Undertake a suitable critical environmental audit for a well known Essay - 2

Undertake a suitable critical environmental audit for a well known Western brand considering entering Saudi Arabia - Essay Example The macro environment refers to the factors in the nation within which the business seeks to operate. Henry (2008) states that macro environmental audit is mainly about the factors that affect entire population of the whole country within which the organisation operates. The main tool for this is PESTEL. Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by a king. The current king, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was enthroned in August 2005. Ever since he came into power, he has sought to make reforms to a nation that was mainly ran by the Royal family and the religious elite who ruled according to strict Islamic codes and systems (Ramady, 2010). There are reforms that are being made to enable people to take part in governance. Also, the reforms aim to cut down on government interference in the economy. However, due to the central and exemplary role that Saudi Arabia plays in the Arab and Muslim world, the reforms are being practiced at a very slow pace. Governance at all levels are controlled and affected by members of the Royal family (The House of Sauds) and their agents and representatives. Also, the religious elites are very powerful and they have a lot of say in the policies of the nation, which remains for strategic and international purposes, influenced mainly by Sharia. The Saudi economy is based on the export of crude oil. Saudi Arabia’s GDP stood at US$622.5 billion in 2010 (CIA World Factbook). The main authority in charge of the regulation of the financial sector is the Saudi Arabia Monetary Agency, which is the Central Bank. Taxes are collected by the Department of Zakat and Income Tax. Income tax is levied on non-Saudi individuals and entities. Saudi Arabian citizens and entities are normally exempt from taxation. Also, most non-Saudi individual salaries and employment benefits are tax-free (SaudiNet). It is only professional foreigners and foreign investment income that

Social Media for Business Essay Example for Free

Social Media for Business Essay Introduction. The area under discussion in the following assignment is to quantify the possibility of a deviation from accuracy in the fifty samples formed from a selection of data, following their questionnaire rejoinders. Questioning in which there is a relationship between the kinds of social media is and the type of business. Moreover, does this relationship exist for the reason that day by day more people use social media? (NielsenWire, 2010).This assignment’s first directional hypothesis, testing the first question is: The longer a company use the social media, the more improver’s its customer’s relation. This assignment’s second directional hypothesis, testing the second question is: The longer a company use social media, the helpful to raise companies’ profile. This assignment third hypothesis is: The more skilled companies’ employees are in using social media, the more customers attracts to the firm. Firstly this assignment will review the questionnaire follow by my personal critique. Secondly, present its ‘findings in a variety of tables and graphs followed by analyse and discussion relate on the literature review. This assignment will end with a personal suggestion for future research. Questionnaire. According to Sekaran and Bougie 2009, our data collecting method was questionnaire. A questionnaire is a pre-formulated question, in particular written set of questions to which the respondent records his/her answers. Students at Canterbury Christ Church University Worked under the guidance of Zoodikers Consulting Ltd were the general administered of the questionnaire research that had been considered for this assignment. In addition by choosing a questionnaire in the method of collecting data will increase the chance that more people will respond on our survey. Due to the fact that a ‘questionnaire’ can be complied in short period of time and that the exact questionnaire had been contain with close questions. In result, this questionnaire was not monotonous to its targets and it could achieve its aim of research. (Michaelidou, et al, 2011) For this assignment the questionnaires had been mail to the responders with a result of delayed he data analysis and some of them di dn’t return. In my personal opinion, the questionnaire is clear and easy to understand, particularly it include close questions at the beginning and slightly more complex questions later in order to be more clear and easy to the target group. Certain questions have nearly the same meaning such as, question seven with question nine, also the question ‘My company accepts and adapts to new technology’ displays two time on the questionnaire. Also if I were going to do this questioner again, I would situate more questions that can be specific on how the social media help companies raise their profits and also make specific questions on what social media platform companies use and for what main reason do they use each one. For example: Which social platform helps your company raise its relationships with customers, as feedback gathering. and which social media does your company use in advertising and promotion. As well as an issue arises in question three with the time that a company is using social media. Is been consider that is need more time to see the difference on using social media in many factors. It may be restored with longer time between the answers. Perhaps using: 6months, 12 months, 18 months, over than 24 months. In my personal view this information consider more useful. However, the questionnaire perform fair-minded part in not asking personal questions such as, responders name etc.