ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Various scholars have defined culture differently. Recent researchers define it as the pattern of learned behaviors and outcomes of behavior whose constituent rudiments are collective and spread by members of certain society. Culture entails shared principles, ideologies, value assumptions and beliefs of particular people. Geert Hofstede observes that culture is the combined indoctrination of the mind, which differentiates members of one group or class of people from another. Culture affects many things in an individual’s life including social, political and economic (Guille´n 2001, p. 236). The most important is economic because people consume goods that their culture permits. It is not surprising that Europeans would have different tastes as those of Africans and Arabs. Several theorists have explained how culture affects consumer behavior. Through analysis, it is established that one’s culture is superior to all others meaning that an individual tends to ignore the ways of living of other people. People rarely appreciate the culture of others. Any firm has a challenge of dealing with the influence of culture. Goods are produced and consumed globally implying that the firm should understand the nature of customers both locally and globally (Chatman & Barsade 1995, p. 429). This paper examines the influence of culture in production and consumption of goods in Nigeria. The paper uses some theories to explain how culture affects people in their economic lives. Globalization Globalization is popularly referred to as growing economic interdependence among states. It is brought about by cross-border flow of three categories of entities that is, services, capital and technology. In the modern financial system, flow of goods, technology, money and people take place on a global scale. Globalization is characterized by international organizations, multinational organizations and cross-border coalitions such as joint ventures and international mergers. Globalization is claimed to have affected businesses in the third world countries. Global companies are said to affect major decision-making processes in the developing countries. However, developed nations have also been affected by globalization (Greider 1997, p. 21). Citizens in developed nations claim that businesses offshore their services to states proved to have cheap workforce. In this regard, countries have stepped up to counter the effects of globalization by establishing regional blocs such as AU, EU, ASIAN, NAFTA and many more. Proponents of globalization assert that the World Trade Organization should be embraced in order to allow fairness and equality in business transactions. In globali
Introduction Community policing is the involvement of police and the community in the identification and solving of community problems. Modernity has diversified the nature of crime thus requiring the police to be more involved in dealing with the root issues underlying crime rather than reliance on effects. The need for community involvement thus cannot be undermined. This calls for mutual partnerships between the police and community based on trust with the aim of solving problems of crime, social and physical disorders, fear of crime and other neighborhood problems. Such partnerships have the effect of preventing and controlling crime thus improving the quality of life in the neighborhood. This paper shall focus on a recommendation of a community program while analyzing factors that determine its success. Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) The suitability and appropriateness of COPS in dealing with contemporary issues and modern crime trans-nationally is based on the proactive manner in which crime is dealt with. COPS is an integrated program that focuses on engaging the community, enforcing laws traditionally and preventing crimes and related issues mainly through partnering strategically with the community through their leaders and adopting effective ways of solving present and emerging problems (U.S. Department of Justice, 2010). The major components necessary for the effectiveness of community policing are: transformation of institutions in terms of personnel, management, information systems and structures; community partnerships aimed at developing solutions to problems and increasing trust in the relationships mainly among government agencies, non-profit service providers, media, community members/groups and private businesses; and problem solving through problem identification and evaluation of responses that are effective (U.S. Department of Justice, 2010). The rates and nature of crime and other related issues have been high and more complicated. This has largely been due to problems of socio-political and economic settings such as unemployment, poverty, racial issues and increased cost of living among others which have led to crimes fostered by the development of technology. The crimes have ranged from gang crimes, violence, robberies and murder, knife crimes, rapes, burglary and other forms of violence (U.S. Department of Justice, 2010). The reduction of crime can be realized through a crime reduction community policing program. Crime Reduction Program The need for community policing The dynamic nature of crime has made it a top issue in matters of security. The prevention and control of crime requires adequate resources. The main resources in crime matters is information which can mainly be obtained from the community affected. The community is usually
