Native American DBQ

In an attempt to overcome conflicts with the possession of Native American and, the United States set in place policies that were Often inconsiderate to the Natives, but that they believed to be better economically, politically, and morally. These policies varied from government provided food for the Natives, to the distribution of the new land, and the treatment of Native for their various practices. All of these things greatly affected the course of Native American people and their cultures to this day. As Americans took over more land in the west, they began to kill the buffalo that lived there for supplies in massive amounts.Document C, Figure 16. 2, wows a mound of buffalo skeleton bones that would be shipped to the East for various fertilization purposes and represents the â€Å"extent of the devastation† to the buffalo population. Document C also shows the numerous ways that Native Americans used the buffalo in their everyday life. Various purposes that the buffalo serv ed were food from meat and fat, tools and weapons from the bones, clothing from the hide of the buffalo, and many others uses on the long list. No part of the buffalo was wasted by the Natives.When Americans came to their land and slaughtered the population, the Natives were left without any supplies for living. The Natives were forced to live off of food that was provided for them by the government, even though it was the same white settlers who took away their food supply in the first place (Document C). Economically, this helped the United States. They had more land to sell and make money from, and they benefited off of the buffaloes. This was not equally beneficial to the Natives however. They were not even considered by the government that continued to invade their homes and lives.The government may have thought they were helping the Natives by providing them with the small food rations that they did, but the government as actually the root of the Natives food dilemma. There wa s discussion amongst the nation's leaders over what should be done with the newly ceded land. Secretary of the Interior Carl Scours argued that the tribes are â€Å"in the way Of the development Of the country as an obstacle. † To overcome that, his suggestion was to give the Natives portions of the land as reservations, but that sections within that land be used by the government (Document B).In 1 887, Congress passed the Dates Severalty Act that allowed the President to resurvey Native American land reservations if e see fit that the land could be advantageous for agricultural and grazing purposes (Document E). Then in 1889, Theodore Roosevelt stated that it was obvious for them to â€Å"break up the Indian reservations, disregard the tribal governments, allot the land in severalty, and treat Indians as we do other citizens,† and that they are respecting Natives more than the Natives have respected them (Document F).It is made clear though that the Natives wish to be left unbuttered, both them and the land. In a letter to Roosevelt and the â€Å"Washington Chiefs† they express their concerns with how they farm and retreat the Hopi land. The Natives had a certain cycle for farming the land that could be ruined by the settlers (Document H). The Americans did not consider this Hopi petition though. This was a political move to prove to the Natives that they were a â€Å"weaker race† and also to pass legislation that supported it.The Americans may have thought they were doing well to the Natives, as Carl Scours said himself â€Å"To civilize them†¦ And absolute necessity if we mean to save them,† but they Were only disrespecting their land and their requests. One thing that created such a strong barrier between the Natives and the Americans were cultural differences. The Dates Severalty Act allowed for the united States â€Å"to ban crucial aspects of Indian culture, including native practices related to religion, educati on, language, and even dress and hairstyles† (Document C).This shows the type of ignorance that the American people had towards the Native American cultures. They knew nothing about them, yet they banned their practices. These sometimes harsh judgments were driven from fear. Some of the Native American practices legitimately frightened the Americans, particularly, the tribal gatherings where â€Å"men, omen, and children participated in the ritual dance, moving in a circle and singing. † These rituals scared them so much, that in December 1 890, â€Å"U. S. Troops attacked and killed several hundred Indians† (Document G).The American people again may have thought they were cleansing the Natives, but were only being inconsiderate to them as people. Their actions were morally unjustifiable. This time period has a long lasting effect on the world. Entire tribes and cultures died because of the mistreatment and misjudgment of the Natives. Whether or not the American people thought they were helping in some way r another, they were only destroying lives as if they truly were just â€Å"obstacles' and the nation's course of development.

No Place to call Home

No place to call Home You're on your way home from work or school and you stop at a red light. As you patiently wait for the light to glisten green you notice someone walking in between the rows of cars. It's not the usual person who's always selling water and random fruits; instead it's a person in raggedy clothes holding a sign that reads â€Å"Please help. I'm homeless† written on a cardboard flap. Now the question is what are you going to do? Will you reach into your wallet and give this poor soul a donation or will you retend to look for something in your car and act as though you cant see them?The sad truth is more than half of us would perform the second option without even realizing it. Homelessness has been around for a long time. No one seems to be doing anything about it and it's not because there isn't any way to fix it because there is we Just don't care enough to act on it. We could create more stabilized homeless shelters; improve the homeless organizations we h ave initiated, and expand and/or open up more Job opportunities for people in these types of situations.There's a big controversy with the way people perceive the homeless. A lot of people believe that they are homeless due to their own wrong-doings. Whether it is drugs, alcohol, gambling etc. which can be very true at times but that is not always the case. There are times when a person goes through a rough patch in life. They couldVe gotten fired from their Job, lost their house, or Just recently got a divorce. These things can also lead to homelessness. I suggest we put further effort into the present day homeless shelters.We could create hybrid homeless shelter that is not only a place for them to eat and sleep but doubles as a rehab center for those who have any type of addiction. Society has created organizations for a variety of different social issues. Some have more of an impact than others, regarding those created for the homeless; they have not made a grand impression and definitely need some improving. We need to make it broad and spread the word that everyone should donate.These organizations prevent the money from going directly to the homeless people and nsure that the money will go towards prevention and will not benefit their addictions in any way. The Job condition right now in the U. S is struggling and the employment rate is down. Without Jobs there is no cash flow and people tend to lose their houses, cars, etc. That is what results in so many people living on the streets. If we work to create more Jobs, or expand the Job opportunities we have now-a-days we can help homeless people off the streets due to the fact they will be earning a steady income and can get back on their feet.By adjusting the system of homeless shelters, enhancing the corporations that help collect funds for the homeless, and also developing and/or establishing Job openings we could decrease the percentage of people experiencing how it feels to be homeless. It may take a great deal of time and effort but when the person you once say standing on the street begging for money now has a place to eat, a bed to lie on, a place that they can call home, it is a huge sense of accomplishment. No Place to call Home By natuhleeeex3

