Women, Sex, Role and culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Women, Sex, Role and culture - Essay Example Among the dedicated writers include Brettell and Sargent, who are inclining their work towards modern topics in anthropology. Most of their works are designed in a manner that deems appropriate for scholars at various levels of their studies. In this essay, we will appraise one significant topic within the field of anthropology, and subsequently relate Brettell and Sargent’s work to ideologies contained within the underlying topics. Fortunately, the writers’ work takes an accessible and open-ended approach in covering a subject matter. Therefore, we will have to establish an objective link between theses contained in the primary readings and that of selected essay from the two writers mentioned above. Primary Reading: Cultural Solidarity of Maasai Women In the first primary ethnographic reading, we will explore the role of gender among Maasai women in Kenya. Within the reading, the writer Llewlyn Melissa analyses two contexts of cultural solidarity observed among women in the Maasai community. The underlying thesis statement within this reading is that Maasai women have over the past decades stood in solidarity to defend their gender roles within their societies. Despite infiltration of western ideologies into Kenyan tribes, Maasai have managed to preserve their traditions to date. They are nomadic pastoralists which mean that they move from one place to another in search of water and pasture for their domestic animals, especially cattle. Fortunately, their unique culture and proximity to wildlife reserves attracts tourists and anthropologists. Currently, a small number of Maasai men and moderate women have been absorbed into white collar jobs in the tourism sector (Llewlyn 209). However, majority of Maasai women and men are still subscribing to conventional roles as contained in their cultural norms. At this juncture, it is worth acknowledging the fact that Maasai culture is a patriarchal community dominated by men. Women within the Maasai tribe enjoy minimum opportunities, and faces numerous challenges form decisions made by their communities. As a show of solidarity to their patriarchal cultures, Maasai women still believes in early and forced marriages (Llewlyn 212). Parents show little interest in education of their girl child because these girls will be married immediately after elementary school. In fact older women in the Maasai community participate joyfully in preparing their daughters for forced marriages. This shows that women in this community are in solidarity with the cultural norm of early and forced marriages of their girls. As if forced marriage was not enough, Maasai women still demonstrate cultural solidarity through female genital mutilation. This context relates to women sexuality in the society. In an effort to curb free expression of woman’s sexual desires, the Maasai community chooses to perform this primitive act of mutilating their girls. Unfortunately, older women are the ones at the forefr ont in organizing for these initiation ceremonies as a show of love for their culture (Llewlyn 230). In this regard, one can appreciate the fact that culture plays a significant role in influencing norms of men and women in different social settings. In this case, a strict solidarity to their culture influences Maasai women into perpetrating primitive and harmful cultural practices. Brettell and Sargent: Culture, Sexuality and the Body The excerpt on Maasai women fits with Brettell and Sargent’s essay on culture, sexuality and the body in inter-cultural perspective. Based on the primary reading, we acknowledged the fact that Maasai community controls sexuality of women in their societies. The aspect of early and forc

