The Taming Of The Shrew - Analytic Play Review Essays -

The Taming Of The Shrew - Analytic Play Review The Taming Of The Shrew by William Shakespeare is probably one of Shakespeare's earliest comedies. Its plot is derived from the popular 'war of the sexes' theme in which males and females are pitted against one another for dominance in marriage. The play begins with an induction in which a drunkard, Christopher Sly, is fooled into believing he is a king and has a play performed for him. The play he watches is what constitutes the main body of The Taming Of The Shrew. In it, a wealthy land owner, Baptista Minola, attempts to have his two daughters married. One is very shrewish, Katherine, while the other is the beautiful and gentle Bianca. In order to ensure Katherine is married, Baptista disallows Bianca to be espoused until Katherine is wed, forcing the many suitors to Bianca to find a mate for Katherine in order for them to vie for Bianca's love. Many critics of the play condemn it for the blatant sexist attitude it has toward women but closer examination of the play and the intric acies of its structure reveal that it is not merely a story of how men should 'put women in their place'. The play is, in fact, a comedy about an assertive woman coping with how she is expected to act in the society of the late sixteenth century and of how one must obey the unwritten rules of a society to be accepted in it. Although the play ends with her outwardly conforming to the norms of society, this is in action only, not in mind. Although she assumes the role of the obedient wife, inwardly she still retains her assertiveness. Most of the play's humour comes from the way in which characters create false realities by disguising themselves as other people, a device first introduced in the induction. Initially this is accomplished by having Christopher Sly believe he is someone he is not and then by having the main play performed for him. By putting The Taming Of The Shrew in a 'play within a play' structure, Shakespeare immediately lets the audience know that the play is not rea l thus making all events in the play false realities. Almost all characters in the play take on identities other than their own at some point of time during the play. Sly as a king, Tranio as Lucentio, Lucentio as Cambio, Hortensio as Litio and the pedant as Vicentio are all examples of this. Another example of this is Katherine as an obedient wife. In The Taming Of The Shrew, courtship and marriage are not so much the result of love but rather an institution of society that people are expected to take part in. As a result of the removal of romance from marriage, suitors are judged, not by their love for a woman, but by how well they can provide for her. All suitors compare the dowry each can bring to the marriage and the one with the most to offer 'wins' the woman's hand in marriage. This competition for marriage is like a game to the characters of the play. While discussing the courtship of Bianca with Gremio, Hortensio says "He that runs fastest gets\ The ring" (Act I, scene i, l. 140-141) likening receiving permission to wed Bianca to winning a race. In the game, however, women are treated like objects that can be bought and sold rather than as human beings. This is expected since the society is a patriarchal one. For example, Lucentio, Tranio and Petruchio are all defined with reference to their fathers and all the elderly authority figures, like Baptista and Vicentio, are men. The taming of Katherine is not a women's shrewishness being cured as much as it is a woman being taught the rules of the 'patriarchal game'. Katherine has learned how to be assertive and with this knowledge is able to control men, and a woman controlling a man is considered 'against the rules' of the game. The play ends with Katherine proving that she is truly cured of her 'shrewishness' and is the most obedient of the three newlywed wives at the end of the play. This is demonstrated

Hewlett Packard Fort Collins Essays

Hewlett Packard Fort Collins Essays Hewlett Packard Fort Collins Essay Hewlett Packard Fort Collins Essay Fort Collins Division (FCD) was established In February of 1977, headed by Tom Kelley, and known in the beginning as a Calculator Products Group. One year later, the Ft Collins Division produced the HP-250 small business computer system and became known as the Desktop Computer Division (DCD) in august of the same year. In 1979, DCD was HPs most profitable division, reaching revenue of $200M. Their next big leap came in 1983 with the combination of the allied, yet struggling, Engineering Systems Division (ESD). At the time, the ESD was producing the 500 series line of computers. The two combined to form the Fort Collins System Division (FCSD) and produced the first highly-successful 300 series computers. Three years later, the Fort Collins system division reached revenue of 475M in 1988. Introduction Hewlett-Packard is addressing the best approach in manufacturing an upcoming line of 9000HP computers. They assess previously used techniques such as â€Å"repetitive Just-in-Time manufacturing† and â€Å"low volume manufacturing† for the future complex, low-level production line. There are many ways to adapt repetitive manufacturing concepts to lower volume complex products. The following outlines the assessment, incorporation, and feedback experienced by Hewlett-Packard when adopting a JIT manufacturing concept for their line of complex, low-volume, 9000HP computer line. Methodology A common approach to JIT repetitive manufacturing is the progressive assembly line consisting of man and or machine resources. In order to prevent bottlenecks and inventories, these lines are sought to be balanced so that time at each station is equal. The sustainability of a balanced progressive assembly line becomes more difficult with the complexity of the product. Progressive assembly lines are also constrained by the number of operators. This number bust be less than or equal to your number of operators to ensure that each operation or set of operations has at least one resource to