Territory and Ethnicity Affecting a City Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Territory and Ethnicity Affecting a City - Essay Example The notion of social justice in the matter of geography is closely linked with the concept of ethnicity. The problem is not in the equality of the various segments of the population, but an opportunity for self-realization and prospects at the same time as justice requires for universal rights in the questions of rights and obligations. Focusing on this issue D.Smith argued that justice requires certain equality in the distribution of resources. Thus, for example, rural schools and then people with such education face a number of barriers and stereotypes. The idea of a balance of equity and efficiency was also discussed by many types of research. In developed countries with strong social policies, aimed at supporting the poor, the share of which is always higher in the less developed areas, inter-regional income inequality is reduced. An example France, Sweden and other countries of continental Europe can be noted. However, in developed countries of the Anglo-Saxon world spatial mitigation of regional differences in income of the population does not occur, because the priority of the social cohesion in these countries is less important, and the extent of redistribution and social cohesion are not so great. The emphasis is on self-mobility of the population: people move from depressed areas where they would be able to find work and more opportunities to earn. Inequality in living standards and income of different regions appears due to economic skills of the population, natural features, and geographical position.

The Brand Crash Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Brand Crash - Essay Example As part of this swing toward making everything an aspect of the brand, companies were beginning to recognize the power of the building to promote the brand itself. One of the companies to key into this idea early was The Body Shop, which expanded by as many as 50 stores per year beginning in 1988, even during the years of the recession. â€Å"Most baffling of all to Wall Street, it pulled off the expansion without spending a dime on advertising. Who needed billboards and magazine ads when retail outlets were three-dimensional advertisements for an ethical and ecological approach to cosmetics? The Body Shop was all brand† (Klein, 2000, p. 20). However, there has often been difficulty in getting business executives typically focused on the ‘bottom line’ to understand the significant assets architecture and design can be in developing the corporate brand, which, in turn, works to establish the company’s ultimate success. â€Å"While statistical analysis and e conometric techniques have been used to evaluate the trade-offs between alternatives, features, and prices for products, there has not been a tool to inform the design process of architecture, environmental graphic design, and the built environment. However, the ‘fixed assets’ of built environments, especially those of retail and consumer service sectors, are integrally linked to brand identity and equity† (Taylor, 2004). Investigating the roles of the architect and designer in relation to architecture and design to both promote the brand and foster cultural interaction with the public reveals various ways in which postmodernism reflects a cultural response to social and technological change.

Schizophrenia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Schizophrenia - Research Paper Example Background In this article, the objective was to examine the impacts of using antipsychotic medication to treat individuals with early episode schizophrenia illness. Wu et al. (2005) unfold schizophrenia as a persistent, severe, poorly understood, and debilitating psychotic illness that undoubtedly involves several disorders. The stamp schizophrenia symptoms are psychotic indicators such as delusions and auditory hallucinations. Impaired disturbances or cognition in information handing is not a highly vivid schizophrenia symptom although it can be highly disturbing. For the individuals suffering from schizophrenia, Wu et al. (2005) study has unfolded lower rates of marriage, employment, and independent lifestyle in comparison to the normal people. A neuroimaging statistics collected by Bola et al. (2011) has confirmed anatomical abnormalities that include ventricles enlargement and reduction in the volume of the brain in the medial chronological areas. These observations are of great er study interest than clinical use. The hippocampus is a cortical, minute, supposedly seahorse-shaped brain part curled within the temporal lobe medial edge. Functionally, hippocampus is a limbic system part when processing of the emptions takes place. In the hippocampus, the episodic or declarative memories are formed (memories of events and facts). The Alzheimer diseases (the memory problem preeminent disease) usually affect this hippocampus. A study by Haraldsson et al. (2011) examined the children suffering from schizophrenia as well as their healthy controls and siblings. At the onset of the study, the average age was approximated to be 12 years. The illness hippocampal volume was observed to be less in comparison to that of the siblings and controls and recorded a steady decrease over the 12 follow-up years, although this decrease was not at an increasing rate. For the