Design of a product or service prototype (BUS CATCHER) Essay

Design of a product or service prototype (BUS CATCHER) - Essay Example The paper tells that the use of public transport for commuting in the US is still very low compared to other countries. The estimated share of public transport market share (motorized travel) is less than 4% barring exceptions like New York (9.6%) and San Francisco (5.0%), being as low as less than 1% in more than half the states. Small as this may be, the total amount of fuel saved from public transportation use currently is estimated to be equal to 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline (based on 2004 figures), In terms of total barrels of crude oil, this would be the equivalent of 33.5 million barrels of crude oil. Increase of commuting is a desirable goal and has policy support. Apart from this reasons like congestion on the roads, savings in commuting time would be seen as the chief reasons for a commuter to prefer public transport over using own cars. Typically a product or a service that gives enhanced value for a customer would what make a customer to switch to a service or a produc t. There is a big opportunity here for bus operators to create this critical additional value through use of ICT to induce commuters to switch over in a big way to using public transport like buses. Bailey estimates that for an US population of 7.2 million non-drivers, 50% 0f which is people above the age of 654, public transportation is the only alternative, when they are going somewhere outside their immediate neighborhood. She also observes most U.S. residents still do not have the option of using public transportation to get places.

Compare and contrast of two artworks (art history) Essay

Compare and contrast of two artworks (art history) - Essay Example The general term ‘artwork’ is used in comparing and contrasting since Durer’s work is an engraving and not a painting like Titian’s. Durer, in his depiction of Adam and Eve, is meticulous with balance and proportion in such a way that Adam is almost like Eve’s female counterpart. Both characters have curly hair, and both are nude with covered private parts. Durer’s engraving gives the magical illusion that the characters are somewhat standing out from its dark background (Silver and Smith 49). His work is like a three dimensional image. He uses ink as a medium to darken the background (Silver and Smith 49). His style is what is known as Northern Renaissance in European Art. Like Durer, Titian likes to portray subjects in nude or semi-nude. By contrast, Titian’s Concert Champà ªtre painting is oil on canvas. His love for nature is shown by his vibrant display of the natural colors of an outdoor environment, as opposed to black and white. In effect, his style is more realistic, especially the women’s bodies whose skin texture is quite realistic. His style is considered Italian High Renaissance, Venetian School. The similarities involved are their fondness for the outdoors and how their subjects seem to be interacting with each other in harmony. Also, each of the human subject’s hand is busy holding something. Concert Champà ªtre involves musical instruments, while Adam and Eve shows the biblical ‘forbidden fruit.’ During this time, central Europe had been the ‘seat of religious upheaval,’ which might have played a role in the artist’s choice for a subject. At first glance, there are no traces of writing in Titian’s artwork compared to Durer’s branding, which translates to â€Å"Albrecht Durer of Nuremberg† (Johnson 124). In Concert Champà ªtre, the man carrying a lute and wearing silk looks out of place (Graham-Dixon 251).

