Information Technology and Human Society

Information Technology and Human Society Introduction It can be argued that Information Technology (â€Å"IT†) became a part of popular culture only after the emergence of two technological breakthroughs. The first one was the invention of the personal computer. The second technological breakthrough was the Internet. These two inventions combined, led the way to the radical change in the way human beings communicate over long distances. It also enhanced their capability to store, access, share, and transmit information.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Information Technology and Human Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The modern world was dominated and transformed by the technologies that came before like the telegraph, radio, and television. But it was a surprise when the IT revolution initiated a radical transformation of human society. After the World-Wide-Web and sophisticated websites are added as innovations to two core technologies of IT , these transformed the social and business realms. In the business world, entrepreneurs and business leaders found a more efficient way to do buy and sell. In the social realm human beings created a virtual identities and communities in a cyberspace. The Computer and Internet It all began with the creation of computers. These are machines that have the capability to process data at speeds that exceeded human power. However, the first generation computers were bulky, expensive and difficult to use. The first generation machines were used primarily by the government for they are the only institution that can afford this novel invention. In the beginning a typical computer can easily occupy the size of an average room. In order for the IT revolution to begin, there was a need for the creation of personal computers. These are scaled down for personal use, hence the name of the equipment. As a consequence of this technological breakthrough the average person can now afford to procure an d use his or her own computer. Although, the invention of the personal computer was an important foundation stone for the impending IT revolution, there was still a missing piece. After World War II scientists and engineers began to tinker with the idea of interconnected computers (Gelb, 2007). Robert Kahn and Vinton Cerf found a way to connect multiple computers and this innovation is known as the TCP/IP Protocol (Gelb, 2007). Their invention paved the way for globalization to occur at an accelerated pace. It led to the creation of the Internet that enabled computer users in India to communicate to computer users in the United Kingdom, the United States and even as far as New Zealand.Advertising Looking for essay on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Business Realm At first glance IT is all about communication and the efficient management of information. Naturally, it did not take long before IT became the cornerst one of a new way of doing business. Consider the following innovations: a) websites; b) electronic mail and instant messaging; c) a mechanism that can be used to send and receive files such as images, spreadsheets, and digitized documents; and d) a mechanism that can be used to move funds as well as buy and sell goods and services. These innovations opened new methods of doing business that was not available in the past. The sudden increase in computer literacy coupled with the creation of sophisticated websites that enable users to manipulate and benefit from different types of applications ushered in a new kind of globalization (Waters, 2001). In the past international relations was only possible with heads of states, their emissaries and other powerful individuals conducting business overseas. But in the new form of globalization, individuals from different parts of the world can communicate and interact with almost no obstacles standing in their way (Waters, 2001). This new capa bility was made possible by websites created by companies like Yahoo and Google. Furthermore, it enabled individuals in a virtual community to interact without the benefit of a personal relationship with another person. Social Realm IT significantly influenced social development in the past few decades (Lofdah, 2002). One of the critical changes brought about by IT is the ability to communicate and interact without barriers and very minimal government regulation. It is not just the speed, such as those that can be seen with instant messaging and email, but also the fact that it is difficult to monitor the interaction between individuals that are separated by continents and oceans. A cost-efficient way to communicate has altered the job market in a way never seen before. In the past the members of the community are expected to find work within the area. But with the IT revolution, a UK firm can hire and outsource work requirements to someone who lives and works in India or China. Not every type of work can be outsourced but it was enough to radically alter the way the job market will be perceived later on. The IT revolution can be a positive development from the point of view of the need for a cheap and efficient way to communicate with other people. However, it can be a powerful tool that can be exploited by unscrupulous individuals. Aside from transforming the dynamics that govern the job market, the IT revolution gave birth to cybercrime. According to a commentary:Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Information Technology and Human Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Cybercrime is one of the terms used to denote the use of computer technology to engage in unlawful activity. Computer crime, high-tech crime and information-age crime are also used to describe this phenomenon. Most of the cybercrime we have seen so far is nothing more than the migration of real-world crimes into cyberspace (Je wkes, 2007, p.12). One of the most important things to consider is the way people interact without the benefit of a face-to-face interaction. It can pave the way for the distortion of identities. A criminal can easily exploit any weakness in a system and the capacity to defraud by manipulating unseen