Writing Skills And School Habits - 1378 Words

For me, writing has always been a challenge. I always felt like that I could not express myself with the words I had been taught or that somehow I had been left out on the instructions on how to properly write. It’s always frustrated me that writing has been a challenge, and that may be why I enjoy reading so much because other people seem to have a way with words that I don’t. I love reading other people’s words a lot more than my own so much so that I tried avoiding writing as much as possible. Of course, school involves a lot of writing so it was not like I could permanently avoid it as much as I wish I could. So when my teacher announced that our class would be writing plays individually and turning them in to a theatre company, I was not at all excited. I was more like terrified about someone reading some trashy play I wrote. This moment in my life, however, changed my writing skills and school habits quite unexpectedly. The experience of writing my own play and having it performed was significant to me because it taught me about procrastination, hard work, and originality. 5th grade was like any other school year except that there were a lot more expectations and responsibilities to go along with it than the previous years, and Mrs. Schillinger definitely expected a lot from us, at least what I thought was a lot. â€Å"Class, today, I would like to announce a new writing assignment!† she exclaimed with a shining smile that it blinded the first row of kids. MoansShow MoreRelatedGraduate Study Challenges and Strategies and Strategies for Personal Success1009 Words   |  5 Pagesovercome the challenges. Some authors referenced note ways to create habits for success to use them to help reach personal and professional goals. Milestones will be evaluated that will mark achievements in reaching personal and professional goals. A personal short term goal is to simply complete each assignment on time and get a grade of A for each assignment submitted. Another short term goal is to make writing a paper an easy task and turn in an excellent paper every time. PersonalRead MoreReflection On My Writing Skills987 Words   |  4 PagesReflection My writing skills which I have worked on over the few months I have been in English 102 have changed quite a bit in my opinion. There are many things which I have improved upon that were amongst my weaker writing skills when the year began. On the opposite side of that point, there are also many things which I still need to improve upon if I want to truly elevate my writing to a level that I will be confident in. Finally, I have gained new skills outside of writing from this class, particularlyRead MorePurpose Of Writing988 Words   |  4 PagesPersonally, writing has always been a difficult and daunting task. I always found myself asking, â€Å"Why is this required?† â€Å"How is this helping me and preparing me for my future?† â€Å"What’s the point?† However, at the completion of my writing 122 course I have come to realize how important writing is for my future. Some may think that taking a writing course is not necessary and shouldn’t be consi dered a â€Å"requirement† to graduate. However, you go through your whole life needing writing skills. No matterRead MoreReflective Essay On Self Reflection956 Words   |  4 Pages As the semester of my first year in high school comes to an end, I look back to the beginning of the year to when I had no idea on how to write a quality paper or even how to use correct format and evidence. However, with a teacher who connects with students and using tools to enhance my paper, I feel more confident in independently writing an essay. In spite of the fact that it’s been a little over four months since the beginning of the year, I feel like I have improved. From â€Å"to-be verbs† to sentenceRead MoreReflection Of Writing : My Writing Experience In The Homeroom871 Words   |  4 Pagesfirst writing experience outside the classroom. For it would teach me more than just putting words together to complete a sentence, but to incorporate the meaning. Entering my third y ear of elementary school I encountered the most humblest teacher named Ms. Cologne. She was the most good hearted, caring, humane person I met at a young age. She was black with dark straight hair and wore thick framed plastic glasses. Her classroom was bright, full of colors with the ABC’s in cursive writing aroundRead MoreLiterary Practices For The First Big Writing Assignment1156 Words   |  5 PagesLiterary Practices For the first big writing assignment in English, we were asked to interview someone and talk about their literacies. My first thought was right along the lines of â€Å"what is the point of this†. I didn’t understand how learning about how someone else established their writing and reading habits would be beneficial to me and my habits. It wasn’t until I started interviewing my partner when I realized the purpose of this paper. My partner, Janae, looked at literacy completely differentRead MoreIncreasing Trend Of Lack Of Communicating Effectively983 Words   |  4 PagesWriting has continuously been a major focus in academics, yet recent graduates find it challenging to communicate clearly and concisely while using appropriate grammar. There can be numerous of reasons for the increasing trend of lack of communicating effectively. Three of the main reasons I believe students are not performing as expected include: a wrong focus on length versus clear and concise content, exponential growth of technology, and a new era of mastering multitask skills. When enteringRead MoreComing Into English By Ray Bradbury875 Words   |  4 Pageswas also challenged more than I thought I would be. I am glad that I have taken English, especially my freshman year. I am able to use all of my new writing strategies beyond this semester because my writing has improved after defeating a few writing challenges. I have developed and improved numerous amounts of writing skills. Some of those skills including being able to determine when to write formally and informally, as well as developing an advanced vocabulary. When it comes to reading a shortRead MoreCritical Reflection On The Course Experience Essay1197 Words   |  5 PagesCollege (GTCC), I have considerably progressed in academic discipline that allows my critical analysis skills from the beginning of the semester flourish to now. Taking Humanities 115, critical thinking enable this success throughout my semester courses. It was a challenge at first, but as time progressed, I became more focused on how this course description was going to impact the critical thinking skills that I had already developed. In â€Å"The Art of Thinking†, it offers different strategies for criticalRead MoreMy Year Of High School Essay958 Words   |  4 Pages Back in my freshmen year of high school, I cringed at the thought of writing essays. I c ould not convey my thoughts through my writing efficiently. After sophomore year, I became a bit more confident about my writing. It was not until junior year, however, that my writing drastically improved. IB English 11 enhanced quite a few of my weaknesses and molded me into an analytical thinker. Nevertheless, the process of becoming a capable writer was rigorous. One of my biggest challenges as a writer:

Monks, Religion, and Heaven A Fatal Mix - 1178 Words

For a society to function properly, hierarchies are established to ensure organization, collaboration, and different levels of authority. While people in positions of power hold many responsibilities, man is still fallible. This inevitable conflict is illustrated when Ambrosio, an idolized member of the church, succumbs to temptation and sins. In Matthew Lewis’ The Monk, Ambrosio’s downfall as an esteemed religious figure depicts the contamination and corruption of a man of God, and by extension, religion as a whole. The dissonance created within Ambrosio in turn jeopardizes a society and its faith in God. Ambrosio was highly praised within the monastery and Madrid for his stainless character, and yet his hypocritical downfall exemplifies the consequences of mixing Heaven and Earth. This results in both a fall of the credibility of Catholic beliefs and a shift towards more secular viewpoints. Even at the start of The Monk, the congregation present for Ambrosio’s sermon in Madrid is full of people from â€Å"a city where superstition reigns with such despotic sway†¦to seek for true devotion would be a fruitless attempt,† there is evidence that corruption is already present in this society (7; vol. 1, ch. 1). But when a religious figure also falls to this level, the atmosphere of a church’s role within society drastically shifts. This shift then jeopardizes the spirituality of the common people because of the church’s influence and its representation of God on Earth. TheShow MoreRelatedGp Essay Mainpoints24643 Words   |  99 PagesEnvironment a. Developed vs. Developing b. Should environment be saved at all costs c. Are we doing enough to save the environment? d. Main reasons for environmental problems nowadays 5. Religion a. Religion divides more than it unites b. Religion and politics c. Science and religion 6. Terrorism a. Can terrorism ever be eradicated? 7. Sports a. True purpose of sports nowadays b. Sports and Media 8. Foreign Aid a. How effective is Foreign Aid? 9. Migration aRead MoreA Picatrix Miscellany52019 Words   |  209 PagesAhmad II. Summary of the Contents of the Picatrix III. Excerpt from a Lecture on Alchemy by Terence McKenna On the Moon and the Lunar Mansions IV. Extracts on the Moon V. The Mansions of the Moon: â€Å"On the Creation, Proportion and Composition of the Heavens for the Fashioning of Images† VI. The Picatrix: Lunar Mansions in Western Astrology VII. W. B. Yeats and â€Å"A Vision:† The Arab Mansions of the Moon On Ritual and Talismans Picatrix Astrological Magic Aphorisms Extracts on Planetary Ritual ClothingRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesintellectual and creative movement concerned with . The historical roots of modernist organization theory 59 a new understanding of humanity. It asserts that human beings can be free from the authority of the irrational power of monarchies and religion. We can use our powers of reason to obtain a true understanding of ourselves and society, and through science, the world of nature. The ideal of Enlightenment science is to use sensory observation – see, touch, taste, hear, smell – to capture the

Research On Music Information Retrieval- Free Sample Solution

Question: Write a formal academic report which identifies a key piece of technology or a technique made possible by a piece of technology. You will need to explain why this is important technically and/or culturally, explain how it relates to both earlier and subsequent work, and show how it has affected modern equipment design and/or practice. Answer: The topic of the research has been selected as music information retrieval. With the emergence of digital technologies, the amount of digital music is growing explosively day by day. This huge amount of digital music information should be matched with the available music instruments and development of those instruments. Thus it need a heavy amount of access, filtration, categorization and retrieval of music information. MIR or Music Information Retrieval covers these area. This is a comparatively new field in research and is growing very rapidly. (Lesaffre, 2006) The application of MIR is available in web, for example, Shazam, different music recommender applications, classification of music depending on identification of tag, voice in the music etc. Knowingly or unknowingly, we sometime stumble upon application of MIR, or in future we will do so. The aim of this research is to understand the topic music information retrieval or MIR. It is an inter disciplinary stream that covers up topics from music, psychology, computer science, signal processing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, statistics and probability and many more. The research on MIR will encompass several aspects related to the language of music, formats, form, dimensions, need for information, typology etc. (Downie, 2003) There are several methods used in MIR and it has vast application in music industry. Those methods and applications will be researched and discussed in the research. Also, I shall try to find out the answer to the question that what are the benefits of MIR to us, the human beings? Because music is a perception of some melody, harmony, rhythm etc. We can hear music, understand music, then why should we need some computerized systems to classify or extract music information? Music has basically two forms, one is the sound that can be heard and recorded in different formats, burnt into CDs and play it. But there is more things to do with these music CDs. A music CD contains a stream of music information and representation of music in binary form. Thus those can be processes, information can be extracted to find some meaningful analysis, filtration etc. Another form of music is the notations written on paper or representation the same in binary or computer readable format. These issues, processes related to both will be discussed. There have been several previous works done on MIR. Extensive study of those will help in the research. The research will be based on literature review mainly. The theory and previous works will be learned and the processes, evaluations etc. will be studied. (Mller, 2007) Even though MIR is a growing field of research, there are numerous hurdles. There are different challenges related to the forms or representing music, different cultures around the world that are the origins of different music, rights and laws related to music, intellectual property issue etc. These challenges poses problems on researches of MIR. These problems will be studies also. (Futrelle Downie, 2002) One very much related question to any music technology is about the value of the singer, songwriter etc. those issues are sometimes related to ethics. Such issues related to MIR will be discussed also. References Downie, J. S., 2003. Music information retrieval. Annual Review of Information Science and Technology, 37(1), p. 295340. Futrelle, J. Downie, J. S., 2002. Interdisciplinary Communities and Research Issues in Music Information Retrieval. s.l.:ISMIR. Lesaffre, M., 2006. Music Information Retrieval. s.l.:Ghent University. Mller, M., 2007. Information Retrieval for Music and Motion. s.l.:Springer.