Barack Obama - Oval Office Speech to the Nation on BP Oil Spill Disaster

Barack Obama Oval Office Address to the Nation on BP Oil Spill Disaster delivered 15 June 2010, Washington, D.C. Good evening. As we speak, our nation faces a multitude of challenges. At home, our top priority is to recover and rebuild from a recession that has touched the lives of nearly every American. Abroad, our brave men and women in uniform are taking the fight to al Qaeda wherever it exists. And tonight, I’ve returned from a trip to the Gulf Coast to speak with you about the battle we’re waging against an oil spill that is assaulting our shores and our citizens. On April 20th, an explosion ripped through BP Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, about 40 miles off the coast of Louisiana. Eleven workers lost their lives. Seventeen others were injured. And soon, nearly a mile beneath the surface of the ocean, oil began spewing into the water. Because there has never been a leak this size at this depth, stopping it has tested the limits of human technology. That’s why just after the rig sank, I assembled a team of our nation’s best scientists and engineers to tackle this challenge a team led by Dr. Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and our nation’s Secretary of Energy. Scientists at our national labs and experts from academia and other oil companies have also provided ideas and advice. As a result of these efforts, we’ve directed BP to mobilize additional equipment and technology. And in the coming weeks and days, these efforts should capture up to 90 percent of the oil leaking out of the well. This is until the company finishes drilling a relief well later in the summer that’s expected to stop the leak completely. Already, this oil spill is the worst environmental disaster America has ever faced. And unlike an earthquake or a hurricane, it’s not a single event that does its damage in a matter of minutes or days. The millions of gallons of oil that have spilled into the Gulf of Mexico are more like an epidemic, one that we will be fighting for months and even years. But make no mistake: We will fight this spill with everything we’ve got for as long as it takes. We will make BP pay for the damage their company has caused. And we will do whatever’s necessary to help the Gulf Coast and its people recover from this tragedy. Tonight I’d like to lay out for you what our battle plan is going forward: what we’re doing to clean up the oil, what we’re doing to help our neighbors in the Gulf, and what we’re doing to make sure that a catastrophe like this never happens again. First, the cleanup. From the very beginning of this crisis, the federal government has been in charge of the largest environmental cleanup effort in our nation’s history an effort led by Admiral Thad Allen, who has almost 40 years of experience responding to disasters. We now have nearly 30,000 personnel who are working across four states to contain and clean up the oil. Thousands of ships and other vessels are responding in the Gulf. And I’ve authorized the deployment of over 17,000 National Guard members along the coast. These servicemen and women are ready to help stop the oil from coming ashore, they’re ready to help clean the beaches, train response workers, or even help with processing claims and I urge the governors in the affected states to activate these troops as soon as possible. Because of our efforts, millions of gallons of oil have already been removed from the water through burning, skimming and other collection methods. Over five and a half million feet of boom has been laid across the water to block and absorb the approaching oil. We’ve approved the construction of new barrier islands in Louisiana to try to stop the oil before it reaches the shore, and we’re working with Alabama, Mississippi and Florida to implement creative approaches to their unique coastlines. As the cleanup continues, we will offer whatever additional resources and assistance our coastal states may need. Now, a mobilization of this speed and magnitude will never be perfect, and new challenges will always arise. I saw and heard evidence of that during this trip. So if something isn’t working, we want to hear about it. If there are problems in the operation, we will fix them. But we have to recognize that despite our best efforts, oil has already caused damage to our coastline and its wildlife. And sadly, no matter how effective our response is, there will be more oil and more damage before this siege is done. That’s why the second thing we’re focused on is the recovery and restoration of the Gulf Coast. You know, for generations, men and women who call this region home have made their living from the water. That living is now in jeopardy. I’ve talked to shrimpers and fishermen who don’t know how they’re going to support their families this year. I’ve seen empty docks and restaurants with fewer customers even in areas where the beaches are not yet affected. I’ve talked to owners of shops and hotels who wonder when the tourists might start coming back. The sadness and the anger they feel is not just about the money they’ve lost. It’s about a wrenching anxiety that their way of life may be lost. I refuse to let that happen. Tomorrow, I will meet with the chairman of BP and inform him that he is to set aside whatever resources are required to compensate the workers and business owners who have been harmed as a result of his company’s recklessness. And this fund will not be controlled by BP. In order to ensure that all legitimate claims are paid out in a fair and timely manner, the account must and will be administered by an independent third party. Beyond compensating the people of the Gulf in the short term, it’s also clear we need a long-term plan to restore the unique beauty and bounty of this region. The oil spill represents just the latest blow to a place that’s already suffered multiple economic disasters and decades of environmental degradation that has led to disappearing wetlands and habitats. And the region still hasn’t recovered from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. That’s why we must make a commitment to the Gulf Coast that goes beyond responding to the crisis of the moment. I make that commitment tonight. Earlier, I asked Ray Mabus, the Secretary of the Navy, who is also a former governor of Mississippi and a son of the Gulf Coast, to develop a long-term Gulf Coast Restoration Plan as soon as possible. The plan will be designed by states, local communities, tribes, fishermen, businesses, conservationists and other Gulf residents. And BP will pay for the impact this spill has had on the region. The third part of our response plan is the steps we’re taking to ensure that a disaster like this does not happen again. A few months ago, I approved a proposal to consider new, limited offshore drilling under the assurance that it would be absolutely safe that the proper technology would be in place and the necessary precautions would be taken. That obviously was not the case in the Deepwater Horizon rig, and I want to know why. The American people deserve to know why. The families I met with last week who lost their loved ones in the explosion these families deserve to know why. And so I’ve established a National Commission to understand the causes of this disaster and offer recommendations on what additional safety and environmental standards we need to put in place. Already, I’ve issued a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling. I know this creates difficulty for the people who work on these rigs, but for the sake of their safety, and for the sake of the entire region, we need to know the facts before we allow deepwater drilling to continue. And while I urge the Commission to complete its work as quickly as possible, I expect them to do that work thoroughly and impartially. One place we’ve already begun to take action is at the agency in charge of regulating drilling and issuing permits, known as the Minerals Management Service. Over the last decade, this agency has become emblematic of a failed philosophy that views all regulation with hostility a philosophy that says corporations should be allowed to play by their own rules and police themselves. At this agency, industry insiders were put in charge of industry oversight. Oil companies showered regulators with gifts and favors, and were essentially allowed to conduct their own safety inspections and write their own regulations. When Ken Salazar became my Secretary of the Interior, one of his very first acts was to clean up the worst of the corruption at this agency. But it’s now clear that the problem there ran much deeper, and the pace of reform was just too slow. And so Secretary Salazar and I are bringing in new leadership at the agency Michael Bromwich, who was a tough federal prosecutor and Inspector General. And his charge over the next few months is to build an organization that acts as the oil industry’s watchdog not its partner. So one of the lessons we’ve learned from this spill is that we need better regulations, better safety standards, and better enforcement when it comes to offshore drilling. But a larger lesson is that no matter how much we improve our regulation of the industry, drilling for oil these days entails greater risk. After all, oil is a finite resource. We consume more than 20 percent of the world’s oil, but have less than 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves. And that’s part of the reason oil companies are drilling a mile beneath the surface of the ocean because we’re running out of places to drill on land and in shallow water. For decades, we have known the days of cheap and easily accessible oil were numbered. For decades, we’ve talked and talked about the need to end America’s century-long addiction to fossil fuels. And for decades, we have failed to act with the sense of urgency that this challenge requires. Time and again, the path forward has been blocked not only by oil industry lobbyists, but also by a lack of political courage and candor. The consequences of our inaction are now in plain sight. Countries like China are investing in clean energy jobs and industries that should be right here in America. Each day, we send nearly $1 billion of our wealth to foreign countries for their oil. And today, as we look to the Gulf, we see an entire way of life being threatened by a menacing cloud of black crude. We cannot consign our children to this future. The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now. Now is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash America’s innovation and seize control of our own destiny. This is not some distant vision for America. The transition away from fossil fuels is going to take some time, but over the last year and a half, we’ve already taken unprecedented action to jumpstart the clean energy industry. As we speak, old factories are reopening to produce wind turbines, people are going back to work installing energy-efficient windows, and small businesses are making solar panels. Consumers are buying more efficient cars and trucks, and families are making their homes more energy-efficient. Scientists and researchers are discovering clean energy technologies that someday will lead to entire new industries. Each of us has a part to play in a new future that will benefit all of us. As we recover from this recession, the transition to clean energy has the potential to grow our economy and create millions of jobs but only if we accelerate that transition. Only if we seize the moment. And only if we rally together and act as one nation workers and entrepreneurs; scientists and citizens; the public and private sectors. When I was a candidate for this office, I laid out a set of principles that would move our country towards energy independence. Last year, the House of Representatives acted on these principles by passing a strong and comprehensive energy and climate bill a bill that finally makes clean energy the profitable kind of energy for America’s businesses. Now, there are costs associated with this transition. And there are some who believe that we can’t afford those costs right now. I say we can’t afford not to change how we produce and use energy because the long-term costs to our economy, our national security, and our environment are far greater. So I’m happy to look at other ideas and approaches from either party as long they seriously tackle our addiction to fossil fuels. Some have suggested raising efficiency standards in our buildings like we did in our cars and trucks. Some believe we should set standards to ensure that more of our electricity comes from wind and solar power. Others wonder why the energy industry only spends a fraction of what the high-tech industry does on research and development and want to rapidly boost our investments in such research and development. All of these approaches have merit, and deserve a fair hearing in the months ahead. But the one approach I will not accept is inaction. The one answer I will not settle for is the idea that this challenge is somehow too big and too difficult to meet. You know, the same thing was said about our ability to produce enough planes and tanks in World War II. The same thing was said about our ability to harness the science and technology to land a man safely on the surface of the moon. And yet, time and again, we have refused to settle for the paltry limits of conventional wisdom. Instead, what has defined us as a nation since our founding is the capacity to shape our destiny our determination to fight for the America we want for our children. Even if we’re unsure exactly what that looks like. Even if we don’t yet know precisely how we’re going to get there. We know we’ll get there. It’s a faith in the future that sustains us as a people. It is that same faith that sustains our neighbors in the Gulf right now. Each year, at the beginning of shrimping season, the region’s fishermen take part in a tradition that was brought to America long ago by fishing immigrants from Europe. It’s called â€Å"The Blessing of the Fleet,† and today it’s a celebration where clergy from different religions gather to say a prayer for the safety and success of the men and women who will soon head out to sea some for weeks at a time. The ceremony goes on in good times and in bad. It took place after Katrina, and it took place a few weeks ago at the beginning of the most difficult season these fishermen have ever faced. And still, they came and they prayed. For as a priest and former fisherman once said of the tradition, â€Å"The blessing is not that God has promised to remove all obstacles and dangers. The blessing is that He is with us always,† a blessing that’s granted â€Å"even in the midst of the storm.† The oil spill is not the last crisis America will face. This nation has known hard times before and we will surely know them again. What sees us through what has always seen us through is our strength, our resilience, and our unyielding faith that something better awaits us if we summon the courage to reach for it. Tonight, we pray for that courage. We pray for the people of the Gulf. And we pray that a hand may guide us through the storm towards a brighter day. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America. Source: WhiteHouse.gov

Building the Boeing 787 Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Building the Boeing 787 Case Study - Essay Example It manufactures commercial aeroplanes, military jets, space shuttles and rockets. It has over the years produced a series of planes among them the latest project; the Boeing 787. This project was referred to as the 7E7 before being renamed the 787 in 2005. The plane has a similar size to the 767 with the overriding advantage over the former being its fuel consumption which is at 20% less. In addition to fuel efficiency, the 787 is credited with features like smooth nose shape, noise reducing chevrons and a four-panel windshield which are streamlined to reduce air resistance when airborne (Turner, 2010). This 787 project has not gone smoothly without operational hiccups; when the engineers came up with the first design, the plane said to have been overweight to the tune of 2,300kgs above the specified weight. This was however not all; there were 7 delays in the project process among them being an in flight fire on the Rolls Royce engine during testing. That not enough, just in the mon th of January 2012, the company reported numerous problems on some 787 fuselages. The effort and capital that was employed to come up with this latest machine is outrageous. Once the airline companies and other clients found the products offered by this company faulty, they claimed compensation which resulted in a dip in Boeing’s margins. Boeing’s corporate profile In terms of turnover, the company is among the largest in designing, assembly, selling and after-sales maintenance of aircrafts and other defence equipment. There are other companies within the European Union for instance the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) and French owned Dassault, who collectively share this global aircraft manufacturing business with Boeing. It is placed third, according to the latest estimations, in supply of defence systems and aerospace equipment with the biggest client being the American government. America continues to have interest in the management of the comp any because of the place it occupies in being part of its future ambitions in space exploration and general protection of the citizenry. The company, listed in the Dow Jones bourse, is America’s sixth largest exporter by product value. Good share prices at the listing helps it get more operational capital to finance its expansion strategies which is vital in an increasingly competitive market with new entrants like Embraer from Brazil. To add insult to injury, the year 2001 bombing of Twin Towers in New York dented the company’s revenue streams as the markets were down because of weak American economy. Such terrorist activities and general insecurity causes a fall in the number of airline passengers and increases fuel prices which are the two main problems associated with airline industry. Boeing global business model focuses on mass production of these plane components and defence equipment. It has a strong and well funded research and development department that look s into new technologies to tackle global communication problems. Its vitality as a producer of these important gadgets to the American government makes it look like a partner to the administration which funds some of its processes. In 2007, it partnered with NASA which is fully funded by the government to produce special parts of the Space Shuttle. By the year 2008, it topped the list of companies with the highest value

Marketing Plan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words - 1

Marketing Plan - Research Paper Example new look of the MS Office programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint provided with efficient features making the working process more comfortable, easy and safe; as well as enhancing already existing means of communication and information exchange. Microsoft Corporation main mission is based on idea of sustaining its position as World’s number one technology company which is engaged into creation, development, licensing and manufacturing software products and operating systems, search engines as well as conquering video game industry (Microsoft, 2015). Microsoft audience is as diversified as the product portfolio and it involved young adults of 16-30 years as targeted users Xbox consoles and operating systems for everyday and educational purposes as well as business segment using software in professional sphere where collecting, storing and presentation of information are essential processes and can be seen on firms and corporations different in size. Nowadays the competition within industry is severe as the company is diversified and it meets rough competition in several key areas such as search engine and smart phones from giants such as Google, Apple and Oracle. Microsoft market consists of products, consumers and business users. The main feature of this very aspect is implied in diversification of product portfolio which is aimed at reaching the audience through erasing the boundaries of age, profession, social status (Microsoft, 2015). Operation systems are designed to be applied on computers and other devices as means of data storing or day-to-day operations including education, entertainment, health care, programs such as Skype can be used by professionals and consumers. Corporate (business market) – people engaged in large businesses, firms and corporation feel the need in sufficient software in order to work with information on different levels, bringing convenience into the process of collecting, storing and presentation of information as well

