Communicating Distant Romance Essay on Long Distance...

The world has changed a great deal over the past thirty years. Lives based on a comfortable home in the suburbs, a station wagon, three kids, and thirty years of job security with one employer have become memories. (1) Even the way we view relationships has changed significantly. Today more people are choosing to be in a long distance relationship than ever before. In a study recently performed by the University of North Carolina, it was shown that there are currently over 85 million people in the U.S alone are participating in a long distance relationship (1). Considering these statistics, it is reasonable to conclude that a significant number of people are engaged in some form of long distance relationship and/or correspondence, and that†¦show more content†¦The students were asked to discuss strategies that they use to cope with feelings of loneliness and sadness. Two of the students described how they would write letters to their boyfriends back home. They explained that by writing and receiving letters, they felt less lonely. Other strategies that were mentioned were talking on the phone, emailing, and even sending and receiving pictures (2). Although it can be difficult, feelings of loneliness in a long distance relationship can be avoided with the use of effective communication strategies. And for those who do chose to use these types of communication strategies, its important remember that they can only be effective if both individuals in the party are honest and open with their feelings while communicating. An example of this is my own long distance relationship with Jocelyn. When ever I feel lonely, I will call Jocelyn and tell her how I feel. During these conversations, I try to be honest without holding anything back. By doing this I am able to not only help my self, but our relationship as well. In addition to loneliness, many people have reported that the biggest challenge that they have encountered while being in a long distance relationship is finding ways to keep the relationship fresh and exciting during the long periods when they are unable to be with theirShow MoreRelatedEssay Joseph Conrads The Secret Agent4969 Words   |  20 PagesGreenwich Park, towards the Observatory, something happened - no one knows exactly what - and he blew most of himself to shreds. The British, who loved to quantify in the late nineteenth century, noted that the explosion spread bits of flesh over a distance of sixty yards. Martial Bourdin remained alive for another half hour, but gave no hint as to the reason for his choice of such a bizarre target for a terrorist act (National Maritime Museum). To the chagrin of all anarchists, as Joseph Conrad observedRead MoreIntercultural Communication21031 Words   |  85 Pagescommunication skills for the benefit of the business environment. 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Music and Personality free essay sample

Extraverts tend to eek out songs with heavy bass lines, while those who enjoy more complex styles such as jazz and classical music tend to be more creative and have higher IQ-scores. Why music is such a significant part of peoples identity? People may define their musical identity by wearing particular clothes, going to certain pubs, and using certain types of slang. So its not so surprising that personality should be related to musical preference. People can get defensive about what they like to listen to, as it is likely to be profoundly linked to their outlook on life.The study also demonstrates the tribal function of musical east that can explain why people often bond over music. North (scientist) noted that classical and heavy metal music both attracts listeners with similar personalities but dissimilar ages. Younger members of the personality group apparently go for heavy metal, while their older counterparts prefer classical. The study also demonstrates the tribal function of musical taste that can explain why people often bond over music. North (scientist) noted that classical and heavy metal music both attracts listeners with similar personalities but dissimilar ages. Younger members of the personality group apparently go for heavy metal, while their older counterparts prefer classical. However, both have the same basic motivation: to hear something dramatic and theatrical, a shared love of the grandiose, he said. The general public has held a stereotype of heavy metal fans being suicidal depressed and being a danger to themselves and society in general, he said, but they are quite delicate things. Aside from their age, theyre basically the same kind of person [as a classical music fan]. Lots of heavy metal fans will tell you that they also Like Wagner, because Its big, loud and brash. Theres also a sense of theater In both heavy rock and classical music, and I suspect that this is what theyre really trying to get at when they listen to that kind of music.I think that