Sport Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Sport Psychology - Essay Example Sports injury is common in different sports and athletic events across the world and these affect the performance of the sports individuals. Self-esteem and other psychological factors like stress are also associated with injury during training and competition in different sports. This paper will evaluate the relationship between sports psychology and injury in athletes and sports person in different competitive sports (Lockhart, Merrill & Bird, 2002). The occurrence of sport injuries are common in athletes and other sports personalities and this is associated with the occurrence of acute trauma or the over reliance on a certain body part. These injuries vary and are associated with simple bruises, acute strains that affect effective muscle coordination, sprains which results from excessive straining of the ligaments and serious wounds caused by major collisions. The management of these injuries is essential in the training and effective performance of athletes and it enhances the mental wellbeing of sports individuals. A number of theoretical approaches have been developed that highlights the psychological approaches to sports injury and these demonstrates the benefits of effective management and care of athletes during training and after injury (Hamson-Utley, Martin & Walters, 2008). Injury in most instances is associated with physical events that are beyond the control of the athlete and which are extremely impulsive for them to avoid. However, psychologists have associated sports injury with a number of psychological events which affects their concentration and increases the proneness to injury. The factors can be classified into personal factors, emotional conditions and stressful events which affect the mental and physical coordination during training and competition. Personal factors have been associated with increased intro and extroversion which affects the self-esteem of individuals during competition and training. Training environments

The effect of alcohol on reaction times Essay Example for Free

The effect of alcohol on reaction times Essay The table is used to drop the ruler from so we know that the height the ruler is dropped from is the same each time we do the experiment. We will hold the bottom of the ruler level with the surface of the table before it is dropped. The ruler is to be used as the measurement of peoples reaction times in millimetres. The pen is to mark out where the thumb and first finger must be when the ruler is released and is also used to record the results on the paper. Method We will make two short lines at the end of the table 1. 7 centimetres apart. The inside of the right hand thumb and right hand first finger must be placed along side these. We will place the ruler inside the fingers in the centre with the side with the shortest width touching the table and also facing away from the table. The persons hands should be level with the bottom of the ruler. The ruler will be released without warning the person who is catching it. The person catching it must have clear visibility of the ruler. When the person has caught the ruler the measurement should be read from the bottom side of his finger and thumb and not from above them. Write the results down on the paper and repeat the experiment four more times. When the experiment has been carried out five times we will make the person catching the ruler drink four units of alcohol. After he has finished drinking the last unit we will wait twenty minutes for the alcohol to take effect. We do this to see what difference alcohol has on the reaction times. Now we repeat the experiment above again. We will test four people. A young male and an older male, ages 15 and 44, and a young female and an older female, ages 11 and 38. The factors we will keep the same to make sure the experiment is a fair test are: Height ruler is dropped from Visibility Thumb and finger used No drugs Distance fingers are from ruler before it is released Moisture of skin Food Eaten Prior To Experiment Heart Rate Prediction I predict that the more alcohol that has been consumed, the longer the time it takes the body to react. I think alcohol effects the transmitter fluid in the synapse, or effects the myelin sheath on the axon. In turn this will considerably lengthen the reaction times. Also, the alcohol may have an effect on the neurotransmitters in the synapse. We now that alcohol is a poison. It could poison the neurotransmitters in the synapse, cause them to not work as fast, or even carry messages for them. I dont think the relationship between the alcohol consumed will be directly proportional. Preliminary Work Prior to making these plans for the experiment, we carried out a preliminary test. This test helped us a lot in understanding what the aim of the experiment was and gave us a rough idea of what we were going to do. Also, we can learn from the mistakes that we made in the preliminary work, so that we can ensure it is a fair test in the experiment. Results Attempt Distance 1 8. 6cm 2 9. 6cm 3 7. 9cm 4 10. 4cm Conclusion From our results we can make a safe conclusion that the reaction times of a person are very fast when they arent under the influence of alcohol. Also, because there are no anomalous results we can make a safe average reaction time from this. Average reaction time = 9. 125 seconds. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Patterns of Behaviour section.

Parental Advisory :: Music Lyrics Essays

Parental Advisory On sale now in a music store near you! The following are excerpts of songs from well known American artists that can be purchased. While each of these albums all have a parental advisory label, they in fact can be purchased by any consumer of any age. Let’s hear what they have to say†¦ One of you tries to grab a knife /And during the struggle he accidentally gets his Adam's apple sliced /(No!) /And while this is goin' on /His son just woke up and he just walks in /She panics and he gets his throat cut /(Oh my God!) /So now they both dead and you slash your own throat /So now it's double homicide and suicide with no note†¦ Now shut the fuck up and get what's comin to you/NOW BLEED! BITCH BLEED†¦ (Eminem) You're such an inspiration for the ways/That I'll never ever choose to be/Oh so many ways for me to show you/How the savior has abandoned you/Fuck your God/Your Lord and your Christ†¦( A Perfect Circle) Hart 2 The idea of putting a rating system on a form of entertainment has been around for years. Rating systems were mainly developed to help parents make informed choices about the movies, TV programs, video games, and music their children are being exposed to. Usually based on the amount of violence, sex, nudity, strong language or drug use a viewer will see or hear. The Motion Picture Association of America has set up a clear rating system for movie goers, â€Å"G- for general audience, all ages are admitted; PG- parental guidance is suggested and some material may not be suitable for children; PG-13-parents are strongly cautioned and some material may be inappropriate for children under 13; R-Restricted, under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian; and NC-17- no one 17 and under admitted† (Movie Ratings). Movies are no longer the only form of entertainment that has volunteered a structured rating system. In recent years the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board, has created a rating system to help with the increasing number of TV channels and programs coming into homes each day.† TV-Y, is appropriate for all children; TV-Y7, is designed for children 7 and above who can distinguish between make-believe and reality; TV-Y7-FV, is Hart 3 for older children and contains more fantasy violence that may be more intense; TV-G, is for a general audience

Bad Debts

As long as companies make sales by credit there will always remain bad debts. Forecasting for bad debts is not easy. The value of bad debts can remain consistent over time and some issues or circumstances could change that and hence increase the pile of bad debt.To get an understanding of bad debts one has to know the many variables as possible, inside and outside, that have an effect on bad debt. Meaning of ‘Accrual accounting’ : An accounting method that measures the performance of a company by taking into account the economic events regardless of when cash transactions occur.The Accrual method of accounting is about matching revenues when they are earned against expenses associated with those revenues e. g. , under accrual accounting, if a business receives a bill, that bill is treated as an expense even though it has not been paid. In the same manner, if a customer is billed for an ‘x’ amount, that bill is counted as income even though the payment has no t been received yet. Accrual accounting is considered to be the norm for standard accounting with most companies, with the exception of very small operations.This method provides a more accurate picture of the company's current condition, but its relative complexity makes it more expensive to implement. This is the opposite of cash accounting, which recognizes transactions only when there is an exchange of cash. The various ways of estimating bad-debts are as follows : i. Allowance method: One way companies derive an estimate for the value of bad debts under the allowance method is to calculate bad debts as a percentage of the accounts receivable balance. ii. Aging method: The longer an account balance is overdue, the less likely the debt is to be paid.Therefore, many companies maintain an accounts receivable aging schedule, which categorizes each customer's credit purchase by the length of time they have been outstanding. iii. Percentage of credit sales method: Some companies estim ate bad debts as a percentage of credit sales. If a company has done $500,000 in credit sales during an accounting period and if company records estimate that an average of 1% in credit sales become uncollectible, then an adjustment entry is passed at the end of the accounting period by debiting bad debts expense for $5,000 and credits an allowance for bad debts for $5,000.

Academic Success Essay

A lot of students think that learning is only in class. If students use two extra steps, most students will not forget what they learned in class. To achieve effective learning, students needed to follow two extra steps in the three strategic learning processes. The key to success is by following these three strategies. Review is essential to student success. Unless content is reviewed by students shortly after it is learned, it will soon be forgotten. To avoid forgetting what you learned, it is recommended to review daily. It is also recommended to reduce large volumes of notes into point form and to paraphrase what you have learned. Other helpful tips include creating concept maps and diagrams; creating fact, concept or vocabulary cards and using visualization to better connect to what you learned. These are all important tools to helping students better understand and memorize lesson content. The key to achieving academic success cannot be directly correlated to one specific area. Rather it requires students to be overall rounded in many different aspects. This includes attending class regularly to keep pace with the class. Falling behind in studies or homework can be detrimental to academic success and can induce stress onto students. Participating in class activities and discussions are also vital parts of learning and applying concepts learned. On the other hand, taking good, concise notes will always help in the long run when reviewing for tests and exams. To sum it all up, strategic learning is the password for many academic achievements. Being exposed to knowledge is the first step in the journey, the fact that young scholars can learn and be a part of history is a phenomenal step in furthering their search to success. Reviewing notes, in the way the young individual wishes, by him/herself, or with a good friend, this will help him/her to understand what has been learned in a way s/he understands. Lastly practice is a great way to memorise what has bee n learned, when practice achieves its full potential, the individual won’t only be entitled for a good mark, but also a way to view, under & think of things. Those three attributes will help scholars become more successful, but it’s important to one as it is to the other, and each and every person should find the learning strategies effectual for him/herself, and in extremely exceptional occasions even invent or innovate new strategies. Academic Success Essay Answer each question below in at least 75 words per question, reflecting on your current abilities, and identify resources to strengthen your skills. Refer to the videos, readings, and other weekly assignments to help you compose your answers. Question Your reflection How would you define academic readiness? See more: Examples of satire in adventures of huckfinn essay I would define academic readiness as being ready,willing and able to let yourself learn.Having the mindset to be ready to take on one of the hardest obstacles of your life.Learning new things doesn’t come easy to everyone.Especially me. I graduated high school 16 years ago,and vowed to never continue my education because I was scared and had low self-esteem.I learned over the years that I can do things,even if its hard or uncomfortable,if I set my mind to it.I am ready,academically,and personally to learn and to achieve my goals,because I need to be and deserve to be. What concerns, if any, do you have with academic writing and reading? I’m concerned mainly with writing essays.Since its been many years since I’ve had to write anything lengthy or of any real importance,I’m not very confident about it.I am,however,confident in my spelling and reading skills.I am looking forward to developing new skills in writing and learning how to put a good essay in order ,since there are many resources available to help me. What two university resources will you use to strengthen your writing and reading skills (refer to your Student Resources Worksheet)? The first resource I will be using is the Center for Writing Excellence.I can get live assistance,step by step guide’s and tutorials.I believe this will be a wonderful opportunity to learn different writing techniques and to make sure I am doing it all properly.The second resource I will utilize are the workshops.In my spare time,I will set a goal of at least 2 hours a week participating in a writing workshop to further my learning. What is your personal learning style (refer to the Ch. 1 Aplia homework)? I have learned  that I am kinesthetic.I never knew there were so many different types of learning before I started this class.I always knew,even as a child,that if the subject didn’t appeal to me personally,I couldn’t pay attention or learn anything.Knowing the information I know now,I understand why I always had such a hard tim e with math. I learn by feeling something emotionally or seeing something be done. Seeing and feeling is the way I connect to everything.Numbers is one thing I don’t comprehend easily,but I succeed in reading because I can emotionally get involved in a story. What are two obstacles you might need to overcome (refer to your Life Factors and personality assessments)? Learning how to manage my time more efficiently.I need to figure out how to manage being a wife,mother,employee and student all in one day.Another obstacle is learning how to handle stress.When I feel overwhelmed,It’s normally a very bad thing.I tend to freak out on everyone who means the most to me,which is something I need help with immediately.It’s not fair to my family. I’m going to be under alot of pressure juggling everything and I want to know how to properly deal with it. What strategies can you use to overcome these obstacles and be successful? I will get a calendar and start writing down my to-do l ist daily.I will set a time limit for each thing to manage my time correctly.As for my stress and anger,I will utilize the Life Resource Center. I am willing to take any advice given to me to help me become the best student,wife,mother and employee that I know I can be.I am willing and able to change,with the right guidance and techniques. How does knowing your personal learning style help you be successful? Knowing that I am kinesthetic and that I learn by seeing and feeling,makes me realize that I need to explore the other learning styles.Experimenting in other ways of learning,I may find that now that I’m older and more experienced at life,ways I learned when I was younger,may not be the only way I can learn now. I honestly haven’t had to learn anything academically for so many years,that trying a new style,might not be such a bad idea. Do you feel you are ready for the academic and financial commitment of attending college? Yes.The reason I am ready,is because I have been procrastinating way too long.Life doesn’t wait for you to keep saying â€Å"I’ll do it next month†¦next year,ect.†Life goes on,whether you’re ready or not.I’m 35 years old.My kids are growing up. Days fly by. You don’t know when your last day on Earth will  be.I’m ready. I’m ready to prove to myself and my family that I can achieve my dream. I’m ready to put my all into this,and I’m willing to work as hard as I can to pay for my expenses as well. How can goal setting and time management help you reach your goals? Goal setting and time management is extremely important,and also something I definitely need to improve. It will help me succeed in my dream of graduating and becoming a substance abuse counselor.I’ve never been very good at setting goals properly in the past,or managing my time wisely.Now,after I have read the chapter on the subject,I have learned ways of becoming more efficient with my time. Having goals in life is something everyone needs. Goals give you hope,and something to look forward to.Learning to make the most of your time will help you achieve these goals and make you a more productive person.

