Tuesday, December 31, 2019

German Proficiency Tests and Certification

At some point in your study of the German language, you may want to, or you might need to take a test to demonstrate your command of the language. Sometimes a person may want to take it for his or her satisfaction, while in some cases a student may be required to take a test such as the Zertifikat Deutsch (ZD), the Großes Sprachdiplom (GDS), or the TestDaF. There are more than a dozen tests you can take to certify your proficiency in German. Which test you take depends on several factors, including for what purpose or for whom you are taking the test. If you plan on attending a German university, for instance, you need to find out which test is required or recommended. While many colleges and universities have their in-house proficiency tests, what we are discussing here are established, widely recognized German tests offered by the Goethe Institute and other organizations. A standardized test such as the widely accepted Zertifikat Deutsch has proven its validity over the years and is recognized as certification in many situations. However, it is not the only such test, and some of the others are required instead of the ZD by some universities. There are also specialized German tests, particularly for business. Both the BULATS and the Zertifikat Deutsch fà ¼r den Beruf (ZDfB) test a high level of language competency for business German. They are only suitable for people who have the appropriate background and training for such a test. Test Fees All of these German tests require payment of a fee by the person being tested. Contact the test administrator to find out the cost of any test you are planning to take. Test Preparation Since these German proficiency examinations test general language ability, no one book or course prepares you for taking such a test. However, the Goethe Institute and some other language schools do offer specific preparatory courses for the DSH, GDS, KDS, TestDaF, and several other German tests. Some of the tests, particularly the business German tests, provide specific requirements (how many hours of instruction, type of courses, etc.), and we outline some of that in the following list. However, you need to contact the organization that administers the test you want to take for more detailed information. Our list includes Web links and other contact information, but one of the best sources of information is the Goethe Institute, which has local centers in many countries all over the globe, and an excellent Web site. (For more about the Goethe Institute, see my article: Das Goethe-Institut.) BULATS (Business Language Testing Service) Organization: BULATSDescription: The BULATS is a worldwide business-related German proficiency test administered in cooperation with the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate. Besides German, the test is also available in English, French, and Spanish. BULATS is used by organizations to assess the language skills of employees/job applicants in a professional context. It comprises several tests that can be taken separately or in combination.Where/When: Some Goethe Institutes around the world offer the German BULATS test. DSH - Deutsche Sprachprà ¼fung fà ¼r den Hochschulzugang auslà ¤ndischer Studienbewerber (German Language Test for College Admission for Foreign Students) Organization: FADAFDescription: Similar to the TestDaF; administered in Germany and by some licensed schools. The DSH examination is used to prove an international students ability to understand lectures and study at a German university. Note that, unlike the TestDaf, the DSH may be retaken only once!Where/When: Usually at each university, with the date set by each university (in March and September). Goethe-Institut Einstufungstest - GI Placement Test Organization: Goethe InstituteDescription: An online German placement test with 30 questions. It places you in one of the six levels of the Common European Framework.Where/When: Online at any time. Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS, Advanced German Language Diploma) Organization: Goethe InstituteDescription: The GDS was established by the Goethe Institute in cooperation with the Ludwig-Maximilians-Università ¤t, Munich. Students taking the GDS must be virtually fluent in German as it is rated (by some countries) as being the equivalent of German teaching qualification. The exam covers the four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking), structural competence and dictation. In addition to spoken fluency, candidates will need advanced grammatical ability and be capable of preparing texts and discussing issues about German literature, natural sciences, and economics.Where/When: The GDS can be taken at Goethe Institutes and other testing centers in Germany and other countries. Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KDS, Intermediate German Language Diploma) Organization: Goethe InstituteDescription: The KDS was established by the Goethe Institute in cooperation with the Ludwig-Maximilians-Università ¤t, Munich. The KDS is a German language proficiency test taken at an advanced level. The written test involves the understanding of texts, vocabulary, composition, understanding instructions, as well as exercises/questions about specifically chosen texts. There are also general questions on geography and German culture, plus an oral exam. The KDS satisfies university language entrance requirements.Where/When: The GDS can be taken at Goethe Institutes and other testing centers in Germany and other countries. Tests are held in May and November. OSD Grundstufe Ãâ€"sterreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch - Grundstufe (Austrian German Diploma - Basic Level) Organization: Ãâ€"SD-Prà ¼fungszentraleDescription: The OSD was developed in cooperation with the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Transport, the Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs. The OSD is a German language proficiency exam which tests general language skills. Grundstufe 1 is the first of three levels and is based on the Council of Europes Waystage Level specification. Candidates should be capable of communicating in a limited number of everyday situations. The exam comprises both written and oral elements.Where/When: At language schools in Austria. Contact the Ãâ€"SD-Prà ¼fungszentrale for more information. OSD Mittelstufe Austrian German Diploma - Intermediate Organization: Ãâ€"SD-Prà ¼fungszentraleDescription: Candidates must be able to handle a level of German beyond everyday situations, including intercultural skills. See the listing above for more about the OSD. Prà ¼fung Wirtschaftsdeutsch International (PWD, International Test for Business German) Organization: Goethe InstituteDescription: The PWD was established by the Goethe Institute in cooperation with Carl Duisberg Centers (CDC) and Deutscher Industrie-und Handelstag (DIHT). It is a German business proficiency test taken at an intermediate/advanced level. Students attempting this examination should have completed 600-800 hours of instruction in German business and economics. Students are tested on subject terminology, comprehension, business letter standards, and proper public relations. The examination has both written and oral components. Students attempting the PWD should have completed a course in intermediate business German and preferably an advanced language course.Where/When: The PWD can be taken at Goethe Institutes and other testing centers in Germany and other countries. TestDaF - Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (Test (of) German as a Foreign Language) Organization: TestDaF InstituteDescription: The TestDaF is a German language proficiency test recognized by the German government. The TestDaF is most commonly taken by people who want to study at the university level in Germany.Where/When: Contact the Goethe Institute, other language schools, or a German university for more information. Zentrale Mittelstufenprà ¼fung (ZMP, Central Intermediate Test) Organization: Goethe InstituteDescription: Accepted by some German universities as proof of German proficiency. The ZMP was established by the Goethe-Institut and can be attempted after 800-1000 hours of advanced German language instruction. The minimum age is 16. The examination tests reading comprehension, listening, writing skills, and verbal communication at an advanced/intermediate level.Where/When: The ZMP can be taken at Goethe Institutes and other testing centers in Germany and other countries. Contact the Goethe Institute for more information. Zentrale Oberstufenprà ¼fung (ZOP) Organization: Goethe InstituteDescription: Candidates must show they have a good command of the regional variations of standard German. Must be able to understand complex, authentic texts and to express themselves accurately both orally and in writing. Level compares with that of the Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KDS). The ZOP has a written section (text analysis, tasks that test the ability to express oneself, essay), listening comprehension, and an oral examination. Passing the ZOP makes you exempt from the language entrance examinations to German universities.Where/When: Contact the Goethe Institute. Zertifikat Deutsch (ZD, Certificate German) Organization: Goethe InstituteDescription: Internationally recognized proof of basic working knowledge of the German language. Candidates must be able to deal with everyday situations and have a command of basic grammatical structures and vocabulary. Students who have taken about 500-600 class hours can register for the exam.Where/When: the examination centers set ZD exam dates. As a rule, the ZD is offered one to six times per year, depending on location. The ZD is taken at the end of an intensive language course at a Goethe Institute. Zertifikat Deutsch fà ¼r den Beruf (ZDfB, Certificate German for Business) Organization: Goethe InstituteDescription: A special German test aimed at business professionals. The ZDfB was developed by the Goethe Institute and the Deutsches Institut fà ¼r Erwachsenenbildung (DIE) and is currently being administered by the Weiterbildungstestsysteme GmbH (WBT). The ZDfB is specifically for those students interested in business relations. Students attempting this exam should have already completed an intermediate level course in German and additional courses in business.Where/When: The ZDfB may be taken at Goethe Institutes; Volkshochschulen; ICC members and other testing centers in over 90 countries.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Prima Facie The Spitzenkandidaten Election Model Is Not...

Prima Facie the Spitzenkandidaten election model is directly democratic, however, in practice this system is not without flaws. Electoral participation remained at record low levels when it was first introduced in 2009 and the following elections of 2014, at 43%. This low voter turnout illustrates that those who believed that Spitzenkandidaten would increase public interest and promote a pan-European debate about the future of the EU were clearly mistaken. The effectiveness of this voting system is much debated. From, aggregate election results it is clear that, such a system of voting continues to be akin to second order theory for two reasons. Firstly, low voter turnout exemplifies that citizens are disillusioned by politics at a European level and hence true voting patterns are skewed, as it is more likely for citizens with vested interests to vote at a European level. This has the adverse effect on European Integration through paving the way for Eurosceptic parties into the EP, whose representation is considerable in the current parliamentary formation. This is exemplified by the fact that the success of Eurosceptic parties was interdependent on the suffering of governing parties. For example the conservatives coupled with the liberal democrats in the UK lost 30%age points since the general election of 2010. The two Dutch governing parties suffered the same losses as compared to the 2012 Dutch general election. Finally, the governing parties of France and Spain lost

