Determine Disinfectant and Antiseptic Effectiveness Using Zone Inhibition Method

Lab Report Title Page: Determine Disinfectant and Antiseptic Effectiveness Using Zone Inhibition Method Prepared for: By: Date: Introduction Page: Abstract This study is to examine the effects of different types of disinfectants by disk diffusion method using common agents such as Betadine, Clorox, Crest, Kiss My Face, Listerine, and Lysol. Wound care and general cleaning of home surfaces is a part of daily activity for many of the general population. Knowing which agents are effective against the bacteria that most commonly cause infection, disease, and illness allows educated decisions on which agents to use. We compared the bactericidal effectiveness of 6 common agents widely used by the general public against 3 common bacterial organisms. Introduction Sterilization kills all organisms in or on an object or substance. Disinfectants and antiseptics do not sterilize since many types of organisms and spores are not killed. Disinfectants are described as antimicrobial agents that are used on inanimate objects such as an instrument or structural surfaces. The term antiseptic is usually applied to antimicrobial agents that are used on living tissue such as skin and throat mucosa. A disinfectant must be capable of killing pathogens while it is in contact with them, so that they cannot grow again when it is removed. This action is said to be cidal (lethal), and it is described according to the type of organisms it kills as bactericidal, sporicidal, fungicidal, virucidal, etc†¦ If the antimicrobial substance merely inhibits the organisms while it is in contact with them, they may be able to multiply again when it is removed. In this case, the agent is said to have static activity and may be described as bacteriostatic, fungistatic, etc†¦ Microorganisms of different groups are not uniformly susceptible to chemical disinfection due to the structures of their cell walls. As an example, Mycobacterium are more resistant than most other bacteria because of their waxy cell walls. Of all microbial forms, bacterial endospores display the greatest resistance to both chemical and physical agents of disinfection. The efficacy claimed for a given disinfectant in killing vegetative bacterial species may have no bearing on its ability to destroy bacterial or fungal spores, mycobacteria, some viruses or prions. A number of factors must be considered when choosing a disinfectant besides type of organism. These include exposure time, concentration of the antimicrobial agent, temperature, optimal pH activity of the antimicrobial agents, the concentration of the microorganisms present, and the toxicity of the agent for skin or its effect on materials to be disinfected. Here we will test the effectiveness of various antimicrobial substances by inoculating culture plates with the test organisms and then applying the disinfectant/antiseptic to the inoculated plate by a filter paper disk that has been dipped into the disinfectant/antiseptic. This is a disk diffusion method that is similar to the method used to test the effectiveness of various chemotherapeutic agents. We will then measure the zone-of-inhibition. With this method, the presence of such a clear zone (lack of growth) surrounding the chemical shows either the cells have been killed or that their growth has been inhibited. A zone of inhibition does not discriminate between bacterio-static and bactericidal chemicals. The 6 agents we will be testing are: Betadine (B) – A povidone-iodine preparation used mainly for skin disinfection and wound treatment. Kills a wide range of disease-causing organisms including bacteria, fungi, many viruses, and most micro-organisms. Does not affect hydrophilic viruses such as polyomavirus and PBFD. Clorox (C) – A biguanide preparation of Sodium Hypochlorite used mainly for surface cleaning in various environments such as homes and hospitals to kill microorganisms. Bleach is effective as a disinfectant and kills many micro-organisms, but is not a viable solution to the spread of tuberculosis, bacterial spores and Chlamydia. Crest (Cr) – A widely used antimicrobial for oral bacteria and biofilms. Especially useful on Gram-negative micro-organisms such as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Campylobacter rectus, Eikenella corrodens, and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Kiss My Face (Kf) – An organic alternative to typical alcohol based mouthwashes using aloe vera as antimicrobial agent and grapefruit extract as a polyphenol. Proven useful with Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Staphylococcus aureus. _ _. Listerine (Li) – An alcohol based antiseptic mouth rinse containing the active ingredient ethanol which is toxic to bacteria at concentrations of only 7%. Reduces dental carries, plaque and gingivitis. Lysol (Ly) – A O-phenylphenol preparation of cresols used for surface cleaning in various environments such as homes and hospitals to kill microorganisms such as fungi, Tuberculosis, certain viruses,_ staphylococcus_ and Pseudomonas bacteria. Does not kill nonenveloped viruses, such as _parvovirus, polyomavirus, papillomavirus, adenovirus and reovirus_, nor will they kill all bacteria types. The three common bacteria we will be testing against are: Pseudomonas aeruginosa – An ubiquitous environmental organism associated with whirlpools whereby infection is caused by immersion in contaminated water. Staphylococcus aureus – A normal flora organism on the skin surfaces of most healthy humans. Escherichia coli – A large and diverse group of organisms associated with fecal remnants that have been ingested causing infection. Materials and Methods Page: Materials and Methods T-Soy plates (TSA) – Lawn spreading method Sterile swabs Forceps Sterile filter paper disks Disinfectants/Antiseptics We will follow the specific instructions to carry out this experiment as noted in Lab 16 p90 of Symbiosis by Pearson. Results Page: Results and Discussion This experiment was conducted to show how different disinfectants and antiseptics kill bacteria. The results of our experiment under normal room conditions on the TSA agar were as follows: Conclusion Page: Conclusion Previous research has shown that if an antiseptic disinfectant agent does not kill bacteria, the risk of infection is significantly higher. We used a Gram-negative (P aeruginosa), a Gram-positive (S aureus), and a Gram-negative (_E. coli_) bacterium for bactericidal testing procedures. We allowed the TSA agar to mature over a 7 day period and then noted our results by viewing and measuring the zone inhibition (mm). Findings were that while all had an effect, there were differences among how effective each agent was against each strain of bacterium used. Surface cleaning agents – Lysol was most effective against S. aureus and E. Coli, while Clorox did significantly well with all three bacterium. It appears from our findings that Clorox is the most effective disinfectant and antimicrobial of the six agents tested. Oral care agents – The effects of Listerine were less than stealer, while the organic product Kiss My Face was more effective with all three types of bacteria. Crest rated low as an effective agent for all three types of bacteria. It is important to note that the standard deviation rose as high as 7. 8, which is a significant difference in the resulting data accuracy. Literature Cited Pearson, 2010. Symbiosis Lab 16 Disk Diffusion Assay to Determine Disinfectant and Antiseptic Effectiveness, pp. 89-91. Pearson Custom Publishing Vicki S. Rabenberg, Christopher D. Ingersoll, Michelle A. Sandrey, and Mary T. Johnson. The Bactericidal And Cytotoxic Effects Of Antimicrobial Wound Cleansers. 2002. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www. cdc. gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/ecoli_o157h7/index. html#spread Violet I. Haraszthy, DDS, MS, PhD; Joseph J. Zambon, DDS, PhD;Prem K. Sreenivasan, PhD. The Antimicrobial Efficacy of Commercial Dentifrices Featured in General Dentistry. 2010 Agarry O. , Olaleye M. T, and Bello-Michael, C. O. Comparative antimicrobial activities of aloe vera gel and leaf. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (12), pp. 1413-1414, 2005. ZDENKA CVETNI, ANDA VLADIMIR-KNE. Antimicrobial activity of grapefruit seed and pulp ethanolic extract. Department of Microbiology Faculty of Pharmacy and BiochemistryUniversity of Zagreb in conjunction with the Croatia and Department of Pharmacognosy Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry University of Zagreb, Croatia. 2004.