Australian Gold Rush Immigrants

Australian Gold Rush Immigrants Prior to Edward Hargraves 1851 discovery of gold near Bathurst, New South Wales, Great Britain regarded the distant colony of Australia as little more than a penal settlement. The promise of gold, however, attracted thousands of voluntary settlers in search of their fortunes- and ultimately ended the practice of transporting British convicts to the colonies. The Dawn of the Australian Gold Rush Within weeks of Hargraves discovery, thousands of laborers were already frantically digging at Bathurst, with hundreds more arriving daily. This prompted the Governor of Victoria, Charles J. La Trobe, to offer a  £200 reward to anyone who found gold within 200 miles of Melbourne. Diggers immediately took up the challenge and gold was quickly found in abundance by James Dunlop at Ballarat, by Thomas Hiscock at Buninyong, and by Henry Frenchman at Bendigo Creek. By the end of 1851, the Australian gold rush was in full force. Hundreds of thousands of new settlers descended on Australia during the 1850s. Many of the immigrants whod originally come to try their hand at gold-digging, chose to stay on and settle in the colonies, ultimately quadrupling the population of Australia between 1851 (430,000) and 1871 (1.7 million). Did Your Ancestors Arrive During the Gold Rush? If you suspect that your Australian ancestor might have originally been a digger, begin your search in traditional records from that time period, such as census, marriage,  and death records that generally list an individuals occupation. If you find something that indicates your ancestor was likely- or even possibly- a digger, passenger lists can help pinpoint the date of their arrival in the Australian colonies. Outbound passenger lists from the United Kingdom arent available prior to 1890, nor are they readily available for America or Canada (the Australia gold rush attracted people from all over the world), so your best bet is to search arrival manifests in Australia. Unassisted Immigrants to NSW, 1842-1855: This is an index of unassisted (or free) passengers who came to Australia at their own expense, including ships crewmembers.Unassisted Passenger and Crew Arrivals, 1854-1900: The Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters website has transcribed passenger listings and links to digital scans of original Shipping Inward lists from the Shipping Masters Office.Victoria Passenger Lists: Immigration records for Victoria 1852–1899 are online from the Public Record Office Victoria, including the Index to Unassisted Inward Passenger Lists to Victoria 1852- 1923 and the Index to Assisted British Immigration 1839- 1871. Researching Ancestors Who Predate the Gold Rush Of course, your Australian gold rush ancestors may have actually arrived in Australia in the years preceding the gold rush- as an assisted or unassisted immigrant, or even as a convict. So, if you dont find them in the passenger arrivals from 1851 on, keep looking. There was also a second sizeable gold rush in Western Australia during the 1890s. Start by checking the outbound passenger lists from that time period. Once youve determined that your ancestors were likely involved in the gold rush in some way, you may be able to locate them in a gold-digger database or learn more from newspapers, diaries, memoirs, photos, or other records. Gold Diggers from South Australia: This free searchable database includes gold diggers from South Australia (1852- 1853) who brought or sent their gold home from the Victorian goldfields, including those who deposited gold at the SA Gold Assay Office in February 1852; the consignors and consignees associated with the first three mounted police escorts; and those who lost their receipts or failed to claim their gold by 29 October 1853.SBS Gold!: Explore the impact of the Australian gold rushes and uncover stories of the diggers through newspaper accounts, diaries,  and memoirs.The Goldminers Database: Search information on some 34,000 gold miners who participated in the gold rushes of New Zealand between 1861 and 1872, many of whom were Australians who went to New Zealand for only a short period of time.Fortune Hunters in Australia: This online database, available to members of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, includes names and other information extracted from the pub lished CD titled American Fever Australian Gold, American and Canadian involvement in Australia’s Gold Rush by Australian authors Denise McMahon and Christine Wild. In addition to data compiled from official records, archives, contemporary newspapers, and diaries, there is also material from correspondence written to or from fortune seekers, both from the goldfields of Australia, as well as communications penned during ocean crossings. The National Library of Australia: Search the digital collections database for the term gold photos, maps, and manuscripts related to the Australian gold rushes and those who participated in them.

Best Presidential Memorial Day Quotes

Best Presidential Memorial Day Quotes Humanitarian, educator, and former tennis player Arthur Ashe once said, True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost. As Memorial Day approaches, spare a moment to think about the many soldiers who died fighting for liberty. American Presidents Speak on Memorial Day The 34th president of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, expressed it beautifully, Only our individual faith in freedom can keep us free. As another American president, Abraham Lincoln, put it, Freedom is the last, best hope of earth. Lincoln steered the country through the Civil War, saved the Union and ended slavery. Who better to define freedom for us? These are some of the best Memorial Day quotes from American presidents. Read their words of inspiration, and understand the heart of an American patriot. John F. Kennedy Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. Richard Nixon, 1974 What we do with this peace- whether we preserve it and defend it, or whether we lose it and let it slip away- will be the measure of our worthiness of the spirit and sacrifice of the hundreds of thousands who gave their lives in two World Wars, Korea, and in Vietnam. This Memorial Day should remind us of the greatness that past generations of Americans achieved from Valley Forge to Vietnam, and it should inspire us with the determination to keep America great and free by keeping America safe and strong in our own time, a time of unique destiny and opportunity for our Nation. Peace is the real and right memorial for those who have died in  war. Benjamin Harrison I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. Woodrow Wilson, 1914 I believe that soldiers will bear me out in saying that both come in time of battle. I take it that the moral courage comes in going into the battle, and the physical courage in staying in. Therefore this peculiar thing comes about, that we can stand here and praise the memory of these soldiers in the interest of peace. They set us the example of self-sacrifice, which if followed in peace will make it unnecessary that men should follow war any more. They do not need our praise. They do not need that our admiration should sustain them. There is no immortality that is safer than theirs. We come not for their sakes but for our own, in order that we may drink at the same springs of inspiration from which they themselves selves drank. Lyndon Johnson, 1966 On this Memorial Day, it is right for us to remember the living and the dead for whom the call of their country has meant much pain and sacrifice. Peace does not come just because we wish for it. Peace must be fought for. It must be built stone by stone. Herbert Hoover, 1931 It was the transcendent fortitude and steadfastness of these men who in adversity and in suffering through the darkest hour of our history held faithful to an ideal. Here men endured that a nation might live. An ideal is an unselfish aspiration. Its purpose is the general welfare not only of this but of future generations. It is a thing of the spirit. It is a generous and humane desire that all men may share equally in a common good. Our ideals are the cement, which binds human society. Valley Forge has come indeed to be a symbol in American life. It is more than the name  for  a place, more than the scene of a military episode, more than just a critical event in history. Freedom was won here by fortitude  not  by the flash of the sword. Bill Clinton, 2000 You fought for freedom in foreign lands, knowing it would protect our freedom at home. Today, freedom advances all around the world, and for the first time in all human history, more than half the world’s people choose their own leaders. Yes, America has made your sacrifice matter. George Bush 1992 Whether we observe the occasion through public ceremony or through private prayer, Memorial Day leaves few hearts unmoved. Each of the patriots whom we remember on this day was first a beloved son or daughter, a brother or sister, or a spouse, friend, and neighbor.   2003 Their sacrifice was great, but not in vain. All Americans and every free nation on earth can trace their liberty to the white markers of places like Arlington National Cemetery. And may God keep us ever grateful. 2005 Looking across this field, we see the scale of heroism and sacrifice. All who are buried here understood their duty. All stood to protect America. And all carried with them memories of a family that they hoped to keep safe by their sacrifice. Barack Obama, 2009 They, and  we,  are the legacies of an unbroken chain of proud men and women who served their country with honor, who waged war so that we might know peace, who braved hardship so that we might know opportunity, who paid the ultimate price so that we might know freedom. If the fallen could speak to us, what would they say? Would they console us? Perhaps they might say that while they could not know they’d be called upon to storm a beach through a hail of gunfire, they were willing to give up everything for the defense of our freedom; that while they could not know they’d be called upon to jump into the mountains of Afghanistan and seek an elusive enemy, they were willing to sacrifice all for their country; that while they couldn’t possibly know they would be called to leave this world for another, they were willing to take that chance to save the lives of their brothers and  sisters  in arms.

All About the USS Gerald Ford Aircraft Carrier

All About the USS Gerald Ford Aircraft Carrier One of the newer aircraft carriers is the Gerald R. Ford class, the first one to be named the USS Gerald R. Ford. The USS Gerald Ford is being built by Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding.The Navy plans to build 10 Gerald Ford class carriers, each with a  50-year  life span. The second Gerald Ford class carrier is named the USS John F. Kennedy and construction started in 2011. This class of aircraft carriers will replace the Nimitz class USS Enterprise carrier. Ordered in 2008, the USS Gerald Ford was scheduled for commissioning in 2017. Another carrier was scheduled to be completed in 2023.   A More Automated Aircraft Carrier The Gerald Ford-class carriers will have advanced aircraft arresting gear and be highly automated to reduce manpower requirements. The aircraft arresting gear (AAG) is built by General Atomics. Prior carriers used steam launchers to launch aircraft but the Gerald Ford will use the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) built by General Atomics. The carrier is nuclear powered with two reactors. The latest in stealth technology will be employed to reduce the ships radar signature. The Raytheon enhanced weapon handling and integrated warfare control systems will further improve ship operation. Dual Band Radar (DBR) will improve the ships ability to control aircraft and increase the number of sorties that can be made by 25 percent. The control island has been completely redesigned to enhance operations and be smaller. Aircraft carried by the carrier can include F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, and F-35C Lightning II. Other aircraft on board include: EF-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraftE-2D Hawkeye for conducting battle management command and controlMH-60R Seahawk helicopter for antisubmarine and anti-surface warfare dutiesMH-60S Fire Scout unmanned helicopter. Current carriers use steam power throughout the ship but the Ford class has replaced all the steam lines with electric power. Weapons elevators on the carriers use electromagnetic hoists instead of wire rope to reduce maintenance costs. Hydraulics have been eliminated and replaced by electric actuators. Weapons elevators are built by Federal Equipment Company. Crew Amenities The new carriers will have enhanced quality of life for the crew. There are two galleys on the ship plus one for the Strike Group Commander and one for the Ship’s Commanding Officer. The ship will have improved air conditioning, better work spaces, sleeping and sanitary facilities. It is estimated that the operating cost of the new carriers will be $5 billion less over the ships life than the current Nimitz carriers. Parts of the ship are designed to be flexible and allow for future installation of speakers, lights, controls, and monitors. Ventilation and cabling are run under the decks to allow for easy reconfiguration. Weapons On Board Evolved Sea Sparrow missileRolling Airframe MissilePhalanx CIWSCarries 75 aircraft. Specifications Length 1,092 feetBeam 134 feetFlight deck 256 feetDraft 39 feetDisplacement 100,000 tonsPower generation from two nuclear reactors designed by Bettis LaboratoryFour shafts for propulsion (propulsion units built by General Electric and turbine generators are built by Northrop Grumman Marine Systems).Crew size 4,660 crew including ship staff and air wing personnel, 800 less than current carriersMaximum speed 30 knotsRange is unlimited since nuclear reactors can power the ship for many yearsApproximate cost $11.5 billion each To sum up, the next-generation aircraft carrier is the Gerald R. Ford class. It will carry superior firepower through over 75 aircraft, unlimited range using the nuclear reactors, lower manpower, and operating costs. The new design will increase the number of missions that the aircraft can complete making the carrier even more of a force.