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The Vocabulary Acquisition Of Children Education Essay Free Essays

string(112) " characteristics of anticipation in efficient lexical acquisition to be used in bilingual and monolingual kids\." A individual ‘s vocabulary is the set of words that they are familiar with. It normally grows and evolves with age and serves as a utile medium for communicating and geting linguistic communication. One ‘s working vocabulary may non be representative of one ‘s entire cognition of a linguistic communication. We will write a custom essay sample on The Vocabulary Acquisition Of Children Education Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Vocabulary can be improved by exposure to new linguistic communication information. In mundane conversation we speak of vocabulary in the singular ; we speak of a individual ‘s vocabulary. This is really an simplism. The American Heritage Dictionary defines vocabulary as â€Å" the amount of words used by, understood by, or at the bid of a peculiar individual or group. † Harmonizing to Nation ( I. S. P. Nation 2001 ) , vocabulary acquisition includes three procedures, viz. detecting, retrieval, and originative ( productive ) usage. 1.2 Statement of the job For the first five old ages or so of their childhood, kids are involved in the procedure of geting a significance or unwritten vocabulary -words that they understand when they hear them and that they can utilize in their address. During this period, kids basically do non hold literate vocabularies. Most kids get reading and composing accomplishments upon come ining school. So, for really immature kids, their significances of vocabularies are much larger than their literate vocabularies. Therefore this survey is an effort to look into vocabulary acquisition among kids between one to five old ages old. 1.3 Aims The aim of this survey is: To determine vocabulary acquisition among 1-5 old ages old kids with different background. 1.4 Research inquiries What are the differences between the two kids in term of their vocabulary acquisition? How does the kids ‘s background act upon their English vocabulary acquisition? Does a bilingual kid perform better in their vocabulary acquisition? 2.0 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 2.1 Children Vocabulary Acquisition Broad definition of vocabulary is the cognition of words and word significances. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defined vocabulary as all words that person knows or uses. Vocabulary acquisition is lingual accomplishment that is truly of import and complex acquired by kids and grownups. For the first five old ages of kids ‘s lives, they are involved in the procedure of geting a significance or unwritten vocabulary which contain words that they understand when they hear them and they can utilize in their day-to-day address ( Pikulski A ; Templeton, 2004 ) . From a survey done by MacWhinney ( 1998 ) , it appeared that babies learned to go to to and bring forth linguistic communication with easiness, but to get a linguistic communication is non an easy undertaking ( Phythian-Sence A ; Wagner, 2007 ) . Before kids can larn to pass on with words, their gestures signal an apprehension of linguistic communication. A kid is said to hold acquired vocabulary when he or she n on merely merely link spoken sounds with objects and events in the environment, but besides understand that words mention objects and constructs ( Phythian-Sence A ; Wagner, 2007 ) . Leung ( 1992 ) in her survey explored vocabulary acquisition in unwritten contexts utilizing a repeated read-aloud with kids in kindergarten and first class. She found that read-aloud influenced kids ‘s acquisition of words for familiar constructs, but did non significantly act upon the acquisition of words stand foring unfamiliar constructs ( Phythian-Sence A ; Wagner, 2007 ) . In short, we can state that kids get new words with and without direct direction with environment influence their acquisition. 2.2 Parents and Economic Background Parents play an of import function in kids ‘s vocabulary acquisition. Parents help their kids learn about objects and actions through day-to-day conversation. At this point of clip, kids already exposed to a scope of vocabulary. Although research clearly stated that parents influenced the vocabulary acquisition of the kids, there are differences whether this occurs across households that vary in instruction and economic background. Hart and Risley ( 1995 ) in their survey found that, kids from lower income households used vocabulary that deficiency of rich content. In that survey, they besides stressed on the differences in kids ‘s vocabulary size due to socioeconomic position and other hazard factors. The consequence in their survey indicated that, kids who have from parents of professionals had a cumulative vocabulary of about 1,100 words, those from working category households had about 650 words, and those from welfare households had merely over 400 words ( Hart A ; Risley, 1995 ) . Many research found that kids from low-income environments score more ill on steps of phonemic consciousness and vocabulary during preschool and simple school. Raz and Bryant ( 1990 ) found such a strong association between household income, phonemic consciousness, and reading that they concluded that ascertained differences among SES groups in simple school could be explained by differences in consciousness and sensitiveness to phonemes in preschool as cited by Rush ( 1999 ) . Research by Dickinson and Tabors ( 2001 ) has shown that kids reared in lower-SES conditions develop vocabulary and linguistic communication usage more easy than kids from higher-SES families ( Sinatra, 2008 ) . New research done by Rowe and other research workers suggested that the income and instruction degrees of parents are connected to a babe ‘s accomplishments with gesturing, which in bend can bespeak whether a kid will develop strong linguistic communication abilities. Their find ings showed that during the first session, the kids from high-income families gestured 24 times, compared to 13 gestures from childs in low-income places. Then both groups were tested for vocabulary, the childs from the high-income households scored 117, compared to 93 in the other group ( 2009 ) . 2.3 Bilingualism and Vocabulary Acquisition There are two major beginnings of informations about optimum conditions for L1 vocabulary development: surveies of the place environments in which kids typically get big vocabularies and surveies of instructional patterns that support vocabulary ( Snow A ; Kim, 2007 ) . These types of informations are of import in back uping the vocabulary acquisition in first linguistic communication. Hart and Risley ( 1995 ) indicated that the best forecasters of immature kids ‘s vocabulary acquisition in L1 are the measure of address heard. Pearson and Fernandez ( 1994 ) suggested that these same characteristics of anticipation in efficient lexical acquisition to be used in bilingual and monolingual kids. You read "The Vocabulary Acquisition Of Children Education Essay" in category "Essay examples" Their findings concerned about the importance of the place linguistic communication environment in bilingual babies ‘ vocabulary development ( Snow A ; Kim, 2007 ) . Apart from that, vocab ulary acquisition is thought as holding two constituents which are larning new constructs and larning new phonological signifiers. So, a L2 scholar who has get many lexical points in L1 has the advantage that he or she needs to larn merely the new signifiers in the L2 while a kid who is monolingual has to get both of the constituents in larning lexical points of L2 ( Snow A ; Kim, 2007 ) . Bilingualism provides the advantages for kids ‘s vocabulary acquisition. Peal and Lambert ( 1962 ) are one of the earlier research workers to happen out the positive effects of intelligence for bilingualism. They conclude that bilingualism consequences in greater mental flexibleness and abstract thought. They besides suggested that bilingualism is non doing ‘confused believing ‘ but its improved thought ( Steinberg A ; Sciarini, 2006 ) . Quay ( 1992 ) in his survey showed that a Spanish-English bilingual kid acquired a figure of tantamount words in both linguistic communications and so about ever used the words right by linguistic communication context. His survey reported that the bilingual kid used words for which she knew a interlingual rendition equivalent ( that is, words with tantamount significances in the two linguistic communications ) in the appropriate lingual context as cited in ( Nicoladis A ; Secco, 2000 ) . As cited in Thordardottir, Weismer and Smi th ( 1997 ) , Garcia stated that, larning is to be facilitated under a bilingual status compared to a monolingual status in his research sing Empirical surveies of L2 vocabulary acquisition in minority kids geting English ( 1983 ) . 3.0 METHODOLOGY 3.1 Subjects The topics for this survey were two kids of 5 year-old. We managed to acquire a brace of kids which was a male child and a miss from the same cultural, Malay. These kids were the pupils of Makmal Taman Asuhan ( MTA ) which located following to Sultan Abdul Samad Library of Universiti Putra Malaysia. They were the pupils from the eventide session. Their background inside informations were stated as below: 1 ) Muhammad Haqeem bin Erman ( Subject A ) He was born on April 2, 2005 at Putrajaya. He lives at Bandar Baru Bangi. His male parent ‘s name is Erman bin Subri and he is Sarawakian. His female parent is Musliyana binti Mansor and she is a Johorian. His male parent works on his ain while his female parent is a science officer at Institut Biosains UPM. He loves watching televison and his favorite nutrient is egg curry. He is the lone kid in his household. Besides that, he speaks 2 linguistic communications, viz. Malay and English at place and even in schoolroom. 2 ) Nuradilla Umaira binti Dalha ( Subject B ) She was born on April 17, 2005 at Kajang, Selangor. She lives at Balakong. Her male parent is Dalha bin Abdul Halim while her female parent is Yammah binti Ahmad Ramlan. Her male parent works a clerk at Pejabat Pendaftar UPM. Her female parent is a full-time homemaker. Umaira has three siblings and she is the lone girl in the household. She is rather chatty among her friends. She merely speaks one linguistic communication which is Malay whether at place or in the schoolroom. 3.2 Instruments In order to obtain the informations, we have used slide show presentation which consisted of 40 images. We selected simple images to be presented to the kids so it would non be so hard for them to think. The images are runing from household members, animate beings, nutrient, fruits, transit, stationary and so on. Other than that, we besides used narrative book which contained images in it. Our purpose of utilizing the narrative book was non to inquire them to read the narrative, but we wanted to detect how they used the images in it to state a narrative. 3.3 Data aggregation processs Permission for carry oning this survey was obtained from Jabatan Pembangunan Masyarakat dan Perkembangan Keluarga ( JPMPK ) of Human Ecology Faculty by make fulling in the application signifier. In a hebdomad clip, we managed to acquire the permission from the section and an assignment was set up with the instructor at Makmal Taman Asuhan to happen a suited day of the month to carry on the survey. We did reference to her that we merely need to detect 2 kids in the schoolroom for our survey. As our agencies of roll uping informations was through observation, we used digital camera to enter the activity that we did with the kids. The first thing that we did with them was to compose their names on a piece of paper. Then, we put them together to watch a slide show presentation which has been prepared by us. During this session, both of them were asked to state us what image was shown in the slide show. Following, we used the object available in their schoolroom and asked them the name of the objects. Both old Sessionss were done at the same time for the kids where they need to response to the inquiries on the same clip. After that, we continued with the narrative books. In this session, we asked them to state what image was contained in at that place and make a narrative based on the images that they have seen. In the last session, they were asked to sing any vocal that they knew. 3.4 Data analysis We transcribed the recorded observation into text. We did non transcribe every individual word that the both kids said, but we merely focused on the of import portion. Then, we organized the information into classs which based on the Sessionss that we had with them. There were chiefly 4 classs ; composing ain name, figure of English vocabularies, stating a narrative based on images in the narrative book and numeration Numberss. We analyze the information by utilizing Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and besides we did descriptive analysis. 4.0 RESULT Writing ain name Capable Description A Can compose his ain name with the aid from the interviewer. He seemed to cognize the letters that stood for his name Bacillus Can non compose her ain name yet and did non look to cognize the letters ; merely scribbled on the paper given to her Number of English Vocabularies Stating a Story based on Pictures in the Story Book Capable Description A Focus entirely on depicting the images, non seeking to lucubrate or state a narrative based on the images Bacillus Describe the images every bit good as state a narrative based on the images provided in the narrative book Counting Numbers Capable Numbers A â€Å" One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10s † Bacillus â€Å" Satu, dua, tiga, empat, Lima, enam, lapan†¦ . † 5.0 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 5.1 Effect of Bilingualism The consequence showed that Subject A had more English vocabularies compared to Subject B. Tracing back to Subject A ‘s background, he is a bilingual kid where he was brought up in 2 linguistic communications environment. He spoke both Malay and English linguistic communication at place and in the schoolroom. This state of affairs would do him had more exposure to English linguistic communication compared to Subject B. In the other manus, Subject B merely spoke Malay whether at place or in the schoolroom. She could be said as non holding adequate exposure to English linguistic communication. This state of affairs made her non competent in that linguistic communication. However, both topics knew about all the objects shown in the slide show presentation, the lone difference laid in the linguistic communication that they used to call the objects ; whether it was Malay or English. 5.2 Family background Based on the consequence, household background did influence kids ‘s vocabulary acquisition. Subject A ‘s parents have higher educational background compared to subject B ‘s parents as topic A ‘s parents are both diploma undergraduates, his female parent working as science officer at Institute Biosains UPM while his male parent working on his ain. On the other manus, capable B ‘s male parent is working as a clerk at Pejabat Pendaftar UPM and her female parent is a fulltime homemaker. This showed that parents ‘ educational background has influenced the kid ‘s vocabulary acquisition as topic A ‘s parents have the advantages in assisting him to get vocabulary in both linguistic communications. Their educational background has given subject A ‘s more chance to larn two linguistic communications at the immature age. Subject A was exposed to these linguistic communications, Malay and English, so that he can utilize both linguistic commu nications in geting his vocabulary. Subject B ‘s parents educational background is a small spot lower compared to Subject A ‘s parents and they are utilizing merely Malay Language at place, so she did non hold much chance to larn English at place. That ‘s why capable A utilizing Malay Language more when she responded to our inquiries. She had limited vocabulary in English compared to Subject B who was bilingual and had acquired vocabulary in English and Malay Language. Another ground that made topic A has more English vocabulary compared to subject B because topic A is the lone kid in his household, so all the attending will be focused merely on him. He besides socialized with grownups at his place so that he had more vocabulary while capable B ‘s had 3 siblings in her household and she was the lone girl. Capable B did non acquire much attending like topic A because there are another kids in her household. 6.0 Decision Based on the findings and treatment before, it shows that kids ‘s English vocabulary acquisition is influenced by their background. The parents ‘ instruction degree does play a function in finding their kids ‘s vocabulary acquisition. The parents may supply the exposure to their childs so that they can enrich their vocabulary. Other than that, bilingualism besides contributes to vocabulary acquisition in kids. Childs who are bilinguals seem to hold large vocabulary size and this appears as an advantage to them compare to the other kids who are monolinguals. Mentions: Dotinga, R. ( 2009, February 12 ) . Baby Gestures Linked to Vocabulary Development. U.S.News A ; World Report. Goh, H. S. A ; Fatimah Hashim. ( 2006 ) . Use of L1 in L2 Reading Comprehension Among Tertiary ESL Learners, 18, 1. Hart, B. , A ; Risley, T. ( 1995 ) . Meaningful Differences in the Everyday Experiences of Young American Children. Baltimore: Rupert brookes. Nicoladis, E. , A ; Secco, Giovanni ( 2000 ) . The function of a kid ‘s productive vocabulary in the linguistic communication pick of a bilingual household. First Language, 20, 3-28. Phythian-Sence, C. , A ; Wagner, R. K. ( 2007 ) . Vocabulary Acquisition: A Primer. In Wagner, R. K. , Muse, A. E. , A ; Tannenbaum, K. R. , Vocabulary Acquisition: Deductions for Reading Comprehension ( pp. 1-11 ) . New York, London: The Guilford Press. Pikulski, J. J. , A ; Templeton, S ( 2004 ) . Teaching and Developing Vocabulary: Cardinal to Long-run Reading Success. Current Research in reading / linguistic communication humanistic disciplines, 1-12. Retrieved from Houghton Mifflin. Rush, K. L. ( 1999 ) . Caregiver-Child Interactions and Early Literacy Development of Preschool Children From Low-Income Environments. Subjects in Early Childhood Special Education, 19 ( 3 ) , 3-14. Department of the interior: 10.1177/027112149901900101 Sinatra, R. ( 2008 ) . ‘Creating a civilization of vocabulary acquisition for kids populating in poorness ‘ . Journal of Children and Poverty, 14 ( 2 ) , 173-192. Department of the interior: 10.1080/10796120802336001 Snow, C. E. , A ; Kim, Y.-S. ( 2007 ) . Large Problems Spaces: The Challenge of Vocabulary for English Language Learners. In Wagner, R. K. , Muse, A. E. , A ; Tannenbaum, K. R. , Vocabulary Acquisition: Deductions for Reading Comprehension ( pp. 123-136 ) . New York, London: The Guilford Press. Steinberg, D. D. A ; Sciarini, N. V ( 2006 ) . Bilingualism, Intelligence, Transfer, and Learning Strategies. Second ( Ed. ) , An Introduction to Psycholinguistics ( pp. 160-173 ) . Great Britain: Pearson Education Limited. Thordardottir, E. T. , Weismer, S. E. , A ; Smith, M. E. ( 1997 ) . Vocabulary acquisition in bilingual and monolingual clinical intercession. Child Language Teaching and Therapy, 13 ( 3 ) , 215-225. Department of the interior: 10.1177/026565909701300301 How to cite The Vocabulary Acquisition Of Children Education Essay, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Ecommerce Law free essay sample

