Evaluating A Companys Resources and competitive position

Introduction It is important to evaluate a company’s position in the market. There are four most common areas used to analyze a company: strengths, weakness, opportunity, and threats (SWOT). Carrying out a SWOT analysis on a company makes it possible to evaluate the progress that the company is making.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Evaluating A Company’s Resources and competitive position specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Evaluation should be done from a qualitative perspective such as evaluation of completeness, internal consistency, rationale and suitability. More so, the quantitative point of view should also be put into consideration, including the strategic and financial outcomes for the company (Sanchez Heene, 2010). Evaluation of an organization is important because it shows whether an organization’s competitive capabilities and core competencies are strategically relevant. Thes e are most logical and appealing building blocks for companies. Most of the companies use resource-based strategies to exploit company resources in ways that offer value to their customers. The best and most potent strategies are those which are competitively rare, hard to imitate and hard to be trumped by substitute resources. A good strategy to size up a company’s resource strength is through carrying out a SWOT analysis. It is powerful in determining the company’s strengths and competitive deficiencies, opportunities and other external threats thus making it possible to find ways of empowering its future (Thompson et al., 2010). This paper will conduct a SWOT analysis for Apple Inc. It will also investigate the core and distinctive competencies of RIM which makes Blackberry mobile phones. It will discuss the resources and core competencies of Dell and lastly identify why competitors find it difficult to imitate Dell’s direct sales model given that its product s are based on standard industry technology. The SWOT Analysis of Apple Inc There are various activities, which add value and competitive advantages to Apple Inc. However, the value, rarity, inimitability and organization (VRIO) of an activity or resource determines its sustainability. SWOT analysis refers to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of a firm, in this context, Apple Inc. According to the case study, some of the Apple Inc. strength includes the stability and user friendly product lines. Its technical savvy is one of its kinds. Arguably, Apple Inc. makes and sells iPod music players ranked among the best technological devices of the time. iPod is based on propriety standards and retailed through Apple’s retail stores (Huzefa et al., 2009).Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Strength Its strengths include its ability and willingness to have a diverse customer base together with its progressed technical expertise; an illustration of this is the recent integration of Microsoft’s products lines with those of Intel processors. Secondly, its financial strength which makes it remains robust and stable even when the global market is stagnating. It does so by reducing costs and integrating product packages as well as participating in strategic alliances such as the iTunes. The firm has strength in its brand loyalty. Apple Inc. has brand loyalty, which is extremely costly and one which cannot be imitated (Huzefa et al., 2009). Weakness One major weakness of Apple Inc was the departure of Steve Jobs. He had been in the limelight as a single player in the minds and eyes of consumers and shareholders. The company had continuously exploited his rare and valuable resource to yield positive earnings to the shareholders. The market share of Apple Inc. can also be viewed as a weakness of the company. Apple Inc. geographical mar ket is described to be concentrated in the U.S. and its products are mostly for the learned (Huzefa et al., 2009). Opportunities Opportunities for Apple Inc. include the market growth for PC hardware and software. The introduction of Intel based processers has grown into the businesses replacing PC with iMacs. This move was to tighten the loop holes concerning stability and reliability, which lacked in PC. iMacs have gained popularity, especially in the banking sector, foe example, Japan’s Aozora Bank Ltd replaced 2,300 PCs with iMacs. Another opportunity is customer electronics. Apple Inc. expanded its market through the iTunes concepts of downloadable mobile phone features and movies. This has opened doors to build strategic alliances with manufacturers such as transmission giants like Disney amongst others (Huzefa et al., 2009). Threats Threats include the legal risks, especially when considering the fact that patent, infringement and copy rights can easily be violated by rival companies. This is so because it is easy to imitate support software. Other threats include competition, especially in two areas: the areas include the competition from the PC hardware/software and from consumer electronics. More so, with the relative increase of newcomers in the consumer arena, it might be hard for the firm to sustain its competitive advantage (Huzefa et al., 2009). The Core Competence and Distinctive Competence of RIM The Introduction of Blackberry by RIM was viewed as a simple idea. However, its popularity spread more than wild fire. The product was appealing with the innovation of such a small device compacted by vast wireless options and a cute Keyboard, which resulted to addiction by most of its users. Currently, the company estimates to have more than 400, 000 users.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Evaluating A Company’s Resources and competitive position specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The dynamic growth for 14 years of its product existence is attributed to its strategies, which hold the firm in a position. It has a large market share and has added value of branding associated to the capabilities of the Blackberry phones. The company also lays its focus on its rivals to protect their patents and has made strategic alliances, for instance, with Nokia. According to the SWOT analysis, the internal strength includes the diverse distribution channels and the vast joint ventures with service providers. It also has strong RD team that is well acquainted and generative of high valuable innovative ideas. The weaknesses of RIM include the reduced projects, which act as the backup of the star projects. Some of its external threats include the competitiveness and the numerous law suits associated with it. However, the firm stands in a good position to get into the fast market, especially with their appealing products. This may result to global expansion and brand loyalty, which will be its core competencies (Hamad, Lawson Radi, 2002). The Resources and Core Competencies of Dell Core competences refer to all capabilities which are critical to make a business attain a competitive advantage. The competencies are dynamic; changing in response to the changes in the costumers’ demands and in the company’s environment. The key core competencies of Dell include the clear and well defined brand position focused to defined customers. Their competencies are of fundamental consumer benefits, making consumers to have brand loyalty such that they are willing to pay more for the product. They are also competitively unique, making them difficult for the competitors to imitate. The core competencies of Dell include its reduction of capital cost during the manufacturing processes with highly quality products being manufactured. Its direct model chain, its unrivalled expertise in logistic and supply-chain management also form part of the core competencies (Internal Situation Analysis, 2010). The Difficulty in imitating Dell’s direct sales model A firm’s competitiveness requires tight fit with the internal competitiveness and exploitation of resources that are competitively valuable; this is rare and is hard to copy by competitors. According to Internal Situation Analysis, â€Å"companies pursue resource-based strategies that attempt to exploit company resources in a way that offers value to customers in ways rivals are unable to match† (Internal Situation Analysis, 2010, p. 1).Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For example, over a decade, Dell invested its time and finance into cultivating a relationship with its main suppliers. This has rendered unmatched supply chain capabilities. It has also made Dell plants operate with only several hours of order’s placement for various parts and components because their suppliers can access Dell’s daily production schedule. Another reason is its direct sales model, which makes Dell products to be relatively cheaper than those of its rivals (Internal Situation Analysis, 2010). Conclusion SWOT analysis is widely used to gauge the stability of a company. By carrying out a SWOT analysis of a company it becomes possible to identify the areas where structuring needs to be carried out in order to improve the competitiveness of a company. The analysis also points out the areas where a company has opportunities, which can be capitalized on. Core competencies are competitive advantages that a company has. Core competencies should be capitalized o n to give a company a competitive edge in marketing. References Hamad, C., Lawson, D., Radi, T. (2002). Hi-tech strategy Formulation Research in Motion. CATA Alliance. Retrieved from https://cata.ca/ Huzefa et al. (2009). A strategic analysis of Apple Corporation. Scribd. Retrieved from: Internal Situation Analysis. (2010). Evaluating a Company’s Resources, Cost Position, and competitive strength. Highered McGraw. Retrieved from https://scribd.com/doc/11983566/A-Strategic-Analysis-of-Apple-Corporation Sanchez, R., Heeene, A. (2010). A focused issue on identifying, building and linking competences. Emerald Group Publishing. New York, NY: Emerald Group Publishing. Thompson et al. (2010). Crafting and executing strategy: The quest for competitive advantage: Concepts and Cases. New York, NY: McGraw Hills companies, Inc. This term paper on Evaluating A Company’s Resources and competitive position was written and submitted by user Akemi to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Mackinders Heartland Theory