mechanisms is something that the criminal mind finds difficult to resist. It is clear that information technology can be used for wicked schemes but it must be pointed out that there are other benefits as well, especially when it comes to a more efficient way of doing business. Impact on the Business Realm With the use of IT, businessmen were able to position their products to penetrate new markets (Susskind, Levy, Thomas-Larmer, 2000). For instance, companies in the UK were able to gain a foothold in communist China (Susskind, Levy, Thomas-Larmer, 2000). In the past, the barriers to entry were difficult to deal with. But with the help of IT, businessmen can communicate without the ne ed for a physical presence. This new development compelled social scientists to proclaim that â€Å"globalization as a concept refers both to the compression of the world and the intensification of consciousness of the world as a whole †¦ both concrete global interdependence and consciousness of the global whole† (Waters, 2001). But globalization in the scope and depth that one can find today would have been impossible without the IT revolution. Aside from cybercrime, the IT revolution opened the door for a more sophisticated way of conducting crime. In other words the World-Wide-Web created a mechanism that encouraged illegal activity. Take for example the case of online pharmacies. In an ideal setting this is a lucrative and efficient way to conduct business. However, the ability to deliver drugs directly to consumers can be easily abused by unscrupulous persons (Kutais, 2000). It is of great importance to monitor and shut down foreign-based business enterprises that f ocus in the sale of illegal merchandise.Advertising Looking for essay on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Internet also made possible the proliferation of illegal wildlife trade (Barclay, 2008). The International Fund for Animal Welfare (â€Å"IFAW†) led an international effort to shut down websites that operates in China (Barclay, 2008). According to an official of IFAW, â€Å"their investigation was able to pinpoint Chinese sites selling 1,973 items from 30 species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora or CITES† (Barclay, 2008, p.1). The IT revolution opened the door for illegal activity to flourish but in the social realm there are other issues that require the attention of parents, teenagers, businessmen and government officials. Impact on Relationships and Identity An interesting and at the same time disturbing by-product of the IT revolution is the capability to create virtual identities and virtual communities. This phenomenon is based on the fact that faceless interaction is possible in cyberspace. The speed, ease of use and cheap cost of interacting with people that are located hundreds of miles away coupled with the power of anonymity has emboldened many people to socialize using this new medium. But there is one major difference, according to researchers in the field of virtual reality: People in virtual communities use words on screens to exchange pleasantries and argue, engage in intellectual discourse, conduct commerce, exchange knowledge, share emotional support, make plans, brainstorm, gossip, feud, fall in love †¦ and a lot of idle talk. People in virtual communities do just abut everything people do in real life but we leave our bodies behind (Rheingold, 1998, p.1). Information technology has given rise to cyberculture. It is important to learn more about this phenomenon. It is also important for educational institutions as well as government agencies to contribute and support research focused on these issues. By doing so researchers would be able to contribute grea tly in finding ways to solve the problems that are related to the creation of virtual identities and virtual communities. In the past culture can only be created in a realm where there is face-to-face interaction. It is in the cities, rural areas and hamlets where culture and traditions are created over hundreds of years. The identity of the person cannot be created outside the protective and nurturing boundaries of family, relatives, clans, and friends. In the modern age this was improved upon with the tradition of sending children to college and universities. But the identity of the person is still strongly linked to families left behind. The formation of communities followed the same organic pattern. Communities were formed not only through face-to-face interactions but also through the shared beliefs of the people living in a particular area. Even in college campuses the creation of a community of students are based on things that are tangible such as the curriculum, the teacher s, the classes, and the assignments and exams that have to be completed before completion of their studies. With the advent of personal computers and the World-Wide-Web, the ingredients needed to form communities were no longer valid. Individuals that did not come from the same village and did not share the same beliefs can form communities based on shared interests. These new interests and commonly shared ideas became the foundation for new beliefs. Thus, with just the use of a keyboard and a computer monitor, people can form virtual communities or join one. Virtual communities can be very disorienting to those who are used to conventional forms of human interaction. People can interact even without a clear idea of who is leading the group. Another important feature of the virtual communities is that people can interact even if they are actually strangers. The freedom to create virtual identities provides a way to express an idea without the fear of censure. Another reason for crea ting a virtual identity is for the person to hide certain flaws and at the same time live out fantasies and express deep-seated desires. One of the most important figures who contributed in the study of online identities is Sherry Turkle, a researcher who studied virtual identities such as those that populate the virtual community created by hardcore Star Trek fans. Her findings can be seen in the article entitled, Constructions and Reconstructions of Self in Virtual Reality: Playing in the MUDs. The article was