This Includes documents such as, but not Limited to, multi-modal, airport, road, rail, inland waterway, courier, post receipts, transport documents issued by freight forwarders, marine/ocean bill of lading, non-negotiable seaway bill, charter party bill of lading. (section 25 and 26) Mandates the government to have the capability to do e-commerce within 2 years or before June 19, 2002. (section 27) Mandates Rebel to be implemented. Rebel is a strategy that intends to connect all government offices to the Internet and provide universal access to the general public.The Department of Transportation and Communications, National Telecommunications Commission, and National Computer Center will come up with policies and rules that shall lead to substantial reduction of costs of telecommunication and Internet facilities to ensure the implementation of Rebel. (section 28) Made cable, broadcast, and wireless physical infrastructure within the activity of telecommunications. (section 28) Empowers the Department of Trade and Industry to supervise the development of e-commerce in the country. We will write a custom essay sample on Ecommerce Law or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It can also mom up with policies and regulations, when needed, to facilitate the growth of e- commerce. Section 29) Provided guidelines as to when a service provider can be liable. (section 30) Authorities and parties with the legal right can only gain access to electronic documents, electronic data messages, and electronic signatures. For confidentiality purposes, it shall not share or convey to any other person. (section 31 and 32) Hacking or cracking, refers to unauthorized access including the introduction of computer viruses, Is punishable by a fine from 100 thousand to maximum menstruating to the damage. With Imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years. Section 33) Piracy through the use of telecommunication networks, such as the Internet, that infringes intellectual property rights is punishable. The penalties are the same as hacking. (section 33) All existing laws such as the Consumer Act of the Philippines also applies to e-commerce transactions. (section 33) Anyone who uses the Internet, computer, cellular phone, and other IT-enabled devices has the duty to know ARREAR. As the old saying goes, Ignorance of the law doesnt excuse anyone. There were several hacking/cracking incidents that took place in the past five years.I am worried that these people behind the hacking attempts are completely ignoring ARREAR or The E-commerce Law. In one of my public speaking engagements, I was asked how come there are still so many hacking attempts even now that we have a law. Is It unenforceable? I fear that as e-commerce takes off in the government and private sector, the moment we run to law enforcers In times of trouble, they will not Investigation and Philippine National Police are continuously beefing up their skills. It is sad to note however that they have not received any form of funding for their training and cybercafà © equipment.Whatever they have right now are donated by foreign governments in the form of training and equipment. Despite limited resources, the conviction of the first Filipino hacker under Republic Act 8792 puts high marks on our enforcement of the E-commerce Law. The business community and Internet users must contribute and work with government to take action on this. It is not the Cybercafà © bill that is important today, giving appropriate funding for hypocrite enforcement is, that will allow the creation of cybercafà © helpless all over the country. In addition, it requires vigilance from the Internet community as well. If you know of someone that has made these hacking actions, report them. It is the duty of every Filipino to report these crimes. They can contact the Cyber Crime Anti Fraud Division of the National Bureau of Investigation at Taft Eve. , Manila, phone number (632) 5254093 and look for Director Reynolds Waco or Tatty. Alfred Menses, Jar. Those who became victims as well should report it and not Just ignore it, change he site, and move on. If this is the attitude that site owners will show, unlawful actions such as this, regardless of best or worst intention, will never cease. The web hosting, Internet Service Provider, phone companies should extend their best cooperation as well to facilitate efficient investigation in this regard. More importantly, what the hackers should realize that Just because they were not caught now, does not mean they are already off the hook. What they are only doing is accumulate offenses. One day, the hand of the law will reach them.Once that appends, all of these offenses can be combined into a one big case that can put them to Jail longer than they think. Even if the owners of the sites that they were able to hack decide not to pursue a case against them, it does not mean they no longer have a liability. The hacking/cracking/piracy provision of the E-commerce Law makes such acts as criminal offenses in nature, therefore what can only be waived, should the companies decide not to sue them, is the civil liability (monetary damages) and the criminal liability will still be pursued by the state.I hope that publications can play a ole in sparking vigilance among Internet users of this country and the world against acts of hacking/cracking/piracy. The act of hacking should never be glorified and even make these people who commits these acts as heroes. It may send a wrong signal that our younger Internet generation might misunderstand. These people are seeing that theyre getting the media mileage and attention that they long for and see it like a merit/badge of their hacking accomplishment. Being published, talked about, is Im very sure, a big deal for some of these guys.I hope to see the computer publications as a medium in making the Internet users vigilant and not scared/wary of these h ackers. Perhaps feature articles on how the NIB, Sips, phone companies, National Security Council, handle these incidents. Hacking, cracking, piracy is a crime under ARREAR. The iron hand of the law must be fully enforced or else this can propagate further and cause irreparable damage to the Philippine Internet industry as a whole. The increase number of hacking incidents these past few weeks is already alarming. Worst, these people seems to be enjoying it and not even bothered with the consequences.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Last Luagh Essays - Films, The Last Laugh, Weimar Culture

