The First Snow of 2018!

The First Snow of 2018! Today marks the first snowfall in Champaign-Urbana for the 2018 year! While some will choose to bundle up and stay inside with their hot chocolate (a perfectly fine choice), there are so many activities in Champaign-Urbana to do before Christmas. Below are a few ideas to get in the holiday spirit. Gif from Giphy.com See The Nutcracker at Krannert Center This show is from 12/1-12/3 and 12/8-12/10. Act fast because this show will certainly sell out! Ice skate at the University of Illinois Ice Arena Ive personally never been ice skating at the ice arena, but I have heard only great things about it! Skate times and fees can be found here. Try hot chocolate from all the local coffee shops Photo from Rachel Hernandez This includes Starbucks, Cafe Bene, Espresso Royale, Cafe Paradiso, Paige Roasting Company, and BrewLab. Attend the Festival of Trees Photo from Rachel Hernandez The Festival of Trees is an event put on by the Junior League of Champaign. Tickets are available for purchase at the door, and all proceeds go back to the Junior Leaguea non-profit organization. Visit Hardys Reindeer Ranch How many people can say they have fed a real reindeer? I can! Hardys Reindeer ranch is a one of a kind opportunity to not only see reindeer, but feed and play with them. Hardys also has a corn maze and gift shop! Rachel Class of 2020 I am studying Middle Grades Education with concentrations in Social Sciences and Literacy in the College of Education. Although I now reside in Champaign, I am originally from Vernon Hills, a Northwest suburb of Chicago.

Is There Good Evidence for or Against the Existence of God

Title 1: Is there good evidence for or against the existence of God? Throughout the ages, the topic of religion has always been discussed and argued over. Some people will always argue that God does exist, whilst others will argue that he doesn’t. Firstly I would like to start my argument with the famous 13th century philosopher, Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas’ argument is known as the cosmological argument. This is the idea of: the unmoved mover, the uncaused causer and idea of contingency, these three arguments are all a posteriori (based on the evidence in the universe around us). The unmoved mover is the concept that, in theory (is logically acceptable even for an atheist), that nothing can be in motion without something first putting†¦show more content†¦Yet again this is an a posteriori argument as we know that it is plausibly and factual reasonable to accept that nothing can come into existence without something causing it. However some would say that it is also a priori as there is no evidence to support the idea of a necessary being. For example in the live radio debate between Russel and Copleston (1948) Russel’s philosophical position was to argue that concepts such as ‘cause of the universeâ⠂¬â„¢ and ‘necessary beings’ held no meaning. In juxtaposition to this, Pierre Laplace argued that the universe is just like a machine. He argued that each part of the machine affects the behaviour of another part of the machine, resulting in movement. Thus meaning that if the universe is a big machine then Laplace is not only rejecting the idea of contingency but also suggesting that contingent beings do not exist at all. Aquinas also forms an argument known as the design argument or the teleological argument which is a a posteriori. This is the concept that everything is directed towards an end and as inanimate objects have no rational powers then they must be directed to this purpose by some external power. William Paley supported Aquinas’ argument surrounding the idea of design, upon which he expanded further. Paley’s argument is known as the watch analogy. He said that if you were to find a watch upon the floor with all its intricate complicated parts, you would never argue thatShow MoreRelatedA Logical Argument For God s Existence Or Nonexistence1471 Words   |  6 PagesA logical argument for God’s existence or nonexistence is the cosmological argument. William Craig says in his book that there are three statements that give the cosmological argument form. Craig concluded that whatever begins to exist has a cause. The Universe began to exist therefore the Universe had a cau se. What that cause was, is widely challenged. The argument against the existence of God includes the Big Bang Theory. The Big Bang Model is a broadly accepted theory for the beginning and evolutionRead MoreMy View On The Existence Of God955 Words   |  4 Pagesdecided to cover the idea of my own faith and how it copes with the multiple viewpoints varying from atheists, theists, and the Bible as well as the opinions on reason and the very existence of God. Within this paper, I will explain why my faith is eternal and no matter how much evidence there is against the existence of God, my conviction that there is a supreme being who oversees all that goes on in this world, will continue to avail. The first reading that really drew my attention was Flew’s exampleRead MoreDu Chatelet Argument For The Existence Of God Essay1130 Words   |  5 PagesChatelet argument for the existence of God is a cosmological argument: 1. Something exists. 2. Since something exists, something must have existed from eternity. 3. Either an infinite chain of (contingent) beings existed from all eternity or being that exists by its own volition. 4. Even an infinite chain of contingent beings might not have existed and therefore does not explain for the existence of the world. 5. Therefore, only a necessary being can explain the existence of the world. Du ChataletRead MorePhilosophy And Philosophy Of Religion Essay1681 Words   |  7 Pagesquestions regarding the religion, the nature and the existence of god and also the religious vocabulary and texts followed by the people. The religious philosophy and philosophy of religion are very different from each other, in philosophy of religion we discuss the questions regarding the nature of religion as a whole rather than seeking the problems brought by a particular religious system. In philosophy of religion we discuss the question like IS THERE A GOD?. but this is not the only question we focusRead MoreThe Problem Of Evil Questions God s Existence995 Words   |  4 PagesThe Problem of Evil Questions God’s Existence An argument against the existence of God is based on the presence of evil in the world. This deductively valid argument is divided into two categories; human action and natural evil (Sober, 2005, p. 120). Human action discusses how experiences makes us better people, while natural evil are tragic events that are not under the control of humans. Each category is used as evidence to refute God as an all-powerful omniscient, omnibenevolent, or omnipotentRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article On Being An Atheist 1290 Words   |  6 PagesGod’s existence has been challenged by many philosophers and non-philosophers alike. Arguments that have been used to support the existence of a divine being includes the cosmological argument and the theological argument. However there are some who oppose these arguments and philosopher H.J. McCloskey is among this group. In the article â€Å"On Being an Atheist† written by H.J. McCloskey, he argues that both these arguments are false and insu fficient as it relates to â€Å"proof† of God’s existence. McCloskeyRead MoreSummary Of On Being An Atheist1341 Words   |  6 Pageswith one another over the existence of a creator, or God. H.J. McCloskey published his thoughts on the matter in a journal article in 1968 titled â€Å"On Being an Atheist†. In his article McCloskey aims to discredit cosmological and teleological arguments for a creator and he uses the existence of evil in the world as evidence that a divine creator cannot exist. McCloskey routinely refers to the cosmological and teleological arguments as believers’ â€Å"proof† of God’s existence; however, this is not anRead MoreThe Question Of God s Existence1575 Words   |  7 PagesSusana Stewart Instructor: Dr. Michael McDowell Course: PHIL 201 Date: 12/13/2015 INTRODUCTION The question of God’s existence has been challenged by many philosophers and non-philosophers alike over the years. If I am honest with myself, during many hard times I have questioned Gods existence myself. Arguments that have been used to support the existence of a