Bakra Beverages Negotiation Case Essay

The negotiation was fast. BebsiCo gave me a price for a yearly contract of $4 M and I agreed. We agreed to negotiate again next year after seeing the percentage of the target market we have reached. The deal was fair, and created value for me (reputation and possibility to obtain financing). I also noticed them about the availability to distribute in the largest chain-restaurant in the country (low cost for us, high value for them). This was an example of a claiming value negotiation, where both parties tried to achieve an individual gain (the best price) and only the price being discussed. However, it has integrative issues as well, because it is important to build a long-term relationship to keep distributing in the future. My BATNA was bankruptcy, and my reservation point very low, so any deal for me would be good. It was important to try to get a lot of information from the other party before you negotiate the price, because you may find out something. The opening party discussing the price shows a lot. So I tried to give her all the information I had (about my experience, my contacts) and ask her about things such as â€Å"why don ´t you want to work with Kabir† or â€Å"why are you interested in working with us†. Based on our answers, it was clear that we both had the same interest: succeed together. I learned from this negotiation that in claiming value negotiation, there are ways to include creating value issues. We could have negotiated including â€Å"if you do this, then you get that†. I also learned that it is important to know the reference points before you negotiate to get a fair deal. Parties may have assymetric information, but sharing information helps achieving your interest.

James Joyce’s The Dubliners Essay

In â€Å"Araby†, â€Å"Eveline†, and â€Å"The Dead†, three short stories featured in James Joyce’s The Dubliners, the characters struggle with whether to live their lives with a structured routine or to seek opportunities, change, and adventure. These short stories center around everyday life for citizens of Dublin, Ireland in the early 20th century, when a choice between continuing the inherited tradition of routine and structure versus seeking any other form of life or adventure could be the most important decision in the peoples’ lives. With the terrible potato famine still in living memory and with Ireland seeking a new culture and identity, many of its citizens clung to their routine as means of survival. The quotidian routine of the character’s lives suppresses and dominates the characters, preventing any of the characters’ ideas and dreams of seeking adventure. In â€Å"Araby,† every aspect of the little boy’s rou tine and everyday life impedes him from his adventurous goals of visiting the annual bazaar and fulfilling his dream of a relationship with Mangan’s sister. Despite his infatuation with his friend Mangan’s sister, the boy cannot work up the courage to spark a conversation and is pleasantly surprised when she asks him if he is going to the annual bazaar, hosted in Dublin. She then says that she is unable to attend, and the boy offers to bring her an item from the bazaar. Every aspect of the boy’s routine and everyday life seems to be trying to impede the boy from his goals, from school’s boring lessons to his uncle forgetting to arrive home early enough to give him money for the train fair because he was out drinking. Despite the adversities of his everyday life attempting to ensnare him, the boy does make it to the bazaar, but his hopes about the bazaar are not fulfilled. When the boy arrives at the bazaar, he realizes that the bazaar does not live up to his expectations. The untimely distractions that caused the boy to be late to the bazaar cause the boy to show up after most of the excitement and trade has already ended. He approaches one stall that is still open, but the owner of the stall seems to be preoccupied with a conversation with several men. The woman notices him, but the boy says how â€Å"†¦the tone of her voice was not encouraging; she seemed to have spoken to [him] out of a sense of duty†. The boy buys nothing, feeling unwanted by the woman watching over the goods. With no purchase for Mangan’s sister, the narrator stands angrily in the deserted bazaar as the lights go out, with his hopes crushed as his grandiose imagination of the bazaar is disillusioned. This realization deflates the boy’s hopes and dreams of an adventurous and exotic life, ending his wishful love affair with his friend’s sister, as well as ending his ambitions for a more adventurous life, and is analogous to Joyce’s â€Å"The Dead†. In â€Å"The Dead†, the banal and reflectively melancholy party is indicative of the monotonous routine that the Dubliners live by; however, Gabriel, the protagonist, struggles with the psychological battle with his methodical approach to life versus a more acceptin g and unconventional mindset, in which he wishes to enjoy a happier outlook on life. The motif of adventure versus routine is ever-present in this short story through Joyce’s meticulous and selective diction. During a very normal routine of dinner, the food is on â€Å"rival ends† of the table, divided by â€Å"sentries of fruit†, and watched afar by â€Å"three squads of bottles†. This militaristic diction transforms a seemingly harmless dinner table into an adventurous battlefield filled with action and excitement. The â€Å"battlefield† is not the dinner table, but the story in itself. The war is not between sentries and squadrons of bottles, but between the routine of life versus the hunger for opportunity. After dinner, the guests begin to dance. The guests partake in â€Å"memorized dance steps† and fall into habit and routine, one after the other. These structured dance steps rob the dancers of their individuality and creativity as uniform seizes the dance floor. The dancers are either forced to abandon their creativity and join in on the synchronized march of the automatons or be excluded from the group. Later on in the story, Gabriel learns from his wife about a previous lover. Gabriel enters a pensive and reflective state, in which he muses on the mass snow covering all of Ireland, which most likely covers the grave of Michael, his wife’s ex-lover, as well as the graves of all future Dubliners. The snow, the culmination of millions of individual and unique snowflakes melting together to form one entity of uniformity, became a metaphor for the all-encompassing routine of the characters in Dubliners, covering them in life and in death. Gabriel’s reflections towards the end of the novel give the short s tory its name of â€Å"The Dead†, which is what all of the routine and structure does the characters in The Dubliners. Despite all of the negative occurrences that the routine of the evening and of life bring upon Gabriel, he summons the courage to change his bleak outlook on life, vowing to have a more optimistic and open view on the world. In â€Å"Eveline†, the protagonist Eveline is faced with a rare opportunity to move away from Ireland to Buenos Aires with her boyfriend, Frank, but the routines and memories of her life ensnare her and prevent her from making the choice to seek adventure and excitement. This decision is an important crossroads in Eveline’s life, to continue with a life of an abusive father or an uncertain future with her boyfriend. The story begins with Eveline reflecting upon her childhood and contemplating the difficult decision that lies before her. She first has an epiphany, realizing that she cannot stay where she is, stuck in the autonomous life of routine and then becomes sympathetic to her father, saying how he was not all that abusive to her. Soon after th is thought, Eveline hears an organ playing in the street, reminding Eveline of her mother. This recollection of her mother immediately compels Eveline to decide that she cannot live her life the way her mother did, being swallowed up and forgotten by the routines of cooking and cleaning, all but forgotten in a sad and monotonous life. Eveline decides to head to Buenos Aires with Frank. As they are about to board the ship, Eveline resorts back to her routine by praying. The familiar chanting of the prayers versus the desire to flee with Frank renders Eveline in a state of paralysis, stripped of confidence after the destructive battle raging in her head between the two waging sides of her life, fiercely battling each other for superiority of Eveline’s subconcious. Eveline is left on the docks while Frank boards the ship. Because she does not move away from her routines, she is stuck forever with them. Her momentary epiphany regarding her mother and the monotonous routines of her life will go in vain, and she will end up living the exact life that her mother did. The vicious cycle of repetitive and mundane routine leaves the Dubliners helpless and lonely. Often, the routine forces the character into a state of unrequited love. In â€Å"Araby†, the routine leaves the boy in love with Mangan’s sister, never to know whether she shared any of his feelings. In â€Å"Eveline†, Eveline is left in the abusive and vicious cycle of her life, while her love is sailing off to Buenos Aires. In â€Å"The Dead†, Michael is literally buried under the mass routine of the snow, while his lover lives on, loving someone else. These protagonists each face difficult situations, of which they are not sure how to solve. As a mechanism of coping, they seek repetition, comfort, and conformity that only the routines of their average lives can bring. Without ever taking chances, they are sure to never achieve more than an average life. The characters in The Dubliners never take a chance to succeed and triumph over mediocrity. In doing this, they never give themselves a chance to fail, but they also never give themselves a chance to succeed. These characters have an opportunity to try to lift themselves up from the routinely abusive cycle of their lives, but cannot free themselves from their shackles, simply adding a few more degrees to the circle of false hopes and adventure that defines these misfortunate and disillusioned characters. Works Cited: Joyce, James. â€Å"Dubliners.† Project Gutenberg. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. .