written in 1994 and the result of a study of an interactive computer game. The virtual community was inspired by the American television series called Star Trek: The Next Generation (Turkle, 1994, p. 158). In the said game â€Å"there were over 1000 players that spend up to 80 hours a week participating in intergalactic exploration and wars (Turkle, 1994, p. 158). However, the most intriguing portion of the study was the confession made by one of the players of the game who said the following: â€Å"This is more than my real life† (Turkle, 1994, p.158). The author later revealed that this particular person is a man who played the character of a woman who pretended to be a man† (Turkle, 1994). In this game the â€Å"rules of social interaction are built not received† (Turkle, 1994, p. 163). The IT revolution did not only affect the social and business realms, it radically altered the way people deal with other people and how they see their real identity. Information technology did not only provide a more cost-efficient way to communicate and conduct business, it also paved the way for the creation of virtual identities and communities. The private and public sector must collaborate to learn more about this phenomenon. Conclusion The invention of the personal computer and the Internet greatly impacted the business and social realms. Everything can be traced by the ease and speed of communication as well as the ability to interact wit h others without the need for a face-to-face communication. As are result the new technology allowed people to use it for good and for evil. It is important to regulate the use of information technology. But more than that it is critically important for users to understand how it works in order to help develop rules, regulations, and standards that can harness more of the benefits and less of the harm that IT can bring to the home and business environment. References Barclay, E. (2008). China cracks down on illegal online wildlife trade. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/ Gelb, M. (2007). Innovate like Edison. New York: Penguin Group. Jewkes, Y. (2007). Crime online: Committing, policing and regulating.  OR: William Publishing. Kutais, G. (2000). Internet policies and issues. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Lofdah, C. (2002). Environmental impacts of globalization and trade: a systems  study. MA: MIT Press. Rheingold, H. (1998). The virtual community. Ret rieved from rheingold.com/vc/book/index.html Susskind, L., Levy, P., Thomas-Larmer, J. (2000). Negotiating environmental  agreements. Washington, D.C.: Island Press. Waters, M. (2001). Globalization. New York: Routledge.

Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Management - Research Paper Example These four functional areas are subdivided into a large number of narrow business functions specific to each functional area. It has been observed that business organizes their structure according to business functions. The business functions which are associated with production management includes the management of material, carry out research and development for refining existing product lines or developing new products. It also includes the task of conducting various quality control tests to ensure customer satisfaction. Thus, the functional area of production management deals with planning the plant layout and deciding about plant locations for different products (Elsy, 2009). The functional area of marketing management includes the business functions of marketing a product to the targeted consumer segments, sales forecasting, providing customer support and conducting promotional activities, taking sales orders and customer relationship management. Marketing management also involves the responsibility of conducing market research to collect and analyze data about the demand for the products and also the marketing strategies of competitors in similar markets. This also helps the management to design effective marketing mix to promote new products in existing markets or to introduce the existing products in new markets (Lussier, 2011; Boldi, Santini & Vigna, 2009). The accounting and finance functional area includes the business functions of financial accounting, allocation of funds for various activities and projects, planning, budgeting and control of funds and cash-flow management. It also deals with the various direct and indirect taxes that the organization needs to pay. The functional area of human resource management deals with the effective utilization of manpower. Human resources personnel are involved in the processes of recruitment and selection, training

Research of China's Luxury Goods Market- How Chinese Enterprises Get Dissertation

Research of China's Luxury Goods Market- How Chinese Enterprises Get out From Made in China to Create Domestic Luxury brands - Dissertation Example Recently, however, with an increased spending power among Chinese consumers along with reduced government restrictions, luxury brands from foreign countries have experienced the pressure of strengthening their commitment to Chinese mainland to maintain competitive advantage and avoid losing to rivals. Luxury is a subjective concept that is constantly developing, hence its varied definitions. Nonetheless, luxury has typically been used to characterize a state of great comfort or a desirable item (Park, Rabolt, and Jeon 2008). Luxury brands significantly differ from others in such a way that these entail a premium with no clear benefits over their counterparts. However, consumers remain willing to pay for a significant price as such brands exhibit unique attributes in terms of reputation, quality, and recognizability. Luxury brands do not only express high stands of superiority but also represent a social code that suggests access to desirability and exclusivity. The luxury market has, thus, gained considerable interest from many due to its representation of a hedonistic and somehow irrational form of consumption with which individuals purchase goods for the pleasure these provide regardless of financial costs (Phau and Teah 2009). The luxury brands that are in operation within China are mainly from Europe and include a