Organic food †Agriculture Essay

Ever wondered why organic foods are more expensive? Why organic foods are kept separately from the other food in a grocery store? Why some produce has special labels? The food all looks the same on the outside. An apple marked organic looks the same as any other apple in the produce section of the store. The difference is not the outward appearance but how the apple was grown and processed. The word organic gives the impression that the food will be safer and more nutritious to eat than food without the organic label. Many scientific studies have been done to find if there is a significant difference in safety and nutrition. The studies all conclude the same information. Organically grown foods are not any more nutritious or safer for consumption than conventionally grown, non-organic foods. Many people are not clear regarding how organic and non-organic also known as conventionally grown food is grown in the United States. Organically grown food is grown and processed using no synthetic chemicals, such as fertilizers or pesticides (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009). Pesticides derived from natural sources, such as biological pesticides, can be used in growing and producing organically grown food (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009). Biological pesticides are bacteria or fungi that are applied to the plant to control bugs (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009). If raising livestock, the animals eat organic animal food (American Progress, 2008). Organic farming does not have adverse effects on animals and people. Using biological pesticides and fertilizers does not leave toxins or harmful residues in the environment (American Progress, 2008). These types of pesticides and fertilizers are considered to be environmentally friendly, unlike non-organic farming. Non-organic or conventionally grown food is food grown with chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth. Insecticides are used to reduce pests and disease. Chemical herbicides are applied to soil to prevent and kill weeds. The animals are given antibiotics when sick. Growth hormones and medications are given to livestock to prevent disease and spur growth (Mayo Clinic, 2009). The two methods of farming are very different regarding farming techniques. Farming techniques are the main factor that contributes to a food classification as organic or non-organic. Organic farming techniques are one reason the cost is higher than conventionally grown food. Organic farming uses crop rotation (American Progress, 2008). This is growing one type of food, then harvesting that food and planting a different crop in the same place. Crop rotation helps keep the soil fertile. Organic farmers rely on the spreading of mulch or manure to keep weeds down (Mayo Clinic, 2009). Organic farmers may use methods such a hand weeding as opposed to using herbicides sprayed on the entire crop. Organic farmers may use beneficial insects and birds to keep pests from destroying crops (American Progress, 2008). Organic farming is much like farming before all the technological advancements in farming that is used today in conventional farming. Organic farming is designed to reduce pollution and conserve soil and water (American Progress, 2008). Either way a farmer chooses to grow food, the food still has to pass all standards set up by the United States government. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has set standards all food producers must adhere to and pass whether organically or conventionally grown. Food must be safe before it is sold to consumers. The National Organic Program (NOP) develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products. The NOP also accredits the certifying agents, both foreign and domestic, who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards (United States Department of Agriculture, 2010). The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) and the NOP assure consumers that the organic agricultural products they purchase are produced, processed, and certified to consistent national organic standards. The labeling requirements of the NOP apply to raw, fresh products and processed products that contain organic agricultural ingredients. Agricultural products that are sold, labeled, or represented as organic must be produced and processed in accordance with the NOP standards (Agriculture Marketing Service, 2010). If the food passes all the criteria, the food can legally carry an organic label. Labels are an important part of correctly marketing organic food. All food has to be classified and labeled before it can be sold for consumption whether organic or non-organic. Before a product can carry the organic label, it must pass all the USDA guidelines. Products that are completely organic or made of all organic ingredients are considered 100% organic. Examples of completely organic products are single-ingredient foods, such as