Classic Knitwear Essay

Classic Knitwear, founded in 1995, began production of a unique line of unbranded casual knit apparel. Included in their product line were such clothing as T-shirts, sport shirts, sweatshirts and other wearing apparel. Although the company saw exceptional revenues as of 2005, they still felt that they were not meeting certain criteria when it came to their gross margin. They sought to increase their gross margin, currently sitting at 18%, to that of a more comfortable number of 20%. To combat this issue, Classic Knitwear decided to team up with Guardian, a producer of odorless repellant protection against bugs, and combine their fortes into a line of clothing infused with the bug repellant technology. These new products would hopefully to rise the gross margin to the 20% they were hoping to accomplish. The non-fashion casual knitwear market consisted of products that range from casual t-shirts to even underwear. Within this industry, it can be divided into two categories, those manufacturers who brand their products with their name and those companies who choose not to brand their line of products. On the branded side of the industry, Classic competed with three major brands. These brands were JamesBrands (which accounted for $4.5 billion in revenue from sales), Flowerknit (which accounted for $1.25 billion in revenue from sales), and Greenville Corporation’s TopTops Division (which accounted for $630 million in revenue from sales). These branded labels competed on the level of private- labeled businesses. On the other side of the industry, Classic competed with one company in terms of unlabeled products. B&B Activewear were major competitors as they generated $590 million or 23.6% market share, which made them a leader in the market. Although not directly involved within this sector, Jamesbrand, Flowerknit and Greenville Corporation’s TopTops Division still were involved with Classic on this level. Distribution channels are essential when it comes to the wholesales of these companies products. 90% of the product distribution from these companies go directly to two distinct types of retailers. Almost 50% of these sales are accounted for from mixed retailers, such as Wal-Mart and Kohls, who sell clothing as well as wide variety of other products. The other 40% is sold towards clothing specialist retailers, such as Gap and Brooks Brothers, who only specialize in the selling of clothing related products. The remaining 10% of the distribution channels contained bits from non- grocery retailers, home shopping, internet retailing and direct selling to the customers. In order for manufacturers to compete for retail business, they used a variety of strategies in order to gain attention from these retailers. Some of these tactics involved prices, variety of products, and efficiency of delivery. Classic Knitwear, since its inception, has been a simple manufacturing company whose focus is on creating and distributing unbranded casual knit apparel which includes T-shirts, sweatshirts and fleece like products. Unlike other companies that chose to have expensive products which carried prestigious fashion labels, Classic decided to venture away from them and focus on products that were categorized as non- fashioned knitwear. With this strategy, Classic accounted for $550 million in revenues from domestic sales. They have also decided to sell only in the United States, as foreign markets were too much of a risk that could have negative consequences. 75% of this revenue came from the selling of their products to wholesalers, who in turn, resold the Classic clothing to screen- print channels which customized the products with logos and images. Ortiz and Chong decided to concentrate on this pathway because it offered the fastest growth potential than trying to sell like ordinary retailers. As a result, Classic Knitwear had established itself as the #2 seller in the market, accounting for 16.5% of the market share. Classic generated the remaining 25% of their revenues from mass retail channels under private labeling. Classic would sell their products to retailers such as Wal-Mart and Dollar General and would be carried under the name of the retailer or through a house brand that was developed by the retailers themselves. In fact, these two retailers accounted for 57% of those revenue sales. To help accomplish such high revenues, Classic had to achieve low production costs throughout the entire company. To ensure that such goals were obtainable, Classic established state-of-the-art production factories that were situated off shore, mainly in the Dominican Republic. Being situated not in the United States allowed them to have much lower production costs than those produced domestically. Although other companies had also set up production factories in other countries, Classic was able to have a slight competitive advantage over these other companies. What helped them keep this competitive advantage was a high volume- low SKU (stock keeping unit) strategy. This ensured that they would produce high quantities of products without the large variety of products that other companies had. As of 2005, Classic felt that it would never reach their goal of 20% gross margins through various controlled labels or tie in promotions. However, Classic Knitwear had an epiphany which could potentially shoot their gross profits to levels that they would feel satisfied with. With the rise of the West Nile virus across the Americas, more and more people were looking for ways to prevent the transmission of the diseases. Classic thought it would generate the attention of customers to produce a new line of clothing that would be infused with chemicals that would be able to repel insects that carried the West Nile virus. With the help of another company, Guardian, who specialized in insect repellants, they would be able to create such a line of products. The reason that they chose Guardian was due to their flagship repellant, have established them as one of the top producers in insect repellant. The products would consist of a short and long sleeve T-shirt, a Men’s polo, and a Men’s fleece. Along with the production of these chemical infused clothing, Classic was targeting males 18-35, seeing as these individuals would most likely be outside during times when insects are active. The initial investment of such a line could cost about $10 million, which would help to generate 50% unaided awareness across the United States. In order to get the needed awareness of their product out to the public to ensure increased gross margins, Classic relied heavily on marketing. They had studied how other brands that were selling similar brands of insect repellant clothing and how they were successful, establishing themselves into small niche markets. Based on those already established companies, Classic decided to sell their product lines to retail stores with cardboard displays housing the different styles of shirts. On the outside of each of the boxes would display pictures of outdoor related activities that would promote the proper use of each shirt. Some of these retail stores would be outdoor related stores such as Bass Pro Shops and L.L. Bean. Classic wanted to have 10,000 displays in stores over the next 2 years after the product line was to begin production. To help get these displays in stores, they offered discounts on the sale of T-shirts if the store agreed to have a display in their store. Classic, with the production of these chemical infused shirts, could have a possible juggernaut to help generate sales, but there could be other possibilities that could help them reach their target gross margin of 20%. One alternative would be to not produce the new line of shirts, relying on frequent customers to help generate the extra sales to gain the extra gross margin. Another possibility would be to vertical integrate with one of the screen-pressing companies that create the logos which are later screened onto the sold shirts. By integrating, they could possibly cut unnecessary costs that would also help create higher gross margins. Lastly, another possible alternative to this problem would be to establish a brand of clothing that is positioned near the high labeled brands. They would have to compete with the big three companies with sales, but could possibly steal sales away from them to help establish themselves. Classic Knitwear was set with a problem of what to do to try and earn more in their gross profits. To solve such case, it would be recommended that they continue with the production of these insect repellant shirts. With the outbreak of the West Nile virus and outdoorsmen wanting styled brands to wear, this idea would help to generate the sales need to raise the gross profits. Based on Consumer.com surveys, it was concluded that there was a strong desire for such a product, especially one whose clothing was made out Classic’s materials. In the end, the continuation of this line would help generate the extra gross margin they had hope to gain.