children suffering from schizophrenia, antipsychotic medications were administered. From the study, Haraldss on et al. (2011) observed a high likelihood of hippocampal volume deficit because of the illness. Therefore, the volume deficit was not linked to utilization of antipsychotic prescription. Additional interests have also evaluated the various connections with the brain as opposed to specifically examining one brain part. Indeed, the neuropsychology reveal impaired processing of information as a result of Schizophrenia. From medical researches, anatomic abnormalities are observed in limbic and neocortical regions network. Method Search Strategy In this study, the Cochrane Schizophrenia group record was examined together with references of the studies that were included. For more data, the authors of some relevant studies were contacted to provide with further statistics. Criteria of selection Randomized experimental trials were included with numerous second-episode and first-episode acute schizophrenia gamut disorders linking the early antipsychotic medication treatment with psychosoc ial, milieu, or placebo treatment. Data collection and analysis Working individually, the records from 18 studies were critically assessed. Out of these records, six were observed to meet toe inclusion standards. When possible, the risk ratios were calculated as well as their degree of confidence at 95% for the weighted mean differences and dichotomous

The Success Of Judaism

The Success Of Judaism Judaism has survived throughout history by being flexible and by admitting foreign influences into its practice. Its success in the 21st century depends on its ability to continue doing this in response to the pressures of modernity. Judaism has endured the challenges imposed upon it, by its ability to preserve deep-rooted traditions of the past. It is through maintaining customs from preceding times that defines the foundations of modern day Jewish practice, be it through observance, prayer or habit. In combination to this, its capacity to be versatile and incorporate outside influence has served to maintain its popularity as a major world faith. In order to continue its future religious success, Judaism must persist upholding the traditions that it stands for. However, in the light of pressures of modernity that arise through social change, including feminism and assimilation it must also incorporate aspects of outside influence to promote its popularity. Judaism has survived through emerging itself as a faith of tradition, including those developed in both Diasporic times as well as the biblical period. It is through the upholding of various forms of tradition that has united the global Jewish population. This is evident within prayer, observance and custom. As revealed through the practice of the Orthodox Jewish population, tradition plays a major part of defining the faith through the close following of Halakah. This is evident within the environment of Orthodox synagogue services; women are prohibited from wearing pants, those who are married must cover their heads and a mekhitzah segregates the seating between men and women. Despite social change that has provided freedom from such restrictions, Orthodox Judaism has held onto these traditions, which have acted in defining it through continuity. If such aspects were removed from the service, it would alienate the Orthodox Jewish community, as it is through such customs that have b een observed throughout generations and therefore characterizes the continuing existence of the religion. It is not solely the Orthodox community that have relied upon tradition as a means to exist. Within all strands of Judaism, tradition has played a major part in the continued existence of the faith. This is evident in relation towards Jewish practice, such as through customs observed during festivals. This includes the performing of the Passover Seder, the eating of Latkes during Chanukah and the maintenance of kashrut. It is through the participation of such traditions that identifies Jewish practice. Judaism has continued to exist through the desire to maintain tradition through historical descent. As Jacob Neusner states, the Judaic religious tradition is shaped by the historical life of the Jewish people therefore indicating how elements of Jewish historical significance have acted in forming and strengthening an attachment to the faith. This is evident when referring to various periods such as the destruction of the second Temple and the Holocaust. The destruction of the Temple led Jews to consolidate their beliefs through the emergence of Rabbinic Judaism and the tragedy of the Holocaust has stood for and continues to stand for an attachment to the faith. Poll after poll of American Jews in the 1990s found that the Holocaust surpassed Israel, Judaism, or any other factor as the basis of the Jewish Identity. Such moments of historical significance represent an increased strength of faith in times of adversity. In combination to the preservation of tradition to explain the survival of the faith, it is also evident that its continuing presence is determined through its ability to subject itself to change through time. This is evident through the emergence of various strands of Judaism that emerged after Jews were emancipated in Europe. As revealed through the surfacing of Reform Judaism with its popularity, in nineteenth