Research Proposal (Ideology) Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Research Proposal (Ideology) - Thesis Example Global media flows should be correlated with the modern global options of information transmittance and ability of different nations to be equal users of different types of information (Brabazon; Croteau, Hoynes, 2003). Further on this proposal will be focused on different types of media flows and the means of information regulation across boundaries. Moreover, the main emphasis will be made on the necessity to preserve local uniqueness and originality of information thus preserving national dignity and value (Hall, 2007). Very often small countries or local communities are unable to preserve their uniqueness and it is important to redirect that global inconsistent information flow from citizens enslavement to their independent performance at the global arena. A spirit of anti-globalization movement is on the way of its development and the modern society is very often scared off by the inconsistent trends in the field of globalization and is open for development of challenging decisi ons in this field. This article deals with economic globalization definition. It is claimed that the processes of globalization are less developed than it is often found out in the economical studies. This dual basis of globalization definition on the basis of different studies in economy signifies that technology and industrialization are two key decisive factors influencing the processes of globalization. The author of the article makes an emphasis on subjection of smaller states to the influence of globalization. Therefore, the main attention of the readers is referred to inability of globalization to unite the nations, but is rather focused on their separateness. Machida, Satoshi. â€Å"Globalization and citizens’ support for global capitalism: Multi-level analyses from the world-system perspective,† Journal of Developing Societies, Vol. 27, No.2, 2011, pp. 119 – 151 This article is focused on considerations about the unequal structure of the

Introduction to Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Introduction to Law - Essay Example Should any element be absent, their effects vary, and the contract would be rendered either void, voidable or unenforceable, depending on the element missing. Legislation includes the statutes and Acts of Parliament, which are laws that pass through the legislative process of both Houses in order to become law. Some significant statutes passed include the Education (Student Loans) Act of 1998, the Education (Schools) Act of 1997, the Protection from Harassment Act of 1997, the School Inspections Act of 1996, and the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995, among others. This is the law made by judges. Although judges are not allowed to legislate, it is through hearing cases and rendering judgments before the courts that cases become a source of law. The basic concept of this is through the doctrine of stare decisis, which translates, "stand by what has previously been decided." Through stare decisis, a statement of law made by a judge in a case can become binding on subsequent cases and can become the law, by setting precedents for judges in later cases to follow when they find that the ruling of a case held earlier applies to a current case that has similar facts and legal issues. This source is acquired through the UK's participation in the European Union. As an organisation of European States, it has a developed system of internal law directly affects laws of member states. Examples of European Community law are treaties, EU institution's regulations, directives, decisions and recommendations, legal decisions of the European Court of Justice, etc. Legislative Process Before it proceeds to become an Act of Parliament, a bill passes through many stages outlined below: First reading - formal presentation of the bill Second reading - start of debates on principles of the

Benefits and Cons of Home Schooling Research Paper

Benefits and Cons of Home Schooling - Research Paper Example These tend to find it very difficult to cope in a working environment, and some even have problems getting employment because they do not have the necessary skills to do the jobs which they aspire to. To combat this, many parents are finding it worthwhile to teach their children themselves, and this has made home schooling very popular with a growth rate of ten to fifteen percent every year. Statistics show that home schooled children tend to do better than those in public schools, but despite this there have also been arguments against it with some saying that education is not all about getting good grades but also about learning social skills, which, as many feel, these children do not have (Wolfe). In this paper, we shall discuss the pros and cons of home schooling, and at the end of it we shall determine whether it is the best way of educating children. One of the benefits of home schooling is the fact that the students are able to study whatever topics or subjects they want and for as long as they want while also covering what can be considered to be basic knowledge (Ryan). This helps a lot when determining their areas of interest and what field they would like to specialize in as the focus of their further education. Since this is determined early, home schooled students tend to work towards their life goals at an earlier age, and it is a common thing for them to be done with their education much earlier than their colleagues in public schools are. Not only are they able to comprehend better what they are taught, but the idea that they are being allowed to do the subject that they want to do acts as a motivator for them to work even harder. The basic education of a home schooled student can be completed between the ages of six and ten according to their ability. This ensures that they have all the time they need to concentrate on their subjects of interest until are well versed in them or when they are ready to do other subjects that have caught their int erest. Educational freedom gives the student enough time not only to study what they wish at a specific time but also helps in their mental and academic development as there is no pressure to do those subjects they do not want to do in a hurry. Home schooling allows for the physical freedom not only of the students involved but also of their parents as well because their lives no longer revolve around school hours but are determined by the amount of school work which has been set for the students for a particular day. After being withdrawn from the public school system, it is a very normal situation for students to suffer from shock, but after the initial shock is gone, subsequently these students experience a new sense of freedom, which they never experienced while they were in the school system. They not only get to have more free time on their hands because home schooling is not as rigorous as the public schooling, but they also get to spend more time with their families, which i s a very aspect. This helps to promote better understanding between the parents and their children and is an advantage over many students in the public school system. Those in the school system tend to have less freedom of movement because they have to work for long hours every day, and when they come home, they always have homework to do,

Consumer Behavior and the Demand Curve Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Consumer Behavior and the Demand Curve - Essay Example This essay projects on the consumer behavior towards these electronic vehicles over the coming years and how it shall cause movements along the demand curve as well as shifts on the demand curve. The movement along the demand curve will be caused by changes in prices of the electric vehicles, either increase or decrease in the prices. The shifts will be caused by preferences of the consumer to buy the vehicles irrespective of the increases and decreases in the vehicles prices, consumers believe that the vehicles will help reduce environmental pollution and the prices of other related vehicles whereby if other vehicles prices increase considerably, then consumers will settle for electric vehicles. The demand curve will shift upwards since consumers are optimistic that the electronic vehicles will serve their purpose and hence prefer to buy them. In addition, the vehicles batteries are expected to be improved making them to last longer than they do at the moment and hence attract more consumers causing the demand curve to shift upwards. For now, people who buy electric vehicles, as Levine puts it, always want to be seen to have class and style. They therefore are highly educated people, successful businesspersons, and those who earn highly in their areas of specialization. These people are few as compared to average people who earn too little to think of buying electric vehicles. There are those who would want to buy the electronic vehicles simply on the grounds that they promote green environment only to find that electronic vehicles costs is beyond their means. Many a consumer is always excited about the electronic vehicles when they hear about them for the first time, but when they are told of price, their interest in those vehicles decreases. Majority of consumers are also concerned with the appearance of the vehicle, their performance and how reliable they are. Given these costs, sales for most electronic vehicles have remained low. For instance, Nissan Volt has recorded very dismal sales performances due to prices the company has attached to them. Terlep acknowledges that Electronic vehicles have elicited a lot of excitement among the consumers who think that electronic vehicles will be the norm of the day. However, according to analysts, this may not come into fruition any time sooner as it is only estimated that electronic vehicles will amount to 7.3% of all the vehicles sales by around 2020. Currently, there are only 2.2 percent of electronic vehicles in circulation. Projections indicated that fully electric cars will be about 10 percent of all the vehicles by 2020. Recent estimates show that electric and hybrid vehicles are 5.2 million as compared to 70.9 million sales that had been predicted earlier. Consumer choice It is a microeconomics theory that shows the preferences that make people consume goods and services to certain expenditure and this is what eventually leads to consumer demand curves. Ingram explains that the theory analyses how consumers are likely to attain equilibrium given their preferences and the level of expenditure they are in so that they can maximize utility under the budget constraints they could be in. Preferences are what the consumers desire to have with their level of income and hence make choices depending on the income allocated for goods and services.

The Perception of Power Essay Example for Free

The Perception of Power Essay The idea of power is at times quite confusing.   Pinpointing an exact human quality or possession and labelling it ‘power’ is impossible, and to understand this key element in social dynamics we must look more deeply into our own lives and the lives of those around us.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Power dynamics are fluid, changing, and dependent on the specific situation. Each person in a conflict has some degree of power, though one party may have more compared to the other, and the power can shift during a conflict† (Barrosse, 2007, p. 104). According to Interpersonal Conflict power is a factor in every human relationship, and it plays a role in all that we do. Every situation is made of people, and each of those people has a certain amount of power – the amounts and the dynamics between the people will inevitably play out in either a show of conflict or of conformity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Barrosse also describes power as a kind of currency which can be traded around, used to achieve goals and also rendered useless in ‘foreign’ situations. â€Å"Just as money depends on the context in which it is to be spent, your power currencies depend on how much your particular resources are valued by the other persons in a relationship context† (Barrosse, 2007, p.106). Therefore, power is not solely inherit in an individual, but actually has only a relative existence. While most of us tend to perceive power as a trait that comes out of a person’s own character, it really only exists if that person is in a social group that understands and accepts that individual’s apparent power.   If taken away from his or her usual social group, a normally powerful person can be left with no influence and suffer a complete power loss. Essentially, one does not wield power outside of normal social context.   â€Å"Power depends on having currencies that other peopled need† (Barrosse, 2007, 106).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     The reason for this is simple; if you continue to think of power in terms of currency as Barrosse suggests (2007, p.106), and social groups as different countries, then you can see how powerful people experience difficulties when functioning outside their normal realm of social relationships.   What one group of people might value very highly in a person (thus giving them power) may not carry over to another group. For example, a powerful person in one group may be that way because he or she cooks very good Thai food for friends.   If that person were to associate with a new group of people who are not interested in dinner parties, or who eat only fast food, then that key to power is lost.   It’s all about key â€Å"resource control† (Barrosse, 2007, 107).   Power is all completely relative to the social group within which one lives his or her life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Conflict arises during a power shift.   When one or more people in a group decide to change their relative ranking, trouble can follow.   Barrosse says the key to conflict resolution lies in understanding that â€Å"each person firmly believes that the other person has more power† (2007, p.110). For people within a power struggle, it can be difficult to accept the fact that no one person might be right or wrong; the conflict is simply about the need for perceived power.   So how do we avoid conflict based on this simple, unavoidable power struggle?   â€Å"Because each person in the conflict believes that he or she is in the low-power position, the conflict escalates† (Barrosse, 2007, p.110).   So the key to eluding conflict is â€Å"clarifying the currencies available to you and to other parties† (Barrosse, 2007, p.9).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The perception of power is much more straightforward than we usually realise.   At the root, power is solely based on social dynamics – whichever people have the most to offer their peers (opportunities, belonging, success) will be the most powerful in a group. Reference: Barrosse, E. (Ed). (2007). Interpersonal Conflict. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies.

