International Business and operations Management Essay

International Business and operations Management - Essay Example In China there are many existing domestic firms (over 8,000) engaged in the production and sale of agricultural equipment while a substantial number of international reputable firms have made major inroads into the Chinese farm machinery market. To understand international business ventures, Peng et al (2009) through their unified international business framework suggest two approaches in understanding international business frameworks. These are the institution-based view whereby the foreign venture firms aims at developing an understanding of the local business environment; and the resource-based view in which the firm utilizes its competitive advantage like superior technology or products to gain a foothold in the local markets. China as one of the fastest developing emerging markets provide a highly developed potential market for agricultural equipment due to its large population and lowly mechanized farming methods hence is a viable entry point into the Asian region market. International strategic management mainly encompasses firms engaged in cross-border trade globally that usually take advantage of local resources in diverse geographical locations to enhance their productivity and returns. Lessard (2003) has identified four strategic frameworks that distinguish these international firms: geographic span of the particular industry; the pull of the specific locations including the markets, resources, and the competitive edge; upholding of the international strategy; and the extent of global incorporation including the localized spread. The western and northern parts of China however have not greatly enjoyed the rapid growth experienced in other regions of the country. The government has therefore consequently provided incentives to foreign firms interested in expanding in these regions in form of lowered statutory requirements and other inducements as well as providing a high-quality communication and

Elusive American Dream in Millers Death of a Salesman and Steinbecks

The Elusive American Dream in Miller's Death of a Salesman and Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath The American dream of success through hard work and of unlimited opportunity in a vast country actually started before America was officially America, before the colonists broke away from England and established an independent country. That dream has endured and flourished for hundreds of years; as a result, American writers naturally turn to it for subject matter, theme, and structure. In examining its lure and promise, they often find, not surprisingly, that for those who fall short, failure can be devastating because material success is a part of our cultural expectations. Americans are judged and judge themselves on individual success or failure as indicators of their personal worth. Indeed, two works of fiction, Death of a Salesman and The Grapes of Wrath, are good examples of these ideas, for they illustrate the repercussions of the belief in the American Dream and what happens when the dream proves elusive. In Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman’s illusions are based on his belief in individual success, but his ideas about how to attain that success are impractical and unrealistic. Willy’s comment in Act I that â€Å"some people accomplish something† (15) is ironic because he yearns for this to be true for himself and Biff, but it is not true for either of them. Willy thinks he’s â€Å"vital in New England† (14) and would be â€Å"in charge of New York now† (14) if his original boss was still alive. However, although Willy is entranced by these illusions, the reality is that he is not a successful salesman and is fired. He also thinks Biff should be making good money and blames his son’s failure on his laziness. But it is Willy who has se... ...d a the country† (129), and that is the capitalist system, which is supposed to make life better for everyone. Steinbeck creates a connection between the rotten grapes and the moral decay among the businessmen because of their greed, a vice that is poisoning the American promise by bringing great hardship with little hope for a better future. In conclusion, both of these works use the deep personal loss of their characters to represent the greater dilemma posed by an American Dream that is elusive and, at least for them, never fulfilled. Hopelessness, despair and disillusionment are the result of what both authors portray as a ruthless, often dehumanizing capitalist system that seeks profit at any cost. WORKS CITED Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. New York: Penguin Books, 1976. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin Books, 1999.

