United Arab Emirates Country Profile Essay Example for Free

United Arab Emirates Country Profile Essay The Middle East stirs interest because of its important historical and contemporary role in global affairs. The region caught the interest of the United States only during the Second World War but the region has hosted and witnessed significant world events. Many of the early civilizations emerged from the region such as the Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian and Sumerian civilizations. Influential religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Zoroastrianism developed in the Middle East. The region also formed part of various empires, in succession, as territorial control changed from the Persian, Greek, Roman, Arab, Mongol, Tatar empires and then to the Turkish empire. The succession of empires led to the fusion of civilisations and cultures leading to various radical changes in the region and human history. (Peretz 1994) During the middle ages, Europe took interest in the Middle East in opening pilgrimage paths to the Holy Land through the Crusades. This increased trade with Western European countries and opened contact of the Middle East with Asia. Napoleon occupied parts of Palestine in the hopes of defeating the British Indian Empire growing in Asia. These expressed recognition of the region’s value as Europe’s gateway to the greater Asian region. Tsarist Russia also moved southward in attempts to take control of Iran and Turkey. (Peretz 1994) With the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the Suez Canal trading route opened opportunities for various European countries establishing interest in the Middle East. Competing interests fuelled various wars and diplomatic conferences to settle control of the Turkish Straits. Nazi Germany also sought to gain a foothold into the Middle East and then into Asia. During the First and Second World Wars, weapons and supplies passed through the trading routes of the Middle East. In the 1940s, the Middle East gained more importance with the discovery of its vast oil reserves, particularly in the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. The Middle East gained strategic value not only for its trading routes but also for its massive oil resources. Many foreign companies sought concessions to extract oil from the region. Oil exports supported the growth of industries in European countries and the United States since at least eighty percent of oil consumed in these western regions came from the Middle East. In the early 1960s, the states comprising the Arabian Peninsula and Iran produced one-quarter of the total global oil production with an unknown volume of reserves. During the Cold War, the clashing ideological interests sought to capture the acquiescence of the Middle East, with Russia exerting pressure from the north and the United States exerting pressure from the west. (Peretz 1994) Due to these events, the Middle East became an important region in world affairs. Middle East is the regional name given by Western European states to the block of territory located at the South Western border of Asia, North Eastern border of Africa, and Western border of South Asia. As a collective term, Middle East is a large region comprised of the countries Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. This area, previously called Far East, is located in between the European and East Asian regions. The term also connotes countries sharing a predominantly Islamic culture. (â€Å"Middle East† 2007)

Expansion Opportunities Abroad Essay Example for Free

Expansion Opportunities Abroad Essay With the proposed expansion of CPI in other countries like Brazil and the some European states, we need to consider three things: 1) the market share of giant corporations in the same business, 2) the company’s capital size, and 3) the price elasticity of the products to be sold (in those countries). While all these factors are of salience in the company’s operations, it is assumed that the relative complexity of the market is an avenue of uncertainty. Other factors like political stability may influence considerably the company’s operations as much as the presence of giant corporations in the business. The presence of giant corporations in the same business can be staved-off by setting commercial offices in places that are without the presence of these corporations. For example, if giant corporations are well concentrated in a particular city, the company should establish subsidiaries in semi-urban areas. This would stave off competition as well as maximizing the limited consumer base (semi-urban areas have a considerable consumer size). The company’s capital size should also be considered. Capital provides a firm the working materials to produce goods and services to the public. Capital and labor make up the so-called â€Å"inputs of production† of a firm. Therefore, if the company is going to expand overseas, it must first negotiate on the volume of capital that is needed for expansion (and of course, the associated risk). In this case, 5 to 20 % of the company’s capital will be used for expansion. This is a fair evaluation of risks involved in the venture as well as the proposed distribution of capital in â€Å"host† countries. The real problem though lies in determining the price elasticities of products to be sold in the market. Although the company fared well by concentrating its sale to regional places, this would not be the same when it goes international. Price elasticities generally become stable and somewhat inflexible once prices also become inflexible. The implication: those companies with large capital bases will tend to survive; those with small capital bases will either merge to survive or exit in the market. Even if the company set-up subsidiaries in semi-urban places to prevent competition, there is no assurance of success. Below we shall discuss nature and definition of price elasticities. There are two primary types of elasticities: price elasticity of demand and price elasticity of supply. Here we are concerned only with the former since the company’s expansion abroad depends on the sensitivity of consumer demand to price changes. Price elasticity is defined as â€Å"the measure of responsiveness of a factor or variable to another factor or variable† (Buchholz, 1996). Price elasticity of demand is defined as â€Å"the measure of responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in price, all other things held constant (ceteris paribus)† (Price Elasticity of Demand, 2007). General relations of price elasticity of demand: †¢ If PED 1 then Demand is Price Elastic †¢ If PED = 1 then Demand is Unit Elastic (equal response) †¢ If PED 1 then Demand is Price Inelastic In the case of products manufactured by CPI, specifically Super Clean, it generally experiences the third relation. If Super Clean raises the prices of its product by 5%, percentage change in quantity demanded would be less. The implication: by setting subsidiaries in places where there is the minimal presence of giant corporations, Super Clean would be able to control minimally the prices of its product due perhaps to the relative inflexibility of consumer demand. This would maximize profit. Even if giant corporations enter, revenues would tend to be stable because consumer demand is stable. This would generally reduce the overall risk of the company.

