How to Improve and Retain Your German Fluency

Here are some suggestions to help you with your goal to improve your German.   Surround yourself in German:Label your home, your workplace with German words. And dont label with nouns only. Do colours, verbs (such as à ¶ffnen /open and schließen /close on a door), adjectives (e.g. rauh/rough, weich/soft on different textures).Paste the conjugation of verbs you have difficulties with on your bathroom mirror.Change the settings on your computer to German.Have a German site as your homepage.Learn at least one German word a day: More if you can retain them. Then practice it on someone that day or write it in a sentence, so that it becomes part of your spoken vocabulary and not just your comprehension vocabulary.Write in German every day: Keep a journal or diary, get an e pen-pal or join the one-on-one classes on our forum. Write your to-do lists in German.Read in German every day: Read, read, read!Subscribe to a German newspaper/magazine, a German-American newspaper or read German magazines/newspapers online.Use a German cookbook.Read childrens books. They expo se you to basic vocabulary, dont have much jargon and often use repetition. As your vocabulary increases, try older childrens/youth books.Read dual-language books. They give you the satisfaction of reading more advanced classic books.Listen to German every day: Challenge yourself to watch a German podcast, show etc. or listen to German music every day.Find a German buddy: If there are no Germans near where you live, pair up with someone else who is learning German and commit yourselves to speaking only German with each other.Practice wherever you go: Though limited in a non-German speaking country, with some creativity, you can get some daily German practice. Every little bit helps.Become involved in your local German club: Also try the universitys Kaffeeklatsch, the Goethe-Institute. Depending where you live, you may have the opportunity to attend German festivities, German film screenings, book clubs etc. If no such thing exists in your community, why not create your own German c lub? Even just a simple evening of German board games with two or three people will enrich your German learning experience.Take a German course: Check out your community college, university or language schools for courses. Study for a German proficiency test this year.Study/Work in Germany: Many German organizations and institutions offer scholarships or grants for a study abroad experience.Most important resolution to always keep: Believe that you can and will learn German.

As Long as there is a Profit to be Made, Discoveries will...

The question posed for this microtheme asks the difference between science and technology. This has been a question I’ve pondered in the past. My personal viewpoint is that as long as there is a profit to be made, discoveries will be exploited. Science relies on technology to pursue science, meaning more technology developed to support further pursuit. The line is very blurred for me. Are scientists merely messengers making discoveries, inadvertently helping others advance their position by exploitation? Most Americans consider Thomas Edison a great inventor and scientist, yet James Burke shows disdain for the accomplishments attributed to Edison, apparently because of the method and money made in the process. Does profit separate science and technology? Benjamin Franklin never took out a patent, believing, in the 18th century, inventions were something mankind should be as happy to share as they are to use from one another. He created technology out of science and made no profit. Does that make him a pure scientist? Andy Warhol was a similar mindset as Edison using apprentices and others to create his ideas, such as his acclaimed silk-screened image of â€Å"Gold Marilyn Monroe†. Does that mean he was a technician, not an artist? Can one be both? He surely made a profit. Galileo used collaboration to advance science in the 17th century, with written correspondence and discussions about various topics that were yet to be confirmed, or revealed, such as the vacuumShow MoreRelatedFirestone s An Civil War1410 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Firestone plantation and the exploitation of workers. The problem with this was that Firestone’s primary intention was to return and make a profit, not taking the lives and opinions of their workers into consideration. Firestone s action was immoral leading to accepting the abuse and exploitation of their workers on the necessity of making a profit. 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The Industrial1599 Words   |  7 PagesRevolution had been a positive influence on Europe or not? It was to be a succession of radical changes that effected people in the way they lived and worked. As before the Industrial Revolution everything had to be made by hand, so, people used to grow their crops, weave their own cloth and made almost everything by hand. However, this all began to change around the mid-1700 s, as people now began to use machinery instead. For example, the revolutionary use of waterpower that had come into use for allRead MoreEssay Impact of Cyber Security Vulnerability on Organizations1263 Words   |  6 Pagesfellow of an industry that uses it to get their tasks performed. The uncovered customer software side is the most importa nt cybersecurity vulnerability/ weakness that the IT community is facing nowadays. Since all the new industries (companies, non-profits or government entities) use networks and computers as the component of everyday tasks, this weakness is applied to all each and every one of them. Due to this fact, the most important cyber security vulnerability is uncovered customer software. Read MoreNebobites Ethical Dilemma1406 Words   |  6 Pagesuncomfortable with this practice, and she knows that this year’s financial statements will retain an overstated Bad Debt Expense estimate and more than likely result in an understated Bad Debt Expense estimate in 2013. 2. An ethical decision must be made by Jenny, because she is going to have to decide what is morally right or wrong. This fake presentation of increase in earnings will potentially affect every stakeholder involved with the company including their shareholders, creditors, management

Strategic Alignment and Data Management Tools - Technologies and Threat

Question: Discuss about the Strategic Alignment and Data Management Tools, Technologies and Threats. Answer: Introduction The present era is an era of digitization and technology. There has been a complete change in the technology that was used by the organizations 30 years back and the one that is used presently. Digitization refers to the process of converting the data and information in a digital format for use and for communication as well (WhatIs.com, 2016). The revolution has made it easy to access and share the information. It is necessary for the organizations to develop strategy and tools to adapt to the ever changing technology. Tools Used by the Organizations There are a number of different tools that are used by the organization to understand and analyze the competitive environment and to take a competitive edge. SWOT Analysis It is a tool which is used to analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats associated with the organization. It considers all the internal and external factors and represents the results in the form of a matrix with a few points under each of the four categories. It helps in understanding the current structure and the one that is necessary for gaining competitive advantage. PEST Analysis It is the tool which is used to gain a deep knowledge and understanding of the external macro-environments. It presents the political, economical, social and technological factors which may be the opportunities or threats detected in SWOT analysis (cimaglobal, 2016). Portes Five Force Model Porters Five Force Analysis It is a model or a tool which is used to understand the changing factors along with the new competition in the market, user preference, supplier specifications and many more. Value Chain Analysis It presents a list of activities for an organization which aids in the value creation process. Value Chain Analysis Data Analytics It is one of the most expanding area and the Big Data tools such as Hadoop, Hyperscale and many of the NoSQL databases are used to analyze, store and manage the data form a number of different sources. Role of Strategic Alignment Strategic Alignment is a process which is used to provide the organizations with a strategy that maps the requirements with the goals and objectives and also integrates the technology advancements in the process (Smallbusiness.chron.com, 2016). The role that the process plays is massive in terms of customer satisfaction, organizational growth, cost-effectiveness and integration of all of the processes that are associated with the system along with keeping the goals and objectives in mind. The following factors can help in the improvement of the strategic alignment: Planning Prior to the pioneers of an association can start a vital arrangement of the association, they should first investigate the condition of the association. These pioneers must choose what the objective of the association ought to be, and after that set targets that will help the association understand the objective. Organizational Unity Associations have individuals who work in various limits, working in various offices or divisions. What one individual in the association does in one office or division influences the exercises of others in the same or diverse offices or divisions. Strategic alignment ought to facilitate everybody's exercises so the association in general moves in the direction of the same objectives utilizing recommended forms. Resource Utilization How an association makes utilization of assets will decide the achievement or disappointment of the association. Representative time is not boundless, so strategic alignment ought to give workers heading and a dream of what makes a difference most in the association so they invest their energy in exercises that advance targets as opposed to concentrating only all alone objectives. Individuals from the association likewise turn out to be more aware of utilizing different assets to perform strategic objectives. Scope for adjustments An association's strategic alignment ought not stay static, but rather ought to be liquid and advance after some time. The circumstances in which the association winds up, incorporating nature in which the association capacities, changes after some time and influences how the association can and ought to work. The association likewise ought to evaluate its systems and accomplishment of objectives occasionally, making modification as required. An association may likewise understand that better methods for working exist and the association starts to embrace and execute these more powerful practices (Forbes.com, 2016). Benefits of Data Management There are a lot many advantages of an efficient data management and the same have been discussed below: There is a huge decrease in some of the additional costs that may otherwise emerge such as the cost associated with direct mail and marketing along with operational costs (oracle, 2016). It also helps in establishment of controls over data in a much better way. Data mapping also tends to becomes easier with the help of accurate data management techniques. Segmentation is the process of sectioning the data to improve the accessibility and the same is made easy through data management. Data hygiene is another important concept which includes removal of unwanted and redundant data from all the sources and the same is managed easily with the processes of data management (ANNUITAS, 2011). It also helps in easy accessibility and sharing of data (hsrc.ac.za, 2016). Importance of Web2.0 and Web3.0 for the organizations Web2.0 and Web3.0 are the technologies which are used for web application development that are user and data driven in nature. These are used to present interactive and responsive web designs to the user which are user-friendly in nature and also adapts to the user preferences. Web2.0 is important for the organizations as it provides the ability to bring forward an interactive design along with the ability to control the data. Dynamic content, scalability and rich user interface are some of the prime advantages of this technology and framework which attracts a large number of users towards the applications that are developed through it (Tekriti, 2016). Accessibility and availability are the two prime demands of the users which are catered by the organizations through Web3.0. It enables the user to access the data from any location and at any time. It makes the design not only interactive but also fit to be used for any device at any location such as on the smart phones and tablets (1stwebdesigner, 2016). Threats Introduced with Technology There are a number of security and privacy threats that are introduced with the technological advancements such as: There are increased instances of cyber crimes such as cyber stalking, cyber racism and cyber bullying (Grimes, 2016). Data breach and data loss are also two of the major risks that are seen which result in damage to the confidentiality, integrity and authenticity of the data (Power More, 2015). Attack of malicious software such as viruses, worms, Trojan horses, logic bombs and spyware also increases. It makes it easier for the intruders and attackers to flood the system with unwanted traffic and hamper the service with Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Malicious insider threats also increase with increase in technological advancements and the competitive edge as the motive of the organizations. There is also risk of decrease in productivity and efficiency of the employees as they tend to take time to adapt with the ingoing changes and that leads to slower processes and executions. Conclusion Technology has rapidly changes with time and the present world is the world of digital media and technological advancements. There are tools which are used to analyze and understand the required changes to being in the strategy considering the competitive environment. Some of these tools are SWOT analysis, PEST analysis, and value chain analysis and data analytics tools. Strategic alignment also plays a major role in this process as the same helps in streamlining all the processes. Data management is used by the organization to make it easy for the users to access the data and also for the organization to effectively store and manage the data. Web2.0 and Web3.0 are technologies that bring forward web development that is user and data driven and produces interactive designs. There are also a number of security and privacy threats that get introduced in the system due to changing technology. References 1stwebdesigner, (2016). [online] 1stwebdesigner.com. Available at: https://1stwebdesigner.com/what-is-web-3-0/ [Accessed 31 May 2016]. ANNUITAS. (2011). The Benefits of Data Management | ANNUITAS. [online] Available at: https://annuitas.com/2011/02/02/the-benefits-of-data-management/ [Accessed 31 May 2016]. Cimaglobal, (2016). [online] Available at: https://www.cimaglobal.com/Documents/ImportedDocuments/cid_tg_strategic_analysis_tools_nov07.pdf.pdf [Accessed 31 May 2016]. Forbes.com. (2016). Forbes Welcome. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/larrymyler/2012/10/16/strategy-101-its-all-about-alignment/#3512617e2257 [Accessed 31 May 2016]. Grimes, R. (2016). IT's 9 biggest security threats. [online] InfoWorld. Available at: https://www.infoworld.com/article/2614957/security/it-s-9-biggest-security-threats.html [Accessed 31 May 2016]. Hsrc.ac.za, (2016). [online] Available at: https://www.hsrc.ac.za/uploads/pageContent/2729/Benefits%20of%20Data%20Management%20and%20Sharing.pdf [Accessed 31 May 2016]. Oracle, (2016). [online] Available at: https://www.oracle.com/us/products/applications/master-data-management/roi-from-data-quality-168367.pdf [Accessed 31 May 2016]. Power More. (2015). The top 5 IT security threats for 2016 - Power More. [online] Available at: https://powermore.dell.com/technology/top-5-security-threats-2016/ [Accessed 31 May 2016]. Research.unsq.edu.au, (2016). [online] Available at: https://research.unsw.edu.au/benefits-good-data-management [Accessed 31 May 2016]. Smallbusiness.chron.com. (2016). Describe the Concept of Strategic Alignment. [online] Available at: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/describe-concept-strategic-alignment-14054.html [Accessed 31 May 2016]. Tekriti. (2016). Advantages of Web2.0 Development and Web 2.0 Development Services. [online] Available at: https://www.tekritisoftware.com/web-2.0-development-and-web-2.0-development-services [Accessed 31 May 2016]. WhatIs.com. (2016). What is digitization? - Definition from WhatIs.com. [online] Available at: https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/digitization [Accessed 31 May 2016].