Building An Annotated Bibliography Research Paper

Building An Annotated Bibliography - Research Paper Example This bulletin provides useful information to develop the introduction. Importantly, it would be used in the body of the project to argue against the crime deterrent effect of capital punishment. Furthermore, it gives evidence to discredit those arguing for use of capital punishment to deter crime due to lack of research. This book provides a wide spectrum of information on crime and deviant behavior from a sociological perspective. The authors support death penalty for utilitarian reasons and retribution. Even so, they give arguments of when death penalty does more harm than deterring crime. They back up their arguments with examples of various court cases and their consequences. It would be useful at the introduction of the project when defining capital punishment, its administration and objectives. It would also be used in the body when giving arguments for and against death penalty as a way to deter crime with the evidence of consequences of rulings providing appropriate examples. This book argues that the perception of death being the harshest punishment would logically deter crime. Criminals serving life sentences do not have anything to deter them from crime other than the threat of death. On the other hand, it argues that capital punishment leaves the weak exposed to abuse from the strong and also results in social disorder, two factors which could promote crime. This book provides a critical basis for putting capital punishment into perspective while developing the introduction. Other than providing background information throughout the project, it would be critical in the body of the project to argue for and against capital punishment as a deterrent to crime. This article argues against capital punishment as a deterrent to crime. It evidences this argument with the observation on the declining number of death sentences in North Carolina, leading to no death sentence in 2012. With this decline, the North Carolina

Managing innovation is key driver of growth in the new economy Essay

Managing innovation is key driver of growth in the new economy - Essay Example If you want to sustain in this big ocean with lot of large creatures, you have to find out your own hideouts. Niche areas always help you to survive. But niche and exclusive areas will not continue to be as it is. One day some one will find this hide outs to trespass. Then there will be large number of players in the same field, which will in turn increase competition. In a highly competitive business scenario small units will find it difficult to survive with their limited resource. Without innovation, an enterprise could not strive for a long time. Entrepreneurship is considered as a key element in the new economy, and new enterprises are contributing to create a dynamic business environment through economic growth, opening of new job opportunities and innovation of production processes and products. (Enterprise DG Working Paper on Business-related services: a key driver of European competitiveness. An enhanced economic analysis, December 2004, European Commission Enterprise Directorate-General, December 2004). For guiding an enterprise into a long term success path managers need to concentrate more on innovative practices and products. Managers have a major role in starting the process of innovation in an industry. Investment in acquisition of new skills, new organisational structures, new ways of co-operation, creation of new enterprises and relations with customers and suppliers are some of the guiding forces, which help managers to go for innovative practices. (Enterprise DG Working Paper on Business-related services: a ke y driver of European competitiveness. An enhanced economic analysis, December 2004, European Commission Enterprise Directorate-General, December 2004). Constant innovation process will give industrial units an added advantage in the present global scenario. It gives companies an additional strength than competitors. But the word innovation is easy to say than implement. The word itself stands for risk. When you introduce an innovative service or a product, it is only a concept in the market. You have to convince the customers and clients on the new concept. There won't be similar model in the market. So it is a matter of hard work to get result. One in ten innovation drives fail due to lack of direction and commitment. The major concern is that people are yet to understand the innovation process. It is long term, struggling and expensive. Manager need to bring in skill and expertise to win the race. It involved lot of phases. It takes long time to give return. It is like a jump without circles. The innovator has to draw his own circle and change the peripherals as he moves on. In fact most of the entrepreneurs recognise that innovation is necessary to renew products, services and business processes and it is a key strategy for competitive advantage and growing shareholder value. But usually they won't jump into it due to lot of risk involved. As a business grows, there will be inertia in the organization. It asks the owner, promoter and employees to move in the same pace. They will look at any changes in the present operational level with suspicion. In many cases these people may have their own ideas to improve the service and product. But usually they won't like to take risk. Managers are actually apprehensive of the response of customers and cli

MANAGEMENT DECISION-MAKING Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MANAGEMENT DECISION-MAKING - Assignment Example Here is an analysis of the business model used by the Thomson Reuters Company in Canada. Thomson Reuters is a multinational mass media company. It is not only a leading brand in Canada, but also all over the world. It also deals in sale of software applications in the fields of: accounting, document management, payroll, tax, mobile applications, and company workflow management, among others. It has a strategic business model whereby the organization framework is divided into four main categories. These categories include: Financial and Risk operation division, Legal division, Thomson Scientific division and the Tax and Accounting division (Thomson n.pg). On the other hand, the Thomson Reuters Company dwells on acquisitions so as to accelerate growth. Over the years, Reuters has acquired companies such as: Pricing Partners, MarkMonitor, RedGear Technologies, FX Alliance Inc, Kortes, Emochila, CorpSmart, Manatron, GFMS, RedEgg, among many others (Thomson n.pg). In addition to that, Reuters carries out direct sales to their customers through website as well as through other platforms such as online app stores. Therefore, their supply chain is relative less complicated as compared to other companies that sell tangible goods. However, some software application requires a one-time fee during purchase. I would recommend that the Thomson Reuters Company should start considering innovation as the main fuel for growth and expansion instead of acquisition. This company has relied on acquisitions as a driver for growth and innovation. The Thomson Reuters company should introduce a fund whose main purpose will be to support innovation through creation of new ideas. This process of implementation has to be gradual in order to allow time for elimination of errors. Thomson Reuters Company can start by setting innovation boundaries in terms of number of ideas to be considered and amount of revenue that will be utilized

Promotional and Advertising Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Promotional and Advertising Strategies - Essay Example Companies, therefore, find the need to advertise and promote their products. This is done to provide information to consumers, to increase the demand of a certain product or even to make the product stand out from those similar ones from other companies. Companies will, therefore, use different modes of advertisement and product promotion in a bid to get an advantage over their competitors. Companies have no option, but to employ different modes in order to edge out their competition. These strategies are mainly targeted at the consumers. Research has showed that consumers are responsive to these strategies and increase their usage in all companies. In this essay, we are going to delve in the global market of television sets. We shall also review the two market leaders in this category, Samsung and Sony companies. Sony has been the traditional electronics company and has enjoyed some monopoly in the past. On the other hand Samsung is relatively new and has derived strategies to build its brand. Since these two companies produce similar products in the form of TV sets, they have similar strategies to promote their products. Both Sony and Samsung have massive investments in advertising done using modes of advertisement such as print and electronic. Television and internet are the most preferred electronic modes since they have the widest reach. In print media, these companies usually put up billboards and buy space on newspapers and magazines. Advertising helps both companies to delve into new markets, establish and retain their brand and increase their sales in the market. Apart from advertising, the two companies normally use other promotional strategies. The promotional plans are evident through gifts, coupons and other print outs to existing and potential consumers. In most cases, these two companies come up with promotions where consumers are promised cash prizes or even more products as an award. In order for one to win such prizes, they will be

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE PAPER Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE - Term Paper Example In the book entitled ABC’s of the Human Mind, it was revealed that â€Å"although some philosophers have cast emotions as villains that represent what is most irrational and animal in human nature, there is a strong argument for crediting the emotions with all that is worthy and wonderful about human life† (ABC’s, 1990, 168). In this regard, the objective of the essay is to describe what one hopes to gain from the course, after reading the assigned references, and how it is believed that one may be able to use the course content in one’s daily life. What One Hopes to Gain from the Course Daniel Goleman’s book entitled Emotional Intelligence proffered some insights on the part of the brain that controls emotions, and the nature and application of emotional intelligence, among others. The assigned readings discussed relevant issues on how to bring intelligence to emotions. By discussing what emotions are for, one is given the preview of determining th e role of emotions in people’s lives. I shared Goleman’s experiences of having encountered people, either directly or indirectly, whose lives were drastically transformed due to uncontrolled emotions. I believe emotions of anger are the most destructive when expressed irresponsibly and violently. It is my firmest hope that the course would provide ample opportunities to learn strategies and lessons for taming anger and other vicious emotions, such as jealousy, shame, or fear. It would also be interesting to find out if emotions are almost always manifested and expressed in a universal manner – meaning, do expressions vary from one culture to another? And how come women seem to be more comfortable with expressing their emotions than men? I was moved when I read Goleman’s prelude under Aristotle’s Challenge, to wit: â€Å"those who are at the mercy of impulse – who lack self-control – suffer a moral deficiency. The ability to control i mpulse is the base of will and character† (Goleman, 1997, xii). Accordingly, there is some ecstatic expectation to learn the rudiments of better and more effective self-control, not on a personal basis, but to share the rudiments to those in need. As one gets to observe contemporary generation’s emotional outbursts, I believe there is extreme need to focus on self-restraint and self-discipline. The problems of vices: alcohols, cigarettes, drugs, are manifestations of emotions run astray. The question that challenges us, as averred by Goleman was: â€Å"What can we change to help our children fare better in life?† (ibid, xi – xii). I hope to gain lessons, insights, guidance to direct me into transforming lives through teaching intelligence to our emotions. Applications of the Course The holistic development of a person lies not only in honing intellectual skills, knowledge and abilities on various endeavors, but more so, in learning emotional restraint and compassion. People’s lives are almost always an interplay of actions and thoughts that provoke emotions. The course would be beneficial in providing guidance to appropriate behavior. Again, as revealed by Goleman when he cited Aristotle, it takes a rare skill â€Å"to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way† (ibid, xiii). I hope by the time I finish the course, I would possess this rare skill. I see applications of emotional intelligence in various scenarios and settings where people interact. In academic institutions where professors and

International Accounting Standards Board Deliberations Research Paper

International Accounting Standards Board Deliberations - Research Paper Example In terms of the history of accounting information, Macve theorized that the accounting of business transactions during the Greek and Roman period and contradictions to the conceptual framework of accounting were easy overshadowed (Macve 1994; 57). Accounting had grown in popularity during the medieval and modern times (Macve 1994). The compulsory implementation of the International Accounting standards –based conceptual framework of accounting enhances the preparation and communication of accounting reports. FASB and IASB published Conceptual frameworks as guides for the preparation of financial reports. The WorldCom, Enron, and other accounting scandals have precipitated to the U.S. Sarbanes Oxley Act. Presently, there is a move to harmonise the U.S. conceptual framework and the U.K. conceptual framework (King 2006). Interested parties contribute their inputs to increase the ease in formulating the conceptual framework of accounting. A conceptual framework serves as a guide in the preparation of accounting report. Likewise, Godfrey emphasized that one of the advantages of incorporating the conceptual framework of accounting is the successful transfer of information to the interested parties to improve the globalization of business organizations (Jayne Godfrey 2007). GAAP and the international accounting standards. The purpose of the synchronization is to have a single set of accounting standards. The single set of accounting standards would increase communication and feedback. The users of the financial statements should receive the information from the preparers in crystal –clear fashion. The best to ensure the vividness is to have only one conceptual framework of accounting. In November 2009, the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the London –based International Accounting Standards Board or (IASB) confirmed their desire to rush the convergence. A third progress report was

