Assistive technology and universal design

History of Assistive Technology Assistive technology is a system that makes it easy for people with disabilities to school, work, take part in recreational activities, and contribute to the community like other individuals without disabilities. In the 18th century, people with disabilities were helpless, but after the founding of the assistive technology systems, the disabled people have actively participated in the development of the nation.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Assistive technology and universal design specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The first assistive technology system was a Braille typewriter that was established in 1808. The Braille typewriter helped the blind to write legibly, and in 1821, Louse Braille invented the Braille language. Like any other form of technology, the assistive technology has developed since then and it has greatly assisted individuals with different disabilities. The voice -assisted computers came to enhance the Braille typewriter and the development enhanced the creativity of blind people. With the continued developments, the â€Å"Tech Act† came into effect on 1988. The Tech Act increased the availability and accessibility of the technology-related assistance for individuals with disabilities. In 1989, the American government awarded every state with a five-year funding for the Tech Act projects. Thereafter, legislation supported the Assistance Technology Act of 2004 that has played a great role in the development of Assistive Technology to date. Currently, American citizens with disabilities function normally in the work environment, education environment, and in the society. One of the greatest assistive technologies that currently exist is the telephone. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone during his attempts to develop a device that would enable his deaf wife to hear. Since the invention of the telephone, people have found it eas y to communicate. Technological developments have seen the deaf communicating using the text telephone. Throughout the technological developments, all people, regardless of their disabilities are able to perform their daily duties normally. Nowadays, there are speech recognition controls, remotes, calculators, telecare electronic sensors, ergonomic keyboards, foot operated computer mouse, learning disability equipments, medical equipments for the disabled, and all forms of electronic devices used by the disabled individuals. Use of assistive technology in education today With the evolved world, education has fully embraced the computer era. Assistive technology has played a great role in enabling the disabled individuals to comfortably study in the computerized era. Assistive technology has availed software and hardware that help the disabled individuals in using the computer during their studies.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The screen reader software has made it possible for the blind to use the computer as it provides an auditory translation of the information on the computer screen. Moreover, there is the voice recognition software that enables users with impaired hands to navigate through the computer using the voice instead of the keyboard or the mouse. In case a student has a poor sight, assistive technology offers the option of enlarging texts in a computer screen. Research indicates that disabled students have higher IQ levels than those without disabilities. Assistive technology takes care of this, as there are computers that scan and read texts depending on the ability of the student. In essence, assistive technology has enabled teachers dealing with students with special needs to come up with learning materials that suite the students’ depending on their cognitive ability and IQ levels (Rose Meyer, 2002). Assistive technology has enabled s tudents with disabilities to learn, develop social relationships, and actively participate in recreational activities. The strong educational foundation of the disabled students has enabled people with disabilities to obtain meaningful employment in the American society. Similar to the people without disabilities, the disabled individuals contributed to the growth and development of the nation. Universal Design (UD) Universal design is a framework that focuses on building environments and products that are usable by people of different ages, different sizes, and different abilities. The universal design intends to make inclusive and lifespan designs for all individuals. There are various principles that guide universal designs. Equitable use: The design must be useful, marketable, and useable with individuals with diversified disabilities. The design must be flexible to have room for individuals with different disabilities. The design must be simple to use such that even inexperien ced individuals can easily use the products and services. The design of the products must be able to provide discerned information depending on the user’s sensory ability. The design of the products must have the potentiality to minimize the consequences of accidents or unintended actions. Low physical effort: The design must be efficient in its usage, such that users need minimum physical effort to operate the machinery. Size and space for approach and use: The design must be have the appropriate size depending on the use of the machine. The size should accommodate all users regardless of their posture, body size, or mobility (Burgstahler, 2007). The seven elements of the UD base their roots on the principles of UD. The elements listed below seek to define the necessary assessments needed when dealing with disabled students. Population assessment: This element assesses the students to ensure they have equal access to the UD benefits. Defined constructs: This element ensure s the presence of distinct education constructs that help in the decision making exercise. Non-biased items: This element ensures all disabled students benefit equally without prejudicing a particular group. Accommodation: This element ensures that there is an open access to accommodation for all disabled students. Simple instructions and procedures: This element ensures that students’ ability is gauged using simple tests. Maximum readability and comprehensibility: The element ensures that texts and tests presented to disabled students are not complex. Maximum legibility: The element ensures that the learning method is easily deciphered. The above-mentioned elements and principles of universal design have applied in various aspects of the current education system. The universal designs have ensured that students’ services and equipments are able to serve all disabled students. Universal Designs have applied in various educational products such as computers equipments, software, study websites, study textbooks, and even the lab equipments (Bar Galluzzo, 2009). In designing the school environment, designers employ the Universal Design elements to ensure dormitories, classrooms, libraries, and all school buildings are equitable and flexible in use. The Universal Designs advocates for automatic doors, ramps, and curb cuts in buildings to facilitate the movement of disabled individuals.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Assistive technology and universal design specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With the help of computer technology, the universal design works towards creating an educational environment that enables disabled students to use minimal Assistive Technology. With the combination of assistive technology and the universal designs, teachers can teach using different methods and materials. The students can actively participate in learning exercises; they can express their vie ws and present their assignments in different formats. Generally, universal design and assistive learning have played a great role in enhancing education for students with disabilities. The technological developments are still in progress, and in the near future, the disabled individuals will be able to disregard their disabilities and stand tall for their immense contributions in the society. References Bar, L., Galluzzo, J. (2009). The accessible school: Universal design for educational settings. Berkeley, CA: MIG Communications. Burgstahler, S. (2007). Equal access: Universal design of student services. Seattle: University of Washington. Rose, D. H., Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. This essay on Assistive technology and universal design was written and submitted by user Vicente Mayo to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on The Harlem Renaissance

