The Causes and Aims of World War One

The traditional explanation for the start of World War 1 concerns a domino effect. Once one nation went to war, usually defined as Austria-Hungary’s decision to attack Serbia, a network of alliances which tied the great European powers into two halves dragged each nation unwillingly into a war which spiraled ever larger. This notion, taught to schoolchildren for decades, has now been largely rejected. In The Origins of the First World War, p. 79, James Joll concludes: The Balkan crisis demonstrated that even apparently firm, formal alliances did not guarantee support and co-operation in all circumstances.† This doesn’t mean that the formation of Europe into two sides, achieved by treaty in the late nineteenth / early twentieth centuries, isn’t important, just that the nations were not trapped by them. Indeed, while they divided Europe’s major powers into two halves - The ‘Central Alliance’ of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy, and the Triple Entente of France, Britain and Germany - Italy actually changed sides. In addition, the war was not caused, as some socialists and anti-militarists have suggested, by capitalists, industrialists or arms manufacturers looking to profit from conflict. Most industrialists stood to suffer in a war as their foreign markets were reduced. Studies have shown that industrialists did not pressure governments into declaring war, and governments did not declare war with one eye on the arms industry. Equally, governments did not declare war simply to try and cover up domestic tensions, like the independence of Ireland or the rise of socialists. Context: The Dichotomy of Europe in 1914 Historians recognize that all the major nations involved in the war, on both sides, had large proportions of their population who were not only in favor of going to war, but were agitating for it to happen as a good and necessary thing. In one very important sense, this has to be true: as much as politicians and the military might have wanted the war, they could only fight it with the approval – greatly varying, maybe begrudging, but present - of the millions of soldiers who went off to fight. In the decades before Europe went to war in 1914, the culture of the main powers was split in two. On the one hand, there was a body of thought – the one most often remembered now - that war had been effectively ended by progress, diplomacy, globalization, and economic and scientific development. To these people, who included politicians, large-scale European war had not just been banished, it was impossible. No sane person would risk war and ruin the economic interdependence of the globalizing world. At the same time, each nation’s culture was shot through with strong currents pushing for war: armaments races, belligerent rivalries and a struggle for resources. These arms races were massive and expensive affairs  and were nowhere clearer than the naval struggle between Britain and Germany, where each tried to produce ever more and larger ships. Millions of men went through the military via conscription, producing a substantial portion of the population who had experienced military indoctrination. Nationalism, elitism, racism and other belligerent thoughts were widespread, thanks to greater access to education than before, but an education that was fiercely biased. Violence for political ends was common  and had spread from Russian socialists to British women’s rights campaigners. Before war even began in 1914, the structures of Europe were breaking down and changing. Violence for your country was increasingly justified, artists rebelled and sought new modes of expression, new urban cultures were challenging the existing social order. For many, war was seen as a test, a proving ground, a way to define yourself which promised a masculine identity and an escape from the ‘boredom’ of peace. Europe was essentially primed for people in 1914 to welcome war as a way to recreate their world through destruction. Europe in 1913 was essentially a tense, warmongering place where, despite a current of peace and obliviousness, many felt war was desirable. The Flashpoint for War: the Balkans In the early twentieth century, the Ottoman Empire was collapsing, and a combination of established European powers and new nationalist movements were competing to seize parts of the Empire. In 1908 Austria-Hungary took advantage of an uprising in Turkey to seize full control of Bosnia-Herzegovina, a region they had been running but which was officially Turkish. Serbia was livid at this, as they wished to control the region, and Russia was also angry. However, with Russia unable to act militarily against Austria – they simply hadn’t recovered enough from the disastrous Russo-Japanese war – they sent a diplomatic mission to the Balkans to unite the new nations against Austria. Italy was next to take advantage and they fought Turkey in 1912, with Italy gaining North African colonies. Turkey had to fight again that year with four small Balkan countries over land there – a direct result of Italy making Turkey look weak and Russia’s diplomacy - and when Europe’s other major powers intervened no one finished satisfied. A further Balkan war erupted in 1913, as Balkan states and Turkey warred over territory again to try and make a better settlement. This ended once more with all partners unhappy, although Serbia had doubled in size. However, the patchwork of new, strongly nationalistic Balkan nations largely considered themselves to be Slavic, and looked to Russia as a protector against nearby empires like Austro-Hungary and Turkey; in turn, some in Russia looked at the Balkans as a natural place for a Russian-dominated Slavic group. The great rival in the region, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was afraid this Balkan nationalism would accelerate the breakdown of its own Empire  and was afraid Russia was going to extend control over the region instead of it. Both were looking for a reason to extend their power in the region, and in 1914 an assassination would give that reason. The Trigger: Assassination In 1914, Europe had been on the brink of war for several years. The trigger was provided on June 28th, 1914, when  Archduke Franz Ferdinand  of Austria-Hungary was visiting Sarajevo in Bosnia on a trip designed to irritate Serbia. A loose supporter of the ‘ Black Hand’, a Serbian nationalist group, was able to assassinate the Archduke after a comedy of errors. Ferdinand wasn’t popular in Austria – he had ‘only’ married a noble, not a royal - but they decided it was the perfect excuse to threaten Serbia. They planned to use an extremely  one-sided  set of demands to provoke a war – Serbia was never meant to actually agree to the demands – and fight to end Serbian independence, thus strengthening the Austrian position in the Balkans. Austria expected the war with Serbia, but in case of war with Russia, they checked with Germany beforehand if it would support them. Germany replied yes, giving Austria a ‘blank check’. The Kaiser and other civilian leaders believed swift action by Austria would seem like the result of emotion and the other Great Powers would stay out, but Austria prevaricated, eventually sending their note too late for it to look like anger. Serbia accepted all but a few clauses of the ultimatum, but not all, and Russia was willing to go to war to defend them. Austria-Hungary had not deterred Russia by involving Germany, and Russia had not deterred Austria-Hungary by risking the Germans: bluffs on both sides were called. Now the balance of power in Germany shifted to the military leaders, who finally had what they had been coveting for several years: Austria-Hungary, which had seemed loathe to support Germany in a war, was about to embark on a war in which Germany could take the initiat ive and turn into the much greater war it desired, while crucially retaining Austrian aid, vital for the  Schlieffen Plan. What followed was the five major nations of Europe – Germany and Austria-Hungary on one side, France, Russian and Britain on the other – all pointing to their treaties and alliances in order to enter into the war many in each nation had wanted. The diplomats increasingly found themselves sidelined and unable to stop events as the military took over. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia to see if they could win a war before Russia arrived, and Russia, who pondered just attacking Austria-Hungary,  mobilized  against both them and Germany, knowing this meant Germany would attack France. This let Germany claim victim status and mobilize, but because their plans called for a quick war to knock Russia’s ally France out before Russian troops arrived, they declared war on France, who declared war in response. Britain hesitated and then joined, using Germany’s invasion of Belgium to mobilize the support of the doubters in Britain. Italy, who had an agreement with Germany, refused to do anything. Many of these decisions  were  increasingly taken by the military, who gained ever more control of events, even from national leaders who sometimes got left behind: it took a while for the Tsar to be talked round by pro-war military, and the Kaiser wavered as the military carried on. At one point the Kaiser instructed Austria to cease trying to attack Serbia, but people in Germany’s military and government first ignored him, and then convinced him it was too late for anything but peace. Military ‘advice’ dominated over diplomatic. Many felt helpless, others elated. There were people who tried to prevent the war at this late stage, but many others were infected with jingoism and pushed on. Britain, who had the least explicit obligations, felt a moral duty to defend France, wished to put down German imperialism, and technically had a treaty guaranteeing Belgium’s safety. Thanks to the empires of these key belligerents, and thanks to other nations entering the conflict, the war soon involved much of the globe. Few expected the conflict to last more than a few months, and the public was generally excited. It would last until 1918, and kill millions. Some of those who expected a long war were Moltke, the head of the German army, and Kitchener, a key figure in the British establishment. War Aims: Why each Nation went to War Each nation’s government had slightly different reasons for going, and these are explained below: Germany: A Place in the Sun and Inevitability Many members of the German military and government were convinced that a war with Russia was inevitable given their competing interests in the land between them and the Balkans. But they had also concluded, not without justification, that Russia was militarily much weaker now than it would be should it continue to industrialize and modernize its army. France was also increasing its military capacity – a law making conscription last three years was passed against opposition – and Germany had managed to get stuck in a  naval race  with Britain. To many influential Germans, their nation was surrounded and stuck in an arms race it would lose if allowed to continue. The conclusion was that this inevitable war must be fought sooner, when it could be won, than later. War would also enable Germany to dominate more of Europe and expand the core of the German Empire east and west. But Germany wanted more. The German Empire was relatively young and lacked a key element that the other major empires – Britain, France, Russia – had: colonial land. Britain owned large parts of the world, France owned a lot too, and Russia had expanded deep into Asia. Other less powerful powers owned colonial land, and Germany coveted these extra resources and power. This craving for colonial land became known as them wanting ‘A Place in the Sun’. The German government thought that a victory would allow them to gain some of their rivals’ land. Germany was also determined to keep Austria-Hungary alive as a viable ally to their south  and support them in a war if necessary. Russia: Slavic Land and Government Survival Russia believed that the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires were collapsing  and that there would be a reckoning over who would occupy their territory. To many Russia, this reckoning would be largely in the Balkans between a pan-Slavic alliance, ideally dominated by (if not entirely controlled by) Russia, against a pan-German Empire. Many in the Russian court, in the ranks of the military officer class, in the central government, in the press and even among the educated, felt Russia should enter and win this clash. Indeed, Russia was afraid that if they didn’t act in decisive support of the Slavs, as they had failed to do in the Balkan Wars, that Serbia would take the Slavic initiative and destabilize Russia. In addition, Russia had lusted over Constantinople and the Dardanelles for centuries, as half of Russia’s foreign trade traveled through this narrow region controlled by the Ottomans. War and victory would bring greater trade security. Tsar Nicholas II was cautious, and a faction at court advised him against war, believing the nation would implode and revolution would follow. But equally, the Tsar was being advised by people who believed that if Russia didn’t go to war in 1914, it would be a sign of weakness which would lead to a fatal undermining of the imperial government, leading to revolution or invasion. France: Revenge and Re-conquest France felt it had been humiliated in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 – 71, in which Paris had been besieged and the French Emperor had been forced to personally surrender  with  his army. France was burning to restore its reputation and, crucially, gain back the rich industrial land of Alsace and Lorraine which Germany had won off her. Indeed, the French plan for war with Germany, Plan XVII, focused on gaining this land above everything else. Britain: Global Leadership Of all the European powers, Britain was arguably the least tied into the treaties which divided Europe into two sides. Indeed, for several years in the late nineteenth century, Britain had consciously kept out of European affairs, preferring to focus on its global empire while keeping one eye on the balance of power on the continent. But Germany had challenged this  because it too wanted a global empire, and it too wanted a dominant navy. Germany and Britain thus began a naval arms race in which politicians, spurred on by the press, competed to build ever stronger navies. The tone was one of violence, and many felt that Germany’s upstart aspirations would have to be forcibly slapped down. Britain was also worried that a Europe dominated by an enlarged Germany, as victory in a major war would bring, would upset the balance of power in the region. Britain also felt a moral obligation to aid France and Russia because, although the treaties they’d all signed didn’t require Britain to fight, it had basically agreed to, and if Britain remained out either her former allies would finish victorious but extremely bitter, or beaten and unable to support Britain. Equally playing on their mind was a belief that they had to be involved to maintain great power status. As soon as war began, Britain also had designs on German colonies. Austria-Hungary:  Long-Coveted  Territory Austria-Hungary was desperate to project more of its crumbling power into the Balkans, where a power vacuum created by the decline of the Ottoman Empire had allowed nationalist movements to agitate and fight. Austria was particularly angry at Serbia, in which a Pan-Slavic nationalism was growing which Austria feared would lead to either Russian domination in the Balkans, or the total ousting of Austro-Hungarian power. The destruction of Serbia was deemed vital in keeping Austria-Hungary together, as there were near twice as many Serbs within the empire as were in Serbia (over seven million, versus over three million). Revenging the death of  Franz Ferdinand  was low on the list of causes. Turkey: Holy War for Conquered Land Turkey entered into secret negotiations with Germany and declared war on the Entente in October 1914. They wanted to regain land which had been lost in both the Caucuses and Balkans, and dreamed of gaining Egypt and Cyprus from Britain. They claimed to be fighting a holy war to justify this. War Guilt / Who was to Blame? In 1919, in the Treaty of Versailles between the victorious allies and Germany, the latter had to accept a ‘war guilt’ clause which explicitly stated that the war was Germany’s fault. This issue – who was responsible for the war – has been debated by historians and politicians ever since. Over the years trends have come and gone, but the issues seem to have polarised like this: on one side, that Germany with their blank cheque to Austria-Hungary and rapid, two front mobilization was chiefly to blame, while on the other was the presence of a war mentality and colonial hunger among nations who rushed to into to extend their empires, the same mentality which had already caused repeated problems before war finally broke out. The debate has not broken down ethnic lines: Fischer blamed his German ancestors in the sixties, and his thesis has largely become the mainstream view. The Germans were certainly convinced war was needed soon, and the Austro-Hungarians were convinced they had to crush Serbia to survive; both were prepared to start this war. France and Russia were slightly different, in that they weren’t prepared to start the war, but went to lengths to make sure they profited when it occurred, as they thought it would. All five Great Powers were thus prepared to fight a war, all fearing the loss of their Great Power status if they backed down. None of the Great Powers was invaded without a chance to step back. Some historians go further: David Fromkin’s ‘Europe’s Last Summer’ makes a powerful case that the world war can be pinned on Moltke, head of the German General  Staff, a man who knew it would be a terrible, world changing war, but thought it inevitable and started it anyway. But  Joll  makes an interesting point: â€Å"What is more important than the immediate responsibility for the actual outbreak of war is the state of mind that was shared by all belligerents, a state of mind that envisaged the probable imminence of war and its absolute necessity in certain circumstances.† (Joll  and Martel, The Origins of the First World War, p. 131.) The Dates and Order of the Declarations of War