fruits, vegetables, eggs. These type foods are labeled 100% organic. These foods can carry a USDA organic seal (Mayo Clinic, 2009). Food that contains organic ingredients but also have other ingredients that may not be organic are considered 95% organic (Agricultural Marketing Service, 2008). An example of this type of food is cereal. Manufacturers and farmers may use the word organic on the product label if the food contains more than 70% organic ingredients (Agricultural Marketing Service, 2008). The label is not the USDA label but the manufacturer’s label. An example of this type of food is a soup that has a manufacturer label boasting it has organic ingredients. Foods containing less than 70% organic ingredients cannot use the word organic on their product label (Agricultural Marketing Service, 2008). The USDA issues heavy penalties for misrepresenting a product as organic. Natural food is not organic even though the two are usually within the same section in a market. Natural food is a term that may confuse people. Natural food does not have strict labeling standards set up by the USDA. Thus, many products can carry a natural food label. It would be easy to misconstrue natural food as organic. By definition, natural food is food that has undergone no or minimal processing and contains no additives such as preservatives or artificial coloring (Encarta, 2009). Natural food is the way the food is processed after it has been grown. Organic and non-organic food is defined according to how it was grown and then processed. The quality of food is still the issue for natural, organic, and non-organic when deciding what to buy. The quality of the food is one of the main issues between organic and conventionally grown food. The concern about conventionally grown food is if the food contains chemicals or chemical residue. Many studies have been done on organic and conventional food. Conventionally grown food does contain trace amounts of residue from the chemicals used in producing the food. Thoroughly washing produce with water and scrubbing before consuming reduces the residue on the fruit or vegetable (Mayo Clinic, 2009). According to the studies, there is no difference as far as taste. Taste is subjective to the growing conditions, season, and if a food is at its freshest point (Mayo Clinic, 2009). Taste is, of course, a matter of opinion. Something that studies can measure is the nutritional value of food. Many studies have been done comparing the nutritional value of organic and conventionally grown food. The studies have shown that there is no conclusive evidence to prove that organic food is more nutritious than is conventionally grown food (Mayo Clinic, 2009). The USDA, even though it certifies the food, does not claim organic foods are safer or more nutritious than conventional food (Mayo Clinic, 2009). An organic facts site states the following about organic and conventionally grown foods, â€Å"There is no evidence to prove that organic food is healthier than non organic food. People prefer organic food because they feel it is safer than conventional food as chemicals are not used in its production (Organic Facts, 2010). † Study after study does not prove organic food safer or more nutritious than conventionally grown food. Nutrition is not the only issue at hand. The controversy lies in the growing methods between organic and conventional farming. The issue should deal more with depleting the soil of its minerals and the chemicals washing off into the water supplies. The labels are added to organic food so that consumers have a choice. A consumer can easily identify organic products by the labels. When at the supermarket, look over the organic section. Do not worry that one fruit or vegetable tastes better than the other. Do not ask if one is more nutritious than the other. What should be asked, do I want to help conserve the environment? References Agricultural Marketing Service. (2010). Agricultural Marketing Service – National Organic Program. Retrieved January 14, 2010, from http://www. ams. usda. gov/AMSv1. 0/NOP American Progress. (2008). Organic vs. Conventional Foods-The Gloves Come Off. Retrieved January 13, 2010, from http://www. americanprogress. org/issues/2008/09/organic_green. html Encarta. (2009). natural food definition – Dictionary – MSN Encarta. Retrieved January 14, 2010, from http://www. encarta. msn. com/dictionary_1861696699/natural_food.html Environmental Protection Agency. (2009). Organic Farming/Agriculture/US EPA. Retrieved January 14, 2010, from http://www. epa. gov/oecaagct/torg. html Mayo Clinic. (2009). Organic Foods: Are they safer? More Nutritious? Retrieved January 13, 2010, from http://www. mayoclinic. com/health/organic-food/NU00255 Organic Facts. (2010). Difference Between Organic and Natural Food | Organic Food Basics | Organic Food. Retrieved January 14, 2010, from http://www. organicfacts. net/organic-food/organic-food-basics/difference-between-organic-and-natural-food. html.