Palestinian and Israeli conflict Essay

Palestinian and Israeli conflict is the famous dispute between the Palestinians and the Israelis and it’s a dispute which is ongoing and a conflict which is explosive and continuing. It is one of the most sensitive and important issue discussed (Shah, 2000). The term has been used as a reference for the same conflicts earlier phrases and this conflict is usually very wide ranging. International actions have been forced in the conflict due to violence that had resulted from the dispute. Besides the international actions, human rights and security concerns are also prompted. This conflict has a great variety of thoughts and view in the societies and highlights the deep divisions of the Palestinians and the Israelis societies. The Israelis and the Palestinians have two different religions but this religion is not the reason for the conflict, its all about the land. Both groups knew the area as Palestine which they claimed. But after the 1948-49 war this land had been divided into three parts which were the West Bank, the state of Israel and the Gaza Strip. Issue There were many issues that had occurred between the Palestinians and Israelis. The West Bank and the Gaza strip had been occupied by the Israelis. The Israelis were asked by the Palestinians to withdraw the land but the Israelis instead started to expand its settlements throughout the processes of peace and continue to do so today as well. In order to regain the Palestine for the Palestinian Arabs they demanded a tow state in the Gaza and the West Bank. The Israelis on the other hand refused to create a state as they believed that it would result in a base for the terror groups but in the final negotiations the Israelis agreed to create the state with very limited control to the Palestinians over its resources and its borders. The refugee problem was another important issue in the conflict. There were about 726000 Palestinians who were forced to leave their homes in the war that had followed in 1948 (Gelvin, 2007). The Palestinian refugees were about 4 million. The refugees were in poor conditions in the camps of Gaza and the West Bank. There was a Palestinian demand for sending the refugees back to their homes in Israel. The Israelis whereas opposed to this as they felt that there would be a majority of the Arab Palestinians and this would end the Israel being a Jewish Israeli state. To the problem of the refugees mentioned above the answer of the Palestinians was of creating riots and destroy the Israelis by violence. By violence the Palestinians got hold of many of the areas of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. And most of the population was in hold of the Palestinians. For the answer to this again the Israelis took a step which was of the Israeli Repression. They limited the flow of the Palestinian workers to Israel to prevent any terrorist activities from happening and there were strict border checks of these workers. This greatly reduced the Palestinian standard of living. Those Palestinians who did come to work were humiliated or awaited for long hours at the check points. For any of the terror attacks at the checkpoints the Israelis starting firing at vehicles as a result of which many innocent civilians were put to death. The Israelis had launched the defensive Wall in the West bank operation and started reoccupying the territories in the West bank which were under the Palestinians. There were further checkpoints made by the IDF (Israel Defense forces) and any of the towns were for long time periods kept in curfew and the disrupting daily life, education and work. The IDF had killed about 3500 Palestinians and had destroyed the Palestinian houses. The problems that the Palestinians had to go through because of the Israelis were also due to the reason that the Israelis wanted to ensure their security. Causes The Israel Palestine conflict causes are too complex. The entire area was known as the Palestine before even the Israelis entered. The place was not called Palestine at the time of the Ottoman Empire but it had been divided into separate parts which were called ‘Vilayets’ which were further subdivided into even smaller units known as the ‘Sanjaks’. This Palestine term was just used by the Muslims, Jews and Christians to just describe their likeness for that region. The place was conquered by the Europeans. This region then was named the Palestine under the British Administration ad the people there were given identity cards labeling their nationality as the Palestinians. This was the time when the conflict arose between the Palestinians and the settlers of the Zionist who had been arriving from Russia and the Eastern Europe. The European settlers had a want to build a community of the Jewish people, though Israel wasn’t created then but only the want was enough to create a conflict between the European settlers and the Palestinian Arabs (Caplan, 2009). The land that was owned by the Palestinian Arabs was taken away from them and they were evicted by the new owners of that land, the land that was brought by the European from the European Zionist funds. This entire process gave rise to a conflict which had quite violent results. The time when Israel came into place during the years 1947 and 1948, many of the Palestinian residents were forced to leave their homes and were not allowed to return to their homelands. All these people became the Palestinian refugees and their troubles were the actual root to the conflict between the Israel and the Palestinian conflict. Solution The solution to this conflict which I can think of is for the Israel to become one state under the vote democratically and populated by both the Palestinians and the Israelis. There are three reasons for me to choose this solution. Firstly, the Palestinians want to live back in their homeland and if they do they would feel satisfied and would have a feeling of achieving what they always wanted. The Palestinians always thought of getting back their country and live in their homeland. If they live with the Israelis it would make them feel optimistic about their children’s future. Their goal has always been to return to their homeland so if they would succeed in achieving their goal then they would stop violence. The second reason is that of much less violence. As the Palestinians would be heard through the voting and them participating in the affairs of the government they would not create violence and blow off people to get heard. This would result in less fear and greater safety for the Israelis. Moreover, there would be no violence for retaliation from the Israeli terrorists. Lastly, the democratic government would be fair to both the groups as it would contain both the Israelis and the Palestinians. To the citizens all the leaders would be fair if they’re elected otherwise they won’t be re-elected. For the leaders both the groups would vote and if one leader favors just one group then the other group would not vote for him. The Palestinian and Israeli leaders would have to be fair and equal no matter whatever religion they’re following (Homie, 2007). Conclusion This conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is a very sensitive issue and the solution which I think would work is that of Israel becoming a democratic state. I believe this is the best solution as it’ll provide both the groups with a homeland and also allow them to participate in the government of their own. This can be an effective step towards peace. References Shah A. (2000). Palestine and Israel Introduction. December 20, 2000. From www. globalissues. org Homie G. (2007). A Solution to the Israeli Palestine Conflict. May 6, 2007. From www. newsflavor. com Gelvin J. L. (2007). The Israel-Palestine conflict: one hundred years of war. Edition: New. Caplan N. (2009). The Israel-Palestine conflict: contested histories. Wiley-Blackwell Publishers.

Texting while driving Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Texting while driving - Research Paper Example Despite the best efforts from the part of governments and law enforcement agencies, there was a 28 percent increase in the number of accidents over the period from 2005 to 2008. Many people accept the fact that they resort to use cell phone while driving; a practice that takes away many lives and that makes many people incapacitated for their entire lives. It is surprising to note that in sharp contradiction with the popular belief, it is adults who are more likely to resort to texting while driving. According to the a Pew Research Centre study, 47 percent of adults do this while only 34 percent teenagers admit doing the same (Distraction.gov). When police officers find it easy to catch those who talk on phone while driving, it is difficult for them to find those who are texting. It is generally pointed out that enforcement of a texting ban is not an easy task as it requires officers to identify an act that usually takes place in a driver’s lap. Despite all these issues associ ated with the use of mobile while driving, it is rather ironic to note that the car manufacturers are not paying any attention to this issue at all. Instead, they are preparing their next generation vehicles with more entertainment. To illustrate, Ford rolls out Twitter and Pandora as a part of their dashboard console entertainment; an invitation card to disasters. It seems that despite the large numbers of accidents, people do not fully understand the graveness of the problem, or are unwilling to mend their ways as they are addicted to mobile. A study conducted by the Virginia tech Transportation Institute (cnet. News) found that those who send text message while driving are twenty-three times more likely to have a crash than the non-distracted drivers (LeBeau). However, the study found a much lesser possibility of accident when the driver is talking on a phone. In this case, the possibility of accident is 1.3 times higher than that of a non-distracted driver. At this juncture, it seems useful to look into the NHTSA study that reveals that 80 percent of crashes and 60 percent of near-crashes are the result of some sort of driver distraction. According to the study, the principal forms of distraction while driving are cell phone use, trying to handle moving objects inside the vehicle, giving attention to another event outside the vehicle, reading while driving, and trying to apply makeup. According to experts, texting is more dangerous than talking on phone. According to studies, drivers who resort to text messaging take 400 percent more time off the road. In addition, they are 70 percent less likely to keep proper lane. While the driver who talks on phone is able to watch the road, the one who is texting has to look at his or her hands, thus, unable to watch the road ahead. Despite all these frightening facts, people do not seem to change their habits. As reported by Bruno (in USA Today), the reason is simple in the opinion of James Katz, director of the Cent er for Mobile Communications at the Rutgers University. According to him, it is basic human nature to believe that they can handle a situation better than others even when they are aware of the dangers involved. As Pittman (66) points out, it is not possible for the US citizens to easily forget the 2008 train disaster that killed 25 people and injured 138 people. In the accident, a Metrolink Commuter Train collided with a Union Pacific freight train. According

Research and Reflections on Success and Failure in IM Management Essay

Research and Reflections on Success and Failure in IM Management - Essay Example In this report, the career profile of an information management specialist is chosen for discussion and analysis. An information management specialist is responsible for the management of information and data within an organization, for consulting and liaising widely in order to market and promote corporate information, for recording management practices, coordinating these practices with the availability and management of information resources in the business. Additionally, the responsibilities of an information management specialist also include providing high end corporate and legal advice regarding the workflows and management of corporate records and information in all the departmental units and locations of a business. The information management specialist also coordinates, evaluates, develops, implements maintains and reviews different departmental records and management policies, standards, procedures, systems, industry trends and guidelines so as to help the formulation of c orporate policies in accordance with various departmental requirements. The role of an information management specialist is most recognizable in a company which operates in a dynamic and advanced technological environment. The factors that contribute to the success and failure of the information management systems can be identified and evaluated through the research and study of different articles and interviews with Information Management professionals across the world. It can be seen by researching on the career profiles and career graphs of various information management professionals, that there are some basic fixed factors that are necessary for the success of professionals in these job roles. Also, there are few stipulated factors that are found to be the common causes of a failure of the individuals as information management professionals (Information professionals, 2012, p.1).

