the divine theory, commandments, beliefs and etc. From bibles and scriptures has stated that without God we wouldn t follow from what s right and wrong beliefs. Taking such actions to commit and follow and that s how we would know and develop our moral behavior. In a philosophic term, of morality is the attempt to achieve a systematic understanding of the nature of morality and what it requires ofRead MoreReligion, Morality, And Atheism1734 Words   |  7 Pagesmany Americans may be unaware that events similar to Christianity’s counter-reformation are more of a current reality with other religions in other countries. As of February 2012, an Indonesian man, Alexander Aan, is serving 5 years in prison for a single Facebook post: â€Å"God doesn’t exist.† An event like this should certainly cause us to question our thoughts on religion and how much good it actually does. While some studies show that â€Å"religious people†¦ donate more money to charities including non-religiousRead MoreReligion As A Foundation Of Morality Essay910 Words   |  4 Pagesof years, religion has been part of nearly all cultures. Starting as a rather barbaric force, religion swiftly diffused into nearly every culture across the globe. Almost every culture has adopted, forcefully at times, some form of religion. It is asserted that before religion, we were noth ing short of barbaric savages with no sense of right or wrong; it is said that religion saved us from an imminent self-destruction from our unethical ideas. Some will even assert that we need religion as a foundationRead MoreThe Morality Police As A Part Of Religion908 Words   |  4 PagesBrasch, Walter. The Morality Police. Moderate Voice, 24 Mar. 2015, p. 10. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=pwhAN=101765229site=pov-live. This mentions how Islamic religious police, also known as â€Å"Morality Police† they enforce women to wear headscarves and black dresses in public. This helps with the viewpoint of how religion does impact and is a part of religion. But also viewing different religions and how their morals are tied to their religions so tightly. BRENDARead MoreDoes Religion Imply Morality?1321 Words   |  6 PagesDoes religion imply morality? Not exactly, according to research. Contrary to popular belief, non-religious persons are not evil and do have morals. In fact research shows that people associated with no religion may be more moral than those who are religious. Furthermore, the irreligious do good deeds for the sake of being a good person, while religious people tend to do it for recognition or because someone or something tells them to. The origin, the truth, and the perpetuation of this stereotype

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Ray Bradbury s Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep

Science fiction and graphic novels both possess special niches in literature. Writers like H.G. Wells, Ray Bradbury, Douglas Adams, and Phillip K. Dick progressed the genre to reach a broader audience through increasing exposure in society. Today, writers like Orson Scott Card continue to popularize science fiction through both published works and online stories. The new medium presented by the increased accessibility of the internet allows for the genre to grow, allowing recognized authors and aspiring authors to share their stories in an easier manner. Moreover, the newer wave of graphic novels such as Maus and Fun Home break through the barrier of popularized text with recognized literary merit due to the ability to engage readers by adding deeper meaning and employing literary devices. A highly regarded Science Fiction novelist should reimagine the text with a dignified Science Fiction illustrator in order to recreate Phillip K. Dick’s novella Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? as a graphic novel, creating a new experience in the novel and facilitating in bridging the gap between science fiction and graphic novels. Prospective Adapter The adapter for this project must currently write in the science fiction field with copious experience and high standing within the genre. Orson Scott Card’s achievements as the author of the widely popular novel, Ender’s Game, numerous other Science Fiction novels, and other works such as contemporary fantasy novels and biblical novelsShow MoreRelated The Changing Role of Science Fiction Essay2351 Words   |  10 Pagescouldnt afford to buy books (Del Rey 43,44).    It was also during this time that most of SFs stereotypes were created. One could easily see, plastered to the front of every SF pulp magazine on the rack, the hero, with bulging muscles and a ray gun, bravely defending and/or rescuing the scantily-clad heroine from a BEM, or bug-eyed monster. Even today, with such a marvelous plethora of SF stories, these stereotypes exist, especially in the minds of those who push science fiction aside

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Development Planning and Analysis Free Essays

From the modernization theory up to the present trend about sustainable development and climate change, development planning is a major issue since this dictates the direction in which development will take place. For instance, Earth summit’s Agenda 21 aims to alleviate â€Å"worsening poverty, hunger, ill health and illiteracy, and the continuing deterioration of the ecosystems on which we depend for our well-being. † The corruption or purity of development will then pave the way for the possibility of addressing severe social dilemmas. We will write a custom essay sample on Development Planning and Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now The manner by which development is directed is necessary for the rise or fall or every country. The importance of development planning is even magnified by the Millennium Development Goals which seek to address social dilemmas that paralyzes countries, especially the third world (. In development planning, several aspects must be put into consideration. For one, the demography of a particular setting should be viewed as a profile that will tell the state of development the place has already attained. Demography includes the socio-economic profile that can tell if people satisfy their most basic needs. Women, on the other hand, are another important factor because of the historically-traced experience in repression. Since 51% of the population is composed of women, they must be seriously put into delicate consideration. They have long experienced struggles, and the status by which they have achieved a degree of equality and freedom from repression indicates development and will then become the starting point of several other development plans. Poverty, on the other hand, is another issue. Poverty or the statuses by which people cannot satisfy their needs should be considered in development planning because only through poverty alleviation will countries attain development. These issues are even intensified by the issue of pollution because this dilemma leads to environmental degradation. Since most third world countries are in the tropics, they depend largely on the environment. Failure to come up with plans that will conserve and preserve the environment translates to inefficiency of development plans being imposed. These issues are heightened by the current trend known as climate change. Everything now from the social sphere to the political ecology becomes a vicious cycle that has to be addressed by long-term and holistic plans to combat even the worst case scenarios. Water purity and availability, occupational health and safety, child welfare, and public health are also important considerations that have to be solved. If one partition of the mentioned considerations is not solved, or is not prioritized, development planning has not become true to its integrity. As many tag the Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), they are the growing force in the development arena since they carry on the interest of marginalized sectors in the society. The projects that have not been carried out by the government are compensated by the activities performed by the NGOs. The language of everyday politics might suggest that they are part of the dynamism of politics; however, other sectors might label them as the heroes that save lives in the absence of the government arm that supposedly helps the impoverished. More so, the multilaterals are involved in development planning. They swathe every development subject, from granting â€Å"financial aid to technical assistance to pushing for democracy. † The role of government and state institutions in development planning is truly essential because they are constitutionally tasked to provide the needs of the people in their respective territories. The state, which is the primary instrument for development, should always be in the service of the citizenry. Many may question the credibility of these institutions, but their role is truly crucial in the developmental aspect. Development is then measured through the assessment if the state is able to provide the needs of the people and if the development considerations are prioritized. The question, furthermore, if the business community is a problem or a solution is subjective because it will only be decided depending on the roles they portray. However, the present trend about Corporate Social Responsibility acts as the charitable arm of the government to reach out to the people who are not as affluent as the business sector. In Asia, CSR is really trending and even the capitalists hang on to this to escape criticism of them being over-profiteering. Development planning is not an easy task. To address this, stakeholder’s analyses are conducted. This will help in identifying sectoral needs and interests that vary within communities. The conclusions that will be derived in the stakeholder’s analyses will be beneficial in formulating objectives for development planning. The five entry points for social impact analysis, based on the lecture at City University of Hong Kong, are as follows: Social diversity and gender, Institutions, rules and behaviour, Stakeholders, Participation, and Social risk. The mentioned entry points provide for the framework essential in development planning. The social analysis and project design plus the logframe analysis can also be used. Social analyses may be organic but it will help thoroughly in development planning. Development planning in labor rights, democracy and national development are the future because these are the trends that have to be followed and assessed. If these were achieved, even the third world countries will have their own comparative advantages. REFERENCES Lecture notes in Development Planning and Analysis. (2010). City University of Hong Kong. Lecture notes in Social Equity Issues in Social Forestry. (2010). University of the Philippines Los Banos. Lecture notes in Reimagining Philippine Politics. (2007). University of the Philippines Los Banos. How to cite Development Planning and Analysis, Papers