divine being includes; the cosmological argument and the theological argument. However, there are some who oppose these arguments and philosopherRead MoreDoes God Exist?1366 Words   |  5 Pagesbetween Jesus and his disciples before Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot. The main philosophical question that arose to me when I saw this painting was if God exists. Depicted in the painting there is a higher being or God watching over Jesus and his disciples. There are many arguments and ideas for the existence of a higher being or God, some of the main ones are; Pascal’s Wager, the Ontological argument, the Cosmological argument, the Teleological argument, the Moral argument, and the argumentRead MoreIf Jesu s Christ Is Not God, And The Resurrection Never1355 Words   |  6 Pagesis not God, and the resurrection never happened, then the Christian Faith being lived out by billions of Christians scattered throughout the entire world, is complete vanity. Thus, one of the most popular arguments against the Deity of Christ stems from the idea that most of the biblical writers often referenced Jesus as both speaking to, and being sent (John 17:3) by the Father; furthermore, Jesus, while interacting with the apostles, often used language that expressed the idea that His God, was

The History of the Fashion Store Zara - 2181 Words

Background Inditex, one of the worlds largest fashion distributors, has eight major sales formats - Zara, Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home y Kiddys Class- with 3.147 stores in 70 countries around the world. Inditex Group is comprised of over one hundred companies associated in textile design, manufacturing and distribution. The achievements of the company and the uniqueness of its management model, which is based on innovation and flexibility, made Inditex one of the largest fashion distribution groups in the fashion industry. The company’s fashion philosophy -creativity and quality design together with a rapid response to market demands- has resulted in fast†¦show more content†¦The ideas and design of a product came from the designer. The designer gets the idea of what product to design next by means of its sales from stores and customers feedback and comments. The designers based their ideas in product de signs from previous product sales. The feedback and comments of customers a bout a product is also considered in the design. Below is a diagram that shows the cycle how a product is made. The company’s success is because of the total control in every aspect of the business, from designing, to production, and to distribution. By having total control of the entire process, the company can quickly react to the fast changing fashion trend and customer taste, this provides the company an idea of the latest fashion trend. Having total control in all business activities allows Zara to produce and release new design in a short span of time. All of the functions of the business continuously works together to produce new collections and designs which are updated and completed on a weekly basis, this allows the company to release new product easily. Zara shop managers report to designers in La Coruà ±a in a daily basis on what has and has not sold. This report is used to determine if a product is to be kept or altered, and whether new lines are to be created. This happens in just a few days. The designers mostly rely on product sales, feedbacks and comments fromShow MoreRelatedThe History of the Fashion Store Zara2193 Words   |  9 Pageslargest fashion distributors, has eight major sales formats - Zara, Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home y Kiddys Class- with 3.147 stores in 70 countries around the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Inditex Group is comprised of over one hundred companies associated in textile design, manufacturing and distribution. The achievements of the company and the uniqueness of its management model, which is based on innovation and flexibility, made Inditex one of the largest fashion distributionRead MoreZara Case Study1656 Words   |  7 Pages3.1 HISTORY and BACKGROUND ZARA is the flagship chain store for the Spanish Inditex Group owned by Amancio Ortega, who also brands such as Massimo Dutti and Bershka. It was first open in 1975 in La Coruna, Galicia, Spain. Originally a lingerie store, then the product range expanded to incorporate women’s fashion, menswear and children’s clothes (5). The international adventure began in 1988, opened its first foreign store in Oporto, Portugal. The market growth remained mysterious and it kept growingRead MoreZara Fashion Clothing : Zara1024 Words   |  5 PagesINTRODUCTION ZARA FASHION CLOTHING: Zara is one of the retail sale format of Inditex group and well-known an international fashion clothing brand which is very famous for its apparel and accessories. Zara is a place where we can buy all the latest fashionable clothes in the world as they launches 10,000 designs every year. Zara is one of the Spain famous fashion clothing brand which is located in 70 countries in the world. Zara company is started earlier in 1975 by Amancio Ortega, a famous businessRead MoreManagement and Zara1507 Words   |  7 PagesSummary: Zara is an apparel chain owned at operated by the Inditex of Spain. It was founded by Mr. Amancio Ortega Gaona; currently Spains richest man. Zara specializes in fast fashion. At the end of fiscal year 2001 Zara was operating 1,284 stores world wide and had total revenue of €3,250 million. Inditexs headquarters and its major assets are located in the Galacia region of Spain. Inditex also operates five other chains: Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Bershka, Stradivarius and Oysho. Zara ownsRead MoreCase Study : The Global Apparel Chain1559 Words   |  7 Pagespersonnel, and financial results. Zara was the largest and most internationalized chain of Inditex, which is its owner, and on account being a better established chain it expanded into neighbouring markets (Z8). Zara played the lead role in increasing the share of Inditex’s sales accounted for by international operations and it continued to be the principal driver of the group’s growth despite the expected slight drop in the share of the group’s total sales (Z9). Zara will be analysed based on strategicRead MoreMarket Research Fast Fashion1600 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ Fast Fashion Brands 　 　　　　 By Sehee An ID: 376050211 Due Date: 8/09/2014 Background research and short explanation Although the global economic crisis has weakened consumer confidence there is a remarkable consumption phenomenon in fashion market. Fast fashion is a new word used in fashion scene to say that designs move from runaway speedily so as to take the latest fashion at Fashion Week in both the spring and the fall of every year. These trends are designed and produced fastRead MoreZara Case Study : The Resource Based View1588 Words   |  7 PagesZARA Case Study Introduction The case study is upon on the resource based view. First, the firm resources were divided into three major parts: tangible resource, intangible resource and human resource as Grant suggested. The main body of the essay will also be divided into three parts according to the resource classification. Then, a VRIN test would be carried after listing different types of resources to inspect whether they are able to provide a sustainable competitive advantage for Zara. FinallyRead MoreZara Postponement Strategy1702 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿The case of Zara – The Postponement strategy I) Introduction In order to compete in the world of rising globalization and shortening of product life cycle nowadays, firms have to deal with the demand for increasing product variety to meet the diverse needs of customers. Mass customization has become a requirement for many businesses especially in the dynamic, fast-changing industries. However, the more product varieties, the more difficult it is to forecast demand, control inventory and manufactureRead MoreTom of Maine1461 Words   |  6 Pagesthe economy focuses on making their businesses grow. They do however try to help make their processes â€Å"environment friendly† in this way, they also contribute to the betterment of the society. 2. What examples and incidents from this brief history of Tom’s of Maine illustrate how the personal ethics and values of founders can positively influence a firm and its culture as it deals with the challenges of start-up and growth? Tom and Kate’s principles affected the culture of their companyRead MoreGlobalization, Zara and HM2684 Words   |  11 Pageswhich we will study in this regard are Zara and HM. All the top garment industries notability Zara and HM are doing a fine job in the garments industry as they have adopted well-defined quality standards. There is a diverse research made on the garments and fabric business as they do change with respect to the trends and fashion. Both HM and Zara are strategically safe players and they have all what it takes to be the front runner in the market. Their stores are in the different areas of the world