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE PAPER Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE - Term Paper Example In the book entitled ABC’s of the Human Mind, it was revealed that â€Å"although some philosophers have cast emotions as villains that represent what is most irrational and animal in human nature, there is a strong argument for crediting the emotions with all that is worthy and wonderful about human life† (ABC’s, 1990, 168). In this regard, the objective of the essay is to describe what one hopes to gain from the course, after reading the assigned references, and how it is believed that one may be able to use the course content in one’s daily life. What One Hopes to Gain from the Course Daniel Goleman’s book entitled Emotional Intelligence proffered some insights on the part of the brain that controls emotions, and the nature and application of emotional intelligence, among others. The assigned readings discussed relevant issues on how to bring intelligence to emotions. By discussing what emotions are for, one is given the preview of determining th e role of emotions in people’s lives. I shared Goleman’s experiences of having encountered people, either directly or indirectly, whose lives were drastically transformed due to uncontrolled emotions. I believe emotions of anger are the most destructive when expressed irresponsibly and violently. It is my firmest hope that the course would provide ample opportunities to learn strategies and lessons for taming anger and other vicious emotions, such as jealousy, shame, or fear. It would also be interesting to find out if emotions are almost always manifested and expressed in a universal manner – meaning, do expressions vary from one culture to another? And how come women seem to be more comfortable with expressing their emotions than men? I was moved when I read Goleman’s prelude under Aristotle’s Challenge, to wit: â€Å"those who are at the mercy of impulse – who lack self-control – suffer a moral deficiency. The ability to control i mpulse is the base of will and character† (Goleman, 1997, xii). Accordingly, there is some ecstatic expectation to learn the rudiments of better and more effective self-control, not on a personal basis, but to share the rudiments to those in need. As one gets to observe contemporary generation’s emotional outbursts, I believe there is extreme need to focus on self-restraint and self-discipline. The problems of vices: alcohols, cigarettes, drugs, are manifestations of emotions run astray. The question that challenges us, as averred by Goleman was: â€Å"What can we change to help our children fare better in life?† (ibid, xi – xii). I hope to gain lessons, insights, guidance to direct me into transforming lives through teaching intelligence to our emotions. Applications of the Course The holistic development of a person lies not only in honing intellectual skills, knowledge and abilities on various endeavors, but more so, in learning emotional restraint and compassion. People’s lives are almost always an interplay of actions and thoughts that provoke emotions. The course would be beneficial in providing guidance to appropriate behavior. Again, as revealed by Goleman when he cited Aristotle, it takes a rare skill â€Å"to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way† (ibid, xiii). I hope by the time I finish the course, I would possess this rare skill. I see applications of emotional intelligence in various scenarios and settings where people interact. In academic institutions where professors and

Mentorships nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Mentorships nursing - Essay Example In order to perform the mentorship role effectively and fulfill their obligations, mentors should acquire some traits that are essential to define their role. These attributes consist of: friendliness, good sense of humor, patience, solid interpersonal skills, approachability and professional development abilities (Morton-Cooper& Palmer 2005). Although these characteristics are incorporated in individual’s personality, staff teaching and mental preparation plays a vital role in establishing relationships between tutor and student. In order to critically evaluate these qualities, mentor can facilitate the needs of a student. It is clear that the natures of these attributes are a testament towards cultivating a solid learning environment. Although this relationship is evident; it does beg the question, how does the relationship between mentor and the tutor begin to cultivate? What factors accumulate to solidify this relationship? The second question that poses from this study is—what are the roles and responsibilities of a mentor? In addition, how does one prepare themselves to face these challenges? Lastly, what knowledge is needed to become involved in student supervision? In essence, quality is vital because it promotes education and professional development. Conducive research suggests that the quality and nature of the mentoring relationship is fundamental towards creating a self-reliant and confident relationship. It enhances the quality of the learning sessions experience (Cahill 1996, Andrews and Wallis In the initiation phase, the mentor and the student familiarize themselves with each. They work together through collaboration and observe each other closely. Here, the initiation of harnessing support and having access each other, and is crucial to their development of the relationship. At this phase, commitments can

A Friend. Essay Essay Example for Free

A Friend. Essay Essay The word â€Å"friend† seems to be used today to refer to anyone from long-term to short-term relationship; however a true friend is someone who will always be there in times of need, who will always be the best company, and who will always listen and give advice. Without any questions asked, a good friend will always be there in times of need. No matter how bad a problem is, a true friend will be the person who sits up nights and take days off work just to sit with a friend. If someone is in trouble with a difficult paper a friend will help brainstorm to figure out the problem. If someone is sick, a friend will be the first one at the door with chicken soup and will baby-sit the kids until the sick person feel better. I hate the feeling of being sick. If someone is stranded across town with a broken-down car, a friend will drop everything to make a rescue and drive the person wherever he or she needs to go. Not everyone has a friend like this a true friend will always be the first one there, no matter what. A friend is someone who is always great company, because friends have so much in common with each other. Imagine working out together, grabbing a sandwich, and then spending the evening just talkingabout life, about good times, about bad times, about classes at school. Friends sometimes love spending more time with each other than their own family, because is a strong bond that no one still yet understands. The company of a friend in a time of need is one of the best feelings to have and for this reason a great friend will always be with you, for better or worst. Most of all, a true friend is also someone who will listen and give reliable advice. Some people will listen to problems and then give the advice that they think will work best for them, but that advice isn’t necessarily best for their friend. Other people will listen but then interject personal stories that relate to the problem button’s solve it. But a true friend listens to a problem and gives suggestions to help a friend figure out the best solution for himself or herself, In other words, a true friend knows how to listen and help a person solve problems. Right now my classes are really hard. At the end of the day, friends might rent their favorite DVD and make some fresh popcorn. Sometimes they even seem to be on the same biological clock, getting tired and waking up at the same time. Friends can always be themselves around each other. The word â€Å"friend† may be misused in the English language, but at least we can agree on what true friends are. True friends are hard to find. But once you find them, they will always be there, listen to you and be the best people to spend time with. No wonder true friends are so rare! Outline I. Introductory Paragraph A. Thesis Statement 1. The word Friend use today to name anyone 2. True Friend always there when in need and for company 3. Good friend always listens and gives advice II. A good friend will be there in time of need. (1st paragraph) III. A true friend is always good company. (2nd paragraph) IV. A friend will listen and give advice.

KERS Energy Recovery

KERS Energy Recovery ABSTRACT In the past decade of the modern car era attempts at inducing Alternative Technology in cars had been made with some amount of success. This gave birth to cars that ran on Electric, Hybrid and Fuel cell technology. Though these cars are present in the market they have failed to make a significant difference as people still prefer gasoline fuelled cars. In 2009 FIA had introduced a row of technical changes to the sport also permitting the teams to run regenerative technology called KERS in an attempt to win back the fans interest and to prove that F1 does care about the environment. The technology already existed in hybrid cars but the primary purpose behind its introduction was to develop an efficient technology that could be transferred to road cars. All the major factory teams came equipped with KERS system but all of them struggled through the first half of the season many even avoiding it after three races due to reliability issues. The ban on testing made developments harder and time consuming. The KERS equipped cars won only three races in the entire season with the first win coming late after mid season. Even after investing huge amount of resources and money on KERS the teams failed to get the best out of the system. In this report the various KERS technologies developed by the F1 teams like electric, flywheel and electromechanical based KERS units and similar systems present in road cars along with their pros and cons are discussed in brief. Apart from the above, which system has more potential to be inducted in road cars is also discussed. INTRODUCTION I do agree that KERS in F1 would benefit the mainstream motor industry given the fact that one of the primary reasons behind its introduction was to facilitate a smooth transfer of the technology to road cars though substantial amount of work needs to be done. The 2009 F1 season introduced the widest range of technical rule changes the sport had witnessed for more than a decade. The one specific topic that got significant attention both from the F1 teams and the media was KERS a device which stores the waste energy produced during braking and releases it during acceleration. The rules limited the amount of energy recovery of KERS to 400kJ per lap, giving an extra 80hp for about 6.5 seconds. The teams were allowed to apply any means with the condition that they pass the F1 safety standards. After months of research and development the teams came out with innovative ideas but it was evident that the field was divided into two types. Williams was the only team which developed a mechanic al flywheel based KERS unit, though they never used it in a race while the rest of the field went for electric KERS unit. In contrast to what most people believe KERS is not a new technology in fact it has been used in a variety of applications including hybrid buses and cars. We shall now study both the systems and the improvements they can bring to the automobile industry. KERS in F1 cars As in any hybrid vehicle the primary factor that limits the efficiency gains over its lifetime is the recoverable energy storage system (RESS). The two most important characteristics of any RESS are specific energy and specific power. The former refers to the amount of energy per kilogram that the system can store and the latter to the rate at which energy can be put into or taken out of the system per kilogram. In the wake of preparations for the 2009 season teams had tested a range of different systems including electric, mechanical, hydraulic and even pneumatic based KERS units. After careful analysation majority of the teams concluded that the electric system would be the best option that would deliver the required amount of energy from the brakes. The norm in F1 to make things as compact and light as possible led the teams to this decision. With the rules allowing the teams only 60Kw of energy for 6.5 seconds per lap, drivers had to be very wise with regard to using this extra p ower. The KERS system was primarily intended to aid the overtaking of cars but as seen throughout the season most of the KERS equipped cars lacked overall pace at the start of the season and used the KERS for better acceleration out of the corners and to defend their positions. The basic working of the kers unit in F1 cars is very similar to the ones in hybrid road cars. ELECTRIC KERS This system consists of three components, the mototr/generator; KERS control unit and the battery pack. The motor/generator is directly connected to the drive train. It produces electrical energy during braking and releases it back through the transmission when required. The energy captured is stored in the battery which in turn is connected to the Kers control unit that governs the release and storage of energy to and from the batteries. The motor/generators were provided by motorsport companys specialising in this field eg. Magnetti Marelli (supplied for Ferrari,Renault,Toyota,RedBull), Zytek ( Mclaren) who worked closely with the teams to manufacture motor/generators tailor made to suit their design requirements. The heat generated during the charging and discharging process hampers the performance of the motors, hence the motor has an integrated liquid cooling system which weighs just 4kgs in total. The RESS unit (battery) has been developed by the teams themselves and Lithium-io n was the preferred choice. The entire system including the motor/generator, Kers control unit and the batteries weighs around 25-35 kgs with 25.3 kgs being the lightest developed by Zytek for the Mclaren Mercedes team. ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRIC KERS The electric systems allow the teams to be more flexible in terms of placing the various components around the car which helps for better weight distribution which is of vital importance in F1. The specific energy of Lithium-ion batteries in comparison is unrivalled as they can store considerably more energy per kg which helps reduce the size of RESS. DISADVANTAGES OF ELECTRIC KERS Lithium-ion batteries take 1-2 hours to charge completely due to low specific power (i.e rate to charge or discharge) hence in high performance F1 cars more batteries are required which increases the overall weight of the batteries. Chemical batteries heat up during charging process and this takes place a number of times in KERS units which if not kept under control could cause the batteries to lose energy over the cycle or worse even explode. The specific power is low as the energy needs to be converted at least two times both while charging or discharging causing energy losses in the process. MECHANICAL KERS This system developed by the Williams F1 team is quite similar to the electric kers system consisting of a motor/generator that is matted to the transmission, an electric control unit to govern the power released to and from the motor but instead of storing the energy in a battery a flywheel is used as RESS medium acting as an electromechanical battery. They opted for the unique solution of incorporating the motor/generator into the flywheel. The figure below designed by Williams Hybrid Power shows the internal structure of the flywheel consisting of a stator mounted in the outer walls of the casing. The permanent magnets of the motor are incorporated into the composite structure of the flywheel itself thus making the flywheel magnetically loaded. This reduces the overall size and weight of the system leading to a compact structure.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The motor/generator is wound with fibre to keep the arrangement intact at high speeds. The fibre is embedded with metal particles which allow it to be magnetised as a permanent magnet. This substantially reduces the eddy current losses of the machine as there are no additional metals in the arrangement. When it spins, it can induce a current in the stator or be spun like a motor by a current through the stator. In order to achieve high specific power the flywheel is spun at speeds in excess of 50000 rpm which is possible in a vaccum. The challenge here was to allow the transfer of energy without letting any external air from entering the vaccum. This resulted in a highly efficient system whose temperatures could be kept under control in an easy manner without affecting the performance and operational life span. The result is a compact and efficient mechanism that can be packaged easily in the car. There was another similar system developed by Flybrid Systems LLP which had also designed a flywheel based KERS system but with a different design theory. As mentioned by J.Hilton the flywheel was made out of carbon filament wrapped around a steel hub and weighed around 5kgs. The flywheel was matted to the transmission of the car via a several fixed ratios, a clutch and CVT that was patented by Torotrak. The CVT consisted of input and output discs which were formed so that the toroidal surfaces on each disc formed the toroidal cavity. Inside each cavity there were two or three rollers in contact with the torroidal surfaces of both the input and the output shaft. When the roller is at a small radius (near the centre) on the input disc and at a large radius (near the edge) on the output disc the CVT produces a low ratio. Similarly a high ratio is produced when the rollers are moved in the opposite manner across the discs described in detail in. As highlighted in and CVT plays a vital r ole in the overall performance of the system without which the flywheels full potential is hard to extract. The transfer of power through the discs and rollers takes place via specially developed traction fluid. This fluid separates the rolling surfaces of the discs and rollers at their contact points. The input and output discs are clamped which results in an efficient mechanism for transferring power between the rotating discs and rollers. In order to maintain high efficiency the flywheel rotates at 60000 rpm in vaccum. The system was well capable of storing the required 60Kw of power as demanded by the teams. The total weight of the system was 25kgs consisting of both the CVT and flywheel which is the same weight as the lightest electric system. ADVANTAGES OF MEACHANICAL KERS The specific power of flywheels in comparison is much greater than that of batteries. The energy lost during transfers amongst the system components is relatively less due to high efficiency. The flywheel system can deliver almost the entire amount of energy stored in it, repeatedly without any decline in efficiency. The mechanical system does not need to be replaced as its life cycle is as good as that of the car. DISADVANTAGES OF MECHANICAL KERS The specific energy capacity of flywheels is lower than some of the advanced battery models. Friction produced in the bearings and seals cause the flywheel to slow down and loose energy. KERS TECHNOLOGY USED IN ROAD CARS Both the Electric and Mechanical KERS developed in F1 are not new to the automobile industry. Electric hybrid cars such as Toyota Prius(1997 Japenese market),Honda Civic Hybrid(2002),Ford Escape Hybrid(2005) did quite well since their introduction in the market especially the Prius. Flywheels on the other hand were introduced in transport buses in Sverdon,Switzerland (1950) and also in small electric locomotives for shunting purposes. The reason why flywheels have not been used in road cars is because they were heavy and produced high gyroscopic forces which upset the handling characteristics of the car hence they were installed in heavy buses and trams as discussed in. The kers system in commercial and transport vehicles was used to accelerate the vehicle from low speeds or standstill situations were an engine utilises most amount of fuel thus giving better fuel average figures. The electric hybrid vehicles mentioned above had good emissions and fuel average though the actual figure s were lower than those mentioned on paper. This was because manufacturers conducted tests in a secure environment were the battery system was tested in its ideal temperature range which in reality was not the case. They were then run on drive cycles whose figures wary from the real world numbers, thus resulting in efficiency figures that are inaccurate. The batteries used in hybrid cars are still quite heavy and due to constant charging and discharging wear out faster. Hence they have to be replaced from time to time. Due to the commerce involved in any new technology designers found it hard to gather money and resources to build such hybrid technology and thus the pace of development was slow. As car manufacturers face tougher emission norms hybrid technologies are getting more importance by the day. CONCLUSIONS Apart from increasing overtaking the main purpose of introducing KERS was to challenge the best engineers in the business to develop innovative ideas that would directly benefit the mainstream motor industry. Given the resources and pace of developments in F1, the Kers systems produced by the teams would have taken the car manufacturers much longer to develop. Both the types of KERS can be retrofitted in cars albeit with minor modifications. Given the current trend of engine downsizing they can add substantial amount of performance to the car without affecting the engine and average. The mechanical system is more efficient than the electrical systems that use inefficient batteries which makes them more likely to be induced in cars in the near future. The flywheels used in F1 cars were pretty powerful though they will be modified to suit real world situations which will be capable of storing 75kW and weigh about 35-40kg which compared to current battery systems is half the weight as s een in. The carbon fibre used in F1 flywheels can be reduced in quantity for road cars where as the rest of the materials like aluminium and steel are readily available and would be cheaper to produce in volume than electric systems. Flywheels are easy to recycle where as the use of rare earth materials make batteries more expensive to recycle. The flywheels could be charged directly by the engines thus charging faster which would help cope with the road conditions better. The electric systems developed by F1 have proved there is room for improvement in this field but comparatively flywheels seem to be the better option in terms of overall performance gains and sustainability though further work needs to be done to make it road ready. Flybrid systems is currently testing with Jaguar, the Technology Strategy Board established by the British government is funding a project involving Prodrive and Flybrid to help develop the technology for road cars as mentioned in. Initially manufacturers plan to introduce it with high end models and latter on to city a car which supports the statement that F1 KERS will benefit the motor industry. REFERENCE Vehicle Propulsion System by Prof. Lino Guzzella, Dr.Antonio Sciarretta, ETH Zurich, Institut fur Mess-und Regeltechnik, Sonneggstr.3, 8092 Zurich Switzerland. 2005 page ( 87-106) and (124-130). Handbook Of Automotive Powertrain Chassis Design by John Fenton 1998 page (131-139). http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/f1/426958/exclusive-mclaren-f1-kers.html. Flybrid Systems LLP http://www.flybridsystems.com/Technology.html High Speed Flywheel Based Hybrid System For Low Carbon Vehicles by D.Cross, J.Hilton from IEEE Xplore Oxford Brookes University. TorotrakPlc. http://www.torotrak.com/Resources/Torotrak/Documents/SAE_WC_2009_09PFL-0922_KERS.pdf Williams Hybrid Power Lt. http://www.williamshybridpower.com/technology/