Visitng Atlanta Capital of the New South

Visitng Atlanta Capital of the New South Atlanta Capital of the New South Hello Atlanta is the frontline of the New South, with the appeal and classiness of the old days. Home to over 5 million people in the world, it is a city that balances southern heritage with lustrous modernism. There are a lot of peach trees here and the tea is sweetened. This is one of the few cities which can claim to have three skylines and is home to the busiest airport in the world. This city has been destroyed and built up again; the terrors of war and agony of floods and droughts have all been seen by this city. Rebirth and survival, flows within the veins of Atlanta. Host to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, Atlanta, also is the birthplace of the greatest character in the civil rights movement. Capital city to the state of Georgia, Atlanta has become the persistent leader among American cities. Best Season to visit Atlanta May to August is the best time to visit Atlanta, when you can enjoy outdoor activities and concerts alike. You might also like the days of the spring and fall, if you want to avoid the warm summers. Winter trips are recommended if you want to save some money, as the hotel rates go down and the chilly weather keeps visitors away. Highlights (Special Things to Do in Atlanta) Let your imagination run wild with building blocks at the LEGOLANDÂ ® Discovery Center, located at the Phipps Plaza, Buckhead. Having one of the largest boxes of LEGOÂ ® bricks, kids will love spending the day here. Watch a Broadway play at the Alliance Theatre. This Tony Award Winner, provides a lovely platform for classical plays, musicals and dramas which are presented here much before they are made available at the Big Apple. Scream your lungs out as you take on the Goliath or the Scream Machine, both are gargantuan rides at Six Flags amusement park. At Emorys Michael C. Carlos Museum you can get close with mummies, of the ancient world. With permanent collections from all over the world and popular travelling exhibits on display, the history fanatic in you will be fascinated by everything from Egyptian mummies to Greek relics! Dance or watch a game at the Philips Arena, home to NBA and WNBA teams, the Atlanta Hawks and Dream, the arena rocks all through the year with the world’s best concerts when the games are not on. Take in the view at the Sun Dial Bar View, the only 360 degree rotating restaurant located 72 stories above the Peachtree Street. You can see everything from Georgia Tech to the Stone Mountain and of course, everything in between! Pay homage to the souls of great Atlantans at the Oakland Cemetery. The oldest cemetery here, is the final abode of over 70,000 souls, each accompanied by a fascinating tale to tell. Carry extra bags for all shopping you would end up doing at the Atlantic Station! Whether you are looking for a major retailer or a quirky local boutique, this is the place to be. Get a glimpse of the restored rooms of the Margaret Mitchell House, where the Gone With the Wind was written. You would even find the writer’s desk and original fixtures. Submerge yourself in surround sound, with the Grammy-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and its cast of musicians are here to pamper you to a performance like you would have never seen. Get personal with dinosaurs at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Travel back in time among the Giants of the Mesozoic, some of them are over 120 feet in length! Open the doors of the Oval Office, at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library Museum, you’ll find a replica of the Oval Office along with gifts that were given to him during his time in Whitehouse. Grab a bottle of wine, along with a picnic basket and hit Chastain Park Amphitheatre for a night you will never forget. Gigs at Chastain Park Amphitheatre offer a whole range of options for everyone, from blues and soul to rock and roll. Check out the Twin baby pandas! Mei Lun and Mei Huan, are the most sought after at the Atlanta Zoo. Wander around Piedmont Park, home to the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Lake Clara Meer. Whether you bring your pet for playtime or just a book to read on the grass, the Piedmont Park is a place which gives u lot of options. Hike through the treetops on Sky Hike or backpack to the top of the mountain for beautiful skyline vantage points. Click the world famous graffiti at the Krog Street Tunnel, is a favourite haunt for photographers and graffiti fans alike. Snorkel or SCUBA among the great whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium. Hotspots of Atlanta You can check out these places if you are looking for the Atlanta tourist attractions: NE, Atlanta Fox Theatre: Returned back to its original golden look of the 1920s, the theatre features the Mighty Mo, a classic Moller organ, comprising of over 3,600 pipes. Currently hosting Broadway musicals and comedy shows this extravagant theatre also caters to dance companies. Atlanta Botanical Garden: Come into the magical serene world of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, where attractions like the Fuqua Orchid Center take the visitors through rare collections of beautiful orchids never found in nature in this region. Piedmont Park: Home to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, this 185-acre park is popular with joggers and summer festivals are also held here. High Museum of Art: High Museum was the first museum to ever showcase art lent from Paris Louvre and is a lovely place to admire its architecture as well as its exhibits. Ebenezer Baptist Church: The campaign ground for King Jr. and his fore-fathers, all of whom were pastors here. This also is infamous for being the place where his mother was killed back in 1974. Downtown Georgia Aquarium: The sheer beauty of the worlds largest aquarium is hard to deny: beluga whales and whale sharks, theatre shows, where actors/trainers and intelligent bottlenose dolphins perform in tandem is a spectacle not to be missed. World of Coca-Cola: This museum would prove enjoyable to fans of the fizzy drink. The climax of the tour comes with guests sampling Coke products from all over the world. There is also Andy Warhol pieces to see, a 4-D film to watch, company history milestones, and what would look like over 20 billion promotional items. The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: This second oldest building in Atlanta was designed by William H. Parkins, a local architect. Built in 1873 and still in use and has survived the devastating fire that gutted the city in 1864. Buckhead Atlanta History Center: Located on 33 acres in the centre of Buckhead, it is the perfect gateway to Georgia’s past, taking you through award-winning exhibits; Centennial Olympic Games Museum; historic households, including 1928 Swan House and 1860s Smith Family Farm; 22 acres of beautiful gardens and trails; and the Kenan Research Center. Grant Park Oakland Cemetery: Step back in time in at the Oakland Cemetery. This heritage park is the final abode for many Civil War soldiers, the golfing exponent Bobby Jones, and the author of Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell. Poncey – Highland Jimmy Carter Library Museum: The Carter Presidential Library and Museum is an out of this world museum tracking the life and works of President Jimmy Carter, from the time he was a kid in the Plains to the work Mrs. Carter and he do all over the world to promote peace and health. Sitting on a hilltop, it exhibits highlights of Jimmy Carters life during the 1977–81 presidency; The Oval Office replica is a must see. Carters Nobel Prize is also displayed here. And the serene Japanese garden in the back is not to be missed either. Old Fourth Ward Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site: A key attraction, the park draws over 500,000 visitors annually. Explore the house where the leader of the America Civil Rights movement was born, the church where he preached and the memorial site where he is buried. Shopping in Atlanta Atlanta shopping is spread-out all over the city, from antique and outlet centres to boutiques and art galleries. Head to Buckhead for the luxury shopping, you will find all major brands at the Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square Mall. Come across the most happening boutiques in the shopping districts around Virginia Highland and Midtown; for funky vintage items head to Little Five Points. Westside is the place to go to for home goods. Decatur Square – Considered one of the most pedestrian friendly locales, you can randomly walk around the wide spread of shops here. If you need rest between your jaunts, sip a coffee or grab a beer or a cocktail. This place is so versatile that you might as well pick up a book and soak in the sun. Atlantic Station – You might need to carry an extra suitcase for all of the things you would end up picking up here. This spread-out outdoor shopping haven is a place for some serious retail therapy. American Girl Boutique and Bistro – The ultimate daughter’s day out. A doll-shopping heaven, you could find the perfect doll, pick a matching outfit, have a tea party and even let your doll enjoy a day at the salon! Sweet Auburn Curb Market – For local farm produce or meats, also exclusive eateries serving you soul food and gourmet hot dogs or just the good old ice cream, look no more than this farmer’s market with a urban twist. Little Five Points – A place where you can pull off those skinny jeans and flannel shirt, head here for bar hopping and vibrant live performances. Vintage boutique shopping is a must here. How to reach Atlanta By Plane: The Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, is located about 8 miles south of the city. The worlds busiest airport, its efficient layout makes it easy to navigate and keeps delays to a minimum. All major cities across all continents are connected from here. By Train: Served by the Amtrak, the Crescent train runs daily and serves most major cities on the eastern belt. Located at 1688 Peachtree St. N.W., The Atlanta Amtrak Station is to the north of city. By Bus: Greyhound Bus Lines provides bus service to Atlanta from many locations throughout the country. The Greyhound terminal at 232 Forsyth Street, located directly below MARTAs Garnett Station. Other bus services such as megabus.com and Bus Bank offer charters buses and can help plan a tour for you or your group. By Car: The Interstate Highway System links Atlanta to the rest of the country. So driving down to the city is a very feasible option. The main interstate highways crossing Atlanta are I-75 (Detroit to Florida), I-85 (Mid-Atlantic to New Orleans) and I-20 (Texas to South Carolina). How to get around in Atlanta By Foot: Touring the city by foot is one of the best ways to see Atlanta. Most neighbourhoods are easy to walk around, with bars, restaurants, and shops being in close vicinity. In particular, walking times would not exceed 10–20 minutes, however buses and trains are recommended for longer jaunts. By Transit: MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) operates both rapid rail and bus networks in the city of Atlanta and the neighbouring counties, Fulton and Dekalb. Comprising of four lines: Red, Gold, Blue, and Green; where the Red and Gold lines run north-south, while the Blue and Green lines run east-west, meeting at the Five Points Station. With over one hundred different bus routes, Bus service runs from 5AM until 1:30AM Monday-Friday and on the weekends or holidays they run all day. By Taxi: Booking taxis is recommended, however it is possible to flag taxicabs down near tourist locations and watering holes in Downtown and Midtown. 24-Hour Taxicab Services: Checker Cab Atlanta Royal Cabbies Fixed rates are available for Airport runs, insist on it even if the cabbie denies knowledge of the same. By Car: All major car rental service is available around Atlanta. Cars are considered the most efficient way to move around the city in case you have to visit a lot of places. However do look out for peak hour traffic. Top areas in Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport If you are a business traveller and prefer to be located close to the busiest airport in the world, then the area around the Hartsfield-Jackson has a lot of hotel options to spend a night or more. You can find midrange to budget hotels to suit your needs. Midtown – The second largest business district in Atlanta, situated between Downtown and Buckhead, Attracts over six million visitors every year. Marked for its cultural attractions, institutions of higher education, Midtown is also noteworthy for its architecture, and urban layout. Atlanta Hotels in Midtown are mostly high-end. Pine Hills – Located to the east of Buckhead, the region is abundant of plant life. Its tall trees, such as the pine, oak and maple are home to a wide variety of animals such as chipmunks, squirrels and a variety of birds. Quite a few mid-range hotels can be found here. Sandy Springs – Even though Sandy Springs is a separate area it extends into the city limits. Most of this region is affluent and is very scenic, with mansions on single-lane roads. You can find cheap Atlanta accommodation deals in this location. Buckhead – Known for its nightlife, Buckhead Village has transferred into Buckhead Atlanta, with plenty of shopping options with Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square near here. Buckhead even has its own skyline of high-rise apartments/condominiums and office buildings. You will also find hotels across the range in this area.