Monday, May 4, 2020

Modesty free essay sample

A woman must not wear mens clothing, nor a man wear womens clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this. The desire to emulate men in dress has seriously affected the fine and noble characteristics of womanhood. Often it takes a second glance to determine the sex of a woman today, due to the distorted and strange garb she wears and the close proximity of her attire to that of a man. The Scriptures call this practice an abomination unto God, or something God hates. Perhaps some will say this standard has changed due to the inception of the age of grace introduced by Jesus Christ. But this verse deals with moral law and with the nature of God, which never change, not with a ceremonial ritual fulfilled by Christ. Moreover, when the Apostle Peter wished to instruct Christian women about proper conduct, he used Sarah, the wife of Abraham, as his example (I Peter 3:5). Thus, we are not out of order in this instance to use a verse of Scripture from the law. We rightfully go back over the years and learn a spiritual lesson that sharply rebukes the customs and practices of our day. You see, all these questions that people argue about can be settled just by plain old common sense. The principle is to let the appearance be different enough that folks won’t have any doubt. That’s the way to answer it all. You don’t have to get everybody’s ok on this piece of clothing, or that one, just draw the line and determine to wear something that no one will ever have a doubt about. It’s going to look like man’s clothing. It’s going to look like women’s clothing. What about when working out in the field? What about women working in factories? What about women who have to climb on ladders? Don’t they need something modest? Yes, they do need something modest. I used to see women out in the field picking cotton and so on. I used to see them wear overalls, but I also saw some of them pit dresses on over their overalls. That was common when I was a girl. Now I know that some of them didn’t wear dresses over their overalls. Some of them did others things that were wrong, too. You know, too, there are some other things to wear, such as culottes, which are just as modest and still look feminine. That’s what you ought to wear. If you can’t buy any, get a sewing machine and learn how to sew It’s worth the expense and trouble to make that adjustment if you are going to have convictions. Do not wear clothing that the opposite sex wears. And if you are in doubt about it, just don’t and you will be safe. Just make sure that what you wear identifies you as a male or as a female and not in a way that a person would have to look at the tempting zones of the body to tell whether or not you are a male or female. This is what the Devil wants you to do, and surely you don’t want to cooperate with the Devil on this matter. Second, what do you look like when you wear these clothes? What do you look like from a distance? You’ve had the same experience that I’ve had of being out in public and seeing somebody at a distance and not being really sure if that person is a male or a female. You can’t tell by the clothes, because girls wear pants just like boys do. They wear T-shirts just like boys do. The boys often have their hair just as long as the girls (or the girls’ just as short as the boys), so you look at someone from a distance and you often cannot tell if the person is a male or a female. The only way you can tell is to look at those portions of the body that distinguish between male and female, and by the way, this is the Devil’s reason behind it all. That is what he wants you to look at. He doesn’t want you to look at somebody’s head; he wants you to look other places. That is one of the things that makes this so wrong, and we need to see that. We should not wear clothing which at a distance would make anybody wonder whether we are male or female. Her hair style is again predicated upon the Word of God, which teaches her to let her hair grow uncut: Is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering (I Corinthians 11:13-15). Here are the biblical guidelines concerning Christian example in dress for women. 1. Modesty 2. Moderation in cost. 3. Inclination toward godliness (decency). 4. Avoidance of outward adornment. 5. Shamefacedness and sobriety. 6. Distinction between male and female. Sailors may have played a role in the dissemination of trousers as a fashion around the world. In the 17th and 18th centuries, sailors wore baggy trousers known as galligaskins. Sailors were also the first to wear jeanstrousers made of denim. These became more popular in the late 19th century in the American West, because of their ruggedness and durability. In ancient China, trousers were only worn by Calvary. According to tradition, they were first introduced by King Wu of Zhao in 375 BC, who copied the custom from non-Chinese horsemen on his northern border. Tim 2:8-10 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. Peter 3:1-5 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in Gods sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. Holy women of old concentrated on adorning their spiritual life by developing the character of the heart. This is the major concentration and beautification of the Christian woman. Thus, the Apostle Peter used the great dedication of women of another age to impress the women of the first century with the need for the ornament or adornment of a meek and quiet spirit. By the same token, we are within reasonable and scriptural rights to insist that Christian women today heed the influential, sensible, and divinely inspired advice of the apostles. Paul admonished women to dress according to certain standards and listed them in this order: modesty, inexpensive and nonornamental attire, and clothing that becomes godliness. To be modest means to be decent and respectful. The apostolic Christian woman seeks to emulate all the fine virtues of Christian womanhood, so she carefully and prayerfully selects her attire in order not to unduly expose her body to the stares of the public. She is not so old-fashioned as to look like a monstrosity, but she is deliberately methodical in choosing clothing that will dignify her womanhood without provoking the stares of the opposite sex. She has dedicated herself to the cause of Christianity. This manner of dedication avoids expensive, extravagant clothing and superfluous, ornamental jewelry, permitting only the functional use of a wristwatch and a wedding band to designate her wedlock. The great needs of Christian evangelism and charitable assistance to the poor demand that she deny herself the exorbitant tastes of expensive fads so that she might practice the Christian art of concern for others. In this manner, she professes a godliness that stems from a heartfelt desire for virtuous, holy living. Holiness involves both the inner man and the outer man (I Corinthians 6:19-20; I Thessalonians 5:23). We must perfect holiness by cleansing ourselves of filthiness both of the flesh and of the spirit (II Corinthians 7:1). For example, lustful thoughts are as sinful as an act of adultery (Matthew 5:27-28). Holiness, then, includes attitudes, thoughts, and spiritual stewardship on the one hand and actions, appearance, and physical stewardship on the other. One without the other is insufficient. Inward holiness will produce outward holiness, but the outward appearance of holiness is worthless without inward holiness. For example, a modest spirit will produce modest dress, but modest dress is of little value if it conceals a lustful heart. Holiness or sanctification is not a means of earning salvation but a result of salvation. As such, it comes by grace through faith. Holiness cannot be manufactured bywords of the flesh but must come as we submit to the leadership and control of the Holy Spirit. We are holy in a twofold sense. On the one hand, we receive an immediate sanctification (separation from sin) through the death of Christ when we are baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews10:10). God counts us holy by imputing Christ’s righteousness to us. On the other hand, we must follow after and seek holiness (Hebrews 12:14). We must strive after holiness and receive the progressive work of sanctification. We are already sanctified, but we are also called to be saints (sanctified, holy ones) (I Corinthians 1:2). Many times what we wear helps to mold their expectations as well as our own. When a woman wears an immodest dress, she begins to think of herself as seductive and acts accordingly. Other people perceive her as provocative and treat her as such, which reinforces her behavior. In short, appearance both reflects and to large degree determines what we are in the eyes of self and others. The basic reason for modesty of dress is to subdue the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. The exposed body tends to arouse improper thoughts in both wearer and onlooker. To implement the purpose behind modest dress, the body should basically be covered, except for those parts which we must use openly for normal living. This suggests that clothes should cover the torso and upper limbs. Reasonable guidelines, then, would-be women’s dresses over the knee. In addition, we should avoid low necklines, sleeveless dresses or shirts, very tight clothes, very thin clothes, and slacks on women because they immodestly reveal the feminine contours of upper leg, thigh, and hip. Likewise, swimming in mixed company is immodest. Since the primary effect of makeup is to highlight sex appeal, we reject makeup as immodest. To strive to please the Lord. That is the ultimate goal of the Apostolic lady. Those in Pentecost know there is nothing more attractive than a precious saint whose love for Jesus shines upon her face and is shown to the world in a kind character! Does it fit properly? Remember you are a daughter of the King! No reason to dress frumpy, but dont go too far in the opposite direction! Always