Last Luagh About The Director: Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau is one of the most important filmmakers of the cinema during Weimar Republic period. He is often grouped with Fritz Lang and G.W. Pabst as the big three directors of Weimar Germany. He finished his career in Hollywood and was killed at a young age in a car crash. Three of his films appear on the greatest films lists of critics and film groups. Even though there seems to be little written about him. Early in his career he created one of horror film, Nosferatu (1922); his last film was Tabu (1931), a documentary film in the South Seas. He was one of the pioneers in the technical side of the film industry, experimenting special effects in Nosferatu and Faust and the use of the moving camera in The Last Laugh. But at the same time he was a master storyteller, a director who could describe simple stories with a vast range of emotion and meaning. Plot Summary: The old doorman at the Hotel Atlantis is proud of his job and he does it well (sort of). One day he carries a large suitcase into the lobby. He needs to sit down for a moment what is seen and written down by a young hotel manager. The old man looses his job and is made the toilet man of the hotel. He tries not to show it, but he is broken. Now only some kind of wonder can help!! The film begins a trip down an open elevator and through the busy lobby of the Hotel Atlantic. The movement continues straight through the hotel's revolving doors to rainy outside. The main character is the hotel doorman, a striking but he is old. He is an important person, a respected person. But he is getting older and has trouble lifting a large luggage from a car to the hotel and needs a few minutes to rest. The young hotel manager witnesses this situation and the next day the doorman finds out that he has been replaced by a younger man and demoted to toilet attendant. This demotion leads him to isolation. It comes to the situation where his neighbors and even his own family reject him. Just when things seem as bad as they could get for the doorman, the film presents us with the only upside. The film says that ordinarily the story should end here, for an old man like this, but instead, the director has taken mercy on the doorman and presented us with a happy ending. In the end, the man inherits a vast sum of money from an American millionaire. And he lives happily ever after! Analysis Of The Film: The Last Laugh is the last but one expressionistic street film, full of sets that look both realistic and unlikely at the same time, unsettling multiple exposures, fantastic performances particularly Emil Jennings whose weight you can feel on your chest, in a performance through the entire range of emotions. Many writers give Carl Mayer, the co-writer on The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and one of the chief minds behind the excellence of German film in the 1920s, the big share of credit for The Last Laugh. Sadly Murnau is sometimes shrugged off with Karl Freund, the film's cameraman, as part of the team that executed Mayer's idea. Although the film is often criticized for its happy ending, it is done with irony that the film would not be the same without it, in which all wrongs have been righted. In The Last Laugh the man derives his power from his uniform, alcohol and wealth; without at least one of the three he is only a hunched man. He has habits of stroking his mustache and waving hid hand in the air, the habits that disappear when he loses his uniform. After he steals it and quickly pulls it over his shoulders, the first thing he does is stroke that mustache. Or after he becomes rich he starts waving his hand in the air again. This movie is almost purely visual; the few pieces of expository writing are worked into the film cleverly via papers and letters rather than bluntly cleaving the action. Murnau takes a situation that should

Monday, November 25, 2019

Absolute Error or Absolute Uncertainty Definition

Absolute Error or Absolute Uncertainty Definition Absolute error or absolute uncertainty is the uncertainty in a measurement, which is expressed using the relevant units. Also,  absolute error may be used to express the inaccuracy in a measurement. Absolute error may be called approximation error. Absolute error is the difference between a measurement and a true value: E |x0 - x| Where E is absolute error, x0 is the measured value and x is the true or actual value Why Is There Error? Error is not a mistake. It simply reflects the limitations of measurement instruments. For example, if you use a ruler to measure a length, each tic on the ruler has a width. If a distance falls between marks on the ruler, you need to estimate whether the distance is closer to one mark than the other and by how much. This is error. The same measurement may be taken multiple times to gauge the range of the error. Absolute Error Example If a measurement is recorded to be 1.12 and the true value is known to be 1.00 then the absolute error is 1.12 - 1.00 0.12. If the mass of an object is measured three times with values recorded to be 1.00 g, 0.95 g, and 1.05 g, then the absolute error could be expressed as /- 0.05 g.

Friday, November 22, 2019

The Impact of Outdoor Air Pollution Research Proposal

The Impact of Outdoor Air Pollution - Research Proposal Example When inhaled, they lead to throat irritation, digestive problems, chest complications as well as dizziness and fever. Chronic respiratory problems such as asthma also arise from the same (Brebbia & James 276). The research intends to analyze outdoor air pollution impact, which is a menace presently showing an upward trend. The health of human beings is at risk; hence seeking adequate and effective solutions is quite commendable. The audience that this research seeks to reach includes those who conduct human activities such as burning wood that contribute to air pollution. In addition, it tries to reach those affected by the same to offer help find solution to their problem. The government too is a target audience since they have to put strict measures to prevent avoidable pollution from occurring. The project will first begin by defining various forms of pollutions before focusing on outdoor air pollution (Frumkin 388). Then it will explore varied causes of outdoor air pollution (Ahmed & Triana 84). Some causes of outdoor air pollution are beyond control. In the case of pollen for example, pollination is natural process that cannot be controlled. Wind is also a natural process and is responsible for transporting the pollutants from one atmospheric environment to another. Survey also will encompass seeking information regarding neighboring factories to evaluate how they dispose their wastes and their effects to the immediate populace. This is especially varied particles deposited in the atmosphere. This project will go a long way into protecting the lives and health of people who are at risk of inhaling the contaminants. I request permission to proceed with this proposal to prove that outdoor air pollution is a call for concern and that there are possible remedies to the same. Appendix: Images displaying the causes of outdoor air pollution, charts, and tables indicating the impact of outdoor air pollution, as well as statistical data

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Historical Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Historical Research - Essay Example Historical research can offer the business or management researchers a variety of means to achieve extensive knowledge to understand, solve or interpret a situation at hand. Knowledge of the underlying information to any matter enhances the levels of understanding whilst improving the ability to discern and decide on the right or wrong decisions in business management. Historical background information adds to the chances of easier understanding why for instance the reasons implying the general trends in the present (Mehran, 2010). Historical research in the business context Historical research is not a major topic in business and management. Additionally this field lacks supply of enough attention as an independent c research field. Historical research in management studies takes care of various issues requiring this form of research methodology to assist in comparisons with other research methodologies (Sullivan, 2010). Historical research is used in decision making and in evaluati ng  intercultural negotiation in business. ... It involves; formulation of a research question as the starting point (Ribeiro, 2011). There is no reason why historical research will not incorporate some features quantitative research. Conversely, the main emphasis is mostly interpretivistic. The question on review has to be defensible. The relevance check- a historical researcher ought to note that for his work to uphold relevance, it is important to check if the work at hand is track. Note; I. Whether there is prior evidence holding essential concerns on how present decisions are to be made and the means through which future current policies are to be instituted. II. Whether there exist suggestions that the business had encountered a related issue in the past, how they were met, and the outcome of the decisions drawn at that time. III. Whether there is a possibility that the matter at hand may be as a result of a cycle. Is there enough understanding of the matter and the cycle’s nature and how it would be of importance in solving the present situation? Next is the need to determine the scope the business management issue extends. This cannot be easily perceived by a novice researcher as it calls for deep consideration of the domain for examination. The domain for examination establishes the principle discipline that the historical research will require to consider (Stefanie, 2007). A research project of this kind often applies marketing and financial knowledge and concepts. An aspect cannot be understood independently from other related aspects in business management. This indicates that the researcher ought to understand the history of the matters he or she is comparing. This type of idea also deeply applies to business management studies. There is no chance of having an

Monday, November 18, 2019

The Future of Clinical Remediation of Hearing Loss is the Cochlear Essay

The Future of Clinical Remediation of Hearing Loss is the Cochlear Implants - Essay Example Regaining hearing ability is the best thing a deaf person can get. Cochlear implants make it possible for the auditory nerve to be stimulated allowing the deaf person to hear. The implant is designed to produce electrical signals which are sent directly to the brain bypassing the damaged cells of the inner ear (Wise 3). Research indicates that the performance of each ear is usually 13.5%. Performance improves to between 80 and 90% after the cochlear implants for each ear and both ears (Heyning and Punte 141). That is almost the normal performance of normal healthy ear. Researchers understand that the implants need to be programmed accordingly to maintain balance. Programming is done using sophisticated computers which determine how each ear is programmed. There may be variation in hearing the loss in the two ears and programming ensures that the auditory reception is well maintained and balanced, it is not too loud or not receiving hearing well. Programming of the first ear takes lon ger compared to the second (Waltzman, and Roland, 152). Gantz et al found out that cochlear implants are critical for the preservation of hearing. The study points out that at least 96% of the people with cochlear implants retaining low-frequency hearing (17). This is important in recognition of words and speech development after the cochlear implant. Word recognition and speech skills improve from 10% to 30% with low-frequency hearing preservation after the implant. Cochlear implants improve speech perception and recognition abilities in both adults and children allowing the deaf to speak freely with others. Auditory experts claim that cochlear implants improved the development of language and speech abilities, especially in children.  Ã‚  

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Multicultural Managers In Global Teams