Leadership of Bill Gates Essay Example

Leadership of Bill Gates Essay Group 11 July 30, 2012 North South University Summer 2012 MGT321 Section: 12 Report Prepared for: Mohammad MujibulHoque (MJB) TOPIC – Leadership of Bill Gates Prepared by: Group 11 TEAM PROFILE Information| Signature| Rafat Mahmud 103 0093 530Email: rafat. m. [emailprotected] comContract no: +8801737165879| | Arjumand Ara Shabnam 113 0032 530Email: arjumand. [emailprotected] comContract no: +8801671693289| | Faisal Jahan 092 0381 030Email: [emailprotected] omContract no: +8801911905620| | Letter of transmittal To Mohammad MujibulHoque North South University Bashundhara, Dhaka. Subject: Submitting the project paper on the leadership of Bill Gates. Sir, In this project we have tried to implement our learning on leadership from this course. We would like to thank you for offering the opportunity to work on this topic. We have tried our best to make this report precise and dependable. Now we really will be grateful if you accept our report and appreciate our works by going through it. If you have further queries regarding this report, we gladly remain standby whenever you ask for it. Sincerely yours, Rafat Mahmud _______________ Arjumand Ara Shabnam_______________ Faisal Jahan_______________ CONTENTS Leadership7 Characteristics of a good leader7 â€Å"Born to be a leader†8 Education and way from childhood9 The sroty of a living legend10 Path-Goal theory analysis12 Charismatic Leadership15 Bill Gates as a Charismatic Leader16 Bill Gates as a model Leader17 Quotes of Bill Gates20 Conclusion21 References22 Acknowledgement Creating this project has been a great assignment for all of us. Since the beginning of our work we have been through much confusion, but still we managed to find the solution. First of all, we would like to thank almighty Allah for giving us the endurance and potency to complete this project productively within due time. We would like to extend our gratitude to our respected faculty Mohammad Mujibul Hoque for his enormous support. We are grateful to him for guiding us and helping us to finish this project efficiently. Our honest respect goes to Mr. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, who is the center of our report. We will write a custom essay sample on Leadership of Bill Gates specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Leadership of Bill Gates specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Leadership of Bill Gates specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Finally, we would like to thank each other for the wonderful cooperation we shared among ourselves as group members. Our dedication and strong teamwork has turned in the successful completion of this project. We learned extensively on Bill Gates and Microsoft Corporation from our work. This project has helped us to gain vast knowledge and has exposed some interesting answers. Group Members of this Project July 25th, 2012 Abstract Leader is the person who wills the responsible for directing a number of people towards their desired goal they are working for. A leader cannot be an ordinary person as he/she has a whole team to lead. He will be deciding what to do or what not to do, and be responsible for the outcomes of his decisions, whether it is right or wrong. A leader can be both born and made but to become a leader a person must possess so virtues such as integrity, charisma, leading by example, enthusiasm and courage etc. Our project is based on the chapter â€Å"Leadership†, and we have implemented our learning from the chapter on worlds one of the greatest leader, manager and business tycoon â€Å"BILL GATES†. We have tried to show how Bill Gates born in a upper middle class family changed his life starting from his childhood, and how his leadership virtues has made him the leader and owner of world’s most largest software company. From childhood Bill Gates had focus towards his works, from beginning he had a great passion towards his job. He had worked hard towards his goal from beginning. As a result even after leaving his college dreams and being a Harvard drop out Bill Gates made his way to the top and became the richest person in the worlds for several times and also has become one those leaders who have highly influenced the 20th century. Leadership Leadership has been described as a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task. Characteristics of a Leader 1. Integrity: You cannot lead for a long time without integrity. Integrity is a first characteristics and the most important one for good leaders because without integrity all other characteristics not only lack their importance but they become useless. 2. Inspiring and Optimist: A good leader is capable of inspiring others to follow a cause both willingly and with vigor. And without leading by example you can notinspire your followers. 3. Enthusiastic and Courageous: You can achieve great thing without enthusiasm and without courage you lack ability of taking risk. Without risk taking ability you cannot be a leader. 4. Leading by Example: A good leader should lead by front and he should set a good example for their followers. A good leader should be motivated in under pressure situations. 5. Charisma: This is the characteristic which is missing in today`s many leader but this is the characteristics that differentiate between a great leader and a good leader. Bill Gates â€Å"BORN TO BE A LEADER† Bill Gates is one of the most influential people in the world. He is co-founder of the most recognized brands in the computer industry with nearly every desktop computer using at least one software program from Microsoft. According to Forbes magazine Gates is the wealthiest man in the world and has been in the number 1 position for at least seven years. United States of America has been giving the world the best of the best leaders that lead in the human revolution. Bill Gates is one of those best leaders, he was born in October 28, 1955 in Seattle, Washington Gates attended public elementary school and the private Lakeside School. There, he discovered his interest in software and began programming computers at age 13. In 1973, Gates entered Harvard University as a freshman, where he lived down the hall from Steve Ballmer, now Microsofts chief executive officer. While at Harvard, Gates developed a version of the programming language BASIC for the first microcomputer the MITS Altair. In his junior year, Gates left Harvard to devote his energies to Microsoft, a company he had begun in 1975 with his childhood friend Paul Allen. Guided by a belief that the computer would be a valuable tool on every office desktop and in every home, they began developing software for personal computers. Currently, Bill Gates is the chairperson of Microsoft Company which was made in 1975 with Paul Allen. The reason why they made this company is that they wanted to develop software for personal computers. Because of this company, he is a very wealthy man. With an estimated wealth of $46. 6 billion in 2004, Bill Gates became the richest man in the world. Being the richest man in the world has also enabled Gates to create one of the world’s largest charitable foundations. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has an endowment of more than $28 billion, with donations totaling more than $1 billion every year. Education and way from childhood: William Henry Bill Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is an American business magnate, computer programmer and philanthropist. Gates was born and grew up in Seattle, Washington USA. His father, William H. Gates II was a Seattle attorney and his mother, Mary Maxwell Gates was a school teacher. During his elementary school life, he surpassed all of his classmates, especially in Science and Math. As soon as his parents noticed his intelligence, they enrolled Gates to Lakeside School, private school. This school was known for its intense academic environment. Also this school first introduced Gates to the computers. Bill Gates said, â€Å"When I was thirteen, my school (Lakeside School) installed a teletype machine that connected in downtown Seattle. From that point on, my friends and I spent most of our free time writing programs and figuring out how to make the computer do interesting things. † There, Gates, at age of thirteen, wrote his first software program, which played tic-tac-toe. And also there, Gates and Paul Allen got acquainted and their shared interests in computer programming bonded their friendship. Their partnership brought their talents to new heights. For example, they worked at Computer Center Corporation (CCC) and gained more computer experience; they opened their first company, TRAF-O-DATA in the fall of 1971, which specialized in monitoring and analyzing traffic statistics in cities and countries. In 1973, Gates entered Harvard University as a freshman, where he lived down the hall from Steve Ballmer, now Microsofts chief executive officer. The Story of a Legend living legend: First of all, you should know that he wasn’t born in an already fabulously rich family. His parents were considered to be members of the upper middle class, and he seemed to be a normal child in a normal home. His mom and dad were planning on making him a lawyer. Fortunately, their plan failed! Their son dropped out of Harvard and soon became the youngest self-made billionaire in the world! So how did it all start? We guess it’s safe to say that the really interesting part of the story begins with 13-years-old Bill first seeing the computer of his school. Actually, it wasn’t really the school’s computer, as Lakeside Prep School only purchased some computer time from General Electric. They spend several thousand dollars for that and believed that their students would be able to use the device for a whole year. But Bill Gates and a few friends of him managed to spend all that precious computer time in just a few weeks! Then, sometime later, the Computer Center Operation opened in Seattle and they offered great rates. Bill was there every day, learning, advancing and finally getting banned for crashing the system and changing some data in order to get freer computer time. From here on his passion grew constantly and so did his knowledge. And this is how in his junior year, Bill left Harvard and founded the Microsoft Company together with his friend Paul Allen. Now he is still a college dropout, but he earns some $243 a second, which translates into $500 million a month and $6 billion a year. Which didn’t come for free, for that, he worked hard for years, and so did his employees. One of the most significant work he have done is after signing up with IBM computers on November 20, 1985, and in August, the company struck a deal with IBM to develop a separate operating system called OS/2. With his help the growth of Microsoft windows in a degree that the market share research sites surveyed that the market of Microsoft Windows is 92% in the operating system market. So this is one of the significant legendary works Bill Gates. Time magazine named Gates one of the 100 people who most influenced the 20th century, as well as one of the 100 most influential people of 2004, 2005, and 2006. In 2006, he was voted eighth in the list of Heroes of our time. In 2011, Bill Gates was ranked as the fifth most powerful person in the world, according to rankings by Forbes magazine. Path-Goal theory analysis The Path-Goal Theory of Leadership was developed to describe the way that leaders encourage and support their followers in achieving the goals they have been set by making the path that they should take clear and easy. In particular, leaders: Clarify the path so subordinates know which way to go. * Remove roadblocks that are stopping them going there. * Increasing the rewards along the route. Leaders can take a strong or limited approach in these. In clarifying the path, they may be directive or give vague hints. In removing roadblocks, they may scour the path or help the follower move the bigger blocks. In increasing rewards, they may give occasional encouragement or pave the way with