Students who Self-Mutilate

Students who Self-Mutilate Understanding and Responding to Students who Self-Mutilate Summary Abstract Self-Mutilation is that causing of intentional physical harm to oneself. The most common way of harming ones self is cutting. Students that self-harm are misunderstood a common myth about people who self-harm is that they are trying to kill themselves but it is actually the opposite. They are trying to control their pain and emotions. Self-harming is a release from the pain for these students.   Faculty and staff should be educated on how to help these students. RSM students need to know that they have people that will help and support them during this time. RSM can be a contagious behavior other students may also start harming themselves if they see others students doing so. Faculty and staff member should keep in mind   when educating students on self-mutilation stay away from talking about how people self-harm and why   because it can give them ideas. Self- mutilation is a topic that is difficult for people to deal with and is also a topic that many people do not have enough education about to understand why people engage in these behaviors. Self- mutilation is the causing of intentional physical harm to oneself. People who do self-harm usually do so stealthily. They tend to harm themselves on areas that are easily hidden on their body like on their inner thighs, forearms and torso. The most common form of self-harm is cutting. Others forms of self-harm include burning oneself, scratching, head banging and pinching. One type of self-mutilation is called Repetitive Self- Mutilation Syndrome it is an impulsive behavior equivalent to eating disorders and substance abuse. Repetitive Self- Mutilation syndrome can being to arise in late childhood or early adolescents which is why it is important that people who work in middle and high schools need to understand how they can   help students who self-harm and are educated on the signs that a student is harming themselves. RSM can last for up to 15 to 20 years it also is more prominent in females then in males. Students who self-harm are not doing it because they are suicidal but because it is cathartic for them. Cutting themselves helps release their pain. According to Richard Lieberman as the adolescent cuts or burns herself, the brain secretes endorphins that are natural antidepressants (March 2004). Even though suicide is not their end goal does not mean that it is not a concern. These students are crying out for help. Self-harm can lead to future problems if the student does not receive support. Another aspect of RSM is that it the student does not cut themselves all the time but erratically and usu ally after stressful and emotional times. During adolescents emotions are at an all-time high. Students that tend to self-harm have a challenging time regulating their emotions and use self-injury as a coping mechanism. Once a student is identified as a self-mutilator by a staff member the students parents should be notified about this behavior. The student should be referred to a clinical mental health professional to help treat them. Treatment for RSM includes CBT along with medication. The school psychologist should work along with the students parents and psychologist to create a plan to help support the child. They need to work as a team to create different ways to control and cope with their emotions. Interventions need to be set in place to help students that do self-mutilate get the help that they need and to prevent others from copying. When RSM is identified it is best to stray away from videos on the topic and when educating student to not mention the ways people self-harm and why because it can give students ideas. RSM can be contagious in adolescents who are trying to fit in and find themselves. School should be a safe place for students that self-harm. They need to know that there are people to help that they can turn to in the school. Students should never be demanded to stop because it is something that they cannot control. Staff members should respond to students with support these students already know that their behavior is shameful. It is important for schools to be educated on RSM and be able to help students get professional help. These students have problems that need to be addressed. Many adolescents suffer from RSM and need to know that they have people they can turn to for help. References Liebrman, R. (2004, March). Understanding and Responding to Students Who Self-Mutilate. Leadership Principal , 10-13.

