Internet Fashion Marketing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Internet Fashion Marketing - Research Paper Example The paper "Internet Fashion Marketing" discovers different aspects of internet fashion marketing. Since few years, there have been huge advancements in the field of information and technology that has resulted in an abrupt alteration in functioning of the corporate world. Technological innovation inclined organizations to alter their processes, in order to provide quicker and convenient ways of shopping to the consumers globally. This change created a completely new field of internet shopping that has now become a major part of business world, and is continuing to take over major parts of the corporate arena globally. While almost all businesses began to create their presence on the internet, fashion industry remained one of the very few that wanted to remain belonged to the runways and physical selling rooms for a long time. However, as the luxury products began to rule over the internet markets, fashion marketing was one term that became focus of many business experts. In the resul t, nowadays, internet fashion marketing has become a common notion where business companies are putting efforts to market their fashion products and accessories on e-runways and e-catalogues. Although one comes across different perceptions about the success of fashion marketing on the internet, however, it is obvious that internet holds a lot of potential for the fashion industry. In this regard, there is an urgent need of research regarding different aspects of internet fashion market and the role of internet shopping.

Head Nurse Essay Example for Free

Head Nurse Essay A head nurse has the following important duties and job responsibilities: * Planning and scheduling the work activities of junior nurses in her section. * Making sure that the medical reports and instruments are kept properly and safely. * Ensuring that the patients obey the instructions and advice of the doctors and follow their prescriptions sincerely. * Ensuring that the areas where the patients are admitted are sanitized properly on a regular basis. * Directing the patients to have their meals regularly and receiving feedback from them in case of faulty food items or other issues. * Making her patients relax in case of adversities and major surgeries being performed on them. * Comforting her patients and injecting them with the required medicinal doses as advised by the doctors. * Cleaning the areas that contained medical instruments, medicines and syringes in order to ensure safety for all those who visit these areas. * Sanitizing the rooms where the patients are dressed and changed in order to avoid microbial infections. * Assisting her patients with calling their relatives and helping the old ones move from one place to another. * Walking with the doctors during their routine rounds and check-ups and noting down the directions of the doctor with regard to the health and care of the patients. * Ensuring that she provides all the health care facilities and services to the patients with accordance to the rules, regulations and policies of the state. * Placing demands for new medicines and documenting their amounts properly and ordering fresh stocks of the medicines that have expired. * Ensuring that all the needs and demands of the patients are fulfilled during their stay in their hospitals. * Making sure that the patients are comfortable and feel at home. * Executing all other tasks that need her assistance and patient health care services. * Duties and Responsibilities of a Head Nurse: * Head nurses manage all the administrative duties of the departments which they are assigned to work in * They schedule shifts for the nurses and assign duties to them * They collect work reports from all the nurses regarding their day-to-day activities and maintains a record of them * They present the records collected from all the nurses to the respective doctorswho are handling cases of those patients * They assist and conduct training programs for the nurses who are new and need help * They also solve any issues related to the patients * Head nurses also come in direct contact with the patients and diagnose theirhealth problems * Inventory management is also one of the responsibilities of the head nurses * Head nurses review and supervise the pre-operative settings made by the nurses in the operating room and make sure that they have provided required equipments to the doctors * Head nurses often accompany the doctors when they go on their rounds to check the patients where they present the reports collected by them * They provide necessary help to the doctors such as carrying diagnostic equipments, etc., to the doctors while they are on round for check-up They maintain a log of the entries of the patients in their wards and their health Reports * Head nurses also look for the hygiene in the hospital and in the rooms and make sure that the patients are provided with enough facilities and entertain all types of complaints from the patients *

Overcoming Physical Challenges :: Personal Narrative Essays

Overcoming Physical Challenges    I'm 17-years-old and I feel like I'm about twice my age. I have had a strange childhood and have gone through a lot. The reason is due to several medical conditions I have. I prefer calling them physical challenges rather than handicaps or anything like that.    I would have to say this all started when I was 11-years-old. My legs just started giving me trouble. I was having a lot of trouble doing my dancing and baton classes because my knees kept feeling like they were popping out. I ignored it for a while, but eventually it came to be too much so I had to go see a doctor. After my exam, my doctor diagnosed me with sublexing patellas, which means my kneecaps pop out of place. This was just the beginning of my trouble.    About a year later, my muscles started to atrophy in my legs and I lost all muscle tone. I was devastated emotionally and physically. I could no longer walk, so I was put in a wheelchair. With this I lost not only my physical mobility but also my dreams of being a professional dancer. My mom stood strong and took me to see the best doctors she could find and this led me to the Shriners' Hospital in Montreal, Canada. Here is where I received my first ray of hope. By the time I left I was walking with a walker and then just a cane. They were like miracle workers. I slowly gained back my muscle tone, but it was a long process and sometimes I just felt like giving up. I had many supporters who helped me and gave me the strength and courage I needed.    I thought this would be an end to my medical problems, but then one summer I stopped breathing for no understandable reason. My mom revived me and then I was taken to the doctors to find out I had acquired costochronditis, which is the inflammation of the muscles near your sternum. My breathing troubles continued and they also decided to try some medications on me, but none worked, so we let things go.    Then just when I thought my life was floating back to normal for the average 13-year-old, I again encountered a new medical diagnosis. This time I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which affects all the muscles and bones in my body and explains some of my earlier trouble.

The Subtext of Violence in Henry James The Wings of theDove: The Sacri

The Subtext of Violence in Henry James' The Wings of theDove: The Sacrificial Crisis A reading of Henry James' 1902 novel The Wings of theDove is particularly fitting for this issue ofSchuylkill for several reasons. This late novel is rife withrepresentations of multiple, often overlapping subject positionsthat the close reader is forced to reckon with. These subjectpositions include, but are not limited to, James as authorand as a self-referring subject of the novel's "Preface,"who perceives and performs outside of the designation of "author."The reader must also consider James' unreliable narrator as asubject who functions as both detached observer and protagonist,and whose equivocal rendering of events includes labyrinthineaccounts of the contents of other character’s consciousness. Andfinally, we the reader, are rendered subject to our own ambivalentinterpretation of events. James complex representation of so manysubject positions has, not surprisingly, earned his late work thereputation of being "difficult." However the student of humansubject formation e njoys a uniquely Jamesian-inspired "jouissance"if he or she is persistent and enjoys a good slow read. In this paper I hope to show how James offers the reader aparticipatory glimpse into the complex mechanics of human subjectformation. I argue that The Wings of the Dove re-presentswhat anthropological literary critic Rene Girard terms the"sacrificial crisis," an act of violence that is endorsed andenacted by a community--a bloody ritual whose sole purpose is to"restore harmony to the community, to reinforce the socialfabric...and establish order"(8). According to Rene Girard in Violence and the Sacred,violence proliferates within a community when social distinctionsamong individuals or groups become confused or are contested. Morespecifically, when the established social hierarchy is challengedthrough rivalries, jealousies, quarrels and acts of dissent,community infighting escalates into reciprocal acts of vengeanceand retribution. Community violence is contained, says Girard, bya collectively sanctioned, climactic event--the blood sacrifice.The blood sacrifice is a unanimous yet limited act of violencevented upon that representative of the community who is deemedresponsible for the eruption of internal discord. In other words, a "scapegoat" is selected by the group. Thissacrificial subst... ...he processof finding a surrogate victim constitutes a major means... by whichmen expel from their consciousness the truth about their violentnature...(82-83). The "bad" violence inherent in Kate’s enterprise has notactually been eliminated--the potential for someone else to deviseand successfully execute a similarly ambiguous plan still existsafter we close the book (in fact such a plan is executed by MaggieVerver, the heroine of James last novel The Golden Bowl--thenovel which has been called "the novel to end all novels"). But inThe Wings of the Dove James contains and controls theviolence temporarily, thus taking the place of and serving the sameancient function as the primitive blood sacrifice. Works cited Allen, Elizabeth. A Woman's Place in the Novels ofHenry James. London: Macmillan Press, 1983. Brooks, Van Wyck. "Two Phases of Henry James." In TheQuestion of Henry James: A Collection of Essays. Ed. F.W.Dupee. New York: Holt, 1945. 120-27. Girard, Rene. Violence and the Sacred. Trans. PatrickGregory. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1972. James, Henry. The Wings of the Dove. Ed. J. DonaldCrowley and Richard A. Hocks. New York: W.W. Norton and Company,1978.

Face-to-Face Communication Essay

Topic 3: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face communication is better than other types of communication, such as letters, email, or telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer. Different forms of communication have been developed nowadays and they make it really easy for people to contact with each other. We have become familiar with popular types of communication such as letters, email, telephone calls or chatting on the internet. However some people say that face-to-face talk is better than other means of communication. In my opinion, I disagree with this opinion. Due to the limit of distance, face-to-face communication shows its disadvantages in a lot of situations. We cannot meet and have a chat if we are far away from each other like in different countries or different areas. It is very disturbing when we need to speak out something immediately or we are in an urgent situation. Face-to-face talk really takes much time and money if people are not close enough. Moreover, in the fast pace of life, everyone is very busy with their own work. They have to deal with piles of work and contact with several dozen people. Therefore, it is difficult for them to always sit down in a nice place and talk to each other because it limits their level of work productivity. Apart from distance and time, other types of communication outweigh face-to-face talk in terms of convenience and secrecy. You can email to a lot of people in different countries with only one click. You want to share your happiness with your friends and relatives, just pick up your phone and call them without going around to make an announcement. When you fall in love and find it difficult to express your passion directly, then a love letter to that person will be a right choice. With the comfort of using the internet, we easily make friends without being worried about our appearances. Regardless of the fact that we are fat or thin, pretty or ugly, neat or slovenly, we still have great talks because no one sees us right then. In conclusion, face-to-face is just one form of communication among others. Each of those has its own advantages and disadvantages and it is difficult to say which one is better. People should be flexible in using means of communication to make our relationships more interesting.