Sygate Technologies Inc.

Sygate2. Headquarters overhead cost allocation at Korea auto insurance Tasks: a) What would be the net income of the Taejon branch as of 2007 and 2008 if the headquarters' overhead costs were allocated by the current method? Calculate the amounts of revenue, and direct and indirect costs of the Taejon branch for these two years. b) The current overhead cost driver, branch revenues, is criticized because it lacks any logical relationship to the overhead costs allocated by headquarters. Choose more appropriate cost drivers for the 17 overhead costs listed in the case Exhibit 3.You may refer to descriptions of the 17 overhead costs incurred by the five teams at the headquarters. c) Using your cost drivers from (2) above, compute the net income of the Taejon branch as of 2007 and 2008. Compare your answer to the amount from (1). Do you agree that Kim's performance in 2008 would now be evaluated more properly? Why or why not? d) Which cost drivers make the biggest differences between the net incomes of? Do these cost drivers have anything to do with Kim's effort in 2008? e) The ABC method matches specific reasonable cost drivers with corresponding overhead costs.Discuss why the ABC method would reward a manager with higher motivation in a competitive market. Also, discuss the shortcomings of the ABC method at the level of the entire organization. 3. Dakota Office products Tasks: a) Why was Dakota's existing pricing system inadequate for its current operating environment? b) Develop an activity-based cost system for Dakota based on year 2000 data. Calculate the activity cost-driver rate for each activity in 2000. c) Using your answers in b), calculate the profitability of Customer A and Customer B. d) What explains any difference in profitability between the two customers? ) What are the limitations, if any, to the estimates of the profitability of the two customers? f) Is there any additional information you would like to explain the relative profitability of the tw o customers? g) Assume that Dakota applies the analysis done in question c) to its entire customer base. How could such information help the Dakota managers increase company profits? h) Suppose that a major customer switched from placing all its orders manually to placing all its orders over the internet site. How should this affect the activity cost driver rates calculated in question b)? How would the switch affect Dakota's profitability?

Termination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Termination - Essay Example In such instances, it generally becomes necessary for the organization to consider terminating the employee. Termination should be considered as the most severe form of punishment that an organization can possibly impose on an employee and as such, it should be the most carefully considered form of disciplinary action. The experience of going through a job termination is considered to be traumatic for all of an organization’s employees. Of note is that the termination of employees at different levels or positions within the same organization varies considerably; Unlike the employees working in the lower level positions of the organizations, an organization’s executives and CEOs often do not have to worry about the probability of their positions being eventually eliminated. The main worry that individuals at this level often have is that of ensuring that they constantly try and please the organization’s board of directors because it is these boards that are tasked with the responsibility of firing and hiring of these executives. Most of the time, the board of directors only undertakes the rather drastic action of firing an executive or CEO due to a loss of confidence in the executive. This loss of confidence might be brought about by a number of factors that include a general decline in the level of productivity, the emergence of philosophical differences between the executive in question and the board of directors, economic reasons, or if there is a need to reorganize the organization. Of note however is that there are currently no formal termination appeal procedures for employees at this level (Mondy, 2013, p. 367). This group of employees is widely considered to be the most neglected and vulnerable in respect to employment termination. While an organization’s executives generally tend to have a considerable degree of clout that might aid in helping them to successfully

Case Study 2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case Study 2 - Assignment Example This can be achieved through advertising an attribute of the brand in the form of a campaign. According to the case study, Cingular used Virtual Laguna Beach in order to promote the aspect of communication. This aspect acted a form of promotion which comprised of information from diverse social events. Through these interactions, the users received bonus rewards including VoIP access, cell phone animation and skins for instant-messaging players. On the other hand, Pepsi increased their in-world skills through publishing an in-world ‘zine that offers new areas in the world. This has enabled users to rack up MTV dollars for the Pepsi-branded items and other in-world purchases (Klaassen, 2007). Lastly, Secret extended its campaign through virtual booths whereby avatars aired some of their secrets for a chance to win a virtual cash prize. This case study also highlights that this scheme does not have a business model. However, the MTV network has a plan to charge for its integration into Virtual Laguna Beach. This case study also reveals brand interaction should entail a reward especially in the virtual world (Klaassen, 2007). This is because most visitors in Virtual Laguna Beach are usually exposed to these brands hence; they interact voluntarily just like in the real world. The second case study talks about the Bank of America. In most financial services that are provided all over the world, online banking is considered as a major breakthrough in the innovation sector. In 2005, the Bank of America came up with a different and radical product which broke the paradigm. Scholars assert that the online banking service concept is used to solve some of the contemporary banking issues. For example, it enables consumers to open new accounts. This concept operates in a peculiar manner such that when a consumer buys anything using the BoFA Visa Debit Card, the bank usually rounds off the figure to the nearest buck and

