Monday, September 23, 2019

History of Berlin From a Science, Arts, and Culture Perspective Berlin Research Paper

History of Berlin From a Science, Arts, and Culture Perspective Berlin and Berlin Wall - Research Paper Example For example, the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, which is an international and interdisciplinary research institute, offers opportunities for cultural and scientific research. Indeed, Berlin City has a wide history of technology, science, and scientists. In fact, some of the great scientists in the world hail from Berlin. Albert Einstein, Alexander von Humboldt, Otto Hahn, Max Planck, Robert Koch lived, worked and carried out their research in Berlin. Most significantly, their findings and innovations had a world impact that runs from one generation to another. Born in 1769 in Berlin, Alexander von Humboldt  is one of the most celebrated  scientists in Berlin. Alexander von Humboldt  had a particular interest in scientific research on geography and propagation of plants. As such, he conducted various studies and experiments in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry, geology, and botany. He actually drew significant results where today, over 1,000 plants, ani mals, mountains, rivers and products carry his name. Additionally, Einstein, a physicist, invented the General Theory of Relativity and the discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect that gave him Nobel Prize â€Å"for his services to Theoretical Physics in 1921. His contributions formed the basis for modern electricity bringing Berlin into the world map in matters of science. Born in 1936, Gerhard Ertl won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his â€Å"studies of chemical processes on solid surfaces in 2007. He equally established the surface chemistry in Germany and his contribution to chemistry form the basis of chemical reactions (Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH Web). Another scientist from Berlin, Otto Hahn, and Lise Meitner started a research on the irradiation of uranium with neutrons. Together with Fritz Stra?mann, they succeeded in the first atom splitting in 1938. Indeed, in 1944, he won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for â€Å"his discovery of the fission of heavy (ur anium) nuclei as basis for the use of the nuclear energy†. His discovery was significant in the creation of nuclear bombs (Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH Web). Actually, Germany has the world’s largest neutron user community. We also have the Berlin Academy of Science that was founded in 1712 and the Academy of the Arts founded in 1696. To date, Berlin City has seven universities of applied sciences and more than 60 other institutions making it a 'capital of science' rich in academic life. We also have the Berlin Adlershof, which is a lighthouse scientific project, combining closely-connected exchanges of scientific ideas and cooperative agreements. Through scientific inventions, a turbine engine that could generate power for mills was introduced in Berlin. Moreover, in 1877, Furbish established the first chemical pulp mill in Berlin, Forest Fiber Co.  Equally, Berlin was the first federal State to have electric lights, the power for which was generated by the hydro electric power station from the Furbish Forest Fiber Mill (Bornstein Web). Today, Berlin has a highly complex transport subject to its diverse scientific innovations. In Berlin, numerous non-university institutes play a central role in the area of optical

Marginal Revolution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marginal Revolution - Research Paper Example In his treatment of the concept of human wants, we see a different connotation from that realized from Walras who showed no particular interest in that aspect and Jevons who viewed a want as a balance between the physical and mechanical forces of humanity. Walras and Jevons addressed the aspect of exchange of goods and services as the exchange between equivalents. Menger, on the other hand, felt that it was improper to regard quantities as equivalents in the subjective sense. On this account it is realized that Menger’s theory, unlike Walras’ and Jevons,’ could not effectively explain the concept of pricing. Menger did not, however, ignore the concept of price arbitrarily (Black 67). It was out of the feeling that price as an exchange measure was simply a superficial demonstration of much complex forces at play. Menger appears different from his two contemporaries given that he treats his theory in a way that is much connected to the real word. Therefore, unlike Jevons and Walras, he does not want to present his cases in grounded mathematical connotations which are quite common in mainstream economics. It is at this point that the Austrian School of thought began to emerge with Menger being the founder (Bellet 78). Menger wanted to relate his theory to the real world as much as possible. To him, this could only be facilitated by avoiding the representations of equilibrium as was common in the works of the other two economists. However, Menger was well aware of the possibility of attaining equilibrium levels in the real world. His concern was nevertheless on the impediments that would alter such an eventuality. Hence, he opted to take a new orientation with regard to equilibrium and disequilibrium. The greatest difference of Menger from Jevons and Walras lies in his (Menger) omission of integral and classical calculus from his works. Though he knew mathematics, he totally took a different turn with regard to the use of mathematics in economi cs. To him, mathematics should only be a subsidiary way of advancing economic knowledge but not as the central device of communicating economics. His different orientation in that respect was the main genesis behind the Austrian School of thought where economics is normally treated in theoretical means. The Austrian school was, therefore, developed directly from the different vies that Menger held in the practice of economics. Menger felt that economic inquiry should be conducted through the study of economic phenomena and realities in order to unearth the facts and not through the use of abstract mathematics which to him could not really bring the ideas into focus. In his works, Walras feels that through the construction of simultaneous equations to represent the marginal utility principle, the ultimate behavior of man could easily be traced. Much of that notion was shared by Jevons who also advocated the use of calculus and mathematical formulae in the understanding of economic be havior. To Menger, the object of economic inquiry was to bring into focus the behavior of man in all respects of life, a goal that could not be achieved through mathematics. The socialist arguments that were further grounded in the Austrian School of thought were mainly originally connected by Menger through his approach of economics. Ludwig Von Mises was most influenced by the works of Menger with respect to