Geography Essay Sample Summer in Different Parts of the Globe

Geography Essay Sample Summer in Different Parts of the Globe Geography Essay Sample: Summer in Different Parts of the Globe If you are going to write a college paper, it’s a good idea to look at an example first. This will help you understand the structure of an essay and what needs to be included. Here is a geography essay sample for you to reference when you write your own geography masterpiece. Often, people think that summer is warm, and the sun is always shining. This is not always the case for summer varies in different places around the world. There is not one single definition of the season when it is looked at from a global standpoint. There is a handful of differences between each country’s summer season and what it looks like. If you live in the northern hemisphere, you know that summer occurs in June, July, and August. Those who live in the southern hemisphere experience summer in December, January, and February. Not every country has their summer season at the same time. This is one of the major differences between summers in different places around the world. Another variation in summer around the world is that some places get warmer and drier while others get warmer and wetter. Drier climates often go through droughts in the summertime, which cuts back on their crop production. Tropical areas are known to be more humid, which means that summer is the â€Å"wet season†. This is also the season where the most vegetation grows in tropical countries. Hong Kong has a sub-tropical climate, which means that they grow many of their crops during the summer season. Overall, there are a few cities that are hotter than all of the rest. Kuwait City, Karachi, and Ahvaz often reach the highest temperatures when compared to others. Particularly, in Kuwait City, the temperature might reach 44 degrees Celsius, which is equivalent to 111 degrees Fahrenheit. This is common during the summer months from June to August. This city, along with Karachi and Ahvaz, experiences more than a few negative effects from the hot weather. The citizens are prone to heatwaves and poor air circulation. In the summer season of 2017 in the United States, a few states had especially hot weather. These temperatures were between 119 and 125 degrees Fahrenheit or between 48 and 51 degrees Celsius. These specific temperatures were recorded in the southwest region, including California, Arizona, and Nevada. Arizona’s capital city, Phoenix, had reached the temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit three times in its history. The high temperatures proved to be deadly and even resulted in heat waves. Of course, this is not what summer looks like all around the globe. In New Zealand, there can sometimes be a lack of consistency when it comes to weather. New Zealand is located relatively close to Antarctica. Recently, in January of 2017, this country should have been experiencing its summer season. Instead, it was met with a â€Å"weather bomb† which led to flooding and snowing. This is not abnormal for the country, which is located in the southern hemisphere. They have endured extreme weather conditions prior to the 2017 weather bomb. Well, there are a lot of ways that summer can present itself throughout the world. There is not one correct route to describe summer because it can look different in each city or country. Some countries have mild summers, while others have very extreme ones. Even a country’s summer season timing can vary by its location in either the northern or southern hemisphere. References: Birch, H. (2015, July 22). Where is the worlds hottest city? Retrieved March 21, 2018, from https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jul/22/where-world-hottest-city-kuwait-karachi-ahvaz Cheng, V., Ng, E., Chan, C., Givoni, B. (2011). Outdoor thermal comfort study in a sub-tropical climate: A longitudinal study based in Hong Kong. International Journal of Biometeorology, 56(1), 43-56. doi:10.1007/s00484-010-0396-z Press, A. (2017, June 21). Scorching summer temperatures bring worst heat to south-west US in years. Retrieved March 21, 2018, from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/20/heatwave-south-west-us-arizona-nevada-california Redd, N. T. (2015, June 19). Summer: The Warmest Season. Retrieved March 21, 2018, from https://www.livescience.com/24592-summer.html Roy, E. A. (2017, January 23). New Zealand hit by weather bomb bringing summer snow and flooding. Retrieved March 21, 2018, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/23/new-zealand-weather-bomb-summer-snow-flooding Staniforth, A., Thuburn, J. (2011). Horizontal grids for global weather and climate prediction models: A review. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 138(662), 1-26. doi:10.1002/qj.958 Waliser, D. E., Moncrieff, M. W., Burridge, D., Fink, A. H., Gochis, D., Goswami, B. N., . . . Yuter, S. (2012). The â€Å"Year† of Tropical Convection (May 2008–April 2010): Climate Variability and Weather Highlights. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 93(8), 1189-1218. doi:10.1175/2011bams3095.1 As an option, you can contact our writing service for hiring custom essay writers  who are experts in writing excellent geography essays and research papers.