Self-Introductory Speech ( My wedding) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Self-Introductory Speech ( My wedding) - Essay Example Later in the evening, my female relatives and friends were invited over for dinner during which my husband would see my face for the first time in front of them. The wedding finally took place in the summer on 11th June 2014. We were still in the US at the time, so all the wedding arrangements were made by my family. On the wedding day, Ali went to the barbershop during which he would bond with his male counterparts. There was lunch at the farm for our family and friends as we waited for the actual feast in the evening. In my case, a day prior to the wedding, as Muslim custom dictates, my female friends and high would bond while we put henna on our hands and feet. I woke up very excited on the wedding day, put on my white dress and went to the wedding venue to wait for my husband. The parties were held separately, and I felt overwhelmed with all the love and support I received from my friends and family congratulating me for my wedding and expressing their happiness. Later in the evening, the groom’s party finally joined us, and the festivities continued up to 3 a.m. with people mingling, dancing, taking photos and feasting in the var iety of food. The wedding day is then followed by the Subahia, a small party is held in which the bride and the groom receive gifts from their family, friends and relatives. I believe that my wedding day was one of the most memorable moments in my life, and not just on that particular day but the entire process from the engagement. I hope to base the foundation of my marriage with love and loyalty, and that it always remains one filled with warmth and understanding. Everything turned out to be a success given the support I got from my family and friends on this special

PUBLIC HOSPITAL SAFETY AND HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT Essay

PUBLIC HOSPITAL SAFETY AND HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT - Essay Example A survey comprising of about 1,000 telephonic interviews revealed that many people feel it is quite common for patients to be harmed when they are in the hospital. People were not confident that their doctor or the concerned staff would let them know if they had made an error. More than 70% of the people do not know where they can complain about such errors. They do not know who the concerned authorities are and they also want to be aware of the organizations responsible for hospital safety. The number of victims of hospital infections and medical harm is alarmingly high. Studies show that 1 in every 4 patients have suffered in some way due to hospital-acquired infections, surgical errors, and medication mistakes. Then, there are cases of diagnostic mistakes, inattentive care, etc. As many as 180,000 people die every year due to these causes not to mention the additional costs which are involved to rectify these errors which amount to almost $4.4 billion every year. Consumer Union ha s helped to pass laws which require hospitals throughout the nation to report hospital infections. Hospitals throughout the country are required to track and report when patients get central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in intensive care units in order to get an annual  2% Medicare payment increase. ... This law attempts to address underreporting of these errors by requiring hospitals to report all medical harm rather than those covered by the â€Å"never event† list. Hospitals failing to report will face a penalty. The state has to validate the accuracy of the data. ARTICLE 2 Bacterial Infections: Good, Bad, and Deadly There are many types of bacteria in the human body. Most of them are harmless and some of them are even beneficial to us. Cystitis is one which causes infections in the bladder. Bladder infection or urinary tract infection in pregnant women if detected early can be easily treated. But if it is not treated then it can lead to kidney infection causing complications for both mother and the child. Another kind of bacterial infection the Group B Strep infection is carried in the vagina. It can lead to meningitis and blood-borne infections. Group B strep infection can be easily prevented if tested. Chorioamnionitis or amnionitis is an uncommon bacterial infection wh ich affects the uterus, amniotic sac, and fetus. A pelvic exam during the last trimester could cause premature rupture of membranes. Women who smoke and those with past experiences of water breaking and chlamydia infections have a greater risk of premature rupture. This infection can be treated only after the baby is delivered. The Listeria bacteria is another infection causing bacteria that travels through the intestinal wall and spreads to other organs as pregnant women generally have weak immune systems. There are some bacterial infections that affect people with weakened immune systems. The most common of them is bacterial meningitis. It is an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Infection may cause tissues around the brain to