Why Software Systems Fail Essay Example For Students

Why Software Systems Fail Essay 1.0 IntroductionIn this report I will be concentrating on the failure of software systems. To understand why software systems fail we need to understand what are software systems. Software systems are a type of information system. This is because a software system is basically a means for hardware to process information. Flynns definition of an information system is:An information system provides procedures to record and make available information, concerning part of an organization, to assist organization-related activities.Humans have been processing information manually for thousands of years, but with the vast increase of demand for knowledge this century has meant that a new method of information processing has been needed. Software systems have provided a new means that is much faster and efficient. As a result a huge number of organisations have become software dependent. Some of these systems are used to safeguard the lives of many people. This means that if these systems wer e to fail they could lead to devastating consequences. Here are some examples of where software systems are used heavily and could be very dangerous if they were to fail aviation, hospitals, space exploration, nuclear power stations and communications. I will be looking at some examples of actual software failure in these fields to explain the reasons why systems fail.2.0 Reasons for Systems FailureIf software systems failure can be so dangerous why can they not be completely eliminated? According to Parnas, The main reason is that software can never be guaranteed to be 100% reliable. Software systems are discrete-state systems that do not have repetitive structures. The mathematical functions that describe the behaviour of software systems are not continuous, and traditional engineering mathematics do not help in their verification. In other words some software can be so large that thorough testing can be almost impossible and so bugs in the software can go unnoticed. An example o f this was when an Atlas-Agena rocket veered off-course when it was ninety miles up. Ground control had to destroy the $18.5 rocket. The reasons for this a missing hyphen. However there are many more reasons for software systems failure, and most of them are due to human negligence that leads to software failure. There are two types of software systems failure. These are in the design stage of the software or in the implementation of the software. These are the main reasons for systems failure.Poor software design Fundamental flaws in the design of the software.Incorrect requirements specifications The brief is inconsistent or missing vital information. Political / Commercial pressures This can lead to developers skipping parts of the system to save time or money. There are also cases of rivalry between sub-contractors, which damages the design of the system.Incorrect analysis and assumptions Predictions based on incorrect assumptions of the real world or its behaviour.Not prop erly tested software implemented in a high risk environment This is almost guaranteed to lead to systems failure.Poor user-interface Makes it difficult or even impossible for the user to operate the software system.Incorrect fit between software and hardware Incorrect specification of the hardware type in the brief, or upgrading the hardware without upgrading the software (or vice-versa).Inadequate training given to the operators The people who have to use the software are not taught properly how to use the software system or they are expected to learn on their own. Over reliance on the software system The operators expect their software system to work in all conditions and to perform miracles for them.I will be looking at these types of systems failure with examples. 2.1 Poor software design- the Denver airport automated luggage handling systemAn example of poor software design is the Denver International Airport luggage controller. In this case Jones says that the senior exec utives did not have a sufficient background in software systems and as a result accepted nonsensical software claims at face value.The airport boasted about its new automated baggage handling system, with a contract price of $193 million, will be one of the largest and most sophisticated systems of its type in the world. It was designed to provide the high-speed transfer of baggage to and from aircraft, thereby facilitating quick turnaround times for aircraft and improved services to passengers. The baggage system, which came into operation in October 1995, included over 17 miles of track; 5.5 miles of conveyors; 4,000 telecarts; 5,000 electric motors; 2,700 photocells; 59 laser bar code reader arrays; 311 radio frequency readers; and over 150 computers, workstations, and communication servers. The automated luggage handling system (ALHS) was originally designed to carry up to 70 bags per minute to and from the baggage check-in.However there were fundamental flaws identified but not addressed in the development and testing stage. ABC news later reported that In tests, bags were being misloaded, misrouted or fell out of telecarts, causing the system to jam. The Dr. Dobbs Journal (January 1997) also carried an article in which the author claims that his software simulation of the automatic baggage handling system of the Denver airport mimicked the real-life situation. He concluded that the consultants did perform a similar simulation and, as a result, had recommended against the installation of the system. However the city overruled the consultants report and gave the go-ahead (the contractors who were building the system never saw the report).The report into the failure of the Denver ALHS says that the Federal Aviation Authority had required the designers (BAE Automated Systems Incorporated) to properly test the system before the opening date on 28th February 1995. Problems with the ALHS had already caused the airports opening date to be postponed and no furth er delays could be tolerated by the city. The report speculates that delays had already cost the airport $360 million by February 1995.The lack of testing inevitably led to problems with the ALHS. One problem occurred when the photo eye at a particular location could not detect the pile of bags on the belt and hence could not signal the system to stop. The baggage system loaded bags into telecarts that were already full, resulting in some bags falling onto the tracks, again causing the telecarts to jam. This problem caused another problem. This one occurred because the system had lost track of which telecarts were loaded or unloaded during a previous jam. When the system came back on-line, it failed to show that the telecarts were loaded. Also the timing between the conveyor belts and the moving telecarts were not properly synchronized, causing bags to fall between the conveyor belt and the telecarts. The bags then became wedged under the telecarts. This eventually caused so many pr oblems that there was a need for a major overhaul of the system.The government report concluded that the ALHS at the new airport was afflicted by serious mechanical and software problems. However you can not help thinking how much the city was blamed for their part in a lack of demand for proper testing. Denver International Airport had to install a $51 million alternative system to get around the problem. However United Airlines still continue to use the ALHS. A copy of the report can be found at http://www.bts.gov/smart/cat/rc9535br.html.2.2 Political / Commercial pressures the Challenger DisasterThere are many examples of failures occurring because of this. One of the most famous examples of these is the Challenger disaster. On the 28th January 1986 the challenger space shuttle exploded shortly after launch, killing all seven astronauts onboard. This was initially blamed on the design of the booster rockets and allowing the launch to proceed in cold weather. However it was later revealed that there was a decision along the way to economize on the sensors and on their computer interpretation by removing the sensors on the booster rockets. There is speculation that those sensors might have permitted earlier detection of the booster-rocket failure, and possible early separation of the shuttle in an effort to save the astronauts. Other shortcuts were also taken so that the team could adhere to an accelerated launch sequence. (Neumann). This was not the first time there had been problems with space shuttle missions. A presidential commission was set up and the Chicago Tribune reported what some astronauts said, that poor organization of shuttle operations led to such chronic problems as crucial mission software arrived just before shuttle launches and the constant cannibalization of orbiters for spare parts. Obviously the pressures of getting a space shuttle launch and mission to run smoothly and on time is huge. However there has to be a limit on how many short cuts can be taken. Another example of commercial pressure is the case of a Fortune 500 company. (A Fortune 500 company is one that appears in a listing of the top 500 U.S. companies ranked by revenues, according to Fortune magazines classic list.) According to Jones, the client executive and the senior software manager disliked each other so intensely that they could not never reach agreement on the features, schedules, and effort for the project (a sales support system of about 3000 function points). They both appealed to their higher executives to dismiss the other person. The project was eventually abandoned, after acquiring expenses of up to $500 000. Jones reported another similar case in a different Fortune 500 company. two second-line managers on an expert system (a project of about 2500 function points) were political opponents. They both devoted the bulk of their energies to challenging and criticizing the work products of the opposite teams. Not surprisingly the project w as abandoned after costing the company $1.5 million.2.3 Incorrect analysis and assumptions the Three Mile Island accidentIncorrect assumptions can seem very obvious when they are thought about, however it does not stop them from creeping in. According to Neumann a Gemini V rocket landed a hundred miles off course because of an error in the software. The programmer used the Earths reference point relative to the Sun, as elapsed time since launch, as a fixed constant. However the programmer did not realise that the Earth position relative to the Sun does not come back to the same point 24 hours later. As a result the error accumulated while the rocket was in space. The Three Mile Island II nuclear accident, on 28th March 1979, was also blamed on assuming too much. The accident started in the cooling system when one of the pipes became blocked, resulting in the temperature of the fuel rods increased from 600 degrees to over 4000 degrees. Instruments used to measure the temperature of the reactor core was not standard equipment at the time, however thermocouples had been installed and could measure high temperatures. However after the temperature reached over 700 degrees the thermocouples had been programmed to produce a string of question marks instead of displaying the temperature. After the reactor started to over-heat the turbines shut down automatically. However this did not stop the rods from over-heating as someone had left the valves for the secondary cooling system closed. There was no way of knowing this at the time because there was no reading on the temperature of the reactor core.Operators testified to the commission that there were so many valves that sometimes the would get left in the wrong position, even though their positions are supposed to be recorded and even padlocked. This is also a case of the designers blaming the operators and vice-versa. In the end the operators had to concede reluctantly that large valves do not close themselves.Petros ki says, Contemporaneous explanations of what was going on during the accident at Three Mile Island were as changeable as the weather forecasts, and even as the accident was in progress, computer models of the plant were being examined to try to figure it out. Lots of assumptions had been made about how high the temperature of the reactor core could go and the state of the valves in the secondary cooling system. This shows that in an environment where safety is supposed to be the number one issue people are still too busy to think about all the little things all the time and high pressure situations develop that compromise the safety of hundreds of thousands of people. It took until August 1993 for the site to be declared safe. Facts are taken from Neumann and Perrow.2.4 Not properly tested software implemented in a high risk environment the London Ambulance ServiceThe failure of the London Ambulance Service (LAS) on Monday and Tuesday 26 and 27 November 1992, was, like all major fa ilures, blamed on a number of factors. These include inadequate training given to the operators, commercial pressures, no backup procedure, no consideration was given to system overload, poor user interface, not a proper