Mackinders Heartland Theory Sir Halford John Mackinder was a British geographer who wrote a paper in 1904 called The Geographical Pivot of History. Mackinders paper suggested that the control of Eastern Europe was vital to control of the world.  Mackinder postulated the following, which became known as the Heartland Theory: Who rules Eastern Europe commands the HeartlandWho rules the Heartland commands the World IslandWho rules the World Island commands the world The heartland he also referred to as the pivot area and as the core of Eurasia, and he considered all of Europe and Asia as the World Island.   In the age of modern warfare, Mackinders theory is widely considered outdated. At  the time he proposed his theory, he  took into consideration world history only in the context of conflict between land and sea powers. Nations with large navies were at an advantage over those that could not successfully navigate the oceans, Mackinder suggested. Of course, in the modern era, the use of aircraft has greatly changed the ability to control territory and provide defensive capabilities.   The Crimean War Mackinders theory was never fully proven because  no one power in history had actually controlled all three of these regions at the same time. But the Crimean War came close. During this conflict, waged from 1853 to 1856,  Russia fought for control of the Crimean Peninsula, part of Ukraine. But it lost to an allegiance of the French and British, which had more effective naval forces. Russia lost the war even though the Crimean Peninsula  is geographically closer to Moscow than to London or Paris. Possible Influence on Nazi Germany Some historians have conjectured that Mackinders theory may have influenced Nazi Germanys drive to conquer Europe (although there are many who think the eastward push of Germany that led to World War II just happened to coincide with Mackinders heartland theory). The concept of geopolitics (or geopolitik, as Germans called it) was proposed by Swedish political scientist Rudolf Kjellen in 1905. Its focus was political geography  and combined Mackinders heartland theory with Friedrich Ratzels theory on the organic nature of the state. Geopolitical theory was used to justify a countrys attempts to expand based on its own needs.   In the 1920s, German geographer Karl Haushofer used the geopolitik theory to support Germanys invasion of its neighbors, which it viewed as expansion. Haushofer posited that densely populated countries like Germany should be allowed and were entitled to expand and acquire the territory of less-populated countries. Of course, Adolf Hitler held the much worse view that Germany had some kind of moral right to acquire the lands of what he termed lesser races. But  Haushofers geopolitik theory provided support for the expansion of Hitlers Third Reich, using pseudoscience. Other Influences of Mackinders Theory Mackinders theory  also may have influenced Western powers strategic thinking during the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the  United States, as the Soviet Union had control over the former East Bloc countries.

The Relationship between Eliezer and his Father. Explain how Eliezer's Essay

The Relationship between Eliezer and his Father. Explain how Eliezer's relations with his father changes throughout the novel - Essay Example The relationship however did not start as strong as it ended. The novel demonstrates the changes in how the two related through various experiences. Their initial relationship is first presented at the beginning of the book. The father is not so much concerned about his son’s education or desires. When Eliezer wishes to study the Cabbala, he requests his father if he could get a master to guide him. Although we know that his father could have done it, he discourages Eliezer saying that "You must first study the basic subjects within your own understanding." (Wiesel 2) This is said without even his father being moved away from his own businesses, an indication that he was not willing to help Eliezer on his desires whether personally or by looking for a master to guide Eliezer. Despite his father’s refusal to help him, Eliezer disobeyed even his advice to first study the basic subjects before undertaking the Cabbala. Eliezer took the matter as a personal initiative and even found himself a master, Moishe the Beadle, to guide him (Wiesel 4). In the first sections of the book, we see a father-son relationship that is cold and filled with mistrust. Eliezer wanted to do so much, but the father did not support him. Many a times, he was forced to disobey and do things on his own especially on realization that his father disapproved of his religious pursuits. As father and son move from their comfortable home into the concentration camps, a sharp turn of events occur. In the new environment, dependence on trusted individuals is a treasure. There is an observable rapid development in their relationship and a closeness that was not originally there is seen. The development starts with a familial separation. The two were separated from Eliezer’s mother and sister and Eliezer, having been relatively independent of his father from the start becomes a strong