What factors make this industry attractive and/or unattractive? In New Zealand, one out of ten people work in the food industry. According to Coriolis Research limited, the industry provides employment to almost 20% of the working population. The employment is available in various sectors, for instance, food production, manufacturing, wholesaling, and export sectors (2005, p.12). The food industry is pertinent since New Zealand has a long history of fruits production. In addition, nearness to Asians markets, which offer a significant differentiation of excellent food quality and cost models, makes the country’s food trade activity run smoothly, especially in the side of exports. For those interested in investing in the food production industry, the climatic setting of New Zealand cannot transparently let them down. This claim holds based on the excellent soil characteristics bearing of New Zealand that favor the production of food. However, in China, increased production of wine grapes, apples, compounded by the escalated transportation costs amongst others, is an obstacle that increases competition in the process of providing the products in Asian markets. With respect to Research and Markets, New Zealand experiences fragmentations of the food industry. It is unable to provide fruits all year round while not-negating its elevated standing in terms of costs compared to other producers such as Chile (2011 Para.5). What opportunities do you believe this industry holds for the future? The industry holds a myriad of potentials in the future for both the entrants and existing businesses in the food industry. The meat industry, for instance, has an ever-increasing growth in consumption and income in the Asian nations. This stands out as an indispensable business focus for New Zealand food products. In addition, the ongoing tremendous increase in global foodservice sector may have the capacity to make provisions for sensational business opportunities for both domestic and export markets. According to Coriolis Research limited, Moves to establish integrations with Australia, coupled with the exemplary desire to provide leaner meat, (2005, p.87) constitute incredible opportunities for the entrants and those who may want to upgrade their production protocols, as they endeavor to catch up with the needs of the days ahead. However, it is crucial to consider the trends in the market for some selected products, as a way of giving a rather precise picture of the New Zealand food products markets. According to the government statistician, Geoff Bascand, amongst the five food subgroups, four of them had recorded a decrease in price. For instance, more discounting on poultry had resulted to a fall of the price of poultry products by about 0.9% as per September 2011s. In the financial year, ending in august 2011, all grocery foods were up by 6.6%. Vegetables and fruits hiked by 13.2 %. Food, ready prepared to eat in restaurants, was up by 4.2% with fish, poultry and meat shooting by 5.0% (Bascand, 2011, Para.4). Finally, all non-alcoholic drinks went up by 6.6 %. Wholesaling went up during the same fisc
Introduction: Case Presentation and Thesis Statement Price capacity upgrades for Clearwater Technologies’ QTX server is the main discussion of the company’s top officers in their meeting. The finance department wises to increase revenue thus suggesting having prices as high as they could while for the sales side, prices should be fair enough to produce volume and for the management team prices should stay within the margin model. The Vice President of Marketing suggested that the 3 departments should consider having prices meet the following factors, namely:  1. The prices of the capacity upgrades should not be lower than the original or current market price of the brand new 30 seat QTX server.  2. Considering that not all customers will come back and purchase upgrades, the team should push to sell the 30 seat QTX server the first time around.  3. The company should capitalize on customers’ commitments but should not rip them off thus it is important to determine the pricing limits. This paper aims to present strategies for Clearwater Technologies’ dilemma in pricing capacity upgrades from 10 to 20 seats, 10 to 30 seats, and 20 to 30 seats given that they conform to the Vice President of Marketing’s advice to the 3 officers. Value Optimized Pricing Strategy Capitalizing on customer’s commitment, the company should adopt value optimized pricing strategy in producing price computation for the QTX capacity upgrade. Basing on the benefits and values Clearwater Technologies’ QTX servers may offer and provide its customers, the prices will be focused on these factors. “Value-based pricing depends on the strength of the benefits a business can offer to customers” (Price your product or service). Thus, before pricing products and services, the company’s competitive advantage over its competitors must have been clearly-defined in order for it to charge its customers accordingly with regards to the benefits and value of its products and services. Though this strategy may generate income, the risk in implementing such may result to the alienation of potential customers who are driven by market pricing and this strategy may even invite new competitors in the industry for the company. In implementing value optimized pricing strategy, the company must understand that the goal is to better align prices directly with the value offered to customers. Prices can be customized for clients in order to reflect a given value delivered. Such strategy is intended to make Clearwater Technologies become more competitive in the industry at the same time earn more profits and maximize value for given clients. This strategy’s crucial success is dependent on the company’s understanding of customer’s measurement of value, willingness to pay, and attributes to products and services. Cost-Plus Pricing Strategy In order to satisfy the f