century Germany, the religion has survived through its ability to adapt; they encouraged prayer in the local vernacular rather than in Hebrew, a way of diminishing the difference between them and their non-Jewish neighbours. This is an indication that as circumstances and living environments change, Judaism has adapted in order to maintain its popularity as a key religion. As Jews after Haskalah were no longer constricted to the bounds of the shtetlack, and began to interact within mainstream society, it reveals how Judaism was able to accommodate this new lifestyle through encompassing foreign influence. Apart from incorporating German (or other native language) into prayer, aspects include the introduction of a sermon, as well as the use of organ music within the service, both of which derive from Protestant worship. In the environment of the New World, Judaism continued to exist through its ability to incorporate elements of American ideology. With the development of concepts such as the melting pot, putting forward ideas of multiculturalism, America was representing and continues to represent itself as a centre of mixed ethnicity and religion that came to include Judaism; the United States isà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦a pluralistic society in which Otherness is accepted, if grudgingly at times, and diversity is tolerated and occasionally even celebrated. This is because with the influx of Immigrants that came to form modern America, Judaism provided Jews with an ethnicity to define themselves against immigrants who associated themselves through being Chinese, Italian or other nationality. The American environment therefore promoted its popularity and helped to uphold its existence. It is evident that the environment of America has influenced religious practice, as indicated through change in custom as a r esult of social change in America (and the modern world). While Orthodox Judaism has maintained tradition, and not welcomed much outside influence, the rise of the popularity of the Conservative and Reform movements indicates that social change in America has had an influence upon upholding the faith. This is evident in respect to custom, such as attitudes towards Halakah within these branches of American Judaism. Conservative Judaism, the most popular American branch of Judaism has sought its popularity through incorporating social values accepted by mainstream American society and transferring them into Jewish practice .Halakhah is presented as a historical phenomenon, capable of adjusting to meet changing realities imposed by sociology, economics, politics, science and technology. This is evident by its growing acceptance of womens influence within the synagogue service such as through the acceptance of the ordination of women Rabbis as well as the absence of a mekhitzah within prayer. Similarly, the Reform movement rejects the traditional interpretation of Halakhah and presents it as non-abiding. In practice, this leads traditional aspects of practice non-compulsory such as the abidance of the Jewish dietary laws of kashrut; they believe that the dietary laws are antiquated and serve no practical function and point out that they are a major factor in separating Jews from the rest of their fellowmen This indicates how such non-Orthodox movements introduce new thought into the faith, not derived through traditional means. To an extent, the future of Judaism relies on its ability to remain flexible and accepting of outside influence. This is because, as indicated through the popularity of Conservative and Reform synagogues, Judaism must incorporate customs of modernity to ensure it survival and strength. It is through issues of modernity such as feminism and assimilation that Judaism must respond to and accommodate in order to remain attractive to future generations, whom determine its long term success. As made apparent in Jew Vs Jew, the Conservative movement has permitted women some equality to men, as indicated through the publication of the new Conservative prayer book; The Siddur Sim Shalomà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦now included two versions of the Amidah, without the Matriarchs on page 3a and with them on 3b . It is through such developments as including recognizing women in liturgy, permitting the ordination of Rabbis and authorizing women to wear tallit and kippot that allows Judaism to reflect modernity and remain popular. However, as indicated within this instance, responding to modernity is a continuing process; Jewish feminists, such as Rachel Adler will continue to press for further reform within the traditional service to make Judaism more reflective of secular civil rights. Modernity has led Jews to live within the spheres of the secular world, which while has offered increased opportunity, socially, economically and politically, has led to an increased level of assimilation. As highlighted by Stephen Bloom through his own experience as a Jew within secular America; few of my friends learned Hebrew, few families lit candles at Shabbos dinner and few celebrated the Sabbath, assimilation constituted the diluting of Jewish practice. With the rise of assimilation into mainstream American culture, Judaism must search for new influences and measures in order to secure the future success of the faith. This is because, at present, especially within the environment of Orthodox