Urban form and sense of security Free Essays

string(417) " be defined in terms discreet qualities which secure a safe feeling to any particular group \(weaker group\) of people discussed above neither can it be defined in terms of any quality which acts at a particular scale \(micro to macro as discussed above\), but is a quality which is a complex of all the above mentioned factors at all scales acting upon any person at any particular time in a particular urban space\." This study tries to explore human perceptions of security In urban environments, by Investigating the impact of design actors in the built environment on an individual’s perception of personal safety in that space. This study was carried out within the context of an urban design study rather than within a human psychology-based study. To validate these factors a site from the traditional fabric of Mohammedan is studied and is compared with the same factors at a site in the newer fabric of the city. We will write a custom essay sample on Urban form and sense of security or any similar topic only for you Order Now The paper finally attempts to establish the relevance of the traditional urban form within contemporary city developments, in achieving better sense of security in public spaces. Understanding of the basic theme a. Deflation of Sense of security Sense of security In simple terms can be defined as a human feeling that makes the person convinced that he she is safe and secure in a particular place or context. The person with a sense of security is not feared of any force which can be a person, a group of persons or an animal or any other manmade / ‘supernatural’ force which can put them in danger (physical or mental damage). People develop specific fears as they learn about certain people, objects, animals or natural/ ‘supernatural’ forces. A child was conditioned to fear a white rat in the laboratory might fear even other white, furry objects Kenny P. Joy I 2 traumatic accident. For example, if a child falls into a well and struggles to get out, he or she may develop a fear of wells, heights (acrophobia), enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), or water (aqua phobia). There are studies looking at areas of the brain that are affected in relation to fear. L Variation in the definition. The definition of sense of security varies from person depending on their age, gender, and cultural background. In all of these categories there is a weaker section which is feared of the other group or some external force, be it manmade or ‘supernatural’. In the case of gender, women being weaker by physical strength fear f attacks of men on them in form of sexual assault, rape, eve teasing etc. Whereas in the case of age, children, being weaker in physical strength, associated lack of mental maturity in understanding the reality, make them fear of adults or even ‘supernatural’ powers who can pose harm to them. Often cultural backgrounds affect the sense of security since form, color, light, sound, smell and other characteristics which are a part of any space will have different meanings in different cultures. The concept of sense of security is not confined to people who belong to any of the weaker groups of these categories but is applicable to any person. For example an able bodied adult male who does not belong to those weaker groups, also is prone to dangers of attack or theft in the public by criminals or animals. The fact that he is also in danger, inculcates a lack of sense of security within him. Here, when it was discussed about the about the victim of such an attack losing sense of security, we should not 1 http://en. Wisped. Org/wick/Little_Albert_experiment 3 forget that the sense of security of these criminals too are in question. They are again in a fear of danger from being caught by police. Though these are some of the basic factors that determine a person’s sense of security, sense of fear in various forms is generated in a person due to the physical character and quality of the space where he is placed. For a person, the sense of security within an urban space is primarily linked with the level of familiarity, which means a sense of fear is generated in the person automatically in an uncertain environment. Fear can channel one’s energies away from areas of perceived threats and into directions that seem safe. Fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat and is a basic survival mechanism in response to a specific tumulus, such as pain or the threat of danger. Factors that determine sense of security in an urban space. Acre level to micro level. At a macro level the location and the context of the urban space of study determines the sense of security of the person using it. This factor has an impact on the way a person moves within a city through preferential selection of routes which give him a sense of security. The next factor that affects the sense of security includes characters at precinct level – legibility and permeability. Legibility of the space makes a person free from getting clueless in an unknown urban space by aging the place more graspable for the user. Permeability helps in removing the feeling of a strange enclosure for a user in an unknown place with provision of number of visible alternative routes. These qualities are predominantly dictated by the form of the urban space. 4 Further going down into smaller levels, there are fine elements within the urban space including visual and non visual elements, which makes the space feel secure for the user. They include factors such as width of the space or street, lighting level, sound, smell, architectural details, artifacts, etc.. Besides characteristics of a space, he sense of security is also created by the kind of people who are associated with the space directly or indirectly. This dimension which comes into the picture while defining the sense of security is territorial definitions. When the territories of an urban space is defined well by the associated people through physical elements like form, character, details etc. Or non physical elements like activities, sound, smell, their cultural expressions etc. It creates a sense of non belonging or unfamiliarity (often attached with fear) for a person entering into the transition space. Definition of an urban space that offers sense of security: The sense of security of an urban space cannot be defined in terms discreet qualities which secure a safe feeling to any particular group (weaker group) of people discussed above neither can it be defined in terms of any quality which acts at a particular scale (micro to macro as discussed above), but is a quality which is a complex of all the above mentioned factors at all scales acting upon any person at any particular time in a particular urban space. You read "Urban form and sense of security" in category "Papers" Time become another factor defining the sense of security as various processes along he time, make the visual and non visual qualities of the space change accordingly. Time determines the type and intensity of activities happening in any urban space changing the level of sense of security throughout the day. The sense of security in urban space is relatively high when the perceived activity level of a particular urban 5 space is high for which time is a very important factor to be considered. The lack of activities, proper lighting, attack of dogs etc create an environment in Mohammedan city wherein beyond midnight and before dawn level of sense of security will be extremely low. Since the control of built form design has little to do with the perceived sense of security