Holmgren Engineering Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Holmgren Engineering - Case Study Example The company manufactures water storage products with pressure heating systems. The product range of the firms comprises of five models that has low variation in design such as the storage capacity and dimensions. The company employs a current process of batching production orders in a layout that is jumbled and disarranged. The production engineering head has made a proposal to the top management to change the process into a one-piece flow approach, redesign the facilities layout into a U-shaped assembly line, and transform the orientation into a make-to-order process. The benefits of the proposed changes will make the company achieve its goal of cost advantage, process simplification and inventory management. Also, the implementation of the changes will free up space in the shop floor which would create an opportunity for the company to extend the product line or expand the capacity of the production. Holmgren Engineering is a manufacturing company with core competencies in developing, manufacturing, and selling of water storage systems that include main pressure heating system. The products are marketed and sold under Hetvatten Plus trademark. The product range includes five models with different storage capacities, dimensions and dwelling type usage. Holmgren Engineering has evolved from a humble heating engineering firm, started by its founder Benny Holmgren, into a full service manufacturing company under the umbrella of Karlsson Invest conglomerate. The current CEO is John Svensson. Peter Wiklund is the production engineering head who made proposals and recommendations for changes in the current operations process. This report will initially examine the current operations process used by Holmgren Engineering. The key features of the current process will be discussed and evaluated according to their advantages and disadvantages. It will then examine the key changes of the proposal made by Wiklund. His proposal is the re-engineering of the process which would create a U-shaped production layout employing a one-piece flow orientation. Introduction of make-to-order approach was recommended by Wiklund alongside the new process. The costs on new investments and benefits that the company will gain from the proposal will be analysed. Several factors are identified that would be carefully managed in order to successfully implement the changes and will be discussed in the latter part of the report. Conclusions and recommendations in the last part will summarise the report in a nutshell. Discussion/Analysis of Case Questions 1. Examine the current operations process used by Holmgren Engineering. Explain the key features of this way of making products. The current process of producing boilers in Holmgren Engineering is called batch process. Batching is the approach of producing goods in groups or lots of similar products made on the same equipment. Batching method is efficient for medium volume products with medium variability. The method utilises specialised equipment and skilled people. Holmgren Engineering's products, which have small deviation in designs of five models and medium amount of demand, more fit the requirements of the batching process. The operations process involves four principal sub-assemblies of copper body, top tank, galvanised casing and the electrical unit. These sub-assemblies are produced in various tasks, systems and equipments.

A View from the Bridge Essay Example for Free

A View from the Bridge Essay Discuss the view that when Arthur Miller wrote A View from the Bridge, he created a tragic play which suggests that true justice does not exist and that the law is often inadequate. You may focus in detail on the Key section we have studied, but do make wider reference.  Arthur Miller was born in New York, but at the age of 14 his farthers clothing business failed due to the depression, and his family moved to Brooklyn, famous at the time for its Immigrant community. Arthur Miller wrote the play shortly after the end of the McCarthy era, a period when most of American society was worried that communist sympathisers had held government positions, and Joe McCarthy took advantage of these fears, accusing prominent Americans of harbouring or being sympathisers. Miller knew of Americans with Communist ideas, and refused to name them before the Un-American Activities Council (UAAC) was charged for Contempt, a ruling later overturned. These events have had a profound influence on AVFTB (A View From The Bridge), the settings for the play can be drawn from Millers younger years, the brooklyn terraces and the Dockyard, for example. Millers experience with the UAAC, especifically the threat of deportation, and his feelings for the immigrants themselves has helped Miller to create an involving storyline with more attention to detail than if he had not had them. This has made the most recent version of AVFTB a much larger success than the original version, criticised for its lack of emotional power. As the play begins, Alfieri is the first character on stage. He begins by introducing the situation in his community, describing the distrust of the Law felt by many of the immigrants from Sicily, describing it even as unfriendly. Then he states that Justice is important to the people of the community, suggesting that the Law has its limitations, and what people would call True Justice can often be against the law. As he is talking to Eddie in act Two he refers back to this limitation, saying that when the law is wrong, it is because it is un-natural, suggesting further that the law is not written correctly, and should, in his oppinion, be changed from what someone(Joe McCarthy? the Un-American Activities Council?) has decided should happen, to what has a right to happen. Even though he is a reasonably well educated man, as stated at the beginning of the script, and even with all his years of experience with the other petty squables of the poor he is still powerless to stop the train of events he can see forming, again presenting the idea that the law is not detailed enough to allow him to restrain Eddie. Eddie is the seccond main character on stage, and has a similar view on the law to Alfieri, twisted to suit his personal agenda, preventing Catherine from leaving him for another man. He expects Alfieri to be able to stop the marriage bettween Catherine and Rodolpho on circumstancial information that would not make a propper case anyway. Eddies base is that Rodolpho aint right, and is Homosexual, based on Rodolphos ability to sing, joke and sew. As Eddie finds Alfieri cannot and would not help him, he turns to the one option that may help him, the immigration beauro. This of course sets off the chain reaction in the close-knit italian community where they pride themselves on caring for immigrants causing Eddie to loose his name, and culminating in Marcos revenge, Eddies death. Catherines view on the law is not as blatant as that of the men, as is Beatrices, however they both fear Immigration, to the point of hate, however they place their faith in the law to protect Rodolpho once he has the promise of marriage from Catherine.  When he entered the country, Marco did not think of the law as THE LAW, more as vague rules that arent enforced, guidelines more than anything Where is the law? Is it in a book, is it written down?. He becomes disillusioned with the law as soon as he is taken in by the Immigration officers. He finally realises that the law is completely against him and that he will have to leave america again, and the money from his job in the dockyard will cease when Alfieri explains his situation directly to him. Marco then makes his decision to confront Eddie. Ironically, when Marco stabbed Eddie it was technically self defence, putting him on the correct side of the law. Rodolpho is in love with America from the minute he stepps off the boat, even stopping to comment of Eddies fairly plain terraced house And they said they were poor!. The law does not factor into his life untill the Immigration officers arrive. By this time he has a prommise of marriage from Catherine, so therefore the law does not apply to him. He simply carries on as normal.  Alfieri, being both a character and the narrator, has only a limited ammount of live stage time, and spends most of his stage time in voiced thought to the audience. His main function in the story is to represent the law, and reason. He seems to be playing Eddies good-concience, warning Eddie before he moves off to call immigration of the concequences. He also represents the remoteness of the law, with his seperate stage-area, and his interactions on stage only extending to Eddie. This means he is not viewing the whole picture from Marco and Rodolphos point of view. His reason helps him to understand their views, however not how to satisfy all parties involved, nor even to punish the guilty. He is also a dramatic devide, used to stimulate audience interest by describing the coming events so the audience will be able to concentrate on the tension and the route taken to arrive at the event without having to guess as to what will happen next, Predictive Narration.

Martians Go Home! :: essays research papers

Martians Go Home ! ... but take me with you ! (dissahc) undefined More... [Close] [Close] undefined SHORT LIST OF MARTIAN CHARACTERS IN THE STAGE WORLD (Venusians, Pans, Lizards and others also included) by Josh Nevada Below you see a list of Martian characters in the "Stage World". Martians : Martians in politics and power U.S. Government - Executive Branch Dick Cheney (U.S. Vice-President, former Secretary of Defense) Al Gore (U.S. Vice-President, 1992-2000) Warren Christopher (U.S. Secretary of State, 1993-1996) William Cohen (U.S. Secretary of Defense, Clinton Administration) Henry Kissinger (U.S. Secretary of State, Nixon Administration) Anthony Lake (U.S. national security advisor, 1993-1996) Richard Holbrooke (U.S. Representative to the U.N.) Frank Keating (Governor of Oklahoma) Andy Marshall (Pentagon's military advisor - Office of Net Assessment) A.B. "Buzzy" Krongard (Executive Director of CIA - CIA's No. 3) Robert Zoellick (U.S. Trade Representative) U.S. Senate Craig Thomas (U.S. Senator; R-Wyoming) Jim Inhofe (U.S. Senator; R-Oklahoma) Richard Shelby (U.S. Senator; R-Alabama) John Glenn (former U.S. Senator; astronaut) Learn more about their Committees assignments U.S. House of Representatives Edward R. Royce (U.S. Representative, R-California) Howard "Buck" McKeon (U.S. Representative, R-California) Lois Capps (U.S. Representative; D-California) Tom Lantos (U.S. Representative; D-California) Jim Leach (U.S. Representative; R-Iowa) Jerry Moran (U.S. Representative; R-Kansas) Anne Northup (U.S. Representative; R-Kentucky) Jo Ann Emerson (U.S. Representative; R-Missouri) Kenny Hulshof (U.S. Representative; R-Missouri) Michael R. McNulty (U.S. Representative; D-New York) Curt Weldon (U.S. Representative; R-Pennsylvania) John Thune (U.S. Representative; R-South Dakota) John J. Duncan, Jr. (U.S. Representative; R-Tennessee) William Jenkins (U.S. Representative; R-Tennessee) Tom Petri (U.S. Representative; R-Wisconsin) Learn more about their Committees assignments U.S. - Businessmen Michael Bloomberg (businessman, owner of the Bloomberg conglomerate) Steve Ballmer (CEO, Microsoft) British politicians Tony Blair (UK Prime Minister) Robin Cook (UK Foreign Secretary) Martin McGuinness (Northern Ireland's Education Minister, ex-IRA) Other countries Vladimir Putin (Russian Prime Minister) Gerhard Schroder (German Prime Minister) The Pope John Paul II Yukio Hatoyama (head of Japan's Democratic Party) Hugo Chavez (the President of Venezuela) Leonid Kuchma (the President of Ukraine) Martians in Hollywood (Who said Martians don't combine with entertainment ?) Mel Gibson Tom Hanks Meg Ryan Antonio Banderas Jean Claude Van Damme Ed Harris Michael Keaton Bill Paxton Gary Sinise Brendan Fraser (from "The Mummy", "Blast from the past") Goldie Hawn Eric Stoltz (from "Memphis Belle") Tom Hulce (protagonist of "Amadeus") Milla Jovovich (protagonist of "The Fifth Element") Natassja Kinski Catherine-Zeta Jones Uma Thurman Annete Benning Christopher Walken Denzel Washington Donald Sutherland Pat Morita (Miyagi, the Japanese master in "Karate Kid") Roger Moore Hutger Hauer (from "Blade Runner, "Crossworlds") Eric Idle (from British comedy group "Monty Phyton", now on Sony's TV show "Suddenly Susan") Malcom McDowell (from "Clockwork Orange", "Cat People") Ray Walston (Uncle Martin in the classic TV show "My Favorite Martian") James Stewart (protagonist of several Hitchcock movies)