Woolworths Ltd Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Woolworths Ltd - Assignment Example The aim of the company is to grow its business by increasing its leadership in the area of food and liquor, maximize shareholder value, continue its record of building new businesses, while putting in place enabling factors in order to facilitate a new growth era (Woolworths Ltd 2013b). During the year ended June 30, 2013 the company expanded its operations through the addition of 32 hotels, 22 home improvement stores, 25 supermarkets in Australia and 6 in New Zealand (including a franchise), 14 petrol outlets, 15 Dan Murphy’s, 14 BWS and 6 BIG W (Woolworth Ltd 2013a). The company’s main competitor is Coles- a supermarket chain operated by Wesfarmers Ltd. Analysis of Financial Performance According to BPP (2009) return on capital employed (ROCE) is considered to be one of the most important ratios and so it is not possible to assess profitability without relating it to assets employed. Woolworths’ ROCE was unstable for the most part, declining from 25.58% in 2011 to 22.59 in 2012 and then increasing to 23.75% in 2013 (See Appendix 1 for calculations). A return of over 20% is considered good when compared to current interest rates. When compared with Wesfarmers Ltd ROCE is also better. In fact, Wesfarmers’ ROCE indicates instability, increasing from 10.07% in 2011 to 11.24% in 2012 and then declining to 10.92% in 2013 (See Appendix 1 for calculations). ... Growth in Wesfarmers’ revenues were also much higher than Woolworths’ but similar declines over the period were evident. See Appendix 1 for details. Woolworths’ profit margin/earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margin for the years 2013, 2012 and 2011 were 6.24, 6.11 and 6.05 respectively (See Woolworths Ltd Financial Summary on page 8 - Appendix 2). This indicates that Woolworths’ EBIT margin improved over the period. Woolworths’ EBIT margin compares favourably with Wesfarmers which increased from 5.88 in 2011 to 6.11 in 2012 but remained fairly stable in 2013 at 6.11 (See Appendix 1 for calculations). Earnings per share (EPS) - the earnings attributable to each share issued is found by dividing EBIT by the weighted average of the number of shares in issue. Woolworths’ EPS declined from $1.74 in 2011 to $1.48 in 2012 before increasing to $1.82 in 2013 (See Woolworths’ Income Statements for 2013 and 2012 on pages 11 and 15 - Append ix 2). The comparative EPS for Wesfarmers Limited shows EPS of $1.96 in 2013, $1.84 in 2012 and $1.66 in 2011 (See Wesfarmers’ Income Statements for 2013 and 2012 on pages 20 and 24 – Appendix 3). These figures indicate instability in Woolworths’ EPS and improvement in that for Wesfarmers’. Additionally, Wesfarmers EPS was higher for all three years. Analysis of Financial Position Statement An analysis of Woolworths’ financial position at year end 2011, 2012 and 2013 indicates that the group’s current ratio ranged between 0.79:1 and 0.91:1 over the period. (See Appendix 1 for details). While the ratio is improving, it suggests that the company is experiencing liquidity problems and may not be able to pay its debts as they fall due. The situation for Wesfarmers is a little better

Business-Supply Chain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business-Supply Chain - Essay Example These are competitive times. While the petrochemicals sector may not be that much competitive, the electronics industry has a numerous players with similar product profile. Therefore, the company needs to focus its attention on the businesses in such a manner that both segments get due attention. In fact of late, due to the recessionary trends, the petrochemical business too has come under pressure and efficiency has become an important yardstick for survival in the industry. Therefore in order to be successful in the industry the company will have to resolve some of the issues, which appear to be not in line with the professional standards. Some such issues include; i. The Nebraska facility is not able to deliver quality products and services. David A Garvin (1984) suggests that there are 7 dimensions of quality which are performance, features, reliability, conformance, durability, serviceability and aesthetics. But in case of Canbide couple of these dimensions require due attention. b. Customers, who need to pick up multiple products, are made to around the 2km by 1km facility, which leads to undue harassment of the customer and a bad image for the company. In addition when customer keep frequenting inside the production facility, this is bound to lead to further delays in the production schedule and meeting the targets. Hauser and Katz (1998) point out that mere investment in new technology doesn’t guarantee success. Such an investment need to be matched with value creation for the stakeholders for survival and success. In this case, the stakeholders like customers and employees are not in best position to feel comfortable with the arrangement being made within the company premises. v. The copier rehab facility near Charleston, SC receives "trade-in" copiers from distributors across the country and restores them to "good as new" condition.

Evaluation of the Software Project (Travel App) Research Paper

Evaluation of the Software Project (Travel App) - Research Paper Example From the software application Travel App., usability of the system has been considered and met in the design of the application. It is very easy to learn and understand as the number of buttons used has been minimized completely. Where fewer buttons are used, the user of the system has time to glance at them through at once to get the intended button with ease. The way the buttons have been labeled is another aspect that makes the application easy to learn and use as the instructions to be input are clear and precise. Even a naà ¯ve user can confidently use the system without any form of problem. It has been designed using the user-centered design as the clarity of the buttons dictates. A good designed user interface facilitates completion of tasks by users of the system without requiring them to pay more attention to the system. The manner in which a good interface is designed should facilitate its usability. This is achieved through balancing of the visual components and the techn ical functionality of the system when designing it, as it ensures development of usable, operational systems that are adaptable to changing user needs. It can therefore be concluded that the Travel Application has been designed in a usable manner as it meets most of these requirements in the way it has been designed and developed.