Water in architecture and water spaces: look, touch, feel

The paper focuses on how the presence of H2O & A ; # 8211 ; either as a characteristic or a map & A ; # 8211 ; enriches the design of public edifices, and how this relationship is perceived through centripetal human experience. Four instance surveies are used. Case analyze one is the Roman bath composite at Bath, Avon ; instance survey two is an early Modernist design of a glass marquee by Bruno Taut ; instance survey three is an illustration of a Post Modernist plaza in New Orleans designed by Charles. W. Moore ; and instance analyze four is the modern-day design of a thermic baths in Vals, Switzerland by Peter Zumthor. In each instance there will be an analysis of the architectural design including facets such as symmetricalness and balance, coloring material, texture, stuffs, signifier, and graduated table. Findingss will include how H2O is used in the design infinite and its consequence upon the human senses. The survey expects to see a strong relationship between the presence of H2O and the environing design of the edifice. Furthermore, the survey hopes to set up a difference in the relationship between the centripetal experience of the two instance surveies where H2O is used as an aesthetic characteristic and has no practical map compared to the two baths where H2O is used to bathe in. The surveies are ordered chronologically to enable clear designation of the germinating architectural differences between the ancient bath edifice, and the two 20th century illustrations. Probe aims to research the potency of H2O as an instrument to help the designer ‘s efforts at making semblance. Aspects such as coloring material, and representation of signifier will be analysed in the two 20th century illustrations. The survey will climax with the modern-day invention and dynamism so supremely represented in the work of Peter Zumthor. In this 4th and most of import chapter the work aims to place how modern-day developments in architectural design & A ; # 8211 ; in comparing with the older instance surveies & A ; # 8211 ; expands and enriches the relationship between H2O and the human senses. Methodology The information for this survey was collected through documental research. Chapter one draws from Barry Cunliffe ‘s Roman Bath Discovered as a primary beginning and archeological context.The baths went through several phases of development before they were abandoned: this survey will utilize the simple program of the first phase as an illustration to avoid any confusion. Because of the age of the instance survey it is non possible to retroflex with certainty the exact nature of the centripetal experience of utilizing the baths. Therefore some guesss had to be conjectural based on the archeological and architectural grounds used. Throughout the thesis I will pull on Veronica Strang ‘s book The Meaning of Water ( 2003 ) which provides a utile penetration into the nature of the component in treatment. In the survey of Bruno Taut ‘s glass marquee the centripetal experience will besides hold to incorporate a conjectural component based on documental research as the marqu ee itself no longer stands. For chapter four, cyberspace beginnings were used in concurrence with diaries and books to turn up a firsthand history of the centripetal experience of Peter Zumthor ‘s baths. As a reasonably recent design of a comparatively unwritten about designer it was hard to turn up a diverseness of beginnings for the baths so the chapter will pull chiefly from articles both from cyberspace beginnings and from publications. IntroductionThe first chapter will look at the Roman Baths in Bath, Avon. It will research the relationship between the architectural design, the stuffs used, and the human senses, concentrating on the original program of the baths in their first stage as depicted by Cunliffe ( 1971 ) . This chapter will introductory to the survey as it will convey into treatment facets such as the relationship between the inside and outside of the edifice as perceived through human centripetal experience, and the atmospheric effects created by thermic Waterss which will be explored more exhaustively in the concluding chapter. It will measure facets of the Roman design such as symmetricalness, coloring material, and ornament and how these might hold enriched the bathing experience. Chapter two uses the instance survey of a glass marquee, imagined by the poet Paul Scheerbart, and designed by Bruno Taut in 1914. The cosmetic construction was designed to be exhibited at the Werkbund exhibition and was demolished shortly after. The H2O characteristic is centrally placed, designed to reflect the changing visible radiation through the motley glass panels of the environment. Its vision of a Utopian signifier of architecture utilizing glass prisms provides a alone contrast to the functionally aesthetic Roman baths. It will be used to develop the thought of architecture proving the boundaries between the perceptual experience of interior and exterior and between public and private infinite. The presence of the H2O and its interaction with the visible radiation from the marquee ‘s colored glass means that these constructs are explored through centripetal experience. Using relevant beginning stuff this chapter constructs an independent reading of Bruno Taut ‘s design, concentrating on its interior round signifier and tiered infinite.In Chapter Three the instance survey used will be the Piazza d'Italia built by Charles W. Moore between 1974 and 1978 for the Italian community of New Orleans. The Post-Modernist design is characterised by Moore ‘s dry reading of historical signifiers of architecture placed around a fountain in the form of Italy. The survey provides a utile contrast to the old illustrations & A ; # 8211 ; it raises inquiries of how symmetricalness in architectural design affects the centripetal perceptual experiences. The focal point of the construction is the H2O characteristic which serves as a self-contradictory unifier and centrifuge of the experience. Furthermore, this illustration brings into treatment the construct of a more complex relationship between the human senses and H2O in architecture which will climax in the concluding chapter. Chapter four concerns the thermic baths at Vals, Switzerland, designed by Peter Zumthor in 1996. This last and most of import chapter purposes to convey together facets of the three old illustrations through analysis of a modern-day design. The focal point will be on Zumnor ‘s inventive reading of the usage of H2O in a natural environment. Research into his combination of proficient invention and sensitive perceptual experience hopes to set up how H2O can be used in modern-day architectural design to enrich the centripetal human experience. Study will besides concentrate on facets of the design such as the careful attending paid to accomplishing balance and integrity & A ; # 8211 ; through characteristics such as the combination of different stuffs used. Features of the earlier instance surveies & A ; # 8211 ; such as the ambiguity of signifier in Moore ‘s plaza are discussed in visible radiation of Zumthor ‘s design of the baths ‘ inside. Finally, the survey will measure how successful Zumthor ‘s illustration is in unifying traditional constructs in a modern-day infinite.The Roman Bath Buildings at Avon, Bath.During the first century AD the Temple of Minerva and the baths were built at Bath over a thermic spring. As portion of the edifice procedure an enclosed reservoir was constructed with the point at which the H2O poured into the drain being unfastened with a flight of big stairss from a platform above, leting visitants to acquire near to the beginning of the H2O. The gap through which the H2O was accessed boasted an impressive archway ‘creating the feeling of the steamy H2O fluxing through the oral cavity of a cave from the Centre of the Earth. ‘ ( Cunliffe 1971, p.26 ) . The original entryway hall boasted three monolithic Windowss through which could be seen the sacred spring and the communion table beyond. The Great Bath would originally hold been covered by a masonry vaulted ceiling besides with big Windowss in its 2nd grade home base xxiv cunliffe. Roman glass was translucent so the baths would non hold been lit every bit good as an unfastened air pool. This means that there would hold been no positions from the Windowss and small Sun, ensuing in minimum interaction between the experience of being inside the edifice and the conditions outside. It appears that the lighting of the constitution took 2nd topographic point to the administration of infinite within the inside. Aside from the Great Bath the block contained two smaller Chamberss & A ; # 8211 ; the calidarium ( hot room ) , and tepidarium ( a warm acclimatising room ) ( Rook 1992, p.23-4 ) , and another smaller swimming bath now known as the Lucas bath. ( Cunliffe 1971, p.45 ) . High vaulted infinites covered the thermic Waterss of the Great Bath to let the steam to rise.As Macdonald says of this manner of Roman roof, ‘the main key to the sort of centripetal reaction or emotional response evoked by these edifices was the capacity of their concave forms to bring on an feeling of spread outing or lifting hollowness. ‘ ( 1982, p.176 ) The perceptual experience of infinite inside the baths would so hold been altered as the swimmer left the little heated altering suites and entered the country of the Great Bath. The warm bubbling H2O, with the ice chest tranquil infinite above would hold created two contrasting, yet complementary, centripetal experiences. This design meant that the activity of the H2O environment could be enjoyed while the oculus followed the way of lifting bluess, going upwards to the still repose of the vaulted roof. Leting the oculus to go, while bodily staying in the same topographic point would hold been an built-in portion of th e relaxation procedure. The tallness of the ceiling would hold besides added to the atmosphere by doing sounds to repeat. White limestone surrounded the bath which would hold been smooth to the touch, and excavated grounds suggests that statues and other shrine-like images decorated the inside, with a fountain in the Centre. It is possible to conceive of how the continually altering province of the Waterss would hold played upon the environing surfaces of the ornament, looking to bring forth fluctuations in coloring material and texture. As Veronica Strang says in her publication on H2O: The hypnotic qualities of H2O are of peculiar involvement in sing centripetal perceptual experience and the creative activity of significance. Schiffman ( 1996:101 ) notes that the oculus is automatically drawn to wavering or traveling stimulations, and Gell ( 1992 ) and Morphy ( 1991, 1992, 1994 ) have shown that shimmering or visually exciting forms can excite affectional responses in many different cultural contexts. The play and glare of H2O provide ocular stimulation that are rather different from those of most objects. The ocular involvement of inanimate objects is gleaned by the oculus actively following the signifier and coloring material and item. With H2O ( & amp ; # 8230 ; ) the oculus is presented with a luminescent image it can non ‘hold ‘ . Alternatively, it must merely absorb all of the beat of motion and the bantam displacements and alterations. ( 2003, p.51 ) . As in modern-day swimming baths it is likely that the Romans would hold enjoyed sitting beside the H2O to watch the drama of visible radiation and absorb the ambiance. From the remains found at Bath it appears that the design included sing countries: the bath itself lay in the Centre of an aisled hall 109ft long by 67ft broad, divided into a nave and two side aisles, or ambulatories, by uninterrupted arcades framed with pilasters and entablature like those in the entryway hall. Each ambulatory was provided with three exedrae, a cardinal rectangular deferral with semicircular 1s on either side, each framed by wharfs back uping arches in harmoniousness with the chief arcades. ( Cunliffe 1976, p.45 ) . These deferrals, placed within a symmetric program, would hold provided topographic points for people to sit and see the baths, while the uninterrupted arcades would hold led the line of vision around the inside, with the consequence of there being no beginning or terminal. This continuity of signifier in the chief country reflects its map as a consolidative infinite in two ways: one, architecturally associating the four different countries of the edifice, and two, supplying a public infinite befitting of the societal map of bathing itself which brought people together. To help the construct of bathing as a societal and a sacred experience certain characteristics were designed to appeal to the human senses. The floors and walls were decorated with mosaic forms in different colorss ; contrasts of coloring material being common in Roman architecture ( Macdonald 1982, p.176 ) , and as portion of the roof structures there stood tall columns in the cosmetic Corinthian manner. As a sacred topographic point, dedicated to Minerva, the therapist, visitants were tempted to throw offerings into the sacred H2O of the spring in hope of their