ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
System integration refers to the act of intermixing two or more aspects of operations in an organization to improve productivity. This includes integrating information systems with the supply chain hence bringing ease in operations. It is vital for organizations to take the best route to integration whereby they will be able to work with other organizations to minimize costs, and acquire a competitive advantage. This means that companies should be able to integrate their operations with those organizations they may wish to consider in case they want to outsource their services (Willcocks and Lacity 35). Organizations bound to integrate need to have aligning goals whereby their vision and mission do not contradict. This helps them to work together during the integration process because all involved organizations should work. System integration involves supply chain planning which ensures that all aspects of supply chain are in accordance with the expectations of company objectives. Another important aspect of the system is alignment which ensures that all systems are consistent with each other. This means that operations of individual systems should be in a way such that they do not contradict. In fact, system integration is extremely beneficial in supply chain management because, it is the one that ensures flow of goods through the system without much friction. For example, raw materials can be ordered easily and delivered when they are just required. If system integration is faulty, unnecessary costs may be incurred and at times associated with delays which may translate to gross losses for organizations. Therefore, the strategy to be used should define the role of information necessary in the course of decision making (Rivard and Aubert 87). The information should shed light for the best practices involved in decision making to facilitate for effective interaction of people in the supply chain. This positive integration ensures that communication and relationships between stakeholders in the supply chain are effected. Insourcing and outsourcing strategies involve all the communications necessary in organizations. This is because they form the heart of all communications as they enable organizations to share data within its departments and other organizations. Performance of organizations in the supply chain depends with their ability to collect, analyze and interpret data (DHILLON 67). This involves technological advancement in systems because advanced equipment reduces the complexity of operation activities. This means that if an organization has developed communication equipment, it stands a better chance of getting the best information from the market. This helps them to design products depending on what consumer requires hence maximizing on their revenue and sales. Organizations may decide on where to outsource for services depending with equipment needed. For example, a company may be in need of outsourcing equipment to cater for increased demand hence they should consider organizations with e
Introduction The catastrophic convulsion of stock-market prices on the New York Stock Exchange in October 1929 and the Great Depression which followed are among the most noteworthy events of the twentieth century. As noted by Steindl (2007), these two events changed the global economic landscape of the time as developed economies, led by the United States, gravitated towards a grotesque economic slump which resulted in massive job losses, meltdown in global trade, severe contraction in spending, and failure of financial institutions. Granted the importance of these events, then, it was inevitable for policy analysts to learn important lessons from the Great Depression to avoid a repeat of economic blunders that precipitated the world’s worst depression to date. Indeed, the widely held perspective, according to Bramble (2009), is that the experience of a generation that was faced with an overwhelmingly greater degree of uncertainty can teach us some important lessons about how to negotiate our own economic uncertainty. This paper will attempt to critically analyze if the lessons learnt from the Great Depression were decisive in shaping the post-1945 global economy. This objective will be achieved by analyzing three broad domains, namely: consequences of the depression to the global economy; the fall of the gold standard, and; the Bretton Woods system. The Great Depression Era & its Consequences to the Global Economy The economic slump that hit industrialized economies of the world, starting in the U.S. and later spreading to Europe, began in earnest in 1929 and lasted until about 1941, making it the longest and most ruthless depression ever experienced by the developed world (Ahamed, 2011). Policy analysts are in agreement that the economic losses occasioned by this depression, in their full volume and magnitude, are immeasurable. Although it is outside the scope of this paper to dwell on the real or perceived causes of this depression, it is worth noting that the catastrophic collapse of stock-market prices coupled with unparalleled bank failures and American economic policy with Europe generated an enabling environment that not only destroyed but also dislocated the economic structure of the United States and Europe (Gay, 1992). The Great Depression brought with it a myriad of consequences that shook the global economy to the core. Indeed, many of the lessons learnt from the depression, according to Bramble (2009), accentuated the need for countries to develop mechanisms that would shield their economies from such consequences should they ever arise again. This notwithstanding, research into the depression demonstrates that massive unemployment across global economies was one of th