Business Operations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Operations - Essay Example At the same time, it will concentrate on giving unique skincare diagnosis, facials, manicures, pedicures and other services, which are customized as compared to it competitors. Market segmentation is considered to the process in which customers are classified in accordance to their needs and objectives. It offers several advantages to an organization(Worthington, Britton & Rees, 2004). Firstly, it allows the company to concentrate on the main market. At the same time, it allows them to offer unique products and services. It assists the organization to emphasize and concentrate on its skills. Dove Spa will concentrate on targeting females of Streetly, between the ages of twenty and sixty. This segment has been selected because women between these ages are conscious about their looks and mostly take care of themselves. They used wide ranging beauty products. Dove Spa will give them skincare diagnosis, facials, manicures, pedicures and other services, which are customized. The competition is fierce in this industry and therefore, it is important that Dove Spa stands out unique as compared to its competitors. Marketing mix is considered to an important concept and it is the fundamental part of the marketing strategy. It concentrates on quality of services and products, which would be offered by the company. It concentrates on four essential components, which include price, product, position and promotion (Worthington, Britton & Rees, 2004). It concentrates on devising a marketing strategy, which would target every segment. The same strategy would be used for Dove Spa in order to advertise and promote it in effective way. It would assist the company to accomplish its aims and objectives. The main challenge for Dove Spa would be to develop an appropriate and strong business strategy in order to saturate itself in the market. Research suggests that the internal environment of the

Envs 1000 research essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Envs 1000 research - Essay Example The field of agriculture accommodates many workers as compared with most other industries. In addition, agriculture helps in boosting international trade through imports and exports. Therefore, without productive agriculture, people and society as a whole would not be privileged to enjoy the same quality of life. This paper presents a discussion on the role of agriculture in Canada and its possible environmental implications, and it covers food, food production and loss of biodiversity. Agriculture plays a very significant role in society by improving life quality and in the production of marketable commodities for food, fuel, fiber among others (Holland, 2012). Agricultural activities facilitate the production of individuals’ basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing thereby improving the living standards and quality of life. Primarily, agriculture provides people with food from either crops or animals and agricultural food are full of nutrients and nourishes individuals ’ bodies. Agriculture provides the basis of subsistence by ensuring adequate production of food and safety (Holland, 2012). Food is very essential for individuals to survive; therefore, agricultural intervention is necessary to ensure that there is adequate food supply. Agriculture assures food security to the people and individuals work hard to increase agricultural productivity and secure enough food. Animal products such as milk, meat, or even eggs serve as a food source and are consumed by people. Similarly, plant products such as cabbages and other vegetable are also other food sources produced though agriculture. All food produced in Canada guaranteed high quality of production, environment as well as welfare standards. Secondly, agriculture provides us with fiber, cotton, flax among others and all these are necessary materials needed to manufacture natural cloth. Additionally, agriculture offers different job opportunities for many Canadians considering that some peopl e prefer working on the farms while others engage in agricultural based activities. According to studies, agriculture has been stated to be the main source of income to many people in Canada especially in the rural areas. More so, agricultural industries are one of the industries that employ many people; hence, agriculture is a major contributor of Canadian’s wealth (Britton, 1996). Mostly in rural areas, the main activity that people engage in is agriculture and they depend on various agricultural activities in order to earn a living. The increasing farm size and productivity have led to larger labor productivity gains in agriculture. Approximately 340,000 Canadians work on agricultural production sites (IICA-Canada, 2005); thus, agriculture is their occupation and so they dedicate their time to it and focus on how to increase agricultural products. In addition, one of the objectives of agriculture is to eradicate poverty in the society and this is possible through job creat ions especially working on the farms. However, working on the farms can sometimes be very demanding because it requires energy in that, those working on agricultural farms should be physically energetic and this leaves those who are physically weak disadvantaged. Moreover, agriculture plays a leading role in promoting both regional and international trade thereby boosting the country’