William Butler Yeats Essay -- essays research papers

William Butler Yeats - An Irish poet, dramatist, and prose writer - Known for having intellectual and often obsucure poetry works - Quoted to be â€Å"one of the greatest English-language poets of the 20th century† - Even Received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923 o What was most recognizable about that fact is that he is famous for his lyrical poetic works that came after the prize - Yeats war born in 1865 in Dublin Yeats's childhood was broad in education and personal experiences. Yeats became a youth full of emotional contradictions. Spiritually, educationally, and personally, Yeats seemed to pull himself in different directions, unable to decide on a clear path. These internal contradictions would come to shape the writer and man that he would one day become. o Father was a lawyer turned painter o Art was no stranger in his family o But his religious views were His spiritual outlook played significant role in his life and his works. Born into a Protestant family, with a paternal grandfather and great-grandfather having been Anglican clergymen, religion was a constant presence in his childhood. Yeats began to abandon the religion of his Rationalist upbringing and made a new religion out of poetic tradition (Kunitz, 1560). "You know what the Englishman's idea of compromise is? He says, some people say there is a God. Some people say there is no God. The truth probably lies somewhere between these two statements." - In his youth he was very interested in the occult - stemming from his fascination with Irish folk stories and tales - Became increasingly interested Mysticism o Specifically, Reincarnation, communication with the dead, mediums, supernatural systems, and oriental mysticism  Much of his work was influenced by these factors  â€Å"The mystical life is the centre of all that I do and all that I think and all that I write† - 1886 Formed the Dublin Lodge of the... ...e witnessed this serene scene at Coole Park - The swans emphasize a fixed flow in the inconsistencies of time o â€Å"passion or conquest†  Question whether the swans take off for the passion of flight or simply for the spirit of adventure - Yeats makes the swans seem other worldly, existing inside his state of nostalgia - In the final lines, he expresses doubt for the first time o He seems to expect to find that the swans will have flown away one day and he will be left without the feelings of delight that they sinstill in him  Other ‘men’s eyes’ will enjoy their beauty †¢ Meaning that time will go on and some one else will simply take his place o The poem ends with a question which suggests that the poet is pondering not only what will happen in the future but also how he will feel then - This poem is filled with detailed imagery and an introspective steady theme of nostalgia

Negative Effects of Technology Essay

The advantages of technology are undeniable, electronic devices make our life much easier as we can save time and money when using them: cars, microwaves, mobile phones†¦ In contrast, there are a lot of disadvantages that we don’t take into account. The recession is not the only cause of unemployment: technology has enabled multinational companies to replace their workers with machines. This business process has created job redundancies and downsizing. In addition, local agencies and music stores have been forced to shut down since items are available online. Technology may have made communication quicker, easier and more convenient but it has also brought along privacy issues. People are now worried about their once private information becoming public knowledge. In order to feel secure at the work place is necessary to be in constant learning mode, as technology keeps on changing every day. There is always a new discovery or development that may be useful to make our job safer. Also, the more technology that we create the more technology that we dispose of. This problem is exponentially growing. Practically everyone has a cell phone which has a life span of about 3 or 4 years, when we replace them they are usually thrown into a big pile and released harmful agents into the environment. Related to cell phones, I have found 3 key points that explain how do they affect on humans health: 1. First of all, studies have not shown a consistent link between cell phone use and cancers of the brain, nerves, or other tissues of the head or neck. More research is needed because cell phone technology and how people use cell phones have been changing rapidly. 2. Nevertheless, you need to know that cell phones emit radiofrequency energy, a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, which can be absorbed by tissues closest to where the phone is held. 3. The amount of radiofrequency energy we are exposed to depends on the technology of the phone, the distance between the phone’s antenna and the user, the extent and type of use, and the userâ €™s distance from cell phone towers. Technology has also affected society in general. Even the fact that we can now communicate at any time anywhere may sound like a good thing, the fact remains that people do not interact personally with one another as often as they used to. This has affected the interaction between people as it has created a barrier in personable, face-to-face communication. As a result, there are certain habits that are losing relevance among people such as going out to play a basketball match or meeting a friend at a coffee shop. This is happening because people don’t feel the need to step outside of their home to find entertainment and fun. Technology is a privilege to have but interaction with other people is crucial, and being responsible for one’s actions and not letting technology rule our lives is very important too. I am not saying that all technology is bad or evil, but we do need to be careful that we don’t become slaves to our own creations. http://www.articleonlinedirectory.com/128143/the-negative-effects-of-advancing-technology-on-society.html http://www.buzzle.com/articles/negative-impact-of-technology.html http://www.articlesbase.com/science-articles/negative-effects-of-modern-day-technology-1106666.html Bibliography:  · Anon, 2009. Negative effects of modern day technology. Available at: http://www.articlesbase.com/science-articles/negative-effects-of-modern-day-technology-1106666.html [Accessed December 13, 2012].  · Aydan Corkern, 2009. The Negative Effects Of Advancing Technology On Society. Available at: http://www.articleonlinedirectory.com/128143/the-negative-effects-of-advancing-technology-on-society.html [Accessed December 14, 2012].  · Veethi Telang, 2011. Negative Impact of technology. Available at: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/negative-impact-of-technology.html [Accessed December 14, 2012].

Home Health Aide Competency Testing Essays

Home Health Aide Competency Testing Essays Home Health Aide Competency Testing Essay Home Health Aide Competency Testing Essay 17   1  W   Su   er  or  St   ee   73   . S   pe  io   tr   et   1   31  W. up   ri   r  S  re   t   Du  ut   ,  M   55   06   ul   th   N   58   6   D   lu  h,  MN   5   80   Ph   ne  21    ­7   1 ­Ã‚   73   Fa   21    ­7   3 ­Ã‚   49   ho   e  2   8 ­Ã‚   21  47   2  F   x 18  73    ­0   99   P   on   18  72    ­4   32   ax  2   8 ­Ã‚   33  04   9 Procedure: Home  Health  Aide  Competency  Testing ____________________________________________________________ ___________   Purpose:   To  ensure  that  all  employed  Home  Health  Aides  (HHA)  meet  minimum   standards  in  their  ability  to  perform  client  care  in  accordance  with  state  and   federal  guidelines. Registered  Nurses  with  two  (2)  years  of  experience,  one  (1)  year  of  which   is  in  home  care. Applies  To: Related  Procedures:   None   Equipment/Supplies:      Transfer  belt      Bed/equivalent      Wheelchair/equivalent      Thermometer      Stethoscope      BP  cuff      Personal  hygiene  supplies/equivalent      Bedpan/urinal      NLN  Home  Health  Aide  Skills  Assessment  Test      Home  Health  Aide  Competency  Evaluation  Record/Forms Process:   1. 2. 3. 4. Introduce  yourself  and  explain  the  purpose  of  competency  testing,  state  and  federal  laws   affecting  home  care,  and  the  forms  to  be  utilized. Have  participants  complete  Skills  Assessment  Test  (form  to  be  completed in  one  (1)  hour). After  completion  of  written  test,  test  scores  are  evaluated  and  pass/fail  determination  made   according  to  agency  guidelines. Review  agency  policies  which  include  but  not  limited  to:   a. b. Home  Care  Bill  of  Rights   Grievance  procedure  and  customer  feedback 17   1  W   Su   er  or  St   ee   73   . S   pe  io   tr   et   1   31  W. up   ri   r  S  re   t   Du  ut   ,  M   55   06   ul   th   N   58   6   D   lu  h,  MN   5   80   Ph   ne  21    ­7   1 ­Ã‚   73   Fa   21    ­7   3 ­Ã‚   49   ho   e  2   8 ­Ã‚   21  47   2  F   x 18  73    ­0   99   P   on   18  72    ­4   32   ax  2   8 ­Ã‚   33  04   9 . d. e . f. g. Emergency  policies  of  the  agency  ­ how  to  access  emergency  information  and  use   services   DNR/DNI  policies/advance  directives   Reporting  maltreatment  of  vulnerable  adults  or  minors   Inservice  requirements  (agency  and  employee  responsibilities)   Agency  policies  on  observations,  reporting  and  documentation. (Have  the   Participants  give  direct  examples  of  when  they  would  call  supervising  nurse,  and   appropriate  charting  examples)   Basic  infection  control  procedures. Have  the  participants  demonstrate  proper   hand  washing  technique,  explain  the  universal  precautions,  and  how  to  maintain   clean,  safe  environment. Confidentiality  principles   Medication  administration,  per  agency  policy   Individual  agency  competencies. h. i. j. k. 5. 6. During  the  participant’s  performance  of  all  skills,  assess  hand  washing  techniques,  body   mechanic  practices,  respect  for  the  client’s  privacy,  and  safety  awareness/intervention. Do  direct  observation  of  the  participant’s  techniques  in  performing  the  following  skills  in  a   laboratory  setting  or  in  the  client’s  home:   a. Reading  and  recording  temperature  (using  a  mercury  thermometer)   1. Wash  hands   2. Read  mercury  level  and  if  97. 6,  shake  thermometer  until  mercury  reads 96. 0  degrees  F   3. Place  thermometer  under  tongue  in  posterior  sublingual  pocket   4. Have  the  client  hold  the  thermometer  with  lips  closed   5. Maintain  thermometer  position  for  two  to  three  minutes  (five  minutes   6. for  axillary)   7. Remove  thermometer  and  read  at  eye  level   8. Wash  thermometer  in  tepid  soapy  water  or  use  antiseptic  solution   9. Record  temperature  on  flow  sheet   10. Report  abnormal  findings. Assess  participant’s  knowledge  of  normal  range,  how  and  where  to  document   findings,  and  how  long  to  leave  thermometer  in  place. b. Taking  a  radial  pulse:   1. Wash  hands 17   1  W   Su   er  or  St   ee   73   . S   pe  io   tr   et   1   31  W. up   ri   r  S  re   t   Du  ut   ,  M   55   06   ul   th   N   58   6   D   lu  h,  MN   5   80   Ph   ne  21    ­7   1 ­Ã‚   73   Fa   21    ­7   3 ­Ã‚   49   ho   e  2   8 ­Ã‚   21  47   2  F   x 18  73    ­0   99   P   on   18  72    ­4   32   ax  2   8 ­Ã‚   33  04   9 2. Place  tips  of  first  two  or  three  middle  fingers  over  groove  along  radial  side   of  inner  wrist   3. Lightly  compress  against  radius  and  then  relax  pressure  so  pulse  easily   palpable   4. When  pulse  felt  regularly,  use  watch  with  second  hand  to  count  rate  for  15   seconds  and  multiply  times  four   5. If  pulse  irregular,  count  for  a  full  minute   6. Document  findings   Assess  participant’s  knowledge  of  normal  values,  when  and  what  to  report  and   how  long  to  count. c. Checking  respiratory  rate:   1. Wash  hands   2. Position  the  client  for  comfort  with  visibility  of  the  client’s  chest  or  place   hand  on  upper  abdomen  or  lower  chest   3. Count  respiration’s  for  30  seconds  and  multiply  times  two   4. If  irregular,  slow  or  fast,  count  for  a  full  minute   5. Document  findings   Assess  the  participant’s  knowledge  of  normal  range  and  when  and  what  to  report. d. Bathing  a  client  in  bed:   1. Gather  equipment  and  wash  hands   2. Remove  clothing  and  cover  the  client  with  a  blanket  or  towel  for  privacy   3. Fill  basin  with  water  and  check  temperature  using  inner  wrist  (warm  not  hot)

