Small business and risks Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Small business and risks - Research Paper Example Like all other businesses, these entities are faced with a unique set of situations and circumstances. As such, such entities have to come up with unique and distinct solutions to their problems, issues and matters. North Boulder Cafà © is a small cafà © in the Boulder Colorado. The cafà © prepares hearty and delicious breakfasts and lunch and offers authentic homemade Mexican food. North Boulder Cafà © is known for providing old-fashioned comfort and its menu is traditional and well situated for the discerning customer in the region. The menu includes a specialized range of coffees, burgers and Mexican dishes that are prepared by qualified chefs with an in-depth level of experience. North Boulder Cafà © is a family owned entity that competes with the major giants in the breakfast and coffee industry including Starbucks and others. North Boulder Cafà © is classified as a small business. Due to that, it has major capital structure needs and other marketing concerns. This puts the business in a major risk. However, the firm managed to thrive through difficult times and periods. This includes the credit crunch and other circumstances and it seem to be doing fairly well. It controls a very strict niche and this niche remains faithful to the firm. The sales approach includes the use of local marketing channels and media. However, the threats posed by larger entities in the industry are serious. This puts the firm in a major risk of folding up. In spite of this, it is apparent that with the careful research into the business environment, identification of real risks and formulation of solutions, North Boulder Cafà © is likely to survive and beat all the competition it faces. The research will involve an empirical study of the elements and aspects of the business environment of North Boulder Cafà © to ascertain risks and

The concept of self-determination in international law is, in Essay

The concept of self-determination in international law is, in practice, less wide-ranging than might be supposed - Essay Example It is in terms of whether the human element within several states is entitled to choices that may lead to severing their destiny from that of a given state and ultimately disrupt the state’s body politic. (Coicaud, 2001, p.53). The uniqueness of self-determination makes the existence of a corresponding international rule whether contractual or general far more problematic. This also varies in degree according to whether its conceived as a right conferred by international law or as a right which states an internationally obliged to ensure within their legal systems self determination as seen as a freedom within the internal logic of declaration, human rights and fundamental freedom which every state would be bound under general law, charter or other instruments to ensure it to persons or groups within their legal system, a matter de lege ferenda. (Karen, 2002, p.29). Exceptions are allowed in given arrangements of conventional law. Personality of individuals is not believed in international law. Thus the existing international law is even further from ensuring a right of self-determination as a matter of direct right under international law itself. International law and international politics comprise the rules and reality of the international system so that it makes sense to study one without the other. Scholars decide to separate the so called `real politiks from the utopian idealism on the emphasis that the failure of League of Nations and the rise of fascism were clear demonstrations of the ineffectiveness and irrelevance of international law and institutions’2. This described reality was as anarchic international law system in which the state was the primary actor and its interaction with other states was in a context of a competitive war of all against all motivated by national self interest and a thirst for power. (Karen, 2002, p.42). The tribunal created

Article Reviews Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Article Reviews - Essay Example He brought with him a young boy and though it was too late, the judge allowed him to be sworn in to stand up for Good. The boy said he had seen it himself. The accuser had lied about the knife mysteriously breaking. The accuser was in trouble for lying to the judge. But Sarah Good , the alleged witch, was still sentenced to death. This became the start of something strange: a witch hunt. All people who seemed to be able to conduct something â€Å"magical† were hunted and it was throughout all of the New England states in America. An author Cotton Mather, had seen the effects of the people who were afflicted with this witchcraft. Blistered with fire, pins stuck into their flesh by invisible hands, convulsions, and scalded with hot water; these were just some of the claims of accounts afflicted upon people who said that they were affected by the witchcraft. Peoples only escape from conviction was to tell the truth, which was actually sometimes a lie. Many people died because they were found to be suspicious people; people of the devil. The author wrote this article to tell about the trials and oddities surrounding the Salem Witch Trials. It was a narrative telling about particular instances in trials and tribulations that described what it was like in New England during the time when everyone was out to chase and destroy whomever they thought practiced witchcraft, magic labeling them witches. This article was written as a news story that appeared in the area newspaper in Baltimore, Maryland in the mid 1800s to tell the story of how the hunt and execution of witches came to begin. The article originally began with the narration of the story of Sarah Good. But in this article, she was merely an example of what others had to expect if they were suspicioned of conducting witchcraft. The author barely touched on all of the occurrences during the