during the odd hours of the night, the study limits its scope into the non – odd hours. Relevance of sense of security in urban design: Sense of security adds on to the quality of an urban space. Proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a reduction in the fear and incidence of crime, and improvement of the quality of life. Recent trends and concepts of urbanism across the world, being learnt from the mistakes of the past forms of unsustainable urban development, have been stressing and demanding distance friendly urban spaces and networks to get integrated with mass public transit systems. Sense of security, therefore becomes an essential quality of the urban streets and other spaces to bring in people into walking who have once left walking and resorted to private vehicles. Establishing the relationship of sense of security with the design of urban space Factors that determine sense of security in an urban space: The above discussion identifies two key factors whose subcategories can be listed down as the elements that determine the sense of security in the urban pace which include: The form of the urban space: This multidimensional element can be broken down into further sub elements such as street width, built form height, street enclosure ratio, building setbacks, texture of the surface, porosity of the built envelope, the size or the footprint of the buildings and permeability. Relation of the interiors with exteriors: Though the discussion is predominantly about the sense of security in urban space or the space between buildings, the spatial configuration and the relation of the interiors with the exterior spaces is an important factor. The elements which define this relationship are as follows: Compound wall, position of the entrance into the buil ding, level difference of the ground level with the pedestrian surface level, presence of parking space in front of the building, amount of vegetation in front of the building, percentage of openings in the building elevation etc. Validation of these factors through case studies of urban spaces in traditional urban form: To understand and validate these findings in reality, urban spaces in the traditional built fabric of Mohammedan: Teen Darwin precinct with neighborhoods around (fig 1). The dense built fabric with low rise attached built structures housing a mix of uses predominantly residential and typology plays an important role in the keeping up the perceived sense of security. Urban spaces in between purely residential built environments often interact with the pedestrians very weakly and the level of activity is very less. This space gets activated as more and more building uses and activities like commercial or cultural activities gets inserted into it as what is seen in the site under study. The urban form is characterized by narrow pedestrian scale streets with small building footprints. The built form itself evolved out of strong social relations which in these neighborhoods. The territoriality was strongly marked by an area within which the inmates engaged themselves throughout the day – the flower shop, temple, vegetable and grocery shop, work place (often at not so far distance from the neighborhood till recent times). The public space seeps into the residential transition 7 spaces (verandah). The presence of large openings on the building fade always gives the pedestrian a sense that people can see him or in other words gives a sense f presence of people (rather than alienated or lonely) while moving through these public spaces. The In short, the perceived level of activity is high which in turn maintains a high level of natural surveillance. This traditional fabric essentially thus maintains a high level of perceived activity throughout the day and even late hours of the night. Fig 1 – Site map (Source – Google Earth) Fig 2 – Built form (source – Author) Contemporary scenario: Understanding the changes occurred to the urban form structured by new principles which are predominantly non pedestrian and how it affected sense of security in public spaces: The perceptions and meanings of security have changed over time as technology transformed the form of the cities and the way in which they work. The built form which was predominantly fine grained became coarser and coarser as well as loosely packed. This transformation was in fact a product of the process of evolution of the urban form which got mutated by the insertion of automobile movements. The new age lifestyle redefined the character and qualities of living and work environments. As Kenny P. Joy I 8 making them shift to new comfortable and faster modes of movement through automobiles. This in turn affected the pattern of distribution of facilities and various building uses essentially disturbing the pedestrian scale of streets. The conventional planning principles made cities which are large grained with wide roads and segregated activity zones for different activities. This made the Indian city devoid of it original character and vibrancy created by a vibrant mix of activities or land uses. The city became more and more complex in its physical and social systems which supported it. Crimes rates rose in new forms and the sheer number which in turn affected the notion of public space as an alien space. People took time to associate themselves with public spaces and minors generally are discouraged in using public spaces especially in odd hours. Though systems to ensure security through police or security personnel as well as technological advancements (like CATV surveillance, mobile tracking systems etc. Have been put into use in public spaces, they work in their own limitations. Moreover for a pedestrian using the public space, these systems are additional backup systems of security which still hold a second place after the basic instincts or the responses to the environment through which he / she s moving. Demonstration through a case study: The si te selected for understanding the change happened in the urban form is the newly developed area on the western side of Mohammedan – Nehru Magna Junction precinct (shown in fig 3). The site is located along BRATS corridor – a conventionally planned area in the Western side of Mohammedan city. The neighborhood and the adjoining commercial belt got developed into its current form after the insertion of the BRATS corridor in 2010. 9 Fig 3 – Site plan (Source – Google Earth) It has got a mix of housing typologies ranging from low rise apartments cluster of mall footprints as well as taller apartment complexes with few or nil commercial spaces in the ground floor. Since the streets are designed for vehicles, the street widths are large and lack elements make them pedestrian friendly. The built form includes typically, discreet built forms forming islands (or array of islands) within open spaces unlike the previous case where the open spaces formed the islands in between the built form. The spaces between the buildings which contained human activities in the previous case became spaces of movement here. Relationship of the built form with on street pedestrian became weak due to many factors. The built form of especially the residential neighborhoods is characterized by residential buildings separated from the street space with a compound wall needing for more privacy within the property. The low rise built forms as residences or the second Kenny P. Joy I typology found are the tall apartments which may or not have commercial space in the ground floor. A family claim to a territory diminishes proportionally as the number of families who share that claim increases. (Oscar Newman. Creating Defensible Space). In these tall apartment blocks, the number of dwellers is so high hat, they hardly take any responsibility or rather use it considerably to a basic level of activity. This makes the space further inactive and less maintained bringing down the level of sense of security of that space. The other qualities of urban form that determine the sense of security includes permeability and variety. Conclusion This study examines the relationship and role of urban form and typology in determining the level of activity as well as natural surveillance which are the quintessential determiners of sense of security any urban space. In above discussions on case studies, a significant trend observed is the evolution of built arms to achieve more privacy. When the built form is evolved out of a process in which pedestrian behavior, activities and his response with nature is structuring principle, the sense of security a pedestrian enjoys is much higher than in an urban space within a built form structured by behavior and movement pattern supported by automobiles. Mohammedan city current growth is through a form of development which is a characteristic of the latter case. In the contemporary urban development where dimensions of privacy, demands of new lifestyle and perceptions of security eve changed urban form, the traditional urban form may not be possible to be recreated as it is, but the principles of the same can be incorporated within to create urban spaces which may not render a sense of fear in the users. 11 Reference Books Phaedra,Shills, Khan, Camera and Errand, Shills. How to cite Urban form and sense of security, Papers