keep an attitude of modesty in mind! Is it too tight, flashy, or revealing? A good rule of thumb I use to judge an outfit is would I feel comfortable talking to my pastor wearing it? Would I want my daughter to wear it? Many sisters use the four finger rule for necklines. Place four fingers below the notch at the bottom of your neck, if the neckline plunges below your pinkie finger it might be too low! Check the sleeves, if you can see your underclothing or into your shirt when you lift your arms consider the sleeves may be too short or too wide. You want to be able to lift your arms in worship without any doubting! Regarding slits in skirts or dresses, if you were to take a pair of scissors and cut off the skirt at the top, would it be too short? If the answer is yes, then the slit is too high! Sew it shut or add a triangle piece of scrap denim to fill it in! Is it suitable for the occasion? While we always want to look neat and tidy, the Apostolic lady never wants to appear over or under dressed. Take the time to double check, you want to be focused entirely on the Lord and not be worried about your outfit after you leave home! What Should I Look for While Shopping? The Apostolic lady always appears in clothing which celebrates her gender. A good rule of thumb to follow is the outline of her shape should not be defined above the knee. When purchasing a skirt or dress be sure to bend from the waist and at the knee. Sit down in the dressing room and ensure your skirt stays put! Some naysayers will try and convince you that you are handicapped in a skirt, not so! Many sisters enjoy outdoor activities such as horseback riding, hiking, gardening, bike riding etc. while maintaining their modesty and femininity. Remember the more you strive to please the Lord, the more He will bless you! I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto god, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12: 1-2 I Should Be Ashamed To Be Naked. The Bible consistently associates shame with nakedness. This is found in both the Old and New Testaments (Micah 1:11; Nahum 3:5; Rev. 3:18, 16:15). In the beginning, man and woman were completely naked. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed (Gen. 2:25; all quotations taken from NKJV). There was no shame because there was no knowledge of good and evil. After they sinned, their eyes were opened, they knew that they were naked and sewed fig leaves together to make coverings for themselves (Gen. 3:7). What happened next teaches a lesson that many brethren have yet to learn: We dont have to be completely nude to be Biblically naked. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you? So he said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself. And He said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat? (Gen. 3:9-11). Adam was covered with fig leaves, yet he said he was naked and hid himself in shame. Notice God did not tell him he was not naked. He agreed with Adams conclusion. Adam wasnt clothed until verse 21: Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. Why was man still naked in the covering he made for himself, but clothed in the covering God made for him? The garment God made was more adequate, not because of the material it was made out of, but because of the parts of the body that it covered. Man was not clothed until his nakedness was covered. Are we going to be so bold in our dress as to reveal what God has covered? Some brethren are. Some people like to play the where is it game when it comes to modesty. Where is the line? How short is too short? How low is too low? How tight is too tight? I played this game too, until I realized that it was avoiding the real issue. Nakedness has to do with exposing parts of the body, not in measuring the fabric of the clothing. As we have already pointed out, we can have clothes on and still be naked in a Biblical sense. While some brethren are looking for that line between modest and immodest, they overlook the fact that the Bible has been very specific in telling us what is to be covered. There are certain parts of the body which, if left uncovered and exposed, constitute nakedness. The Thigh. Take the millstones and grind meal. Remove your veil, take off the skirt, uncover the thigh, pass through the rivers. Your nakedness shall be uncovered, yes, your shame will be seen; (Isaiah 47:2-3). To reveal the flesh of the thigh is to be naked, and should cause shame. Any clothing which reveals the flesh or form of the thigh is immodest. This would include (but is certainly not limited to) shorts, spandex jogging shorts, swimsuits, mini skirts, skirts with long slits, cheerleading uniforms and many athletic uniforms. The Buttocks. So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt (Isaiah 20:4). To expose the buttocks is to be naked, and should cause shame. Any clothing which reveals the flesh or form of the buttocks is immodest. This would include short shorts, mens and womens swimsuits, pants hanging off waist, hip-huggers, etc. The B reasts. I made you thrive like a plant in the field; and you grew, matured, and became very beautiful. Your breasts were formed, your hair grew, but you were naked and bare (Ezekiel 16:7). To expose the breast is to be naked, and should cause shame. Any clothing which reveals the breast (in part or in whole), or is specifically made to showcase or augment the form of the breast is immodest. This would include low cut tops, loose fitting sleeveless tops, tube tops, tight sweaters, push-up bras, etc. This would also apply to men going without a shirt, wearing a muscle shirt, or leaving their shirt unbuttoned. 1. The Bible clearly specifies which body parts need covering. To wear clothing which reveals, exposes, or draws attention to these parts of the body is to dress immodestly. Proximity to a large body of water, or to a swimming facility, doesnt make a swimsuit modest. Calling sports (cross-country, wrestling, basketball, gymnastics, etc. ) or cheerleading outfits a uniform does not make them modest. If these popular garments expose the thigh, buttocks or breasts (mens chest), the one wearing them is naked in a Biblical sense, and ought to be ashamed. 2. I Dont Want To Advertise Something About Myself That Isnt True. Our clothing sends a message. The Bible talks about a Christian woman professing godliness in her dress and conduct (1 Timothy 2:9-10). It also talks about the attire of a harlot (Proverbs 7:10). It is interesting to note what some in the world have to say about todays popular fashions. They willingly admit what some Christians try to deny. The legs, breast, buttocks and midriff of a woman will attract the attention of men. The muscular build of a man (shoulders, arms, chest and buttocks) will attract the attention of women. Clothing designers know this, and many of todays fashions are made to empower men and women with the ability to attract this attention to themselves. Most reasonable people will admit that this attention is actually lust. Clothing which reveals parts of the body meant to be covered will incite lust in members of the opposite sex. The clothing is going to do what it is designed to do even if the person wearing it is a Christian. It sends a message that Christians shouldnt be sending. It invites sexual attention. It leads people on. 3. I Dont Want To Cause Another To Stumble. Then He said to the disciples, It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones' (Luke 17:1-2). The Lord condemned those who would be stumbling blocks. He shows, with graphic language, that it would be better for one to die a brutal death of drowning before offending another than to face Him in judgment after doing so. We have already pointed out that some clothing is designed to produce lust. What is wrong with lust? Why cant we Look But Dont Touch? Whats wrong with giving others something to look at? The Bible does not portray lust as an innocent thing to be enjoyed, but as a dangerous thing to be avoided. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). Lusts are those things which will cause us to lose our souls in Hell. Flee also youthful lusts ldots; (2 Timothy 2:22). We are to flee lusts, not invite them. Whatever naturally provokes and excites these sinful lusts must be opposed and avoided -including the wearing of revealing clothing. The sight of bare flesh provokes lust. Young people have more power in this area than many of them realize. They need to be aware, not only of the signals they are sending with immodest clothing, but of the affect it has on others. To dress or behave in such a way as to cause one to lust is to be a stumbling block. I Need To Be Careful To Preserve A Good Conscience. The conscience is what holds everything in check. It is our warning system which tells us when we are about to do something wrong. The Bible warns that after we have violated our conscience enough, it can become hardened and no longer work (1 Tim. 4:2). Once that restraint is gone there is nothing left to keep us from going further into sin, and nothing left through which God can appeal unto us to repent. Some obviously look upon immodest dress as a little thing. Why are some brethren wanting to make such a big deal out of it? Because we know that big things come from little things. The Bible teaches that sin becomes progressively worse, not better: But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Tim. :13). If I can convince myself that nothing is wrong with dressing immodestly, it will not be hard to convince myself that nothing is wrong with mixed swimming, dancing, drinking, bad language, petting and fornication. Conclusion: Approaching immodest dress from this point of view is not meant to leave the impression that the matter is open to personal interpretation. Nakedness is clearly defined for us in the Bible. Gods word specifies what parts of the body are to be covered, and common sense tells us why they need to be covered. Christians who still insist on dressing immodestly are violating both.