perform the task. Additionally, routing must be established that allows the product to flow through all operations. Materials as well as labor are often tracked with work orders rather than batch work orders found in traditional Material Requirements Planning systems (MRP). The complexity of the 9000HP computer line would not typically suite repetitive or JIT manufacturing. Characteristics of progressive assembly lines can be referenced in Figure 1 below. Figure 1: Progressive Assembly Line Visual Adversely, low volume manufacturing areas are not concerned with line balancing because each operation is done in batch rather than piece-part as result of variety and or complexity of builds. These batch quantities are then moved to the next operation’s queue or placed into stock. When encountering a shortage, low volume batch manufacturing can still progress because of the independence of the operations. Unlike progressive assembly lines, there are typically many operations to be performed by a fewer number of people. This allows for one operator to work on one job until completion of the batch, flow the material onwards, and work on another. Lower volume batch processes can be seen in Figure 2 below. Figure 2: Low Volume Batch Processing In order to accomplish JIT manufacturing with low volume, the proper precautions must be regarded and the issues discussed above must be addressed. The list below outlines the greatest differences between low volume batch processes and high volume repetitive manufacturing: * Operation times measured in hours/days * Flow is disconnected * Operations disconnected * People cross-trained in operations * Number of people lt;= Number of operations * Line balance is not a factor * Work order batch accounting used to track material and labor * Process is flexible and can build various products * Batch scheduling The desktop computer family for the 9000HP line contains six million configurations made from nineteen different logical choices, twenty-seven major sub assemblies. The product family has 3,000 part numbers excluding parts needed for more intricate circuit board assemblies and cathode ray tube parts. The assembly of a HP9000 requires 10-20 hours of labor, depending on the configuration, and initial cycle time of approximately 40 workings hours (or fifty-two times per year). This cycle time includes all operations performed, starting with the printed circuit operation and ending with shipment. Hewlett-Packard determined that a traditional batch system was undesirable because of the lengthy cycle times, process inflexibility, and inventory implications. However, the complexity of the 9000HP coupled with low volume builds proves also poor for a progressive assembly line. Conclusively, by isolating the differences between JIT assembly and low volume batching, HP began their approach to a continuous flow customized production technique. The installation of a kanban system and material requirements planning are utilized for shop floor scheduling and purchasing while eliminating the need of work orders. In 1980, HP successfully links the benefits of JIT manufacturing and total quality control (TQC) during an implementation of three separate phases. Abstract Phase I of manufacturing the HP9000 began with a layout of tactics that HP set out to emulate. By minimizing vendors, HP would be able to ensuring material availability. They also wanted to ensure process control by developing quality procedures and rapid feedback problems. Finally and perhaps most importantly, selecting machinery and equipment to minimize setup time while maximizing flexibility and allowing for lot sizes of one. Therefore, Phase I of the HP9000 JIT-TQC implementation consisted of a closed-loop transporter and carousel for stockroom material located on the production line as seen in Figure 3. By installing the transporter and carousel, HP would be able to build the complex product, maintain flexibility, and achieve one at a time production with kanban control. Figure 3: HP9000 Line Continuous Flow Customized Production HP experienced much success with the installation of Phase I such as; low and sustained lot sizes and a decrease of work in process by 50 percent on average. However, overwhelming concern for labor tracking by operation caused the Phase I approach to be abandoned during the incorporation of Phase II just twenty-one months later. Changes in the company allowed for reexamination of the JIT-TQC link and the implementation of Phase II. The Fort Collins Division shuffled their tactics and simplified their objectives to achieve improvement. The decision was made to eliminate the transporter and carousel to save space and improve asset turnover. HP also set out to make TQC efforts more rigorous and use kanban to link final assembly and circuit board operations under JIT principles. Results of Phase II included the sustained low kanban quantities, averaging one and sometimes achieving zero. Output has also risen substantially and the induction of more rigorous quality control proved to be successful with the causes of waste and poor quality eliminated. This has consequently lead to substantial rises in output. Shortly after the implementation of Phase II, Hewlett-Packard Fort Collins Division redefined their manufacturing objectives to better sustain profitability, thus giving rise to the third and final phase – Phase III. New objectives included; maximizing product quality, maximizing product delivery, and minimizing product cost. HP wanted to extend their vision statement and convert all manufacturing to JIT and even begin JIT kanban with suppliers. Conclusion Results of Phase III had not yet been published but today, Hewlett-Packard has successfully converted all product lines to JIT manufacturing and reduced the cost of inventory held from $670,000 to a mere $20,000 within their circuit board line specifically. HP’s influence spans over nearly six decades and even with the company’s humble beginnings, HP has grown into a computer empire; influencing several countries and industries over the course of their existence.