Multicultural Managers In Global Teams LOreal is an intriguing company: Very French in culture and image, and yet very global in products, brands and activities. It is poised to reach the next billion consumers mostly among the budding middle class of emerging economies. In this article we explore one facet of L Oreals success: Its very clever use of managers with bi-cultural backgrounds in the most critical process for the success of the company; new product development. Of course we all now recognize that cultural diversity is a good thing, and we value executives with expatriate assignments in their backgrounds, who claim themselves to have become cosmopolitan. LOreal goes one big step further: Rather than just diversity among executives it seeks diversity within each executive [2. Yves: Brannen Thomas, 2010: p.6 p.13: cultural diversity that exists within individuals and MYB Lee, forthcoming, p.23: diversity within a single person] Yves, i.e., it hires develops and uses strategically individual who usually by way of a multicultural early childhood-have gained the ability to understand and behave according to the cultural meanings and norms of two or more cultures. [3. Yves: This definition of multiculturalism. MYB can not argue to own the definition as hers. Previously other researchers define biculturalism such as Hong et al., 2000 in their phenomenal article, Multicultural minds] Not only can they be precious bridges between their cultures of origins, they can also be sensitive alert scouts in new cultures, with an ability to grasp them much greater than individuals from a single cultural origin. [4. Yves: This is about multiculturals cognitive complexity (BMV et al., 2006 and Tadmor et al., 2006/9. I think this sentence is more common sense. I heard a lot from those who participated in Bicultural thought leadership conference in Green Gulch and Abu Dhabi] Not every global company needs bi-cultural executives but many can greatly benefit and learn from them, thus instilling in their international executives -whose vast majority are from a single cultural origin-some of the critical cross-cultural skills that help make them effective. [5. Yves: Is this can be a common sense?, I dont find exactly same words or phrase in MYBs]In this article we draw a few lessons from examining LOreals decade long experience in using bi-cultural executives selectively. But first, what is the challenge bi-culturals allow to address successfully? [6. Yves: I dont know why she highlighted here] THE CHALLENGE: IT IS NOT EASY TO BE LOCAL AND GLOBAL Global competitors face an age-old tension: Serving regional or national markets requires adaptation to local conditions, and calls for differentiation in their products, services, and business models, but achieving economies of scale and scope across markets calls for uniformity and integration of activities. Local responsiveness and global integration are hard to combine. Some products are clearly global, such as TV sets, except for regulatory and language differences, and simple technical differences such as voltage. Others, such as restaurants, are intrinsically local, although global formulas and brands may succeed, such as Starbucks or Benihana. Many products, and to a lesser extent services, call both for responsiveness to local differences and for some form of global integration, of brands, marketing and advertising, manufacturing, product development, and research. They are affected by the global-local duality of knowledge differentiation and integration in innovation proces ses. Perhaps at the forefront are companies striving to develop global products in culture-sensitive and ethnically differentiated markets, such as cosmetics and skin or hair care. LOrà ©al very much faces this challenge: Its main product categories, skin care, hair care, hair color and beauty categories are sensitive to global economies of scale and scope, and they also need to be highly responsive to local market differences. Furthermore, not all of LOrà ©als product categories face the same mix of demands: Hair care may be very regional and dependent on ethnic differences, lipstick and most fragrances much more universal. Luxury brands are more global than mass market ones, which are often local. Figure 1: The complexity of product portfolio: Responsiveness and Integration Differences The global integration-local responsiveness issue is further complicated when the knowledge required to develop and market products is complex. Yet, such complex knowledge (tacit and collective, only revealed in action and interaction) now lies at the heart of innovation and global competitive advantage, not just for LOrà ©al but also for most global competitors. Other forms of arbitrage, for products, costs, or materialsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ are easily imitated, and have been. Complex knowledge is hard to identify and observe, let alone imitate. It has become the main source of sustainable competitive advantage for global competitors. It drives hard to imitate innovations. LOrà ©al as a leading French multinational company in skin care and beauty products provides a remarkable example of relying on complex knowledge for innovation: Its products are not just chemicals, much more importantly, they depend on fashion, style, seduction, they convey national image of French womens sophisticationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ they elicit the idealized self-image of its customers and their value is conveyed through complex, often subliminal advertising and multiple distribution channels. Of course, some highly culture- and context-dependent products, with a strong national identity happen to find readily a global market. They are widely adopted worldwide with little or no adaptation (French perfumes, U.S. action movies, German classical music and high-end cars, Japanese Mangas, Korean K-Pop, Bollywood movie and TV productions or U.S. fast food). But these are exceptions more than the rule. In fact, a common language, high cultural and institutional homogeneity, greater density of interpersonal networks and friendships, and less not-invented-here resistance mean complex knowledge generally diffuses more rapidly within single countries than across national boundaries. So, in industries where complex knowledge drives innovative advantage success depends on face-to-face (or rather shoulder to shoulder) participation in local and national networks where new complex knowledge first arises. [7. Yves: Isnt this argument yours?] MNCs should build, manage, and globally integra te their local/global capabilities and dispersed inputs. Yet the quality of local knowledge access, being embedded in local cultures and networks, often makes global sharing more difficult, as local participants in global innovation processes are culturally very different and closely identify with their origins. [8. Yves: Isnt this yours as well? MYB doesnt do much about knowledge and global innovation, does she?] For many companies, such as LOrà ©al, this challenge is further complicated by an additional contradiction: While they want to be global, they do not want to relinquish the advantages associated with their country of origin. LOrà ©al does not just sell cosmetics, it mainly sells French-ness to women around the world. In other words, its identity, and its founders cultural inheritance need to be protected, and remain part and parcel of its global offerings. The company has maintained its founders spirit of entrepreneurship, and remains largely family-controlled, with a very strong shared culture. Over its 73 years, it has had only four CEOs (including the founder), all with very long tenures, and it promotes only from within. One becomes part of senior management over the years, as one weaves a dense network of relationships with colleagues and builds trust over time. In France, the company has a reputation for being the consumer marketing school, and many of its alumni have become successful entrepreneurs and business builders, such as LOccitane en Provence, a highly successful fast growing skin and body care company. Its third CEO, Welshman (and INSEAD graduate) Lindsey Owen Jones is widely credited for having transformed the company from a regional European challenger to a global leader, but the company still remains quite remarkably French. Traditional approaches to the internationalization of senior management would not work well for LOrà ©al, or might only work very slowly since a rapid infusion of international executives in the top ranks might compromise the tightly knit and informal French community of senior managers, operating as a global network. Furthermore at LOrà ©al, complex knowledge about products, cultures, and how to work together is progressively learned and internalized by individuals as their career develops, which makes a rapid internationalization of senior management through hiring from outside largely impossible. French managers are often assigned to international operations, and learn about the plurality of cultural and institutional contexts, as well as about differen t consumer priorities, but few foreigners become senior executives. The most promising international executives might be reluctant to join LOrà ©al anyway fearing the risk of a glass ceiling. Successful senior executives often identify themselves as partly French, for instance French and German, of French, Moroccan, and German. And even executives that identify themselves as foreigners take great pain to explain they have lived in France and worked for LOrà ©al for a long time and pride themselves on speaking perfect French. The main language of the company has remained French. [9. Yves: This is my observation and your informal discussion when you lead workshop with LOreal RD top management a while ago] STRUCTURAL SOLUTIONS DO NOT WORK: For LOrà ©al, and for many multinational companies, to successfully address the global-local innovation duality, simple structural solutions such as regional units or global product divisions wont work, for at least two reasons. First, the product range puts both intensely global and intensely local demands on the way the company is run. No either-or organizational solution will work, the company needs both global and local priorities effectively taken into consideration in decision-making. Take perfumes (or fragrances as they are known in the industry). World products and famous world brands (think of Chanel No 5) are the name of the game, but the underlying knowledge needed to develop a perfume resides mainly in France, for historical reasons. Second, companies such as LOrà ©al need a wide range of products to maintain their strength in distribution: fragrances, cosmetics, skin care products, and hair products. Any simple structural approach such as local subsidiaries and regional entities or global business units would fit a few of their products but not all, given the diversity of demands for local responsiveness and global integration shown on Figure 1. Some are more global, such as perfumes or cosmeti cs, others are more regional or local, such as hair care or skin care. As the company considers increasingly the next billion customers (as the CEO stresses) in emerging economies, both the advantages of global scale and the need for local differentiation will increase even further. For some products, like fragrances, most relevant market and technical knowledge can be found in one place, for most though, like hair care, relevant knowledge is distributed around the world and will become even more so with the growing importance of emerging economies. Furthermore, speed is often of the essence: Knowledge-driven FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods, such as beauty and skin care products) industries call for a continuous stream of innovations across a wide product portfolio facing both local responsiveness demands and global integration advantages, but in varying degree among products. In new areas, such as anti-aging, competition is intense and fast, as well as technology based, in mature areas it is slower and marketing driven. Yet, any technological advantages are short-lived. Yet speed needs to be tempered by continuity. Even with constant innovation, markets quickly reduce the most advanced products to the condition of feature-less commodities unless brand equity has been built very quickly. Underlying ingredients are relatively stable and long-lived, but new products are frequent. Brands cover families of products (Lancà ´me, Biothermà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) to provide continuity and lasting brand strength but leave room for fast and fre quent product renewals. Continuity of brands, and of channels, and renewal of products have to be carefully integrated. No organizational structure, global business units or country organizations will be up to the task. Structure is too blunt a tool. Of course, some multinationals resort to matrix organizations, but adopting a matrix organization is a cop out: It just acknowledges that, as we just outlined, complex, varied and rapid trade offs between local responsiveness and global integration need to be made constantly on very specific issues: product packaging, marketing campaigns, specific chemical ingredients, etc. So rather than risk getting mired in the negotiations that end up being so characteristic on matrix organizations, many companies, LOreal included, go one step further: Global teams. GLOBAL TEAMS: PROMISE AND PITFALLS Faced with such challenges to achieve worldwide innovation, combine global knowledge integration and local knowledge differentiation, and be fast, global companies increasingly resort to global, and often virtual, teams. These teams hold the promise of effective knowledge creation, knowledge sharing, as well as flexibility, responsiveness, and speed. Yet, in practice in many companies these global teams are no panacea: they suffer from misunderstandings, conflicts and often fall prey to a Babel Syndrome: their members talk past each other, not together, and teamwork breaks down. The results of their work are often disappointing, particularly when complex knowledge is essential, like the proverbial camel designed by a (multi-cultural) committee. Actually, it is often difficult to transmit even explicit knowledge across cultural boundaries and it seems impossible to transmit tacit knowledge, where physical distance also gets in the way. Even seemingly universal and very precisely expli cit knowledge, such as mathematics, is liable to different perspectives and interpretations in different cultures. Tacit knowledge cannot be transmitted over distance because it is revealed only in action and cannot be meaningfully explained. It has to be learned through (co)-practice. [10. Yves: The difficulty to transfer tacit knowledge is common sense and not only MYB (2004) and much earlier, other researchers (Szulanski, 1996; Zander Kogut, 1995) already argued.] BI-CULTURAL MANAGERS AND GLOBAL TEAMS AT LORÉAL To avoid the pitfalls typical of global teams LOrà ©al makes extensive use of bi-cultural managers and professionals in its product development process (i.e., individuals, usually of mixed cultural backgrounds, who can switch their frame of reference, both in what they understand and in how they behave, between two or more cultures). Although bi- and multi-culturals only account for a very small proportion of LOrà ©als employees (a few dozens out of 69 000 employees in 130 subsidiaries) they play a key role in the most critical activity of the company: new product development, headquartered in Paris. No less than forty percent of about 160 product development project managers (among whom 40% come from foreign subsidiaries and 60% were recruited in France) are multicultural. LOrà ©al has maintained this recruitment balance in new product development leaders for over ten years. The task: New product development teams, each composed of a few people, some multicultural (the smaller