Abstract The implementation of the Davis-Bacon Act has led to significant changes in the American society. This paper begins by providing a recap of the origin of this Act. The aim of the paper is to explore the purpose that led to its enactment and the key roles it has played in the American society. The Davis-Bacon Act governs wage requirements for contractors, laborers, mechanics, and other American workers who are associated with federally funded projects in the United States. The existence of intuitive and essentially unsound processes of obtaining contracts, recruitment, training, and unfair wage allocation led to the establishment of the prevailing wage law in an attempt to preserve the American society, especially the black folks, from exploitation. The research paper also provides the various requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act that contractors should comply with prior to playing part in any competition for federally funded projects. Introduction Davis-Bacon Act can be traced back in the 1920s when there was inherent competition between the minority African-American laborers and exclusionary unions of the white workers who formed the majority of the American workforce. The persistence of unfair competition, especially for construction contracts, led to the implementation of the Bacon Bill that finally gave birth to the Davis-Bacon Act a decade later. The 71st United States Congress enacted the Act, which is also known as the prevailing wage law, on 3 March 1931 in an attempt to protect the American standards of living. The law holds that contractors who service federally funded construction projects should pay their laborers as per the typical wages and fringe benefits that prevail in the local American communities. The Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor (DOL) takes charge of defining the prevailing minimum wage rates for the various construction classifications that include residential, building, highway, and/or heavy construction activities. However, the Act has faced criticism that has led to amendments to resolve difficulties that American workers encounter in other industries. This paper explores the purpose and requirements of the Act. Purpose of the Davis-Bacon Act The major purpose of the Davis-Bacon Act was to preserve the American standards of living. Enacted as the primary federal legislation to protect the working terms of nonfederal laborers in America, the Act requires private contractors to pay laborers and prevailing wages that go above 2000 dollars on all state-funded projects. Cavanaugh (2010) reveals that this rate is equivalent to the union wage, especially in urban regions that tend to have considerably higher number of members in unions than in the rural areas. A research conducted by the DOL revealed that the Davis-Bacon Act applies to about 21-percent of all construction contracts in the United States. Moreover, the Davis-Bacon Act was meant for promotion of fair and cost-effective federal contracting. The Act fostered the development of equity amongst the Americans, especially in the local communities (Cavanaugh, 2010). The Act also led to the implementation of
Introduction Among family problems, couples want to avoid divorce the most. However, sometimes, divorce is the solution to many issues. Of course, it can cause even more challenges, but these hardships will be of a different type. Although separation may lead to stress and depression, often, it is a rescue for people, giving them a chance to start a new life (Collins, Jordan, & Coleman, 2013). It is more favorable when a divorce becomes just an official confirmation of a fait accompli and does not cause severe psychological and emotional trauma to spouses. It is believed that the sooner the couple divorces, the more comfortable they go through the associated difficulties (Collins et al., 2013). In cases when a husband and wife have lived together for many years, their separation is challenging and burdened by many factors. Under certain circumstances, even family therapists and social workers might recommend couples to divorce. Situation 1 When it is entirely impossible to restore the relationship between each other, the couple should not delay the divorce. It is useful to visit a therapist or a social worker who will help understand the reasons and causes of a broken bond. However, when both people hate each other, they need to live separately. Sometimes spouses postpone the divorce for the time when their children grow up, but when the atmosphere is negative at home, the alleged sacrifice will not benefit anybody but harm the children. Situation 2 When one of the spouses is addicted to alcohol or drugs, the other spouse gets into a difficult situation. If all the attempts made to help the spouse return to a healthy lifestyle were unsuccessful, then the divorce can be a rescue. The mother or father who suffers because of their partner’s addiction but continues to live together for the sake of children might be making a mistake. Situation 3 If one of the spouses suppresses the will of the other, for instance, by preventing them from pursuing their career or communicating with friends and family, then such relationships need to be transformed. In the most neglected cases, the spouse who is constantly humiliated and deprived of his or her will falls into domestic slavery, getting out of which becomes more difficult year by year. The suppressed spouse should not wait for the children to grow up or other circumstances, because life tends to pass by, and all the sacrifices would be in vain. Situation 4 Domestic violence should not be easily tolerated but should be dealt with immediately. If such cases of abuse are constant, then the spouse should consider a divorce. In some countries, domestic violence is an act of crime and is prosecuted by law (Choudhry & Herring, 2017). Therefore, no one should let themselves get into captivation, but instead should try to speak to others and communicate their proble