Software Engineering Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Software Engineering - Coursework Example At the engineering phase, software is produced and it is tested at the end of this phase. The last phase entails evaluation of the project’s output before the continuation of the project to the next phase. This software development ensures that the goals of software engineering are fulfilled. This is crucial in ensuring that the software designed is easily readable and understandable. Spiral model ensures that this goal of software engineering is met through appropriate and proper documentation. The model ensures that each of the four phases is well documented and explained. This ensures that incase any change happens in the future, the change can be easily understood and it would be easy to understand what to expect from the phases that are involved in the spiral development process model (Tsui, Karam, & Bernal 2014: 123). It is important for the developed software to be easily testable thus ensuring that in the event of any error occurring, it is easier to understand and trace the origin of the error. In so doing, it is not necessary to retest the entire software again. Due to the phases that occur in the spiral model, it is easier to test each phase separately before progressing to the next phase. This ensures that the output that each phase gives is gauged separately and in the event of an error in each phase, the origin of the error can be easily traced. It is important for the software to be flexible enough to ensure that it comfortably handles all the aspects that it is meant for. Considering that the spiral process model involves various phases, the engineers ensure that each phase comes up with an output that it is required (Brambilla, Cabot, Wimmer, & Publishers 2012: 100). It enables the engineers to come up with creative software and ensures that customers are able to evaluate the output of the project before getting into the next spiral. The spiral development ensures that there is the development of the correct model because each phase is

MICS - option 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

MICS - option 1 - Assignment Example Earlier on, firms used to outsource IT functions on a limited basis. Currently, most companies outsource their IT functions for the entire department. This has been used in delivering the IT functionality. Whilst there exist a considerable body of knowledge regarding IT outsourcing, the research on reasons why businesses outsource their IT functions is still limited. Therefore, this paper source to determine the reasons why organizations outsource the IT functions (Peslak 2012, p. 14). The process of outsourcing is underpinned by basic premise of whether an organization must pay or make the service. The decision to purchase a service enlists two fundamental objectives of outsourcing. These include, first, transfer of ownership of a business process to a third party, and second, to enable concentration of major competences by vendee. Based on the transfer of ownership, outsourcing significantly affects organizations productivity, cash flow, profitability, transaction costs and growth. There has been a rising outsourcing incidences worldwide to improve the strategy of the organization in lightening the workloads, saving time and trimming the costs. Studies indicate that outsourcing can turn a business with high fixed cost to one with only variable costs. This is critical for businesses with activities involving extensive variance throughout the year or the one experiencing pressures to reduce the overhead costs. The core business competencies help in maintaining a c ompetitive edge as well as increasing customer benefits and growth of business. The major functions of a business evolve through information sharing and collective learning. Such competences may not be enhanced by using huge investments; rather, they must focus on strategies and resources targeting the dominating corporate decisions (Peslak 2012, p. 15). The exact determination of core competencies contests the

Describe and discuss a number of major social marketing campaigns of Essay

Describe and discuss a number of major social marketing campaigns of your choice, with special reference to their strengths and weaknesses - Essay Example During 1970s social marketing started as a discipline for the first time. Kotler et al. argued that the similar marketing philosophy that was being used to sell products to customers can be used to "sell" behavioural attitudes and ideas. The dissimilarity is that, in commercial marketing the advantage goes to the marketers only, but in social marketing the entire society at large gets the benefit of behavioural changes. The implementation of marketing strategies in the field of politics is a comparatively new concept, argued, O’Shaughnessy (2002). Most of the political actors are not expert in marketing techniques. That is why the help of professional public realtor or marketers are taken. All the political parties need to get votes from public to win the electoral battle. So, a positive image and a favourable opinion have to be created in the mind of public. As it is also a mass opinion building process, the social marketing principle is used to do political marketing campaigns. Wilson and Gilligan (2005, p.189) state ‘The proliferation of Internet sites, for example, has enabled groups of consumers to publicize instantaneous and often highly critical reviews of new products, services or films that can be far more influential than the formal advertising campaigns. However, from the company’s point of view, improving technology and growing consumer sophistication also enable the m to become smarter. New advertising channels, such as Internet sites, video screens at supermarket checkouts and interactive television all enable suppliers to find more willing buyers. Companies are also becoming better at stimulating a street ‘buzz’ about their products by influencing select opinion formers, rather than by focusing largely upon mass advertising hype. Amongst those to have done this are companies such as Disney, Apple, Virgin, and Starbucks, all of which have caught the Zeitgeist and