circles on Figure 2), work closely with other groups such as research and development, the international marketing team, and local subsidiaries in a highly interactive process. It involves functional groups within HQ and across regional offices. Newly created product concepts also have to be coherent with existing product lines (e.g., hair care products that use only natural plants) and their reputation (e.g., environment-friendly and people-tested). So considerable inputs from the various subsidiaries are needed. Finally, the product has to be feasible for manufacturing without any risks. Developing a new product concept takes from six months to a year depending on the products level of novelty. In developing a new product concept, multicultural project managers have to present their work to top management on a regular basis, both formally and informally. Once they obtain approval for their new product concept, they present their project at the la journà ©e mondiale, LOrà ©als largest and most important yearly event at HQ. This event attracts all regional directors from all around the globe who come to evaluate future products (i.e., those that would hit the market in one or two years). If feedback from the regional directors attending this event is positive the multicultural project managers move from articulating product concepts to actually designing the products. In the design phase, multicultural project managers select and combine ingredients, choose product colors, and design packaging for the product with the packaging team (often outsourced) and manufacturing team (called the Factory). They interface intensely both with headquarter functions and local subsidiaries around the world. Through all phases, project managers work with their colleagues in teams within and across departments at HQ and local subsidiaries. Multicultural project managers work with others on three levels. First, they work in their own team (called the unit team), where they managed informal relationships with other product managers. One product development team is composed of two or three project managers who are responsible for developing different products for the same region in the same product category (e.g., hair products). For example, for Latin America, one multi-cultural manager (Lebanese-Spanish-American) was in charge of womens hair color, while another (French-Irish-Cambodian) was in charge of womens hair care (hair damage). They shared physical space so that they could exchange ideas, information, and feedback (the larger central circle on Figure 2). Second, they interact with their boss and the leaders of other functional departments in Paris. Although more than 40% of the project managers in the new product development division are multi-cultural, the majority of their direct bosses are mono-cultural, very French. Project managers meet their direct boss quite freely any time they needed or vice versa. Regular divisional team meetings with top management are held with other unit teams (for the same product line, such as hair care Asia and hair care international), other functional departments, and teams in local subsidiaries. Informal meetings with other functional departments (e.g., RD, supply chain, advertising, and packaging) are held based on the phase of the product development process. Third, project managers work with local subsidiaries, via email, phone calls, and videoconferences. They also visit local offices regularly. It is the project managers direct bosses, however, who visit local subsidiaries more frequently-at least once a month-as they are in charge of developing several products at the same time. In addition, because project managers are operating within a tight schedule and budget, they accompany their direct boss only when the visit is urgent and important. In the final development phase project managers involve employees who executed promotional campaigns through television, the Internet, and other advertising activities. They set up all visual images of products, articulate the products selling points, and choose the best way to promote the products they developed. Team leaders with more experience lead the promotion campaign directly. More specifically, experienced team leaders travel to local subsidiaries and direct all processes of promotion. Product promotion also involves various new tasks often outsourced to new groups. For example, to promote a make-up product for Chinese women, the promotion team hired a famous local movie star, local make-up and uniform team, local stage setting team, and a professional camera crew (which was a French team). Television commercials are typically expensive and take months to complete. The people: Beginning with their recruitment, multicultural project managers at LOrà ©al gained credibility for new product development by being labeled international talent by the Human Resource department, a prestigious title in a company trying to combine strong French roots with global reach. Most had at least five years of working experience in sales and marketing in local subsidiaries, or for those recruited in France, who were graduates of top business schools, twelve months of intensive training in product development and marketing department at HQ. At LOrà ©al, they were called the stars or crà ¨me de la crà ¨me (meaning the best of the best). LOrà ©al designated an HR manager who managed the performance and career development of these employees who were anticipated to be top performers. Figure 2: Team composition and its work within and across units at LOrà ©al !!!Yves: From this part till conclusion in p.19, all parts are from the 2nd chapter of my dissertation. Multiculturals in global teams: Multi-cultural individuals that have internalized more than a single cultural schema (i.e., the values, norms of behavior and beliefs of a given culture), [11. Yves: this is the definition of multiculturalism. See #3] bring unusual skills to solve challenges in knowledge transfer across international borders for global innovation. Not only do they bring the obvious knowledge of their own cultures, and the ability to translate and transfer complex knowledge between them, but also the latent skills to understand new third country knowledge in context, and being effective bridges to combine knowledge from these other countries.[12. Yves: understanding third culture knowledge is related to David Thomas metacognition (2008). I describe similar argument in my IJCCM paper as culture-general knowledge (Hong 2010: p. 96-97, I cited Thomas et al., 2008 Cultural Intelligence] LOrà ©al also recognizes multi-culturals creativity in new product development and thei r innovative ways to combine/ bridge knowledge in global teams. But more specifically, these bridging, translating and sense-making skills are key to the effectiveness [13. Yves: this is the 2nd chapter of my dissertation]of LOrà ©als global product development teams. Bi-culturals are uniquely able to play specific roles: Role 1: Managing Knowledge Processes in Teams In creating new products, multicultural project managers manage two kinds of knowledge: product- and market-related knowledge and organizational/practical knowledge. The multicultural project managers challenge is to integrate the creative options to be pursued, while transforming local market knowledge into global product knowledge for higher quality products and innovative concepts. To bring a creative product to fruition, their contribution to knowledge sharing processes in the team focused on three areas: (1) bringing new local product and market knowledge, (2) translating cultural nuances, (3) connecting geographically diverse knowledge and skills. [14.Yves: this is from my dissertation] Bringing new local product and market knowledge: Multicultural project managers were expected not only to know what evolving market attributes were but, more importantly, identify new market trends and generate market insights. In addition, to secure the new product concept, they worked with other members (e.g., team leaders, regional directors, RD, and local subsidiaries) by reviewing differing perspectives on the commercial viability of new product concepts. In response to these challenges, multicultural project managers brought both new product ideas and market understanding: Our team tries to find some natural ingredients for new hair care product. J (Hong Kong-Canadian-Singaporean) knows all the Chinese medicine that has no translation either in English or in French because its so authentic. J does not only explain these ingredients but also suggest some ways we (team) can use for our new products. (French Director) and bringing local market knowledge: The Polish-French project manager was raised in Poland until age 20. She described her life under the communist regime and after in terms of how she evaluates and appreciates make-up products. As our target consumers are about her age, everything she shared with other members is valuable for developing products and markets. She is actually educating us to get a better understanding of consumers in the region. (American-French regional director talking about Polish-French project manager) Translating cultural nuances: Even if a common syntax or language is present, as in mathematics or chemistry formulaes, interpretations are often difficult not in processing the information, but in learning about the sources of semantic differences across cultural boundaries.[15. Yves: MYB tends to argue as hers if there are phrases with language semantic. I just typed semantic difference in google scholars. There are so numerous papers talking about semantic difference across cultures from psychologists and linguists.]The problem then shifts to who interprets what. A French manager who planned a test of a new shampoo in a laboratory in Germany explained how his French-German-British multicultural manager who used to work in Germany helped him: If we say dry hair, dry hair on this floor (HQ) doesnt mean as same as German dry hair means. So, it is much safer to check with B who knows two cultures (French and German) and translate exactly what I mean as dry hair. (B is German-British-French multicultural) Connecting geographically diverse knowledge and skills: To generate creative ideas so that they can be implemented, multicultural project managers must be able to access expertise and draw analogies from one cultural group (e.g., local) to other cultural groups (e.g., other regions or globally). They synthesize those ideas from multiple sources-diverse cultural perspectives-for innovative products. [16. Yves: this is from my thesis] For example, a French-Cambodian-Irish project manager used the specificity of Asian womens skin care (reducing winkles) to develop a new product for the French market. He noted: While researching Asian skin-care products, I found that in Asia, some tinted cream (skin colored cream for make-up face) used face lifting effect, in France and Europe, none of tinted creams used face lifting effect. I developed a new tinted cream with face lifting effect for French market. It was a big success! (Team: French-Cambodian-Irish project manager, a Chinese-French and two French). Role 2: Managing Conflicts in Teams Cultural differences in teams increase the risk of conflict. Multicultural project managers manage conflicts in teams by (1) reducing misunderstandings and (2) displaying flexible behavior with people from diverse regions and cultures. [17.Yves: this is from my thesis] Reducing misunderstandings: Product development managers must gain cooperation from their colleagues at HQ and local subsidiaries. Multicultural project managers mitigated the negative effects of cultural distance and group boundaries on developing trust between HQ and local subsidiaries.[18. Yves: this is from my thesis] For example, an Indian-American-French project manager noted: If an Indian local manager said, India might have an issue with this ingredient for a new product because theres no written communication confirming this can be used to please our consumers. What they actually tried to tell me was, No, I wont do what you asked us to do and please lower your expectations. But I didnt make any negative comments on that. Instead I said, Okay, how about I discuss with RD at HQ and find out the way we solve this problem? In this way, I didnt make an uncomfortable situation. Instead, I got respect from them, which as a result had a positive influence on our work progress. (Indian-American-French manager; Team members at HQ: Chinese-French, French; Local teams: India, China, Thailand) This Indian-American-French project manager interpreted Ill try my best (Indian local team) as Its going to be difficult, or No, I am not going to do it. He preempted potential conflict and tried to avoid risky situations where the local team felt pushed by HQ. In this way, he could develop interpersonal trust between these two groups. However, although HQ members may not provide any negative comments immediately, but still hold a negative impression of the Indian. In other words, they prejudged that the Indian local team did not fulfill its responsibilities, and trust in the Indian team was lost. This may not cause a problem right away, but it may be a root for relational conflict that eventually harms the trust between HQ and local teams. This multicultural manager not only preempted potential conflict between two parties but also tried to avoid risky situations where the local team felt pushed by HQ. In this way, he could develop interpersonal trust between these two groups. Displaying flexible behavior to deal with people from diverse regions and cultures: Once conflicts erupt in teams, however, multicultural project managers handled those conflicts with tolerance. In other words, they were more accepting of different cultural values, less disturbed by them, and accordingly better at handling conflicts due to valuing cultural differences among members. [19. Yves: this is from my thesis] For example, a Hong Kong-British-Canadian-French multicultural director whose team members were Dutch-Chinese, Taiwanese-French, and Korean-British and whose boss was French noted how members handled a process conflict (e.g., time management), which was created by different work values regarding meetings: In terms of meeting time, we all seem to have different principles. For example, my French boss never starts meetings on time and quite often postpones or cancels them. H (Dutch-Chinese) is very strict on time and deadline (meeting is time for checking-up on each others work process). I and K (Taiwanese-French) we are a bit flexible regarding meeting time. So, whenever we have meeting with my French boss, or ourselves, we face frustrating moments. But, what is important for us is how to handle this frustrating moment. As we are conscious about each others differences, we come to compromise when such moments occur. For example, with my French boss, I need to be really flexible with time. With my team members, if I am behind my meeting schedule with my team members, I make sure to tell them in advance why I am behind and ask them next availabilities. Conflicts may still exist in my team. But we handle them at a much more tolerant level. (Hong Kong-British-Canadian-French director, Team : Dutch-Chinese, Taiwanese-French, Korean-British and French boss) LOrà ©als product development team members have cultural diversity within themselves. They are bi- or multi-cultural and play two critical roles in team innovation: (1) bridging between cultural contexts and combining knowledge across cultural/national boundaries; and(2) resolving cross-cultural conflicts. [20. Yves: this is from my thesis] WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM LORÉAL To a greater or lesser extent, most global companies face the four challenges, or dualities, we identified as so characteristic of LOrà ©al: Global-local, dispersed complex knowledge to be integrated, national image of the home base but glo