In 1904 several middleclass African American families moved away from the decaying conditions of Black Bohemia of midtown into the newly-built suburb of Harlem. This initiated a move north of educated African Americans and a foothold into Harlem. In 1910 a large block along 135th and Fifth Ave was bought up by various African American realtors and a church group. These purchases caused a "white flight" and lowered realestate prices. As World War I approached, a shortage of labour ensued at the generous supply of European unskilled labour ceased to flow into New York City. From the southern states came vast numbers of African Americans attracted not only by the prospect of paid labour but an escape from the inherent inequities and blatant institutional racism of the South. There were various patrons of the arts, both black and white, including the very wealthy A'Lelia Walker who ran an influential salon, the Dark Tower from her home, Countee Cullen (the Romantic poet), Nora Thurston Z eale (anthropologist), Langston Hughes (playwright and poet) Three main political figures kept the hopes of freedom for African Americans alive and made Harlem a political hotbed of activities. The three figures were the pious, integrationalist W.E.B. Dubois, the James Weldon Johnston and finally the charismatic Black Nationalist Marcus Garvey. 1935 marks the end of the era known as the Harlem Renaissance. It was mostly the result of Depression economics, but also in part due to the premature death of the patron A'Lelia Walker in 1934, Countee Cullen.... Free Essays on The Harlem Renaissance Free Essays on The Harlem Renaissance In 1904 several middleclass African American families moved away from the decaying conditions of Black Bohemia of midtown into the newly-built suburb of Harlem. This initiated a move north of educated African Americans and a foothold into Harlem. In 1910 a large block along 135th and Fifth Ave was bought up by various African American realtors and a church group. These purchases caused a "white flight" and lowered realestate prices. As World War I approached, a shortage of labour ensued at the generous supply of European unskilled labour ceased to flow into New York City. From the southern states came vast numbers of African Americans attracted not only by the prospect of paid labour but an escape from the inherent inequities and blatant institutional racism of the South. There were various patrons of the arts, both black and white, including the very wealthy A'Lelia Walker who ran an influential salon, the Dark Tower from her home, Countee Cullen (the Romantic poet), Nora Thurston Z eale (anthropologist), Langston Hughes (playwright and poet) Three main political figures kept the hopes of freedom for African Americans alive and made Harlem a political hotbed of activities. The three figures were the pious, integrationalist W.E.B. Dubois, the James Weldon Johnston and finally the charismatic Black Nationalist Marcus Garvey. 1935 marks the end of the era known as the Harlem Renaissance. It was mostly the result of Depression economics, but also in part due to the premature death of the patron A'Lelia Walker in 1934, Countee Cullen....

You Pick Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

You Pick - Research Paper Example 33). The outcome has been increased injuries in the workplace. Health problems among the employees have also increased. When it comes to workplace safety, the subjects in the topic are the employees. They have the duty of preventing any work-related injuries. The employees also need to check after one another in their line of duty. According to the law, there are certain rights concerning workplace health and safety that all the employees in organizations across the United States are expected to enjoy (Bianchini et al. 25). For instance, we have the right to know, right to refuse, and right to participate. A lot of research shows that employees are not much considerate of these rights. This is because they are not well informed on the benefits that a safe workplace will bring to themselves, their bosses, their organizations, and the society as a whole when they are working in a safe environment (Levine, Michael and Matthew 34; Stark 33). Some scholars have been concerned with a cost-benefit analysis of investing in workplace safety (Campbell et al. 45; Bradley et al. 42; Hogan & Jeff 37). Although many of the studies that have been carried out have showed that the benefits are more than the cost of investment, only a few studies have been carried out to find out the specific benefits of a safe workplace (Bianchini et al. 56). The employers are also not aware of the benefits because some of them tend to believe that when they invest much in the employees they will reduce their profitability. Therefore, the issue has being handled with many misunderstandings. In modern organizations, employees are being recognized as the most crucial resource in the organization. The concept of human resource management has gained much significance in organizations across America (Levine, Michael and Matthew 47). However, some of the human resource managers have been concerned with the role employees can play in

Hospitality Management Industries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Hospitality Management Industries - Essay Example In order to be relevant in the market in the coming decade resorts must give a comprehensive accommodation at reasonable prices suited for all their clients since pricing is a crucial variable in this market due to the cut throat competition (Fevzi and Levent 102). In addition, diverse cuisine ranging from Chinese, African, Japanese and western is a necessity for resort owners to satisfy their customers taste buds. These consumers love to do their business with pleasure and developers must find peaceful and discrete sites away from the noise and crowds that will offer the visitors with unrivaled ambiance (Fevzi and Levent 106). The resorts must excel in the delivery of quality for its clients endowed with well-trained staff who are welcoming and caring thus making the resort a place to fall in love with. Unlike any other destination in the world, resorts must be the essence of diversity, distinctive and final action venue in the coming decade. Fevzi and Levent (88) points that resorts must work to integrate their services thus ensuring maximization of their sales thus earn profits. Commendably, the future prospect of the resorts will be realized in large part by the capacity to foresee and take advantage of change. It is empirical to identify what will be required to survive in the competitive market and developers must invest in meeting customers needs and desires . The successful corporation of the year 2000 surveyed 600 senior resort executives around the globe with the intention to point out what will make a successful business in the next century. The results showed resorts must use and develop a management bank to tackle the diversity of the market place and employ it. In conclusion, to effectively and efficiently integrate expectations in future, developers must empower their staff and involve them in day-to-day operations of the business to make sure success.Information technology has become