Judaism, it is increasingly difficult to incorporate Jewish practice within the secular way of living. This is as a result of Halakha which places restrictions over modern life. This includes the prohibition of driving or working during Shabbat, dietary restrictions through the laws of kashrut and attempting to observe Jewish holidays within the calendar of the secular world. At present, such prohibitions prove to be discouraging to Jews who place high value over their secular lives, especially those in the younger generations. As it is these individuals who will determine the future existence and strength of the faith, Judaism must continue being flexible in order to survive. It is through measures as adopted by The Sinai Temple of Los Angeles with its Friday night Live services, which provide young people with a synagogue service reflective of a rock concert, encouraging wide audiences across the city that lies in future popularity of the faith. This is because it is through such methods that Jews, who would otherwise neglect Jewish practice, continue to uphold the faith. To maintain the popularity of Judaism, it has to subject itself to change. However, in doing this, it sacrifices much of the traditions, which to many Jews are definitive of the faith. It is therefore arguable that many of the changes that occur through social change and modernity sacrifice the essence of Judaism. It is due to this that explains why the Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox strands of Judaism maintain concepts and practices that in the era of modern times can appear antiquated and sexist. This is indicated in Postville, to which indicates how Hassidic Jews have protected and continue to protect themselves from influence of secular culture in order to uphold the traditions that Judaism holds; to remain pure the Jews would not allow their children to go to Postville public schoolsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Hasidim were loathe to rely on anyone outside their Mispocheh, extended family. As evident through the elite world of Hassidim, it is revealed how Orthodox Judaism has continued and wil l continue to exist through maintaining a traditional life, according to Halakah and upholding the practice of a tight Jewish community. It is of importance to uphold the Jewish tradition in order to prevent assimilation through intermarriage. A 1990 National Jewish Population Survey concluded that an intermarriage rate of 52% existed in the United States, signifying a steady downfall of American Jewry. This is because the increase of intermarriage indicates a more remote chance that Judaism will continue to survive through future generations. In order to ensure the future existence of Judaism, the faith must emphasize the spirit of Jewish tradition through maintaining some aspects of continuity, such as the practice of the Friday night Shabbat meal and holiday observance such as the Passover Seder in order to continue to provide a strong Jewish culture that appears attractive to have the desire to maintain. On one side were Jewsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦for whom being Jewish meant keeping our Jewishness subordinate to our being American. On the other side were Orthodox Jews, who retained their religion and the daily practice of it essential to their existence. Ultra-Orthodox Jews largely disassociated themselves from mainstream American culture, which they viewed as a threat to Jewish identity. Judaism has continued and will continue to exist while there is a choice of denominations which will accommodate various needs and lifestyles. It is through the combination of maintaining elements of traditional continuity while incorporating aspects of modernity which leads to a popular faith. Although this suggests that Conservative Judaism stands as future of Jewish existence, it is because there are multiple movements within the faith that permits Judaism to continue to survive. With the differing variations of the Jewish faith, it provides and will continue to provide a choice to the modern Jew that reflects the lifestyle that he or she chooses to adopt. Work Cited Scheindlin, Ray A Short History of the Jewish People Oxford University Press (1998) Robinson, George Essential Judaism Pocket Books (2000) Freedman, Samuel Jew vs. Jew Simon and Schuster (2001) Bloom, Stephen G. Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America Harcourt (2000) Harris, Lis Holy Days, The World of a Hassidic Family Simon and Schuster (1995)

Brenda Frazer the epitome of The Beat Generation Essay -- essays resea

The beat generation is a generation started in the 1950's by American artists and writers who refused conformity to traditional American ways and spoke of starting their own alternative lifestyle. The beat lifestyle included the sought after liberation and rebellion from society hindering chains of established, accepted ways of life. Within Paul Lauter's book, 'The Heath Anthology of American Literature,' Ronna C. Johnson from Tufts University, writes an analysis of Troia: Mexican Memoirs as well as synopsis of Brenda's life. Also in Lauter's book is the original Frazer's work Troia. In addition, Brenda Knight, another authority of the beat culture, writes in her book 'Women of the Beat Generation' of Frazer's struggles. Brenda Frazer had a life nothing short of beat. Born in 1939 in middle class Washington DC, Brenda