Analysis of the hi-fi industry Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Analysis of the hi-fi industry - Assignment Example This has been the case ever since the hi-fi industry came into being and was thus shown the way to increase its basis within the related settings. The growth and developmental basis of the hi-fi industry has come about with the comprehension that its strengths lie in the wake of the potential growth that remains within its fore. What this means is that how well the strengths are being highlighted and what the hi-fi industry as a whole is bringing out with each passing day. This has been represented in the examples that have been given of the hi-fi industry within this case study. The strengths are therefore enclosed within the people who buy the products that are produced by the hi-fi industry and thus cater to its relevant market domains (Nixon, 2010). The weaknesses are present within it as well. These comprise of the immense shortfalls that happen each year in terms of the production estimates of the hi-fi products that are required by the audiophiles and the tech fanatics spread all over the world. This is an important consideration that should be given enough weight because no one expects the audiophiles to go for something which is not easily digestible on their part as far as their audio and video requirements are concerned. This has been shown time and again with delay times in processing which has been the norm for all the wrong reasons. What is even worse is the fact that the hi-fi industry depends a great deal on its own people and if these people fall short on its expected count, then there is bound to be serious anomalies within the relevant system domains. The industry would also suffer as a result of the same as the customer expectations would shift by a long stretch. Since the strengths and the weaknesses are something that is internal to an organization, the opportunities and threats are external and thus have a very wide perspective attached to the same. This would mean that the

Reaction Writing #1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reaction Writing #1 - Assignment Example nized as one of the principal contributors to workplace management’s behaviorism movement due to the fact that she presented employees as being much more than mere cogs, or even machines that functioned in the work environment. In her understanding of human relations, Mary Parker Follet sought to propose the importance of creating ‘win-win’ situations that would consolidate the unique abilities of each member of the workforce for the good of the company (Follet, 81). Application in a Modern Workplace Setting. One of Mary Parker Follet’s most revolutionary ideas was in the subject of conflict resolution in the workplace. She supported the notion of reframing an issue in such a way that the result would take into consideration the needs of all principles involved (Follet 83). There could be a situation, in an organization today, where an employee feels that she deserved a promotion that was given to another colleague. The supervisor, instead of giving her a dressing down, will invite her to express her feelings as he practices ‘active listening’. This is an acknowledgement, on his part, of the emotions she is experiencing, and draws attention to the subject of concern and not conflicts between any of the people involved. The supervisor may then encourage the worker to give suggestions about what would be the best benchmark to use in considering workers for promotions. These methods diffuse a potentially explosive situation, whi le considering the interests of both the distressed worker and objectives of the company in

The Production Of An Alternative Construction Material Economics Essay

The Production Of An Alternative Construction Material Economics Essay To prepare an industry study of all the construction materials currently being used in housing and commercial developments. To review the waste management system in the Philippines and look for areas that are sustainable sources of PET materials. To identify the current drivers and trends of the real estate and construction industry, as well as the Non-government Organizations (NGOs) in order to explore the viability of introducing the EHB products for their construction needs. To prepare a business model for each market segment, namely: (1) Non-government Organizations (NGOs) and (2) Real Estate Developers and Contractors. This MRR is focused on the following market segments: real estate developers, construction companies and NGOs. The study is limited to the Philippines specifically the National Capital Region (NCR) and provinces within a 130 km radius. Other construction materials that have the potential to be used with PET flakes aside from the concrete hollow block are excluded from this study. This MRR focuses on the Ecoblock venture into the Philippine market through the NGOs specifically on housing and development programs; and eventually cater to the local real-estate developers and contractors. Hence the desired outcome of this MRR would be a venture strategy considering the economic conditions, market outlook, competitive analysis, risks analysis and capital sourcing. President Aquinos State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 2010 highlighted the importance of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).  [1]  The PPP was seen as an important strategy for infrastructure development. It has also been estimated that the pipeline of PPP projects (infrastructure projects for transportation, water, power, health, and agriculture) for the year 2012 will amount to USD 5.49B. Another factor that can have an effect on these projects is the upcoming election in the year 2013 that can increase government spending on infrastructure developments. Lastly, the issue of corruption (specifically in government infrastructure projects) is seen as an important political factor in the construction industry of the Philippines. The corruption issues of the Philippines regarding infrastructure was discussed during Finance Secretary Cesar Purisimas meeting with Ernie Bower, the senior adviser and director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC.  [2]  In this meeting, it was cited that the PPPs program of the Philippines will be able to address the current issues on corruption. According to Purisima, the right infrastructures should be accompanied by forward-looking policies for the Philippines to be competitive through highly-viable and promising ventures. It was also made clear that corruption is a major factor that will hinder the gov ernment to increase spending for infrastructure projects. As shown in Figure 1, the Philippines gross domestic product (GDP) decreased from 7.6% in 2010 to 3.7% in 2011. This is due to the negative export growth rates in 2011 that was influenced by the global economic conditions particularly the economic and financial crises in US and Euro countries  [3]  . The domestic factors on the other hand include the decreasing demand and negative growth rate in agricultural production and the under spending of the government in infrastructure projects. Based on the GDP projections of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank, the Philippine economy will slightly improve in 2012 due to the support of growth in private consumption (higher OFW remittances), investment, and government spending  [4]  . However, if the debt woes in Europe will worsen and the recovery of the US economy will not be sustained, the Philippines will experience lower exports and foreign investment that may lead to lower GDP growt h. Considering these factors the Philippine government must be able to increase government spending on infrastructure projects to prevent the economy to slow down further. As shown in Figure 2, even if demand in the economy is lower in 2011 due to the lower GDP growth rate, overall prices still increased which was brought about by the increase in prices of petroleum in the global market.  [5]  Looking at the disposable income of Filipinos, if the overall prices increase, the purchasing power will tend to decrease. This might affect the amount of disposable income that might be allocated for house purchase. Based on Figure 2, inflation is lower in the 1st quarter of year 2012. Meanwhile, the 91-day Treasury bill interest rate decreased when the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) attempted to stimulate economic growth. The peso-dollar rate remained stable due to the increase in inflow of remittances. The stability of the peso-dollar rate is very important in the construction industry due to the fact that some of the materials being used in construction are imported. The instability of the peso-dollar rate will affect the price of these materials. As shown in Figure 3, construction output in 2011 went down. This is due to the under spending of the government in infrastructure projects.  [6]  The construction-to-GDP ratio decreased from 5.7% to 5.2%. The increase in government spending can increase the GDP for the coming years. Growth of other industries will also open opportunities for the construction industry. As shown in Table 1, the tourism industry, the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), and the mining industry are continuously experiencing growth which may lead to more construction projects. For the tourism industry alone, 47 hotels with 14,000 rooms will be constructed by the year 2013.  [7]   Due to the Philippines stronger financial position, the Standard and Poor raised the Philippines international debt rating to one notch below investment grade (BB+).  [8]  According to the DBS Group, the Philippines can achieve investment-grade credit rating with a year or two. Once this is achieved, more investments will flow to the country. The social factors that we will be considering in this study will give emphasis on the population growth rate, age profile, and housing backlog in the Philippines and try to correlate them with the construction industry in the country. As of July 2011 the Philippines has an estimated total population of 103.775 million and out of this, 11.86 million reside in the National Capital Region (NCR). The Philippines has an average population growth rate of 1.9% and the NCR has an average population growth rate of 1.78%. The majority of the population in the Philippines belongs to the working class (15-64 years: 61.1% or 62,201,170 as of 2010). This is the portion of society who are about to start their own families until those who are about to retire from their respective careers. People in this segment are also the ones who have the capacity to invest in residential developments. As of 28 December 2011 Philippines housing backlog is currently 3.6 million.  [9]  The government will tap shelter agencies like the Housing and Urban Development Coordination Council (HUDCC), the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), the Pag-ibig Fund, the Social Housing Finance Corporation, the National Housing Authority, the Home Guaranty Corporation, and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation to reduce the housing backlog by 50% with an annual target of 350,000 housing units. To achieve this, the Aquino administration highlighted the need for more PPP programs to use the underutilized government lands. The insufficiency of available funding resulted to this housing backlog. The government needs Php 1.7 trillion to address the Philippines housing needs. In 2011, several typhoons and flash floods occurred in the Philippines between May and September. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will develop recovery and rehabilitation projects for victims of flash floods in NCR and other provinces with a total of 187,008 families. Also, projects will be developed for the victims of typhoons that entered the country, which affected 1.4 million families  [10]  . Last June 28, 2012, the general membership meeting of the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) was held to discuss the current issues that the industry currently faces. In this meeting, innovation was considered as a driver of productivity. According to Executive Director Cosette V. Canilao, the players of the industry must be able to re-evaluate their resources and processes to make it more efficient, responsive and relevant to the present stringent requirements of the industry.  [11]  Regarding PPP for infrastructure projects, the government must demand from its private partners new technologies that will accelerate delivery time while ensuring public safety. However, Canilao also recognized the fear of being the first to try something different. With this, he emphasized that those players who will not invest in technological innovation might be left behind at bidding time. According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Philippines may adopt new construction trends in Japan, particularly on the latest technology on roads and bridge construction.  [12]  The construction and engineering technologies from Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will help the Philippines build disaster-resilient infrastructures that would mitigate the effects of climate change. Technological innovation in the Philippines doesnt only happen with government projects, private manufacturers of construction materials also try to innovate the products and processes to improve the product offering. Cement manufacturers like the Holcim Group created a green sustainable solution for cement.  [13]  The company is trying to minimize the impact of cement manufacturing in the environment. The company focuses on bringing down carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by reducing the clinker factor by using mineral components as alternative materials.  [14]  Innovation on the use of raw materials was accompanied by improvement in the process namely: (1) use of alternative fuels; (2) co-processing; and (3) quarry habilitation policy. Co-processing is considered as a globally accepted technology that helps the company process water streams in the cement kilns to properly dispose hazardous industrial wastes.  [15]  The quarry habilitation policy would ensure that the quarry sites can be used productively by the community before they are completely mined out. Holcim Philippines was the first company to submit a Final Mine Decommissioning and Rehabilitation Plan to the Department of Natural Resources (DENR), which will serve as a blueprint in restoring quarry sites. Land development and construction have a direct impact on the environment wherein land conversion from agricultural to urban and residential greatly reduces bio-capacity (ability of the land to produce food and other resources for the society).  [16]  Because of this, sustainable land development is becoming more important in the construction industry. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) developed an ALI Sustainability Framework to chart, monitor, and report the companys progress in sustainable land development. The increasing awareness about environmental impact of construction activities will eventually affect the way residential and commercial developments are built. In 2006, the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC) was formed as a national non-profit organization through the alliance of building and construction industry leaders from the private and public sector.  [17]  This organization was formed to ensure an ecologically and economically sustainable industry. This resulted to a local green building rating system that is now called Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE). The BERDE scheme will serve as a benchmark for all property developers in the country. Last August 17-19, 2011, the first Philippine International Total Green Movement Exhibition and Conference was held at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex in Manila. The joint venture of the Philippine Constructors Association, Inc. (PCA), Global-Link Exhibitions Specialist, Inc. (GESI), Philippine Society of Ventilating, Air-conditioning, Refrigerating Engineers, Inc. (PSVARE), Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI), and Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Manila, created the Green Philippines 2011.  [18]  This event featured four exhibit segments on construction (Green Construct), manufacturing (Green Manufacturing), lifestyle (Green lifestyle), and energy (Green Energy). Also, last August 16-17, 2011, the 2nd Sustainable Building Technology Conference was held that invited international sustainability experts to discuss the best practices for a green industry. These events would show that the players in the c onstruction industry are already leaning towards environment friendly development projects. The construction industry is one of the most hazardous and risky occupations in the country. With this, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWG), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement last May 4, 2011 to strengthen the campaign to minimize accidents in construction activities. This MOA aims to promote the welfare of construction workers and prevent the recurrence of construction-related incidents, notably the ones that recently killed or severely injured workers early 2012.  [19]  Also, this MOA is an off-shoot of DOLE Department Order No. 13 (which provides the Guidelines Governing Occupational Safety and Health in the Construction Industry) and aims to intensify the holistic and extensive execution of the policies and programs set forth in D.O. No. 13 in construction sites. The construction industry in the Philippines is currently leaning toward ecological friendly materials due to the global campaign to save the environment. The materials that are available range from pre fabricated walls and blocks to bricks that is considered to be the oldest building material used. The pre-fabricated walls and blocks use polystyrene as an aggregate that is added to the concrete mixture to produce a lighter and insulating product. Reinforced fire bricks are also one of the common construction materials that are used in construction of homes. Reinforced bricks are made of industrial wastes such as rice hull, coal ash, silt, mud and clay. The existing market for pre-fabricated walls and blocks are the contractors for commercial buildings and high-rise residential buildings. There are also some contractors that use pre-fabricated materials for home construction but the homeowners still prefer to use concrete hollow blocks (CHB) because of the high cost of the pre-fabricated material. The walls are pre-ordered by the contractor and are sometimes manufactured on site to avoid delivery expenses. On the other hand, the reinforced firebricks are used in home construction. This material is usually specified by the people who belong to the higher class of society mainly because of the price of this construction material. Pre-fabricated walls are used in exterior and interior applications in building construction. The lighter wall means that the foundations of a building project could be smaller due to the reduction in weight that the foundation needs to support. Installation time for the pre-fabricated wall is shorter compared to using conventional materials in wall construction. The product is smoother and does not need additional plastering (only the