wide range of retail sectors, including jewellery, fashion clothing and accessories, cosmetics, footwear, and automotive. The following sections then focus on the Chinese consumption behavior towards luxury brands, particularly the unique characteristics of Chinese consumers, the strategies for promoting luxury brands in China, as well as the possible challenges that Chinese companies may face in promoting such luxury brands. Product Brand: An Overview A brand is considered as a guarantee to the consumer of better quality or performance as compared to a product’s generic counterpart, in regards to both the physical and technical aspects. Wh en companies market a branded product, their statements ensure qualities that cannot be acquired through using generic or alternative brands. In most cases, brands are illustrated to depict an individual’s preferred lifestyle. Product branding caters to products alone, whereas corporate branding is the strategy of utilizing the name of the company to represent a certain product or service (de Chernatony 1999; de Chernatony 2001). Products are manufactured in warehouses and factories, but brands are what consumers are after. Consumers make purchases to take hold of a product’s statement and the distinction of one product from another, as personified through brands. Products can be identical and it can be seen in any shop, but the incorporation of a specific brand gives a product a personal touch that would be difficult for competitors to imitate. Though products can be outdated, brands that are successful are always cherished by its loyal customers. In branding, it is i mperative for the presentation and the package to look its best. It is not necessarily grandeur, but it depends on the statement that the firm wants to communicate about the product. It is important that all the necessary details and information are presented to the target market (Olins 2000). In the market, there are a lot of products that claim to be the most efficient, ideal, and best to be purchased and used by consumers. Each has its own qualities and features. The most effective way to

Grendel As Dynamic Character English Literature Essay

Grendel As Dynamic Character English Literature Essay John Gardners Grendel provides us with an in-depth look at the personality and mindset of a monster known to be an antagonist to mankind. The reader is seeing the world through the eyes of Grendel, giving the reader the feeling of having a very close relationship with him. Through this close relationship that the reader creates with Grendel, it becomes evident that Grendel undergoes a personality change throughout the novel as a dynamic character. Grendels development throughout the novel is highly influenced by his communication with the Shaper, Grendels mother, and the dragon. The first human to have a major influence on Grendel was the Shaper, a blind man who preaches to those around him. The first mention of the Shaper was in chapter one, when Grendel attacked Hrothgars meadhall. During Grendels attack, the flaws of human instinct become apparent. Instead of running away at the sight of a horrid monster, the citizens become frozen in terror like a dear in headlights. The only exception to these humans was the Shaper, who acted quickly and despite his blindness, was able to escape the building and run away from the danger. Grendel had admired the Shaper for being different from the other humans, and reacting properly and quickly, as well as for possessing knowledge Grendel wished he could have himself. Grendels envy for a mind like the Shaper causes him to fill with jealousy, so he subconsciously tries to mirror the ideology of the Shaper despite not being a human. The Shapers songs teach Grendel about the way that the humans live and function. To Grendel , it appears that everyone around loves and respects the Shaper, which is evident when Grendel explains that the people, and even the surrounding hills were hushed when the Shaper spoke. This popularity causes Grendel to wish that he could be like the Shaper even more, so that he can finally lose the feeling of isolation and gain acceptance among the humans. As Grendel analyzes the popularity and appeal of the Shaper, he begins to realize why people have are always running away at his sight. Grendel dives deep into himself to get a sense of the flaws in his own character, and subconsciously decided that he doesnt really need nor care about getting the approval of the humans because he isnt a human and shouldnt have to live by the expectations and standards that they have for themselves. (Gardner, letter) He was born not as a human, but as a monster that would never be able to live like the humans, and instead must follow his own role in society: to terrorize and kill humans. Although it was evident that Grendel cared for his mother, their relationship wasnt always perfect. She was very controlling, and attempts to keep Grendel at her side throughout the novel, but she loved him and was even considered a source of comfort to him (Grendel pg. 17). In chapter two of the novel, Grendel views his mother as a fat and lazy brute who is to unintelligent to able to speak the same language as the humans. As the mother tries to become more protective and sheltering of Grendel, he tries to break away from her more and treats her as truly a monster or animal instead of an equivalent to himself. He realizes that she is exactly what he wants to avoid becoming, so he begins to spend less time with her and instead spend more time with the humans, which starts to make him become more like a human than a monster. Grendel became more independent as he looked less to his mother for advice and began to think for himself, using his own thoughts and observations as a guideline. He starts to develop philosophical thoughts, and begins to question the meaning and purpose of life. At the points in the novel where Grendel is leaving or returning to the cave, his mind becomes restless with thoughts about the humans and what he should. The complexity of Grendels thoughts is synonymous with the complex design of the cave itself. Getting in and out of the cave is no simple process. Grendel describes the