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Incidents in the Life of a slave girl. Essays (1481 words)

Incidents in the Life of a slave girl. To have read the book the incidents in the life of a slave girl brought tears to my eyes and sadness to my heart. Just to read and understand the life of being a slave and all that was endured by the slaves. When one is treated like a piece of property, like an animal rather than like a human being all due to the color of their skin. The slaves were treated as animals, as property and not as ones having feelings, or having a soul a life or admiration. They were sold as animals and brought with the highest bid. Sad so sad to be treaty as nobodies, to be taken from ones own safe haven, from ones own environment and to be captured as animals shackled in chains and put on a ship to be taken across to an unknown territory to be bought as property. To have been beaten like an animal until the blood shed from one's body, mocked laughed at, belittled, having to call another human being master and to be given a name that wasn't your own. Bought by a slaveholder and belittled and disgraced as a human being, a cry for freedom is a cry that was felt in the hearts of every slave particularly by those who were being very mistreated and beat upon on a regular basis. A cry for freedom is the cry one could possibly hear back in the day of slavery. Harriet Jacobs was a slave who for the most part had a good life as a slave, she was not beaten on a regular basis nor did she have to go without as far as having a good meal. She had family and friends who loved and cared about her. And as time goes on she had children who also loved and cared for her and were also treated very well for the most part. But she wanted more out of her life than to be just a slave, she wanted her freedom, and there's nothing wrong with that. Harriet possessed a strength that is beyond compare, she possessed a will power that helped her to believe in herself and to know that she was more than just a piece of property, a piece of meat. Harriet was harassed by her slaveholder, Mr. Flint on a regular basis. Today one knows that the type of harassment that Mr. Flint was expressing towards Harriet was sexual harassment. He was obsessed with her in a sickening way. But Harriet kept the faith and stuck to her beliefs, her dignity and her respect and never gave into Mr. Flint, although she did give into a Mr. Sands. Not only did she give into Mr. Sands but she has two babies by him and this brings out a serious rage from Mr. Flint, and Harriet refuses all deals made by Mr. Flint. Harriet runs away from her slaveholder and becomes a fugitive. This is when the fugitive law is first talked about in this book. "In April 24, 1851 a poster warning colored people in Boston about policemen acting as slave catchers." It read "CAUTION!!!! COLORED PEOPLE OF BOSTON, ONE ALL you are hereby respectfully CAUTIONED and advised, to avoid conversing with the Watchmen and Police Officers of Boston," The poster was basically warning the colored people that the Mayor had sent out an order giving kidnappers and slave catchers authority, and for the colored people to trust no one because there were bloodhounds out on their tracks trying to track in order to return them. "The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 was a Federal Law which was written with the intention of enforcing Article 4 Section 2 of the United States Constitution." This constitution required that runaway slaves, fugitives be returned to their masters even after they had made it to free states. The Fugitive Slave Act was an act in which the issues for runaways was older than the Constitution. It proved to be the most explosive act of the Compromise measures. What ever happened to the Golden Rule? This means we should treat others the way we want to be treated. The precepts Of