Diagnosing Relational Problems Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Diagnosing Relational Problems - Research Paper Example Principally, this regards gender and sometimes accepts the reality of the predicaments. This differs across culture or ethnic backgrounds, where some may deny or accept depending on their belief (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2011). For instance, mental ailments where some cultures attribute their occurrence as fueled by evil spirits, hence they lack any cure especially the indigenous Chinese. Another factor entails detection of a single disorder in an individual. According to practitioners, a sole disorder may be a representative of comprehensive disorders in one category. Patients normally have multiple health predicaments that entail multifaceted approach and treatment. This is primarily, when dealing with couples who may seem not to comprehend well about their predicament. Couple or family therapy encompasses openness amid the patient and the practitioner, so that the latter may be able to elicit the predicament effectively. This diagnostic process is appropriate since it enables a practitioner apply life cycle and developmental progress tool. This entails how the couple might have handled a related predicament together before. This would enhance that cooperation during the present ailment, which may be affecting one member (APA, 2000). The practitioner enhances their cooperation through encouraging communication and privacy where possible. This is especially if the predicament’s repercussions do not affect other members, for illustration, infertility. The approach is similar to a sole person’s diagnosis. Since, in some occasions, if the predicament is severe the practitioner may decide to involve a family member. The Purpose of this is to ensure that the patient is accountable and adheres to the already set medical procedures (Yingling, 1998). DSM-IV-TR assessment encompasses distinguishing features of V- codes, which must be the focus treatment by interacting with members of the relational unit (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2011). It is

Is Language An Instinct Education Essay

Is Language An Instinct Education Essay As you are reading these words, you are taking part in one of the wonders of the natural world. Linguists have continually been bewildered by language and the language debate which has been inundated with arguments by several professionals to support either the instinctive or learned side of the debate. So, in 1994 when The Language Instinct by psychologist Steven Pinker was published, it reignited the discussion. His book utilized the concepts developed by Chomsky who believed that language was instinctive due to a universal grammar- an innate design containing characteristics common to every human language. The other side of the argument builds on the theories by Karl Popper. Geoffrey Sampson (1997) and other linguists held the belief that language is developed by observing and learning from others because we are born with a blank slate. In this essay I will discuss both sides of the arguments in the hope of concluding whether or not language is an instinct. On the one hand, those who believe that language is an instinct express that language is not learned and does not depend on having had the best education. Linguistic ability is not learned like the way we learn to tell the time, or the way we learn to tie our shoelaces. Instead, it is a specialised and intricate skill which forms part of the brain, and develops in a child without conscious effort (Pinker, 2007). Behaviourists claim a childs imitation of their parents language initiates a childs language, yet there are examples of imitation which do not support this concept. Pinker (2007) uses the example that if children imitate parents then why is it that children do not imitate their parents quiet behaviour on airplanes? Chomsky (1980) produced an argument based on the poverty of the stimulus which stated that language is not learned because the information babies are exposed to is much less complex than the data and the rules they end up gaining. Therefore, it is doubtful that language is obtained through a method which consists of learning only. Instead his work suggests that a significant part of language is innate. It is important to consider the idea of universal grammar because if this is genuine and all human languages have aspects in common, then it is possible to say that language is instinctive (Schlenker, 2006). Chomsky supposed that language is innate because every language has a mutual structural basis since there is a part of the human brain which encompasses a limited set of rules, known as universal grammar, for managing language. Another argument to support the statement that language is an instinct is the idea that children invent language. Children may construct a new language, the rules of which seem to be established by that of universal grammar, when they have not been exposed to a clear and logical language. An example of this is the creation of creoles which are languages generated by children who have grown up in an environment involving the use of pidgins (languages that have progressed as a way for people to communicate when there is not a common language between them). Pinker (2007) expressed that in communities where the adults had conversed with a pidgin, the children who had only been exposed to this pidgin transformed it into a creole. The development of language by deaf children in Nicaragua is another similar example to illustrate the view that language is an instinct. In the 1980s when schools for deaf children were built, the children who first started attending the schools developed a meth od of communicating using signs, which was pidgin-like in nature. We can assume a dissociation between language and intelligence because even when intelligence is lessened language withstands. There are two particular cases which provide evidence for this and, in turn, the language instinct: when individuals have average intelligence but their language is significantly impaired; or, when individuals experience an impaired intelligence yet their language is normal. Brocas aphasics and Selective Language Impairment (SLI) patients provide evidence for the first example because they have a normal intelligence but experience extreme problems with their linguistic ability. Brocas aphasics specifically struggle with the production of language and comprehension, whereas SLI patients particularly face problems with the organisation of words into sentences (Expressive Aphasia, 2012). On the other hand, Williams syndrome patients are individuals suffering from an impaired intelligence but normal linguistics ability. Their language is even more developed than others of their age and they can converse with strangers at complete ease. However, they have a low intelligence due to abnormalities in parts of the brain including the cerebellum, right parietal cortex, and left frontal cortical areas (Williams Syndrome, 2012). Eve was not a born know-all. She was ignorant. But she was a good learner (Sampson, 1997). On the other side of the argument Geoffrey Sampson, and many others, for example, contemporary linguist Givon, believed that Pinker and Chomskys argument that language is purely instinctive is neither adequate nor plausible. The main belief expressed by Sampson (1997 or 2012) was that children can effectively learn languages because all individuals are good at learning anything that they are exposed to, it is not fixed structures in part of the brain which contain this in-built knowledge. Behaviourists vocalise that language is learned early in a childs life and consists of many complex systems. Although most children who are five years old have enough vocabulary to be able to communicate competently with others, there are individual differences between children in the capacity of their vocabulary (Blewitt, 2006). Research has found that language is linked to a childs home and school environment (Cunningham, Stanovich, West, 1994, as cited in Blewitt, 2006), and that the variety and amount of language the children are exposed to by conversations with their parents are linked to a childs vocabulary. In a study conducted in 1992 which was conducted over 2 years with visits made to children every month at their home. There were two conditions with participants from either poor families on benefits, lower middle class families (mainly occupying blue collar jobs), or upper middle class with at least one professional parent (Hart Risley, 1992, 1995, as cited in Blewitt, 2 006). All of the parents were actively engaged in playing with their children but the amount of verbal communication each group made with their child was different. In a week, consisting of 100 hours, a child with a professional parent hears 215,000 words but only 62,000 in the poorest homes. By the age of three, there was a positive correlation between the input of the parent and the language of the child. Furthermore, when the researchers looked at just one of the socioeconomic categories, therefore social class was not a factor in the result, the more language the child was exposed to, the more advanced the childs vocabulary. This provides strong support for the idea that language is learned rather than instinctive. John Locke provided the contrary view to naturists by claiming that experience is vital in the development of language. He states that a child is not born with knowledge and the concept of reason, but what is important as the child grows up is the exposure to language and so, it is by degrees he comes to be furnished with them (Sampson, 1997). This particular view which expresses that experience is the cause of all knowledge is known as empiricism. The clear objection to the view that language is instinctive instead of learned, as Chomsky and other naturists believed, is that we would expect everyone to grow up talking in the same language. However, people do not all speak the same language and the differences in the language people speak does not rely on our biological makeup. For example, if a newborn English baby grows up in Japan by Japanese speaking adoptive parents then they will become fluent in speaking Japanese speaker rather than fluent in speaking English. Without a language rich environment which nurturists see as essential for a child to develop language, a child will not acquire the capability to speak. Profoundly deaf children complete the first developmental stages towards speech such as babbling at the same time as those children who cannot hear. However, they rarely grow up into speakers because without the capability of hearing themselves or other people around them, they decrease the amountof babbling which rarely leads to word development (Kiel, 1998). In conclusion, the language debate has provoked much controversy amongst naturists and nurturists. Pinker and other naturists believe language is instinctive and their beliefs continue on from Darwins account that the gradual evolution of instincts generally by natural selection could be applied also to the human acquisition of the capacity for language () On the other hand, Sampson and other nurturists have found significant evidence to support the idea that children are born with blank slates and that it is by observation and imitation of parents and those around them that they develop the linguistic ability early in their lives until age 6-10 when children can converse effectively in challenging settings (Language Development, 2012). It is expected that a combination of an innate instinct to produce syntax with the imitation of the language of parents is the key to a child developing an extensive language.