fit between software and hardware and not enough system testing being carried out before hand. Claims were later made in the press that up to 20-30 people might have died as a result of ambulances arriving too late on the scene. According to Flowers, The major objective of the London Ambulance Service Computer Aided Despatch (LASCAD) project was to automate many of the human-intensive processes of manual despatch systems associated with ambulance services in the UK. Such a manual system would typically consist of, among others, the following functions: Call taking. Emergency calls are received by ambulance control. Control assistants write down details of incidents on pre-printed forms.The LAS offered a contract for this system and wanted it to be up and running by 8th January 1992. All the contractors raised concerns about the short amount of time available but the LAS said that this was non-negotiable. A consortium consisting of Apricot, Systems Options and Datatrak won the contract. Questions were later asked about why there contract was significantly cheaper than their competitors. (They asked for 1.1 million to carry out the project while their competitors asked for somewhere in the region of 8 million.)The system was lightly loaded at start-up on 26 October 1992. Staff could manually correct any problems, caused particularly by the communications systems such as ambulance crews pressing the wrong buttons. However, as the number of calls increased, a build up of emergencies accumulated. This had a knock-on effect in that the system made incorrect allocations on the basis of the information it had. This led to more than one ambulance being sent to the same incident, or the closest vehicle was not chosen for the emergency. As a consequence, the system had fewer ambulance resources to use. With so many problems the LASCAD generated exception messages for those incidents for which it had received incorrect status information. The number of exception messages appears to have increased to such an extent the staff were not able to clear the queues. Operators later said this was because the messages scrolled of the screen and there was no way to scroll back through the list of calls to ensure that a vehicle had been dispatched. This all resulted in a viscous circle with the waiting times for ambulances increasing. The operators also became bogged down in calls from frustrated patients who started to fill the lines. This led to the operators becoming frustrated, which in turn led to an increased number of instances where crews failed to press the right buttons, or took a different vehicle to an incident than that suggested by the system. Crew frustration also seems to have contributed to a greater volume of voice radio traff ic. This in turn contributed to the rising radio communications bottleneck, which caused a general slowing down in radio communications which, in turn, fed back into increasing crew frustration. The system therefore appears to have been in a vicious circle of cause and effect. One distraught ambulance driver was interviewed and recounted that the police are saying Nice of you to turn up and other things. At 23:00 on October 28 the LAS eventually instigated a backup procedure, after the death of at least 20 patients.An inquiry was carried out into this disaster at the LAS and a report was released in February 1993. Here is what the main summary of the report said:What is clear from the Inquiry Teams investigations is that neither the Computer Aided Despatch (CAD) system itself, nor its users, were ready for full implementation on 26 October 1992. The CAD software was not complete, not properly tuned, and not fully tested. The resilience of the hardware under a full load had not been tested. The fall back option to the second file server had certainly not been tested. There were outstanding problems with data transmission to and from the mobile data terminals. Staff, both within Central Ambulance Control (CAC) and ambulance crews, had no confidence in the system and was not all fully trained and there was no paper backup. There had been no attempt to foresee fully the effect of inaccurate or incomplete data available to the system (late status reporting/vehicle locations etc.). These imperfections led to an increase in the number of exception messages that would have to be dealt with and which in turn would lead to more call-backs and enquiries. In particular the decision on that day to use only the computer generated resource allocations (which were proven to be less than 100% reliable) was a high-risk move.In a report by Simpson (1994) she claimed that the software for the system was written in Visual Basic and was run in a Windows operating system. This decis ion itself was a fundamental flaw in the design. The result was an interface that was so slow in operation that users attempted to speed up the system by opening every application they would need at the start of their shift, and then using the Windows multi-tasking environment to move between them as required. This highly memory-intensive method of working would have had the effect of reducing system performance still further.The system was never tested properly and nor was their any feedback gathered from the operators before hand. The report refers to the software as being incomplete and unstable, with the back up system being totally untested. The report does say that there was functional and maximum load testing throughout the project. However it raised doubts over the completeness and quality of the systems testing. It also questions the suitability of the operating system chosen.This along with the poor staff training was identified to be the main root of the problem. The mana gement staff was highly criticised in the report for their part in the organisation of staff training. The ambulance crew and the central control crew staff were, among other things, trained in separate rooms, which did not lead to a proper working relationship between the pair. Here is what the report said about staff training:Much of the training was carried out well in advance of the originally planned implementation date and hence there was a significant skills decay between then and when staff were eventually required to use the system. There was also doubts over the quality of training provided, whether by Systems Options or by LASs own Work Based Trainers (WBTs). This training was not always comprehensive and was often inconsistent. The problems were exacerbated by the constant changes being made to the system.Facts are taken from http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks, http://www.scit.wlv.ac.uk and the report of the Inquiry into the London Ambulance Service, February 1993.2.5 Poor u ser-interfaceThe last case was a good example of how a poor user-interface can lead to mayhem. Another similar case was reported to the Providence newspaper. The Providence (part of New York) police chief, Walter Clark, was grilled over why his officers were taking so long to respond to calls. In one case it took two hours to respond to a burglary in progress. He explained that all the calls are entered into a computer and are shown on a monitor. However the monitor can only show twenty reports at a time as the programmer did not design a scroll function for the screen. The programmer had some serious misconceptions about the crime rate in New York. Facts taken from: http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks.2.6 Over reliance on the software systemThe Exxon Valdez oil disaster was simultaneously blamed on the drunken captain, the severely fatigued third mate, the helmsman and the system. The system refers to the auto-pilot of the ship and the lack of care the crew had on its operation. Accordi ng to Neumann the crew were so tired that they did not realise that the auto-pilot was left on and so the ship was ignoring their rudder adjustments. This example shows that even though everything was working properly, all the safety measures had a minimal effect when they were trying to override the auto-pilot. This is a very small mistake and could easily have been prevented.The Therac-25 case, a system designed to give the right amount of radiation to the patient in chemotherapy treatment also fell into a case foolproofedness. The operators did not imagine the software permitted the therapeutic radiation device to be configured unsafely in X-Ray mode, without its protective filter in place (Neumann). Such blind faith in the system resulted in several patients being given too high a dose that killed the patients.3.0 ConclusionIt is obvious to see from these examples that failures are very rarely due to one cause alone. In major system failures it can be over a dozen mistakes being made that usually results in the failure of the system. Also the mistakes have a domino effect or leads to a viscous circle of mistakes, the systems becoming worse and worse during both the design and implementation stage. In almost all large system failures there is a case of when commercial pressures are put above safety. The Paddington rail crash (5th October 1999) could have been prevented if the train had been fitted with the Train Protection Warning System. This system would physically stop the train if it went through a red signal and was recommended in the report following the train crash at Southall. However it would have cost Railtrack something like 150-200 million. The system will however now be introduced to all trains by 2004. The facts were taken from BBC online.It is obvious that the main reason for the commercial pressures is cost. The Challenger disaster might have been prevented if sensors had not been removed from the booster rockets. But the cost of some extra sensors compared to the already astronomical cost of space exploration makes it seem a little nonsensical. The cost of a space shuttle is well over $1 billion, never mind the damage it did to NASAs reputation. However it is not always cost saving that leads to system failures. In both the Denver ALHS and the London Ambulance System CAD it is more a case of money wasting. When the initial investment has been made a company finds it very hard to terminate the project. They would rather get the system working than admit defeat, whatever the cost. Sometimes the cost can be in terms of human lives. This would be why United Airlines still insist on using the Denver ALHS and twenty people died before the LAS switched their dispatching system. Proper communication and feedback between the designers and the operators will stop a lot of problems like a poor user-interface and incorrect fit between the hardware and software. It all starts with a proper brief being given to the designers. But t his can only happen if the management knows what they want. So the only way to have a successful system is to have good communications and understanding between the designers and operators, with the senior managers being kept in the know at all times. However the most important job is for someone to take responsibility for the design and operation of the system. If someone who is competent is put in charge and takes responsibility then the system is likely to be working properly before its implementation and the operators will have adequate training for using the system. With the London Ambulance System this was doubly important where patients lives are at risk. In situations like these Ethics is the key word and there has to be someone held responsible for the actions of the organisation. 4.0 BibliographyFlynn, Donal J.; Information Systems Requirements: Determination and Analysis; McGraw-Hill Book Company; 1992Parnas; 1985; taken from: Sherer, Susan A.; Software Failure Risk Measu rement and Management; Plenum Press; 1992Jones, Carpers; Patterns of Software Systems Failure and Success; Thomson computer press; 1996Neumann, Peter G.; Computer Related Risks; Addison-Wesley publishing company; 1995Petroski, Henry; To Engineer is Human; MacMillan Publishing; 1985Flowers, Stephen; Software failure: management failure; Chichester: John Wiley and Sons; 1996.Report of the Inquiry into the London Ambulance Service; February 1993. Simpson, Moira (1994); 999!: My computers stopped breathing !; The Computer Law and Security Report, 10; March April; pp 76-81Dr. Dobbs Journal; January 1997 editionhttp://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Riskshttp://www.scit.wlv.ac.uk http://www.bbc.co.uk/newshttp://abcnews.go.com/sections/travel .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 , .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .postImageUrl , .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 , .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697:hover , .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697:visited , .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697:active { border:0!important; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697:active , .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Observation of the Early Childhood Essay We will write a custom essay on Why Software Systems Fail specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now

