The Evolution of Organizational Knowledge Creation Theory

Analyzing the Evolution of Organizational Knowledge Creation Theory and Research Organizational knowledge creation involves making available and intensifying knowledge created by individuals and also shaping up and linking it with an organization’s knowledge system.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Evolution of Organizational Knowledge Creation Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The description of knowledge and knowledge conversion triggered research on conducive organization for and the context for knowledge creation. Research particularly found that knowledge, vision, activism, organizational forms and leadership affect organizational knowledge creation. With further evolution of organizational knowledge creation theory, the nature of the firm was made clearer and ‘knowledge strategy’ concept was furthered (Nonaka, Von Krogh Voelpel, 2006). The concept of ba exposed the challen ges for the theory of organizational knowledge creation, yielding the concept of ‘knowledge activism’ (Von Krogh, Nonaka Ichijo, 1997). The organizational knowledge creation lays emphasis on ‘knowledge visions’ development in firms (Nonaka et al., 2006). Many organizations followed a combination of the hierarchy form that gave them the high ability needed to solve coordination problems associated with knowledge creation, hence the concept of a ‘hypertext organization’ which refers to a layered structure of activities. The organizational form that best coordinates and enables knowledge creation is a combination of the business system, the project system and the knowledge system layers running in parallel. Scholarly research compellingly defined several theories of leadership by early 1990s (Nonaka et al., 2006). Leadership is about enabling knowledge creation. The purpose of a theory of the firm must be to understand the nature of the firm.Adve rtising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This calls for a synthetic understanding of the firm, combining subjective perspectives of the firm with objective facts, encapsulating the premise of economic rationality with the principles of social behaviour (Nonaka et al., 2006). Because of its vantage point in economic theory, such an analysis of the knowledge-based theory of the firm symbolizes the intention behind the project of a theory of organizational knowledge creation. Future Advances in Organizational Knowledge Creation Theory Ba is empirically under-explored. There should be more research on factors that potentially affect the effectiveness of ba across all organizations. There should also be more explorations on the effect of plural epistemologies to understand the nature of knowledge, its origin, and the ba. Theoretical and experimental work is needed to further understand possibilities of and limitations on the distribution of tacit knowledge, or the process of conversion from tacit to explicit knowledge (Gourlay, 2002). There is critical need for more theoretical explanation on how leadership and ba are related in organizational knowledge creation theory. The temporal dimension of organizational knowledge creation theory makes it dynamic. Success and failure of organizations need to be studied along the temporal dimension where disparities can emerge (Probst Sebastian, 2005).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Evolution of Organizational Knowledge Creation Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The study of the balance in organizational knowledge creation is not only a topic for cross-sectional research, but should also be studied as processes. Organizations could create, lose and restore their balance on the temporal dimension, and it is vital for future research to com prehend how these processes work. This view is justified by the fact that comparing flourishing and unsuccessful firms will enable better forecasts on the adaptation of firms in times of internal and external changes. A comprehension of relative success calls for a demonstrative view of entrepreneurial knowledge creation context, ba leadership, and eventually, the origin of organizational knowledge. Therefore, epistemology will always be of importance. References Gourlay, S., 2002. Tacit knowledge, tacit knowing, or behaving. Athens: OKLC Conference. Nonaka, I. Von Krogh, G. Voelpel, S., 2006. Organizational knowledge creation theory: evolutionary paths and future advances. Organization Studies, 27 (8), pp. 2-23. Probst, G. Sebastian, R., 2005. Organizational crisis: the logic of failure. Academy of Management Executive, 19(1), pp. 90–105. Von Krogh, G. Nonaka, I. Ichijo, K., 1997. Develop knowledge activists! European Management Journal, 15(5), pp. 475–483.Advertis ing Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This assessment on The Evolution of Organizational Knowledge Creation Theory was written and submitted by user Savanna Potts to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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the napoleonic era essays

the napoleonic era essays Napoleon Bonaparte was a significant man who was regarded as a person who was responsible for many historic events that would reshape France and Europe during the late 18th and early 19th century. He has been portrayed as a merciless leader, fearing little that stood in his way. Napoleon led his army in this fashion for nearly 20 years, literally changing the face of Europe and of his people. Around 1814, however, Napoleon's reign was to cease; Napoleon's empire began to collapse leading to his eventual exile from France. This essay will evaluate Napoleon's supremacy and significant fall as the great leader of France, focusing on Napoleon as a person and great military leader, and the changes he brought to France. Napoleon Bonaparte was born into a minor noble family on August 15, 1769 in Ajaccio on the Mediterranean Island of Corsica. He was the son of a lawyer, and was sent to French military school at the age of nine. As he grew, he developed an appreciation towards England's establishment. Laws limited England's monarchy, and Napoleon felt that France could benefit from similar rules, perhaps by establishing by what we know as of today as a democracy. His ideas will play a significant role as the young Napoleon matures into a leader. He finished his training and joined the French army when he was only 16 years old, shortly before the passing of his father. When the Revolution occurred in 1789, Napoleon was 20 years old. Although Napoleon was born to nobility, he supported the Revolution; he joined the Society of Friends of the Constitution, and supported the idea of a new government wholeheartedly. After the French monarchy was overthrown on August 10, 1792, a determined Napoleon quick ly progressed through the ranks becoming a recognized officer under King Louis XVI. In 1792 Napoleon was promoted to the rank of Captain. In 1793 he was assigned to help fight off the English at a port called Toulon. He seized ground where he...

Last Judgement by Michelangelo- Issues around the artwork that make it Research Paper