Delta Corp Ergonomic Factors

Delta Corp Ergonomic Factors Introduction Ergonomic factors are human factors that affect the psychological and physical wellbeing of workers within an organization. Integrating these human factors together with the philosophies of human resources management into the organizational processes is the best course of action to increase the health conditions of their workers (Nelson et al., 1995).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Delta Corp Ergonomic Factors specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The organization human resources management normally aims at increasing the workers output by ensuring that the workers are satisfied and competent in their work. Therefore, it is essential for the organizations to provide an enabling environment that ensures job satisfaction to the employees. Ergonomic factors are those factors that cause constraints to the workers satisfaction with their jobs. In fact, human factors encompass all environmental and intern al organizational factors that affect physical and psychological wellbeing of the workers. However, ergonomic factors generally arise from sources that are beyond human control, most of which are caused by human errors or assumptions driven by the emphasis of the output with less consideration of the inputs (Nelson, 1995). Within the academic circles, ergonomic factors are grouped into various categories. The categories generalize conditions found in almost all industries and organizations. The categories includes factors intrinsic to the job, task factors, the roles of the individuals within the organization, personal interrelationship, career related factors and the organizational structure (Sutherland Cooper, 2008). These ergonomic factors are general and affect all organizations and industries. Within the airline industry where the focus will be, ergonomic factors are caused by human errors and less strict adherence to the set regulations. Many airline managers agree that human factors are a consequence of improper human operated systems, which can be managed. In the case of Delta airlines, the company is using human factors professionals to help in the identification and management of the conditions that may affect the workers physical and psychological stress. Increased interest in the ergonomic factors within the organization is caused by the operational success of the organization when few of the set regulations and conditions to reduce ergonomic factors and errors were implemented. For the organization in the case, how to integrate the ergonomic factors and human resources management is the major concern. This paper will be examining the ergonomic factors focusing on Delta as a specific organization. Finally, the paper offers a proposal for the organization showing on how Delta Corp can make workplace safer, as well as the manner in which the physical and psychological stress can be reduced.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More First, the paper looks into the literature on ergonomic factors and how those factors affects the physical and psychological wellbeing of the workers, the work environment and the satisfaction of employees with the work environment. The paper then proceeds to look at how Delta is applying and implementing measures that are supposed to reduce the ergonomic factors within the organization. Ergonomic factors within the workplace According to the common definitions, industrial ergonomics is the discipline that put together all aspects of the work environment as well as the activities to the organization competencies, magnitude, and the necessities of the stakeholders (Sutherland Cooper, 2008). As described, ergonomics are human factors that centers on the importance of better work conditions, apparatus and the gears that are being applied in this work environment, technological levels of the organization as well as the way the organization arranges its operations. The main goal of ergonomics is to enhance the wellbeing amongst organization workers, their work settings, the tools and equipment they use and their occupational stresses (Sutherland Cooper, 2008). In situations that the ergonomic conditions are not met, job stresses and health hazards occur. Nelson, Cooper, and Jackson (1995) have discussed the relationships between job demands and workplace stresses. Indeed the above scholars argue that there must be a balance between job stressors and the diverse features of the occupational blueprints. The balance created is that specific job stressors must counter different blueprints of occupations. The balancing theoretical framework is essential in the assessment and considerations of human factors and health at work environment. Nelson et al (1995) pointed out that the deprived human factors in workplace could create distress and disarray that can result in a n individual becoming susceptible to stresses related to their occupations as well as disorders in their psychology. In effect, somatic problems may probably intensify. Many studies have been conducted around job stresses and the relationships that exist between ergonomic factors and the job stresses have been found to be positive. However, it is not only the ergonomic factors that cause job stresses, but also a number of individual factors tend to cause work related stresses. Therefore, occupational stresses encompass all factors both work and non-work experienced during work that causes physiological and emotional homeostasis to the employees (Sutherland Cooper, 2008). From the argued context, the stressor relate to the individual factors while the reactions to the individual factors are the stress.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Delta Corp Ergonomic Factors specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As such, occ upational stress is multivariate observable facts resulting from various factors. Therefore, stress is any strain or forces that destabilize the individual psychological and physical normalcy. Anything that constitutes a threat to individual psychological and physical well-being is stress to that individual. When such threats emanates from the job environment, the stresses caused are occupational or job stresses. Occupational stresses are caused by many contributory factors. Majority of these factors have been identified as coming from the work environment (Spector, 2006). The important elements in the occupational environment are the degree at which workers attitudes and capabilities meet the job requirements and the degree at which the work environment meet the needs of the worker particularly the workers motivation and the use of the acquired skills. In circumstances, where the worker feels that there is a mismatch between the expectations and the job demand stress occurs. In one way or the other, these tend to affect the employee physical and psychological well-being. Sutherland and Cooper (2008) argue that work environment constitute various factors both physical and psychological interacting together to cause occupational stresses. The way these factors react is dissimilar in diverse environments, situations, and people. Moreover, the interactions between these factors cannot be explained through epidemiological means alone. Different circumstances including emotional arousal, exhaustion, work endeavor, pain, apprehension, application, embarrassment, hemorrhage, increased expectations of success are all capable of resulting into occupational stress (Spector, 2006). Thus, a single factor cannot be claimed to be the cause of job stress. Since there are many factors interacting to cause job stress, Sutherland and Cooper (2008) grouped them into various categories. Though there are overlaps in the categories, they can be used to analyze the way they affect w orker or the way they cause work stresses. According to Sutherland and Cooper (2008), there are factors intrinsic to the job. These include the physical demands such as the noise, machine sensations, and variations in temperature, humidity, hygiene and lighting. Task factors that comprises of shift work, workload, overtime, and work repetitions, applications of new technology, melancholy and exposure to the risk hazards.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The other categories according to Sutherland and Cooper argue (2008) is the role of the individual workers within the organization, which includes role ambiguity, conflicts in responsibilities as well as being responsible for other employees or the company operations. Interrelationship particularly with the seniors and fellow employees is also categorized as own factor. Career related factors such as the job protection and position inaptness or demotions and promotions. The final category according to Sutherland and Cooper (2008) is the way the organization is arranged as well as the work atmosphere. For instance the way organization structure allows the workers to be part of the decision making process According to Nelson, Cooper and Jackson (1995), job stresses may result from various sources including increased workload and the frequency emanating from job demands, factors relating to poor job content that in most cases result in world-weariness and lack of significance. In addit ion, having no control of any decision in the job, poor organizational guiding principles and measures that make unfriendly workforce may also cause stress. Moreover, the way supervision is carried out that does not affect the general performance of workers, technological factors, individual factors and the environmental conditions (Spector, 2006). In another study, Nelson, Cooper, and Jackson (1995) discuss the job characteristics that are likely to result in the psychological stress. In that study, they identified attributes such as serious work anxiety, heavy workload, an antagonistic work atmosphere, confusing roles, deficiency of duties that are challenging, emotional overwork, pitiable decision-making relations, not being involved in decision making or not being in control of job responsibilities, poor interpersonal relationship including disconnect with other employees, managers or supervisors. Further, psychological stress may emanate from the circumstances that employees la ck social support that may come from any person being considered important including supervisors, family members and fellow employees (Spector, 2006). The adverse human factors at the work place in most cases result in physical and health constraints that encompass physical and psychological stresses. The physical stresses are such things like visual fatigue, headache, and muscle discomfort. Others include disorders such as growing strain, back, visual, and hearing. In addition, the worker may suffer from, emotional nervousness, apprehension and dejection (Spector, 2006). Often, these psychological and physical stresses temporarily disappear when workers are rested or when there is perfection in the work design. The physical and emotional stresses may also disappear when the work surrounding and the tools and equipments are improved. In general, enhancement of the work conditions decreases the effects of ergonomic factors that results in physical and emotional constraints in workers within an organization (Nelson et al., 1995). In the circumstances that employees are open to the elements of human factors, the result is unending consequence. In fact, permanent impairments whether visual, hearing or any other physical bring on anxiety in employees. Such anxieties result in emotional stress, which in effect cause undesirable working state of affairs. The adverse work conditions again result in stress. Moreover, the physical dysfunctions such as the musculoskeletal disorders resulting into the permanent malfunctions and disability always bring about workers hopelessness, nervousness and downheartedness (Sutherland Cooper, 2008). The psychological stress will further result in the increased sensitivity on the receptors of pain within the eyes and other related muscles that will additionally result into more stress (Nelson et al., 1995). According to Sutherland and Cooper (2008), five important elements are significant in the control of the causes of stress in the work place. The scholars argue that when properly implemented within the work design, then the likelihood of the stresses caused by ergonomic misfits is drastically reduced. Nelson, Cooper, and Jackson (1995) argue that the person, the work surrounding, the workers responsibilities, the workers technological knowhow, as well as the general organization of the work are important in the reduction of both physical and psychological stress caused by human factors. The physical work environment The physical environment within the workplace includes all the natural features including the air quality, temperatures, humidity, lighting, and sounds that are critical for the survivability of the workers within the work environment (Spector, 2006). Physical features are elements within the work surrounding without which workers cannot survive. The physical features are capable of inducing sensory demands that have a direct effect on the capability of the worker to have the sense of hearing, obs erve and feel. The sense of hearing is affected by sound. The effects of extreme sound (noise) in the workplace causes stress. According to Sutherland and Cooper (2008), noise is the most outstanding ergonomic idiosyncrasy that results in stress. The workers may be frustrated in the situations where the conditions within the work surroundings are poor. The physical work environment must be conducive in order for the workers to be motivated (Nelson et al., 1995). The circumstances that the physical work environment results in the misgivings of the necessities of the workers and their abilities, the consequences are generalized fatigue and poor performance. The fatigue may be physical or sensory which causes psychological stress. The technological factors Technological aspects including, poor displays, incompatible controls, reduced response attributes of machines, putting up machines without being sensitive to physical conditions, operating difficulties of the technology, machines br eakdown, tools and equipments that reduces the workers performance are some of the technological factors that affect workers in the work place (Sutherland Cooper, 2008). With such technological problems, the likelihood of workers having more physical and psychological stress is high. The responsibilities The heavy workloads and pressure are the two most critical human factors that are aligned to the causes of the job stress (Sutherland Cooper, 2008). In both ways, too much work or little of it will cause stress. In the circumstances that the workers work under time pressure, may be needed to meet deadlines or in the situations where there are too much tasks to be accomplished, then the stress increases. In addition, the circumstances that the machines pacing the tasks are too quick or slow then the job stree increase. The workers have no cognitive satisfaction of the occupation responsibilities due to low task control (Nelson et al., 1995). From the human factors perspective, job responsibilities should be set using the scientific methods where time and output are evaluated according to the workers capabilities. The criteria such as the economic factors including the necessity to get better of the capital investments and the technological capacity should not be used to measure the workload (Spector, 2006). The organizational factors The human resources difficulties because of work environment normally originate from three categories of managerial characteristic of the occupation procedures. The ergonomic management aspects include work in shifts, uncalled-for work after the fullness of time, work paced by machines, as well as the assembly-line work (Spector, 2006). The shift work cause disturbances in the normal biological functioning of the body and in effect affects the psychological well being of the workers. The assembly line and the machine-paced work normally generate diminutive responsive everyday jobs disregarding the cognitive contents resulting int o low employees control over the work processes. The result is unwarranted physical and psychological stress. Unwarranted work after the full daytime can also result in the workers fatigue. In some instances, the overtime work may lead to undesirable psychosomatic effects including resentment and dispositional instability (Nelson et al., 1995). All these ergonomic managerial aspects may lead to psychogenic body malfunctions, which affects the general workers performance. Personal factors Personal factors are the factors that affect the individual behavior such as the anxiety and self-esteem. Behavioral factors interact with each other to cause work stresses to an individual especially in the circumstances that they are found to be the major cause of poor performance (Sutherland Cooper, 2008). The individual values and needs, the capabilities and the job experiences, age, ethnicity and well as the expected physical conditions interact to affect the individual performance, which in e ffect cause the job stress in case of deficiency. Moreover, genetic characteristics such as the physical composition, sex, reactivity, intelligence, introversion may also cause job stress in case they are found wanting (Sutherland Cooper, 2008). Other individual characteristics that are acquired such as the educational attainments and social class also affect the individual performance in the work place, which by extension may cause job stress. However, an organization can enhance some individual characteristics through the provision of an environment that encourage their growth. Competitive and challenging environment promotes these individual characteristics. The workers must always be encouraged towards the attainment of the set goals (Sutherland Cooper, 2008). The encouragement should not be based on the measured output in terms of returns on the investments rather on the individual input and capabilities. Motivation of workers forms the integral part of reducing work related stresses resulting from the personal factors. However, motivations are derived from an environment that is conducive and encouraging (Nelson et al., 1995). The motivating environment according to the context is that meet the expectations of the workers and the organization. Delta airlines case Definition of the functionality of human factors department In defining the functionality of human factor, an organization pursues its endeavors towards creating the place of work safer and less physically and psychologically stressful. By implementing the requirements of safety measures, the occupations and responsibilities of the human factor department should fully hold on the organization core strategies. While coming up with the strategies and safety measures, greater consideration should be given to various restrictions that are coined under the organizational and human factor principles. Consequently, the limitations must produce a work environment that is conducive for all the employee s in the organization. In considering these facts and limitations, it can be deduced that tools becomes more important aspect in an organization such as Delta airlines. In the main, safe institutions that make workplace less psychologically and physically traumatic and non-dangerous should exercise the following. First, with the localized short-term activities in rejoinder to active failures and long-standing measures in reaction to the dormant failures, an organization should react to the practical deficiencies of safety. Secondly, instead of the organization depending on the compliance of control, it should rely on the inner responsibility in order to realize