wants being granted. The act of separating with money or something beloved is a ritual made possible by the spring being situated beneath the chief entryway hall. Excavations in 1878 by Mann discovered valuable offerings including pewter decorations, a gold earring, and a pin with a pearl attached. ( Cunliffe 1976, p.28 ) . The presence of the H2O beginning provides an temptation to the baths within, and moreover the gesture of the spring beneath would hold created a rich bubbling pool easy transforming the solid masonry and concrete walls into an aesthetically delighting yet functional infinite. The architecture of the baths edifice appears to hold been wholly devoted to the rite of bathing itself which occurred indoors. As Michael Wheeler says in Roman Art and Architecture ( 2001 ) :you went to the baths in great Numberss to speak to and about your friends and to work off the night-before. But one thing you surely did non make ; you ne'er glanced at the untidy composite of domes and gables outdoors as you entered. It was the interior of the edifice that mattered, with its looming wall-spaces that stretched the heads of designer and sculpturer and gave a sense of wellbeing to patron or client. ( p.16 ) . The experience of bathing was completed in a series of phases. The swimmers foremost entered the dressing room to alter, so after being anointed with oil proceeded to the series of chief bathing suites that varied in temperature ( net ref. 1 ) . In the calidarium swimmers had their organic structures scraped of oil and sweat, before come ining the frigidarium ( cold room ) , where there was a little cold pool. The swimmer so entered the Great Bath. The Romans had no quantitative measurings for temperature, ( Rook 1992, p.13 ) and despite the usage of the walls as warming in concurrence with under floor warming at that place would hold been comparatively small control over humidness compared to modern-day bath composites. Walls would hold been damp from capillary wet oozing up through the porous edifice stuffs and from condensation when heater humid air came into contact with colder surfaces. This meant that the visible radiation and heat of the bath might hold varied harmonizing to h ow many other people were utilizing it at the clip. Surely, these baths were designed to look their best when full of people & A ; # 8211 ; when the Waterss were traveling and the steam rise and breakage in the infinite above. The baths were alone in that they provided a extremely esteemed environment ( baths were frequently owned by emperors ) where personal rite could be conducted in a public infinite & A ; # 8211 ; which merely the presence of the H2O would let. The baths were ‘people ‘s castles, supplying a cultural focal point where everyone could bask luxury on a imperial graduated table every twenty-four hours. ‘ ( Rook 1992, p.20 ) . It is non hard to conceive of the many different odors & A ; # 8211 ; of different scented oils, steam, and hot organic structures. The baths composite was a wealth of money, leisure and animal experience, and the different stuffs used in the design reflect this. In the hall of the Great Bath lead lined the pool which met with the limestone beside it. This contrast of stuff was continued throughout in the broken signifiers of mosaic form interspersed with bronzy objects such as a bronze penstock in the north-east corner of the chief bath. ( Cunliffe 1 976, p.45 ) .As expected there appears to be a close relationship between the design of the baths at Avon and the centripetal experience of the spring H2O which was both a functional and an aesthetic feature.These two facets appear to hold been built-in to one another and it will be interesting to see how the relationship between architectural design and the human senses alters in the following instance survey where H2O within the glass marquee is present strictly for aesthetic grounds.The Glass Pavilion designed by Bruno Taut for the Werkbund Exhibition, 1914.This instance analyze expressions at the interplay between H2O, visible radiation, and the senses in the early Modern Expressionist design of Bruno Taut ‘s glass marquee. The building was commissioned by poet Peter Scheerbart who dreamed of a ‘soaring glass architecture ‘ as a liberating up of architectural design. ( Crasemann Collins 1962, p.12 ) . It was a fourteen-sided prism roofed by a dome with bluish, green, and gold glass panels which reflected the sky. ( Ward 2001, p.65 ) . Inside was a seven-tiered chamber whose walls were made of glass panels lined with glass mosaic, and a round stairway & A ; # 8211 ; an ‘unreal, spiritual flight of stepss that one descends as if through scintillating H2O ‘ ( Pehnt 1973, p.76 ) . On the lower degree there was a rotunda with a pool and H2O cascading down superimposed stairss so that the going sound of H2O would hold echoed up to the highest grade. Taut claimed that the construction had been designed in the spirit of a Gothic cathedral. As Kenneth Frampton ( 1994 ) says, ‘In consequence a ‘city Crown ‘ , that pyramidic signifier postulated by Taut as the cosmopolitan paradigm of all spiritual edifice, which together with the religion it would animate was an indispensable urban component for the restructuring of society. ‘ ( p.116 ) . This remark is reflected in the usage of H2O as a symbolic unifier in two ways. First as a physical presence that mirrors the refracted visible radiation from the glass panels, making a harmonic balance between floor and ceiling and a sense of integrity within the construction, and secondly as something that all living things and people need and understand as an indispensable portion of life & A ; # 8211 ; an indispensable ingredient if you like of Taut ‘s Utopian ideal. When standing at the top of the H2O cascade it was possible to see upwards through the round infinite in the center to the curving infinite of the upper grades beyond. This provided a ocular contrast between the fluid downward motion of H2O and the curving pyramidic signifier of the roof above. Further ocular delectations were to be found in the wealth of colorss used in the design. The cascade of H2O travelled over pale xanthous glass, ‘terminating in a deferral of deep violet in which images were projec ted from a kaleidoscope. ‘ ( Pehnt 1973, p.76. ) The presence of the H2O served to unite people ‘s experience of the visible radiation into one ocular constituent. Because this building was non designed to be a lasting construction it did non necessitate to run into the heavy physical demands of wear and tear. Thus it is more aesthetically delighting than the Roman bath edifice, which in many ways was more functional.The aisled hall of the baths had a basic rectangular signifier surrounded by solid rock masonry which gave the edifice a sense of permanency. In contrast, the round signifier of Taut ‘s skeletal construction would non hold stood by itself: the upper hall was domed with different colored glass panels set into strengthened concrete ribs and relied on the stiffening consequence of the panels for stableness. The aesthetic map of the arched roof has non changed since the clip of the Roman baths at Avon ; in both structures the opening out of the roof provides infinite in which the head is set free to see the animal delectations of the inside. Yet what differs in Taut ‘s marquee is the temporalty of the construction. The tall ness creates a self-contradictory feeling of impermanent permanency & A ; # 8211 ; a brief feeling that one is about liberated from the confines of earthly constructions into the kingdom of the sky & A ; # 8211 ; while the presence of the running H2O beneath reminds the spectator that they are still on Earth. In a 1928 essay on ‘The Aestheticss of Architecture, ‘ Bruno Taut spoke of his ‘love for clean smoothness ‘ ( quoted from Ward 2001, p.56. ) This doctrine is echoed in design of the marquee where the visible radiation which is cast down through the glass surrounds hits the lower grade and is instantly washed off and diffused by the running H2O. As Strang ( 2003, p.50 ) says, ‘the most changeless ‘quality ‘ of H2O is that it is non changeless, but is characterised by commutability and sensitiveness to alterations in the environment. ‘ Thus it is possible to visualize the experience of the marquee: the senses being continually stimulated by the changeableness and reverberation of the H2O, the shifting visible radiation through the glass and its contemplation in the H2O, even the odor of the humidness & A ; # 8211 ; all of which are at the same time and subtly altering harmonizing to the nature of the conditions outside. It is non difficul t to conceive of how a flicker of Sun might all of a sudden hold transformed the marquee into a thousand inkling pieces. Furthermore, the seven grades allow the witness to command their centripetal experience by traveling as near and as far off from the altering visible radiation forms as they desire. Differing degrees which induced different experiences was non a characteristic of the design in the Roman baths but a parallel can be drawn between this facet of the marquee and the galleried hallway of the baths where the populace could see the spring beneath. In the comparing between the two instance surveies so far, the rite of bathing with its associated centripetal delectations becomes replaced by the rite of aesthetic and centripetal grasp entirely & amp ; # 8211 ; without the H2O holding any practical map whatsoever. It provides an indispensable focal point, take awaying attending off from what would otherwise be a cold empty infinite. As Strang ( 2003 ) says of the belongingss of H2O: Physically, it is the ultimate ‘fluid ‘ , make fulling any containing form and, every bit easy, shriveling and vanishing into the Earth or vaporizing into the quintessence. It has an extraordinary ability to transfigure quickly into substances with oppositional qualities, that is, the extremely seeable, concrete solidness of ice, and the fugitive dematerialisation of steam. Each province is infinitely reversible, so that this polymorphous scope is ever potentially present. ( p.49 ) . It is this changeableness and potency of H2O that enables the marquee to map as a dynamic public, yet personal, edifice. The tiered degrees above allow room for private contemplation in a public infinite. It is clear that the map of the H2O differs to that of the Roman baths, nevertheless, the aesthetic experience in both fulfils a axiom quoted by Walter Gropius & A ; # 8211 ; that ‘art is none other than the transmutation of supramundane ideas into objects of centripetal perceptual experience. ‘ ( quoted from Pehnt 1973, p.35 ) . In footings of the baths at Avon and Taut ‘s marquee, what could hold been an ordinary ‘mundane ‘ experience & A ; # 8211 ; the act of bathing, the observation of an cosmetic construction, & A ; # 8211 ; is transformed by the design of the edifice in concurrence with the presence of H2O and its consequence on the senses into something extraordinary. The round signifier of the interior creates a bubble where the witness becomes isolated from the outside universe ; the altering visible radiation and the motion of H2O making a sense of eternity. As Simon Urwin ( 2003, pp.125-6 ) says: every organic structure has around it what might be called a ‘circle of presence ‘ that contributes to its ain designation of topographic point. When a organic structure is in relationship with others, their circles of presence affect each other. When a organic structure is put into an enclosure or cell its circle of presence is besides contained and possibly moulded. If this is true so the centripetal experience of the person in the marquee would be shaped by the round presences of the grades and the H2O below climaxing in a rich and permanent personal experience. In the Roman bath edifice we see a all right contrast to this experience & A ; # 8211 ; where the functional facet of the H2O would hold caused Urwin ‘s ‘circles of presence ‘ to be broken down so that public and private infinite become one. Indeed Taut himself stared that he demanded ‘no differentiation between public and private edifices. ‘ ( quoted from Jencks 1985, p.61 ) . As a concluding point for the instance of the marquee, it is deserving sing the really construction itself and the infinite it contains. Its map & A ; # 8211 ; although non practical like the baths & A ; # 8211 ; is to supply an intermediary topographic point between the exposure of the out-of-doorss and the confines of the indoors, a infinite out of clip. The usage of different colored glass creates a absorbing interplay between visible radiation and H2O while making an enclosure without the feeling of being enclosed. This brings up interesting issues associating to the boundaries of interior and exterior which will be looked at in greater item when comparing these surveies to Zumthor ‘s work subsequently on. The following instance survey explores an unfastened air piazza the design of which provides a blunt contrast to Taut ‘s marquee. The chapter aims to place the germinating complexness of the relationship between architectural design, H2O and the senses & A ; # 8211 ; traveling on now to an illustration built in 1974.