Last Judgement by Michelangelo- Issues around the artwork that make it controversial and interesting - Research Paper Example The painting is clearly inspired by the bible with Jesus Christ being the central figure of the painting and the rest art form revolving around him (Andrew, 2008). The painting was a centre figure in a controversy which in turn enriched the history attached with this fresco. Controversy Great controversy has revolved around â€Å"the last judgment† since the day it was conceived to the present era which has increased the value of the art, which can be dubbed as a controversial depiction of saints, religious figures and the religion itself. Who knew, Michelangelo had a sense of humor not many could comprehend. This art piece was threatened by many critics who bared the flag of the Catholic Reformation and those who understood art to its very core. Michelangelo; due to this masterpiece, was blamed for bringing nudity and religion together which was a breach of decorum in the artistic world, especially those related directly or indirectly to the Vatican. The â€Å"Council of Tre nt† issued notices blaming Michelangelo for public nudity and disgrace to sacred figures; especially in such sacred place and that this art form should be destroyed or hidden. The pope’s Master of ceremonies, Biagio da Cesena termed it as a piece that should be depicted in taverns and public bathrooms, such was the criticism found in the ranks of the Vatican. Michelangelo painted â€Å"Cesena† as a nude figure depicting his illogical thoughts by donkey ears and a snake wrapped nude body as revenge. Although, Cesena lodged his reservations with the pope, the pope insisted in upholding the art as his authority did not lead into the after-life (Domenichi, 1556). As the â€Å"Council of Trent† had passed its judgment and recommendations regarding the objectionable points in the â€Å"the last judgment†, it was ordered to cover any nudity or profanity in the painting. This order was executed after the death of Michelangelo in 1564. Some art critics accus e of Michelangelo depicting himself as St. Bartholomew, over the row with the authorities on receiving the permission to paint the chapel’s wall after a huge gap in its designing, almost 20 years. His open questions to the theory of life and life-after-death did not please the close knit Vatican fraternity, calling for his head for such an artistic depiction (John, 1994). Restoration The most interesting fact about the artwork is the detail of work that has been done on it, after the demise of Michelangelo. Acting on the recommendations of the â€Å"Council of Trent†, the genitals depicted in the painting were covered by fig leafs. During the 14 years, in between 1980 and 1194, major restoration was carried out under the supervision of Frabrizio Mancinelli. Many facts that were unknown for centuries were discovered after the restoration. The most dominant discovery was of the female that is depicted to be condemned to hell. For many decades it was imagined to be a male figure, which changed after the removal of the fig-leaf showing clearly that it was a female figure (Hurst et all, 1994). The painting is also known to be the first depiction of Christ as the centre of the universe like the sun is for the planets. Not only the technical details of the masterpiece has attracted people towards it but also the controversial history surrounding the shift in cosmology that Michelangelo depic

Speed Limits Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Speed Limits - Essay Example The speed limit differs from region to region and highways have higher speed limits than areas with high population example areas near a school, the setting of speed limits depends on the nature of the road, accident records of a section of the road and judgment of engineers and politicians. This paper discusses the importance or the advantages of speed limits. Speed limits are put in place in order to reduce accidents, some roads have had many fatal accidents which are directly related to speed, therefore in order to reduce such accidents there are laws that limit the speed in order to reduce accidents. Roads that pass through residential or highly populated areas have a lower speed limit in order to reduce the accidents these vehicles may cause, from physics kinetic energy rises as the speed rises, therefore the kinetic energy at impact will increase as the speed rises and therefore high speeds will lead to more fatal accidents. The speed limit allows motorist to travel at reasonable speed, some sections of a road may have high number of fatal accidents in the past and in order to reduce these accidents the speed limit is reduced to reduce such accidents. Therefore the speed limits reduce the number of injuries and deaths that may occur due to over speeding motorists. It is also evident that speed limits enable police to apprehend criminals, in most cases the police are able to identify criminals on roads. Criminals will tend to drive at high speeds which helps the police to identify the criminals and as a result this has a negative effect on crime rate, drivers driving under the influence of alcohol also tend to drive at high speeds and therefore the police are also able to identify them, as a result of this we can state that the speed limits reduce crime and other deviant behaviors. The fines imposed on road users because of over speeding is a source of revenue to the government, therefore speed limit laws earn the government some revenue which helps in the provision of public goods, however this revenue is not of much importance than the protection of road users from other careless drivers who do not follow road rules. Environmental protection is also an advantage of setting the speed limit, speeding vehicles consume more fuel and therefore pollutes the environment more, therefore by setting the speed limit fuel consumption is reduced and as a result the environment is protected, therefore speed limits do not only help in reducing accidents and help the police in arresting criminals but also helps in protecting the environment. The other advantage of setting the speed limit is that it is possible to identify wreck less drivers on the road, some road users do not obey traffic rules and therefore may cause accidents which may lead to the loss of lives even to innocent motorists, as a result of this these wreck less drivers are identified and their license suspended or fined in court. The speed limits should be viewed as a law that governs road users to drive reasonably, if the speed limit on the roads were removed then we will definitely be increasing the number of accidents, deaths and injuries on the road, the other problem that would rise is pollution and this is because speeding vehicles consume more fuel and therefore pollutes the environment more. Conclusion: From the above discussion it is evident that speed limits are there to protect lives,

Has globalization improved womens political and economic conditions Essay

Has globalization improved womens political and economic conditions - Essay Example 2. Globalisation is said to have been successful and has been beneficial, but at the same time it has caused harm or damage. There are both winners and losers from globalisation.3 Globalisation has not affected all countries or regions in the same way, so that the processes of change is not the same for all.4 Because of different levels of modernisation and technological capacity, regions and countries have not felt similar effects of globalisation. Southeast Asia’s experience, for example, differs from that of the experiences of Vietnam and South Korea in terms of benefits and losses in the process of economic globalisation.5 Across regions, socio-economic groups within regions, and between sexes, the process has not been equal.6 Those who benefit from it generally assert that it, too, is beneficial for all. On the other hand, those against it, particularly the intellectuals and street protesters, declare that it is universally evil.7 Hence, there are strongly differing views on globalisation including when it concerns women. Author George Soroos,8 for example, argues that the global financial system is dangerously unstable and must be regulated. Another one, Clare Short 9 argues that the outcome of globalisation depends upon political choices made. Writing in December 2000 in Making Globalisation Work for the Poor, Short asserts that if and only if the right political choices are made, can the poor benefit. 10 Lene Sjorup11 does not look at globalisation as an arch-enemy. She says women may sometimes be victims of globalisation but can also be benefactors as actors too. Arguing that globalisation if not defined, examined, and discussed, is a very broad category, she says it can become useless as an analytical tool. For example, she warns that a myopic view of globalisation may depict it as an overwhelming enemy victimizing women, but when integrated with a nation state’s system, globalisation will even strengthen the feminist movement worldwide. To