Validity and Reliability in Qualitative Research

Question: Discuss about the Validity and Reliability in Qualitative Research. Answer: Introduction: Clear statement of the aim of the research- The research article by Ostaszkiewicz et al. (2014) clearly mentions the aim of the research which was to develop a grounded theory on how Residential aged care facilities (RACF) identify, communicate and deliver continence care needs. Justification of the qualitative methodology- The objective of the research was to explore nurses and PCAs experience in assessing care needs and assess their views on barrier or facilitators to care. It was also aimed to conduct field observation for the development of theory regarding the topic. The grounded theory approach of research is appropriate for this study because it provides systematic inductive methods towards theory development and gaining insight to daily practical and ethical challenges in caring for aged residents (Smith 2015). Detailed critical appraisal using the CASP tool Justification of the research design- The clarity of the research by Ostaszkiewicz et al. (2014) is seen by proper discussion on the use of grounded theory approach by means of theoretical sampling, comparative data analysis, identification of main category and theoretical saturation level. It revealed theoretical sampling will be done through semi-structured interview and observations with RACF staffs. However, one limitation seen after reviewing the article is that no justification has been provided regarding why they are using this design for investigation and why they decided to select particularly grounded theory approach of qualitative research. The clear statement regarding the rationale for selecting this study design would have enhanced the quality of the research article. Whenever any research study is planned, proper justification regarding the reasons for selecting particular design eliminate vagueness in approach and strengthens the purpose of research (Birks and Mills, 2015). Recruitment strategy related to the aim of the research- The researcher has maintained the validity of the research in sample recruitment stage by means of eliminating all source of biasness. The recruitment strategy of selecting only experienced staffs in providing continence care in RACF is commendable as this help to identify real barrier or facilitators despite the required competence in care. In the research article by Jonasson et al. (2011), sample was selected without considering the experience of participants which lead to biasness and inaccuracy in study results and theory development. Ostaszkiewicz et al. (2014) did not provide any explanation regarding why selection on particular sample group was necessary for the study. However, the detail regarding the method of sample recruitment was provided. Nurse and PCAs took part in the interview only after they were given information about the purpose and design of research at a professional network forum. They volunteered to take part in the interview after consulting other colleague who took part in the study. Data collection method- Ostaszkiewicz et al. (2014) purposively selected two RACFs site in Australia for interview and field observation, one was 75 bed not-for-profit RACF in Melbourne and other was 50 bed private RACF in Adelaide. The researcher clearly justified the rationale for selecting two sites as it would help to get a mixture of sample group consisting of registered nurse, enrolled nurse and PCA staff who provide care not just to people with dementia but also with other disorders. Certain limitation in reporting of data collection method is also seen as the researcher has mentioned the use of semi-structure open-ended interview with staff, however no detail is given regarding the explicit method of interview. The detail is given regarding the procedure followed for field observation to collect data. However, the absence of the same detail on interview method significantly reduces the quality and efficacy of reporting research study. This form of error in reporting hampers t he reliability of the research and leads to poor grasp of research approach (Noble and Smith, 2015). Relationship between researcher and participants- While reviewing the article by Ostaszkiewicz et al. (2014), it has been found that nothing has been mentioned regarding factors that may lead to biasness in the study. No confounding variable was identified and no consideration was done regarding how to eliminate confounding elements in the study. The research question was formulated after reviewing the quality of RACF facilities in Australia. The researcher emphasized that care staff need to follow the Code of Ethics For Nurse and Aged Care Act while delivery care, however there is very few published article on how nurses and PCAs enact the rights of patients in care. Hence, the research question was set based on the analysis that there is little research on ethical challenges faced in during caring for aged residents in RACFs. The clarity regarding choice of location is given however sample recruitment stage is not adequately covered. While conducting an investigation, certain unexp ected event changes the course of investigation. In such situations, researcher needs to implication of this change and make some changes in plan in between research (Bowling, A., 2014). However, in this research nothing has been mentioned about the unexpected events which mean no such situation arose during the research to modify the research plan. Consideration of ethical issues in research- The ethical responsibility for good research practices includes seeking approval for conducting research from relevant Research Ethics Committee and following informed consent rules to inform participants about purpose of research, participants rights, potential risk in participation, prospective research benefits and limits of confidentiality (Marshall and Rossman 2014). Ostaszkiewicz et al. (2014) does not mentions the process followed regarding taking approval for conducting research from Ethics Committee which reflects lack of accuracy in ethical responsibility for research. However, the procedure regarding informed consent rule is covered in some part where nurses agreed for interview after being informed about research detail at a professional network forum. Rigour of data analysis- Despite several limitations in the article, the data analysis part has been adequately described by the researcher. It was not purely based on thematic analysis, however certain coding techniques were used to identify different categories and present it in result section. Data analysis was done through open coding, theoretical coding and selective coding techniques to interpret data, construct memos and classify them into different category. The uniformity in data was maintained after higher order concept emerged and basic theme was found. These processes reflect data was effectively extracted to enhance the reliability and validity of the research finding. No consideration regarding potential biases and influences has been made at any stage of the research (Ostaszkiewicz et al. 2014). Statement of findings- The study finding was presented after repeating the purpose of the study. Based on interview and field observation of participants in RACFs, Ostaszkiewicz et al. (2014) gave the theory regarding main problem encountered by staff during work and their response to the problem. The findings are explicit with discussion on experience of work, ethically challenging situations, residents level of dependence and devalued role. Hence, multiple and conflicting information related to addressing continence was provided, but credibility of the finding is not properly covered. Contribution of the research- This finding of the research is important as it gives insight into the different structural factors that prevents cares from fully exercising ethical rights and conduct in care. The researcher suggest new areas where action is needed by government but not areas where the topic could be further explored The researcher provided direction to future course of action by stating that the role of Australian government on addressing structural challenges that significantly hinders staffs performance and affect the delivery of high quality continence care to residents. References Birks, M. and Mills, J., 2015.Grounded theory: A practical guide. Sage. Bowling, A., 2014.Research methods in health: investigating health and health services. McGraw-Hill Education (UK). Jonasson, L.L., Liss, P.E., Westerlind, B. and Berter, C., 2011. Corroborating indicates nurses ethical values in a geriatric ward.