attended Princeton High School. It has been said that, ?her parents, especially her mother, were unhappy in their marriage, which cast an uncomfortable sadness over the household. Brenda remembers struggling with disorientation and a feeling of not fitting anywhere during her teen years.? (Knight, 269). Personally knowing that uncomfortable sadness and the struggle with finding ones identity, I can see why Brenda, at first unintentionally and then with full purpose, sought after a beat life. While still in college, Brenda met a beat poet named Ray Bremser and the two of them became infatuation with one another. They married 3 weeks later. Brenda says, ?I adored him, even his eccentricities, and justified my own existence by typing his poems. I identified with Fidel Castro. His patriotism, presented in a lawyer truth, moved me. His actions inspired me to quit school and give thought to a shameful corrupting infl... ... of her life we see her long for the idea of love, yet denied the love of having a husband or being a mother. Brenda Frazer, gave that all up, for the love of creativity. Brenda speaks of this creativity when she says, ?I defined myself when I sat down to write. It was a rebellion against my most immediate authority figure, who was once again in jail. Writing was a therapy I could afford. It was exciting then and still is to give myself that freedom. Alone I evolved my personal story. There was no mentor or male muse to be an live-in example for me. I have more creativity now. Creativity is in the middle, at the turning point of gender, neither, either, nor.? (Knight, 271). WORKS CITED Books: Knight, Brenda. ?Women In the Beat Generation.? Conari Press, 1997. Lauter, Paul. ?The Heath Anthology of American Literature.? Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.

Edi System

EDI Electronic Data Interchanges Electronic Data Interchanges technology is a complicated mixture of three disciplines: business, data processing and data communication. Integrated with logistics practices EDI can be defined as the electronic exchange of business data, such as purchase orders, invoices, and shipping notices, typically between one organization and another. The relationship is usually between a vendor and customer. EDI began in the 1970s and was first developed by the automobile Industry.Today is used in different industries including distribution, finance, health care, manufacturing, purchasing, retail, publishing, and shipping. EDI system is in evolution and is adapting to the current market situation. In fact, EDI is a technology that many companies are using in its logistics practices in international supply chain operations. Many businesses choose EDI as a fast, inexpensive, and safe method of sending all documents used on business. Any business application that i mplements EDI works in a fast, efficient and paperless environment.The traditional document flow for purchasing transactions starts with data entry by the purchaser to create a paper document to send by mail to trading partners. Once the trading partners receive the data, they keystroke the information received into a local application and then perform more data entry by entering a response into a local application. The resultant paper document is then mailed to the purchaser. The procedure is both time consuming and labor intensive because data from both trading partners has to be entered twice.EDI data is key in only one time, at the original point of entry. The data is then translated into a standard format electronically and sent to the trading partner electronically. Time for transmission is very fast in comparison to postal mail. Even on a slow modem connection the time is considerably shorter than through the postal service. EDI Benefits â€Å"Removing unnecessary process ta sks benefits the whole supply chain, allowing improved performance and cost management. † By using Electronic Data Interchange systems companies have made significant improvements, benefits and savings.Over 160. 000 companies have made the change to electronic data interchange to improve their efficiencies. Many of these companies require all of their partners to also use EDI. Studies have shown that manually processing a paper order can cost 70 times more than processing the same order thru EDI. The most relevant benefits are: * Much less labor time is required and fewer errors are made because computer systems process the documents rather than processing by hand. When a company reduces manual work and administration reduce the process operating costs. EDI is commonly used instead of faxing and mailing paper documents improving the efficiency of communicating documents. When the timing of the invoice to goods delivery is shortened it improves the invoice approval and streamli nes its payment. * Fewer errors occur because computer systems process the documents rather than processing by hand * Data integrity can be secured across the supply chain because suppliers' information is automatically sent to customers' systems. Improved processing efficiency increases the opportunity to negotiate early settlement discounts, reducing the cost base for customers. Business transactions flow faster: Faster transactions support reduction in inventory levels, better use of warehouse space, fewer out-of-stock occurrences and lower freight costs through fewer emergencies expedites. EDI Barriers Standards are a necessary