Wind Powered Battery Charger Engineering Essay

Wind Powered Battery Charger Engineering Essay Renewable energy is a burning issue nowadays; different energy resources are being analyzed, tested and improved in order to replace non renewable energy resources. Wind is one of the renewable energy resources which is available in abundance, especially in Europe, huge amount of energy can be produced by using windmills and then this energy can be saved for later usage. This project looks at the brief history of windmills; their past usage, present usage and future. In addition to this, a prototype circuit is also build which utilizes wind energy to charge 4.5v battery when wind energy is less and 12v battery is charged when high energy is produced by the wind. In addition to this, future recommendations are also made to improve the circuit design. Acknowledgments First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to my supervisors, Mr. Nader Anani. He has been giving me his professional advice and guidance throughout the duration of this work. It was his support and confidence in me that led me to successfully complete this project. It has been a pleasure working under his supervision. I wish to dedicate this thesis to my family who I dearly love and respect. Table of Contents Introduction In the near future renewable energy resources like solar and wind energy will be replacing conventional non renewable energy resources. Non renewable energy resources are limited in their availability and are running out quickly due to their vast use in the modern society. [1] We rely on coal, oil and gas for running our industries; now that these resources are becoming scarce it is our responsibility to look for other forms of energy so that the future generations do not suffer due to this shortage. A lot of research is being carried out to select a reliable energy resource that can meet the energy demands of the future, which is reliable and efficient. Energy plays important role in various forms to let human being accomplish different tasks and makes human life easier and more comfortable, from the basic electrical energy that drives electrical and electronic machines and Internet to the kinetic and mechanical energy of vehicles, planes, and all other speedy sources of locomotion. The modern technological world has its own merits and demerits and challenges and issues which are accompanied with it as a result of scientific and industrial revolution and technological advancement. However with exponentially increasing use of devices and equipments requiring power and energy, these sources of energy saw the dreadful event of shortage and rareness. Hence scientists and researchers throughout the world started working on these burning issues and this gave birth to the field of renewable energy. This project is an attempt to develop a system which utilizes wind energy to efficiently charge up batteries that can be later used as a form of energy. Aim The aim of this project is to design, construct and test a battery charger fed from a wind energy source. Objectives Objectives of the current project are given below: Literature review and investigation of wind energy and its history Proposal of hardware design to build a wind powered battery charger Development of prototype circuit for charging batteries using Wind Energy Testing and analysis of the developed system Discussion on the results obtained Recommendations for the future work System Block Diagram Block diagram of the proposed system is given below: Figure : System Block Diagram As clearly illustrated in the system HLD, wind energy will rotate the wind turbines and by using generator within the wind turbines mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy, this electricity generated by the generator is unregulated and full of harmonics, in order to regulate this supply of electricity a regulator is required which in turn can be used to charge the battery. Report Structure This report will give an overview of the techniques and methods used to achieve the final product. 1) Introduction: This chapter discusses the aim, objectives, and explains the circuit block diagram. Figure : Breakdown of Report 2) Literature review: This section of report concentrates on the literature review regarding wind turbines and their use in modern day energy market. In addition to this technical information regarding components used for this project is also given. 3) Method: Method illustrates the detailed experimental procedures and different stages which are completed in order to attain the end product. 4) Results: The results obtained which are related to the performance of the finished product are given in results section. 5) Discussion and Conclusions: Further discussions on the results and the conclusions drawn after the completion of the project is presented in the fifth chapter. 6) Future work: This chapter presents possible ideas that can be implemented on the designed prototype, to achieve different kind of benefits. 7) References: References of information taken from internet. It also contains Bibliography section with details of the books and the texts, articles, magazines and the data sheets used. 8) Appendices: The appendix contains data sheets of the components use in this project. Literature Review Literature Review of this project is divided in following main sections: History and introduction of wind turbines Modeling of wind energy and generator History and Introduction of wind turbines In the beginning, a structure comprising of blades in the form of a fan was known as a windmill which was used to grind grain and pump water using wind energy. This windmill was later on developed to generate electricity and was renamed a wind turbine. [3] On the other hand a wind turbine is a machine which extracts energy from wind to generate electricity by the rotation of propeller like blades that drives a generator through shafts and gears present within it. It is a rotating machine which converts kinetic energy from wind into mechanical energy and this mechanical energy is converted into electricity using a generator. [4] File:Veladero 01.png Figure 3: Wind Turbine in Hilly Area [3] History: A wind turbine is a machine which extracts energy from wind to generate electricity by the rotation of propeller like blades that drives a generator through shafts and gears present within it (Britannica, 2011). It is a rotating machine which converts kinetic energy from wind into mechanical energy and this mechanical energy is converted into electricity using a generator. Since ancient times, man has harnessed the power of the wind to provide motive power for transportation. Likewise, the technique of grinding grain between stones to produce flour is similarly ancient, and widespread. Where and when these two came together in the first place is unknown, but a likely scenario suggests a Persian origin, from where the knowledge spread back into Northern Europe as a result of the Crusades. [4] Since the Persian mills were quite unlike the early European designs it seems just as likely that the adaptation of wind as a power source was independently discovered in Europe. Of course wind was not the first non-human power source applied to the task of grinding corn as it was preceded by both animal power, and in all probability by water power. European millwrights became highly skilled craftsmen, developing the technology tremendously and as Europeans set off colonizing the rest of the globe, windmills spread throughout the world. The basics of windmill design include those built by the British, who developed many advanced control mechanisms over the centuries, and the Dutch who used windmills extensively to pump water and for industrial uses, as well as to grind grain. [5] As steam power developed, the uncertain power of the wind became less and less economic, and we are left today with a tiny fraction of the elegant structures that once extracted power from the wind. These remaining windmills, seen all over the world, are a historic reminder of a past technological age. A number of mills have been restored either visually or in some cases back to full working order. However the promise of widespread power from the wind lives on both in the form of wind turbines producing electricity, and in the form of small scale wind pumps often largely low-tech installations still used extensively in the world of agriculture. [2] File:Wind turbine 1888 Charles Brush.jpg Figure 4: An old wind farm[4] Wind Power in Afghanistan: Wind power has been used for more than 2000 years and the first windmill used for mechanical purposes was built in Afghanistan in the 7th Century. This was a vertical axis windmill with rectangular shaped blades which was six to twelve sails covered in reed matting and was used to grind corn and drawing water. windmill39 Figure 5: Historical wind mill in Afghanistan [1] Wind Power in Britain: Evidence of windmills in England dates from the 12th century, with earlier references to mills generally held to be talking about either animal or water powered mills. The 14th and 15th centuries provide evidence of what the early mills looked like with illustrations in diverse media such as memorial brasses, stained glass, and wood carvings, as well as the expected manuscript records. These early illustrations all showed the simple all wooden post mill structure. The first illustration was shown in the late 1270 A.D which was a four bladed mill mounted on a central post. This was known as the post mill and was already a fair technologically advanced setup as compared to the Persian mills. These mills used wooden gears for the motion of the horizontal shaft to vertical movement to turn a grind stone. [4] Wind Power in Holland: As early as 1390 the Dutch set out to refine a design known as the tower mill. This was actually a standard post mill affixed to the top of a multi story tower with separate floors devoted to grinding  grain, removing chaff, storing grain and living quarters for the wind-smith and his family. Both the post mill as well as the tower mill designs had to be adjusted according to the wind manually. This was done by pushing a large lever at the back of the mill. Also optimizing the windmill energy and power output plus protecting the mill from damage by furling the rotor sails during storms was the main job of the wind-smith. [1] Improvement in the design of the Wind mill: A primary improvement in the design of the European mills was the use of sails that generated aerodynamic lift. This feature improved the rotor efficiency as compared to the Persian mills by allowing an increase in rotor speed and hence which resulted in superior grinding and pumping action.