process as swimming up through the firesnakes, hot dark whalecocks prowling the luminous green of the mere., and continues by saying that he gulped churning waves and smoke, which implies that the mere is on fire. (Grendel pg. 9) The water is used as a symbol of the subconscious and emotion, which explains the thoughts that start to jump around in Grendels head as he is on his way in or out of his cave. Grendels thinking to himself is key to his development as an independent individual. He feels so dependent near the end of the book that he even ignores the warning of his mother. His mother wants to protect him and warn him of the danger he is getting into, but her warning only comes out as Warovvish. (Grendel pg. 145) Without trying to understand what she was saying, he shrugs her warning off as gibberish and continues with what he originally planned. Instead of relying on the advice and opinions of others, Grendel tries to sort everything out within his own thoughts. This causes him to become less and less dependent on other characters, which in turn allows him to become more of an individual. The final character to have a major influence on Grendels character was the dragon, who makes his first appearance in chapter five of the novel. Prior to meeting the dragon, the only being that Grendel ever met more powerful than himself was his mother. Grendel became so terrified at the site of the monstrous dragon that he could barely even speak. Grendel has never really felt this level of fear, and it makes him realize that there are more fearsome creatures to walk the planet than him. This fear also rationalizes the feeling of the terror the humans exhibit when encountering Grendel, so he now understands their fear of him. The dragon proves to be an incredibly smart philosopher, and when the dragon starts reading his mind, Grendel becomes even more afraid of him. He never felt fear like when he saw the dragon, so he didnt understand why the humans would run away in terror even if he were to do nothing wrong. He tells Grendel that the essence of life is to be found in the frustrat ion of established order, so he should continue terrorizing the humans. (Grendel pg. 67) The dragon proceeds to tell him that being terror to all humans that is actually important to their development. He goes on to explain that humans are constantly trying to destroy anything they consider to be evil, but evil is actually very important to them because without evil, the world would not be balanced. The dragon tries to explain to Grendel that he drives them to poetry, science, religion, all that makes them what they are for as long as they last (Grendel pg. 72).This means that Grendel is actually very important to human society, and without him, mankind would not be advanced as it is today. This confrontation with the dragon allows Grendel to rid himself of the doubts he had about the morality of killing humans, finally providing him with the reason and conformation he desired to continue with his role in society. Grendel has become one of the most important and developed characters throughout the history of literature, despite him being an antagonist. His thoughts often conflict with each other, but by the end of the novel, they become very deep and complex. After his confrontation with dragon, Grendel finally develops an understanding of his role in society, and the importance that he plays. Through the influence of Grendels encounters with the humans and other important characters throughout the book, he was able to undergo a change and become a much more intelligent, sophisticated being. In the beginning of the novel, Grendel was portrayed as being an unintelligent monster, isolated from the humans, having no understanding of his role and importance to society, but by the end of the book, Grendel has developed into a sophisticated being with a greater understanding of the world than the humans even have.

oldman and the sea :: essays research papers

The Old Man and The Sea Old Man and The Sea, a great book by Ernest Hemingway, is about a fisherman’s struggle to save his career. This book is very different than any other book that I have read. It is different because this book doesn’t have multiple events that happen in the story. Santiago, an old fisherman, goes out fishing and hooks a giant marlin. The book explains his struggle to kill the fish and bring it back home. The book symbolizes the struggle of the author to write a great book. Santiago is an old man that wasn’t having much luck fishing. One day he decides to go fishing and hooks a marlin. The man struggles to kill the marlin and in the process he is pulled very far out into the ocean. Santiago becomes attached to the marlin and calls it his "brother". Santiago gains strength by thinking about the things he loves and has interests in such as Manolin, a young fisherman, and the New York Yankees(baseball team). Santiago fights the marlin for three days and finally kills the fish. Santiago goes through many of obstacles to achieve his goal of catching a big fish but when he finally gets it, it’s taken away from him by sharks that eat the marlin. The young man, Manolin is the old man’s best friend. Santiago, taught him how to fish. Manolin use to fish with Santiago but then Santiago ran into a streak of bad luck. Manolin started fishing on another boat. Manolin is very attached to Santiago. They get along very well. Manolin understands why Santiago had to go on the 3-day trial fishing to test his luck and admires him for it. Manolin is the person that takes care of Santiago. The marlin is a very noble, big and beautiful fish. Whatever it symbolizes, to the reader it's something worth fighting for since Santiago risks his life battling sharks in his attempt to save the marlin. The marlin is Santiago’s last shot at luck. Santiago knew that this fishing trip would be the last spark of luck he would have for the rest of his life. Although he doesn’t get the whole marlin to shore, he did bring luck with him because he survived. The marlin is also a sign of the author’s quest to write one good book. Like the fisherman wants to catch a great fish before he dies, Hemingway wants to write a good story.