Planning and Preparing for Teaching and Learning Essay

At present my role is of a hairdressing teacher in a further education college. I currently teach hairdressing on the NVQ level 1, 2 and 3 programs. Gravel’s, A (2006, p5) suggests that it is all about helping someone to reach their full potential, whether this is for personal or professional reasons, and for me, helping to make a difference to someone’s life can be very rewarding. Within this assignment I am aiming to discuss the learning outcomes as outlined in Unit 1 – Planning and preparing for teaching and learning to define the roles and responsibilities of a teacher. Reece and Walker (2003, P4) describe a modern teacher as being a facilitator and when comparing a modern teaching role to more traditional teaching methods, I agree that this is true. As the modern role requires the teacher to be able to communicate with the learners in such a way as to inspire and encourage all learners to engage within their chosen subject. To be able to do this is vital when teaching within further education as groups consist of not just different age ranges but also learners from different learning backgrounds, with individual needs and abilities. Due to this diversity, it becomes more important for teachers to explore new and inventive ways when approaching schemes of work and session plans, whilst ensuring it covers all the aims and outcomes of the syllabus set out by the awarding body (VTCT) and follows an internal strategy which is monitored by an external verifier to ensure that standards are being adhered to. By doing this it will ensure that the aims and o bjectives planned in a session are meaningful and relevant to all learners. One of the roles of a teacher is to identify learners’ needs thus ensuring the learners are not only on the correct course but also on the correct level for their ability. It is my responsibility to facilitate initial assessments, assessing and monitoring the various learning styles for each individual learner, taking into consideration the learners prior experiences, knowledge and motivation both academically and within their home life in order for individuals to achieve their full potential. During this initial assessment the learner is encouraged to disclose any disabilities and/or learning difficulties so that any need for additional support may be identified and the appropriate measures can be put into place to support them. This could be in class support, adapted or specialised equipment or resources or referring them to a specialised department for support or guidance. It is also the responsibility of the teacher to know what will need to be disclosed and what is to be kept confidential. Due to government requirements, to improve basic core skills further assessments (BKSB) are carried out which identify learners’ levels in numeracy, literacy and ICT. The completion of these tests allow for any additional learning needs to be identified thus ensuring that support is put into place to assist the learner. This allows for more effective learning to take place and will allow the teacher a deeper insight into the learners’ level of learning therefore allowing the teacher to challenge the more capable learner whilst allowing the less able learner to be encouraged. Another role of the teacher would be to plan for the academic year. This would include producing a scheme of work for each unit covered. The scheme of work is a working document and is frequently evaluated and reflected throughout the year and adapted as I gain a deeper knowledge of each learner’s requirements. This knowledge is gained through the initial assessments which would include a learning style questionnaire, observations carried out during sessions and from each learner’s ILP (individual learning plan) which is a document produced by each individual learner that takes into consideration the learner’s strengths and weaknesses. While more traditional teaching methods are based on the principle that all learners should get equal attention, follow the same curriculum and are assessed at the same level (‘One size fits all’), an ILP presumes that the needs of each individual learner are different, and therefore should be addressed on an individual basis. Research has shown that putting emphasis on the individual learner’s role is vital to a productive learning experience. It is important to take this into consideration when producing resources and session plans to ensure that all sessions are inclusive to all learners. Regularly updating and assessing the individual learner’s ILP enables me to review a learner’s progress, negotiate priorities with the learner and agree with them an individual learning plan. By doing this it will allow the learner to take responsibility for their own education whist ensuring that they are following the same curriculum design. I would then input the individual goals set onto an assessment tracking system (Pro-monitor) this information is available to all teachers in that curriculum area so that they are aware of individual goals set ensuring continuity and in turn creating an assessment cycle action plan for the academic year. This process allows for the learner’s progress to be continually reviewed against the goals that have been set and allows for them to be amended in order to extend. It is the responsibility of the teacher to have a detailed profile of the learners, to allow for differentiation in session plans. The responsibility is to plan lessons that will incorporate varying learning styles to ensure that learners have equal rights to learn. The completion of attendance records, carrying out one to one interviews and clear differentiation sheets for all learners should be completed and regularly updated and records kept. It is the teacher’s responsibility to recognise the limitations and boundaries within their role, therefore referring learners to the relevant departments for support that falls outside of their expertise for example, the ESOL, Learner Support, and Counselling departments. As Dow and Truman said, â€Å"Teachers do not – and certainly should not – act alone, nor should they imagine that there are no limits or boundaries to their responsibilities† (Dow & Truman, 1995). The teacher needs to remember the aim of ’Every Child Matters’ (ECM, 2003) and that every child has the right to learn in a safe learning environment that promotes openness and trust. Ensuring the layout of the classroom is suitable, gives all learners an equal opportunity to engage in activities. However in my specific role as a hairdressing teacher this is not always possible when working in the salon where all learners have individual stations to work at. Whilst this is beneficial for independent learning I always ensure that there is an open space to gather learners for demonstrations and group work.

Recommendation Brief for an Internal Accountant

Recommendation Brief for an Internal Accountant Recommendation Brief for an Internal Accountant A client has an out-of-control system that is in need of change to get it back into control. Internal controls are an important part of a company. The role of internal controls is to keep mistakes from occurring as much as possible. It also aids in preventing individuals from being dishonest. The system the client is using is out-of-control, and it is highly recommended that the company hire an internal accountant. The internal can provide information to managers to limit any problems and audit the system internally.Implementing internal audits will help build credibility within the company and keep violations from occurring that would violate laws and regulations. An internal auditor would work with management and owners to analyze important areas of the company’s performance. These areas that would be analyzed would include assets, accuracy of financial information, and ensuring t hat government and industry standards and regulations are being followed. Another point that the internal auditor would confirm is that the policies and procedures are aligned with the company’s goals.An internal auditor would add security and be an asset to the company. The first step an internal auditor would initiate would develop a plan to evaluate the current control system that is in place. Any deficiencies found would be documented and evaluated for improvement. The deficiencies would need to be corrected if possible. At the completion of the audit from the internal auditor a written recommendation explaining the control system and what needs to be done to correct the deficiencies would be given to the management of the company.There are positives in hiring an internal accountant for a company that has a system out-of-control. The first positive is the ability to minimize or extinguish any deficiencies before there are long- term effects. The second positives is the co ntrol system would be improved and help in the function of the company so that goals can be met more efficiently. A third positive is there would be a savings in money. There would no longer be a need to hire an outsider to do what an internal auditor can do. The individual hired would be knowledgeable about how the company is operated and its goals.They would also have access to information about the company that others may not have access to. The internal auditor would be on staff to do evaluations on a continual basis and be able to assist management and solve problems as issues may arise. When looking to hire an internal accountant there are some requirements or qualification that the individual needs to possess. One requirement or qualification the applicant should have is the proper education and licensing that would be appropriate for the job of internal accountant.Another area that would be important is have is experience. For the applicant to have experience in how to handl e certain situations or already have ideas of what works and does not work is important. The experience can be a time saver in solving problems with the current system. A third skill that would be an advantage in an applicant would include being knowledgeable and experienced in report writing skills. The last are to look at for a possible candidate is person characteristics.These characteristics would include being ethical, observant, self-reliant, confident, trustworthy, perceptive, and open-minded. It is important to hire an internal accountant as soon as possible because the company’s current system is already out-of-control. Hiring someone with experience would be beneficial and an asset to an already failing system. A good working relationship between the internal auditor and management is vital to the company. Having a good working relationship will help in communicating the needs and goals of the company.A recommendation of hiring a well qualified internal accountant i s vital to the success of the company. References FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. (n. d. ). FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Retrieved April 8, 2013, from http://www. fdic. gov Audit Process. (n. d. ). University Audit Office. Retrieved April 8, 2013, from http://www. audit. cornell. edu/audit. html Welcome to NewAccountantUSA. com. (n. d. ). Welcome to NewAccountantUSA. com. Retrieved April 8, 2013, from http://www. newaccountantusa. com

FINLAND ENERGY POLICY Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

FINLAND ENERGY POLICY - Term Paper Example The ministry has been capable of establishing and exceptional versatile and decentralized energy system; they are based on both small and large energy production plants and a variety of energy sources. Finland itself has been capable of developing a strong energy technology or the energy cluster and it has grown in importance. The country has been in the forefront in the decreasing unnecessary regulation and therefore it has created preconditions for the greater efficacy and internationalization among the Finland’s energy companies (Ministry of Employment and the Economy, 2011). The Finland energy policy is based on three fundamentals: environment, economy and energy. The core elements of the policy are to secure the energy supply, develop competitive prices, and to meet the European Union common Energy and Climate goals. Another important principle is the integration of the environmental goals, other types of sustainable developments with the economy of energy. It is imperative to note that at each stage of the programme, the prospective price, the availability of the imported energy, and the larger frequency in which the decisions are made at the international level affect the energy policy (Ministry of Employment and the Economy, 2011). The energy policy of Finland is implemented in regard to the drawn-up energy policy documents like the objectives that have been set in the governmental negotiations and the Government’s Energy Policy Programme. There are factors that underpin the realization of the Finland energy policy and they are special programmes such as the National Climate and Energy Strategy and the international commitments. The energy policy was adopted in 2008 and it is determined by the National Climate and Energy Strategy and its additional programmes. The drafting of the Climate and Energy Strategy was done in consideration of the principles that underlie the energy

The principle of non-refoulement. Practical usage of the Essay

The principle of non-refoulement. Practical usage of the non-refoulement principle - Essay Example Non-refoulement principle approved in 1951 is being widely discussed by scholars and scientists for determination of the boundaries of its relevant application in the modern international judicial paradigm. This principle belongs to a customary international law and prohibits â€Å"the expulsion, deportation, return or extradition of an alien to his state of origin or another state where there is a risk that his life or freedom would be threatened for discriminatory reasons† Therefore, in accordance with Article 33 of the 1951 Convention: â€Å"No Contracting State shall expel or return (â€Å"refouler†) a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his [or her] life or freedom would be threatened on account of his [or her] race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion†2. This principle is one of the basic pillars of refugee and immigration law.   There is one special aspect in this principl e in accordance with which an alien should not be sent to his country where he can be tortured. This is so-called â€Å"jus cogens rule† and this aspect is obligatory for all countries of the international society. Practical usage of the non-refoulement principle The British legal system has been also shaped under the influence of non-refoulement. Judicial bodies and other competent organs act with regards to this principle and regulating system of immigration and asylum is worked out with regards to the influence of this principle3. ... The main advantage available for all persons is the fact that even no valid legal travelling document is required in order to appeal for the country concerning non-refoulement principle. What is required from a person is his ability to prove a danger of a potential persecution, punishment or any other form of human rights degrading in his home country. Moreover, in case his liberties and freedoms are in danger or he may be subjected to an inhuman treatment at home, he should prove it to the country able to protect him in accordance with the non-refoulement principle. A system of proof in comparison with the one applied in criminal law cases is more tolerant. Thus, a principle of proof â€Å"beyond reasonable doubt† is discarded and a principle working in the civil law system â€Å"balance of probability† is not efficient as well6. Thus, the House of Lords rejected application of â€Å"balance of probability† norm in considering refugee cases. Currently, it is eno ugh to prove the slightest possibility for a person to be come through severe punishment or a serious harm. For example, a person may correlate a potential harm with the discriminatory grounds described in the Refugee Convention. Thus, on a discriminatory racial, religious or nationality or any other â€Å"membership of a particular social group†7 basis a person may be persecuted. In case a person managed to prove his fair basis for application for the non-refoulement principle, the country would provide him with relevant norms described in the Refugee Convention. Every country may interpret the basic principles of the Refugee Convention basing on its own particular ideas, but still, the main trends are strictly followed by the international community8. Therefore, the