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Computer architecture Essay Example for Free

Computer architecture Essay Describe how analogue data can be converted and stored in computer systems Analogue data needs to be sampled in order to be processed by a computer. As computers deal in Ones and Zeros it can only record specific intervals. For example, when recording a sound that gradually gets louder over a minute, a digital recording could record the level of sound every second, but would lose the information between seconds. If the sound was sampled every half second, there would be half as much information lost from the original source, but file size would be doubled. This is the trade off that has to be made between file size and quality. Bit depth is the number of bits of information recorded per second . The higher the bit depth means, the higher the sample rate and this results in higher quality sound file. A good example of bit depth is in CD quality audio which has a bit depth of 16 bits and a sample rate of 44. 1 kHz. Task 3 (P5) Describe the key components of a computer architecture and how they interact 1. Data Buffer this is a region of memory used to temporarily hold data while it is being moved from one place to another. 2. Accumulator A An 8 bit CPU has 1 register called the accumulator, this holds temporary data e. g. the carry-out when you do addition. 3. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) this is the workhorse of the CPU because it carries out all the calculations. 4. Data Buses the mechanism that moves information around a computer. 5. Address Buffer this holds the address part of the instruction register, 6. Program Counter this contains the location of the next instruction to be executed and, therefore, keeps track of where the computer is up to in a program. 7. Instruction Register (IR) this divides the information it receives into two fields. One field in the IR contains the operation code that tells the CPU what operation is to be carried out. The other field, called the operand field, contains the address of the data to be used by the instruction. 8. Condition Code Register (CCR) this takes a snapshot of the state of the ALU after each instruction has been executed and records the state of the carry, negative, zero, and overflow flag-bits. In the above diagram the flag-bits are H, I, N, Z, V C. Task 4 (P6) Describe the features of a processor Multi-tasking. Multi-tasking is a method where multiple processes are dealt with at once sharing common processing recourses such as a CPU. It involves the CPU assigning which instructions to be carried out first but it only focuses on one instruction at a time. Pipelining Pipelining is a method in which the Processor begins to execute a second instruction before the first has finished. Every pipeline is divided into segments and each segment can be ran along side each other. When each segment completes its task it moves on to the next. Cache (Level 1 and Level 2) Cache is a portion of memory made of high-speed static RAM (SRAM). As a result Cache memory is much more efficient than the main memory (RAM) which is dynamic RAM (DRAM) that runs slower but also cheaper. The cache is a smaller, faster memory which stores copies of the data from the most frequently used main memory locations. DRAM is dynamic in that, unlike SRAM, it needs to have its storage cells refreshed or given a new electronic charge every few milliseconds. SRAM does not need refreshing because it operates on the principle of moving current that is switched in one of two directions rather than a storage cell that holds a charge in place. If the computer processor can find the data it needs for its next operation in cache memory, it will save time compared to having to get it from random access memory. Level 1 cache is normally built on to the processor chip. It is extensively used for all sorts of purposes such as data fetching, data shifting and data loops, storing only small amounts of data. Level 2 cache is normally located on the motherboard. L2 cache stores much more data, coming usually from the L1 cache. L2 cache can be up to sixteen times the size of L1 cache; this also means that it takes up much more room so it has to be located on the motherboard. Clock Rate The clock rate is the speed at which a processor clock oscillates constantly from a one to a zero, this is measured in hertz. The clock rates speed is determined by an oscillator crystal and amplifier circuit inside a clock generator circuit. The limiting factor of the clock rate is the time it takes for the signal line to settle down from its on state to off state. The Clock rate is also as fast as L2 cache. Task 5 (P7) Describe the operation of logic gates using truth tables NOT Â  AND (2 inputs) OR (2 inputs) Consider how these three main gates can be combined. NOR (2 inputs) NOT Logic Gate also known as (Inverter) The output is true when only one input is false. Otherwise, the output is false. A Not gate is a logic gate which reverses the state of the input. AND Logic Gate The output is true when both inputs are true. Otherwise, the output is false. OR Logic Gate The output is true if either one or both of the inputs are true. If both inputs are false, then the output is false. These three main logic gates can be used to make other possible combinations of logic gates such as a NOR gate. NOR Logic Gate. The NOR gate is a combination of an OR gate followed by an inverter. The output is true if both inputs are false. Otherwise, the output is false. Task 6 (M1) Explain using examples how data travels around the processor Task 7 (M2) Create logic circuits using simple logic gates and provide truth tables This is a circuit that shows binary addition. Here are a few examples of the circuit being carried out. The Red circle/circles show input and Green circle/circles show output data This can be shown in the truth tables below. Task 8 (M4) Provide a description of both astable and bistable flip- flops. A flip-flop is an electrical circuit that can be in one of two states. Astable flip flop Astable flip flop is an oscillator which regularly switches states all the time. It has one 1 input and 1 Output. It can be used as a clock. Bistable flip flop Bistable flip flop is a memory device/gate which keeps one state indefinitely while it has power it also has 2 inputs and 2 outputs. The difference between An Astable and Bistable flip flops. A bistable flip-flop is a multivibrator with two stable states and can be put into either of its two states and it will stay like that. An example of this could be: A simple light switch; turn it on, it stays