(Fisher, 2010). It leads the respondent over the questionnaire and continues with general questions followed by more focused questions. According to the fact that our target was people who work in companies and by this I mean that people, who have general education level ensure that everyone could answer it easily. For the most part the frequently use of ‘strongly agree’ scale makes it relatively easy for there audience to select answers and become more comfortable with the questions format. An analysis and discussion of results. Primarily, you will note from the first pie chart below that approximately all companies are using social media platforms. In particular, over forty nine samples that filled in only one company do not use social media platform. Another research shows that firms use social media as a daily part of business (Carter, 2011). This authorise that social media proves to be very important for organisations (Shih, 2009), additionally evidence (e.g. Shih, 2009) recommend that social media is one of the most important tool on running a company. In the second pie chart you can see that manufacturing and transport companies do not use social media. According to manufacturing executive (Can Manufacturing use Social Media to improve its image?, 2012) manufacturing lives outside the world of social media se antithesi with transport companies (Social Media in Transportation in 2012, 2012). However, business services companies that have as most important implement the communicate, collaborate and share information (Enders, Hungenberg, Denker, Mauch, 2008) In order to test the first hypothesis we will test the variable: ‘How long has your company been using social media?’ against another variable: ‘Our relations with customers have improved since we started using social media. ’The table below shows the results of a cross tabulation to the question ‘How long has your company been using social media in addition to agreeing with the following statement Our relations with our customers have improved since we stared using social media. A Chi-squared distribution method will be used in this assignment in order to test its hypotheses. Through this test is going to make clear to whether the collected data are close to the results that been expected. The Chi-squared test for the above data is 3.620254 through a significance level of 10% and that means that there is 10/100 possibility that the results that had been gathered are by pure chance. In addition according to the Chi-squared test, the lowest level of confidence that is acceptable is 5%.In other words there is uncertain fact in the first hypothesis. Furthermore, the literature approve that social media is becoming a core element for businesses in the form of Customer Relation Management (CRM) (Beard, 2010).In particular, as well as known as ‘user-generated communication’, create a new source of information by changing the tools and strategies that companies use to communicate and interact with their customers. (Mangold Faulds, 2009). Another finding by Jacques et al (2011) is that internally networked firms share easier information and carriage them on decision making. The below area graph is displaying the results that had been found. From the below chart it is noticed that all companies start using social media more than 4 months. From the time of 4-6 months only 9% ‘strongly agree’ and 36% ‘agree’ to the statement. Companies that using more than a year the social media shows that there are more certain that social media improve their customer relations, which 24% ‘strongly agree’ and 44% ‘agree’ with the statement. To test the second hypothesis, this assignment took the variable ‘How long has your company been using social media?’ compare it with ‘Social media has helped the company to raise its profile’. In other words how do social media have impact on companies’ profit? The below table shows the results: According to the above table you can see that as the time past that a company use social media then the more raise the companies’ profile. The findings noted that of the forty nine individuals only four of them are ‘not sure’ or ‘disagree’ with the fact that social media is increasing a company’s profile. Correspondingly it’s has been note that on the companies that has been using social media for 4-6 months, only one company,9% ‘strongly agree’ and 9 companies 82% ‘agree’ that is effective on the company profit. However with finding, 38% ‘strongly agree’ and 53% ‘agree’ companies that using social media more than a year are further sure that it’s have excessive impact on companies’ profile. The Chi-squared test data is 8.395945 with significant level of 10% which with the intention of this there is 10/100 probability that the findings that had been collected are through pure chance. In other words, due to the fact that the lowest level of significance confidence is been acceptable is 5% this hypothesis is uncertain. Furthermore the fact that Small, Medium Enterprises (SME’s) have found that using social media is a low-cost, affective marketing tool (Fischer, et al 2011) confirm that it’s reduce firms expenses. Moreover, in 2009 Facebook, a social network site had 206.9 million unique visitors globally (NielsenWire, 2010).This information increase and in my way of thinking ensure that firms by using social media are raising their profiles. To test the third hypothesis, this assignment compare the following variables: First, We have become skilled in using social media. with the second, Social media attracts new customers to the company. additionally the following hypothesis will investigate whether there is a difference on how skilled are companies employees in using social media, with how can affect on attracting new customers to the company. On the below table you can see the results of the third hypothesis. Its been recognise that Chi-squared is analyse on how two