Country Research Report Colombia About Colombia History Essay

Country Research Report Colombia About Colombia History Essay When Gran Colombia collapsed in 1830, Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged along with Ecuador and Venezuela. In Latin America, Columbia is the fourth largest economy and in South America it is the third largest (Republic of Colombia). Colombia is the member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and also the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It is also one of the continents most heavily populated nations. Its capital city Bogota, which was formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogota is located in the center of the country. The country has 32 administrative regions (called departamentos) plus the capital district which has its own autonomous administrative. (Industrial Field of Colombia)  . History Facts and Figures: Official Name: The official name of Colombia is Republica de Colombia. But the conventional long form of the name is Republic of Colombia and the short form, which is widely known, is Colombia. Earlier it was known as United States of Colombia (Republic of Colombia). Land Areas: The country has land area of 401,042 sq mi (1,038,699 sq km) and a total coastline of 3,207 kilometers (1,993 miles) spread between the Caribbean Sea and North Pacific Ocean. Geography: Relative Location Colombia looks like an odd-looking pear which has a thin top. Columbia is just about the similar dimension as of France, Germany and United Kingdom and United States is 9 times the size of this country. Located in the northwestern corner of South America, the country lies entirely within the tropics. Colombia is surrounded by Panama in northwest, by Venezuela and Brazil in the east, by Peru and Ecuador in the southwest, the three Andean ranges run north to south through the western half of the country. The eastern half of the country is low, jungle-covered plain with Amazon and Orinoco Rivers.teh Andes western, central and eastern cordilleras (mountain ranges) run parallel south-west to north-east. The valley of the eastern range and the fertile plateau are the most thickly populated areas of the country (Columbian Facts). Geographical Map of Colombia images (1).jpg (Geography of Colombia). Population Flag: According to population, The Republic of Columbia is the 27th largest country in the world . In overall population, Columbia ranks fourth in Latin America and in density it holds tenth position. The estimated population of the country (2012) is  45,239,079 with the growth rate of about 1.36 % (according to the report published by World Bank in 2012). The estimated birth rate is 17.23 per 1000 with infant mortality rate of 15.92 per 1000. The life expectancy is expected to be 74.79 and density per sq km is 43. The majority of Colombians live in the western coastal area of the country which means that the region east of the Andes mountain chain is thinly populated (Colombia). After the end of World War II, the countrys population grew dramatically, growing by 3.2 percent per year. In 1951 the population was 11.5 million but got doubled in the year 1973 to 22.9 million. The population is expected to attain 53.2 million by the year 2015. The country was one of those few countries of Latin America to have adopted the family planning as an authorized policy and to include it in their development plans. Distribution of population is highly uneven. About 94.5 % of the population is concentrated on 42 percent of the country, in plateaus and basins over Andes cordilleras and the valleys of Magdalena and Cauca rivers. About 58 percent of the country inhibits mere 5.5 percent of the population. The largest part of the population of country lives in the Central Highlands in the pleasant and cool region and the remainder in the Caribbean lowlands (Country Overview). According to the recent studies done in the Republic of Colombia, about 30.7% of the total population of the country consists of children below the age of 14 years, 64.2 % is the percentage of the age group between the age of 15 years and 64 years and 5.2% above 65 years age (Population of Colombia). The flag of Columbia is inspired by Christophers Columbus flag which he used in his expedition. It has three horizontal bands. The first part is yellow, the second (middle) part is blue, and the third (bottom) part is red. Yellow color of first part represents the gold found in the country. Blue color is a sign of the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that borders the country; it also corresponds to the equality of all races and classes in the countrys society. Red color stands for the sacrifices and blood spilled by the martyrs in the struggle of independence (Colombia Flag).   download.jpg Source: (Colombia Flag). Francisco Miranda created the national flag of Colombia on March 12, 1807, who was an eminent figure Lin fight for independence of the country. Miranda, Lino de Clemente and Jose Sata, offered the flag at the Congress of Venezuela in 1811 and was adopted as the national flag.   In 1834, Francisco de Paula Santander wanted some modification in the flag so that the stripes should run vertically instead of horizontally.   Later in 1861, President Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera ordered that eight stars should be positioned on the blue stripes to represent the eight provinces that make the  Estados Unidos de Colombia  (United States of Colombia) and that the yellow stripe should be positioned in the middle.  Ã‚   In addition to that, he also ordered that like original the stripes should be in horizontal position, as done by Miranda in 1807. Again in 1909, Simon Bolivar ordered that Mirandas design should be restored as the flag of Colombia .The flag was constantly modified in terms of placement of the stripes and their size. In the year 1934,    President Enrique Olaya Herrera established the present flag, which was designed by Miranda in 1807 as the National flag (National Flag of Colombia). Currency: The official currency of Colombia is the Columbian Peso which is denoted by COP or COL$. The bills are available in the denominations of $1K, $2K, $5K, $10K, $20K, and $50K. The coins are available in $50, $100, $200, $500 and $1000 (Columbian Currency). currency_looks_like_colom2 (1).gifcurrency_looks_like_colom1.gifcurrency_looks_like_colom2.gif National Day: Every year 20 July is celebrated as independence in Colombia when it claimed its freedom from Spain in the year 1810. It is happened that on July 20, 1810, Colombian nationalists stimulated the people of Bogota in streets to protest against Spanish rule. The Viceroy was forced to allow some degree of independence which later became everlasting. From then, July 20 is celebrated in Colombia as Independence Day. The Colombians are known to celebrate this day with great patriotism and enjoy with festivities, parades, traditional food and parties (National Day of Colombia). Industrial field: Colombia is basically a liberated market economy with key commercial and investment ties to the United States.  The countrys industrial hub developed around four urban areas:  Bogota (the capital city), Medellin, Cali, and Barranquilla. The other centers developed in the departments of Boyaca, Magdalena, Narià ±o, and Santander.  The mining sector of the country comprises of oil production and coal.. Its major oil export market is the United States. Oil Production is sited primarily in the Cusiana and Cupiagua fields in the Andes foothills and in the Cano Limon field in the vicinity of the Venezuelan border. All the foreign investment in the petroleum exploration and its development are done on a profit-sharing relationship contract between the investors and Ecopetrol (the state petroleum company). Most of Colombias natural gas production is done in the Guajira region. The country fabricates more than 90 percent of the worlds total emerald production and it is also known to be the second-largest South American producer of gold. It is also one of the most important coal producers in Latin America. Colombia has plentiful water wealth for hydroelectric power and so is second only to Brazil in Latin America. Hydroelectric powers offer more than 70% of countrys electricity power generation. A great deal of Colombias hydroelectric production is situated in the mountainous northwest part of the country, which produces about 40% of the hydroelectric power (Industrial Field of Colombia). The economic landscape of Colombia has changed considerably in the last 40 years, and it is shown by the changes in the manufacturing industry by the late twentieth century. Industrial manufacturing in Colombia is quite speckled. Manufacturing units are mostly located in the provinces of Antioquia, Cauca, in the capital region area, and some in Barranquilla, on the Atlantic coast. The most important products include basic chemicals, beverages, milling and cereal processing, oil refining, textiles, paper and derived products. Textiles and chemicals are at the top for nearly 40 % of all exports of the country. The construction industry (approx. 7000 companies) is one of the largest employment sectors in Colombia (Industry). Commercial Field: In the recent times, the global commercial sector represents 65% of the total world product and around 25% of business transactions in the worldwide. Particularly in the commercial sector of Colombia such as information technology, financial and banking sector have its market in the country. This commercial growth of country facilitates growth in the world and also enables to manage their natural resources and trade by generating revenues (The Service Sector in Colombia and The FTAA negotiations). Culture and Traditions: A diversified culture occupied Colombian territory before the Spanish have arrived. Some as sophisticated and advanced in such a way that produced San Agustins statue in the Huila department, profound tombs of Tierradentro in the Cauca department or in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta the Lost City. The Spanish was arrived with an aim to take over and colonization and carried slaves along with them from Africa. Because of these reasons Colombia is recognized as diversified ethnics and cultural country where each region has some unique characteristics which discriminate it from other nations. Accordingly the Andean culture that strongly experienced its European ancestry of a culture of Caribbean which is a blend of Indian and African legacy; roots of African culture with the pacific culture and Orinoquia culture and Amazon culture which is basically an Indian. This complex combination of American and European ancestry is not only articulated in the tradition of country although also comprises of several artistic ground such as handicrafts, cuisines, architecture, sculpture, painting, literature, film, photography, music, dance, theater and many more. Colombian culture is the summation of geographical sites, its colonizers, religious communities and many other things. All these have significant reflection in the lifestyle and religion of Colombian people. Along with this, these things also influenced the language and other aspects of Colombian life (Colombia Culture; Culture: Tradition and avant-garde). Landforms in Colombia: Landforms are the natural features on the surface of earth. Colombia is full of several landforms which enables it to become incredible country in the world. This country is fronted by valleys such as Caribbean, Pacific as well as Eastern Amazon which lengthen its borders Venezuela and Brazil. The western side of Colombia is crossed by three rocky equivalent ranges of the Andes Mountain which was named as Eastern, Central and Western Cordilleras. Many of the significant rivers like Cauca, Magdalena and Putumayo were climbed in the upper elevation of the mountain. These Cauca and Magdalena disconnected the three ranges of Andean Mountain, ultimately merging and later on ending in the Caribbean Sea (Landforms). Land Division in Colombia: The land of Colombia divided into many sub divisions which comprises of thirty two departments and one capital district. The thirty two departments of Colombia includes Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes and Vichada. Other than these departments, the Colombia has one capital district which is named as Capital de Bogota (Land Statistics). Information about Traveler in Colombia: In the early 00s, the Colombia has been opened for world travelers because violence has been decreased dramatically. The diversity of climate and cultural zone in the Colombia provided something unique to the travelers. In the north of country, Caribbean beaches facilitate high class resorts with some historic colonial cities although economical beach towns next to Pacific Coast like Nuqui. In the Andean region, local population resides with the diversified culture. Despite being diversified culture, climatic zone has extreme variations which contributed beauty to the region and aid Colombia as one of the bio-diverse country in the world wide. The points of attraction in the Colombia as elaborated below (Welcome to Colombia Information). Attractions: The Colombia is the country which comprises of diversified culture and climate. This diversity of climate and culture placed this country at different platform and also these diversities attracts more travelers from the worldwide. The climate of Colombia is identified by trade winds, altitude and humidity because it is an equatorial country. The country took pleasure consistent luminosity during the year with the identical duration of day and night hours. The point of attractions of the Colombia country comprises of several natural features. The historical landmarks comprises of Capitol, Capilla Del Sangrario, cathedral on Plaza Bolivar which is a main square. The capital city Bogota includes a museum the Museo Del Oro that is one of the best Colombian museums globally. It also includes churches as Iglesia de Santa Clara and Iglesia de San Ignacio. Other than this, Cartagena on the Caribbean coast is the building of colonial walled and the white sand beaches are truly attractive. A f amous Salt Cathedral in the Zipaquira which is an underground church built under a salt mine. Other than these Colombia is also full of parks such as Tayrona National park (Attractions; Attractions from Colombia). The overviews of point of attractions in the Colombia country are described underlined as below: Museums and churches: The country has many museums and churches such as Museo Del Oro, Museo national, Museo Arqueologico, Santa Clara and San Francisco. The major and unique feature of these are, all are situated in the mid of the city. The Mountain Cerro de Monserrate (Bogota): This Mountain gave pleasure to all travelers who come from worldwide. The Salt Cathedrals at Zipaquira (Bogota): Zipaquira is situated in the north of Bogota. These mines have been vacant and comprises of small reserves which place like a mountain of salt. The Island Del Rosario (Colombia): It is situated in the southwest of Cartagena which is next to the Caribbean coast. It is situated thirty kilometer in the southwest of Cartagena. This area is full of incredible scenes and sand beaches. Along with these also offered glorious coral reefs and colorful fishes. Source: (Attractions) The city of Cali: This is a rich city and having hot climate. This city is famous for its cigars and for exotic dishes. San Andres (Colombia): This Island is only 13 kilometer long and 3 kilometer broad. This island is flat and plain in nature and full of coco palms. Its sunny beaches offered a place for relaxing to the travelers. The nature reserve of Parque National los Katios (Colombia): This is one of the beautiful nature parks which are enclosed with rain forest and lakes. One of the points of attraction in the park is a waterfall of 100 meter. These natural scenes gave pleasures to all travelers who came to Colombia (Attractions; Attractions from Colombia). Country Dialing Code: The country dialing code is a series of numbers which is used for establishing connections between two telephones at the international platform. The dialing code of Colombia country is of two digits as 57. This dialing code allowed user to contact Colombia from another countries in the world wide. This dialing code 57 is dialed after the International Direct Dialing (IDD) and this Colombia dialing code is followed by an area code. By using complete Colombia dialing code a user may call in Colombia (Colombia Country Codes). Electricity: The voltage in Colombia country is 110 volts which is similar to the voltage utilized in the United States of America, Canada and Japan. The 110 volts has been considered as safer to use and less powerful because it has ad vantage over the high voltage like 230 volts. On the other hand, it costs more in the transmission of power to the end users by utilizing 110 volts as for this purpose copper lines must be thicker in size. For this reason wealthy countries are generally used these lower voltages (Electricity in Colombia). In Colombia, the electricity frequency is 60 Hz. Since electricity frequency is not a major issue in regards of compatibility because in the recent time most of the electrical equipments are supportive to the multiple frequencies (Colombia Technical Information for Travelers). The plug adapters that are used in Colombia are A or B. the electrical outlets of type A and type B are shown below: Source: (Colombia Country Codes) The graphical representation of electricity production in Colombia country is as shown below: Source: (Electricity in Colombia) The attractive feature of electricity sector in Colombia is if certain area has a number then it is called Stratum. If this number is higher than that area considered as better as compared to others and the people need to pay more amounts for electricity. This system is operated by cross-subsidies and kept very simple phenomenon that the person who earns more have to pay more for electricity. This makes sure that power is accessible by everyone (Electricity in Colombia). Conclusion: The Colombia is the country which comprises of diversified culture and climate. This diversity of climate and culture placed this country at different platform and also these diversities attracts more travelers from the worldwide. This country is known for their several landforms, culture and traditions. This gives additional advantage to the country for attracting more travelers. In totality, Colombia is the country which is considered as incredible place in the world wide.

Picasso At The Lapin Agile Essay -- Picasso at the Lapin Agile Plays E

Picasso at the Lapin Agile From the time you enter the Falk Theatre, until the curtain rises and falls on the production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile, you are in for a treat. The play is an original work by Steve Martin with a running time of 90minutes, which feels more like 30minutes. Aside from the uncomfortable seating, this production is nothing short of wonderful. The Theatre has been transformed from a long movie Theater atmosphere to a quaint surrounding by means of risers that are placed directly on the stage. The new seating divides the old Theater in half and allows for the actors and the audience to share the same space. Not only this atmosphere that makes it wonderful but also the performances, the direction, the design and the script. Set in France in 1904, the stage is a French bar called the â€Å"Lapin Agile†, with the action of the plot involving the characters who come into the bar and their relationship to time as well as each other. The script is an abstract look at the chance meeting of historical figures and the role these meetings will have on the future. Perhaps one of the most attractive aspects of the script is its ability to ask the same questions of the audience that it does from one character to another. For example, the owner of the â€Å"Lapin Agile†, Freddy attempts to stump Albert Einstein with a mathematical problem that the audience couldn’t have enough time to equate. This style of fast paced dialogue and action fills the entire script fr...