Cell Theory Essay

In biology, cell theory is a scientific theory that describes the properties of cells, the basic unit of structure in every living thing. The initial development of the theory, during the mid-17th century, was made possible by advances in microscopy; the study of cells is called cell biology. Cell theory states that new cells are formed from pre-existing cells, and that the cell is a fundamental unit of structure, function and organization in all living organisms. It is one of the foundations of biology. History: The cell was discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665. He examined (under a coarse, compound microscope) very thin slices of cork and saw a multitude of tiny pores that he remarked looked like the walled compartments a monk would live in. Because of this association, Hooke called them cells, the name they still bear. However, Hooke did not know their real structure or function. Hooke’s description of these cells (which were actually non-living cell walls) was published in Micrographia. His cell observations gave no indication of the nucleus and other organelles found in most living cells. The first person to make a compound microscope was Zacharias Jansen, while the first to witness a live cell under a microscope was Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, who in 1674 described the algae Spirogyra and named the moving organisms animalcules, meaning â€Å"little animals†. Leeuwenhoek probably also saw bacteria. Cell theory was in contrast to the vitalism theories proposed before the discovery of cells. The idea that cells were separable into individual units was proposed by Ludolph Christian Treviranus and Johann Jacob Paul Moldenhawer. All of this finally led to Henri Dutrochet formulating one of the fundamental tenets of modern cell theory by declaring that â€Å"The cell is the fundamental element of organization†. The observations of Hooke, Leeuwenhoek, Schleiden, Schwann, Virchow, and others led to the development of the cell theory. The cell theory is a widely accepted explanation of the relationship between cells and living things. The cell theory states: †¢All living things or organisms are made of cells and their products. †¢New cells are created by old cells dividing into two. †¢Cells are the basic building units of life. †¢ The cell theory holds true for all living things, no matter how big or small, or how simple or complex. Since according to research, cells are common to all living things, they can provide information about all life. And because all cells come from other cells, scientists can study cells to learn about growth, reproduction, and all other functions that living things perform. By learning about cells and how they function, you can learn about all types of living things. Credit for developing cell theory is usually given to three scientists: Theodor Schwann, Matthias Jakob Schleiden, and Rudolf Virchow. In 1839, Schwann and Schleiden suggested that cells were the basic unit of life. Their theory accepted the first two tenets of modern cell theory (see next section, below). However, the cell theory of Schleiden differed from modern cell theory in that it proposed a method of spontaneous crystallization that he called â€Å"free cell formation†. In 1855, Rudolf Virchow concluded that all cells come from pre-existing cells, thus completing the classical cell theory. (Note that the idea that all cells come from pre-existing cells had in fact already been proposed by Robert Remak; it has been suggested that Virchow plagiarised Remak.) Modern interpretation: The generally accepted parts of modern cell theory include: 1.All known living things are made up of one or more cells. 2.All living cells arise from pre-existing cells by division. 3.The cell is the fundamental unit of structure and function in all living organisms. 4.The activity of an organism depends on the total activity of independent cells. 5.Energy flow (metabolism and biochemistry) occurs within cells. 6.Cells contain hereditary information (DNA) which is passed from cell to cell during cell division. 7.All cells are basically the same in chemical composition in organisms of similar species. Cell Parts and Their Functions Nucleus – Large Oval body near the centre of the cell. – The control centre for all activity. – Surrounded by a nuclear membrane. Nucleoplasm – is the protoplasm in the nucleus. – contains genetic material —> CHROMOSOMES (DNA) Nucleolus – is found in the nucleus. – contains more genetic information (RNA) Cell Membrane – the outer boundary of the cell. – it separates the cell from other cells. – it is porous —> allows molecules to pass through. Lysosomes – † suicide sacs † – small structures that contain enzymes which are used in digestion. – if a lysosome were to burst it could destroy the cell. Cell Wall ( Plant Cells Only ) – non living structure that surrounds the plant cell. – protects + supports the cell. – made up of a tough fibre called cellulose. Cyto Plasm – cell material outside the nucleus but within the cell membrane. – clear thick fluid. – contains structures called organelles. Vacuoles – are clear fluid sacs that act as storage areas for food, minerals, and waste. – in plant cell the vacuoles are large and mostly filled with water. This gives the plant support. – in animal cells the vacuoles are much smaller. Mitochondria – power house of the cell. – centre of respiration of the cell. – they release energy for cell functions. Chloro Plasts ( Plant cells only ) – contains a green pigment known as chlorophyll which is important for photosynthesis. Ribosomes – tiny spherical bodies that help make proteins. – found in the cyto plasm or attached to the endo plasmic reticulum. Endo Plasmic Reticulum ( ER ) – systems of membranes throughout the cyto plasm. – it connects the nuclear membrane to the cell membrane. – passageway for material moving though the cell. Golgi Bodies – tube like structures that have tiny sacs at their ends. – they help package protein.

2015 Financial Planning Budget - 1271 Words

2015 Financial Planning Budget The following budget has been specifically planned for my future, with some exceptions for going through a basic budget. I am a student at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, my degree is in Counseling Ministries with an minor in Intercultural Studies. I found out about SAGU my senior year of high-school from a life-long friend and shortly thereafter had a complete encounter with the Holy-Spirit speaking to my heart about what He has called me to do with my life in loving and ministering to people. If, I continue to further my education after graduating from SAGU I know it will be to further the Kingdom of God. Being a counselor and possibly going on the mission filled can be financially tolling,†¦show more content†¦Should I end up on the mission field, I will have a very limited budget, and depending on the country as well, it is important for me to be a good steward and manage my money to the best of my abilities. I am already financi ally supporting myself 100% through college; this has been good preparation for the future. Hosea 10:12 says, â€Å"Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.† (NIV; BibleGateway). I believe it is important to sow and be aware of things such as finances, and in that faithfulness to one-day reap what the Lord has. The budget that I have constructed below is my salary as a single-woman living and working on my own. My monthly gross income is $3,333.00. My taxes deducted as following: $216.66 goes to federal withholding, $206.66 for social security, $48.33 to Medicare, and $229.93 for the state of Wisconsin. That leaves my monthly net income to the amount of $2,473.17. I chose a simple 3-bedroom home in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which costs a total of $140,000.00. I decided to make a 20% down payment of $28,000 and take out a loan for $112,000.00 at a inte rest rate of 3.89% per year. I had to go with the 30-year mortgage rate due to finances, so my monthly mortgage including taxes is $701.52 (bankrate.com). If I were not to make any extra payments, I will have paid this house off by January of 2045. I am going to