Relativism and Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Relativism and Philosophy - Essay Example Relativism has a lot of weaknesses among them being that in this theory, only man is the measure of all things. This poses a threat to the truths that are proved scientifically because they are likely not be accepted by relativists. Also here, everything is relative and there is no difference between knowledge and opinion. Relativism may not be good because opinions that are not true will still be accepted and considered right by individuals and cultures. Many people are lost because of believing in relativism. It takes away any reason one might have for considering the opinions and arguments of others in forming ones belief. It undercuts any reason anyone might have for being critical about their own beliefs. An individual does not have the opportunity of gauging the level of truth in his or her belief and therefore ends up believing every single detail about the belief.   Ã‚  Philosophy is the free and rational inquiry into the limits of human knowledge and into the most general categories applicable to experience and reality. It involves investigating human experience, reality, knowledge and existence. It seeks to build theories and explanations by asking questions and challenging any assumptions made. The study of philosophy provides important skills to individuals such as problem solving, critical thinking, logic and being able to think differently and independently. Philosophy brings about self- improvement in the life of an individual and makes one to view things in a different manner.

Compare and contrast different computers and smartphones Coursework

Compare and contrast different computers and smartphones - Coursework Example This monitor was good for my needs since VGA is outdated, HDMI is the new technology that I was looking at. My CPU is pretty solid as it has HP ProDesk 400 Desktop PC . It has an Intel Core i5-4670 with 1 TB hard drive storage and processing capability of 8GB. I picked this system because it is fast, robust, and has a lot of storage capability. This will allow me to have mass storage with 1TB and processing power if I wanted to upload would be supplemented with fast processing 8 GB. I wanted a 64-bit because it would enable my computer to have speed. The biggest benefit of having the HP ProDesk is that 1TB of storage. Since I have to deal with a lot of storage capabilities this becomes a focal point. The i5 is one of the best processors in the market right now which makes it have supreme capabilities. Anytime a user buys equipment, it is necessary to be aware of the pricing with the necessary specs. I went for a company such as ASUS for monitors because of the price. However, when it came to desktop- it was evident I needed to use something that was much more functional even if it meant to spend more money. Shop online for your ideal laptop, ultra book, or tablet. What will it cost? From where will you buy it? Why did you pick this particular computer vendor? Describe this system are far as the CPU, memory, busses, ports, hard drive, wireless networking, battery life, and screen including resolution and size. What features were most important to you? I bought a $661.83 HP Probook from Tigerdirect, which was an i5 and it was great for all my working purposes. The i5 again gives me supreme functioning capabilities. In addition, the laptop is lightweight, around 5lbs. One thing to be incognizant is that 64 bit RAM is pretty decent as well. The battery life is up to 5 hours, which makes it very feasible when I have to go to work or use for personal

Trust and Religion Counseling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Trust and Religion Counseling - Essay Example The problem is that the trust that once broken is so difficult to restore, and sometimes it is never restored. Once my friend wanted to solve a problem in his family, I advised him to consult a counselor, who also happened to be my best friend. My friend revealed the story to the counselor and sought the best advice. But the counselor, who was without any professional ethics, disclosed even the minute details to me. Here, the trust is broken and the trust reducing behavior of the counselor is the reason behind the problem. The trust reducing behavior from either side may result in the temporary or permanent break in a relationship. There are so many factors that reinforce the trust-building measures, and because of the negative influence of these factors, it is more difficult to maintain the trust. To maintain a healthy relationship the qualities that a person must possess are: word keeping habit, keeping honesty in communication, respecting the other person’s skills and abilities, and unguarded interaction. The fulfillment of the expectations from either side strengthens the trust and negligence of expectations badly affects the trust. There are certain factors that negatively influence the trust. Concealing the real motive and to act, i.e. to pretend as a trustworthy person and conceal the real motive is just cheating. Sometimes, relevant information may be twisted or falsified for personal benefit. This attitude leads to misunderstanding among people and hinders trust. Dominating tendency and misbehavior also hinder the growth of trust. Accepting the credit for others work create misunderstanding and ultimately to mistrust. The most powerful factor which hinders trust is gossiping. Because of uncontrollable tendency to create gossips about others, once, my friend was forced to attend a counseling session. After three successive sessions, he was able to withstand the bad habit.  

Musical Theater Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Musical Theater - Research Paper Example All over the world â€Å"Musicals† are performed. Sometimes they are performed at big budget venues such as Broadway theatre productions and West End theatre. It is sometimes performed on small scale theatres such as Off-Broadway and Fringe Theatre. The fact is that it is present in almost every corner of the world. Since from the start of twentieth century â€Å"book musicals† has been the source of musical plays in which dances and songs are integrated into a well composed story, having some real dramatic goals and as a result it evoked real emotions except laughter. There are three different componenets of book musicals, the first one is the book, the second is lyrics and the third is songs. The book refers to the main story and its spoken words. Book is also sometimes referred to as the combination of lyrics and dialogues together. In opera it is known as the libretto which mean a concise book in ltalian. The creative team of any musical have the responsibility to interpretate the musical in such a way that it influence the audience to a great extent. (Miller, 34) The creative team of each production consists of a musical director, director, orchestrator and choreographer. The technical aspects of musical production include props (the stage properties), set design, sound, lighting an d costumes. These technical aspects change from one production to the other depending on the story. The book musical usually do not have fixed length. It can have only single act and sometimes it contains several acts of different lengths. Musicals are normally presented in two different lengths with intermission in between. (Miller, 76) The first act is usually longer than the second one. Most of the musicals lasts from one hour to one and a half hour. In the first act most of the music and all of the characters are introduced. It often ends with plot complications. The second act reprises some important

ESOLLinguistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ESOLLinguistics - Essay Example Furthermore, written text production is always part of the general dynamics of human behavior. People write (or speak) because they want to achieve particular goals in particular situations in a particular way, or because they cannot achieve them in nonlinguistic ways. Consequently, written text production should not (only) be reconstructed as the outcome of separate subsystems, but its theoretical reconstruction must show the greatest possible compatibility with the relevant processes investigated in general psychology (i.e., with perceptive, cognitive, motivational and emotional processes). Basically, Writing is a demanding cognitive activity, yet some people appear to write without great effort. Writing involves both engagement (the direct recording of conceptual associations) and reflection (the deliberate and cognitively demanding process of re-representing embedded processes and exploring cognitive structures). An engaged writer who has created an appropriate context and constraints can be carried along by the flow of mental association, without deliberative effort. Most writing involves deliberate planning, but also makes use of chance discovery. The products of engaged writing become source material to inspire and constrain deliberate planning.

Political Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Political Economy - Essay Example If a country is relatively more efficient in the production of a good than another country then it has comparative advantage in production of that good (Kili 2002, p.3). However, the theory itself is also one of the most commonly misunderstood principles (Suranovic 2003). Suranovic lists that one of its sources of "misunderstandings" derives from its property of being counter-intuitive, that is, many results from its formal model are contrary to simple logic. Secondly, the theory is easy to be confused with another concept regarding advantageous trade, known in trade theory as the theory of absolute advantage. This confusion between these two concepts leads many people to believe that they have understood comparative advantage in full when in reality, it is absolute advantage that they understand. Finally, the theory of comparative advantage is all too often presented only in its mathematical form. The use of numerical examples or diagrammatic representations is extremely useful in illustrating the basic results and the deeper implications of the theory. However, it is also easy to see the results mathematically, without ever understanding the basic intuition of the theory (Suranovic 2003). The theory on comparative advantage was first described by Robert Torrens in 1815 in an essay on the corn trade where he concluded that it was to England's benefit to exchange various goods with Poland in return for corn, even though it might be possible to produce that corn more cheaply in England than Poland. However, the theory is attributed to David Ricardo, who explained it in greater detail in his 1817 book The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation and explained the concept on foreign trade in an example involving the same two countries. The theory has been developed in the context of Ricardo's labour theory of value. The following table shows Ricardo's 1817 example of foreign trade production functions on cloth and wine for England and Portugal in one year's time: Output/Country Wine Cloth England 120 100 Portugal 80 90 According to Ricardo, if England is circumstanced that in order to produce the cloth may require the labour of 100 men in a year and if this country attempted to make wine, the labour of 120 men will be needed at the same time. Ricardo quotes that it would be in England's best in interest to import wine and to purchase it through the exportation of cloth.1 On the other hand, to produce the wine in Portugal, the labour of 80 men will be required for one year while producing cloth in the same country will need the labour of 90 men for the same time. According to Ricardo, it would be therefore best for Portugal to export wine in exchange for cloth. In Ricardo's words: "This exchange might even take place, notwithstanding that the commodity imported by Portugal could be produced there with less labour than in England. Though she (Portugal) could make the cloth with the labour of 100 men to produce it, because it would be advantageous to her rather to employ her capital (the labour employed) in the production of winethan she could produce by diverting her portion of capital from the cultivation of vines to the manufacture of cloth." According to Feucht (2002, p.3), the reason for comparative advantage is that even if the costs for all products may be lower in one country than in its trading partner, there is still the one product where the relative cost saving compared to all

Difference Between Backing Up and Archiving of Data Essay Example for Free

Difference Between Backing Up and Archiving of Data Essay Explain the difference between backing up and archiving of data, state the process taken for both and give reasons why they are necessary. It is important to know the basic differences between backup and archiving information, in order to prevent loss of important files on a computer. There is a big difference between the two and it comes down to variables between short term and long term storage. Backing up important data files on a computer should be done often, sometimes once a day or more. Thinking of it like a short term insurance policy, backups can be done using USG keys, disks, even to tape. Sometimes this information is overwritten each time it is saved, as new tiles are being added. Backups are primarily used for operational recovery, to quickly recover an overwritten file or corrupted database. The focus is on speed, both to back up and recover, and on data integrity. Archives, on the other hand, typically store a version of a file that no longer changing, or should not be changing. For example, an accountant for a small business that uses QuickBooks will back up his files regularly in order to prevent a disastrous loss of inform. He will entrust that information to an online backup system that is updated at the end of each business day. This way, if a problem occurs with the individual computer or network, then there is a way to resurrect the book without having to enter a month of work. Archiving, on the other hand, is the equivalent of a long term insurance policy for files that are rarely accessed or never changed. This type of storage creates a history of the files in an authentic form that can be accessed weeks from now or years from now. The storage media for archiving requires that it have a long, stable life. If the owner of the company died tomorrow, where would you begin to look for important documents? Or what if an audit of 2003 came up? Creating an archive is essential to traching down vital information to a company or individual. Typically, archives have been stored on magnetic tapes in the past, but with cost of online data archiving solutions becoming more practical and inexpensive, you will see more use of them. Offsite data archiving is highly recommended in the even t of a disaster. Another way of looking at the differences is that backup contains multiple restore points, allowing you to go back in time in case of a virus, accidental deletion or accidentally saving over a file. Archived information will only store a singly version of a file and this is rarely changing, if ever at all. Often archived data will also span decades of files. Archiving may require certain policies or rules that approve who have access, how long the records need to be stored etc.