The Words And Works Of Jesus Christ Theology Religion Essay

The Words And Works Of Jesus Christ Theology Religion Essay The name Jesus (IÄâ€Å"sous) is the Greek form for the Hebrew Yeshua (Yahweh saves). Jesus is the realisation/fulfilment of the prophecies of Gods Messiah for his people. While on earth He spoke as no-one ever spoke and has done deeds no-one has done (John 3:2). In this assignment a broad chronological overview is presented of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ with some focus on his words and works. A chronological overview of His ministry of three years is undertaken with special attention to the first six months, the last six months and the last week. BEFORE THE FIRST YEAR The Gospel writers account of Jesus infant/childhood years vary. The Synoptic Gospels (Matt-Luke) contain some data (although Mark does not have anything on Jesus childhood) but the Gospel of John speaks only about the Logos who became a man (John 1:14). The conception of Christ was kept secret by Mary who à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦kept all thingsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦in her heart (Luke 2:19). In the Synoptic Gospels Matthew gives particulars about Jesus birth and his earliest childhood (Matt. 2) but Luke also has some information about Jesus twelfth year (Luke 2:41-52). Jesuss infancy is narrated in four incidents in Luke 2:8-40 and Matthew 2:1-23. (Anon., n.d.). Luke wrote about two events where an angel declared the birth of Jesus to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-14) and then the shepherds visit to Bethlehem (2:15-20). In the second event, the presentation of Jesus in Jerusalem (Luke 2:21-39) following the circumcision and the purification of his mother (2:22). Simeon had a revelation about Jesus, that he would see the Christ before his death (Luke 2:26), and by proclaiming it, the prophetess Anna overheard it and she praised God 2:38). Luke takes trouble to confirm that Joseph and Mary did everything required by the Law (circumcision, purification). Matthew recorded the visit of the Magi (wise men) (Matt. 2:1-12) who believed that the Deliverer was born. This is a dramatic narrative wherein Herods falsity and cruelty come to the fore (Matt. 2:7-18). It ends with the familys flight to Egypt to escape Herods command that in that region all boys up to the age of 2 must be killed. Luke recorded one incident from Jesuss childhood (Luke 2:40-52) in which His spiritual development is clear. During their visit to Jerusalem (Luke 2:41-50) for the Passover Jesus proved his proficiency in the Law. At age twelve He would have been bar-mitzvah and was responsible before the law for himself (Pentecost, 1984:76). At this occasion Jesus actively participated in the temple, listening and asking questions, which was customary for all Jews (Tenney, 1975) Before Jesus ministry started, several significant events took place: the preaching of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-17), the Baptism of Jesus (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21, 22) which was the ultimate purpose of Johns work. The most important event in Christs preparation period that revealed His true character was the temptation (Matt. 4:1-11; Mark 1:12, 13; Luke 4:1-13). That concluded Christs life before the commencement of the first year of His earthly ministry (Tenney, 1975). THE FIRST YEAR The start of Jesus Judean ministry was recorded by John (John 1:35-4:42) although there is some historical uncertainty concerning this period (bron). Jesus and John entered Jerusalem for the Passover, marking the beginning of the first year of Jesuss ministry. During this visit, Jesus made contact with disciples to be. In Johns Gospel a selection (John 20:30-31) of Jesus signs (sÄâ€Å"meia) are told. The first of these that revealed His glory was at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-12). Through this sign Jesus began to move the disciples to put their faith in Him (John 1:11). Two significant other things Jesus did was the cleansing of the temple (John 2:13f), establishing the righteousness that belongs to the Lord and the conversation He had with Nicodemus (John 3). This very important discussion went over the kingdom of heaven (John 3:3, 5) and Gods standard for eternal life. John also recorded Jesus performing other miracles and signs (John 2:23-25) that revealed Him as the Messiah. Since Jesus started His public ministry, John the Baptists ministry waned and his followers began to follow Jesus. After Jesus baptism, He separated Himself from John, engaging in a countermovement. Johns intention was not to draw men to him, but to be a servant of God. Leaving Judea for Galilee, Jesus had to go through Samaria (John 4:4), and at Sichar he had a watershed conversation with a Samaritan woman, during which he presented Himself as the gift of God (John 4:10) ending in ministering to the Samaritans for two days (4:30f). Christ revealed Himself as the gift to the Jew and the gentile. Also during this conversation, Christs insight into mans nature was revealed, setting the pattern for personal evangelism. Christs first year of ministering ended with His withdrawal from Judea (Matt. 4:12; Mark 1:14; Luke 3:19-20; 4:14; John 4:1-4). The reason why Christ withdrew from Judea was to start His widespread ministry in Galilee. He was fully aware of the rising conflict the Pharisees wanted between His own and Johns disciples and to bring disunity amongst them. Another reason why Christ went to Galilee was the imprisonment of John by Herod. Luke recorded a third reason for Christ to leave Judea he was under the guidance of the Spirit of God (Luke 4:14). Since it was not Jesus time to die, He moved His ministry from Judea to Galilee. THE SECOND YEAR John recorded this period (John 4:43-54) as the second time of Jesus performing signs in Galilee. Knowing the miracle works Jesus did à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the Galileans welcomed Him (John 4:45), hoping to see and hear a repeat of the same signs. Yet, Jesus knew the rejection of Himself and His message lurking in them by telling them that a prophet has no honour in his own country (John 4:44). The Galileans believed in His name, but not in Himself. Christ then started a new way of ministering in Galilee by proclaiming a word of God, validating the message by accompanying numerous miracles and signs. About these signs Tenney fittingly wrote [t]he healing of the officials son at Capernaum serves as a fitting prelude for the whole Galilean ministry (Tenney, 1975). After Jesus pronounced Himself as the Messiah who came to fulfil Scripture (Isaiah 6:1-2a) He was rejected by the Nazarenes (Matt. 13;54-58; Mark 6;1-6a). Jesus then moved to Capernaum, starting His main message Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near (Matt. 4:17). The first four disciples Peter and Andrew, James and John were called (Matt. 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11). Their mission was to be fishers of men. Jesus conducted the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), teaching the people of ethics in a manner that even a child could understand it. Matthew summarised Jesuss words (teachings) and works (miracles) (Smith, 2012). During this period Jesus did many works of healing and feeding that Matthew grouped together (Matt. 8:1-9:8). Most of these healings were also recorded in Mark and Luke, but in different order (owing to each writers context). These miracles had two main effects, to draw crowds of people after Him and ensuing conflict between Himself and the Pharisees. Jesus criticised them of hypocrisy (Matt. 23) and they viewed him as a law breaker. There were many Sabbath controversies mainly due to Jesus healing on that day. Healing marks an important aspect of Jesuss ministry. All four gospels recorded Jesuss choosing the twelve disciples. They were people from all walks of life with specific instructions, not only for themselves but also for the Church of Christ. Christ was preparing them His crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus was based for 2 ½ years in Capernaum, conducting the ministry Himself and later by His disciples. Jesus used the Kingdom parables to explain His ministry, but also protecting it