The concept of self-determination in international law is, in Essay

The concept of self-determination in international law is, in practice, less wide-ranging than might be supposed - Essay Example It is in terms of whether the human element within several states is entitled to choices that may lead to severing their destiny from that of a given state and ultimately disrupt the state’s body politic. (Coicaud, 2001, p.53). The uniqueness of self-determination makes the existence of a corresponding international rule whether contractual or general far more problematic. This also varies in degree according to whether its conceived as a right conferred by international law or as a right which states an internationally obliged to ensure within their legal systems self determination as seen as a freedom within the internal logic of declaration, human rights and fundamental freedom which every state would be bound under general law, charter or other instruments to ensure it to persons or groups within their legal system, a matter de lege ferenda. (Karen, 2002, p.29). Exceptions are allowed in given arrangements of conventional law. Personality of individuals is not believed in international law. Thus the existing international law is even further from ensuring a right of self-determination as a matter of direct right under international law itself. International law and international politics comprise the rules and reality of the international system so that it makes sense to study one without the other. Scholars decide to separate the so called `real politiks from the utopian idealism on the emphasis that the failure of League of Nations and the rise of fascism were clear demonstrations of the ineffectiveness and irrelevance of international law and institutions’2. This described reality was as anarchic international law system in which the state was the primary actor and its interaction with other states was in a context of a competitive war of all against all motivated by national self interest and a thirst for power. (Karen, 2002, p.42). The tribunal created

Lean Manufacturing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Lean Manufacturing - Research Paper Example In manufacturing, the issue of cost has become one of the most significant aspects for majority of organizations. The contemporary period of conducting business has certainly become harder which demands high level of cost efficiency and productivity. Lean manufacturing not only decreases the operational expenses but also enhance organizations’ attractiveness (Bourque & Fox, n.d.). Lean manufacturing is often recognized in refining functional efficiency. Lean manufacturing is the progression, method, approach and initiative being applied by organizations globally in order to reduce redundant and unproductive activities which can result in extra expenses. Therefore, it enhances the workplace productivity and develops better working environment. The paper will describe the use of lean manufacturing in organizations to save cost and increase efficiency. In order to analyze the issue the paper will discuss three case studies of Toyota, Motorola, and Park Nicollet that operate in different industries, and have successfully improved productivity and reduced costs by implementation of lean manufacturing system in their workplace. Nowadays, economic affordability concerning customer price sensitivity, product quality, and price are gradually motivating organizations to apply lean manufacturing system. International competition is growing in almost every commercial segment. The incorporation of capital market, decline in trade obstructions and increased business expansion where production costs are lesser can be proved as significant obstacles for competition. For any organization, the first mover advantage and rapid response to customers’ requirements, enhancement of product quality, and decrease in production costs in order to keep the price of products low are vital for success in the competitive market. Lean manufacturing with its major concentration on the organized abolition of waste has rapidly

Steinbeck is interested in the ways hardship and suffering human character Essay Example for Free