joints require additional concrete) because of the smooth finish that these walls generally have. The pre-fabricated walls also serve as good insulators that result to less energy consumption. A notable disadvantage of using this product, aside from the cost, is that the sizes that are available are only limited and could not be cut to size. The advantages of using reinforced fire brick in construction is that it uses less cement and is stronger than concrete. Bricks are also weather resistant and are considered to be ideal in tropical countries like t he Philippines because it slowly absorbs heat to keep the inside of the house cooler. Bricks do not need cement plastering and the walls do not need to be painted. The disadvantage of using this material is the high cost. Even if it requires less cement and no paint the cost of the material is still higher compared to common construction materials used. In the Philippines, CHB remains as a backyard industry because it is easy to produce, especially the non-load bearing CHB. The CHB can be produced manually by using an improvised mold. In producing a non-load bearing CHB, a mixture of sand, gravel, cement, and water can be manually compressed using the improvised mold. There are three reasons why CHB is still being used in construction, namely: (1) cost; (2) availability; and (3) ease of installation and handling. CHB still remains as the a cheaper choice in construction of a concrete house. As a backyard industry, CHB is available nationwide with similar product specifications. Lastly, CHB is a traditional product. With this, majority of the laborers or construction workers are familiar with CHB in construction. The familiarity of the laborers with a product is the main reason why CHB is still being used. The demand for quality, economy, and completion time are the major considerations for all construction projects that usually dictate the choice of technology  [20]  . The traditional construction material currently being used for construction projects is the CHB. Based on the interview with key players in the real estate industry, another alternative is the pre-fabricated walls. For fabricated walls, the entire wall is built off- site or on-site before installation as compared to CHB that are stacked one on top of another. In the Philippines, only 5% are using prefabricated building material in housing construction  [21]  . Over the years, different types of construction materials have been offered containing recycled plastic, such as PVC pipes. Recycling is especially important for thermoset polymers since this form of plastic cannot be reheated and melted back to liquid form. In the Philippines and in other countries, shredded plastic has been used as aggregates for bricks and construction blocks. Most of these, however, are not widely offered commercially and are not load bearing. The demand for this product is readily accessible in most areas and the market is sensitive only to the price relative to the quality of the product they receive. At present the 4-6inchconcrete hollow blocks prices are standard for all and vary only between the volume suppliers and the backyard suppliers because of their respective approach to the business. The buyers of the product favor the suppliers who are nearer to them (because of transportation costs) and if satisfied with the quality they retain their suppliers. However there are instances where the buyer changes suppliers in lieu of quality issues for this reason, industry rivalry will be considered medium. The technical skill and labor required isnt advanced nor does it require highly specialized machines to deliver the product, the only obstacle is the cash required to: 1) purchase the hollow block maker and; 2) to secure working capital requirements. The cost of a concrete block mixer is between Php30,000-P40,000, and a mold container would be approximately Php5,000 per piece. Normally a block maker can start a small-time business with 6 molds which is equivalent to Php30,000 therefore a backyard business can start at a Php60,000 investment excluding working capital. The disadvantage of this practice is it sacrifices the quality/durability of the blocks due to the lack of compression of the block being formed thereby resulting in a lower PSI rating. The difficulty in securing funding for this particular business is high because the business is not unique while the returns in this type of business do not instantly translate to high growth profits. The local venture capitalists who provide seed capital to startups look to sunrise industries such as the BPO sector and IT services delivery, or the next big website investment. The prospects of a potential participant to capture market share will primarily be on their ability to reduce the cost of their concrete hollow block while maintaining a reasonable quality and service. In order to achieve this, the potential participant must have a large base of clients in order to achieve economies of scale in their production of quality products and a person who will provide assistance to the client to ensure proper delivery and satisfaction, a backyard hollow block maker will not be able to be competitive and for this reason the threat of new entrants is rated as medium taking into consideration these factors. Some projects outsource their hollow block while others make it onsite. While it is preferred to buy the product in order to avoid the cost of investment and taking into consideration that there is abundant supply for this product (but at varying prices depending on which type of supplier: backyard supplier, volume supplier or a wholesaler, and depending on the volume purchase of the buyer the bargaining power of buyer is medium given the availability of a quality product in the market. The demand for reasonably priced hollow blocks are assumed to be growing at 10.5% and construction materials 5.4% which supports the argument that demand is good. Another consideration is that the real-estate residential development is in the form of condominiums and they make use other products such as pre-fabricated walls instead of hollow blocks. The construction boom doesnt directly translate to increased hollow block use and the prices of hollow block are generally stable therefore for these reasons the suppliers bargaining power is low. The bargaining power of cement and sand suppliers remain low since there are abundant sources for these suppliers. The PET flakes suppliers have