[5] The process of perfecting the windmill as well as making incremental improvements towards its efficiency took 500 years. By the time the process was completed the windmill sails had major features which were recognised by modern designers as being crucial to the performance of modern wind turbine blades. Some models also featured aerodynamic brakes, spoilers, and flaps. windmill Figure 6: Mid 20th Century Windmill [4] While continuing well into the 19th century the use of large tower mills declined with the increased use of steam engines. The next step in the development of wind power occurred many thousands of miles to the west. [1] Wind Power in the USA: For hundreds of years the most important application of windmills at the subsistence level has been mechanical water pumping. This was done using relatively small systems with rotor diameters of one to several meters. These systems were perfected in the United States during the19th century. It initiated with the introduction of Halladay windmill in 1854, and continuing to the Aermotor and Dempster designs. [4] The most significant modification of the American fan shaped windmill was the development of steel blades in 1870. These could be made lighter and worked into more efficient shapes. But, they worked so well that their high speed required a reduction in gear to turn the standard reciprocal pumps at the required speed. [1] In the late 19th century, advancement was made to the original design and a new type of wind mill known as the multi-blade windmill was manufactured. This design was used in the first large windmill in order to generate electricity. Wind Power in Denmark: Poul la Cour was the pioneer of electricity generating wind turbines and he published a journal based on wind power during the same year. Also it was reported that by 1918 around 120 local utilities in Denmark had a wind turbine. The approximated size was from 20 to 35 kW. At that time the wind turbines covered 3 percent of Danish electricity consumption and Danish interest in wind power increased at a high rate. [4] During the World War, the Danish engineers built a number of two as well as three bladed wind turbines although their concept is a three bladed machine. This type of turbines was used in areas usually based on a wind-diesel setup which ran the electricity supply system. The systems used designs focused on DC (direct current) generators to satisfy their needs but in 1951 these DC generators were replaced with AC (alternating current) generators and therefore became the second wind turbine to generate AC. [5] In 1980, Christian Riisager, built a small 22 kW wind turbine in his back yard using an earlier design known as the Gedser Wind Turbine (three bladed wind turbine). His turbine design became a success within households around Denmark and this success gave the present day Danish wind turbine designers an inspiration. [3] This inspiration led them to design all their wind turbines and this trend started from 1980 to the present day. A new generation of wind turbines was developed in 1981 and that became a technological breakthrough for modern wind turbines throughout the world. The serial manufacturing of wind turbines started and Danish manufacturers had much more of a track record than companies and their individual countries. Another thing to note is that California, which is one of the biggest wind farms in the world, has about half of the wind turbines of Danish origin. 20th Century Developments and Modern Wind Turbines: In the past, the Dutch refined the windmill and adapted it for draining lakes and marshes and when settlers took this technology to the New World in the late 19th century, they began using windmills to pump water for farms and ranches, and later, to generate electricity for homes and industry. [5]20th century was the time when windmills were actually recognised as Wind Turbines. Across the plains they were used to pump water as well as to generate electricity but at the same time as new methods of utilising wind energy were being introduced this trend gradually spread around the world. windmill Figure 7: Evolution of Windmill Design in 20th Century At present the modern wind turbines are based on three blades using AC generators and output is rated in mega watts (MW) or giga watts (GW). Some modern wind turbines are based on four to five blades and they are being used on both AC and DC. The governing body is the World Wind Energy Association and as per their annual World Energy Report, a total number of 76 countries in the world are using wind energy for commercial purposes. The main countries that widely use wind turbines at present include USA, UK, France, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Spain and China. The countries that recently became users of wind energy resources are India, Pakistan and Turkey. These figures suggest an increase in use of high output wind turbines but currently mini or small wind turbines are available and are being used where they have an output power requirement ranging from a few watts (W) to kilo watts (kW). [3] For a long time individual wind turbines were installed to support single households but now this idea has been advanced to improve the usage of this energy. Nowadays, wind turbines are installed on a large area may that be land or sea. The output is connected to a grid system. Many countries have installed a number of wind farms across their plains and suitable windy locations but the largest on-land wind farm is known as Roscoe Wind Farm and is located in Texas, USA. This wind farm comprises of 627 wind turbines and a total installed capacity of 781.5 MW and provides enough power for more than 250,000 average Texan homes. It is located about 200 miles west of Fort Worth, and covers nearly 100,000  acres. The second largest wind farm is also located in Texas, USA. This wind farm is known as the Horse Hallow Wind Energy Centre and has 421 wind turbines that generate a total capacity of 735 MW. Out of the total 421, 291 of them are 1.5 MW wind turbines and 130 are 2.3 MW wind turbin es. The turbines are owned by Florida Power Light and the company operates 46 other wind farms throughout the US. [4] 1-rosco-wind-farm Figure 8: Wind farm in England [5] The largest Off-shore wind farm in the world is the Thanet wind farm. It is located in the North Sea about 7 miles off the coast of Kent, England. The wind farm has 100 turbines and has the capability produce enough energy a year to power more than 200,000 homes. The second largest offshore wind farm is called Horns Rev 2 and is located on Horns Reef in a shallow area off the westernmost point of Denmark. Horns Rev 2 consist of 91, Siemens wind turbines with a total generating capacity of 209  MW. [7] Thanet-wind-farm-opened-006 Figure 9: Off shore wind farm along the coast of Kent (England) [5] Future of Wind Turbines: It is predicted that wind energy will be the most cost effective source of electrical power in the near future. A good part of this prediction has been proven during the current energy rush so its reliability can easily be visualised for future. Recent improvements in wind turbines have shown that the trends which have led to the dramatic fall in the cost of wind energy are set to continue. Countries all over the world are setting their targets for wind power and it is estimated that about 22,000 MW, in the form of 40,000 wind turbines will be installed in the next 10 years. Europe is the hub of this global business and will continue to be as around six companies supply over half of the worlds wind turbines. [6] As more and more countries start using this reliable source of electricity, master plans are being set for the future. Already the USA, China, Germany and UK have set targets to build further wind farms and each one bigger than the other. As USA has currently the biggest on-land wind farms in the world, they would like to maintain that in the future. Around six wind farms are planned within the USA for the next 15 years and they should be able to maintain the record of largest wind farms in the world. One of the planned wind farms is the Alta Wind Energy Centre in the Mojave Desert California. This farm will have more than 600 wind turbines and when it is completed this will have the capacity to generate 1,550 MW of energy which is double the capacity of the largest existing wind energy farm. USA has no off-shore wind farm but their future plans include the installation and usage of this setup. [6] 20100730-193513-pic-977799504 Figure 10: Wind farm in China [6] China also plans to increase their usage of wind energy and they are also involved in future projects as well as developing wind farms. One of their future aspirations is the under construction Gansu Wind Farm. It has been estimated that when completed by 2020 and would have the output capacity of 10 Giga watt (GW). They also plan to reach 100 GW overall wind energy output by 2020 as other future wind farms are under construction. By that time it could be the largest capacity wind farm in the world. In the UK, wind energy is being used extensively and more plans have been set in place for the future. They have more plans to build off-shore wind farms instead of on-land ones as well as to increase the capacity of current setup. Another master plan is to build a wind turbine factory, run by the German giant company Siemens and is expected to complete by 2015. Germany is also involved in certain future projects as their current setup is highly dependable on wind farms. Currently around 20,301 on-land wind turbines are located in the German federal areas and the country has plans to build more wind turbine farms and reach a high capacity by 2020.They are planning more offshore wind energy as well and predict a capacity of about 10.000 MW by 2020. Most of these off-shore farms will be erected up to 20-60 km away from the coastline. energy-frozen-fish-wind-farms-turbines_18081_600x450 Figure 11: Modern wind farm in Germany [2] Types of Wind Turbines: Since the development of the wind turbines, numerous designs have been introduced and used worldwide. The difference in these designs was on the basis of size, output power and shape of the wind turbine. The largest wind turbine and the one with the most individual output power up to date is the Enercon-126. Its rated output is about 7 MW and its rotor diameter is 126 meters. Wind turbines can be divided into two basic types and this is determined by the way the turbine spins. One is the horizontal axis wind turbine and is most commonly used (FIG- 12) while the other one is the vertical axis wind turbines (FIG-13). [3]http://www.ecotownforleicestershire.coop/assets/images/masterplanImages/energyreportVertical-axis-wind-turbine.jpghttp://www.aboutgenerator.