Introduction The Houston-Galveston area has been identified to be a dynamic economic center with an estimated growth in the population of 60 percent. Houston which is found in Texas is the fourth largest city in the United States. The city has continued to undergo diverse growth and expansion activities in its housing, business, and commercial industries. Despite the rapid developments taking place in Houston, the city continues to experience problems in its transportation sector. The city is constantly plagued by traffic congestion and inadequate public transport for its many residents. This has made it difficult to access various parts of the city due to the congestion and lack of transport. There has been an estimated increase in the population in the Houston-Galveston area with future projections predicting that three million new residents are expected in the area by the year 2035. This growth in the population will also see the creation of 1.5 million jobs within the city that will in turn create a demand for 1.7 million homes in the area. Such rapid growth in the population will lead to a heavy drain on the current road networks and systems (Crossley par.1). However, a new transportation plan has been developed by the Houston- Galveston Council to deal with the current and future transportation problems in the area. This plan is referred to as the H-GAC 2035 Regional Transportation Plan. This long-range plan will serve as a blueprint for transportation planning in the area for the next thirty years. The new transportation plan is meant to address the greater regional growth of the Houston-Galveston area as well as any transportation problems that might arise in the regions (H-GAC par.1). The plan is meant to address the transportation needs of eight counties that fall under the eight-county Transportation Management Area (TMA) which are Liberty County, Chambers County, Montgomery County, Waller, Harris, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Brazoria counties (Murray 35). These counties were projected to experience an increase in their populations over the next 20 years. These counties are identified in the map below Existing Transport Conditions in the Houston-Galveston Area Traffic congestion in any major city has been one of the fundamental problems that affect traffic movement in large cities. Before any transportation plan was devised to deal with transport problems, the traffic congestion in the Houston-Galveston area had been termed to be very serious. Traffic and transport problems made it difficult for most residents in the Houston-Galveston area to get to their places of work in the city. The traffic peak times in the area occurred between 6.30 am to 9.30 am and 3.30 to 6.30 pm daily. Other traffic problems were the underdeveloped arterial street systems that were meant to reduce traffic congestion on the roads. The expansion of the freeway system was meant to ease traffic congestion by creating various arterial street systems but the freeway system developed some problems (Cox
The patient is overweight and has high blood pressure. It is critical to reduce the effects of these conditions. First of all, a screening test should be done as a part of secondary prevention measures. Due to the patient’s weight and high pressure, the ECG is necessary to examine whether the patient has cardiovascular disease or not. Lab tests, including a urine test, blood tests, and cholesterol test, should also be taken. In addition, I would look at the patient’s diet, lifestyle and behavior. Following that, I will prescribe individual drugs that decrease blood pressure, for instance, lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide. Moreover, I will prescribe calcium channel blockers, such as amlodipine and diltiazem, to relax the muscles of blood vessels. These blockers are adequate for older people with African heritage. Doses would be estimated during tests and the patient’s condition. I will also recommend a heart-healthy diet that is less salty. The patient should limit alcohol consumption and do regular physical activities. An individual diet that is low in calories may be determined after screening and lab tests. The patient is overweight; thus, decreasing his weight should be included in the care plan. Cardiac and weight rehabilitation programs are a good option for the patient, as he will be under the control of medical workers. In addition, there are support groups for older people that may improve the mood of the patient and his quality of life due to socialization and participation. I would also speak with his family about the patient’s attitude and behavior and explain the importance of care. Maintaining the patient’s functional capacity is critical, so I will recommend giving him minor tasks at home.