Stem cell research and its future Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Stem cell research and its future - Essay Example It can find solutions for the devastating disease like cancer, Parkinson’s disease, diabetics, heart diseases, etc. Stem cell research is becoming a highly controversial subject at present because of the ethical and moral issues involved in it. Even though nobody has any doubt about the potential of stem cells in improving human life, plenty of sociologists, religious leaders and scholars have already questioned the logic of stem cell research. The discovery, isolation, and culturing of human embryonic stem cells will help the medical science to propose solutions to some of the serious health problems. At the same time, the killing of the embryo for the wellbeing of human is questioned by many people. Some people argue that embryonic stem cell research should be completely banned since it denies the natural right of the embryos to take birth in this world. On the other hand, supporters of embryonic stem cell research argue that embryos cannot be considered as complete human beings since the birth has not been taken place. In short, stem cell research is getting highly controversial as time goes o n. This paper analyses the future of stem cell research. According to Inou (p.2560), Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers’ are caused by problems in cortical neurons whereas in dementia, Lewy bodies, or frontotemporal lobar degeneration is causing the disease. Parkinson disease is caused by dopaminergic neurons whereas upper and lower motor neurons cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved its adult stem cell protocol to conduct Phase I clinical trials to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and TCA Cellular Therapy. This is the second FDA-approved protocol for the treatment of ALS using stem cells in the country; and the first using adult stem cells from the same patient. The aim of the Phase I study is to assess safety of IND 13729, as a stem cell therapy for

Business Law - common law question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Business Law - common law question - Essay Example Law is separated into two parts which are criminal law as well as civil law (Barker, 2000). Criminal law is enacted when some harm is committed to the social order and the convict person is penalized with fines or imprisonment. Criminal law is developed from the common law as well as the statutes enacted by the government like the Crimes Act 1900 New South Wales (NSW). Most of the criminal statutes of Australia are derived from the English criminal law. Criminal law is divided into two segments which are ‘indictable offences’ as well as ‘summary offences’. ‘Indictable offences’ are the cases which are recorded in the document ‘indictment’ prepared for the ‘Crown’ (State) as prosecutor. ‘Summary offences’ are the cases which are required to be settled in front of the magistrate (Criminal law and civil law, 2012). Civil law deals with disagreements in among individuals or organizations as well as provides leg al remedy. Civil law involves cases relating to accidents as well as contracts. The civil law cases are to be settled in a court before a judge providing reasons for the actions taken in settlement of the claims (Criminal law and civil law, 2012). IRAC denotes Issue, Rule, Application as well as Conclusion. The method or framework is a valuable process to formulate legal analysis. The aspect of issue depicts the significant controversy upon which the basic foundation of the case is formulated. The section of rule or relevant law describes the prevalent laws that can be applied to the identified issue in terms of legal case scenario. The analysis section comprises the use of the relevant rule to the recognized issue. The conclusion section includes the expected outcomes of the identified issue/case. In relation to the provided scenario, the IRAC method would be applied in order to gauge the possible outcomes of the case (What is IRAC?, n.d.). According to the scenario of the case, An na was injured for apparent negligence of Michael who was driving the car under the influence of alcohol. Thus, Anna wanted to take legal actions against Michael. Issue The identified issue that would be presented to the court for trials would be a scenario which occurred in a rainy late night where Anna desired to have a lift to home from Michael rather than waiting for other taxis for commutation to home. During her travel with Michael, Anna came to know that he had consumed alcohol and he faced problems in keeping control of the vehicle. However, Anna still agreed to continue her journey with Michael on way to Anna’s home. After travelling to a certain distance, Michael lost control over the car and hit a tree. This accident resulted in causing severe injuries to Anna and Michael. Subsequent to the accident, Anna decided to sue Michael for the accident causing her injuries and moreover for the probable negligence which took place on that on behalf of Michael. Moreover, thi s case intends to emphasize on the circumstances that whether Anna will be able to sue Michael for his negligence or not in relation to the circumstance in which the accident took place. In this case, in order to succeed in the trails after suing Michael the aspects that Anna should consider and establish have also been analyzed. Rules/Relevant Law In relation to the issue of the case, Anna was provided lift by Michael who had consumed more than allowable level of alcohol which resulted in an accident causing injuries to

International Investing Project Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

International Investing Project - Term Paper Example The stability of the market as a whole but that also means extremely low growth potential if ever there is any worth considering at all. The performance of Siemens AG also takes a positive trend as their USA stocks but had higher returns than other stocks under consideration due other factors than the market. This means that the stocks’ performance. The stock prices for both are also in the on the side. CHL is at least in the decent deviation of -0.252%. The stock prices alone are already telling the investor which one is a better pick. It does not mean however, that CHL is a good investment or bad because the change is negligible. This means that the stock was not influence by market changes. The main reason may because of majority of the business is also ultimately dependent on the oil industry. Which is being an affected changes being in Middle East. The implications of portfolio return and risk in connection with market points out the degree of volatility in the changes of the portfolio return. In this case, a positive portfolio return with a positive return of the market both generates positive returns. The major defect of this analysis in the first place is the computation of returns within two day only. The extreme swings of the market are simply too unpredictable to make a safe investment (Graham 2004). To start with, it is not a profitable investment already. The picture we have painted above will change drastically should we look at this situation using 5 or 10 yrs as range when computing for stock returns. Obviously, the short term investing style is not as easy or profitable as when you are investing for the long term and evaluating major trends on the stock, not just the daily fluctuations on the stock market. In terms of predictability, we will find it extremely hard to judge the profitability of the stock alone just by using beta since it is also a relative value computed within a chosen time

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

Carbohydrates - Essay Example Once the body consumes carbohydrates it turns them into sugar. The processed sugar is subsequently turned into energy that is used by our body cells, tissues, and organs. The sugar that is not used by these three elements is stored either in the muscles or liver of the person. Some carbohydrates are better for the body than others. Two types of carbohydrates are simple and complex carbohydrates. The difference between these two types of carbohydrates lies in the speed of digestion. Simple carbohydrates are digested slowly by the body, while complex carbohydrates are processed quickly. In scientific terms simple carbohydrates are monosaccharide and disaccharides, while complex carbohydrates are polysaccharides. When digested carbohydrates form glucose. Once the body receives the glucose it is then transported around the body through the blood stream to be converted in the cells into energy. â€Å"The pancreas gland in your abdomen secretes the hormone insulin, which controls the uptake of glucose by your cells† (Netdoctor, 2011). The excess sugar that is not used goes to the liver, muscles, or is converted into fat. Whenever the body needs extra energy a hormone called the glucagons gets secreted by the pancreas. This procedure converts glucagons back into glucose or sugar, which is then converted once again into energy for the body. According to the British Nutrition Foundation the average female receives 47.7% of their energy from carbohydrates, while men receive 48.5% (Netdoctor, 2011). Carbohydrates are present in a lot of the food we eat. Complex and simple carbohydrates are present in different types of food consumed by humans. The most common types of food that contain carbohydrates are whole grains, vegetable, fruits, vitamins, and sugared sodas. An extended list of food items that have either simple or complex carbohydrates is illustrated in the table below: It is important for humans to control their consumption

Crashes in Oregon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7500 words

Crashes in Oregon - Essay Example Outside areas of this urban-rural boundary were divided into further boundaries of 2.5 miles. An intersection tool in ArcMap was used to locate crashes within these areas. By using R studio software, road accidents in Oregon were classified into fatality crashes, serious injury crashes (Injury Type A), non-fatal crashes and PDO (Property damaged only) crashes. By using the MOR method, this research essay found that the total number of crashes that were recorded were 49790. The number of fatal crashes was 305 while non-fatal crashes were 24455 and while 25030 crashes resulted in PDO, and 1432 crashes resulted in serious injuries. A rise in the percentage of crashes has been observed in crashes involving the use of alcohol, unbelted occupants, during weekends, during nighttime and on interstate highways. Crashes involving the use of alcohol have shown a rise in the range 20% -28% from the year 2006 to 2012 for all zones. Thus, it is essential to establish safety-associated outlays and shoulder widening, making suitable alterations to the existing vertical and horizontal curves, the introduction of median treatments and to introduce the resurfacing will go long way in reducing the number of road accidents in the Oregon rural roads. Road traffic crashes are typical incidents that take place on the road. These involve vehicles and result in harm to people and property in form of casualties, injuries, and damage to vehicle and damage to nearby properties. Broadly speaking, the damages of road crashes are divided into two categories human and financial damages. The first ever fatal traffic crash recorded in the history of the world took place in the UK in the year 1896, after the accident, the then British Secretary of Transport stated that ‘never should we allow this to happen again’ (Balogun, 2007).  