Dupont Case Study Essay

Tom Harris is the General Manager of Dupont, which is the major employer in their community. Big changes had taken place when the Orlon plant had closed down, but few changes had taken place. Projects such as getting rid of one operation and installing another was being seen as regular business so there was no change management rubric. GM Harris went to the University of Virginia seeking advice from the academic community to bring some of the latest thinking in business to the Dupont plant. He specifically wanted to introduce his managers to new ideas and how to apply those ideas to improving to the plant. He stated he was not looking to improve overall organization effectiveness. He stated he was under increasing pressure to do more with less. A general bulletin was sent out to all employees stating the work culture that would be built. It stated that a representative from University of Virginia would be spending time at the plant and had been asked to give new perspectives on the work being done and the organization as whole. The hope was that it would help develop people and continually improve production. The most important goal was to help the staff appreciate and develop what goes right, assist in building on the strengths and to make the plant work better for everyone. It was also made clear that the representatives presense was not to suggest there was a particular problem, and the result is due to the plants desire to continuously improve. Over a six month time period interviews were conducted with workers and managers. Time was spent in the workplace and the representative learned about the day to day activities at the plant. This produced a description of the shared stock of knowledge that organizational members used to interpret events and generate behavior. What was made explicit with that process was the local widely used everyday common sense model performance unique to the plant and it’s atmosphere. A part of the culture that came out of this fact finding was that the local model of teamwork was organized around a southern stock-car racing metaphor. It was used to explain teamwork and the pattern for accomplishing it. Everyone knew the metaphor, so it was understood. The General Manager and the other managers were surprised to learn of the NASCAR metaphor, but it explained why they had not recognized existing teamwork in the workplace for they had different language used for teamwork. This metaphor gave them a language to introduce change for improvement. It also illuminated of the local meaning of effective supervision, high performance, and what constituted a good day at the plant with making improvements. Managers were instructed to use the findings of the study. It was felt the new understanding could be used to interpret the local meaning of effective work to capitalize on strengths, to expand and develop existing good practices. This would also help to problem solve. It was found too that the findings of the study could also be used as a basis for experiements. There existed a Leadership Core Team who were instructed to introduce change as an experiment. It was to be explained that it was to be tried and watched closely, and if after a designated time it was not working as planned, it can be stopped.

Public Services level

We had our induction to the fitness training by doing a fitness test which tested our fitness before we started our fitness program to see where we were at tenets wise and for the test I did it in 19. 30 minutes which wasn't that good at the time. So we started the program and firstly in our group we started doing upper body work which was fine, it did get tough in some of the exercises we did mainly because we tried to do much but luckily we didn't get any injuries so we carried on with it and with that I noticed improvements in my upper body strength within that period of two weeks.Also was working at that time so I would have gone In the gym more times but I could due to that but also because of where I work and the apartment I work In, you're having to constantly take out cages and pallets, the cages can weigh up to keg and the pallets can weigh to keg and above and that also helped as well with Improving my body strength and fitness as well so that also helped. The strengths of this was that my upper body strength has improved and that I am able to do the same exercises quicker. And that I have got a better muscle definition now to my arms and shoulders now.The weaknesses of this was that I wasn't able to come in any more due to engagements with work and also course work and rugby training. Also I was getting very fatigued with my upper body and I was getting the occasional strain which affected my performance at work and college. Improvements and changes to the fitness program: the improvements that I would make to the training program would be that I would Increase the frequency of the exercises such as do It more times a week If the time Is available to do so and that I would also add In more exercises to do to get the full benefit of the training to Improve the upper body strength.Overall I would add In more Interval training and probably also swimming as it helps your whole body. Week 3 and 4 we were doing lower body and leg training with this I didn' t notice much difference to my lower body strength. In my opinion the lower body exercises were harder to do than the upper body exercises because you couldn't fit in much variety to it so you were having to mainly do the same exercise over and over but overall it wasn't too bad and we got used to it over time and I noticed minor improvements overall such as better definition and strength overall.But the one thing I did notice was that I was constantly having to have help at work with pulling the cages out of the ware house u to leg fatigue and also during the leg exercises I kept on straining my groin and once I strained hamstring In my right leg. The strengths of doing this was that I got a minor Improvement In leg strength and also better leg tone. The weaknesses of this was that I was constantly straining my groin whilst doing the leg exercises which was very annoying and that I wish I got more out of this.Also that I was having to have to leg fatigue and also straining my groin . Improvements and changes to the training program: the way I would make changes to the lower body training would be that I loud add more variety and I would do more exercises because when I was doing the program I was doing the same exercises over and over and it got kind of boring, so I would add in other exercises such as squat thrusts and also I would add in sit up's.Week 5 and 6 we were doing cardiac vascular fitness and of which I thought I got quite a lot out of it fitness wise and I noticed difference within my cardiac vascular fitness whilst doing any kind of fitness. With improving my cardiovascular fitness there is a lot of variety which makes it not boring because you're constantly doing different activities which makes it interesting and doesn't make you lose focus as easily And plus you can do fitness like farther and interval training on a public field which is easy enough.What I would change: well I wouldn't change much to the fitness program itself but I would try t o space it out more evenly and not put it all in so closely and I would also do more training the next time I was going to do the fitness program which would improve my overall fitness a lot more. But the one thing I do lack a lot of is stamina, say that you are physically fit but you get out of breath quickly but you're till able to carry one though.The strengths of the fitness program was that over the two weeks my fitness did improve quite a lot which means that I was able to keep up with my rugby colleagues whilst at training doing touch rugby and other activities. The weaknesses of this program was that I didn't do enough fitness during the week outside of college so I didn't get the maximum out of it but if I had done fitness outside of college I would have become a lot fitter and would have been able to do a lot more fitness wise but I did get a lot fitter from the fitness program.The end of the tenets program, after the 6 weeks of training upper body, lower body and cardiova scular fitness training I have found noticeable differences/improvements in all areas that I trained. Since starting the fitness program I was back into rugby training and I have started playing again which is all good and I think if it wasn't for the six week training program I think I wouldn't have been able to cope with the needs of rugby. At the end of the six week training program we had a fitness test which was the same as the one we did at the start of the test, when I first did the testI did it in 19 minutes 30 seconds and when I did it the second time at the end of the fitness program I finished it in 16 minutes 30 seconds which is a huge difference than when the first time I did it which shows that my overall fitness and strength has improved which is a good thing because that's what I set out to achieve which is a good thing. Also whilst doing the fitness program I have been taken off one of my inhalers for my asthma which is very good which means that my asthma is going and also once it all goes I should have a better chance to get into other public services ouch as the navy.Targets for the future: my targets are that I would go swimming, even though I'm not the best of swimmers I can improve and with swimming its improves your whole body muscular wise and improves your fitness a lot and as I got approached by Cleveland second team players saying that I should play for them at the beginning of the new season and they said I probably would be playing at blindside flanker for them and I Just think that's brilliant but I would have to get lot fitter to do so. Also I will be planning to start boxing training again to get myI know the owner he would probably make me exercise like a dog and when I have spare time during the week or preferably in the morning I would possibly go on runs and set a benchmark time and each week I would try and improve it every week then getting onto a certain time. Http://www. Swimming. Org/swimsuit/why-swimming-needs- to-be- part-of-your-lifestyle/ Conclusion: In this piece of work I have evaluated my performance in the six week training programming and have included my strengths and weaknesses and also I have talked about before and after the training program and what's happened since then.

Psychology Essay Essays - Sexual Reproduction, Biology, Free Essays

Psychology Essay Essays - Sexual Reproduction, Biology, Free Essays Psychology Essay Cam Widergren 09/13/2018 Professor Westra I agree with the claim that males compete for fertile females and try to maximize passing on genes while females shop for males with the best genes. In my experience, males tend to rather try and " reproduce" rather then find a mate like females do. Females want the more attractive and complete mate rather than settling down with someone who is not up to the same level of attractiveness as them. Males on the other hand will try to reproduce because of past evolutionary adaptations with almost any women willing to. Males tend to just want a mate to reproduce while females want more than just a partner for reproduction. With males just wanting to reproduce it becomes harder for them to always find the more attractive genes because females tend to wanting a relationship. Females tend to shop for the best genes also because they believe that because of their good genes any guy would want them so it's easy to pick and choose your mate. In the past few decades most couples are where the female has the best genes. This is due to the fact that since females believe that they always have the best traits they feel the need to try and reproduce with males who only have the best genes. While I agree that males try maximize passing on genes while females tend to shop for males with the best genes but it also could be the other way around. Males tend to try and simply reproduce rather then have a relationship but a lot of men are picky with the females they want to reproduce with. Females once they see a man with genes that are only better then them they want to reproduce. You could make the claim that females are more promiscuous than males because once they find a male with better genes they want to reproduce.