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/how-to-build-a-wind-turbine.jpg FIG 12 [9] FIG 13 [9] Horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) is the common style wind turbine which has a design similar to that of a wind mill and has blades that look like a propeller that spin on the horizontal axis. The main rotor shaft and electrical generator are at the top of the tower and are pointed into the wind. Small turbines are pointed by a simple wind vane placed square with the rotor (blades), while large turbines generally use a wind sensor coupled with a servo motor. [9] Since a tower produces turbulence behind it hence the turbine is usually pointed upwind of the tower. Wind turbine blades are made stiff to prevent the blades from being pushed into the tower by high winds. Since the turbulence leads to fatigue failures so most HAWTs are upwind machines. Since the blades always move perpendicularly to the wind they help receive power through the whole rotation. [9] Small wind turbines are being used extensively in off-grid systems like street lighting, phone booths, lighting up parking areas and public mobile chargers. These wind turbines are usually used with another device such as solar panels and are part of a setup. They are light, easy to install and reliable in all wind conditions. Green-Column2 Figure 14: Green Column [1] Vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) is when the main rotor shaft is arranged vertically.   The main advantage of this arrangement is that the wind turbine does not need to be pointed into the wind and can be most reliable on sites where the wind direction is highly variable or turbulent. In a VAWT the generator and other main components can be placed near the ground so the tower does not need to support it. It is difficult to mount these type of turbines on towers so they are often installed nearer to the base on which they rest, such as the ground or a building rooftop. The wind speed is slower at a lower altitude which means less wind energy is available so air flow near the ground and other objects can create turbulent flow resulting in issues like vibration. However, when a turbine is mounted on a rooftop, the building will generally redirect the wind over the roof and this doubles the wind speed at the turbine. [9] There are two subtypes of VAWT: Darrieus wind turbines are commonly called Eggbeater turbines as they look like an eggbeater. They are highly efficient but produce large ripple and cyclic stress on the tower which will contribute towards low reliability. They generally require some external power source to start turning because the starting torque is very low. The torque ripple is reduced by using three or more blades which will result in a higher solidity for the turbine rotor. Solidity is measured by blade area over the rotor area and newer models of this type of turbines are not held up by guy-wires but have an external superstructure connected to the top. Savonius wind turbines is a drag type turbine and are commonly used in cases of high reliability in things such as ventilation systems. Because they are a drag type turbine they are less efficient than a common HAWT but they are excellent in areas of turbulent wind and self starting. Wind turbine manufacturers: As wind energy has become a widely used concept, a number of companies have introduced their designs and perfected them. The most popular companies around today are Enercon (Germany), Vestas (Denmark), GE Wind Energy (USA), Siemens Wind Power (Germany), RE Power (Germany), Sinovel (China), Goldwind (China) and Gamesa (Spain). All these companies are famous for manufacturing as per their own HAWT designs and their systems are being used worldwide. Enercon, Germany based company, is the only company to have made the most powerful and largest wind turbine in the world known as Enercon-126. They continue to work on more ideas and increase the output capability of their wind turbine. On the other hand Vestas which is a Denmark based company is the biggest manufacturer of wind turbines in the world. Most of their wind turbines and installed in Europe as well as USA and their orders keep on increasing day by day as per demand and dependence on wind energy. It was stated that most of the designs from other companies are actually modifications to the original design created by Vestas and this influence can be seen in their systems. [10] Other companies like GE Wind Energy and Siemens have made major contributions in the manufacturing and enhancing the capabilities of wind turbines of the present age and they are looking forward to the future for more opportunities to make themselves well known within the industry. [10] Small sized wind turbines made their way into the industry due to the need for smaller and off-grid systems. Marlec Renewable Power is one of the companies that initiated this type of wind turbines and they came up with the idea named Rutland wind turbines. Rutland wind turbines are being commonly used in UK and Europe these days but further international use has been planned due to the interest shown by foreign investors. Rutland wind turbines have current designs using 3 to 6 blades but they are mini versions of HAWT and no VAWT designs have been introduced up to date. They have mostly been used in off-grid systems and add a good combination to the environment surrounded by wind turbines. [10] Disadvantages of wind turbines: The strength of the wind is not constant and it varies from zero to storm force. Which means that wind turbines will not generate the same amount of electricity all the time as well as there will be times when they generate no electricity at all. Many people feel that the countryside should be left untouched so the landscape could be left in its natural form. Wind turbines are noisy as each one can generate the same level of noise as a family car at very high speed. People see large wind turbines as unattractive structures and not pleasant to look at. They could disfigure the countryside and might seem a horrible sight. Wind turbine construction can be very expensive and costly to the surrounding wildlife during the building and installation process. In some areas of wind farm developments birds have been found dead around the base of turbines. Many people think wind turbines are a great idea, yet a large proportion of these people would oppose a wind farm development close to their home due to their land price reduction as well as noise pollution. Modeling of wind energy and generator In order to develop the prototype circuit in the laboratory, wind energy has to be simulated along with the generator. At first it was decided to use a 12 volt manual generator which can be operated by hand to output 12v so that this can be fed for the rest of the circuitry. A cheap 12v Generator could not be found, very expensive models were available but it was decided not to buy them as it will increase the cost of the product dramatically. Finally, it was agreed that the 12v DC from the power supply will be used to simulate the output of the wind generator. Method Method section of this report throws light on the wind power battery charger circuit used and also explains different techniques used in order to build the prototype. Method section of this report can be sub divided in the following main categories: 1: Research regarding components used in this project 2: Circuit Design and Explanation 3: Circuit Construction Research regarding components used in this project At first it was decided to develop a battery management circuit from scratch by using analogue circuitry, buck converter and 555 timer or microcontroller in order to switch the buck converter, but after some research and investigation it was found that there are some specialized ICs available which can be used for managing battery charging circuits. Different verities of battery management IC were available from Liner technologies, Analogue devices, microchip and National Instruments: but selection criteria for the IC involved: a DIP package for easy prototyping, operating temperature range of -40 to +85à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™, supply voltage rating of up to 18v and cheap in price. After some search through different vendor websites, LTC1042 seemed to be a suitable candidate for this particular application. After mutual consent it was decided to use LTC1042 as main charge management IC in this project. Circuit Design and Explanation Looking through the LTC1042 datasheet, it was discovered that this IC can be adopted for the needs of renewable energy resources and can easily manage different load types based on the amount of energy being produced at one particular time. Application notes of LTC1042 suggested a circuit for using this IC for managing wind powered battery charger. In order to prove the concept of the system, it is decided to build this circuit and experiment with it. Chosen Circuit: The circuit to be built is shown in the diagram below: Figure 15: Wind Powered Battery Charger Circuit Circuit Explanation This circuit behaves in a latching manner, i.e. depending upon the voltage being generated by the wind generator different type of load will be on and off. LTC1042 is a CMOS window and manages the turning on and turning off of different loads. This circuit contains two batteries and one load, its operation is summarized in the following lines: 1: If the generator output voltage is below 13.8v, charge regulator circuit is active and Ni-Cad battery will