a medium bargaining power since they are less abundant than the cement and sand suppliers. Moreover, the local PET suppliers have different methods in shredding and cutting the plastic such that those suppliers that have the ability to shred PET flakes at a certain size have a stronger bargaining power than others. For the low cost housing sector and other housing projects hollow blocks are still preferred. The emerging sector of high-rise residential projects make use of pre-fabricated products and gypsum boards however the market share of these products is only 5% for construction materials, therefore the threat of substitutes are rated medium. The success in this industry will be in the costing of the product and the quality. In order to reduce the overall cost of the product there is a need to meet operation efficiency and effective marketing in order to achieve economies of scale that will bring down overall costs for our firm while producing a good quality product. Opportunities Emphasis on PPP programs for government infrastructure projects Good forecast for the tourism, BPO, and mining industry Movement towards sustainable community development The use of plastic as an aggregate is not yet widely introduced in the Philippines The high amount of investment on PPP programs is seen as a good opportunity for the construction materials industry. For year 2012, several PPP projects are in the pipeline, namely: (1)14 projects on transportation; (2) 2 projects on utilities-water (3) 2 projects on power; 1 project on health; and (4) 2 projects on agriculture that amounted to USD 5.49B will increase the demand for construction materials. These PPP programs will also serve as an opportunity for private companies to increase their annual construction projects. The growth of three industries, namely: (1) tourism industry; (2) BPO; and (3) mining industry will also contribute to the growth of the construction materials industry. The increasing annual foreign tourist arrivals and domestic travelers opted for the increased in resorts, hotels, and condominiums. The increase in number of accommodation facilities was accompanied by the Republic Act of 9593 or Tourism Act of 2009 wherein the roads that are not initially classified as national but lead to tourism sites, airports, and seaports will be improved which will be included in the DPWH budget for 2012.  [22]  For the BPO, construction of commercial buildings is also expected to increase to meet the demand of the industry. The investment of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) would show that the mining still remains as a promising industry (Table 1). Investment on mining would result to more office sites and barracks for mining companies. The movement towards building more sustainable developments is seen as an improvement for the construction industry. New technologies for products and processes will help improve the viability of construction projects in the Philippines. By focusing on the impact of construction of the environment, the need for environment-friendly products may increase as the industry try to include the societys welfare in planning construction projects. The use of plastic as an aggregate is currently being used in Germany. However, this new aggregate is not yet widely introduced in the Philippines. This is seen as an opportunity for the company to introduce a product with more benefits than the existing products in the market. Threats Competition (large companies) Emergence of new products Competition especially against large competitors is seen as a major threat because these companies are already established in the industry. New companies that may introduce new products in the market may face difficulties especially if these products are not patented. Large companies can simply launch the same product at a larger scale. The availability of funding for these large companies will give them an advantage to produce more products. The more products a company manufactures, the opportunity to capture a larger market is bigger. Also, large companies can be seen as good suppliers for developers and contractors who want a steady supply of materials. Even if CHB currently remains as the primary choice for wall construction, emergence of new products as a substitute may pose as a threat for the CHB market. Even if only 5% in Philippines uses prefabricated building components in housing construction, the boom in the construction industry may increase the market for pre-fabricated walls. Across time, if more housing developments will be built using pre-fabricated walls, the demand for CHB may decrease. The cost of the EHB is at P5.90 per unit. The cost of direct labor is the largest at P2.52 per unit, followed by raw materials at P2.12 and factory overhead at P1.26. The key assumptions for these figures are assuming that 2,991,150 units of hollow blocks will be manufactured for the year. The hollow blocks will be used for 5,175 houses which represent only a conservative 5% of Gawad Kalingas projected housing projects. The cost of EHB at the end of the third year of operations will be at P4.94 assuming that quantity manufactured has grown to 4,307,206 units. The cost savings is achieved mostly on the labor side at P1.91 per unit (24% savings from P2.52per unit) brought about by more productivity. The hollow block machines full capacity for one year is 9,000,000 of hollow blocks, therefore as long as quantity improves to no greater than this amount, economies of scale can be achieved since there is little reason for labor and overhead costs to increase. Currently the market price for concrete hollow blocks is at P13.30 per unit which is 56% more than the cost of our EHB, the EHB is projected to sell at the CHB market price therefore we feel this cost is competitive enough to be in business. The pricing of EHB will not be lower since the EHB is a superior product compared to the CHB nor will be priced higher since the market may still be critical of the product in its launching phase therefore the best entry strategy is to price it aggressively at par with the CHB market price There is a 21% cost savings per square meter with the use of EHB versus CHB. This is based on Table 2. The addition of PET flakes lessens the requirement for both cement (27% less cost) and sand (32.7% less cost). Additional savings is realized from the labor cost on painting, layering and plastering in hollow block aggregate components, which lead to an overall reduction in cost per square meter. The Filipino construction materials market experienced an annual growth of 6.54% but is expected to witness a more sustainable growth of 5.36% until year 2015  [23]  . Being a supply-driven industry, supply of construction materials come from local suppliers based on the location of the project. However, with the boom in the construction industry (10.5% average annual growth rate), smaller projects like GK projects experience sh