and introducing something new (Heb. 8:13). In the miracle of feeding the 5,000 the beginning of Christs third year of ministry ensued. THE THIRD YEAR The First Six Months Christ withdrew from Galilee arriving at Caesarea Philippi, where He asked them (the twelve) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦who do people say the Son of Man is? (Matt. 16:13). Although the recording of these words differ slightly, the effect thereof was the turning point in the Gospel of Christ (Smith, 2012). Simon Peter grasping the identity of Christ replied You are the Christ, The Son of the Living God (Matt 16:16). Christ was finally revealed and accepted by the twelve as the Son of God. Jesus revealed to the Apostles His mission (Matt. 16:21). Going to Jerusalem (appointed place of sacrifice) to suffer much from the elders, chief priests and teachers of law, eventually to die (Matt 1:21; Mark 10:45). But, He conquered death (John 11:25) and both person and work rose on the third day (Pentecost, 1984). Christ established instructions concerning discipleship, the cost thereof and demands to become a true disciple (Luke 9:23) (Pentecost, 1984). After Jesus separated Peter, James and John (Mark 9:2) coming down the mountain after a glorious experience of Gods glory, Jesus commanded them to tell no-one until Christs rising from the dead (Mark 9:9). The reason for this being entrusting the ministry to man and the fact that the people were already rejecting Him (Pentecost, 1984). No miracles and signs were performed and Christ was teaching them about Faith (Matt 17:20) and the fact that prayer is essentially an attitude of utter dependence on God (Pentecost, 1984). Nazareth was characterized by unbelief (John 7:5) and Jesus knew the plot of the Jews, His approaching death as the Feast of Tabernacles had arrived. Not only did Jesus foretell His death but revealed Gods plan. He remained and sent the twelve alone to the Feast of Tabernacles. The people hated Christ for exposing their sins (7:7), His condemnation of Pharisaism, rejecting His judgment of their unrighteousness and their denial of God (Pentecost, 1984). The Feast of Tabernacles marked an important turning point in the life and ministry of Jesus. Jesus turned to Jerusalem, facing His opposition that would culminate in His death and resurrection. Christ was rejected by the Samaritans and went to another village, not allowing to be defiled by circumstances, obeying Gods will, plan and timetable (Luke 9:53) (Pentecost, 1984). During this period, Christ taught the disciples about life in the Church, their role and in Matthew 18 establishing relationships in the Kingdom of God (Smith, 2012). The Last Six Months Jesus started His ministry in Jerusalem, evangelizing Judea and surrounding areas (Luke 10:1-13; 21) between the Feast of Tabernacles (Luke 9:51-61; John 7:1-10) and the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22-42) (Smith, 2012). When Jesuss life was endangered when the crowd wanted to stone Him, Jesus withdrew to Bethany beyond the Jordan, starting to teach in Perea until He was called to the home of Mary and Martha where He raised Lazarus from the dead (Pentecost, 1984). Due to the indication by the leaders of Israel to reject Jesus, Christ appointed seventy-two (Luke 10:1) as His representatives to deliver the message throughout Judea. Although His works and Words openly declared Him as the Christ, the Jews still tried to seize Him at the Feast of Dedication for not admitting and Jesus had to withdraw again (John 10:22-42) (Smith, 2012), continuing His Judean ministry. The second part of the Perean ministry stretches from the Feast of Dedication in December 32 A.D. to the last journey to Jerusalem in the spring of 33. Jesus was pressing towards the excruciating purpose for which He came to earth, and on the way His teachings was done on Discipleship (Luke 14), evangelism (Luke 15), stewardship (Luke 16) and servant hood (Luke 17) (Smith, 2012). Christ again demonstrated His status as the Son of God, the manner in which he handled the raising of Lazarus (John 11:4), not revealing this miracle publicly as with the sign of Jonah (Matt. 12:38-40). Jesus finally approached Jerusalem; still ministering on the way, with teachings on divorce (Matt. 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12), children (Matt. 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17), conversion (Matt. 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30) and leadership (Matt. 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-45). During this six months Jesus continued to His final destiny, Jerusalem. He knew His end would be crucifixion, but he went on teaching, revealing Him as the Son of God and equipping His disciples for ministry and after His departure to continue. Jesus taught them much regarding moral, ethical and spiritual topics. To establish His Kingdom was His final call and purpose. He then finally returned, knowing that the Jews wanted to kill him, also revealing this fact to His disciples, but they did not understand. The last week of Jesuss life concludes the last six months starting at the Feast of Passover in Jerusalem. The Last Week Finally the time came that Jesus was preparing His disciples for to witness the slaying of the lamb at the Passover (John 11:55). These events began on the Sunday morning when Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. Through the triumphal entry Christ, fulfilling scripture (Zech. 9:9; Is. 62:11), was met with a mixed response. Some people saw Him as the King, who came to deliver them from the Roman oppression (Smith, 2012), and realizing Christs intention, turned against Him. Conflict arose and Christ had to leave, spending the night in Bethany. The Monday, on returning to Jerusalem, Christ cursed the fig tree (Mark 11:14), thereby revealing His authority. He proceeds on His journey and at the temple, finding the people trading there, He again cleansed the temple. He established Himself as the guardian of His Fathers House (John 12:20-50) (Pentecost, 1984). Tuesday was a day of controversy and various people tried to entrap Him, to silence and finally kill Him. During this time Christ gave His disciples His most comprehensive end-time teaching, the Olivet Discourse (Smith, 2012). The Wednesday was spent with His disciples (no recording in scripture) and the Thursday the Last Supper was held. At this event Jesus enacted what he said in Mark 10:45 that the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve when he washes His disciples feet (John 13:1). He revealed the betrayal (John 13:18) and encouraged the disciples with the farewell discourse (John 14-16). After the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane He was handed over for crucifixion. There were several stages up to the cross: an examining at the High Priest Annas house (John 18:12-14; 19-24) where Peter denied Christ three times before cockcrow (John 18:12). Before the Sanhedrin (Matt. 26:57) charges of a threatened destruction of the temple linked with blasphemy were brought in (Tenney, 1975). He was then brought before Pilates but he, finding no guilt in Him, handed Him back to Herod. Again Jesus was sent to Pilate who had him scourged and crucified. A dispute developed between the Jews and Pilate regarding the notice on the cross. The gospels record Jesus time on the cross, crowned with His last words it is finished (John 19:30). These terrible occurrences were overturned in the resurrection on the third day. Evidence about Jesus statement in John 11:25 (that He is the resurrection and life) was given on occasions where over 500 saw Him. Therefore, the Great Commission as recorded in Matthew 28 has its basis in Christ, His command and promise (Smith, 2012). CONCLUSION Christ came and offered Himself as Saviour, but His own did not acknowledge His revelation of the Father and King therefore rejected Him to be crucified. Jesus came to give us new life-everlasting life, revealing the nature of God the Father and God the Spirit and who wants to be worshipped, any place and any time. Throughout Jesus ministry He suffered rejection but in the end the triumph of the resurrection is the basis of faith, God showing the divine approval for Christs work upon the cross. That is the basis of the Gospel.