variables related to each other. In particular by comparing samples we discover whether there is significantly difference from each other. Its ensure us that our scores are not relate on chance. On the third hypothesis, the Chi-squared test data is 36,161934 with significant level of 1% which with the intention of this there is 1/100 probability that the findings collected are by means of pure chance. In other words, the second hypothesis has been confirmed. These all support the literature argument on the strong connection and big influence social media allows firm to have with the customers (Berinato Clark, 2010 cited in Fischer et al 2011).As well as allows for the firm to converse with customers and creating effectively a fan base (Volpe, 2008 Fischer et al 2011). On the other hand others literature arguments show that staff may not be familiar with social networking sites (Michealidou et al 2011) and that some of them ignore social media because they don’t have the knowledge of how to use it to an advantage (Kietzmann et al, 2011). This assignment point to test the results of an open question, nonetheless the few amount of responders on ‘open question’ make it unreliable to compare the relationship between these responses by means of another variable as the information is pure. Conclusion Furthermore the analysed of the statistic data answer the research questions that had been set out in the introduction of this assignment. For the most part, this assignment shows that there is a relationship between the use of social media and their relation with customers. This is due to the good communication channels that contain in social networking sites. Finally, proving that there is a relationship between the skilled an employee is in using social media the more customers will attract to its company. This is the reason that university is making a lot of effort in making student be aware of social media and be able to use the ‘power’ of it. The future research that this assignment could look into is what social media platform companies use and for what main reason do they use each one. Reference Beard, D. (2010) Do it right: Social media for B2B firms, Marketing (00253650), pp. 19-19 Available at: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=buhAN=52909723site=ehost-live (Accessed 25/10/11) Carter, M. (2011) ‘Small but nimble’, Computer Weekly, p. 19. (Accessed: 13 November 2011) Christodoulides, G. (2009). Branding in the post-Internet era. Marketing theory, Vol 9, Issue (1), PP141-144. Sage publications Ltd. Available at: http://mtq.sagepub.com/content/9/1/141.abstract. Date accessed 5/11/11. Constantnides, E. (2008) ‘The Web 2.0 as Marketing Tool: Opportunities for SMEs’ Mendeley,9,3,pp.231-244. [Online] DOI: 10.1057/palgrave.dddmp.4350098 (Accessed: 9 November 2011). Enders et al., 2008A. Enders, H. Hungenberg, H.-P. Denker, S. Mauch The long tail of social networking: Revenue models of social networking sites European Management Journal, 26 (2008), pp. 199–211 Article | PDF (395 K) | View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (16) Fischer, E, Reuber, R (2011) Social interaction via new social media: (How) can interactions on Twitter affect effectual thinking and behavior?, Journal of Business Venturing, Volume 26, Issue 1, January 2011, Pages 1-18, Available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0883902610000856 (Accessed 1/11/11) Fisher, C (2010). Researching and Writing a Dissertation. 3rd ed. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. pp.210 217. Fisher, T. (2009). ROI in social media: A look at the arguments. Journal of Database Marketing Customer Strategy Management, Vol. 16 Issue 3. PP189-195. Available at: http://www.mendeley.com/research/roi-social-media-look-arguments/ Date Accessed: 6/11/11 Jacques, B. and Chui, M. (2011) ‘How Web 2.0 pays off: The Growth Dividend Enjoyed by Networked Enterprises’ McKinsley Quarterly, 2, EBSCOHost [Online] Available at: http://web.ebscohost.com (Accessed: 13 November 2011). Kietzmann, J., Hermkens, K. and McCarthy, I. (2011) ‘Social media? Get Serious! Understanding the Functional Building Blocks of Social Media’, Science Direct, 54, pp. 241-251. [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.bushor.2011.01.005 (Accessed: 26 November 2011). Mangold and Faulds, 2009W.G. Mangold, D.J. Faulds Social media: The new hybrid element of the promotion mix Business Horizons, 52 (2009), pp. 357–365 Article | PDF (207 K) | View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (33) NielsenWire, 2010NielsenWire Led by Facebook, Twitter, global time spent on social media sites up 82% year over year, January 22 2010 Available at: http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/global/led-by-facebook-twitter-global-time-spent-on-social-media-sites-up-82-year-over-year/ (2010) [Accessed 26 November 2010] Michaelidou, N., Siamagka, N. T. Christodoulides, G. (2011). Usage, barriers and measurement of social media marketing: An exploratory investigation of small and medium B2B brands, Industrial Marketing Management, (0), Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019850111001374 (Accessed 25/10/11) Russell, M.G. (2009) A call for creativity in new metrics for liquid media. Journal of interactive advertising, Vol 9. Issue 2. PP 44-61. Available at: http://www.warc.com/Content/ContentViewer.aspx?MasterContentRef=c78bc957-b78e-4f47-99f3-776b68c045d1q=+Social+Media-+Metrics. Date Accessed 11/11/11 Sekaran, U and Bougie, R (2009). Research Methods for Business. 5th ed. Chichester: John Wiley Sons. pp.197. Volpe, M. (2008, March 5). How to use Twitter for marketing and PR [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/4034/How-to-Use-Twitter-for-Marketing-PR.aspx http://www.manufacturing-executive.com/thread/1013 http://blogdg.ctl.ca/2012/01/social_media_in_transportation.html