Saturday, March 7, 2020

How Simple Planning Will Keep Your Novel On Track - Freewrite Store

How Simple Planning Will Keep Your Novel On Track - Freewrite Store Today’s guest post is by Zara Altair  (@ZaraAltair), writer of The Argolicus Mysteries set in ancient Italy.  Zara also coaches budding writers to create winning stories as  The Story Bodyguard  from her home near Portland, Oregon. Planning Your Novel Works When most writers get an idea for a new story they want to dive in and get going. If you skip planning, your novel is likely to have bumps, detours, and dead ends. You are likely to spend hours of wasted time that you couldsave by planning first. Planning can help you avoid time consuming mistakes, rewrites, characters taking over and derailing the flow, and get you to the end quickly.    Novelists can streamline story writing with creative planning. First brainstorm scenes, then organize them into a story structure. The Story Brainstorm Planning a story can be creative. You don’t have to construct a rigid outline like the one’s you turned in for school. Correct planning is just a creative as the actual writing but in a different way. You brainstorm as many ideas as possible - scenes, bits of dialogue, action sequences, theMcGuffin, what trips up your protagonist. Any and every idea about the story. The ideasdon’t need to be in logical or in sequential order. At this point you are collecting all the bits and pieces you want in your story. Some writers use 3x 5† index cards.Some use a spreadsheet. Some use writing software  like Scrivener. Or, just list them out in a text document. The key is to brainstorm the story and scene ideas. ​Writers want a story unlike any other. Brainstorming your scenes is a creative way to capture the essence of your story. The ideas go straight from your head into story scenes. Keep adding scenes until you have all the scenes of your story. You can move them around as you add scenes, but don't focus on this too much. The concept is to write as many scenes as you can that will be part of your story. The key to this process is that it is a brainstorming exercise. No judgment. If a scene comes to mind, add it to the list. You'll organize them later. Organize the Bits into a Story Structure Once you’ve collected your story bits and pieces, you can rearrange them into a story sequence. This is where index cards or software with moveable components can be invaluable. You can move your ideas around until you feel you have created your story order. It doesn't matter if you use The Hero's Journey, Save The Cat beats, or any story structure device. Different structures work best for different writers. Get your basic plot points. Here is novelistKristen Kieffer's basic list. Exposition. The necessary character, setting, and background details readers need to understand the context of your novel. (Note: exposition is *not* the beginning of a novel, though most often exposition is revealed during the first few chapters in order to set the scene). Call-To-Action.The moment when the hero is called to leave the ordinary world to take part in an otherworldly adventure. Usually found in fantasy and science fiction novels. Rising Action. The series of events leading up to the climax of the story. Crises. Peaks in tension or conflict that occur throughout the rising action of the novel. Climax. The most intense crisis found in the narrative though notnecessarilythe final crisis. Falling Action. The series of events after the climax of the story where questions are answered and any remaining crises occur and are resolved. Resolution.The final moments of a novel where any remaining threads of tension are resolved and a new reality is established. Now you can place your scenes in story order, according to your chosen plot structure. Use a cork board, software, or a document to order your scenes. Some writers enjoy the tactile sensation ofphysicallymoving cards while others like the convenience of software or even text documents eliminating the need to transfer handwritten notes into typed text. It doesn’t matter which tools you use. It’s the process that will help you with your novel. Story Structure: The Container for Your Scenes At this stage two things can happen: You find you have scenes missing to complete the full story structure Scenes on your list don't seem to fit in the story structure ​Now it's time to refine your structure. If important scenes are missing you can add them to complete the full cycle of your plot. This part of the process helps you make sure the entire storyline is complete. Take a look at those scenes that don't fit in the story structure. If you don't find a place for the scenes to move the story forward, it's time to let them go. You can save them for another story if they are too precious to throw away. Rewards of Brainstorming and Structure With the scenes in line with the structure, it's time to write. The immense benefit of brainstorming the scenes is that you already know what happens. You don't have to stall wondering what comes next. You've already envisioned the scene. And, you have already envisioned the story fromstart tofinish. Once you have completed the brainstorm and structure, you’ll find may benefits to taking the time to plan your novel. Write Faster As you write, you won’t wonder what comes next. You’ll be using your creativity and writing skills to write the best scene to move the story forward. Your scenes will flow because you already know not only the basic elements of the scene but also where the scene fits in the story. You can incorporate foreshadowing without using a heavy hand. Save Time Because you are writing faster and know where you are going with the story, your novel will flow without wondering what comes next or how to follow-up on a scene later on. Eliminate Rewrites If you have done your work thinking through the story elements and the structure, you won’t toss scenes or entire chapters because the story shifted while you were writing. The time you spend at thebeginning creating and organizing your scenes, will keep you on track with your story. No Writing Yourself Into a Corner Without a plan, many beginning writers find that characters take over and lead the story off in an unforeseen direction. Then, off track theyare unable to take back control and find themselves in a â€Å"story corner.† The brainstorm and organize process shuts the door on story wandering. You Stay in the Story Flow Because you know the overall story, youare always headed toward the story end as you write. You have already tested each scene for how it fits in the overall story plan. Your only job when you are writing is to make the scene come alive. Scenes as Building Blocks Every scene is a building block for your novel. The brainstorm and structure process eliminates unnecessary scenes before youspend time writing them. You have already calculated which scenes fit inside the story structure and how they build the story within the sequence. Planning is the Key to Story Ease Simple planning eliminates many novel writing frustrations. Novel writers who use this simple technique find they are closer to their story the moment theybegin writing. They discovered plot holes and completed the story structure before writing. They save time by eliminating unnecessary scenes, conquer character derailment, and keep themselves from discouraging rewrites before they write. This simple planning process builds your story creation creativity. Every story has been told. Planning helps you create the story that is truly yours. Writers who use simple planning find their stories flow as they write scenes. They get to a satisfying conclusion and they finish the novel.    How do you plan your writing? Let us know in the comments!    Zara Altair  (@ZaraAltair) writes The Argolicus Mysteries set in ancient Italy featuring patrician Argolicus and his lifelong tutor, Nikolaos: The Used Virgin, The Peach Widow, and The Roman Heir. She writes for the web as a semantic copywriter and is working on a book for writers: SEO for Authors.  Zara also coaches budding writers to create winning stories as The Story Bodyguard from her home near Portland, Oregon.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Strategic Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategic Analysis - Research Paper Example However, the company particular focuses to target United States and sustain it edge in the industry. The company is currently facing criticism that Voss contains similar sources as the tap water due to which the company is currently struggling to sustain its positioning in the industry. However, the competition in the bottled water industry is becoming intense with the passage of time. The present document strategically analyzes Voss Water and its positioning in the industry. In order to determine the positioning of the company, industrial analysis, PESTLE analysis and PORTER five forces analysis have been conducted to determine strategic positioning of Voss Water in the  Bottled Water industry (Anon., 2014). The overall trend in Bottle Industry has significantly improved that has significantly affected the sales of the bottled water. According to a report of International Bottled Water Association (2014),  "Bottled Water Industry in the United States has showed significant growth during 2012-2013 after the Great Recession 2009  (IBWA Report, 2014)".  Despite the fact that the United States  has slower economic recovery but has high-income level due to which the consumer are comfortable to spend money on discretionary items, including bottled water. It is predicted that the improvement in the economic conditions will cast  positive impact on the revenues of bottled water industry (Hamphell, 2013). The consumer’s response is improving with the passage of time (2008-2009) due to which the some of the consumers that were distracted from the high-calorie beverages are also now getting back to the same category. On the contrary, the low-income Americans that were also disprop ortionately affected are currently struggling for employment due to which they are inclined towards discounted bottled water. In 2013, the off-trade value sales of bottled water have increased by 2 percent. However, the prices of the bottled water have

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

American Accounting Scandals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

American Accounting Scandals - Essay Example 55, 2009). Interestingly, this is not the first time in the history of United States that its accounting practices, approaches and system has received criticism and strict scrutiny from its stakeholders. After the bankruptcy of Enron and WorldCom in 2001 and 2003, respectively that was also the biggest accounting scandals of their time, the US accounting practices made the headlines all over the world (Ketz, pp. 234, 2003). This paper is an attempt to explore the accounting standards whether they are too flexible or too rigid. The discussion would include looking over the causes of Enron’s bankruptcy rooted in its accounting problem, debate between rules based accounting and principles based accounting and the problems with the possible convergence of accounting standards all over the world. ... 144, 2006). Non-transparent and unethical accounting was the most important cause attributed to the failure and downfall of Enron. In the year 2004, McLean wrote Enron scandal that, â€Å"The Enron scandal grew out of a steady accumulation of habits and values and actions that began years before and finally spiraled out of control† (Silverstone & Sheetz, pp. 22, 2007). Furthermore, another writer in an attempt to explain these â€Å"habits and values† wrote that, â€Å"the primary motivations for Enron's accounting and financial transactions seem to have been to keep reported income and reported cash flow up, asset values inflated, and liabilities off the books. (Duska, Duska, & Ragatz, pp. 74-75, 2011)† Without any doubts, Enron had some of the smartest minds in the company, as its executives and accountants, who were spot on in tweaking and twisting, the accounting laws to their advantages (Rapoport & Dharan, pp. 106, 2004). They used off balance sheet vehicles , complex financial structures and others to hide their debts and inflate their incomes. Furthermore, the mark to market accounting further allowed the company to manipulate its financial figures for deceiving the shareholders, creditors and other stakeholders. More importantly, Enron used the ambiguities and gaps in the mark to market accounting to inflate its income (Rezaee, pp. 175, 176, 2002; Mulford & Comiskey, pp. 44-46, 2005). Mark to Market accounting method requires showing the net present value of the cash flows from any long-term project and adjust the values of market assets according to the current market value. However, the problem with this method is that under certain situations and for certain projects, correct, accurate, and timely predictions about their future