part of EDI. Every business has application files that are used to manipulate their data in ways that are familiar to the business. The problem is that most businesses though using the same types of data do not use the same application programs or hardware and software platforms.If businesses are to be able to communicate their data to one another, they m ust have a common ground to meet on to allow the exchange of the information. Standards are the solutions to this problem. All business that conforms to specific standards can share data in the formats delineated by those standards. Data processing One of the technological fields required to implement EDI is data processing. Data processing allows the EDI operation to take information that is resident in a user application and transform that data into a format that is recognizable to all other user applications that have an interest in using the data.In the EDI environment, data processing will handle both outgoing and incoming data. The user-defined files are the files that are produced by a business application. These files may or may not be formatted by the user. These are the business files that need to be translated into the ANSI X12 or EDIFACT standard format. Standards The heart of EDI is the document standards. Every business has application files that are used to manipulate their data. The problem is that most businesses, though using the same type of data, do not use the same programs, software and hardware platforms. The solutions to this problem are the standards.The American National Standards Institute's Accredited Standards Committee X12 (ANSI ASC X12) is the accepted standard for EDI transactions in the United States. The ANSI ASC X12 committee has the mandate to develop variable-length data formats for standard business transactions. The committee was accredited in 1980, and the X12 standard has been evolving ever since. One of the requirements placed on the committee was and is to keep the standard open to inter-industry applications. This requirement makes the standard more complex than an industry-specific standard, but the advantages easily overcome the disadvantage of complexity.With a single standard, a business has multiple functionality and only has to use one standard for each business function. The International Standards Organizatio n (ISO), an organization within the United Nations, has developed the EDI standard that is used in Europe. The Electronic Document Interchange for Administration, Commerce, and Transportation (EDIFACT) is the UN standard that the whole world has agreed to eventually adopt. The actual implementation of EDIFACT within the U. S. has been moving at a snail's pace. Everyone agrees that EDIFACT is the international standard.Security One of the major roles provided by the data communications technology is the ability to apply security to EDI transactions so that the transactions will not be tampered with or observed, depending on the level of security needed. Confidentiality Confidentiality requires that all communications between parties are restricted to the parties involved in the transaction. This confidentiality is an essential component in user privacy, as well as in protection of proprietary information and as a deterrent to theft of information services.Confidentiality is concerned with the unauthorized viewing of confidential or proprietary data that one or both of the trading partners does not want known by others. Confidentiality is provided by encryption. Encryption is the scrambling of data so that it indecipherable to anyone except the intended recipient. Encryption prevents snoopers, hackers, and other prying eyes from viewing data that is transmitted over telecommunications channels. Data Integrity Data sent as part of a transaction should not be modifiable in transit. Similarly, it should not be possible to modify data in storage.Data integrity is a guarantee that what was sent by the sender is actually what is received by the receiver. This is necessary if there is a need to ensure that the data has not been changed either inadvertently or maliciously. However, authentication schemes do not hide data from prying eyes. Providing data integrity is generally cumbersome and not used unless one of the trading partners requires it. The normal mechanism fo r acquiring data integrity is for the sender to run an algorithm against the data that is being transmitted and to transmit the result of the algorithm separately from the transmission.Upon receipt of the transmission, the receiver runs the identical algorithm and then compares the results. If the results are identical, then data has not been modified. Examples of EDI implementation EDI for the Automotive Industry EDI has been in use across the automotive industry for over forty years. The smooth running of today’s car production lines rely on the seamless exchange of business documents between the car manufacturers and their supply chain. Many of the business processes used in the manufacture of today’s cars were developed from a production system devised by Toyota in Japan.A number of best practices were developed around the ‘Toyota Production System’, for example Just-In-Time and Lean Manufacturing. JIT and Lean Manufacturing processes are central to th e smooth running of many production lines around the world and EDI provides a fast and efficient way to transfer business