on, turn it off, it stays off. Task 9 (D1) Create complex logic circuits made up of arrays of simple logic circuits. To produce an addition of two numbers each of four bits in length we must first. You can add two numbers together each four bit in length by extending the first full adders carry out to another full adder and so on. Until you get 4 full adders each following on from the last carry out. The way a full adder works: The circuit adds two bits Input A and Input B, taking into account the previous carry in, to give the Sum, and the carry out. Now we know how a full adder works we can now relate this to the idea of 4 full adders joined together by the last carry out and the diagram below illustrates this. Diagram 1 These diagrams (below) will show you how you can add two four bit binary numbers together using a logic circuit. Example 1 Binary 1111+ 1111 ______ 11110 These binary numbers with value of 1 stand for both switches (The inputs i. e. the two four bit numbers added together) and the sum which in this case are shown by the flashing of LED lights (The sum is the output). 0 means no switch or light is active. The first line of inputs for this study will always be A4,A3,A2,A1 The second line of inputs for this study will always be B4,B3,B2,B1 these two numbers will be added together Then it is a long underscore followed by Carrys C3,C2,C1 directly underneath And then finally the output sum shown as O Task 10 (D2) Compare and contrast two different processors I will compare the AMD Opteron quad core and the Intel core 2 quad processor q9650. AMD Opteron quad core 64-bit Computing Yes L2 cache 512kb x4 L3 cache 2mb Clock Speed 2. 1Ghz Special Features Rapid Virtualization Indexing AMD Smart Fetch Technology Front Side Bus (FSB) Speed 2000Mhz Watts 45 Price i 165 new Intel core 2 quad processor q9650 64-bit Computing Yes L2 cache 12mb Clock Speed 3Ghz Special Features Intel Virtualization Technology Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology Front Side Bus (FSB) Speed 1533Mhz. Watts 65 Price i 223 new Key components: Front Side Bus The Front Side Bus allows the components to send and receive data from the CPU to the North Bridge and vise versa. The faster a computers bus speed, the faster it will operate, but a fast bus speed cant make up for a slow Clock Speed. Clock Speed The Clock Speed is the speed at which a microprocessor executes instructions these clock cycles per second are measured in hertz. Special Features: Virtualization -Virtualization also known as a virtual machine makes it possible to run multiple operating systems on one computer. SpeedStep Technology SpeedStep Technology is built into some new Intel processors this can be used to change the clock speed by using a piece of software. Speed Step Technology allows the processor to keep up with performed operations. It greatly reduces power consumption and heat loss. Smart Fetch Technology Smart Fetch Technology allows the processor core to enter a halt state and draw less power, which reduces CPU power consumption. Recommendation: Both processors have Quad-Core technology and 64 bit computing, however the difference is in the Clock speed, Cache memory and the extra features. Both processors have similar special features such as the AMD Rapid Virtualization Indexing and the Intel Virtualization Technology. Although the Intel core 2 quad processor q9650 has no L3 cache I think that the higher clock speed and L2 cache more than makes up for not having any L3 cache. Not to mention the Intel core 2 quad processor q9650 has Speed Step Technology which makes for a much greater performance. The Intel core 2 quad processor q9650 is more expensive but it is a price worth paying for such a greater performance.

Death of a Salesman †Arthur Miller Essay Example for Free

Death of a Salesman – Arthur Miller Essay The original title for Miller’s play was ‘The Inside of His Head’. How does Miller’s use of set, lighting and stage direction help us to understand this idea? Arthur Miller wrote Death of a Salesman in 1949. This date is the period after the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression and this is significant, as one of Miller’s aims in writing this play was that it would be a tragedy that American workers could relate to. The central themes and issues in the play are consumerism and exploitation; Miller wanted to write a play that was critical of capitalism and that would expose the falseness of the American Dream. The original title reflects one of the underlying themes in the play – the central character’s struggle to grasp the distinction between illusion and reality and the past and the present; often Willy Loman’s thoughts and views do not comply with those of the majority of the remaining cast. Miller uses symbolism, set, lighting and stage direction to help us to understand what is happening inside Willy’s head. One of the several symbols that give us an insight into Willy’s thoughts is the athletic trophy. It is placed on a shelf in the sitting room where it can be clearly seen; this demonstrates how important it is to the family. This importance then in turn shows that winning and competition are key ideas here and that this part of the American Dream is important to Willy and he prizes the achievements his son made as they show him as being superior to other people, which is what Willy is always striving to achieve, particularly in regards to Charly. In the same scene is the use of the melody of the flute. It reflects Willy’s father’s success as an entrepreneur (making wooden flutes), something Willy is always striving to achieve, and also the strong influence this has on his son. Also, the actual melody that is being played ‘tell(s) of grass and trees and the horizon’, and reminds us of the stark difference between the life Willy lived as a young child (with the father who he idolises) and the position he is in now; in an overcrowded area of New York, working for someone else (i.e., not working on his own terms, like his father) on commission. Another of the important symbols in the play is the lighting at the end of Act One. Just as Willy is talking about how great Biff was when he was younger, on another part of the set Biff walks into a gold pool of light, which is reflecting the praise Willy is giving him, the gold symbolising the initial power and success that he had. Also, just after this the light fades on Willy, representing the fact that his career, his influence on his children and possibly his life are drawing to a close. A further example of Miller’s symbolism in this play and his manipulation of non-naturalistic elements is in Act Two, the restaurant scene, with varied use of both lighting and music. The first of these symbols is the use of the ‘single trumpet note’ used in conjunction with ‘the light of green leaves’. This