Introduction to Nanotechnology free essay sample

Generally nanotechnology deals with structures of the size 100 nanometers or smaller in at least one dimension, and involves developing materials or devices within that size. Nanotechnology is very diverse, ranging from extensions of conventional device physics to completely new approaches based upon molecular self-assembly, from developing new materials with dimensions on the nanoscale to investigating whether we can directly control matter on the atomic scale. There has been much debate on the future implications of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has the potential to create many new materials and devices with a vast range of applications, such as in medicine, electronics and energy production. On the other hand, nanotechnology raises many of the same issues as with any introduction of new technology, including concerns about the toxicity and environmental impact of nanomaterials, and their potential effects on global economics, as well as speculation about various doomsday scenarios. These concerns have led to a debate among advocacy groups and governments on whether special regulation of nanotechnology is warranted. We will write a custom essay sample on Introduction to Nanotechnology or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The first use of the concepts found in nano-technology (but pre-dating use of that name) was in Theres Plenty of Room at the Bottom, a talk given by physicist Richard Feynman at an American Physical Society meeting at Caltech on December 29, 1959. Feynman described a process by which the ability to manipulate individual atoms and molecules might be developed, using one set of precise tools to build and operate another proportionally smaller set, and so on down to the needed scale. In the course of this, he noted, scaling issues would arise from the changing magnitude of various physical phenomena: gravity would become less important, surface tension and vander Waals attraction would become increasingly more significant, etc. Name – Swarnalipi Behera Regd. no – 0601211053 Roll. no – 106321 Branch – IT 1. Introduction Nanotechnology is an essentially modern scientific field that is constantly evolving as commercial and academic interest continues to increase and as new research is presented to the scientific community. The field’s simplest roots can be traced, albeit arguably, to 1959 but its primary development occurred in both the eighties and the early nineties. In addition to specific scientific achievements such as the invention of the STM, this early history is most importantly reflected in the initial vision of molecular manufacturing as it is outlined in three important works. Overall, an understanding of development and the criticism of this vision is integral for comprehending the realities and potential of nanotechnology today. Nanotechnology, shortened to nanotech, is the study of the controlling of matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally nanotechnology deals with structures of the size 100 nanometers or smaller in at least one dimension, and involves developing materials or devices within that size. Nanotechnology is very diverse, ranging from extensions of conventional device physics to completely new approaches based upon molecular self-assembly, from developing new materials with dimensions on the nanoscale to investigating whether we can directly control matter on the atomic scale. There has been much debate on the future implications of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has the potential to create many new materials and devices with a vast range of applications, such as in medicine, electronics and energy production. On the other hand, nanotechnology raises many of the same issues as with any introduction of new technology, including concerns about the toxicity and environmental impact of nanomaterials, and their potential effects on global economics, as well as speculation about various doomsday scenarios. These concerns have led to a debate among advocacy groups and governments on whether special regulation of nanotechnology is warranted.

Chinese Cinema essays

Chinese Cinema essays The history of film is an important one today. Many people in our society today may see film as simply a form of entertainment, but it is indeed more than that. Film is a medium of expression that is unlike no other. It can tell many tales of many different types of people throughout history. Film is also a good reflection of culture. The art of film can often be seen imitating life and telling the story of a nation and their peoples. China is one such country with a celebrated history of film. Chinese cinema is often divided into six generations. The term generations is used to make it easier to group the different phases of Chinese film history, but they are not completely different from one another. A particular generation may share something in common with the previous generation, while also passing something onto the next generation. In a sense, the history of Chinese film can be said to have gone through a sort of evolution from its beginnings to the present. The first and second generations of film began during the 1890s and continued through the beginning part of the early 1900s. These two generations of Chinese film are often seen as the pioneers for Chinese cinema. Many of these films consisted of operatic shorts and short comic skits. Eventually the Chinese would go on to make full length film features. The first film length Chinese film ever made was created in 1921 and was entitled Yan Ruishe. Some years later a new trend in film began. Many dancers ad stage performers began to move from the stage to the screen. This may have seemed like a good fit at the time, but many of the dancers-turned-actors were not successful. One actress who was successful was Ruan Lingyu. Unfortunately she committed suicide in 1935. Stephanie Donald tells us that in her suicide note, she was in despair at gossip about her private life (4). Its interesting to see that even in the early stages of...