Ethics in Information Technology :: Technology Ethics

Ethics in Information Technology Technology Department Technology is in many ways very beneficial to our society, but in what ways can and/or will this fast growing business be unethical. This article explains the power and information that an IT personnel has in the business world. Most people think of the IT person as someone who comes to fix their computer when they can't figure out their e-mail. But what does an IT person have access to. Every business is different and has different responsibilities required for the IT personnel. This article explains how most companies use the IT department for monitoring their employees on the computer. The article raises many questions on the ethical behaviors of IT personnel, but it doesn't give many answers. That's because the question of "Is it ethical?" must be answered by each individual IT professional. In other professional careers such as Medicine or Law that have been around for a long time have a set of laws or code of ethics that goes along with the job. This field has yet to establish such rules. The article states that most ethical issues such as: reading the employee e-mails and changing words, using key loggers to obtain everything a specific person has typed, or screen capture programs to monitor everything they have looked at, have not even been confronted by law, nor is there a standard that any IT professional has to follow. It's scary to think how much power and information that an IT professional have access to, and the fact that there are no laws that prohibit some of the procedures they is also a frightening thought. Even at Southwestern Assemblies of God University the IT people have access to our social security number, web pages we visit, and even our internet passwords like e-mail or student login. If the IT professional are hired and have no prior discretion of ethical issues how can we trust what they will do with the information they have about us. I trust that the employers at Southwestern have chosen the right people for the job, but what the everyday office of America. The article states that some of the IT professionals even help employees to get others fired. An example of this would be: At this particular business the IT department receives all the e-mails to be screened before they leave to the recipient.

Evaluate the Causes of World War I Essay

World war one is one of the most important events in world history. It took place in Europe in 1914-1918. The whole world participated this war. So everyone had some responsibility. There are more than one reasons for the outbreak of this war. Mainly, it was the expansion form of nationalism & the alliances system. Other issues played a major part too, such as imperialism, the industrial revolution, naval race and domestic factors. One of the main long term causes as I said before is Nationalism. Nationalism is the patriotic feeling when people believe passionately for their countries. The extreme feeling of nationalism is called ethnocentrism and it leads to fascism. Nationalism also, promoted the war because nationalists wanted to reestablish their nation’s power. Th e majority of people before and during the world war one, wanted to have a larger territory. Flags are created to represent a country. The three countries that formed the Triple Alliance was formed by different ethnic groups. Above all, Austria’s – Hungary’s ethnic groups wanted their independence. These groups were, Slovaks, Serbs & Czechs. They wanted to rule themselves and have their own state. Particularly, many Serbs in different territories wanted to join the neighboring state of Serbia. Italy was also formed from a collection of smaller states, aiming at having its government established. The trigger cause of world war one was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinard & his wife also by a Serbian nationalist. This happened in June 1914 while they were in Sarajevo, Bosnia which was a part of Austria – Hungary. This assassination was in protest to Austria – Hungary having control of the region. This was the extreme form of nationalism as I said above, that killed the prince of Austria and world war one began. Another cause which cause the war is imperialism. In other words, the competition among powerful countries to extend their power. All the countries were looking for ways to conquer oversea colonies. There was a competitive feeling about it. They also needed more resources. Naval bases for Germany & Britain were also of paramount important. For example, France & Russia prepared to face any German invasion. Germany took from France an important industrial area of Alsace – Lorraine. In 1890 Germany has a New Kaiser who was very active. Germany seized control of Chinese ports & wanted more oversea colonies as Britain & France had. Italy also wanted more oversea colonies and that’s a reason it joined the Triple Alliance. Furthermore, there is another cause, the alliances. Alliances existed to support â€Å"friends† and threaten enemies. The promoted their own culture. Alliance’s movements are like gangs. They used violence and technology weapons. Alliances active role before the war was to understand the progress of the war & country’s movements. So before world war one Russia defended Serbia. Serbia’s territories were controlled by the state of Austria – Hungary. Serbia started the war against Austria – Hungary and Russia got involved. France & Russia had a close friendship. A response to get back its land Germany attacked France through Belgium. In 1884 the Triple Alliance we formed with Germany, Italy and Austria – Hungary to support each other militarily in case of an attack. The Triple Entente that formed in 1904 with Britain, France and Russia. The last cause of the war was the industrial revolution, in other words militarism. Militarism is associated with technology weapons. Such as cars, bombs, machine guns, submarines, bullets, dynamites etc. Industrial development was very important in order to be powerful. In this new war armies used cars and not horses. Another point is the radio, was used for propaganda. Everything was moving very fast. Military includes submarines, airplanes and machine guns. France & Russia worried a lot for Germany’s development. Loans from France helped Russia to develop industries. Germany’s navy plan named â€Å"Navy Code† was increasing their navy. This plan worked as a threaten to Britain. Germany’s development of their navy was apparent. It become one of the world’s most powerful navy in 1980 with Britain first. In 1914 German industries was second in the world only to that of the USA. Serbia was also becoming a powerful force in Balkans. France also built up their industries & army. Russia was the largest of all six powers however it was the most backward and least developed. As a result of this war there was devastation across Europe. Eight millions of people died & twenty – nine millions injured. The use of the word destruction includes issues we are not able to see. It’s not only the destruction of buildings, the lack of education and the economic decline. It’s also the lack of ideas, family issues, the psychology of the crowd, propaganda and much more. Even after the world war one for decades the leaders changing politics, changes & public opinions. In my opinion preserving the peace was neither Triple Alliance’s or Triple entente’s priority. What if the countries did not show off or compete for power? I believe that nationalism was the most important cause for causing the war. Consequently all the countries were reacting in extremely nationalistic ways and unreasonably. I also think world war one was a result of leader’s antagonism towards other countries which was sustained by the increasing nationalism of European nations. The assassination of Archduke worked as the immediate cause that triggered a domino effect of reactions among all these countries. If this wouldn’t happen, they would have find another cause to start the war. I suppose everything’s happened because of the selfishness leader’s had. They didn’t inspire the crowd & this prove that there was the failure of diplomacy.