Sport And Physical Education Sport Essay

Sport And Physical Education Sport Essay Discuss the impact of Sport and Physical Education on lifelong health-related physical activity in the UK. The Be active, be healthy plan (2009 p10) believes â€Å"Physical activity includes all forms of activity such as ‘everyday walking or cycling to get from A to B, active recreation not undertaken competitively, such as working out in the gym, dancing, gardening or families playing together, as well as organised and competitive sport†. Sport and physical education is stressed as being an essential part of life, which has a huge impact on both peoples fitness levels and health. It plays a big part in helping to prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes in adulthood, which is why its important for young people to understand the benefits now. Be active be healthy (2009 p11) also states â€Å"People who are physically active reduce their risk of developing stroke and type 2 diabetes by up to 50% and the risk of premature death by about 20-30%†. Not only does exercise have an effect on physical health but also improves physiological wellbeing as it can relieve stress and anxiety, help with personal development and also improve self esteem and confidence. In recent times there has been more of an emphasis on encouraging young people to take part in more physical activity due to the high rise in obesity levels. Chinn and Rona (1994) state â€Å"Childhood overweight and obesity is increasing in the UK† This rise of obesity has been strongly linked to the fact that young people are not participating in the recommended amount of physical exercise suggested. ThePolicy framework for young people (1998 p4) believesâ€Å"For all young people, participating in at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day should be seen as a minimum. One hour of activity per day represents a more favourable level and is particularly appropriate for children of a primary school age† Primary school children are likely to get the recommended amount of exercise due to their general play time and also through physical education lessons. For secondary school pupils they are more likely to get their recommended activity from specific sports and organised physical activity. Not only is it recommended that older children perform the 30 minutes physical activity but also dedicate time to do specific exercises Policy framework for young people (1998 p3) statesâ€Å"At least twice a week, some of these activities should help to enhance and maintain muscular strength and flexibility† These types of activities are especially important for children as they are not only helpful at that age but can also be beneficial in preventing health risks in later life. Such benefits include helping with bone mineral density and also osteoporosis. Although the rise in obesity level is strongly linked to lack of physical activity, there has been some research which contradicts this and does show that most young people are getting the recommended amount. Armstrong and Welsman (1997) believes â€Å"Objective measures have shown that most young people accumulate 20 minutes or more moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week† Although a lot of young people are getting their recommended amount there are still aims of trying to get more people involved in physical activity. A way in which the Youth Sport Trust is trying to do this is by introducing something called the 5 hour offer. This 5 hour offer gives primary school and secondary school pupils the opportunity to participate in not only school sport but also community based activities. The PE and sport strategy for young people defines the 5 hour offer as â€Å"The Youth Sport Trust and Sport England are working with the DCSF and the DCMS on ways to help local delivery partners increase provision, demand and take-up amongst all young people (5-16 year olds) of their five hours a week of high-quality PE and sport (three hours for 16 -19 year olds)†. The offer of sport for 5-16 year olds will be made up of 2 hours curriculum PE and 3 hours of sport beyond the curriculum through after school, community and club opportunities. The offer also is extended so that it reaches out to young people between the ages of 16-19. This is a significant age range to target as it is also known as the drop-off age from sport. This is because after young people have finished secondary school, PE is no longer a compulsory subject therefore a lot of pupils will probably lose their only chance of participating in physical activity. PE matters (2008 p10) believes â€Å"For some young people, physical education remains their only structured or organised, regular physical activity. It is therefore crucial that pupils receive their entitlement of at least two hours of physical education a week and that it is of the highest quality† This is why the youth sport trust are now offering this age range the opportunity to participate in at least 3 hours of other activity rather that the 5 that primary school and secondary school age pupils have the opportunity of getting. Even though there is a lot of encouragement in getting more people to participate in physical activity there are a lot of influences and barriers that are affecting participation levels. Influences that can have an effect on participation especially in young people are PE teachers. PE teachers can be seen as role models to younger people and therefore have an effect on the attitudes young people have on physical activity. If PE teachers support and encourage their pupils, then they are more likely to take up a more positive attitude to exercise and therefore be more willing to participate in not only school sport but also club or community sport. PE teachers could give society the help which is needed in order to increase the interest in sport which results in more