gold. This variation in approach will depend on the situation, including the followers capability and motivation, as well as the difficulty of the job and other contextual factors. Figure: Path Goal Theory| House and Mitchell (1974) describe four styles of leadership: Supportive leadership Considering the needs of the follower, showing concern for their welfare and creating a friendly working environment. This includes increasing the followers self-esteem and making the job more interesting. This approach is best when the work is stressful, boring or hazardous. Directive leadership Telling followers what needs to be done and giving appropriate guidance along the way. This includes giving them schedules of specific work to be done at specific times. Rewards may also be increased as needed and role ambiguity decreased (by telling them what they should be doing). This may be used when the task is unstructured and complex and the follower is inexperienced. This increases the followers sense of security and control and hence is appropriate to the situation. Participative leadership Consulting with followers and taking their ideas into account when making decisions and taking particular actions. This approach is best when the followers are expert and their advice is both needed and they expect to be able to give it. Achievement-oriented leadership Setting challenging goals, both in work and in self-improvement (and often together). High standards are demonstrated and expected. The leader shows faith in the capabilities of the follower to succeed. This approach is best when the task is complex. Path-Goal variables and predictions Path-goal theory suggests two classes of contingency variables that moderate the leadership behavior-outcome relationship: those in the environment that are outside the control of employee (task structure, formal authority system, work group) and those that are the characteristics of the employee (locus of control, experience, perceived ability). Environmental factors determine what type of leader behavior is needed to maximize the outcome and personal characteristics determine how the environment and leader behavior are interpreted. Charismatic Leadership: A personal quality of attractiveness or interestingness that influences others is called charisma. In Dubrin’s book on leadership he suggests that charisma â€Å"involves a relationship between the leader and the people being led†. He furthermore points to the importance of â€Å"management by inspiration† as he calls it and he points to the different communication styles of a charismatic leader. In essence, charisma is a key aspect of leadership, as Dubrin discusses. Theory of charismatic leadership states that Followers make attributions of heroic or extraordinary leadership abilities when they observe certain ehaviors. Four characteristics of a charismatic leader: i) Having a Vision: vision is expressed as an idealized goal that proposes a future better than the status quo’; and is able to clarify the importance of the vision in terms that are understandable to others ii) Willingness to take personal risk: A charismatic leader wills to take on high pers onal risk, incur high costs and engage self sacrifice to achieve the vision. iii) Sensitiveness to followers need: A charismatic leader is perceptive of others’ abilities and responsive to their needs and feelings. v) Exhibit unusual behavior: Charismatic leaders engage behaviors that are perceived as novel and counter to norms. Bill Gates as a Charismatic Leader The Microsoft Corporation has been a giant in the software industry for over three decades. The company’s founders, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, put together an operating system for the computer world that ultimately captured the attention of every one on earth. However, it was Bill’s pure genius and leadership qualities that took software to a level that was unmatched by anyone. Paul was the mastermind behind the hardware that needed Bill’s software to operate effectively. Bill Gates: A Leader in Innovative Technology everyone in the world wants a computer that is compatible with worldwide technology. Bill Gates is a gigantic leader in that innovative technology field. In spite of being a Harvard drop out, Mr. Gates transformed the revolution of technology into an industry of computer software that is unmatched in recent history. .Gates used the charismatic, transactional, and the transformational styles. While utilizing his charismatic style, Bill Gates used ethics, morals, self-confidence, enthusiasm, and a passion for creating an empire as well as inspiring his subordinates. As noted in Dubrin (2007), leadership is defined as â€Å"the ability to inspire confidence and support among the people who are needed to achieve organizational goals†. Bill Gates showed that ability in a way that has been, for the last three decades, unmatched by anyone. Not only is his mind genius in the creation of software, his leadership at Microsoft Corporation has been the most dignified in recent history. Microsoft has been the world leader for quite some time; however, in these past few years, Gates has opened the door for other companies to make their own software while he has contemplated retirement. Bill Gates as model Leader Being a model of a modern manager and a leader Bill Gates bears some notable virtues. From the beginning he has thought of bigger dreams and his has always focus and passion towards his work. So though being a college dropout Bill Gates has learnt in a lifelong process and finally established understood better than anything else software. He has pursued the objective of dominance in himself as one of the most pioneer managers and leaders of this age. Bill Gates has maintained his idolatry by giving back society many charity works. †¢ Focus: Bill Gates has demonstrated over nearly thirty years the importance of clarity of thought and execution. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he did not move away from the domain he software in general and operating systems in particular that has few parallels. Venturing into unfamiliar territory may be fashionable but carries a high degree of risk. If ever a need arises for an absolute example for what Peters and Waterman called Stick to the Knitting and Hamel and Prahalad termed core competence, one needs to look no further than Bill Gates and Microsoft. Focus also means the ability to pursue ones goals whatever the obstacles may be. Such a degree of perseverance is hard to come by. †¢ Thinking big: Along with focus, the ability to dream big and pursue that with single-minded determination sets Gates apart from other entrepreneurs. This is particularly true of entrepreneurs from emerging economies like India where an ultra-conservative attitude has stifled growth. Entrepreneurs need to develop confidence in themselves and their team that they can take on the world and come out winners. †¢ Passion: Simply put, if anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well. From a simple thank you note to a complex proposal, it is critical to place the stamp of excellence on whatever one undertakes. Equally important is the need to constantly innovate. Change is the only constant and the more agile and adaptive we are to change, the more successful we can be. Bill Gates had the passion towards his work, his passion has later resulted as a powerful leader and a manager at his work field. Learning as a life-long process: Though dropping out of college to his dreams, Bill Gates has probably read and written more than most of us ever will. In the process, he has shown the limits of formal education. Important as formal education is, perhaps it is more important to realize that learning is a life-long process. Knowledge is infinite. Even if we keep assimila ting it without a break throughout a lifetime, we would not have scratched the surface. Knowledge should lead to humility and wisdom not arrogance and one-upmanship. Giving back to society: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has provided a new dimension to philanthropy by addressing issues that are global in nature malaria, cancer, AIDS. Feeling good by doing good may appear old-fashioned but this may yet be the best way forward in combating diseases that kill or maim millions of people every year. With friend and legendary investor Warren Buffet also joining hands, a formidable combination has been forged. Bill Gates has shown a remarkable degree of consistency both in his business goals and in his goals in philanthropy he is a global citizen. Although some Indian entrepreneurs have indeed espoused similar causes Infosys Foundation, AzimPremji Foundation, and the House of Tata come to mind, a lot more can be done by successful Indian entrepreneurs. In fact, just 5% of the wealth of the 200 richest people can eradicate some of the most pressing problems that we face. Wealth should not be merely in terms of building the most flamboyant homes but in pursuing a higher calling. Where is the collective conscience of the rich who have made it big due to the society that they are a part of? As with any successful or great person, there will always be controversies. In an age where the distinction between means and ends is increasingly blurred, taking extreme positions hardly helps. One may not agree with Gates means for achieving what he has, but one would find it difficult to ignore his contributions to the IT industry. However, history and posterity will probably recognize him more for what he has decided to do at a relatively young age for the rest of his life. Combating hunger, fighting disease and educating the poor are truly lofty goals worth emulating by anyone who cares for humanity and for the quality of life on this planet. On this count, there cannot be many role models better than Bill Gates. The last thirty years have seen the emergence of an entrepreneur par excellence. The next thirty years will probably see the emergence of the greatest individual philanthropist not necessarily in monetary terms but in terms of the global issues addressed with dedication. Quotes of Bill Gates Below are some famous quotes, quoted by Bill Gates the founder of Microsoft Corporation, and a person who has held the position of the world’s richest man in the world more than 12 consecutive years. 1. I failed in some subjects in exam, but my friend passed in all. Now he is an engineer in Microsoft and I am the owner of Microsoft. 2. Our success has really been based on partnerships from the very beginning. 3. â€Å"If you cannot make it good at least make it look good† 4. Only a few businesses will succeed by having the lowest price, so most will need a strategy that includes customer services. 5. Embrac e bad news to learn where you need the most improvement. 6. Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. Bill Gates Conclusion From the time being the world has witnessed different types of leader on different times leading the world to a new era or a new star every time. It is time and situation which has given birth to these leaders, for example conquerors have conquered new countries, discoverers have found new places, scientists have invented something new etc. Every one of them has been efficient leaders on their aspects. Bill Gates has changed the world through his revolutionary research and invention. His passion and hard work has made him one of the pioneer leaders of the modern technology. Through our project we have tried to put up and emphasize the virtues of Bill Gates as proficient leader. References 1. http://www. biography. com/people/bill-gates-9307520 2. http://www. nidokidos. org/threads/14268-A-BRIEF-BIOGRAPHY-OF-Bill-Gates 3. www. nidokidos. org/threads/14268-A-BRIEF-BIOGRAPHY-OF-Bill-Gates 4. http://changingminds. org/disciplines/leadership/styles/charismatic_leadership. htm 5. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Bill_Gates#Management_style 6. http://wiki. answers. com/Q/Why_bill_gates_a_charismatic_leader 7. http://www. oppapers. com/essays/Bill-Gates-Leader-Innovative-Technology/181406