both types of music, classical and heavy metal, both have something of the spiritual about them -? thieve very dramatic -? a lot happens. The study conducted by researchers at Heritor-Watt university looked at more than 6,000 participants from all over the world. Participants were asked to rate more than 104 different musical styles in addition to offering information about aspects of their personality. Of course this helps explain why people who like the same styles of music tend to stick together, but it goes deeper than Just a similar interests thing Its almost suggests a new kind of tribalism.He described the findings as dramatic and To my mind, writing a portrait of my group, describing their tas tes and trying to reveal what kind of music they do prefer would give me a really hard time. We have something in common. Those 4 years of co-existing in the same community brought up the similar views on particular things and music is one of them. Thats why if I asked them what style of music they prefer, they would probably answer, l cant say exactly. I listen to everything that I like, to everything that is pleasant to my ear. I know those guys, most of them would answer this way, believe me. ) So Vive decided to make a test, Just there, on the spot. To find out what kind of music appeals to them more and consequently discover something new about their personal traits. Unfortunately I didnt have an opportunity to try it out, but anyway the preparation itself was useful and interesting experience for me). I have 10 tracks (songs) on the CD, each student is to decide which song appeal to him more. But mind! Only one song! The number of the song refers to the number of the style of music in the list below. 1. Pop Do you prefer to listen to the top 40 hits?Do the latest tracks from Iranian, Selene Gomez and Flow Arid make up your workout mix? If so, chances are that you also tend to be extroverted, honest and conventional. While pop music lovers are hard-working ND have high self-esteem, researchers suggests that they tend to be less creative and more uneasy. 2. Rap and Hip/Hop Are Snoop Dog and Dry. Drew more your style? In spite of the stereotype that rap lovers are more aggressive or violent, researchers have actually found no such link. Rap fans do tend to have high self-esteem and are usually outgoing. . Country Mould you rather watch CM instead of MET? Country music fans are typically hardworking, conventional and outgoing. While country songs are often centered on heartbreak, people who gravitate towards this genre tend to be very emotionally stable. 4. Rock / Heavy Metal Despite the sometimes aggressive image that rock music and heavy metal project, researchers found that fans of this style of music are usually quite gentle. They tend to be creative, but are often introverted and may suffer from low self-esteem. 5. Indies Just in caseIndependent music (often shortened to Indies music or Indies) is music produced independently from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, a process that may include an autonomous, Do-let-Yourself approach to recording and publishing. The term Indies is sometimes also used to describe a genre (such as Indies sock or Indies pop); as a genre term, Indies may include music that is not independently produced, and most independent music artists do not fall into a single, defined musical style or genre and usually create music that can be categorized into other genres. Do you love seeking out obscure bands and Indies artists? Fans of the Indies genre are typically introverted, intellectual and creative. According to researchers, they also tend to be less hard-working and less gentle. Passivity, anxiousness and low self- esteem are other common personality characteristics. 6. Dance Do you love the fast-paced rhythms of dance music? According to researchers, people No prefer dance music are usually outgoing and assertive. 7. Classical themselves and the world around them.They are creative and have a good sense of self-esteem. 8. Jazz, Blues and Soul People who enjoy Jazz, blues or soul music were found to be more extroverted with high self-esteem. They also tend to be very creative, intelligent and at ease. The research has also looked at income vs. music tastes, and found that higher income music loves like punchy and exciting music, whereas lower income listeners refer more relaxing music in general. Of course there will always be exceptions, but his findings were quite telling on a general level.The research also found that as a whole, people who are into music are fairly well- rounded, creative and at ease with themselves. Much of his research is described in his book . As this is the first time that this type of research has been done in a scientific way, there is still much to find out. So, the next time you are putting together a plastic to listen to during your commute or workout, consider how your personality might be reflected in your song choices.