Shackles Overcoming Domestic Abuse, by Malaika Cohen

This essay explores the story of Malaika Cohen and her account of experiencing and overcoming domestic abuse. In her book â€Å"Shackles† Malaika describes various forms of domestic abuse from life as a young child with a controlling Mother and a physically abusive Father which continued into her adult romantic relationships. It will highlight the changes to legislation since Malaika was a victim and how the meaning of domestic abuse has changed over the years. It will also take a look at behaviour patterns of children who grow up in a household with an alcoholic and how this can impact future relationships. Domestic abuse is often diagnosed under the banner of â€Å"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder†, this essay will look how this can have a negative†¦show more content†¦There is evidence of physical, mental, psychological abuse described from an early age. An alcoholic Father, controlling Mother responsible for a series of abortions made against the will of Mala ika. A husband who after physically abusing her, once separated becomes a vicuous stalker inducing a consistent fear. At the central part of the book, a man walks into Malaikas life, a charming man with an accent, a man who seemed foreign to her in many ways, he was kind to her, offered a sanctuary away from her tyrannical husband and family, a role model for her two daughters in the true meaning of a â€Å"Father†. It is no surprise to the reader when this knight in shining armour turns out to be too good to be true. Malaikas start in life highlights why children of alcoholics can develop certain patterns of behaviour. Malaikas Father drank and would often leave the house for days, returning to a torrent of verbal abuse from his wife. Malaika would go through her young life seeing her Father be violent and abusive. The protection needed from her Mother wasnt available and like many children in homes where there are alcohol problems, Malaika had to learn to avoid showing any feelings or raising her Fathers temper. David Stafford (1992) gives an interesting account of these behaviours developed in his book â€Å"Children of Alcoholics† describing how an unpredictable environment can have lasting effects on the child â€Å"Unfortunately, in alcoholic households the protection and