Assessments for the English Language Learner Research Paper

Assessments for the English Language Learner - Research Paper Example â€Å"The present culture of testing has placed an increased amount of emphasis on the development of state standards, high-stakes testing, and the use of rigid curricular programs† (Brantley, 2007, p. 28). Therefore, an educational assessment is mandatory in today’s highly competitive world. There are three types of assessments; formal, alternative and informal. The purpose of implementing a classroom assessment system is to improve instruction and student achievement. The English language learners are rapidly growing in the population of the U.S classroom. As such, considerate amount of thoughts and training need to be implemented when designing and administering educational assessments. There are many factors that need to be kept in mind while selecting educational assessments for students. Language barriers and educational background factors are the main factors. In the first factors, language barrier factors, different issue like different linguistics background, L evels of proficiency in English, and levels of proficiency of native languages are the three main barriers that should be addressed in the assessment. In the educational background factors issues such as degrees of formal schooling in native languages, degrees of formal schoolings in English language, and exposure to standardized testing should be addressed in the assessment. While administering an educational assessment, it crucial for the classroom teacher to provide the English Language Learning students with fair and appropriate assessments while keeping in mind the various factors that could hamper their academic growth. It is pivotal for the teachers to be knowledgeable about the different assessment types as to provide adequate and fair assess of their students’ progress as well as achievements in the class. As mentioned before, there are three types of assessments; formal, alternative and informal. The formal assessment is mainly based in the results of the standardiz ed tests and other formal exams regulated under the test- taking guidelines. In Formal assessment students are assessed on the basis of their written document, test, quiz or essays. The student’s progress is determined based on the data collected on the student’s performance on the tests. Formal Tests are usually used to assess the overall achievement of the student and compare his/ her intelligence with other students as well as to find a student’s strength or weaknesses in a particular topic. The formal assessment test has its own purposes, advantages and disadvantages. Formal assessment is a good assessment to be implemented to the student to determine their strength and weaknesses. It also evaluates the student’s achievement by comparing their progress with other students. It is appropriate to use the formal assessment to indentify the student’s special needs and it can also improve learning at an individual level for young English language lea rners. Formal assessments are categorized into separate groups such as norm referenced tests and criterion referenced tests. The Norm references tests are characterized by strict rules and implementations. These types of tests are mainly used to compare one student to another, one group of students to another group as well as schools. When implementing a norm reference test teachers should implement the test under specific and similar circumstances.

Choose from the book Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Choose from the book - Essay Example Third, has there been feedback to this research. And, forth, what are the establishments and/or findings of this research. Parenthetically, researchers normally distinguish young as being between the ages of 18-29 (Zukin et al 11-12). However there is a prior issue: Why is civic engagement essential and, parenthetically, what is civic engagement? Well, this is the key of the Presidential Citizens Scholar Plan, something an individual will discuss, assess and examine as course participants so it would inappropriate for us to answer these questions for them. The extensive social importance, nevertheless, lie in the social contact and even intermittently civic discussions over pizza and beer that many people forgo. Some onlookers assert that an essential concept, or theory, that this reduction in engagement, disengagement, could be generations, that is, younger cohorts are less involved or engaged than older generations. If this is authentic and if the reduction in engagements perpetuat es then total disengagement is in the offing, that is, it is predisposed to the very near future. This particular issue is why researchers concentrating on young adult and civic engagement is now all the rage (Zukin at al 15-19). The public opinion polls indicate that young people do not comprehend the notions of citizenship, they are disconnected from the political process, and they are short of knowledge necessary for effectual self-government. This public opinion survey also shows that these young people support and appreciation of American democracy is restricted. The older generations have been doing so little to impart the standards of citizenship on to the next generation. But there is optimism. The account offers new proof that civic engagement makes a huge difference in the attitudes towards citizenship, understanding engagement of young people. The report is pegged on a countrywide opinion analysis devised to estimate how the civic attitudes, understanding and engagement o f young people: The DotNet generation between 16 and 26 years of age compare to those of older generations. The survey was carried out by Knowledge Networks: an investigative organization that implements scientifically bases Internet Polls (Zukin et al 20-34). A lot has been talked about generational differences in voting models during the 2008 election. An analysis of generation differences sheds some light into how social meanings of civic engagement and social liability have transformed in due course. In effect, a lot has made of what earlier generations have done in terms of service to American culture. Many issues about how to expand political engagement have also been raised in the academic dominion. University/college student political engagement could be increased by actively engaging the=m in service learning experiences. Though service learning is a didactic and learning program that incorporates meaningful community service with pedagogical instruction and reflection, the re has not been concerted endeavor to enhance service learning courses that decisively prepare young people for enthusiastically engaging in the political system. Generation is a practical concept as it facilitates researchers to assess political actions in terms of how different age groups, formed at unusual times and by special experiences, respond to political occurrences. Particularly, (Zukin et al 35-46) are interested in the degree to which dissimilar generations, have undergone different political and cultural happenings in their seminal and

Evidence of a Glass Ceiling Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evidence of a Glass Ceiling - Assignment Example It would send a very positive message throughout the organization and externally if the company affirmatively recruited a pool of candidates in which there is adequate representation by women and minorities. This does not mean that a woman must be selected if she is not most qualified, but rather than an effort must be made to bring in qualified female candidates. The next time there is an opening within the senior leadership, the employees at large should draft a petition demanding this kind of affirmative action. If women and minorities had access to equal pay and opportunities for advancement, everyone would benefit in some way primarily because it would be truly just. When people are treated differently because of their gender or skin color, it sets up a severely unethical system that ultimately harms everyone in an organization, and contributes to the harm of society at large. Even if white men currently earn more on average than women and minorities, they are not really benefiting, particularly since the expectation is not that their pay would be reduced, but rather that the pay of women and minorities be increased in order to achieve equality. Real justice ultimately benefits everyone, and so there are no stakeholders who would not benefit. I once attended a business lunch with clients from the Far East.