Financial Information for Business Decision Coursework

Financial Information for Business Decision - Coursework Example According to the report the company deals in third party land development and capital management. Nevertheless, it runs capital management trusts referred to as Hercules Unit Trust, the Pillar Retail Europark Fund and the Hercules Income Fund. The headquarters of the company is in London, at the Seymour Street. However, the business model adopted by the company is both risk aversive and opportunistic, which enables them to be in a position of attaining the long-term growth in her shareholder value. The major focuses of the company include: the maximization of equity returns, which is done via optimal financing and joint ventures; it aims at the creation of incomparable or excellent long-term ventures with strong covenants; it also focuses on the major assets in the office and retail sectors; as well as aiming to enhance the property returns via active development and management. In addition, we find that flexibility is imperative to high returns for the company that is both in terms of business financing and business organization. This will greatly enable them to take advantage or capitalize on the changes in the property market. From this study it is clear that whenever a business is started, we find that it either implicitly or explicitly adopts a specific business model, which defines the design of the creation of value, its delivery, as well as the capture of the mechanisms applied by the business enterprise. Nonetheless, the significance of a business model is its description of the way by which the business venture delivers value to its clients, attracts the clients to pay for value and also changes the payments to returns. Therefore, it reflects the presumption of the management as regards what is wanted by the clients, and the way a business can be in a position of meeting those needs in the best way possible, get reward for doing so and making a profit.

Combined Cycle Power Plant Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Combined Cycle Power Plant - Case Study Example We examine Navasota's current position in the Texas energy market place to describe the environment in which the company is developing, the strengths and weaknesses and financial characteristics of such a company. We then propose different possibilities for a strategy for Navasota in the future and extend our analysis to see what leadership and rewards might need to be available for Navasota employees, executive or other, to make this happen. When considering the total amount of energy used in the United States, 22% of it corresponds to natural gas. Natural gas is used to produce heat, steam and electrical power generation, with use ranging from commercial and residential sectors, to industrial processes. At the moment, 15% of utility and non-utility power is produced from natural gas. Projections show that in the US as a whole 33% of the electricity generated in 2020 will be from natural gas-fired power plants (Spath & Mann, 2000). However although this is figure that may be true on average for the whole country, individual states, as we will see later, may have different objectives. Navasota runs two natural gas combined cycle facilities in Texas, one in Wharton and the other in Odessa. The term "combined cycle" refers to the method used to improve the efficiency of electricity generation. ... An independent study on gas-fired generators found that CO2 accounts for 99 wt% of all air emissions. Methane is emitted in the next highest quantity, 74% of which are fugitive emissions from natural gas production and distribution (Spath & Mann, 2000). In Texas in particular however, the historical activity of oil and gas production is decreasing. The state is gradually turning its attention to sustainable, "green" energy sources. It cites the drivers for this shift in emphasis as being peak oil and gas prices, climate change, technological change and economic development issues (Texas State, 2008). Currently gas with its 4253 trillion BTUs is second only to oil in terms of the quantity of energy generated in the primary energy category for Texas. Conscious of the environmental consequences, mindful of the falling intra-state production of gas and looking for ways to contain and reduce energy expenditure, the state has identified biomass and bio-fuels, wind, solar and geothermal energy sources as candidates to replace oil and gas generation of energy, together with a further source of (electrolytic) hydrogen (State of Texas, 2008). It is this thinking that leads the state of Texas to define green buildings, wind power generators, hydrogen, advanced solar, hydrogen re-powering, transportation unification and tele-transportation as the new vectors of energy generation and energy economy to be followed. The proposed Texas State energy strategy is then defined as the re-establishment of energy independence for Texas, the development of new, renewable energy, strengthening of the rural and domestic sectors as energy generators (notably from solar energy) and