Wonder Drug Free Essays

Wonder Drug Most people know that Penicillin is an extremely important drug, but few know just how important and influential it really is. Think about what life would be like today without it. What would be of contemporary medicine today? Would society as a whole succumb to these relentless infinitesimal organisms? What would have been of one’s ancestors if they too like so many before and after incurred a serious infection? This essay shall explore these questions and many like it. We will write a custom essay sample on Wonder Drug or any similar topic only for you Order Now It will explain why penicillin is undoubtedly the best medication of the century, perhaps the best medication ever in existence. Penicillin is produced by a bread mold, known as Penicillium. The discovery of Penicillin sometimes referred to as the â€Å"wonder drug† has been the most important drug to date. It has the ability to kill just about any bacterial infection and at the time of it’s creation there was no other drug or anything like it. To this date it has saved millions of children, women, men and animals. The wonder drug was originally discovered purely by accident by one Alexander Fleming, a Scottish Scientist in the year 1928. Penicillin was later developed further by many different Scientists who were able to use it to create numerous versions of antibiotics to cure a vast range of illnesses. Antibiotics have been used for several years in treatment for a variety of skin disorders, sexually transmitted diseases, strep throat, and respiratory illnesses. Before Penicillin was discovered, if one were to have a serious infection, death was irrefutable. People often would die of the smallest wounds due to bacterial infections. Bacteria mutates quite often, creating antibiotic-resistant organisms. Which makes it become resistant to the drug. Even with this said, there are still only a small amount of bacteria that Penicillin and it’s predecessors can not tackle and over come. One of Penicillin’s most advertised uses was for combating sexually transmitted diseases. There are websites that show old advertisements for penicillin on the side of mailboxes that shamelessly state, â€Å"Penicillin cures gonorrhea in four hours see your doctor today. †   Believe it or not during the late 1940’s researchers from the United States performed experimental studies in Guatemala. They had to because these types of studies were not allowed in the states. So with the cooperation of the Guatemalan government, local prostitutes were used to pass on STD’s to prisoners, insane asylum patients, and Guatemalan soldiers to test the wonder drug’s effectiveness. Out of approximately thirteen hundred infected people, eighty three died. Although at that time it was not possible to establish if the experiments were the actual cause of death. Penicillin made a major difference in the amount of amputees and deaths during World War II. Because of the difficulties of manufacturing large amounts of Penicillin, availability was extremely limited. Imagine what the death toll would have been if Penicillin had not been made readily available? In fact Penicillin was so scarce, that in it’s infancy, medical personnel would collect the urine from patients and filter the drug from the urine and reuse it. This is because Penicillin passes through the body at rapid rate, usually in about three to four hours. So some may wonder what makes Penicillin so significant, and what makes it the most important medical drug that has ever come into existence? A lot would argue perhaps Morphine or even the Smallpox vaccines are better examples for the most valuable drug. And although one who would argue this may have some validity to one’s argument in an overall comparison there is really no comparison. Smallpox was a devastating disease that crippled the world, the survival rate was approximately seventy percent, which left the other thirty percent of it’s victims suffering immensely. One who contracted this disease would develop blisters and a high fever and often feel malaise with head and body aches and sometimes experience violent vomiting. The blisters were excruciatingly painful and there was little to ease the pain and suffering for its victims. The fever was like none other, often so high that it would cause seizures and hallucinations. It was not until the year 1796 that the Smallpox vaccine was created by a scientist named Edward Jenner. Yet as significant of a vaccine this was it does not outweigh the benefits of Penicillin. At the time Smallpox was a great vaccine for the world. After the world wide eradication though, there was no longer a demand for it. The only people who receive the vaccine currently are military personnel and government contractors traveling overseas. Which in a way is better considering the risks of the vaccine. Some of the risks include seizures, an actual mild case of smallpox, risk spreading it to others by being careless with one’s open wounds, plus it only provides ninety five percent immunity for up to five years. Penicillin has a decent amount of competing antibiotic drugs such as Clindamycin, Azithromycin, Doxycyclin. First and foremost these would not be in existence if it wasn’t for the creation of Penicillin to perpetuate the making of these. All of the competitor drugs are just various versions of Penicillin so as one can see there is very little argument that it’s predecessors are only what they are because of Penicillin’s creation. The only difference between all of these is the functionality due to the amino group and the gram spectrum of the bacteria one heals. This basically means that each one of these targets a different part or kind of bacteria, but still uses the same principle of the original drug. This is why as stated above there is no argument when it comes to the importance of the creation of Penicillin. This essay has explored what Penicillin is, why it is so influential, and who has benefited from it. It has been used in an array of situations from anything such as a sexually transmitted diseases to strep throat. There is no discrediting the fact that without Penicillin the world as one knows it would never have come into existence, this is why Penicillin is conclusively the most important medical drug ever in existence. Works Cited â€Å"Drugs. † Questions and Answers for Consumers on Penicillin G Procaine. Food and Drug Administration, 23 May 2003. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. . â€Å"Smallpox Disease Overview. † CDC Smallpox. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 Dec. 2004. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. . 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Changes Continuities in Sub Saharan Africa free essay sample

CHART #2: Thematic Organization COMPARISON THEMES (SCRIPTED):1. Politics 2. Social Structure 3. Economics/Interactions TIME PERIODS: 1. 400-600 CE 2. 600-1000 CE 3. 1000-1450 CE THESIS As the political and social structures of Sub-Saharan Africa developed during the years 400 1450 C. E. , hierarchy structures based on kinship were maintained, however self-contained city-states grew into large empires. BEGINNING TIME PERIOD INTERIM TIME PERIOD END TIME PERIOD GLOBAL CONTEXT 1st THEME’S TOPIC SENTENCE Politics During much of the post-classical period, political structures evolved and diversified throughout sub saharan Africa. Describe the theme at the beginning of the period People along the Niger River created a distinctive city-based civilization. They were not encompassed in a larger imperial system. Nor were they like the city-states of ancient Mesopotamia, in which each city had its own centralized political structures, embodied in a monarch and his accompanying bureaucracy. They were â€Å"cities without citadels,† complex urban centers that operated without the coercive authority of a state. Key Changes and/or Continuities in theme from previous period The Bantu speaking peoples began to create distinct societies.They organized themselves without any formal political specialists at all. They made decisions, resolved conflicts, and maintained order by using kinship structures or lineage principles supplemented by age grades, which joined men of a particular generation together across various lineages. Elsewhere, lineage heads who acquired a measure of personal wealth or who proved skillful at meditating between the local spirits and the people might evolve into chiefs with a modest political authority. By 700s, a farming group of people called the Soninke built an empire called Ghana.It gained its wealth by taxing the goods that traders brought through. Ghana’s king had control over the gold supply and kept its prices high. The empire thrived due to the king’s impressive army. Key Changes and/or Continuities in theme from previous period By the 1400s, Africa was a virtual museum of political and cultural diversity, encompassing large empires, such as Songhay; smaller kingdoms, such as Kongo; city-states among the Yoruba, Hausa, and Swahili peoples; village-based societies without states at all, as among the Igbo; and nomadic pastoral peoples, such as the Fulbe.Pastoral peoples stayed independent of established empires several centuries longer than the nomads of Inne r Asia, for not until the late nineteenth century were they incorporated into European colonial states. The experience of the Fulbe, West Africa’s largest pastoral society, provides a useful example of an African herding people with a highly significant role in the fifteenth century and beyond. From their homeland in the western fringe of the Sahara along the upper Senegal River, the Fulbe migrated gradually eastward in the centuries after 1000 CE.They generally lived in small communities among agricultural peoples and paid various grazing fees and taxes for the privilege of pasturing their cattle. Mali, during the 11th century, took over Ghana and built an ever bigger empire that gained its wealth from trade. Make a statement about this topic in another region of the world. In China, political structures transformed in the Sui, Tang, and Mongol dynasties. Analyze the reasons for change or continuity Analyze the reasons for change or continuityFar more numerous than hunters and gatherers were those many people who, though fully agricultural, had avoided incorporation into large empires or civilization and had not developed their own city- or state-based societies. They created societies largely without the oppressive political authority, class inequalities, and seclusion of women that were so common in civilizations. 2nd THEME’S TOPIC SENTENCE Social Structure Despite harsh years of slavery, sub saharan Africa maintained a social hierarchy that was developed through kinship. Describe the theme at the beginning of the periodVillages of cotton weavers, potters, leather workers, and griots grew up around the central towns. Gradually these urban artisan communities became occupational castes, whose members passed their jobs and skills to their children and could only marry within their own group. In other villages, specialization occurred in farming as various ethnic groups focused on fishing, rice cultivation, or some other agricultural pursuit. Key Changes and/or Continuities in theme from previous period Slavery found a way into Africa. Most slaves began as women, working as domestic servants and concubines. Later, male slaves were put to work as slave officials, porters, craftsmen, miners harvesting salt from desert deposits, and especially agricultural laborers producing for the royal granaries on large estates or plantations. Key Changes and/or Continuities in theme from previous period People usually lived in small village-based communities organized by kinship relations. Dealing with the Fulbes- Relations with their farming hosts often were tense because the Fulbe resented their subordination to agricultural peoples, whose way of life they despised.That sense of cultural superiority became even more pronounced as the Fulbe, in the course of their eastward movement, slowly adopted Islam. Some of them in fact dropped out of a pastoral life and settled in towns, where they became highly respected religious leaders. Make a statement about this topic in another region of the world. Analyze the reasons for change or continuity Slavery developed as work in fields grew more laborious. Social hierarchy based on kinship was maintained through these years. Analyze the reasons for change or continuity 3rd THEME’S TOPIC SENTENCE Economics/Interactions Describe the theme at the beginning of the period Several cities emerged as clusters of economically specialized settlements surrounding a larger central town. Accompanying this unique urbanization, and no doubt stimulating it, was a growing network of indigenous West African commerce. The middle Niger flood-plain supported a rich agriculture and had a clay for pottery, but it lacked stone, iron ore, salt, and fuel. This scarcity of resources was the basis for long-distance commerce, which operated by boat along the Niger River and overland by donkey to the north and south.By the 500s C. E. , there is evidence of an even wider commerce and at least indirect contact, from Mauritania in the west to present-day Mali and Burkina-Faso in the east. The introduction of the camel in 300 to 400 C. E. initiated more long-distance trade. Long-distance trade across the Sahara provided both incentive and resources for the construction of new and larger political structures. Key Changes and/or Continuities in theme from previous period Key Changes and/or Continuities in theme from previous periodEuropean and Chinese maritime expeditions touched on Africa during the 15th century, even as Islam continued to find acceptance in northern half of the continent. Europeans sought the wealth of Africa gold, spices, silk, and more. Along the East African coast after 1000 C. E. , dozens of rival city-states linked the African interior with the commerce of the Indian Ocean basin. The kind of society that developed in any particular area depended on a host of local factors, including population density, trading opportunities, and interaction among culturally different peoples.The Swahili city-states were a key aspect to long-distance trade along the east coast of Africa (the Sea Roads). Make a statement about this topic in another region of the world. East Africa contributed raw materials and agricultural products globally. Swahili’s interaction along the Sea Roads connected Africa to Indian Ocean world. Analyze the reasons for change or continuity A series of distinct and specialized economic groups shared authority and voluntarily used the services of one another, while maintaining their own identities through physical separation. Analyze the reasons for change or continuity CONCLUSION