USS Indiana BB-58 World War II Battleship

USS Indiana BB-58 World War II Battleship USS Indiana (BB-58) Overview Nation:  United StatesType:  BattleshipShipyard: Newport News ShipbuildingLaid Down: November 20, 1939Launched: November 21, 1941Commissioned: April 30, 1942Fate:  Sold for scrap, 1963 Specifications Displacement:  35,000  tonsLength: 680 ft.Beam:  107.8 ft.Draft: 29.3 ft.Propulsion:  30,000 hp, 4 x steam turbines, 4 x propellersSpeed:  27 knotsComplement: 1,793 men Armament Guns 9 Ãâ€" 16 in.  Mark 6 guns (3 x triple turrets)20 Ãâ€" 5 in dual-purpose guns Aircraft 2 x aircraft Design Construction In 1936, as design of the North Carolina-class moved towards completion, the US Navys General Board gathered to address the two battleships that were to be funded in Fiscal Year 1938.   Though the group preferred constructing two additional North Carolinas, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral William H. Standley favored pursuing a new design.   As a result, building of these vessels was delayed to FY1939 as naval architects began work in March 1937.   While the first two ships were formally ordered on April 4, 1938, a second pair of vessels was added two months later under the  Deficiency Authorization which passed due to rising global tensions.   Though the escalator clause of the Second London Naval Treaty had been invoked permitting the new design to mount 16 guns, Congress required that the vessels stay within the 35,000 ton limit set by the earlier Washington Naval Treaty. In planning for the new South Dakota-class, naval architects created a wide array of designs for consideration.   A central challenge proved to be finding ways to improve upon the North Carolina-class but remain within the tonnage limit.   The answer was the design of a shorter, by around 50 feet, battleship that utilized an inclined armor system.   This provided better underwater protection than earlier vessels.   As fleet commanders called for vessels capable of 27 knots, naval architects worked to find a way to achieve this despite the reduced hull length.   This was solved through the creative layout of machinery, boilers, and turbines.   For armament, the South Dakotas matched the North Carolinas in carrying nine Mark 6 16 guns in three triple turrets with a secondary battery of twenty dual-purpose 5 guns.   These guns were supplemented by an extensive and constantly evolving array of anti-aircraft weapons.   Assigned to Newport News Shipbuilding, the second ship of the class, USS Indiana (BB-58), was laid down on November 20, 1939.   Work on the battleship progressed and it entered the water on November 21, 1941, with Margaret Robbins, daughter of Indiana Governor Henry F. Schricker, serving as sponsor.   As building moved toward completion, the US entered World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.   Commissioned on April 30, 1942, Indiana commenced service with Captain Aaron S. Merrill in command.   Journey to the Pacific Steaming north,  Indiana  conducted its shakedown operations in and around Casco Bay, ME before receiving orders to join Allied forces in the Pacific.   Transiting the Panama Canal, the battleship made for the South Pacific where it was attached Rear Admiral Willis A. Lees battleship force on November 28.   Screening the carriers USS  Enterprise  (CV-6) and USS Saratoga  (CV-3),  Indiana  supported Allied efforts in the Solomon Islands.   Engaged in this area until October 1943, the battleship then withdrew to Pearl Harbor to prepare for a campaign in the Gilbert Islands.   Leaving port on November 11,  Indiana  covered the American carriers during the invasion of Tarawa later that month.    In January 1944, the battleship bombarded Kwajalein in the days prior to the Allied landings.   On the night of February 1,  Indiana  collided with USS  Washington  (BB-56) while maneuvering to refuel destroyers.   The accident saw Washington  hit and scrape down the after portion of  Indianas starboard side.   In the aftermath of the incident,  Indianas commander, Captain James M. Steele, admitted to being out of position and was relieved of his post.   Returning to Majuro,  Indiana  made temporary repairs before proceeding to Pearl Harbor for additional work.   The battleship remained out of action until April while  Washington, whose bow was severely damaged,  did not rejoin the fleet until May.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Island Hopping Sailing with Vice Admiral Marc Mitschers Fast Carrier Task Force, Indiana screened the carriers during raids against Truk on April 29-30.   After bombarding Ponape on May 1, the battleship proceeded to the Marianas the following month to support the invasions of Saipan and Tinian.   Pounding targets on Saipan on June 13-14, Indiana aided in repelling air attacks two days later.   On June 19-20, it supported the carriers during the victory at the Battle of the Philippine Sea.   With the end of the campaign, Indiana moved on to attack targets in the Palau Islands in August and protected the carriers as they raided into the Philippines a month later.   Receiving orders for an overhaul, the battleship departed and entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on October 23.   The timing of this work led it to miss the pivotal Battle of Leyte Gulf. With the completion work in the yard, Indiana sailed and reached Pearl Harbor on December 12.   Following refresher training, the battleship rejoined combat operations and bombarded Iwo Jima on January 24 while en route to Ulithi.   Arriving there, it put to sea a short time later to assist in the invasion of Iwo Jima.   While operating around the island, Indiana and the carriers raided north to strike targets in Japan on February 17 and 25.   Replenishing at Ulithi in early March, the battleship then sailed as part of the force tasked with the invasion of Okinawa.   After supporting the landings on April 1, Indiana continued to conduct missions in the waters offshore into June.   The following month, it moved north with the carriers to mount a series of attacks, including shore bombardments, on the Japanese mainland.   It was engaged in these activities when hostilities ended on August 15. Final Actions Arriving in Tokyo Bay on September 5, three days after the Japanese formally surrendered aboard USS Missouri (BB-63), Indiana briefly served as a transfer point for liberated Allied prisoners of war.   Departing for the US on ten days later, the battleship touched at Pearl Harbor before proceeding on to San Francisco.   Arriving on September 29, Indiana underwent minor repairs before proceeding north to Puget Sound.   Placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet in 1946, Indiana was formally decommissioned on September 11, 1947.   Remaining at Puget Sound, the battleship was sold for scrap on September 6, 1963.         Ã‚      Selected Sources DANFS: USS Indiana (BB-58)NHHC: USS IndianaMaritimeQuest: USS Indiana (BB-58)

The Layers of a Forest From Floor to Canopy

The Layers of a Forest From Floor to Canopy Forests are habitats in which the trees are the dominant form of vegetation. They occur in many regions and climates around the globe- the tropical rainforests of the Amazon basin, the temperate forests of eastern North America, and the boreal forests of northern Europe are just a few examples. Species Composition The species composition of a forest is often unique to that forest, with some forests consisting of many hundreds of species of trees while others consist of just a handful of species. Forests are constantly changing and progress through a series of successional stages during which species composition changes within the forest. Thus, making general statements about forest habitats can be difficult. Yet despite the variability of our planets forests, there are some basic structural characteristics that many forests share- characteristics that can help us to better understand both forests and the animals and wildlife that inhabit them. The Layers of a Forest Mature forests often have several distinct vertical layers. These include: Forest floor layer:  The  forest floor  is often blanketed with decaying leaves, twigs, fallen trees, animal scat, moss, and other detritus. The forest floor is where recycling occurs, fungi, insects, bacteria, and earthworms are among the many organisms that break down waste materials and ready them for reuse and recycling throughout the forest system.Herb layer:  The  herb layer  of the forest is dominated by herbaceous (or soft-stemmed) plants such as grasses, ferns, wildflowers, and other ground covers. Vegetation in the herb layer often gets little light and in forests with thick canopies, shade tolerant species are predominant in the herb layer.Shrub layer: The shrub layer is characterized by woody vegetation that grows relatively close to the ground. Bushes and brambles grow where enough light passes through the canopy to support shrub growth.Understory layer: The understory of a forest consists of immature trees and small trees that are shorter than the main canop y level of the tree. Understory trees provide shelter for a wide range of animals. When gaps form in the canopy, often times understory trees take advantage of the opening and grow to fill in the canopy. Canopy layer:  The canopy is the layer where the crowns of most of the forests trees meet and form a thick layer.Emergent layer:  Emergents are trees whose crowns emerge above the rest of the canopy. Mosaic of Habitats These different layers provide a mosaic of habitats and enable animals and wildlife to settle into various pockets of habitat within the overall structure of a forest. Different species use the various structural aspects of the forest in their own unique ways. Species might occupy overlapping layers within a forest but their use of those layers might occur at different times of the day so that they do not compete with one another.

Reflection paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 39

Reflection paper - Essay Example It is advisable to peruse through the assignment severally capturing words key like; evaluate, discuss, and classify. Being able to keep such words in mind while doing the assignment ensures that the student is aware of the task at hand (Head Web). It is worthy to note, in the absence of these keywords, and rather the instructions are to write a research paper. Then the course professor wants the student to give an argument and try to back it up. Secondly, it is advisable for the student to note down whatever they know about the research topic. It will enable them identify gaps in their knowledge that can in turn assist in establishing reliable sources (Head Web). Students face challenge when looking for sources and understanding it. They may misunderstand a source and fail while evaluating it in relation to the study topic. Moreover, students should be able to identify authors bias in source materials clearly. Third, researching should begin early, and students should never delay writing. Student could be taking several courses, and they might find it appropriate to delay long project and concentrate on more immediate ones. The student should strive to manage time effectively at this stage. After compiling all the research material there, is the temptation to postpone the actual writing and some weeks before the assignment is due. It would be wise to start writing an essay as the research process goes on. Fourth, students have to ensure that all the material compiled from other writers work need proper paraphrasing in students word. In some cases, students might misrepresent an idea sourced from another writer and find it difficult expressing the authors original ideas. There is the challenge of plagiarism while trying to integrate cited material into the paper. Fifth, it is recommended to take a break from working on the paper after writing the first draft. Going back to the draft, student should ensure; that the main points