The Link Between Job Satisfaction and Employee Productivity Essay

1) An Introduction Long gone are the days when Labor Relations or Manpower departments were all the HR that an organization needed for supplying its human resource management needs. As we have advanced from the Industrial Age to the Information Age and as the workplace and business scenario has become more complex and competitive, Human Resource Management has become a vital skill for any knowledge organization; one that, if used correctly, could become a key asset for an organization. One of the most crucial fields of study here, in the 20th century, has been the crucial link between job satisfaction and employee productivity. Job satisfaction essentially is a measure of how content an employee is with his current job. There are, broadly speaking, three major aspects to employee satisfaction at the workplace- 1. A degree of autonomy in decision making 2. Significantly challenging work that does not become monotonous 3. Link between job performance and advancement in organization Other intangible and tangible factors also come into play. For example, some organizations have amazing training programs for new hires that add significant market value to the candidate. Infosys, the Indian IT behemoth, has a rigorous training schedule of 6 months which is attested to by industry experts as being on of the best. Indeed, ex-Infy employees have always highlighted the importance of the training they had undergone at the famed Mysore campus near Bengaluru. Opportunities to be creative, flexible work arrangements, flexible benefits and job stability all contribute towards making an employee like his job and make that extra effort for the organization. 2) Studies and Theories Kick started by the Hawthorne studies (conduc... ...acebook-for-employee-satisfaction-for-the-first-time-in-four-years/. Last accessed 11th April 2012. 2. Jeffrey Pfeffer. (2009). Low Grades for Performance Reviews. Available: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_31/b4141080608077.htm. Last accessed 11th April 2012. 3. Davi Ngo. (2009). Job Descriptive Index. Available: http://www.humanresources.hrvinet.com/job-descriptive-index-jdi/. Last accessed 11th April 2012. 4. Mark A. Griffin, Neal Andrew,Mathew Neale. (2000). The Contribution of Task Performance and Contextual Performance to Effectiveness: Investigating the Role of Situational Constraints . Applied Psychology: An International Review. 49 (3), 517-533 5. Ankur Jain. (2009). HRM - Nature, Scope and Objectives. Available: http://expertscolumn.com/content/human-resource-management-nature-scope-objectives-and-function. Last accessed 11th April 2012