people becoming active and helping to combat the health and obesity issues. Not only can PE teachers influence participation but it is also said that family and friends can have a big influence on participation levels. â€Å"There is substantial evidence that family and peer modeling and support , correlate with physical activity levels of young people(wold and Anderssen 1992) and that access to appropriate environments can enhance their participation† (Sallis et al, 1990; Sallis, 1993b) The reasoning for this is because children tend to look up to their parents and friends and are likely to take notice of their attitudes and actions. If their parents have a negative attitude towards physical activity and dont get the recommended amount that they should be doing, then their children might also take the same opinion. On the other hand if their parents enjoy exercise and took part in sports when they were younger, then their children are more likely to be supported and encouraged to also participate in sports. Friends can also have an effect on participation of others as if you mates are playing and enjoying sport, you are more likely to participate as well. This could not only be due to the health benefits and fun aspects of it but also to the social side associated with playing sport. There has been a lot of debate recently about alternative activities being classed as physical exercise. This is because the older population may not have the time or money to join a club but yet they can do activities such cleaning and gardening, which some people class as exercise but others dont. The Be active be healthy plan (2009)defines the role of exercise as â€Å"What unites all physical activity is its effect upon our bodies, raising our heart rate, brining about an immediate and often beneficial physiology response and improving our overall well-being.† So as long as simple activities such as cleaning and gardening are having that effect on the older population, who maybe cant do as much as younger people can, then it is still beneficial to that persons health. Overall in society sport and physical activity cant be ignored as it helps to improve both a persons physical health and mental wellbeing. Not only does it provide health benefits but it is also a fun leisure activity and even if it is doing something as simple as gardening then I think everyone should be getting their 30 minutes a day. References Department of Health in partnership with other Government Departments, (2009) Be active, be healthy: a plan for getting the nation moving, DH Publications BIDDLE, S. CAVILL, N. And SALLIS, J. (1998) Policy Framework for young people and health enhancing physical activity, In HEA (1998) Young and Active? HEA Publishing The PE Sport Strategy for Young People {Online}. Last accessed 15th April 2010 at http://www.youthsporttrust.org/page/pessyp/index.html Health position paper Physical Educations contribution to public health (2008) PE matters Sport Studies Programme Faculty of Health and Wellbeing Sheffield Hallam University

computing through the ages :: essays research papers fc

~Computing Through the Ages~ â€Å"That's what's cool about working with computers. They don't argue, they remember everything and they don't drink all your beer,† (Paul Leary). From the Abacus (16th century counting devise) to the laptop, auto computing has always been a desire for us humans. We are lazy, and we like to take the easy way out of problem solving. This is why we pay so much for someone, or something to do the work for us. Hence the computer. We’re going to start with the use of electricity in computing, before then many non electric devises were used, but none capable of what we started using in the 1940’s. But we must remember that no computer ever is better at problem solving then the human brain. The human brain is up to one million times better than our most capable of computers. Ok, back to when the modern computer was taking shape. It was during the war and we needed a place to store information, and a way to do it. Tests were being made on a way to â€Å"keep data†. In 1945 punched paper rolls took the lead. Take a look at image 1-1 and 1-2. This was the most common type of data storage until magnified drums started becoming popular in the early 1950’s. These were large metal cylinders that were magnified in certain spots; this was the first â€Å"digital data† Devise. If it was magnified it was a â€Å"1† and if not, it was a â€Å"0†. This is the computer code (binary code), and it is still used on today’s computers. A. ` 01000001.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B. 01000010.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  C. 01000011.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  D. 01000100.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  E. 01000101.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  F. 01000110.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  G. 01000111.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  H. 01001000. But letters were not used in the common computers until the first â€Å"word processor† which came out in the early 1970’s, this was called –WordStar-.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Earlier in the 60’s computers were reduced in size to where only four people were needed to run it, this was a major breakthrough. Sounds impressive? Not really. But keep in mind; now-a-days computers are one million times faster and more versatile than they were in the early 60’s, literally. When the first computer came out that could add, subtract, multiply and divide. People thought that we had reached the end of inventions; there is nothing more that can be invented. But we say â€Å"wow, it’s just a common calculator† but actually it wasn’t, it was much worse than our common calculators that we can buy at the local dollar store.