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olauda Equiano Essay -- Slave

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olauda Equiano The narrative by Olaudah Equiano gives an interesting perspective of slavery both within and outside of Africa in the eighteenth century. From these writings we can gain insight into the religion and customs of an African culture. We can also see how developed the system of trade was within Africa, and worldwide by this time. Finally, we hear an insider's view on being enslaved, how slaves were treated in Africa, and what the treatment of African slaves was like at the hands of the Europeans. Olaudah spends a good part of the narrative acquainting the reader with the customs of his people. He describes the importance of hygiene to his people. Their overall health and vigor was helped by their penchant for cleanliness, and it makes them seem more "advanced." This is an interesting development considering the problems that a lack of hygiene can lead to. His description of a wedding also seems very modern, but the importance of dance in the festivities shows another facet of Olaudah's people. The dance defined the different groups within their village. First, and most important, were the married men, followed by married women, single men, and lastly unmarried women. The groups also used the dance to relate stories or tell events that were important to them. This practice probably also strengthened the bonds within the groups. Olaudah also wrote about the division of chores within his village. The women were responsible for the spinning and weaving, and the men took care of the building. It is interesting to note the similarity of their dress, and the fact that both men and women joined in battle when the village was at war. They did not, however, sleep in the same ... ...rall his treatment was very good; one master even carried him when he was too tired to walk! In sharp contrast to that treatment was the treatment he describes at the hands of Europeans. In his own words, they treat him with "brutal cruelty." They seem to have a callous disregard for their captives, and treat them like vicious animals. From his description of the voyage, how the prisoners were stowed, and the way they were treated we gain proof that these Europeans felt the Africans were less than human. Overall, the narrative by Olaudah Equiano is a great first-hand look at the lives of some of the millions of people who were transported to other countries. They became a commodity sought after as laborers by a people they had never seen. The narrative also shows the folly of the European belief that the Africans were savages and could be treated accordingly.

General course on philosophy Essay

The world is comprised of various types of personalities and my personal experience can attest to that. My class is composed of young male and female adults of varying shapes, sizes, heights and colors. During class, I could also imagine that our instructor would perceive us as a sea of hues, all blending together within the space of the classroom. If our instructor did not focus of each one of our faces, it would be impossible for him to differentiate each one of us because we get along well enough to proceed and complete each classroom meeting. Despite the nature of viscosity of our identities, there are also times when certain members of our class would go to opposite directions, especially when philosophical concepts are being discussed. When our instructor would present a controversial topic such as euthanasia, there would be at least three distinct responses from our class. In general, there would be the group that would approve of the concept and the other group would extend an outright disapproval of the topic. The third yet silent group would be that of the neutral ones, who are always known to be nonreactive amidst all the outbursts around them. One should understand that the variations in the responses of the members of our class are not simply comprised of three general reactions. Our instructor is aware that each broad group can be further differentiated according to the principles and beliefs of each individual. For example, if euthanasia were approved in the entire country, the members of the group that is against euthanasia would aggressively react to this. The implementation of euthanasia could be equivalent to the crumbling of their world, as they would envision deaths that are at the mercy of physicians and other healthcare personnel. Looking closer into the reasons behind the disapproval of these individuals to euthanasia may be different for each individual. It is possible that one student disapproves of euthanasia because he is a strong believer of the Catholic religion, which raises the bar in terms of the value of life. Another student may not be in support of the concept of euthanasia because he has lost a loved one through such medical-ethical approach. It is also possible that another student disapproves the topic of euthanasia because his estranged father is a physician who actively participates in such technique, and thus his disagreement is not really about the topic but against his former role model. In order to shed more detail into the finer variations behind the reactions, the instructor should thus know each one of the members of the class. The class is big, as it is mainly a general course on philosophy and thus there are around 200 students in the room. When the instructor walks over to the podium and starts his lecture for the day, our eyes may seem to be tiny lights that would flicker at the very point when he utters a serious topic that needs to be discussed for an hour. He may or may not push some buttons in some of us, resulting in our reactions of support and condemnation. As for the other explosive topics, it may not be a simple button pushing for a number of students, but more of shoving a concept to our faces and asking us to express of thoughts and ideas. The course may be considered as general subject for undergraduate students, yet little do we know that we are unconsciously learning skills on how to analyze concepts. More importantly, these classroom discussions could pave the way to a clear journey for all of us, as we start our movement through an endless tunnel. It may be dark inside this tunnel of the unknown, yet after this long walk, there would be light at the end of the tunnel, leading us to a place that would cushion our identities and provide us slumber. PART II A metaphor can affect a person’s emotions because it allows the writer to symbolize his ideas using things, as well as adjectives, in order that the reader may have a better feel of the narration. A metaphor therefore facilitates in the cognition of an idea, thing or event that the writer wants to describe. This form of language can increase the impact of a narration because it can fully describe thoughts, as well as actions, by the use of transference (Hovecses, 2010). This approach allows the writer to define a certain topic through the use of comparison of two concepts that are generally considered as fully dissimilar yet may be the same in some aspect, viewpoint or perception. A metaphor can affect a person’s emotions because it assists in describing a topic through the use of descriptors of another matter (Wormeli, 2009). It should be understood that the other matter could be something else that is totally different from the topic in mind, yet the application of the descriptors of this matter can increase the weight and impact of the topic in focus. It is probably human nature to employ certain descriptors of one thing in order to provide information on another topic. The use of metaphor allows the narrator to transfer certain features that are unique to one item onto the topic of interest, resulting in a better understanding of the idea that needs to be conveyed. A simple example of a metaphor that could stimulate the emotions of a reader is to use items that are important to the reader, such as the words life, love and world. When a small item means so much to a certain person, the writer could signify this importance by claiming that this small item is equivalent to the life of that person. Once the reader sees this description, he will then feel that the item being presented is indeed so important, thus influencing his emotions to go with the narration. Language can empower or limit the expression of our thoughts because it allows the writer to use analogy in describing a certain topic (Kennedy & Gioia, 2009). The writer is therefore given the freedom to choose which words to employ for his narration. If the writer chooses to use strong words, his ideas are then delivered with great impact, influencing the reader to perceive the same emotions that the writer feels about the topic. On the other hand, a writer may employ subtle words when he feels that there is no need to purposely impart strong emotions regarding a specific matter. Language is therefore a strong tool because it could sway the reader into any direction that the writer wants provide. Every writer has a large reservoir of words that he could employ when describing or explaining a particular topic. In narration, language can be forceful if there is a need to emphasize a certain emotion. Language is empowered through the use of metaphors and other forms of speech because it allows the writer to represent certain topics by analogy (Applebee et al. , 2005). It focuses on describing a certain topic by tapping on the perceptions of the reader through the use of symbolism and analogy. The choice of words that generate a sentence may impact a reader because the writer has the capacity of employ analogy in presenting his ideas. He is capable of identifying one topic by describing features of a separate item, using the latter’s features to emphasize certain points of the former topic. Language is thus a powerful tool that could affect the perceptions and emotions of readers and this is mainly based on the writer’s capacity to apply certain form of speech such as metaphors and similes. Language can take the reader to a place where the writer has been, without physically going to that place. This successful and complete narration of a certain place mainly depends on the capacity of the writer to select words that would fully convey how he feels and sees in the place of interest. It is possible to perceive all the information that we create if we use the correct words that would impart the same effect on the reader. If we would like an audience to feel what we are actually feeling, we can use two general approaches. One approach would be to describe that condition in a straightforward manner, expressing the actual emotion. Another approach would be to employ metaphors, which assist in describing certain topics through the use of analogy. We can therefore present features that are inherent in other matters yet when applied as a descriptor for our topic, it purposefully imparts a sensation in the reader. Metaphors employed as form of speech are thus very helpful in describing and imparting certain emotions that the reader may be directly feel, yet when presented through the use of transference and analogy, could be equivalent to what the writer actually feels. In order to deliver a complete description of a certain topic, we should initially describe the general environment of the topic. For example, if we are describing a person, then the general physical features from a farther point of view should first be presented. These features may include the adjectives such as tall or short in height, lean or heavy in body size and so on. Once this has been provided, finer details of the individual can then be presented, such as wide eyes, or puckered lips or unkempt hair. The organization of the presentation of details of a certain topic is essential in conveying a message to the reader or the audience. This organization of information could significantly influence the reader’s understanding and perception of the topic being presented. If the writer or narrator does not employ this approach, the reader may not fully comprehend the scenario or the topic that is being presented. A disorganized delivery of information to the audience may therefore result in a different understand, emotion and perception of the topic and it may be totally different from what the writer intended to convey. REFERENCES Applebee, A. N. , Bermudez, A. B. & Blau, S. (2005). The language of literature. San Francisco: Holt MacDougal, 1548 pages. Hovecses, Z. (2010). Metaphor: A practical introduction, 2nd ed. London: Oxford University Press, 400 pages. Kennedy, X. J. & Gioia, D. (2009). Literature: An introduction to fiction, poetry, drama and writing. Los Angeles: Longman Publishers, 2256 pages. Wormeli, R. (2009). Metaphors and analogies: Power tools for teaching any subject. New York: Stenhouse Publishers, 264 pages.