initiates the start of Willy’s mind thinking back to an event several years ago, the green of the leaves symbolising the time when the house was not surrounded by high rise flats, noise and pollution. Miller also says that the light ‘holds the air of a†¦ dream’, which is insinuating that at this point in time Willy’s dreams for himself and his children had not yet been ruined. This is upheld by the naturalistic state of his living environment. Throughout the scene the light continues to fluctuate and highlight different places and times. Another important part in this restaurant scene I when the music changes dramatically to accompany the presence of The Woman in Willy’s mind. The music is now ‘raw and sensuous’ highlighting one major part of Willy’s life, at this point in time, that does not fit into the same mould as the rest of his life; he is a family man, supportive of his children and striving to achieve new heights for his family, but now he is doing the very opposite of this by cheating on his wife, and so the music does not reflect any of the other, often light and cheerful melodies played on the flute. Up until Biff discovers his father with The Woman, no one else is aware of her part in Willy’s life, so even at this early stage, Willy will have thoughts inside his head which do not relate to those of an of the other central characters.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Technical Education Excellence Through Innovation

Technical Education Excellence Through Innovation TECHNICAL EDUCATION EXCELLENCE THROUGH INNOVATION. INTRODUCTION: Maidanavaruna general authority and power in the world of technology is an effective analytical tool due to global engineering education internationalization of education is a concept that shifts has turned out. Education excellence in manufacturing initiative primarily of an organization to obtain good fit and intelligent functionality in the context of the paucity of technical institutions in the country, second tier are available in number. India is now a major driver for innovation and engineering teaching has to be a balance of entertainment and Engineering Journal of teaching in the part of the company to engage with ISTE is the next to join the exciting and hearting . Acceleration of technical change is a feature of modern society leading. International National Stadium in technology has become a powerful tool for projecting power and strength. Research and increase advance and free enterprise excellence and official approval Process manufacturing contribution SUMMARY: The world faces sociological problem that is the result predominantly of the practical advance such as trouble of fast and extreme use of valuable and depletes raw resources. Engineering subject is bilateral and lectures from side to side â€Å"Chalk and Talk† may not be sufficient. With great latent obtainable with newest high speed CD computer, it has been possible to develop suitable teaching aids to conceptualize difficult engineering phenomena and products. The rapid advancement in ICT are making it inexpensively feasible to gather, store, procedure and transmit information at breathtaking speed, reduced cost particularly the transaction cost, raise output and increase financial good. Connectivity†: The access budding for in order and communiquà © skill must be slow by improving living infrastructure. â€Å"Capacity†: There is a require to increase person’s ability from side to side training to deploy in order and communication skill wisely and in their own notice. â€Å"Content†: in order and message technology application and happy must be urbanized and provided as necessary or related to the reality of life i.e., the in order in the net must be available even in the local lingo. There is a greater than ever fear that the enlargement of ICT will go later than alive appearance of shared and financial system difference and perhaps even make stronger prevalence example of shared care out. During India, literacy was 65.4% according to the latest poll in 2001. Not additional than 10%of our inhabitants has education above 10th benchmark. The National information assignment (NKC) constitute by management of India has purposeful on a integer of issues to add to autonomy and answerability and improved quality in higher edification Class of tuition at any level depends on the class of higher learning; of course the stress should be on improving the quality of teachers. Tutoring and research are continuous processes of advancing science and skill. We have a long way to go in the area of delve into publications and outcome of research students. Since there is a shortage of experienced and trained research engineer and technologist it would be appropriate to expand these facilities particularly in the engineering departments of the University, in its place of creating new research cells outside. Inter departmental collaboration of investigate and growth work would be and be grateful for means for such growth. CONCLUSION: It twisted third main technological and technical personality survival of significant R$D institution, fourth major army and railway system. India is produce all her required of purchaser goods a bull of creator kit. Making do, novelty and performance are vital constituent in understanding of a lively technical society of the prospect considerably depends on your ability to think authenticity. ENGINEERING EDUCATION AND INNOVATION. INTRODUCTION: Education is an important input both of the swelling of the society as strong as for the individual instruction opens new horizon for an personage. Knowledge and developed are product of elementary discover in basic science inventive genius tried to use these discover of new developed product and for other human needs. Novelty Engineering is to help persons reignite culture of novelty within their organizations by transform the mindset of both the management and the labor force. This is accomplished by educating and enable innovation changeThe engineering education in India arose out of necessity for the tanning of obverses intended for construction and maintenance of public structure, road candle and port, and of the training of artisans and craftsmen. Role of technical education in the growth of India has been recognized in independent India pt. Nehru our first primenister, referred to India’s first IIT at kharagpur as’’ representing India urges India future in the making symbolic of the changes that are coming. One of the essential purpose of higher education is produced original thinker’s who revel in expending frontiers of knowelegement engineering education is a key part higher education system in India. SUMMARY: It must also be realize that public costs on edification have also better many folds throughout last two tactics and the central government have shaped many new and