Article response paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

Response paper - Article Example According to Philip, men experience varied struggles through a patriarchal approach system that mandates their gender identity thus engage in violent acts against women. In the end, Voice Male proves the possibility of using a system that promotes the consumption of popular culture to its advantage. 2. Comments and deep discussion of the article with clear indication to outside sources peer reviewed articles, According to Philip’s article, he indicates that men’s violence against women is majorly due to patriarchal systems, which exhibit cultural circumstances promoting violence against women (Philips, n.d). For instance, from ancient times, men in the society were not to show any signs of vulnerability because one would have faced severe punishment. His study concurs with that of Feder, Levant, & Dean’s whose findings Just like philip’s allege traditional masculine aspects of men estranges and isolates them from their genuine inner self as well as having cordial relations to others (Feder, Levant, & Dean, 2010). To them, this theory increases chances of men engaging in violent acts against women in the society. ... However, based on Brent and Eric’s study, men’s violence against diverse parties like children, women and their peers mainly emanates from their aggressive response towards stress or provocation (Brent &Eric, 2006). They claim men are prone to react violently towards stress factors like threat delusions unlike women who approach such issues in a peaceful manner. Their study also supports Philip’s point of view because they also put out men as prone to violence beings. I concur with these studies since I believe men in the society conform to norms that place them over women. Society advocates men should not confess any sort of weakness to the female gender thus making them react violently to women in their quest to prove their masculinity. I also believe it is an act of nature among men to react violently from the slightest provocation directed towards them. Therefore, I believe the only way to help men refrain from violent acts is via making them understand the r easons behind their violent deeds’ 3. Outstandingly concise excerpts taking from the article By positioning men’s violence against women bas a culturally supported act created through large systems of power and oppression, we can begin to see the fallacy in addressing violence solely on a case-by-case basis. The excerpt shows if we should succeed in eradicating the vice of gender violence against women in the society, then the starting point is by addressing forces compelling certain acts. Therefore, this excerpt offers a strong basis of addressing the menace whereby it is fundamental for necessary stakeholders to follow it while addressing the vice (Philips, 261). Here I would note that men who have been socialized in

Chinese Silk Road Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Chinese Silk Road - Essay Example It plays a momentous part in the development of social and economic situations of China. The Chinese Silk Route resembles the advent of globalization within China, which influences economic, social & cultural conditions of the nation in a favorable way (Wood 9-15). Urbanizations results in growth in population and accordingly these increase the demands of basic needs. Thus, to satisfy the country’s need, the Chinese Silk Route was introduced for the betterment of lives. Moreover, to boost the process of transferring goods through export and import quickly, Chinese Silk Route is being established. It enables the tourists to visit such countries that are connected by routes and thus helps to boost foreign direct investment (FDI) in respective counties. After introducing the Chinese Silk Route, national and international trades and investments are identified to grow rapidly with generating varied positive outcomes. Maritime commerce is playing a decisive part in connecting divers ified industries, culture and economy of different countries. As the trade relationships between countries are growing, distinct sorts of new pioneering ideas are implemented to enhance the productivity of the routes (Agnew 3-17). The essay intends to analyze the history of Chinese Silk Route, which has been introduced with the advent of globalization. Apart from this, the essay attempted to describe the process of the above stated history and also its influence on developing the social as well as economic conditions of China. Chinese Silk Route continuously developed within the period of second century BC to fourteenth century AD. During the 500 BC, Chinese people adopted nomadic style and rode horses for exporting along with importing goods. This route was initiated by Zhang Qian in Hun Dynasty and during the growth of this dynasty, the Chinese Silk Route gained immense power to expand across

Orgniasing and managing across cultures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Orgniasing and managing across cultures - Essay Example As such, this report seeks to critically analyse the significance of culture in the management systems in organisations in Africa. The report will also attempt to establish if the ideas that characterise the concept of ubuntu can be applied in other cultural contexts. The philosophy of ubuntu The concept of ubuntu mainly originated from the culture of African people which puts more emphasis on social behaviours such as sharing and treating each other equally (Schultz, 2005). Ubuntu is a metaphor that describes the significance of group solidarity, morality, humanness, hospitality and understanding (Mbigi & Maree, 2005). This concept is very important on survival issues in African communities which as a result of poverty have to survive through brotherly group care and not individual self reliance. This concept is applicable to poor communities and the main idea behind it is to empower the marginalised people and the idea has been harnessed in the management of people in the organisat ions to reflect their interests. With regards to organisations, the concept of ubuntu emphasises the need to harness the solidarity tendency of the African people in developing management practices and approach. Western and African cultures are very different and behaviour of people from these places is also different. In Africa, the philosophy of extended family is given priority while in western cultures, emphasis is on the nuclear family and the individual and competition is encouraged. From an African perspective, reality of underdevelopment cannot be ignored and ubuntu can be possible because of the individuals in the group who collectively pull their efforts towards the attainment of set organisational goals. This philosophy can be harnessed in the nation building process and in the workplace. By gaining a full and deep understanding of the cultural and philosophical basis of the people in a business team or community, one is better positioned to harness their energies (Boon, 2006). One can synergise the operations of an organisation towards a shared vision and comprehend interdependence through the adoption of the ubuntu philosophy in managing business. Without a deep cultural understanding, it may be difficult to coordinate the efforts of the people towards the attainment of the set goals. Managing diversity Africa is comprised of people from diverse cultural backgrounds and these people are often unique and different from the others. The cultural diversity concept of human resources (HR) posits to the effect that the leaders must emerge from the workplace to motivate and direct workforce towards the attainment of the set goals (Grobler et al 2006). Managing diversity in the workplace has become an important part of HRM. Every individual is unique but at the same time we share common characteristics with other people. Therefore, diversity in the workplace means recognising in a positive way that groups of people share common characteristics and others have different characteristics (Kleynhans et al 2007). Thus, the HR professional has a duty help the organisation to comply or go along with the legislation that prevents unfair practices or discrimination because of these differences between people. The concept of ubuntu comes in handy to solve problems likely to be related to managing diversity at the workplace. Managing diversi

Askls5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Askls5 - Essay Example It is believed that self-leadership is required before engaging in team leadership (Manz and Sims 1991). What are some of the best practices that a team facilitator can use in order act as a role model to his or her team? When one has competent team members, it is apparent that they at one time have contributions to make in the effort to facilitate problem solving. In this regard, what are some of the models deemed appropriate to create an atmosphere in which a team leader can use in order to facilitate problem solving? In every group undertaking a certain project in an organization, there are various challenges it can face. What are some of the potential areas that a team leader can focus on in order to overcome such challenges? In an attempt to go beyond self-managing work team, a leader is supposed to use some empowerment dimensions. What are recommended dimensions that a team leader can use in order to empower his or her team? In any given organization, it is expected that the team leader use the appropriate communication styles in order to ensure top performance by his or her team members. What are the recommended communication skills and techniques that a team leader must have? However, the communication skill applies to all members of a team. A part from the team leader’s skills and techniques, in what ways can communication skills and techniques help the other team members’ carryout their duties

Bank of America Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Bank of America - Assignment Example MBNA is the largest player in the credit industry worldwide. By acquiring MBNA, the Board of Bank of America would be able o acquire a majority market share of 20.2% in the $1.2 trillion credit card business. For this reason, the Board of America has taken a strategic decision to buy out MBNA for $35 billion. The advantages of the acquisition include access to a large share of the worldwide credit card markets (Kumar, 2012, p.37). The Bank of America could make use of its large network of 5800 branches in the US for providing financial services. The customer portfolio of MBNA also comprises of low risk borrowers which would be advantageous for the bank of America. The buyout also involves certain disadvantages. The buy out decision of MBNA has come at a time when the credit card market is saturated and there is a turn-around in the consumer behavior in the credit cards industry. Thus the growth prospects of venturing into the credit card business are likely to be decided with time. . .. Considering the slow down of the credit card business, the shareholders would still expect the bank to leverage on the resources of MBNA. The shareholders view this buyout to have been taken place at a higher value than the market price. The acquisition of MBNA by the Bank of America would tend to kill the competition in the market and the Bank of America would increase its market share. The vigorous strategies of American Express by persuading banks to advise customers to use their credit cards could also be challenged and the Bank of America is likely to move to the higher position in terms of market capitalization (WetFeet, 2008, p.46). An increase in the gamut of financial services would make the shareholders believe that the company is looking to expand its operations and the volume of revenues and earnings would also tend to increase. A high earning for the Bank of America after the buyout and exploring the potentials of the credit card business would mean that the earnings per share for the shareholders would increase. The dividend payout of the bank is also likely to increase and it is viewed positively by the shareholders. The shareholders also foresee a rise in valuation of the shares due to the strategic buyout of MBNA by the Bank of America (Kunitzky, 2010, p.78). Perspective of the shareholders of MBNA The shareholders of MBNA were supposed to be skeptical about the future of business of credit cards of MBNA. This is due to the facts that the credit market has saturated at this point of time and there is change in the consumer behavior in the credit card industry. Due to huge competition in the credit card market, the consumers expect a term of

Quality assessment at bank call centre Research Paper

Quality assessment at bank call centre - Research Paper Example is a need to decrease variation so that proper attention can be given to continuous improvement in what is provided to the customers as is demanded by the customers. Another philosophy which needs to be established as a central part of the organization is the crucial need to implement correct controls along with proper techniques so that improvement can be made whenever it is required and is possible. As a student, it is very important for us to properly understand and realize the importance quality holds for organizations, specially the service sector which constantly is informing its employee’s importance of quality to make them an important customer segment. After a lot of research, finally we were able to find a bank which is providing proper service to its customers which is ICICI bank.     At ICICI Bank, all the banking and also financial products are offered to the corporate and also retail customers , they are using a variety of delivery channels and also through their subsidiaries which are specialized in life and also non-life insurance, investment banking also also asset management and venture capital. The bank is operating in India, Russia, Canada, Hong Kong, China and also United Kingdom.ICICI equity shares are basically listed in India on National Stock Exchange of India Limited and also Bombay Stock Exchange. American depositary Receipts are basically listed on New York Stock Exchange. Company was basically promoted during the year 1994 and was by ICICI limited which is an Indian Financial Institution and was also wholly owned through subsidiary. ICICI has board comprising of eminent individuals who are wealthy and also have international business experience related to financial services, banking and also management consulting. ICICI is providing innovati on in banking services which are liked and recognized all over the world. They have properly managed idea along with innovative products and also launches. Bank is also involved in engaging

Administrative Ethics Paper Grading Criteria Essay Example for Free

Administrative Ethics Paper Grading Criteria Essay Resource: Administrative Ethics Paper Grading Criteria on your student website Find a current administrative issue in a newspaper, magazine, or journal article relating to topics such as patient privacy, confidentiality, or HIPAA. Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper that includes the following: †¢ Describe the issue and its impact on the population it affects most. †¢ What arguments or facts are used in the article to support the proposed solution? †¢ What are the ethical and legal issues reported for your administrative issue? †¢ Explain the managerial responsibilities related to administrative ethical issues. If none were stated, what should have been done? †¢ Identify any proposed solutions. See more: Strategic Management Process Essay Include at least three sources in your paper. Resource: Administrative Ethics Paper Grading Criteria on your student website Find a current administrative issue in a newspaper, magazine, or journal article relating to topics such as patient privacy, confidentiality, or HIPAA. Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper that includes the following: †¢ Describe the issue and its impact on the population it affects most. †¢ What arguments or facts are used in the article to support the proposed solution? †¢ What are the ethical and legal issues reported for your administrative issue? †¢ Explain the managerial responsibilities related to administrative ethical issues. If none were stated, what should have been done? †¢ Identify any proposed solutions.