Russia and Central Eastern Europe as a market area an Example of the Topic Economics Essays by

Russia and Central Eastern Europe as a market area Russia and Central Eastern Europe as a market area in 2010:Forecast the future of business in Russia and your position within this context. Forecast the future of business in Russia and your position within this context. Russia and Central Eastern Europe is certainly one of the most promising market areas of the world. With an impressive legacy from the Soviet era, an educated population and vast natural resources, Russia has a great potential for development. Although beset by severe economic problems and political and governance inefficiencies at the time, the nation has the potential for a spectacular comeback this may happen as soon as 2010. Its revival can have a reinvigorating effect on other countries of the region that have possibility to expand by selling their products in Russia and have many of the same advantages as their larger neighbor. The success of any future business in Russia will depend on ones ability to find ways to success in this complex context. Need essay sample on "Russia and Central Eastern Europe as a market area" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed To appraise Russias future, one should remember first of all that the nation was the main formative part of the Soviet Union, one of the two superpowers that participated in the Cold War. Despite the obvious defeat in this rivalry with the US, the USSR was able to hold ground against the West for several decades, and not in the last due to its developed industry and military complex. As of now, Russian weapons, such as rockets, tanks, rifles and others remain a competitive product on the world arena. The nation is a major supplier of weapons in international markets, and this manufacturing involves many technological issues that are difficult to reproduce in other countries. With a skilful governance, the country can make this a serious advantage, and in 2010 more technologically advanced industries can develop. One need not remember, however, the Soviet production, defined by the government to meet their special political goals, was aimed at making the country powerful, not at making an individual citizen well-off. The neglect for individual consumption has led to under-development of this sector. This caused permanent deficiency of consumer goods, which is negative for citizens, but opens great possibilities for foreign companies with a well-known, product with world-renowned quality. The Soviet Union also left behind a quite impressive educational system that, being free for a long time, provided access to talented youths from all over the Soviet Union. This system survived to this day in Russia and Central European countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova. With solid educational institutions and a sound school system, these nations can turn out a consistently high quality of educational programs and in consequence qualified specialists that can propel the economy. The post-Soviet states are especially remarkable for their research and education in mathematics and natural sciences, which is highly important for the development of industrial production in these countries. CIA World Factbook (2006) states that the literacy rate in Russia is around 99.6%. Thus, illiteracy is practically non-existent in these nations, which can also help them attain success in business. In five years time, Russia will continue to produce well-qualified specialists who will hav e hit the market and made changes in the economy. Natural resources are also not an issue to discount easily. This primarily refers to Russia as Central Europe does not contain so many resources. Russias development in particular will be seriously affected by the large reserves of oil of 69 billion barrels by 2003 estimates that make is second important oil supplier of the world after Saudi Arabia (CIA 2006). Fortunes made on oil such as those of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Roman Abramovich testify to the fact the oil reserves are an important source of wealth if distributed equitably. The nationalisation of Abramovichs company Sibneft and the de-facto nationalisation of Yukos, for all the scandal associated with the event, mean that the Kremlin has regained control over the lucrative industry, and the oil revenues are more likely to stay in the country, delivering economic benefits. Oil earnings are believed to have contributed to an impressive decline in Russias foreign debt (dropping from 90% of GDP in 1998 to about 36%) and surge i n foreign reserves (from $12 billion to about $180 billion at the end of 2005) (CIA 2006). Certainly the impact of oil revenues will depend on the ability of the Russian government to harness the constant stream of revenue for modernization and improvement of economy, but at least this cushion can help the nation make a transition from Soviet-era outdated plants and factories to a more modern, advanced economy. With Russias current policies aimed at the construction of a stabilisation fund, this may become easier to realise by 2010. The same cushion for transition is afforded, for instance, to Belarus in the form of lower gas prices deemed proper by the Russian government due to extensive cooperation with Lukashenkos regime. Ukraine, true, has lost hold of an opportunity to profit from cheaper gas that was previously supplied by Russia after choosing a pro-Western political course, but with the new elections coming the nation can reassess its future direction and once again enter an agreement with Russia for cheap gas prices. These would offer Central Europe surely a dubious advantage in developing their economies, making them dependent upon Russia. However, lower gas prices can also help them to develop their economies to meet Western standards. In any case, the instability of the political situation and dependence on gas prices on politics makes the Central Eastern European economies of the region rather unstable. The development of the region will surely face many serious problems. The Soviet era left a negative legacy that is difficult to overcome. As a system grounded in corruption, it left an even worse corruption to the new market economy that accelerated in the tumultuous perestroika era and was connected in Russia to the epoch of Boris Yeltsin. Although Vladimir Putin is perceived as a stronger leader, more effective in harnessing this harmful phenomenon, there is no sign that it has ceased to be a factor both in corporate and government decision-making. Speaking of Central Eastern Europe, it is most definitely a factor in Ukraine where its current President gained power after successfully exploiting the topic of corruption in former President Leonid Kuchmas government. Corrupt officials continue to make biased decisions that affect the efficiency of business since contracts and licenses often go not to those with the greatest capabilities, but to those with the greatest connections. Ho wever, the experience of Italy, for instance, demonstrates that corruption is not invincible, and that the nation can make its economy function even with this harmful phenomenon present. All these factors will affect the development of Russia and Central Eastern Europe in the next few years. Most probably, by 2010 growth of the Russian economy will continue, although the goal proclaimed by Vladimir Putin, doubling the national GDP, will hardly be achieved. Russia will most probably continue to draw its growth from its natural resources as oil prices are likely to soar even further. This can result in the countrys economy growing, while the wealth will remain concentrated in the hands of a rich clique of businessmen and corrupt officials. This will make income distribution skewed continuing the trend of the past, as of 1998 when the top richest 10% of the nation consumed 38.7%, the bottom 10% accounted for only 1.7% of national consumption (CIA 2006). This makes the Russian market a good place for luxury goods that are eagerly consumed by the top rich, while also demonstrating the lag in public consumption. To this date, in the streets of Moscow, one can see luxury ca rs while the majority of the population cannot afford a vehicle and have to use public transportation. However, if economy continues to boom which is most likely, personal incomes that have posted increases over 12% in 2005 will continue to grow (CIA 2006). This will add impetus to the development of the Russian market for consumer goods that, as stated above. often remain below world standards an after-effect of the Soviet era. Thus, the Russian consumers that have recovered after the 1998 financial crisis will in future be better able to pay for goods and services, a fact which opens new possibilities for consumer-driven industries. The same will be observed most probably in Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova that also exhibit a smaller disproportion (23.2% versus 3.7% in Ukraine) and a slightly more equitable income distribution, so in these nations a smaller rise in income will have greater impact on prosperity of ordinary citizens who are consumers for mass market products (CIA 2006). The company that wants to succeed in selling consumer goods to Russian, Ukrainian or Belarusian consumers will most probably have to open a business in one of these countries since imports may be seriously affected by duties and quotas. Thus, the two nations are making heavy efforts to protect their domestic automobile industries, slapping imported vehicles, especially used ones, with heavy import duties. A company that will venture into local assembly may soon gain competitive advantage over its rivals that will come later to the same markets. Besides, partnership with local businessmen can have other serious advantages. For instance, this will allow businessmen to navigate through complex networks of local officials and businessmen, establishing necessary contacts with greater ease. Since corruption is not likely to disappear any time soon, someone willing to start business in Russia will have to use something similar to Chinese guanxi, knowing the right people who will pull the triggers for you. Without this, a company with a world-class business reputation and large financial resources will most probably be successful in any case. For a smaller-size business that already has competitors among local companies, finding the right trustworthy contact may be the starting point for a business venture. The attraction of the Russian market is confirmed by the fact that many companies choose to do business there. After 2000, real fixed capital investments have averaged gains greater than 10% over the last five years (CIA 2006). Many reputable Western companies are ready to overlook instability and governance problems as well as country-specific risk to share in Russias growth story. Thus, since the financial blackout of 1998, Russias growth has averaged 6.4% per year and somewhat slowed down to 5.9% in 2005 (CIA 2006). Ukraine demonstrated a growth rate of 4.4%, well below its impressive 2004 growth of 12%, due to adverse external environment (drop in demand for steel, Ukraines main product) and inefficient economic policies. The future of the national economy is uncertain because of a sharp rise in gas prices initiated Russia that will adversely impact the fuel-inefficient Ukrainian manufacturing. Belarus, given its stable partnership with Russia, has better prospects for economic development. Ukraines plight, however, demonstrates vividly the problems faced by the countries of the region: dependence on Russia and its whimsical changes in policy-making, sharp swings in political course, including foreign policy, and on the export of a few raw materials that may economies subject to fluctuations in global markets. Long-term stagnation, however, appears unlikely because of the rich industrial and educational potential of Russia and Central Eastern European countries. Their markets will be boosted by industrial development even if their commodity exports fail, although one can envisage a temporary plunge in this case. In any situation, this will give impetus to nations to rethink their development strategies and emphasize production of high-value-added goods rather than raw materials. Thus, a company that has discovered a promising niche in the markets of that region should give serious consideration to the opportunity, beginning search for a reliable partner and connection in the area. Speaking of my own prospects within this context, I believe that I could be successful working in the Russian or Central European markets. I already have considerable cross-cultural competence developed during my work with the international customer service in Finland-headquartered company and the purchasing department of the US-based pharmaceutical firm. Having worked in Europe, I would most probably find many common points with Russians, Ukrainians, Byelorussians, and Moldavians, although I realize that their culture is vastly different from that of Western Europe. However, I believe that given the vast opportunities opened by this market including over 200 million people, I would find ways to adjust to cultural issues and take time to explore the business opportunities there. I also find that trading, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications have great potential for development in these countries, and drawing on my expertise in the area, I will be in a good position to profit from this development. Thus, with a relatively low income level by world standards, not all those who want to use wireless communications can do so, and international and inter-city connections are still too expensive for many people. With the above projections of rise in income levels of the mass consumer, this market can deliver more than it does today. The projected surge in upscale markets can cause rise in more advanced and expensive communication services including wireless Internet connections and others. Thus, I believe that the advances of the Russian and Central European markets hold significant implications for someone with my background and experience, as long as I undertake more substantial research into segmentation and niche markets in these countries. Central Intelligen ce Agency (CIA) think it is NOT regarding my company's position, but refer to my position as a student with below working experience: Four years of successful working experience with telecommunications in international customer service.(Companys headquarter in Finland) Five years of purchasing experience with pharmaceutical field in an international company.(Companys headquarter in US)