Mahindra project report Essay

After concrete efforts of our Management, the students of Kohinoor Management School got this esteemed opportunity to have an Industrial visit to a prestigious company like Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. We appreciate the efforts of the management of KMS & M&M for executing this successful Industrial trip. Introduction to Mahindra: Mahindra & Mahindra Limited is the flagship company of the Mahindra Group, a multinational conglomerate based in Mumbai, India. The company was set up in 1945 in Ludhiana as Mahindra by brothers K.C. Mahindra and J.C. Mahindra. Mahindra & Mahindra is a major automobile manufacturer of tractors, utility vehicles, passenger cars, pickups, commercial vehicles; its tractors are sold on six continents. It has acquired plants in China and the United Kingdom, and has three assembly plants in the USA. M&M has a global presence and its products are exported to several countries. Its global subsidiaries  include Mahindra Europe Srl. based in Italy, Mahindra USA Inc., Mahindra South Africa and Mahindra (China) Tractor Co. Ltd. M&M is one of the leading tractor brands in the world by volume. It is also the largest manufacturer of tractors in India with sustained market leadership of over 25 years. It designs, develops, manufactures, and markets tractors as well as farm implements. The Journey Begins†¦. We reached the Mahindra plant at Kandivali, Mumbai. We headed to the Conference room and were briefed about the Company by a presentation on the leadership and the entire group of M&M followed by the Q & A Session which lasted for an hour. The honors were done none other than Mr. Shirish Tawde, the Deputy General Manager (DGM) of the Company. Accompanying him were Mr. Kishor Sonawane (Manger – Business Excellence), Rajendra Sawant (Sr. Manager Business Excellence), Mr. Mahesh Dalvi (Manager – Business Excellence, Sector Sustainability). With such dignitaries explaining us the world of M&M, we were just as grateful. This plant mainly deals in manufacturing of Tractors and Farm Equipments. The plant is one of the oldest manufacturing plants in the production of tractors in India. After decades in leading the tractor sector M&M have diversified into the roots of farming and have positioned themselves in the Farm Sector. After being briefed through the introduction of M&M plant, we were about to explore the India’s most Prestigious Companies. We were divided into 2 groups of 15 people so as to have individual attention . We visited 3 units of the plant right from examination of engine parts, assembling of engine and main manufacturing of tractors. They manufacture 2,00,000 tractors annually. The FES contributes 35% market share. Hands on approach to Production (where theory meets practical): Each Group was taken separately and explained functioning of the plant. A lot of theory is learnt is class regarding how the manufacturing units focus on Total Productivity, Total Quality, Zero Defect, etc†¦but by far this was the  first hands on experience on how does a Manufacturing unit or plant works. Here we are explained about how the assembly line manufacturing process works. This section of the plant deals with the installation of the main engine of the tractor. In this picture we are introduced to how the stations work in co-ordination to get optimum results. In the pictures below, the students are taken through a complete channel of stations on the assembly station and the supervisor explaining each of this complicated process. The lag or lead time is calculated and each one at every station tries to improve on it so as to reduce the time effect in assembling each engine. The units where tractors are manufactured in assembly lines follow Total Quality Management (TQM) and Total Productivity Management (TPM). Every sub-unit contributes to the production. They avoid material handling losses with pulleys and fork-lifts. All these techniques add value to the production. Indeed there is no surprise they improve their quality and reduce time with ever unit of production of tractor. Here, we are shown how the final tractors are put in place Students Opinion: Kohinoor Management School gave us the Golden Opportunity to visit the Mahindra and Mahindra plant at Kandivali. It was a great experience to know the organization internally. They are successful enough to balance between Business Excellence and Individual Dignity. Their main focus on farm tech prosperity is what like me a lot, as agriculture is the base of the Indian Economy. -Pratibha Shinde. Visit to the M & M was an eye-opener. The journey unfolded various aspect of the tractor division. Starting from the nuts and bolts, the engine, to the massive structure which forms the backbone of the Indian farms and agricultural sector. The gains or the take away from the visit were splendid. The use of Japanese technology in the assembly line, the step by step process layout, the plan B; the vision of always staying ahead were the insights. Lots of management mantras were demonstrated and inculcated. A great learning and an honour to see the invasion of the GREAT INDIAN TRACTOR DIVISION. -Yogendra Joshi. It was my first Industrial visit to any manufacturing plant and enjoyed every bit of it. To be a part of such an esteemed organization and having a look through all their process was an intriguing experience after all. -Shraddha Salunke On behalf of all the Management and the students we take this opportunity to thank the entire team of Mahindra and Mahindra for providing us with the practical information and well as wonderful hospitality. We take moment to offer our greetings to the entire Mahindra and Mahindra team.