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Free Essay on Shakespeare’s Sonnet 65 :: Shakespeare Sonnet 65

Here's Shakespeare's sonnet no. 65. I'm going to (a) space it out and (b) add in a running commentary that might be helpful to suggest the kinds of reactions one might have in reading it. Let me know if this helps. Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea "nor"="and not". A list . . . a slowly paced list. Of what sorts of things? what scope? what do they have in common?. . . Sentence is just beginning . . . But sad mortality o'er-sways their power, Ah . . . none of them last. And yet they sure seem strong and long-lasting. Is it true what he says? And anyway, so what? why mention this? Sentence not yet reached its main clause . . . How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea, Aha: here's the point: the sad pathetic vulnerability of "beauty". Very general though. Does he mean any particular beauty? "Hold a plea" is nice: a sort of legal image, no? Whose action is no stronger than a flower? Beauty doesn't have much going for it to oppose time. "Action" seems to continue the legal metaphor. The image gets more particular--"a flower"--though it's still relatively general. We're most conscious of the tone of the lamenting speaker, less so of any particular things he's naming. . . Poor pathetic beauty . . . Sentence has ended. Oh, how shall summer's honey breath hold out Against the wreckful siege of battering days, Fresh start: new sentence. Saying it again, more intensely. It's getting better, more specific. Lovely fresh sensuous appeal in "honey breath". Summer is a sweet-smelling person, a beloved presumably (you'd hardly enjoy smelling the sweet breath of anyone else). Its breath can hardly "hold out": wonder what that means? Last long enough? A singer sustaining a long note or phrase needs breath that will "hold out." And to "hold out against a siege" means to withstand a siege: so now the summer has turned into a besieged fortress or city. And the besieging enemy is using battering rams, and trying to wreck everything. Imagery: note that we're not totally visualizing summer as a person; it's a delicate suggestion that glides into the next image, that of the besieged town. And we don't visualize summer as a town, either. In fact "visualize" is too crude a term for what imagery this subtle does.