Arab-American essays

Arab-American essays Writing a self-reflective tirade is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks to perform. The part of my life that I am going to make known to you, is a subject that I myself have been wondering about. I have found myself pondering this topic for an unusually long time; I decided to write about my culture the one thing about myself which I understand the least. This question which is so easy for others to answer often leads me into a series of complicated explanations, "I was born in the U.S., to an American mother and an Arabic father. I am now nearly twenty-six, which means I have spent half of my life being Arabic, and the other half trying to be American, or is it the other way around? I do not consider myself Arab-American. I am too "Americanized" to be Arabic, (although by birthright, I am American). So what does all this have to do with my culture, what does a label really matter to cultural identity? It matters much. I believe that this seemingly trivial confusion over labels reveals the even greater confusion that surrounds my cultural identity: Am I a bridge between these two multifaceted cultures, or have I become a mosaic displaying colors from here and there, and elsewhere too? Perhaps both, and I could be a colorful bridge, or perhaps neither. Whatever the case, I cannot seem to separate these absolutely disparate realities within me. Their forces are still clashing, coming together within me, creating an extraordinary mystery out of me. I believe that to truly analyze my culture, the roots of this confusion must be explored. I must try to encompass the widths of two worlds, their unique interactions within me...which I hope constitute what is called cu lture. I am an alien of sorts. I am an alien in my own country... but what is my own country? I am an alien wherever I go. In the Middle East, my lack of Arabic reveals my American leanings. In the U.S., my appearance has marked me as a "minority." Being bi-cultu ...

Why Teeth Turn Yellow (And Other Colors)

Why Teeth Turn Yellow (And Other Colors) You know teeth can turn yellow from staining due to coffee, tea, and tobacco, but may be unaware of all of the other causes of tooth discoloration. Sometimes the color is temporary, while other times there is a chemical change in the composition of teeth that causes permanent discoloration. Take a look at the causes of yellow, black, blue, and gray teeth, as well as how to avoid or correct the problem. Reasons Why Teeth Turn Yellow Yellow or brown is the most common tooth discoloration. Any intensely-colored plant matter can stain teeth, as the pigment molecules bind to the surface layer of enamel. Chewing or smoking tobacco darkens and yellows teeth. Dark, acidic drinks like coffee, tea, and cola do a double-whammy as the acid makes teeth more porous, so they pick up the pigment more readily. Surface staining doesnt have to be yellow. Depending on the cause, it could be orange or even green. The good news about this type of stain is that it can be removed with good dental hygiene and a whitening toothpaste.Mouthwash can stain your teeth. Products containing the antibacterial agents chlorhexidine or cetylpyridium chloride cause surface discoloration. The color is temporary and can be bleached away.Medications may also yellow teeth. Antihistamines (e.g., Benadryl), drugs for high blood pressure, and antipsychotics typically cause surface discoloration, which may be temporary. The antibiotics tetracycline and doxycycline become calcified in developing enamel. While th e antibiotics wont noticeably stain adult teeth, these drugs can cause permanent discoloration and sometimes disfigurement of teeth if the drugs are administered to children under age 10. Pregnant women are advised against taking these antibiotics because they affect fetal tooth development. It isnt just the color of the tooth that is affected. The chemical composition of teeth is altered, making them more fragile. Bleaching wont solve these problems, so the usual treatment involves crowns or replacing teeth with implants (in severe cases). Yellowing is part of the natural aging process, as tooth enamel becomes thinner and the natural yellowish color of the underlying dentin layer becomes more visible. Thin tooth enamel also occurs in people who have a dry mouth (produce less saliva) or who routinely eat acidic foods.Chemotherapy and radiation can change the color of enamel, giving it a brownish cast.Sometimes a yellowish color is genetic. Inherited yellow enamel can usually be bleached to become brighter using over the counter whitening products.Poor dental hygiene can cause yellowing since plaque and tartar are yellowish. Brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist are steps to address this issue.Ingesting fluoride from fluoridated water or supplements usually causes splotches in developing teeth more than overall yellowing. Too much fluoride can also disfigure teeth since the chemical structure of enamel is affected.Dying teeth appear more yellow than young, healthy teeth. Physical trauma, poor nutrition, sleep depr ivation, and stress can all affect the health of underlying dentin and make it appear darker and more yellow. Causes of Blue, Black, and Gray Teeth Yellow isnt the only type of tooth discoloration. Other colors include blue, black, and gray. Dental amalgams made using mercury or sulfides can discolor teeth, potentially turning them gray or black.A severely damaged or dead tooth may have black spots as the internal tissue dies, similar to the way a bruise appears dark under the skin. Trauma can affect tooth color in both adults and children. Because this discoloration is internal, it cant simply be bleached away.There are two main causes of blue teeth. One is that a white tooth may appear blue if the tooth has a mercury-silver filling, which shows through the enamel. Damage to the root of a tooth may also show through as blue. The other main cause is when the root of a tooth fades away. This is more commonly seen in children losing their deciduous (baby) teeth​ when their teeth are otherwise very white. Enamel is crystalline apatite, so either dark underlying material or a lack of any material may make it appear blue-white.

