A commentary on the potentials of social media applications Essay

A commentary on the potentials of social media applications - Essay Example 11 Supporting of experimentation and take up 12 Creation of synergies: 13 Bibliography 19 Introduction The previous five years have resulted to a growing excitement within the community of education about web2.0 technologies. The technology is an umbrella term used to refer to numerous internet applications including wikis, social networking, virtual societies, folksonomies and blogging among others. Even though these applications differ in function and form, all of them share a characteristic that is common. That is, the supporting of interaction that is internet based within and between groups. Web 2.0 technology marks a different isolation from the 1900s internet applications and also the early 2000s internet applications, allowing forms of exchange that are â€Å"interactive† rather than broadcast† whereby information sharing is â€Å"many-to-many† as compared to one to many. Web 2.0 applications focus around sharing and appropriation of content between commun ity users whose outcome is multiple dimensions of user-driven communication, content recreation and creation and collaboration. Commentators are now talking of a write/read web where individuals can generate easily their own content and also utilize content generated by others. For instance, Wikipedia is unique from the online Encyclopaedia Britanica. This is because, Wikipedia is a document that is open thus being updated, created, refereed and edited by its readers. This has made it derive authority and accuracy from the ever ongoing consensus and discussions rather than depending on a single expert word. Given the significance of collaboration, creation and communication to using of the above named technologies, educationalist have been on the forefront pointing out the web 2.0 potential for enhancing and supporting learning. The education agendas have focused on social software emerging practices. Social software is categorized broadly as software that enables interaction betwee n groups. The most common among individuals are discussion forums that are internet based, dating sites and social networking. From the studies carried out by the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS), it was concluded that, new opportunities for modernising and innovating training and education institutions and for purposes of preparing the 21st century learners, could only be achieved through the uptake of social media applications outside settings of formal education (Alan-Mutka 2009, 2010). The increased rates of internet use for mail sending and receiving are a good indicator of the conceived significance of the internet for knowledge and communication. In addition to that, the internet is crucial for information exchange. With the innovation and introduction of multiple applications in social media, interactive and active internet usage has been encouraged and the trend is further developing. The social media applications provide its users with communities and online networks for knowledge exchange and multi-directional communication (Fry 2004, p.305). Moreover, this application allows individuals to share and publish digital content like videos, photos and music. In the current world, the educational use of social software is not well incorporated. As such multiple actions are needed across practice, policy and developer communities prior to it becoming effective and widespread.

Fibonacci And The Golden Ratio Mathematics Essay

Fibonacci And The Golden Ratio Mathematics Essay Some aspects of mathematics can be dull and tedious from start to end, much of it however is intriguing and inspiring, when you truly see the beauty and the relevance. This is why I would like to bring to your attention the magic of the Fibonacci numbers. If you have ever looked at a sheet of paper and wondered Why do we use those dimensions? or looked at the leaf or an attractive plant and wondered Why can I never find a four leaved clover? then this may be of some interest. Many of these things are quite interconnected in a way you would not realise, and most of them are connected by the Fibonacci sequence. If I return to one of my original questions Why can I never find a four leaved clover? it seems reasonable, that if you can find 3 leaved clover and 5 leaved clover, you would be able to find the more symmetrical 4 leaved clover. Why then is it so rare to find one? If we look closely at other examples of nature, we can perhaps find the answer. If you were to search through your average garden, you would find the majority of flowers have 5 petals, many have 3 or 8 or more but if you look closely, you will always find more of certain numbers, compared to others. These numbers just so happen to be part of the Fibonacci sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89 Although, why does nature choose these numbers over others? In addition, the connection between the real world and this sequence does not just end there; it can be found almost everywhere we look: spirals on a snail shell, the core of an apple, geometry, art, architecture, the stock market and even the human body. So what makes it so useful? Why is it so special? My project intends to answer these questions and along the way discover new applications and more examples. I will be delving into the mathematical concepts behind the nature we see every day, the regular objects we rely on, the human body and the stock market. I shall also investigate aspects of the golden ratio and how the Fibonacci sequence is related to this. The Fibonacci sequence is found by adding the previous term to the term before that. For example: 0, 1, 1, 2, ? 0 +1=1 1+1=2 1+2=3 and so on.. Overall equation for next term: a_(n+1)= a_n+ a_(n-1) This creates an infinite sequence of numbers and is known as a recursive sequence, as each number is a function of the previous two. Also, as the sequence progresses the ratio between each consecutive term seems to converge upon a single number. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89 2/1=2 3/2=1.5 5/3=1.667 8/5=1.6 13/8=1.625 21/13=1.615 F=1.618034 Eventually, it converges to 1.618034 This number has a specific interest to many mathematicians and is known as the golden ratio. It is also useful when we consider where it is found. If you were to take your hand and bend the index finger as full as possible, measuring the dimensions of the rectangle created, you would find what is known as a golden rectangle. The average height (of the intermediate phalange) would be around 3cm and the average length (of the proximal phalange) would be 5cm. As we can see from left this creates a shape of ratio 5:3 or simply 1.667:1 (the golden ratio). This is only one of the many examples of golden ratio in the body. There are many, many more some of which have been known for hundreds of years (see Da Vinci s Vitruvian man right). Also, the golden ratio is not just confined to the human body. Rather than cutting and apple from pole to pole, if you were to slice in a horizontal fashion, you would find a simple five pointed star. However, it is much more complex than meets the eye. If you were to take the distance AB as 1 unit, the distance AC would be 1.618, the golden ratio. But why does this happen, what make this ratio so efficient and so appealing, and why has nature adopted it? History of the Sequence and Ratio From the start of the Palaeozoic era, 400 million years ago, animals of divine proportions have been roaming the earth. The most notable is the nautilus shell (right) which follows a logarithmic spiral based on the golden ratio in rectangles. The earliest written documentation of a special ratio belongs to the Rhind papyrus. A scroll about 6 metres long and 1/3 of a metre wide, it is one of the first mathematical handbooks. It was discovered by Scottish Egyptologist Henry Rhind in 1858 and is believed to have been written by Egyptian scribe, Ahmes in 1650 BC. He is believed to have copied it, from a document 200 years older, dating the first notation of the sequence to 1850 BC. However, the pyramids, built 1000 years previous, show many examples of the use of golden ratio, although many scholars believe it is merely coincidence created by the need for right angles. Between the 6th and 3rd centuries, Greek philosophers, mathematicians and artists used and analysed the golden ratio. It is visible in pentagons and pentagrams throughout the period and was attributed to Pythagoras and his followers. It was used as part of his symbol (a pentagram with a pentagon within) and it was he, who first suspected the proportion was the basis of the human figure. Plato also studied the ratio naming it most blinding of mathematical relations, the key to the physics of the cosmos. and from his lectures so did Eudoxus, whose work was used by Euclid in his book of elements II. Here he writes one of the first definitions A straight line is said to have been cut in extreme and mean ratio when, as the whole line is to the greater segment, so is the greater to the less. During his work he creates problems based on the ratio in pentagons, equilateral triangles and some of his prepositions show the ratio to be an irrational number. The first person to apply numbers and sequence to construct the golden ratio was Leonardo of Pisa (full name, Leonardo Pisano Bigollo, lived 1180-1250). He was the son of an Italian businessman from the city of Pisa and grew up within a trading colony in North Africa. At the time, Italy and the majority of Europe was using the Roman numeral system of counting, this was quite complex and meant most calculations required an abacus. While growing up in Algeria he learned the Hindu-Arabic system of calculation (the familiar 0, 1, 2). After returning to Pisa as a young man in the thirteenth century, he recognised the superiority of this new structure and began to spread it throughout Europe. He did this through his book the Liber Abaci (book of abacus) published in 1202 under the nickname, Fibonacci (a contraction of filius Bonacci, meaning son of Bonacci). To explain the system he used the Fibonacci sequence in his famous immortal rabbits problem (see next section of more detail). This allowed him to explain addition, subtraction and division using the Hindu- Arabic system and in turn allowed him to popularise it through Western Europe. Due to this he was later known as the founder of western mathematics and the greatest European mathematician of the middle ages. He introduced concepts such as algebra, geometry, the common fraction and even the square root symbol. He also considered the possibility of negative numbers and related it to merchant problems which began with a debt. There was very little significant work done upon the topic until 1509, when Luca Pacioli published De Divina Proportione with the help of illustrations by Leonardo Da Vinci, who later used this within his famous work the Vitruvian man . In 1611, German astronomer Johann Kepler discovered the numbers within his own work on planetary motion saying as 5 is to 8, so is 8 to 13, practically, and as 8 is to 13, so is 13 to 21 almost in relation to the rings around Saturn. It was later found that the ratio of mean distance between planets was in fact the golden ratio. Over the next two centuries many scholars investigated the sequence, deriving formulas and functions. In 1830, A. Braun first applied the sequence to the arrangement of bracts on a pinecone. A decade later and J.P.M. Binet derived a formula for the value of any Fibonacci number without the need for the previous two. nth number= 1/(v5) ((1+v5)/2)^n- 1/(v5) ((1-v5)/2)^n In 1920, Oxford Botanist A.H Church discovered spirals on sunflower heads corresponded to the numbers in Fibonacci s rabbit problem (see next section). This discovery inspired botanists to look for Fibonacci numbers elsewhere, teams then began to realise that many phyllotactic ratio s are golden ratio s (see flower patterns and primorda). In the 1930 s, Joseph Schillinger consciously composed a piece of music using Fibonacci intervals and Ralph Elliot began predicting the stock market in Fibonacci periods. By the 1960 s, a lively interest had been aroused and to this day mathematicians around the world are investigating the uses and problems connected with the sequence. The Immortal Rabbits Problem To explain his mathematical theorems, Fibonacci liked to create problems to allow his audience to use the maths he tried to describe. The immortal rabbits problem is one such challenge. It was first described within his famous Liber abaci and was later adopted as an explanation for the Fibonacci sequence. Imagine if you will a large enclosure and within it a pair of rabbits. The immortal rabbit problem asks if there is one pair to begin with, how many rabbits will there be after a certain length of time if: Each rabbit is immortal They stay within their pairs They breed once per month and produce a pair each time Each new pair takes 1 month to mature, and then breeds to form a new pair the next month January, we start with 2 rabbits, these then take one month to breed.. February, there is now one adult pair and a new born pair of immature rabbits. March, the new born pair have now matured, and the adult pair have reproduced April, the new born pair from March have now developed, the first pair reproduce again and the second pair reproduce for the first time.. The pattern continues until Month Pairs of mature rabbits Pairs of immature rabbits Overall Number of Pairs January 1 0 1 February 1 1 2 March 2 1 3 April 3 2 5 May 5 3 8 June 8 5 13 July 13 8 21 August 21 13 34 September 34 21 55 October 55 34 89 November 89 55 144 December 144 89 233 After a while, we begin to notice a pattern, the total number of rabbits in any given month is a Fibonacci number. This is because the total is formed from the number of immature rabbits (the same as the number of mature rabbits the last month) and the number of mature rabbits (the total from the previous month) i.e. a_(n+1)= a_n+ a_(n-1) Another interesting note is the rate of growth in the population. 