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Logistics And Supply Chain Management Definitions Business Essay

Logistics And Supply Chain Management Definitions Business Essay In modern competitive business world, every organization strives for excellence. To achieve and maintain this, the organization needs to put in all necessary measures to remain competitive within the industry it finds itself. One of such measures is logistics excellence. (Durin et al 2011). A major contributing function for organizational excellence has to do with the management of its logistics. However in recent times, logistics excellence is taken for granted and presumed to be the norm, but only to be recognized when there emerges some major problem.  [1]   Since the Criminal Libel Law was taken off the statutes books in 2001, the Ghanaian media landscape is currently touted or hipped as one of the most independent media regimes in the West African sub-region. This has led to the proliferation of print and electronic media to the extent that the media market is currently becoming saturated.  [2]  According to the National Media Commission (NMC, 2006), Ghana has 106 newspapers made up of 11 dailies, 67 weeklies, 23 bi-weeklies and five tri-weeklies. More than 50% of the news papers currently in circulation have come into existence in recent years. Many of them have sprung up in the past five years, providing readers with a wide range of new publications. At national level, among the 11 national dailies, the state-owned Daily Graphic is the oldest and most widely-read newspaper in Ghana, and it is distributed in all 120 districts nationwide. Established in 1950 and 100% government-owned, the Daily Graphic currently has the highest circulation figure.  [3]  The companys leadership role in the print media as indicated above began before the advent of the repeal of the criminal libel law. It is interesting to note that Ghanaians casually refer to any media print at first glance as graphic. This not withstanding demonstrates the strength the company draws from this brand name. However, due to the proliferation of other print media as a result of the repeal of the criminal libel law, fierce competition has started to emerge within this industry. The state owned and private print media market is becoming saturated to the extent that almost all media prints virtually sell at the same price. An example of such are the, Ghanaian Times, The Mirror, The Ghanaian Observer, 90 Minutes, Accra Daily Mail, and the Weekly Spectator which sells at GH 1.50, whilst others like The Daily Guide, The Dispatch, Daily Graphic, The Guide, The Statesman and Business and Financial Times also sell at GH2.00. One way to retain customers and remain competitive and, at the same time increase bottom-line margins has been to cut down prices. Interestingly, price reduction in this instance may not be very possible because market shares are somewhat fixed and would lead to lesser margins instead. A better way for companies to still make profits and remain viable is to embark on an effective and efficient logistics management system (Christopher, 2011). This is because sales revenue increases would be more difficult to achieve than logistics cost reductions. The effective management of logistics activities such as customer service, distribution and reverse logistics would play significant roles alongside other logistics activities in improving an organizations stance in such an environment. Reverse logistics to a considerable extent is not well known and not practiced within the Ghanaian business environment. This is because logistics has been looked at in most instances from only one perspective. It has always been looked at from the point where products are manufactured, packaged, stored in a warehouse, sold, and then shipped to the customer and the process ends. However there are more dimensions to this. In addition to managing outbound goods, logistics managers are also responsible for the flow of returned goods, re-packaging, including customer service and final disposition of returned items.  [4]   Considering the print media for instance, the issue of unsold media prints could be looked at as waste since they cannot be sold the next day. The need to manage waste materials and returned goods is fast growing in all kinds of industries. Currently, companies notably Xerox, Eastman Kodak, Mobil, Home Depot, and Ethan Allen Furniture to name just a few, have recycling programs that meet the needs of their individual industries.  [5]  Although these are foreign companies, they derive numerous advantages and benefits from the relevance of reverse logistics practices. In a way these could be very much applicable to most organizations in Ghana for which GCGL is not an exception. Undoubtedly, most firms are now recognizing reverse logistics as a component of the total logistics management process. Stock (1998) and Hansen Harps( 2002) advocated that innovative firms that develop an expertise in reverse logistics activities and considers them as a set of business process adds value, generate revenue, improve customer satisfaction, achieve significant cost savings and gain competitive edge in their various markets. The GCGL stands the chance of gaining all these benefits as well as competitive advantage over its competitors in the area of cost reduction, enhanced quality, branding of their product and maximizing customers loyalty when reverse logistics practices are effectively adopted. Reverse logistics has the following benefits: Enhance Customer Service. The customers perspective is one key economic element driving organizations to develop reverse logistics strategy. Customers now consider returns policies when making purchasing decisions. If GCGL makes its returns policies more restrictive while its competitors continue to offer liberal returns policies, the firm will have placed itself at a competitive disadvantage. The whole purpose of logistics strategy is to provide customers with the level and quality of service that they require and to do so at less cost to the total supply chain. ( Rogers and Tibben-Lembke 1998) Distinguish itself with Customers. Embarking on an effective reverse logistics strategy will offer GCGL the opportunity to differentiate or distinguish itself with customers. This is because how a company handles returns is often evaluated by customers as an important factor to choose when a future purchase happens. According to Daugherty et al (2002), a well designed reverse logistics system can promote longer-term relationships. Furthermore, customers are more likely to buy from retailers who outperform other retailers on returns handling. Knock Off Competition. GCGL management will stands to benefit from the knowledge of the companys logistical performance which could be used to influence decisions and aid in the formulation of corporate goals and objectives to offset competition. Achieve Green Image. The GCGL by engaging in reverse logistics stands to gain a good environmental image with the customer which could invariably promote better customer relations. Having such an image can be part of a customer relationship strategy, especially due to the increase of environmental consciousness by society as a whole. The overall reverse logistics programme effectiveness will have indirect benefits for the firm, such as better corporate image or improved levels of customer satisfaction to retain customers and as well stand the competition within the industry. (Jayaraman and Luo2007) Need to Control Costs. Frequently, manufacturers treat recovery of products and packaging as an afterthought. A well-managed reverse-logistics program, however, can bring enormous savings in inventory-carrying, transportation, and waste-disposal costs.  [6]   Enjoys Goodwill. The goodwill associated with practicing an effective and efficient distribution and reverse logistics strategy has not been fully discovered by most companies in Ghana. The Goodwill that GCGL could earn from acting in a socially or environmentally responsible manner can produce real value. This can create substantial customer loyalty.(Rogers and Tibben-Lembke 1998) 1.2 Research Problem In Ghana intense competition within the print media industry has to a large extent stabilized the price ceiling of media prints. The situation has been aggravated by political influences as political parties have delved the opportunity of coming up with their own media prints to propagate party agendas. Whilst GCGL media prints specifically the Daily Graphic has been acclaimed a national newspaper, and hence mostly report on broad national issues, many others focus and take sides on political issues that would interest party members. As a result market shares are more or less stable and only sway when a particular media print covers a more topical or sensational issue that cuts across a general national interest. The likelihood of dwindling margins cannot be over emphasized in such circumstance. The more convenient means for GCGL to make profits is to embark on an effective logistic management to cut down logistics costs and to remain competitive in business. On the other hand most organizations have not fully embraced reverse logistics for reasons best known to them regardless of the benefits that could be realized on embarking on effective reverse logistics practices. The issue is that there is little demand for knowledge within the mindsets because it has been presumed that reverse logistics inherently deals with the least favored aspect of organizational activities (Hansen Harps, 2002). This is because most firms do not view reverse logistics as a core competence but as something to be ignored as much as possible (Hansen Harps, 2002). The print media products normally have life cycles ranging from a day to maximum of about a week. What happens to unsold products and those that are no longer of use to the consumer does not seem to derive much concern from the publishers. This situation does not only create loses but also goes to add filth to our environment causing health and other environmental problems in the long run. Conducting a research to unearth the best possible means for GCGL to improve upon its current logistics management trends and practices, to improve profit margins and as well create value for their products that have ended their life cycle is the main focus of this thesis. 1.3 Research Questions In order to identify the extent of logistics management activities that GCGL is currently engaged in and analyze them, the thesis would seek answers for the following questions: How are the logistics activities pursued in the organization? What distribution system is the company employing? How is return flows managed? 1.4 Research Objectives The study has the following objectives: To identify the logistics and supply chain activities the company is engaged in To identify and assess the effectiveness of the distribution system To describe and assess the impact of reverse logistics practices on profitability 1.5 Significance of the Study The study will bring out any shortfalls that are inherent in GCGLs logistics practices and inform management adequately to develop sound logistics plans. Additionally, it will serve as a reference document for the GCGL logistics department to effectively manage their day-to-day logistics activities. The study will also be beneficial to the companys third party logistics providers, as the document will assist them to adopt the appropriate logistics procedures and hence ensure effective communication and integration among them. The thesis will also be beneficial to other print media organizations as well as those in other industries to focus on reverse logistics strategy as a source of gaining competitiveness amongst others. 1.6 Limitation of the Study 1.7 Thesis Organization The study will be organized into five chapters. Chapter one is the introduction and will comprise the background, problem statement, aims and objectives and significance of the study. Chapter two is the literature review and will highlight existing definitions and works by researchers related to the area of study. Chapter three is devoted to the methodology used in this study. The chapter looks at the study area, design of study, data collection approaches, description of the study, sampling and the constraints/problems encountered and chapter four will summarize the major discussions of the study. Chapter five will highlight on the important issues in the summary and make recommendations. CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVEIW 2.1 INTRODUCTION Fierce competition in todays marketplace has forced business enterprises and organizations to invest in and focus on supply chain and logistics management to be more competitive and as well, remain in business. Logistics has now been seen as the growth and dynamic functions in the success of many different operations of an organization. Logistics activities such as distribution communication, customer service, inventory management, materials handling, packaging, and traffic and transportation procurement have led to the growth in telecommunication and transportation technologies (Rushton et al 2006). Whilst logistics is often seen as planning orientation and framework that seeks to create a single plan for the flow of products and information through a business, supply chain management builds upon this framework. It seeks to achieve linkage and co-ordination between the processes of other entities within the pipeline, i.e. suppliers and customers, and the organization itself (Martin Christopher 2011). A lot of research works on the concepts of logistics and supply chain management and their impacts on the successes and failures in industries and businesses have been carried out. This paper will therefore review aspects of the available literature and research works that view logistics and supply chain management in their definitive contexts with special emphases on activities that relates to customer service, logistics distribution systems and Reverse Logistics. 