Does Mills principle of liberty forbid redistributive tax essays

Does Mill's principle of liberty forbid redistributive tax essays Does Mills principle of liberty forbid redistributive taxation? Would it make the principle more acceptable or less acceptable if it did? Mills first maxim in On Liberty is a persons right to complete freedom over their self regarding actions. He repeatedly tells us that an individuals freedom to do and think as he pleases is an absolute right which should not be interfered with through legal or moral coercion unless the action is causing harm to others The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others Surely any form of taxation is violating peoples right to liberty, as they are having the freedom of choice taken away from them. Surely even taxation as a form of showing societys disapproval of consumption of a certain good such as alcohol is coming very close to breaking his idea of absolute freedom over actions which only affect the consumer. Mill writes that the taxation of goods which are positively injurious to the consumer are justified. He justifies this assertion on a few grounds; he says this is a way of expressing societys disapproval of certain actions. The state while it permits should nevertheless indirectly discourage conduct which it deems contrary to the best interests of the agent There are many ways in which society can show its disapproval of an action, Mill normally suggest this should be done by allowing free speech so that people can discuss and advise people on matters. It doesnt seem to me that taxation can be reconciled with his maxim of liberty on the ground of showing societys disapproval. Mill does say that some taxation is necessary in order to run the government and law courts something he says is necessary for any civilised society. On the ground that some level of taxation is necessary for society to work as w...

The Evolution of the Farm Tractor

The Evolution of the Farm Tractor The first engine-powered farm tractors used steam and were introduced in 1868. These engines were built as small road locomotives and were handled by one operator if the engine weighed less than 5 tons. They were used for general road haulage and in particular by the timber trade. The most popular steam tractor was the Garrett 4CD. Gasoline Powered Tractors According to the book Vintage Farm Tractors by Ralph W. Sanders, Credit goes to the Charter Gasoline Engine Company of Sterling in Illinois for first successfully using gasoline as fuel. Charters creation of a gasoline-fueled engine in 1887 soon led to early gasoline traction engines before the term tractor was coined by others. Charter adapted its engine to a Rumley steam-traction-engine chassis and in 1889 produced six of the machines to become one of the first working gasoline traction engines. John Froelich Sanders book Vintage Farm Tractors also discusses several other early gas-powered tractors. This includes one invented by John Froelich, a custom Thresherman from Iowa who decided to try gasoline power for threshing. He mounted a Van Duzen gasoline engine on a Robinson chassis and rigged his own gearing for propulsion. Froelich used the machine successfully to power a threshing machine by belt during his fifty-two day harvest season of 1892 in South Dakota. The Froelich tractor, forerunner of the later Waterloo Boy tractor, is considered by many to be the first successful gasoline tractor known. Froelichs machine fathered a long line of stationary gasoline engines and, eventually, the famous John Deere two-cylinder tractor. William Paterson J.I. Cases first pioneering efforts at producing a gas traction engine date back to 1894, or maybe earlier to when William Paterson of Stockton, California came to Racine to make an experimental engine for Case. Case ads in the 1940s, harking back to the firms history in the gas tractor field, claimed 1892 as the date for Patersons gas traction engine, though patent dates suggest 1894. The early machine ran, but not well enough to be produced. Charles Hart and Charles Parr Charles W. Hart and Charles H. Parr began their pioneering work on gas engines in the late 1800s while studying mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. In 1897, the two men formed the Hart-Parr Gasoline Engine Company of Madison. Three years later, they moved their operation to Harts hometown of Charles City, Iowa, where they received financing to make gas traction engines based on their innovative ideas. Their efforts led them to erect the first factory in the United States dedicated to the production of gas traction engines. Hart-Parr is also credited with coining the word tractor for machines that had previously been called gas traction engines. The firms first tractor effort, Hart-Parr No.1, was made in 1901. Ford Tractors Henry Ford produced his first experimental gasoline-powered tractor in 1907 under the direction of chief engineer Joseph Galamb. Back then, it was referred to as an automobile plow and the name tractor was not used. After 1910, gasoline powered tractors were used extensively in farming. Frick Tractors The Frick Company was located in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. George Frick started his business in 1853 and built steam engines well into the 1940s. The Frick Company was also well known for sawmills and refrigeration units.

Abortion law and policy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Abortion law and policy - Term Paper Example The issue of abortion has been one of the most controversial topics of all times in the American history.Abortion is a global issue that has attracted diversified opinion across people based on culture and political affiliationsVarious states have developed different legislations on abortion; this has created lack of uniformity in handling of abortion cases. Most of the legislations have focused on reducing induced abortion, its advocates have had two lines of thoughts which have kept on changing with time. There are those who have stood by the ‘pro-life’ concept while others ‘pro-choice’. In addition, states have also begun to consider the issue of spontaneous abortion. Despite the anti-abortion laws, there several cases of abortion that continues to be experienced across the country. American laws on abortion have a long history, dating back in 19th Century. Individual states in America started making legislation about abortion, as incidences of abortion w ere becoming noticeable (Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada 2). . The states of Connecticut was one of the pioneers in legislating on abortion related issue where they made a law that was to prosecute apothecaries who were selling poison to women, a situation that led to abortion. Other states followed suit including the New York City. It is notable that the laws adopted by the United States at independence were based on the British Common Law, it was clear from the law that life began at conception and all should protect its dignity. At the beginning of the 20th Century, abortion was considered a felony across all the states. It was a criminal offense punishable in a court of law. A landmark ruling in a case by the Supreme Court allowing the use of contraceptives changed the view of abortion. They had declared that life began at conception that takes place after implantation and not after fertilization, as was the original view. This led to the era of use of contraceptives as a bi rth control method. The debate continued with various groups in support of legalization of abortion in some circumstances while, there are those who thought it should be completely legalized. One famous notorious group called Jane initiated an abortion program that facilitated those who wanted to have abortion around 1960s. The states began slowly changing the legislations, becoming soft on the issue of abortion. The first state to legalize abortion was the state of Colorado; however, it was not permitted under all circumstances, but in the cases on incest, rape, or situations where the pregnancy would subject the woman to a chronic condition. Following the regulations pressure from the activists made other states to begin embracing abortion. Other states that followed include North Carolina, Oregon, New York City, Alaska, Washington and California. The legislations went further to include the request of the mother to have abortion legalized, this first began in Alaska around 1970. The Supreme Court was again called to intervene in a case United States versus Vuitch, they established that when the law talks about health it includes psychological as well as physical well being (Gruskin 1). This created an avenue for abortion to be adopted. Several states upheld abortion as illegal while there are those who set conditions for the legalization of abortion. The states of Alabama and Massachusetts allowed abortion under all conditions of the safety of mother and her health while Mississippi only allowed under the circumstances of incest and rape. In the recent past abortion has been at the centre of legislations in some of the American states. An attempt to ban abortion in Mississippi flouted after there was disagreements between the Senate and the House, the bill had initially been given a go ahead by the House Public Health committee, this demonstrates the path that the states are taking in reversing the abortion issues. In another case, a pro-life statute was si gned into law by the South Dakota governor and was

Journal #2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Journal #2 - Assignment Example It is a symbol of family unity, a bond uniting me and my grandmother, and consequently my great grandfather. It is a golden necklace whose value indicates that it was a treasure that has to be passed-on the family line, an indication that the family relationship is valued and treasured. The leather wallet given to me by my uncle during my 12th birthday remains another valued artifact for me. The wallet has my names inscribed on it, and it is made up of pure leather. My uncle ordered it as a birthday gift for me when I was turning 12 years old, and it has remained the favorite of all my possessions, more so because it has my name on it. The significance of this artifact is that it gives me my identity, my name. Whenever I have the wallet with me, I feel that I have something that identifies with me, with my name. It signifies that presents and gifts can make a real impact on the life of an individual. The photograph of me, my sister and our friends at the train station when we were young, is another artifact that I value. The photograph was taken when we were young, during our migration journey to our new home. It was taken when my sister was crying at the train station, when we were waiting to board a train, because she did not like the idea of moving from our previous residence to our new home. She was sad, since she was leaving all her friends behind, and we were trying to console her. The significance of this artifact is that it reminds me of our childhood, when were so close with my sister. It brings back the beautiful memories of our life in our previous residence, where we lived closely with our neighbors since the residences were not spacious, and all families integrated as though they were one big family. It is an artifact signifying social integration that is rarely possible these days. My friend gave me a painting when I was graduating from high school, which has always reminded me of our friendship. Many

2006 New York Housing Market Bubble Research Paper

2006 New York Housing Market Bubble - Research Paper Example Subsequently, the rapid increases lead to decreases in home values and mortgage debt charge that exceeds worth of property. Housing bubbles are usually identified after a market correction since house bubbles do not burst the way stock markets do. A housing bubble can occur when there is excess demand in housing with the supply that does not increase. There was a housing market bubble in New York that reached its climax in 2006. The housing bubble was attributed to rise in subprime lending, poor policies, poor taxation, emergence of new lenders, underwriters and mortgage brokers and credit raters. The housing bubble in New York took a period of ten years before it was realized. Because of the housing bubble in New York, the consumers, lenders and the entire economy were affected. The bubble was identified in New York by housing prices rising faster than the consumer prices, which was attributed to the increased demand for houses and a non-increasing supply side in housing (Frank, 200 9). Housing Market Bubble and New York City economy in 2006 During a housing boom, there is a substantial rise in real output as investment in houses and their related investments increases. There tends to be more jobs in the housing sector, and the investment gives out more economic output. Of course, the assets for extra housing activity have to be generated from somewhere, which means less activity for the other sectors of economy than it could have otherwise occurred. On bursting of a housing boom, new housing begins to fall, and the process is reversed. Another aspect of house pricing that affect the economy is that of household wealth effect and the related consumption. In times when house price increases, owners of houses for investments become wealthier and in the end increase their consumption spending since consumption is dependent on a person’s wealth. The wealthier an individual becomes, the more he has the willing power to consume and thus, the more he will consu me (Frank, 2009). The New York economy experienced changes due to the housing bubble. Before the market bubble came to be realized in the year 2006, the revenues related to real estates had increased tremendously, but with the housing market bubble, the revenues collected in the form of taxes from the real estates decreased drastically. The decrease in tax revenues could be attributed to the weaknesses in carrying out the housing transactions. There was a decrease in the growth of GDP since it grew at a lower level from the previous years. Private investments fell to 3.3% with a considerable increase in all sectors of private investments, but investments in inventories decreased significantly (Wiedemer, 2006). Consumer spending was highly affected by the housing bubble. As the mortgage interest rates rose, the consumption spending was decreased. However, since the interest rates rose slowly and the corresponding wealth effect was not random, the overall effect on the economy was not immediate, but took time before it could be noticed. An attempt to determine the value of houses rated NYC housing value as being 25% above the sustainable level. Usually, the reduced consumer spending may be because of the consumers not having trust in the housing investments, where they experienced a mix up of prices; price increases and price reductions. The consumers felt less wealthy after the bubble burst and they responded by cutting back spending (Wiedemer, 2006). During times of house bubbling, there were an increased number of brokers and underwriters, these made the real estate trade become easier with their role in shortening the transactions between purchasers and sellers of real