Explore the memories of childhood Essay

Explore the memories of childhood presented in â€Å"In Mrs Tilscher’s class† by Carol Ann Duffy and â€Å"Childhood† by John Clare The memories of childhood presented in the two poems â€Å"In Mrs Tilscher’s class† by Carol Ann Duffy and â€Å"Childhood† by John Clare are explored in many different ways. One of the ways Duffy explores the memories of childhood is by remembering the happiness of being a child and creating a happy tone. â€Å"Sugar paper. Coloured shapes. Brady and Hindley faded, like the faint, uneasy smudge of a mistake. † This quotation shows that Duffy explores her memories of childhood to be happy by describing a horrendous crime to have disappeared in Mrs Tilscher’s classroom. â€Å"Uneasy smudge of a mistake† suggests the horrific incidents to have been rubbed away because it is so happy and peaceful when you are in Mrs Tilscher’s class room. Brady and Hindley’s horrifying antics also suggest the dangers of the adult world. It also gives the impression that the classroom is like a different world, a fantasy world where only happiness exists. The way Duffy mentions the sugar paper and the coloured shapes also give a sense of happiness because it makes the reader think of bright colours and activities which are associated with the pleasure of being a child. Likewise, in â€Å"Childhood† Clare also describes the contentment of childhood. â€Å"On the heaths, in the meadows beside the deep lake, and return’d with torn clothes all covered wi’ burrs. † This quotation shows how happy childhood was for Clare. The idea of nature presented in this quotation gives the impression of blissful children exploring the outside world. It gives this impression by mention â€Å"the meadow by the deep lake,† these words are in connotation to nature and outdoor life. A sense of freedom is also created as Clare uses a care free tone to describe where the children would play. â€Å"and return’d with torn clothes all covered wi’ burrs,† this section of the quotation creates a feeling of freedom and cheerfulness as Clare exclaims his clothes were ripped and torn but the care free tone he uses suggests he didn’t care and that he shed no guilt because of this, he was just having fun, which explores the idea of childhood innocence. Even though a happy sense of youth is produced in â€Å"In Mrs Tilscher’s class,† Duffy makes the happiness seem to diminish throughout the poem. â€Å"You asked how you were born, and Mrs Tilscher smiled, and then turned away. † This shows that the innocence of the children is starting to pass away. The fact that Mrs Tilscher smiles and turns away, when â€Å"asked how you were born,† conveys a sense that she does not want to encourage the children to loose their childhood innocence by telling them such mature things. This is a sign of sexual awareness created by Duffy because the topic of sexual nature is starting to be explored at this stage in a child’s life. Duffy also creates a feeling that the children look towards Mrs Tilscher for comfort but they both feel that it is time to move on in the direction of growing up. Duffy does this by making the child try on last attempt to stay in the safeness and secure, safe womb of the primary school. As Mrs Tilscher turns away is signifies the fact that her time is over teaching this particular class. This conveys a sense that joyfulness is slipping away. â€Å"A rough boy told you how you were born. † This quotation shows the â€Å"rough boy† who reveals how you were conceived is another sign of maturity. For children it is like finding out there is no Father Christmas. It gives the impression that life won’t be the same again. The structure of the two poems, is different. In â€Å"Childhood,† Clare has created a regular rhyme scheme to the poem. â€Å"O dear to us ever the scenes of our childhood The green spots we played in the school where we met The heavy old desk where we thought of the wild-wood Where we poured o’er the sums which the master had set. † This is a fraction of the first stanza of the poem which shows the rhyming pattern. It has a sort of â€Å"sing-song† rhythm to it, which is reminiscent of the nursery rhymes sang when a young child. In contrast to this, in â€Å"In Mrs Tilscher’s classroom,† there is no regular rhyme scheme. â€Å"You could travel up the Blue Nile, With your finger, tracing the route While Mrs Tilscher chanted the scenery†¦ † This quotation is also from the first stanza of the poem, and there is no regular rhyme scheme. But as there are four stanzas in this poem, each stanza can be said to represent a different area of development. For example, the first stanza represents escapism. â€Å"You could travel up the Blue Nile with your finger,† this gives the impression that you can physically escape from your troubles and actually travel up the Blue Nile with your imagination. This conveys a sense that Mrs Tilscher’s classroom is a safe and comforting place to