Starbucks Supply Chain free essay sample

Many of the companys products are seasonal or specific to the locality of the store. Starbucks-brand ice cream and coffee are also offered at grocery stores. From Starbucks founding in later forms in Seattle as a local coffee bean roaster and retailer, the company has expanded rapidly. In the 1990s, Starbucks was opening a new store every workday, a pace that continued into the 2000s. The first store outside the United States or Canada opened in the mid-1990s, and overseas stores now constitute almost one third of Starbucks stores. The company planned to open a net of 900 new stores outside of the United States in 2009, but has announced 300 store closures in the United States since 2008. Buoyed by unprecedented success and focused on rapid expansion in the early 2000s, an efficient supply chain was not a top priority for the world-renowned coffee retailer Starbucks. But then the economic downturn set in, forcing Starbucks to re-engineer its supply chain. In 2010, the company removed more than $700 million (? 428m) from its supply chain costs, and used an innovative set of metrics to achieve remarkable results. Gartner research vice president, Kevin Sterneckert, discovered how it moved from a struggling supply chain to one of the best supply chains in the world. Starbucks began to examine every detail of its supply chain, and found that its organization had become very siloed and divergently independent. Performance metrics and objectives differed by organization within the supply chain. In some cases, this led to competing activities that created unwarranted complexity and performance deficiencies. For example, the organization was scheduling store deliveries without considering its warehouse capacity, so delivery trucks would routinely leave he distribution centre (DC) with less than the full order for a store. Starbucks faced four key issues: 1. It lacked a supply chain strategy focused on delivering enterprise value. 2. It lacked organization calibration of benefits. 3. It lacked focus on the right supply chain metrics. 4. It needed to increase investments in talent enhancement and acqu isition. Starbucks developed a strategic framework that it applied to all aspects of its supply chain strategy. It identifies the areas of focus for each division, as well as the level of maturity expected. Further, the company recognized that enhancements to the way it manages and acquires talent would return significant benefits. The retailer transformed its supply chain strategy to move from a traditional logistics mindset to an organization purpose-built to deliver value. The company wanted its supply chain to accelerate speed to market and enable sales growth. Starbucks management challenged the supply chain organization to compress its cost to serve and elevate its service, while obtaining, training and retaining the best talent in the business. Starbucks initiated a series of changes that aligned business practices with activities, as well as organizational changes that allow for a focus and direction to be placed on each, while avoiding the issues of silos of excellence. Starbucks learned through its transformational process that some metrics mattered. However, the company also learned that not all metrics mattered, nor could all metrics lead to improved decisions that would lead to improved performance A key metric for Starbucks is ‘on time in full’ (OTIF), which the company defines as the state when everything ordered is on time and complete as ordered. This metric fell to a very low score at the apex of Starbucks supply chain issues. Starbucks reports OTIF to be one of the single most important indicators of cumulative success. When this number moves down, a host of additional metrics will point to the source of the supply chains inefficiencies. As the number rises, so do the improvements to COGS. One world, one logistics system The creation of a single, global logistics system was important for Starbucks because of its far-flung supply chain. The company generally brings coffee beans from Latin America, Africa, and Asia to the United States and Europe in ocean containers. From the port of entry, the green (unroasted) beans are trucked to six storage sites, either at a roasting plant or nearby. After the beans are roasted and packaged, the finished product is trucked to regional distribution centers, which range from 200,000 to 300,000 square feet in size. Starbucks runs five regional distribution centers (DCs) in the United States; two are company-owned and the other three are operated by third-party logistics companies (3PLs). It also has two distribution centers in Europe and two in Asia, all of which are managed by 3PLs. Coffee, however, is only one of many products held at these warehouses. They also handle other items required by Starbucks retail outlets—everything from furniture to cappuccino mix. Depending on their location, the stores are supplied by either the large, regional DCs or by smaller warehouses called central distribution centers (CDCs). Starbucks uses 33 such CDCs in the United States, seven in the Asia/Pacific region, five in Canada, and three in Europe; currently, all but one are operated by third-party logistics companies. The CDCs carry dairy products, baked goods, and paper items like cups and napkins. They combine the coffee with these other items to make frequent deliveries via dedicated truck fleets to Starbucks own retail stores and to retail outlets that sell Starbucks-branded products. Because delivery costs and execution are intertwined, Gibbons and his team set about improving both. One of their first steps was to build a global map of Starbucks transportation expenditures—no easy task, because it involved gathering all supply chain costs by region and by customer, Gibbons says. An analysis of those expenditures allowed Starbucks to winnow its transportation carriers, retaining only those that provided the best service. The