Introduction/Overview Waste Management in the United States is in an incomprehensibly worrying state. Total waste generated each year is in tons of millions, with arguably very ineffective and disproportionate waste management shipping in various states. Regardless, The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) working with the various States periodically gathers data regarding hazardous waste regulation, in line with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)-1976, to promote responsible waste management (Kunz, 2010). This report highlights the findings of the recent report on data on waste management in various States. The report particularly mirrors the relationship of the number of waste generators and total hazardous waste generated by the state, generators versus waste generated, and waste shipped versus a number of regions within the States. Hazardous Waste Generated In total, the total hazardous waste generated by all the American states stood at 53754191 tons. The states that topped were as follows: Louisiana (15892592 tons), Texas (13272307 tons), California (608654 tons), Arkansas (495754 tons), and Michigan (2397357 tons). At the bottom was South Dakota at 750 tons (EPA, 2010) Relationship Number of Generators and Total Hazardous Waste Generated by State Surprisingly, the number of generators versus the amount of hazardous waste generated was not congruent. For instance, while Louisiana had only 336 generators, it had the highest amount of waste generated. California on the other hand recorded hazardous waste of 608654 tons. Ohio with 953 generators recorded 1608186 while Oklahoma generating 134426 tons had 164 generators (EPA, 2010) Hazardous Waste Shipped Versus Regions An analysis of the data collected shows a disproportionate relationship between waste shipped and the number of regions within a state. For instance, the amount of waste shipped in the states of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, and Arkansas stood at 206103 tons against 4 regions, 2126 tons against 10 regions, 54031 tons against 9 regions, and 324355 tons against 6 regions respectively (EPA, 2010). The Difference (Margin) Between Hazardous Waste Generated and Waste shipped In most states, the amount of waste shipped was less than the waste generated. Colorado for instance generated 54921 tons and shipped 39961 tons of wastes, while Delaware generated 19743 and shipped 19374. Indiana generated 958019 tons and shipped 404761 tons; Iowa generated 49013 tons and shipped 48771 tons. Maine generated 5305
Introduction It is no longer a secret that sociologists and other researchers have for some decades now shown immense interest in penetrating various subcultures to understand their operational dynamics and members’ way of life. In the past, the term “subculture” aroused raw emotions as it was often associated with groups of teenagers engaged in antisocial behavior or underworld crime syndicates involved in organized criminal activities. However, as demonstrated in this essay, some subcultures exist for good causes, though they are overly misunderstood by society due to strange behavioral orientations. This paper provides some background information of one such subculture known as the Arrow of God and its significance to the wider culture. Background Information The arrow of God is an underground religious subculture within the local community which seems to have revolted against the teachings of the contemporary church to form a splinter group with a well-formulated hierarchy of authority and binding rules. The subculture, consisting of about 300 local community members, is known for its great secrecy and strict adherence to what members refer to the “covenant of God.” However, news of the subculture has filtered through to the public domain due to some people who used to be part of the group but have since been expelled due to various reasons, key among them being a failure to follow the strict religious rules. Observations of the group revealed several pertinent issues that characterize subcultures and other groups created to fulfill a particular purpose. First, group members do not shake hands but use hand gestures and a symbol of a cross to greet other fellow members. An interview with an influential member of the subculture revealed that the group considers the act of shaking hands as dirty and unwanted by virtue of the fact that their bodies should personify the holy body of Christ. Second, women members of the group are not allowed to wear short dresses or trousers, not mentioning that they are not supposed to show their hair. Men are not supposed to shave their beards and are required to wear some specially prepared chains to demonstrate their identity and submission to the rules and regulations of the group. Third, an interview with another member of group revealed that admission to the subculture is a closely guarded affair that is only initiated by the group’s top brass under the direction of the religious leader, known as the rector. The interviewed member acknowledged that “the rector interviews potential members and administers the special sacrament, which is intended to bind the recruits to the oath of secrecy, religious cleanliness, and submission to the rules and regulations of the church.” It was noted that the member referred to the subculture as the “church”, implying that the group deems itself as a fully-fledged religious outfit. Some members of the community with p