Introduction The science of event management has become a necessity in today’s business world. Since events are occasional, proper planning is important to ensure that an event is successful. Although some of the plans are overridden by occurrences during the actual event, planned events are better in relation to the impromptu ones. Events management involves various stages of planning. Moreover, various resources are necessary for different events. In addition, events require a certain degree of leadership skills that are necessary for the implementation of the event. Human beings require a certain level of control. Therefore, events managers have a duty to co-ordinate, organise, and develop working teams. Proper, clear, and concise communication is imperative in events management. Constant communication between events managers and clients before, during, and after the event is important. Events managers are therefore charged with the responsibility of installing proper communication systems throughout the process. This paper discusses business events management in the modern business environment. Importance of Planning Planning is an important skill in evens management. Planning is carried out in various stages during events management. The importance of planning is to ensure that the management is not caught up by eventualities during the actual event. According to Brenner (2009, p.26), with a good plan, the management team is able to respond quickly to various occurrences. A well-developed and authenticated plan will enable the event management team to ensure better satisfaction of customers’ needs. Various resources that are necessary for a particular even are also delivered in time. The delays that are witnessed in most of the events are therefore eliminated through proper planning. The team is not caught unaware by various demands from customers. A good plan enables managers to foresee the whole idea in a particular event. It is from such a plan that the management team carries out a systematic implementation of the program. De Snoo, van Wezel, Wortmann, and Gaalman (2011, p. 2101) confirm that plans act as a reference during the actual event. For instance, managers can use it as a checklist for various requirements. Planning will also save time and money that events take. Time is an important factor in events management. A good plan enables planners to allocate a specific amount of time to particular portions of events. This ensures that there is no procrastination and/or mix up of events. A good plan gives every portion of the event ample and adequate time. Such a program enables completion of all components of the event with little or no rush. Stages of Planning and the required Resources Planning of events involves various stages. The first stage of
Introduction Around the world, the cost of implementing healthcare reforms is very high (Lee, 2007). To shoulder the ever-increasing cost of healthcare, the US legislators have proposed that taxes on liquor and cigarettes should be increased. According to the Senate Committee mandated to oversee the department of finance, the cost of managing diseases related to liquor and cigarettes in the next ten years will be over $1.5 trillion (Lee, 2007). In the final part of the first article, problems related to the proposed initiatives are illustrated. The second part of the article uses ethos to enhance its authority. As such, statistics and figures on the use of alcohol and tobacco are provided. Through this, the solutions and advantages of the problems are highlighted. The first problem and its solutions Based on the health statistics, one in every twenty American students smoked cigarettes during the 1990s (Lee, 2007). However, after the tax on cigarettes was increased, the tobacco usage rate dropped to 18.9% in the year 2011(Lee, 2007). Currently, statistics indicate that one in seventy-one students smoke cigarettes. In section one of this article, the increased usage of tobacco and alcohol in American society is considered a major problem that is leading to an increase in the cost of healthcare. Therefore, the first solution to the problem is to increase the tax levied on these products. It is believed that if the taxes levied on the products are increased; their cost will augment. With an increased cost, consumers will be forced to purchase fewer products. By doing so, the social harm caused by consumption and overconsumption of the products will be decreased (Piasecki & Mccarthy, 2008). Another advantage associated with the solution is that with increased cost, the students and minors will be restricted from purchasing the products. Usually, minors purchase alcohol or tobacco products using their pocket money. However, when the prices of the products are increased, the minors will be prevented from purchasing the products by their limited funds. In the end, the country will benefit from economic and environmental gains. The country will manage to save on the cost of healthcare. Similarly, air pollution associated with the use of tobacco will be decreased. The second problem and its solutions The second problem identified in the first part of the article is that the use of alcohol and tobacco results in health costs, which have a tendency to be borne by the public. Based on the problem, individuals who are willfully choosing to engage in harmful activities should be responsible for their increase in healthcare costs. The solution to the above problem is to enact laws, which will ensure that smokers or alcoholics bear personal responsibilities for their behaviors. If the solution is implemented, tobacco and alcohol users will be forced to seek higher insurance premiums compared to