safety objectives. Moreover, the organization should own a structure that is reliable by features of the surrounding and objectives of the institution. Similarly, an organizational structure must be designed with a particular extent of federal decision-making, standardized processes, and complexity (ICAO, 1993). Hence, Delta corporation revel in a safety corporate culture that is precisely healthy, good, and open. To permit for an applicable set of scales amid risk and production administration, the organization should advance the appropriate structures of managing the risks. Lastly, Delta esteems safety as the most significant contributor in accomplishing the objectives of production since the corp. pursues safety as a unique of the goals of the institution. The operating philosophy of Delta ergonomic factor department The organization should manage and pinpoint the philosophies that operate the department of human factor to transform the place of work become physically and psychologically stress free and safer. The identification and management of such situations that contribute to human errors enable an organization to remain the facilitator of excellence of human presentation. In fact, the nonexistence of accidents in an organization is no longer a dependable indicator of safety scheme. The ergonomi c factors as well as safety programs should exceed the benchmark defense efforts reacting to the emphasis of the least compliant values that are acceptable. Therefore, the departmental operating programs should ascertain and manage the disorders that result to human factor errors. An organization should identify and manage these errors whereas expediting a move en route to the excellence of human presentation. Nevertheless, quality should be incorporated at the corporate, small faction, as well as at employee levels as it can never be mandated. The set compliant principles should not be taken as the ultimate organizational safety arrangements of its operational systems. However, it should be cherished as inviolate. By taking into greater consideration of the features and dynamics that cause human errors, the organization is bound to achieve its precincts of work protection. Actually, the realization comes through enhanced human presentation in the identification and management of ci rcumstances that up shot errors committed by employees. In order for the organization to attain safety environment for its workers, it must put in place measures that drastically reduces human errors. Hence, the support, and coordination of high-ranking management provide an enormous continuum of a potential performance (ICAO, 1993). The human factor departmental mission and goals Well-pronounced mission and goals of the organization will help suppress the problem of psychological and physical stress and safety at workplace. The Delta operations expedite quality in the programs of human presentation as one of the institutional goals. The other goal of the organization is to succor in support and creation of programs for extenuation and management of human errors associated with jeopardy. Conversely, Delta’s mission aims at risk management of human errors through human presentation analysis with deference to structure in support of operation, machineries, strategies, and emplo yees. The mission is essentially applicable in a number of diverse levels (Maurino et al. 1995). First, Delta projects at minimizing human errors and outlining work performance by arriving at the developments and adjustments. The corporation also uses management science, systems science, biomechanical, psychosocial, physiological, and psychological multiple disciples. Further, the institute employs all these missions in three levels that is task, conditions of work, and organization to meet this target. The six categories of Delta resource administration According to ICAO (1993), further categorization, definition, and identification of resource management are of great significance. Such categories in an organization will tend to render safety and lessen the situations of psychological and physical stress. Actually, it aims at engendering a methodical integration of set abilities of the resource administration into appraisals, training, processes, strategies, criteria, as well as do cuments. Putting together of the organizations human factor management precincts corresponds to the available technology the organization applies to control its resources. Actually, the pastry of resource administration is sliced in dissimilar ways in a number of institutions. The fact that Airline Company ought to establish a system of categorization is more important than how it categorizes the administration of its resources (ICAO, 1993). Accordingly, the groupings of ergonomic factors should not be judge in conformity to the way they are specified rather in compliance with the available technology in which they are applied. Organizational change to practical from theory The virtuous human resource presentation moralities are simple to a certain degree. Nevertheless, the only difficulty encountered is to decipher the HR straightforward perceptions namely guidance, credentials, processes, guidelines, and staffing standards into performance. Thus, there is need for a cursory compre hension by the organizational HR on the way of tying together the performance of human resource and acclimating to the demands of the environment. In fact, this would make the place of work a less psychologically and physically traumatic and non-dangerous place as the understanding will enable the organization to avail most airlines into the business. The Delta Corp director may edifice sound adaptations since the industry puts voice to the principles of human resource presentation increasingly (ICAO, 1993). The manager does this through objectively interlacing human principles factors into practices, processes, strategies, as well as ideas. Conversely, the scheduled carrier personnel and administrators should prolong the assimilation and understanding of human factors to produce excellence in human presentation. The extent of comprehension and integration should fall beyond a cursory consciousness and non-structured adaptations. Definitely, the initial task for the administrators i s to situate such comprehensive human resource administration principles and factors into organizational lingo. In the meantime, putting this into the organization language would enable every worker to understand the human resource management factors and principle. Besides, via a cohesive strategy and in total consistency, the HR should interlace such perceptions into education, configuration of the firm, credentials, processes, and guidelines. Hence, the organization should deal with the restriction of space promptly to further develop the subsequent tips of integration (Jones, 1993). The current workplace challenges and environment There are extensive accords all through the fiscal, regulatory, and operational organizations stipulating that the integration of resource management standards as well as the human or ergonomic factors into the assumed operational activities could be a noble action course. Similarly, the airline administrators have increasingly recognized that errors ca used by human are unavoidable. Most of these human faults stem from systems managed and operated by people, but the consequential circumstances causing such errors are manageable (Maurino et al. 1995). Often, the executive directors use both the ergonomic factors departmental units and human factors experts in helping the corporations to classify and manage situations and risks correlated to these errors. The operational triumphs and the management of psychologically as well as physically stressful workplaces fuel the interest of integrating ergonomic factors into the activities undertaken by an organization. To the airplane administrators, it is generally debatable whether a firm must examine ‘proviso’ instead of ‘the manner in which’, the assets ought to be handled, and ergonomic aspects incorporated. Given that, employees become psychologically as well as physically stressed up with unsafe work environment, the proposal offers a decisive framework on how Delta Corporation should integrate ergonomic factors in its operations and management plans to make workplace less stressful and safer (Maurino et al. 1995). The proposal provides the nature of challenges encountered during integration, the departmental functionality of the ergonomic factors, the departmental units ergonomic factors attributes, the systems approach, and recommendations on how the organization can move to actions from the principles. The ergonomic factors integration challenges Workplaces normally become stressful and unsafe the moment the ergonomic factors administrators encounter challenges related to the translation of better ergonomic functional knowledge into practice. In fact, such integrations ought to be carried out with the entire organizational systems in order to realize sustainable transformation. In the ICAO (1993), the existing safety measures incorporate the extensive workforce safety dearth eminent in the organizational systems instead of solitary fu nctionality (p.1). The analytical proof permits the organizations to identify any management deficiency during the aviation systems operation and designing stages. When translating the ergonomic factors into science, the process should include a minimum of three stages namely the tasks, the place of work, and the organization. The organizational efforts relating to the management of resources and ergonomic factors must be directed mainly towards evaluating the training programs improvement and workforce attitudes. As it appears in the case firm, the plans for guiding the employees should not emerge affixed in seclusion. To avoid stress and keep workplace safe, the management of organizational resources and human factors should not be considered just as the employees’ preparation intervention. Educating the organization employees and administration to understand that ergonomic factors go beyond the mere training is the major problem and challenge encountered by the director of human factors. The ergonomic activities difficulties at Delta Corporation that cause tension and insecurity amongst employees should have prepared resolutions recognizing the dependence as well as the effect of corporate and workplace parameters that outline traditions, actions, and outlook. In fact, both the corporate and individual problems causing stress and insecurity ought to be attended to in order to rectify the errors, which generate the workforce performance and conditional challenges. The firm traditions, employees’ actions, and manners must be transformed at the managerial and at each workers rank. The most influential tool that Delta Corporation should use to shape the groups and individual employees’ corporate culture is answerability (Jones, 1993). The organization must not allow the employees to violate the internalized occupational, health and safety principles. The traditions of Delta Corp need to describe the inclined manner and ethics that may put t he decisive and desirable conduct pressure needed from a set of personnel. The organization should also enforce standards and express disapproval of any wrongdoer by sanctioning whoever defies the set principles. The internalization at the organizational, small groups and individual levels are important given that they warrant that suitable ergonomic factors undertakings emerge as anticipated and become impulsive. The function and type of the department of human factors ought to be planned in such as way that the performances of all employees are affected. However, in order to influence the culture, behaviours, and attitudes of the workforce, Delta Corp needs to ensure that there is shared obligation towards systematically integrating ergonomic factors. Provided the values of human factors fail to be internalized either organizationally or independently, the possibility of sustaining organization practices would be considerably abridged (Jones, 1993). Thus, all Delta Corp workers sh ould attach relevance and internalize the oriented corporate ergonomic factors standards. The Delta Corp division assuming the ergonomic aspects should bear the intensity and contact width in order to outline the managerial traditions, manners, and outlook. The reach can hardly be attained devoid of being committed to the general incorporation of human factors. The short-range ensnare must be shunned In order to reduce stress and make Delta Corp workplace safer, the workforce activities dearth and faults should be rectified frequently while cracking down on the group or each employee’s problems including offering further guidance and imposition of penalties. In fact, educating employees and ordering for discipline appears to be the most familiar, easiest, and prompt retort to human deficiencies. There are occasions when employees training and discipline could correctly respond to the human performance incidents, accidents, or deficiencies. Such quick fixes while often drawn o n by organizations as stress and safety strap ups, they hardly rectify the root causes and general problems (Jones, 1993). However, quick fixes tend to send memorandum and training vaccinations intended to alter the performances of each employees devoid of taking into account the managerial and departmental constituents, which carve up the employees’ performances. A briefing and a memo, which are forms of quick fixes often, alter the actions of employees temporarily. The fundamental practical guidelines for the organization, department, and individual employees nonetheless force back the employees’ actions to the initial statuses except when the basic systems become preset. Prior to looking afar each employee performances, Dealt Corp should classify and appraise both the managerial and universal factors shaping such performances. Indeed, an undemanding ‘quick fix of Delta operators’ strategy to the ergonomic or human actions tend to neglect the impacts and certainty of additional universal suppliers. Therefore, to generate unrelenting consequences on each individual action, the ergonomic factors plan adopted by Delta Corp should deal with the corporate procedures and structures, which influence culture, actions, and employees attitudes (Jones, 1993). The departmental human factors attributes The subsequent section details most aspects of the ergonomic factors, which ought to constitute the fundamental components and function of the Delta Corp human departments to lessen stress and increase the level of safety. Enough resources for sustaining change The department of human factors at Delta Corp should have adequate resources including loyalty, equipment, funds, and personnel to assist in upholding the integrated plans and departments. The incorporation of ergonomics factors into the Delta Corp culture can be equated to growing vegetation in scorched atmosphere. That is, such human factors should be supported and nurtured up to the tim e when they can live on their own. The perception can similarly be applied to the whole Delta Corp ergonomic factor divisions given that it incorporates each ergonomic factor ventures (Jones, 1993). Hence, to lessen stress and minimize insecurity issues, the company must avoid the quick fixes strategies that could take it back to the starting points without compensating for the time and funds used. Delta Corp must concentrate on a single commercial point for constancy Most corporations assume ergonomic factors oriented training, documents, procedures, policies, and programs spread across the business units. The manager of ergonomic factors should make the performance plans consistent and seal the cracks that may be present to cause insecurity and stress. Besides, Delta Corp is required to ensure that all ergonomic agendas should be expressed in lingos understood by all employees and adapted to achieve the purpose of the corporation. It is also essential that Delta Corp should have i ts business level point of focus addressing ergonomic factors associated with individual as well as organizational growth and development (Jones, 1993). The centre of concentration will warrant constancy whereas classifying and curtaining the copying of individuals’ hard work. Thus, the universal adjustments to the Delta Corp practices, processes, policies, and values should be dependable athwart corporate limits in order to become a component of the company’s managerial style and traditions. Corporate reach and placement The ergonomic factors administrator should be given the power to attend to employees incorporated in the organizational operations. More often, Delta Corp can appear to be stressful and insecure due to the systemic difficulties and ergonomic errors emanating from the inadequate communication systems in all the operational boundaries and athwart departments. In fact, it should hardly be assumed that each employee affecting the procedures and structure of Delta Corp might have an extensive ergonomic factors scientific knowledge to be capable of classifying and integrating such tenets (Jones, 1993). Recommendations To improve employee capability in an organization, the HR department should train workforces and managers on how to utilize human factor principles continually. There should be leverage and credentials relating to the corporation resources, programs, and individuals that are in existence. Besides, the managers should acclimatize to the limitations or fix the system as parameters to the identification of deficiencies in human presentation and jeopardy. Rather than letting a solitary merge, the organizational executives should proactively develop a departmental structure to initiate a stress free and safety-working place. The department of human resource management should succor the administrators to practice and improve human performance feedback schemes and risk administration. Further, to bear on the encounters and diff iculties, the managers should create operational archetypes and solutions besides bringing sciences into use. Finally, the corporation managers should try to report, evaluate, and identify the conditions that produce error to the management and bottlenecks encountered in performance of human resource. Conclusion Ergonomic factors have become part of the strategies used in the management of organizations and employees. Nevertheless, errors made by people normally appear as distinct variables, which should be properly supervised to increase opportunities and minimize the ergonomics challenges. Thus, to reduce incidents of accidents, insecurity and stress amongst employees and in the organization, Delta Corp must incorporate ergonomic factors in all the management aspects. The human factors should be included in the universal strategy geared towards improving the performances of employees. ICAO. Human Factors Management and Organization: Human Factors Digest. Montreal: ICAO, 1993. Pri nt. Jones, Becker. The Four Domains Affecting Job Performance: Internal Document, Delta Air Lines. Atlanta: DA, 1993. Print Maurino, Daniel, Reason James and Johnston Neil: Beyond Aviation Human Factors. Vermont, USA: Ashgate Publishing Ltd, 1995. Print. Nelson, Adrian, Cooper Cary, and Jackson Paul. â€Å"Uncertainty amidst Change: The Impact of Privatization on Employees Job Satisfaction and Well-Being.† Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 68.16 (1995): 57-71. Print Spector, Paul. â€Å"Perceived Control by Employees, a Meta-Analysis of Studies Concerning Autonomy and Participation at Work.† Human Relations, 39.11 (2006): 1005-1016. Print. Sutherland, Johnson and Cooper, Cary. Occupational Stress: Issues and Developments in Research. London: Taylor and Francis, 2008. Print.