2.2 LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT DEFINITIONS 2.2.1 Logistics Management The term Logistics originated from the military and was used basically to describe the movement of personnel and materials during wars and also in emergencies. It was later adopted by businesses and organizations and became a part of commonly used terminology in professional societies and academic programs, and was defined in various ways to satisfy trends and developments (Rushton 2009). The Council of Logistics Management (CLM), one of the leading professional organizations for logistic uses the term logistics management to describe the process of planning, implementing and controlling the efficient, cost-effective flow and storage of raw materials, in- process inventory, finished goods and related information from point of origin to point of consumption for the purpose of conforming to customer requirements (Lambert et-al, 1999). Alan Ruston et-al (2007) defined Logistics Management by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) as that part of supply chain management that plans, implements, and controls the efficient, effective forward and reverses flow and storage of goods, services and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customers requirements (CSCMP, 2006). Martin Christopher (2011) stated that logistics is the process of strategically managing the procurement, movement and storage of materials, parts and finished inventory (and the related information flows) through the organization and its marketing channels in such a way that current and future profitability are maximized through the cost-effective fulfillment of orders. Starting from the first definition, although these authors pointed out that the ultimate disposal, recycling and reuse of products should be considered as activities in logistics management, the CLM definition above was silent on them. The definition only took into consideration the forward aspect of logistics focusing on the end product reaching the final consumer according to consumers requirement. The questions here are that; what happens to the product if it does not conform to the customers requirement and also how will the product be managed after the final consumer has exhausted the full use of the product? In other words, CSCMP indicated and emphasized on forward and reverse flow and storage of goods, services and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customers requirements. This definition to a considerable extent answers the questions which were ignored by the CLM as it considered reverse flows in addition. Martin Christopher stressed on how organizations could maximize current and future profitability through the cost-effective fulfillment of orders. Although the definition did not specifically mention reverse flows, it could be implied that such activities if undertaken could contribute to the organizations profitability. In summary, it could be mentioned with certainty that all the definitions above place some emphasis on logistics activities to typically include inbound and outbound transportation management, fleet management, warehousing, materials handling, order fulfillment, logistics network design, inventory management, supply/demand planning, and management of third party logistics services providers. Additionally the inclusion of sourcing and procurement, production planning and scheduling, packaging and assembly, and customer service were mentioned by Christopher. It is worth mentioning that logistics must be involved in all levels of planning and execution. This has to do with the strategic, operational and tactical levels. Planning at these levels should not be done in isolation else the synergy to be derived from the various functions would not be realized (Lambert et al 2009). Logistics management is therefore an integrating function, which coordinates and optimizes all logistics activities, as well as integrates logistics activities with other functions including marketing, sales manufacturing, finance, and information technology (Alan Mckinnon, 2001). It is essential that positive planning approach is adopted by ensuring that the operation is set up to run properly. The two parts of logistics management has to do with inbound and outbound logistics. One way to envisage the two concepts is about ensuring and managing that the operations are set up to run properly by doing the right thing or preparing for and planning the operation. Thus s upply and material management represent the storage and flows into and through the production process, whiles distribution represent the storage and flow from the final production point through to the customer or end user. Logistics management from this view point is the means whereby the needs of customers are satisfied through, the co-ordination of the materials and information flow that extends from the market place through the firm and its operation beyond that to suppliers. To achieve this, there should be a wide integration within the organization and also a synergy between the marketing and manufacturing within the organization rather than a fragment separate activities (Spekman, KamauffJr et al (1998) Logistics is therefore essentially an integrative concept that seeks to develop a system-wide view point of a firm. It is fundamentally a planning concept that seeks to create a framework through which the needs of the market can be translated into a manufacturing strategy and plan, which in turn links into a strategy and plan for procurement.  [7]   The CSCMP definition laid emphasis of logistics management being part of supply chain management which pre-supposed that other influences on the logistics activities abound to ensure their effective functioning. A working definition for Logistics Management for this thesis would therefore be the (CSCMP 2006), which states that, it is that part of supply chain management that plans, implements, and controls the efficient, effective forward and reverses flow and storage of goods, services and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customers requirements. 2.2.2 Supply Chain Management Supply chain management has been mentioned in the (CSCMP 2006) definition for Logistics Management. It referred to logistics management as a subset of supply chain management. Meanwhile these two terms have been used interchangeably in most literature. Supply Chain Management has defined supply chain management as the planning and management of all activities involved in sourcing and procurement, conversion, and all logistics management activities. Importantly, it also includes coordination and collaboration with channel partners, which can be suppliers, intermediaries, third party service providers, and customers. In essence, supply chain management integrates supply and demand management within and across companies (CSCMP, 2006). Supply chain here is viewed as a single entity rather than series of fragment element such as procurement, manufacturing and distribution. It goes further to talk about the integration of information systems in the supply chain rather than merely acting in isolation for each of the separate component. It was further indicated that supply chain management is an integrating function with primary responsibility for linking major business functions and business processes within and across companies into a cohesive and high-performing business model Also, it included all of the logistics management activities noted above, as well as manufacturing operations, and indicated that it drives coordination of processes and activities within and across marketing, sales, product design, finance, and information technology (Martin Christopher2011) Christopher (2011) also defined supply chain management as the management of upstream and downstream relationships with suppliers and customers in order to deliver superior customer value at less cost to the supply chain as a whole. From the authors point of view, supply chain is the stream of processes of moving goods from the customers order through the raw materials stage from the supplier, down to the production process, work assembly, and distribution of products to the customer. He argued that supply chain management could be termed as demand chain management to reflect the fact that the chain should be driven by the market, not by suppliers. Also the word chain should be replaced by network since there will normally be multiple suppliers and, indeed, suppliers to suppliers as well as multiple customers and customers customers to be included in the total system. Extending this idea it has been suggested that a supply chain could more accurately be defined as a network of connected and interdependent organizations mutually and co-operatively working together to control, manage and improve the flow of materials and information from suppliers to end users (Christopher 2011). The CSCMPs and Martin Christophers definitions above both made mention of the fact that supply chain encompasses logistics management which is the supply, materials management and distribution but rather goes further to argue that supply chain incorporates suppliers, suppliers to suppliers , as well as multiple customers which seeks to achieve linkage and co-ordination between the processes of other entities in the pipeline and the organization itself through the sharing of information on demand. Chopra and Meindl (2007) defined supply chain as consisting of all parties involved, directly or indirectly, in fulfilling a customer request. They went on further to say supply chain includes not only the manufacturer and suppliers, but also transporters, wholesalers, retailers, and even customers themselves. Here the supply chain is referring to the customers need or what he or she intends to purchase. This implies that all the stakeholders that are involved in contributing their quota to satisfy the customer should work hand in hand to fulfill that purpose. Christopher (2011) finally indicated that all firms have supply chains of varying degrees, depending upon the size of the organization and the type of product manufactured and managing the chain of events in this process is what is known or referred to as supply chain management. He went further to state that effective management must take into account the coordination of all the different pieces of this chain as quickly as possible without losing any of the quality or customer satisfaction, while still keeping costs down. In essence, whilst logistics management deals with integration of functions within an organization, supply chain management takes care of this integration and extends it across firms in the supply chain. Figure.1 is a diagrammatic representation of logistics and supply chain management indicating how logistics is integrated in supply chain management. Raw material Components Packaging items Bought in part Imported materials Production process Work-in- progress Packaging unitization Finished goods Inventory warehouse Depots distribution End user Supply Materials management Distribution Suppliers Logistics customers Supply chain Supply side Upstream Inbound Demand side Down stream Outbound Information Transport Reverse Logistics = Supply +Materials management +Distribution Supply Chain =Suppliers+ supply +Materials management +Distribution+ Customer (Alan Ruston et al 2007: 5) 2.3 LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES The domain of logistics activities is to provide customers with the right goods in the right place at the right time. It ranges from providing the necessary subcomponents for manufacturing to having inventory on the shelf of the retailer to having the correct quantity. The major issue that logistics attempts to resolve is to decide how and when raw-materials, semi-finished, and finished goods should be acquired, moved, and stored.  [8]   Ensuring an efficient, effective forward and reverse flow and storage of goods, services and related information as said by Rushton et al (2010) needs an effective and effecient logistics activities to be able to meet customers needs and wants at the right time, and at the right. Lambert et al (2008) and Langley (2009) both outlined the key activities required to facilitate the flow of a product from point of origin to point of consumption to meet the end user as follows: Customer Service Demand forecasting/ planning Inventory management Materials handling Order Processing Packaging Part and Service Support Warehousing and Storage Procurement/ Sourcing Return goods handling Reverse logistics Transportation Distribution Manufacturing 2.3.1 Customer Service Many attempts have been made to define the term customer service. However, depending on the organizations core business that its provides, customer service will differ. Lucas (1996) defined customer service as the ability of knowledgeable, capable, and enthusiastic employees to deliver products and services to their internal and external customers in a manner that satisfies identified and unidentified needs and ultimately result in positive mouth -to- mouth publicity and return business. Lambert et-al (1999) also used the term customer service to describe the process which takes place between the buyer, seller, and the third party. The process result in a value added to the product or service exchanged. He went on further to say that the value added in the exchange process might be short term as in a single transaction or longer term as in a contractual relationship. He again mentioned the value added is also shared, in that each of the parties to the transaction or contract is better off at that completion of the transaction than it was before the transaction took place. Lucas (1996) distinguished between internal customers and external customers. The internal customers he said comprised peers, co-workers, bosses, and subordinates, whilst eternal customers constitute vendors, suppliers, walk-in-customer, various telephone callers. Even though Lambert et al (2009) did not mention internal customers, he captured external customers in his definition and went on further to talk about value creation within the transaction period to achieve a cost effective way in the chain of activities. They stated that the value added products or services are enhanced when the time and place utility between the buyer and seller are met and as well expanded and considered. Such conditions are generally considered as the seven right of customer service. These are the right of quantity, cost, product, customer, time, place, and condition (Rushton et al, 2007). From the above, meeting the needs of customers should be very important in every organization even though it is very difficult in maintaining them and to achieve this is to make sure products and services are rendered at the right time, at the exact place in the right condition, at the right cost to add value to avoid customer complains. Rushton et al (2007), Lambert et al (1999), Christopher (2011) all emphasized on the element of customer service as, pre-transaction element, transaction element and post-transaction element. Where the pre-transaction element focuses on the companys policies concerning customer service. Transaction relates to element directly linked to physical transaction such as order cycle time, inventory availability, condition of goods, system accuracy, product substitution etc. Lastly those elements that occurred after the delivery has taken place is referred to as the post- transaction element and these include the installation of warranty, repairs and service part, return policy, customer complaints and claims. Customer service therefore plays a crucial role in organizations as far as growth and profitability are concerned. 2.3.2 Demand forecasting/Planning Demand forecast is defined as statistically based initial estimate of future demand. It is well indicated that a dem