The Effectiveness of Tanglewoods Recruitment Strategy Case Study

The Effectiveness of Tanglewoods Recruitment Strategy - Case Study Example According to the research findings it can therefore be comprehended that Tanglewood is undoubtedly one of the rapidly growing merchandise in the US and its need to provide efficient and reliable means of recruitment cannot be over emphasized. According to the management of the expansive merchandise, the different satellite branches enjoys the autonomy of devising their own peculiar methods of running the affairs of the merchandise provided their exist resonance in the management team. One of the issues that remain a challenge to the highly prolific merchandised firm is the ability to identify plethora of recruitment methods and within them opt for the most cost effective and at the same time objective, rational and reliable. The merchandise firm having progressively emerged from a simple firm located within confined region to a complex one with branches in other areas initially not intended, there is reasonable understanding of what recruitment method is sound with regard to the thei r dealing. Having recruited thousands of employees from junior levels to the management level since 1975, the firm is much endowed with the skills to select competitive individuals who can easily acclimatize to their dynamic and quick responsive to their clients demand using the least resources. The firm for all the recruitment it does have documented the material facts which includes the total recruit and the cost of recruiting the staffs. This paper critically observes the data and identifies the effectiveness of the methods that have been used to obtain the required human resource. The table below shows the cost of doing recruitment applied by the firm Fixed cost (cost of set up per site in $) Media 10,000 Referral 10,000 Kiosk 40,000 Job service 10,000 Agency 50,000 Variable costs ($) Material cost per applicant 10 10 1 5 10 Processing cost per applicant 30 30 30 15 30 Additional pre-hire cost 20 120 20 - 20 Orientation and training 2,000 2,000 2,000 1,000 1,000 From the table a bove, the cost of each method of recruitment can then be quantified the effectiveness is not only pegged on the cost. The cheaper the cost is no reflection of the effectiveness since it can give recruits that would demand more in terms of induction and training. The effectiveness of a method is a consideration of all the parameters involved in the recruitment and the efficacy of the recruited persons to provide the intended roles with little training thereafter. In terms of the cost in a snapshot, recruitment through Agency remains the most demanding in terms of resources standing at $5,160 while that through job service remains the most cost effective standing at $1,120. Effectiveness of each Method of Recruitment Media Besides being cost effective in the recruitment process, the use of media also reaches a large pool of people from which the firm can enjoys the need to sieve the applicant and retain the best of the applicants. Media application also reduces the span of time requir ed to process the interview as part of the interview can be done without close attendance by the management as in the automated voice interview (Noe, 2006). Referrals Referrals is also one of the cheapest methods of recruitment, it relieves the company’s management from the tedious process of going through the whole process of recruitment. It also imbibes into the employees a sense of belonging and they feel they are part of the management team (Noe, 2006). This has a positive effect in the discharge of their duties as they will be more enthusiastic to work with profound zeal. Kiosk The kiosks as a means of recruitment is seen to be costly in the initial stages but in the subsequent recruitments, they are much cost effective since the kiosk machine can serves it purpose for a long time with just little maintenance cost. It does not only save on the cost of recruitment but also reduces the time spent by the management going

Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

Education - Essay Example After the final work, you will find the areas in your work I edited. The ideas I added are typed in RED to make you spot the new additions. I have also attached one more article that I used. If your teacher requests for it, you may provide it to him. Thank you and hoping we work again in the nearest future since my field is Education. Isaac #72032 TUI UNIVERSITY Grear Dale III MAE 515 MOD 3 SLP Dr. Xiaoying Wu February 21, 2011 Texas Public School System Education is an important aspect of society. In the view of Goer (2007), education has an enormous impact on the human society. It trains the human mind to think and take the right decision. To this effect, human is regarded as a rational being and distinguished from other animals when he is educated to take control of himself and over the environment around him. Education therefore equips humankind with the knowledge to take charge over his immediate environment and make it suitable for his existence. It is for the reason of this im mense impact of education that States all over the world adapt educational systems that will be most suitable to the needs of its citizens and help solve the immediate problems of its people. To ensure that the adapted educational system meets the expectation of society, there are systems put in place to check for success and progress of the entire educational system. Checking for success of the educational system includes checking whether the curriculum answers the most immediate perturbing issues of society and whether stakeholders in the educational system; including students and teachers are living up to the standards of the educational system. The system that is used for checking whether the educational system is up to standard is commonly referred to as assessment. In the State of Texas, the public school system is one of the most esteemed forms of education. Texas’ public school system continues to use a variety of assessments in which to evaluate curriculum and teache rs/instructors. Assessments are conducted by students in determining where their school ranks within districts throughout the state. The rankings are not always used in a positive manner. Some assessments are in an attempt to solicit student enrollment into certain school districts. The State of Texas’ overall intent for its ranking procedure and policies is also used to promote schools as Magnet schools, which is a positive step to improve student outcomes. Magnet schools throughout the state of Texas receive much more funding regular schools. It focuses on special funding for special programs and compensation to teachers/instructors who deliver their curriculum to a certain standard. It is noticeable that the typical standard school receives far less funding and therefore students are less likely to receive the same standard of education. The intent of this analysis is to compare certification programs and evaluation requirements for teachers as well as students within the state of Texas school districts. What is a Magnet School? The article â€Å"Public School Review,† suggest that the difference between a Magnet and regular public schools â€Å"is that they usually have something special to offer over a regular school, which makes attending Magnet schools an attractive choice to many students, thereby increasing the diversity of the student population within them.† (Chen, 2007) Students who are privileged to enroll in Magnet schools

The Effectiveness of Tanglewoods Recruitment Strategy Case Study

The Effectiveness of Tanglewoods Recruitment Strategy - Case Study Example According to the research findings it can therefore be comprehended that Tanglewood is undoubtedly one of the rapidly growing merchandise in the US and its need to provide efficient and reliable means of recruitment cannot be over emphasized. According to the management of the expansive merchandise, the different satellite branches enjoys the autonomy of devising their own peculiar methods of running the affairs of the merchandise provided their exist resonance in the management team. One of the issues that remain a challenge to the highly prolific merchandised firm is the ability to identify plethora of recruitment methods and within them opt for the most cost effective and at the same time objective, rational and reliable. The merchandise firm having progressively emerged from a simple firm located within confined region to a complex one with branches in other areas initially not intended, there is reasonable understanding of what recruitment method is sound with regard to the thei r dealing. Having recruited thousands of employees from junior levels to the management level since 1975, the firm is much endowed with the skills to select competitive individuals who can easily acclimatize to their dynamic and quick responsive to their clients demand using the least resources. The firm for all the recruitment it does have documented the material facts which includes the total recruit and the cost of recruiting the staffs. This paper critically observes the data and identifies the effectiveness of the methods that have been used to obtain the required human resource. The table below shows the cost of doing recruitment applied by the firm Fixed cost (cost of set up per site in $) Media 10,000 Referral 10,000 Kiosk 40,000 Job service 10,000 Agency 50,000 Variable costs ($) Material cost per applicant 10 10 1 5 10 Processing cost per applicant 30 30 30 15 30 Additional pre-hire cost 20 120 20 - 20 Orientation and training 2,000 2,000 2,000 1,000 1,000 From the table a bove, the cost of each method of recruitment can then be quantified the effectiveness is not only pegged on the cost. The cheaper the cost is no reflection of the effectiveness since it can give recruits that would demand more in terms of induction and training. The effectiveness of a method is a consideration of all the parameters involved in the recruitment and the efficacy of the recruited persons to provide the intended roles with little training thereafter. In terms of the cost in a snapshot, recruitment through Agency remains the most demanding in terms of resources standing at $5,160 while that through job service remains the most cost effective standing at $1,120. Effectiveness of each Method of Recruitment Media Besides being cost effective in the recruitment process, the use of media also reaches a large pool of people from which the firm can enjoys the need to sieve the applicant and retain the best of the applicants. Media application also reduces the span of time requir ed to process the interview as part of the interview can be done without close attendance by the management as in the automated voice interview (Noe, 2006). Referrals Referrals is also one of the cheapest methods of recruitment, it relieves the company’s management from the tedious process of going through the whole process of recruitment. It also imbibes into the employees a sense of belonging and they feel they are part of the management team (Noe, 2006). This has a positive effect in the discharge of their duties as they will be more enthusiastic to work with profound zeal. Kiosk The kiosks as a means of recruitment is seen to be costly in the initial stages but in the subsequent recruitments, they are much cost effective since the kiosk machine can serves it purpose for a long time with just little maintenance cost. It does not only save on the cost of recruitment but also reduces the time spent by the management going

Marketing plan for topps tiles for 2009 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marketing plan for topps tiles for 2009 - Essay Example The additional spending it had made on a national level TV advertisement campaign coupled with the inflationary trends have resulted in the increased gross expenditure of 43 percent of the total revenue, while it was only 41 percent the last year. On the basic earning reported per share, the results showed a reduction of about 16.5 percent (Topps tile , 2007). But initiatives are being taken to position Topps tiles as the most favoured brand through different customer relationships initiatives, advertisements and also variety of social outreach programmes. The marketing plan for the Topp tiles have been prepared after a very careful analysis of current market position and anticipated growth for the current year. The plans would include all the possible stakeholders in the business of tiles. They are the customers, builders association in UK and also other business players targeting similar set of customer needs. The primary approach is to create a wide range of product choices that would make the customer with excellent choices and hence the purchase could be completed for the choice expected by them. The broad distribution of buyers are shown in the figure 1. Innovative strategies are adopted for the effective marketing of Topp tiles across U K and Holland. The emphasis would be on strengthening the existing customer base at the current sales locations and hence concentrate more to stabilize the leadership position in the tile segment. In one of the important plans proposed, the effort is given to motivate a buyer to have more purchases in the period even though the market studies have shown the prevailing tendency among the customers as to reduce the buying choices to the most minimum levels. Hence, it is to be planned that every prospective customer need to be motivated to have a higher volume of choices, which could