Boston Creamery Essays

Boston Creamery Essays Boston Creamery Paper Boston Creamery Paper RECOMMENDATIONS Management needs to determine which costs can be controlled and which costs cannot be controlled. The variance analysis simply showed that there was an unfavorable variance for manufacturing (99,000 U). Manufacturing Cost of Goods Sold must be evaluated individually because of the underlying facets from just a number. This unfavorable number could be caused by either an increase in price or a waste in using the number of unit materials. The materials variance should be broken down into the price variance and the usage variance. Exhibit 1 shows that variable cost and fixed cost were separated and variance was computed. Variable cost was the main culprit of the increase in cost. Here, we can identify that the increase may mainly be due to the price variance of milk and sugar. Cooperation between John Vance, the corporate controller and Frank Roberts in preparing the variance analysis must exist. Figures to be provided will be free from bias and management can easily detect areas that need to be addressed immediately. Management will obviously not be interested in going through the whole variance analysis process. They can highlight areas which are to be addressed urgently. As per the case, they only wish to see the items that need their concern so that action can be taken the next year, 1974. Boston Creamery must increase advertisements of their products to address the increase in market size. Boston Creamery, Inc. lost 1. 0% market share – from 50% to only 49%, despite the favorable increase in market size variance of $ 167,610. 00 (See Exhibit 2). This was highlighted from the unfavorable result of $ 55,266. 00 of market share variance. This means that the increase in market share did not benefit the Company, and the increase in sales was mainly due to the increase in the price of their products. Company must probe on the competitors, looking into how they were able to gain the increase in market share. For example, if competitors were able to provide better ice cream or were aggressive in advertising their products as opposed to Boston Creamery. The Company must be able to increase advertising efforts and evaluate means to gain the increase in market share. Management must provide a more comprehensive sales mix, breaking down each sales to clearly see which ice cream flavors are selling or not. Use of sales mix variance compares the actual mix sales to the forecasted; we can easily analyze which items have higher profit than the other. As a result, Boston Creamery may want to re-evaluate the contribution margin for the items which are unfavorable. Introducing new flavors which may sell better, or change in selling price, can be done in order to sell the product. Looking at Exhibit 3, we can see that despite the favorable outcome of the sales quantity, this did not translate to a favorable sales mix. This can be attributed to the loss of popularity of the basic flavors (e. g. vanilla and chocolate). BASES FOR RECOMMENDATION One of the factors that contributed to the unfavorable variance in manufacturing cost of goods sold is the increase in labor- cartonizing and freezing (increase of $34,400). Carton handling workers sort daily production each day onto pallets grouped by delivery truck, based on the next day’s sales orders. As stated in the case, the change in the truck loading system lowers cost of factory labor in exchange of a higher cost driver labor for loading the trucks and also frees up some driver time each day. Also, the greater part of the variable unfavorable variance is due to milk and sugar price variances ($57,300 and $23,400 respectively). This should not be held against the manager; rather, it should have been adjusted in the budget. Looking into the items on the schedule for manufacturing cost of goods sold, the uncontrollable costs were Milk and Sugar. A professional relationship can exist between John Vance and Frank Roberts, wherein they can benefit from one another. The fluctuating costs of sugar and milk might not be subject to control by Boston Creamery if the suppliers or even the market raises the price. Modification can be made when purchasing raw materials, such as buying in high volume and supplier will lower prices per unit. The fixed costs of sales salaries could be controlled by increasing or decreasing the size of the sales force. They need to explore economies of scale, engineering processes, product mix, and so forth. The controllers’ report of sales variance analysis will be more interesting with the help of Frank Roberts; or else the technicality of the computation may affect the management decision – report too boring. Market size increased from the forecasted market of 11,440,000 to 12,180,000 (actual), but was not translated equally to the market share for Boston Creamery. The actual size increased by more than 6%, however, Boston Creamery’s actual market share decreased by 1%. Problem with the forecast was that the Company was complacent on using the same estimate of 1972 actual gallon sales. As stated in the case, 1973 budgeted share was done in October of 1972, since final figure was not available yet. Though sales volume increased from 5,720,329 gallons budgeted to 5,968,000 gallons actual, it did not serve the company well. Boston Creamery must conduct a more accurate market research. Frank Roberts is asked by Jim Peterson to make a short presentation at the next management meeting commenting on the major reasons for the favorable operating income variance of $71,700; problem arises from the operating income variance as it does not show the breakdown of each product the company is selling. Based on the result of the sales mix variance analysis, the management could see the effect of change in the number of units sold from the number of units budgeted to be sold. Company must understand the seasonality of each product and proposed other alternatives to forecast sales, such as a more comprehensive market research. Exhibit 1. Manufacturing Cost of Goods Sold |Â   |Actual |Flexible Budget |Variance | |Variable Costs | |Â   |Â   |Â   | | Dairy Ingredients | 3,679,900. 00 | 3,648,500. 00 | 31,400. 00 |U | | Milk price variance | 57,300. 00 | | 57,300. 0 |U | | | |- | | | | Sugar | 599,900. 00 | 596,800. 00 | 3,100. 00 |U | | Sugar price variance | 23,400. 00 | | 23,400. 00 |U | | | |- | | | | Flavoring (Including fruits and nuts) | 946,800. 0 | 982,100. 00 | (35,300. 00) |F | | Cartons | 567,200. 00 | 566,900. 00 | 300. 00 |U | | Plastic wrap | 28,700. 00 | 29,800. 00 | (1,100. 00) |F | | Additives | 235,000. 00 | 251,000. 00 | (16,000. 0) |F | | Supplies | 31,000. 00 | 35,000. 00 | (4,000. 00) |F | | Miscellaneous | 3,000. 00 | 3,000. 00 | |Â   | | | | |- | | | Subtotal | 6,172,200. 0 | 6,113,100. 00 | 59,100. 00 |U | |Fixed Costs |Â   |Â   |Â   |Â   | | Labor cartonizing and freezing | 425,200. 00 | 390,800. 00 | 34,400. 00 |U | | Labor other | 41,800. 00 | 46,000. 00 | (4,200. 0) | F | | Repairs | 32,200. 00 | 25,000. 00 | 7,200. 00 |U | | Depreciation | 81,000. 00 | 81,000. 00 | |Â   | | | | |- | | | Electricity and water | 41,500. 00 | 40,000. 0 | 1,500. 00 |U | | Spoilage | 31,000. 00 | 30,000. 00 | 1,000. 00 |U | | Subtotal | 652,700. 00 | 612,800. 00 | 39,900. 00 |U | |Total | 6,824,900. 00 | 6,725,900. 00 | 99,000. 00 |U | Exhibit 2. Market Share and Market Size Variance Actual market size | 12,180,000 |Â   | | | | |Budgeted market size | 11,440,000 |Â   | | | | |Actual market share |49% |Â   | | | | |Budget market share |50% |Â   | | | | |Actual sales | 5,968,000. 00 |Â   | | | | |Budgeted sales | 5,720,329. 00 |Â   | | | | |Budgeted contribution margin per unit|0. 530 |Â   | | | | |Â   |Â   |Â   |Â   |Â   |Â   | |Market share variance = |Actual market size in units x |x |(Actual market share budgeted |x |Budgeted contribution margin | | | | |market share) | |per unit | |Â   | (55,266. 00) |U |Â   |Â   |Â   | |Market size variance = |(Actual market size budgeted |x Budget market share |x |Budgeted contribution margin | | |market size) | | | |per unit | |Â   | 167,610. 00 |F |Â   |Â   |Â   | Exhibit 3. Sales Mix and Sales Volume Variance |Actual Sales |Forecasted Sales |Actual Sales Mix |Forecasted Sales Mix |Standard Contribution Margin |Sales Mix Variance |Sales Quantity Variance | |Vanilla | 2,458,212. 00 | 2,409,854. 00 |0. 4119 |0. 4213 |0. 4329 | (24,300. 74) |U | 45,234. 92 |F | |Chocolate | 2,018,525. 00 | 2,009,061. 00 |0. 3382 |0. 3512 |0. 4535 | (35,214. 33) |U | 39,506. 26 |F | |Walnut | 50,124. 00 | 48,883. 00 |0. 0084 |0. 0085 |0. 5713 | (501. 4) |U | 1,210. 93 |F | |Buttercrunch | 268,839. 00 | 262,185. 00 |0. 0450 |0. 0458 |0. 4771 | (2,249. 29) |U | 5,423. 91 |F | |Cherry Swirl | 261,240. 00 | 204,774. 00 |0. 0438 |0. 0358 |0. 5153 | 24,521. 52 |F | 4,575. 41 |F | |Strawberry | 747,049. 00 | 628,560. 00 |0. 1252 |0. 1099 |0. 4683 | 42,725. 00 |F | 12,763. 40 |F | |Pecan Chip | 164,377. 00 | 157,012. 00 |0. 0275 |0. 0274 |0. 5359 | 298. 42 |F | 3,648. 48 |F | |Total | 5,968,366. 00 | 5,720,329. 00 |1. 0000 |1. 0000 |0. 4539 | 5,278. 64 |F | 112,363. 30 |F | |

Music research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Music - Research Paper Example As of yet, K Pop musicians have held a plethora of successful concerts internationally in major cities such as Chicago, New York, Paris, London, and Barcelona. With their unique style and multiple talents, two K Pop stars including Psy and the Rain have swept international audiences with their hit music and performances in films. The famous K Pop singer, Psy shot to popularity in 2012 when his single Gangnam Style went hit with over one billion views on YouTube within a few weeks of its release. His single went viral over YouTube reaching millions of international fans with approximately two billion views as of yet (Gruger, n.pag. (a)). Subsequently, his signature dance move to the lyric â€Å"Oppa Gangnam Style† became so popular that sports players, politicians such as Mitt Romney (Perera, n.pag.), and TV hosts could not get away from maneuvering to the renditions of Gangnam Style. The song made new records of worldwide popularity and engagement with international audiences which even earned Psy’s lyric, ‘Oppa Gangnam Style’, an entry in The Yale Book of Quotations as being one of the most famous quotes of the year 2012. Psy’s music video was a huge success all over the world. With its dancy music, hilarious yet interesting dance moves, funny lyrics, and catchy video, the single made it to the top of the charts as a dominant musical entry. The immense popularity of the song and its video reached worldwide audiences taking Psy to new heights of fame and recognition. Another popular K Pop star, Rain is an actor, singer, producer, and model. The Rain is also known as the ‘King of K Pop’ due to his popular music and his influence outside South Korea. The Rain starred in a 2009 movie called Ninja Assassin where he performed a physical role of the assassin belonging to the Ozunu ninja clan. For his role in the movie Ninja Assassin, the Rain even won an MTV Movie

MRKT Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MRKT - Assignment Example Imber’s , Jane, and Betsy-Ann Toffler’s dictionary states the meaning of alternative media as channels of in-store promotions, shopping cart advertisements, video kiosks in shopping malls, business publications, trade journals, flyers, and telephone directories. While researching for this paper, I came across the business card of a divorce lawyer James A.W. Mahon on a blog of Alex Beker related to creative ideas. The card could be torn in half and both the sides bear the same details for the clients. This is an alternative source of promotion for the service as it involves no print, electronic and the outdoor mode of advertising. This innovative idea of a business card would be enough for James to generate a buzz in the market and build a strong clientage and he may also not have enough capital to advertise on the mass media which is an expensive vehicle. Works Cited Imber, Jane, and Betsy-Ann Toffler.  Dictionary of Marketing Terms. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's, 2000. Int ernet resource. Beker, Alex. John St. Toronto. James A.W. Mahon Divorce Lawyer. Alex Beker 2007. Internet Resource. http://scratchyourhead.blogspot.com/2007/01/john-st-toronto-james-aw-mahon-divorce.html

Shareholder Wealth Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

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Impact of Technology in War Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Impact of Technology in War - Term Paper Example Historical findings denoted that ancient mechanisms of handling war and the materials derived complications deterred the desired prompt confrontation, aggression, and combating of enemies in the battlefields. However, the advancement in technology led to the development of machineries that eased transportation of military equipment and personnel with increased convenience and accessibility to the war fields. The development of the wheel marked the advent ease in logistics. Since then, human societies developed engines and which further symbolized their application in locomotives to the currently used trucks, jetfighters, and military helicopters among others. Through the development of the engine, militarization advanced accordingly as nations converted the technology to power sophisticated weapons such as long-range missiles, atomic bombs, and rockets launchers in warships (Thompson 48). Similarly, technology poses as the origin of increased rate intelligence among nations, and comm unication among allied and enemy nations in their militaries. The history of plane carriers and airships dates back to the 1880s. However, research establishes that the First World War implemented a new outlook on improvisation of war machineries to confront enemies at a large scale as global powers engaged into war. The 1914-1918 war involved European nations, which varied and disagreed on policies and their overseas interests. These factors resulted to increased tensions among the nations, and experts subsequently engaged in innovation and development of weapons to ensure defensive against their unprecedented enemies who also indulged in production of weapons. Eventually, the nations entered... Adolf Hitler, one of the world’s ruthless dictators from Germany devised a technological aircraft with the ideology that he could suppress the advancing eastern allies. This was in 1944 during the Second World War when the European allied nations of capitalists strategized and engaged on a retaliatory battle the German soldiers drive out of their territories and possibly disintegrate the country’s power to a nutshell. German engaged on unprecedented aggression in the European nations and had won incredibly over the unpreparedness of the preys thus weakening confrontation and broadening its boundaries. The battle advanced to France, Belgium, and Spain and with such success, Hitler perceived that he could possibly suppress and bring the United Kingdom under his dictatorial regime. The desired plans hit an end after the toppled powers reorganized their armies and allied with the UK and U.S.A to attack the German side.The allied troops of the capitalist European nations man aged to engage in a successful battle that suppressed the German troops to Rome, the city of Italy. During this time, Hitler engaged on an alternative approach to tackle the aggressing allied troops who fought on land and simultaneously conducted air strikes to diminish the power of the Germany completely. Mainly, the airstrikes conducted by the eastern frontier targeted weaponry manufacturing industries in German as it was the only way the countries could diminish the level at which the Nazis could retaliate during the rebellious retreat.