Transhumanism: Biotechnology and its Role in the Singularity

Transhumanism: Biotechnology and its Role in the Singularity BY SHAYMA ABUKAR ABSTRACT   Ã‚   Due to rapid advances in technology, our world is slowly progressing to the point where we may surpass human limitations. This report will aim to focus on the developments of biotechnology and its importance in the achieving this post-human state, as well as its role in reaching a hypothetical singularity. It will also follow the goals of transhumanism and the ethics related to genetic engineering. It is clear that if we are to achieve transhumanist goals, through the aid of, not just AI, but also biotechnology, life as we know will be vastly different. All research conducted for this report is secondary and data was retrieved from journals, scientific magazines and online articles[DS1]. INTRODUCTION What is transhumanism? With life becoming more and more efficient through emerging technologies, humanity is struggling to keep up with our rate of progression. Transhumanists belong to a group that believe we will one day enhance ourselves to the point of being post-human. Transhumanism can be defined as the belief or theory that the human race can evolve beyond its current physical and mental limitations, especially by means of science and technology. (Oxford Dictionary 2016). Its a movement that believes that, through genetic engineering, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, etc., humanity will progress to a point of surpassing human limitations such as death, disease and other biological frailties (McNamee and Edwards 2006). The three main goals of transhumanism are achieving super-longevity, super-intelligence, and super-wellbeing. These goals can be achieved through our rapid technological advancements. Super-longevity is becoming more and more likely with our ever advancing medicine and drug development. Through genetic engineering and genome editing, scientists are now able to cure what were once incurable diseases[DS2]. Transhumanists generally fall into two categories: strong and weak. Weak transhumanists believe that technology should be used to simply enhance humanity, whether that be intelligence, appearance, life span, etc. (Strong Transhumanism | Ethical Issues In Health Care 2014). Strong transhumanists on the other hand have the radical belief that technology should be used to develop humans to another species all together. The ideas advocated by weak transhumanists are already accepted by many in todays world, and the development of drugs and nanotechnology to help solve medical issues is already seen as ethical by a majority. Strong transhumanist goals to develop a new species entirely, on the other hand, is met with accusations that its unethical and unlikely to happen. SINGULARITY Transhumanists generally discuss the concept of the singularity, which can be defined in various ways. In the mathematical world, a singularity is the point at which a function takes an infinite value. However, in regards to technological advancement, the singularity is most commonly defined as a hypothetical moment in time when artificial intelligence and other technologies have become so advanced that humanity undergoes a dramatic and irreversible change (The Best Definition Of Singularity 2016 ). The concept of the singularity is seen as either thrilling or daunting. Whilst techno-optimists believe it is sure to happen in the near future, those skeptical of the singularity and transhumanism believe that it is either impossible, or sure to do more harm than good. In an article on The AI revolution (Urban, T 2015), Tim Urban discusses the concept of DPU (Die Progress Unit). He introduces it as a measure of how far into the future an individual would have to travel before they die of shock due to the vastly developed and technologically advanced environments (relative to their time). Bringing a man from 1750 to 2016 would expose him to technology far beyond comprehensible to someone of his time, thus shocking him to the point of death. His DPU, therefore, is achieved in merely a few hundred years. However, in order for a DPU to be achieved in 1750, the person would have to travel a lot further back, to 12,000 BC. The man from 12,000 BC would then die of shock after experiencing civilisation and the more complex architecture of 1750[DS3]. As Kevin Kelly from Wired magazine stated, all change in the last million years will be superseded by the change in the next 5 minutes. The article suggests that the rate of our advancements are staggering, and as much as AI plays an important role in reaching the singularity, genetic engineering methods and biotechnology have begun to make just as large an impact. Scientists are growing increasingly worried that genome editing is moving too fast for humanity to catch up. Biotechnology plays a key role in achieving this hypothetical event that is so often discussed amongst transhumanists, and development of this technology will allow humans to alter their genome with precision and ease. The more advanced this technology becomes, the easier it will be to effectively surpass human limitations and for life to be transformed beyond recognition. In order for this to be widely accepted, it will need to be used for medical purposes only. GENE EDITING   Ã‚   One of the ways biotechnology is advancing our bodies and developing medical methods is through gene editing or genome editing. Gene editing can be described as the process of inserting, deleting or replacing areas of DNA within an organisms genome. This is done using molecular enzymes that act as molecular scissors (Editing Our DNA With Molecular Scissors | Understanding Genetics). This technology has incredible medical applications and may be used, in the future, to cure a vast number of diseases. Other applications of biotechnology include gene therapy and genetic screening, which both help solve medical issues. DNA is a cells genetic material and consists of a sugar phosphate backbone and nitrogenous bases, and it forms a double helix structure[DS4]. These nitrogenous bases make up nucleotides which carry the genetic data (Whats A Genome?). These nucleotides make up what is known as the genome. An organisms genome contains all of its genetic data thus containing all the information needed to build and maintain that organism. By finding methods and techniques to edit and change parts of our genome, we can effectively cure genetic diseases and medical problems. In 2003, a collaborative group of international scientists completed what is known as the Human Genome Project (What Is A Genome?). Coordinated by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Energy, the project sought to sequence an entire human genome. By achieving this, it paved the way for new genetic technologies and techniques to be developed[DS5]. Scientists have previously struggled to find a method of genome editing that is safe for human use, however, the development of CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) has proven that it is now possible to genetically engineer our genome without damaging our DNA (Zhang, S 2015[DS6]). CRISPR is a component of a bacterias immune system that recognises and remembers threatening areas of viruses (known as phages) in order to equip itself to defend against them is they were to attack again. It also involves an enzyme called Cas which then precisely cuts the viruss DNA and prevents it from dividing. This intelligent mechanism now allows scientists to accurately and precisely edit and cut out parts of DNA. The specific enzyme used is known as Cas9, and whilst its responsible for snipping parts of the DNA, it works to edit the genome with CRISPR, which is a collection of DNA sequences telling Cas9 where to cut. CRISPR is already being used as a possible treatment for eye diseases in animals and lung cancer in their first human trials (Le Page, M 2016). Scientists are using the technique to remove immune cells from the body, edit their DNA to make the better at killing cancer cells, then put them back. The rate at which gene editing is progressing is far beyond the expectations of many, and will continue to be developed at a staggering rate. As this progresses, the concept of the singularity begins to be more of a reality. Although CRISPRs merits currently lie within its medical applications, scientists are already figuring out ways to use it to understand the human genome and molecular biology as a whole. Another form of genome editing is TALEN (transcription activator-like effector proteins). These proteins, like CRISPR, also come from bacteria and use its adaptive immunity to edit areas of the genome. The first medical application of TALEN was on an 11-month old girl who suffered acute lymphoblastic leukemia which is a form of cancer of white blood cells. The mechanism was used to extract T cells, genetically alter them, then insert them back into the body so they can better fight against the cancerous cells (TALEN-Based Genome Editing | Thermo Fisher Scientific). ETHICAL, FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS Opinions on transhumanism and the use of biotechnology differ between varying groups of people. Some of the concerns regarding transhumanism and its goal of super-longevity is due to the possibility of over population. Whilst many believe that the medical applications of biotechnology and genetic engineering do well to extend our life spans and prevent us succumbing to diseases, there are some who fear that our world would not be able to withstand increasingly large populations of people. It would have social and financial implications. It is seen as unethical once the technology is no longer used solely for medical purposes, but to extend our life span in the absence of disease. Religious groups of people also believe that transhumanism interferes too much with human nature and what God has created. If we were to use our technology to become a new species entirely, as strong transhumanists believe will happen, then it would mean religious beliefs would be compromised, therefore many are against the ideology (Messerly, J 2015). CONCLUSION The faster we develop biotechnology, the more efficient our methods of curing diseases become and therefore, we are able to use genetic engineering methods to achieve a longer life span. As well as achieving super-longevity, biotechnology can also aid us in developing ourselves to the point of becoming post-human, which may then lead to the singularity. Whilst these techniques and developments have positive medical applications, the rate at which we are progressing is so fast, that its difficult to predict the turnout of our actions and advancements. It may lead to unethical consequences and results that favour strong transhumanists, as opposed to weak transhumanists. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to Amelia and Nuffield for arranging this placement, and thank you to Dekkel and Andre for supporting and guiding us along the way, and providing up with useful resources. REFERENCES Editing Our DNA With Molecular Scissors | Understanding Genetics. Genetics.thetech.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. Messerly, John. Transhumanism And Religion. Ieet.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. Strong Transhumanism | Ethical Issues In Health Care. Scholarblogs.emory.edu. N.p., 2014. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. TALEN-Based Genome Editing | Thermo Fisher Scientific. Thermofisher.com. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. The Best Definition Of Singularity. Singularitysymposium.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. Urban, Tim. The Artificial Intelligence Revolution: Part 1 Wait But Why. Wait But Why. N.p., 2015. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. What Is A Genome?. Genetics Home Reference. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. Whats A Genome?. Genomenewsnetwork.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. Zhang, Sarah. Gizmodo.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. Le Page, Michael. New Scientist N.p., 2016. Mag. 1 Sep.t 2016. The new genetic lottery. New scientist N.p., 2016. Mag. 1 Sept. 2016. Does Evolution Lead To Singularity?. Singularity Weblog. N.p., 2015. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. Gene Editing. Horizondiscovery.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. [DS1]Good. [DS2]Good points, but need to be support with a reference. [DS3]Good. [DS4]Source needed [DS5]This paragraph is riddled with great points, but referencing sources will give it much more credibility [DS6]Good.