Signs Of Societys Sexism In The Yellow Wall-Paper Essays

Signs Of Society's Sexism In The Yellow Wall-Paper Signs of society's sexism in The Yellow Wall-Paper The Yellow Wallpaper is a story, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Although the work is short, it is one of the most interesting works in existence. Gilman uses literary techniques very well. The symbolism of The Yellow Wall-Paper, can be seen and employed after some thought and make sense immediately. The views and ideals of society are often found in literary works. Whether the author is trying to show the ills of society of merely telling a story, culture is woven onto the words. The relationship between the narrator and her husband would be disagreeable to a modern woman's relationship. Today, most women crave equality with their partner. The reader never learns the name of the narrator, perhaps to give the illusion that she could be any woman. On the very fist page of The Yellow Wall-Paper, Gilman illustrates the male dominated society and relationship. It was customary for men to assume that their gender knew what, when, how, and why to do things. John, the narrator's husband, is a prominent doctor and both his and his wife's words and actions reflect the aforementioned stereotype: ?John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage,? (9). This statement illustrates the blatant sexism of society at the time. John does not believe that his wife is sick, while she is really suffering from post-partum depression. He neglects to listen to his wife in regard to her thoughts, feelings, and health through this thought pattern. According to him, there is not anything wrong with his wife except for temporary nerve issues, which should not be serious. By closing her off from the rest of the world, he is taking her away from things that important to her mental state; such as her ability to read and write, her need for human interaction, her need to make her own decisions. All of these are important to all people. This idea of forced rest and relaxation to cure temporary nervous problems was very common at the time. Many doctors prescribed it for their female patients. The narrators husband, brother, and their colleagues all feel that this is the correct way to fix her problem, which is practically nonexistent in their eyes. Throughout the beginning of the story, the narrator tends to buy into the idea that the man is always right and makes excuses for her feelings and his actions and words: ?It is so hard to talk to John about my case, because he is so wise and because he loves me so,? (23). In a good relationship, each partner should be able to express one's own thoughts and feelings. Honesty in one of the most important characteristics a relationship should have. In this case, the narrator feels that she can not tell him how she feels so as not to upset him and make him mad. When the narrator does attempt to have a discussion with John, she ends up crying and not being able to express herself. John treats her like a child as men believed that crying something that women do and is something that shows weakness. Eventually she begins to become frightened of John and as she goes bad, his normalcy is seen as queer through in her eyes. For a long time it was customary for the house to be able to represent a secure place for a woman. Her house was a woman's place of residency as well as where women were to do their work and express themselves. In The Yellow Wall-Paper, the house is not even the couple's own. It is a summer rental and the narrator is forced to reside and spent the majority of her time in a room that is unpleasant to her tastes. This house reverses the traditional symbol of security for the domestic activities of a woman. However, it becomes a place for her to release her words onto paper and eventually to release her grip on reality. The room and many of it's features twist the common comforts of a home. The room itself used to be a nursery, which is ironic since the narrator

Alain Locke The New Negro Within The Circle

Alain Locke The New Negro Within The Circle Locke, Alain. "The New Negro."  Within the Circle.Ed. Angelyn Mitchel. Durham London: Duke UP, 1996. 21-31 Alain Locke did an excellent job not only of showing that indeed the American Negro was not what he had been stereo typed as before, but also that he was a new force in the American political arena. This essay was written in such a way that, save a few time bound references, the majority of it could have been written a month ago. The ideas and feelings inside are all current.In the first part of the essay Locke declares that the "New Negro"  has appeared. Although it seems that culturally this happened overnight it was in fact something that had been building for quite some time even though it only broke into the public view recently. He relates this to the seemingly sudden emergence of Negro Spirituals that had been around since the time of the slaves.An African American boy outside of Cincinnati, Ohi...

Research method - Critical Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Research method - Critical Review - Essay Example Here the authors have used a quantitative research for the study and a total of around 300 responses have been got for the research. The focus has been on the Indian organisations. The findings clearly show a major link and co relationship between human resource capabilities and the organisational performance. The researcher however has been able to effectively gain responses and the findings are relatively more reliable and valid as compared to the previous research. In the second stage the incomplete questionnaires of the first stage were resent and an attempt to get the responses was made. This sampling method is not very clear and although the authors explain that the research included the two stages, the second stage does not seem to be complete and requires more attention for better sampling. The data collection method here in this paper is based on case studies and on secondary data. There has not been any clear data collection for the research which causes the biggest drawback here. Although secondary research can prove to be very effective in other researches, here in this case with the aims and objectives of the research, the method is not an efficient manner and needs changes. Analysis has been conducted based on the secondary data found. This however cannot be recognised to be most effective manner as it merely relies on views and research data of other authors and does not contribute to the field of study as effectively as it could have. Here the analysis is merely rephrasing of the views of the other researchers (Saunders, Lewis & Thornhill, 2000) This research paper focuses on an effective data collection method for the paper. The authors have carefully planned and picked their research methods and the method adopted here allows the researcher to gain the answers to the objectives (Sekaran, 2000). However there is major scope for improvement here and the research can be proved to be much more effective if the data collection

History of western civilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

History of western civilization - Essay Example as in the filmmaking industry, movies released with historical themes often require consultation with experts on a field of study such as theologians or scientists. The knowledge coming from these specialists reflect chiefly in the film so that it becomes filled with a body of ideas which altogether makes an object of interest for historians who would like to conduct thorough research on a subject matter. Apparently, â€Å"The Prince of Egypt† may be claimed to bear positive impact on studies pertaining to Egyptian societies. Besides its biblical context, it richly illustrates a civilization of Egypt that is governed by a pharaoh’s strict decree. By examining the role of a pharaoh as a leader and his relations with the subjects, one may ascertain the degree to which the Egyptian society is shaped at the time according to the ancient religion, economy, and political system prevailing in Egypt as well as the response and behavior of its people. Depending on the circumstances and reactions involved during the presentation of historical narrative by popular media, it may generate either favorable or unfavorable impression to the point that the story, being part of the nation’s history, is heavily criticized. Normally, the sensation which criticisms create tends to rouse racial discrimination or social injustice if the popular media fails to include significant details. On the other hand, a responsible media despite popularity may also function as a tool of learning the truth about a nation’s historical events. It seems common for Western movies to project themes that appeal to the senses of a greater majority so that producers of the West profit hugely upon market expansion. However, if the movie’s production were to be non-Western by nature, then its contents would have followed a certain perspective of origin in terms of theological history which agrees well with scholarly

MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEM CHANGE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEM CHANGE - Essay Example The advantage is in terms of faster communication and effective information processing, which all becomes possible when firms have diversified information management systems (Dupouet 2013, pp. 6-15). Theoretical View According to modern business theorists, modernisation has brought volatile environments for businesses. Such environments are trendy and hence demand change in the organisation systems. The ability to adjust to the change has become prerequisite (Nowduri 2010). Without modification the firms cannot progress or even survive in the globalised business order. According to Bate’s study in 1994, there are two levels of organisation change: incremental and transformational (Macredie et al. 2005). The incremental change is stage-wise and is based on minor modifications just as change of an information system, processes or structure. Transformational change is radical and depends on the level of incremental change achieved within the organisation system (Marco 2012, pp. 2 20-229). Changing the information setup is a part of the organisation change process and to implement it, there are several issues that organisations have to address (Clarke 2012, pp. 79-81). This report will bring insight into theMIS change process in terms of two organisational setups including NHS (National Health Service) and Amazon. This is to bring a clear viewpoint on information system change by having a practical example of organisations presently operating. Information System Change in Amazon DATA Amazon is a leader in electronic sales and retail works on electronic data and information (Matthews 2012). The company has acquired electronic modules to manage customer based data. The nature of data is electronic, for which Amazon administrators utilise the excessive content management process (Soderstrom 2012). The reliance is highly on e-commerce and electronic management systems where information is spread to appear for international customers and the market. Amazon being a true market seller has brought diversified data management systems (K Laundon & J Laundon 2012, pp. 4-20). To manage online service activities, the enterprise has deployed advanced communication networks. These activities include site management, communication, interaction, flexible merchandising and transaction processing, which all have become possible by Amazon’s online information management system (Gorman 2012). The enterprise works on self-deployed information systems, and also has acquired commercial licensed systems for extensive information processing. This is all to ensure effective data management and communication, which are essential features of Amazon as an international business organisation (Gorman 2012). The real and most apparent change brought by Amazon was its transition from a small business enterprise into a large data holding corporation. It was all because of modifications made on the information side and in the World Wide Web business. Keeping data o f million customers at one time were not possible if Amazon had not planned its e-commerce activity. To organise the e-commerce operation, Amazon deployed an international data management mechanism (Pratt & Adamski 2011, pp. 1-30). This managed data of millions of customers at one time of operation and at a single time of retrieval. All of this was done in short time and with a maximum coverage of benefits. The design