Financial Accounting Midterm Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Financial Accounting Midterm Project - Essay Example Meanwhile, managerial accounting reports are designed to serve specific needs of the management. They make use of both historical data and estimated data. While financial accounting reports have to be prepared according to the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the same does not hold true with managerial accounting reports. (Warren, Reeve, etc., 1987, pp. 2-4) A job opening in the field of financial accounting at the Monster website states that "the Accounting Manager is responsible and accountable for the entire Company's Accounting Department." As such, he/she will manage and provide direction to the accounting department personnel as well as direct and lead all accounting functions to ensure that all accounting, financial and tax information are properly disseminated and reported. The job requirements include a bachelor's degree in Accounting, experience in cost accounting and the preparation of cash flow statements and skills in preparing tax returns and audit revie ws. (Monster 2010) Meanwhile, a job opening in the field of managerial accounting requires a Revenue Accounting Manager who will have the following main duty: "continuously work to understand the various revenue streams to ensure the highest levels of revenue recognition." (Monster 2010) Similarly, the job requirements include a bachelor's degree in Accounting. In contrast to the job opening for a financial accountant, however, this one requires "strong project management and planning skills" and an "analytical mind which is able to process information logically delivering value added analysis." These stuffs are definitely necessary in the domain of managerial accounting. 2. According to history, accounting was first established by Luca Pacioli - an Italian Renaissance mathematician, a close friend and tutor to Leonardo da Vince and a contemporary of Christopher Columbus. Pacioli described in his work entitled "Summa de Arithmetica, Geometria, Proportione et Proportionalite" a syste m that served to make sure that financial information were efficiently kept in accurate records. This basic system eventually became established as the way to note down all transactions of businesses. (Weygandt, Kieso, etc. 2009, pp. 5-6) 3. The following are the liquidity ratios of Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) and Apple Inc. (AAPL) for the year 2010: MSFT AAPL Current Ratio 2.5 1.8 Acid Test Ratio 2.2 1.6 These ratios show that both MSFT and AAPL have sufficient liquid resources to pay up their short-term liabilities. Of the two, MSFT is the company with the higher level of liquidity. The current ratios indicate that their current assets can well be utilized to fully settle their current liabilities. Meanwhile, the acid test ratios indicate that the two companies would be able to fully settle all their short-term liabilities by using only the most liquid of their assets - namely: cash, marketable securities and accounts receivable. 4. The following are the activity measures of Micr osoft Corporation (MSFT) and Apple Inc. (AAPL) for the year 2010: Asset Management Ratios MSFT AAPL Inventory Turnover (# of times) 19.2 63.9 Accounts Receivable Turnover 5.5 16.7 Fixed Assets Turnover 8.8 17.0 Total Assets Turnover 0.8 1.1 The above

Impact of Technology in War Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Impact of Technology in War - Term Paper Example Historical findings denoted that ancient mechanisms of handling war and the materials derived complications deterred the desired prompt confrontation, aggression, and combating of enemies in the battlefields. However, the advancement in technology led to the development of machineries that eased transportation of military equipment and personnel with increased convenience and accessibility to the war fields. The development of the wheel marked the advent ease in logistics. Since then, human societies developed engines and which further symbolized their application in locomotives to the currently used trucks, jetfighters, and military helicopters among others. Through the development of the engine, militarization advanced accordingly as nations converted the technology to power sophisticated weapons such as long-range missiles, atomic bombs, and rockets launchers in warships (Thompson 48). Similarly, technology poses as the origin of increased rate intelligence among nations, and comm unication among allied and enemy nations in their militaries. The history of plane carriers and airships dates back to the 1880s. However, research establishes that the First World War implemented a new outlook on improvisation of war machineries to confront enemies at a large scale as global powers engaged into war. The 1914-1918 war involved European nations, which varied and disagreed on policies and their overseas interests. These factors resulted to increased tensions among the nations, and experts subsequently engaged in innovation and development of weapons to ensure defensive against their unprecedented enemies who also indulged in production of weapons. Eventually, the nations entered... Adolf Hitler, one of the world’s ruthless dictators from Germany devised a technological aircraft with the ideology that he could suppress the advancing eastern allies. This was in 1944 during the Second World War when the European allied nations of capitalists strategized and engaged on a retaliatory battle the German soldiers drive out of their territories and possibly disintegrate the country’s power to a nutshell. German engaged on unprecedented aggression in the European nations and had won incredibly over the unpreparedness of the preys thus weakening confrontation and broadening its boundaries. The battle advanced to France, Belgium, and Spain and with such success, Hitler perceived that he could possibly suppress and bring the United Kingdom under his dictatorial regime. The desired plans hit an end after the toppled powers reorganized their armies and allied with the UK and U.S.A to attack the German side.The allied troops of the capitalist European nations man aged to engage in a successful battle that suppressed the German troops to Rome, the city of Italy. During this time, Hitler engaged on an alternative approach to tackle the aggressing allied troops who fought on land and simultaneously conducted air strikes to diminish the power of the Germany completely. Mainly, the airstrikes conducted by the eastern frontier targeted weaponry manufacturing industries in German as it was the only way the countries could diminish the level at which the Nazis could retaliate during the rebellious retreat.

The conflict between the Arabs and Jews Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The conflict between the Arabs and Jews - Essay Example The partition of Palestine resulted in the creation of the State of Israel, and of the Palestine refugee problem. The dispute has resulted in major regional wars and two Palestinian Intifadas with tragedies on both sides. Throughout, there have been repeated attempts to resolve the conflict, from Bernadotte in 1948 through to President George W. Bush's roadmap in 2003." (Book Description, 2007). Therefore, the Arab-Israeli conflict, which started almost a century ago, continues to be one of the most serious issues of international dispute. Investigating the roots of the conflict, it becomes lucid that the establishment of the Zionist movement has been a major reason for the Arab-Israeli conflict. Similarly, following the Zionist movement, the modern State of Israel was established in the region which was regarded by the Jews as their historical homeland. However, the Pan-Arab movement maintained that it was a territory belonging to the Palestinians. All these issues contributed to th e deepening of the conflict between the Arab and the Israelis and the religious dimension of the conflict is often emphasised. This paper makes a profound analysis of the background of the Arab-Israeli conflict, incorporating the history of the Arabs and the Jews, the religious dimension of the conflict, Judaism and Islam, and the history of the land of modern Israel, in order to determine the basic issues involved in the conflict. In a reflective exploration of the ancient history of Israel and Palestine, one comes to recognize that the ancient Jewish kingdoms of Israel and Judea were consecutively conquered and subjugated by several foreign empires and kings. One of the major empires to conquer the land was the great Roman Empire and there were several revolts against the foreign rule in the region. In 135 CE, the Roman Empire overpowered the third revolt against its rule in the region and consequently expelled the surviving Jews from Jerusalem and its surroundings. Many of these Jews were sold for slavery and the Roman province was then renamed'Palestine'. "After the Arab conquest of Palestine in the 7th century the remaining inhabitants were mostly assimilated into Arab culture and Muslim religion, though Palestine retained Christian and Jewish minorities, the latter especially living in Jerusalem. Apart from two brief periods in which the Crusaders conquered and ruled Palestine (and expelled the Jews and M uslims from Jerusalem), it was ruled by several Arab empires, and it became part of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire in 1516." (The Arab-Israeli Conflict). Therefore, the land of the Palestine was occupied by people belonging to Arab culture and Muslim religion, although there were Christian and Jewish minorities. Represented by twenty one separate countries, the Arab nations today form a significant power in the region and there is only one Jewish nation with a tiny country in the region, i.e. Israel. To trace the history of the people of Israel (also called the 'Jewish People'), they trace their origin to Abraham of the Old Testament and they regard Abraham, his son Yitshak (Isaac), and grandson Jacob (Israel), as the patriarchs of the Israelites. It has been emphasised by several writers that the very embodiment of Jewish continuity is Israel which inherits all the