Tesco Plc: Business and Financial Performance Analysis

Tesco Plc: Business and Financial Performance Analysis This Research and Analysis Project report concentrated on the Business and Financial performance of Tesco Plc over a three year period from 2008 to 2010. The analysis report throws more lights on the operational and financial performance of Tesco Plc by having regard to its business strategy. One of its major rivals in the industry which is J. Sainsburys Plc has been used as a benchmark in order to compare Tesco plc performance. REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS TOPIC This topic was selected because there has been much and extreme competition in the retail supermarket industry in recent times. With most of these businesses having to compete for their share of the market. Most them are thinking and aiming of becoming a market leader one. But at the heat of this competition is the issue of survival and going concern which is at the centre of every these retail businesses since failure to consider them could result to total collapse of their entire operations. To this end I decided to investigate Tesco which is one of the UKs most successful and also one of the worlds biggest retail supermarkets to find out how it has operated so far and to see the level of it business and financial success over the last three year period. REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS ORGANISATION Tesco plc was chosen because it has become one of the worlds biggest retail supermarkets in recent times. Considering the size of its market share compare to most of its major competitors, the company has grown so rapidly thereby increasing in profitability. Therefore I wanted to find out whether or not the profitability levels have come as a result of its rapid and consistent growth, since growth and profitability do not always move hand in hand. I also wanted to know more about the companys strategy which has seen it expand so quickly and rapidly than its rivals do. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT The main aims and objectives of this project are to analyse the business and financial performance of Tesco plc. It should be noted that most companies are not managed and directed by their owners (shareholders) but rather appoint Directors and entrust in their hands with stewardship of their investments. Therefore it is appropriate for these Directors to account to these owners the stewardship of those investments entrusted in their care. Shareholders and stakeholders of every company including Tesco plc will like to know whether or not their investments and interest are been managed properly since this will help them decide whether to sell off their shares or keep them and even invest more. Stakeholders alike may also want to know the companys performance, progress and its success in order to take an informed decisions. The project will find out whether Tesco plcs shareholders are properly rewarded for their investments and risks they have taken or not. And also to ascertain how satisfactory Tesco plc stakeholders are. To achieve this, ratio analysis was employed to analyse the companys last three years financial statements (2008, 2009, 2010) and this was compared with the rivals three results in order to obtain objectivity and fairness. There was also a consideration regarding the going concern status of the business as it is central to the companys long term survival. As a consequence, tools such as SWOT and 5 Forces analysis were considered to assess its non financial information in order to establish Tesco plcs current competitive position in the market, any strengths and weaknesses they have as well as opportunities and threats they are faced with. RESEARCH QUESTIONS As part of this project the following research question were generated in order to respond to them in the analysis: Has the shareholders investment managed properly? How well have Tesco plc shareholders are been rewarded for risks taken? Have stakeholders interest been kept satisfied? Is the companys current business strategy sustainable? What is the companys long term survival strategy? Will the company be able to continue to enjoy rapid increase and expansion? 2. INFORMATION GATHERING Sources and their reasons Tesco Plcs 2008, 2009, 2010 Annual reports These individual annual reports provided me with detailed and adequate information which I used for analysing the business and financial performance of the company. The annual reports were very useful in calculating and analysing since they were the most current results. J. Sainsburys Plc Annual Reports for 2008, 2009, 2010 Like the Tesco Plc annual reports, these ones from J. Sainsburys Plc also assisted me in analysing the business and financial performance of the company and again the most recent financial reports. The Chairmen and the Chief Executives statements from both companies These were useful in that they provided me with the companies operational highlights which helped my analysis to reflect those highlights Quarterly Reports on their trading activates There were vital information that I gathered from these quarterly reports as well, which aided my analysis. Unaudited interim company financial Reports Even though these reports were unaudited and may not provide much positive signs, however they supplied me with trends on these companies operations to establish its performance and also to see if there was the need for issuance of profit warning. News papers Information gathered from the news paper publications included experts opinions, comments and suggestions which could affect the share price of the company on the market. And as such was useful to the shareholders and potential shareholders. Expert Reports These were other independent expert views gathered apart from the news papers which throw much more lights on the future and potential prospects of the company by showing trends, projections, forecast, diagnosis, etc. Libraries Continuous visit to libraries such as the Woolwich library, British library, white chapel, etc. These libraries gave me the chance to have access to the data bases of all the listed companies information. Books and journals Most of the ACCA text books such as Paper F2, F7, P3, ACCA students magazines, Financial accounting books, etc were all useful in this exercise in getting a deeper understanding of the financial analysis. 2.2 Method used in information gathering The secondary data were gathered and used for the conduct of this report which was collected through the following means: Libraries Libraries attendance was used to collect data from sources such as articles, News papers, Textbooks, journals, magazines, CD ROM, etc. Search engines (Websites) Websites that were considered important were visited to collect data including that of Tesco Plc website, J. Sainsburys Plc and others. They are (www.tesco.com), (www.j-sainsbury.co.uk), http://www.emeraldinsight.com, http://www.ssrn.com, http://search.ebscohost.com, etc. Request Letter A formal written letter was sent to both the secretaries of Tesco Plc and J. Sainsburys Plc to request a copy of their 2008, 2009, 2010 annual reports which helped in the analysis. Marketlineinfo.com/ Datamonitor.com Specialised information were sort from these sources to help analyse the non- financial information such as SWOT AND 5 Forces analyses techniques. Financial Analysis Made Easy (FAME) This source gave me financial information including Tesco Plc and J. Sainsburys Plc and contained ratios analysis for companies. There was also non- financial information such as the employees numbers, structure of company ownership, issues relating to corporate governance. Accounting techniques used The under-listed techniques were used for the conduct of this research in order to arrive at a reasonable and an objective conclusions which helped to give recommendations Profitability ratios Liquidity ratios Efficiency and solvency Investor ratios/ Stock market ratios As part of the conduct of this research these financial ratios were computed in understanding of the company performance in answering the research questions mentioned in 1.5 above were. They included: Revenue Growth ratio: this showed the movement of growth in revenue for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 for both Tesco Plc and J. Sainsbury Plc. Profitability and returns ratios: These ratios indicated well Tesco Plc has superiority in terms of Profit generation for the three years as oppose to its rival J. Sainsbury Plc. Working capital ratios: these ratios are pointers of short-term financial standing of both companies. The idea was to establish these companies ability to remain in business by been able to finance its short term debts with short term sources of finance without having to result to the use of long term finance (fixed assets). Efficiency ratios like the profit per employee and turnover per employee were all considered. This was able to show how efficient Primark has been managed in relation to its workers. Investor ratios: the investor ratios measured how well have the shareholders been adequately rewarded for the risk taken. And also these ratios could assist potential shareholders to take any informed decision (s). 3. ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION 3.1 OVERVIEW OF TESCO PLC Tesco is one of the largest food retailers in the world, operating around 2,318 stores and employing over 326,000 people. As well as operating in the UK, it has stores in the rest of Europe and Asia. It also provides online services through its subsidiary, Tesco.com. The UK is the companys largest market operating under four banners: Extra, Superstore, Metro and Express. Tesco sells approximately 40,000 food products in its superstores, as well as clothing and other non-food lines. The companys own-label products are at three levels, value, normal and finest. Tesco Plc own brand accounts for approximately 50% of sales. As well as convenience produce, many stores have gas stations. The company has become one of Britains largest petrol independent retailers. Other retailing services offered in the UK include Tesco Personal Finance and Tesco.com. Tesco Personal Finance is a joint venture with the Royal Bank of Scotland. It has over 3.4 million customers, and provides various financial p roducts and services. The company has operations in the rest of Europe, including the Republic of Ireland, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Tescos Republic of Ireland business operates in the region of 82 stores, and around 60 stores in the Hungarian market. Tescos Polish operations include former HIT operated stores. It operates around 66 hypermarkets and supermarkets in this country. In the Czech Republic and Slovakian markets, Tesco operates 22 and 23 hypermarkets respectively. Tesco also operates stores in Asia, including Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan. The company operates 64 stores in Thailand and 28 stores in the South Korean Market, while in the Taiwanese and Malaysian markets it has three stores in each nation. www.datamonitor.com 3.2 OVERVIEW OF J. SAINSBURYS PLC J. Sainsbury plc operates a total of 890 stores comprising 547 supermarkets and 343 convenience stores. It jointly owns Sainsburys Bank with Lloyds Banking Group and has two property joint ventures with Land Securities Group PLC and The British Land Company PLC. The Group also holds 294 freehold and long leasehold stores. It employs approximately 150,000 staff. The companys stores offer a range of food, and complementary non-food products and services primarily under the Sainsburys brand. It also provides an Internet-based home delivery shopping service. In addition, it provides insurance, credit cards, savings products, and loans. The Sainsburys brand is built upon a heritage of providing customers with healthy, safe, fresh and tasty food. Quality and fair prices go hand-in-hand with a responsible approach to business. Sainsburys stores have a particular emphasis on fresh food and strive to innovate continuously and improve products in line with their customer needs (http://www.j-sa insbury.co.uk). Its businesses are organized into three operating segments: Retailing (Supermarkets and Convenience); Financial services (Sainsburys Bank joint venture), and Property investment (British Land joint venture and Land Securities joint venture) (http://uk.reuters.com). Companies Strategy 3.2.1 Tesco Plc business strategy Tesco Plc has a well-established and steady strategy for growth that has assisted in strengthening its core activities in the UK and its further expansion in to new markets (abroad). The basis for the strategy is to widen the scale of it operations to enable it deliver well-built sustainable long-term growth by way of pursuing the customer into large growing markets at home. By that it offers customers with products including financial services, telecoms and non-food and new markets abroad, originally in Central Europe and Asia, and  more lately  in the US. The companys 1997 diversification strategy lunched has successful become its foundation in recent times. The company has become market leader in most of the markets that saw the creation and development of their new businesses out the UK for the last twelve years since these businesses are highly competitive and profitable. Tesco plc strategy has shown a massive progress consistently. The strategy has five