2/1 = 2 3/2= 1.5 5/3= 1.666 8/3= 1.625 . this continues until we reach a_(n+1)/a_n =1.618034.. i.e. the Golden Ratio. Flower patterns and primorda As we have seen in the introduction, nature has applied the Fibonacci sequence and golden ratio from the number of petals on a flower, to the core of an apple and the spirals of a sunflower. On the face of it, this seems to be a fortunate and appealing coincidence, but since the 1920 s botanist have searched and found more and more of these coincidences . This leads us to believe that perhaps, they have a much deeper and more interesting meaning for the life of your average plant. Maybe these numbers and ratios were chosen for a reason. Even from Egyptian times it was noted that most flowers had 5 petals, the rest by majority also have Fibonacci numbers of petals. Also, if you examine the many plant stems you will find the regular pattern or 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 stems at standard heights. Another interesting phenomenon, and one which may reveal the mystery of why plants behave so regularly in conjunction with the Fibonacci sequence, are the spirals shown by plants. Look carefully at the picture of the pineapple left. As you move from the top right to the bottom left you may begin to see a set of spirals, curving round the pineapple in a diagonal fashion. Upon closer inspection you may also find a similar on from top left to bottom right and less obvious, from top to bottom. If we count the number of spirals we (fortunately for this topic) seem to find only Fibonacci numbers. In fact in a study of over 2000 pineapples not a single on differed from the pattern. The same principle applies to the pinecone. Upon close inspection, you will find two different spirals, one vertically and another horizontally, all of which come in Fibonacci numbers. A separate study to that of the pineapples showed that this was the case 99% of the time. The sunflower however, has its own unique spiral display. Starting from the centre and continuing in a clockwise fashion to the outside, the number of spirals again adds to a Fibonacci number. Although, if you look in the opposite (anticlockwise) direction you will find yet another spiral and adding the number of these gives the consecutive Fibonacci number. The majority of the time this is the case, however from time to time there are variations; with larger sunflowers the number of spirals can be double Fibonacci numbers (i.e. 2, 4, 6, 10, 16, 26.). These spirals may be interesting and attractive to look at, but hold much more value than just aesthetics; they allow us to show just why Fibonacci numbers are so widely used in nature and give us an insight into how nature uses maths at its very core. To understand the maths behind the growth of plants we must look deep into the way it grows. As the plant grows taller the interesting components (i.e. petals, sepals, stamens, leaves) all grow from small clumps of tissue called primorda. As these begin to grow they aim to have the largest distance between leaves as possible, this means they have the maximum amount of space and light to grow, ultimately making the plant stronger and more likely to survive. This distance has been decided through evolution to allow the maximum about of light to hit the plant and it turns out this maximum point of efficiently is related to the golden ratio. It just so happens that the Golden angle is the angle one golden ratio away from the starting position. 360 1.618.. 582.5 i.e. 582.5 -360 = 222.5 away clockwise (or 137.5 anticlockwise). As they grow at their angles the leaves have enough light and space to grow. However, when the 6th leaf begin to grow the angle means it is only 32.5 from the first, this leaves it in the shade meaning it is less likely to grow and develop; this is the reason many plants use the number 5 in some areas (i.e. in the number of petals) as the 6th would have less room and is less likely to grow. Sometimes called the phyllotactic ratio, the connection between this and efficiency in plants does not just end there. If we take ourselves back to the sunflower and its spirals we can see that this also has connections to the same ratio. As it begins to grown from the centre outwards each primorda (and therefore each seed head) grows on golden angle away from the previous. As the ratios between consecutive Fibonacci numbers are approximations to the golden ratio (and therefore used to create approximations to the golden angle) we begin to see them within the spirals. This is the main reason Fibonacci numbers are present in so many places; they form the best approximations of the golden ratio. Although, the actual number of spirals that arises depends upon the size of the seed head and slight variations in the rate at which the primorda migrate away from the tip of the growing shoot. As we saw from the rotations in plant leaves above, the golden angle is used to give the most space and therefore the most light. In the seed head however this is not a problem so why has evolution adapted to use it? The answer to this was first discovered by Professor H. Vogel in 1979. He noticed that using the golden angle allowed the seed head to pack together with hardly any missing space. This meant it was very efficient as more seeds could fit in a small area and also much stronger. In turn it meant there would be more seeds and better chance of offspring. This was later supported by French physicists Yves Couder and Stephan Douady, who found the choice of angle the natural consequence of the dynamics of growing a plant shoot . They stated that each primorda gets pushed into the largest available space, so they pack more efficiently, making the golden angle the most likely choice. They also discovered that the next best choice for packing an angle created by a second very similar sequence called the anomalous series (4, 7, 11, 18, 29). After inspection of more spirals and more plant this