David Cronenberg :: essays papers

David Cronenberg The director I chose to do my Analysis/Research paper on is was David Cronenberg. After screening The Dead Zone, Cronenberg’s work impressed me. Prior to this class I had never heard his name, even though I had seen previous works such as The Fly. Since I had already viewed this movie I resorted to alternate movies he had directed. I was able to locate The Brood and Videodrome. The main reason I chose Cronenberg for my director had to do with his style. His movies are not the typical horror flick one has come used to today. When I was younger these movies were low budget and have a character such Jason from Friday the 13th running around with an ax and a hockey mask. Today the industry has progressed to Ben Wilson from I Know What You did Last Summer running around with a sharp hook for a hand. Somewhere between these two genres Mr. Cronenberg’s work fits in. He is not obsessed with the body count as many other horror directors are and is also able to develop a plot r ather rare in this type of a film. The three films I chose were able to walk a fine line between horror and science fiction, Videodrome in particular. While The Dead Zone was more of an action film with The Brood being the most true horror movie. I can tell that none of these films were high budget, they could even be considered a little cheesy leading to a cult status. Cronenberg definitely likes the use of blood, particularly when a person is shot by a gun, quite a lot of splattering. In The Dead Zone when Frank kills himself and the sheriff shoots his mother the use of blood is quite elaborate. Frank is covered in blood when he is discovered and the mother seems to almost explode when shot. In the Videodrome everyone Max shoots has the same exploding effect. And in The Brood when Doctor Raglan shoot the little freaky kids there is the same use of blood as in Videodrome. But when the freaks or creatures bludgeon Juliann and Barton to death blood is once again splattered for effect. Also there are other similarities, all three of the films were made to appear in the cold (probably to do with the fact that they were all shot in Canada) and utilized darker colors.

Doctor of Pharmacy Admission Essay

My name is Cidone Saintvil, and I am 33years old. I am currently attending Broward College in Davie, Florida. I have selected pharmacy as a career because through the course of my life I have seen how much people come to depend on their pharmacist.Growing up, I saw that patients do not always have knowledge about medications and often they are afraid to speak to their doctor about how they should take medications.   The person people turn to for guidance and for clarification of medical questions is their pharmacist.I have learned a great deal over the last few years, but I know there is much more that I can learn.   My long-term goal is to become pharmacist.   My immediate goal is to continue to learn as much as I can to be able to help my patients to become knowledgeable on the importance of their medications. I believe that the Doctor of Pharmacy program will help me achieve both of these goals.I come from the same socioeconomic background as many of the patients that come t o the pharmacies that I have worked in.   I am bilingual which will help in situations where a patient needs something explained in their native language. I can interpret and counsel these patients easily on how and why they need to take their medications.My parents are elderly, so I have a very good understanding of how to deal with elderly customers.   Many pharmacists do not realize the amount of patience and understanding that is needed to help the elderly and going with my mother or father to pick up a medication for them, I have seen how exasperated a pharmacist can get when my parents ask them a lot of questions.   I also have a good moral character and I believe that I will serve as a role model for future pharmacists.In July of 2003, I achieved my certification as a Certified Pharmacy Technician in July of 2003.   I have been attending Broward College and the classes that I have taken there have given me a good foundation on which to build other essential knowledge that I will learn in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.I have been mentored throughout my education by Morris Bellman, a pharmacist.   Mr. Bellman has been a mentor and a friend and he has taught me many important lessons, lessons that I treasure greatly.   He has taught me the importance of the way that prescription drugs are administered, what the possible side effects of different drugs are, and about the cost and availability of generic drugs that can be substituted for the prescription equivalent.I have learned a deal by reading the most current scholarly papers in the field of pharmacy.   I feel I am now prepared for the next step in my educational journey, the Doctor of pharmacy program.For the past 11 years I have worked in various positions dealing with medication and patients. From January 1998 to 2003, I held the positions of a material handler and a customer service clerk at Caremark Mail Order Pharmacy in Weston, Florida.In July of 2003, I received my certification a nd since my certification I have been working for Soliant Health (formerly called Cardinal Health) as a pharmacy technician.   With every job that I have held, I have learned a great deal and I have always been eager to learn more and feel each opportunity has further prepared me for my next step which is admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy program.In closing, I feel that my personal and professional background makes me an excellent candidate for this program.   I am a hard worker, self motivated and I am looking to make a change.   I have always felt that a pharmacist is more then just the dispenser of medications.   I feel that the pharmacist is supposed to be someone who has the best interest of the patient in mind and is there to help them with any and all questions.