Nutrition Final Paper Essay Example for Free

Nutrition Final Paper Essay Question 1 (3 pts): Clients will often approach the RD, bewildered as to how to select, plan, and prepare a healthy diet for themselves or their families. Using yourself as an example, discuss the six basic principles of diet planning and how they apply to your dietary intake. Answer 1: Preparing and eating health meals for me and my family can be difficult with our busy schedule, but it starts with a plan. Using the 6 principles of diet planning I start with adequacy. I accomplish this by writing out a grocery list of all the things my family will need for the week. I also shop weekly because we prefer fresh fruit and vegetables. Next, I make sure we have an even balance of foods. I write out meal plans for the week to make sure my family has an even items of food and also a variety of foods. This can be very challenging with young picky kids, because my son would just eat fruit and oatmeal all day long if I let him. Variety is really hard in the Parker home because of the limited food choices do to my husband intolerance to red meats and dairy products. I also struggle because my favorite food list consists of about 10 different kinds of foods. We dont really have problems with the nutrient density because we only eat lean proteins such as fish, turkey, and chicken. My husband cannot tolerate fatty food so we dont fry, and we enjoy a fixed variety of fruits and vegetables. I do not pay attention to calorie content unless it is a prepackaged food you heat up or add water to, but I do make sure what Im putting into my families bodies is enough to keep them going for the day. Moderation is the last of the principles and a big one in my house. When cooking we do not add extra salt for taste nor do we consume foods with high trans fat, saturated fat,or cholesterol. Water is also the most consumed beverage. Soda has no home in my pantry, but we do elect for juices that are not made from concentrate. Question 2 (2 pts): Discuss the key recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 and differentiate these guidelines from the Canadian Guidelines for Healthy Eating. Do you have a preference as to which one you would use with clients? Answer 2: The dietary guidelines for Americans in 2010 have 4 main points. Starting with balancing calories to manage weight. With in this section it talks about how to maintain calorie control,intake,and balance. Also, is talks about physical activity and keeping active to maintain a healthy weight. In the Canadian guidelines it has in own section for keeping active and doing it in accordance to your body weight, but it really doesnt touch on calorie balance or intake. Next, the American guidelines touches on foods to reduce from your diet. Focuses limiting sodium, saturated, mono and poly saturated,cholesterol ,trans fats,added sugars,refined grains,and alcohol. Whereas Canadian guidelines really just focus a lot on salt intake, alcohol, and caffeine. Next American guidelines talks about food to increase. Included in this list is fruits, vegetables, fat free dairy, lean proteins, seafood, and foods that have more vitamins within them. The Canadian guidelines emphasis consuming a variety of complex carbs and foods from the earth. Also, incorporating low fat dairy products as part of a daly routine. Although, both will guide the average person to a healthier lifestyle I would refer my clients to the American guidelines because it goes in to more depth of how to live healthier. Question 3 (3 pts): MyPyramid is a popular graphic source for nutrition information. In fact, it is so popular that it has been duplicated as a graphic for exercise information, vegetarian diets, etc. Given its popularity, it would appear that MyPyramid is the best pictorial to teach consumers nutritional information. Would you agree or disagree? Why? After you have stated your own personal argument, consider the other perspective and discuss why someone would take this perspective. Answer 3: I believe MyPyramid is a great way to teach consumers nutritional information, but I disagree thats it is the best way. The people who need these guidelines the most are most likely ones who do not take the time to get on the Internet and use the tools that MyPyramid has to offer. I dont think it properly educates people on the right food choices in each group. Education on nutrient density is a lacking component when using MyPyramid. I also believe that the MyPyramid is lacking in teaching balance of healthy foods. It seems like they stress certain foods more than others and thus creating unhealthy habits for individuals not properly understanding their nutrition needs. Question 4 (3 pts) : Food manufacturing and technology continue to grow in sophistication. While one can certainly debate about the pros and cons of such growth, there is no doubt that consumers are often confused about the different labels given to the different types of processed foods! (a) In a few sentences, describe each of the following: fortified, refined, enriched, whole grain, and textured vegetable protein. (b) What are your thoughts on how these types of foods fit into the diet of the American consumer? Question 4 a) Refined foods are highly processed that have been stripped of their original nutrient content such as white flour and white pasta. Enriched foods add vitamins and minerals to replace the ones lost in the refining process. Fortified foods add vitamins and nutrients in addition to the ones found before the refining process. Question 5 (3 pts): To fully gain command of their dietary intake, consumers should know how to read food labels. Many find reading food labels very confusing. Why do you personally believe that consumers find food labels hard to read? Describe how you, if you were an RD, would educate your client on reading a food label. What do you think would be your priority point of education for your client? Question 6 (5 pts): As noted in your readings, describing a vegetarian diet is somewhat like describing a typical American diet; there are many varieties. Please describe the types of vegetarian diets one might come into contact with and provide a short synopsis on the food plan that would be followed. Question 7 (3 pts): Discuss the rationale why consumers/clients select to pursue a vegetarian dietary plan as well as the health benefits of following a vegetarian diet. Question 8 (3 pts): Discuss nutrients that an RD should be careful to assess for and discuss with a client pursuing a vegetarian program to ensure that their dietary plan allows for sufficient quantities of that nutrient.

Global Health and Issues in Disease Prevention

Global Health and Issues in Disease Prevention Application: The â€Å"Haves† and â€Å"Have Nots†: Why Are There Disparities? Bernard F. Richards Describe two health outcomes for which India and China have had different experiences in the last half century. It has long been an observation that socio-economic status influences health outcomes. Wilkinson and Pickett (2010) explain that the majority of health-related and social problems that plague nations and even sub-populations within nations are largely influenced by societal inequities (p. 173). Essentially, societies than have greater levels of inequity tend to have inferior health and social standings. This principle has been demonstrated by India and China which are nations with vast populations and shared influence from challenges brought on by globalization and urbanization. However, growing societal inequities in India served as the basis for recent dissimilarity in health status for citizens of said countries. The difference in health status of both countries can be seen in several health outcomes. According to Dummera and Cook (2008), both China and India experience similar infectious and chronic illnesses, the burden and prevalence of infectious maladies are significantly higher in India (p. 590). In India, the most common source of mortality is infectious and parasitic illnesses. Conversely, most deaths in China are secondary to chronic illnesses such as cancers. For every 1000 deaths in China, cancer is responsible for 119.7 of them. In India, this number lies at 71 out of every 1000 for cancers however, infectious causes of death lies at 420 out of every 1000 deaths (Dummera Cook, 2008, pp. 591-592). Chinese, both males and females, enjoy higher superior life expectancy at birth as compared to their Indian counterparts. In China, life expectancies for males and females in 2004 were 70.4 and 73.7 years respectively. On the other hand, that for Indian males and females was found to be male 63.3 and 64.8 years respectively. In general, China is found to be superior in almost all aspects of health-related demographics. China has better birth, mortality, fertility, and literacy rates. Additionally, there are more physicians and physical spaces within hospitals and other health facilities in China. This offers better service delivery and access to health services that are offered. These statistics suggests significant differences in policies and strategies to counteract sources of ill-health and brings to the fore the importance of social equality in ensuring population health (Dummera Cook, 2008, p. 592). Explain the reasons for the disparities noted. As previously mentioned previously, infectious diseases account for the vast majority of deaths in India as compared to chronic diseases in China. The contrast becomes even more apparent as infectious illnesses are general considered diseases of poverty. Chronic illnesses, on the other hand, are dubbed diseases of affluence. One explanation for this disparity between both nations is the difference in societal development. India has experienced less development which serves as a catalyst for population vulnerability. People live in more unhealthy environments which have been proved to increase the risk of communicable illnesses. China has experienced greater positive development which has diminished levels of social and health-related vulnerability. Chinese people are essentially living longer which predisposes to chronic conditions related to lifestyle behaviors and increased life expectancy. Additionally, the Chinese authorities have enforced strict limitations on reproduction and p opulation growth (Dummera Cook, 2008, pp. 590-592) Social division and inequality also accounts for health disparities in both countries. There is present in India a caste system called ‘jati’ which is based on segregation, marginalization and social stratification. At the summit of the social hierarchy is the Brahmins class (Priests) followed by the Kshatriyas (Warriors and rulers), Vaisyas (skilled workers, merchants, minor officials), Sudras (unskilled workers), and Pariah (outcasts, untouchables) in descending order. Hearne (2014) explains that as we progress down the caste hierarchy, social inequity and discrimination increases. An individual’s educational status, income and consequently health status are all dependent on the caste he is in. This system is culturally and historically entrenched in Indian way of life, society and even religion. This ‘legal’ segregation and discrimination has resulted in members of the society put at increased health risks as they lack the socio-economic wherewitha l to access health care and protect themselves against the negative social determinants of health. China’s people enjoy greater social equity which has been a major influence in decreasing health disparities in this territory. Describe the experience for those outcomes in Kerala and suggest reasons for why they are similar or different from the rest of India. The dynamic nature of health can be illustrated by Kerala which is a state in India. It is quite impressive to observe the wide disparity in this sub-population of India as compared to the country in general. Residents of Kerala experienced superior life expectancies when compared to the rest of the nation. Males and females in Kerala are expected to live for 71.67 years and 75.00 years respectively. In essence, Keralans live approximately 9 years more than the average Indian. Infant mortality rate is 68 per 1000 live births in the general Indian population while that for Kerala is 14 (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 2014). Mukherjee et al. (2011) further explains that Kerala demonstrates higher educational and income levels as well as birth, mortality, fertility, and literacy rates when compared to other Indian states (p. 2). According to Dilip (2002), Kerala has higher morbidity but less mortality rates when compared to other states. This phenomenon is due to higher life exp ectancies and increasing levels of chronic illnesses. Communicable diseases however, are found to be less prevalent than chronic illnesses in this sub-population. The differences in health outcomes when comparing Kerala to other Indian states is largely due to lower levels of inequality in educational attainment, health and social standing in spite of lower income levels (Mukherjee et al., 2011, p. 2). Although the caste system is present within Kerala, social discrimination is less pervasive. Kerala’s robust communist movement and policies directed to promote welfare has contributed. Greater social equity has resulted in greater access to health care and improved health statuses. This is evidence that removing social inequities has a positive influence on the social determinants of health. This lesson can undoubtedly benefit all nations as the world strives to achieve better health outcomes for this generation and those to come. References Dilip, T. R. (2002). Understanding levels of morbidity and hospitalization in Kerala, India. Retrieved from http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?pid=S0042-96862002000900012script=sci_arttext Dummera, T. J. B. Cook, I. G. (2008). Health in China and India: A cross-country comparison in a context of rapid globalization. Social Science Medicine, 67, 590–605 Hearne, T. (2014). Indias social justice minister says Christians do not deserve special caste. Retrieved from http://www.christiandaily.com/article/indias.social.justice.minister.says.christians.do.not.deserve.special.caste/49363.htm Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India. (2014). Life expectancy and infant mortality rates for selected Indian states. Retrieved from http://infochangeindia.org/women/statistics/life-expectancy-and-infant-mortality-rates-for-selected-indian-states.html Mukherjee, S., Haddad, S. Narayana, D. (2011). Social class related inequalities in household health expenditure and economic burden: Evidence from Kerala, south India. International Journal for Equity in Health, 10(1), 1-13. Wilkinson, R., Pickett, K. (2010). The spirit level: Why greater equality makes societies stronger. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Press.