Monday, January 27, 2020

Mainstream internationalisation theories

Mainstream internationalisation theories Mainstream Internationalisation Theories Instead of looking at the global strategy of the MNE from the viewpoint of management science, marketing, and decision theory, it is necessary to consider more explicitly the economics of the foreign investment decision. International business activity is not a recent phenomenon. However, the great majority of foreign investment until the late 1940s was in the form of portfolio capital, which international capital theory explained as the flow of capital among countries in the pursuit of higher returns. After World War II, the volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) grew tremendously and was increasingly directed away from primary goods and towards knowledge-based products that could be produced in developed countries. Neoclassical economic theory, with its assumption of perfect markets and internationally immobile factors of production, could not easily accommodate this post-war boom in FDI. So, beginning with the publication of the product cycle theory by Raymond Vernon (1966) and Stephen Hymers dissertation (written in 1960 and published 1976), an outpouring of literature has focused on extending the theoretical foundations of the concept of foreign direct investment. The objective of this chapter is to provide a review of the mainstream literature on internationalisation. Given my research problem, the focus is on theories that consider transnational expansion at the firm level. Among others, the investment development path (IDP) concept and Ozawas tandom growth treatment of the flying geese metaphor are popular frameworks for considering FDI. They are not included, however, since their research setting is that of the economy as a whole. Despite considerable disciplinary diversity, a mainstream internationalisation construct with three major approaches can be identified: Theories of the MNE, Internationalisation Process Models, and Network-based Approaches to Internationalisation. The first of these, Theories of the MNE, is outlined in Section 2.1. Since these MNE theories have been criticised on the grounds that they may explain the existence of the international firm but not how the firm got there, Section 2.2 reviews Internationalisation Process Models, which more explicitly focus on the dynamic process of internationalisation. Section 2.3 examines leading network-based approaches to internationalisation. The chapter concludes with a summary of the points that are most applicable to my thesis and an assessment of the limitations of the mainstream internationalisation literature. Theories of the MNE This section presents the economics-based literature on MNEs, beginning with Hymers seminal work. Following a review in Sections 2.1.2 and 2.1.3 of Internalisation Theory and Dunnings OLI framework, Section 2.1.4 focuses on theorisations specific to developing-country MNEs. Monopolistic Advantage Theory Hymers (1960) work represented a major departure from the standard orthodox theory of international trade and capital movements. The standard neoclassical trade theory of Heckscher and Ohlin, for example, carried restrictive assumptions about the immobility of factors of production and identical production functions across national boundaries. And in the neoclassical financial theory of portfolio flows, multinational enterprises had been viewed simply as arbitrageurs of capital in response to changes in interest rate differentials. Hymer argued that explanations for why firms engage in international production should be based on an analysis of the MNE from an industrial organisation perspective. According to Hymer (1976), Kindleberger (1969), and Caves (1971), MNEs emerged because of market imperfections. These imperfections were structural in nature and resulted from the control of ownership advantages, such as special access to inputs, scale economies, gathered managerial expertise, proprietary technology, and product differentiation (Kalfadellis and Gray: 2003: 3). The result of these barriers to entry was a divergence from perfect competition in the final product market. MNEs would seek to internalise these ownership advantages by establishing monopolistic-type advantages through the vertical integration of the potential licensee (Hymer 1976). Internalising operations could lead to gains such as cost reductions, product quality improvements, and innovation. For Hymer, though, the firm internalises or supers edes the market (1976: 48) primarily because, by internalising international economic activity, the MNE has an opportunity to further advance its monopolistic advantage. In short, it is the pursuit by firms of market power and monopolistic advantages in a foreign market that largely drives the international expansion of domestic firms. Internalisation Theory A criticism raised in the 1970s about Monopolistic Advantage theory was that it did not differentiate between imperfections brought about by market structure (i.e., the number and size of enterprises on both the demand and supply sides) and those associated with transaction costs. By not doing so, Buckley and Casson (1976) and others argued Hymer had failed to incorporate the insights of Coases (1937) concept of market failure. Coases theory of the firm contended that, contrary to the classical understanding in which price mechanisms optimally coordinate markets, market failure can occur as costs associated with the price mechanism develop (such as finding buyers and sellers, and the costs involved with negotiating, coordinating, monitoring, and enforcing contracts, and costs associated with government regulations and taxes). The operation of markets is therefore not costless, and the firm is an organising unit that supplants the price mechanism. Domestic firms would prefer to use internal prices in the face of excessive costs in the outside market. Firms therefore seek to avoid these costs by internalising them wherever the market is non-existent or when it is cheaper for the firm to undertake the activity internally rather than via the market mechanism. To Coase, markets and firms were alternative methods for organising economic exchanges. The choice between the two depended on whether a firm evaluated the transaction costs of an exchange to be lower if carried out within the firm than through the market. Where the costs of such transactions are lower when carried out within the firm than through the market, the activity will be internalised under the firms ownership and control. The concept of transaction costs was more fully developed by Williamson (1975) and Chandler (1977). Transaction cost theory extended Coases work by substituting a conception of contractual man for neoclassical theorys economic man. Its starts with the assumption that markets are the natural mechanism of economic organisation (Williamson 1975: 21), and that market failures lead to the replacement of certain market relations by internalising these relationships within a firm. The deficiencies of the market system are seen to be rooted in bounded rationality (i.e., the lack of perfect knowledge which means that agents cannot foresee all possible circumstances to incorporate in the contract) and opportunism (i.e., agents make decisions based on self-interest, thus making the contract difficult to enforce). Drawing upon Coases (1937) theory of the firm and Williamsons (1975) and Chandlers (1977) transaction cost theory, Buckley and Casson (1976) argued that these same insights can be applied to the global arena to explain the growth of MNEs. Accordingly, Buckley and Casson explained international expansion as occurring whenever a market imperfection exists and a firm can gain strategic benefits by internalising a market across national boundaries and exploiting the advantage this gives it in competition with others. This results in the growth of the firm. Just as a firm may increase its efficiency through internalising transactions, the vertical integration of global operations may lead to economies and efficiencies. These include long-term contracts through more efficient governance structures, the chance to exploit tax differentials and foreign exchange controls, better quality control, and RD benefits. Brown (1976) also combined insights from Coases theory with transaction cost theory and applied it to international expansion. He put particular emphasis on the point that there are higher market transaction costs and more expenses associated with internal organisation abroad than in the domestic environment. Teece (1983) added the insight that internalisation can also be advantageous when vertically-integrated firms need to secure their supply of intermediate goods. So, whereas transaction cost theory aims to explain the existence of the firm, the aim of internalisation theory is to explain its multi-plant operation over space (Casson 1982). And whereas Hymer argued that it is the pursuit of market power that drives MNE growth, Buckley and Casson (1976) argued that once transaction costs are internalised they do not necessarily lead to an increase in rent by the MNE. However, they can result in savings for the MNE, and it is this potential cost minimisation that provides the impetus for MNEs to expand their operations via the internalisation of transaction costs. Internalisation theory has been a dominant construct in the last quarter century of international business literature in relation to the growth of the MNE and FDI. However, it does have weaknesses. For instance, internalisations inherent intangibility makes it difficult to empirically test (Kalfadellis and Gray 2003: 10). Buckley, describing internalisation as a concept in search of a theory (Buckley 1983: 42), argued that a theory needs to do more than assert firms will internalise when the cost of using markets or contractual agreements is higher than that of organising it within the firm; it needs to explain why there were differences in costs between market and intra-firm organisation (Hennart 1986: 791). It has also been seen as overly-preoccupied with the costs of organising transactions in markets, leading it to under-appreciate other relevant costs, especially those associated with managing firms across borders (Demsetz 1988). An argument has been made that it does not sufficiently distinguish between a firms willingness and its capability to become more international (Dunning 1993). These types of limitations led Calvet (1981), among others, to question whether the assertion that firms expand overseas because they can internalise transactions within their hierarchies (just as they do within a domestic context) is a full enough explanation. Calvet argued instead for a theory of transnational expansion that explicitly included both the multinational-the foreign-character of the activity as well as the internalisation of transactions within a single firm. Dunnings OLI Paradigm A third landmark development in MNE theory was Dunnings OLI paradigm, sometimes referred to as the eclectic paradigm. Countering Rugmans (1982; 1985) claim that internalisation is a general all-encompassing theory which can explain FDI, Dunning (1980; 1988; 1993; 1995; 2000) acknowledged the importance of internalisation theory but argued that set[ting] out to explain the growth of international production as a market replacing activity (Dunning 1988: 24) explains only part of the FDI phenomenon. Dunning argued that a full explanation required the integration of the insights from three strands of economic theory industrial organisation, international trade theory, and internalisation theory into a general theoretical framework.