Witchcraft and the Town of Groton in 1671 Essay -- History Historical

Elizabeth Knapp sat perched on a small three- legged stool in front of a roaring fire in the hall of her family's home as the last late October light faded through the yellowish oilpaper windows. The wind had already picked up a taste of the winter bite that the early Massachusetts Bay colonists had grown to despise, and tonight it whipped down the chimney of the eight foot wide fireplace with a shrill, devilish whistle, causing the shadows projected by the bayberry wax candles to shimmy and waver against the rough hewn rafters. Elizabeth drew her red knit hood tighter down over her head and huddled towards the hearth. Her mother, also named Elizabeth, watched her from farther back in darkness of the hall, where she was mending a pair of breeches. By December, she knew, the wind whipping down the chimney could cause the sap emerging from the burning logs to freeze solid. The temperatures would make many a grown man in town wish to curl up and sleep away the winter until rising temperatures and longer days made Groton, just hewn from the Massachusetts wilderness a few decades ago, hospitable once again. Despite the gathering winter she felt relieved to see that her sixteen- year old daughter, now her only child after the early death of her son James, was acting normal again. For the past fortnight the younger Elizabeth had been carrying herself in a strange manner. While walking along normally she would sometimes cry out. Last week she had shrieked at extremely inappropriate time in Sunday dinner and that day in church she had been overcome with irreverent laughter. She was always quick to offer a reasonable excuse to spare the swift punishment usually dispensed to children at the time, but the extravagance and immodes... ...essen the symptoms. Bearers invariably die 10 to 25 years after the onset. Chorics have been dubbed everything for saints (the Catholic church recognizes four) to witches since the sixteenth century. References: Butler, Caleb. History of the Town of Groton. Boston, 1848. Dow, George F. Everyday life in the Massachussetts Bay Colony, Soc. for Preservation of N.E. Antiques, 1935. Earle, Allice M. Customs and fashions in old New England. Scribner and Son, New York 1893. Greene, Samuel A., Groton in the Witchcraft Times, University Press, Cambridge, MA 1883, 29pp. Greene, Samuel A., ed. Early Records of the Town of Groton 1662- 1707, University Press, Cambridge, MA 1883, 186pp. May, Virginia, Groton Houses. Groton Historical Society, 1978. Okun, Michael S., The history of adult onset Chorea, at www.medinfo.ufl.edu/histmed/okun/slide1.html