Construction law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Construction law - Essay Example Construction projects could clearly be said to be the result of co-ordinated efforts between promoters, project managers, consultants, architects, planners and workforce (own and/or contracted) who actually carry out the construction work at the site. Thus, when considering the construction industry in its entirety, the need for demand creation is vested with groups of individuals who could create more value for organisations than individuals working in isolation. â€Å"But by freely indulging in exchange, that is with no coercion, each member would be better off or at least no worse off than by being in isolation. The group as a whole would be better off; value is created.† (Sen n.d). However, construction activities also envisage time and cost factors. Unjustified delays may cause budgetary constraints which could be avoided if planning and organization of joint projects were carried out meticulously and diligently. â€Å"It was concluded that this approach offers a number of benefits for the client, the main contractor, partnering subcontractors and professional consultants, such as, lower costs, improved team approach and less confrontation.†(Humphreys, Matthews & Kumaraswamy 2003, pp.166-178). non-actions. However, much would depend upon the ensuing covenant and the terms and conditions of employment. Just as there are legal differentiations between contractors and employees, so also there are surrounding differences between the rights, liabilities and privileges of contractors, sub contractors and others along the line. Though much about contracting is gained from the UK Contract Act and ancillary laws, local laws and practices are also of major import, especially in the event of disputes. Often the demarcation of where the responsibilities of the main contractor ends and that of the sub contractors begin could be

Brief Analysis of Music Essay Example for Free

Brief Analysis of Music Essay In Joel and Ethan Coen’s unique take on referencing Homer’s Odyssey in the form of a 1930’s Great Depression comedy-adventure film, â€Å"O Brother, Where Art Thou? †, the most noticeably intelligent attribute was the genius song and music choice that, in more ways than one, dictated scene build-up, characteristic, and transition, thus keeping the theme of the â€Å"old-time,† old-country† atmosphere well intact throughout. The variety of American roots music songs used in the scenes gives cinematic emphasis to the characters’ circumstances and plot situations. Moreover, the assortment highlights the realness of time and setting presentation in telling the story of trio convicts and just where, when, and how their adventure unfolds. Brief Analysis of Music Selection in Joel and Ethan Coen’s â€Å"O Brother, Where Art Thou? † As the film opens with a lengthy line of hard-toiling inmates along the rail-road iron linings, collectively and heavily chanting verses from a rather hauntingly soothing blues tune entitled â€Å"Po Lazarus† (Track 1), the audience is at once audio-visually oriented and introduced into the state of the times, surroundings, over-all atmospherics, and mood of the film. The relative simplicity of life through the rather depressed and trying times is kept through notable scenes. An example of which is when the odd trio of Ulysses Everett McGill, Delmar O’Donnell, and Pete, together with Cousin Wash, all enjoyed an after-meal, quality-entertainment radio offering via Norman Blake’s country classic â€Å"You are My Sunshine† (Track 3). Moreover, the music presented in each of the scenes not only offers musical genre variety of roots country and folk, blues, bluegrass, gospel, and much in between through certain scene transitions, but more importantly highlights the tone of each separate scene in between dialogue, one distinct from the other, effectively and memorably. An example of this was the on-going quarrel of Everett and Pete which was overshadowed by the mass baptismal gathering and singing of a traditional gospel hymn â€Å"Down to the River to Pray† (Track 4), wherein all except Everett opted to clean his spiritual slate. Another was the scene seduction by the sirens, which is musically accompanied with â€Å"Didn’t Leave Nobody but the Baby† (Track 10) by Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Gillian Welch, and also with Tommy’s would-be hanging in the sound of â€Å"O Death. † All of these scenes are observably different from one another, but the rather musically enchanting versed sung melodies even give the scenes both an emotionally accessible and later-on cinematically nostalgic feature which stays with the viewers even after the film is over. The song selection provides the proper build-up, eventual transition through, and even main story twists which fuel the story’s eventualities. An example of this was when the trio headed to a local radio station in hopes of garnering a means of self-financial aid, they sang â€Å"Man of Constant Sorrow† (Track 7), disguised on the airwaves as the â€Å"Soggy Bottom Boys† accompanied by musically skillful, guitar-equipped Tommy Johnson—who played a particularly important scene role for the film’s story. The song performed was not only quite entertaining, but its definitions also constituted what a traditional American folk song truly is, which gave the scene much credibility and realness in every extent. The music also provides the film with a sense of scene consistency without compromising the story and, as the quality of song recordings are kept to its truest form even more enriching the old-time aspect of the film. As Evan Cater (2009) points out, â€Å"These recordings, which were made without the meddling clarity of digital technology, give the film much of its power and authenticity† (n. p. ). The excellent selection and execution of music and scene inter-play gives the film a characteristic of its own and none like other. References Burnett, D. (2000). Man of Constant Sorrow [D. Tyminski, H. Allen P. Enright]. O Brother, Where Art Thou Soundtrack [CD]. Nashville: Mercury Records. Cater, E. (2008). O Brother, Where Art Thou?. AllMusic. com. Retrieved January 21, 2009 from http://www. allmusic. com/cg/amg. dll? p=amgsql=10:hifixqu0ldse. Coen, J. (2000). O Brother, Where Art Thou?. California: Touchstone and Universal Pictures. Davs, J. Mitchell, C. (2000). You are My Sunshine [N. Blake]. O Brother, Where Art Thou Soundtrack [CD]. Nashville: Mercury Records Harris, E. , Krauss, A. , and Welch, G. (2000). Didn’t Leave Nobody but the Baby [E. Harris, A. Krauss, G. Welch ]. O Brother, Where Art Thou Soundtrack [CD]. Nashville: Mercury Records. Lomax, A. (2000). Po Lazarus [J. Carter]. O Brother, Where Art Thou Soundtrack [CD]. Nashville: Mercury Records. Traditional (2000). Down to the River to Pray [A. Krauss]. O Brother, Where Art Thou Soundtrack [CD]. Nashville: Mercury Records. Traditional. (2000). O Death [R. Stanley]. O Brother, Where Art Thou Soundtrack [CD]. Nashville: Mercury Records.

Reflective Essay On Gaining Management Skills In Nursing Nursing Essay

Reflective Essay On Gaining Management Skills In Nursing Nursing Essay For the last five years, I have been working in the capacity of senior staff nurse in a rehabilitation unit for patients suffering from various forms of mental health conditions. When the ward manager offered me the opportunity to attend a course focusing on management skills, I had mixed feelings. I was pleased to realise that my manager had confidence in me to participate; However, I felt that this would be a challenge. At the same time, I was apprehensive; would I be able to fulfil her expectations? Especially as this course was designed for charge nurses who are expected to take a managerial role. Boud et al (1985) wrote about reflection being a form of response of the learner to experience. Johns (2000) stated through the conflict contradiction, the commitment to realise desirable work and understanding why things are as they are, the practitioner is more empowered to take more appropriate action in the future. From a reflective perspective of my practice, I undertook this study because I wanted to develop my role and felt it would be a good opportunity for me to apply the knowledge gained into my clinical practice. Effective resource management in the health care is paramount as without resources, there would be no health services. Various and appropriate resources are required to function and support the delivery of healthcare. In a practice setting, there is the human resources and non human resources. Human resources are staffà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s clinical knowledge, their skills and time. This refers to all categories of the workforce within the health care setting. It includes nursing, medical, management, domestic, Occupational therapist, administrators, patients, etc.. Therefore, this includes the skill mix of staff, recruitment and retention. Non human resources are buildings, medication, equipment methods and money. Methods as resources include clinical procedures, policies and training. For money, the resources include the cost of maintaining buildings, equipment, recruiting staff and their salaries and day today running of wards, etc. These resources should be utilized effectively in order to achieve targets at minimal financial cost, in the minimum amount of time and to a high standard. Learning about workforce planning gave me a greater understanding of assessing how many, and what type of staff required, identifying how these staffs will be supplied and deciding how a balance between demand and supply can be achieved. Workforce planning in the NHS is a challenging but an important process. More effective the workforce is ensuring better service for service users. During our study lessons, we have had plenty of opportunities to participate in group work. Within an establishment / ward situation it is important to complete the decision making process as a team. Members should realise if they are to discuss an issue, find possible answers to an issue or make recommendations in order for implementation. There must be an open forum for discussion. Given the above, there is less chance members will waste time dealing with issues beyond their responsibility. Commitment to the decision is important as this will increase the commitment to implementation of the decision. Some of the advantages of group decision making are it allows attempts to persuade and influence others, which could result in achieving high quality results. Because of participants wider knowledge, experience and data collection it could produce more possible solutions. People are more committed to implement what has been discussed and planned if they are included in the discussion a nd the decision making process. Sharing ideas, opinions and options increase the understanding of the situation and commitment to the decision. In group discussions there is opportunity to learn from the other members. The advantage is there can be a tendency for more dominate member to take over and influence others. However, a few of the participants may attempt to appear superior and dominate the group. Especially when there are strong personalities among the group members. Respect differences of opinion (Brounstein,2003; Payne,2001). Also, group members may become more interested in winning rather than investing the best possible option. I have experienced advantages as well as disadvantages during our group work sessions. It felt warm and satisfying to be a part of a group which ensures that everyone has an opportunity to be heard respecting everyoneà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s idea and values. It was tense and uncomfortable when there are dominators and aggressors; they were interrupti ng others wanting only their ideas to be heard. There are numerous methods by which a group can interact, these be introduced to prevent the discussions being dominated. I have also experienced differences in ideas, which led to feelings of a frustration and an unfriendly atmosphere. When you have a group that works well together as a team, negotiating will become more effective. We should make sure that our negotiations are done in such a way that it flows. The aim is to find an outcome thats acceptable to both parties. To achive this, we need skills such as: Listening, Questioning, reasoning and accepting. There are many ways to show that you are listening to someone. These involve two sets of skills. Non verbal, which relate to what you do and verbal relates to what you say. Non verbal methods include giving the person eye contact, nodding and not looking at your watch or yawning. Verbal ways include letting someone finish what they are saying, and thinking about what they have said rather than about what you are going to say next and responding to their comments. In any negotiation situation, it is important that you should feel comfortable about questioning anything you are unsure of or not happy with. There is no point in taking up a hard and fast position when you go into a negotiating situation. When this happens, both side retreat into their corners, and it becomes difficult to reason. You must be prepared to make some minor adjustments and compromises, as will your negotiating partner to reach a suitable outcome. At the end of a successful negotiation, you should both feel satisfied that you have reached an acceptable decision. You should also both have had an opportunity to express your views, ask questions and work out a reasonable agreement. If one party cannot accept the position, the negotiation should continue. I have also learnt and experienced how important it is to have bargaining skills when you are negotiating between two groups. During our negotiating exercise what we failed to do was to discuss between team members our strongest and weakest arguments and planning the sequences of our arguments. I believe the negotiation process can be summarised as a trading game. There is one way to play the game. That is to trade what we have with what we want. Through this study course, I was expected to learn various topics such as finance/workforce scheduling, report writing/negotiating skills, Recruitment and selection, interview skills, etc. Each lesson I attended was crammed with information. There were a number of skills I learned as part of my coursework, but in addition I learned a lot by going through the process. Reading relevant books and discussing these with my fellow classmates broaden my knowledge and interest in each topic. Looking at sample essays made me realise writing a report requires logical thinking and planning in order to organise oneà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s ideas carefully and express them accurately. This was a valuable exercise as we write reports daily in our work area. I could use my new found knowledge and skills at work. The day after I learned about negotiating skills, a situation arose at work where the new information I learned assisted me in tackling the situation confidently. The course also helped me to improve my supervision skills in leading the junior members of the team. Many of the lesions stressed group work. This allowed me to work in a team setting confidently and expand my team building skills. I highly value the skills and lessons I have learned from attending this course and would recommend the program to anyone who wants to expand their knowledge and skills. Boud D, Keogh R, Walker D (eds.) (1985) Reflection , turning experience into learning. London. Cogan Page. Brounstein,2003;payne,2001 Nursing Management and Leadership. Ann Marriner Tomer Johns C (2000) Becoming a reflective practitioner. Oxford: Blackwell