modernism institute such as IIT and NISER in adding to new IIT and IIM and central universes. Administration tactics to set up thirty new universities, five new Indian institutes of science education and research. During a variety of period of our history this core of learning continued but new addition were made by thickness, education and run through people in each era consisted with the need of the society later. Novelty in curriculum and programmes teaching means and aids interdisciplinary. Enduring learning and the qualitative alteration and. Recognize ion and assessment. Scholar satisfaction method. Industry feedback. Developed of more demanding curriculum material. Govt. set standard, ongoing programme for intensive teacher training. Student appraisal, restricting of learning location. The aooroches and development used for it can be any or all of the following, modeeernized of syllabi, enlarged and branch and increased allotment of funds. As India as all the resource and potential to became a regional therefore an increasing number of student from neighbour country will choose the countries as their preferred destination for higher education. Our system of assessments and benches making must be integrated with those of the world. The process must be transparent and based on the parameters used globally for such benchmarking. Composition of teams at work place both organized and unorganized sector shall be must skilled multi cultural mulltingul and multi ethnical system employer would have no simple say in choosing the team. The total number of university stood at 367 now. CONCLUSION: The earth need freedom from strife, progress, collective cohesion and muscle to live tighter readily available is a require to express our young age group to idea of ordinary patience and peace. The prospect programme for teaching will be to empower person assure high quality of existence and pave way to knowledge society. The new scheme of teaching has to be entrenched culture and dyed-in-the-wool to progress and makes feel superior to be Indian. Who revel in expending frontiers of knowelegement manufacturing education is a key part superior teaching arrangement in India. KNOWLEDGE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EXCLLENCE IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION. INTRODUCTION: Knowledge rigorous education and research environment, it is important to strengthen knowledge infrastructure in engineering institution to foster world classiness, tech-savvies and quality of service for excellence in education, research and innovations. The society has made a significant contribution to the growth of academic quality, to the promotion of quality UG and PG project, to the causes of Faculty Development and to the causes of bridging the gap between the current state of technology and knowhow and the knowledge and skill set imparted in the institutions. The national knowledge commission in its Report to the Nation 2006 has called for creating a synergy between Education and Research in the technical education. Creation of such a network for the country shall empower our higher education system to take full advantage of the power of connectivity and power of networking which will then be utilized to create advantage India in higher education, more so in technical. Furth er the cause of excellence in technical education in India and for that reason anywhere else in the world cannot be effectively served in the connected knowledge economy today without the access and use of the vast knowledge warehouse available on the net. SUMMARY: Crisis of India as an information Superpower in the new years is now life form well recognized approximately the globe. India, porcelain and WE are being future as the top three economies of the world. India’s rapid progression to a fastest growing economy could be likely primarily since of important growth of science and technology institution well-known in the country during the last 4 decades. Innovation Engineering is a new field of college study and industrial live out based on a body of knowledge comprise of 48 Skills. It is a multi-disciplinary field blending the humanities, engineering, production, and obvious law. In piece of information, the world famous IT organization such as a Microsoft, Intel, AMD, Oracle, CISCO and others have utilize the genius of Indian manufacturing graduates to propel technology innovation and manufactured goods development. Extra, Research centre being set up in India both by Indian and foreign company keep on to attract manufacturing and technology alumni from Indian institutions. In the near era where knowledge reigns utmost, it is important to identify that the maturity of a country is propel by the supremacy of scientific and technological innovations and is driven by the growth of knowledge easy industrial background. focus of engineering and technology institutions, except the IITs and a few selected PG institutions, has been primarily to provide undergraduate studies in engineering and technology while the postgraduate studies and research have been limited to approximately 35000 candidates in 268 AICTE approved institutions of engineering and technology in addition to 54167 candidates enrolled in MCA in 1012 institutions as per the Annual Report 2003-2004 of AICTE. Creating Knowledge Infrastructure in engineering and technology institutions is a dire need at present if we have to transform Indian engineering education system to a system tuned to technology and product innovation alongside with the development of world-class quality human capital. Research and Development – programs that support innovation through investments into research projects and/or investments into research centres and equipments, by establishing Centres of Excellence for Information and Communication technology. It is an asset to prepare Indian Technology Universities to rasp the challenges of the acquaintance age. CONCLUSION: The nationally Knowledge duty in its account to the realm has outline the urgency of create the synergy between lessons and research in institutions of higher in order. acquaintance modernization nurture in the ST in India on the might of the inventive genius and back by a in the soft tissue powerful knowledge interactions can go faster the pace of India’s march on the Knowledge super pathway. extra, in the area of technical education leveraging benefit technology assist by the power of technology innovation can help in considerably improving the quality of teaching and research, effectively meeting the challenge of acute sense shortage and current low pace of world class research and new manufactured goods development. Let us make an unconditional assure to fostering a new era of excellence in technical tutoring, investigate and innovation in our institutional campus.