was found to be the 2nd most common choice after the Fibonacci sequence. Overall, nature has evolved and adapted to use Fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio they approximate, as it gives the most efficient method for survival. Over the years this had been pondered by many people and its frequency in nature has been described as many to be proof of intelligent design and higher power . Shapes of the Golden ratio Although undeniably stunning, the sources of the golden ratio and Fibonacci numbers in nature are only half the applications of these phenomena in the real world. As humans, along with the rest of nature, are hotwired to apply the golden proportions, some of the human applications are some of the most remarkable. As a species we are attracted to the shapes they make and therefore adapt it to the structures we built, the way we think and the art we create. One of the most common shapes is that of the golden rectangle. It is formed from a ratio of length to width of 1.168 : 1 (i.e. the golden ratio). This alone is not that interesting, but remove a square with the same width and height as the width of the golden rectangle (a square ratio 1:1) and you are left with another rectangle. If you take the measurements of this you once again find the ratio 1.168 : 1 the golden rectangle. Repeat the process and the same happens again and again and again; removing a square ratio 1:1 leaves a smaller golden rectangle. The pattern continues indefinitely and is known in mathematics as a fractal (a geometric pattern that is repeated at every scale). Look at most regular paper sizes, credit cards and company logo s you will find an abundance of golden rectangles. However its man-made applications are not its only uses, it can be applied to create another, much more stunning shape the logarithmic spiral. Visually, it can be described as a long, slow spiral and is known as a logarithmic or equiangular spiral. It is known as this as each radii from the centre intercepts the curve at exactly the same angle. It is created by constructing an arc from the furthest corner of each square in the golden rectangle to the opposing corner of that square. The pattern continues and repeats the further you zoom toward the centre making this yet another Fibonacci fractal. The most stunning example of this is the chambered nautilus (see the image of its shell right). As it grows it must produce more room within its shell, while keeping its original shape. To do this it adds a chamber larger than its previous, with each radii intercepting the curve at the same angle (remaining equiangular), keeping the original shape. There are also numerous other examples including; a rams horn, a galaxy spiral, a sea horse and many more. Last but not least, the pentagon and pentagram are found to have Fibonacci connections. These shapes have interested humans for many years and have been the insignia of many religious and political groups. The explanation for its popularity however lies with our desire to search for the golden ratio. From the diagram (left), we can see how the ratio 1:F connects the length of the side of the pentagon to the distance between corners of the pentagram. There is however another ratio, the distance between a vertex and the corner of the inscribed pentagon is 1: 1/F. These ratios mean that many pentagons in nature, art and architecture have Fibonacci numbers present in the lengths. Overall, we can see how many of the regular shapes found both in nature and modern life have been dictated by the Fibonacci sequence. There are thousands of examples of these proportions in the real world and more regular shapes than have been divulged here. As interesting as finding them in the real world is, it doesn t come close the intrigue which lies behind the way we can use them to our own advantage. Art and Architecture It is said that renaissance art was inspired by a sense of beauty and proportion . It seems fitting therefore that the dimensions for such art would lie in the ratio s and sequences of the most elaborate and efficient set of numbers known to maths. The use of the series in art has however been known long before this period with Luca Pacioli stating without mathematics there is no art upon the completion of his work with Leonardo Da Vinci on De Divina Proportione (you may recall this from History of the Sequence). Legend also has it that long before this, Greek mathematician Eudoxus studied human affinity to this proportion by asking a group of his followers to divide sticks into the ratios they found most pleasing. This experiment was later adapted by German psychologist, Gustav Fechner in the 1860 s. He took a series of ten rectangles of different proportion and asked subjects to choose which they found to be the most pleasing, 76% of all participants chose the three rectangles closest to the golden rectangle. It is clear from this then that we have known for many years that the golden or divine proportion has visually pleasing qualities and unknown to us, it can be found almost everywhere we look as a direct result. One of the earliest and most obvious sightings of this was in the Great Pyramids of 4700BC. Here F is found extensively in its construction but most scholars now believe that this is more coincidence than design, it is however interesting to note that the exact height of the structure is 5813 inches (numbers of the Fibonacci sequence. 1,400 years later and the Tomb of Ramses IV was built, this was later discovered to have several approximations to the golden rectangle as its centre. It had been constructed with a double square (approximation to the golden rectangle, a golden rectangle and a double golden rectangle. The first people to consciously apply the maths of the golden ratio to their art and architecture were the Greeks. The Parthenon of Greece 440BC is the single finest example of this. The whole structure fits within the golden rectangle proportions as well as each pair of columns and even the sections of sculpture that run above the columns. The designer, Phidias was said to be the greatest and most prolific sculptor of his age. His work was dependent upon extensive use of the golden proportion. Its abundance in his work later meant the ratio was named Phi in his honour. Many artefacts of the era from urns and vases to Afroditas sculpture (right) and temples all extensively used the proportion. It is believed that as Pythagoras linked it to the human body (see next section) it was generally associated with the divine and beautiful, making many associate it with the Gods and good. One of the most interesting instances of the Fibonacci sequence at work is in the operation of the stock market.