Economic, Inflation Essays

Economic, Inflation Essays Economic, Inflation Essay Economic, Inflation Essay Economic, Inflation BY sakib4200 Assignment Inflation Submitted to: Zaved Mannan Senior Lecturer Department of Business Administration Submitted by: Debasis Roy Submitted On: ID: (120306038) 23rd November, 2013 sec: A Definition Too much money in circulation causes the money to lose value-this is the true meaning of inflation. The popular opinion about the costs of inflation is that inflation makes everyone worse off by reducing the purchasing power of incomes, eroding living standards and adding, in many ways, to lifes uncertainties. In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy ver a period of time. Inflation refers toa rise in prices that causes the purchasing power of a nation to fall. Inflation is a normal economic development as long as the annual percentage remains low; once the percentage rises over a pre-determined level, it is considered an inflation crisis. In another word Inflation means that your money wont buy as much today as you could yesterday. Definition of Inflation rate (consumer prices) This entry furnishes the annual percent change in consumer prices compared with the previous years consumer prices. The inflation rate is the percentage rate of hange of a price index over time. Effect on the economy An increase in the general level of prices implies a decrease in the purchasing power of the currency. That is, when the general level of prices rises, each monetary unit buys fewer goods and services. Increases in the price level (inflation) erode the real value of money (the functional currency) and other items with an underlying monetary nature (e. g. loans and bonds). For example if one takes a loan where the stated interest rate is 6% and the inflation rate is at 3%, the real interest rate that one are paying for the loan is 3%. It would also hold true that if one had a loan at a fixed interest rate of 6% and the inflation rate Jumped to 20%one would have a real interest rate of -14%. Negative Effect High or unpredictable inflation rates are regarded as harmful to an overall economy. They add inefficiencies in the market, and make it difficult for companies to budget or plan long-term. Inflation can act as a drag on productivity as companies are forced to shift resources away from products and services in order to focus on profit and losses from currency inflation. Uncertainty about the future purchasing power of oney discourages investment and saving and inflation can impose hidden tax increases. In case of international trade, Higher inflation in one economy than another will cause the first economys exports to become more expensive and affect the balance of trade Positive Effect Positive effects include ensuring central banks can adjust nominal interest rates (intended to mitigate recessions), and encouraging investment in non-monetary capital projects. It puts impact on Labor-market adjustments, Room to maneuver, Mundell-Tobin effect, Instability with Deflation etc Causes behind inflation In developing countries, in contrast, inflation is not a purely monetary phenomenon, but is often linked with fiscal imbalances and deficiencies in sound internal economic policies. Beside, factors typically related to fiscal imbalances such as higher money growth and exchange rate depreciation arising from a balance of payments crisis dominate the inflation process in developing countries. There were different schools of thought as to the causes of inflation. Most can be divided into two broad areas: 1 . Quality theories of inflation 2. Quantity theories of inflation. The quality theory of inflation rests on the expectation of a seller accepting currency to be able to exchange that currency at a later time for goods that are desirable as a The quantity theory of inflation rests on the quantity equation of money that relates the money supply, its velocity, and the nominal value of exchanges. Adam Smith and David Hume proposed a quantity theory of inflation for money, and a quality theory of inflation for production After analyzing two theories of causes we have got here some physical cause to face which cover both theories depending on a number of factors. These are given below- Excess of money Inflation can happen when governments print an excess of money to deal with a crisis. As a result, prices end up rising at an extremely high speed to keep up with the currency surplus. This is called the demand-pull, in which prices are forced upwards because of a high demand. Rise in production cost Another common cause of inflation is a rise in production costs, which leads to an increase in the price of the final product. For example, if raw materials increase in price, this leads to the cost of production increasing, which in turn leads to the ompany increasing prices to maintain steady profits? Rising labor costs can also lead to inflation. As workers demand wage increases, companies usually chose to pass on those costs to their customers. International lending national debt Inflation can also be caused by international lending and national debts. As nations borrow money, they have to deal with interests, which in the end cause prices to rise as a way of keeping up with their debts. A deep drop of the exchange rate can also result in inflation, as governments will have to deal with differences in the import/ export level. Government taxes Finally, inflation can be caused by federal taxes put on consumer products such as cigarettes or fuel. As the taxes rise, suppliers often pass on the burden to the consumer; the catch, however, is that once prices have increased, they rarely go back, even if the taxes are later reduced. War Wars are often cause for inflation, as governments must both recoup the money spent and repay the funds borrowed from the central bank. War often affects everything from international trading to labor costs to product demand, so in the end it always produces a rise in prices. Lists of Inflation Rate from 1998-2011 Country 1998 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Bangladesh 9 5. 8 3. 1 5. 6 6 7 7. 2 9. 1 8. 9 5. 4 8. 1 10. 7 Graph of Inflation Rate in Bangladesh Historical Trend Analysis The government introduced policy and institutional reforms encompassing the fiscal, financial, exchange rate, trade and industry, public resource management and public enterprise sectors. But some of those measures were not strongly pursued and some of the intended structural reforms were postponed. Monetary control in the initial years had a positive impact on the control of inflation. The regarded decision are aken below- To increase investible funds with the banks, the minimum cash reserve requirement and statutory liquidity requirement were reduced gradually from 8 and 23 percent respectively on 25 April 1991 to 5 and 20 per cent respectively. This decision has reduced the inflation rate. In 1991 the lending rate was 14. 99 which was high during 1992 but then it started to be reduced at 14. 39 (1993) and 12. 22 at 1995. With the flexible use of the monetary instruments, broad money growth (Money Supply) was brought down from high rates of growth (14. percent) in the mid-1992to 10. per thinking to increase the money supply which was brought to 16 percent for that reason inflation rate increased. In the year 1995 government was thinking to increase the total domestic credit which was brought to 17. 6 percent from 4. 9 percent (1994). For this reason the inflation rate increased. In the year 1995 government liberalized Credit to the private sectors in fiscal year19 95 by reducing lending rates including those in the three selected sectors of agriculture, exports, and small and cottage Industries had to be restrained due to the rise in price levels. For this reason inflation rate has increased With a view to ensuring an adequate flow of finance to productive sectors and to boosting economic activity, Bank rate was gradually lowered from 9. 8 per cent on30 June 1990 to 5. 5 per cent on 3 March 1994 to control the inflation rate. On 24 March 1994 Bangladesh accepted the Article VIII obligations of the International Monetary Fund, a commitment to declare its currency convertible for current account transactions and liberalize exchange transactions on current account. Foreign exchange controls, which had constrained transactions for a ongtime, were lifted for the majority of current account transactions. An interbank foreign exchange market has been established. The exchange rate policy is being managed flexibly so as to avoid appreciation of the real exchange rate and to maintain macroeconomic stability. Moderate economic growth and modest change in the wage index contributed to the relatively low rate of inflation (i. e. , lower than 5 per cent) in 1990-1994. Higher money supply growth and lower deposit rate in FY95 contributed to the comparatively higher inflation rates in 1995. In 1996 the lending rate was 13. 1 which were accelerated to 14. 16 in 1999. Supply shortages in the rural areas originating from political instability in FY96 and disruption due to floods in 1998 caused serious shortfall of food and also hampered all other agricultural production, which ultimately caused higher inflation rates in1996, 1998 1999. A lower growth rate, because of lower production and relatively higher depreciation of the exchange rate due to food imports, also contributed to the higher inflation rate in the flood affected years. Larger depreciation of the exchange rate has accelerated the inflation rate 2. 79(2002) to 4. (2004). Exchange rate might have played a significant role in causing inflation in 2005-2006 because of the introduction of flexible exchange rate regime since May 2003. A higher growth of money supply (13. 84 at 2004 to 19. 51 at 2006) added a lot to inflation in 2005-2006. In 2001 the lending rate was 13. 75 which were lowered to 10. 93 in 2005. In 2001-2006 high inflation in food (more than 5 percent) sector at international market was so much responsible for the fluctuation of inflation. Typically import occupies a significant place in the Bangladesh economy, accounting for as high as above 20 ercent or more of GDP in FY06. At the margin, most of the essential food items (for example, sugar, rice, wheat, onion and edible oil) and, more generally, machineries, intermediate goods and raw materials used in production are imported. Cost of imports can, therefore, be expected to have a substantial influence on domestic inflation (during 2001-2006) directly (through final goods) or indirectly (through intermediate goods). Unfair cartel among the suppliers might seriously hamper the course of the economy by engendering inflation via the creation of a false supply vent allegedly occurred in FY06 when the food inflation remained high (7. 6 percent) in the same fiscal year despite the growth in food production (4. 49 percent8 vis-? ¤-vis 2. 21 percent in FY05). Monopolistic control of several food items such as sugar, onion, pulses and edible oil by market syndication seems to have led this situation. 90bviously such manipulation is a type of supply side disturbance. Inflation has emerged as a global phenomenon in recent months largely reflecting the impact of higher food (The IMF food price index was 44. 4 percent at June 2008)and fuel prices nd strong demand conditions especially in the emerging economies. In line with global trends, Bangladesh also experienced rising inflation with the 12-month average CPI inflation touching 9. 94 percent in June 2008. In the fiscal year 2009, global oil price has shifted upward dramatically so fast. So that the price of fuel power has driven very sharp impact on our economy by increasing the price of Industrial product and reduces the output of industry. Though our government has taken needed initiatives to minimize the inflation rate but they have failed up to the expectation. In the fiscal year 2010, global food price has shifted upward dramatically so fast . So that the price of food has driven very sharp impact on our economy. Though the inflation has decreased to a reasonable rate (5. 4 percent), the price of food is beyond to the normal people. Because of the insufficiency of credit to productive sectors it is unable to invest money in productive sectors whereas the money are using in less productive sectors which causes a high rate of inflation. Limitations of Economic system The quarterly data on budget deficit and government expenditures are not available, hich hinders the analysis on the supply side determinants of inflation. The wage rate is not considered here because of the developing country nature, Labor is assumed to be abundant. The key findings: Inflation in Bangladesh can be explained by money supply growth as money supply has statistically significant power of forecasting the movement in CPI. It might be channeled through either the effects of money supply on GDP or the effects of money supply on exchange rates. The deposit rate of interest is a relatively weak determinant of fluctuations in inflation in Bangladesh, whereas deposit rate of interest is a moderately strong determinant of nominal exchange rate, but only in the short run. Money supply is a moderate determinant of fluctuation in real output, at the same time; money supply is a moderately strong determinant of fluctuation in nominal exchange rate in Bangladesh during the period FY90-FYIO. Conclusion These results have important policy implications for both domestic policy makers and the development partners. First, taking into consideration that the inflation rate is not power and an increase in the cost of living. Second, given that the country frequently as to balance the credit requirements by the private and public sector against both inflationary and balance of payments pressures, it is not always possible for the monetary authority to increase (or adjust) the nominal interest rate above the expected (or actual) inflation rate through contractionary monetary policy 1 1 . In this regard, the monetary authority can think of an alternative way by working on the expectations channel to reduce inflation. This requires credibility of the monetary authority in following through its monetary program as communicated in advance to the stakeholders. References Abel, Andrew; Bernanke, Ben (2005). Macroeconomics (5th ed. ). Pearson Barro, Robert J. (1997). Macroeconomics. cambridge, Mass: MIT press. p. 895. ISBN 0-262-02436-5 Blanchard, Olivier (2000). Macroeconomics (2nd ed. ). Englewood Cliffs, N. J: Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-013306-X Mankiw, N. Gregory (2002). Macroeconomics (5th ed. ). worth Hall, Robert E. ; Taylor, John B. (1993). Macroeconomics. New York: W. W. Norton. p. 637. ISBN 0-393-96307-1 surda, Michael C. ; wyplosz, Charles (1997). Macroeconomics: a European text. Oxford [Oxfordshire]: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-877468-0