Steinbeck is interested in the ways hardship and suffering human character Essay Steinbeck is interested in the ways hardship and suffering human character. Discuss how this is portrayed in Of Mice And Men Of Mice and Men is a novel very much affected by the time in which its author lived. Steinbeck wrote and set Of Mice And Men in a time of great economic change in America, when the countrys 125,000 threshers (men who harvested grain- Californias major product) were slowly being replaced for the new and more efficient form of harvesting-mechanical combines. The Wall Street Crash in 1929 heralded the start of the Great Depression that swept America in the 1930s, and the consequences of this on farming was compacted and increased with the famous dust bowl crisis, forcing many farmers into poverty and immense debt. Migrant farm workers such as Lennie and George fuelled and made possible the intensive farming economy. They travelled many miles by foot or other cheap forms of transportation for a temporary job that would pay enough to survive on, only to be told to leave when they were no longer needed. They would then have to wait for the next vacancy available. In these conditions men most usually travelled alone- it was hard to form any stable relationships in a life where it was vital to travel so often and when self-survival was more important than anyone elses. Its in this world of self survival that John Steinbeck based Of Mice And Men, which is a portrayal of effects these conditions can have on human nature. The most prominent of these effects in the novel itself is loneliness, (a major theme) which is present in some way in every one of Steinbecks characters. The book itself has been described as a symphony of lonliness. In a world where ones own survival and well-being is priority and you are mostly alone, the workers became very isolated. The effects of the lack of friendship, love or compassion on the workers have made them unable to relate in any way to anyone but themselves, and the self-importance that is forced to become their priority renders them unable to feel much pity or empathy for anyone or anything, turning them inwards and embittered towards a world which hasnt treated them well. They all live an existence in which every day is taken as it comes, each one matters in the fight for survival. They do not think in the long term, they spend the small wages they receive as soon as they can in taverns and whore-houses, they do not have dreams of the future. Loneliness effects some characters in other ways. For example, Curleys wife lives a life rivalling and arguably, exceeding the workers in isolation and loneliness. She has entered into a loveless and -the suggestion is- brutal marriage on a ranch full of wary, frightened and suspicious men with no-one to talk to, no love or tenderness, no prospect of change or escape from it. Unlike the men, she also has no motivation to survive. The workers aim in life is to survive, to keep on going, to keep on surviving through all the deprivation, as some still have prospects for change. Curleys wife is stuck at a figurative dead-end. She has arrived at the place she will remain for most probably the rest of her life, in an incessant routine of lonely, endless monotony. It is this isolation and the dissapointment of niave dreams of Hollywood and broken trust that has turned her into the character we are presented with in the beginning chapters of the book. The whore, the slut, the jail-bait, and the tart are her own form of survival- whereas the men have had to become totally self-interested and self-dependent in order to survive, Curleys wife has had to survive by attempting to gain power and attention in the only way she can in a ranch full of men- through sexual supremacy. However it appears there are infact two characters in the novel less affected by the isolation than the other characters, Slim and Lennie. It could be argued that George is also less affected, as his friendship with Lennie saves him from turning totally inward. Lennies friendship and care stop George from becoming like the other ranch workers, as he has to think about Lennies well being in addition to his own. George and Lennies relationship is almost more like that of a parent and child than of friends, and George has to look after Lennie, therefore George thinks about someone other than himself. So far his relationship has had its downsides, because as this isnt a normal friendship and Lennie is less capable mentally, Lennie keeps getting George into trouble. This proves that George needs to become isolated, lonely and inward as the others if he wants to be able successfully to survive. The conditions of the workers affect them in sad, terrible ways, yet its interesting that they actually need to be behave in this way if they want to survive. There is a strange need for loneliness and isolation, and this is how loneliness effects George and ultimately, George and Lennies friendship.