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being,6(3). Marshall, C. and Rossman, G.B., 2014.Designing qualitative research. Sage publications. Noble, H. and Smith, J., 2015. Issues of validity and reliability in qualitative research.Evidence Based Nursing,18(2), pp.34-35. Ostaszkiewicz, J., O'Connell, B. and Dunning, T., 2014. Ethical challenges associated with providing continence care in residential aged care facilities: Findings from a grounded theory study.Australian and New Zealand continence journal,20(4), pp.179-186. Smith, J.A. ed., 2015.Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. Sage.

Apple Inc Products

Executive Summary Apple Inc is one of the leading manufacturers of electronic products globally. Besides the production of computers and other electronic products, this firm is also known for the production of phones. IPhone 5 and iPad are some of the newest series of products that this firm has produced in the market.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Apple Inc Products specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is one of the Apple’s products, which have been very successful in the market today. This firm was able to sell 2 million pieces of iPhone within 24 hours after the launch. On the third day after launching this product, the sale of this product hit five million. The purchase of this new product within the initial stages was in the United States markets. There is a need to take this product to other parts of the world. It has been a success in the home market. It must be taken to the global marke t. The management must therefore come up with a supply chain strategy that will ensure that this product reaches the world market using the least possible costs. The supply chain strategy that this firm should apply must enable the firm to distribute its products efficiently and at the least cost possible. The management should try to predict, and determine the markets where these products are popular. The management should then assess the purchasing power of the market before determining the volume of the products that should be taken to the market. This will ensure that products are distributed successfully in the global market. It should also embrace the modern technologies as a way of reducing costs of operations. Introduction Apple Inc. is one of the most prosperous electronic firms in the world. Two scientists, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, started this firm on April 1, 1976. These two individuals were electronic enthusiasts. They were interested in turning their skills in ele ctronics into a large business unit.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Steve Wozniak, popularly known as Woz, was an astute electrician with a keen interest in computers. It was during this time that computers were started. Steve Jobs on the other hand was a shrewd businessman. Although Woz was more knowledgeable than Jobs in the art of designing computer hardware, Jobs was smatter in entrepreneurship. While Woz considered his skills in making computers as a hobby, Jobs saw a huge potential of stating a computer firm that would rival the then leading computer firm, the IBM. Jobs managed to convince Woz of the importance of commercializing their skills, and together, they started this company. They later incorporated Ronald Wayne, a rich businessperson who came in to help the two financially. The trio formed a formidable force, which culminated into a company that is p rosperous and very profitable. Although this company had various challenges that saw it eliminate its Chief Executive Officer, who was one of the founder members, in 1985, the firm was able to overcome these challenges using a number of strategies. Steve Jobs, having been forced out of the firm in 1985 as the chief executive, made a came-back in 1997 with strategies that transformed this firm to what it is currently. Lafuente (2005) says that Apple is one of the firms that were able to overcome the wave of.com crisis of the early twentieth century that brought down many firm, especially those that were computer based.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Apple Inc Products specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This firm has a number of electronic products that have received a lot of acceptance in the market. IPhone 5 is one of the most recent products that this firm has introduced into the market. This product ha s received a huge success in the American market. Within the first three days that this product was introduced into the market, the firm was able to sell 5 million pieces majorly in the American market. The management had to find the best approach of making this product reach other parts of the world. It has to develop a strategy would make it possible to distribute the product globally using the least cost possible, and at the fastest speed ever. The management must determine the market size and purchasing power before releasing the products. It must also determine other factors that may hinder successful operations in all the markets it targets before releasing the products. This research paper focuses on the operations of Apple Inc in the global market, and how this firm can ensure that the costs are minimized in order to increase its profitability. Evaluation of the Financial Condition of Apple and its Ability to Achieve its Strategic Objectives as Discussed in the Annual Report In order to understand the financial position of this firm, it is important to look at the financial statements of this firm for the last three years. Below are the income statement, cash flow and the balance sheet of this firm for the last three years. Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The financial reports above show that this firm has had a consistent growth in its asset for the last three years. The net tangible asset of this firm has grown by about three times within the last three years. The Total Stockholders’ equity has also expanded by about 150% within the last three. This is a clear sign that the firm has had a stable financial growth for the last three years. This firm has a capacity to meet its objectives given the growth of the firm’s asset base. The income statement and the cash flow statement show that this firm has a capacity to meet its short term financial obligations. This firm can achieve both the long term and the short term financial obligations given the fact that it has been able to maintain a healthy cash flow into the firm. With its financial strength, this firm can easily undertake various activities that would help it realize its dream. The Company’s Profitability Trends and Recommended Strategies to Impr ove or Capitalize on These Trends The financial status of this firm shown above is a clear demonstration that this firm has been successful in its operations for three years. The firm has been very profitable and this explains the massive growth it has had within the three years. This firm uses various competitive strategies in the market in order to manage competition that is very rife in this industry. First, the firm has employed two of the porter’s competitive strategy of low cost