Monday, November 11, 2019

New Heritage Doll Company Essay

This paper is aim to find the best way to run the New Heritage Doll Company by running simulation. We use different strategies to selecting projects in each round by using limited budget. We have run the simulation more than ten times to make sure we found the best way to run the company and the company is in the best condition. The given scenario is never change and we have the opportunity to run simulation multiple times, it made us easier to know which strategy is the best. We use different strategies in each one of our simulations. These strategies can mainly divided into three parts, which are conservative approach, spending approach which means we use every cent of our budget to make more money and focus on net present value. We have a small budget of 8.9 million dollars at the beginning of each round of simulation, and the rest of the budget of each year can save to the next year. In first several rounds, we took the conservative approach idea. It can help us familiar with how to run the simulation and can help us to control that limited budget as well. In addition, only using the low to medium project can help the company avoiding from the future because we do not want to put the company’s future in a high risk position. Round 1 We are going to analysis the round that was using the conservative approach. In this round, the projects I selected for the year one (2009) are: Toddler Doll Accessory Line and New Doll Film/DVD. According to the report, the Toddler Doll Accessory Line of accessories performed in line with expectations regarding both sales and costs. We have learned from the article, the New Heritage Doll Company’s production division wants to product more product that forcing on toddlers so we think choosing this project is a good choice for the company. Also this project is a low risk project with 7.70% project discount rate. We think we should better keep this project because it is a risk low project with positive NPV (7.15) and a good IRR (25.06%). The New Doll Film/DVD project is a licensing project and according to the report that the film was released on schedule and the  marketing promotion was very successful. Otherwise, the sales of DVD was better than previous films. This project is a medium risk project and the company discount rate for this project is 7.40%. This project also produce a positive NPV which is 9.37 and with an IRR of 238.61% which was extremely high. However the payback index is negative which is -3.84 but we think since its payback period is shout which is only 1.43 years so we will still keep this project. As we can see from the table one, at the end of 2010, the revenue of production division is 128.75 million. The revenue is higher than the production revenue of 2009 which was 125 million. And the revenue from licensing division at the end of 2010 is also higher than it in 2009 which is 25.48 million, 0.98 million higher than it was in 2009. However, in both of these two divisions their Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) is slightly lower than 2009 and the net income is also a little lower too. We will put more details to see if these projects are actually work. In year two (2010), the projects which I have chosen are: Warehouse Facility Consolidation, Expansion of Mail-order Catalog Business to Asia and Retail Store Expansion in Northeast. The Warehouse Facility Consolidation project is aim to improve the NH’s warehouse facilities and can save the company’s operating costs as well as increase the shipping speed. This project is in retail division with an NPV of 2.29, an IRR of 13.56%, and a payback period of 8.23 years and a payback index of 0.31. Also, this project was considered as a medium risk project with 9.25% discount rate. Expansion of Mail-order Catalog Business to Asia is a retail division project, it is considering expanding its mail-order to the Asian market. Although there two possibilities that might happen, succeed or fail, it viewed as a low risk project with very low lifetime project costs which is only 2.73 million. It had an IRR of 19.77%, a discount rate of 8.46%, and a payback period is more than 10 years and the profitability index of this project is 2.85. I choose this project is because the Asian market is a very big market, since the project is low risk and the cost of this project is very low, we think it is worth to try, because if this project is succeed, the company will earn more profit. The last project we selected for this year is Retail Store Expansion in Northeast. The NPV of this project is 5.34 and it had an IRR of 37.45%, a  discount rate of 10.04% and a payback period is 5.33 years. We suggested the discount rate can adjusted to 10.50% to make this project on a safe status. This high-risk projects because open new stores in other countries can always be risky. We pick this project is because it was a desired project for the company. At the end of 2011, we can see from the table 2, we can see the net sales of retail division is 199.62 million, 4.87 million higher than 2010 (194.75 million), however the increasing in cost of goods sold and their Selling General and Administrative Expenses turns out the EBITDA of 2011(3. 79) is lower than 2010 (5.04). In addition, the net sales of licensing has jump to 36.50 million in 2011 and the EBITDA and its net income has a very big increase, which are 21.99 and 12.99. So the pervious object which I selected in 2009 acutely works. (Table 1) In year three (2011), we selected four projected which are: Doll Video Game, Tween Book Series, New Inventory Control System for Warehouse and Replace Assembly Equipment at Sacramento Facility. The Doll Video Game is a licensing project and the report says that this project did not performed as good as expectations but it is still stay in positive. This project has an NPV of 1.06 an IRR 115.90% which is very high, a discount rate of 7.40% and the payback year is 2.24 years and the profitability index is 8.73 million. This is a medium risk project with only 0.40 million lifetime project cost. We think this is a good project even though it has not much assets. However we suggest they can increase the project discount rate from 7.40% to 8.00%. The Tween Book Series has an NPV of 6.14, an IRR of 43.57%, a discount rate of 6.89%, and a payback period of 5.24 years and 13.64 profitability index. This is a low risk licensing project and according to the company report, this project has boosted its revenue and will definitely give contribution to the company. So we will keep this project. We selected the New Inventory Control System for Warehouse is because it can help the company reduce the cost of carrying inventory and make more savings. This is a low risk retailing project also with very low cost, and there is no gain or loss of using this project but it can help the company reduce the cost. Replace Assembly Equipment at Sacramento Facility is a low risk production project, we choose this project is because it has a high IRR which is 38.64% and a very low of production cost. Due to the low  risk the NPV of this project is low which is only 0.06. We can see from the table three, at the end of 2012, the company’s net sales has risen to 306.65 million, increasing year by year from year 2009, and the net income as well. We use the same method to pick projects for the rest two years of this run. We focused more on low risk project and in this run we did not expected too much on our APV and our net income. In this run we hope the company can always get the future benefits rather than take a high risk and too impatient for success. In addition, there are not many projects had an ideally NPV, so we are not surprised about the final result. Also, we have tried our best to maintain the balance of each of the three divisions to keep the company in the same structure and to maintain the equal growth as well. This run end with an APV of 424.79, a revenue of 348.17 million, which is not bad and 23.49 million net income. The net income is not big but we use the minimum budget to make the biggest profit. Next, this is the second simulation we choose to explain. In this simulation we got APV (Adjusted present value) equals 597.79 and the revenue equals 393.43 million. The operation income equals 44.21 million. From the company consolidated Income Statement, we can see that the net income finally ended in 26.53 million. From the Balance Sheet, the total net asset equals 278.85 million, the total current liabilities equals 64.05 million and the total liabilities and shareholders equity equals 278.85 million. In this simulation our approach is to spent ever money we got, we thought this might gives us the highest return and the highest APV. In 2009, we choose three projects to funding. They are: 1.‘Match my Doll’ Clothing Line, 2.Retail Store Expansion in Northeast and 3.New Doll Film / DVD. We choose these three projects because they are all high or medium risks. Usually the high risk comes with the high return. So we want to see what will happen if we all choose high or me dium risker projects. Even if these three projects do not have good 1 Yr. EBITDA, it has the highest three 5 Yr. EBITDA. So when we choose these three projects we do not want it went well in the first year but for the future benefits. After a whole year running, in 2010 the net income was 12.58 million and it was less than 2009. The revenue became 252.42 million and the APV we got this year was 319.38. This is not a problem now because the future view form the financial analysis and project  details were going very well. In 2010, we choose four projects to funding. They are: 1.Toddler Doll Accessory Line, 2.‘Grow With Me’ Doll Line, 3.Tween Book Series and 4.Expansion of Mail-order Catalog Business to Asia. After the first year’s three high or medium risk projects, this year we want to reduce a little bit risk. So we take Toddler Doll Accessory Line, Expansion of Mail-order Catalog Business to Asia and Tween Book series, they are both low risk projects. Also this time, we want to focus on the NPV, the first and second choice we made has 7.15 and 6.83 NPV. The third choice we made is based on the IRR because the rest projects basically has the same NPV, so we choice the project which has the highest IRR which is 43.57. The last choice we made is because we want to use all of budget we go t. This can help us get higher return. Also, this project has 13.64 profit index and the payback year was 5.24. The revenue for 2011 was 276.70 and the APV went to 363.16. The net income became 16.75 million. This means the projects we choose in 2009 worked a lot better than 2010, we got a rise net income. In 2011, we choose six projects to funding. They are: 1.Acquisition of Children’s magazine, 2.’Match My Doll’ Clothing Line, Expansion of Concept. 3.’Dolls of the World’ Initiative, 4.Doll Video Game, 5.Replace Assembly Equipment at Sacramento Facility and 6. In this year’s project, our idea was also to spend every penny of the budget we got because we went higher return. When we choose the first project, it’s kind of hard choose between ‘Acquisition of Children’s Magazine’ and ‘Acquisition of Electronic Toy Manufacturer’. They were both have limited time, high NPV and high 5 Yr. EBITDA. Finally we decided choose Acquisition of Children’s Magazine it has the highest NPV which is 28.96 million and highest IRR which is 19.52%. Even though this project do not have the highest 5 Yr. EBIDTA it has a lot less project costs and payback year. The second and third projects we choose was based on the NPV which were 8.31 million and 6.32 million and 5 Yr. EBIDTA which were 3.60 million and 4.61million. The forth and fifth project we choose were base on the IRR. The last project we choose was because we want higher return and the more projects we choose can bring us more net sales. This means we can have more net income. In 2012, our revenue was 314.13 million and the APV went to 437.09. The net income went to 19.97 million In 2012, we choose six projects to funding. They are: 1.’Design Your Own Doll’, 2.Toddlers Music CD Series, 3.Virtual Doll Community, 4.Bookstore Cafà © and  Writers’ Club, 5.Expansion to England and 6.EDI Supplier Software System. In this year’s projects, we use the same approach: spent every penny to get us the highest return. The four projects we made were based on the NPV which are 9.76million, 6.97million, 6.89million and 6.71 million. The last two projects we choose were because it has the low project cost among other projects we can choose. We spend all the penny we can use till we do not have enough money to buy another proj ect. This will bring us more return without a lot of costs. In 2013, our revenue rise to 358.41 million and the APV was 529.84. The net income in this year was 23.88 million. In 2013 we choose five projects to funding. They are: 1. Dollhouses with Miniature Dolls, 2.Children’s Accessories Line, 3.Cable TV Program, 4.Coupon Promotion/Frequent Shopper Campaign and 5. Young authors Book Series. The first two projects we choose is based on the 5 Yr. EBITDA. The high 5 Yr. EBITDA can bring us more profits in the future. The rest of our projects we choose was based on the IRR and project costs. The revenue was 393.43 million and APV was 597.79. Net income rise to 26.53 million.By using this strategy can help company get a big increase income and can contribute a lot of profit. However, according to the results we think this simulation can work for a long term. In this round, our strategy was very simple and different than before. We only seeking for projects which have high net present value (NPV) when we made decisions for the New Heritage Doll Company every year. In addition, the projects we chose had high risk. It is said that â€Å"Higher risk, higher reward, so we did not avoid high risk projects in this round. At last, we got a highest APV than before, was about 641.39. Current revenue was 372.10 and 24.45 in net income (Table 4). At first, we have budget constraint of 2010 was 8.9. Since we focus on Net Present Value this time, we choose â€Å"Match My Doll† Clothing Line, New Doll Film/DVD and Toddler Doll Accessory Line, because these three have higher NPV, which were 6.46, 9.37, and 7.15 respectively. The risk of â€Å"Match My Doll† Clothing Line project was high, the New Doll Film/DVD with medium risk, and Toddler Doll Accessory Line has low risk. After the selecting, we remain 1.14 budget. Then we moved to 2011, with the remained 1.14 previous  year, we had 10.04 budget constraints. With the same strategy, we choose â€Å"Grow with Me† Doll Line (NPV: 6.83) and Tween Book Series (NPV: 6.14) which two have high NPV. The â€Å"Grow with Me† Doll Line has high risk and Tween Book Series with low risk. Even though, the NPV of â€Å"Dolls of the World† Initiative and New East Distribution Facility projects have high NPV, we have not enough budgets to take those two projec ts. We also choose Expansion of Mail-order Catalog Business to Asia (1.57) although it has not high net present value, we afford it and the risk of the project is low. Moreover, we think it can increase sale for the company. With the selection above, we remain 2.44 budgets. The company APV in 2011, increase to 358.11. There comes to 2012, we had 11.34 budget constraint. We selected Acquisition of Electronic Toy Manufacturer (NPV: 16.34, high risk), â€Å"Match My Doll† Clothing Line Expansion of Concept (NPV: 8.31, medium risk) and â€Å"Dolls of the World† Initiative (NPV: 6.32, high risk) because of their high net present value. We chose Retail Store Expansion in Northeast (NPV: 5.49, high risk) was because it fit the company’s expansion strategy. Also, we selected Replace Assembly Equipment at Sacramento Facility project (NPV: 0.06) and New Inventory Control System for Warehouse project (NPV: 0.05) with both low risk, and Doll Video Game (1.06, medium) projects. T his time, we not only choose the project with high NPV, but also try to spend as much budget as we had. Through this way, the company NPV has a large increase and reach to 436.77. In the 2013, we have budget of 12.58. We chose six projects this year, they are EDI Supplier Software System(NPV:0.05, low risk), â€Å"Design Your Own Doll†(NPV: 9.76, high risk), Expansion to England( NPV:0.93, medium risk), Virtual Doll Community(NPV:5.04, high risk), Bookstore Cafà © and Writers’ Club(NPV:6.71, medium risk), and Toddlers Music CD Series(NPV:6.97, medium risk), remained 4.93 budget and got 577.45 in company NPV. Finally, in 2014, we had budget Constraint 13.83. We selected Dollhouses with Miniature Dolls (NPV: 9.09, high risk), Young Authors Book Series (NPV: 8.15, medium risk) and Coupon Promotion/Frequent Shopper Campaign (NPV: 6.04, low risk) because their high net present value. We also want to take Warehouse Facility Consolidation and New East Coast Distribution Facility, but we short of money. Finally, we remain 5.13 budget and got 641.39 in company NPV in 2014. Conclusion: Finally, according to our results, it turns out that to be safe is not always the best option on running a company. Sometimes you need to take some risk, it is not always a bad thing. So we decide to choose round 3 as our final option. The approach we use for this round is to focus on the high NPV and not avoid taking high risk objects as well, this seems like a good solution to choose our five year’s projects. Because this round have a long-term benefit, even though it does not went that well. From the cash flow statement, we can see that the net income rise every year and till 2024 the net income can reach 99.22 million.