The 1990s and Beyond

The 1990s and Beyond The 1990s brought a new president, Bill Clinton (1993-2000). A cautious, moderate Democrat, Clinton sounded some of the same themes as his predecessors. After unsuccessfully urging Congress to enact an ambitious proposal to expand health-insurance coverage, Clinton declared that the era of big government was over in America. He pushed to strengthen market forces in some sectors, working with Congress to open local telephone service to competition. He also joined Republicans to reduce welfare benefits. Still, although Clinton reduced the size of the federal workforce, the government continued to play a crucial role in the nations economy. Most of the major innovations of the New Deal and a good many of the Great Society remained in place. And the Federal Reserve system continued to regulate the overall pace of economic activity, with a watchful eye for any signs of renewed inflation. The economy, meanwhile, turned in an increasingly healthy performance as the 1990s progressed. With the fall of the Soviet Union and Eastern European communism in the late 1980s, trade opportunities expanded greatly. Technological developments brought a wide range of sophisticated new electronic products. Innovations in telecommunications and computer networking spawned a vast computer hardware and software industry and revolutionized the way many industries operate. The economy grew rapidly, and corporate earnings rose rapidly. Combined with low inflation and low unemployment, strong profits sent the stock market surging; the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which had stood at just 1,000 in the late 1970s, hit the 11,000 mark in 1999, adding substantially to the wealth of many though not all Americans. Japans economy, often considered a model by Americans in the 1980s, fell into a prolonged recession a development that led many economists to conclude that the more flexible, less planned, and more competitive American approach was, in fact, a better strategy for economic growth in the new, globally-integrated environment. Americas labor force changed markedly during the 1990s. Continuing a long-term trend, the number of farmers declined. A small portion of workers had jobs in industry, while a much greater share worked in the service sector, in jobs ranging from store clerks to financial planners. If steel and shoes were no longer American manufacturing mainstays, computers and the software that make them run were. After peaking at $290,000 million in 1992, the federal budget steadily shrank as economic growth increased tax revenues. In 1998, the government posted its first surplus in 30 years, although a huge debt mainly in the form of promised future Social Security payments to the baby boomers remained. Economists, surprised at the combination of rapid growth and continued low inflation, debated whether the United States had a new economy capable of sustaining a faster growth rate than seemed possible based on the experiences of the previous 40 years. - Next Article: Global Economic Integration This article is adapted from the book Outline of the U.S. Economy by Conte and Carr and has been adapted with permission from the U.S. Department of State.