How Authors Affected the Frontier Movement Essay Example for Free

How Authors Affected the Frontier Movement Essay The Frontier Movement is a period in American history that refers to the westward movement of Americans toward the Pacific Ocean during the mid-1800s lasting until the early 1900’s. This movement was characterized by an expansionist zeal for opportunity and adventure, but was also heavily characterized by widespread social oppression and reform. It was during this time that both authors and reformists were inspired to write and share their ideas, many of which called attention to the often ignored social injustices of the time. These author’s ideas not only were inspired by the movement (the beginning of American Literature), but also heavily fueled and contributed to the movement in return. Authors Mark Twain and Susan B. Anthony, for example, played an important role in the frontier movement through their writings as they used these to convey the feelings they held toward America’s crooked social discrimination and socio-economic disparities. Mark Twain and Susan B. Anthony are considered to be two of America’s first American Literature authors. Mark Twain, known as the â€Å"Father of America Literature†, became an author in the West after the end of the Civil War. Susan B. Anthony, known as one of the first women’s activists, works focused mainly on the gender inequality customary of the time. Both of these author’s works are recognized as being bold and reflecting much of the American frontier movement’s attitude and ailments. Their works helped fuel their readers understanding of who they were and helped inspire their audience in the spirit of the frontier movement. Mark Twain’s works often embodied the newly discovered American frontier spirit of individuality and adventure. His works were both entertaining and encouraged Americans to create their own destiny. This was both a popular and significant notion during the frontier movement as it embodied the idea’s Americans had about expanding westward in search of a new life. In addition to his inspirational and humorous works, his writings also addressed the social discrimination he witness during the era of the frontier movement. Many of his works, like Huckleberry Finn for example, showed the possibility of bringing change to a world dominated by racism and foolishness. His works both captured American’s imagination, inspired American’s frontier attitude, and called attention to social wrongs. Susan B. Anthony’s works focused more on the boldness of the American. Rather than idolizing the spirit of America, she often called Americans out on the social injustices prevalent throughout America during the frontier era and promoted change. She called attention to both American racism and especially gender inequality. While Americans were beginning to identify the distinctly American characteristics they took pride in, Susan B. Anthony identified the aspects of American life that Americans came to realize they should be ashamed of. Her writings and causes were bold, reflecting the rugged American Spirit, but her works also helped shape the social aspects of the American Frontier movement. The frontier movement of America marked the beginning of American identity, and thus the beginning of American Literature. It was this movement that influenced the works of becoming authors, many, who in turn, influenced the frontier movement. Mark Twain and Sarah B. Anthony both contributed to the frontier movement through their writings in that they helped Americans realize their identity. During the frontier movement, Americans began to see themselves as an adventurous and bold people, and it was these authors who helped Americans gain and develop an understanding of who they were, even though their ideas were often negative. In short, by providing Americans with literature about who the American people were, the authors helped inspire Americans to express this new attitude of adventure and recognize American social values in the Frontier Movement.

The Theory Of Supply And Hilton Hotels Economics Essay

The Theory Of Supply And Hilton Hotels Economics Essay Hilton hotels are among those hotels in world who provide all facilities that a normal person expects from caterings to business travel and leisure guests. They own more than 2700 hotels around the world starting from Europe to Asia. Their online sales at present are at the top of the list compared to other hotels. The hotel was founded in the year 1919, and the founder of Hilton hotel is Conard Hilton. Conard Hilton was a well disciplined and determined person who always had a keen interest in expanding the hotel space by every square foot so as to make the customers happy feel comfortable. In the year 1919 in Cisco, Texas, the first Hilton hotel was constructed by Mr. Hilton. And the Paris, the granddaughter of Conard Hilton, who has estimate $300 million family fortune. She is one of the hotel magnates of this huge Hilton organisation. Conard Hiltons (1887-1979) birth place is San Antonio. He made a statement that the hotel established by him was one of the best in all cities and he posted the phrase Take me to Hilton. Hilton hotels are popular for offering high class accommodation facilities for their guest in the busy destinations. Mp3 friendly alarms are established for the guest to wake up and the guest has full freedom to select his or her own tunes for the day. They are famous for the level and comfort that they provide to their customers. At present the Port of San Diego and Hilton are planning to establish a hotel with 1200 rooms on the waterfront adjacent to the San Diego Convention Centre. With the hard work and dedication by the meeting planners of Hilton hotel the H Honours program effectiveness has grown from 34% in 2002 to 40% now. Using the same business rate stay, the program members earn both H Honours points as well as airline miles, and this is usually called as Double Dipping. And there is a card called The American Express Hilton H honours Program Credit card through which a customer can earn points and have a free stay at Hilton hotel as well. Hilton Malta which is one of the most prestigious hotel promises the words best in accommodation for their customers, with high class treatment and service. The top priority chain of Hilton is their business travel. Using this they have made a huge change in their organisation as well. Since 1919, every time they have opened a way for new innovations for executives. The Managing Director of Sales in Business Travel for Hilton Hotel Corporation at present is Maureen Mackey. Hilton hotels are at present the official hotel group of uk. They have more than 2700 hotels around the globe at present. Supply The theory of supply considered as one of the fundamental theory in the economics. According to the economic point of view supply means that the amount of the product that producers willing to provide at a particular price over a given period of time. Law of supply Law of supply means that when other things are equal there will be a direct relationship between price and quantity of supply. We can explain easily with a diagram In this diagram x axis shows that quantity of supply that provided by producers to customers and y axiss explain price of the product. The first time price is p1 and quantity of supply is q1. Then there is a increase in price from p1 to p2 as a result supply also increases to q1 to q2.this is considered as theory of supply Factors affecting Supply There are many factors that affecting supply of a commodity or services the main factors are Price of the commodity: There is a direct relation between price and supply of a product or service. That means when price of a commodity increases producers try to sell more unit of the product. Because main goal of every firm is to achieve profit. When price increases producers try to achieve more by increasing supply of that product or services Price of factors of production Factors of production also influence supply. The word factors of production is mainly included land labour..etc .so when price of factors of production increases producers cannot supply much to consumer. On the same time he can increase his production or he can supply more products when the price of factors of production decreases Prices of other commodities: Price of other commodities means that in a company producer produce two products on the same time. But the quantity of the product supplied will be different. Because it depends upon the price of product. That is if one commodity got high price firm try to supply more of that commodity Change in cost of production: like factors of production cost of production also important in change in supply. Because firm can supply more unit of product by reducing cost of production Technological advancement: technological advantage is very important in every part of product. That is there is a direct relation between technology and supply. When technology improve supply also improve Climate: weather or climate is always influence change in supply. When there is a good climate Firm can supply a good quantity of product Taste and preference Taste and preference always help firm to achieve increase in supply. That means if firm can produce goods which can satisfy peoples taste then producer can supply a good amount of product Tax rate Tax rate and subsidies plays an important role in supply of a product. There is a relation between both of them. For example if tax rate of a product or services increases producers try to reduce the supply of that particular product. If tax rate fall firms try to sell more of product as possible but subsidies have different look if subsidies that given to a firm will increases producers try to increase supply of that product and vice versa Governments influence Every organisation needs a good climate of administration otherwise new producers will not enter in market. On the same time governments should give a liberal policy to business man if not that will affect supply of commodity. If government restriction is highly in a state producers are not willing to supply more quantity of product and vice versa B) Price elasticity of supply Price elasticity of supply is also considered as one of the major principles of economics. Price elasticity means that the relationship between changes in quantity supplied and changes in price. For the measurement of this change is known as price elasticity of supply. There is a formula for that price elasticity of supply that is PES =change in quantity supplied/change in price There is many kind of elasticity is there this all based on change in price rate. They are perfectly elastic, perfectly inelastic, elastic, inelastic and unit elastic. We can elaborate this 1) Perfectly elastic That means at the current price suppliers can supply any amount 2) Perfectly inelastic Perfectly inelastic means change in price does not affect quantity of supply. That means the rate of supply is always same when price change 3) Elastic Elastic means that when price increases supply also increases but change in supply wil be more than when it compare to price 4) Inelastic Inelastic means that there is a small proportion of change in price leads to large proportion of supply 5) Unit Unit elasticity means that rate of change in supply and rate of change in price will be same. These are the main 5 elasticity of supply .there are many factors that affect elasticity of supply they are following 1) Spare production capacity It means that if business got a spare capacity for his production then business can increase output as a result supply will be elastic to demand .that is why in recession time goods and services of Hilton hotel remain elastic (2) Stocks of finished products and components It means that raw materials and finished goods are high level in a market the supply will be elastic. On other hand if stocks or finished goods are low at market. Supply should be inelastic to its demand (3) The ease and cost of factor substitution This means that if factors of production are easily available or mobility of production factors are high that will affect elasticity of supply .that means it should be high. The hotels like Hilton always try to keep their factors available easily otherwise that will affect their business badly (4) Time period involved in the production process Time period is considered as one of the major factor that affect production process. That is usually supply of a product is high elastic at long time period because producers can adjust or rearrange production.