US and Canadian health insurance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

US and Canadian health insurance - Essay Example Health insurance in the United States is failing patients and physicians alike.Competitive strategies have also failed their most ostensible goal--cost control.In contrast,Canada offers a model of a national health insurance plan that provides universal and comprehensive coverage,succeeds at restraining health care inflationIn this country 37 million uninsured face economic barriers to care, and the health of many suffers as a result. The "corporatization" of medical care threatens professional values with an unprecedented administrative and commercial intrusion into the daily practice of medicine.The big difference here in the US is that there are multiple insurance companies. In Canada you really only have one (one for each province) those offering extended insurance for things like private hospital rooms, vision, dental, etc.The next big difference is managed care. In regards to optometry, you can think of this as the insurance companies that only provide for well vision care cont acts and glasses. If there is a medical eye problem (i.e. a disease) they do not pay for the necessary care (generally), and those things should be billed to the major medical. They also pay much discounted fee's compared to medical, Medicare (gov't insurance for seniors) and private pay patients.Optometrists in the US also tend to directly bill the insurance companies, OD's in Canada tend to only bill their respective provincial insurance plans, veteran's affairs, or Indian affairs, while patient's not covered by the above are billed directly by paying cash. If those patients have supplemental vision insurance then they can submit a claim for reimbursement. When KHE talks about insurance discrimination he means that there are many insurance companies in the US that will not pay an optometrist for services performed that they will pay ophthalmologists for, even if the optometrist is licensed to do so in that state. There are some states that have "any willing provider" laws to prevent this, but it still occurs. However, the same thing happens in Canada: Take a look at the OHIP schedule of fee's for optometry, and then compare to that for ophthalmology. You'll find that many tests, procedures, and treatments that optometrist are licensed to perform are covered by OHIP if done by an ophthalmologist, but not an optometrist. However, it could be argued that is just as well since OHIP isn't exactly known for generous fees. In making a rational comparison of the Canadian and American health systems it is more reasonable to contrast service levels and costs of the systems rather than trading anecdotes. Canadians pay about 9% of national GDP to insure 100% of citizens in our single-payer system, compared with more than 14% of GDP to insure 85% of Americans. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that the average compound annual growth rate in U.S. health insurance costs has been 11.6% over the past five years. It is therefore not surprising that polling by Kaiser found that 75% of Americans were worried or very worried about the amount they would need to pay for health insurance in the future and that 63% were worried or very worried about not being able to afford health-care services. There is no question that restriction of supply with sub-optimal access to services has contributed to the lower cost of health care in Canada. However, a new approach of targeting investments to reduce waiting times combined with transparent reporting of wait times is having a substantial impact on access in the Canadian system. Canadians spend about 55% of what Americans spend on health care and have longer life expectancy, and lower infant mortality rates. Many Americans have access to quality health care. All Canadians have access to similar care at a considerably lower cost. The introduction of private insurance or private-for-profit health care for medically necessary services is not the answer to

Prcis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Prcis - Essay Example e in the industrialized world, people are growing more dependent on new gadgets, the notion of perpetual growth, chemically fertilized food and drugs that are synthesized chemically. The letter also warns that the present generations are wrongly informed that using fossil energy without consideration for the future is normal. It is shown that the problem with the current use of energy is that more energy is spent to put the technologies in place than is actually produced by the technologies. The realization by governments and politicians that fossil energy is exhaustible is what has led to enmity between high consumers of energy and the supplying nations, often culminating in military aggression and economic depression. Present generations are adviced that turning to solar energy is the best way to guarantee continuous, non-exhaustible energy, but also warned that solar energy cannot support the entire requirements of people that are virtually dependent on energy for livelihoods. Then, the cutting down of ancient forests must stop and the anti-biotech, anti-nuclear, conservation and organic food gardening movements stepped up. On the other hand, Bob Holmes’ Earth without Humans portrays humans as the earth’s most predominant species and imagines what the planet would be like without them. For example, the average eco-footprint, in terms of hectares, is placed at 9.7 for a single US citizen (Holmes 39). Humans have consumed over one third of the planet’s land surface for pastures, farmland and cities in slightly over a few thousand years. The results are messy and include chemical pollution, nuclear waste, mass extinctions, invasive species, drained aquifers, razed forests and, most significantly, the threatening specter of climate change. The document suggests that the earth’s outlook would start getting better once humans are removed from the picture. For instance, 18.7 percent of the earth’s surface would be rescued from the present effects of light