Interpreting Dreams Through Humanistic Sandtray Therapy

Interpreting Dreams Through Humanistic Sandtray Therapy Aaron Glogowski Dr. Michael E. Dunn Swan, K. L., Schottelkorb, A. A. (2013). Interpreting Children’s Dreams Through Humanistic Sandtray Therapy. International Journal of Play Therapy, 22 (3), 119-128. doi: 10.1037/a0033389 Swan and Schottelkorb open this article with a statement on dreams and adolescence. They first not that studies have shown that children as young as three years old are able to recall their dreams. Some studies have even hypothesized that children’s dreams can reveal what they think about themselves. Afterward, they proceed to show an example of how children’s dreams change as they develop. Children tend to take on a more active part in their dreams as they get older, and their dreams from ages 4-12 become scarier, based on events in their lives. In this way, traumatic experiences could wind up playing a large part in children’s dreams. In their analysis, Swan and Schottelkorb determined that they wanted to find an approach to aid children in examining their dreams for various thoughts and feelings that may be hidden within them. But to do that, they needed to develop a method of experimentation first, and they wound up choosing the sandtray method. According to their research, Margaret Lowenfeld is the person responsible for creating the World Technique, which gave the base for the development of sandtray therapy. The sandtray method is meant to allow children to recreate scenes from their dreams on a sandtray, which they are then able to explore. Through their experiment, Swan and Schottelkorb hoped to determine whether the children’s dreams could be based on past or present events, in addition to providing them with an outlet to explore their dreams. To carry out their experiment, they began by creating four distinct phases through which the study would occur. These included the precreation phase, the creation phase, the dream processing phase, and the postprocessing phase. Each phase had a very specific goal attached to it. In the first phase, the precreation phase, the aim was to help the children recreate the dreams in their mind, and to bring them to a state of relaxation. The phase began by putting the child through a sense of meditation. The therapist took them through a series of steps to relax them and help them focus their mind. They started by giving them simple statements about themselves or their environment, before moving their attention to the dream aspect of the therapy. The therapist would ask them a series of questions about the dreams to get the child’s thought process focused on the dream’s details. Once they were done asking questions about the dream, they proceeded to the next step. In phase two, the creation phase, the focus shifted to the child’s creation of their dream. At the beginning of phase two, the child was given a sandtray to recreate their dream to the best of their ability. They were told to use as much or as little as necessary to properly create the dream. Swan and Schottelkorb note that it is imperative that the therapist stays engaged and focused on the child, watching their process silently, in order to maintain the proper therapeutic environment for the child to continue to create their dreams in the sand. It was offered that the therapist may note their thoughts and feelings as they try to track the course of the dream. Once that phase concluded, they moved on to the actual dream processing. Phase three, the phase of the processing of the dream, was divided up into several steps. This phase was designed to help better understand the dream and the feelings associated with it. The dream processing phase began with the therapist asking the child to explain the scene that they had created. Swan and Schottelkorb note that by doing this, the focus was able to shift from the child to the creation in the sand, thus making it easier for them to discuss the dream, and any issues or problems that may go along with it. In the first step of the process, the therapist’s goal was to get a firm idea of the world of the dream, asking the child very specific questions about the objects that they had created within the sandtray. At that point, the therapist would ask questions about what happened between certain objects. In the next step, the therapist would ask the child about how certain objects made them feel. The therapist would try to follow along in a way that mimicked the child’s feelings, for example, telling the child about things that they saw with them when they were talking about a certain object. The goal of this portion of the phase was to take notice of how the child felt toward certain triggers. Step three involves the therapist and child trying to figure out what the child sees or imagines when he is presented with a specific object from the set. The hoped to use this step to discover hidden meanings with objects, and how they may be associated with other experiences that th e child may have had. Step four is about examining any possible events that could be in some way linked to the formulation of the dream. Swan and Schottelkorb say that the therapist may need to ask questions in a more solid way to get the specific responses required based on the issue of determining specific triggers for past or present memories. The final step is about reflection, or trying to piece all of the information together. The therapist may ask the child some questions about how they feel about what the dream means, allowing the child to come to terms with the dream as well. The final phase of the study was the postprocessing phase, in which the main goal was to determine the ultimate meaning behind the dream. The therapist asked the child to create a title for the sandtray creation. They hope that this title would help to create a single idea for the meaning of the dream. The child was then asked to create a phrase to sum up how they discovered the meaning of the dream. They make it clear that a picture should be taken of all of the dream scenes to monitor the therapeutic process. They also caution against resetting the dream scene in the sandtray until the child leaves, as it may serve as an extension of the unconscious. Swan and Schottelkorb note one particular case in which a ten year old patient by the name of Mary was subjected to this form of therapy. Mary’s mother had brought her in to therapy because she was worried about Mary being abnormally anxious and sad. The therapist used the sandtray process to uncover the meanings behind a dream that Mary had involving an attacking clock, a fighting wolf, and a protective dog. Through the process, Mary and the therapist were able to determine that she was having these feelings of sadness and anxiety because of her parent’s recent divorce. After the session was over, Mary revealed that she was now feeling more at ease with everything. Swan and Schottelkorb note that the sandtray method used in this instance seemed to activate a healing process for the patient. They end their study by stating that dream based therapy may prove useful for children experiencing emotional difficulties, but where there is no official evidence on the specific type of therapy, counselors should make sure that they obtain full consent before using the method.

African American President Essay

Between the two articles; â€Å"Hell Yeah, There’s Still Slam-Banging Black Music† by Greg Tate and â€Å"Starting Now, There Is No Such Thing as Black Music† by Cord Jefferson, they are basically discussing the beginning times of when Black Music came about and how it became labeled Black Music. Also how there should be no such thing as Black Music due to certain circumstance. Going back to when Black Music first became labeled Black Music and thinking about all the important Black leader who stood up for their rights and some who accomplished successful things that were once thought could only be accomplished by the Whites, I believe Black Music being labeled Black Music should stay the same. I also think whether to be considered Black Music or not, it will always be up to ones decision on what they consider the type of music they listen to no matter what anyone else says. What is labeled Black Music today I think has very significant and important meaning to the African American culture because just like the article â€Å"Hell Yeah, There’s Still Slam-banging Black Music,† African Americans don’t even have a country to call their own. I think having something simply as a type of music the Black’s created to call their own I don’t think should be a big deal at all and should not be changed. The article also mentioned that everything Black’s did back then became a beauty, especially their music which I think would be easy for anyone to see just knowing the history of African Americans and what they had to do just to be where they are today, slave and discrimination free. There is also plenty of successful African Americans we know about living today and from back then that went through a lot just have some recognition for the African American culture. Some of these successful African Americans not only include Musicians, but also actress and or performers, novel writers, business owners, and today a African American President. I do believe there is a such thing as Black Music simply because the music portrayed as Black Music is still continued today as well as when it first started. In the article by Cord Jefferson, he’s trying to compare basketball to the matter calling it a White’s sport because it first being played by White males, but it wouldn’t make sense being called a White’s sports today when today it’s played by many different races other than White males. Not saying that there aren’t non-Black people recording what we as Americans consider Black Music, but the larger majority of artist recording what’s labeled as Black Music today are African Americans. That’s basically how it’s been since the beginning start of Black Music and that’s how I believe it will stay.