Divorce ( by lack of communication skills) Essay

Divorce ( by lack of communication skills) - Essay Example So many times, people think of listening as simply hearing the words. This is not the case though as the process involves hearing the words, thinking about them and analyzing what the message is being conveyed beyond the words. Reacting quickly and furiously to words is just a sign of hearing but not listening, often resulting to a fight which eventually puts a hedge between couples if not breaking the bridge between them. On the other hand, speaking is construed as saying words to communicate what is in one’s mind. Howbeit, this is usually abused with one party wanting to be considered most of the time. This causes problems which could result to getting tired of a spouse’s much talk, leading to bickering that could worsen to fights and eventually separation. Concurrently, silence would be the resort of the partner who does not like to fight verbally which is a form of communication problem with the person involved being unable to express what is in his heart. Behind communication as a cause for divorce, there are still so many issues that need to be considered which this paper can not contain due to some restrictions. In any case, it is the purpose of this paper to show that communication problem is one of the reasons for divorce which was discussed earlier. In this regard, it might be good for couples to have counseling on this to reduce the risks of divorce which can cause lack of con fidence, and more communication

Critical Thinking Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Critical Thinking - Assignment Example ce and its property, critical infrastructure, the government and the military, its installations and deploying forces.† (2000: 2) Hence, homeland security consists of the planning and preparations made at both military and civilian levels to make foolproof arrangements for foiling the external and internal threats challenging the peace and stability of the country. The governments and all other political authorities take essential measures to combat with the external and internal threats by ensuring and improving the strategic measures and defense system of the country on the basis of the available data presenting security threats and perils challenging the very foundations of the country. However, sometimes it so happens that the available statements and statistics are unable to provide accurate information, which causes wrong planning and consequently create great hazards in respect of the security of a country. Thus, the law enforcing agencies and security organizations seek help from the thinkers and intellectuals so that the gathered information could be examined and estimated in a proper way. Since critical thinking aims to analyze and examine the information with the help of reasoning, it provides a wide range of thoughtfulness for assessing the data gathered for different purposes. Hence, critical thinking is also helpful in respect of enhancing the security plans of a country. Critical thinking urges the people to contemplate over the situation in order to draw out appropriate conclusions as well as to find out several alternate solutions to a problem under study. It does not allow making of immediate conclusions on the basis of available information in the form of figures, statements, graphs or other presentation. On the contrary, it lays stress upon viewing the information through different angles in order to explore the hidden aspects of that information that have been concealed under the pile of incorrect information and rigged, engineered and

Contracts and Employment Agreements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Contracts and Employment Agreements - Essay Example There are exceptions that have become a trend and offer a lot of fortification to at will discharge. These trends comprise public policy, implied contracts and implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. I understand that, in public policy, employees need a â€Å"just cause† for discharge. They need the same to guarantee managerial processes that define whether there is an unbiased cause for discharge. Implied contract entails all that an employee has done in a company, those that show good reputation. It is more significant in employees that have served for a long time without facing lots of critics. On the other hand, implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing comprehensively entails insincerity in a contract. This is vivid when an individual employee does what is in contrary to the laws stipulated in the signed agreement.There is a group of people that are basically not subjects to the earlier stated rule, â€Å"at-will†. This includes contractors and union ized workers, of which Barnes is one. In trying to argue cases that find them, there are certain exceptions that come in an implied contract. As it is indicated in the study, in chapter seven, there is a mode of acceptance that should be followed to the latter in a contract (Gibson & Lindley, 2010). These require adequacy in consideration, in order to explicate the mode of contracts. Arguments arise when Barnes and Pentrix go to court. To justify himself, one of the parties, Barnes says what he was told during an interview.

Time mangement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Time mangement - Essay Example Goals and priorities can be said to be what we intend to achieve and what we have to do to achieve our goals. In my case, I would be going to college which means that it would be the number one priority. College will prepare me for the future. But going to college will not be the only thing that I will do. I have other things to consider also to fully function as a person such as family, friends and recreation while not losing my sight of my goal of going to college. Hence, time management has to come in for me to plan and budget my time so that I will be able to attend to all of my obligations effectively. Once in college, I have to set my priorities straight. Sunday night to weekdays will be dedicated solely to school. That means no partying during weekdays. A couple of hours or three for recreational sport is allowable for as long as there would be no major exams coming. Friday night is for partying and hanging out with friends. Saturday would be spent for my self or any major research that is needed for school. If there are no projects or major paper that needs to be written, Saturday would be a nice time to go out of town, play video games or just hang around with family and friends. Sunday would be exclusively for family. Activity can vary from watching movie or just having a plain good old barbeque picnic in our backyard. During weekdays and in school, time has also to be effectively managed. It will not be enough just not to party during those time but more importantly, is for me to know what to do with my time. College is not just about attending classes. It also involves reading, going to the library, writing papers and spending some time with friends. After classes, it would be better to rest a couple of hours to refresh myself so I can study later. If there are no exams or heavy classess in the next day, spending a couple of hours in the gym or basketball court would be healthy and a pleasant

Research Proposal on Training Lab Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

On Training Lab - Research Proposal Example This requires them to adapt to the new reign of automated, technologically driven and digital society which has its own principles and which subjugates its people to leave aside their old ways and conform to the new order. In this regard, it is easier for some groups to adapt to this change quickly; to others, it comes with some difficulty. These groups face some hindrance in the process of adaptation to these new lifestyles due to many reasons. It can be due to their vulnerability to other material conditions such as poverty or unavailability of resources, which may lead to deprivation of secondary pleasures such as technology, or it can be because of their own built-in features like age or inclination towards conservatism or liberalism that affects this adaptation. Based on this notion, one group that finds it extremely difficult to adapt to the technological shift of twenty first century is the elderly or the senior citizens (Robinson, 2009). Speaking of technology, the invention and prevalence of computers have been so far the most intriguing. Not only did computers take over the simple tasks of mails and writing, but also replaced man in areas of communication, documentation, book keeping and much more. From children to adults, farmers to gynecologists and elite to middle-class, most people have access to computers in one setting or another and they utilize its efficiency as much as they can (Fogg, 2003). However the elderly people, in many settings, especially in countries like USA, where nuclear family systems are most popular and the elders live separately, it is common for these aged people to lag behind and lose touch with the society and fall into isolation. Thus, in order to bring the elderly people on a par with other age groups and to save them from falling into depression and isolation, teaching them how to use computers is an essential way to go. This proposal entails essential outline of the research that will study the set-up of computer train ing labs for the elderly. It discusses, for the most part, the intricacies of the study itself and for the other, the issues related to the study. To put it precisely, the project undertaken is of establishing computer literacy center for the elderly in a small locality inhabited by mostly Catholic Christians in Upper West Side, NY. The locality is primal for the project for it is a residence of a major chunk of NY’s population. The demographics also suggest that the residents of the Upper West Side range from upper-middle to middle class. This is a positive trait for the study since it caters to the right sub-group of people; the elderly in this financial standing are usually more deprived in comparison to elders of the elite class since they have fewer resources to afford learning and using computers, both monetary and non-monetary. For this purpose, this research aims to find out the teaching methods most productive in teaching computer to the senior citizens. Methodology The research will comprise two phases: primary and the secondary searches. The primary research will definitely entail the interviews and surveys conducted in the locality with the participants, which will include the senior citizens, their guardians and the teachers and educationists. The secondary research, on the other hand, will entail the study of literature on the subject (Hamilton, 2004). There has been a huge discourse on the subject of pedagogy

Time mangement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Time mangement - Essay Example Goals and priorities can be said to be what we intend to achieve and what we have to do to achieve our goals. In my case, I would be going to college which means that it would be the number one priority. College will prepare me for the future. But going to college will not be the only thing that I will do. I have other things to consider also to fully function as a person such as family, friends and recreation while not losing my sight of my goal of going to college. Hence, time management has to come in for me to plan and budget my time so that I will be able to attend to all of my obligations effectively. Once in college, I have to set my priorities straight. Sunday night to weekdays will be dedicated solely to school. That means no partying during weekdays. A couple of hours or three for recreational sport is allowable for as long as there would be no major exams coming. Friday night is for partying and hanging out with friends. Saturday would be spent for my self or any major research that is needed for school. If there are no projects or major paper that needs to be written, Saturday would be a nice time to go out of town, play video games or just hang around with family and friends. Sunday would be exclusively for family. Activity can vary from watching movie or just having a plain good old barbeque picnic in our backyard. During weekdays and in school, time has also to be effectively managed. It will not be enough just not to party during those time but more importantly, is for me to know what to do with my time. College is not just about attending classes. It also involves reading, going to the library, writing papers and spending some time with friends. After classes, it would be better to rest a couple of hours to refresh myself so I can study later. If there are no exams or heavy classess in the next day, spending a couple of hours in the gym or basketball court would be healthy and a pleasant