and differentiation. The firm moved its production from US to China in order to cut the cost of production. China, unlike the US, has cheap labor that would eventually translate to lower cost of production. This makes it easy for this firm to sell its products at lower prices but still make profits (Helfert, 2001). Other than the cost strategy, the other strategy that this firm has employed is the differentiation strategy. This firm has made their products unique. Some of its present products ar e differentiated from other conventional products in the market, making it acquire a special niche within the industry. The iPhone 5 is a product that is yet to find its rival in its special niche. The timing tactic of this firm in launching new products has also been superb. This firm always come with a new product at such times that the market feels that they need a better product to serve their current needs. It introduced the iPhone when the market needed a better phone with so many integrated features. This has seen their new products receive huge acceptance in various markets when introduced. The firm has also been keen to employ cooperation strategy whenever needed. During its early years, it formed a joint venture with Microsoft when it realized that its computer languages were not efficient enough to make competitive products in the market. This strategic alliance saw it gain market share both in the home markets and abroad. It also enhanced its distribution process. This f irm has also been able to implement Porters five forces. To tackle the threat of new competition, the firm has been keen on producing new products to rival those of new competitors. To manage the threat of substitute products, Apple has developed different lines of products to satisfy different markets so that it may not be adversely affected if one line is invaded by substitute products. To increase its bargaining power with the buyers, it has continued to produce high end products with qualities that make it easy for the customers to appreciate their high prices (Gill Chatton, 2001). To increase their bargaining power with the suppliers, it has created a scenario where it is a single buyer with various sellers. This makes it able to dictate the terms of buying the products. To counter the intensity of competition, it has been able to acquire a special niche in this market, rendering its competitors irrelevant as their products are turned into mere substitutes of this company†™s products. The Strategic Moves to Capitalize on its Profitability Trends This firm should be able to capitalize on its profitability trend in the market despite the intense competition that exists. It must come up with strategic moves that will enable it make the most out of its success in the market currently. In the current competitive market, Apple should employ a series of strategies that would ensure that it remains relevantly competitive in this market. The first strategy it has used is the marketing strategy. In this strategy, this firm has tried to sell its products at prices that would bring in as many of the customers as possible. Although the company has some of its products sold at premium prices, it has a number of its products sold at fair prices that can be afforded by the middle class members of the society. Under this strategy, this firm has ensured that its distribution of the products is efficient and effective to further cut down the cost of delivering the pr oducts to the customer. Another strategy used by this firm to manage competition is market development strategy. In this strategy, the firm has struggled to ensure that it increases its market share in the world market. This has been done through market penetration in the new markets where this firm had not make entries into. The firm has also developed new markets and new users for its products. It created new users by developing the machines that could be used in the airports and other sensitive places for security check-ups. It also developed new markets by developing cheaper products that could be afforded by new markets at the lower niche of the market. Taking the product strategy, this firm has ensured that most of their products are up to the market expected standards. This firm has been keen to ensure that most of its products are not only of good quality but also of the right specifications in terms of size. In its research and extension unit, this firm has been very creati ve. It has been voted as one of the most innovative firms in the world for a number of years. It has been keen to introduce new products into the market at regular intervals. Evaluation of the Company’s Cash Position and its Ability to Invest in Capital Projects In Future Years According to Lee (2009), for a firm to be able to maintain a competitive edge over others in the market, there is always need to ensure that it invests in capital projects in a regular manner. The market has very stiff competition, and the firm has the responsibility of coming up with creative projects that can enable it meet its customers’ demand. This scholar says that the market has remained very dynamic, and this dynamism has forced firms to come up with new projects quite often. These projects would enable a firm to present new and innovative products in the market at regular intervals. This scholar emphasizes the fact that electronic industry is one of the most affected industries in the w orld with the emerging technologies. Apple has been able to be one of the market leaders in this industry because of its regular innovative projects. In order to be able to invest in capital projects in future years, there should be a solid financial base. This will help the firm sponsor these projects in a way that will make them profitable. To sustain a project from its inception to completion requires a lot of money. This can only come from successful operational activities of the firm in the market. It is clear, from the company’s financial statements given above, that there is enough financial power to enable this firm support these projects successfully. The Effectiveness of the Company’s Inventory or Service Costing Method and Recommendations to Improve this Area The inventory service of this company has been very effective. It is clear that this firm has been able to expand its inventory massively within the last three years. Given the figures on the financial statements given above, this firm has been able to come up with strategies that has enabled it expand its asset base. There are only a few adjustments that may be recommended for this firm in expanding its inventory. The management should consider having permanent presence with its own assets in various parts of the world instead of using the agents. This is because the agents by be used by other competitors against the firm. The Adequacy or Risks of the Internal Control Environment Noted In the Annual Report by Management, and Internal and External Auditors The financial statements given above were given by external auditors, with the support of the internal auditors of the firm. There are some risks that these auditors bring out that the management should be careful to manage properly. According to Riahi (2005), managing of risks is one of the most important ways through which a firm can increase its profitability and success within an industry. As stated above, risks come with va rious penalties that a firm should be ready to pay. These penalties may have adverse effect on the firm. Apple Inc should therefore, find mechanism through which it can transfer the risks, or manage them in a way that it may not be affected. The risk posed by uncertainties can be transferred to insurance companies. This way, the firm will be able to operate without fear of adverse effect of environmental uncertainties. The economic risks should be managed by having other alternative projects for the firm in case its clients are not ready to award it tenders. In dealing with the political environment, it will be important for the firm to understand the political environment of any country, and evaluate its effect on the normal operations (Shim Siegel, 2007). The firm should also make an effort to develop a close relationship with governments in new countries that it plans to start new investment in. In managing the risk of poor performance, this firm should ensure that it employs