Coffee Industry Essay

From the discovery of small, brightly colored red berries on trees in Ethiopia came the largest imported commodity in the world, second only to oil. The coffee bean provides a livelihood for over 20 million people worldwide with an estimated worldwide retail sales expected to grow by a compounded rate of 6. 9% from 2005-2010, reaching $48. 2 billion by 2010, according to The U. S. Market for Coffee and Ready-to-Drink Coffee. [1] The two main species of coffee beans are Arabica and Robusta. Arabica is a high-quality coffee typically grown at higher elevations where the optimal climatic conditions necessary to grow this specialty grade of coffee are found. Arabica coffee is traded in two ways: ? On the highly volatile New York â€Å"C† market where the â€Å"C† price is affected by the global supply as it rises and falls. The average â€Å"C† price for a pound of coffee during fiscal 2005 was $1. 04. ? Higher-quality Arabica beans are used in specialty coffee. Specialty coffee represents 10 percent of the total worldwide coffee market. Prices for specialty coffee are higher than the â€Å"C† offers in order to provide better rates payable to producing farmers for quality. [2] According to the National Coffee Association in Volume 2005. 4 of Coffee Trax, as of December 2005, forecasts for the world coffee production for 2005-2006 will be 113. 1 million bags. Production is down 5. 5% over the actual 2004-2005 yields of 119. 8 million bags. Domestic consumption in producing countries in 2005-2006 is forecast to increase to 31. 2 million bags, indicating domestic use should be 9. 9% higher in 2005/06 than in 2004/05. Using the most current data, world coffee consumption for 2003/04 was 96. 5 million bags, up by 1. 8% over 2002/03’s production. â€Å"In 1999 there were 108,000,000 coffee consumers in the United States spending an approximated 9. 2 billion dollars in the retail sector and 8. 7 billion dollars in the foodservice sector every year (SCAA 1999 Market Report). It can be inferred, therefore, that coffee drinkers spend on average $164. 71 per year on coffee. The National Coffee Association found in 2000 that 54% of the adult population of the United States drinks coffee daily (NCA Coffee Drinking Trends Survey, 2000). They also reported that 18. 12% of the coffee drinkers in the United States drink gourmet coffee beverages daily (NCA). In addition to the 54% who drink coffee everyday, 25% of Americans drink coffee occasionally (NCA). The average consumption per capita in the United States is around 4. 4 Kg. Among coffee drinkers (i. e. not per capita) the average consumption in the United States is 3. 1 cups of coffee per day (NCA). Per capita men drink approximately 1. 9 cups per day, whereas women drink an average of 1. 4 cups of coffee a day (NCA). The USDA’s 2005/2006 December estimate for world exportable production is 82.0 million bags which is 10. 2% lower than 2004/05. Total U. S. imports were down 15% for the second to third quarter of 2005. Estimated roastings for the third quarter of 2005 were up to 4. 7 million bags compared to the second quarter but down by 5. 8% for the year-ago quarter. [3] Retail prices were up from $3. 33 to $3. 40 for the average quarterly retail price of a pound of roast-and-ground coffee or 2. 1% after comparing the third-quarter 2005 to the second quarter. Compared to the year-ago quarter, average retail prices were up by 18. 1%, moving to $3. 40 from $2. 88. The average monthly retail price continues to be 20. 8% below its seven-year high of $4. 67 in August 1997. [1] Fair Trade coffee is beginning to affect the economics of the coffee industry. Coffee retailers to help maintain a sustainable supply of coffee are increasingly adopting the Fair Trade movement. Over the years a coffee crisis has developed as supply has greatly exceeded demand. This paradox of continued growth of retail pricing at the expense of the small coffee farmers has driven retailers like Starbucks to create their own methods of providing higher profits to producing farms so that supply can be maintained. Under a Fair Trade agreement producers are guaranteed a fair price consisting of a floor price of $1. 26 per pound and $1. 41 for certified organic coffee. [2] From 2002 to 2004, USAID invested over $57 million on coffee projects in over 18 countries in Latin America, East Africa and Asia in an effort to create sustainable supplies of coffee. Other movements such as Organic and Shade Tree coffee have had similar goals to help with environmental and quality concerns on the producing farms. [4] Coffee consumers are continuing to show a preference for premium coffees. While most brands have declined in sales during the past year, premium coffees have managed growth, according to data from Information Resources Inc. , which measures sales through supermarkets; drug stores and mass merchandise outlets. Ground coffees lost 1. 8 percent of sales for a category total of $1. 6 billion, but whole bean coffees were up 2. 2 percent. Starbucks grew in both segments, with a 13. 2 percent increase in ground coffee sales and 6. 4 percent in whole bean sales. [5] Retailers such as Starbucks in the specialty coffees use the highest-quality Arabica. Specialty coffee is a broad category of coffee positioned as the highest quality and/or roasted with the ideal techniques or even coffee from particular plantations. â€Å"Even though the overall U. S. coffee market has been sluggish lately, the specialty component has seen significant growth, with retail dollar sales approaching $9 billion in 2003. The segment’s sales in 2003 represented growth of 6. 7 percent over 2002’s $8. 4 billion. In 2003, coffee cafes – the approximately 11,240 retail locations including seating, such as most Starbuck’s outlets – generated $6. 1 billion in retail sales, or 68. 3 percent of the segment’s total. Coffee bean roasters and retailers – the 1,350 sites with on-premise roasting – accounted for 14 percent of sales with $1. 3 billion. Coffee retailers without seating, also known as kiosks, had sales of $810 million, which represented 9. 0 percent of the total. There were approximately 2,700 coffee kiosks operating in 2003. Mobile retailers (i. e. , carts) accounted for an additional 3. 2 percent of sales, with all other channels responsible for the rest. † [6] Driving Forces in the Coffee Industry Competitive and industry conditions experience change due to the forces that are pressuring industry participants to alter their actions. Competitors, customers, or suppliers are enticed to change their ways. Those with the biggest influence on industry structure and the competitive industry environment are driving forces. The coffee industry has four driving forces that originate in the industrial and competitive environment. A change in who buys the product and how they use it is one of the four driving forces in the coffee industry. Shifts in buyer demographics and the way consumers use the product have altered the competition for this industry. The variation has prompted producers to broaden the product line and try different sales and promotion approaches. Changing societal concerns, attitudes, and lifestyles is the other driving force that ties in with the customer base and usage. Society is changing, with the new generations being a huge influence. Parents, a huge factor in the lifestyle, attitudes, and opinions of their children, drink coffee and are, thus, promoting coffee to the offspring. These young persons are looking for caffeine to keep them going through their increasingly busy days. At age 13, who knew that coffee was needed to add to their ever-so hyper lives? Coffee is established as a drink older people consume. Young people are always aspiring to be older than they are, so coffee is marketed in a different way to the younger generations as specialty coffee and gourmet beverages. Marketing these drinks as â€Å"cool† and â€Å"hip† is also a successful method of attraction. Establishing loyalty early while coffee drinkers are young will ensure a prospective future for this industry. In addition, the use of coffee has changed over the years. Coffee was first marketed as a breakfast drink for the working parent to get a boost of energy for the day. As more women started joining the workforce, the coffee consumption increased. Throughout the years, an increasing amount of people started drinking coffee more frequently throughout the day. Today, it is not uncommon to see a person drinking a gourmet coffee drink at 10:00 p. m. , as well as anytime throughout the day. Whenever you need that caffeine-boosted beverage or just want that coffee bean taste most love, consumers now can look for multiple types of coffee drinks to satisfy the craving. Growing buyer preferences for differentiated products instead of standardized is the driving force that allows the product innovation to take lead in this industry. Due to consumers demand for something different, companies in this industry needed to expand current products to fit customer needs and wants. The success of product innovation of introducing coffee drinks and coffee flavors, made the choices for consumers grow. Consumers wanted more flavor and excitement, instead of the regular or decaffeinated options. During the hot summer months, many coffee lovers wanted the taste of coffee but were not fond of drinking a hot drink. Iced coffee drinks helped to solve that problem. Now, people can drink coffee anytime of the year. Many consumers do not just drink coffee in the morning, like the generations before; meetings, study sessions, hanging out, talking amongst old friends and other events are all done through coffee drinking. Due to the buyer influences, the coffee industry has grown in all directions and continues to see a future with innovation and other driving forces helping it along the way. Lastly, product innovation is a driving force that has allowed the coffee industry to grow. The competitive environment is fierce and product innovation is one of the key driving forces to stay on top of the industry’s market share. Coffee drinks were developed as an anytime coffee drink. Such drinks are Espressos, Cappuccinos, Frappaccinos, Lattes, and Mochas. Whether a consumer likes it hot or cold is no difference now; iced coffee is for those that do not feel like a hot cup. Black, White, Irish, Turkish and Americano are also other types of coffee to choose from. Flavored coffee is a pillar innovation to this product category allowing different consumers’ taste buds to run wild. Chocolate covered coffee beans are another innovation that expands the use of coffee in a nontraditional way, a snack. This industry growth has also allowed companies the opportunity to promote to different consumer markets. Young and old purchasers, people that like hot or cold coffee, and those that like a coffee drink in the morning or evening are all targeted now that the product lines have broadened the scope of the industry. Product innovation has helped consumers’ differentiation issues, along with allowing them to drink it anytime of day they need an extra tasty boost of energy. In order to stay on top of the competitive environment in this industry, a company has to accept the driving forces and make each one positive for the company in the long run. The following driving forces are influencing the coffee industry: change in who buys the product and how they use it; changing societal concerns, attitudes, and lifestyles; growing buyer preferences for differentiated products instead of standardized ones; and product innovation. Each of these driving forces increases the competition in the industry. The increased demand for products, especially the new innovated ones, is an opportunity for profitability as well. Because of the innovation, many people are expecting choices for the long run; the companies that offer the products consumers want will prosper. Competitive Analysis of the Coffee Industry Although there are many substitutes for coffee when it is regarded as nothing more than a liquid to drink, most people would agree that there are relatively few that would be considered viable substitutes to dedicated coffee drinkers. Historically, teas have been the greatest rival substitute for coffee, and just as there are specialty coffees, there are specialty teas as well. The key to coffee substitutes being successful in luring coffee drinkers over to their products is differentiation. While tea alone may be substantially differentiated from coffee, a dedicated coffee drinker will need some sort of hook, or angle, to get them to try something different. Often this angle comes in the form of a doctor telling them to cut back on caffeine or to stay away from coffee altogether. According to About. com the top five coffee substitutes are: 1. )Roastaroma ? a tea â€Å"blend of roasted barley, roasted chicory root, and roasted carob, with spices cinnamon, allspice, and star anise. † 2. )Genmaicha ? a â€Å"green tea with roasted brown rice. † 3. )Teechino ? â€Å"made from roasted carob, roasted barley, and roasted chicory† containing â€Å"figs, almonds, and dates. † 4. )Cafix ? â€Å"a freeze-dried grain drink made from barley and chicory. † This drink is non-acidic and does not contain caffeine. 