logistics team also met with its 3PLs and reviewed productivity and contract rates. To aid the review process, the team created weekly scorecards for measuring those vendors. There are very clear service metrics, clear cost metrics, and clear productivity metrics, and those were agreed with our partners, Gibbons notes. Although Starbucks has a raft f metrics for evaluating supply chain performance, it focuses on four high-level categories to create consistency and balance across the global supply chain team: safety in operations, service measured by on-time delivery and order fill rates, total end-to-end supply chain costs, and enterprise savings. This last refers to cost savings that come from areas outside logistics, such as procurement, marketing, or research and development. Earning the companys confidence Since Starbucks began its su pply chain transformation effort, it has curtailed costs worldwide without compromising service delivery. As a company, Gibbons says, we have talked publicly of over $500 million of savings in the last two years, and the supply chain has been a major contributor to that. In Gibbons eyes, the transformation effort has been a success. Today theres a lot of confidence in our supply chain to execute every day, to make 70,000 deliveries a week, to get new products to market, and to manage product transitions, new product introductions, and promotions, he says. Theres a lot of confidence that we now are focused on service and quality to provide what our stores need and what our other business customers need. To sustain that momentum for improvement and to ensure a future flow of talent into the organization, Starbucks recently began an initiative to recruit top graduates of supply chain education programs. Along with its recruiting program, the company plans to provide ongoing training f or its existing employees to help them further develop their supply chain knowledge and skills. The infusion of new recruits will allow Starbucks to stay focused on its supply chain mission of delivering products with a high level of service at the lowest possible cost to its stores in the United States and around the globe. Supply Chain Management For Starbucks

The Case of Palmetto Pharmaceuticals

Introduction When examining the case of Palmetto Pharmaceuticals and the decline in client patronage indicated by Andrew Lowerston, it becomes immediately apparent that the problem lies in the way in which sales representatives view the customer-client relations model.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on The Case of Palmetto Pharmaceuticals specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More While a primarily sales oriented approach does address the issue of selling products, it fails to sufficiently address the issue of maintaining a constant stream of customers. As such, a method of evaluation must be implemented which shows the sales representatives the impact of their current approach and how it adversely affects the company’s overall sales performance. Suggested Performance Appraisal Program In this particular case, the most appropriate appraisal system to address the issues discovered by Lowerston is to implement a 36 0 degree feedback system. Such a system works by having multiple avenues from where data on employee performance is collected, this comes in the form of employee performance data being collected from managers, coworkers, from the employees themselves and, most importantly, from customers and suppliers (Drew, 2009). Such a method would be an effective means of resolving the issue of the case since it enables customers to provide a certain level of feedback on the way in which they were treated by the company’s sales representatives. By comparing the performance input created by managers and other employees with that of the clients, the company will be able to show the sales representatives the impact of their actions vis-à  -vis the actual performance of the company (Drew, 2009). The advantage of this particular method is that while it will show sales representatives that they are complying with the sales metrics set by the company, it would also indicate that they are actual ly failing when it comes to the broader goals of the company in terms of maintaining a constant stream of consumer patronage for its products (Downs, 2012). As a result, this would necessitate a distinct change in performance on the part of the sales representatives wherein they would be more inclined towards developing long lasting relations with their clients rather than focus on a quick sale for the sake of meeting a metric. Unfortunately, the inherent problem with this particular method of appraisal is the fact that it takes a considerable period of time for an evaluation to be completed (Downs, 2012). For example, feedback forms need to be sent to managers, other employees and to customers at which point they have to be filled out and returned to the company. This can take a considerable amount of time and, in the case of some customers, the forms may not be entirely accurate. Not only that, in some cases the performance indicators that are filled out by managers and employees may not be entirely accurate as well and, as such, this places considerable doubt on the accuracy of this particular approach on performance evaluation.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conclusion Based on an analysis of the pros and cons of the 360 degree feedback system as well as its possible use in the case of Palmetto Pharmaceuticals, it can be stated that given the need of the company to evaluate its sales representatives based on the input of consumers, the 360 degree feedback system presents itself as the most viable option in this particular instance. While it may be true that there are some problems related to the time it takes to analyze the data and the issues regarding the overall accuracy of the information collected, such factors are relatively minor compared to the potential benefits accrued. Reference List Downs, L. J. (2012). Integrated talent managemen t: Building a Strategy One Block at a Time. T+D, 66(8), 42. Drew, G. (2009). A â€Å"360† degree view for individual leadership development. Journal Of  Management Development, 28(7), 581-592. This case study on The Case of Palmetto Pharmaceuticals was written and submitted by user Logan Chan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Fault Creep of Active Faults - Overview