Effects of the WWII Atomic Bombs :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Effects of the WWII Atomic Bombs Two Sources When the atomic bomb went off over Hiroshima on Aug. 6th, 1945, 70,000 lives were ended in a flash. To the American people who were weary from the long and brutal war, such a drastic measure seemed a necessary, even righteous way to end the madness that was World War II. However, the madness had just begun. That August morning was the day that heralded the dawn of the nuclear age, and with it came more than just the loss of lives. According to Archibald MacLeish, a U.S. poet, "What happened at Hiroshima was not only that a scientific breakthrough . . . had occurred and that a great part of the population of a city had been burned to death, but that the problem of the relation of the triumphs of modern science to the human purposes of man had been explicitly defined." The entire globe was now to live with the fear of total annihilation, the fear that drove the cold war, the fear that has forever changed world politics. The fear is real, more real today than ever, for the ease at which a nuclear bomb is achieved in this day and age sparks fear in the hearts of most people on this planet. According to General Douglas MacArthur, "We have had our last chance. If we do not devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door." The decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japanese citizens in August, 1945, as a means to bring the long Pacific war to an end was justified-militarily, politically and morally. The goal of waging war is victory with minimum losses on one's own side and, if possible, on the enemy's side. No one disputes the fact that the Japanese military was prepared to fight to the last man to defend the home islands, and indeed had already demonstrated this determination in previous Pacific island campaigns. A weapon originally developed to contain a Nazi atomic project was available

Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs Bennet got :: Free Essay Writer

Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs Bennet got rid of her two most deserving daughters.’Discuss the theme of marriage in this novel with particular reference to Mrs Bennet and her three daughters who marry. ‘Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs Bennet got rid of her two most deserving daughters.’ Discuss the theme of marriage in this novel with particular reference to Mrs Bennet and her three daughters who marry. ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.’(Chapter 1, p1). This is the opening line to the book which is an ironic opening which sets the tone and theme of marriage and social criticism. This quote could be translated to mean that any single woman without a fortune must be in need of husband that has one. In Austen’s time, marriage was almost necessary to be accepted by society. Woman had little power and could be seen as vulnerable. Austen demonstrates the inequality and injustices of genders present in 19th century English society. The novel demonstrates the practicalities of marriage and how often it is done for the wrong reasons. Entailment of the Longbourn estate is an extreme hardship on the Bennet family, and makes Mrs Bennet desperate to marry her daughters off. The entailment of Mr. Bennet's estate leaves his daughters in a poor financial situation which makes it more difficult for them to marry well. Throughout the novel, Austen tries to show that woman are equally as intelligent as men. She shows her views through the mind of Lizzy. Through the plot of the novel it is clear that Austen wants to illustrate how Elizabeth is able to be happy by refusing to marry for financial purposes to Mr Collins and marries a man whom she truly love. Elizabeth Bennet is the protagonist of the novel. She is the second oldest of five and is an intelligent, quick-witted, sharp-tongued and bold woman who is good looking and has ‘fine eyes’. The importance of her eyes symbolizes her abilities of perception. She has pride in her abilities to notice the truth of situations and of people's characters. Lizzy is less concerned with wealth and stature of her place in society but believes in marrying for love. She turns down Mr Collins proposal as she does not love him and knows that she never will. Mr Darcy is a very wealthy aristocrat who is proud, superior and conscious of class differences at the beginning of the book who has a

Harold Hieth’s Rifles for Watie: A Review Essay

1 Jeff enlists in the union army. â€Å"If by a miracle, a general war could be avoided, soldiers were still needed to halt guerrilla warfare in Kansas, brought by the Missourian proslavery faction across the border, Jeff’s dearest wish was to become a soldier.† (Jeff) 2 Jeff chooses this side because he heard Abraham Lincoln give a speech that convinced him that the south was wrong. 3 The incident that occurs is Jeff’s family is attacked by bushwhackers. â€Å"And I’m tired of fighting them with just a sickle, Pa. I want to go to fort Leavenworth tomorrow and join the Kansas volunteers.† (Jeff) 4 Nouns- soldier, hero, Kansas, brother, unioner. Adjectives- loyal, strong, eager, fearless, good. Verbs- fights, works, enjoys. 5 The reasons are, John wants to see the world and David, like Jeff, simply wants to be a soldier. 6 David receives anger from his mother and she will not let him stay. â€Å"That’s what you’ve always wanted, so go on now back to the army.† (David’s mother) 7 One hard lesson is how quickly you can get hurt in the army, like Ford Ivey. â€Å"I don’t wanta live if I hafta be a hopeless cripple for life!† (Ford p.71). Another hard lesson is what secrets can lead to. Such as Clardy killing sparrow because of a secret. â€Å"If I hadn’t gotten mad and deviled the captain about the widows murder poor sparrow might still be alive today.† (Jeff, p.76) 8 Jeff is upset because Clardy has just set Jeff up to be arrested, then gave him a harsh punishment 9 The Missouri woods reminded him of his mother’s brilliantly colored rag rug that lay on the split log floor beside her bed, back in Linn County. The blackjack seedlings seemed a flame in the genial sunshine. The young oaks glowed in livid. The oaks couldn’t seem to agree on an appropriate color; some wore a subdued foliage of and pale, others were gay in and bright. A cardinal flew leisurely out of a tall, sweet gum, and Jeff thought at first it was a falling leaf. Dixie trotted along contentedly at his side. 10 When the union officers reach the Washbourne home, Clardy treats them rudely. However Jeff’s kind and helpful treatment earns him a meal. â€Å"Supper for us or must I burn down your house and set an example to the rest of this yappy Indian town?† (Clardy p.114) 11 The purpose of the propaganda was to inspire the troops to dislike the rebels. â€Å"If each man of you what I have here urged upon you, we will entirely destroy them.† (Noah p.126) 12 The ‘treatment’ is, the boys line up and walk past Clardy, each saluting. The line goes on for so long that eventually Clardy can barley lift his arm. 13 Lucy| Jeff | â€Å"Slavery and preservation of the union, have very little to do with the Cherokee nation.† (Lucy,p.171) | Jeff says the war is fought to reunite the north and south together.| Lucy thinks there should be slavery in the west if the territories agree to it.| The declaration of independence states that all men are created equal. | 14 The grandmother hates to see spring come because she knows that bushwhackers come with it. 15 Jeff arranges for Lee Washbourne’s body to be sent to his family. He pays for someone to take it back he also is angry with captain Clardy and refuses to replace a fallen gunman. â€Å"A hot bitter rage at Clardy flared in Jeff. (Jeff) 16 Jim fills his canteen with union coffee which is easily recognized and could get them caught. 17 It is unusual because the conditions in the army were harsh, many people deserted. 18 â€Å"They had to learn to sing, dance, play the piano, ride horseback, read the classics, and flirt with boys without seeming immodest.† (Jeff) 19 Jeff knows spring is coming because everything is starting to turn green. â€Å"Already the burr oaks were wearing light green tassels and the red buds purplish blooms brightened the hillside and valleys.† (Jeff) Jeff can also smell the spring flowers. 20 Heifer tells Jeff to treat everyone nicely, but to always keep his gun insight. 21 I agree with this advice because in war you never know who might turn out to be your enemy. 22 The hound has outrun its owners and it takes a liking to Jeff. â€Å"Apparently, the hound had outrun its handlers.† (Jeff) 23 â€Å"And during his service with the south he had been both cavallary man and a teamster.† (Jeff) 24 The author is trying to show that Jeff will miss the army but is ready to start a new chapter in his life.