documents in order to support these types of manufacturing processes. Providing visibility of inventory levels and notification of when shipments are due to arrive at the production line are critical to making JIT and Lean manufacturing processes a success.The global nature of the automotive industry means that it is important for car manufacturers to be able to onboard their suppliers as quickly as possible, no matter where they may be based around the World. Many car manufacturers have established a manufacturing presence in for example Eastern Europe, Brazil and China and it is important to ensure that suppliers located in these regions are able to exchange EDI documents as smoothly as possible.ICT skills across low cost or emerging markets are traditionally very low therefore the car manufacturers must ensure that they can provide simple to use EDI tools that allow even the smallest suppliers to be able to trade electronically. Due to the global nature of the automotive industry, there are numerous communications and document standards in use today, along with a number of regional specific EDI networks. EDI for the Financial Services IndustryThe success of the financial services industry relies on its ability to process payables and receivables, as well as manage investments and loans on behalf of its customers both retail and wholesale. For years many of these processes were manual and paper intensive. However, the introduction of EDI has allowed the financial services industry to automate many of the transactions required to transmit payment and remittance data from one party to another. As a result of the economic upheaval of the past few years, the world has come to recognize and appreciate the interdependent nature of the global financial infrastructure.The financial supply chain has become a reality for global business as buyers f rom one geography rely on goods from suppliers based in other regions that utilize different currencies and are governed by different regulations. EDI provides not only low cost alternative to traditional paper-based payment methodologies but also enables organizations to realize faster, more accurate and more flexible payment structures in the course of doing business. EDI enables the full alignment of the financial supply chain with the movements of the physical supply chain.A fully automated financial supply chain enables the seamless, accurate and timely exchange of financial documents between buyers, suppliers and their financial institutions. With EDI an organization can electronically transfers funds from one bank account to another designated bank account or counterparty. Electronic payments are processed to allow organizations to have access to funds more quickly and with fewer exceptions or delays due to human error. EDI for the High Tech IndustryEDI has been in use across the high tech industry for many years. The high tech value chain has become very complex with many high tech companies relying on external partners to help design and manufacture their products. Due to the nature of the high tech industry there has been a desire to try and exchange business transactions electronically, more so than many other industry sectors. The high tech industry is very consumer driven which has meant that high tech supply chains have had to become flexible to changing consumer demands.There has also been an increasing demand for introducing Vendor Managed Inventory systems to ensure that retailers have the correct levels of inventory to support for example new product launches or seasonal fluctuations in consumer demand. For this reason inventory visibility across retail networks and multi modal logistics networks is important for both the high tech companies and their trading partner community. Many high tech companies have globalised their operations to take advantage of low cost suppliers in many of the emerging markets around the world.This has meant that the high tech manufacturing companies have had to ensure that they can trade electronically with suppliers in any country around the world, even those with limited ICT related skills . EDI Stages of Implementation Many companies implement electronic data exchange as part of their customer-supplier partnerships. Both the customers and suppliers expect to gain operational and competitive benefits. A link exists between the level of implementation of EDI and the associated benefits. Benefits from EDI for a supplier company appear limited unless the company reaches an advanced stage of EDI implementation.In this stage the customer and the supplier openly sharing information on demand patterns, inventory levels, and planned production. Achieving this level of implementation is a significant challenge for those professionals involved in EDI installations. The implementation stages for sup plier companies using EDI are: * Stage 1, EDI is used for a small number of transactions with one trading partner. Some documents are handled electronically, while all others are completed manually. Electronic documents are manually entered into the MRP planning system.The benefits include reductions in paperwork, reductions in time spent sorting and filing mailed documents, reductions in input errors, faster response time and standardized information. * Stage 2, EDI is used with two or more customers for a small number of transactions. The extent of implementation relates to the