Apple Inc.

Team â€Å"Death Spiral† examined the stewardship and business performance of Apple Inc. by undertaking a strategic analysis of Apple Inc. ’s previous, present and potential future strategic and market performance. The internal workings of the firm were examined to reveal a culture of constant innovation and a drive to create easy to use, life improving products. A two tiered corporate structure with Steve Jobs and Tim Cook being at the apex of anagement and a horizontally flat structure of vice presidents the decision making process is not complicated by various vertical levels of command and decision making. Apple Inc. ’s internal structure has become flexible as divisions are specifically established to develop the latest product and maintain a competitive advantage. Apples industry segments were than explored and it was noted that it was not possible to absolutely define a market which Apple consistently performed in. Apple Inc. ’s multi-functional pro duct base gave a clearly indication of the underlying strategic management at play.It was accepted that Apple has defined its own market segment, that of ‘mobile electronic devices’. The four main strategic management themes of M. E. Porter (focus, differentiation and cost leadership), G. Hamel & C. K. Prahalad (structuralist), W. C. Kim and R. Mauborgne (reconstructionist) and J. Ridderstrale and K. Nordstrom (intellect, uniqueness and innovation) were examined in light of Apple Inc. ’s most recent performance. The Blue Ocean Strategy and the Funky Business Strategy models were found to be the most applicable and helped explained Apple Inc. s sustained and phenomenal rise in business performance. Finally, strategy recommendations for the future direction of Apple Inc were explored by the use of a Strategy Canvas. Possible pitfalls and hypothetical futuristic products were also explored. The single most strategic liability identified was the departure of the CEO Steve Jobs from Apple which could potentially be catastrophic if not fatal for the Apple brand. † ! ! Apple Inc. has transformed over its 30 year existence; there have been changes in leadership, product types, company logo and name.Apple Inc. experienced decline in the early to mid-nineteen nineties but has experienced unprecedented growth and success since the return of the founding father figure of Steve Jobs. Yoffie and Kim (2010) highlight the misdirected and turbulent time Apple experienced in the 1990’s until the turn around and change (1998) in ethos/philosophy of Apple as purported by Jobs. Job’s aim was to reduce the number of product models, change the mode of distribution to larger outlets and promote Apple as a ‘hip alternative to other computer brands’ (Yoffie & Kim, 2010, p. 4).Apple Inc. ’s current mission statement states ‘Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and pr ofessional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and Apps Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices’ (Apple Inc, 2010c). This mission statement highlights and gives a strong indication of where the strategic direction Apple Inc. ntends to progress; not only do they strive to have the best products but they intend to stretch vertically across product lines. To emphasis this, Ostdick (2010) comments on the personal drive of Steve Jobs and his belief that all product innovations can be recycled into other projects. The underlying guiding ethos is just because one piece of technology doesn’t work in one project, how we can potentially use it outside its intended use to produce something new and successful. Parallel to the financial success of Apple Inc. is the longevity and stabilit y of its board of directors and corporate structure of the firm.There are seven members on the board of directors from various professional backgrounds. The average tenure of these members is six years with more than half sitting for more than ten years (Apple Inc, 2009). Organisational structure is horizontal with Steve Jobs and Tim Cook acting as chief executive and operating officers respectively. Beneath this pinnacle are nine vice presidents who preside over areas such as retail, hardware engineering and marketing (see appendix 1 for the current executive structure of Apple Inc. ) (Apple Inc, 2010c).These vice presidents administer the day to day running of fourteen individual divisions (see appendix 2 for the current organisational chart of Apple Inc. ). In terms of strategy; Apple Inc. has dedicated divisions purely for further development of the iPhone and iPod. The flexibly of the firm is highlighted here; with † 0 research and development, Apple are prepared to speci fically develop these products. It would be logical to infer when their product life cycles reach their pinnacle; new divisions may be made to further develop the current products at th time. hat Apple Inc. ’s culture internally is a positive workplace where generous employee benefits are available. Employees are subjected however to a strict process of ethics and business processes outlined in e outline their document ‘Business Conduct: The Way We Do Business’ (Apple Inc, 2009). Externally Apple Business . Inc. is embracing the latest sustainable practices in various operational areas and hence attempting to improve their triple bottom line (economic, social and environmental) or Corporate Social Responsibility credentials (Esty & Winston, 2009).Apple provide educational programs for their staff Esty 2009 . and are engaging the community with educational programs and scholarships (Apple Inc, 2009 Over Apple 2009). the last five years a cultural change has occurr ed in relation to environmental responsibilities. Apple responsibilities. recycling programs have been established, carbon emissions saving have been implemented upstream and downstream of the supply chain; and a further commitment to produce environmentally safe products (Apple Inc, 2010b). ! † # !The first challenge in analysing the industry that Apple operates in is defining that industry. Apple has created its own industry of â€Å"Consumer Technology† by choosing to compete in, and redefine segments of more traditional industries. Apple operates in segments of the Computer, Consumer Electronics, Music, Movie/Video, and Telecommunications Industries. positioned itself in selected segments of the market. In each industry it has Although Apple has its roots in the Computer Industry it is no longer just focused on computers. st The change of name in January 2007 from Apple Computers to Apple Inc reflects this change of direction (Honan, 2007). . Despite this Apple gene rated almost 14 BN USD of sales from personal computers in 2009, its second highest † 1 level in history and 32% of the company’s total sales. Even in its traditional market segment Apple Inc. does not dominate the market with an estimated 4. 2% share of the global market in 2009 (Yoffie & Kim, 2010).Apple Inc. continues to gain ground, particularly in their home market, the USA. Apple PC sales are estimated to be only 10. % of the US market in the 3 quarter of 2010 (see Appendix 3) (Ash, 2010), up from 8% in 2009 (Yoffie & Kim, 2010), overtaking Acer to become a distant 3rd to Hewlett Packard and Dell Computers. The personal computer industry is a USD $425 BN industry dominated by companies producing what are still referred to as â€Å"IBM compatible† machines that predominantly use Microsoft Windows operating systems. Major industry leaders include Hewlett Packard (HP), Dell Computers, Acer, Lenovo is a Chinese company that purchased the loss making personal rd Toshiba and Lenovo. computer business of IBM in 2005. IBM no longer manufactures personal computers. The industry is can be characterised as being in a mature growth phase with rising sales and falling prices. Leading industry consultants the Gartner Group forecast sales growth in unit shipments of almost 20% in 2010 with significant falls in unit prices (Anonymous (The Australian), 2010). The industry is highly price competitive and fragmented with thousands of smaller companies competing with the major players using common commoditised components.Apple stands apart from the pack offering a highly differentiated product, with its own operating system and unique Apple design and style. It focuses on the personal usage market rather than the corporate market and commands premium prices for its products. Despite its small market share overall Apple commanded 91% of computers sales over USD $1,000 in 2009 (Yoffie & Kim, 2010). This allows them to maintain industry leading margins of 40 % in 2009. Apples margins have increased during recent years while their competitors have continued to decline (Yoffie & Kim, 2010).The global consumer electronics market is estimated to be in excess of USD $ 700 BN a year (Anonymous, 2010b). Consumer electronics includes entertainment, office productivity and communication equipment. The boundaries of this industry are loosely defined as product innovation and technology but convergence is blurring the edges. Leading Global companies include (by one industry definition) Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic, Samsung, LG, Microsoft, Apple, Intel, IBM and Nokia (The Engineer, 2010). The industry is characterized by product lifecycles which are getting shorter, † nd products more technologically advanced and complex. Your phone is a computer; your fridge can connect to the internet. You can watch TV on your computer or phone and watch U-tube on your television! The industry is competitive with many global players with established market pres ence being challenged for market share by both other established players and new emerging brands. Prices are being driven down by aggressive competition. Manufacturers are seeking to lower costs through mass production in low cost countries, notably China. In this environment, branding is critical.Products are too complex for many consumers to rationally compare features, functionality and price in an effective manner. Products are often purchased on the basis of the perceived price performance, with consumers associating with the product brand. Apple is well positioned in this regard with a strong brand associated with Style, Quality, Useability and â€Å"Cool† despite having only a limited range of products within this broader industry definition. $ The music industry is a well-established consumer industry, traditionally controlled by the recording companies.Major players Universal Music, Sony Music, EMI and Warner Music controlling in excess of 70% of the industry with a larger number of small â€Å"independents† making up the rest. Global sales are in order of USD $ 25 Billion in 2009 (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, 2010b). The dominate trend in the industry is the rapid uptake of digital download of music as the consumer preferred method of distribution. This is undermining the power of the recording companies in favour of the internet based retailers and resulting in revenue contraction. Total recorded music sales evenue has been in decline for the past decade, declining by 7% in 2009. This is despite continued high growth in internet based digital music sales up 12% in 2009. Music sales through digital channels accounted for USD $4. 2 billion of music sales in 2009, representing 27% of global sales growing from a base of just USD $20 million in 2003 (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, 2010a). Apples iTunes is a leading player in the digital sales channel revolution, arguably the industry leader in legal internet music sales. This is the segment of he industry that Apple chose to compete in and † redefine for its own purposes. Intellectual property issues remain a major challenge for this industry with internet based peer to peer file sharing significantly eroding industry sales. $ %& † The multibillion dollar movie industry is dominated by large movie studios with distribution traditionally handled by theatres, then a secondary market through video/DVD rentals or retail stores and a tertiary revenue stream through television rights. Apple is involved only in the distribution part of the business through film download for rent or sale.This challenges the traditional video store business, with a new model. To date, video downloading has promised more than it has delivered (Kane, 2007). The market is becoming increasingly crowded with an increasing number of companies entering the market including internet heavy weight Google which owns YouTube and retail heavy we ight WalMart (Ogg, 2010). Economies of scale make this an industry that favours natural monopolies or oligopolies. Multiple large scale players as well as a myriad of minor companies are jostling for critical mass.As with most internet based businesses price and convenience are the driving factors. Apples assault on the internet movie sale and rental market leverages their success in music with i-Store, their strength in video capable devices, iPods, iTouch and iPads and established leadership in video processing computers. !# The software industry has many segments including proprietary operating systems, business applications, personal applications and entertainment applications. Most providers focus on selected sectors where they can establish market leadership.Microsoft focuses on operating systems for PC (Windows) and business productivity tools that run on PCs. IBM focuses on large scale enterprise systems and predominantly business software and integration services. A plethor a of other companies large and small compete for leadership in all the gaps in between. Economies of scale are particularly important as the variable production costs are very low. Apple has maintained its own proprietary operating systems for its computing devices to preserve product differentiation and unique usability features. However this has been at significant evelopment cost. Application development has been left to third parties who compete to provide market leading solutions. With the advent of the Apps Store, Apple has entered the software distribution business with a 30% gross margin, leveraging the enterprise of thousands of independent † 2 software developers large and small. By tight integration with their systems the App Store provides a captive high margin marketplace for software. This is another niche segment that Apple has chosen to compete where there are synergies with the t existing businesses.By providing a distribution system Apple has been able to enc ourage more developers to create applications for their computing devices. More applications extend th the functionality and desirability of their products, driving sales. This is a profitable symbiotic relationship. Despite being a relatively small player in the industry segments, Apple is an undisputed financial success. It is now the third largest company in the world, as measured by market capitalisation, d behind only Exxon Mobil and Petro-China. At the close of trade on the 12th of November the Apple Inc shares were valued at USD $308. 