Strategic Management of Emirates Airline

Strategic Management of Emirates Airline Abstract This Assignment includes three parts. The first part is strategic planning of Emirates airline. The second part discusses the type of decisions which are made in different levels of Emirates and explain the information systems used in these levels. The last part highlights the ethical issues involved in the organizations processes. Part 1: Strategic Planning The purpose of this part is to consider the overall strategic management process and consider what is happening in the environment in order to judge how those happening may affect the organization. In addition there is a consideration of organizations strengths and weaknesses and the opportunities and treats that has significant impact on the organization process. Company overview Emirates is a national airline of Dubai in the Middle East. Emirates flees to over 100 destinations in 60 countries around the world from Dubai International Airport with a fleet of 137 aircraft. Emirates Air line has been existed for 25 years. Although Emirates is a young airline, over one decade it has become one of the most respected brands in the world. The key of their success is using new technology and information systems in their business processes. (Emirates group, 2010) Companys mission: Generally, Emirates growth has never been lower than 20 per cent annually, and the airline has recorded an annual profit in every year since its third in operation. Their effort is to continue their explosive growth and increase the percentage of this growth. Mission statement analysis This analysis will help organization to reveal objectives, goals and plans for achieving them which are important for the long term survival in the industry. In any organizations, managers need to focus their efforts and resources on long-term, general objectives, and provides a foundation for short-term, specific objectives in order to achieve their mission statement. (Robson 1997) General objectives: As mentioned in mission statement, Emirates is trying to increase the percentages of their annual benefits. Emirates carried 21.2 million passengers and 1.3 million tonnes of cargo during the previous years (Annual report, 2010), and they need to carry millions more across a growing network of international destinations if they want to increase their profit. Therefore their aim is to provide the best service in the industry in order to have more passengers and cargo. Specific Objectives: Currently, Emirates flights account for nearly 40 per cent of all flight movements in and out of Dubai International Airport, and their main aim is to increase this market-share to 70 per cent by end of 2010 without compromising the reputation for quality. Moreover, they are trying to add 18 new passenger aircraft to their fleet, increase seating capacity by 14 per cent. They also plan to increase frequencies on many existing routes as well as expanding cargo capacity by 17 per cent. These specific objectives are all to support the general objective which mentioned above. Environmental analysis The organizations environment is an important point to be considered by managers because environmental factors can significantly influence organizational operations. Good managers must be aware of their organizations environment and know how any changes may affect the organization and their organizations available resources. (Robson 1997) Remote environment Remote environment analysis lists all those events, issues and facts which will influence the company performance, but over which they have little influence and those facts are usually out of control. Nature of the environment The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has the seventh largest proven oil, according to the Oil and Gas Journal in January 2009. Because of this geography, United Arab Emirates has rich natural resources and high amount of natural resources of fuel. The availability of large amount of fuel in UAE helps Emirates to provide fuel for its aircrafts much easier than its airline companies. (Business news, 2007) Political challenges One of the reasons that had significant impact on Emirates was experiencing a downturn of their competitors because of the Gulf War. Gulf War was a war which took place in the Persian Gulf between 2 August 1990 and 28 February 1991. Because of this political war, Emirates was the only airline to fly in the last ten days of the war. (Press, 2001) Economies Dubai International Airports Terminal 3 was built exclusively for the use of Emirates at a cost of $4.5 billion. Terminal 3 is the largest building in the world by floor space. The influence of this environment is that many people may want to use this flight in order to visit the largest building in the world even though they have other choice of airlines.(Caswell, 2008) Industrial environment United Arab Emirates (Dubai), which was a fishing village at the southern end of the Arabian Gulf, has grown to become one of the leading trade center of the Middle East. Large number of businesses and trades are running in there. This influences Emirates Airline deeply because many people start coming to Dubai from oversee and also many people need to flight to other countries. Emirates, by providing good airline services, is one of the high demanded airline in this country. SWOT analysis SWOT analysis is a basic tool for analyzing the organizations status. SWOT analysis addresses organizations strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A SWOT analysis defines the relationship between the internal and external appraisals in strategic analysis. It is an exercise in identification and analysis. Analysing the key factors of the environment and the fundamental internal strengths and weakness of the organization will help dictate the strategies appropriate to the firms. (Robson, 1997) Strength: Strengths are the positive internal factors that add value to the company. New business idea: One of the facts that makes organizations stronger is when they create a new business idea. In 2005, Emirates began flying non-stop to New York. This happened when only Delta Air Lines had the same service. Therefore Emirates started to give a service which was not provided by so many airlines, and that helps them in increasing the number of their customers Reputation: Another internal factor that makes the business strong is having good reputation among customers. For example: In 2009, Emirates was voted the fifth best airline in the world by research consultancy firm Skytrax. *Skytrax is a United Kingdom-based consultancy, the public face of Inflight Research Services Competitive advantage: Emirates has won some competitive advantages which made this company as one of the good airlines. To answer this question that how Emirates is able to retain its competitive position in the industry, looking at how good Emirates is serving its products could be the answer. Product in Emirates is the services that airline is providing for its customers such as flight, food. Flight Emiratess offering is divided into three main lines; The First Class seat, the Business class seat and the Economy class. In all three classes passenger are provided by high quality and comfortable seats, in-seat laptop power-outlets, and an ICE system on a LCD screen. Business and firs class have more facilities include massage function, privacy partition, winged headrest with six-way movement, two individual reading lights and an overhead light per seat, in-seat power supply, over 600 channels of entertainment on ICE. Emirates was the first airline in the world to introduce a personal entertainment system on a commercial aircraft and that was a good reason for them to gain completive advantages. Weaknesses: These are the negative internal factor that destroys values of company or put the company in risk. Actually it is difficult to say what are the weaknesses Emirates, because Emirates is considered as one of the most respected travel brands around the world. However there are still some weaknesses that Emirates need to improve. I can say that one of the Emirates weaknesses is having expensive ticket price especially for the business and first class. Emirates started to lose some of its customer when Qatar Airline offered the same flight with cheaper tickets. Opportunities: Opportunities are external positive factors that represent the reason for an organization to exist and develop. One of the opportunities that can add value to the company is having partners, agencies or distribution. Emirates has 6 subsidiaries and its parent company(Emirates Group). These subsidiaries which are operating separately can give Emirates benefits. Emirates SkyCargo Skywards Emirates Official Store EmQuest Emirates Aviation College Emirates Engineering Threats: Threats are external negative factors which could place the organization mission or operation at risk. Market demand In the commercial airline industry, unfilled seat on a regularly scheduled flight represents a threat cost to the operator. Although Emirates attempt to offer the best services for the travellers, it is not possible all the seats get fill during all the flights. Competitor intentions Another threat that might be danger for Emirates is its competitive in the market. While Emirates has one of the most modern fleets in the industry, and has service levels make other airlines to emulate, and start using the same strategy that Emirates is using. (Williamson et al. 2004) Part 2: Information system Analysis There are four managerial levels in any organization that are responsible for organizations plans and decisions; strategic, tactical, knowledge and operation levels. In this section, first the type of decisions that made in each level is discussed. Later, the information systems which are used to help the managers to make the right decision in that level of organization are listed. (Laudon, 2001) Strategic Level Decisions in strategic level: In strategic level senior managers need to develop their skill of making the best decision possible. This type of decision usually concerns about general direction, long term goals. These decisions are the least structured but they could have significant impact on the future of the organization. One type of decisions that is made in the strategic level is planning for gaining long term benefit, which is the Emirates objective. This type of decision could require managers to add new destination in their flight schedules. Another long term decision in Emirates is buying new air plane (Airbus 380). Buying a new aircraft is a strategic decision because manager should consider this decision is it going to benefit them in future or not. Information systems in strategic level: Executive Support System (ESS) is the type of information system which is used in strategic level in order to help senior managers make strategic decisions. A mentioned, making profit is one of the Emirates goals. Profit Planning System could help the organization to catch this aim. Profit planning system sets a profit target for the coming period. It is like a summarized version of estimated income statement. It starts with a forecast of expected sales and desired percentage for gross profit keeping in view the market conditions. Another information system used in Emirates is Facilities Location system which helps manager access to external information decide where to locate new facilities. This type of system will help in gathering, analyzing and summering the key internal and external information used in the business. Tactical Level Decisions in tactical level: Decisions in tactical level support the strategic decisions. They tend to be medium range, medium significance, with moderate consequences. The data used to drive this type of decision is usually found in summaries of routine transactions e.g. sales orders from the next level or classification. (Laudon, 2001) For example in Emirates one of the main strategic decisions is to increase the profit of the year. Therefore the tactical decisions which are made by middle level managers would be how middle process could help this decision to be successful. The data used to drive this type of decision is usually found in summaries of routine transactions e.g. sales orders from the next level or classification. Decision about determining ticket prices or producing a low priced ticket, or offering some seasonal promotion in order to attract more customers are those kind of decisions which are made in tactical level. Another tactical decision in Emirates could be determining optimal booking policy for multiple fare classes. Information systems in tactical level: Management information system (MIS) and Decision-support system (DSS) are two important information systems which support movement level. Management Information System mainly concerns with internal sources of information and usually takes data from the Transaction Processing Systems and summaries it into a series of management reports. (Laudon, 2001) Budgeting System which used to prepare short term budgets is an example of this type of system. All the Emirates annual reports are provided by such system and they will be used by the middle managers. Another system which is used in Emirates is Pricing Analysis System which is for determining ticket prices and promotions. Decision-support system (DSS) is also one of the important systems specifically to help management make decisions in situations where there is uncertainty about the possible outcomes of those decisions. This system helps in gathering relevant information and analyzes the options and alternatives. Then the system provides spreadsheet and databases to create what-if models, and provide managers with the best decision to choose. (Robson 1997) A example of DSS in Emirate is Compensation Analysis System. This system provides a comprehensive overview of the organization expenditure, monitor wages, salaries and benefits for the manager and they are able to plan. Knowledge Level: Decisions in knowledge level: The decisions in this level are made by engineering and designer. This type of decisions involve creating new investment, designing new career paths and identifying new markets. The information which is needed for this level is structured internal knowledge such as research reports, product-oriented marketing metrical and techniques and methods. (Robson 1997) Information systems in knowledge level: Knowledge Management systems are used in knowledge level. The aim of theses system is to take documents with knowledge embedded in them, such as memos, reports, presentations, articles and store them in a repository where they can be retrieved easily. Examples of such system are: Competitive Intelligent System which works based on a detailed business model that identifies what information it should collect. Market Analysis System which provides tools for analysis of financial markets using technical analysis. Operational Level Decisions in operational level Operational decisions are every day decisions and used to support tactical decisions. In the operational level the daily requirement are reviewed in order to make the decision. Thus, the operational decision is highly structured and their impact is immediate, short term, short range. The data used to drive this decision type is usually prescribed or defined in the procedures and rules of the organization. (Laudon, 2001) Information systems in operational level: An Operational Information System is a class of information system which provide information base for the day to day operation of the airline. In this system the information about lights, passengers, crew, situational, and environment gather. Some of these flows are carried by additional information such as passenger booking via the internet and form the travel agencies. Transaction Processing System is one of the current systems in airlines companies to support of transaction and analytical processing on newly received operational information. This system includes source concentration, event derivation, and the ability to provide initial view or states of operational data to applications, where subsequently received events update these view. Order Processing System is another system which is used in operational level and keeps track of daily orders and transaction. Part3: Ethical issues There is no doubt that with help of Information Technology and Information Systems human activities will be done more efficient and effective. However some concerns have been risen in usage of IS/IT that may make them to be unethical. Ethical issues in usage of IT One of the main concerns about the information technology is Internet. Internet has been changed the way people used to live. Nowadays people shop through internet, buy ticket online, communicate with friends, family, college in the other side of the word, and that means traditional business such as travel agents have lost their customers to the new competitor which called internet. The other viewpoint of using internet is internet crimes (hacking into data, falsification of data). Internet has broken all the boundaries of personal securities. That could be a huge harm for a organization if their private data be stolen. Ethical issue in usage of IS Developments of information systems also involve ethical considerations in how information is used. As mentioned information systems provides information to managers in organization to make plan and decision. The question is that Do managers make legal decisions? On the other hand information systems are all about gathering information, analysing data. The ethical issue of this fact is that, are the information collected in ethical way. Geographic Information System is a good example for show the unethical aspect of usage Information Systems. American satellites orbit the earth, scanning for various kinds of data, which can then be used in a GIS. Analysis of resulting data tells researchers a great deal about, for instance, natural resources located in other countries. The problem is that poorer countries, without the financial resources to send up their own satellites, claim that the U.S. is taking information from them without any kind of payment. Conclusion What is most concern in decision making not only is Is this a right decision but also is Is this decision the best decision. Managers will always need to access to the useful information in order to make the best decision. An organization should have several types of information systems operating at the same time. The success of an organization which has information system in all the departments such as Finance and Accounting, Sales and Marketing, Manufacturing and Human resources department is guaranteed. Here are two more information systems that I think will help Emirates to have better services: In a company like Emirates which has 6 subsidiaries, Partner Relationship Management (PRM) is a system for improving communication between Emirates and their channel partners. Another recommended system for Emirates is Customer Relationship Management (CRM) to help them stay close to existing customers. Skyward is the famous Customer relationship Management system for Emirates. Considering the strong competition in todays market, they need to improve their CRM performance in order to increase the number of loyal customers. Resources: Business news, March 08, 2007, Robust growth poses threat of inflation to high-flying Dubai [Accessed on Feb. 2010]. Emirates group, 2010 < Available at http://www.emirates.com/english/about/the_emirates_story.aspx> [Accessed on Feb. 2010]. Press J, 2001, International Directory of Company Histories,< Available at http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/The-Emirates-Group-Company-History.html> [Accessed on Feb. 2010]. Laudon J, Laudon K.C, 2007, Management Information Systems Managing the digital firm, 9th Edition, PEARSON Prentice Hall. Oleason V. Schwan K, Eisenhauer G, Plale B et al. Information System-An example form Airline Industry- Article-,college of computing Georgia Institute of Technology. Report by Mark Caswell, 13/10/2008, Dubais Terminal 3 opens, [Accessed on Feb. 2010]. Robson W. 1997, Strategic Management and Information Systems An integrated approach- 2th Edition, Pearson Education Limited, Great Britain. Williamson D. Jenkins W. Coole P. Moreton M, 2004, Strategic Management and Business Analysis, 1th Edition, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.