Digging Up The Facts: Searching For Truth

The search for historical truth is a complex endeavor. It requires collaboration, interrogation, and imagination. Historical archaeologists study modern and post-modern communities and events through the excavation of material artifacts in order to explain and contextualize the past. While the methodology of archaeology employs excavation as well as social and forensic science, the theoretical premise is based the notion that one can â€Å"know† a particular culture by means of an exhaustive collection and analysis of its material documents.According to James Deetz in In Small Things Forgotten, historical archaeologists look at â€Å"material objects from the past† in order to â€Å"decode† the messages that these buried voices might tell (Deetz 4). They supplement and expand the work conducted by folklorists, sociologists, and anthropologists so as to reveal the manner in which earlier individuals lived, loved, and died (Deetz 5).On rare occasions and under favo rable cultural conditions, the findings of historical archaeologists serve as a corrective in that their work uncovers the â€Å"buried truths. † William M. Kelso, one of the most important historical archaeologists of our time, recently led a major project in Jamestown, Virginia. This endeavor centered on the â€Å"unearthing† of the James Fort and other material artifacts. In 2006, Kelso’s groundbreaking work resulted in a published narrative of his archeological dig: Jamestown: The Buried Truth.Subsequent to the book’s publication, in 2007, the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History in partnership with the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and the National Park Service sponsored an exhibit, Written in Bone, in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. An archeological team, led by Kelso, began their journey by identifying a twenty-two and one-half acre site. Through the use of quilt methods and excavation, they collected and examined the soil composition uncovering numerous seventeenth-century artifacts.Perhaps his greatest find was the remaining portion of the James Fort wall believed to have been destroyed by the James River. Kelso’s work â€Å"proved† that this could not have occurred for he unearthed the walls, interior structures, pits, and nearly one half million objects. Although his fascination with the James Fort reaches back four decades, Kelso’s diligence and skills as both archeologist and historian led him â€Å"literally to the soil† and, in so doing, he established a basis for a major revision of the colonial history of Virginia. Through the use of blueprints, CT scans, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR),Mitochondrial DNA testing, and skeletal analyses, Kelso confirmed, and in 2002, uncovered a â€Å"gable-lidded coffin† believed to have been that of Captain Bartholomew Gosnold previously buried under a pit on the w est wall of the Fort. Although unable to confirm that the skeleton in the coffin was Gosnold’s remains through calcium traces and dental analysis, a captain’s leading staff was buried with him. The staff along with â€Å"wood stains in the soil and the patterns of nails† suggests that he was a significant leader in the founding of Jamestown (Kelso 142).Kelso’s discovery of the remains of the James Fort, constructed in the early seventeenth-century, raised new and important questions about extant historical interpretations regarding the people of Jamestown scholarship that, for the most part, has been based solely on the written documentary record. Gosnold’s buried but â€Å"well preserved pelvis† allowed forensic anthropologist, Douglas Owsley, to recently conclude that the â€Å"five- foot, three-inch European man died in his mid-to late thirties† (Kelso 142). Kelso’s work provides evidence of how Gosnold lived and died.In add ition, Kelso and the National Geographic Society received permission from the Church of England to examine the buried remains of Gosnold’s sister, Elizabeth Gosnold Tinley, buried in All Saint’s Church in Shelly and whose remains, after DNA testing, was determined to be inconclusive as to her biological relationship to the Captain (Kelso 155-56). Kelso’s uncovering of what remains of the James Fort contradicts assertions that the colony of Jamestown had failed because transplanted Englishmen simply refused to work or lacked the wisdom and ingenuity to be successful.In addition, Kelso, through his own â€Å"dig† for the truth, proved them false. The early settlers had been constant laborers and the James Fort had not been completely lost to the river. Kelso employed forensic science and anthropological data to determine erosion and unusual indentations in the soil. Kelso’s methods showed the limitations of utilizing written documents exclusively as a way of interpreting the past. According to Kelso, â€Å"the soil yielded a new understanding of the early years of Jamestown; a new picture of its settlers †¦ a new story of the interdependence between the Virginia settlers and the Virginia Indians† (Kelso 7).Kelso is not alone in utilizing an interdisciplinary approach. If we consider the founding and establishment of Virginia and Maryland, colonies that were constantly engaged in a border dispute, we can see certain patterns of development which the documentary record supports. But the documents do not show us the material items early colonists used such as the houses, tools, and weapons. While the archaeologist needs history to contextualize and identify patterns for the purpose of accuracy, the historian makes a more compelling case by incorporating material artifacts as a significant element of his or her analyses and interpretation.One might agree with Deetz who argues that the â€Å"documentary record and archa eological record complement each other† (Deetz 11). His examinations of the manner in which colonial people, black, white, and brown, in the Chesapeake lived and died provide a telling example of the interrelationship between historical methods and archaeological interpretation. In 1609 the London Company loaded the colonists in three ships and, in 1607, they arrived at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay.Ordered by the Crown to seek a more inland region so as to better protect themselves from attacks by sea, the colonists settled farther up the James River near what would