Digital Manipulation | The Ethics Of Photography

Digital Manipulation | The Ethics Of Photography Photography is a form of visual communication (LESTER, Paul, 2006). Photographs are used for a range of purposes including documenting personal events such as birthdays, weddings or christenings, for advertising products or services, for decorating the home, and for appointing authority and authenticity to news stories. Passports and other official forms of identification use photographs as a way to identify people. Current culture is image driven and we are exposed to imagery every waking hour of our lives through forms of visual media on the Internet, television, newspapers, magazines, mobiles phones and now tablets. In using photography to identify an individuals identity or to document the occurrence of an event, a great amount of trust must be invested in the medium of the photograph. Photographs are used in courtrooms as evidence, an occurrence that evidences the trust invested in photographs. By using photographs as evidence it is important to question if the medium of the photograph is an accurate recording of reality. In 2012 an Iranian news agency published an apparent newly developed military drone manufactured by Iran, see Figure 1. The published image was soon discovered to be an already published image of a drone developed by a Japanese University which had been modified to give the impression it was a new and authentic image of a new machine considered desirable by a government. This example evidences the developing ambiguous and potentially dishonest role of digital manipulation within photography. Image manipulation such as this encourages those who read these images and similar im ages to consider whether images have been manipulated and if so, to what extent and for what motivation. The readers of images must question the media that they read and question the veracity of the images whilst not awarding great doubts in the media in general or jumping to the conclusion that every image read has been manipulated. This dissertation will consider more fully inspect the manipulation of imagery, whilst particularly the development of digital photography and will evaluate how this process has affected media credibility. Iran successfully tests Koker-1 VTOL drone (PHOTO) Figure Manipulated image used by Iranian Government to try substantiate deveoplemt of military drone. Journalism in our society often requires the combination of visual and written information to both reach and inform a mass target audience. There is a difference between the photograph and the written representation which is that the camera is able to capture reality (NERI, GRAZIA, 2003). Early photographic technology required a subject to be still in order for it to be recorded whereas modern technology allows for a photograph to be made in less than a second. This significant development in technology means that subjects and material capable of being photographed have become far more extensive than in the early years of photography where limitations were imposed by both camera size and slowness of film. There is also a fundamental difference between photography and the written word in documenting situations. The written word allows an author to mediate reality, choosing what aspects of a subject to detail and describe, governed often by personality and knowledge of a subject. A pho tograph however, may be taken in a situation in which time is limited which in turn forces the photographer to record a subject with little conscious consideration to other objects within the image. Additionally, because the camera is seen as a mechanical device it is not considered to mediate reality like a written account. The camera instead is seen as a device that records truth and cannot be used subjectively (BAUDELAIRE, CHARLES, 1855). If a photograph is considered to have been be manipulated, for example through the use of exposure to give a different reading of the photographs meaning then this could be regarded as providing a less than this could be regarded as a subjective representation. Whereas in regard to the written word mediation is much less alarming due to our familiarity with literature as a subjective representation of reality. It is understood that words are made up of symbols and signs that express the subject they characterise. The word cup does not innately i nform the reader it means the object cup but rather the meaning of the word cup is understood by reading the letters of the word. Yet a photograph is able to demonstrate the appearance of the object it represents and it is able to make this representation with little interpretation required. An Inherent Realism Unlike painting or writing, a photograph can record a specific moment in time. A painting can be of a place that has never existed and literature may describe any place whether real or not. However the example of the Iranian military drone demonstrates that photography shares the same ability as painting and writing in that it can be subjective. Although, painting may be able to demonstrate the emotion of a subject, it is assumed that photography is unable to. In fact, photography has a stronger relationship with specificity as opposed to generality found in painting and writing (MITCHELL, WILLIAM J, 1992). Photographys ability to accurately document is recognised by governments who use photographs for identification purposes in official documents such as passports and driving licenses. Because photography is used for such official purposes, the relationship it holds with specificity is strengthened. However, the Iranian military drone example contests that a photograph may not alway s show the reality of the situation. Photography is powerful because it carries the authority of looking like reality. When looking through a clear glass window it is easy to forget that you are looking through a glass window at reality. Because photographs look so much like reality, it is easy to disregard the complex mechanical and scientific processes which combine to create the photograph. This mechanical and scientific process is not as simple as the window analoguey and will be further reconciled or distorted by considering the technology employed. It is this increasing reliance on science, where there is even no longer a latent image as with analogue processes by which the photograph is made which prompts legitimate and valid questioning of a photographs legitimacy. Barbara Savedoff (1997) uses the analoguey of a hallucination to describe the relationship a photograph has with reality. Savedoff argues that we know photographs are not real and that we know hallucinations are not real. However, photographs seem so real that it is difficult to determine the difference between representation of reality in the photograph and the fact that the photograph is only a representation to begin with. Furthermore, Savedoff points out that photographs do not just record a scene, they also capture a segment of the moment they represent. The idea that photographs contain light from the subject they recorded was considered greatly by early photographers and theorists. In analogue photography, light bounces off the subject and enters the lens and makes contact with the film starting a chemical reaction which produces an image on the surface of the film, creating an exposed negative. This light used to expose the negative has a specific relationship with the subject, the negative and later the printed photograph. Susan Sontag (On Photography, 1977) argues that this process is called the trace and refers to it as something directly stencilled off the real. John Berger (Uses of Photography, 1980) also maintains that the value of the photograph is found within its relationship with the subject. This raises the question when a photograph is manipulation what effect does it have on this relationship between light, subject and recording medium? It is important to note that before a photograph is manipulated the photograph may not already be an objective observation of a subject (HUEPPAUFF, BERND, 1977). It is the photographers decision from where and in what manner a subject or scene should be recorded. Other decisions include what to keep inside of the frame. Once the composition of the photograph is made, there are still variables controlled by the photographer that can ultimately change the way in which the photograph is read. The exposure of the photograph is another consideration, along with the edit performed by the person who has comissioned the photographer to make these photographs. In a news environment, an editor may choose the photographs he thinks best fit the objective of the agency regardless of whether or not that is an entirely accurate representation of the events that took place. These decisions can weaken the objectivity of the photographs made. When photographs are evaluated, one consideration is aesthetic quality (BARRETT, TERRY, 1985). Photographs made for journalism are seldom truly documentary (BARRETT, TERRY, 1985). Increasing the aesthetic value of documentary photographs is not new. During the Spanish Civil War, Robert Capa made a photograph of a militant being shot. It later turned out to be staged to create a more compelling photograph. The perspective of those who produce and broadcast photographs can also affect the way in which a photograph is understood (HUEPPAUFF, BERND, 1977). For example, if a photographer is photographing a public demonstration and they feel positively toward the demonstration, it is probable that they will make photographs that show the demonstration in a positive light. However, if the photographer was opposed to the demonstration then they are likely to record anti-social behaviour of members of those involved. This example shows how the photographer can manipulate the photograph and the reality it presents (BARRETT, TERRY, 1985). In summary, the photographs objectivity which is already questionable due to the way in which the photographer makes a photograph is further questioned as it may have been manipulated by those commissioning the photographer through the process of selection, ultimately undermining the objectivity of the photographer and photograph. Adnan Hajj photographed Beirut after an Israeli bombing. Hajj edited the photograph and added more smoke to make a more compelling photograph. Hajj used the clone tool within Adobe Photoshop to clone and copy smoke to additional areas of the photograph, see Figure 2. After initially publishing the photograph, Reuters withdrew it once members of the public claimed it had been manipulated. To anyone who asked to use Hajjs photograph, Reuters stated that the work was no longer available and stated that Hajj no longer works for Reuters (DAY, JULIA, 2006). The photograph was picked up by a blog, which recognised the fake because the same piece of smoke occurred in multiple places (DAY, JULIA, 2006). Manipulated images are normally harder to identify, especially with more advanced software and more experienced digital editors. This case evidences the desire for Hajj to make a more compelling photograph for his clients by manipulating the aesthetic qualities of his photograph. https://sites.google.com/site/tsoldrin/leb-phony.jpg Figure Adnan Hajjs manipulated representation of Beiruit Bombings in 2006 Nonetheless, Hajjs photograph was created subjectively but it is important to note that even photographs that are objective can be interpreted in different ways. For instance a photograph may be used in court to prove that an event has happened. During a trial the two opposing sides may read photographic evidence of the same subject in different ways, even from the perspective of the photographer who took the photograph. (HUEPPAUFF, BERND, 1977). It is apparent that photographs have never been entirely objective now or in years past. Additionally, it is apparent that they record the views of an individual as presented as if they were actuality. While with digital photography it may be easier to manipulate photographs due to the availability of digital cameras and imaging software over darkroom equipment, the truth is that photography has a historic relationship synonymous with manipulation. Derek Bouse (2002) reasons that people generally believe that the age of a photograph relates directly to its accuracy, and that the older a photograph is the more likely it has not been manipulated. However, still numerous instances of analogue photographs exist. For instance, a photographer employed by Mathew Brady during the American Civil War named Alexander Gardner rearranged a dead person on the battlefield to make a more compelling photograph, see Figure 3 (LESTER, MARTIN, 1991). It is important to recognise that this manipulation took place before the photograph was made. The practice of digital photography is still vulnerable to manipulation before the photograph is made however manipulation is usually carried out after the phot ograph is made. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAPgardner.jpg Figure Alexander Gardner rearranges the position of a corpse and gun to increase the drama of photograph Another photographer known for manipulating a photograph prior to making one is Edward Curtis. Curtis paid Native Indians to dress in exotic clothing and photographed them to make a more compelling photograph and to turn them into a spectacle for the public to view them (MICHAELIS, PAMELA, 2008). However, by dressing these subjects the worth of the photograph as document is reduced, see Figure 4. Although analogue technology was the latest available technology, it was still used to manipulate photographs, even after being made. For instance, in family portrait photographs it was common for members of the family to be cut and pasted into a photograph (Lodriguss, 2008). People would sometimes appear to be disproportionate to others in the pictures due to the position of the subject in the original photograph. In some photographs people are also seen floating. http://blog.lib.umn.edu/melan002/melandblog/Piegan-Lodge,%20clock.jpg Figure Edward Curtis changes the traditional dress of subjects and removes clock from the photograph An example of someone who used many negatives to form one photograph print is Oscar Rejlander. In the 1860s, for some pieces of work he used in excess of 30 negatives to create his well-known The Two Ways of Life which demonstrates a philosopher between a life of virtue and vice, see Figure 5. These composite prints were made by cutting together numerous negatives and using them to create a photographic print. In order for the final photographic print to be consistent from left to right, it was vital that sizing and contrast be the same to prevent people from hovering above the ground. Rejlander, before using multiple exposures and cutting negatives in photography was a painter. These examples show that even before digital imaging technologies existed there was extensive manipulation of photographs through analogue techniques. http://twcdc.com/andycox/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Oscar-gustave-rejlander_two_ways_of_life.jpg Figure Oscar Rejlander uses up to 30 composite negatives to create one photograph Using double exposures was also very common and was used often by photographers namely Eadweard Muybridge who photographed landscapes. The photographic materials of the 1850s were not very sensitive to green but were however very sensitive to blue. Therefore, landscape photographs were often improperly exposed. The correct exposure of the blue sky would render the foreground underexposed, or if the foreground would be exposed for the blue sky would be white with no detail. In order to solve this problem Muybridge and a handful of other photographers at the time would create negatives of desirable skies with differing cloud and all exposed properly. He would then use these negatives to add well exposed sky to his landscape photographs (SCOTT, AMY, 2006). The photograph produced would look natural to a viewer but is obviously a form of manipulation, a process often practised today by digital photographers. Muybridge photographed Yosemite and not only added a false sky but removed trees that prevented his view over the landscape, see Figure 6 (SCOTT, AMY, 2006). http://www.imaging-resource.com/ee_uploads/news/1284/muybridge-2.jpg Figure Edward Muybridge, used his collection of cloud negatives to combat technical limitations of early photography The so far discussed photographers have used manipulation to enhance the aesthetics of the photograph; however photography has also a large history with propaganda and political influences. Vladimir Lenin manipulated photographs as a form of propaganda to make historical events support his regime for the Soviet Union. Individuals who were seen as enemies of the state were often ordered to be killed by Stalin. If these individuals were to be within a photograph next to Lenin they would often be removed. Leon Trotsky is a prime example of this. Once Lenin had determined that Trotsky was an enemy of the state he was methodically removed from all traces of him from state photographs. Nikolai Yezov also suffered a similar fate once he fell out of favour with Stalin. This process of manipulation existing photographs carried on to the late 1900s. From looking at Muybridge, we can see that there are numerous stages in the manipulation and some of which are not clear that they have been altered. Edward Steichen states: A manipulated print may not be a photograph. The personal intervention between the action of the light and the print itself may be a blemish on the purity of photography. But, whether this intervention consists merely of marking, shading and tinting in a direct print, or of stippling, painting and scratching on the negative, or of using glycerine, brush and mop on a print, faking has set in, and the results must always depend on the photographer, upon his personality, his technical ability and his feeling (STEICHEN, EDWARD, 1903, p.48). Here Steichen is arguing that every decision the photograph carries out whether that be painting or scratching on the negative is a form of manipulation or as he calls it of faking. Steichen also refers to the personality, technical ability and his feeling which refers to the photographer and their intentions or motives which will manipulate or cause the process of faking. In the period of digital imaging some of these manipulations are seen as ethically acceptable and are not disputed. Media agency guidelines for manipulation, which we will talk about in greater depth soon, maintain that manipulations that were possible during analogue printing technique times are still genuine. These assertions are that if the chemicals used in the darkroom manipulated a photograph in a certain way then this would be a part of the photographic method and could not be criticised. Steichen obviously would not agree with this as he knows the extent to which analogue photographs can be manipulated. Digital Technology and Manipulation The first device invented that could digitise or make analogue photographs available in a digital format was a scanner made by Russell Kirsh in 1957 (TERRAS, MELLIA M, 2008). The scanner functioned by looking at the variations in tone within photographs and assigning a digital value to represent a tone band. Instead of creating a new photograph this scanner copied an existing photograph and recorded it digitally. Because photographs can be scanned to a digital format, the initial analogue negative can now be manipulated digitally and the truth value held by analogue photographs can now be challenged. Birth of Digital Imaging During the 1960s digital imaging technologies was still only used by large institutions such as NASA and the American government. It was not until the 1980s that the media began to use digital imaging technologies. Digital technology could be employed to enhance the clearness of television broadcasts and speed up the time in which photojournalists were able to send pictures to the media. In 1982, National Geographic published a photograph of the pyramids at Giza on the front cover of the magazine, see Figure 7. The photograph has been manipulated to fit a horizontal photograph of the pyramids onto the portrait cover of the magazine to make the front cover more captivating (TERRAS, MELLIA M, 2008). It is important to note that this instance of manipulation was one of the first by a recognised organisation. National Geographics editor, Fred Ritchen who decided to compress the pyramids felt he had achieved a new point of view by the retroactive repositioning of the photographer a few feet to one side (WRIGHT, TERRENCE, 1999, p.110). Ritchens defence to accusations of manipulating the photograph was that if the photographer had moved and taken the photograph at a different time of the day then the photograph would be the same (WRIGHT, TERRENCE, 1999). However the fact remains that this photograph was not the one that was made. The fact that the photograph was manipulated was not broadcast. It was admitted to have been manipulated when other journalists questioned the photograph. Howard Chapnick (LESTER, MARTIN, 1991, p.96) argued that the words Credibility and Responsibility allow photographers to call photography a profession due to ethical considerations rather than a business. Chapnick goes on to argue that not maintaining these ethics will damage journalistic impact and photography as a language. Lastly, he maintains the threat to credibility is permanent if people begin to disbelieve the news photograph. http://www.lagunabeachbikini.com/wordpress/wp-content/images/newspictures/national-geographic-feb82.jpg Figure National Geographic Magazine Cover 1981 In 1985 digital cameras became widely used by professional photographers. Companies also marketed digital imaging camera to the public for domestic use. During this time the processing capabilities of computers was also advancing and provided a way for individuals to load image manipulation software and manipulate photographs. In 1991 the American government and the media used digital photography as a technology for the first time in a war environment. Not only was digital photography used to photograph the war but was used in weapon systems by America (FLORIDI, LUCIANO, 1999). A much more current use of digital imaging technology is live electronic manipulation. Manipulating a live feed allows the editing of satellite image feeds. On the fly image editing may be used in sports programming to show lines on pitches or by governments to hide classified buildings from satellite imagery that is available to the public such as Google Maps. News television channels can also employ technology to sow text feeds beneath news anchors. Delta Tre supply FIFA with sports data services and on screen graphics (BEVIR, GEORGE, 2012). In 2012, the union of European Football Associations placed recorded footage of a fan crying at the opening of the game and played it after one of the teams had won the game to make for more compelling television. Ivan Amato (Lying with Pixels, 2000) argues that as this technology becomes more widespread and available the credibility of video media will be damaged permanently. In some ways this is similar to National Geographics manipulated Pyr amid in that both representations existed but were manipulated to give heightened sensation. The abilities that digital imaging technology have provided have been used by Walt Disney Imagineering Studio to take existing photographs and film of aged or dead celebrities made in the past to be used in new programmes or films (AMATO, IVAN, 2000). This use of technology to manipulate media, demonstrates how analogue photographs and films are susceptible to these processes and also questions the fundamental nature of the final product? Is it simply a manipulated piece of video footage or a new creation entirely? Mitchell (The Reconfigured Eye: Truth in the Post-Photographic