The Power of Love in Moulin Rouge and To Dance With the White Dog Essay

The Power of Love in Moulin Rouge and To Dance With the White Dog      Ã‚  Ã‚   The power of love is exposed in the films Moulin Rouge and To Dance With the White Dog. In each movie, each individual must overcome obstacles within themselves in order to overcome the obstacles in their relationships. Although the love shared by each couple is different, both cases of love are real and run deeply. Satine and Sam Peek each handle their romantic relationships differently according to their situations.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The film, Moulin Rouge, takes place during the Bohemian period in which things such as truth, beauty, and love are key elements to live by.   Christian, A young writer falls deeply in love with Satine, the star dancer of the Moulin Rouge. They are forced to keep their love for each other a secret because a Duke wants Satine for himself and has become the funder for Christian's play. The Duke also promises Satine a chance to become a real actress. When Christian and Satine's relationship is found out by the Duke, their lives become endangered and though they were able to be together in the end, as was foretold throughout the movie, Satine dies, leaving Christian with a disillusioned view of love.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To Dance with the White Dog is a movie about love as well. An elderly widower, Sam Peek, is forced to deal with the sudden death of his wife after over fifty years of marriage. Throughout the movie his recollections of happy times spent with her are shown to the audience. Peek's children and his own illnesses cause him to suffer through the entire ordeal of dealing with losing his spouse and true love. One day, a very white dog appears at Peek's doorstep and from that point on that dog seems to ... ...for so long that having someone try to take her place was simply inconceivable. Maybe the backgrounds of Sam versus the background of Satine made the way they chose what they did in their lives so different. Possibly, the fact that To Dance With the White Dog was actually an account of a true event made a difference when comparing to the fictitious story, Moulin Rouge. Whatever the reason, each individual proved that true love can overcome all obstacles with the exception of death. And even that will not limit the longevity of love. Sam Peek and Satine each showed their undying love for their mate in different ways but managed to get the message across to them just the same.    Works Cited    Moulin Rouge. Dir. Baz Luhmann. Twentieth Century Fox. 2001.    To Dance With the White Dog. Dir. Glenn Jordan. Hallmark Hall of Fame. 1993.   

Essay --

Roosevelt Roosevelt came into the Democratic convention in Chicago as the front runner. His main opposition was Alfred Smith. Roosevelt secured the nomination on the third ballot. Roosevelt ignored tradition by coming to Chicago to personally accept the nomination. The campaign took place against the background of great depression. Roosevelt campaigned vigorously to prove that despite his disability he could vigorously undertake the job of President. Hoover tried to depict Roosevelt as an extremist who would bring ruin to the country, but with 1/4 of work force unemployed, Roosevelt won an overwhelming victory. President Hoover carried several serious handicaps into the 1932 presidential elections. He was an incumbent presiding over the worst economic collapse in the nation's history. His political philosophy, while progressive, depended on voluntary actions to achieve his goals, and this voluntary approach failed to materialize during the trauma of the Depression. As a public pers onality, he was somewhat dour and he was uncomfortable with the business of campaigning. His notion of the role of the President was that of a facilitator who brought the parties together, encouraged partnerships, and supplied the expertise of the engineer to the social problems of a nation. The idea of the President as a powerful and inspirational leader (an idea that Franklin Roosevelt would come to embody) was foreign to him. Put it all together and a surer prescription for defeat could hardly have been assembled. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, by contrast, was everything Hoover was not. Roosevelt was ebullient and self-confident. He radiated charm and an almost haughty self-assurance. He was supremely optimistic and his big smile and obvious relish of ... ...ind a place in the curriculum of the 3R’s. Although Garvey can be viewed as a reactionary and was belittled by Dubois, the two of them are revolutionary in that they did create change in the black society’s movement to gain more acceptance. The decade of the 1920’s is certainly a challenging one with many mixtures of culture and the social revolution and reaction; and since the economic and former progressive drives were being turned away from the needed political and economic reform, while the technological revolution was creating a new conspicuous consumption. The decade left America stunned and unable to make a comeback throughout the decade of the 1930’s. References http://www.multied.com/elections/1932.html http://www.ssa.gov/history/32election.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/nf/teach/fdr/fdrfc.html http://www.chatham.edu/PTI/Twenties/Frank_01.htm

Free Catcher in the Rye Essays: Keeping It Real :: Catcher Rye Essays

Keeping It Real in The Catcher in the Rye The Catcher in the Rye is a story about a kid named Holden Caulfield who experiences some interesting things and people. From having breakfast with a couple of nuns, to being with a prostitute, to getting kicked out of school, Holden handles each situation the best way he can. Some of the people Holden meets, he likes, but the type of people Holden cannot stand are the ‘phonies.’ Holden had met a lot of phonies in his lifetime. Holden lived in a dorm that was named after a phony, he heard a phony playing a piano, and he met his date’s phony friend. Holden went to a boarding school called Pencey Prep. There, Holden lived in the Ossenburger Memorial Wing. This hall was only for juniors and seniors. The dorms were named after a man named Ossenburger who also went to Pencey a long time ago. After Ossenburger got out of Pencey, he made a lot of money in the undertaking business and gave some of it to Pencey and that is why the new wing of the dorms are named after him. The morning after, Ossenburger gave a speech to the students of Pencey Prep regarding how he was never ashamed when he was in some kind of trouble. He stated that if so, he would get right down on his knees and pray to God. Ossenburger kept on rambling about how one should always pray to God and to talk to God wherever they were. Ossenburger said to think of him as your buddy. Holden was amused by his speech, and he could â€Å"just see the big phony bastard... asking Jesus to send him a few more stiffs.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Holder next went to a nightclub called Ernie’s for a few drinks. Even though it was so late, the club was packed. Ernie, the piano player, was playing some tune that Holden could not recognize. Ernie was putting in many high notes, showing off with ripples in the high notes, and doing a lot of other tricky things that Holden thought were dumb. However, the crowd was going crazy for Ernie, clapping and such. â€Å"Old Ernie turned around on his stool and gave this very phony, humble bow.† Though Holden thought Ernie’s snobbish attitude was so phony , he felt kind of sorry for Ernie.