Compare Romeo and Juliet Essay Example for Free

Compare Romeo and Juliet Essay Romeo and Juliet and Pride and Prejudice are two of the most admirable and exquisite works ever written about the struggling love of two opposing forces. The novels have had a great literary importance and give us a sense of love and marriage on its most bewildered journey during the Elizabethan Era and the Napoleonic wars. Even though these two novels are from two different eras and are quite divergent as a result of it, this essay will argue that both Romeo and Juliet and Pride and Prejudice are indubitable similar in the concern of love and marriage. Firstly, this essay will present a short amount of background regarding love and marriage during the Elizabethan era and in the turn of the nineteenth century. Secondly, the essay will talk about the comparison and distinction in love and marriage present in the novels. Thirdly, this essay will discuss and hopefully conclude with the chosen thesis. During the Elizabethan era women were subservient to men and they were raised not to consider otherwise. They were expected to marry whomever the father would hold appropriate. The Scottish protestant leader John Knox wrote â€Å"Women in her greatest perfection was made to serve and obey man.( Alchin, L.K. Elizabethan Women.) The marriages were arranged to create alliances with other powerful families which becomes the obvious environment in the play about Romeo and Juliet. Love was not significant between a man and a woman. Instead the importance of financial security and a life in everlastingly safety was prioritized through the marriage of a wealthy suitor. In the play by Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet, Juliet is being arranged to marry Paris, a kinsman of the prince, a well suited husband for her despite of her disapproval. As Paris speaks â€Å"God shield I should disturb devotion!—Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse ye.(kisses her) Till then, adieu, and keep this hol y kiss.† ( Romeo and Juliet, 4.1 William Shakespeare) This is not a marriage for love and this typical prejudice of marriage is also highly present in Jane Austen’s book Pride and Prejudice. One of the characters Charlotte amongst other, is utterly convinced of a socially ideal marriage which was the most common way to unite in the turn of the nineteenth century. â€Å"I am not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collinss character,  connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state. (Chapter 22. Page 193. Pride and Prejudice. N.p.: Planet Pdf). Most women decided to marry rather than depend on other family members for financial support. Due to this choice or lack thereof, love and passion were presumed to be less essential in people’s lives. Charlotte’s quote expresses more or less the plight woman had throughout the turn of the nineteenth century. It’s very likely that the Author of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen intentionally tried to reveal woman’s position in love and marriage as they were. Shakespeare on the other hand probably had a slightly different agenda which was mainly to please the audiences. All though it is important to note that Shakespeare pre sumably wrote about this social decay because he did not approve of what was going on at the time. We might say that this includes the social condition of women and their meager rights in love and marriage. â€Å"Get thee a good husband, and use him as he uses thee.†(Alls Well That Ends Well 1.1.212-13) In Romeo and Juliet the matter of love dominates the play.† My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite. (Romeo and Juliet 2.2, William Shakespeare). Love in this play is simply not one-sided. There is puppy love or shallow love which is the love Romeo has for Rosalie, merely drawn to her appearances’. This view of love is also present in the novel Pride and Prejudice. One of the main characters Mr. Darcy speaks of the woman who later becomes his wife She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me;† (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice,Planet Pdf p.14 Ch. 3) Romeo and Juliet and Pride and Prejudice are both acclaimed love stories which center around a man and a woman and their love for each other. The other characters seem to play their important role converging upon these lovers or lovers to be. In both stories we see a strong opposing love due to a distinctness of social class as occurring in Pride and Prejudice between the middle class, the Bennett’s and the Aristocrats Darcy’s and new money the Bingley’s. In Romeo and Juliet the antagonistic love is more defined as a feud between two power ful families who will not by any circumstances find peace with each other. â€Å"Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.† (Romeo and  Juliet, Prologue p.7 William Shakespeare). The House of Montegue and the House of Capulet are the two families who are sworn enemies, never to reconcile until Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. Nevertheless both the novel and the play have in common the opposing forces set in the story. These two main characters should not be together in love as a result of society’s rules. They both defy society’s instructions and give in to love rather than reason. This way of writing was probably intentional by Shakespeare considering the Renaissance period was also about universal order as in Humanism which was a significant factor in general in Shakespeare’s plays.( Renaissance Humanism and Shakespeare†.) Both Romeo and Juliet and Pride and Prejudice paint marriage as one of life’s most important choices. Even though this is the case, it is considerably important to envision that Pride and Prejudice has a slightly closer focus on family over husband whereas Romeo and Juliet leans more toward love for husband over family in my opinion. The reason for this is the personalities of the women in the Novel and the Play. Both Juliet and Elizabeth are strong female characters who are being presented as very respectable human beings despite their flaws. In a way we can say that both authors, Jane Austen and William Shakespeare speak for the women at that time and their difficult situations in love and marriage. Passion, love and hate is also a common denominator in these stories. These three words as a whole provide us with an overall understanding of these books. Passion as source of consistency, love as a diversity present in different elements, and hate as an opposition to love to create balance. All though there are quite a few similarities between the novel and the play, there are also a few contrasts present in the books which are important to consider in an analysis of love and marriage. The play Romeo and Juliet has an overwhelming amount of overpowering force of love in it which supersedes everything. The love Romeo and Juliet has for each other is almost obsessive, and self-destructive as a result of it. (â€Å"Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers eyes; Being vexd a sea nourishd with lovers tears: What is it else? a madness most discreet, A choking gall and a preserving sweet.† ( Romeo and Juliet, 1.1, William Shakespeare.) Romeo speaks of love as he has read in books, but unlikely experienced. Romeo’s passionate feelings develop into a deadly love at the end of the play when the couple’s  tragic destiny prevails and they both die by their own hands. Pride and Prejudice do not have this uncontrol lable intense love. The novel focuses more on the achievement of marriage and stability in life, financial and the image of respectability rather than the passionate lusty love. It is important to remember that love is also one of the themes of Pride and Prejudice and that the love in which the main characters Darcy and Elizabeth have for each other at the end of the novel is some of the reasons why this book is so successful. Even though the excessive love is more present in the play about Romeo and Juliet as a result of their lawless passion as archetypal lovers, it is relatively different than what we see in Pride and Prejudice. Both stories have a background of society’s expectation in love and marriage such as Juliet’s arranged marriage to Paris and Elizabeth’s friend Charlotte’s marriage to Mr. Collins an overbearing, and ridiculous heir to the entailed Bennett’s estate. In the play about Romeo and Juliet they are being referred to as star-crossed lovers â€Å"Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes .A pair of star-crossd lovers take their life; Whose misadventurd piteous overthrows. Doth with their death bury their parents strife.( Romeo and Juliet, the Prologue. p.7, William Shakespeare,) The stars functions as an opposition to Romeo and Juliet’s destiny and is there-for an indication of a not intended univ ersal love as we can see clearly at the tragic end of the play followed by the death of the two young lovers. Pride and Prejudice have a slightly different ending. It has lot more satisfying completion where the two main characters finally can live a fulfilled life together despite the society’s heavy burden of commandment which the reader of the novel was most likely able to anticipate through-out the novel. We see that Romeo and Juliet and Pride and Prejudice have an evident distinction at the end of the two books towards the consideration of meaning. Clearly Romeo and Juliet is a forced equation whereas Darcy and Elisabeth are more likely to be predestined. By analyzing some of the similarities and contrasts in love and marriage in the two books I find the similarities no more substantial than the contrasts. This might be a result of the underlying elements that keep on grasping the connections as we see it. Some of the leading aspects of this influence are the love against all odds in Romeo and Juliet versus the more  predestined version in Pride and Prejudice. Another important element is shallow love which presents it-self in both books through the ignorance of the characters. We see similarities in the society’s established rules of marriage and the characters capability to oppose to these â€Å"decrees†. Then again there is an over-powering and obsessive force of love in Romeo and Juliet which is not accounted for in Pride and Prejudice. Due to these almost completely balanced analogies and divergences I cannot conclude with the chosen thesis and instead I accept the equity of exceptional authorship. Work cited Alchin, L.K. Elizabethan Women. Elizabethan Women. Www.elizabethan-era.org.uk, 16 May 2012. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. Shakespeare, William, Barbara A. Mowat, and Paul Werstine. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. New York: Simon Schuster Paperbacks, 2011. Print. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. N.p.: Planet Pdf, n.d. Http://www.planetpdf.com/. Planet Pdf. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. Alls Well That Ends Well: Entire Play. Alls Well That Ends Well: Entire Play. Http://shakespeare.mit.edu/allswell/full.html, n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2014. Renaissance Humanism and Shakespeare. Http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SAYLOR.ORG-ENGL401-RENAISSANCE-HUMANISM-SHAKESPEARE.pdf. The Sailor Foundation, n.d. Web.