3 (Refer to Figure 1. ) each, valuing the entire comp company at over USD $ 282 billion. During the past year the company’s shares have increased in value by over 50% increased (Yahoo Finance, 2010).The stock is trading on a Price to Earnings Multiple of 20. 42 times compared to an industry (Personal Computers) average of 15. 80 times (Stock Call, 2010). The company’s high valuation compared to its sales of 3. 5 times can be attrib uted to the high margin and high growth performance of the business. In the 3rd quarter of 2009 the company reported a net profit margin of 21. 8% compared to an industry average of 4. 53%. Total sales were 67% a year earlier (Stock Call, 2010). On these metrics the company share price does not seem excessive. . † 3 ! ! † Apple Inc. has been defined as being involved in the new technology industry. The products they deliver stretch across multiple industry boundaries; some products compete in established markets, others are market leaders in contemporary industries spanning product development and product delivery (Yoffie & Kim, 2010). This makes an analysis of Apple’s competitive strategy challenging and difficult.Singular theories may fit individual product lines, but not reflect the true direction that this multi-faceted company is taking as a whole. Porter’s (1980) generic theories are an example of this; the three strategies of focus, differentiation a nd cost leadership provide information on specific products such as computers and software; but fail to examine products like the iPad and iTunes (Porter, 1998 see Part 1). An analysis of iTunes best illustrates the timeliness and limitations of the application of the out-dated theory of Porter to Apple Inc. Tunes adopts both a differentiation strategy (by providing the download of music at various download qualities, the ability to download movies and tv shows; and combining it all into an easy to use product) and a cost leadership strategy (this is achieved by providing a competitive priced service for the customer, and a cost effective way for Apple to update firmware of its products). Consideration was given to the theories of Hamel & Prahalad (1994), however the structuralist approach does not encompass the true nature of Apple’s efforts over the last ten years.In contrast the reconstructive theories of Chan Kim and Mauborgne (2005) and their â€Å"Blue Ocean Strategyâ €  in particular allow a greater analysis of the strategic positioning instigated by Apple. The Reconstructionist’s view helps accommodate advances made by Apple Inc. in redefining and creating new technology. Utilising Chan Kim and Mauborgne’s six principles helps in assessing Apple Inc. ’s value chain matrix; and their innovation in product development (Chan Kim & Mauborgne, 2005), (Chan Kim & Mauborgne, 2009).To contrast explanations for Apple’s recent success and to provide analysis for their future; the theories of Ridderstrale and Nordstrom (2000) in their ground breaking book â€Å"Funky Business: Talent Makes Capital Dance† will contrast a different view of competitive strategy. The use of Funky Business as an ideology helps explain the rise of emotional buying and how important the utilisation of innovation is in the 21 century business environment. Furthermore, examples will be given to illustrate the synergies which exist between the Funky Business philosophies and the creation of Blue Oceans which ultimately coalesce into a strategic position. t † 4 Swimming in a Blue Ocean A broad definition of Chan Kim and Mauborgne’s Blue Ocean strategy is the ability for a company to move from a red ocean (an industry where competitors offer similar products or services with the aim to become a cost/market leader); to a blue ocean (an undefined and new industry that may incorporate industries, or create a new industry based on differentiation and lower operating cost) (Chan Kim & Mauborgne, 2005). Apple Inc. is in some respects a contradictory company when it comes to its strategic analysis for its expansive product mix delivers in more than one â€Å"ocean†.For the purpose of this strategic analysis (and recommendations for the future) specific example’s will be given where Apple Inc. has gained a competitive advantage by defining their own unique Blue Ocean. Chan Kim and Mauborgne (2005) provide a fundamental analytical tool to analyse Apple’s competitive strategies. This methodology comprises 5 formulation and execution principles to competitive advantage. They are as follows: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Reconstructing Market Boundaries Focus on the Big Picture, not the Numbers Reach Beyond Existing Demand Get the Strategic Sequence Right Overcome Key Organisational HurdlesReconstructing Market Boundaries Apple’s current resurgence has its beginnings in one of its original blue oceans; i. e. the creation of iTunes changed how people downloaded and listened to music. iTunes was originally used to compete with the illegal download music market, the now defunct ‘ Napster' being an example. Apple’s aims were to provide a low cost option for customers, high quality downloads and a music player interface (Chan Kim & Mauborgne, 2005).From an administrative point of view iTunes gave Apple control of digital rights and with five major record labels contributing to the service gave them a distinct competitive advantage (Yoffie & Kim, 2010). Blue Oceans however are not constant and as good ideas make money the competitive advantage for iTunes would have eroded if it did not diversify. To compete with growing technology demands, movies and TV shows were introduced to the iTunes store for purchase and rental. This differentiation created a new Blue Ocean for Apple Inc. / â€Å"Currently iTunes is the market leader in visual media. Concurrently the iTunes store has the largest downloadable content on the internet . It provides a catalogue of eight million tracks, two thousand films (total downloads daily average are in excess of fifty thousand) and twenty thousand TV episodes (Anonymous, 2010c). Prime Facie analysis reveals that the popularity of iTunes cannot be solely attributed to the product delivery; but a concurrent innovation and integration with the portable products that Apple has created over the last decade.It co uld be argued that the iTunes blue ocean was strengthened by the continual improvement in storage size and screen resolution quality of it iPod and iPhone range. Apple Inc. can now be seen entering its next stage in differentiation. To do this Apple Inc. has introduced the iPad (Feb 2010); revolutionising tablet computing. Building on its iPhone operating system, Apple is attempting to reconnect with business people. Unlike iTunes, iPad services will not be the low price of music downloads.Apple will attempt to lure high profile media conglomerates to allow subscription through their iTunes service at a higher premium price (Yoffie & Kim, 2010). Even though news articles are sold at a premium price; the ability to distribute them via iTunes gives Apple Inc. a low internal cost. The most recent venture by Apple Inc. to create a unique user experience the creation of multiplayer online gaming on the iPhone; multiplayer gaming traditionally has been the domain of PC and console develop ers (Gametraders, 2010). With this venture Apple Inc. opes to refine how people play games with each other. iPhone customers will have the capability to game wherever they can take their iPhone (Apple Inc, 2010a). This strategic move can be seen as a blue ocean for Apple Inc. which will provide a service no other mobile phone provider offers with the quality of the gaming experience. In addition to this Apple Inc. are not actually investing in gaming; they are using their iPhone and OS4 operating system as a go between. With other companies vying to have their games on the popular iStore; Apple Inc. have created for them a low cost product. 1Focus on the Big Picture, not the Numbers Apple’s current focus is on being a lifestyle company. It integrates its products and makes them easy for the end user to operate. Steve Jobs openly states that his products start with an idea and a need to alleviate customer demands (Ostdick, 2010). This strategic thinking helps formulate new Blu e Oceans. It allows companies such as Apple to create products unrestricted by current industry 1 In February 2010, Apple announced that the iTunes store had recorded its 10 billionth song download (Johnny Cash’s â€Å"Guess Things Happen That Way†) (Ostdick, 2010). // standards and norms. Greg Joswiak the vice president builds on this philosophy stating they never let . vice-president technology go to waste. In an interview with Reena Jana from the Harvard Business Review blog he generalises on key points concerning the innovative strategies of Apple Inc. ‘Think of this strategy as s Think smart recycling of internal ideas and engineering, especially when cross-pollinated with other cross ollinated products’ (Jana, 2010). These comments were made in wake of the iPad release.Jana (2010) . demonstrates how the iPad is a hybridisation of the iPhone and a laptop; and how the iPhone was just hybridisation an update of the iPod. Reach Beyond Existing Demand The fundamental tenet of this principle is, ‘Instead of concentrating on customers they (companies) need to focus on non-customers. And instead of focusing on tead customer differences, they need to build on powerful commonalities in what buyers value’ ( (Chan Kim & Mauborgne, 2005). Apple do this well. It is important to ). ote that there would be a minority of people that do not inority own at least one Apple product. However their competitive strategy in reaching beyond existing demand would be to sell products to existing customers in industries they would not normally consider using an Apple product. As stated in â€Å"Focusing on the big picture† tated (above), the ability to build upon and reuse technology in an innovative way is allowing apple to reach new markets and potentially new customers. ! † # $% & † ‘ ( † / Get the Strategic Sequence Right Apple Inc. as excelled in their strategic sequencing when it comes to the redevelopment and innovation of their portable products. Chan Kim and Mauborgne (2005) stress the importance of price, cost and adoption. Figure 2 (Golijan, 2010) illustrates the chronology of the iPod and Apple Inc. ’s development of the product. The timeline highlights the quality of sales on the left hand side; over the ten year period models evolved and became more accessible at varying price points. The success of the products allowed Apple Inc. to diversify and continually improve the product.Within this industry no other competitor has been able to hold consistent sales growth and product innovation as the iPod. Overcome Key Organisational Hurdles Yoffie (2010) clearly highlights the trouble’s Apple has encountered with several changes in management in the 1990’s. Since the second coming of Steven Job’s Apple has been a stable entity and has not experienced the organisational problems of the past. Recent economic performance would indicate there has been no lead ership or structural change within Apple Inc. It is of interest to note that otentially when Steven Job’s rejoined Apple Computers as the CEO there was a tipping point and a push towards a new Apple Inc. He changed the name, the logo and the ethos of the company and personally pushed Apple Inc. into its current successful position (Jana, 2010). Let’s Get Funky As shown above Apple Inc. has exhibited clear Blue Ocean strategy elements during its history, and yet after the dramatic decline during the 90’s to the stellar success now being experienced, Apple Inc. has also displayed some new, contemporary strategic rudiments.Examining the quirky and mildly eccentric philosophy’s of Jonas Ridderstrale and Kjell Nordstrom as extolled in their manifesto â€Å"Funky Business: Talent Makes Capital Dance† (2000) it is apparent that much of the success of the ‘second life’ of Apple Inc. (circa 2000 to the present) can be attributed to a metamorpho sis in business thinking and to these ‘new’ strategic philosophy’s and ideas. As an example, central to the â€Å"Funky Business† strategic model are the three core elements of: Make Room for Grey Matter – in the ‘global village’, a company’s future depends on the intellect of its teams members.Consumers want, demand a dream, emotion, not products and services; Only the Best Rake in the Pot – In order to succeed a company must be number one in its field or even better – Unique; and Permanent Innovation – Creativity leads to the redefining of the company and its markets and yet the constantly changing † /0 environment of the market implies the constant search for innovation, with innovation being a state of the mind (Laville, 2000).Jobs and his cohorts, since the near fatal demise of Apple Computers in the mid 1990’s have reposition and focused the Apple brand with the global ‘lifestyle†™ village in mind (Yoffie ; Kim, 2010). Central to this theme is the enabling of consumers to engage in quasi-voyeurism, transporting their minds and bodies into ‘Mac/Apple World’, experience music, connecting to the internet and most importantly to each other in the Global community. Apple has been an industry leader in the enabling of the consumer to participate in the web world through a number of primary senses. Steve) Jobs’ ability to reinventing himself and redefine Apple (in its second incarnation) using ideologies akin to that of the Funky Business model resonant with the changing landscape brought about by the globalization phenomenon. Thus Jobs’ ability to connect with the community through technological change, institutional change and the evolution of values (Young ; Simon, 2005) allowed Apple to ride the crest of the wave through the first decade of the millennium harnessing the three underlying forces of excess: growth of markets (eg.China, India, Russia, etc. ), Ongoing overabundance of supply (which has exceeded demand since the 90’s and knows no bounds! ) and technological progress (lowers the cost of information, lower barriers and the world becomes a smaller more accessible environment) (Laville, 2000), (Yoffie ; Kim, 2010). Apples’ Funky Business strategy is exemplified by its innate ability to understand the dynamics of the world of competition and how it has changed.Accordingly, Apple is able to compete in this new environment by realize that the established and entrenched large scale structures of traditional companies don’t ‘hack it’ and that the single most important facet of this new age of business, is the intellectual capital to identify products and get them into production quickly (Musatov, 2001), examples