Losing Weight the Correct Way Essay example -- Health Exercise Weight

Losing Weight the Correct Way Though many Americans are in the diet and weight-loss craze, the population as a whole is still considered overweight (Lemonick). This may be due to many factors, such as lack of nutrition in food and having a slothful lifestyle. Also, as people pursue other interests, such as careers and family life, they ignore keeping themselves healthy and fit. To maintain health and life span, one must exercise, eat moderately, and eat foods that have nutritional value. If one follows this plan, one can successfully lose weight and be healthy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Exercise and having an active lifestyle is an important component to maintain in order to lose weight. Some people may think that if they skip a few meals a day and cut down on snacks, that they will lose weight without having to exercise. However, this is an incorrect assumption. To lose weight in a way that doesn’t damage one’s body, one has to make time to exercise. Skipping breakfast and ignoring when your body tells you it needs energy from food is not the way to safely lose weight. When one exercises, he slowly burns off fat, which helps the body function smoothly and effectively. Though, nowadays, people don’t have time to go to the gym or take aerobics classes, simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator is a way of keeping oneself active and can make a huge difference in one’s health.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People must learn to eat moderately to effectively lose weight. It seems as if as the American popu...

Creation Science Essay -- essays research papers

Creationism is a religious metaphysical theory about the origin of the universe. It is not a scientific theory. Technically, creationism is not necessarily connected to any particular religion. It simply requires a belief in a Creator. Millions of Christians and non-Christians believe there is a Creator of the universe and that scientific theories such as the the theory of evolution do not conflict with belief in a Creator. However, fundamentalist Christians such as Ronald Reagan and Jerry Falwell, have co-opted the term 'creationism' and it is now difficult to refer to creationism without being understood as referring to fundamentalist Christians who (a) take the stories in Genesis as accurate accounts of the origin of the universe and life on Earth, and (b) believe that Genesis is incompatible with the Big Bang theory and the theory of evolution. Thus, it is commonly assumed that creationists are Christians who believe that the account of the creation of the universe as presented in Genesis is literally true in its basic claims about Adam and Eve, the six days of creation, and not an allegory. Creation science is a term used by certain creationists to indicate that they believe that Genesis is a scientific account of the origin of the universe. Reading the Bible as if it were a scientific text contradicts the Big Bang theory and the theory of evolution. "Creation scientists" say those theories are false and that scientists who advocate such theories are ignorant of the truth about the origins of the universe and life on Earth. One of the main leaders of creation science is Duane T. Gish of the Institute for Creation Research, who puts forth his views in conjunction with attacks on evolution. Gish is the author of Evolution, the Challenge of the Fossil Record ( San Diego, Calif.: Creation-Life Publishers, 1985) and Evolution, the Fossils Say No (San Diego, Calif.: Creation-Life Publishers, 1978). Another leader of this movement is Walt Brown of the Center for Scientific Creationism. Neither Gish nor Brown seem to understand the difference between a fact and a theory. They loudly proclaim that evolution is just a theory and that it is false. Scientific theories are neither true nor false. They are explanations of facts. That species evolved from other species is considered by 99.99% of the scientific community to be a scientific fact. How spec... ... act unscientifically, to be dogmatic and dishonest. But the fact that one finds an occasional oddball in the history of science (or a person of integrity and genius among pseudoscientists) does not imply that there really is no difference between science and pseudoscience. Because of the public and empirical nature of scientific debate, the charlatans will be found out, errors will be corrected and the honest pursuit of the truth is likely to prevail in the end. This will not be the case with pseudosciences such as creation science, where there is no method needed for detecting errors (since it can't err) much less of correcting them. Some theories, like creationism can't be refuted, even in principle, because everything is consistent with them, even apparent contradictions and contraries. Scientific theories allow definite predictions to be made from them; they can, in principle, be refuted. Theories such as the Big Bang theory and the steady state theory can be tested by experience and observation. Metaphysical theories such as creationism are "airtight" if they are self-consistent. They contain no self-contradictory elements. No scientific theory is ever airtight.