essential rudiments which reflect on the companys four conventional areas of concentration and the business long-term commitments regarding the society as well as the environment. The objectives of the Tesco Plc strategy focus on: To become a successful global retailer To develop its core business in the UK To become as strong in non-food as in food. To build up retailing services such as Tesco Personal Finance, Telecoms and Tesco.com To put the community at the heart of what it does (http://www.tescoplc.com) 3.2.2 J. Sainsburys Plc business strategy J. Sainsburys Plc strategy focuses on five main areas which are underpinned by the companys strong heritage and brand which consistently sets it apart from its main rivals. One of such strategies is great quality products at fair prices the company with its consistent innovation provides its customers with healthy, safe, fresh and tasty food that are also sourced with integrity. With over 19 million customers been served every week and increase in market indicate how successful the strategy has been. The companys second strategy is on the acceleration of the growth of its complementary non-food and services through its philosophy of quality and value, and to offer a broader shopping experience for consumers. The company opened 51 convenient stores during 2009/10 as part of its strategy of reaching as many customers as possible with it brand. I also expanded its groceries online business to reach almost 90% households with non food products lunched in July 2009 making 8,000 products now available nationwide. J. Sainsbury Plc plan to open 75 to 100 more in convenient stores in 2010/11. Since operational flexibility can be improved by property/ assets ownership and even further exploitation of potential development opportunities, J. Sainsbury Plc increased the value of it freehold property portfolio to  £9.8 billion (http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk) In a highly competitive marketplace in which all UK retailers are fighting to sustain their sales against a slowdown in consumer spending, Primark is doing remarkably well. The UK high streets and malls are packed with no-frills fashion retailers. That means that Primark has plenty of competitors all aiming at the same type of customers. It is not easy to sell cheap fashion. Well-established rivals such as BHS and Matalan are struggling, while results at Primark are booming. The market segment targeted by Primark is the fashion conscious under-35s with the slogan Look good pay less. It offers fashionable clothes at very competitive prices (for example, jeans for  £4) and reasonable quality: in other words, a value for money strategy. In competitive strategy terms, Primark is a pursuing a classic focus cost leadership strategy. The American management professor Michael Porter of Harvard University developed a well-known approach to the competitive strategy of firms. He argued that companies could achieve a higher rate of profit (or at least potential profit) in one of two ways: they could either provide a product or service that is identical to that provided by rival companies, but at a lower cost than rival firms, or they could provide a product or service that is differentiated from that of rival firms such that customers would be prepared to pay more for their product than for a rival firms product. (R. M Grant (2005)). The first approach would mean that the firm has a  cost advantage over rival firms, allowing it to pursue a Cost Leadership strategy; the second approach would mean that they had a  differentiation  advantage, allowing it to pursue a Differentiation strategy. Firms selling a no-frills product are usually attempting a cost leadership strategy, such as Easyjet (UK) or SouthWest (USA) airlines. The focus part of Primarks strategy is the specific customer segment it focuses on i.e. that of the under-35s. It is not attempting to sell to everybody. It has selected a particular customer segment, just as the 18-30 holiday company has selected a clear market segment based on age group within the leisure industry. In the last three years Primark has got a lot of things right. Some of its strongest successful competitors are BHS, TK Maxx and George at ASDA. However, although all three are in the value segment and therefore have similar market positioning, the other three have different strategies to that of Primark. TK Maxx sells heavily-discounted prestige brands and George at Asda has created its own private-label brand mostly at out-of town stores. Primark is a high street retailer which has a family of brands and focuses much more on buying, logistics and supply chain management rather than branding. In its pursuit of ever-lower costs, teams of buyers in UK and Ireland travel internationally both to identify fashion trends and to seek out the most competitive suppliers. The company uses computerised customs clearance (speed to market) and dedicated warehousing and distribution facilities, such as the giant warehouse owned and run by the logistics company TNT but dedicated solely to Primark stock distribution. This one warehouse is centrally located for the whole UK market, near a junction of the M1 motorway and it houses 50% of Primarks UK stock, receiving 30 lorry loads each day. (This warehouse was destroyed by fire in November 2005). Computerised warehousing and distribution systems are linked to computerised daily sales and stock information (rapid restocking of fast-selling items) by size and colour for each item in every store to optimise turnover. (www.open2.net) THE PEST ANALYSIS James and Akharaserani (1988) indicated that external phenomena have impact on internal ones. By PEST, attention is paid to Political, Economic, Social and Technological (PEST) factors which could influence positively or negatively on the growth or otherwise of the organisation. The discussion below throws more light on these external issues of the organisation. (P)olitical According to Lancaster et al (2002 p. 55) The political environment is the starting point from which many other macro-environment forces originate. Tesco operates in a variety of political environments; the head office being in the UK. The UK has a functional democracy with elections and multi-party political system. The USA has a similar democratic setup. The political factors in both countries are stable and promote the growth of private enterprise. Most of the European markets are situated in Eastern part and the markets are Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia and Turkey. The political factors here are not as stable as UK or USA. Asia is the largest market outside of the UK. It has presence in Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, China, and Japan. Of these Japan is quite stable. The most political problems are from Thailand where there is opposition from local businesses and so Tesco faces the biggest problems here. (E)conomic The UK and the US are both rich countries even though faced with a recession at present. The East European markets are much poorer in comparison, but Lancaster et al (2002) indicate that there is a massive improvement in the economic environment of the Far East with the likes of Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and China. To prevail in the economic condition of the Far East, Tesco has lowered its prices which are welcomed by the local population there. (S)ocial The social structure in USA and UK are quite akin where shopping in supermarkets has existed for a long time. But for the Asian countries, the concept is relatively new. Turkey and Malaysia are both Muslim countries; hence their religious laws have to be taken into consideration by Tesco. (T)echnological Assessing todays technology, Headrick (2009) says, it has brought the world to a stunning advancement. It is in the light of this that Lancaster et al (2002) establish that technology is a very important tool which has a huge impact on the marketing firm. By technology, Japan, US, UK and Malaysia have similar facilities. South Korea is also strong in this regard. Thailand might be the least technologically advanced of the markets. This is also the case with the East European markets. China has technical capability, but is mainly limited to its cities. But it can be said that the level of technology needed by Tesco in all these markets are available and hence not much obstacles in this area are anticipated. THE VALUE CHAIN The concept of value chain has been widely and intensively spoken about by astute authors. The concept was propounded by Michael Porter. Explaining the value chain concept, Porter (1985) describes it as, A general framework for thinking strategically about the activities involved in any business and assessing their relative cost and role in differentiation. Writing on the same concept, Longbottom (2006) intimated that information dissemination across the value chain has increasingly become indispensable to organisations which want to stay in competition. To support Longbottoms assertion, Dekker (2003) expressed that the importance of the value chain cannot be over-emphasised as it grants the organisation an opportunity to achieve the maximum. According to Porter (1985) the value chain has two major parts, namely; Primary and Support activities. He says the Primary activities are those directly linked with production. They are: Inbound logistics, Operations, Outbound logistics, Marketing and Sales and Service. The Support or the Secondary activities he identified as: Procurement, Human Resources Management, Technology Development and the Firms Infrastructure. Below is a demonstration of how Tesco applies the value chain in its activities. 4.1 Primary Activities: Inbound logistics Tesco gets its materials from the suppliers who are mostly the producers and stores them in its depot. Operations Those that need to be turned into finished products are processed as such Outbound logistics Tesco has trucks of different types which supply the various stores. Marketing and Sales Tesco has various means of marketing its products which include the application of the promotional mix producing to meet the needs of the customer Service Tesco has a track record of providing an outstanding service to customers, especially after sales. This is to find out the impression of the customer after the usage of the product. 4.2 Support Activities: Procurement Tesco has been getting in touch with its suppliers without middlemen, hence minimising procurement cost in its purchases. Human Resources Management Tesco employs people who have the expertise and the commitment to serve the company with all the loyalty. Mention could be made of Terry who committed his business acumen to Tesco for fourteen years as Chief Executive Officer. Technology Development This is an area Tesco cannot be beaten to it, as it has created a formidable e-commerce for its activities through Tesco.com The Firms Infrastructure In terms of infrastructure, Tesco has high class modern facilities for its stores and spacious parking places in most of its stores. INFORMATION SYSTEM/IT AS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE TOOL FOR TESCO Speaking on the advent of technology, Goessi (2008) expressed that Technology has taken the business environment by storm. Throwing more light on that, Headrick (2009) intimated that due to technology, there has been an excessive threat to the business environement. Gone are the days when every single activity that was done in organisations was manual. In recent years, automation has taken business to another level and those organisations wishing to stay and aspire ought to follow suit. The points discussed below would afford Tesco, the opportunity to gain competitive advantage. Strategic Differentiation According to Hitt et al (2009) a good IS would afford the organisation to strategically differentiate itself to be competitively ahead. In line with this, Tesco differentiates itself and gain competitive advantage by offering special services like club cards to the customer. Integration of Supply and Distribution Tesco could apply IS as a tool to assess and track inventory. By that the supply chain could be monitored with minor problems detected before they become major ones. Communication The Information System being practised in the organisation would determine how expeditious information would be disseminated. A communication system which is automated in nature would minimise cost and improve the image of Tesco as an organisation. Quick Decision Making Information System paves way for important information to be delivered at the right time. Any manager who wants to make a quick decision in the current business dispensation should find IS as an indispensable tool. This will provide the manager to do a quick assessment on a bordering issue and find a solution. CONCLUSION Tesco as an organisation has made a tremendous impact on the business landscape. Even though it had gone through rough times and still faces some competition which is inevitable in contemporary business circles, Tesco has become a household name. With its performance in both the local and the international scenes, couple with the vast technological incorporation, the sky could still be its limit as Goessi (2008) expressed, Many businesses today are still realizing the power their technology possesses, but once strategic knowledge is realised, the potential is endless.