Enduring Love: An Analysis

Enduring Love: An Analysis Ian McEwan in the novel ‘Enduring Love depicts the theme of obsession in many diverse forms. McEwan uses different styles of language to portray the characters and their many types of â€Å"unhealthy obsessions†. By exploring the ways McEwan presents each character, we can clearly observe the extremely obvious obsessions, yet that is not the case, lying below the surface there are yet more delicate and subtle obsessions that each character exhibits. The most evident obsession in this work of fiction is Jed Parrys obsession with Joe Rose. As the reader, we find this most disturbing because of the intensity that it is presented to us within the novel. At the opening of the narrative, directly after the misfortune accident, Joe Rose proceeds down the hill to inspect John Logans body, closely followed by Jed Parry. McEwan utilizes his use of language with talented effect to get across Jed Parrys obsession with religious conviction and Parrys dialogue to show his zeal to pray. ‘I dont think you understand. You shouldnt you know, think of this as some kind of duty. Its like, your own needs are being answered? Its got nothing to do with me, really, Im just the messenger. Its a gift. In addition to the first, quote ‘ I mean, you dont have to believe in anything at all, just let yourself do it and I promise you, I promise Jeds reiteration within the sentence and the word ‘promiseshows Jed Parry pleading with Joe Rose an d expresses his heartfelt beliefs. There is also a ‘weirdness as Joe Rose makes the decision to tell Jed Parry the insensitive truth about his religion ‘Because, my friend, no ones listening. Theres no one up there. ‘Parrys head was cocked, and the most joyous of smiles was spreading across his face. This is a significant moment in the novel as we soon uncover, that the source of the story and Jeds obsession unfold after the fateful meeting following the tragic accident of John Logan. McEwan uses religious imagery to convey the embarrassment felt by Joe and passion of Jeds beliefs. ‘†¦, as I saw it, to deliver me from the radiating power of Jed Parrys love and pity. The use of the verb ‘deliver has staunch religious overtones and suggests deliverance in the same Christian sense of Jesus ‘delivered mankind. McEwan also makes use of the phrase ‘radiating power. This is for the most part an effective use of imagery as it conveys the idea of Jed Parry being the source of the obsession, which spreads out and has an effect on those around him. Jeds obsession with religion and his growing obsession surrounding Joe Rose are interlinked. Jeds strange behaviour towards Joe intensifies with his religious zeal. McEwan expresses this in their second meeting; we begin to understand Jeds reasoning and motivation for needing Joe to pray. ‘To bring you to God, through love. Youll fight this like mad because youre a long way from your own feeling? But I know that the Christ is within you. At some level you know it too. Thats why you fight it so hard with your education and reason and logic and this detached way you have of talking, as if youre not part of anything at all? You can pretend you dont know what Im talking about, perhaps because your want to hurt me and dominate me, but the fact is I come bearing gifts. The purpose is to bring you to the Christ that is in you and that is you. By placing importance on the word ‘purpose this shows Jeds intent and in due course the motivation behind his pursuit of Joe. In a strange twisted logic, Jed is using his faith as rationalization for his obsession. McEwan symbolizes Jeds necessitate for Joe through the quotation ‘He was watching my face with a kind of hunger, as desperation. ‘Hunger and ‘desperation give the reader a sense of the voracious passion that Jed feels for Joe.   McEwan also presents Jeds obsession through the letters that he sends to Joe. The letters act rather like a soliloquy in a theatre would and we are able to see the character of Jed without Joes perception as the narrator. The letters are perhaps the most disturbing part of the obsession as McEwan reveals Jeds raw emotion and obsession with Joe Rose. ‘Joe, Joe, Joe†¦.Ill confess, I covered five sheets of paper with your name. The use of repetition emphasises Joe as the subject of Jeds obsession and the action of writing his name over sheet of paper is a sign of immaturity. ‘Does it horrify that I can see through you so easily? A rhetorical question appeals directly to the reader as we see events through Joes eyes and reveal an insidious side to Jeds character.   Yet there could be deeper obsessions such as Clarissa with children or even Keats.

Friday, September 20, 2019

The role of accounting information on business strategy formulation

The role of accounting information on business strategy formulation Abstract Although strategy development in large corporations has been well documented, the process of strategy deployment in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) has not been extensively investigated by academic researchers. This study tries to provide new empirical evidence and the practical realities on the nature and practice of strategic planning in Greek companies. Its primary target is to examine the formulation of strategic planning in Greek SMEs and also the role of accounting information on the business strategy of SMEs in Greece. The results of the research indicate a positive relationship between strategic planning implementation and accounting information received by accountants and used by SMEs and no relationship with other sources of advice such as government agencies or bank advisors. The importance that is given to sales, costs and profits signifies a business planning rather than a strategic planning orientation of Greek SMEs Keywords: strategic planning, strategic activities, external advisors, accounting information Introduction Academic literature in strategic management of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has been very limited. Although the nature of strategic planning processes has been shown to have an important effect on the performance of firms [1], the field of strategic planning in SMEs is still in the early stages of its development. Its adolescence, relative to other more established areas of business and management theory, is evidenced by inconsistent and conflicting viewpoints [2] and only a few researchers have addressed the strategy-making processes of SMEs [3]. Limited research can also be observed on the usage of information from SMEs when strategically planning. Drury and Tayles [4] suggested that there is a need for more research that explores in much greater depth how managers use financial and non financial information. Recent research has shown that most SMEs are unable to utilize accounting and financial information. Owner-managers of SMEs may be expected to be fully aware of the product/service markets that their business are based in, but they may not be trained or proficient in accounting or financial management [5].The aim of this study is to add to the developing literature on strategic planning implementation in SMEs in Greece. Specifically the objectives of the study are to explore the extent of strategic planning of SMEs, to investigate the activities that owner/managers plan in advance and to identify internal and external advisors that help SMEs to strategically plan. Strategic Management and Strategic Planning Strategy is a term that is widely used by senior and middle managers. But the term seems to have multiple of meanings. There is no commonly accepted and universal meaning of strategy [6]. Due to this fact the definition of strategy has been the subject of extensive research since the 1960s. It has been described as the process of determining the long-term goals and objectives of an organization, by adopting a specific course of action and by allocating sufficient resources [7]. This traditional and rational definition was later challenged by Mintzberg contention that strategy was more a pattern of action resulting from intended or unintended strategies. Mintzberg claimed that strategy could be something more