E-Commerce In Latin America Essay -- Consumer Markets Business Essays

E-Commerce In Latin America Where Is It Now, Where Is It Going, Who Is Taking It There? In recent years, the media has made much of the growing consumer markets in Latin America. North Americans have to come to understand that much of the health of the U.S. economy is tied to the economic well-being of Latin countries such as Brazil and Mexico. Yet even with our awareness of the market size of our neighbors and awareness of our increasing interdependence, most North Americans consider the emerging Latin American markets to be underdeveloped, backwards, comprised of technologically unprepared people. How accurate is this conception, and specifically, what is the status of the Latin American market for e-commerce? In order to understand any market for the first time, one must answer several basic questions: How large is the market? How fast is it growing? What are the buying patterns in the market? How might they change? When will the market â€Å"take off?† What is blocking or helping market growth? Who is already in the marketplace? Who is likely to enter? This paper outlines the answers to these initial questions, and makes the case that North Americans need to pay attention to emerging Latin ecommerce markets- whether as advertisers, consumers, or trendwatchers. Market Size and Growth Rate As recently as August 1999, the Boston Consulting Group stated that on-line retailing in Latin America will reach $77 million in 1999. This figure represents web sales earned by Latin American based e-tailers. The same report states that an additional $90 million in revenues will be earned by U.S.-based online merchants this year. This results in a total of $167 million in domestic and international ecommerce r... ...n America, I will continue to follow these related trends with increased interest. [1] Emarketer, August 2, 1999, www.emarketer.com/estats/080299_beg.html. [2] Emarketer, June 28, 1999, Is Latin American eCommerce Ready to Take Off?, www.emarketer.com/estats/062899_latam.html. [3] Ibid. [4] eMarketer, Latin American Retail Ecommerce to Reach $160 Million, August 2, 1999, www.emarketer.com/estats/080299_beg.html. [5] Ibid. [6] eMarketer, March 22, 1999, Latin America Gets Fired Up for EC, www.emarketer.com/estats/032299_latin.html. [7] Emarketer, â€Å"Telephone Costs Holding Back Access In Latin America,† September 28, 1998, www.emarketer.com. [8] Ibid. [9] Emarketer, â€Å"UOL,† October 1999, www.emarketer.com. [10] Ibid. [11] â€Å"Building the First Web Brand in Latin America,† From metasearch using keyword â€Å"StarMedia.† [12] Ibid. E-Commerce In Latin America Essay -- Consumer Markets Business Essays E-Commerce In Latin America Where Is It Now, Where Is It Going, Who Is Taking It There? In recent years, the media has made much of the growing consumer markets in Latin America. North Americans have to come to understand that much of the health of the U.S. economy is tied to the economic well-being of Latin countries such as Brazil and Mexico. Yet even with our awareness of the market size of our neighbors and awareness of our increasing interdependence, most North Americans consider the emerging Latin American markets to be underdeveloped, backwards, comprised of technologically unprepared people. How accurate is this conception, and specifically, what is the status of the Latin American market for e-commerce? In order to understand any market for the first time, one must answer several basic questions: How large is the market? How fast is it growing? What are the buying patterns in the market? How might they change? When will the market â€Å"take off?† What is blocking or helping market growth? Who is already in the marketplace? Who is likely to enter? This paper outlines the answers to these initial questions, and makes the case that North Americans need to pay attention to emerging Latin ecommerce markets- whether as advertisers, consumers, or trendwatchers. Market Size and Growth Rate As recently as August 1999, the Boston Consulting Group stated that on-line retailing in Latin America will reach $77 million in 1999. This figure represents web sales earned by Latin American based e-tailers. The same report states that an additional $90 million in revenues will be earned by U.S.-based online merchants this year. This results in a total of $167 million in domestic and international ecommerce r... ...n America, I will continue to follow these related trends with increased interest. [1] Emarketer, August 2, 1999, www.emarketer.com/estats/080299_beg.html. [2] Emarketer, June 28, 1999, Is Latin American eCommerce Ready to Take Off?, www.emarketer.com/estats/062899_latam.html. [3] Ibid. [4] eMarketer, Latin American Retail Ecommerce to Reach $160 Million, August 2, 1999, www.emarketer.com/estats/080299_beg.html. [5] Ibid. [6] eMarketer, March 22, 1999, Latin America Gets Fired Up for EC, www.emarketer.com/estats/032299_latin.html. [7] Emarketer, â€Å"Telephone Costs Holding Back Access In Latin America,† September 28, 1998, www.emarketer.com. [8] Ibid. [9] Emarketer, â€Å"UOL,† October 1999, www.emarketer.com. [10] Ibid. [11] â€Å"Building the First Web Brand in Latin America,† From metasearch using keyword â€Å"StarMedia.† [12] Ibid.