later become Richmond and Manchester. Jamestown, founded in 1607, provided protection from foreign attacks but was an unsuitable location due to poor drinking water, poor hunting ground, and farming. In addition, Native American attacks were frequent and unpredictable. Ill prepared and unable to sustain themselves, many of the colonists died from disease, starvation, and from warfare with the indigenous popul ation.With the arrival of Captain John Smith, as the story goes, the colony had its first chance at success. As a result of his leadership, historians argue, the colony sustained itself during the early years. In 1609, after Smith had returned to England, a drought severely limited colonial trade with England. In addition, unfavorable weather from 1609-1610 led to what has been described as â€Å"the starving time. † By 1610 over half of the population had died or was gravely ill. John Rolfe, who arrived in 1612, introduced two types of tobacco seeds to the colony: Orinoco and Sweet Scented.The success of these seed varieties provided a cash crop and a lucrative import item for the mother country. In addition, Rolfe’s marriage to Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhattan, in 1614, offered a relative measure of peace allowing for the use of more land to cultivate the soil depleting tobacco crop. In 1619 nearly one hundred women were brought to the colony as well as twenty Africans, initially as indentured servants and ultimately perpetual slaves. By 1632 Jamestown would be linked to the York River, the Middle Plantation, and later Williamsburg.It would become a thriving colony of landed gentry, small farmers, landless whites, displaced Natives, and enslaved Africans. Deetz offers a provocative discussion about African American dwellings, particularly the shotgun house which he considers the â€Å"most explicitly African vernacular architectural form to be found in America†¦ (Deetz 215). For Deetz, this structure shows clear signs of West African dwellings for â€Å"wherever Archaeologists find the shotgun house they find â€Å"evidence† of the viability of the African tradition in African American material culture† (Deetz 217). At the same time, Barbara J.Heath in her Hidden Lives: the Archaeology of Slave Life at Poplar Forest tells how excavators were able to determine soils connected with cellars, layers under buildings, as we ll as small objects buried adjacent to Thomas Jefferson’s retreat home southwest of his Monticello plantation. From the Poplar Forest slave quarters site, Heath and her crew obtained artifacts by â€Å"[screening] all soil from the site through one-quarter-inch hardware cloth† (Heath 32). They also found root cellars believed to have been the location where slaves stored or hid personal and contraband items (Heath 37).After three periods of controlled excavating, Heath was convinced that they had â€Å"uncovered the remains of a slave settlement† (Heath 31). Soil stains, seeds, tools, and bone fragments recovered from one site revealed the extent to which Africans lived under the restrictions and limitations of slavery in colonial America (Heath 67). Virginia and Maryland were the first colonies to utilize African slave labor on American soil. Unlike Virginia, however, Maryland established slavery at the time of its founding settlement at St. Mary in 1634.But mu ch like Virginia, Maryland transitioned from the indentured servitude to slavery by exploiting Native Americans and then Africans who cultivated tobacco and rice while others labored as skilled carpenters or blacksmiths. By 1664 slavery was perpetual in Maryland, meaning that the children assumed the status of the mother from cradle to grave. Although a colony established for Catholics, Maryland was also a place for Puritans to worship where the primary incentive for settlement was not the acquisition of wealth and status but for the purpose of religious freedom.Still, the increased numbers of Africans forced into the ‘New World† via the transatlantic trade allowed for the development of a distinct African culture on the American landscape. Once in the Chesapeake, colonists altered their views about what was possible in light of the large amounts of available land. Many became small self sufficient or large landowners within a community that was widely dispersed with few urban centers. They were dependent on agriculture and the export of tobacco that required slave labor for its long-term success.Maryland and Virginia used the head-right system, and during the initial landing in Maryland colonists traveled with their wives unlike Virginians who were, for the most part, single men. Marylanders also brought their indentured servants and as a result, the Chesapeake region evolved into an area defined by tobacco and slaves. The condition of enslaved and free blacks contributed to a distinct culture as Africans in America adapted to and transformed their environment. Well into the eighteenth-century Africans were exported directly from the African coast.The process of Americanization was not fully possible during this period because the colonists themselves did not have a clear sense of what it meant to be an American. Their colonial identity was seen through the prism of Great Britain. The mercantile system tied the colonists economically, politically, and culturally and many of the landed gentry saw themselves as part of a colonial aristocracy or as transplanted Englishmen. The ideology of Americanization must include resistance and assimilation.For example, the presence of cellars, according to Heath’s description, allowed for storage of items that may have been private or forbidden by the master. The existence of cellars represent material evidence of personal freedom within the confines of slavery. The process of Americanization is one that has been discussed by many scholars. Some historians argue that when African Americans were brought by ship and, later, in chains they acculturated and assimilated and, in so doing, became something totally different and uniquely American. Kelso, Deetz, and David A.Price in Love and Hate in Jamestown argue that Africans in America created something new but not something unrecognizable. Blacks created something that was at once African and American. The ground was both common and unc ommon situated on a shared landscape. Leland Ferguson’s Uncommon Ground: Archaeology and