Essay examples --

Eric Vaughn Biber Professor Mary Dudy Bjork English 421 Essay 2 May 1, 2008 The Miracle of Poetry. â€Å"Such ‘unnatural’ tendencies have an intimate relation to genius, and what we call ‘genius’ is, exactly, the awareness, and expression, of planes, or dimensions, beyond the biological and the temporal. That is why Shakespeare’s Sonnets are so deeply concerned with the problems of time, death and eternity† (Knight, 69-70). Maybe Shakespeare knew that true literary genius existed in the study of the relationship man has with death and certainty, so he pointed his writing in this direction for literary immortality. Maybe yet he was simply fascinated with death in general, and his genius shined through in his writing. Regardless of his motives, it is clear that Shakespeare was at some level fascinated with time and its overwhelming destructive powers. This fascination was evident in almost all of Shakespeare’s works, but most notably in his Sonnets. Not only did Shakespeare realize the fragility of life, but he found a way to overcome t he universe’s inevitability with poetry. Although most of Shakespeare’s Sonnets are dedicated to a certain young youth, this dedication is only a front to carry on one of Shakespeare’s greatest concerns; the certainty of time and death. With the use of the written word, Shakespeare found a way to overcome the power of time and immortalize all that he loved, whomever and whatever that may be, inside the power of his ink. When examining the presence of time and certainty in Shakespeare’s Sonnets, the best place to begin is with Sonnet 18. This is by far one of Shakespeare’s most famous Sonnets, and probably his most misunderstood by the common reader. Though this Sonnet seems to be a simple love poem on the... ... considered the first of the â€Å"procreation† Sonnets directed to the fair young youth, a deeper look at Sonnet 1 reveals evidence of Shakespeare’s uncanny ability to understand the nature of the universe. From fairest creatures we desire increase, That thereby beauty's rose might never die, But as the riper should by time decease, His tender heir might bear his memory: (1.1-4) â€Å"The rose embodies only the perfect moment that intervenes between fulfillment and decay. Describing it, Shakespeare makes no attempt to speak in a biographical voice, or that of a dramatically defined persona. It is simply â€Å"we† who speak, as the voice of a consensus, and our desire for preserving the flower’s beauty is no less natural than its coming decline. Such a confluence, using â€Å"we† to unite temporarily speaker, reader, and the ordinary world, has a justification of its own† (Weiser, 3).

My Own Interpretation of Mandela’s 8 Lessons in Leaders

That is why I also wanted to share to you Mandela’s 8 lessons of Leadership: 1. Courage is not the absence of fear — it’s inspiring others to move beyond it In tackling life’s challenges, you must face fear head-on and find the guts that you may not falter when life is giving you a hard time. There are people who wanted to see you fall and you must find courage to stand up to them. Having courage does not mean being reckless or stupid but rather it means to hold your head up, look them in the eye. Do the right thing even when you stand alone and it eventually will pay off in the end 2. Lead from the front — but don’t leave your base behind Hey, it’s great to be a leader, right? There are privileges like less work for you and more work for your subordinates and get the credit from the efforts of your colleagues-NO, this is a very wrong notion. They will never respect you as a leader if you lead them an iron fist. What’s the point of being a leader if no one will follow you? Move with the principle that others matter as well and do what’s best for your group, not just you. Be honest and fair. Work hard. Play hard. Do your homework. Know what you are talking about and they will follow. Don’t ever mistake arrogance and intelligence for the same thing for they are quite different. Life will eventually teach you humility if your ego will swell up. 3. Lead from the back — and let others believe they are in front Sometimes, it’s kind of nice to take a few steps back and let others lead as well while you still lead them. Why not? Give others opportunity to prove themselves that they are capable to lead and let them discover their potentials too. Maybe you could even learn a thing or two from them. Not all great ideas come from one brain but rather a group of brains. When they eventually get off-track, you’re still there to guide them back like a shepherd guiding a lost sheep. 4. Know your enemy — and learn about his favorite sport Truth is you cannot please everybody and there are some people would not favor you leading them. That irritates you, doesn’t it? Often, the people who anger us most in life are more like us than we’d like to admit. Don’t ignore them. Get to know them. Find out what makes them tick. Maybe they just want your attention. Maybe they just want a duty. Give them something to do for change. See how they fare. Now, at some point, you may need to cut your losses and move on down the road. However, you may inadvertently find out your enemy is all of a sudden your good friend. 5. Keep your friends close — and your rivals even closer You’re not alone and there leaders like you as well but with different personalities, capabilities, and leaderships styles. Some of these leaders may agree to you and favor your leadership skills but there are other does not. Still, it is not wrong to have a little healthy competition and learn to appreciate what life gives you because not all life is easy. Again, you have to be strong and be firm for the people who follow you. When things go out of hand, always use diplomacy. 6. Appearances matter — and remember to smile Love yourself first before others. How can you serve other people when you could not serve yourself right? Appearances really do matter especially if you’re a student nurse rendering service to your patient. If your patient sees that you could not take care of yourself, he/she will have second thoughts or doubts in cooperating with you. Being neat and clean will give you an edge. Remember to smile because this stuff is contagious. When you clumsily tripped yourself, you should make a fast recovery with grace and smile because they want strong leaders who could recover fast from a tragic fall and continue the service. SMILE! 7. Nothing is black or white Life could be a burden sometimes when you have to make a decision, either it is small or big because not all of your decisions would favor the entire public and there always consequences. When that happens, first of all pray, it helps to meditate and ask for guidance from above and then think for a solution, it always works. Listen to all sides of the story before making rash decisions. All decisions especially a leader’s decision should be think through. Sleep on it if you must. Don’t let emotions cloud your judgment. This is a very common to student nurses during RLE: when in doubt, don’t or ask your clinical instructor about it, it always works, try it they won’t bite†¦sometimes. 8. Quitting is leading too I flinched when I heard this one but I tend to like it. It is cliche to say: â€Å"do not ever give up, try and try until you succeed, and quitting is for losers† but what if you run out of ideas, too tired to hold on, groping for answers in the dark and hopelessly praying for â€Å"give me more TIME†. Why not tomorrow? Hey, there are always tomorrow right? Don’t tire yourself you’re only human. If you sense that you’re losing a battle, sound a retreat, let your army rest and fight for another day, maybe your enemy needs a rest too you know. Sometimes in life doesn’t work out. Just step back and take a deep breath. Move on and do something else or the alternative. Don’t squander your life in the boulevard of broken dreams, just move on the other side of the road to start anew. A life of good leaders revolves around success and failure all the time. But just learn to accept what God has given you and learn to appreciate it. Do not dwell on failures but move on. Leaders experience too many sufferings and trials in order to strive for excellent service his/her fellows but it will be compensated with the achievements and recognitions he/she earned. The pieces of paper and awards on the wall are important. But they are not nearly as important as the journey you make and the people you meet along the way. CARPE DIEM!