How To Writte An Essay :: essays papers

How To Writte An Essay Approaching the Essay As a student you will almost certainly have to produce essays during your course. Some will be written during term time and contribute to course work assessment, others will be answers to questions set in formal examinations. An essay is usually defined as a continuous piece of writing ranging in length from at least 500 words to about 5,000 words for a special or extended essay. But this booklet is not just about 'writing' essays, it's about the various stages you need to consider when producing an essay and about the ways in which producing an essay helps you to learn. The time given to each of these stages will of course vary according to the conditions surrounding any particular essay. Let's look at the first stage -which is approaching the essay. Why write essays? If we understand the value of doing something, it usually helps to make us feel more positive and confident about the task. So what is the value of writing an essay? Here are some ideas - you might think of more. It forces you to organize your own thinking and develop your own point of view on issues. In one sense, writing is the crucial step which helps you get to grips with new ideas and new experiences. Without that step, it's very difficult or impossible to know how much you've really understood. Expressing yourself - ideas, new information, or whatever, in written form, really is a life skill -which you will need in almost every area of work. Essay writing gives you practice and develops that skill. If it's a term time essay, you can see it as giving you practice for writing under exam conditions. And don't forget that the essay provides very useful revision material. Lastly, it gives you a chance to get feedback from your tutor about their assessment of how much you've understood and how well you are able to communicate this. With your tutor's help, you can identify areas of strength and weakness so you know where to concentrate your energies next time. So, approach your essay positively. It can be a very valuable learning opportunity. Course conventions? Of course, you must also check out any particular requirements your course or department might have for that particular essay. How long should it be? Should it be presented in a particular way -typed, for example? If you know the answers to these questions, it will help you to feel more confident about the task.

Contemporary Societys Crisis of Masculinity Essay -- Papers Men Mascu

Contemporary Society's Crisis of Masculinity Works Cited Not Included Masculinity is the word used to describe the broad stereotyped traits traditionally ascribed to all males in British society and the notion of how men should appear and behave. It is more accurate to refer to 'masculinities', to reflect the complexity and diversity of masculinity today. There are important differences made between 'hegemonic' and 'subordinate' masculinities; hegemonic masculinity is the dominant western image - white, heterosexual and middle class, subordinate the diverse masculinities - homosexual men, black men and the working class. David Beckham is a modern icon who has expressed and challenged some of the dominant assumptions of masculinity and identity. He is a talented and committed footballer yet his experiments with fashion and his posing for shoots are taken by some as an affront to the conventionalities of traditional masculine behaviour. Rutherford stated that 'the reality of men's heterosexual identities is that their endurance is contingent upon an array of structures and institutions'. He believes that if these structures are threatened or weakened then masculine identities can be threatened or weakened. Rutherford thinks that five changes have undermined the male dominance of certain structures and institutions. These changes are 1) working-class masculinities threatened by the decline of heavy manual industry. Male unemployment has risen while female employment has increased. 2) Violent and sexual abuse of women and children has become more widely publicised and less tolerated. 3) Men's roles within the family have been questioned.... ... genuine rise in male dissatisfaction for which there are numerous causes. The growing assertiveness of women and the lack of women prepared to be the property of patriarchal men. Male power is being overthrown. There may be a crisis of masculinity, but 'Men still outnumber women in positions of power across the globe, still glower downwards through the glass ceiling, still strut the cabinet and boardrooms in every developed country in the world, the seeming masters of their fate and everybody else's. In the developing world the situation is even more unequal. The gender disparity in sharing the burden of unpaid work is stark, and for all the talk of equality women throughout the world continue to work longer hours than men and are paid very much less for it. The colonists are still in command.' (Clare, 2000)