Era, 1992) argues that it is a new creation entirely. Mitchell also argues that photography in recent times has entered a phase which he terms pseudophotography meaning that digital photography is not photography. Though the two methods are comparable, they possess different manipulation potentials which are examined in the next section. Manipulation Since Digital photography Savedoff (1997, p.19) argues that technologies alter rather than simply add to the resources of art. This suggests that photography as an art form has been altered by added manipulation potential. This new digital imaging practice should pose a whole range of ethical considerations relating to the manipulation of photographs. However, this has largely failed to have happened due principally to differentiating between the printed or published digital or analogue photograph creating difficulty in identifying and developing a set of different standards for each method. Photographys relationship with reality as previously outlined is apparent in digital photography, however the relationship created by the subjects personal relationship with light as evinced by Sontag and others will be absent in a digital photograph. There is no latent image. In an analogue photograph created through a chemical process there is room for argument that the relationship with light remains intact. Although t his trace looks to be evident in a photograph created by digital means, the trace is not a chemical reaction but a digital representation of reality and therefore not an embedded feature of the relationship between the subject and the photographic process as with analogue. Additionally, the very nature of digital photography means that the process is limitless in the number of alterations or manipulations that can be applied. These manipulations leave little or no evidence of themselves. Modern digital cameras allow the photographer to instantly review the image made and thus allows them amend the and other factors of image capture until the photographer is satisfied with the final result. Images are manipulated by using computers and image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop, along with scanners to digitise analogue images. Therefore, photographs made before digital photography are susceptible to manipulation just like the case of Disney outlined earlier (BOUSE, DEREK, 2002). The development of digital imaging technology has changed photography and its relative relationship with veracity permanently. This lends evidence to Bouses argument that old photographs may be more widely trusted and that digital photography makes readers of images aware not only of current manipulations but of those in the past also. The reader of an analogue photograph, although aware that the photograph was made before the invention of digital technologies is aware that the photograph might have been manipulated and nonetheless changes the way the reader interprets all photographs, manipulated or not (SAVEDOFF, BARBARA E, 1997). This suggests that digital technology has decrease the impression that photographs are mostly objective and truth-relating and that there is a greater tendency for viewers of images to question the veracity of all photographs. A key factor in this significant reduction of trust is the difficulty for the average reader to easily and readily distinguish between manipulated and non-manipulated photographs. Conversely Michelle Henning (2007) argues that digital imaging technologies have enabled limited new ways of manipulating a photograph. Henning continues that digital technologies have only made the manipulation of photographs more available. Henning also argues that the public was previously unaware of image manipulation techniques before the invention of digital imaging technology. Digital manipulation has made the public more aware of photo manipulation and paradoxically served to increase the frequency with which images are manipulated. Evolution of a Medium Photography has been constantly developing since its birth in the 1800s and many of the changes have been driven by evolving technology but were always based on chemical reactions to light. In the 1820s Joseph Niepce found a method to permanently fix a photograph using lavender oil and bitumen. Niepce swiftly developed this method further into heliographs made by using silver nitrate. Eduard Daguerre was also looking for a way to photographically record subjects and contacted Niepce to work with each other. After Niepce died, Daguerre found that mercury could fix images much more permanently and created the Daguerreotype which Daguerre believed at the time serves to draw nature and gives nature the power to reproduce herself (MARIEN, MARY WARNER, 2002, p.23). Since photographys invention the idea of a device that could create unmediated representations of reality was widely believed yet now we begin to see photography may not deserve the verisimilitude it has been ascribed. At the sa me time Henry Fox Talbot worked on a photographic method using paper print. Like the creation of photography and the creation of digital photography these changes and advances were driven simultaneously by several individuals at once. The daguerreotype became the most popular and was widely used to make very simple portraits. Later though, interest was given to the Calotype created by Talbot. The Calotype was less reliable but allowed for prints to be reproduced much more easily and allowed greater detail with the print at least initially. During the mid-1800s negatives were made from glass and coated with albumen paper. These proved much more reproducible and gave more detailed and sharper results than earlier methods. With regard to contemporary digital methods, has digital photography made reproducing images easier due to the fact that digital images when stored on a computer can be duplicated instantly, require no specialist education, now contain little or no cost and can be tr ansmitted and viewed globally without a physical print ever being produced? Being able to reproduce a photograph has always been desirable and this is shown by the demand for the Calotype. Bearing in mind that digital imaging technology has helped progress the ease, convenience and technical, it has done this in a way that has divided the two forms of photography causing great debates among both practitioners and observers of both. Mark Amerika, digital artist and writer, in an interview draws attention to and discusses the differences between digital and analogue photography. Amerika claims that images and how they are read is influenced by the way they are captured, suggesting that as technology changes so does our interpretation of photographs (JACUPS, Karen, 2006). Because photography is much more easily manipulated with digital photography it can be argued that the objectivity of the photograph is lost and it is futile to pursue objectivity (JACUPS, Karen, 2006). It would seem true that manipulation is more common since the advent of digital photography, which could argue that the making of an image is only a small portion of the final product like in the aforementioned case of Rejalnder. Both Mitchell and Savedoff claim that digital photography and the manipulation of it cannot be compared to analogue photography because it is a new medium (MITCHELL, WILLIAM J, 1992) (SAVEDOFF, BARBARA E, 1997). Both continue to argue that because with digital photographs the image is created with a digital sensor digital capture is a separate process to analogue capture. Digital photographs receive their authority because they are almost identical to analogue photographs and this authority is passed to the digital photograph. However, if this authority is diminished, digital photography may be criticised for its lack of authority. News reporting currently accomplished by digital photography may Siemans: Micro Environment and BCG Analysis Siemans: Micro Environment and BCG Analysis SIEMENS COMPANY REVIEW BACK GROUND TO THE STRATEGIC DECISION Siemens is a worldwide leading organization in electronics and electrical engineering industry which is operating in the sector of energy, communication and healthcare sector. There are few industries working in the global market of small and large business which have maintained their successful history of quality products and customer satisfaction. Siemens is also one of those well known and established organizations, having proud to be the leading business. Siemens was founded by Werner Von Siemens and Johann Georg Halske in 1847. The Production Electrical Telegraphs are the remarkable source of Siemens for the past many decades to achieve the large amount of its overall sales. For more than one and a half century, Siemens is still popular in competitive industries for its innovative achievements, technical supports, quality, reliability, and globalization. Being the environmental friendly is one of many other positive aspects of Siemens to feel proud of. Almost one third of their revenue is generated by environmental friendly green products and solutions. â€Å"In fiscal 2009, ended on September 30, 2009, Siemens had revenue of â‚ ¬76.7 billion and net income of â‚ ¬2.5 billion. At the end of September 2009, the company had around 405,000 employees worldwide.† (www.siemens.com) To acquire the long run and effective advantages, generally most of the organizations utilize Strategic decisions. Strategic Decisions help the businesses maintain their quality on the long term directions. Strategic decisions are comprised by considering the organizations activities and analysis to decide the working areas of any organizations. Siemens strategic decisions are quiet clear so far. Siemens basic strategy is to focus particularly on innovation and technology driven growth markets and until the substantive time they have been quiet successful in setting up the trend of new technology and capturing leading positions maintaining their strength of local existence and creating local values on the global level. Siemens believed in diversification and innovation since the establishment which make outstanding business sector. They started identifying market particulars upcoming trends and drawing the strategic results early on. Some years past, Siemens improved their portfolio to four megatrends including demographic change, urbanization, climate change and globalization which are already influencing our daily life today, and the impact of these trends is increasing substantially in the decades. The activities into the sectors of Industry, Energy and healthcare have been the main points of consideration for business. They also set the stage to achieve leading positions and customer satisfaction in attractive continuous growth markets. MICRO ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS Organizations have adopted the internal analysis as a key feature with the frequently changed environment nowadays. To face the environmental change in the ongoing time it has been more useful for the businesses developing strategies utilizing their own resources and capabilities. Siemens has already made it the prior concern for its organization believing their internal resources and strategies as the main strength to achieve their goals. Financial Resources: The group recorded revenues of E77,327 million (approximately $116,294.4 million) during the financial year ended September 2008 (FY2008), an increase of 6.7% over the financial year ended September 2007 (FY2007). The operating profit of the group was E2,492 million (approximately$3,747.8 million) during FY2008, a decrease of 50.2% compared with FY2007. The net profit was E5,725 million (approximately $8,610 million) in FY2008, an increase of 50.4% over FY2007.