include Apples industry benchmarking and leadership products: iMac (1998), iPod (2001), iTunes (2003), iPhone (2007) and the iPad (2010) (Yoffie ; Kim, 2010).Thus, i t is not the production facility that is the most important, per se, but the minds who operate it. In interviews with Jonas Ridderstrale and Kjell Nordstrom (Anonymous, 2010a) (Anonymous, 2010e), it is clear that one economic model for the 21 century that conceptualize a Funky Business strategy can be illustrated by the strategic direction of Apple over the last decade plus, understanding of st † /1 market forces, individual choice (or knowledge of the individual), freedom to choose and the ability to re-invent or innovate regularly and expediently. † Apple Inc. trategy for the iPad (launched in January 2010) echo with the core elements of creating a new Blue Ocean and Funky Business principles, as described above. These (as expressed by industry commentators) were Apple' core strategic elements for the iPad launch: â€Å"consideration of s future applications of current products as they are developed† (innovate), â€Å"crowd-source hype and ideas around pricingà ¢â‚¬  (sell the dream, the emotion, not so much the device) and of course the core Funky Business principle of, â€Å"Don’t focus on being first; focus on being the best† (Uniqueness) (Jana, 2010).Coincidently, as this new ‘Tablet’ Blue Ocean gathers depth and breadth for Apple, the competition are not far behind with the announcement of Samsungs new ‘Galaxy Tab’ in November 2010 (Anonymous, 2010d), the time between launch, maturity and loss of competitive advantage shrinks with each new development and innovation. â€Å"The Age of Paradox† written by Charles Handy (1995) points out that the Sigmoid Growth Curve can be used to plot out, the life of any organism, life cycle of a product or the life of an organisation.Every new life, organisation, project, or initiative, commences with some faltering at the start, grows, matures, declines and ultimately perishes. If this was the only underlying concept to this ideological graph it would not be of any use, but rather, the positive and encouraging use of this model is that a firm can proactively start its own new sigmoid curve in any new area it wants rather than watching the old curve maximise, then decline.During any new development phase an organisation will experience what is known as a â€Å"dip† or a setback; this can be due to a lack of resources, loss of direction, ineffectiveness, poor productivity and/or loss of a competitive advantage. This is completely normal and team morale must remain high through this temporary stage known as ‘ dipping' Every time there is a new growth curve (new idea, . change in goals, new product, etc. ), it intercepts with the old Sigmoid Curve, and either climbs or descends but ultimately the cycle of a major dip will commence associated with ccompanying anxiety and setbacks. † / The dip can represent a significant challenge for any organisation, as it was for Apple Inc. with a loss of direction between 1985 un til December 1997 with several changes of CEO’s at the helm (Scully, 1985 – 1993) and the (Spindler and Amelio years 1993 – 1997) (Yoffie & Kim, 2010). Apple management, you could say, went through a case of ‘ Paradigm Block' ‘the inability or refusal to see ; beyond the current models of thinking’ (JCU, Competitive strategy course notes, session two slide 11). † † † * & + † , † – † & † & * There are different eras of product interests and management change that Apple has gone experienced its inception in the 1980’s when they launched the Apple 1. Mapping the most recent period of Apples growth on a strategic canvas, from the launch of the iMac in 1998 through to the iPad launch (2010) we can visualize a series of interconnected sigmoidial curves gradually increasing with each new innovation and product launch, as shown in Figure 3.In fact, the gradual treadline † / ncreasing to the right in Figure 3 reflects a buoyant and productive company with clear growth from strategic product development, delivery and acceptance (depending on the market KPI used). Presently, given the rapid development by other competitors in the tablet market, Apple Inc. would need to accelerate innovation and product delivery within the next 6 – 12 months to avoid another dip and loss of competitive advantage. This may require a change or transition in new management and of course a new updated product e. g. pdated iphone from 4 to 5 with more capabilities and apps (See Figure 4 Strategy canvas). . * &/ ! &0 1 & Future strategy scenarios which Apple may need to engage in order to reinvent itself in the ensuing post 2010 era are many and varied. Given Apples’ history to date and without climbing the walls of the Apple head office and being a fly on the wall it is unwise to predict what Apple may come up with next. They will however need to improve their product range or in novate around their range of iPhone, iPod, iTunes and iPad etc. o maintain market capital. They need to be constantly innovative and invest in their R&D department to have any chance of keeping the current Blue Oceans, ‘Blue’, and require time (which is no luxury in the Funky Business world of the 21st century), to develop new Blue Oceans. Potentially Apple could develop a strategy to have a lifestyle package called Apple â€Å"iHome† that would be able to accommodate the current avant garde movement of the new ‘energy gurus’ that are environmentally friendly and the ‘tech heads’ that enjoy the Apple brand.The iHome could be similar to the CBus system, Smart system or Building system as they are commonly known, they could † /2 incorporate their existing range and facilitate new ideas such as an iPhone that has a de novo chip which instead of using an security access card or conventional key you just swipe your iPhone to unlock your car, house front door or office. The CBus system can work in conjunction with, home appliances such as air-conditioning, automated windows, lights, security video and irrigation, effectively generating a ‘smart home or â€Å"iHome†.You can remotely set up your home with the use of your iPhone through the net, and be able to monitor your home when you are away. The innovative potential of the â€Å"iHome† package is endless but the pitfalls may include, acceptance by the market, technological maturity of the appliances in question and the competitive advantage or market acceptance of these new ‘out there’ products. In essences, it would be foolhardy to recommend a strategy for Apple post 2010, in that Jobs and his self-proclaimed â€Å"mobile-devices† company are still delivering, still leading industry segments they Apple Inc. A. Company Industry Position Apple is the iconic company behind the mouse-driven Macintosh computer, the phenomenal iPod music-player and the recently launched iPhone. The company’s marked inventiveness keeps it in the lead (Economist. com website) and secures its place in the industry. Apple’s relentless efforts and continual investments in research and development are seen to usher in more innovative breakthroughs that will further fuel the company’s further growth and market expansion. B. Industry Characteristics. With its founder, Steven Jobs, at its helm, Apple creatively designs personal computers, portable digital music players and mobile communication devices and proceeds to manufacture and market them. The company as well offers to sell and to service related software, peripherals and networking solutions. (Google Finance website) Apple has such an immense following that is made up of the individual consumers, the small and mid-sized business (SMB) enterprises, the education sector, the government agencies and the â€Å"creative consumers. † (Apple Inc. 008 10-K) The latter pertains to Apple’s special niche market composed of young and trendy people who can afford to discard relatively new gadgets for want of more updated versions of the same products. The more recent ventures of the company include the selling of a myriad of products manufactured by other companies specifically to cater to such special market niche. These products include application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones, accessories and peripherals of all sorts, and digital content that are all tailored for the Mac, iPod and iPhone. Apple Inc. 2008 10-K) Apple has an established market all around the world. It has set up a dynamic marketing network through its â€Å"online stores, retail stores, direct sales force, and third-party wholesalers, resellers, and value-added resellers. † (Apple Inc. 2008 10-K) It should not come as a surprise to know that Apple puts up with a lot of aggressive competition in all the markets it caters to – markets for computers, digital music devices, mobile communication gadgets, all the related paraphernalia and for the services attached to these products. Apple Inc. 2008 10-K) But no matter how stiff competition can be, Apple has emerged as an undisputed market leader. In fact, Apple has reaped increased earnings this economically difficult year (2008) while most of other companies incurred huge losses. In the same tune, Apple offered last Black Friday only 8% off its new MacBook, 4% off a 20-inch iMac, 5- 8% off iPods and none off iPhones while analysts predicted discounts to reach 15% (Frommer, Yahoo! Finance webpage). Apple is obviously no t keen on competing based on prices. As the company behind such signature products as iMac, iPod and iPhone, Apple can well afford to price its products higher without having to worry about losing the market to competitors offering cheaper products. Technology and its optimization are among the factors behind Apple’s success. Its products are deemed â€Å"new technology† and the technological aspects of its products are optimized for exclusivity. Thus, users of any one of Apple’s products are bound to be captured clients for the others in the company’s menu. The technological inter- relatedness of Apple’s products presents a distinct advantage that it is wisely making the most of. Apple’s products are theoretically homogeneous; the market is awash with all kinds of computers, music-players and mobile phones. But then, such products are more considered as rather unique. Author McNees has written that â€Å"in a mature market with highly homogeneous products, well-executed small differences can make [a given product] unique and [sought after]. Indeed, the leverage brought on by Apple’s industrial-design machine makes its product stand out in the market. This constitutes another major advantage enjoyed by the company. Meanwhile, there are also serious disadvantages that Apple is saddled with. For one, the company is highly susceptible to the adverse effects of a prevailing bad economic condition which both causes the market value of the company’s shares to take a dive and substantially reduces the earning and sp ending capacity of its market. Apple also happens to be in the middle of a litigation arising from its past stock option granting malpractices. Adverse findings of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at the conclusion of the investigation that it is conducting will materially damage the company’s name, financial condition and operating results. (Apple Inc. 2008 10-K) (Please see II to IX and a portion of X in the Excel document) X. Based on the foregoing, I do not recommend that the 10,000 shares of Apple be purchased now. I would recommend keeping it as cash and then buying the Apple shares when the macro-economic factors affecting the finance world and especially the stock markets have begun to improve. At this point, the market can generally do worse and Apple might just go with such downturn with no sufficient ammunition – like significant good news – available. Works Cited â€Å"Innovation Lessons from Apple.†Ã‚   Economist.com.   7 June 2007.   The Economist Newspaper Limited.   26 November 2008 .   â€Å"U.S. SEC Form 10-K of Apple Inc. for Fiscal Year ending September 2008.†Ã‚   Apple Inc.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  26 November 2008 < http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/10/21results.html>. Frommer, Dan.   â€Å"Apple’s Black Friday Sale:   No 15 Percent Discout.†Ã‚   Yahoo! Finance. 28 November, 2008.   Yahoo! 30 November 2008 < http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/136179/Apples-Black-Friday-Sale%3A-No-15-Percent-Discount>. â€Å"Apple Inc.†Ã‚   Google Finance.   29 November 2008 . McNees, Donald.   â€Å"Hat trick:   retaining customers, finding growth and achieving attractive returns are not easy in today’s mature financial markets, but a handful of companies are doing all three.†   The Free Library by Farlex. 29 November 2008 < http://www.the freelibrary.com/Hat+trick%3a+retaining+ customers%2c+ finding+growth+and+ achieving†¦-a0158908311>. White, Gerald, Ashwinpaul Sondhi and Dov Fried.   The Analysis and Use of Financial Statements.   New York:   John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1998. Brigham, Eugene and Joel Houston.   Fundamentals of Financial Management.   Orlando, FL:   The Dryden Press, 1998. Apple Inc. Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation with a focus on designing and manufacturing consumer electronics and software products. It was established in Cupertino, California on April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, and incorporated on January 3, 1977. The company's hardware products include the Macintosh line of personal computers, the iPod line of portable media players,the iPad line of tablets, and the iPhone line of mobile phones. Apple's software products include the OS X operating system, the iTunes media browser, and the iLife suite of multimedia and creativity software.As of 2008, Apple Inc had acquired twenty-one companies, purchased a stake in two companies, and made five divestments; most of them were software companies. Apple had not released the financial details for most of these mergers and acquisitions. Apple's business philosophy is to acquire small companies that can be easily integrated into existing company projects. [4] For example , Apple acquired Emagic and its professional music software, Logic Pro, in 2002. The acquisition led to the creation of the digital audio workstation software, GarageBand, now part of the iLife software suite.The company made its first acquisition on March 2, 1988 when it purchased Network Innovations. It has also made five divestments, all in the 1990s, in which parts of the company are sold to another company. The company's largest acquisition was the purchase of NeXT in 1996 for US$400 million. In the 2000s, Apple made the most acquisitions in a single year in 2002, with six. In the 2010s, so far the most acquisitions in a single year is 2013, with 10. Of the companies that Apple has acquired, 37 were based in the US.