Influence of Advertisement on Brand Preference Essay Example for Free

Influence of Advertisement on Brand Preference Essay Vithya Vivekananthan, Faculty of Commerce and Management, Eastern University, Vantharumoolai, Sri Lanka [emailprotected] com ABSTRACT Measuring the influence of Advertisement in Consumer Brand Preference is very essential for every marketer. If advertisement does not create any positive change in consumers’ brand preference, all the resources such as money, time and efforts spent on advertisement will go in vain. Most of the marketers use Advertisement as a tool to attract substantially new customers and to retain the existing customers. This research studies about the â€Å"Influence of Advertisement in Consumer Brand Preference in the Soft Drink Market†, which is one of the most competitive markets in Batticaloa. Every Brand in this market use Advertisement as a major weapon to overcome the fierce Competition. There are numerous Advertisements of different Soft drink brands exposed in Television. But, the main thing here is, the marketer want to identify that, do all these advertisements positively influencing the consumers’ brand preference. In order to study the influence of Advertisement in Consumer Brand Preference, three main variables are considered with appropriate dimensions. They are; Information, Communication and Comprehension. The structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 200 respondents. The study found that all three variables indicate high influence of Advertisement in consumer brand preference. Even though it has high influence in overall view, the advertiser wants to consider the indicators, which have low and moderate influence in their future developments of the Advertisements to maintain its position in the market in the long-run. Eventually, this study recommends some actions for improving the influence of Advertisement in consumer brand preference. 2 Introduction The importance of sales on business survival and the connection between customers and sales, it is expedient for organizations to engage in programmes that can influence consumers’ decision to purchase its products. This is where advertising and brand management are relevant. Advertising is a subset of promotion mix which is one of the Four ’P’s in the marketing mix i. e. product, price, place and promotion. As a promotional strategy, advertising serve as a major tool in creating product awareness and condition the mind of a potential consumer to take eventual purchase decision. Marketers’ survival depends on consumer satisfaction. Consumer satisfaction depends on their perception and brand preference of the particular brand. In brand preference, advertising plays a major role. Nearly everyone in the modern world influence to some degree by advertising. Organizations in both public and private sectors have learned that the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently with their target audiences is important to their success. In today’s world, there are a myriad of media outlets-print, radio, and television are competing for consumers’ attention. There are number of creative and attractive advertisements we can see and hear in television, Radio, newspapers and in magazines. Within these media, television advertisements are more attractive and interestingly watched by mass audience. It has often been said that television is the ideal advertising medium where the consumer spends the most attentive time. However, the main thing here is, the marketer want to identify the influence of advertising in consumers brand preference. Nowadays soft drinks have become essential part in lifestyle of the people in the society. There are number of soft drink brands are available in the market. In those brands, some brands are very famous not only in Sri Lanka but also globally. For the research purpose Coca-cola, Fanta, Elephant, and Ole are selected. These are the most preferred brand of the consumers in Sri Lanka. For these brands, different advertisements are available in Television. Some brands’ advertisements are more attractive than others are and some are new creative advertisements. There is no any television advertisement regarding Pepsi during the research period. Therefore, Pepsi was not take into consideration. 3 It is very hard to find people who never consume any brand of soft drink. Everyone in the society prefers a particular brand. We can see frequent advertisements for Soft drinks in Television. Companies spend much on their advertisements to attract more customers. So it is very important to study its’ influence in consumer brand preference. Problem statement There are numerous advertisements in Medias; television, radio, newspapers and magazines but, the important question for a marketer is â€Å"do all these advertisements positively influence the consumers’ brand preference? If advertisement is not create any positive change in consumers’ brand preference, all the resources such as money, time and efforts spent on advertisement will go in vain.