Manzana Insurance

Operations Management ____________________________________________________________ _________________________ Case Study Manzana Insurance [pic] Presented to: Prof B. Mahadevan Submitted By Group 12 (Section B) Peeyush Razdan (0811115) Shalekh Banka (0811124) Shalem Anand Tirkey (0811125) Shreshth Sharma (0811128) Sumeet Mittal (0811131) Manzana Insurance As per the case facts, Manzana Insurance’s Fruitvale branch is the least performing branch and the senior VP seeks a report on the same. Their competitor Golden Gate (backed by its corporate parent generated a price war to gain market) is performing much better in terms of most metrics of Insurance business. 1) Problems faced by Manzana Insurance (Fruitvale branch) a) High Turn Around Time (TAT) Agents in the insurance sector are mediators who act as an interface between the client and the insurer. Hence, the quality of service, measured by average TAT, to the agents (who are common to the competitors) is of primary importance. TAT for Fruitvale has deteriorated to 6 days (1991) from 5 days (1990), while Golden Gate’s offer of 1 day TAT is luring agents away from Manzana. The number of late renewals is also increasing and quite high compared to Golden Gate. b) Geographic/Territorial Allocation to Underwriting Teams Leads to an Uneven Task Distribution We observe that the geographic allocation of agents to the underwriting teams is not optimal. This method has an inherent problem; there can be a surge in requests from a geography which might overload that particular team while the other teams might be idle due to lack of requests from their geography. Hence, their pooling should be rather than using the geographic allocation. c) Primary focus on RUNs rather than RERUNs and Increasing late Renewals Currently, Fruitvale is focusing on RUNs for getting new customers and compromising the service towards the RERUN requests for the existing customers. Loss of focus on RERUNs has led to increase in its TAT causing agents to move towards Golden Gate. The number of late Renewals has increased from 20% to 44% over the last year which has led to a significant increase in the Renewal loss rate from 33% to 47%. Renewal is a low premium – high volume business. Exhibit 5(in case) shows that a new policy and policy renewal give similar revenues of $6724 and $6205 respectively. The commission given to agents is 25% and 7% respectively. So in fact renewal of old insurance brings more revenue due to reduced commission percentage. Also, the time taken for renewal of policies is less, thus more renewals can be done in a given time. d) FCFS Scheduling may not be always optimum Most of the departments follow FCFS scheduling which may not be optimum. Ex. a policy with an effort of 4 hrs would delay all the other smaller policies behind it, effectively delaying 10 simple requests for serving one difficult one. Moreover, the scheduling policy followed across various departments is not same. While some strictly follow FCFS others do it on type of policy ex: RUN preferred over RERUNs. Also, The RAP is given preference over RERUNs by the rating team. The RAPs in fact take more time for processing than RERUNs. Also, only 15% of all quotes result in new policies. Thus, the Manzana Fruitvale branch seems to be servicing RAPs at the cost of RERUNs. e) Huge backlog of policies The existing backlog of policies is quite high, due to which any new policy received is not attended instantly (due to FCFS) further adding on to existing backlog, essentially creating a cascading effect. 2) Process Flow and Capacity Analysis We have used process flow, capacity analysis, Lead Time Analysis and Average daily Workload Analysis to analyze the current situation at Manzana’s Fruitvale Branch. ) Process Flow Exhibit 1 shows the process flow diagram with the existing capacity across the four major team Distribution clerks, Underwriter teams, Raters, Policy writers. b) Capacity Analysis Usage of Mean time for capacity analysis is ideally favored over 95% Standard Completion Time (SCT) parameter as 95% SCT is a highly conservative. It assumes every request to be of longer duration (95th percentile with respect to request duration) and does not take into acco unt the time saved while executing smaller requests. Mean on the other hand takes into account that fact that time consumed on longer jobs is compensated by the time saved on smaller jobs. Capacity analysis based on Mean Time (Exhibit 2) shows the bottleneck for RUNs is the Distribution step, for RAPs is underwriting, for RAINs is again Distribution and for RERUNs is policy writing. The same capacity analysis when done using 95% SCT (Exhibit 3) shows Underwriting step to be bottleneck for all the 4 types of policy requests. We observe that there is high standard deviation for most of the steps (especially Underwriting Step) and is comparable to mean value itself. Ex: For RERUNs Underwriting step mean is 18. 7min while the standard deviation is 19. 8min. Hence we are using 95% SCT for determining bottleneck step. And thus we consider Underwriting Stage as the bottleneck for the whole system. c) Lead (Service) Time Analysis Using Little’s Formula we have done Lead Time Analysis (Exhibit 4) which shows that on an average Lead Time is approximately 2 days (2. 10). As we have seen, throughput on the other hand is approximately 6 days which is much higher than the average Lead Time. This suggests that the longer throughput time is because of allocation problems described later. d) Average Daily Workload Analysis The argument of allocation problem is further strengthened by our Average Daily Workload Analysis (Exhibit 5). This analysis has been done taking into account the relative proportions of various types of requests on a daily basis. On the basis on mean processing time for all the steps it comes out that the average daily workload for each step is less than 7. 5 hrs (the stipulated working time). Inferences Above analysis shows that problem at Fruitvale branch is not due to capacity constraint but it is actually due to allocation issue. Predominantly, allocation problems are in underwriting step. Currently allocation is done on the basis of Geographical/territorial lines which lead to uneven workload over time as well as inefficient allocation leading to longer TPUT time. Exhibit 5 shows that RUNs on an average take 50% (Exhibit 6) more processing time than RERUNs hence territory1 which is heavily loaded with RUNs has a higher RERUN loss even though overall it is least loaded. This necessitates a better allocation scheme rather than FIFO. Shortest Job First Scheduling may be used to minimize TPUT but it may delay a high priority request (ex a RERUN close to expiry) and also requires a priori estimation of various time factors. Currently, the system follows FCFS though not strictly, since some departments prioritize based on type of request ex: Underwriting favors RUNs over RERUNs. We would suggest an improved priority scheduling over FIFO which would be determined based on the type of request, agent’s importance, client importance, expiry time etc. et across uniformly across the steps. 3) Recommendations a) Distribution of reports to teams based on priority rather than territorial As found in previous section the current workforce should suffice the existing requirements if there are no backlogs and even if there are, it should not take more than 2 days. The problem was identified in the allocation of the policy request based on territory. We recomm end a collective (instead of territorial) request processing system with more intelligence added to the distribution system, which were also identified as bottlenecks for RUN and RAIN. This distribution system would first prioritize the requests and then allocate them to the underwriting team on an optimal basis ensuring even distribution of total requests, individual requests RUN, RERUN etc. This would remove the existing anomaly of having an overloaded team and an idle team concurrently. They should also keep monitoring the progress of the process and remove blocking issues that may result in a further delay of other policies. To expedite this process, it can also be automated by the help of computers. These changes should substantially reduce the TAT and the delayed RERUNs. The priority should be decided based on the following factors instead of current system purely on the type of request 1) Type of request – RERUN, RUN, RAP, RAIN 2) Already waited time – request that have waited for a long time should be upgraded 3) Estimate of total time required 4) Agent’s priority 5) Client’s priority 6) Expiry Time (Incase of RERUNs) 7) Other factors determining the business value of the request Hence overall, this would reduce the intensity of bottlenecks at DC and UT. b) Increase focus on RERUNs RERUNs, which generate maximum revenue, should be given a higher priority based on their proximity to the expiry date. This ensures customer retention and gives sufficient time to agents for renewal. c) Reduce Backlogs Reduction in current backlogs to minimum will help Fruitvale achieve a day’s TAT as explained. This can be done by working overtime, getting temporary teams possibly from other branches, and increase number of working days temporarily. d) Use Mean instead of SCT We observe that SCT is not a correct approach to evaluate the process flow since the 95th percentile customer’s time considered as a benchmark to set up the system results in very conservative estimates. Initially, other statistical methods like mean + n times standard deviation etc. can be used to achieve desired level of service. Following that, a record including TAT for each request should be maintained so that it can be used for future reference and for reducing the noise in mean that we recommend to be used in future. Exhibits Exhibit 1: Process Flow Diagram Exhibit 2: Capacity Analysis based on Mean Processing time |Capacity |RUNs |RAPs |RAINs |RERUNs | |Distribution |26. 8 |36. 00 |41. 38 |64. 29 | |Underwriting |30. 96 |35. 53 |59. 73 |72. 19 | |Rating |47. 68 |55. 64 |54. 96 |47. 68 | |Policy Writing |31. 69 |NA |41. 67 |44. 91 | *darkened cells show the bottleneck Exhibit 3: Capacity Analysis based of 95% Standard Completion Time Capacity |RUNs |RAPs |RAINs |RERUNs | |Distribution |14. 05 |16. 70 |26. 43 |41. 67 | |Underwriting |12. 59 |15. 43 |27. 33 |21. 50 | |Rating |32. 06 |40. 59 |40. 27 |39. 05 | |Policy Writing |25. 20 |NA |31. 65 |33. 58 | *darkened cells show the bottleneck Exhibit 4: Lead (Service) Time Analysis using Little’s Formula |Requests in progress |82 | |Requests served per day (in steady state) |39 | |Lead /Service Time (Requests in progress/Requests served per day) |2. 1 | Exhibit 5: Average Daily Workload Analysis |Demand Analysis |Requests in 120 days (1991) |Demand per Day | |RUNs |624 |5. | |RAPs |1524 |12. 7 | |RAINs |451 |3. 758333 | |RERUNs |2081 |17. 34167 | |Total |4680 |39 | |Mean Processing Time |RUNS |RAPS |RAINS |RERUNS |Workers/Teams | |Â   |(5. 0) |(12. 70) |(3. 75) |(17. 34) |Total Time |hrs per day | |Distribution |356. 20 |635. 00 |163. 13 |485. 52 |1,639. 85 |6. 83 | |Underwriting |226. 72 |482. 60 |84. 75 |324. 26 |1,118. 33 |6. 21 | |Rating |392. 60 |821. 69 |245. 63 |1,309. 17 |2,769. 09 |5. 77 | |Policy Writing |369. 20 |N. A. |202. 50 |868. 73 |1,440. 43 |4. 0 | Exhibit 6: Uneven distribution due to territorial allocation |Policies |Total |% diff with avg |RUNs |% diff with avg |RERUNs |% diff with avg |Rene wal lost | |/Territory | |1315 | |208 | |693 | | |1 |1151 |14. 24% less |274 |31. 73% more |636 |8. 2% less |403 | |2 |1393 |5. 93% more |179 |13. 94% less |840 |21. % more |227 | |3 |1402 |6. 66% more |171 |17. 7% less |605 |14. 54% less |296 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Processing Time (using mean values) | |Distribution |Underwriting |Rating |Writing |Total |Baselined (w. r. t. minimum) |Baselined (w. r. t. RERUN) | |RUN |68. 5 |43. 6 |75. 5 |71 |258. 6 |169. 35 |150. 09 | |RAP |50 |38 |64. 7 |NA |152. 7 |100. 00 |88. 62 | |RAIN |43. 5 |22. 6 |65. 5 |54 |185. 6 |121. 55 |107. 72 | |RERUN |28 |18. 7 |75. 5 |50. 1 |172. 3 |112. 84 |100. 00 | | ———————– Distribution clerks Number : 4 Capacity: Runs 26. 27 (58. 63), Raps 36 (72. 28), Rains 41. 37(195. 65), Reruns 64. 28(290. 32) Underwriter teams Number: 3 Capacity: Runs 30. 96(12. 59), Raps 35. 52(15. 42), Rains 59. 73(27. 32), Reruns 72. 19(21. 49) New Requests, Renewal requests Request for underwriting Policy writers Number: 4 Capacity: Runs 31. 69(25. 19), Raps NA, Rains 41. 67(31. 64), Reruns 44. 91(33. 58) Raters Number: 4 Capacity: Runs 47. 68(32. 05), Raps 55. 64(40. 58), Rains 54. 96(40. 26), Reruns 47. 68(39. 