Economics and Globalization Essay Example for Free

Economics and Globalization Essay Everyday you hear it on the news, you read it in the papers, you overhear people talking about itand in every single instance the world globalization seems to have a different meaning. So, what is globalization?, there were a lot of debate about this issue. At a top political and economic level, globalization is the process of denationalization of market, political and legal systems. The consequences of this political and economic restructuring on local economies, human welfare and environment are the subject of an open debate among international organizations, governmental institutions and the academic world. (7, www.globalization.com/intro.cfm) What is globalization? Is it the integration of economic, political, and cultural systems across the globle? Or is it Americanization and United States dominance of world affairs? Is globalization a force of economic growth, prosperity, and democratic freedom? Or is it a force for environmental devastation, exploitation of the developing world, and suppression of human rights?( www.globalization101.org) Globalization is not a phenomenon it is not just some passing trend. today it is an overarching international system shaping the domestic politics and foreign relations of virtually every country, and we need to understand it as such. Globalization is much like fire. Fire itself is neither good or bad. Used properly, it can cook good, sterilize equipment, from iron, and heat our homes. Used carelessly , fire can destroy lives, towns and forests in an instant. As friedman says :globalization can be incredibly empowering and incredibly coercive it can democratize opportunity and democratize panic. It makes the whales bigger and the minnows stronger. It leaves you behind faster and faster, and it catches up to you faster and faster. While it is homogenizing cultures, it is also enabling people to share their unique individuality farther and wider.*+(web) But the question here what is driving globalization?, globalization Is driven by the strategic responses of firms as they exploit market opprtunties and adapt to change in their technological and institutional environment, and attempt to steer these changes to their advantage. The O E C D groups the factors shaping globalization into four general categories, which are inter-linked: -firm behavior : Strategic , pre-emptive and imitative behavior. Exploitation of competitive advantages: use of superior technology , organization, production or marketing. Consolidation of competitive advantages: gain access to highly skilled people, advanced technological and commercial infrastructure, lower Labour costs, and raw material. Organizational changes; adoption of lean production methods and more horizontal internal and external organizational structure. -Technology Related factors declining computing, communication, co-ordination and transport costs. Increasing importance of R D , coupled with rising R D costs. Shortening product lives. Shortening of limitation time lags. Rapid growth of knowledge -intensive industries. Increasing customization of both intermediate and finished goods. Increasing importance of customer oriented services. Economic factors Availability of key production factors Productivity differentials. Fluctuations in exchange rates. Differences in the business cycle. Catching up by lagging economies. (changing paradigms , Thomas Claake and stewaat clegg, p90)). But according to Thomas Friedman in his book Lexus and the Olive tree he explains three major factoes for the spread of globalization: Which are -the democratization of tecngology. the democratization of finance. -the democratization of information. International expansion has been driven by firm strategies based on their technologies and organizational advantages shaped by a number of factors of government policies,  technological factors driving expansion include the rapid growth of knowledge intensive industries which are foreign investment intensive industries which are foreign investment intensive use intra firm trade intensively and  collaborate externally in development the need to recop growing R D costs find highly trained and skilled workers and organize production more efficiently underpinned by declining communication and transport costs. Increase importance of customer sevice. Macroeconomic factors include market development in different countries and region. Avalibility of key production factors, product differentials, fluctuation in exchange ates, differences in business cycle, catching up by lagging economies. Government policies , significant influence firm strategies by liberalizing capital investment and trade flows, promptly regional integration and promptly competitiveness. Trade policy of liberalization of trade and invested are enabling factors which have driven global expansion and increased the integration of production and markets.competiton policies(changing paradigms , Thomas Claake and stewaat clegg, p90)). Second, the techmolgy, people have been able to travel the world for the past 500 years, the difference now is that they are connected immediately.Th internet boom in 1990 made people relaise that business could operate more or less unconstrained by geography, 24 a day , 7 days a week , 365 day a year. This new faster moving changing business environment have driven companies of all sizes to organize themselves into smaller more responsive , focused unti. The faster that drives globalization is making behavior is more tribal. John Nasibih, author of global pardox argues that the more we become economically interdependent the more we hold on to what constitute our core basic identity. Implementing a homogenized western culture, such countries as indousia , Russia , france have passed laws to preserve their identity. Matters are further complicaty by the shift from trdational nation states to network. The role of diasporas in developing the economic and political fortunes of many counties is significant . See the role of the chiness  dispopora in driving the economic development of many asian states. Technology is driving a global changing in many other areas, affecting the context of strategic decisions.Laura DSndrea Tyson, dean of London Bsuiness School and a leading economic adviser to Bill Clinton from 1996 to 2000, highlighted the main forces driving globalization: The basic factor driving is technology .its trite to day but its true ./ the two major development taking place in the world are demographic and interconnectedness. Interconnectedness is about transportation and communication and that driven bytechnolgy. Demographic is actually about biotechnolgyical science. (Kourdi, BUSINESS STRATEGY) Tecnhlogy did not inevent a new business paradigm but it has transformed business opening up a multi trade of ways to add value, increase sale, reduce costs and manage more efficiently. Understanding the nature of this transformation is valuable for decision making. An information firestorm rages in most business and how it is manges is crucial to success. A consequenceas of the increase in line activity is that information can be leverages to create new sources of value . it is important to combine the power of information and technology qwith common sense approach to management. So tech. And infor, are very importat factor what also effect the economy which also cause globalization. (Kourdi, Business strategy).