Goup Decision Making Essay -- Managing Management Business Essays

Group Decision Making Let?s define what is Group Decision Making, decisions made by committees, think tanks, teams and groups. They may include borrowers, lenders, producers, buyers, scientists and other experts, environmentalists, and real estate developers and so on. Decision making skills is one of the most important aspects of management. It involves personal and interpersonal skills, fact finding, logical thinking, creativity, analytical ability, sensitivity to others and assertiveness What are the key steps in making a decision? Whether decisions are straightforward or complex, a systematic approach will lead to success. ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Setting objectives An objective is a specific step, a milestone, which enables you to accomplish a goal. Setting objectives involves a continuous process of research and decision-making. Knowledge of yourself and your unit is a vital starting point in setting objectives. Strategic planning takes place at the highest levels; other managers are involved with operational planning. The first step in operational planning is defining objectives - the result expected by the end of the budget (or other designated) cycle. Setting right objectives is critical for effective performance management. Such objectives as higher profits, shareholder value, and customer satisfaction may be admirable, but they don't tell managers what to do. They fail to specify priorities and focus. Such objectives don't map the journey ahead - the discovery of better value and solutions for the customer. The objectives must be focused on a result, not an activity, be consistent, be specific, be measurable, be related to time, be attain able. ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Collecting information There are several ways to gather information. You can collect information from people, documents, performance data, and observation of events. Also, there are a number of methods for gathering information, including traditional measurement approaches such as tests and ratings, as well as more investigative procedures such as observation, interviews, case studies, and literature review. Each of the chapters in this handbook contains key criteria for the development and use of an effective technology infrastructure. If you employ these criteria as a guide, the first part of your evaluation will really be an audit in the sense that you will be looking retrospectively at the work ... ...sunderstood and sometimes resentful. Second, the minority members often feel that the voting has created two camps within the group and that these camps are now in a win-lose competition: The minority feels that their camp lost the first round, but that it is just a matter of time until it can regroup, pick up some support and win the next time a vote comes up. In other words, voting creates coalitions, and the preoccupation of the losing coalition is not how to implement what the majority wants, but how to win the next battle. If voting is to be used, the group must be sure that it has created a climate in which members feel they have had their day in court--and where all members feel obligated to go along with the majority decision. Summary Complicated issues often require the creation of a complex group and cooperation of the group's members to resolve the issues. In order to achieve consensus between members, the group should employ a facilitator and apply rules and guidelines of behavior. The chances that a diverse group can attain the goal of consensus are greatly increased when the group follows an established set of rules with the assistance of a facilitator.

The Weakness of Human Nature in Dantes Inferno Essay -- Human Weaknes

Dante's "Inferno" is full of themes. But the most frequent is that of the weakness of human nature. Dante's descent into hell is initially so that Dante can see how he can better live his life, free of weaknesses that may ultimately be his ticket to hell. Through the first ten cantos, Dante portrays how each level of his hell is a manifestation of human weakness and a loss of hope, which ultimately Dante uses to purge and learn from. Dante, himself, is about to fall into the weaknesses of humans, before there is some divine intervention on the part of his love Beatrice, who is in heaven. He is sent on a journey to hell in order for Dante to see, smell, and hear hell. As we see this experience brings out Dante's weakness' of cowardice, wrath and unworthiness. He is lead by Virgil, who is a representation of intellect. Through Dante's experiences he will purge his sins. Within Canto 1, we see Dante leaving a dark forest. This forest represents all the human vices and corruption, a place similar to hell (canto 1, line 1-5, Alighieri). Dante wants to reach the hill top, where is sunny and warm, rather than be in the damp and cold forest. The hill top represents happiness and is a metaphor for heaven. But his path is stopped by three animals: a leopard (canto 1, line 25, Alighieri ) , lion (canto 1, line 36 Alighieri ) and she wolf (canto 1, line 38-41, Alighieri ). Each one represents a human weakness: the leopard is lust, the lion pride and the she wolf is avarice. They show that on the earthly plain human sin is a continual and harmful temptation. These animals try to strip him of his hope, his hope in the fact that he will some day be in heaven with God. They are temptations to lead him away and block his way to the hill top. Th... ... shall see, will change and become the man that Beatrice wanted, and it's all by choice and by rejection of hell and all that the dark forest entails. Work Cited Alighieri, Dante. "The Inferno." The Divine Comedy. Trans. John Ciardi. New York: First New American Library Printing, 2003. Work Consulted Lummus, David. "Dante’s Inferno: Critical Reception and Influence." Dantes Inferno. Engerda: Arun, 2000. 63-79. Print. Internet Sources Consulted Brown, Sapphire M. "Referenes to Dantes Inferno." Humanities 360. 8 Jan. 2009. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. â€Å"Dante Alghieri and The Divine Comedy.† Vision.org. Vision.org: 2013. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. "Dante Alighieri." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. Wetherbee, Winthrop. "Dante Alighieri." Stanford University. Stanford University, 29 Jan. 2001. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.