War on Terrorism policies in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

War on Terrorism policies in America - Essay Example rn world, Guy Fawkes is seen as the first true terrorist with his effort to destroy English Parliament in 1605 by placing gunpowder beneath the building. In the American colonies, the Sons of Liberty attacked property of the British in the Americas because of their opposition to British rule and the Stamp Act. Through the rest of the 18th and 19th centuries, noteworthy accounts of terrorist tactics moved further East, through Eastern Europe and into the Middle East coming off centuries of relatively stable rule under the now defunct Ottoman Empire. With the Empire's collapse, armed political groups now vied for power through the vast expanses of the Middle East, which would lead to the political instability still in effect. Modern-day Islamic terrorist organizations oppose the Western world culturally and politically, and attempt to defend or promote Islamic culture by means of violent acts. This is characterized by many supporters as a "war" (or "Jihad"), whether as a means of retri bution or religious punishment for the West's aggression. The United States, in late 2001, responded to terrorist attacks by declaring a so-called "war on terrorism". Terrorism today, to most Westerners, refers to terrorism inspired by Islam. This radical shift to religious, or cultural, aspects of the terrorist act separates it from the 18th and 19th century traditions of strictly political acts of terror. Although Islamic terrorism certainly has political aspects to it, it is still ideologically justified in the language of the Islamic faith. Tokens like the Quran, Allah, and Jihad are used to create support for what are actually political goals. However, Islamic terrorism exists within many different countries in the Middle East, as opposed to past examples like IRA or the RAF, which... Terrorism today, to most Westerners, refers to terrorism inspired by Islam. This radical shift to religious, or cultural, aspects of the terrorist act separates it from the 18th and 19th-century traditions of strictly political acts of terror. Although Islamic terrorism certainly has political aspects to it, it is still ideologically justified in the language of the Islamic faith. Tokens like the Quran, Allah, and Jihad are used to create support for what are actually political goals. However, Islamic terrorism exists within many different countries in the Middle East, as opposed to past examples like IRA or the RAF, which existed strictly in Ireland and Germany respectively. The distribution of this new kind of terrorism makes it difficult to defend against, especially as they infiltrate Western societies to both learn from them and to attack them. The Patriot Act, a statute enabling the United States government additional surveillance tactics to â€Å"intercept and obstruct† terrorism, was enacted in October 2001. These privileges included eases on restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering, additional powers to regulate financial transactions, and increases in powers to conduct searches on the telephone and electronic communication without proper warrants (Chang). By expanding the official definition of domestic terrorism, the Patriot Act created a large umbrella of new powers for combating terrorism on American soil. However, these new powers were created only after severe terrorist attacks.

Organizational Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Organizational Behaviour - Essay Example A leader influences others by his qualities, viz. confidence, communicative ability, awareness of his impact on others as well as perceptions about the situation and his subordinates. The effect of a leader's background experiences, his communication ability, self-awareness, confidence, his perceptions of subordinates, the situation and the self are shown below. (Prasad, 2006 264) Almost every aspect of work is influenced by, if not dependent on, leadership. The leader is the chief communicator to people outside the group as well as within the group. The leader's attitude and behaviour affects the motivation of the group. The leader is responsible for seeing that the group's objectives are clearly understood and are accomplished. The planning and control mechanisms are designed or modified by the leader. How the leader behaves influences employees' satisfaction and affects the quality and quantity of output. All leaders have three limiting factors to contend with. Firstly, they are limited by their own ability, by their knowledge, skills, attitudes, weaknesses and inadequacies. Secondly, they are limited by the level of experience, skills, proficiencies and attitudes of their subordinates. Finally, they are limited by their environment. This includes the resources and conditions, which are available to them in their effort to achieve their objectives. All these factors are constantly changing. Leadership is a vital and dynamic function in organizations. The quality of leadership is a key factor in the accomplishment of the organization's objectives. It is generally recognized that certain types of leaders suit certain situations better than others. For example, some leaders perform better in a prosperous, or growth, period, others in an austere or contracting period. LEADERSHIP STYLES Leadership styles are the patterns of behaviour, which a leader adopts in influencing the behaviour of his followers (subordinates) in the organisational context. These patterns emerge in the leader as he begins to respond in the same fashion under similar conditions; he develops habits of actions that become somewhat predictable to those who work with him. There are many dimensions of leadership styles: power dimension where superior uses varying degree of authority; orientation -employee or task-oriented; motivational-where superior affects the behaviour of his subordinates either by giving a reward or by imposing a penalty. All these styles are leader of oriented. Leadership style is the result of leader's philosophy, personality, experience and value system. It also depends upon the types of followers and the organisational atmosphere prevailing in the enterprise. There may be situations and follower-oriented styles. However, such a classification may not be strict because