Fault Creep of Active Faults - Overview Fault creep is the name for the slow, constant slippage that can occur on some active faults without there being an earthquake. When people learn about it, they often wonder if fault creep can defuse future earthquakes, or make them smaller. The answer is probably not, and this article explains why. Terms of Creep In geology, creep is used to describe any movement that involves a steady, gradual change in shape. Soil creep is the name for the gentlest form of landsliding. Deformation creep takes place within mineral grains as rocks become warped and folded. Fault creep, also called aseismic creep, happens at the Earths surface on a small fraction of faults. Creeping behavior happens on all kinds of faults, but its most obvious and easiest to visualize on strike-slip faults, which are vertical cracks whose opposite sides move sideways with respect to each other. Presumably, it happens on the enormous subduction-related faults that give rise to the largest earthquakes, but we cant measure those underwater movements well enough yet to tell. The movement of creep, measured in millimeters per year, is slow and constant and ultimately arises from plate tectonics. Tectonic movements exert a force (stress) on the rocks, which respond with a change in shape (strain). Strain and Force on Faults Fault creep arises from the differences in strain behavior at different depths on a fault. Down deep, the rocks on a fault are so hot and soft that the fault faces simply stretch past each other like taffy. That is, the rocks undergo ductile strain, which constantly relieves most of the tectonic stress. Above the ductile zone, rocks change from ductile to brittle. In the brittle zone, stress builds up as the rocks deform elastically, just as if they were giant blocks of rubber. While this is happening, the sides of the fault are locked together. Earthquakes happen when brittle rocks release that elastic strain and snap back to their relaxed, unstrained state. (If you understand earthquakes as elastic strain release in brittle rocks, you have the mind of a geophysicist.) The next ingredient in this picture is the second force that holds the fault locked: pressure generated by the weight of the rocks. The greater this lithostatic pressure, the more strain that the fault can accumulate. Creep in a Nutshell Now we can make sense of fault creep: it happens near the surface where lithostatic pressure is low enough that the fault is not locked. Depending on the balance between locked and unlocked zones, the speed of creep can vary. Careful studies of fault creep, then, can give us hints of where locked zones lie below. From that, we may gain clues about how tectonic strain is building up along a fault, and maybe even win some insight into what kind of earthquakes may be coming. Measuring creep is an intricate art because it occurs near the surface. The many strike-slip faults of California include several that are creeping. These include the Hayward fault in the east side of San Francisco Bay, the Calaveras fault just to the south, the creeping segment of the San Andreas fault in central California, and part of the Garlock fault in southern California. (However, creeping faults are generally rare.) Measurements are made by repeated surveys along lines of permanent marks, which may be as simple as a row of nails in a street pavement or as elaborate as creepmeters emplaced in tunnels. At most locations, creep surges whenever moisture from storms penetrates into the soil in California that means the winter rainy season. Creep's Effect on Earthquakes On the Hayward fault, creep rates are no greater than a few millimeters per year. Even the maximum is just a fraction of the total tectonic movement, and the shallow zones that creep would never collect much strain energy in the first place. Creeping zones there are overwhelmingly outweighed by the size of the locked zone. So if an earthquake that might be expected around every 200 years, on average, occurs a few years later because creep relieves a bit of strain, no one could tell. The creeping segment of the San Andreas fault is unusual. No large earthquakes have ever been recorded on it. Its a part of the fault, about 150 kilometers long, that creeps at around 28 millimeters per year and appears to have only small locked zones if any. Why is a scientific puzzle. Researchers are looking at other factors that may be lubricating the fault here. One factor may be the presence of abundant clay or serpentinite rock along the fault zone. Another factor may be underground water trapped in sediment pores. And just to make things a little more complex, it may be that creep is a temporary thing, limited in time to the early part of the earthquake cycle. Although researchers have long thought that the creeping section may stop large ruptures from spreading across it, recent studies have cast that into doubt. The SAFOD drilling project succeeded in sampling the rock right on the San Andreas fault in its creeping section, at a depth of almost 3 kilometers. When the cores were first unveiled, the presence of serpentinite was obvious. But in the lab, high-pressure tests of the core material showed that it was very weak because of the presence of a clay mineral called saponite. Saponite forms where serpentinite meets and reacts with ordinary sedimentary rocks. Clay is very effective at trapping pore water. So, as often happens in Earth science, everyone seems to be right.