Coach of the Army Crew

Army Crew Case Analysis Coach of the Army Crew; Coach P. selected the top eight rowers for the Varsity boat after a long series of objective tests measuring each member’s speed, strength and coordination. The Varsity team had a clear advantage over the Junior Varsity team. So, how could Junior Varsity team beat the Varsity team in two-thirds of the time in practice races? There are obvious reasons behind the bad performance of the Varsity team. Coach P. lacking a leadership couldn’t see the signs of Varsity team having serious problems as a team.The problem with Coach P. ’s coaching mistake started with the team selection process of Varsity team members. He managed to measure individual performances successfully by using ergometer and weight records. However, as important as individual skills were, it was crucial for the eight individual members to be a team and synchronize their rowing. His performance and team building criteria lacked personality factors. Howev er, rowing needs a perfect teamwork and mental strength of the crew members. U. S.Olympic Committee’s research project showed that the master coaches those who were most experienced and successful tended to focus on psychological variables as the most important criteria for a successful crew team whereas novice coaches tended to focus on technique just like Coach P. did. Selecting a team solely dependent on individual technical performance resulted in very serious problems among team members. Coach P. lacking leadership skills had no vision about the team having serious trust and coordination problems.Just before National championships races, he –for the first time- included personality dimensions to analyze the team. It revealed that the Varsity team had no team leaders and had team disrupters instead. He brought in an external party to improve their confidence, concentration and motivation of the Varsity team which the Varsity team labeled it as â€Å"touch-feelyâ⠂¬ . Other than bringing in an external party, he should have acted as a leader and make the best decision for the group by using Rational Decision Making Model steps: first by identifying the problem, generating solutions, selecting the best solution and implementing it.He should have showed a transformation leadership which would increase acceptance and support from the Varsity Team. Each set of the transformational leadership behavior was very crucial for the disrupted team: * Inspirational motivation (establishing a vision using emotion): It is very obvious that the Varsity team had superior performance individually and they can perform much better if they believe in their team. However, they are demotivated and lost their beliefs in the team. Coach P. encouraged competition between JV and V groups which affected Varsity team negatively.Other than creating a tension between teams, he should have motivated each team separately and should have built close relationships with membe rs and provided an open and direct communication with them. * Idealized influence (sacrificing for the greater good): Team disrupters decreased the motivation of the team and the team had no leaders. Coach P. relied on third parties such as Center of Enhanced Performance (CEP) and asked the group â€Å"What is your solution? † other than trying to make the best decision himself and then take the right step.For the greater good of the team, he should have demoted the team disrupters. For the rest of the team she should have worked with each member individually to set their goals and increase their motivation. * Individualized consideration (providing support): The Varsity team’s most important problem is motivation and lacking a team spirit. To overcome this problem, Coach P. should have showed his support and provide open communication with the team. Instead, he tried to find the â€Å"right combination† by switching members of the teams and causing a tension am ong Varsity and JV boats.He should have realized from the very beginning that the problem is not about physical but it was psychological. By trying different combinations, he made the team’s psychology even worse. * Intellectual stimulation (encouraging employees to question the status quo): Coach P. should have let them negotiate and come to an agreement about the situation but it was very late for him to hold a group meeting just before National championships. Coach P. should have realized the trust and coordination problems of the team and should resolve the problems much earlier.As a good leader, he should have built the team depending on both physical and personality factors in the first place. He should have demoted team disrupters for better teamwork and motivation among the rest of the team members. To resolve the conflict between Varsity team, he should have provided a better communication among them. That way, they would have come to an agreement without any support from an external party like CEP. To create a team spirit, he should have done team building games and activities and make them socialize with each other. Both the team members and the coach don’t know and trust each other.Just like basketball coach, Coach K. ’s leadership style he should have been a loved leader who creates personal interaction and drives performance through respect. He should have built trust and respect among teammates and himself. After achieving these goals, it is very important to motivate the team to achieve a better performance. For Varsity team, following Locke’s Goal Setting Theory, creating SMART (goals that are specific in their orientation, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based) and right level of goals would increase the motivation and effort.Returning to case, Coach P. should not switch Varsity and Junior Varsity boats even though Varsity will perform badly in the Championships. That way, he will show his support and tru st to Varsity team. If he chooses JV team to compete, he might lose the Varsity team forever. He shouldn’t switch team members other than the team disrupters. Varsity boat has a clear advantage over Junior Varsity team but they lacked a teamwork and synergy. As a coach he should make them feel like a team again and perform their best in the Championships.