(Data Monitor Siemens AG). Physical Resources: Siemens are very diversified in geographical presence. They operate in 190 countries spread over the Americas, Europe, CIS, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Middle East. During FY2008, the group generated 26.1% of its revenue from Americas, 52.7% from Europe, CIS, Africa, and 21.2% from Asia, Australian, and Middle East. (Data Monitor Siemens AG) Human Resources: It is in the concern of Siemens that outstanding, competitive and innovative employees are their strength and valuable assets. All of their employees are highly trained, focused and innovative. This belief in their staff plays an important role for Siemens to sustain in the world market. Reputational Resources: Siemens is operating in over 190 countries and for over 160 years. It had created a good and remarkable reputation around the world. They have made them very diversified and manufactured their own brands. Their brands include generators, electrical products, healthcare equipments and many others are some of the outstanding and famous worldwide. MACRO ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS There are some factors that keep changing time to time. These factors are called External factors. No organization can depend on it because of their constant change. Organizations are facing many economic and global problems to sustain. Due to the present dynamic environment; internal strength has been the key part for organizations rely on in order to face any of these challenges. As far as Siemens is concerned, they have been well prepared and have completed their homework keeping these challenges in front. They introduced remarkable measures that will not only help them surviving these crisis without being highly affected but also they will emerge much stronger with the passage of time. Because they began research, identified market specific and started to draw the strategic consequences quite early on to prevent their strength getting weak. Their integrated homework made them able to precisely consider the upcoming opportunities and threats. This homework helped them identify the nature of advantages, opportunities and threats before the time which are: Opportunities: Siemens had bought quite a few businesses in recent years because they think that these businesses have potential to drive its business growth. â€Å"In January 2007, the group acquired US based UGS, one of the leading providers of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services for manufacturers. In the same month, Siemens Water Technologies strengthened its service and product business in the US with acquisitions of four companies: Envirotrol, CEC, Pure Water Solutions, and Sunlight Systems. In November 2007, the group acquired Dade Behring Holdings, a manufacturer and distributor of diagnostic products and services to clinical laboratories.† (Some information is taken from www.siemens.com) Threats: Siemens had done all their homework but still threats lie in front of them. Siemens faces intense competition across its market segments. As Siemens is a huge industry with different sectors their competition is much higher than other industries. Their main competitors in the industry sectors are ABB, Alstom, Bombardier, Emerson Electric, General Electric Company, Honeywell International, Johnson Control, Philips, Schneider Electric, and Tyco International. (Information is gathered from www.datamonitor.com). Likewise in energy sector as well its main competitors are General Electric, Alstom Powers, Mitsuibishi, Abbott and lots more. As it is quite clear that, such competition could adversely affect the revenues and profit margins of the group. DIRECTIONS FOR GROWTH It very important for organizations to be vigilant when choosing the strategic direction, it is a useful method for organizations to launch their products in the market and in order to gain competitive and desired advantages. As it is pointed out by Johnson, Scholes and Whittington that: organizations should be aware of 3 types of motives or pressures that may shape their choice which are: Environment Based Motives: As Siemens is concerned they already had pointed out the growth of economies in the different continents. â€Å"The group operates in about 190 countries Spread over the Americas, Europe, CIS, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Middle East. During FY2008, the group generated 26.1% of its revenue from Americas, 52.7% from Europe, CIS, Africa, and 21.2% from Asia, Australian, and Middle East†. (www.datamonitor.com) Resource Based Motives: As being one of the most diversified groups Siemens have very strong resource capabilities. Due to their high revenues Siemens can afford to spend lucrative amount on their RD. In 2008 Siemens increased its research and development investment to (approximately $5,690.9 million). Igor Ansoff has developed a well known matrix system to analyze the directions of strategies and mix between the products which a company sells and the market is to be sold. Siemens has set the task for capturing leading positions in attractive growth markets. In order to maintain their position Siemens targeted their business activities to some sectors including Industry, Energy and Healthcare. Siemens direction of its strategy lies in all 4 stages of Ansoff matrix. Market Penetration: With the help of its targeted business activities in leading growth market Siemens is constantly penetrating the market. They also have a much diversified customer based group. This group has industrial, infrastructural and diversified customers. The group can be classified in markets like as transport and logistics (such as transport authorities), construction, communication, real estate, metals and mining, machinery, utilities, automotive and many others. Market Development: Siemens is operating in over 190 countries and for over 160 years and generating high revenues which is increasing with the passage of time. Its because they had identified their opportunities and threats. Their prior homework of seeking new markets made them able to achieve the targeted financial market. Product Development: Product development is a very effective and attractive way to counteract a new entrant in market. Product development is to introduce new product to the market or the same product with enhanced and added new services. Siemens has been successful maintaining their vast market, product quality and customer satisfaction around the globe. The basic sectors Health, Industry and Energy are the ones providing them a remarkable deal of opportunities to develop their products. Some of the products and services in energy sector spectrum such as LED energy saving lighting and building control system are up-gradation to their products for their present markets. Diversification: Diversification is one of the key parts for organizations to gain competitive advantage over their competitors. On the other side it includes a great deal of risk for organizations because a huge amount money is required to invest lucrative amount in RD. As The Siemens is a market business leader in the growing sectors, so it deals with the risk to diversify with upper hand. Siemens had always believed in innovation and the technology as said by the founder of the Siemens Werner Von Siemens â€Å"If you are not moving forward you are moving backwards.† Siemens diversify its business by two different ways. Related Diversification: Siemens operates in various sectors of the business market. It provides so many opportunities to diversify beyond the substantive product market within the broad confines of the ongoing industry. Siemens always tried the best in their value chain to gain new products market and customer satisfaction. In industry sector Siemens offers different products such as services like building, communication, lighting, mobile solutions and in energy sector they are providing distribution of power, conversion, extraction and lot more. Unrelated Diversification: Siemens has also diversified its business sector activities beyond its current scope or industry sector. Because of dealing with three business sector activities, Siemens always believed in technology and innovation in their products and services. It requires a great deal of investment in RD. Siemens has a very powerful RD. Recently Siemens had increased their research and development investment to E 3,784 million. Siemens invested with Fujitsu in laptops, which is a very good example of unrelated diversification. PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS The strategy of Siemens portfolio is quite clear for the past many years which set the target to capture and maintain the Number 1 or Number 2 in the future profitable and competitive markets. By doing that Siemens believe they can survive and get through in the difficult constantly changed environment. Siemens is concentrating deeply on renewable energy and organic growth of various products and services. In the past five years they had invested 20 billion Euros in the acquisition of growth business. Siemens has established its leading position in the attractive growth market working out with its three business sectors Healthcare, energy, and industry. As a part of DESERTEC a Solar Thermal Power in Sahara and Wind Farm in Europe are being constructed. They have also being producing Smart Grid Solutions based Technologies such as Electric Cars and lot more. The best and precise portfolio Analysis of Siemens is comprised by Boston matrix. BCG Matrix Siemens AG METHOD OF DEVELOPMENT Siemens have varieties of methods and strategies to develop their SBUs (Strategic Business Unit). It is because they had a diversified business culture worldwide and they operate in 3 major sectors Healthcare, Energy and Industry. Siemens is constantly operating with their strong partners and developing their services to beat their competitors, therefore they are gearing the value chain to efficiency. They believe that for outperforming their competitors they have to consistently work out and improve their services better than they are. Following the belief of always being better than they are, Siemens is successfully developing their services to sustain in the market and improve customer satisfaction. As a diversified business Siemens believe in utilizing different methods of development. Strong RD department is one of their strenghts. They are able to afford the Organic development. They also intend to continue the assurance of strict resource allocation in the future; they are ver y keen on the Organic growth. In the past five years Siemens have invested Twenty billion Euros in the organic development. There was a significant increase in RD budget and it got its RD location in more than 30 countries worldwide. Siemens is also keen to acquire growing businesses. They had recently invested more than 20 billion Euros in order to acquire businesses. Siemens is constantly optimizing its portfolio of Products. Every year numerous acquisitions and divestitures are completed by Siemens. â€Å"In 2005 alone, Siemens invested around EUR 2.5 billion in new businesses and the 2006 figure will be substantially higher. On the divestment side, the carve-outs of BenQ, Product Related Services and Logistics Assembly have caused a stir. Regarding recent prominent acquisitions, such as Flender AG (Germany), CTI (USA), Bonus (Denmark), US Filter (USA) or VA Tech (Austria), Siemens Management Consulting were primarily involved in the pre- and post-merger integration (PMI) work†. (Information is gathered from www.smc.siemens.de) It is Siemens belief that acquisitions helped them come closer to achieve their goal of growing a fast global market. Siemens is also running many joint ventures with one of their SBUs for obtaining growth. Such as Siemens and Nokia have announced their intention to merge the network business of Nokia and the carrier related operations of Siemens into a new company which they will call Nokia Siemens networks. Its a 50-50 joint venture. In which both parties will invest half and half share. Both parties are looking forward to stand as a Global Leader with strong position in current important growth segments of fixed and mobile network infrastructure and services.