5. )Pero ? â€Å"made from malted barley, chicory, and rye. † Although coffee substitutes are readily available and reasonably priced, traditional coffee drinkers are usually dedicated to coffee in general, if not one particular brand. Therefore, buyers tend to view substitutes as not adequately comparable alternatives. One of the coffee industry’s greatest attributes is the loyalty of their customers. Buyers of coffee can be broken down into two groups; individuals and businesses. An individual coffee drinker will have little or no real power to influence the industry or a particular seller beyond switching brands. The switching costs of individuals are virtually nothing; therefore they can move between brands whenever they are dissatisfied with quality or price. Business buyers such as restaurant chains, hotel chains, convenience stores, and supermarket chains have considerably more power than an individual buyer. This is simply due to economies of scale where a restaurant chain purchasing several thousand pounds a week will have more influence on a supplier than an individual buying one or two pounds per month. Supermarket chains are in a strong position as well, as they can offer as much or as little shelf space as they want. They can also switch brands on shelf space, virtually without cost, to replace poor selling brands with other brands, which may have a higher sales rate. Therefore buyer power depends upon the quantity bought, as with many industries. The power of buyers may range from weak to strong or even fierce. The threat of new entrants into the coffee industry is somewhat strong. While entrants into large markets may not be many, the entry of small shops in local markets offering specialty coffees has grown rapidly in the last several years. Entrants into the specialty coffee arena have been lured in by rising demand of such coffee and attractive profit margins. While these local shops will not be able to compete with large corporations such as Kraft, Proctor & Gamble, or Starbuck’s on an international basis, they can account for some competition in local, concentrated markets by offering a niche; an alternative to corporate retailers with a less personable and hospitable atmosphere. Retailers such as these tend to do well in more rural areas where major corporations may not wish to enter, or in areas where collegiate or more naturalistic atmospheres prevail. These areas may be less inclined to cater to large corporations. New entrants into the coffee industry are also faced with the obstacle of overcoming name brand loyalties. Although in some small specialty coffee markets a new brand with a unique name or style may do well, in most arenas coffee drinkers are extremely loyal to their brands when they are purchasing for home consumption. These buyers are not likely to switch brands for superficial reasons. The competitive pressure from suppliers is relatively weak in the coffee industry. The individual coffee bean farmers have little control over the price of the coffee they sell. The worldwide market has little fluctuations and any that may occur have little effect on any one particular farm. Recently world coffee supply has been exceeding demand, which has taken even more power away from the suppliers who must compete with growers from around the world. The futures market provides security to firms purchasing beans from governments. By buying these futures contracts the company is promising to buy a certain amount of coffee at a stated price no matter what the overall market price may be at the time. The government selling the contracts is promising to provide the amount of coffee stated to the buyer at the stated price regardless of the current market price. Governments also have a role in determining supply as they can set regulations governing the number of trees that are planted, provide price subsidizing for farmers, and impose tariffs. Furthermore, the price of coffee beans has not been increasing at the same rate as the price of your average cup at a specialty shop, or as fast as inflation. In January of 1996 the price of coffee beans was $1. 02 per pound [7]. Ten years later in January of 2006 the price has only increased to $1. 17 per pound, an increase of 14. 12% [7]. In the same period inflation had risen approximately 25. 3% [8]. Rivalry in the coffee industry among competing sellers is vigorous. Although the overall market for coffee grew fast in the late 1990’s, especially regarding the specialty coffee markets, it has leveled off some in the last few years and the overall demand is growing slowly. Another reason for the high level of competitiveness within the industry is due to the relatively low differentiation ability of coffee. While specialty coffees derive some level of differentiation from region of growth or roasting methods, the overall product is fairly standardized. This leads to increase jockeying for position among existing firms, as they cannot lure customers in with a variety of unique products. Some firms however are attempting to lure customers in with new products such as Folgers’ Home Cafe system, which is a one-cup pressure-brewing system. These devices use â€Å"pods,† or individually packaged coffee for single serve applications. Other companies have also been marketing individually packaged coffee so that consumers can make a â€Å"perfect cup† every time. The switching costs of buyers are also very low, if not non-existent. Buyers only have to purchase a different brand in order to switch. While some businesses may have to replace equipment if they switch brands, a business of large purchasing capacity will likely have equipment provided for them by their coffee bean supplier. The recent surge in specialty coffee brands has increased rivalry among existing firms. As companies such as Starbuck’s have grown and acquired market share, companies such as Kraft, Proctor & Gamble, and Nestle have had to increase advertising and create new specialty coffees of their own in order to compete. â€Å"Sales of specialty coffee were $10 Billion in October of 2005 and expected to rise at a rate of 7% annually, while sales of traditional brands have been falling. † [9] Over the past two years Maxwell House has seen a decline of $75 Million in supermarket sales alone. † [9] Furthermore, companies like Starbuck’s have been acquiring smaller companies and thereby growing in market share and sales. This has been done to such an extent to make them comparable to big firms such as Kraft and Proctor & Gamble who compete in various markets with multiple products. This has increased rivalry among these firms as they struggle to maintain their market share. Key Success Factors in the Coffee Industry Coffee drinkers are becoming interested in the type of coffee they drink, people who want specialty chocolates and wines want specialty coffee. Specialty coffee is label â€Å"gourmet† or â€Å"premium† coffee. The specialty coffee bean comes form rare locations and is 100% from that origin; that means no mixing with another bean. People want to know the beans country of origin and if the bean is a blend or a single-origin. Coffee originates from a variety of places like South America, Africa, Middle and Far East, and Jamaica. The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) said people want specialty coffee because of its superior coffee, â€Å"People want things to taste good and clean and no longer want cheap coffee. † The SCAA reported that 15% of American adults drink specialty coffee an increase from 6% points over 2000. According to Mintel International Group, saw producers who specialize in coffee rise, Procter and Gamble’s Millstone premium brand increased 37. 5% and Starbucks rose 23% between 2001 and 2003 (Chater, 2005). Along with specialty coffee is flavored coffee, which is increasing popular. Flavored coffee ranges from Cherry Vanilla with Pecans and Cashews, Orange Cappuccino, or even Hazelnut. The SCAA claims flavor coffee will continue to grow in the total market share. The Motley Fool Stock exchange reported that the 7-Eleven saw 5% of sales come from coffee products like the Slurpee with flavors Cherry Creme and Vanilla Nut. The Black Mountain Gold Coffee (BMG) offers its flavor coffee through Amazon. com and it is their number one flavor; Cinnamon Crumb Cake-flavor coffee became so popular that Albertsons in Texas included the brand inside the store (Friedman, 2004). The United States is the largest base of coffee drinkers and the second largest importer of coffee (Packed Facts, 2003). Therefore, it is evident that coffee is popular drink. Coffee is sold in airplanes, office buildings, hotel rooms, train terminals, schools, and grocery stores. Some grocery stores even offer coffee to drink while shopping. It is good having these locations offer coffee because it stimulates more coffee being drunk and later more purchases. It is also a good way to get non-coffee drinkers to try coffee and turn them into coffee drinkers. Coffee is sold in most stores, and even on the Internet. Having coffee sold in a variety of places ensures the consumers have easy access to purchase the product. Locations benefit by selling coffee because usually when coffee is being bought customers have a tendency to buy other products such as, milk, cream, sugar, or a mug. Numerous studies are indicting coffee can offer health benefits. It would be beneficial for the coffee industry to further these studies and use as a selling tool. The coffee bean is a plant base food, therefore offers rich antioxidants more so than broccoli and blueberries. These antioxidants can help prevent cancers, Parkinson disease, gallstones, and used for an antidepressant. Other nutrients inside coffee like potassium, niacin, magnesium, and chlorogenic acids can possibility help reduce diabetes (McAuliffe, 2005). Cautious coffee drinkers are concerned with how coffee effects the environment and farmers. Sun-grown coffee, uses fertilizers and pesticides, and contributes to deforestation; shade-grown is grown beneath a canopy of trees while preserving the forest. Organic coffee has increased 54% in 2005 through Nov 6, while non-organic coffee increased 8. 5%. Coffee drinkers want to be reassured that producers of coffee are treated fairly. Are farmers compensated fairly, no abuse, or child labor? Companies should be very weary of this issue because, if the source of coffee is not on good terms, if the farms are not healthy or unhappy employees than it could affect the industry in a negative way. Starbucks is a perfect example showing support to farmers by offering decent wages, and ways to help protect their asset (farms). Starbucks as teamed with the Fair Trade Certified Coffee by offering â€Å"Coffee of the Week† to bring awareness for the Fair Trade Certified Coffee. Other companies should take notice of the Fair Trade Certified Coffee, the Fair Trade Certified Coffee ensures farmers are properly compensated, health care, and economic stability of farms (Gimbl, 2005 & Chater, 2005). Overall Industry Attractiveness In order to decide if the coffee industry presents an attractive opportunity for earning good profits, it is important to base a conclusion on several factors. By drawing upon previous analysis of the intensity of competition, whether the impacts of the driving forces are positive or negative, the market positions of industry members as shown on the strategic group map, and also close examination of the industry’s key success factors an educated answer can be deduced. First, by examining the market size and growth potential the coffee industry presents a livelihood for over 20 million people worldwide with an estimated worldwide retail sales expected to grow by a compounded rate of 6. 9% from 2005-2010, reaching $48. 2 billion by 2010, according to The U. S. Market for Coffee and Ready-to-Drink Coffee [1]. Competitive forces in the industry point to growth through the development of product innovation and specializing in gourmet coffee and specialty drinks. â€Å"Sales of specialty coffee were $10 Billion in October of 2005 and expected to rise at a rate of 7% annually, while sales of traditional brands have been falling. † [9] This has increased rivalry among these firms as they struggle to maintain their market share. Competitive forces are conducive to rising industry profitability as long as companies continue to offer product innovation and stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the driving forces in the industry Degree of risk and uncertainty in industry’s future encompasses many issues. Coffee drinkers are many and are seemingly very loyal to their drink. Proof being that recently the coffee supply has been exceeding its demand, which has taken even more power away from the suppliers who must compete with growers from around the world. In addition several tentative studies show positive health benefits to coffee drinkers. With a trend in the United States to be more health conscious, the coffee industry has opportunity to capitalize on these finds. In contrast when examining the severity of problems facing the industry it is evident that although demand is growing the trend is that it is steadying off. Due to little differentiation and small increase in the price of coffee since 1996, companies have been forced to focus on increased product differentiation in areas such as specialty coffees; however, that too is steadying off in growth over the past couple of years. Possible strategic issues include customers increasingly loyal to certain brands, which possibly make it more difficult for smaller coffee companies to edge into large consumer base. Also coffee companies need to consider the growing demand of consumers in the ethical treatment of coffee workers and focus their attention to a coffee drinker who looks to drink it for its benefits and special offering in taste. Ultimately when drawing conclusions about the attractiveness of an industry, the perspective is important. It depends on the scope and breadth of a particular company. The attractiveness of the opportunities an industry presents depends heavily on whether a company has the resources and the competitive capabilities to secure them. A standard judgment of if an industry is profitable is if the industry’s overall profit prospects are above average, the industry environment is basically attractive; if industry profit prospects are below average, conditions are unattractive (Strickland III et al, 2004). However this analysis of the industry shows that the coffee industry has a strong future and to the right players offers an attractive business opportunity. Works Cited [1] 6 Mar. 2006 . [2] â€Å"Starbucks. † Starbucks, Inc.. 3 Mar. 2006 . [3] 1 Mar. 2006 . [4] 2 Mar. 2006 . [5] http://www. stagnito. com/fbr_beverage. asp [6] â€Å"Slow Roast†, John G. Rodwan Jr. NPN, National Petroleum News. Chicago: Mar 2005. Vol 97, Iss. 3; pg. 14, 1 pgs. [7] http://www. econstats. com/fut/xnyb_ew2. htm [8] Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www. bls. gov/cpi/cpi_dr. htm; Table Containing History of CPI-U U. S. All Items Indexes and Annual Percent Changes From 1913 to Present. [9] Coffee Drinkers and Their Habit, Business Week Online October 10, 2005 Marketing/Online Extra http://www.businessweek. com/magazine/content/05_41/b3954201. htm 12 Mar. 2006 Packaged Facts. â€Å"The U. S. Market for Coffee and Ready-to-Drink Coffee, 4th Edition. † (Nov 1, 2003). Packaged facts. 8 Feb 2006. < http://www. packagedfacts. com/pub/895867. html> Chater, Amanda. â€Å"SPECIALPERKS; THE BUZZ ABOUT SPECIALTY COFFEE IS ENLIVENING SALES IN AN OTHERWISE DECLINING CATEGORY. † (coffee markets). † Supermarket News (Dec 19, 2005): 41. InfoTrac OneFile. Thomson Gale. Middle Tennessee State University. 2 Feb 2006 http://find. galegroup. com/itx/infomark. do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=ITOF&docId=A140760166&source=gale&srcprod=ITOF&userGroupName=tel_middleten&version=1. 0. McAuliffe, Kathleen. â€Å"Enjoy!. † U. S. News &World Report 139. 23 (Dec 19, 2005):67-68. InfoTrac Online. Thomson Gale. Middle Tennessee State University. 2 Feb 2006 http://find. galegroup. com/itx/infomark. do? &contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodid=ITOF&docId=A139695515&source=gale&srcprod=ITOF&userGroupName=tel_middleten&version=1. 0 Friedman, Susan. â€Å"Beyond cream & sugar: savvy Retailers recognize the value of flavored coffee. † Tea & Coffee Trade Journal 176. 3 (March 2004): 30(3). InfoTrac One File. Thomson Gale. Middle Tennessee State University. 2 Feb 2006 http://find. galegroup. com/itx/infomark. do? &contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID+T002&prodId=ITOF&docId=A114819506&source=gale&srcprod=ITOF&userGroupName=tel_middleten&verson=1. 0 Introducing Starbucks Cafe Estima Blend(TM). Fair Trade Certified(TM) Coffe. Business Wire. LOAD DATE: Oct 10, 2005. 23 Feb 20006. http://www. businesswire. com/cnn/sbux. shtml Strickland III, A. J. , Arthur A. Thompson Jr. , and John E. Gamble . Strategy Core Concepts, Analytical Tools, Readings. 2nd ed. Boston: Mc-Graw-Hill Irwin, 2004.