Depression and Monoamine Neurotransmitters

Depression and Monoamine Neurotransmitters Depression is no longer seen as a disorder of monoamine neurotransmitters discuss this assertion in the light of the current neurobiological hypotheses of depression The most common mental health disorder not only in United Kingdom but everywhere around the world is depression. Even more disturbing is the fact that depression disorder is estimated to affect around 10% of the people in England. Moreover, approximately 5 to 15 percent of men population and 10 to 20 percent of women population in the USA will suffer from depression during their life. Or to put it more simply, one in five adults worldwide will experience depression at some point of their lives (Kessler et al, 1997). World Health Organization described depression as state of sadness which is accompanied by loss of pleasure or interest in almost every activity. It also includes feelings of guilt, low self-worth, tiredness, poor concentration and disturbed sleep and appetite. According to the criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) for depression, a person suffers from depression if it experience at least five of the symptoms during the same 2 weeks perio d. These symptoms include depressed mood, loss of interest, weight loss or weight gain, lack of energy, feelings like worthlessness and thoughts of death or suicide etc. Apart from the mental suffering that depression brings, it is also considered as one of the most often reasons for deaths. In 1996 suicide was listed as one of the leading causes of death in the USA (Mireault Deman, 1996). In other words, depression was the reason for more than 30,000 people to take their lives, which was even more than the one infected with the AIDS virus. Even more disturbing is the verifiable truth that most of the investigators believe that the number of deaths because of depression are more than the ones listed due to the fact that those who kill themselves sometimes do it in a way that looks not like a suicide because of depression (Nemeroff, 1998). The financial costs due to depression are also extremely high. Only in UK costs for the economy are estimated at around  £8.6 billion a year. R ecent research revealed that consultations with the GP for treating a depression are estimated at around  £30 million a year and moreover, treating it in hospitals costs more than  £200 million a year. Furthermore, anti-depressants are also one of the leading costs for NHS  £270 million for the last year only (Mentalhealth.org.uk, 2016). Results of recent studies also showed that the major depressive disorder increase the risk of future hearth attack or stroke (McManus, Meltzer, Brugha, Bebbington and Jenkins, 2009). Having explained how important the problem of depression is to our society, it is now important to review the hypotheses and reasons of why people suffer from it. Firstly, this essay will aim to introduce and explain the genetic factors, how the monoamine theory of depression was developed and why in the recent years depression is no longer seen as a disorder of the monoamine transmitters. In addition, this essay aims to discuss how early life stress can increase the risk of depression later in life. One of the oldest explaining of depression provided by researchers is the fact that it runs in families. In other words, geneticist determined that the ones that are blood related to the one suffering from severe depression are much more likely to suffer from this condition too than the general population. Furthermore, family, twin and adoption studies also supported the hypothesis that depression might be inherited (Sanders et al., 1999; Fava and Kendler, 2000). According to the results, around 40% 50% of the risk of depression is on genetic base. Even though the researchers were able to confirm that the risk of depression is partly genetic, there are still many difficulties in finding the vulnerable genes. This is due to the fact that depression is a very complex disorder and it is believed that it involves many genes (Burmeister, 1999). (Nestler et al., 2002). Another reason for the complexity and difficulty in the identifying the faulty gene is that it is also possible that diff erent variants in genes may cause depression in families. Additionally, as the risk of depression is only partly genetic, another important point needs to be considered the nongenetic factors such as individually specific or environmental. Results from a number of studies, including Akiskal (2000) and Fava and Kendler (2000), shed light on the importance of the stress and emotional trauma during the brain development and the importance they have in the etiology of depression. Even though there are a lot of evidences that depression is a stress related disorder, stress itself is not the leading cause of it. As a matter of fact, usually after a stressful event or situations most of the people are not becoming depressed. Indeed, experiencing a serious stress because of physical abuse or rape does not lead to depression but to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Another important point to consider is also that in general, there are gender differences in the way people respond to a stressor. To put it simply, Kendler, Thornton and Prescott ( 2001) found that even though men and women are more or less equally sensitive to stressful life events, depending on the type of stressor they tend to respond very differently. In their study they revealed that men are much more likely to become depressed after divorce or having troubles in the work place. On the contrary, it was found that women are more likely to have depressive episodes if they have difficulties in relationships, suffer from serious illnesses or death of someone close to them. Having said that, findings again shed the light into the fact that depression is very complex disorder and there are other important factors and mechanisms that need investigation. While genetic researchers continued to look to try to identify the faulty genes, neuroscientists concentrated themselves on the possible brain changes leading to depression. At the beginning most of the work was focused on the neurotransmitters of the monoamine class serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the central nervous system. The reason why researchers became interested in monoamines was because in the early 50s physicians found that depression symptoms appeared in around 20% of patients who were treated with drug reserpine which on the other hand was found to exhaust the supply of the monoamines. In other words, researchers found that these antidepressants were effective for depression as a side effect but they didnt know yet exactly how they worked. Following these results, another research revealed that there is an underlying biological basis for depression and therefore the monoamine hypothesis of depression was proposed. However, it wasnt cleared which of the monoamin es was the most important in depression. At the beginning the theory was called the norepinephrine theory of depression because the scientist thought that the affected neurotransmitter is the norepinephrine. However, several years after the monoamine theory was proposed, there was a research on the hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and its action. During the investigation it was revealed that the serotonin receptors are being blocked by the LSD which brought the question whether serotonin might have an important role in the explaining of mood disorders and specifically depression. Therefore, these findings made serotonin the most studied neurotransmitter in the depression disorder. There are several indications that there is an aberrant decreased function of the serotonergic system. The most obvious evidence of reduced serotonin synthesis comes from the studies of Neumeister, Konstantinidis, Stastny et al. (2002) and Neumeister, Nurgent, Waldeck et al. (2004) in which wa s used tryptophan depletion. The results from these studies once again revealed and confirmed that the reduction of serotonin neurotransmitter leads to the development of depressive disorder. Despite the evidences that the studies on serotonin depletion provided, its mechanism in the depressed patients it still unclear. Meyer, Ginovart, Boovariwala et al. (2006) proposed that high amount of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the brain is one of the reasons that causes the deficiency of the serotonin. Since the hypothesis was proposed various of antidepressants were developed in order to increase the levels of serotonin in the nervous system. However, scientists realized that even though many of the produced antidepressants relieved the symptoms of depression they actually does not affect the serotonin levels. In fact, they were affecting the dopamine, norepinephrine and cholinergic systems but not the serotonin. Furthermore, there were also some drugs that acted only on the norepinephrine system but still they had shown to improve the symptoms of depression. Another important point to consider regarding the serotonin hypothesis is the fact that antidepressants dont work immediately. In fact it can take more than a month to relieve the depression (Onder and Tural, 2002). Therefore, it raises the question if depression is caused because of the low serotonin levels in the brain then why the increasing levels did not change the symptoms right after. Another limitation of the theory i s the fact that the antidepressants does not work on every depressed person. For example recently it was found that antidepressant drugs work in approximately 60 percent of the depressive patients (Gartlehner, Hansen, Thieda, DeVeaugh-Geiss, Gaynes, Krebs, Lux, Morgan, Shumate, Monroe and Lohr, 2007). This again raises the debates whether the low serotonin levels were really responsible for depression. Also, the final problem of the theory is that it is expected that the decreased levels of serotonin in human brain will low the mood. However, several studies were not able to conclude it. Actually, it was found that despite the fact the serotonin is increased by the antidepressants, the lack of serotonin in the brain does not cause the depression (it is like having a stomachache and taking a pill to reduce the pain, however not taking the pill does not mean it started to hurt you because of that), (van der Veen, Evers, Deutz and Schmitt, 2007). Following this discussion it is important to conclude that the depressive disorder is not entirely caused by the serotonin levels in the brain. The monoamine theory of depression does not sufficiently explain the pathology and treatment of depression. It is a fact that human brain is a very complex place and there is a high probability that depression is caused by a combination of factors. Nowadays, it is generally accepted that mood disorders such as depression are definitely occurring as a result of combinations of factors such as genetic, biological and environmental. The discussion above made it clear that the low serotonin levels are not the cause of the depression. Even though antidepressants do not work on everyone, it is essential to examine the other things that these drugs are doing in the brain. Interestingly, recent study has found that the antidepressant drugs not only increase the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain but in fact they can also stimulate the birth of new neuron cells in the brain which is also called neurogenesis (Lucassen, Meerlo, Naylor, van Dam, Dayer, Fuchs, Oomen and Czeh, 2010). Over the past decade, researchers are arising their interest on the fundamental process called neuronal plasticity (or neuroplasticity) which allows the brain to receive information and also to respond in an appropriate way to the same stimuli. The most studied examples of the neural plasticity are learning and memory or in other words the hippocampus of the brain. However, the structures of the brain and the neural plasticity in it can be also activated by various of other stimuli. An example of these include the environmental, pharmacological, social and behavioural. In other words, brain can be stimulated to produce new cells by positive emotions, actions, thoughts etc. These include healthy diet, active lifestyle (sport), good and healthy relationships, sex or in generally being happy stimulate the brain to produce new cells. Pharmacological stimuli such as antidepressant drugs have also been found to increase the formation of new cells and then neurons. On the contrary, bad life style like binge drinking, smoking, having a stressful relationship, poor diet and chronically experience stress is associated with loss and death of brain cells, which on the other hands is believed to play an important role in the pathology of depression. Furthermore, according to the neurogenic hypothesis of depression, the reduced neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus lead to depression symptoms. Controversially, it has been suggested that the increased formation of new neurons in the adult hippocampus is associated with successful treatment of depression disorder. As a matter of fact it rapidly became clear that neural plasticity is one of the most important process that the human brain is able to perform and moreover it is closely associated with most of the functions of the nervous system (Duman, 2004). Having introduced the topic of neurogenesis or neuroplasticity, it is now necessary to look at the factors that suppress the formation of new cells and what influence the formation of the new one. Over the past 25 years a certain amount of excellent reviews have been written on the topic of depression and stress (Kessler, 1997; Paykel, 2003; Monroe Hadjiyannakis, 2002; Tenant, 2002). Many studies revealed that the experience of stress during the development of the brain is highly associated with impact on emotional and cognitive functions (Ammerman, Van Hasselt Hersen, 1991; Fernald Gunnar, 2009). Examples of stress events associated with vulnerability to stress related disorders later in life include poverty, loss of parent, divorce of parents, substance abuse of any of the parents, physical abuse etc. (Repetti, Taylor Seeman, 2002; Halligan, Herbert, Goodyer Murray, 2007; Lupien, McEwen, Gunnar Heim, 2009; Schore, 2000). Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety are all stress related disorders which are considered as important part of chronic early life stress (CES) (Heim, Newport, Mletzko, Miller Nemeroff, 2008; Bremner, Southwick, Johnson, Yehuda Charney, 1993; MacMillarn et al., 2001). Interestingly, recent studies proposed that the loss of the neurons in the hippocampus may contribute to the developing of the depressive disorder. As a matter of fact, the hippocampus is one of the parts of the brain where the formation of neurons is a very essential process that takes place during the life of the humans and animals (Eriksson et al., 1998). Many researchers also reported that the neurogenesis in the hippocampus is able to be influenced by several factors one of which is stress (Kempermann et al., 1997; van Praag et al., 1999). In a number of studies was demonstrated that hippocampus plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of the major depressive disorder (Ho and Wang, 2010; MacMillarn et al., 2001). Moreover, in one recent stud y (Ho and Wang, 2010) confirmed the theory using animal models that stress and shock reduce the cells in the hippocampus and also that the long term use of antidepressant treatment can significantly reverse the effect. Another important evidence supporting the neurogenesis theory are the posmortem studies of the hippocampal tissue. By investigating the hippocampal tissue from depressed patients, researchers found reductions in the neuropil network as well as decline in the neurogenesis of the hippocampus (Sheline, Wand, Gado, Csernansky and Vannier, 1996; Sheline, Gado and Kraemer, 2003). Following the evidences that there is a possible link between the stress, depression and neurogenesis in the hippocampus, a study of Malberg, Eisch, Nestler and Duman (2000) aimed to examine whether the treatment with antidepressant drug will influence the neurogenesis in the hippocampus of an adult rat. It is challenging and difficult to create an animal model that can completely represent the symptoms of depression. This is due to the fact that most of the animals do not have self-consciousness, thinking abilities and most importantly they are not able to indicate the symptoms of the depressive disorders such as the depressed mood, the low self-esteem, the suicidal desires etc. However, many mental disorders including depression, consists endophenotypes which allows to be evaluated in animals. Examples of these endophenotypes that can be observed in the animal model of depression are anhedonia, changes in appetite, behavioural hopelessness, weight gain, changes in sleep etc. (Hasle r et al., 2004). Moreover, brain responses to stress is similar in rodents (Lupien, McEwen, Gunnar and Heim, 2009).   So, in order to examine the effect that antidepressants have on the neurogenesis Malberg, Eisch, Nestler and Duman, (2000) examined adult rats. During the experiments, different kinds of antidepressant drugs were used for a period of 28 days. In order to find out the effects of the drugs on the cells there were two group of rats. In short, to one of the group was given antidepressant and to the other vehicle. To label the dividing cells, four days after the last antidepressant drug treatment rats were given a thymidine analog bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and one of them were killed after 24 hours (to measure the cell proliferation) and the other one were killed after another 28 days (to determine the phenotype). The results of the study revealed that continuously treatment with antidepressants increases the formation of new neurons in the hippocampus part of the brain of an adult rats. Another very important finding that this study demonstrated is the fact that antidepressants are increasing the neurogenesis after a chronic treatment (28 days) and not a straight after the intake of the drug (short term).   These results are also consistent with the results of several similar studies (Santarelli, Saxe, Gross, Surget, Battaglia, Duman et al., 2003;). Furthermore, few recent studies also examined the effects that antidepressant drug therapies have on the cognitive functions of healthy humans. Results in one of the studies (Mowla et al., 2007) demonstrated that antidepressants positively influence the memory and other cognitive functions in the old patients that have cognitive problems. Several other researchers also demonstrated that antidepressant drug treatment of depression is associated with improvements in memory and also the cognitive functions (Allain et al, 1992). To summarize, the neurogenesis theory has been supported by many researchers that also include animal studies. As stated earlier, antidepressant drugs were found to increase not only the levels of the neurotransmitters in the brain (serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine) but also to increase the formation of the new cells in the brain on in other words the neurogenesis. It is generally widely known that during the life of a person new neurons are growing in the hippocampus. On the other hand, it was also found that stress is able to reduce the neurons in the hippocampus of the brain. However, nowadays there are a lot of evidences that taking antidepressant drugs for at least month will significantly increase the neurogenesis in the brain which at the same time will reduce the depression symptoms. In contrasts with the monoamine theory, neurogenesis theory takes the right amount of time to have an effect on the brain. 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