[1] Each dimension on its own was insufficient to explain the multinational firms engagement in foreign production. According to Dunning, a firm must perceive certain advantageous conditions before it engages in cross-border investment. These advantages are rationally considered within the firms decision-making process. The first relates to ownership (O) advantages, which, following Hymer, refer to assets or resources capable of generating a future income stream that could compensate for the higher costs of operating abroad. Ownership advantages are endogenous to the firm and refer to intangible assets and/or property rights. These O advantages give the firm a competitive edge vis à   vis other firms. The second factor is internalisation (I) advantages, which encourage a firm to internalise operations for production via foreign direct investment rather than through exporting or licensing to a local producer. In other words, the firm must perceive the benefits of internalising of operations to be greater than the need to utilize markets. If a firm perceives it has sufficient O and I advantages, th en it will examine a third set of conditions, location (L) advantages. Choosing a foreign location is one of the key decisions made by a firm since the financial and human capital invested must generally be long-term in nature. Drawing upon the insights of location theory, Dunnings L advantages were considered to be external to the firm and determine which host country is selected for expansion. (A fourth condition later added by Dunning [1993] asserted that a firms international investment activities must harmonize with its long-term management strategy.) In the eclectic paradigm, all three of these conditions must exist for FDI to occur. If a firm only perceives it has ownership advantages, then it would be likely to license abroad. If it also perceives internalisation advantages, then it would be likely to exploit its O advantages through exporting. It is only when location advantages are also perceived that the firm may consider FDI (Dunning 1993: 196). Dunnings OLI paradigm has been welcomed for its conceptual richness-it integrates many partial approaches to the subject and therefore addresses a larger number of the factors considered in the decision to internationalise-and it has withstood some empirical testing (Dunning 1979, 1983, 1988). However, it has also frequently been criticised, particularly on definitional grounds. For example, Rugman and Dunning had a long-running public debate over whether Dunnings concepts of ownership and location advantages were already encompassed in the theory of internalisation (Parry 1985). In a similar vein, Buckley (1988) suggested that considering ownership advantages as a separate category results in double counting as the O advantage of Dunnings OLI triumvirate is already accounted for by I (internalisation advantages) since the firm seeks to carry out a strategic move by internalising the market and thus exploits this advantage in competition with other firms. Responding to definitional criticisms, Dunning (1995) argued that, in contrast to how they are conceived in internalisation theory, ownership advantages are endogenous rather than exogenous variables already belonging to the firm. Accordingly, he stressed a definitional division between ownership advantages, which are already possessed by firms, and internalisation advantages, which result from the firms exploitation of market imperfections. The electric paradigm has become a leading conceptualisation for FDI, and as such there now many variants within the approach. For example, another eclectic framework that is pertinent to my thesis concentrates on understanding how a firm chooses among various entry modes. In comparison to Dunnings OLI paradigm, the framework by Hill et al. (1990) emphasised the control of resources, resource commitment, and the dissemination risks of entry. They argued that firms rationally weigh different entry modes with the need to control their foreign operation. The amount of control a firm can exercise varies from minimal in the case of licensing to maximally high in wholly-owned subsidiaries. A firm also weighs the resource commitment that is involved with the different entry modes, and the risk that its firm-specific advantages could be disseminated or expropriated by a partner. As discussed in Chapter 5, the latter danger was frequently highlighted by my interviewees as an influence on thei r internationalisation decisions. Though eclectic models such as those by Hill et al. and Dunning have a dominant place in the MNE and FDI literature, they do have significant shortcomings. Some critics find the emphasis on the initial phase of internationalisation makes them unhelpful. Others have argued that inadequate attention was given to the insight that firms make cross-border investments not just to reap benefits from existing ownership advantages but to create new ones, such as acquiring knowledge in new markets or access to resources. Also, the broadness of the eclectic decision-making framework has made it difficult to formulate operationally testable theories of foreign direct investment processes, especially given the heterogeneity of firms. Various proxy measures have been employed as a means for measuring internalisation, but the validity of proxies in general has been contested (Kalfadellis and Gray 2003: 11). Similarly, ranking the large variety of strategic alternatives the firm can choose among is methodologically problematic. Two other criticisms of the eclectic decision-making paradigm have been particularly acute and are of specific concern given the subject of this dissertation. The first is that they principally focus on relatively large firms from developed countries. Dunnings OLI paradigm, in common with the other theories of the MNE reviewed in Section 2.2, was developed primarily in response to the experiences of post-war expansion by developed-country multinationals. Transnational firms from developing countries, it has been argued, require a different approach (Lall 1983a; Wells 1983a; Khan 1986a; Yeung 2004). For instance, as they are frequently much smaller than developed country MNEs, their transnational investment choices may be more chunky in nature, in the sense that certain costs that are incurred in international activity will loom relatively larger for small firms than big ones. Second, the eclectic framework has been criticised for its lack of dynamism. While it is not true that Dunnings OLI model has no dynamic dimension, Buckley (1985: 18), for example, argued that it does adequately consider the deployment of advantages over time.[2] Both of these shortcomings are apparent when eclectic frameworks are applied to the phenomenon of Singaporean SME transnational expansion into China. Developing-Country MNE Theories A dramatic growth in outward FDI flowing from developing countries has occurred over the last three decades. Prior to the 1980s, more than 90 per cent of global FDI originated from developed countries. Since the early 1990s, though, the share of outward FDI from developing countries has rapidly grown; it was over 14 per cent in 2006 (WorldBank 2008). Moreover, aggregate figures conceal the relative intensity of developing-country FDI flows from, and into, certain countries and regions The bulk of this outward FDI-some 67 per cent-has originated from South, East, and Southeast Asian countries (WorldBank 2008). Though the availability and quality of FDI data has been problematic-an important point which is discussed in Chapter 6-it is clear that China has received a particularly large percentage share of FDI originating from developing countries. A number of researchers have argued that MNEs originating in developing countries possess distinctive characteristics in comparison to their counterparts from developed countries (Lall 1983a; Wells 1983a; Khan 1986a; Yeung 1996). One obvious difference is that they are generally much smaller, which may make locational advantages and the internalisation of transactions costs less plausible explanations for internationalisation (Wells 1983a). Though still dwarfed by the number of theoretical and empirical studies investigating developed-country MNEs, research into these unconventional MNEs (Giddy and Young 1982) has by now developed into a large body of literature that can be divided into two categories: first-wave and second-wave literature. The so-called first-wave literature emerged in the late 1970s and was primarily concerned with the cost advantages of developing-country firms in comparison with their competitors from developed countries. Two strands of literature dominate. One is based on Wellss (1983) application of the product cycle concept (originally associated with Vernons seminal article [1966]) to the situations found in developing countries. The second dominant strand of first wave literature is associated with Lall (1983). Wells contended that an understanding of developing country transnational firms could be undertaken by applying Vernons concept of the product cycle (1966), which explained changes in production locations as a reaction to different stages in a products life cycle. Vernons argument was that a new product had to be produced in the home country since it was unstandardised and thus production needed to be monitored close to the products source of innovation and markets. As the product matured and