Money Makes the World Go Round Essay

Money Makes the World Go Round Essay Student Submitted Essay – Want our site version, give us a call today! In year 1960, there was a musical play happened named as â€Å"Cabaret† where this quotation â€Å"Money makes the world go round† introduced first. In that play, there was a song sung by female lead actress where she expresses her love and the male actor reply with this quotation. This line implies that money makes the world turn and society highly dependent on the money. â€Å"Success† is generally interpreted as meaning material achievement; the more the cash the more effective one is. This incorporates the measure of cash one procures, the sort of auto he drives or the span of his home. The basic meaning of the above quotation is that without money world would stop and it is true to some extent as without money people cannot afford shelter, nor food. Let’s explore further, does the money makes the world go round? If you have money, various options or doors gets opened for a person. The importance of money becomes even more important when you have zero or no money. For example, someone poor will do anything for money so that they can at least fulfill their basic needs. Money empowers us to bear the cost of a superior personal satisfaction; more cash implies greater and better cars and luxurious houses, better quality items, better amusement and so on. Another favorable position is less worry for paying bills and other family costs. Money may likewise enable a man to pursue their fantasies, for instance a man who needs to accomplish advanced education will be unable to do it without money. The above quotation was explained in various places such as in one of the Charles Dickens novel â€Å"A Christmas Carol† where it explained how love was pushed aside because of the money. In that novel one young man loves the girl and promised that he will be with her always but girl chooses the crooked businessman over that boys love because of money. The businessman has lot of money through which that girl can buy all the luxuries of the life. Be that as it may, as of late everybody has moved toward becoming utilization arranged. We need to purchase anything that is new and available and gets our advantage and we are falling prey to the alluring bundling and advertisements of an item. In this manner we purchase things that we have little requirement for which thus profits. Another example for this quotation is from book â€Å"the Great Gatsby† which was written by F.Scott Fitzgerald. In that book author mentioned what was the impact of money on Gatsby as he loves one girl a lot but unable to speak as she was very rich and wealthy. This states that money includes in each aspect of the live and it reflects in the person mannerism and voice. There are various instances where wealthy people think that because of money they can treat others as slaves and can do anything with them. Thus we can conclude that due to money person gets power to handle everything and others live. Another phase of money is that it can be a motivator which influences the activity of human from politics to geological exploration. The greed of the money makes the person evil, money is not evil. From various arguments I think that it’s not money that makes the world go round it’s us who created the money as monster and permitted it so that it can control and take over the lives of the person. Despite the fact that money has few significance in the lives as each part of the lives spins around the money, yet in the event that we attempted to be content with some we may not face those type of reliance. The assortment of the items that are confronted makes it exceptionally troublesome for us to get content with what they have. We people made money above our happiness and lives. Due to this money never completing pursuit made society very selfish. People used to forget that with money there are things which we cannot buy such as emotions, happiness, togetherness, sharing and many more. One of the Chinese proverbs explains it fantastically saying that money can buy a house but cannot make it a home. Money cannot buy good life, respect, and health, sleep and time knowledge. It can buy only the materialistic things but not the emotions or feelings. A person has lot of money in his/her bank amount but still be poor as he/she is not satisfied or not content in their lives. This notion can be supported by a small and sweet story in â€Å"A Christmas memory† by author Truman Capote. The story is based on a child who didn’t get anything on Christmas apart from kite and some worn outs and handed down but still that child is satisfied and enjoy the day with the kite. In the same book there was another example where a family was given lots of money to buy a new Christmas tree but they refused it as they attached with their old Christmas tree and have to celebrate the festival with that only. The above two examples reflects that the satisfaction and contentment are important and above money. People used to think that to become success we should have money whereas success is based on 8 factors: community, financial, spiritual, career, family, personal needs and health. Thus to become successful you have to get all the above 8 factors and not just financial stability. There are many cases where a wealthy person is not able to get good health and died and all his wealth are not sufficient to make him live. Thus, it can straightaway say that all the wealth is not sufficient to save the live and it will be left behind after the person. The only thing which will be remembered are the good deeds, good behavior and the words a person speaks. If you need us to modify or need references for this Essay, please reach out to us today. Money Makes the World Go Round Essay Money Makes the World Go Round Essay Student Submitted Essay – Want our site version, give us a call today! In year 1960, there was a musical play happened named as â€Å"Cabaret† where this quotation â€Å"Money makes the world go round† introduced first. In that play, there was a song sung by female lead actress where she expresses her love and the male actor reply with this quotation. This line implies that money makes the world turn and society highly dependent on the money. â€Å"Success† is generally interpreted as meaning material achievement; the more the cash the more effective one is. This incorporates the measure of cash one procures, the sort of auto he drives or the span of his home. The basic meaning of the above quotation is that without money world would stop and it is true to some extent as without money people cannot afford shelter, nor food. Let’s explore further, does the money makes the world go round? If you have money, various options or doors gets opened for a person. The importance of money becomes even more important when you have zero or no money. For example, someone poor will do anything for money so that they can at least fulfill their basic needs. Money empowers us to bear the cost of a superior personal satisfaction; more cash implies greater and better cars and luxurious houses, better quality items, better amusement and so on. Another favorable position is less worry for paying bills and other family costs. Money may likewise enable a man to pursue their fantasies, for instance a man who needs to accomplish advanced education will be unable to do it without money. The above quotation was explained in various places such as in one of the Charles Dickens novel â€Å"A Christmas Carol† where it explained how love was pushed aside because of the money. In that novel one young man loves the girl and promised that he will be with her always