Country of origin, consumer’s Perception and Brand Image Essay

Introduction The impact of country of origin (COO) on the consumer’s perception of products has been one of the most widely studied areas of international marketing. Increasing globalization of today’s business has resulted in unprecedented problems for manufacturers, marketers, and consumers (L. Y. Lin & Chen, 2006). The country of origin (where a product is made) touches both consumer evaluations of the product as well as the firm’s decision to manufacture its goods in certain countries and how to brand (Parkvithee & Miranda, 2012). Country-of-origin or in other words the â€Å"Made in† is a concept which states that people constitutes attitudes and believes shaping the perceptions to products from specific countries and this influences purchase and consumption behaviors in international markets. The â€Å"Made In† image is the picture, the reputation, the stereotype that businessmen and consumers attach to products of a specific country (Bilkey and Nes, 1982; Gaedeke, 1973; Johansson, 1989; Nagashima, 1970, 1977, Zain and Yasin, 1997). Country-of-origin image (COI) has a strong influence on consumer behavior in the global market, as it is associated with mass communication, personal experience, as well as brand image. COI is defined as the consumer’s perception formed of a certain product offering according to this offering’s country of origin (Samiee, 1994; Peterson and Jolibert, 1995, Leonidou et al, 1999). The country, the type of product, and the image of the company and its brands all influence whether the country of origin will engender a positive or negative reaction. A variety of generalization can be made about country of origin effects on products and brands. Consumers tend to have stereotypes about products and countries that have been formed by experience, hearsay, and myth (Piron, 2000, p. 308; Roth and Rameo, 1992, p.479). Stereotypes of country and the preference of customer influence the purchase intention. Political system, culture and the economy of the country can be a  cause of sensitivity to people (Teo, Mohamad, & Ramayah, 2011). For instance, in 2006, protestors across the Muslim world demonstrated against the publications of cartoon images â€Å"Prophet Mohammed† in a Danish newspaper therefore many boycotted Danish products and many supermarkets in Cairo removed Danish products from their shelves. The question that this paper will attempt to answer is â€Å"To what extent does the country of origin image affect consumer perceptions, brand image and purchase intentions†. Previous research indicates that consumers’ and businesses’ evaluations are based on their assessment of product cues, which may be intrinsic (taste, design, performance) or extrinsic (brand name, country of origin). Buyers often make judgments about product quality and purchase value on the basis of extrinsic cues, especially when it is difficult to evaluate the intrinsic value of a product. This justifies the reason behind using the country of origin as an extrinsic cue in order to judge any foreign product. This paper also aims to fill the gap between the impact of country of origin on the brand image, consumer’s perception and purchase intention, more specially; the research objective is to develop a better understanding of the effect of positive and negative country of origin image on consumer’s buying decisions. Literature background The impact of COO applies to products in general, classes of products, specific types of products, specific brands, image among developed countries, between developed and less developed countries, or among less developed countries (Bilkey and Nes, 1982; Prendergast, Chan and Tsang, 2010, p.181). Country image is ‘‘the overall perception consumers’ form of products from a particular country, based on their prior perceptions of the country’s production and marketing strengths and weaknesses’’ (Roth and Romeo, 1992; Koubaa, 2008, p.140). Brand-image has been described as part of branding strategy at the country level (Meenaghan, 1995; Koubaa, 2008, p.141). Consumers tend to recall the  stored information about the brand and the country in question and then they relate the brand name with the COO to form a brand image and infer the product evaluation (Scott and Keith, 2005; Koubaa, 2008, p.141). Brand image is the reasoned or emotional perceptions consumers attach to a specific brand. It consists of functional and symbolic brand beliefs (Dobni and Zinkhan, 1990; Koubaa, 2008, p.141). Brand image is made up of brand associations. ‘‘Brand associations are the category of brand’s assets and liabilities that include anything ‘‘linked’’ in memory to a brand’’ (Aaker, 1991; Koubaa, 2008, p.141). â€Å"The ‘essence’ of the brand is a single simple value, easily understood and valued by consumer† (Arnold, 1992, p. 17; Pappu, Quester and Cooksey 2006, p.697).When brands are competing in the international arena, marketing managers should understand how to maintain the core essence of their brand across international boundaries. Examining how country of origin impacts brand image and its associated dimensions (e.g. perceived quality, brand associations) should reveal the means to protect or enhance the core essence of a brand. The country of origin of a product is an important marketing element known to influence consumer perceptions as well as behavior. Conversely, an inferior country of origin could tarnish a brand name (Thakor and Katsanis, 1997; Pappu, Quester and Cooksey, 2006, p.697). That is, if the country of origin of a brand were to change from a country towards which consumers have favorable associations (e.g. the USA), to a country towards which consumers have less favorable associations (e.g. Mexico), the brand names in question could be tarnished and the consumer-based equity of these brands erodes. Johansson (1989) speculated that consumers may, depending their circumstances, regard the country cue as a silent attribute of the product in question and that this attribute may influence the consumer through affective processes, as in the case of individuals who hold strongly patriotic feelings about their own country (Han, 1988; Knight and Calantone, 2000, p.129), or through behavioral intentions via processes such as social norms (Fishben and Ajzen, 1975; Knight and Calantone, 2000, p.129). Johansson’s (1989) model is an important accompaniment to the empirical work of Han (1989). Household and organizational buyers’ perceptions of the quality and purchase value of products are more favorable when these products are designed and/or assembled in developed countries than when they are designed and/or assembled in a newly industrializing country. A basic premise of the COO effect is that consumers’ image of a given product’s COO influences their subsequent evaluations of the product (e.g. Gurhan-Canli and Maheswaran, 2000; Josiassen and Assaf, 2010, p.296) as well as their subsequent behavioral intentions to purchase or repurchase the product (e.g. Ouellet, 2007). According to Johansson, country of origin is an extrinsic information cue allowing buyers to make inferences about the intrinsic value of a product (Ahmed and Astous, 1995, p.38). Consumers are more likely to purchase products manufactured by countries having distinctive images for that product(s) rather than countries that do not possess a good reputation for producing the same product(s) (Roth and Romeo, 1992; Chuang and Yen, 2007; Ozmen, 2004; Ahmed, Zbib, Sikander and Noujaim, 2012, p.110). The values which consumers associate with a brand are significantly associated with both the macro- and micro-images of the COO of the brand (Pappu et al., 2007; Ahmed, Zbib, Sikander and Noujaim, 2012, p.110). According to Cordell, consumer preferences are more product specific for industrialized than less developed countries. COO becomes of less significance when the product is widely known (Cordell, 1992; Ahmed, Zbib, Sikander and Noujaim, 2012, p.110). The image of countries as origins of products is one of many extrinsic cues, such as price, brand name that may become part of a product’s total image. Country image in respect of customer purchase intention is one of the most significant subjects among marketers for supporting their manufactured goods. The attention to this issue is because many researchers have demonstrated that a country’s image influences the prior purchase decision of customers. These kinds of investigation about country image and other related subjects dates back over three decades in developed countries  (YAMOAH, 2005). According to Laroche et al. (2005) country image and product beliefs affect product evaluations simultaneously regardless of consumers’ level of familiarity with a country’s products. A product’s COO can have a significant effect on consumer’s purchase and consumption decisions. Further, causal observation indicates the importance of COO in many consumer goods, such as clothing, cars, and food products. For instance, some luxury products (e.g. perfumes, fashion clothing) are strongly and positively tainted by being labeled ‘‘Product of France†. Most of the researchers agree that the â€Å"Country of Origin Image† has a significant impact on consumers’ evaluations of product quality and willingness to buy a product (e.g. Bilkey and Nes, 1982; Han and Terpstra, 1988; Maheswaran, 1994) Conceptual development and hypotheses In this study, Country of origin is the independent variable of interest while the dependent variables include 3 main dimensions (perception, brand image and purchase intention) as shown in Figure 1. Each of these dimensions is expected to be affected by the country of origin image. Since the proposed model is being tested for a certain product category therefore, there relation between COI and the 3 main dependent variables will be affected by the product category in question. In other words we can say that Product category will moderate this relation. Country of origin image (COI) The history of country image dates back to 1970, when Nagashima wrote about it in an academic paper. In a statement about country image he defined it as a â€Å"special image, stereotype and standing, which customers have in their mind about specific country, this picture can be shaped by historical, economical and traditional variables† (L. Y. Lin & Chen, 2006). In addition, country image is one of the first variables that researchers test when it comes to foreign product as well as international business and consumer behavior studies (Kotler, 2011). Studying issues concerning country image  has been prominent in international business for many years (Laroche, Papadopoulos, Heslop, & Mourali, 2005). In our research we investigate COI as an independent variable in order to monitor its effect on buyer’s decision making process which involves two main factors consumer’s perception and purchase intentions and also to examine its influence on the brand image through examining the brand’s perceived quality and brand associations. Brand image Brand image is defined as ‘‘a set of perceptions about a brand as reflected by the brand associations held in consumers’ memory’’ (Hsieh and Lindridge, 2005; Koubaa, 2008, p.140). Brand image is determined not by only the brand’s perceived quality, but also by a host of other factors such as product characteristics, packaging, advertising, price and schemas of the typical user. Purchase intention Scholars define purchase intention as personal action tendencies according to brand. They have also concluded that intention is different from attitude. While attitude means evaluation of products, intention is the person’s motivation in the sense of his or her intention to perform behavior. Another definition declares that purchase intention is the individual’s awareness to make an attempt to buy a brand (Shabbir, M. S., Kirmani, S., Iqbal, J., & Khan, B. 2009). In a very competitive global market consumers are facing a variety of alternatives when they decide to buy a certain product therefore it is important to consider COI as a factor that can influence the consumer’s purchase intentions Consumer’s perception Individual act and react on the basis of their perceptions, not on the basis of objective reality. Thus, perceptions are much more important. Perception can be described as â€Å"How we see the world around us†. Perception is defined as the process by which an individual selects, organizes, and interprets stimuli in to a meaningful and coherent picture of the world. Customers are individuals, and each customer perceives things differently in the same  situation. Perception of the product is more important than the product itself (Dave, 2013). Product category Consumers have associations toward entities such as products, places, brands and countries of origin. These associations can have direction and strength. For example, Farquhar and Herr (1993) argued that product category-brand associations can be bi-directional. That is, consumers may recall a product category when they think of a brand name and they may recall a brand name when they think of a product category. Product category-country associations, which refer to consumers’ ability to evoke a country when the product category is mentioned, are of interest when examining the relationships between country of origin and our 3 main dependent variables. Since consumers are known to associate countries with certain product categories and vice Versa (Terpstra and Sarathy, 2000), consumers’ â€Å"product category-country† associations appear to be bi-directional. Based on the literature review and our research objectives, a conceptualized model for this research was developed and is shown in Figure 1. Previous research results support the following relations: CI directly and positively impacts brand image (Roth and Romeo, 1992; Hsieh et al, 2004). CI directly and positively impacts purchase intentions (Laroche et al, 2005). Brand image directly and positively impact purchase intentions (Esch et al, 2006). Hypotheses H1: COO image significantly affects how consumers perceive the products H2: COO image has a significant influence on the formulation of the brand image H3: The country-of-origin asserts a significant impact on the consumer’s purchase intention. H4: Product category will moderate the effect of COO image on the purchase intentions, consumer’s perceptions, and brand image We expect that the perceived quality levels of a brand will vary by the country of origin of the brand. That is, the perceived quality level of Ericsson made in Sweden is likely to be higher than the perceived quality  level of Ericsson made in Mexico or Hungary, for the product category â€Å"mobile phones†. Furthermore, consumers’ perception of the quality of products is known to be product-category specific (Kaynak and Cavusgil, 1983; Pappu, Quester and Cooksey 2006, p.701) Furthermore, consumers’ product category is believed to moderate the effect of the country of origin on consumer-based brand image. For example, the consumer’s perception of a brand made in a country with positive COO image in a certain product category (e.g. car/Germany) is likely to be substantially higher than that for the same brand made in a country with a negative COO image in that same product category (e.g. car/Mexico), in cases where consumers perceive substantive differences between the two countries in terms of their product category associated with COO (Pappu, Quester and Cooksey 2006, p.702). As concerns brand-origin effects, Takhor and Lavack (2003) declared that brand-origin is one such cue that plays potentially important role in determining a brand’s image. Samiee et al. (2005) found that consumers classify brands with their COO basing on the brand pronunciation or spelling and its similarity with the brand-origin language (Koubaa, 2007, p.142). When the brand is created, it comes out to consumers in association with its brand origin (Koubaa, 2007, p.143). Farquhar and Herr (1993) claimed that brand image will have different dimensions in consumer’s mind (Koubaa, 2007, p.143). Because brands have different perceptions among consumers across brands and across countries of production, and consumers