became standardized, producers would increasingly become concerned about production costs and seek cheaper production sites elsewhere. Thus, Vernons model suggested that locations of production moved from developed countries to less developed ones as products went through their life cycle over time. This would then explain investment flows from developed- to less developed-countries, and flows among less-developed countries. The uniqueness of Wells approach lies in his application of the product cycle concept to explain the emergence of developing-country transnational firms. Wells suggested that the markets and characteristics of developing countries influence local firms to innovate in ways that are more suited to the development conditions found in their country. In particular, he pointed to the smaller size of the markets and relative abundance of cheap labour in developing countries as key influences on local firms. Wells suggested that firms developing in this kind of environment could build their initial advantages from descale manufacturing, a process of adapting technologies from developed countries to suit less developed markets by reducing scale, replacing machinery with manual labour, and relying on local inputs. The cost advantages to be derived from descale manufacturing would constitute a very important ownership advantage, and, to exploit these costs advantages, developing country firms w ould concentrate on serving the price-sensitive market instead of the specialty markets dominated by firms with the resources for massive marketing. This kind of low-cost, low-price competitive strategy would largely confine the transnational expansion of developing country firms to those markets of other developing countries at or below the host countrys economic status. Changes over time in investment flows would occur as this cost advantage was gradually undercut by the catch up of local firms or affiliates of advanced-country multinationals. Wellss model has been influential, though it does seemingly suggest a rather pessimistic future for developing-country transnational firms (Wells 1983 and Aggarwal 1984). Taking a different approach, Lall (1983) argued that the smaller size of production in developing countries was not by itself evidence of a descaling advantage (1983: 11). He did not share Wellss pessimism over the sustainability of developing-country firms, asserting instead that such firms could generate their own sustainable proprietary assets to be exploited successfully in transnational operations. Lall saw the development of these proprietary assets as entailing different innovations than those used by multinationals from developed countries; for instance, they would come from widely diffused technologies and from a special knowledge of developing-country markets. They would be sustained, Lall contended, by the localisation of technical change and the irreversibility of such change. So, developing-country firms could develop products more suitable to developing-country markets, and innovations could be localised around techniques more relevant to developing-country market condi tions (such as cheap labour). Thus, according to Lall the ownership advantages of developing-country transnational firms come about not because of their ability to descale manufacturing technologies to smaller markets, but rather are derived from their greater knowledge of operations and conditions in developing-country markets (see also Kimura 2007). Such advantages would not necessarily be eroded over time, as suggested by Wells, since firms could engage in RD and continued learning. Challenging these models by Wells and Lall is the so-called second-wave literature that emerged in the early 1990s. This new strand was a response to the apparent changes that were seen to characterize more recent developing-country transnationals. For instance, it was observed that they were investing in markets farther away from home, in some cases in highly competitive markets such as the United States and European Union, and in new sectors, some of which did not depend on labour-intensive techniques. Moreover, the ownership-specific advantages of the newer transnational firms had changed. No longer did they seem primarily dependent on small-scale, labour-intensive technology, low-price, and low-cost operations. Now, they appeared to also derive ownership advantages from their ability to accumulate technological capabilities and to improve their production efficiency (Dunning 2000). This last observation in particular encouraged second-wave theorists to apply the concept of technological accumulation to try to understand the more recent transnational expansion of developing-country firms (e.g., Dunning 2000; Ulgado et al. 1994). The result was a model that proposes that over time technological accumulation can lead to a more sophisticated structure of outward investment. This gradually comes about, it was argued, as firms accumulate technological expertise and experience in foreign markets. Although their technological capabilities are not based on frontier technology, developing-country firms are believed to innovate and accumulate technological skills that will be appropriate to the environment of developing-country markets. Thus, a firms initial outward investment, which is originally centred on resource-based and simple manufacturing activities in markets close to home, changes to focus on more sophisticated manufacturing activities, eventually even to resea rch-intensive and differentiated products. Through this path, second-wave theorists suggested, firms can enhance their technological capabilities over time, which will improve their ownership advantages, and, eventually, allow them to catch up with competitors from developed countries. A variant within the second-wave approach was proposed by van Hoesel (1997). He argued that firms from developing countries begin their technological accumulation process by gradually climbing the value-added ladder, from shop floor production operations upward to other value-added functions such as marketing or RD activities. They need to do this, according to van Hoesel, because developing countries are latecomers to the industrialisation process and therefore their firms do not have significant proprietary innovations (in some respects, van Hoesels approach is similar to the Late Industrialisation framework, reviewed in Section 2.3.3). The ownership advantages of developing-country firms are therefore seen to lay initially in the lower value-added production units, with international expansion largely a function of the incremental accumulation of technology that moves the firm up to more sophisticated operations. This incremental technological accumulation process is also held to determine the organisational form of the firm, with early investment forays typified by lower-risk and less-committed forms, such as sales representatives and joint ventures with local partners, and later investment characterised by more complex forms, such as wholly owned subsidiaries or acquisitions of local firms. Despite the valuable insights provided by both the first- and second-wave literature, it has generated criticism on methodological, empirical, and theoretical grounds. From a methodological point of view, Ulgado et al. (1994: 125) raised the important point that most of these studies of investment by developing-country firms consist mainly of macro-level considerations at the expense of micro-level studies of organisational, operational, and managerial workings. These aggregate analyses often fail to reveal the detailed dynamism of the internationalisation process and the other aspects of business organisation, such as the cultural, political, and social context. Moreover, the FDI from some countries is heavily concentrated in particular markets or industries, and this may lead to research bias. For example, van Hoesel acknowledged that, as his study was of Korean and Taiwanese MNEs in the electronics industry, his conclusions might not be applicable to other developing country MNEs (1997: 239). In fact, it should be more pointed out more generally that the availability and quality of FDI data from developing countries is limited and therefore conclusions drawn from it may not be reliable. In short, more studies at the firm level are called for to provide insights on the internationalisation behaviour of MNEs from developing countries. Section 2.1 has reviewed a number of conventional economics-based theories of FDI. They share the perspective that FDI is motivated by a firms desire to exploit its proprietary advantages abroad. These advantages are seen as transferable from country to country within a firm, but transferred only with difficulty between firms. While the proprietary advantages from developed-countries are derived from frontier technologies and sophisticated management and marketing, those for investors from developing-countries are embodied in imported technologies that have been localised through imitation and adaptation. These theorisations, however, are often criticized for their rather aggregated analyses and for their emphasis on explaining the structure of MNEs as opposed to the process by which firms internationalise. The following section reviews models that explicitly concentrate on the dynamics of transnational expansion. Internationalisation Process Models Internationalisation process theorising began with the early studies carried out in the 1970s by a group of Scandinavian scholars. Unlike the economics-based theories reviewed in Section 2.2 which accept the neoclassical economic model of rational agents exhibiting optimizing behaviour as a core assumption, the so-called Scandinavian School is rooted in the behavioural theory of the firm (Cyert and March 1963; Hosseini 2005: 528-9). The behavioural dimension is the assumption that learning takes place in response to limited cognitive capabilities in a complex and uncertain environment. Accordingly, internationalisation process models attribute the timing of market entry, its structural form, and its development over time as functions of the increasing commitment of managers to foreign markets. The process behind this increasing commitment is not (neoclassical) rational executive decision-making but an incremental learning trajectory that is human- and history-dependent. A variety of internationalisation process models can be found in the literature. These have often been divided into two groups (Andersen 1993). The first group is the so-called innovation-related lear