but girl chooses the crooked businessman over that boys love because of money. The businessman has lot of money through which that girl can buy all the luxuries of the life. Be that as it may, as of late everybody has moved toward becoming utilization arranged. We need to purchase anything that is new and available and gets our advantage and we are falling prey to the alluring bundling and advertisements of an item. In this manner we purchase things that we have little requirement for which thus profits. Another example for this quotation is from book â€Å"the Great Gatsby† which was written by F.Scott Fitzgerald. In that book author mentioned what was the impact of money on Gatsby as he loves one girl a lot but unable to speak as she was very rich and wealthy. This states that money includes in each aspect of the live and it reflects in the person mannerism and voice. There are various instances where wealthy people think that because of money they can treat others as slaves and can do anything with them. Thus we can conclude that due to money person gets power to handle everything and others live. Another phase of money is that it can be a motivator which influences the activity of human from politics to geological exploration. The greed of the money makes the person evil, money is not evil. From various arguments I think that it’s not money that makes the world go round it’s us who created the money as monster and permitted it so that it can control and take over the lives of the person. Despite the fact that money has few significance in the lives as each part of the lives spins around the money, yet in the event that we attempted to be content with some we may not face those type of reliance. The assortment of the items that are confronted makes it exceptionally troublesome for us to get content with what they have. We people made money above our happiness and lives. Due to this money never completing pursuit made society very selfish. People used to forget that with money there are things which we cannot buy such as emotions, happiness, togetherness, sharing and many more. One of the Chinese proverbs explains it fantastically saying that money can buy a house but cannot make it a home. Money cannot buy good life, respect, and health, sleep and time knowledge. It can buy only the materialistic things but not the emotions or feelings. A person has lot of money in his/her bank amount but still be poor as he/she is not satisfied or not content in their lives. This notion can be supported by a small and sweet story in â€Å"A Christmas memory† by author Truman Capote. The story is based on a child who didn’t get anything on Christmas apart from kite and some worn outs and handed down but still that child is satisfied and enjoy the day with the kite. In the same book there was another example where a family was given lots of money to buy a new Christmas tree but they refused it as they attached with their old Christmas tree and have to celebrate the festival with that only. The above two examples reflects that the satisfaction and contentment are important and above money. People used to think that to become success we should have money whereas success is based on 8 factors: community, financial, spiritual, career, family, personal needs and health. Thus to become successful you have to get all the above 8 factors and not just financial stability. There are many cases where a wealthy person is not able to get good health and died and all his wealth are not sufficient to make him live. Thus, it can straightaway say that all the wealth is not sufficient to save the live and it will be left behind after the person. The only thing which will be remembered are the good deeds, good behavior and the words a person speaks. If you need us to modify or need references for this Essay, please reach out to us today.

Erp Helps Productivity at Northern Digital

Case Study 7. 1. : ERP Helps Productivity at Northern Digital Inc. Question: 1. For a small company like NDI, why is an ERP better than SCM applications? Answer: ERP supports internal supply chain within an enterprise, while SCM applications support just certain part of internal supply chain. Therefore, for small companies like NDI, it’s more efficient and effective to implement one system, namely ERP, instead of more SCM systems. Further, ERP software support several functionalities for supply chain management, and small companies like NDI could choose which functionalities they would like to implement, i. e. to support by IT advantages. Also, unlike SCM applications, ERP system of new generation provides new opportunities for enterprises in (near) future: to connect to their business partners, to integrate new functionalities (open ERP), to use Internet capabilities, to integrate with CRM solutions, etc. In practical sense, maintenance/servicing and training for one –ERP- software instead of several –SCMs- is better for NDI in financial and time sense. Finally, kind of industry (high-tech) within NDI operate demands efficient supply chain management, with high turnover of assets and inventory, so as precise and efficient production and inventory planning. Question: 2. Identify the supply chain segments that the ERP supports; be specific. Answer: In the case of NDI enterprise, implemented ERP system would support those activities which produced greatest costs in previous period, putting customer satisfaction at risk and making internal moral decreasing. Also, the ERP supports the segments in NDI as well as its environment. First, ERP optimizes the production processes in NDI; including taking into account the needs of its employees. Second, ERP contributes to better forecasting of demands and, additionally, better processing of their orders. Third, ERP efficiently coordinates upstream activities between NDI and suppliers. In the company, the implementation the ERP results decrease of costs and increase of revenue. In detail, using the ERP software improves the efficiency of NDI. Providing information for the demand forecasts of the products helps to decrease inventory. Therefore, in NDI case, revenue increased from 10 to 20 million with little increase in inventory value. Additionally, managing the processes of the company more efficiently increases order capacity. Result is an increase of revenue due higher ordered quantities. The better planning doubles the turnover of inventory, i. e. NDI’s automated inventory management achieved instead of 2 now 4 turnovers of inventory per year. At the side of the customer, having the opportunity for a better forecast of the demand and increasing the efficiency of the company, results to reduce the order cycle. This ensures the customers better and quicker service connected with reducing lead times and on-time deliveries. Therefore, supported by ERP production control system, NDI reduced its order cycle time for flagships product from 4 months to 4 weeks. This also contributes to improvement of customers relationships. At the side of the suppliers, knowing the demand of customers helps NDI to forecast its own demand for material. ERP allows them to make orders to the suppliers on time and to avoid bottleneck caused by material lack. Additionally, optimization of the processes in the company makes it possible to forecast the need for labour. Implementing ERP decreases the costs in the company and increases its profitability. Additionally, it improves the relationship between the firm and it customers and suppliers. This ensures loyalty in the future relations. Question: 3. Relates this case to Porter’s value chain and to its competitive model (Appendix 1A). Show the ERP contribution. Answer: The Porter’s