Introduction The general dynamics of the global business environment have changed a lot since the turn of the century. This phenomenon has been influenced by elements such as the increased usage of the internet, technological advancements, globalization, and better legislation. In return, the integration of these elements with various business models has led to the need for better execution of various functions to meet the required market standards (Trevino & Nelson, 2010). According to business experts, the coexistence of these elements is very crucial in terms of achieving the highest standards of advertising, product safety, and intellectual property rights. These three crucial components of the contemporary business environment play a crucial role in reducing the vulnerability of consumers to unethical business practices. The legislation is also an important element in the business world because it helps in protecting the consumers, as well as both the product and the resource value of their brands in respective markets. The promotion of any brand should apply in line with the ethical and legal codes of conduct governing every respective market. Marketing entails a commercial process that promotes, sells, and distributes a product to various consumers. It is important to ensure that this process is guided by the need to provide consumers with products that do not compromise their health and safety, as well as ensuring it applies within the existing laws (Trevino & Nelson, 2010). Intellectual property is also a crucial element of the business world embodied in the spirit of ethical business practices and effective implementation of legislation. One of the key elements in the promotion of intellectual property laws is having a clear understanding of the principles of property rights. This plays a crucial role in understanding the basis of the numerous arguments and counter-arguments developed around the morality of copyright infringement. In education, plagiarism identifies as one of the main infringements to copyrights, while in the entertainment industry the violation happens through owning any content, either recorded or downloaded from the internet without the knowledge of the owner (Trevino & Nelson, 2010). Ethics is an important element of the society that cannot be ignored, especially in the contemporary world where there are numerous revenue streams for inventors. Ethical and legal considerations in marketing In the United States, the marketing industry is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission, whose primary role is monitoring the activities of various advertisers to determine the legality and morality of their work. The main factor that influenced the creation of the federal unit was the widespread violation of ethical standards by advertisers despite the existence of relevant legislation (Pride, 2008). A study conducted by the federal government established that the ethical and legal elements of advertising are intertwined and one can work effectively in the absence of the other. One of the major considerations in marketing is the need, to tell the truth. In the Unit
Introduction Food deserts are areas where relative scarcity of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain exists. In such areas, people often have to walk long distances and may have to pay a premium to acquire healthy foods. One such area according to the Food Access Research Atlas by the Economic Research Service of the US Department of Agriculture is Richardson in Dallas, Texas. I visited the area and noted that more than 100 housing units do not own a vehicle and live more than half a mile away from the nearest supermarket. I also noticed that a significant number of the residents live more than 20 miles away from the closest supermarket. Political issues and both individual and communal factors associated with race and financial ability contribute to food deserts because the development of supermarkets and healthy food outlets in an area depend on that region’s demographic characteristics. Basic Observations I visited Sprouts Farmers Markets on North Henderson Avenue in Dallas, Texas. It is the nearest grocery store with a full range of healthy foods such as farm-fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat milk. Unfortunately, the store is about 15 miles from the Cortland Prairie Creek area I visited. It could be more than 20 miles depending on where a person lives in the Richardson area. The store’s main customers are individuals shopping for their personal or business grocery needs. I saw a few employees and a few customers on my visit to the store. The customers included men, women, and children of all ages and races, but most of them were white. Similarly, most employees that I saw were white females. I also saw a few black and Hispanic employees. Comparison For the Richardson area residents, particularly those living around Prairie Creek, access to fresh food is a problem because supermarkets and grocery stores are far apart. This difficulty is in sharp contrast with my neighborhood, which has many fruit and vegetable vendors within walking distance. Another difference that I observed is that the people in the area I visited neither own vehicles nor live close to a public transportation means, which further complicates their shopping abilities given how far the grocery stores are. In our neighborhood, not only are grocery stores a short distance away, but most people also own vehicles, and public transportation is readily available, giving triple convenience. People in our neighborhood also use online shopping whenever they are unwilling or unable to go