hi ghly skilled employees who are self motivated, and determined to achieve the best result in the market. When contracting other firms, Apple Inc should clearly state to them that any consequences that will arise due to their failure to perform as expected will be carried by the contracted firm. This will help this firm avoid bearing fines that are not associated with it. When dealing with the risks of physical injury of its employees, the firm should ensure that all the employees wear protective gear while on site. They should also have the right instruments when performing various functions within the firm. It will also be important for the management to ensure that all its employees have insurance scheme that will cover any injury during the process of working within the firm. The Risk to the Company Related To Foreign Currency Translations, Foreign Economic Events, and International Financial Reporting Standard Requirements and the Risk Tolerance Level for the Company Apple operat es globally. As was stated above, most of the production activities of this firm are done in China. The manufactured products would then move to the United States, the European market, Asia, Africa, and other markets around the globe. One of the main challenges that this firm has faced in its global operations is foreign currency translation, foreign economic events, among other issues. Apple has to pay its employees in Chinese Yuan. It will be paid for its products in Japan using Japanese Yen, in Britain using British Pound, in Canada using Canadian Dollar, and in India using Indian Rupee. These currencies do fluctuate in the financial market quite often. When a budget is made in its Chinese plant, there may be need to readjust the budget in case there is a fluctuation of the Chinese Yuan. The socio-economic and political environment of the countries where this firm operates also affects its success. Determination of Where the Company Appears Vulnerable For Displaying Unethical Beh avior Ethics is very important for the general success of a firm. Apple has been very keen to ensure that all its operations in the market are ethical. The financial audit of the firm by external auditors shows that this firm has been ethical in stating its financial position, and its returns to the government. This is very important to ensure that this firm develops a cordial relationship with the government and the public in general. In the international markets outside the United States, European markets and in China, this firm operates through agents. This firm has been very clear on the ethical issues it expects of them. In those countries where it operates through subsidiaries, it has maintained truthfulness and other ethical business values. The main ethical challenge that this firm has faced is the issue relating to patents of some of its products. Some have blamed the firm of overstretching the patent rights of most of its products. Prediction of Where This Company Will Be Financially In Five (5) Years Apple has had a consistent growth in its financial base over the last three years. The financial statements shown above demonstrate that this firm may have a continued growth in the next five years. There are some factors that may arise within the five years that may act for or against this continued growth (Jones Henley, 2009). Therefore in five years, the figures estimated may not actually be the case because of these variables. Given the rate of growth given in the financial statements above, the five may have about 600% after a period of three years. References Gill, J. Chatton, M. (2001). Financial analysis: The next step. Menlo Park: Crisp Publications. Helfert, E. A. (2001). Financial analysis: tools and techniques: A guide for managers. Boston: McGraw-Hill. Jones, L. Henley, G. (2009). Training needs analysis. Oxfordshire: Henley Distance Learning. Lafuente, A. M. (2005). Fuzzy logic in financial analysis. Berlin: Springer. Lee, A. (2009). Fi nancial analysis, planning forecasting: Theory and application. Singapore: World Scientific. Riahi, A. (2005). Financial analysis and the predictability of important economic events. Westport: Quorum Books. Shim, J. Siegel, J. (2007). Handbook of financial analysis, forecasting, and modeling. Chicago: Wolters Kluwer. This research paper on Apple Inc Products was written and submitted by user Kaylynn C. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Interior Design

Interior Designer Interior designers plan the space and furnish the interiors of private homes, public buildings, and commercial or institutional establishments, such as offices, restaurants, hospitals, hotels, and theaters. They also plan the interiors for additions to and renovations of existing structures. Most interior designers specialize, and some further specialize in a related line of work. With a client’s tastes, needs, and budget in mind, interior designers prepare drawings and specifications for interior construction, furnishings, lighting, and finishes. Designers also use computers to plan layouts that can be changed easily to include ideas received from the client. Interior designers also design lighting and architectural details, such as crown molding, coordinate colors and select furniture, floor coverings, and curtains. Interior designers must design space to conform to Federal, State, and local laws, including building codes. Design plans for public areas also must meet acces sibility standards for the disabled and elderly. Interior design is the only design field subject to government regulation. According to the American Society for Interior Designers, 21 States and the District of Columbia require interior designers to be licensed. Because licensing is not mandatory in all States, an interior designer’s professional standing is important. Membership in a professional association usually requires the completion of 3 or 4 years of postsecondary education in design, at least 2 years of practical experience in the field, and passage of the National Council for Interior Design qualification examination. Earnings for interior designers were $31,760 in 1998. Clothes Designer Clothing Designers design clothing. Some high-clothing designers are self-employed and design for individual clients. Other high-clothing designers cater to specialty stores or high fashion department stores. These designers create origi... Free Essays on Interior Design Free Essays on Interior Design Interior Designer Interior designers plan the space and furnish the interiors of private homes, public buildings, and commercial or institutional establishments, such as offices, restaurants, hospitals, hotels, and theaters. They also plan the interiors for additions to and renovations of existing structures. Most interior designers specialize, and some further specialize in a related line of work. With a client’s tastes, needs, and budget in mind, interior designers prepare drawings and specifications for interior construction, furnishings, lighting, and finishes. Designers also use computers to plan layouts that can be changed easily to include ideas received from the client. Interior designers also design lighting and architectural details, such as crown molding, coordinate colors and select furniture, floor coverings, and curtains. Interior designers must design space to conform to Federal, State, and local laws, including building codes. Design plans for public areas also must meet acces sibility standards for the disabled and elderly. Interior design is the only design field subject to government regulation. According to the American Society for Interior Designers, 21 States and the District of Columbia require interior designers to be licensed. Because licensing is not mandatory in all States, an interior designer’s professional standing is important. Membership in a professional association usually requires the completion of 3 or 4 years of postsecondary education in design, at least 2 years of practical experience in the field, and passage of the National Council for Interior Design qualification examination. Earnings for interior designers were $31,760 in 1998. Clothes Designer Clothing Designers design clothing. Some high-clothing designers are self-employed and design for individual clients. Other high-clothing designers cater to specialty stores or high fashion department stores. These designers create origi...