than an explicit plan of action. His five strategy dimensions that he recognized were: strategy as plan, strategy as pattern,strategy as ploy, strategy as perspective and strategy as position. These have been the basis for opening up the definition of strategy to a wider context of use [8]. Strategic planning concentrates on the setting of long-term organizational objectives, and the implementation of plans designed to achieve them. A suitable definition of strategic planning can be the devising and formulation of organizational level plans which set the broad and flexible objectives, strategies and policies of a business, driving the organization towards its vision of the future [2]. Porter [9] noted that further work was needed to enable business to understand strategic planning by arguing that while there has been considerable progress in developing frameworks that explain differing competitive success, at any given point in time, our understanding of the dynamic process by which firms perceive and ultimately attain superior market positions is far less developed. The SMEs literature Small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial part for the economic growth of a country. SMEs contribute to outputs and employment and also affect the competitive ability of the large organizations [10]. SMEs can influence the competitiveness of large organizations by providing high quality inputs [11]. The importance of small and medium size businesses for future economic development has been reflected in a number of policy papers which have focused attention on the role of entrepreneurship, owner-managers and the small firm sector [12]. 3.1 The SMEs sector in Greece The contribution of the SMEs in the development, the employment and social coherence in Greece is substantial. In Greece, enterprises that have fewer than 50 employees form about 99.5 per cent of the total number of enterprises and employ the 74 per cent of the work force of the private sector. It should also be noted that Greek SMEs provide 70% of the new employment, reinforce the regional development and financial balance of the regions and make part of a cohesive financial and social link in Greek society. The role of SMEs in the national economy and employment is vital, since the main business model in Greece is and it will remain the micro enterprise which employs less than 10 persons. According to the criteria set by the European Commission, Greece has more than 733.000 qualified SMEs, from which more than half, 394.000 or the 53.7 per cent does not employ any salaried workers and they employ 11 people on average. [13] 3.2 Strategy in SMEs Academic research has been conducted on several broad fronts in order to define strategy in SMEs, from planning processes, to the individual personality of the owner-manager and the growth of a wide range of available advisory services providing information on strategic choice. Perry et al [14] argued that strategy should be examined in the everyday operating environment of the small firm. The formulation of strategy in SMEs has been the theme of many academic researchers. Some studies [15] examined the link between planning and performance in SMEs, while others [16] explored the difficulty of defining planning and strategic planning, and its dimensions, such as planning formality and performance in the small firm context. The definition of strategy in SMEs is often perceived as person centred rather than process driven. The performance of small firms is linked with the leadership style of the owner. Nahavandi and Malekzedah [17] in 1993 argued that the style and personality of the manager is central to the strategy definition process. Noble [18] after a series of exploratory interviews with the managing directors of SMEs, suggests that strategic deployment often fails as a result of SMEs inability to forecast and overcome implementation barriers. ORegan and Ghobadian [3] indicated a number of general barriers relating to the constraint of strategic planning implementation such as communication was inadequate, implementation took longer than expected, a shortfall in employee skills, objectives of strategy were not clearly understood by the staff, ineffective co-ordination of implementation, crises distracted attention from implementation, unexpected external problems arose and external factors impacted on implementation. Research Design This research applies the quantitative method to examine the implementation of strategic planning in SMEs in Greece. The central aim of the research is to provide empirical evidence on how SMEs use strategic planning and what kind of advice they use to aid them. Data were gathered by means of a survey questionnaire, all questions used a five-point Likert type scale; with a response of 1 indicating that an item received not agree and 5 indicating an item received agree. The sample consists of small and medium enterprises that are located in the Greek capital Athens and belong to the service and manufacturing sector. Questionnaires were distributed to a whole sample of 546 owner managers of small and medium sized enterprises. A postal questionnaire was used instead of sending e-mails, in order and to protect the participants anonymity and because some owner-managers were not familiar with the use of e-mails. From a total of 546 questionnaires mailed, 178 were returned, representing a 32 per cent response rate. Out of these 19 were found to have missing data and were deemed void. Therefore, data was collected from a total of 159 sets, representing a satisfactory response rate of approximately 29 per cent. The questionnaire consisted of 4 sections, covering the following aspects: Strategic planning implementation in SMEs Strategic planning activities Advisors that affect strategic planning Accounting information used for strategic planning Prior to distributing the questionnaire to the sample, a pilot study was conducted to discover any errors, ambiguities, inadequate answers, or highlight any confusing questions. Enterprises that participated in the pilot study were excluded from the main study. Research Questions of the study Question 1: Is there a significant relationship between Strategic Planning Implementation and the Total Strategic Planning Activities? Question 2: Is there a significant relationship between Strategic Planning Implementation and the use of internal advisors? Question 3: Is there a significant relationship between Strategic Planning Implementation and the use of external advisors? Question 4: Is there a significant relationship between Strategic Planning Implementation and the use of accounting information? Findings and Discussion The findings of the present research are contradictory in certain respects. Despite a sizeable majority of respondents indicating that their companies undertake strategic planning, there is limited evidence of practical strategic planning in the sense of setting long-term business objectives. Research by Stonehouse and Pemberton [2] that was conducted for British SMEs had the similar results. In their research the 92 per cent of the companies indicated that they undertake strategic planning, either highly structured or of a general nature. They have found that most of these organizations were concentrated on short-term sales, cost and profit targets rather than longer-term goals. 