Why Marching Band Should Be Considered a Sport Essay Example for Free

Why Marching Band Should Be Considered a Sport Essay There may be as many as 500+ members in a marching band, each having their own part that inter-locks with the 499 others. I believe marching band should be considered a sport. Everyone must be incredibly coordinated and precise. The band as a whole, and individually must practice. Then theres all the physical stresses that you have to overcome. Coordination plays a key roll in marching. A lot of teamwork goes into it as well. All the musicians have to play in the right key, stay in step, and stay musically in time or else the entire show could be compromised. Memorizing game plays is a large roll in football and other team sports, same with band. You must remember the basic notes, key signatures, and various other musical symbols. Then there are the hundreds of sets, or where and when you have to be on the field during the show. Just one person off can throw off the entire form or melody. Athletes selected for the Olympics have trained for almost all their lives for their event. In Bellevue Wests marching training, we have a two week period of living hell, aka band camp. You basically do nothing but eat, sleep, and think band during the two hottest weeks of the entire summer. Mr. Haugen, our band director, pushes hard and some break down and quit, but in the end, the majority of the group is remaining. All thats left now is a well oiled machine, just like any sports team. I only hinted how physically demanding this â€Å"extra-curricular activity† actually is. You must carry an instrument exactly level while marching, and all your body wants to do is bounce up and down like loose luggage. Then if youre a sousaphone, like me, you have around 45-50 lb. ushing down on your shoulder as you try to elevate yourself as high as possible, as to follow correct marching form. Then you must remember that half your air as you march down the field, goes to playing your instrument. If thats not enough, youre also trapped in a dark, thick fabric uniform, squeezing the last whistles of your breath from your lungs. It may be only for 15 minutes, but even track athletes get breaks in-between events. In those god-forsaken uniforms, that quarter hour feels like centuries. For some odd reason, people have the idea that its easy to play in motion, its anything but! You must have incredible music-making skills, especially considering your bouncing up and down as you sometimes run to get to your spot. Sports are very physically strenuous and demanding, so is marching. Sports teams practice all year long to get ready to compete, we only the summer and a few weeks into school. Each individual plays such a key role in the tone and appearance of the band, its unreal. Marching band isnt just a bunch of nerds and fat guys playing tubas. Its a tight-knit brotherhood of strength and skill. Like football, if you are not in the right spot, you arent scoring the touchdown.