be. The final stanza represents moving on and growing up. â€Å"A rough boy told you how you were born. You kicked him, but stared at your parents, appalled when you got home. † This quotation gives the impression that the safety that Mrs Tilscher provided for you, is now slipping away as you are being introduced to bullies, and people who know more about the world than you do. It conveys a sense that the innocence and virtue of being a child has gone because you are growing older and maturing into adolescence. In â€Å"Childhood,† the final stanza creates a sense of closure. â€Å"There’s nought to compare to the days of our childhood. † This quotation suggests that nothing is as good as childhood and it was obviously an exciting part of life for Clare. It also makes the reader feel as if that is the end, there was no moving on to a different stage of life or growing older into a teenager. Clare creates this feeling by saying nothing compares to his childhood giving the impression that his teenage and younger life was not as exciting and stimulating as his childhood days. It is as if Clare wanted childhood to be everlasting. Likewise in â€Å"In Mrs Tilscher’s class,† there is also a sense of closure. â€Å"Reports were handed out. You ran through the gates, impatient to be grown,† This quotation also gives the impression of the ending of being in Mrs Tilscher’s class, as Duffy mentions reports were handed out, this usually happens at the end of an academic year, which makes the reader think of a new teacher and a new class. It also creates a sense of moving on to another year of school. It suggests that there is more to come of life but not as in childhood, in more of an adult nature. A feeling of finishing is also created. In conclusion, the two poems â€Å"In Mrs Tilscher’s class† and â€Å"Childhood† have many similar and different references.

Challenges of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya

SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES SME stands for small and medium-sized enterprises – as defined in EU law: The main factors determining whether a company is an SME are: 1. Number of employees, and 2. Either turnover or balance sheet total | |Employees |Turnover |or |Balance sheet total | |Company category | | | | | |Medium-sized | 250 |≠¤ â‚ ¬ 50 m |≠¤ â‚ ¬ 43 m | |Small | 50 |≠¤ â‚ ¬ 10 m |≠¤ â‚ ¬ 10 m | |Micro | 10 |≠¤ â‚ ¬ 2 m |≠¤ â‚ ¬ 2 m†¦show more content†¦Credit constraints operate in variety of ways in Kenya where undeveloped capital market forces entrepreneurs to rely on self-financing or borrowing from friends or relatives. Lack of access to long-term credit for small enterprises forces them to rely on high cost short term finance. There are various other financial challenges that face small enterprises. They include the high cost of credit, high bank charges and fees. The scenario witnessed in Kenya particularly during the climaxing period of the year 2008 testifies the need for credit among the common and low earning entrepreneurs. Numerous money lenders in the name of Pyramid schemes came up, promising hope among the ‘little investors,’ that they can make it to the financial freedom through soft borrowing. The rationale behind turning to these schemes among a good number of entrepreneurs is mainly to seek alternatives and soft credit with low interest rates while making profits. Financial constraint remains a major challenge facing SMEs in Kenya (Wanjohi and Mugure, 2008). National Policy and Regulatory Environment The national policy and regulatory environment has an important impact on technology decisions at the enterprise level. The structural adjustment programs (SAPs) implemented in many African countries are aimed at removing heavy policy distortions, which have been viewed as detrimental to the growth of the private sector. SAPs tend toShow MoreRelatedFinancial Issues Affecting Kenyatta Market Women Entrepreneurs Of Nairobi962 Words   |  4 PagesFINANCIAL ISSUES AFFECTING KENYATTA MARKET WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS OF NAIROBI, KENYA 1. Introduction i. Background Information According to Creighton Yieke (2006), women in Kenya constitute a subordinate, disadvantaged and muted group who are routinely treated as inferior and who face coerced sex, harmful cultural practices, stigma and discrimination. Their inferior legal status in relation to marriage inheritance, guardianship, property ownership, places them in disadvantaged position economicallyRead MoreThe Adoption Of Knowledge Management Systems Essay1089 Words   |  5 Pages Adoption of Knowledge management systems as an IS /IT business strategy by SME’s in Kenya. Abstract In shaky, uncertain economies, small and medium enterprises often take the biggest blow in periods of slow or no business. When there are minimalistic orders, the impact is immediate as most of these firms don’t have a wide array of products compared to big firms. As a small