Succubus Revealed Chapter 2

It took me a moment to really comprehend that in thirty seconds, the conversation had gone from a deeply seriously mystery about my love life to bowling for demonic bragging rights. And yet, this wasn't a particularly unusual pattern in my world. â€Å"And by ‘we,' † added Jerome, â€Å"I mean you four.† He nodded toward Peter, Cody, Hugh, and me. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I said. â€Å"Let me make sure I'm following this. You've signed us up for some sort of bowling league. One that you aren't even going to participate in. And this is somehow going to prove your employees' ‘evilness' to the world.† â€Å"Don't be silly. I can't participate. Bowling teams only have four people.† He didn't comment on the proving evilness part. â€Å"Well, hey, I'll totally yield my spot to you,† I said. â€Å"I'm not that great a bowler.† â€Å"You'd better become one.† Jerome's voice grew cold. â€Å"All of you had, if you know what's good for you. Nanette will be impossible to live with at the next company meeting if you lot lose.† â€Å"Gee, Jerome. I love bowling,† said Carter. â€Å"How come you never mentioned this to me before?† Jerome and Carter held gazes for several heavy seconds. â€Å"Because, unless you're ready to take a fall for the team, you can't really compete with us.† A funny smile fell over Carter's face. His gray eyes glinted. â€Å"I see.† â€Å"I don't really like your use of ‘us,' seeing as you've already written off any participation on your part,† I pointed out to Jerome, imitating his earlier snide tone. Peter sighed, looking rather woebegone. â€Å"Where on earth am I going to find tasteful bowling shoes?† â€Å"What's our team name going to be?† asked Cody. That immediately degenerated into a conversation of truly terrible suggestions, such as Soulless in Seattle and Split Decision. After almost an hour, I couldn't handle any more. â€Å"I think I'm going to go home,† I said, standing up. I had kind of wanted dessert but was afraid I'd be drafted for beach volleyball and cricket if I stayed much longer. â€Å"I brought the wine. You guys don't really need me anymore.† â€Å"When you get home, tell my wayward offspring that I need him to coach you guys,† said Jerome. â€Å"By ‘home,' I actually meant Seth's,† I said. â€Å"But if I see Roman, I'll let him know you've found a good use for his formidable cosmic powers.† Roman – Jerome's half-human son and my roommate – actually was a pretty good bowler, but I didn't want to encourage Jerome. â€Å"Wait!† Peter sprang up after me. â€Å"You have to draw for Secret Santas first.† â€Å"Oh, come on – â€Å" â€Å"No complaining,† he argued. He hurried to the kitchen and returned with a ceramic cookie jar shaped like a snowman. He thrust it toward me. â€Å"Draw. Whatever name you get is who you're buying for, so don't try to get out of it.† I drew a piece of paper and opened it up. Georgina. â€Å"I can't – â€Å" Peter held up a hand to silence me. â€Å"You drew the name. That's who you've got. No arguments.† His stern look stopped me from any more protests. â€Å"Well,† I pointed out pragmatically, â€Å"at least I have a few ideas.† To his credit, Peter sent me home with some chocolate fondue sauce and a Tupperware bowl filled with fruit and marshmallows. Hugh and Cody were running forward with the bowling team plan, trying to come up with a practice schedule. Jerome and Carter said little and instead kept watching each other in a speculative, knowing way that was typical of them. It was hard to read much on their faces, but for once, Jerome gave off the vibe of having the upper hand. I left Capitol Hill for Seattle's University District and Seth's condo. All the windows were dark when I pulled up, and I couldn't help a smile. It was almost eleven. Seth must have called it an early night, something I'd been urging him to do for a while. Thinking of that, my smile faded as quickly as it had come. A few months ago, Seth's sister-in-law, Andrea, had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The disease had been pretty far advanced when caught, and although she'd almost immediately gone into treatment, the outcome still wasn't promising. Worse, the treatments had taken a huge physical toll on her, one that was testing the family's strength. Seth was frequently helping them out, especially when his brother Terry was working, since it was harder for Andrea to care for their five daughters now. Seth had been sacrificing both sleep and his writing career to look after them. I knew it was necessary. I loved Seth's family and had helped them out as well. But I still hated seeing Seth run himself down and knew that it hurt him to put his work on hold. He claimed his writing was the least of his problems right now and had time before deadlines were an issue, particularly since his next two books were queued for printing next year. I couldn't argue against that, but the sleep issue? Yeah, I was on him a lot about that and glad to see my words had gotten through tonight. I used my key to let myself in and slipped through the condo as silently as possible. I practically lived here lately and had no trouble finding my way around furniture in the darkness. When I reached his bedroom, I could just barely make out his form wrapped up in covers, softly outlined in the light of his alarm clock. I quietly took off my coat and then shape-shifted into a cotton babydoll nightgown. It was sexy but not blatantly so. I planned on sleeping with him tonight, for real. I slid into bed and pressed myself up against his back, lightly tossing an arm over him. He stirred slightly, and I couldn't resist pressing a kiss against his bare shoulder. The scent of cinnamon and musk washed over me as he snuggled closer. Despite sternly chastising myself that he needed to sleep, I lightly ran my fingers along his arm and sneaked in another kiss. â€Å"Mmm,† he murmured, rolling over toward me. â€Å"That feels nice.† A few things hit me at once. First, Seth didn't wear any sort of cologne or aftershave that smelled like cinnamon. Second, Seth's voice didn't sound like that. Third, and perhaps most important, Seth wasn't in bed with me. I didn't mean to scream as loudly as I did. It just kind of happened. I was out of the bed in a flash, groping for the light switch on the wall while the intruder attempted to get up. He ended up getting tangled in the covers and falling off the bed with a loud thump, just as I found the light. I promptly reached for a weapon, but seeing as this was Seth's bedroom, my options were limited. The heaviest, most dangerous object I could readily grab ahold of was Seth's dictionary, a leather-bound monstrosity that he kept on hand because he â€Å"didn't trust the Internet.† I stood poised and ready to literally throw the book at the intruder as he scrambled to his feet. As he did and I got a good look at him, I noticed something crazy. He looked . . . familiar. Not only that, but he kind of looked like Seth. â€Å"Who are you?† I demanded. â€Å"Who are you?† he exclaimed. He seemed more confused than anything else. I don't think he found the threat of a five foot four woman with a dictionary all that frightening. Before I could answer, a hand touched my arm. I yelped and threw the dictionary out of instinct. The guy dodged, letting the book crash harmlessly against the wall. I spun around to see who'd touched me and found myself looking into the eyes of a white-haired woman with gold cat-eye glasses. She was wearing flowered pajama bottoms and a pink sweatshirt with a crossword puzzle on it. She was also wielding a baseball bat, which was pretty astonishing – not just because it was more dangerous than a dictionary but also because I hadn't known Seth owned one. â€Å"What are you doing here?† she asked fiercely. She glanced over at the shirtless, dumbfounded guy. â€Å"Are you okay?† For half a second, I actually toyed with the idea that I had somehow let myself into someone else's condo. Like, maybe I was just one door over. This scene was so ridiculous that a mix-up seemed far more likely. It was only the obvious evidence – like my key and Seth's University of Chicago teddy bear watching this spectacle – that drove home the fact that I was indeed where I was supposed to be. Suddenly, the sound of the front door opening and closing rang through the condo. â€Å"Hello?† came a blessedly familiar voice. â€Å"Seth!† exclaimed all three of us in unison. Moments later, Seth appeared in the doorway. As usual, he looked adorable. His reddish brown hair was typically unkempt, and he was wearing a Dirty Dancing T-shirt that I'd never seen before. Despite my panic and confusion over this current situation, the concerned part of me still noted the little signs of fatigue on Seth's face, the dark circles and lines of weariness. He was thirty-six and usually looked younger than his age. Not today. â€Å"Seth,† said the bat-wielding woman. â€Å"This lady broke into your house.† He looked at each of us in turn before resting his gaze on her. â€Å"Mom,† he said quietly, â€Å"that's my girlfriend. Please don't bludgeon her.† â€Å"Since when do you have a girlfriend?† asked the guy. â€Å"Since when do you have a baseball bat?† I asked, recovering my composure. Seth cut me a wry look before gently trying to remove the bat from the woman's hands. She didn't let go. â€Å"Georgina, this is my mom, Margaret Mortensen. And that's my brother Ian. Guys, this is Georgina.† â€Å"Hi,† I said, feeling surprise of a different sort. I'd heard a lot about Seth's mother and younger brother but hadn't expected to meet them anytime soon. Seth's mother didn't like to fly, and Ian was . . . well, from the stories Seth and Terry told, Ian was just hard to track down in general. He was the wayward Mortensen brother. Margaret relinquished the bat and put on a polite but wary smile. â€Å"It's very nice to meet you.