Importance of Electrochemical Series

Importance of Electrochemical Series A series in which the reduction electrode potentials of various electrodes have been arranged in the increasing order (downwards) is called Electrochemical Series . The standard reduction potential of hydrogen is zero.The electrodes above hydrogen have negative reduction potential while those place below it have positive reduction potential and vice-versa. To understand the importance and application of Electrochemical series we have to study about Oxidation,Reduction and Standard Reduction Potential. What is Electrochemistry? Electrochemistry is the branch of chemistry which deals with the study of the chemical changes which occur on passing electric current into certain chemical systems and also with the generation of electricity by carrying chemical reactions which are redox reactions in nature. And Redox reactions are those reactions in which both oxidation and reduction taking place. Electronic Concept of Oxidation and Reduction According to the electronic concept, oxidation may be defined as the process in which an atom or ion loses one or more electrons. The loss of electrons is also called de-electronation. As a result, there is increase in positive valency or decrease in negative valency of the species. The species which lose electrons during oxidation are called Reducing agents. According to the electronic concept, reduction may be defined as the process in which an atom or ion gains one or more electrons. The gain of electrons is also called electronation. As a result, there is increase in negative valency or decrease in positive valency of the species. The species which gain electrons during reduction are called Oxidising agents. Electrode Potential It is the potential difference between the electrode and its ions in solution. The value of Electrode potential depends upon: (i) Nature of the metal (ii) Concentration of the ions in solution. (iii) Temperature. Types of Electrode Potential Oxidation Potential:- It is the tendency of the electrode to lose electrons and as a result it gets oxidized. Reduction Potential:- It is the tendency of the electrode to accept electrons and as a result,it gets reduced. Measurement of Standard Electrode Potential (Eo):- The standard electrode potential(electron releasing or electron accepting tendency) of an electrode in contact with its electrolyte in a half cell cannot be measured experimentally due to the following reasons:- A half cell whether oxidation or reduction half cell cannot work of its own and can work only when connected to the other half cell. The electron realeasing or accepting tendency of an electrode is only relative tendency and not absolute tendency. Thus we cannot determine the absolute standard electrode potential of an electrode.To solve the problem,a reference electrode is needed and an arbitrary electrode potential must be assigned to it.The commonly used reference electrode is standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) also called normal hydrogen electrode(NHE) and its standard electrode potential (oxidation as well as reduction) is taken as zero. We have stated that a standard hydrogen electrode acts as the reference electrode and it helps in measuring the standard electrode potential of an electrode.An electrochemical cell is set up in which the metal electrode under consideration is kept in one half cell and the standard hydrogen electrode acts as the other half cell. The potential difference developed as a result of the redox reaction is measured with the help of high resistance voltmeter(or beter by potentiometer). Since the electrode potential of the hydrogen electrode under standard conditions is taken zero, the reading of the voltmeter will therefore,give the  standard electrode potential of the electrode under consideration. The deflection of the voltmeter in the cell circuit represents the flow of current. The flow of current is towards opposite side.If it is towards the metal electrode, this means that the flow of electrons is towards the standard hydrogen electrode. Therefore, metal electrode will act as anode and standard hydrogen electrode as cathode. In case, the deflection is towards the hydrogen electrode, this means that the flow of electrons is from hydrogen electrode towards the metal electrode. In such a case, hydrogen electrode will act as anode and the metal electrode as the cathode. In General, Eo cell = Eo cathode Eoanode Where Eo cell value represents the standard reduction potential of the electrode. Electrochemical Series or EMF Series :- The standard electrode potential (Eo cell) of a large number of electrodes are determined with respect to the standard hydrogen electrode acting as a reference electrode. The standard reduction potential of hydrogen is zero. The electrodes above hydrogen have negative reduction potential while those place below it have positive reduction potential and vice-versa. They are arranged in decreasing strength of reducing agent to form a series known as Electrochemical Series. Application of Electrochemical Series:- To predict the relative oxidizing and reducing powers:- The electrochemical series helps to pick out substances that are good oxidizing agents and those which are good reducing agents.In an electrochemical series the species which are placed above hydrogen are more difficult to be reduced and their standard reduction potential values are negative. The Li : Li+ (aq) electrode has the least Eo value and therefore, it is reduced with more difficulty. Therefore, Li+ cannot accept electrons easily and so loses electrons to behave as a reducing agent. Li is the strongest reducing agent. The species which are easily reduced than hydrogen are palced below it in electrochemical series and their Eo value are positive. The F2 : 2F-(aq) electrode has the highest Eo value and therefore, F2 has the greatest tendency to get reduced,it is consequently the strongest oxidizing agent. In general, oxidizing agents have + Eo values. Higher the positive value, stronger will be the oxidizing agent and reducing agents have -Eo values, higher the negative value, stronger will be the reducing agent. For Example: Increasing order of reducing power of metal is Ag+/Ag(+0.80V) Calculation of the EMF of the Cell The following steps determine the reduction potential of the cathode and anode: Step I The two half-cell reactions are written in such a way that the reaction taking place at the left hand electrode is written as an oxidation reaction and that taking place at the right electrode is written as reduction reaction. Step II The number of electrons in the two equations are made equal by multiplying one of the equations if necessary by a suitable number. However, electrode potential values (E °) are not