Management Information System Questions

————————————————- MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM Question 1(10 Marks) Discuss five (5) challenges of Management Information System (MIS). Answers Introduction A Management Information System (MIS) provides information which is needed to manage organizations effectively. Management information systems involve three primary resources such as people, technology and information or decision making. Management information systems are distinct from other information systems in that they are used to analyze operation activities in the organization.Academically, the term is commonly used to refer to the group of information management methods tied to the automation support of human decision making, e. g. decision support systems, expert systems and executive information systems. The Challenge of Management Information System (MIS) Although information technology is advancing at a bli nding pace, there is nothing easy or mechanical about building and using information systems. There are five major challenges confronting managers: 1. The information systems investment challengeIt is obvious that one of the greatest challenges facing managers today is ensuring that their companies do indeed obtain meaningful returns on the money they spend on information systems. It’s one thing to use information technology to design, produce, deliver, and maintain new products. It’s another thing to make money doing it. How can organizations obtain a sizable payoff from their investment in information systems? How can management ensure that information systems contribute to corporate value?Senior management can be expected to ask these questions: How can we evaluate our information systems investments as we do other investments? Are we receiving the return on investment from our systems that we should? Do our competitors get more? Far too many firms still cannot answ er these questions. Their executives are likely to have trouble determining how much they actually spend on technology or how to measure the returns on their technology investments. Most companies lack a clear-cut decision-making process for eciding which technology investments to pursue and for managing those investments. 2. The strategic challenge What complementary assets are needed to use information technology effectively? Despite heavy information technology investments, many organizations are not realizing significant business value from their systems, because they lack—or fail to appreciate—the complementary assets required to make their technology assets work. The power of computer hardware and software has grown much more rapidly than the ability of organizations to apply and use this technology.To benefit fully from information technology, realize genuine productivity, and become competitive and effective, many organizations actually need to be redesigned. T hey will have to make fundamental changes in employee and management behavior, develop new work models, retire obsolete work rules, and eliminate the inefficiencies of outmoded business processes and organizational structures. New technology alone will not produce meaningful business benefits. 3. The globalization challengeHow can firms understand the requirements of a global economic environment? The rapid growth in international trade and the emergence of a global economy call for information systems that can support both producing and selling goods in many different countries. In the past, each regional office of a multinational corporation focused on solving its own unique information problems. Given language, cultural, and political differences among countries, this focus frequently resulted in chaos and the failure of central management controls.To develop integrated, multinational, information systems, businesses must develop global hardware, software, and communications stan dards; create cross-cultural accounting and reporting structures; and design transnational business processes. 4. The information technology infrastructure challenge: How can organizations develop an information technology infrastructure that can support their goals when business conditions and technologies are changing so rapidly? Many companies are saddled with expensive and unwieldy information technology platforms that cannot adapt to innovation and change.Their information systems are so complex and brittle that they act as constraints on business strategy and execution. Meeting new business and technology challenges may require redesigning the organization and building a new information technology (IT) infrastructure. Creating the IT infrastructure for a digital firm is an especially formidable task. Most companies are crippled by fragmented and incompatible computer hardware, software, telecommunications networks, and information systems that prevent information from flowing freely between different parts of the organization.Although Internet standards are solving some of these connectivity problems, creating data and computing platforms that span the enterprise—and, increasingly, link the enterprise to external business partners—is rarely as seamless as promised. Many organizations are still struggling to integrate their islands of information and technology. 5. Ethics and security challenge: The responsibility and control challenge: How can organizations ensure that their information systems are used in an ethically and socially responsible manner?How can we design information systems that people can control and understand? Although information systems have provided enormous benefits and efficiencies, they have also created new ethical and social problems and challenges. A major management challenge is to make informed decisions that are sensitive to the negative consequences of information systems as well to the positive ones. Managers face an ongoing struggle to maintain security and control. Today, the threat of unauthorized penetration or disruption of information systems has never been greater.Information systems are so essential to business, government, and daily life that organizations must take special steps to ensure their security, accuracy, and reliability. A firm invites disaster if it uses systems that can be disrupted or accessed by outsiders, that do not work as intended, or that do not deliver information in a form that people can correctly use. Information systems must be designed so that they are secure, function as intended, and so that humans can control the process. QUESTION 2 (10 Marks)Explain with example (s) one (1) of the following Enterprise Applications: a) ERP b) SCM c) CRM Answers a) ERP Introduction In 1990, Gartner Group first employed the acronym ERP as an extension of material requirements planning (MRP), later manufacturing resource planning and computer-integrated manufacturing. W ithout supplanting these terms, ERP came to represent a larger whole, reflecting the evolution of application integration beyond manufacturing. Not all ERP packages were developed from a manufacturing core.Vendors variously began with accounting, maintenance and human resources. By the mid-1990s, ERP systems addressed all core functions of an enterprise. Beyond corporations, governments and non-profit organizations also began to employ ERP systems. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems integrate internal and external management information across an entire organization, embracing finance or accounting, manufacturing, sales and service, customer relationship management, etc. ERP systems automate this activity with an integrated software application.Their purpose is to facilitate then flow of information between all business functions inside the boundaries of the organization and manage the connections to outside stakeholders. ERP systems can ru n on a variety of computer hardware and network configurations, typically employing a database as a repository for information. Characteristics ERP systems typically include the following characteristics:- * An integrated systems that operates in real time (or next to real time), without relying on periodic updates. * A common database, which supports all applications. * A consistent look and feel throughout each module. Installation of the system without elaborate application/data integration by the Information Technology (IT) department. Examples: * Finance/ Accounting : General ledger, payables, cash management, fixed assets, receivables, budgeting and consolidation. * Human Resources : payroll, training, benefits, 401K, recruiting and diversity management. * Manufacturing : Engineering, bill of materials, work orders, scheduling, capacity, workflow management, quality control, cost management, manufacturing process, manufacturing projects, manufacturing flow, activity based cost ing, product lifecycle management. Supply chain management : Order to cash, inventory, order entry, purchasing, product configurator, supply chain planning, supplier scheduling, inspection of goods, claim processing, commissions. * Project management : Costing, billing, time and expense, performance units, activity management. * Customer relationship management : Sales and marketing, commissions, service, customer contact, call center support. * Data services : Various â€Å"self–service† interfaces for customers, suppliers and/or employees. * Access control : Management of user privileges for various processes. Components:- * Transactional database Management portal/dashboard * Business intelligence system * Customizable reporting * External access via technology such as web services * Search * Document management * Messaging/chat/wiki * Workflow management Connectivity to Plant Floor Information ERP systems connect to real–time data and transaction data in a v ariety of ways. These systems are typically configured by systems integrators, who bring unique knowledge on process, equipment, and vendor solutions. Direct integration—ERP systems have connectivity (communications to plant floor equipment) as part of their product offering.This requires the vendors to offer specific support for the plant floor equipment that their customers operate. ERP vendors must be expert in their own products, and connectivity to other vendor products, including competitors. Database integration—ERP systems connect to plant floor data sources through staging tables in a database. Plant floor systems deposit the necessary information into the database. The ERP system reads the information in the table. The benefit of staging is that ERP vendors do not need to master the complexities of equipment integration. Connectivity becomes the responsibility of the systems integrator.Enterprise appliance transaction modules (EATM)—These devices commu nicate directly with plant floor equipment and with the ERP system via methods supported by the ERP system. EATM can employ a staging table, Web Services, or system–specific program interfaces (APIs). The benefit of an EATM is that it offers an off–the–shelf solution. Custom–integration solutions—Many system integrators offer custom solutions. These systems tend to have the highest level of initial integration cost, and can have a higher long term maintenance and reliability costs. Long term costs can be minimized through careful system testing and thorough documentation.Custom–integrated solutions typically run on workstation or server class computers. Implementation ERP's scope usually implies significant changes to staff work processes and practices. Generally, three types of services are available to help implement such changes—consulting, customization, and support. Implementation time depends on business size, number of modules, customization, the scope of process changes, and the readiness of the customer to take ownership for the project. Modular ERP systems can be implemented in stages. The typical project for a large enterprise consumes about 14 months and requires around 150 consultants.Small projects can require months; multinational and other large implementations can take years. Customization can substantially increase implementation times. Process preparation Implementing ERP typically requires changes in existing business processes. Poor understanding of needed process changes prior to starting implementation is a main reason for project failure. It is therefore crucial that organizations thoroughly analyze business processes before implementation. This analysis can identify opportunities for process modernization. It also enables an assessment of the alignment of current processes with those provided by the ERP system.Research indicates that the risk of business process mismatch is decreased by: * linking current processes to the organization's strategy; * analyzing the effectiveness of each process; * understanding existing automated solutions. ERP implementation is considerably more difficult (and politically charged) in decentralized organizations, because they often have different processes, business rules, data semantics, authorization hierarchies and decision centers. This may require migrating some business units before others, delaying implementation to work through the necessary changes for each unit, possibly reducing integration (e. . linking via Master data management) or customizing the system to meet specific needs. A potential disadvantage is that adopting â€Å"standard† processes can lead to a loss of competitive advantage. While this has happened, losses in one area are often offset by gains in other areas, increasing overall competitive advantage. Configuration Configuring an ERP system is largely a matter of balancing the way the customer wants t he system to work with the way it was designed to work. ERP systems typically build many changeable parameters that modify system operation.For example, an organization can select the type of inventory accounting—FIFO or LIFO—to employ, whether to recognize revenue by geographical unit, product line, or distribution channel and whether to pay for shipping costs when a customer returns a purchase. Customization ERP systems are theoretically based on industry best practices and are intended to be deployed â€Å"as is†. ERP vendors do offer customers configuration options that allow organizations to incorporate their own business rules but there are often functionality gaps remaining even after the configuration is complete.ERP customers have several options to reconcile functionality gaps, each with their own pros/cons. Technical solutions include rewriting part of the delivered functionality, writing a homegrown bolt-on/add-on module within the ERP system, or int erfacing to an external system. All three of these options are varying degrees of system customization, with the first being the most invasive and costly to maintain. Alternatively, there are non-technical options such as changing business practices and/or organizational policies to better match the delivered ERP functionality.Key differences between customization and configuration include: * Customization is always optional, whereas the software must always be configured before use (e. g. , setting up cost/profit center structures, organizational trees, purchase approval rules, etc. ) * The software was designed to handle various configurations, and behaves predictably in any allowed configuration. * The effect of configuration changes on system behavior and performance is predictable and is the responsibility of the ERP vendor. The effect of customization is less predictable, is the customer's responsibility and increases testing activities. Configuration changes survive upgrades to new software versions. Some customizations (e. g. code that uses pre–defined â€Å"hooks† that are called before/after displaying data screens) survive upgrades, though they require retesting. Other customizations (e. g. those involving changes to fundamental data structures) are overwritten during upgrades and must be re-implemented. Customization Advantages: * Improves user acceptance * Offers the potential to obtain competitive advantage vis-a-vis companies using only standard features. Customization Disadvantages: * Increases time and resources required to both implement and maintain. Inhibits seamless communication between suppliers and customers who use the same ERP system un-customized. * Over reliance on customization undermines the principles of ERP as a standardizing software platform Extensions ERP systems can be extended with third–party software. ERP vendors typically provide access to data and functionality through published interfaces. Extensio ns offer features such as:- * archiving, reporting and republishing; * capturing transactional data, e. g. using scanners, tills or RFID * access to specialized data/capabilities, such as syndicated marketing data and associated trend analytics. advanced planning and scheduling (APS) Data migration Data migration is the process of moving/copying and restructuring data from an existing system to the ERP system. Migration is critical to implementation success and requires significant planning. Unfortunately, since migration is one of the final activities before the production phase, it often receives insufficient attention. The following steps can structure migration planning: * Identify the data to be migrated * Determine migration timing * Generate the data templates * Freeze the toolset Decide on migration-related setups * Define data archiving policies and procedures. Comparison to special–purpose applications Advantages The fundamental advantage of ERP is that integrating the myriad processes by which businesses operate saves time and expense. Decisions can be made more quickly and with fewer errors. Data becomes visible across the organization. Tasks that benefit from this integration include: * Sales forecasting, which allows inventory optimization * Chronological history of every transaction through relevant data compilation in every area of operation. Order tracking, from acceptance through fulfillment * Revenue tracking, from invoice through cash receipt * Matching purchase orders (what was ordered), inventory receipts (what arrived), and costing (what the vendor invoiced) ERP systems centralize business data, bringing the following benefits: * They eliminate the need to synchronize changes between multiple systems—consolidation of finance, marketing and sales, human