† â€Å"Ditto,† said Ian. I now understood why he looked familiar. Aside from the fact I'd probably seen a picture of him somewhere, he also shared some of Seth's and Terry's features. He was tall like Seth, but with Terry's thinner face. Ian's hair was all brown, with no coppery hint, but it had that same messy look that Seth's did. Except, on closer examination, I had the feeling Ian's had been purposely styled that way with the help of much time and product. Seth suddenly did a double take between Ian and me. He didn't even have to say anything for me to guess the question on his mind. Or questions, perhaps. My nightgown and Ian's shirtlessness undoubtedly raised a number of them. Ian's defense came swift and certain. â€Å"She got into bed with me.† â€Å"I thought he was you,† I said. Seth's mother made a strange noise in her throat. â€Å"You were supposed to be on the couch,† said Seth accusingly. Ian shrugged. â€Å"It's uncomfortable. And you weren't home yet, so I figured there was no harm done. How was I supposed to know some woman was going to come manhandle me in my sleep?† â€Å"I didn't manhandle you!† I cried. Seth rubbed his eyes, again reminding me how exhausted he was. â€Å"Look, what's done is done. Why don't we all just go to bed – where we're supposed to – and then get to know each other in the morning, okay?† Margaret eyed me. â€Å"She's going to sleep in here? With you?† â€Å"Yes, Mom,† he said patiently. â€Å"With me. Because I'm a grown man. And this is my home. And because in thirty-six years, this isn't the first woman to stay over with me.† His mother looked aghast, and I groped for a more comfortable topic. â€Å"Your shirt's great.† Now that she wasn't threatening to strike me, I could see that the crossword spelled out her five granddaughters' names. â€Å"I love the girls.† â€Å"Thank you,† she said. â€Å"Each one of them is a blessing, born within the holy confines of wedlock.† Before I could even fumble a response to that, Ian groaned. â€Å"Lord, Mom. Is that from that Web site I told you not to order from? You know their stuff's made in China. I know this woman who could have made you one out of sustainable organic fabric.† â€Å"Hemp is a drug, not a fabric,† she told him. â€Å"Good night, you guys,† said Seth, pointing his brother to the door. â€Å"We'll talk in the morning.† Margaret and Ian murmured their good nights, and she paused to kiss Seth on the cheek – which I actually thought was pretty cute. When they were gone and the door was closed, Seth sat on his bed and buried his face in his hands. â€Å"So,† I said, coming to sit beside him. â€Å"Exactly how many women have stayed over in thirty-six years?† He looked up. â€Å"None who were caught by my mother in so little clothing.† I plucked at the skirt of the nightgown. â€Å"This? This is tame.† â€Å"I'm sorry about that,† he added, waving vaguely toward the door. â€Å"I should've called and warned you. They just drove into town tonight – unannounced, of course. Ian can't be expected to do what people expect. It would ruin his reputation. They showed up at Terry's, but there's no room for them there, so I sent them on ahead since they were so tired. I had no idea it would result in you trying to sleep with my brother.† â€Å"Seth!† â€Å"Kidding, kidding.† He picked up my hand and kissed the top of it. â€Å"How are you? How was your day?† â€Å"Well, I tried my best to keep Santa from getting drunk and then found out Jerome signed us up for a Hellish bowling league.† â€Å"I see,† said Seth. â€Å"So. The usual.† â€Å"Pretty much. What about you?† The small smile that had been tugging at his lips fell. â€Å"Aside from unexpected family? The usual too. Terry was out late with work stuff, so I was there all night with the girls while Andrea rested. Kendall has to build a papier-mache solar system, so that was fun for everyone.† He held up his hands and wiggled fingers coated in white powder. â€Å"And let me guess. No writing?† He shrugged. â€Å"It's not important.† â€Å"You should've called me. I could've watched them while you wrote.† â€Å"You were working and then . . . what, it was fondue night, right?† He stood up and stripped off his shirt and jeans, getting down to green flannel boxers. â€Å"How did you know that?† I asked. â€Å"I barely knew that.† â€Å"I was on Peter's e-mail list.† â€Å"Well, regardless, it doesn't matter. And that mall job is nothing. I could have been over here in a flash.† He stepped into his bathroom and returned a few moments later with a toothbrush in his mouth. â€Å"That job is nuffing. Haf any of your interfeews panned out?† â€Å"No,† I said, not adding that I hadn't gone on any other interviews. Everything paled compared to Emerald City. The conversation was put on pause while he finished brushing his teeth. â€Å"You should be doing something better,† he said, once he was done. â€Å"I'm fine where I'm at. I don't mind it. But you . . . you can't keep going on like this. You're not getting enough sleep or working.† â€Å"Don't worry about it,† he said. He turned off the light and crawled into bed. In the dimness, I saw him pat the spot beside him. â€Å"Come over here. It's just me, I promise.† I smiled and curled up beside him. â€Å"Ian didn't smell right, you know. I mean, he smelled good, but not like you.† â€Å"I'm sure he spends gratuitous amounts of money to smell good,† muttered Seth through a yawn. â€Å"What's he do for a living?† â€Å"Hard to say. He's always got new jobs. Or no job. Whatever money he's got goes toward carefully maintaining his hard-fought, effortless lifestyle. Have you seen his coat?† â€Å"No. The only clothing of his I've seen is his boxers.† â€Å"Ah. Well, it must be in the living room. It looks like it came from a thrift store but probably cost four figures.† He sighed. â€Å"Although, I shouldn't be too hard on him. I mean, yeah, he'll probably hit me up for money while he's here, but I can't knock him and Mom coming out to help. At the very least, they can help watch the kids now.† I wrapped my arms around Seth and breathed in his scent. It was the right one, and it was intoxicating. â€Å"And you can catch up on some writing.† â€Å"Maybe,† he said. â€Å"We'll see how it goes. I just hope I'm not babysitting Mom and Ian more than the girls.† â€Å"How bad of an impression did I make on her?† I asked. â€Å"Not that bad. I mean, no worse than any woman – scantily clad or otherwise – would've made who was spending the night with me.† He kissed my forehead. â€Å"She's not so bad. Don't be fooled by her conservative Midwest grandma act. I think you guys will get along.† I wanted to ask if Maddie had met Margaret and, if so, how they'd gotten along. I bit my tongue on the question. It didn't matter. It was in the past, and Seth and I were the present. Sometimes, especially staying here as much as I did, I felt a little weird remembering that Maddie had lived with him too. There were still little touches here and there that bore the mark of her influence. For example, Margaret was most likely staying in Seth's office, which had a futon, courtesy of Maddie's ingenuity. She'd been the one to suggest he get it to help make the office double as a guestroom. Maddie had gone; the futon had stayed. I tried not to think about those things very often, though. In the big picture, they didn't matter. Seth and I had come through too much for me to get hung up on something like that. We'd overcome the problems in our relationship. I'd accepted his mortality and his decision to risk his life by being physical with me. True, I still rationed our sex life, but the fact that I allowed it at all was a big concession for me. Meanwhile, he accepted the terrible truth that I was often out sleeping with other men in order to sustain my existence. They were difficult things for us both, but they were worth it for us to be together. Everything we'd gone through was worth it. â€Å"I love you,† I told him. He placed a soft kiss on my lips and pulled me closer. â€Å"I love you too.† Then, in an echo of my thoughts, he added, â€Å"You make it all worthwhile. All this stuff I'm dealing with†¦. I can do it because you're in my life, Thetis.† Thetis. That was his longtime nickname for me, coming from the shape-shifting goddess in Greek mythology who'd been won by a steadfast mortal. He called me that all the time – and Letha, only once. I thought again about that night. The troubled feelings it stirred never seemed to go away, but I once again tried to force them aside. It was another of those little things that I was trying not to let bug me. It was nothing compared to the greatness of our love, and like my friends had said, Seth had probably overheard the name. I fell into a contented sleep, only to be awakened abruptly around dawn. My eyes flew open, and I sat upright. Seth shifted and rolled over but wasn't awakened by my sudden movement. I stared around the room, my heart racing. I'd been jolted out of sleep by an immortal presence, one I didn't know. It had felt demonic. There was nothing here now, visible or invisible, but I knew for a fact some servant of Hell had just been in the room. This wasn't the first time I'd had unwelcome visitors in my sleep, often ones with nefarious intentions. Of course, I'd felt this demon just now, and demons – being higher immortals, not a lesser human-turned-immortal like me – could mask their immortal signature. If he or she had wanted to sneak around or hurt me unannounced, it could have done so. Whoever this was hadn't cared about discovery. I slipped out of bed and continued studying the room, looking for some sign or reason for the demon's passage. I was certain there would be one. There. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flash of red – in my purse. There was a business envelope sitting on top of it. I hurried over and scooped up the envelope. It was warm to my touch, but as I quietly opened it, I began to feel cold. That feeling intensified as I pulled out a letter printed on official Hell stationery. No good could come of this. Sunset had filtered more than enough light into the room to read by. The letter was addressed to Letha (alias: Georgina Kincaid), from Hell's HR: This is the thirty-day notice for your trans fer. Your new assignment will begin on January 15. Please make travel arrangements to leave Seattle and report to your new location in a timely manner.