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THE GOOD OLE USDA â€Å"United States Drug Addiction† I was laid back puffing on a phat stack of reasoning and sipping on some old memories just passing the time away this morning and decided to tap into my genius. Yeah, it’s me, Maestro; your (resident legal analyst) reporting to you live from the privacy of my own space. For those of you who don’t know, I am a graduate from the â€Å"School of Hard Knocks† with a PHd in Human ology. Let me be the first to inform you that I never made the â€Å"Fiends List†, in school and for the record, I never will. First and foremost, there is absolutely nothing traditional about my flow. So what! If my subject-verb don’t agree at times or my opinion comes from an Afrocentric point of view. â€Å"Can we just get along?† My sky scrapper is immune from media attack. So don’t try to intimidate me with your law—because I hit back. Like most of you, I listen to the news and social media to keep up with current events. Which is why I take my time to perceive each comment I make before I forget. So if what I say hurts you in any way, then indict me. Because as far as I’m...

Diffrenece Between Hypothesis and Theory Essay

Difference between scientific law, theory and hypothesis 551 words In the world were living in nowadays people, groups or even some nations each has a different way of thinking. That’s why opinions were created and people could have different prospectives and different ideas were developed all over the past centuries. That variation of ideas, prospective and ways of thinking had lead into the creation for methods for proving something as an idea an experiment a suggestion, and others. This essay would be discussing those ways and their differences. Firstly, the first thing that leads into an opinion or way of seeing something is setting up your hypothesis, hypothesis is an educated guess based upon observation for a certain matter. It is an explanation of a single event or something based on what is observed not deeply observed but just observed, and it also has not been proved yet. Most hypotheses can be supported or disproved by experiment or a deep observation. Some examples of hypothesis are, when an apple is put in the wind and sun it will rot, this is a simple example it’s based on what’s observed as when an apple is put in the sun it would rot but no further scientific explanation is given. After a hypothesis is set based on really weak and shallow observations it must be tested for that opinion or idea to be true it must be tested and observed scientifically and not only once it must be tried and observed a number of times, that what develops a theory and obeys scientific laws, a scientific law is a statement of fact that explains a certain matter or different action or habits. It is generally accepted to be true and universal and can be proved and tested widely and sometimes they could be written as mathematical equations. Scientific laws must be simple, true and universal. Going back to a theory it is noted as more like a scientific law than a hypothesis. It is an explanation and prove for your hypothesis and sets of related observations or events based upon proven hypotheses and verified multiple times. A theory could hold on a definition as it is the way people could know this certain idea or issue is true by repeated xperiments whom tern a hypothesis into a theory or it just keeps it a hypothesis untested. Some examples of scientific laws are some physics and maths rules as Newton’s laws of motion, law of gravity, the laws of thermodynamics and other physics laws whom are proved and tested that’s why they turn into a scientific law. Sometimes some laws can turn to theories as the law of gravity and gravitational forces, as it could go mor e general to be turned into a theory. The biggest difference between a law and a theory is that a theory is much more complex and dynamic. A law runs a single action, whereas a theory explains an entire group of related matters and phenomenas. That’s what differs an experimented hypothesis whether it turns into a theory or it is more specified so it turns to be a law, an example of a theory is automobiles Components of it can be changed or improved upon and more things invented in it, without changing the overall truth of the theory as a whole that it is an automobile.

Making Hiding Haelo in the Reedsy Book Editor

Making Hiding Haelo in the Reedsy Book Editor Making Hiding Haelo in the Reedsy Book Editor Tara Holladay is the author of Hiding Haelo. We're thrilled to share with you that she used the Reedsy Book Editor to print her book with Amazon's KDP Print. Since we felt that being able to export a print ready file straight from your browser will empower many authors who want to self-publish, it was a proud moment for us when we actually saw this beautiful book for the first time. Read on to know how Tara went from manuscript to printed book.My fellow Reedsy-ites, I am a perfectionist. When it came to Hiding Haelo, the first book in my YA series, I wanted every step of the way done right. Years of writing, editing, marketing prep, and an incredible amount of industry research brought me to a point of exhilarated exhaustion. (Just go with me on that. It totally makes sense in my head.)   Each step both thrilled me with progress and hammered me with work.I'm also a voracious reader, at one point plowing through five or six novels a week. (Pregnant. Six months of bed-rest.) A signif icant portion of those novels were cheap, self-published Kindles. At six a week, they had to be cheap. I saw every self-pub mistake in the book. Literally. Both on the voice/plot/content end of things, and the proofreading/formatting end of things. It drove me crazy.The Reedsy Book EditorAs thrilled as I am with the final printed novel, I greedily look forward to the updates. The Editor is really good, and it's only getting better.I still get butterflies when I think back to day my first printed â€Å"proof† copy arrived at my doorstep. What an incredible time to be an author! There is an unprecedented amount of resources at our fingertips. With more resources, comes higher quality. And higher quality allows indie author-publishers a bigger stake in influencing the publishing industry. The reputation with self-published books is changing for the better.Props, Reedsy. You’ve given us authors the ability to format a clean, beautiful book. And I now have a bigger budget f or marketing than I would have otherwise. I can’t wait to see what else is in store for the future.You can find Hiding Haelo on Amazon here!Have you tried using the Reedsy Book Editor yet? If so, what's your experience been? We're working on making it better every day, so please leave us your thoughts in the comments!

How to Write a Perfect Retail Resume (Examples Included)

How to Write a Perfect Retail Resume (Examples Included) Retail might not be the most glamorous career around- complete with aching feet and a perma-smile that hides your suspicion that the customer is not always right- but if you’ve ever been on those front lines, you know how essential your services are. We’re a society of consumers, and retail professionals are the ones who keep that cycle going. If you’re an experienced retail sales associate or someone just starting out, we’ve got you covered. We at TheJobNetwork have put together a guide accompanied by resume templates on creating the perfect retail resume. Let’s look at three different retail professionals: One entry level, one seeking seasonal retail employment, and an experienced sales associate looking to become a manager.1.Entry Level  Retail Sales Associate Resume2.Seasonal Retail Sales Resume3.Retail Sales Manager ResumeFirst up: Bella, who’s seeking her first job in the retail world.Download This Resume in MS WordBella opts for a fu nctional, or skills-based resume, because she doesn’t have a lot of retail-specific experience to showcase (yet). So she puts her best qualities and her skills up front, to underline her summary statement: that she’s looking to take the skills and work ethic she already has and turn that into a retail job/career. She also presents herself as a recent grad, which can let the reader know up front that she probably doesn’t have years and years of experience behind her. Bella prioritizes her strongest skills (her responsibility/dependability, her ability to work with the public, and her familiarity with handling transactions), then her awards/certifications (which emphasize her reliability and her professional successes), then her experience, and finally, her education.Bella’s experience is mostly in food service, and includes part-time jobs. She includes the part-time jobs because those helped develop skills she listed above, like customer service and an out going personality. Bella’s high school experience is important to note, because she has completed her diploma, but unless her school experience is directly relevant to the job she’s applying for (in this case it’s not), she wisely just lists the school and the diploma.Let’s look at Marty, who has more experience, but is seeking a seasonal retail position (back-to-school, holiday season, etc.) rather than a full-time gig.Download This Resume in MS WordMarty puts his cards on the table up front: he’s a student, he has retail experience, and he’s not looking to put a ring on it- he just wants to find a gig for the upcoming holiday season. He opens with a detailed summary, with a brief statement and then a handful of bullets outlining his deal. An important point in his bullets: that he’s available to work a variety of shifts, which is key for a store looking to hire someone to come in and get their hands dirty even when others are at hom e eating leftover turkey.Next, he lists his experience, to show that he’s a pro at the seasonal holiday game. He may have other jobs along the way, but he’s not looking for a career here- he focuses on the seasonal retail experience he already has, so that the reader doesn’t have to cut through a bunch of information that isn’t necessarily relevant to the immediate goal of hiring for a brief period.Our final retail resume-writer is Erica, who’s got a lot of retail associate experience behind her, but wants to jump up a level in the store management food chain.Download This Resume in MS WordErica’s resume shows an accomplished retail professional. But what she needs, if she wants to apply for higher-level retail jobs and not associate-level jobs, is to show that she has demonstrated leadership. Thus, the first skill she lists is rallying team members (check) to increase sales (check-plus) in her experience. The remainder of her skill bullets are used to show the breadth of her retail experience. This format, the skills-based resume, is helpful for someone like Erica, who wants to emphasize that she has what it takes to step into a bigger role, not just the kind of job she’s already had. Even though she’s not changing career paths, she’s trying to change up her career within that path, and this format can be useful when you want to show what you can be, in addition to what you’ve already done.Erica also provides as much detail as possible, without crowding her resume. The overall sales of her current store, with some concrete stats on how she’s helped increase sales, are very impressive, and don’t take up much space in the resume. Erica is letting results do the talking for her. An interview is a great chance to provide more context than resume bullets allow, but whenever you have specific numbers and information you can include, that will likely catch the attention of the reader and help get you into the next round. Erica also goes out of her way to include various awards, which show she’s been a superstar at her current job. Overall, the picture here is of someone who has been successful, and has the drive to keep going and improving sales.