Competitive Model describes five factors, which endanger the profitability of NDI: The first factor is threat of entry of new competitors. Main barriers for new companies to enter the market are economies of scale, product differentiation, brand identity, cost advantages, etc. Therefore, implementing ERP NDI has increased the overall efficiency of the company. In this way, the production costs fall down. Additionally, it increases order quantities, which decreases production costs per unit. These facts ensure costs advantages compared with other companies in the same industry. Second factor is the bargaining power of suppliers. The fact that the ERP system allows NDI to forecast better its demand contributes to a precise forecast for material. This ensures on-time deliveries. On the other hand, the increase of ordered quantities affects increase in the ordered quantity of materials. This fact ensures lower prices for material. The third point is the bargaining power of customers. The software improves the relationship with the customers. The profits of the buyers are proving after sales information, on-time deliveries. Additionally, the satisfied customers increase their orders. As a result, the revenue of NDI increases. Forth is the threat of substitute products or services. The use of ERP provides NDI with information about sales ensures communication with customers and gives information about their needs. Good relations with customers decrease the probability that customers will prefer substitutes. Fifth, the rivalry among existing forms in the industry endangers the company’s profitability. Producing efficiently ensures the firm a head position in front of its competitors. Delivering on time their orders gives an advantage to NDI. Taking care of the customers’ relationship with help of ERP creates loyalty of the customers. Testing the quality on every production step ensures the customers the high quality products. The Porter’s Value Chain Model is divided into two parts: Primary activities produce goods or services for which customers pay. They begin with the input of materials, through production, sales and marketing, and after sales service. The ERP system provides information to NDI in each of these steps. ERP ensures on time deliveries due to collaboration with vendors; also, it increases the efficiency of using the resources of NDI. Quality control during every process guarantees for high quality. Collaboration on side of the customers provides information for their needs and past orders. Finally, ERP supports the after sales services. Support activities provide support to the NDI’s primary activities. Support activity is for example the procurement. ERP helps collaboration with vendors. Also, ERP presents a standardised system for the whole NDI system, and it supports information flows from the sales department to the accountings department. In supports, also, the human resource management department with detail forecast for the needs of labour. Question: 4. Enter intuitivemfg. com and report on capabilities of the company’s ERP product. Answer: The Intuitive ERP product has a goal to increase the profitability of a company. Intuitive ERP software achieves this goal by (1) improving the productivity and reducing the costs; (2) increasing satisfaction of customers; (3) supporting better decision making; and, finally, (4) improving the overall IT infrastructure. First, the product reduces the needed manual work of the employees. Avoiding this process we reduce the data entry and errors. It delivers visible reports, which summarise the information and provides data for the current situation in the company. In this way, it is ease to indicate problems before it is too late. The software shows bottleneck before they occur. Thus, we could increase the throughput and make more efficient schedules. ERP provides quickly information about future need, which can be provided to suppliers in a minute. The process reduces significantly lead times and avoids bottlenecks. Visualisation of material report and collaboration with vendors improves on time deliveries. We can save cost with better forecast of our demands and providing this information to our suppliers. This information gives us the opportunity to produce just-in-time. Thus, we can reduce our inventory and save costs. The increase of our efficiency increases the order capacity and revenue. Second, the software helps company to satisfy its customers. We easily get information about the history of every customer from the system. Many process connected with providing information to the customers can be automated, which improves communications. ERP allows the company to access information about orders through Internet. Inspection of all processes improves the quality of products, which contributes to satisfaction of customers. The system offers an after sales support to customers. It provide information if the firm can fulfil its orders and calculates the feasible dates to finish the production of the order. Third, ERP provides visualisation of the information of the company. Many indicators, which are needed to monitor the business, are calculated automatically. Thus, critical elements in the firm are presented. The software provides the needed information to make the optimal decisions. Forth, the system combines the information of the company in one central system and standardises the process. In this way, the firm saves money by the efficient use of its recourses. In conclusion, ERP improves the profitability of the company. It contributes to the improvement of the relationship of the customers and allows using the resources more efficiently. Question: 5. Relate this case to business planning and strategy. Answer: Using existing technology, NDI has recognised business planning problems in achieving efficient product/order life cycle, and delivering its products to customer in satisfied way. The demand for NDI products was growing, but existing technology wasn’t able to respond to new environment, i. e. market circumstances. NDI recognised forecasting capabilities -of marketing department- as main cause for recorded missed sales and poor inventory management. Therefore, needed raw materials weren’t in place for demanded products by customer, and customer had to wait too long, starting even to return back shipments. Pressed by higher demands from market, NDI determined growth as main business strategy, and forecasting and planning segments of internal value chain as key support for chosen strategy. In other words, forecasting and planning segments of value chain were assigned as most beneficial parts for IT support towards more effective and efficient production process of growth strategy. Implemented ERP has supported whole NDI production process and its control, along with secondary activities, but stressed capabilities of Material Requirements Planning and Forecasting modules necessary for correct prediction of future demand and, therefore, better raw material supply and inventory management. In general, ERP support NDI’s business data collection and manipulation, i. . data management, and subsequent data mining and optimization of production processes towards greater revenue, i. e. decrease production costs. Finally, defining long-term strategic company goals and strategy, NDI managed to improve its own operation using IT support for right production functions, aligning directly and successfully corporate business strategy with IT strategy. Now, mobilising human reso urces, as the greatest wealth of an organisation, NDI could now plan more radical strategy towards achieving competitive –or lock in- position within own industry cluster.