organization, it’s always important to have a proper Information technology portfolio to help them carry out proper analysisRead MoreFACTORS AFFECTING GROWTH OF SMALL SCALE ENTERPRISE IN KENYA1866 Words   |  8 PagesCHALLENGES AFFECTING THE GROWTH OF SMALL SCALE ENTERPRISES IN KENYA (A Case study of Wajir Soko Mjinga Market) A Research proposal Submitted in Partial Fulfillment for the Award of Diploma in Business Administaration to the Mount Kenya University JULY 2013 ACKNOWLEDGMENT I take this occasion to thank the Almighty GOD for blessing me with his grace. I extend my sincere gratitude to my MKU supervisors for giving the right guidance whileRead MoreEconomic And Social Development Efforts Has Benefited Women As Much As They Have Benefited Men Essay2552 Words   |  11 Pagesway of development programs and projects. By so doing, it was and still is expected that women’s situation would improve. The BNA emphasized the reduction of income inequities between men and women (GOK, 2005). It is for this reason that women in Kenya have for quite a long time now been encouraged to undertake businesses. Entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as an important driver of economic growth, productivity, innovation and employment and it is widely accepted as a key aspect of economicRead MoreFactors Affecting Tax Compliance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the Advent of the Eac Common Market.1751 Words   |  8 Pages2006; Cowell, 1992; Kirchler, 1999; Wenzel, 2002, 2004). A number of such social psychological factors have been used to explain the complexity of taxation compliance behavior. Kenya is ranked among low-income countries or low-compliance countries with hard task of ensuring efficient and effective tax administration. â€Å"Kenya Revenue Authority is supposed to promote compliance with Kenya’s tax and to ensure responsible enforcement by highly motivated and professional staff thereby maximizing revenueRead MoreHarnessing Knowledge Management For A Competitive Advantage Essay2117 Words   |  9 PagesHarnessing Knowledge Management for a competitive advantage: A framework for SMEs in Kenya. Abstract Over years, the economic impact of Small and Medium Enterprises in our societies is significant. For instance, In Kenya, over 50 percent of jobs were created by this sector in 2005 leading to growing the country’s GDP but despite their impact, they often take the biggest blow in periods of slow business. (Sedej Justinek, 2014). When there are reduced orders, cancelation of orders, delayed paymentsRead MoreVision 20305053 Words   |  21 PagesINTRODUCTION Kenya vision 2030 aims to create a cohesive, equitable and just society based on democratic principles grounded in the existing, rich and diverse cultures in Kenya. The vision 2030 is based on three pillars namely Economic, Social and Political. The economic pillar seeks to ensure prosperity for all Kenyans through economic development programs in key sectors aimed at achieving an average gross domestic product (GDP) of 10% per annum up to 2030. The social pillar aims at buildingRead MoreIntroduction Advertising is often referred to as above the line expenditure, a term which is1700 Words   |  7 PagesFaulu Kenya Limited was founded by Food for the Hungry International (FHI), a Christian relief organization, Loan scheme program that targeted the economically active poor in Mathare. From its humble roots as a loan scheme in 1991, Faulu is currently one of the top Deposit Taking Micro Finance Institution(MFIs) in Kenya have successfully developed a platform aimed at banking the previously unbanked though a variety of savings, credit, micro insurance and mobile banking solutions (Faulu Kenya web link)Read MoreGlobalization For Small And Medium Sized Enterprises And Companies From Developing Countries1713 Words   |  7 Pagesworries have spurred the public discussion, in particular when it comes to developing countries. Do you agree? Please provide the pros and cons of globalization for small and medium-sized enterprises and companies from developing countries. Illustrate your argumentation with practical examples. Define recommendations for policy-maker of a small developing country and describe how supranational institutions can support the efforts of developing countries to successfully participate in the globalisationRead MoreCan Banana Value Chain Help Eliminate Hunger in Uganda and Tanzania?2510 Words   |  11 Pagesand eliminating hunger among rural and urban poor in Uganda and Tanzania. We provide a comprehensive analysis of banana consumption and productivity in the two countries and we scope the challenges and opportunities for providing more efficient and enhanced production and marketing focusing on smallholder enterprises along the commodity value chain. To undertake this study we extensively reviewed published data and grey literature from national programs across the EAC and international sources to