6.1 Strategic planning implementation and strategic planning activities Question 1 examined the relationship between strategic planning implementation and strategic planning activities In order to answer the above question relating with the strategic planning implementation and the strategic planning objectives, correlation tests and T-tests were employed. First the researchers with the use of factor analysis divided the strategic planning activities (objectives) into three categories. In the first category were sales, costs, profits, production/service procedure and customer service. In the second category were staff training, staff appraisal, staff recruitment and advertising and in the third category were the market share, the expansion of the size of the enterprise and the mission of the company. With the use of Pearsons and Spearmans correlation it was found that strong relationship between strategic planning implementation and strategic activities exists only for sale targets, cost targets, profit targets, production outcome targets and for the improvement of quality service. Greek owner managers of SMEs in their great majority when strategically planning, neglect activities such as staff appraisal, training and recruitment, advertising, mission fulfillment and market share targets. The above results are in line with the findings reported by Stonehouse and Pemberton [2]. They found that contradictions between strategic planning implementation and strategic planning activities could be explained in terms of a difference in perception between managers and academics on the nature of strategic planning. Furthermore, most Greek companies refer to strategic planning, but in practice they are more concerned with short-term objectives and what would be regarded by academic researchers as business planning. 6.2 Strategic planning and internal advice and assistance Question 2 examined the relationship between strategic planning implementation and human resources capital and internal advisors employed for strategic planning in Greek SMEs. Pearson Correlation and Spearman Correlation tests were used in order the research question to be answered. The study on Greek SMEs has not found a significant relationship between strategic planning and human resources capital employed. Most owner managers surveyed did not share the belief that the personnel have the skills or the experience to assist in the deployment of strategic plans. This result can be confirmed by the findings of research question 1, that owner managers do not have long-term plans for their staff recruitment, training and appraisal The above results are in contradiction with a research on Spanish SMEs by Aragon-Sanchez and Sanchez-Marin [19] who revealed that owner managers focus their attention on human resources as a key element that allows them to achieve a sustainable advantage. They noted that the competitiveness of SMEs is based on internal elements supported by resources such as personnel and their skills. But other studies had similar results with what was found about the Greek SMEs. ORegan and Ghobadian [3] identified a number of general barriers relating to the constraint of strategic planning implementation. Their pilot study confirmed eight main barriers with the shortfall in employee skills being one of them. The research by Hall and Young [20] on 182 failed small enterprises indicated that the most important cause for the failure of these companies were shortages in working capital (51.4 per cent). 6.3 The necessity of external advice Question 3 examines the relationship between strategic planning implementation and the use of external advice by the owner managers. Pearson Correlation and Spearman Correlation tests were used for the analysis of this question. The results of this research suggest that SMEs in Greece receive valuable external advise in order to plan strategically mainly from accountants. Government agencies and bank advisors are not contributing as beneficial advisors for the owner managers and only a minority of the respondents state that they receive useful advices for strategic planning. Pearsons correlation test has shown that there is a significant relationship between strategic planning implementation and the use of accountants, while there is not a significant relationship between other external advisors (government agencies and bank advisors) and strategic planning implementation. These results are in line with previous studies which have investigated the association of strategy formulation and external advice. Berry, Sweeting and Goto [21] conducted a research on SMEs located in Manchester and found that most of the business advisers had limited use by the owner managers. Only accountants had a key role in the processes of the SMEs but mostly on statutory work. They have also identified that accountants made a significant effort to shift into the value-adding areas of the SMEs; at it was perceived by the owner managers in the sample. Alattar [22] found that the use of an accountant to be responsible for the accounting function in the enterprise resulted in a provision of more information which was useful for maintaining better planning and control. Deakins et al [12] study indicates that an important task for accountants is to act as a consultant to the owner managers and that this involves supplying advice on internal planning, decision-making and control. Gooderham et al [23] stated that in many countries, smaller business accountants play an important role as business advisers in addition to providing accounting services. 6.4 Accounting Information used as tools for strategic planning implementation Question 4 examined the relationship between strategic planning implementation and accounting information used as a tool by owner managers for strategic planning in SMEs using Pearson Correlation and Spearman Correlation. This research has shown that owner managers of Greek SMEs take under serious consideration the accounting information they receive from external advice and they apply them as tools when they implement their strategic plans. This finding was consistent with what should have been expected as accounting information have been identified as crucial elements of strategic planning Stonehouse and Pemberton [2] noted that there is little evidence of usage of the tools of strategic analysis with the most common tool relating to internal financial analysis. Collis and Jarvis [5] identified the three main resources of information used in the management of small companies; management accounts; cash flow information and bank statements. They have found that most SMEs use accounting information such as profit and loss account, balance sheet, cash flow statement and forecast and ratio analysis in order to monitor the profitability and for planning and controlling. Hall and Youngs research [20] showed that poor use of accounting information was one of the main reasons that led into failure the 38 per cent of the 21 small enterprises surveyed. Randal and Horsman [24] found that the lack and misuse of accounting information contributed to small enterprise failure. Holmes and Nicholls [25] suggested that the quality of accounting information utilised within small enterpris es had a positive relationship with their performance. Conclusion This study has tried to examine from the respondents perspective the extent to which Greek SMEs use strategic planning and the influence of accounting information in the design and deployment of these plans. This paper has tried to identify relationships and differences, among the SMEs surveyed, between strategic planning implementation and (1) strategic planning activities of the firm; (2) the human resource capital; (3) external advice from, government agencies, banks and accountants; (4) accounting information such as profit and loss accounts, cost accounts, sales accounts, accounting ratios from the balance sheet and sales forecasts. The results of the analysis have shown that owner managers when strategically plan emphasise on activities such as profits, sales, costs, production outcomes and costumer service. The importance that is given to short-term financial objectives (sales, costs, profits) confirms a predisposition towards business planning rather than strategic planning. Other business objectives, that are closer related to strategic planning such as the companys mission, human resource training, market share targets and enterprise size targets are completely left out from strategic planning by the majority of the owner managers. The use of accounting information and advice received from accountants were, according to the owner managers, the most significant factors that facilitated them during the design and implementation of their strategic plans. In the contrary, it was found that the human resources of the SMEs and external advice from government agencies and banks did not have an important role in strategic planning implementation.