Balanced Score Card (BSC) Advantages and Disadvantages

Balanced Score Card (BSC) Advantages and Disadvantages Abstract The study reports an evidence of the efficiency and usefulness of the Balanced Score Card (BSC) as a management control and communication strategy. This paper firstly examines the available literature on management control and communication which has identified elements of strategic control and effective communication. Secondly, this study presents a model of control and communication significant to the Balanced Score Card. Thirdly, the study further investigates archival and practical interviews data to represent the utilization and also evaluates the effectiveness of control and communication of the Balanced Score Card. The study incorporates data collected from the various departments of a large, international manufacturing company. Data is collected from Indian administrators, managers and the Balanced Score Card designers whose divisions are the purpose of Balanced Score Card. The study congregates evidences in respect to the challenges encountered by many and as in this case even by a large, well financed multinational corporation associated with the implementation and designing the Balanced Score Card. These results may be broadly suitable to other companies planning to adopt or adopting the Balanced Score Card as a management and strategic control tool. The data points out that this particular Balanced Score Card, as applied and designed, is definitely an effective tool for managing corporate strategy. Obtained results also illustrate stress and divergence amongst the top and the middle level management concerning the suitability of certain aspects of the Balanced Score Card as an evaluation, communication and control mechanism. Certain aspects include conformation of laid-back relations amongst successful management control, positive effects, motivation and strategic alignment of the Balanced Score Card. These positive effects include the changes in development and implementation of both the customer focused services and the Balanced Score Card. In contrary, unsuccessful management control and communication originate conflicts and acts as a source of poor motivation in respect of the use of Balanced Score Card as an assessment device. Data Availability: All the data gathered for this research is regulated and supplied under a strict non-disclosure agreement, which necessitates the researcher to safeguard the company’s proprietary information and identity. Introduction The available academic and professional strategy literature asserts that numerous multi-nationals have discovered time-honoured performance measures (e.g., profits, return on investment, and ex post costs) to be inadequate strategies for judgmental action in today’s speedily changing, super-competitive environment. Solitary dependence on present, financial performance measures does not perhaps mirror the significance of present resource verdicts for upcoming financial performance (e.g., Dearden, 1969). However, several years ago, some organisations identified the significance of non-financial performance measures (e.g., General Electric during 1950’s), budding global competition and the mounting up of the TQM movement has broadened the appeal for non-financial measures of performance. Authors have piled up, both the academic and professional literature with suggestions to believe more on non-financial performance measures for both evaluating and managing organisations since the 1980’s (Berliner and Brimson 1988; Dixon et al. 1990; Johnson and Kaplan 1987; Nanni et al. 1988; Rappaport 1999). Along with the normative arguments, empirical research studies can also help in establishing the effectiveness and roles of non-financial measures of performance. Numerous studies have attempted to relate some specific non-financial performance measures to the financial performance (Ittner and Larcker 1998a; Behn and Riley 1999; Foster and Gupta 1999; Banker et al. 2000).1 Results of numerous human resources literature illustrates that, it’s the systems of non-financial performance measures that seems to be comparatively more reliable determinant of firm’s performance than the individual measures themselves. (Huselid 1995; Huselid et al. 1997; Becker and Huselid 1998). The purpose of this research is to study the impact and process of administering an organisation using the non-financial measures of 1 The ever rising body of research study which has examined empirical associations amongst the financial and the non-financial performance measures in a variety of industries and firms also includes Foster and Gupta (1990, 1999), Banker et al. (1993), Barth and McNichols (1994), Banker et al. (1995), Amir and Lev (1996), Banker et al.(1996), Ittner and Larcker (1997, 1998a), Perera et al. (1997), Behn and Riley (1999), Banker et al. (2000), Ghosh and Lusch (2000), Hughes (2000). These research studies repeatedly found significant associations the financial and non-financial measures of performance, although research studies of the effects of performance of including the non-financial measures in the compensation plans are comparatively less steady and consistent. Given the growing empirical and extensive theoretical support, it is not at-all astonishing that several companies report that they are switching to non-financial, forward-looking information for both evaluating present performance as well as for guiding decisions (Ittner and Larcker, 1998b). Performance, particularly in the context of Balanced Scorecard (BSC), a comprehensive structure of performance measurement system. The Balanced Score Card, popularized by Kaplan and Norton (1992, 1993, 1996a, 1996b, 1996c) and also accepted extensively across the globe, has been presented as a better and superior blend of financial and the non-financial measures of performance. 2 Balanced Score Card is projected to direct strategy growth, execution and communication because it clearly focuses on the financial as well as the non-financial measures of performance. Moreover, a well designed Balanced Score Card could also provide some unfailing feedback for performance evaluation and management control. Atkinson et al. (1997) regarded Balanced Score Card as one of the most momentous developments in the field of management accounting, justifiably attaining a strong research attention. Silk (1998) assessed that approximately 60 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies are experimenting or have by now implemented a Balanced Score Card. Despite its elevated profile, astonishingly very little academic research has actually focused on either the outcomes or the claims of the Balanced Score Card (Ittner and Larcker 1998b). An expected question that arise is: does the Balanced Score Card’s use, content, implementation or format have recognizable effects on either the outcomes or the business decisions that could not be achieved with existing ways, in combination or alone? In the very first study of its category, Lipe and Salterio(2000) identified effects in decision making connected with the format of the Balanced Score Card. The layout of the performance measures in four associated groups appears to communicate decision-related information to subjects presenting a laboratory assessment task. Most of the other previous and current studies, however, are comparatively uncritical explanations of Balanced Score Card adoptions. Kaplan and Norton (1996b) debates that the Balanced Score Card is not principally an evaluation process, but it is a communication and strategic planning device to (1) explain links amongst leading and lagging measures of non-financial and financial performance and (2) offer some strategic assistance to the divisional managers. The Balanced Score Card asserts to describe the necessary steps for reaching financial success; for example, investment in some particular types of knowledge to improve the processes. If these links are valid replications of a company’s economic opportunities and productive and administrative 2 An identical approach for merging the numerous performance measures, the tableau de bord, has been implemented by certain French organisations for numerous years (Epstein and Manzoni 1997). processes, then the Balanced Score Card symbolizes and can also communicate the company’s working strategy. Moreover, communicating these links effectively throughout the company can be decisive to implementing that strategy fruitfully (Tucker et al. 1996; West and Meyer 1997). Some organisations may possibly also use non-financial measures as a basis of performance measurement. On the other hand, they might judicially use the financial performance measures for the purpose of evaluation or they can also enhance the performance by using the Balanced Score Card as a vade mecum to financial success (e.g., Rappaport 1999). The present research is aimed at investigating the management-control and communication attributes and the efficacy of a successful, large, multi-national company’s Balanced Score Card model. The research comprises of qualitative and archival data gathered through interviews with the managers, Balanced Score Card designers, and users to (1) measure the observed attributes of the Balanced Score Card as both a control and strategic communication device and (2) find confirmation of the Balanced Score Card’s evaluation impacts. The present research does not test as to if the company’s Balanced Score Card is a statistically suitable model of the company’s performance and activities. This attribute of the Balanced Score Card shall be tested in succeeding research (Malina 2001). The company commenced using the Balanced Score Card to enhance its strategy. The Balanced Score Card has largely affected the view point and the action of users, both adversely and beneficially. When all segments of the Balanced Score Card are effectively communicated and well designed (as per the criteria mentioned in the study), the Balanced Score Card appears to persuade and inspire the lower-level managers to correspond their activities to the company’s strategy. Additionally, as per managers beliefs these changes result in enhanced sub-unit performance. In spite of this, there is also a consistent confirmation that the weaknesses in strategic communication and the flaws and imperfections of the Balanced Score Card design have affected the relationships amongst some middle and top level managers adversely. The stress survives because the Balanced Score Card design aggravated strong differences amongst their views of upcoming future opportunities. Gaps and weaknesses in communication generate unwillingness and mistrust to change. While certain specific shortcomings and flaws could be exceptionally unique to the company studied, these results appear to reflect largely on the issues of the Balanced Score Card uses and its design. The second section of this research study builds up a research question on the basis of reviewing the literature on communication standing by the features of effectual communication of strategy. The third section then builds up another research question with a synopsis of the attributes of management control tools that successfully control strategy. The fourth section later illustrates the company’s Balanced Score Card and the research site. Then the fifth section discusses about the practices used to analyze and obtain the qualitative and archival interview data. This part also displays a theoretical model for describing the effectiveness of the Balanced Score Card. The following sixth section then derives an empirical model for the effectiveness of the Balanced Score Card and also addresses the raised research questions. Lastly, the final section of this study encapsulates the conclusions and also offers certain suggestion for future research. Literature Review The Balanced Score Card and Communication of the Strategy Kaplan and Norton (1996 c) states that, â€Å"by articulating the outcomes the organization desires as well as the drivers of those outcomes (by using the Balanced Score Card), senior executive can channel the energies, the abilities, and the specific knowledge held by people throughout the organisation towards achieving the business’s long-term goals.† Therefore, Kaplan and Norton (1996 c) claims that not merely just the Balanced Score Card exemplifies or helps to create organizational knowledge and strategy, however even the Balanced Score Card itself effectively communicates knowledge and strategy. Merchant (1989) contends that failure in communication is one of the main reasons for poor organizational performance. Because neither the organization’s strategy nor its knowledge succeeds or exists apart from its chief human actors, the capability to communicate effectively may itself be a basis of competitive benefit (Amit and Shoemaker 1990; Grant 1991; Schulze 1992; Daft and Lewin 1993; Tucker et al. 1996). If the Balanced Score Card does articulate the organizations strategy and knowledge in a better manner, then it could act as a foundation of competitive advantage, at-least until all other competitors implement it equally well. However, the organisational communiquà © literature recognizes an intricate set of features that influence the effectiveness or quality of communication in the organisations. Based upon a review of the present literature, an organisations communication system or device could be characterized with the elements of its (1) exchange and creation of knowledge, (2) support of the organisational culture, and (3) messages and processes. These communication characteristics have been briefly reviewed below: Exchange and Creation of Knowledge Knowledge, which could be a tactic or an objective, is the foundation of strategy implementation and formulation.3 Thus, an effectual system of communication holds up an organisations strategy by fostering both tactic and objective knowledge. An effective system 3 Objective knowledge is expressible and observable in the normal language – outcomes and production processes, for instance. However, unspoken language is understood and known but it is not easy to convey in language – an individual’s insights or experiences, for instance. This subsection draws greatly from Tucker et al. (1996). of communication exchanges the objectives (observable) of knowledge amongst the most important individuals so that everyone is aware of the organisations present status. Organisations construct objective knowledge from the integration and development of the new knowledge by individual experts. Objective knowledge generally derives itself from the sharing and refining of the individuals tactic knowledge, which is recognized but not yet usable or articulated by the organisation. Thus, a system of effective communication enables and encourages the individuals to share their experiences and also gathers those shared experiences. This may best possibly be accomplished by frequent and intense sharing, and might also be by dialogue rather than a one-dimensional reporting. Perhaps significantly for the effectiveness of the Balanced Score Card, de Haas and Kleingeld (1999) further debates that participating in the design of the performance measurement system is an essential element of an effective communication of strategy. Support of Values, Beliefs and Culture As per the traditional sight of an effective organisational communication, it supports individual interests and the organisational culture by focusing on certain desired patterns of beliefs, shared values, and behaviour. Effectual communication exhibits that the organisation accomplishes its promises and that group or individual rewards are predicted based upon their actions (Goodman 1998; Tucker et al. 1996). Communiquà © by leaders which steadily articulates shared values, beliefs and goals (Goodman 1998; Tucker et al. 1996) is also efficient in directing behaviour and reinforcing culture. Moreover, effectual communication ought to encourage behaviour coherent with organisational values, beliefs and goals (Goodman 1998). Kaplan and Norton (2000), the proponents of the Balanced Score Card, debates that it can also be a tool of strategic and cultural change. Coherent with Kotter’s (1995) study of change processes, the Balanced Score Card could facilitate change by effectively communicating and creating a convincing realistic vision of and also a method for attaining change. Communication Messages and Processes Individuals make use of and rely on communication only if its messages and processes are observed as trustworthy and understandable. Other features of effectual organisational communication procedures are reliability, predictability, completeness, and routineness (Tucker et al. 1996; Goodman 1998; Barker and Camarata 1998). Besides this, communication is also more successful if it applies well defined terms and concise messages (Goodman 1998). Moreover, effectual communications system prevents misrepresentation of performance or repression of truth. There should be no equivocation concerning the differences between â€Å"looking good† and truthfulness or coherence with winning. An effective system of communication and its operators will be indignant of â€Å"spin, deniability, and truth by assertion† (Goodman 1998). As a result, organisational communication shall be effectual if the messages and processes are a valid and convincing representation of the performance. In a nutshell, effectual organisational communication strategies should hold the recognizable attributes of: Knowledge sharing – including participation and dialogue Support and assistance of organisational culture – changing or existing Valid messages trustworthy, understandable and reliable The organisational communication literature foresees that a Balanced Score Card, which comprises of these above mentioned attributes, shall create positive organisational outcomes, positive motivation, and strategic alignment. The foremost research area shall be: Question 1: Is the Balanced Score Card an (in) effective device for communication, creating (negative) positive organisational outcomes, (in) effective motivation, and (non) alignment? The Balanced Score Card and The Management Control of The Strategy general condemnation of managing the organisations on the basis of financial performance measures is that these measures persuade the managers to make short-run, myopic decisions. The financial measures incline to emphasise on the present impacts of the decisions, lacking an obvious link between long run strategy and the short run actions (current criticisms include Luft and Shields [1999], McKenizie and Schilling [1998]). Moreover, the traditional financial performance measures could work in opposition to the knowledge based strategies by considering the enrichment of resources like human capital, which might be crucial to implementing a strategy, such as current expenses (e.g., Johnson 1992). Dixon et al (1990) debates that the time-honoured financial measures, by dispensing costs of many developments, as well work opposing to the strategies based on reduction of manufacturing time, flexibility and quality. For numerous lower level employees, most of the financial measures of performance are excessively comprehensive and also very far isolated from their actions to offer helpful feedback or guidance on their decisions. They may need certain measures that relate more accurately and directly to the outcomes that they can persuade. (McKenize and Schilling 1998). A numerous studies have found proof that the financial, traditional performance measures are utmost helpful in conditions of low complexity and relative uncertainty; and not in the conditions faced by many trans-national organisations today (e.g., Abernethy and Brownwell 1997; Govindarajan and Gupta 1985; Govindarajan 1984; Gordon and Naranyan 1984). Lynch and Cross (1995) debates that all set performance measures should motivate the behaviour contributing to constant improvement and development in certain vital areas of competition, such as productivity, flexibility, and customer satisfaction. Therefore, they should replicate a cause and effect amongst strategic outcomes and operational behaviour (Keegan et al. 1989; Ittner and Larcker 1998a).4 Moreover, as and how an organisation recognizes new strategic goals, it shall also comprehend a requirement for new measures of performance to persuade and supervise its new actions (Dixon et al. 1990). 4 Contemplation of the time lags might be really important for illustrating these cause and effect relationships (e.g., Norreklit 2000, Banker et al. 2000). Hence, organisations optimally and perhaps sensibly might implement a varied set of measures of performance to demonstrate the diversity of management efforts and decisions (e.g., Ittner and Larcker 1998b; Feltham and Xie 1994; Banker and Datar 1989; Homstrom 1979). The empirical evidences in support of these propositions is narrow and limited but growing.5 The Case of Management Control For The Balanced Score Card Kaplan and Norton (1996 b) had organized various measures of performance into the Balanced Score Card, which is itself a admissible expression in most of the Western business management models.6 Indeed, the Balanced Score Card might have diffused extensively throughout the globe on the power of its internal logic and intuition. Kaplan and Norton (1996b) asserts that the Balanced Score Card offers two noteworthy improvements over the traditional non financial or even the financial performance measures. Firstly, the Balanced Score Card discovers four associated fields of activity that might be crucial to almost all organisations and also to all levels inside the organisation: Increasing financial success Providing Customer value Improving the effectiveness of internal processes Investing in growth and learning capabilities Following the rationale of the Balanced Score Card and disregarding the cost benefit considerations, almost every organisation can implement measures in all the four areas to persuade and supervise actions suitable to organisational strategy. An appropriately constructed Balanced Score Card in its utmost basic use, can offer a complete picture of the status of an organisation, similar to a vehicle’s dashboard showing temperature, oil pressure, fuel levels, speed, engine RPM and coolant. 5 For instance, Banker et al. Offers empirical support with the help of widespread time series data in a service firm for the relations amongst lagging financial performance and principal non-financial measures. Moreover, they employ an event-learning method to locate beneficial performance results from incorporating these non-financial measures in the management performance assessments. 6 The advocates of EVA ® or economic value added, also assert improvements over the traditional financial performance measures, but that is also a synopsis of the financial measure, even though the one that rectifies for the claimed financial reporting faults and errors. EVA ® do not integrate the non-financial, complementary performance measures. Therefore, the Balanced Score Card could encourage positive and constructive organisational outcomes like improvements and developments in all the four areas of organisational activity, which comprises of administrative activities and the Balanced Score Card itself. Evaluating this first level of usefulness and effectiveness is the major objective of this study. Moreover, the Balanced Score Card also seeks to connect these measures into one model so as to accurately replicate the cause and effect relationship amongst the individual measures and the categories. Employing the automobile correspondence, the Balanced Score Card encourages a change in the car’s performance (e.g., speed) specified a designed increase in the engine RPM and fuel consumption (and maybe other factors). A model like this may back-up operational decisions, provide trustworthy feedback for performance evaluation and learning, and make forecasts of results given environmental conditions and the decisions.7 The Role of The Balanced Score Card for Performance Measurement and Strategy Implementation The proponents of the Balanced Score Card emphasise its alliance of the critical measures with the links and the strategy of the measures to the valued outcomes. Additionally, the literature on management control recognizes other features of the control systems that might be crucial for the successful operation and implementation of the strategy and shall apply to the Balanced Score Card.8 To be efficient and effective, Balanced Score Card measures ought to be verifiable, objective, and accurate. 7 Whereas the primary claim for value of the various performance measures would create few debates beyond the considerations of benefit and costs, the secondary claim is a rigorous and bold hypothesis. A potentially testable and literal explanation of the balanced score card is that, it explains lagging, leading, or contemporaneous relations amongst the performance measures. For instance, improvements in growth and learning like reduced time of cycle (e.g., Luft and Shields 1999). Similarly, progress in the in-house processes will predictably result in an enhanced customer value (e.g., market share and satisfaction). Lastly, progress in the customer value shall lead to some predictable increment in the financial success (e.g., profits). Generating such a coherent and comprehensive model is an inspirational objective which is similar to imitating the business model of the company itself. Achieving such an experiential result shall not establish any causality amongst the balanced score card elements because (1) factors absent from this model might be correlated alongwith both effects and causes, (2) the causes of earnings might not be generalizable further beyond the context of a particular firm (Norreklit 2000), and (3) few of the proposed measures might not be self-governing and independent. 8 Unless otherwise mentioned, this particular section draws from the summaries in Merchant (1989, Chapter 2) and Simon (2000, Chapter 11). If not, the measures shall be manipulated and will not be able to replicate the performance, or even the managers could in good belief attain good quality measured performance but in-turn cause harm to the organisation. Even if the managers can attain high measured performance by fraud, cheating or any other method, then the system shall lose its required motivational effect and credibility rapidly. Moreover, the combination of Balanced Score Card measures should entirely illustrate the organisations crucial performance variables; instead it should be restricted in number so as to maintain the measurement system administratively and cognitively simple. A comprehensive set of measures of performance shall accurately replicate the difficulty of the organisations tasks and responsibilities, but a lot of measures might be costly, confusing, and distracting to administer. Nevertheless, Lipe and Salterio (2000) failed to find confirmation of any information overload from the various measures used in their experimental study of the Balanced Score Card. Optimistic motivational impact persuades managers to put forth effort for achieving the organisational goals. While enlightening but not manageable the performance measures might be essential, optimistic motivation demands that in some way or the other few of the Balanced Score Card measures should replicate manager’s conduct and actions. For instance, relative performance assessment (e.g., across alike business units), which is capable of identifying â€Å"influenceable† however, not absolutely controllable results, can be an essential constituent of the Balanced Score Card (e.g., Antle and Demski 1988), but it shall not be adequate by itself. Widespread goal setting researchers validate that the performance should be correlated to demanding but achievable targets (e.g., Locke and Laltham 1990). Without such unequivocal Balanced Score Card targets, the performance would likely be comparatively lower than what could be realistically achieved. Finally to fabricate the goal commitments, the Balanced Score Card shall be linked to well understood and prompt penalties and rewards. Rewards which are ambiguous, uncertain, or delayed shall be unsuccessful motivational devices. Consequently, even if an organisation’s Balanced Score Card replicates its crucial performance variables and the links to valued and appreciated outcomes, it might be unproductive and disastrous as a successful management control tool if it lacks the other attributes. For instance, Ittner et al (2000) asserts that bias in a bank’s Balanced Score Card escorted it to both the bank’s deterioration to its interim financial measures of performance and little advantageous impact. To recapitulate, an effective and successful management control device, which is competent to promote required organisational results, shall have the subsequent, apparent management control elements to, firstly, achieve strategic alignment: A complete but economical combination of the measures of crucial performance variables, correlated with strategy; Crucial performance measures just casually correlated to valued organisational results; and Successful and effective – accurate, purpose, and confirmable – measures of performance, which seems to be associated to effectual communication. Secondly, to further encourage positive motivation, an efficient management control tool should have the attributes of: Measures of performance reflecting the managers influenceable actions or/and controllable actions, e.g., measured by relative or/and absolute performance; Appropriate standards or performance targets that are demanding but attainable; and Performance measures which are associated to meaningful and significant rewards. The Management control theory forecasts that, if the Balanced Score Card contains these attributes, then it becomes probable that the Balanced Score Card shall encourage positive outcomes and motivation and strategic alignment as well. Consequently, the secondary research area/question which complements the first is: Question 2: Is the Balanced Score Card an (in) effective device for management control, creating (negative) positive organisational outcomes, (in) effective motivation, and (non) alignment? Subsequent explanation unfolds the information of a model which replicates the two stated research questions. This model, supported and based on the review of all literature, demonstrates that the Balanced Score Card’s communication characteristics and management control generate results by creating motivation (or not) and strategic alignment. This research also explains about the labour and efforts put in for collecting the data on an applied Balanced Score Card’s organisational communication attributes and management control, along with the facts confirming the Balanced Score Card’s effects on organisational outcomes, motivation, and  strategic alignment. It is audacious to judge the efficiency and the efficacy of the Balanced Score Card against the facts from a non experimental, single Balanced Score Card implementation. Though, a careful and detailed assessment of a crucial case could be generalizable to the theory and instructive (i.e., analytical generalisation, Yin [1994, 10-32]), which in this particular case is that the Balanced Score Card could be an effective management control and strategy communication device. The Characteristics of Balanced Score Card and The Research Site Synopsis of The Research Site The research site is an Indian Economic Times 500 company having over 15000