Qualities of Ratan Tata Essay

PERSONAL POWER —-Krishna Kumar, in an internal interview published on the group’s website in March, had also praised Ratan Tata for his contributions to not only the group, but the business and industry as a whole and called him a ‘born leader’. Visionary—Good Communicator–A visionary leader has good communication skills. She knows how to verbalize her dreams and goals and can explain them to his team. For the leader, communication isn’t just one-sided. In addition to sharing her vision for the future, a visionary leader is also an active listener. As more people â€Å"catch the vision,† leaders listen to their ideas and thoughts, incorporating them into the larger goal. Visionaries involve others in reaching their milestones and help the team members meet their personal goals.Charismatic Leader–Visionary leaders also have charisma. Merriam-Webster defines charisma as a â€Å"personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty.† Not everyone is born with this â€Å"personal magic,† but they can learn and cultivate it. Charisma is a natural attraction that draws people to the leader and the leader’s enthusiasm.Chief Organizer–Visionary leaders also are chief organizers. While many leaders have administrators that manage the processes, the leader often sets up the organization by establishing key departments or functions. As the organizer-in-chief, the visionary directs, develops and conducts meetings until reliable help is found. During the initial organization, a leader will take the time build a solid foundation through establishing boards, councils or a company hierarchy. Strategic Planner–Visionary leaders are strategic planners. Like a chess player, these leaders plan ahead to make the best business moves. Strategic planning involves creating an action plan with a particular strategy in mind. The leader’s vision defines what the organization will look like in the future and how it will function. His strategies are designed to take him toward his ultimate vision. COURAGEOUS Risk-taker–Visionary leaders, like Washington, are notable risk-takers. These leaders are willing to gamble on something they believe in, but the gamble is often a measured one. Visionaries are creative people that take the initiative with the appropriate action. Visionaries take intelligent risks that capitalize on prime conditions. This kind of leader starts small by taking measured steps than later bigger risks.INSPIRING Passionate—-He was the chairman of the group from 1991-2012. He stepped down as the  chairman on 28 December 2012 and now holds the position of Chairman Emeritus of the group which is an honorary and advisory position. He will continue as the chairman of the groups charitable trusts.Even at this age he is able to work for his company showing loyality, respectiv eness and passion towards his work which is definetly an inspiration for young leaders. There are three characteristics that I have noticed among leaders that make them conscious, responsible and effective leaders — Tata demonstrates all the three.One: Leader has a bigger, higher purpose for you and your organization that expresses responsiveness to community. While some organizations do create the higher purpose, they do not operationalise that. In the absence of translating the higher purpose into actions, these statements become static and meaningless, limited to websites and decorating boardrooms. Individuals and organizations that have imbibed their higher purpose experience more meaning in their life and fulfillment. An organisation that has a well-articulated and an operationalised higher purpose would create sustainable business success, employee loyalty, satisfaction and a sense of pride. Tata group is an ideal example of all that. CREATIVE Two: Leader uses creative rather than reactive tendencies to get results. Some people achieve it using reactive com petencies and tendencies like controlling, manipulating, pleasing and complying. While some others achieve similar or better results using creative tendencies like relating, self awareness, purposeful actions, and authenticity. If an organisation is only interested in driving financial results, they might be doing this by using reactive competencies. Results can be achieved using multiple motivational drivers. Someone who is extremely insecure and controlling will use those tendencies to drive results. Tata used more creative competencies to lead the organization. INNOVATIVE IMAGINATIVE EXPERIMENTAL INITIATES CHANGE— His imagination ability inovated lots of ideas which were on the side of company’s growth which were both experimented and executed with a positive result creating a change in the history of reputation of company by building a base of company’s growth Three: Leaders operate from higher order values. Robert Kegan, a professor at Harvard Graduate School, proposed the need for leaders to scale their abilities to the higher orders so that they can solve complex problems and create personal transformation. Richard Barret, author and expert on values, talks about seven levels of consciousness. While  survival, selfish wealth creation, power, greed, status and being liked can be considered as lower order values, self actualisation, service, trust, honesty and Integrity can be considered as higher end-values. Ratan Tata was a ‘terrific combination’ of the four necessary leadership characteristics — character, commitment, competence and courage. ï‚ · Leaders inspire others because they are inspired themselves. They are excited about the possibility of creating an exciting future for themselves. They get up every morning and they see every effort they make as part of a great plan to accomplish something wonderful with their lives.ï‚ · Leaders are optimistic. They see opportunities in everything that happens, positive or negative. They look for the good in every situation and in every person. They seek the valuable lessons contained in every problem or setback. They never experience â€Å"failures;† instead, they write them off as â€Å"learn ing experiences.†Ã¯â€š · Leaders have a sense of meaning and purpose in each area of their lives. They have clear, written goals and plans they work on every day. Leaders are clear about where they are going and what they will have to do to get there. Their behavior is purposeful and goal-directed. As a result, they accomplish five and ten times as much as the average person who operates from day to day with little concern about the future.ï‚ · Leaders accept personal responsibility. Leaders never complain, never explain. Instead of making excuses, they make progress. Whenever they have a set-back or difficulty, they repeat to themselves, â€Å"I am responsible! I am responsible! I am responsible!†Ã¯â€š · Leaders see themselves as victors over circumstances rather than victims of circumstances. They don’t criticize or blame others when something goes wrong. Instead, they focus on the solution.ï‚ · Leaders are action-oriented. They are constantly in motion. They try something, and then som ething else, and then something else again. They never give up.ï‚ · Leaders have integrity. They tell the truth at all times. They live in truth with themselves, and they live in truth with others.

Washington Square (Henry James)

Washington Square  is a short novel by  Henry James. Originally published in 1880 as a serial in Cornhill Magazine  and  Harper's New Monthly Magazine, it is a structurally simple  tragicomedy  that recounts the conflict between a dull but sweet daughter and her brilliant, domineering father. The plot of the novel is based upon a true story told to James by his close friend, British actress  Fanny Kemble. [1]  The book is often compared to  Jane Austen's work for the clarity and grace of its  prose and its intense focus on family relationships.James was hardly a great admirer of Jane Austen, so he might not have regarded the comparison as flattering. In fact, James was not a great fan of Washington Square  itself. He tried to read it over for inclusion in the  New York Edition  of his fiction (1907–1909) but found that he couldn't, and the novel was not included. Other readers, though, have sufficiently enjoyed the book to make it one of the more popu lar works of the Jamesian canon. ————————————————- Structure The novel is told from a  third-person omniscient  point of view, although we don't know anything about the narrator.The narrator often offers his comments directly to the reader. The novella begins at a distance from the characters, describing the background of the Sloper family. It then recounts in detail the story of Catherine's romance with Morris Townsend. When Morris jilts her, the focus shifts back to a long view. As James puts it: â€Å"Our story has hitherto moved with very short steps, but as it approaches its termination it must take a long stride. † The final few chapters are taken once more in short steps, ending with the striking vignette of Catherine's refusal of Morris. ——————————————â€⠀Ã¢â‚¬â€ Major themes The bitterest irony in the story is that Dr Sloper, a brilliant and successful physician, is exactly right about Morris Townsend, and yet he shows cruelty to his defenseless and loving daughter. If the doctor had been incorrect in his appraisal of the worthless Townsend, he would only be a stock villain. As it is, the doctor's head works perfectly but his heart has grown cold after the death of his beautiful and gifted wife. Catherine gradually grows throughout the story into right judgment of her situation.As James puts it: â€Å"From her point of view the great facts of her career were that Morris Townsend had trifled with her affection, and that her father had broken its spring. Nothing could ever alter these facts; they were always there, like her name, her age, her plain face. Nothing could ever undo the wrong or cure the pain that Morris had inflicted on her, and nothing could ever make her feel towards her father as she felt in her younger years. â₠¬  Catherine will never be brilliant, but she learns to be clear-sighted. ————————————————-Literary significance ; criticism â€Å"Everybody likes  Washington Square, even the denigrators of Henry James†, wrote  critic  Donald Hall, and most other commentators have echoed the sentiment. Although James himself regarded the novel with near contempt, readers have enjoyed its linear  narrative  technique, its straightforward prose (far removed from the convoluted language of James's later career), and the sharply etched portraits of the four main characters. Even the rusty plot revolving around â€Å"the will† has charmed many critics with its old-fashioned simplicity.Catherine's slow but unmistakable development into independence and wisdom is a notable success for James and has been much appreciated by critics and readers in general. Henry James,   OM  (15 April 1843  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 28 February 1916) was an American-born writer, regarded as one of the key figures of 19th-century  literary realism. James alternated between America and Europe for the first 20 years of his life, after which he settled in England, becoming a  British subject  in 1915, one year before his death.He is primarily known for the series of novels in which he portrays the encounter of Americans with Europe and Europeans. His method of writing from the point of view of a character within a tale allows him to explore issues related to  consciousness  and  perception, and his style in later works has been compared to  impressionist painting. James contributed significantly to  literary criticism, particularly in his insistence that writers be allowed the greatest possible freedom in presenting their view of the world.James was born in New York City into a wealthy family. His father, Henry James Sr. , was one of the best-known intellectuals in m id-19th-century America. In his youth James travelled back and forth between Europe and America. He studied with tutors in Geneva, London, Paris, Bologna, and Bonn. At the age of 19 he briefly attended  Harvard Law School, but preferred reading literature to studying law. James published his first short story,  A Tragedy of Error, at age 21, and devoted himself to literature.James is one of the major figures of  trans-Atlantic  literature. His works frequently juxtapose characters from the  Old World  (Europe), embodying a feudal civilization that is beautiful, often corrupt, and alluring, and from the  New World  (United States), where people are often brash, open, and  assertive  and embody the virtues—freedom and a more highly evolved moral character—of the new American society. James explores this clash of personalities and cultures, in stories of personal relationships in which power is exercised well or badly.His protagonists were often young American women facing oppression or abuse. Novels * Watch and Ward  (1871) * Roderick Hudson  (1875) * The American  (1877) * The Europeans  (1878) * Confidence  (1879) * Washington Square  (1880) * The Portrait of a Lady(1881) * The Bostonians  (1886)| * The Princess Casamassima(1886) * The Reverberator  (1888) * The Tragic Muse  (1890) * The Other House  (1896) * The Spoils of Poynton  (1897) * What Maisie Knew  (1897) * The Awkward Age  (1899) * The Sacred Fount  (1901)|Short stories and novellas * A Tragedy of Error  (1864) My Friend Bingham * Poor Richard A Day of Days * The Story of a Masterpiece The Story of a Year * A Most Extraordinary Case A Landscape Painter