04) Policy issuing request Rating request Manzana Insurance Operations Management ____________________________________________________________ _________________________ Case Study Manzana Insurance [pic] Presented to: Prof B. Mahadevan Submitted By Group 12 (Section B) Peeyush Razdan (0811115) Shalekh Banka (0811124) Shalem Anand Tirkey (0811125) Shreshth Sharma (0811128) Sumeet Mittal (0811131) Manzana Insurance As per the case facts, Manzana Insurance’s Fruitvale branch is the least performing branch and the senior VP seeks a report on the same. Their competitor Golden Gate (backed by its corporate parent generated a price war to gain market) is performing much better in terms of most metrics of Insurance business. 1) Problems faced by Manzana Insurance (Fruitvale branch) a) High Turn Around Time (TAT) Agents in the insurance sector are mediators who act as an interface between the client and the insurer. Hence, the quality of service, measured by average TAT, to the agents (who are common to the competitors) is of primary importance. TAT for Fruitvale has deteriorated to 6 days (1991) from 5 days (1990), while Golden Gate’s offer of 1 day TAT is luring agents away from Manzana. The number of late renewals is also increasing and quite high compared to Golden Gate. b) Geographic/Territorial Allocation to Underwriting Teams Leads to an Uneven Task Distribution We observe that the geographic allocation of agents to the underwriting teams is not optimal. This method has an inherent problem; there can be a surge in requests from a geography which might overload that particular team while the other teams might be idle due to lack of requests from their geography. Hence, their pooling should be rather than using the geographic allocation. c) Primary focus on RUNs rather than RERUNs and Increasing late Renewals Currently, Fruitvale is focusing on RUNs for getting new customers and compromising the service towards the RERUN requests for the existing customers. Loss of focus on RERUNs has led to increase in its TAT causing agents to move towards Golden Gate. The number of late Renewals has increased from 20% to 44% over the last year which has led to a significant increase in the Renewal loss rate from 33% to 47%. Renewal is a low premium – high volume business. Exhibit 5(in case) shows that a new policy and policy renewal give similar revenues of $6724 and $6205 respectively. The commission given to agents is 25% and 7% respectively. So in fact renewal of old insurance brings more revenue due to reduced commission percentage. Also, the time taken for renewal of policies is less, thus more renewals can be done in a given time. d) FCFS Scheduling may not be always optimum Most of the departments follow FCFS scheduling which may not be optimum. Ex. a policy with an effort of 4 hrs would delay all the other smaller policies behind it, effectively delaying 10 simple requests for serving one difficult one. Moreover, the scheduling policy followed across various departments is not same. While some strictly follow FCFS others do it on type of policy ex: RUN preferred over RERUNs. Also, The RAP is given preference over RERUNs by the rating team. The RAPs in fact take more time for processing than RERUNs. Also, only 15% of all quotes result in new policies. Thus, the Manzana Fruitvale branch seems to be servicing RAPs at the cost of RERUNs. e) Huge backlog of policies The existing backlog of policies is quite high, due to which any new policy received is not attended instantly (due to FCFS) further adding on to existing backlog, essentially creating a cascading effect. 2) Process Flow and Capacity Analysis We have used process flow, capacity analysis, Lead Time Analysis and Average daily Workload Analysis to analyze the current situation at Manzana’s Fruitvale Branch. ) Process Flow Exhibit 1 shows the process flow diagram with the existing capacity across the four major team Distribution clerks, Underwriter teams, Raters, Policy writers. b) Capacity Analysis Usage of Mean time for capacity analysis is ideally favored over 95% Standard Completion Time (SCT) parameter as 95% SCT is a highly conservative. It assumes every request to be of longer duration (95th percentile with respect to request duration) and does not take into acco unt the time saved while executing smaller requests. Mean on the other hand takes into account that fact that time consumed on longer jobs is compensated by the time saved on smaller jobs. Capacity analysis based on Mean Time (Exhibit 2) shows the bottleneck for RUNs is the Distribution step, for RAPs is underwriting, for RAINs is again Distribution and for RERUNs is policy writing. The same capacity analysis when done using 95% SCT (Exhibit 3) shows Underwriting step to be bottleneck for all the 4 types of policy requests. We observe that there is high standard deviation for most of the steps (especially Underwriting Step) and is comparable to mean value itself. Ex: For RERUNs Underwriting step mean is 18. 7min while the standard deviation is 19. 8min. Hence we are using 95% SCT for determining bottleneck step. And thus we consider Underwriting Stage as the bottleneck for the whole system. c) Lead (Service) Time Analysis Using Little’s Formula we have done Lead Time Analysis (Exhibit 4) which shows that on an average Lead Time is approximately 2 days (2. 10). As we have seen, throughput on the other hand is approximately 6 days which is much higher than the average Lead Time. This suggests that the longer throughput time is because of allocation problems described later. d) Average Daily Workload Analysis The argument of allocation problem is further strengthened by our Average Daily Workload Analysis (Exhibit 5). This analysis has been done taking into account the relative proportions of various types of requests on a daily basis. On the basis on mean processing time for all the steps it comes out that the average daily workload for each step is less than 7. 5 hrs (the stipulated working time). Inferences Above analysis shows that problem at Fruitvale branch is not due to capacity constraint but it is actually due to allocation issue. Predominantly, allocation problems are in underwriting step. Currently allocation is done on the basis of Geographical/territorial lines which lead to uneven workload over time as well as inefficient allocation leading to longer TPUT time. Exhibit 5 shows that RUNs on an average take 50% (Exhibit 6) more processing time than RERUNs hence territory1 which is heavily loaded with RUNs has a higher RERUN loss even though overall it is least loaded. This necessitates a better allocation scheme rather than FIFO. Shortest Job First Scheduling may be used to minimize TPUT but it may delay a high priority request (ex a RERUN close to expiry) and also requires a priori estimation of various time factors. Currently, the system follows FCFS though not strictly, since some departments prioritize based on type of request ex: Underwriting favors RUNs over RERUNs. We would suggest an improved priority scheduling over FIFO which would be determined based on the type of request, agent’s importance, client importance, expiry time etc. et across uniformly across the steps. 3) Recommendations a) Distribution of reports to teams based on priority rather than territorial As found in previous section the current workforce should suffice the existing requirements if there are no backlogs and even if there are, it should not take more than 2 days. The problem was identified in the allocation of the policy request based on territory. We recomm end a collective (instead of territorial) request processing system with more intelligence added to the distribution system, which were also identified as bottlenecks for RUN and RAIN. This distribution system would first prioritize the requests and then allocate them to the underwriting team on an optimal basis ensuring even distribution of total requests, individual requests RUN, RERUN etc. This would remove the existing anomaly of having an overloaded team and an idle team concurrently. They should also keep monitoring the progress of the process and remove blocking issues that may result in a further delay of other policies. To expedite this process, it can also be automated by the help of computers. These changes should substantially reduce the TAT and the delayed RERUNs. The priority should be decided based on the following factors instead of current system purely on the type of request 1) Type of request – RERUN, RUN, RAP, RAIN 2) Already waited time – request that have waited for a long time should be upgraded 3) Estimate of total time required 4) Agent’s priority 5) Client’s priority 6) Expiry Time (Incase of RERUNs) 7) Other factors determining the business value of the request Hence overall, this would reduce the intensity of bottlenecks at DC and UT. b) Increase focus on RERUNs RERUNs, which generate maximum revenue, should be given a higher priority based on their proximity to the expiry date. This ensures customer retention and gives sufficient time to agents for renewal. c) Reduce Backlogs Reduction in current backlogs to minimum will help Fruitvale achieve a day’s TAT as explained. This can be done by working overtime, getting temporary teams possibly from other branches, and increase number of working days temporarily. d) Use Mean instead of SCT We observe that SCT is not a correct approach to evaluate the process flow since the 95th percentile customer’s time considered as a benchmark to set up the system results in very conservative estimates. Initially, other statistical methods like mean + n times standard deviation etc. can be used to achieve desired level of service. Following that, a record including TAT for each request should be maintained so that it can be used for future reference and for reducing the noise in mean that we recommend to be used in future. Exhibits Exhibit 1: Process Flow Diagram Exhibit 2: Capacity Analysis based on Mean Processing time |Capacity |RUNs |RAPs |RAINs |RERUNs | |Distribution |26. 8 |36. 00 |41. 38 |64. 29 | |Underwriting |30. 96 |35. 53 |59. 73 |72. 19 | |Rating |47. 68 |55. 64 |54. 96 |47. 68 | |Policy Writing |31. 69 |NA |41. 67 |44. 91 | *darkened cells show the bottleneck Exhibit 3: Capacity Analysis based of 95% Standard Completion Time Capacity |RUNs |RAPs |RAINs |RERUNs | |Distribution |14. 05 |16. 70 |26. 43 |41. 67 | |Underwriting |12. 59 |15. 43 |27. 33 |21. 50 | |Rating |32. 06 |40. 59 |40. 27 |39. 05 | |Policy Writing |25. 20 |NA |31. 65 |33. 58 | *darkened cells show the bottleneck Exhibit 4: Lead (Service) Time Analysis using Little’s Formula |Requests in progress |82 | |Requests served per day (in steady state) |39 | |Lead /Service Time (Requests in progress/Requests served per day) |2. 1 | Exhibit 5: Average Daily Workload Analysis |Demand Analysis |Requests in 120 days (1991) |Demand per Day | |RUNs |624 |5. | |RAPs |1524 |12. 7 | |RAINs |451 |3. 758333 | |RERUNs |2081 |17. 34167 | |Total |4680 |39 | |Mean Processing Time |RUNS |RAPS |RAINS |RERUNS |Workers/Teams | |Â   |(5. 0) |(12. 70) |(3. 75) |(17. 34) |Total Time |hrs per day | |Distribution |356. 20 |635. 00 |163. 13 |485. 52 |1,639. 85 |6. 83 | |Underwriting |226. 72 |482. 60 |84. 75 |324. 26 |1,118. 33 |6. 21 | |Rating |392. 60 |821. 69 |245. 63 |1,309. 17 |2,769. 09 |5. 77 | |Policy Writing |369. 20 |N. A. |202. 50 |868. 73 |1,440. 43 |4. 0 | Exhibit 6: Uneven distribution due to territorial allocation |Policies |Total |% diff with avg |RUNs |% diff with avg |RERUNs |% diff with avg |Rene wal lost | |/Territory | |1315 | |208 | |693 | | |1 |1151 |14. 24% less |274 |31. 73% more |636 |8. 2% less |403 | |2 |1393 |5. 93% more |179 |13. 94% less |840 |21. % more |227 | |3 |1402 |6. 66% more |171 |17. 7% less |605 |14. 54% less |296 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Processing Time (using mean values) | |Distribution |Underwriting |Rating |Writing |Total |Baselined (w. r. t. minimum) |Baselined (w. r. t. RERUN) | |RUN |68. 5 |43. 6 |75. 5 |71 |258. 6 |169. 35 |150. 09 | |RAP |50 |38 |64. 7 |NA |152. 7 |100. 00 |88. 62 | |RAIN |43. 5 |22. 6 |65. 5 |54 |185. 6 |121. 55 |107. 72 | |RERUN |28 |18. 7 |75. 5 |50. 1 |172. 3 |112. 84 |100. 00 | | ———————– Distribution clerks Number : 4 Capacity: Runs 26. 27 (58. 63), Raps 36 (72. 28), Rains 41. 37(195. 65), Reruns 64. 28(290. 32) Underwriter teams Number: 3 Capacity: Runs 30. 96(12. 59), Raps 35. 52(15. 42), Rains 59. 73(27. 32), Reruns 72. 19(21. 49) New Requests, Renewal requests Request for underwriting Policy writers Number: 4 Capacity: Runs 31. 69(25. 19), Raps NA, Rains 41. 67(31. 64), Reruns 44. 91(33. 58) Raters Number: 4 Capacity: Runs 47. 68(32. 05), Raps 55. 64(40. 58), Rains 54. 96(40. 26), Reruns 47. 68(39. 04) Policy issuing request Rating request