Nazi consolidation of power essays

Nazi consolidation of power essays To consolidate their power over 1933 and 1934, the Nazis used a number of methods to deal with a number of situations. This essay will deal with what the Nazis actually did to consolidate their power once gaining it in January 1933 after Adolf Hitler's appointment as Chancellor. They used legal means, terror tactics and propaganda to eliminate political opposition, suppress possibilities of forceful resistance, deal with Germany's broken economy and labour force, and promote their image and ideology within the national community. Through the use of these methods the National Socialists were able to successfully consolidate their power by the end of 1934. The Nazi's first aim once Hitler was appointed chancellor in January 1933 was to eliminate all political opposition. This would consolidate their power over government. The existing opposition was divided and weak, and believed that Hitler could be controlled. They also believed they could resist his extremist demands. For an example - Carl Bachem, a member of the Catholic Centre Party at the time, revealed in later years that the prevailing view within the party was that by supporting Hitler they could 'exercise a...sobering influence' upon the National Socialists. According to historian D.G. Williamson, 'the potential opposition to Hitler was formidable, but it was divided and crippled by fatally underestimating the dynamism of the Nazi movement.' Many parties also overestimated their influence in government. The power of the Reichstag had declined throughout the last years of Weimar and the President began to rule by decree. Or, as historian William L. Shirer puts it '(By 1932) political power... was concentrated in the hands of a senile President and in those of a few shallow, ambitious men around him. Hitler saw this clearly and it suited his purposes.' As soon as Hitler became chancellor he called for national elections to be held in March. To win these electio...

An In-depth View of Palenque

An In-depth View of Palenque Free Online Research Papers In southern Mexico, lies one of the greatest ruins of the most advanced culture of ancient MesoAmerica. Near the Usumacinta River, Palenque is a Mayan city-state that reached its greatest period during the seventh century CE. When Palenque was first discovered, it was completely overwhelmed by the plantlife of the rainforest. Through time, excavation revealed a massive archaeological site that attracts thousands of tourists each year. What attracts all of these tourists is not the size of the site, but rather the delicate, sophisticated, and intricate architecture and art that has been discovered there. Palenque is known most for their fine buildings, roof combs, sculptures, and bas-relief carvings that exemplify the best of Mayan creations. It is not as large as other known Mayan sites such as Tikal or Copan, but makes up for its size with its beauty deep in the rainforest. It is actually so deep that much of the Early Classic history of the city-state has yet to be excavated. Archaeologists have said that only five percent of the actual city has been uncovered. Palenque has a very complex history and we only know a part of it from what archaeologists have excavated. The city itself has gone through an extensive process of overbuilding through time. The actual structures that are visible today are said to be the rebuilding efforts of the aftermath of the Calakmul attacks in the seventh century. More of the history of Palenque was recently revealed to us through deeper understanding of the extremely complex Mayan hieroglyphic writing system. By reading these ancient inscriptions, experts gained knowledge of Palenque’s rivals such as other sites like Calakmul and Tonina and also the first list of dynastic rulers. This is the reason why Palenque is quite probably the most written about and studied Mayan site. From that list of dynastic rulers, one ruler is most famous and synonomous with the city of Palenque. He is most responsible for rebuilding and also Palenque’s golden age. His name was Kinich Janaab Pakal and his tomb was found not so long ago when excavating the Temple of Inscriptions. In 1952, an archaeologist named Alberto Ruz Lhullier removed a slab of stone that stood out on the floor of the back room of the temple pyramid. When he removed the stone, it revealed a passageway leading down into the heart of the temple. The staircase took a turn into a tomb where they discovered a large sarcophagus that belonged to Pakal. The tomb was impressive for the large ornately carved sarcophagus, the ornaments adorned by Pakal himself including a beautiful jade death mask, and also the stucco sculpture that surrounded the walls of the tomb. The lid of the sarcophagus, as it is still extremely in tact and preserved, shows images of death and the underworld. Historians also lea rned how the Temple of Inscriptions was actually built by observing the tomb. Obviously the sarcophagus was too large to carry into the tomb itself. They realized that the tomb was built first and then the Temple was built over it. The Temple of Inscriptions itself is one of Palenque’s most elegant and distinguishing structures. The large pyramid contains the second longest glyphic text from the ancient Mayans. Nearly 180 years are recorded of the city’s history from these inscriptions. It indeed is a very large structure where it measures 60 meters wide and almost 28 meters high. Some of the biggest stones used weigh 12 to 15 tons. Not far from the temple, is the Palace of Palenque. The palace consists of several buildings and courtyards that have been constantly built over each other. The Palace is especially significant for all the sculptures and bas-reliefs that were found therein. However, the most distinguishing factor of the Palace is the unique four-story tower that is not found at any other Mayan site. Some historians say that it was used as a lookout tower while others say it was used along with the Sun to reveal certain times of the year. Another major feature is the group of sophisticated structures known as the Temples of the Sun, Cross, and Foliated Cross. They received their names from early explorers who named them after the cross-like images found on the inscriptions. The images are actually a representation of the Mayan center belief of the tree of creation. They are especially distinguishable because of the graceful placement on top of step pyramids. Each temple is marked by elaborate relief carvings in the inner chambers. The carvings depict figures participating in rituals and presenting certain sacred objects to a deity or higher authority. Because of better understanding of Mayan symbols, we now know that the images depict Kinich Kan Bahlam during passage ritual and also his initiation of kingship. Palenque is also notable for it’s advanced technology. When someone hears the word, aqueduct, they think of ancient Rome. However, the ancient Mayans had their own version in Palenque where they built an underground vault with great stone blocks. It worked so that the Otulum River flowed underneath the floor of Palenque’s main plaza. It was no problem getting water in since it was a â€Å"rain†forest. They simply needed a way to get it out. Palenque contains numerous temples, tombs, a ballcourt, and buildings that reach far out into the forest. For example, the Temple of the Lion was named for a relief of a king sitting in a throne in the form of a jaguar. The Temple of the Count is another elegant example where it got its name from an early explorer who lived there and claimed to actually be a Count. The most interesting thing about Palenque however is how this thriving city-state was abandoned. There is no real answer for the sudden absence of people and when the Spanish arrived in the 1520’s, there was barely anyone at all. However today, Palenque is not empty due to the vast amounts of tourists that make it probably the most iconic and beautiful MesoAmerican ruin. WORKS CITED 1. History Channel: Lost Worlds: Palenque, DVD 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palenque 3. Martin, Simon; and Nikolai Grube (2000). Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens: Deciphering the Dynasties of the Ancient Maya. London and New York: Thames Hudson. 4. Schele, Linda (1976) Accession Iconography of Chan-Bahlum in the Group of the Cross at Palenque. In The Art, Iconography, and Dynastic History of Palenque, Part III. Research Papers on An In-depth View of PalenqueAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 Europe19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug Use