resource, and manufacturing applications * They bring legitimacy and transparency in each bit of statistical data. They enable standard product naming/coding. * They provide a comprehensive enterprise view (no â€Å"islands of information†). They make real–time information available to management anywhere, any time to make proper decisions. * They protect sensitive data by consolidating multiple security systems into a single structure. Disadvantages * Customization is problematic. * Re–engineering business processes to fit the ERP system may damage competitiveness and/or divert focus from other critical activities * ERP can cost more than less integrated and or less comprehensive solutions. High switching costs associated with ERP can increase the ERP vendor's negotiating power which can result in higher support, maintenance, and upgrade expenses. * Overcoming resistance to sharing sensitive information between departments can divert management attention. * Integration of truly independent businesses can create unnecessary dependencies. * Extensive training requirements take resources from daily operations. Due to ERP's architectur e (OLTP, On-Line Transaction Processing) ERP systems are not well suited for production planning and supply chain management (SCM) The limitations of ERP have been recognized sparking new trends in ERP application development, the four significant developments being made in ERP are, creating a more flexible ERP, Web-Enable ERP, Enterprise ERP and e-Business Suites, each of which will potentially address the failings of the current ERP. QUESTION 3 (18 Marks) Describe with example all stages of System Development Lifecycle.Answers Introduction The Systems development life cycle (SDLC), or Software development process in systems engineering, information systems and software engineering, is a process of creating or altering information systems, and the models and methodologies that people use to develop these systems. In software engineering the SDLC concept underpins many kinds of software development methodologies. These methodologies form the framework for planning and controlling th e creation of an information system: the software development process.Software development contains set of activities which when performed in coordination and in accordance with one another result in the desired result. Software development methodologies are used for the computer based information systems. The growth of the information’s has to pass through various phases or stages these stages are known as System Development Life Cycle (SDLC). The SDLC follows a well defined process by which the system is conceived, developed and implemented. To understand system development, we need to recognize that a candidate system has a life cycle, much like a living system or a new product.Systems analysis and design are based to the system life cycle. The stages are described below. The analyst must progress from one stage to another methodically, answering key questions and achieving results in each stage. Figure 1 : System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Stages Step 1: Recognition of Need – What is the Problem? One must know what the problem is before it can be solved. The basis for a candidate system is recognition of a need for improving an information system or a procedure. For example, a supervisor may want to investigate the system flow in purchasing.Or a bank president has been getting complaints about the long lines in the drive – in. This need leads to a preliminary survey or an initial investigation to determine whether an alternative system can solve the problem. It entails looking into the duplication of effort bottlenecks, inefficient existing procedures, or whether parts of the existing system would be candidates for computerization. If the problem is serious enough, management may want to have an analyst look at it, such an assignment implies a commitment, especially if the analyst hired from the utside. In larger environments, where formal procedures are the norm, the analyst’s first task is to prepare a statement specifying the scope and objective of the problem. He/she then reviews it with the user for accuracy at this stage, only a rough â€Å"ball parle† estimate of the development cost of the project may be reached. However, an accurate cost of the next phase – the feasibility study – can be produced. Step 2: Feasibility Study Depending on the results of the initial investigation, the survey is expanded to a more detailed feasibility study.As we shall learn, a feasibility study is a test of a system proposal according to its workability impact on the organization, ability to meet user needs, and effective use of resources. It focuses on their major questions: * What are the user’s demonstrable needs and how does a candidate system meet them? * What resources are available for given candidate systems? Is the problem worth solving? * What are the likely impact of the candidate system on the organization? How will it fit within the organization’s master MIS plan?Each of these questions must be answered carefully. They revolve around investigation and evaluation of the problem, identification and description of candidate systems, specification of performance and the cost of each system, and final selection of the best system. The objective of a feasibility study is not to solve the problem but to acquire a sense of its scope. During the study, the problem definition is crystallized and aspects of the problem to be included in the system are determined. Consequently, costs and benefits are estimated with greater accuracy at this stage.The result of the feasibility study is a formal proposal. This is simply a report – a formal document detailing the nature and scope of the proposed solution. The proposal summarizes what is known and what is going to be done. It consists of the following. 1. Statement of the Problem – a carefully worded statement of the problem that led to analysis. 2. Summary of Findings and Recommendations – a list of the major findings and recommendations of the study. It is ideal for the user who required quick access to the results of the analysis of the system under study.Conclusions are stated, followed by a list of the recommendations and a justification for them. 3. Details of Findings – An outline of the methods and procedures undertaken by the existing system, followed by coverage of objectives ; procedures of the candidate system. Included are also discussions of output reports, file structures, and costs and benefits of the candidate system. 4. Recommendations and Conclusions – special recommendations regarding the candidate system, including the personal assignments costs, project schedules, and target dates.Three key considerations are involved in the feasibility analysis: economic, technical, behavioral. Let’s briefly review each consideration and how it relates to the systems effort. * Economic Feasibility: Economic analysis is the most frequently use d method for evaluating the effectiveness of a candidate system. More commonly known as cost/benefit analysis, the procedure is to determine the benefits and savings that are expected from a candidate system and compare them with costs. If benefits outweigh costs, then the decision is made to design and implement the system.Otherwise, further justification or alterations in the proposed system will have to be made if it is to have a chance of being approved. This is an ongoing effort that improves in accuracy at each phase of the system life cycle. * Technical Feasibility: Technical feasibility centers around the existing computer system (hardware, software etc. ) and to what extent it can support the proposed addition. For example, if the current computer is operating at 80 per cent capacity – an arbitrary ceiling – then running another application could overload the system or require additional hardware.This involves financial considerations to accommodate technical enhancements. If the budget is a serious constraint, then the project is judged not feasible. * Behavioral Feasibility: People are inherently resistant to change, and computers have been known to facilitate change. An estimate should be made of how strong a reaction the user staff is likely to have towards the development of a computerized system. It is common knowledge that computer installations have something to do with turnover, transfers, retraining, and changes in employee job status.Therefore, it is understandable that the introduction of a candidate system requires special effort to educate, sell, and train the staff on new ways of conducting business. After the proposal is viewed by management it becomes a formal agreement that paves the way for actual design and implementation. This is a crucial decision point in the life cycle. Many projects die here, whereas the more promising ones continue through implementation. Changes in the proposal are made in writing, depending on the complexity, size, and cost of the project. It is simply common sense to verify changes before committing the project to design.Step 3: Analysis It is a detailed study of the various operations performed by the system and their relationship within and outside of the system. A key question is – what must be done to solve the problem? One aspect of analysis is defining the boundaries of the system and determining whether or not a candidate system should consider other related systems. During analysis, data are collected on available files, decision points, and transactions handled by the present system. We shall learn about some logical system models and tools that are used in analysis.It requires special skills and sensitivity to the subjects being interviewed. Bias in data collection and interpretation can be problem. Training, experience and common sense are required for collection of the information needed to do the analysis. Once analysis is completed the analyst has a firm understanding of what is to be done. The next step is to decide how the problem might be solved. Thus, in the systems design, we move from the logical to the physical aspects of the life cycle. Step 4: Design The most creative and challenging phase of the system life cycle is system design.The term design describes both a final system and a process by which it is developed. It refers to the technical specifications (analogous to the engineer’s blueprints) that will be applied in implementing the candidate system. It also includes the constructions of programs and programme testing. The key question here is – How should the problem be solved?. The first step is to determine how the output is to be produced and in what format. Samples of the output (and input) are also available. Second, input data and master files (data base) have to be designed to meet the requirements of the proposed output.The operational (processing) phase are handled through programme constru ction and testing, including a list of the programmes needed to meet the system’s objectives and complete documentation. Finally, details related to justification of the system and an estimate of   the impact of the candidate system on the user and the organization are documented and evaluated by management as a step toward implementation. The final report prior to the implementation phase includes procedural flowcharts, record layouts, report layouts, and a workable plan for implementing the candidate system.Information on personnel, money, hardware, facilities and their estimated cost must also be available. At this point, projected costs must be close to actual costs of implementation. In some firms, separate groups of programmer do the programming whereas other firms employ analyst programmers who do analysis and design as well as code programs. For this discussion, we assume that analysis and programming is carried out by two separate persons. There are certain functio ns, though, that the analyst must perform while programs are being written operating procedures and documentation must be completed.Security and auditing procedures must also be developed. Step 5: Testing No system design is ever perfect. Communication problems, programmers negligence or time constraints create errors that most be eliminated before the system is ready for user acceptance testing. A system is tested for online response, volume of transactions, stress, recovery form failure and usability. Then comes system testing, which verifies that the whole set of programs hangs together, following system testing is acceptance testing or running the system with live   data by the actual use.System testing requires a test plan that consists of several key activities and steps for programs, string, system and user acceptance testing. The system performance criteria deal with turnaround time, backup, file protection, and the human factor. Step 6: Implementation This phase is less c reative than system design. It is primarily concerned with user training, site preparation, and file conversion. When the candidate system is linked to terminals and remote sites the telecommunication network and tests of the network along with the system are also included under implementation.During the final testing, user acceptance is tested, followed by user training. Depending on the nature of the system, extensive user training may be required, conversion usually takes place at about the same time the user is being trained or later. In the extreme, the programmer is falsely viewed as someone who ought to be isolated from other aspects of system development. Programming is itself design work, however. The initial parameter of the candidate system should be modified as a result of programming efforts. Programming provides a â€Å"reality test† for the assumptions made by the analyst.It is therefore a mistake to exclude programmers from the initial system design. System te sting checks the readiness and accuracy of the system to access, update and retrieve data from new files. Once the programmes become available, test data are read into the computer and processed against the file(s) provided for testing. If successful, the program(s) is then run with â€Å"live† data. Otherwise, a diagnostic procedure is used to local and correct errors in the program. In most programs, a parallel run is conducted where the new system runs simultaneously with the ‘old’ systems.This method, though costly, provides added assurance against errors in the candidate system and also gives the user-staff an opportunity to gain experience through operation. In some cases, however, parallel processing is not practical. For example, it is not plausible to run two parallel online point-to-sale (POS) systems for a retail chain. In any case, after the candidate system proves itself, the old system is phased out. Step 7: Evaluation During systems testing, the sy stem is used experimentally to ensure that the software does not fail.In other words, we can say that it will run according to its specifications and in the way users expect. Special test data are input for processing, and the results examined. A limited number of users may be allowed to use the system so that analyst can see whether to use it in unforeseen ways. It is desirable to discover any surprises before the organization implements the system and depends on it. Implementation is the process of having systems personnel check out and put new equipment into use, train users, install the new application and construct any files of data needed to use it.This phase is less creative than system design. Depending on the size of the organisation that will be involved in using the application and the risk involved in its use, systems developers may choose to test the operation in only one area of the Firm with only one or two persons. Sometimes, they will run both old and new system in parallel way to compare the results. In still other situations, system developers stop using the old system one day and start using the new one the next.Evaluation of the system is performed to identify its strengths and weaknesses. The actual evaluation can occur along any one of the following dimensions: * Operational Evaluation: Assessment of the manner in which the system functions, impact. * Organizational Impact: Identification and measurement of benefits to the organisation in such areas as financial concerns, operational efficiency and competitive impact. * User Manager Assessment: Evaluation of the attitudes of senior and user manager within the organization, as well as end-users. Development Performance: Evaluation of the development process in accordance with such yardsticks as overall development time and effort, conformance to budgets and standards and other project management criteria. Step 8: Post – Implementation and Maintenance Maintenance is necessary to eli minate errors in the working system during its working life and to tune the system to any variations in its working environment. Often small system deficiencies are found as a system is brought into operation and changes are made to remove them. System planners must always plan for resource availability to carry out these maintenance functions.The importance of maintenance is to continue to bring the new system to standards. After the installation phase is completed and the user staff is adjusted to changes created by the candidate system, evaluation and maintenance being. Like any system there is an ageing process the requires periodic maintenance of hardware ; software. If the new information is inconsistent with the design specifications, then changes have to be made. Hardware also requires periodic maintenance to keep in time with design specification. The importance of maintenance is to continue to bring the new system to standards. BIBLIOGRAFIGordon b. Davis ; Margrethe H. Ols on. (1985). Management Information Systems : Conceptual Foundations, Structure and Development. New York : McGraw-Hill. Lucey. T. (1987). Management Information Systems. 5th Ed. Eastleigh, Hants : D. P Pubns. O’Brien, James A. (2002). Management Information Systems : Managing Information Technology in the E-Business Enterprise. Boston : McGraw-Hill. Robert C. Nickerson, Saravanan Muthaiyah. (2004). Introduction to Information Systems. Petaling Jaya : Prentice Hall. McLeod Raymond, P. Shell George. (2004). Management Information Systems. N. J. : Pearson Prentice Hall.