volume of business transacted through EDI. The additional benefits include reductions in inventory, reductions in lead time, and improve customer relations. * Stage 3, EDI technology is integrated into the MRP planning system to update transaction-driven information without additional data entry. Stage 4, EDI is integrated with customers to the extent that the firm can inquire into a customer’s datab ase for information such as inventory status and shipments. * Stage 5, EDI transactions are found in all functions of the business organization: quality control, engineering, manufacturing, marketing and accounting. As new benefits the cost reduction and efficient business operations, effective use of personnel assigned to new tasks. Conclusions EDI is well established as effective technology got reducing costs and increasing efficiency.EDI technologies are approximately the same age as Internet technologies. In the past, the technologies have been mutually exclusive, but this is rapidly changing. As the two technological communities begin to merge and as the business community sees the advantages of this merger, EDI and the Internet will eventually become everywhere. The implementation level affects the benefits companies can expect from installing EDI. At early stages of implementation, companies can expect only those benefits that result from improvements in the transaction proce ss.As planning systems are linked, companies can expect improvements in lead time, reductions in inventory, and other benefits derived from sharing information with their customers and suppliers. EDI represents a specific class of inter-organizational systems, and the concept carries with it a unique set of strategic and implementation considerations. The most significant and, heretofore, most overlooked factor in determining the effective use of EDI is the organization’s ability to manage the changes in structure and work processes that must attend the implementation of this technology.EDI development is a process that takes time and patience, and those who start first have the best chance of staying ahead of the competition if they recognize that EDI involves a continuous process of change. There is no end to organizational change in this era of rapidly evolving information technology. References * Bort, R. , and Bielfeldt, G. R. Handbook of EDI. Boston, Massachusetts: Warr en, Gorham and Lamont. * Canis, R. J. , Value-added networks: What to look for now and in the future. Conference Proceedings EDI 2000: EDI, Electronic Commerce, and You; (pp. 141-157). * Kimberley, P. (1991). EDI.New York: McGraw-Hill. * Sawabini, S. (1995). Introduction to EDI. Conference Proceedings EDI 2000: EDI, EC, and You, (pp. 1-36). * Sokol, P. K. (1995). From EDI to EC: A Business Initiative. New York: McGraw-Hill. * Rhonda R. Lummus, The Evolution to Electronic Data Interchange: Benefits in the stages of implementation. Central Missouri State University. Warrensburg, Missouri. * Callahan, Daniel K. â€Å"The Impacts of Electronic Integration on Buyers and Suppliers. â€Å"Master's Thesis, Sloan School of Management, MIT, Cambridge * â€Å"Business Is Turning Data Into A Potent Strategic Weapon,† Business Week

The Changing Faces of Present and Presentation

The Changing Faces of Present and Presentation The Changing Faces of Present and Presentation The Changing Faces of Present and Presentation By Maeve Maddox Present belongs to a group of English words that, with a shift in pronunciation, may be either noun or verb. present [prÄ•zÉ™nt] n. (accent on the first syllable) a gift present [prÄ ­-zÄ•nt] v. (accent on the second syllable) to introduce, to give an award In an article about the 2009 Academy Awards, I noticed a third use of present that may be in the process of entering the language: Best Present: Copresenters Steve Martin and Tina Fey, whove been funny together on TV and film, delivered a hilarious tribute to writers that made us want to see them make another movie together. Erik Pedersen, E! Online Here Pedersen is using present as a shortened form of presentation. In the way of the web, Pedersens words have been copied by numerous bloggers and it may only be a matter of time before we hear present [prÄ“zÄ•nt] for presentation the way we hear invite [Ä ­n-vÄ «t] in place of invitation. presentation [prÄ•zÉ™n-tÄ shÉ™n] n. the act of presenting A presentation can be a gift, or it can be something like a lecture or a slide presentation. Evidence that the cropped form present for presentation may have already caught on with some users appears in these headlines used to introduce slide shows on the web: OM slide Present SHN Membership Slide Present 2006 In looking for examples of this new, unlovely use of present, I came across a (to me) new use of presentation. When used on a wedding invitation, the expression presentation preferred, means forget the gifts, we want cash. This comment from a wedding forum shows that not eveyone is comfortable with this use of presentation: My soon-to-be mother in-law is really against presentation, but its our wedding, not hers ! I guess when we showed her the sample of the invite, she didnt notice the presentation on it. Ah, the accelerate of linguistic change! Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What is the Difference Between "These" and "Those"?Capitalization Rules for Names of Historical Periods and MovementsCharles's Pen and Jesus' Name