Early African America 1650-1800 shows that the South Carolina low country, a region defined by gang labor and rice cultivation, received a constant supply of blacks from West Africa and that through language and custom they were able to sustain a clear cultural connection to Africa even as they created their own Africa in America.Whether it be the shotgun house of Virginia, Jope’s arrival in Virginia with twenty slaves, or the pottery found at Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, â€Å"American democracy and American slavery put down their roots within weeks of each other,† processes that developed and changed over time (Price 194). Accuracy in the interpretation and management of written documents and material objects is a complicated task.A primary document, an item, written, visual, or material, from the period, may provide important details about a person or event as well a s context but it cannot provide empirical evidence. An artifact that has been excavated can show how an object was used, how it was made, and the possible status of its maker or user. The quality of the object can speak volumes about the values of the culture or community.When both types of documents are used, material and written, the participant observer walks away with a rich, more detailed and contextualized historical experience which, in most instances, brings the curious historian and the diligent archaeologist closer to that elusive thing called truth. Kelso and Heath used archaeology and history to get at the facts. Price, on the other hand, relied on the letters of John Rolfe, census, and government records. All of the previously mentioned scholars were trying to find out what â€Å"really† happened.They were excavating for the facts in order to arrive at the truth. Heath’s story was â€Å"woven,† Kelso performed an â€Å"autopsy of America† (Ke lso back cover blurb), Leland found commonality on â€Å"uncommon ground, Deetz listened to the soil, and Price combed the records. Heath is correct in her assertion that â€Å"human experience cannot be recovered from the detritus of everyday life. Yet even a partial story opens a fascinating window into the past, creating new questions and raising fresh questions† (Heath 3). Clearly all of the scholars were successful in digging up the facts for truth’s sake.

Evo:Case Study Essay

Do you think Evo’s decision not to set up any physical operation overseas is a good one? Why or why not? I have a mixed opinion on this question. I feel that there is a lot of potential missed business by not going international. The cost of setting up a business internationally is highly expensive, but the revenue made would make that up in a short amount of time. With being based in the United States, they can still reach a large market of the international business. They need to focus on what it is they are trying to achieve. If they are really looking to dive into the international mark, they need to concentrate on being able to be accessible when the customers need them. This means hiring more staff to be available longer hours for customer service. Once the sales start going up they will need to hire more employees in other department’s to fill orders and ship them, along with the many other needs of the company. What political and economic challenges could Evotrip encounter in other countries? Some challenges for Evotrip will be the true market for the service, the means for this type of service, and finding willing participants. The type of vacations that they are marketing is very expensive and can only be affordable if you are among the upper class. They aren’t for everyday Joe’s that want a ski vacation. Politically this might hurt them in the long run; however, by customers wanting revenge. If not everyone can afford these luxury vacations then someone is going to get upset over it any make an issue. Would you recommend that Evo expand the international side of it business? If so, how, and if not, why not? I feel that if they concentrated on their U.S. based business right now, and with continued support geared towards customer service, then international business will get stronger in the next few years, intern giving the opportunity for international growth to happen.

Government and Insurance Case Study Essay Example

Government and Insurance Case Study Essay Example Government and Insurance Case Study Essay Government and Insurance Case Study Essay The claims that the government insurance are receiving tend to be much higher than what those who cash and carry are required to pay. The government is having to pay significantly higher claims for members of medicare and Medicaid than those who do not use government insurance and pay with cash. The government feels they are being taken advantage of in this system and have imposed laws that now forbid that a companys’ claims be in excess of 120% of what the ordinary, or usual, charges would be without good cause. Potentially, government programs reimbursement amounts exceed the retail sales price for products because customers are more restricted and requires an extensive number of internal processes and procedure. The reimbursement amounts are set by the program entity. The process of selling goods involves additional mandated by law consideration beyond the normal cash and carry process, including the processing of insurance claims and substantiation of product delivery. Another potential could be because of the nondurable medical supplies, and how the process is cumbersome as the products are supplied to customers on a monthly basis. We do not think that the reimbursement rate for this company is substantially in excess. In order to comply with all of the governments requirements, there are significant operating expenses that must be incurred to get the products to where they need to be. Looking at TABLE 6, you can see that the product cost per unit is significantly higher for the product s sold to the government than the products sold to the cash and carry customers because of these extra operating expenses that are incurred. For this reason, this company should have good cause to charge a higher percentage for reimbursement rate in order the allow the business to operate at a profit and make it worth while to continue providing products for these customers. Although the numbers are not given to see what the company charges for :