Consumer Buying Behavior of Hybrid Vehicles

Table of Content Title2 1. 0Introduction2 1. 1Background of the Study2 1. 2Problem Statement2 1. 3Research Objectives3 1. 4Significance of the Study3 1. 5Scope of the Study4 2. 0Literature Review5 3. 0Research Methodology7 3. 1Theoretical Framework7 3. 2Generation of Hypothesis7 4. 0Conclusion8 Reference:9 Title Factors that affect consumer purchase decision of hybrid vehicles (Green Vehicles) in Malaysia. Introduction 1 Background of the Study With the air pollution level rising day by day caused by the emission from conventional vehicles, many government bodies have put in effort to enforce emission control policy since the late of 1960, and it is becoming strict with the EURO committee being the leader until today, where their emission policy and grading system being accepted or referenced worldwide even in Malaysia. The grading system based of emission cleanliness as of today is from Euro 1 to Euro 6, where Euro 1 being the worst emission standard and Euro 6 being the environmental friendly. This is the scene where most modern vehicles are fitted with catalytic converter since late 1975, a simple device that can reduce the harmful emission such as un-burn hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide by converting them into cleaner substances such as oxygen and hydrogen through chemical catalyst effect within (Tony & Andrew, 2006). The effect of this is that the rise of the awareness of fuel efficiency, as many will further relate that if fuel efficiency can be increased, then the emission can be further improved, as well as to reduce wastage. Many automobile makers has since then began development of fuel efficient engine in order to make a stand, and consequently lead to the trend of Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV). 2 Problem Statement However, emission is only one environmental factor as there is other factor which bothers a driver financial aspect, the fuel and its prices. No matter the fuel is expensive and cheap, if one can travel further with a given set amount of fuel, then one can certainly save him/her some money (Tony & Andrew, 2006). And back to the environmental area, fossil fuel is non-renewable energy resources and depletion is certainly inevitable. This is why in recent years, many western automobile makers started to look into building fuel efficient vehicles, by building fuel efficient engines through various ways, most notably by downsizing the engine displacement and compensate it with force induction such as low pressure turbocharger. The effect of this implementation is that using a smaller capacity engine but can achieve the power delivery of a high capacity engine, yet with lower fuel consumption. However back in the eastern automobile industry, where the Japanese being the leader they had something else in mind, not only they wanted fuel efficiency but at the same time they wished to maximize the go green concept. Henceforth they come up with the idea of hybrid vehicle, where in general terms a vehicle is powered by 2 sources of input, which is a normal internal combustion engine, supported by an additional electric motor which requires special battery pack. The advantages of this implementation is that the fuel consumption and emission is superior over the formal, while the drawback is the maintenance and cost of replacement for faulty battery pack is very expensive. With the hybrid being the hot trend now given the promising sales figures from European countries and the USA, generally the maintenance factor is not an issue for them, however in this research we need to find out the factors hat influence a buyer into considering, buying a hybrid vehicle over here in Malaysia, as the hybrid trend is still very new here in Malaysia, generally starting on the year of 2006 where Honda introduces Civic Hybrid. However with the recent tax exemption on hybrid vehicles from the Malaysia government, the trend seems to be changing positively and now we have several models from Honda and Toyota to offer in response to the policy. 3 Research Objectives a) What are the factors that influence consumer into considering a hybrid vehicle? b) What are the factors that support consumer into buying a hybrid vehicle? ) What are the factors that consumer worries about when purchasing a hybrid vehicle? 4 Significance of the Study This study into the factors that affect the buying decision of hybrid vehicles in Malaysia could project the trend and acceptance of hybrid vehicles here in Malaysia. With that information, local automobile makers can consider into developing our own hybrid vehicles to offer the local markets a broader choice, as well as to stay competitive in the market. Additionally, this will be a good catalyst to spark off â€Å"Go Green† concept into consumers’ mind that is beneficial to the restoration and perseverance of the environment. Scope of the Study In this research, we will first take a general look and introduction into both the low pressure force induction technology and the hybrid technology further then compare and contrast the pros and cons in detail. With both concept understood, we will begin to focus on the trend of hybrid vehicles here in Malaysia, finding out the factors that support or deter the acceptance of hybrid vehicle through questionnaire aimed at hybrid owners and potential hybrid owners, from then we can know what are the main factors and concern of buyer upon making a decision for a hybrid vehicle, and then onclude what can be done to further increase the acceptance level of hybrid vehicles. Literature Review According to Markel & Simpson (2006), the implementation of hybrid electric vehicles can effectively reduce petroleum consumption up to 30% when compared to conventional vehicle, however a fully plug-in hybrid electric vehicle shall be undergo development to further improve the savings and reduce the wastage, as current hybrid electric vehicles uses electric motor powered by battery pack to assist the engine, which is costly when one needs to replace, and it did not provide much desired power. The manufacturer can of course put in a bigger battery pack to punch out better power and durability, but with every 15% of improvement the cost is nearly doubled. This issue is also mentioned before way back in year 2001, where the development of hybrid vehicles began with the aim in providing a superior fuel efficiency vehicles with minimal wastage and pollutants emitted, in prior to address two major problems (Allella et al, 2001): a) Consumption of fuel : World petroleum reserves and residues are unlikely able to sustain against the ever growing necessity of consumption b) Pollution : Generally referred to the harmful emission that can damage the environmental health The most common hybrid vehicle design is found within the famous Japanese automobile makers, respectively the Honda & the Toyota. The idea is to fit an electric motor powered by a battery pack that will recharge itself using the lost energy during the braking procedure, to assist a smaller capacity conventional engine in acceleration. With the motor assistant, the engine need not work and rev up that hard to get the vehicle moving therefore fuel consumption can be lowered. When certain conditions are met, the vehicles may also run solely on the electric motor itself most probably during low speed cruising. Putting the vehicle design aside, as stated by Kuo & Wang (2011), the disciplinary in driving, as well as the climate is major factor in reducing fuel consumption. Kuo & Wang pointed out that in countries that have tropical climate, such as those near to the equator, tend to have higher fuel consumption index compared to other countries with 4 seasons climate, this is mainly due to the fact that fuel burns better and more efficient when the air temperature is colder, as colder air is more dense and henceforth carries more oxygen molecules. Other than that, since the temperature is generally high throughout the year for tropical climate countries, drivers tend to switch on the air-conditioner (A/C) most of the time to withstand the hot weather, and A/C draws power from the engine to power up the compressor and cooling coil, therefore it results in loss of power from engine and leads to higher fuel consumption. On the disciplinary side, traveling below or way above the optimum speed of a vehicle, usually around 90KM/H to 110KM/H will affect the fuel consumption, where most drivers tend to speed when the chances arise. One should also try to plan their traveling route ahead, in order to avoid unnecessary traffic congestion which can result in poor fuel consumption, as start-stop driving proven to have 60% increased fuel consumption compared to smooth non-stop driving. This is generally experienced by most drivers that they can achieve better mileage if they travel on the highway often. Research Methodology 1 Theoretical Framework [pic] 2 Generation of Hypothesis Assume that ) H0 = Null Hypothesis (No relationship between IV & DV) b) H1 = Alternative Hypothesis (Significant relationship between IV & DV) |H1 |H0 – There is no relationship between maintenance and purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. | | |H1 – There is significant relationship between maintenance and purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. | |H2 |H0 – There is no relationship between fuel consumption and purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. | |H1 – There is significant relationship between fuel consumption a nd purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. | |H3 |H0 – There is no relationship between tax exemption and purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. | | |H1 – There is significant relationship between tax exemption and purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. | |H4 |H0 – There is no relationship between personal view and purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. | | |H1 – There is significant relationship between personal view and purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. Conclusion In conclusion, no matter it is partial hybrid or fully plug-in hybrid, the main objectives are to prolong the sustainability of petroleum through improved fuel consumption. By going green, the hybrid technology can also help in reducing wastage and guarantee cleaner emission that can contribute to better environmental health and quality. Therefore with all the benefits and savings, we should try to adopt and embrace the implementation of hybrid vehicles. However, there is still room for improve ment given the hybrid technology is still new within a decade of time. Government should come out with policy that can help greatly in promoting the adaptation of this green technology. Reference: 1) Allella et al, (2001), Negative Log-gamma Distribution for Data Uncertainty Modeling in Reliability Analysis of Complex System Methodology and Robustness, International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, Vol. 18, Napoli, Italy. 2) Allela et al, (2005), Optimal Reliability Allocation Under Uncertain Conditions With Application to Hybrid Vehicle Design [Online], International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, Vol. 22, Napoli, Italy. Available from (www. meraldinsight. com/0265-671X. htm) [Accessed June 6 2011] 3) Apaydin O. & Gonullu MT, (2008), Emission Control With Route Optimization In Solid Waste Collection Process, Vol. 33, Sadhana. 4) Davis S. & Diegel S, (2004), Transportation Energy Databook, 24th Edition. 5) Duval M, (2004), Advanced Batteries for Electric Drive Vehicles, EPRI. 6) Hirsch et al, (2005), Peaking of World Oil Pr oduction: Impracts, Risks, and Mitigation. 7) Kuo Y. & Wang CC, (2011), Optimizing the VRP by Minimizing Fuel Consumption [Online], International Journal of Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 2. Available from (www. emeraldinsight. com/1477-7835. htm) [Accessed 8 June 2011] 8) Markel T. & Simpson A, (2005), Energy Storage Considerations for Grid-Charged Hybrid Electric Vehicles, IEEE Vehicular Technologies Conference, Chicago, IL. 9) Markel T. & Simpson A, (2006), Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Energy Storage System Design [Online], National Renewable Energy Laboratory, available from (http://www. nrel. gov/vehiclesandfuels/vsa/pdfs/39614. pdf) [Accessed 8 June 2011]