Product reassessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Product reassessment - Essay Example Definite measure to sustain the project is thru distributorship or partnership as specific form of entry to the China market. Picture of the product is shown in Annex 1, while profile of the company may be downloaded in its company website. Discussion . Life cycle of the fax machines in the United States have reached maturity and declining stages. It has been overtaken by fast technology changes in communication. At this stage, manufacturers are left with three options: to look for new markets, to accept its fate, or to upgrade features of its products to present a new appeal. While it seems that US market is saturated and has reached maturity, other foreign markets are still on a developing stage. One such country is China, that despite for its being big in terms of economic development, has low usage of Fax machines. According to CIA Factbook, (2013) China has a population of 1,349,595,895 and is considered the most populous country in the world. It has a literacy rate of 92.2% whi ch is a very good segmentation target for the product. Repositioning needs a risk management plan that involves a market research. Since there are issues why the fax usage is low in this country, and before entry, a market research should be conducted in order to ascertain acceptability of the product. Market research helps the company understand the customer and its relative situation. The branch of research ideal for repositioning is market profiling or segmentation survey to know following conditions: to identify who are the customers, why are they or not customers. The survey may also include questions about purchasing decisions in order to know motivational factors from interest to actual purchase. This section opens up with the idea of major factors that lead to the level and rate of adoption of new products. Fax machines are not a totally new product, but the idea is to reintroduce it to a new market, which is China. A method that could be used to check on adoption rates is t he concept testing or test marketing. Concept testing gives an idea of customers reaction before funds are spent for it, wherein â€Å"A cross-section of the general public could be asked to respond to this product idea and may be able to comment on the intrinsic appeal of the idea and, more especially, could make suggestions as to where it would best be positioned in the market† (‘Agricultural and Food Marketing Management† n.d.). Two Test marketing advantages outlined in the study of FAO stated that it provides an opportunity to obtain a measure of a product's sales performance under reasonably natural market conditions. Market share can be estimated and used as the basis of the decision as to whether or not the product is launched nationally. Test marketing also offers an opportunity for management to identify and correct product or marketing strategy weaknesses before a national launch takes place. An idea that could be carried out in the launch is product ser vice or component that could complement the product. Fax machines are one of the products carried in the portfolio of Canon. Copiers would be the best complement for Fax machines. It could be offered as a combined package at a discounted price. After sales service could also be an attractive proposal. In every product category, service or warranty is provided. So that sales and service would be maximized, on-line system of ordering or servicing should be in place so that customers can

How did we come to be Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

How did we come to be - Essay Example Where does this power "to will" come from If we observe our own body parts and their movements as if we are looking at a Television program, the reality behind our origins can be realized to a great extent. This is clearly an experiment about which a number of scientists and critical analysts apparently never thought of doing it while entering into their voluminous research on the evolution, nature and logic of origins of man. If this experiment is opted for, only one idea is likely to follow. This will be an objective realization of the power and force of God behind every living and non-living being and entity. This is ultimate wisdom that does not change for there is nothing beyond it. There is a well established social perspective. It is the universally accepted principle of "Change as the law of Nature". This law by itself has never changed! Why If it is true, it must also change with time. However, no one can deny living by this reality of change. What a great predicament The law is there but it cannot be there if it is to continue. Similar situation appears to be existing about the question: How have we humans evolved in the present pulsating form of precious beings So many schools of thought and ways of argument have come up, as it were, "since the beginning of human inquiry into society." Darwinian, Big Bang, Cosmic Evolution, Stellar Evolution, Chemical Evolution, Planetary Evolution, Organic Evolution, Macro Evolution, Micro Evolution and Pragmatism theories vie with one another to solve the apparent mystery of origins of man.1 Despite so much of variety of material and writings available on "How did we come to be" there is utter dearth of rock solid truth about this matter. Evolutionary theorists are generally modern scientists from biology, chemistry and physics. They believe and write about that phenomenon which can be verified through their own microscopes and eyes only. Pragmatists like Charles Sanders Peirce, William James and John Dewey appear to have gone even a few steps ahead of the evolutionary theorists. They as such suggest "rejection of the transcendental approach to truth, logic and inquiry".2 For Peirce, 'pragmaticism' and 'fallibilism' were the essence of all logic. For him, 'metaphysics embraces a theory of cosmic evolution and a theory of causal laws'. There has to be a cause and effect relationship inherent and explicit in an experience. All inquiry - including the question of origins of man - must follow this causal law. William James also picked up 'pragmatist' outlook of Peirce and further popularized these ideas.3 Quite in the similar vain, John Dewey made inquiry, rather than truth or knowledge, the essence of logic.4 Critical Assessment: Indeed, these evolutionary and pragmatist analyses are having their own limitations just as any other approach to a world view may be having. One small aspect is very obvious here. Most of the noted and vibrant minds and great critics generally do not look beyond their own perception. At times, the most obvious argument is ignored for it lies just beneath their feet within their immediate reach. If an analyst wants to be objective and scientific in approach, then one must not ignore the most obvious. When dealing with evolution, origins of man and the power behind human