are likely to be different as they have different backgrounds and are under different circumstances of consumption; we expect that brand image will differ across brands and across countries of production (origin) (Koubaa. , 2007, p.143). Nowadays, the international trade market is very competitive and there are many new ideas on the market to attract customers. In this case, customers have many alternatives for buying products; however, there are many elements that have an effect on product success and customer purchase intention. Other researchers believe that purchase intention is â€Å"what we think we will buy† (Park, J. 2002). It also describes the feeling or perceived likelihood of purchasing the products that are advertised, moreover, purchase shows the level of loyalty to products. Other scholars like Daneshvary and Schower (2000) believe that purchase intention has a relationship with demographic factors like age, gender, profession and education (Lu, M. 2007). There is another statement that shows that particular features of products, perception of consumers, country of origin and perception of country of origin, all have an influence on customer purchase intention (C. L. Wang, Li, Barnes, & Ahn, 2012). Purchase intention can also be defined as the decision to act or physiological action that shows an individual’s behavior according to the product (X. Wang & Yang, 2008; Rezvani, Dehkordi, Rahman, Fouladivanda, 2012, p.208). Sample characteristics Respondents were asked in the end of the questionnaire to deliver some personal information related to gender, age, income and education. Thirty eight respondents participated in the investigation. Regarding gender, the sample was selected randomly. Females’ percentage was 57.9 while the males’ percentage was 42.1. As for the income category 15.8 percent earned less than 5000 LE per month, 34.2 percent earned between 5000 LE and 10000 LE while 50 percent earned more than 10000 LE per month. And for the education 5.3 percent of the respondents were high school graduates, 71.1 percent are bachelor degree holder, 23.7 percent are master degree holders. Data collection: Our choice of COI stimuli and our variables (BI, CP and PI) was guided by our conceptual framework, specifically we wanted to test and compare the effect of COI on the three variables shown in figure (1) to enhance the generalizability of our results. To test our hypothesis we asked Egyptian  consumers to answer a questionnaire (see appendix) with regards to the latest purchased items. In addition to hypothesis advanced in this study we explore the reliability of the measurements of each variable to conduct a reliable computation regarding each variable in the questionnaire. Reflective scales were to operationalize the constructs in our conceptual framework. Except for the demographic indicators (gender, age, income and education) Measurements  COI 1. economic development 2. Political structure 3. Industrialization 4. standard of living 5. Product made in this country is reliable 6. Products made in this country of good quality 7. Products made in his country Prestigious 8. It is great to have a products from this country Khosrozadeh Shirin and Heidarzadeh Hanzaee Kambiz, (2011), P.614 Consumer perception 1. Important/ not important 2. Overall quality 3. Durability 4. Technological sophistication 5. Prestigious Gray A. Knight & Roger J. Calantone (1999) P. 144 Brand image 1. brand X offers high quality 2. brand X offers reliable products 3. I feel proud to products from brand X 4. I trust the company which makes brand X (Aakar,1991, 1996; Yoo et al. 2000) Purchase intention 1. the possibility I will buy this product 2. the possibility I recommend this product Khosrozadeh Shirin and Heidarzadeh Hanzaee Kambiz, (2011), P.614 Product category 1. Expensive/ inexpensive 2. Good quality/bad quality 3. I look for the COO to choose the best product available in a product class Ravi Pappu, Pascale G. Quester, Ray W. Cooksey, (2005) Country of origin image We used Khosrocadeh Shirin 9-items scale. The 9-items of the scale measure the extent to which the respondent perceives a particular product category from a particular country to be a good purchase choice, of high quality better than the same product category originating from other countries. The COI is formed according to the economic level of the country, the political system of the country, the standard of living and finally the technological advancement of that country. The items are anchored with strongly agree and strongly disagree. The scale displays lower reliability (ÃŽ ± = 0.66). In comparison with the previous studies reliability, our scale measurements are lower (Alpha = 0.83). Consumer perception We used five items scale from Ali Riza (April 2006). The items measure the importance of looking for COI as an external attribute. It also measures the perceived quality of the product from a certain country, so as the consumer’s association of COI with the technological sophistication of the product, and finally if they don’t have knowledge about the product’s COO; whether they will refuse to purchase the product or agree to purchase this product. The items anchored strongly agree and strongly disagree, the scale displays a good reliability (Alpha = 0.75). In comparison with the previous studies reliability, our scale measurements are lower (Alpha = 0.92). Brand image We mapped the brand image depending on two main indicators; brand perceived quality and brand associations using Aaker, 1991, 1996; Yoo et al. , 2000.  Seven items scale including the brand’s good quality, reliability, durability, its excellent features and prestige. Items was anchored with strongly agree and strongly disagree, the scale displays a good reliability (Alpha = 0.74). In comparison with the previous studies reliability, our scale measurements are higher (Alpha = 0.70). Purchase intentions The purchase intention was examined using Khostozodel Shirin. Two items scale including the possibility of the purchase and the recommendation of the purchased product. Anchored with very low and very high, the scale displays a very good reliability (Alpha = 0.89). In comparison with the previous studies reliability, our scale measurements are higher (Alpha = 0.87). Product category The research investigated the product category variable using Ray W. Cooksey, 2005. Scale with four items including the value of certain product category relative to the COI, the importance of this product category and whether it depends on the COI or not was also investigated. And finally the choice of the product class according to the COI. Ray W. Cooksey research suggested that four items scale are adequate when measuring this moderating variable. It was examined according to five-point likert scale, ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. The scale displays a very poor reliability (Alpha = 0.5) which was very close to the researcher’s reliability (Alpha = 0.56) Correlation Analysis Correlation coefficient of Pierson was applied to study the relation between constructs. The results are listed in Table 3. As it is stated in the table, Pierson coefficients between constructs are significant at 95% confidence level. Several of the constructs in the research were correlated. The highest correlation was 0.36, which was between the COI and brand image, and also between the consumer’s perception and brand image. This correlation appears to be weak, positive and significant, while the lowest correlation was 0.08, which was between COI and consumer’s perception. This correlation appears to be weak, positive and insignificant. Correlations between our independent variable â€Å"COI† and the other 3 main dependent variables are as follows: there is a weak and positive yet insignificant correlation between the COI and consumer’s perception (0.08). The previous studies findings concerning this correlation were (0.48) which is higher than our correlation. These analyses were conducted by (Knight, Calantone, 1998, p.136). When comparing the correlations between COI and brand image with the previous studies, we found that our correlation was significant, positive and weak amounted to (0.36) while (Ahmed, Zbib, Sikander, Noujaim, 2012, p.118) concluded that it was (0.344) which is lower than our correlation. Table (3) shows that there is a significantly weak positive correlation between country of origin and purchase intention with (0.28) while the previous studies correlation was (0.375) by (Shirin, Kambiz, 2011) there correlation was weak significant and positive. COI has a weak and positive yet insignificant correlation with product category amounted to (0.14). It also has an insignificant weak positive correlation with brand image and purchase intention while, it has a negative weak correlation with consumers’ perception. According to the previous studies; the interaction between COI and product category was insignificant  at (correlation less than 0.05). Indicating that the product category will moderate the relation ship between the COI and consumer’s perception, brand image and purchase intention (Pappu, Quester, Cooksey, 2006, p.705) Two new significant correlations were deduced from the analysis; the brand image has a significant, weak, positive correlation with the purchase intentions (0.27) and also with the consumer perception (0.36). The prior correlation corresponds with previous studies (0.53) which states that â€Å"Brand image directly and positively impacts purchase intentions† (bu Esch et al. 2006). In light of our findings it appears to us that; COI has a positive impact on focal country’s brand image. This would be the case for Germany that has a strong reputation for cars in general (product) but also produces strong brands like BMW or Mercedes. Alternatively, a country like Turkey may develop a strong reputation for a certain type of product, such as carpets, but lacks the relevant skills to turn this product-related capability into strong and well-known brands (strong product image/weak brand image) Conceptually interesting are also cases where a country, such as Austria, manages to develop strong brands, for example Red Bull or Swarowski, but is not at all well known for its expertise in the respective product categories (weak product image/ strong brand image). It would be of immediate benefit for companies operating in such countries to analyze whether image advantages accrued by strong brands can also be used to support other less well-known brands in these product categories. Hypothesis Testing To test the hypotheses of the research, we used the correlation analysis in table 3 as an indicator. This testing resulted in several significant correlation and other insignificant ones and this analysis enabled us to reject and accept our previously stated hypothesis statements. Hypothesis H1 stated that COO image significantly affects how consumer perceives the product. The major substantive finding from the correlation analysis is that the correlation between the 2 variables is insignificant therefore H1 is  rejected. This finding doesn’t confirm the predictions of previous researchers that the country of origin image significantly impacts the consumer perceptions (including two important dimension consumer’s attitude and beliefs). Gary A. Knight and Roger J. Calantone (1999,p.131) stated that COI is a significant antecedent of attitudes and beliefs which form the consumer’s perceptions related to the product in question and this appear to be insignificant in our hypothesis testing. Hypothesis H2 predicted the existents of a significant influence of the COI and the brand image. Our findings support this hypothesis therefore H2 will be accepted. The correlation confirms that the COI is directly related to the brand image which supports the previous studies findings (Roth and Romeo, 1992; Hsieh et al, 2004) which stated that CI directly and positively impacts brand image. Hypothesis H3 stated that the country of origin asserts a significant impact on the purchase intention. The result of the correlation analysis shows a statistical significant relation between the two variables which supports our hypothesis therefore H3 is accepted. This finding confirms with the predictions of previous researchers that CI directly and positively impacts purchase intentions (Laroche et al, 2005) and also with â€Å"the country of origin has a significantly positive impact on purchase intention† stated by ( Shirin; Kambiz, 2011 p.605). Hypothesis H4 offered that the product category will moderate the relation between the COI and consumer perceptions, brand image and purchase intentions. The results supported the predictions made in H4,therefore H4 is accepted. This confirms with the pervious studies findings (Pappu, Quester and Cooksey, 2005 p.705). Conclusion The verification of the hypotheses in this paper leads to five conclusions: (1) Country-of-origin image has an insignificant influence on consumer perceptions (2) Country-of-origin image has a significantly positive influence on brand image; (3) Country of origin image has a significantly  positive influence on purchase intentions; (4) Brand image has a significantly positive influence on both consumer perceptions and purchase intentions; (5) product category moderates the relation between COI and the other 3 variables. The country-of-origin effect is an environmental factor that firms have to deal with whenever they trade in non-domestic market. Yet we can do little to change COI since it is defined by a set of historical and cultural attitudes rather than by anything lying within the control of an individual firm. The good news, however, is that consumer place (COO) below such things as quality and reliability as factor influencing purchase decision for instance Mercedes make good cars but don’t necessarily transfer such positive impression to other German products. Our findings confirms that consumers use a product’s COO as a cue in purchase decisions but this cue can be superseded by the brand image which proves to have a significant relation with the purchase intentions. Also COI insignificantly contribute to the consumer’s perceptions of a certain products this means that other information about the product reliability, quality or brand image will take precedence over COI in determining how people perceive a certain product. So where does this leave us? Companies cannot ignore COO effect but equally they should not rely on those effects in the promotion of their brands because for instance simply being an Italian clothing brand may be an advantage but it isn’t enough for the firm to rely solely on it when promoting its products. Any advantage from COO needs reinforcement through the marketing process this justifies the weak positive correlation between the COI and the brand image. In conclusion, COI is just one of many factors that influence the consumer’s decision to purchase or not to purchase a particular brand. And, yet again we find that consumers do not place a huge emphasis on where a product comes  from- unless they have nothing else on which to base a decision. â€Å"The origin of a product has never been more important in the minds of consumers† (Winter, 2004, p. 46). â€Å"Ninety three percent said it is good to know the origin of products such as where it came from and who made it. People are no longer content to pay for something superficial and hollow† (Winter, 2004, p. 46). Holt et al. (2004, p. 96) Elaborated on this sentiment by stating that consumers expect global brands to tell the myth from the particular places that are associated with the brand. In this research we are presenting both point of views supporting and against the idea that COI is considered an important external attribute that buyers take into account when making a purchase decisions. The research did not attempt to support a certain point of view that is why the predicted hypotheses were not initially directional. One of the limitations of the study was the number of samples collected. In our research we managed to collect 38 questionnaires which are relatively small in comparison to our population. 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