Business Research & Analysis Plan For Market Readiness for Electric Paper

Business & Analysis Plan For Market Readiness for Electric Pick-up Truck for Ford Motor Company - Research Paper Example Hence, to be on the safe side, a company ought to become dynamic by ensuring that it moves alongside the changes as they come (LaPlaca & Frank, 2011). Ford is one of the most recognized companies when it comes to the issue of automobile production. The company has been in existence for decades; hence, it has a global recognition since its brand quite reputable. However, the emergences of new automobile companies such as Nissan, Toyota and Chevrolet have been quite a challenge since they have resulted to stiff competition. For instance, Nissan was the first company to come up with the idea of inventing electric vehicles. Ever since, the automobile business has been a buzz whereby each company is striving to come up with the best electric vehicle in a move to attract more clients (Sandalow, 2009). Due to the stiff competition, Ford Company is also competing to retain its lost glory. The company is in preparation of unveiling its first electric version of the F-150 truck (Goreham, 2014). Although this is a good move for the company, there are a number of factors worth considering before the company unveils the electric version of F-150 truck. The company should first perform a market analysis in a move to determine whether the product will receive more sales or not. Although the company usually makes a number of sales on its products, this will not be the case if the company produces an electric vehicle before considering some vital aspects such as the market challenges. Studies show that the electric vehicles are still not as popular as those that depend rely of gas (Bigman, 2012). This is because to date, it is easier to locate a gas station than it is to find an electric charging station. It is therefore evident that most people will not purchase the electric vehicle since they will have problems when it comes to recharging. It is therefore essential that before the company unveils its new product, it should ensure that it first addresses

Modern pricing models Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Modern pricing models - Essay Example Some of the shortcomings experienced with the Black-Scholes model were strike-price bias and return skewness. Consequently, the development of the Heston model came in as the best alternative tool for the purposes of advanced investments (Gilli, Maringer & Schumann 2011, p.257). As any other stochastic volatility model, the Heston model utilizes statistical methods when making calculations or forecasts of the various pricing options in consideration. As such, it also bases on the assumption that the underlying security or trading option has an arbitrary volatility. Therefore, the Heston model falls among the various different models of stochastic volatility such as the GARCH model, the Chen model, as well as the SABR model. Consequently, the Heston Model also falls under the standard smile model category, with â€Å"smile† in this concept referring to the volatility smile. A volatility smile is a graphical representation of various options that have identical expiration date expressing an increasing volatility. This increase in volatility arises often arises when the options become more out of the money or in the money. The concave shape generated by the graph is what gives rise to the name, the smiles model, as it appears like a smile (Wang 2007, p. 3). The Heston Model applies mathematical calculations in describing the process of evolution in volatility that an underlying asset undergoes under the stochastic volatility options. As such, just as other statistical models mentioned above, the Heston Model equally has a number of assumptions, such as the volatility of an asset not being constant, or deterministic, but rather following a random process. Some the of the basic assumptions of the Heston Model is that the stochastic process determines the asset price, St In addition, forms part of the Wiener Process as experienced under the GBM (Geometric Brownian Motion) also considered