Free College Admissions Essays: Biology and Psychology :: College Admissions Essays

Biology and Psychology University has always appealed to me because of the wealth of experiences it has to offer as a student. Although I enjoy English Literature and Chemistry: two of my 'A level´ subjects, I am especially keen to study Biology and Psychology. For me, the main appeal of the course lies in the variety of topics that will be covered. The aspects of Biology I find particularly interesting are neuroscience and how the immune system functions and responds. In Psychology, I am very interested in what makes people unique and how different factors shape our personality. I have had two work placements (East Barnet Library in June 1998 and WH Smith in April 2000), both of which proved successful and productive. These experiences especially allowed me to use my interpersonal skills to the full. In my references, both employers remarked on my willingness to learn, my enthusiasm and initiative as well as my ability to work independently and as part of a team. One of the most interesting posts I have held in school is Deputy Managing Director of the 'Young Enterprise´ company, "Opus 21", I found the experience both rewarding and challenging. We encountered some problems at first, but the team worked together to solve them and I felt a real sense of pride to see the company succeed. My skills were further put to use when I helped represent my school in the 'Team Technology´ competition at the 'Logica´ headquarters in London. This involved solving problems in highly realistic business situations, within a limited time. My group was Runner-up, winning one week of work experience with 'Logica´ and prize money for our school. Throughout my schooling I have been closely involved in charity work. Being sponsored to speak French for a day proved to be one of my most innovative (and amusing!) methods of raising money. I have a variety of hobbies outside school. When time allows, I find playing the keyboard and creative writing, such as poetry, a change from my studies. I enjoy using computers as a hobby and to broaden the skills I have gained from my RSA word processing course. My other pursuits include more physical activities such as attending the gym regularly, dancing and cycling.