Should you search for a job during the holiday season

Should you search for a job during the holiday season As the end of the year approaches, it gets easier to justify not doing things until later. â€Å"I’m awfully busy right now. I’ll start my diet/gym routine/job hunt in the new year, when things are calmer.† Is this reasonable logic? It is. But it may be costing you valuable job opportunities. Here are 7 reasons you should consider making a job search part of your holiday festivities this year.7 reasons to start your job search during the holidaysHiring is year-roundThe end of the year is no different than any other time of year: people leave jobs, and those jobs need to be filled. Or, companies are looking ahead to the new year and want to have staff in place as soon as possible after the ball drops in Times Square. The hiring keeps buzzing along, holidays or not.There’s less competitionWhile others are out waiting in line doing their last-minute shopping or putting stamps on 549 holiday cards, there are fewer people focused on job searches. In the new yea r, there are likely to be hordes of other people seeking out job listings and ads, while openings that pop up in December go under the radar. If you’re keeping an eye out for a new job opportunity while most other people are focusing on other things, you could have an advantage.You can think short-term and long-termMany places hire seasonal staff to get through the holidays. But that temporary gig could turn into a permanent one. You’re already in place, you have the skills they want, and now you have a toe in the door. This makes you a great candidate when a more permanent job opens up.You can look now, but start laterBecause many companies are looking ahead to staffing needs in January and February, it may be that the job you’re applying for now may not even start until after the holidays. But if you wait until January to put those feelers out, it may already be too late to score those upcoming jobs.The holidays have built-in networking opportunitiesWhat bette r time of year is there to say, â€Å"Let’s go out and grab a holiday drink† or write, â€Å"It’s been a while, and I’d love to catch up with you† in a holiday card. The holidays are a time when people get sentimental about relationships and feel a little extra social. You never know what opportunities can pop up if you put a little extra work into networking this time of year.Holiday vacation isn’t necessarily off the tableOne of the biggest concerns about job hunting during the holidays is, â€Å"What if I get it and can’t accommodate my existing holiday plans?† If you have a non-refundable flight over the holidays and your new job offer comes with a non-negotiable start date the day before you’re scheduled to travel†¦ well, that might not be the right opportunity for you. But some companies are willing to negotiate a start date- say, January 2.Extra money comes in handy this time of yearA new job often comes with a bump in pay, and for many people, this is a time of year fraught with extra expenses and indulgences. Sticking with your job search during the holidays could be a bonus if you score a new job and a pay raise right before all those credit card bills come due.The holiday season may feel like a time you should be focusing on the personal over the professional, but if you put in time and effort into the job hunt while others are putting theirs on hold, you could find great opportunities.

buy custom Computing Resources essay

buy custom Computing Resources essay While cloud computing provides a reliable means to support remote and ensure an effective on demand access to computing resources, its impromptu management creates significant challenges to scalability, dependability, economical costs and performance of the cloud services. Hence the Service Level Agreement (SLA) and the Quality of Service (QoS) will be the distinguishing element between the cloud computing environments. Conversely, service constituents and the cloud elasticity that bring about cloud computing make the management of cloud significantly challenging. The proposed PhD project intends to investigate novel procedures for scalable and competent provisioning of the cloud, whilst assuring dependability and reducing costs. The project will therefore study a ground-breaking approach that puts together the control theory procedures with the distributed algorithms so as to generate self-elastic clouds. Control laws, novel models and distributed algorithms will consequently be pro posed for automatic provisioning, configuration and employment of cloud services so as to meet the requirements for SLA, while dealing with dynamics and scalability issues. The urgency for data storage has resulted from the need for constant memory or information. The continuous demand for data access has led to the development of numerous methods for managing and organizing it. The advancement from data processing to user utilization has led to substitutions in the way raw data is organized and searched. This explosive increase of unstructured data brings challenges in the scalability, dependability and performance of the wed services. Cloud is up-and-coming as an occurrence and it is booming at the convergence of several tendencies in the software engineering. Service based architecture, internet oriented and virtualization applications have rapidly developed in the past few years. Following this, cloud is proving to be the next major step in this field. This is because; it several tasks can be performed through a specific network services. Within this relatively short time, various web services have been on use for cloud computing. Some of these incl ude; the software as a service, platform as a service, and platform as a service among others. Nevertheless, debates have been boiling up on how the cloud can be improved so as to ensure quality and cheap services. Service Level Agreement (SLA) is one way of ensuring scalability, dependability and availability of web services to the consumers. The unspoken demand to eradicate the loss and unavailability of data has triggered the development of exceedingly avalable and reliable storage structures. In addition to this, the need for cheap web services has resulted to the development of advanced devices and systems for storage. With this in mind, there is need to innovate more reliable models and techniques that will improve the scalability and dependability of data. Research Question I: Novel models and distributed algorithms have not been efficient in the provisioning, configuration and employment of cloud services Research Question II: There have never been algorithms that are scalable for the minimization of web service cost thus data retrieval is relatively expensive. The storage and retrieval of information is a systematic procedure that encompasses the collection and cataloging of data so that it can easily be located and recovered on request. Advanced information processing techniques have made the speedy and careful retrieval of large amounts of data possible. Database schemes can store data in the form of distinct records that can be explored and retrieved based on the content of their fields. However, the volume of data has swiftly been on constant increase in the past few years. Whilst computer technology has to a greater extent encouraged the growth of information, its rapid growth has posed a challenge on the storage and retrieval. In the past, several kinds of data handling databases have been developed including the relational network models but they still have their own shortages despite the fact that they have been improved. In addition, most of the data is currently in unstructured format thus it can not be properly managed by the an cient models. Therefore there is need for invention of advanced protocols that will work towards scalable and dependable computing in the cloud for unstructured data. Qian, Tipper Krishnamurthy (1) have supported the idea that the advanced computer technology has brought about multifaceted problems that have continually posed a threat on the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data. Several researchers have described data confidentiality as the general term that has been used in the prevention of data from exposure to systems or individuals that are not permitted. Integrity on the other hand has been described as protection of data to the extent that it can not be altered without permission while the purpose of availability is to ensure that data is easily accessible when needed (2). Horton Mugge (3) have provided dependable tips that help IT scholars to deliver convenient hacking and protection architecture solutions as well as how to use effectivee and advanced security equipment. Tlhong and Reeve in (4) have described a Service Level Agreement (SLA) that is based on Service Level Agreement Language (SLAng). In their work, they have successful analyzed SLAs and provided an inspiration for automating and modeling of SLAs modeling. Research has been done on the concepts and techniques that have been on use for the retrieval of information that has been hidden in huge data storage devices. Special focus has been put on the issues concerning the convenience, achievability, efficiency and scalability of the data (5). Hill (8), goes ahead into explaining the key objectives of unstructured data protection which include; integrity, confidentiality and availability. Research has shown that machine decipherable SLAs are effective in improving the levels of computerization in the management of SLA thus reducing possible violations (4). Web services have been greatly expanding over the past years and this rate is expected to increase in the coming years and to ensure that unstructured data is safe and well secured, apposite access-control techniques need to be enforced (6). Photopoulos (7) also supports the idea that a multi-tiered move toward security of unstructured data, coupled with appropriate strategies and clear a ccess control is necessary. Like many other researchers, Qian, Tipper Krishnamurthy (1) have also acknowledged that the advanced technology has resulted to complex problems that continue to intimidate the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of unstructured information. Their work has also strived in providing an inclusive exposure of security procedures and survivability as well as determining how these two apparatus work together to construct a vigorous and reliable Information Assurance. The prominence of internet-based and rich media applications has led to the sudden increase of unstructured data that in turn require secure and more reliable storage and retrieval solutions (13). Thuraisingham (12) asserts that applications that involve video processing, rendering of animation, audio, complex websites coupled with the aptitude to easily create digital information from hand phones and other devices has greatly contributed to the burdens of storage capacities. Unlike structured data, unstructured dat a is formless and includes PDF files, slide decks, videos, web pages, images, MP4 and Mp3 files and word documents among others (12). The storage and retrieval of data, both structured and unstructured is the whole process that involves the collection and recording of data so as to make it available to the users on request (9). Buy custom Computing Resources essay