multiplied. Step III The electrode potentials of both the electrodes are taken to be reduction potentials and so the EMF of the cell is equal to the difference between the standard potential of the right hand side and the left hand side electrode. Eo cell = Eo R EoL Step IV If the EMF of the cell is +ve, the reaction is feasible in the given direction and the cell is correctly represented, i.e., oxidation occurs at left electrode (anode) and reduction occurs at the right electrode (cathode). If it is -ve, the cell reaction is not feasible in the given direction and the cell is wrongly represented. Thus, to get positive value for the EMF the electrodes must be reversed. To predict whether a metal will react with acids to give H2 gas:- Metals above hydrogen in Electrochemical series have great tendency for oxidation,so they displace hydrogen from acids.All metals having negative electrode potentials (negative E ° values) show greater tendency of losing electrons as compared to hydrogen. So, when such a metal is placed in an acid solution, the metal gets oxidized, and H+ (hydrogen) ions get reduced to form hydrogen gas. Thus, the metals having negative E ° values liberate hydrogen from acids. metal having negative E ° value For example, metals such as Mg (E (Mg2+ Mg) = 2.37 V), Zn (E (Zn2+ Zn) = 0.76 V), Iron (E (Fe2+ Fe) = 0.44 V) etc., can displace hydrogen from acids such as HCl and HSO4. But metals such as Copper, (E (Cu2+ Cu) = + 0.34V), silver (E (Ag+ Ag) = + 0.80V) and gold (E (Au3+ Au) = +1.42 V) cannot displace hydrogen from acids because of their positive reduction potential value. To predict the Feasibility of Redox Reaction:- From the E ° values of the two electrodes one can find out whether a given redox reaction is feasible or not. A redox reaction is feasible only if the species which has higher potential is reduced i.e., accepts the electrons and the species which has lower reduction potential is oxidized i.e., loses electrons. The electrochemical series gives the increasing order of electrode potentials (reduction) of different electrodes on moving down the table. This means that the species, which accept the electrons (reduced) must be lower in the electrochemical series as compared to the other which is to lose electrons. (oxidized). For example, From the electrochemical series E ° value of Cu = +0.34 V and that of Ag = +0.80 V since the reduction potential of Ag is more than that of Cu, this means that silver has greater tendency to get reduced in comparison to copper. Thus, the reaction  occurs more readily than the reaction The reduction potential of copper is less than that of Ag, this means that copper will be oxidized or will go into solution as ions in comparison to Ag. Thus, the reaction,  occurs more readily than Therefore, silver will be reduced and copper will be oxidized and the above reaction is not feasible. Rather the reverse reaction,  can occur. Thus a metal will displace, any other metal, which occurs below it in the electrochemical series from its salt solution. When a metal having lower E ° value is placed in a solution, containing ions of another metal having higher E ° value, then the metal having lower E ° value gets dissolved and the ions of the metal having higher E ° value get precipitated. Problems Q:- Write the half-cell reaction and the overall cell reaction for the electrochemical cell: Calculate the standard emf for the cell if standard electrode potentials (reduction) Pb2+ Pb and Zn2+ Zn electrodes are -0.126V and -0.763 V respectively. Solution Zn electrode acts as anode while Pb electrode acts as cathode and, therefore oxidation occurs at zinc electrode and reduction occurs at lead electrode. The half cell reactions are: Q:- Iodine (I2) and bromine (Br2) are added to a solution containing iodide (I-) and bromide (Br-) ions. What reaction would occur if the concentration of each species is 1 M? The electrode potentials for the reactions are: Solution Since the reduction potential of Br2 is more than that of I2, it means that bromine can be readily reduced. Therefore, I- will be oxidized to I2 and this reaction should be written as oxidation. Therefore, the following reactions will occur: Since for the feasibility of the reaction, the emf should be +ve, and to get + ve value for the cell reaction, subtract the equation representing lower value of E ° from the equation representing the higher value of E °. Q:-. What will be the spontaneous reaction between the following half-cell reactions? Calculate Ecell. Solution Since the reduction potential of reaction (ii) is more than that of reaction (i); reaction (ii) will occur as reduction. Therefore, reaction (i) should be written as oxidation. To obtain the net reaction, we multiply the reactions by appropriate coefficients so that electrons get cancelled. Ecell = Esubstance reduced Esubstance oxidized = 1.28 (- 0.74) = 2.02V To predict the spontaneity of any redox reaction:- For any spontaneous reaction (deltaG) should be negative.Since deltaG = -nFE cell Hence E cell should be positive for spontaneous reaction. E cell is the emf of the cell and is calculated from the standard redox potentials by using the reaction. E cell = Ecathode Eanode If E cell is positive, the cell reaction is spontaneous, otherwise not. To predict the Replacement tendency :- The relative ease with which the various species of metals and ions may be oxidized or reduced is indicated by the reduction potential values. The metals with lower reduction potential are not reduced easily but are easily oxidized to their ions losing electrons. These electrons would reduce the other metals having higher reduction potentials. In other words, a metal having smaller reduction potential can displace metals having larger reduction potentials from the solution of their salt.For example, copper lies above silver in the electrochemical series, therefore, if copper metal is added to AgNO3 solution, silver is displaced from the solution. In general a metal occupying higher position in the series can displace the metals lying below it from the solutions of their salts and so are more reactive in displacing the other metals. Thus, Li is the most electropositive element in solutions and fluorine is the most electronegative element. To predict the correct Metallurgical Methods :- Eo values of Cu,H2O and Al are +0.34V,-0.83V and -1.66V.It means Cu gets more easily reduced than water and water gets more easily reduced than aluminium.Hence copper can be produced by the electrolysis of aqueous copper sulphate but not aluminium.this is due to the fact that when Al3+(aq) is electrolysed,the H2O will be electrolysed but not Al3+(aq). For calculation of Equilibrium Constant :- Therefore measurement of E o enables the determination of the equilibrium constant for the electrode reaction.