Philosophy and Science Essay

Philosophy, science, art and religion are all major achievements of the human mind. Like science, philosophy calls for careful reasoning and exact language. The nature of philosopher and science are somewhat similar in that they have both relied on logical thinking and a quest for deeper truths regarding life and human nature. There have been great philosophers who have become scientists such as Copernicus and there have been scientists like Albert Einstein who have later become philosophers. Thus there is a subtle relationship between science and philosophy. In ancient times all fields of study including religion, science and art were accepted as parts of philosophy. Science particularly, has been considered very important in every philosophic system. But with the rapid advance of knowledge the sciences and the humanities separated from philosophy (Grolier, 1979). They developed their own methods of investigation and their own vocabularies. Philosophers in recent times tend to focus on general ideas common to different fields. Thus we find that natural philosophy took its root in scientific investigation and later evolved into modern science. Philosophy can be understood in either a popular way or a technical way. In the popular sense, any set of deeply held beliefs about man, nature, society and God is called a philosophy. Everyone who has wondered about the meaning of life and found an answer that satisfied him as his own philosophy. In its more technical sense, philosophy means a highly disciplined and reasonable method of criticizing fundamental beliefs to make them more clear and reliable. This method was first developed by the ancient Greeks in the 6th century B. C. Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Pythagoras, and other learned men began to speculate about the underlying causes of natural phenomena like birth and death, rainfall and drought, the perfectly regular motions of the planets, the reach of fire toward the sky, and the fall of heavy objects toward the earth. In the world of today, science is regarded as an activity based on the experimental gathering of facts, the mathematical modeling of its results, and the framing of hypotheses. Philosophy on the other hand deals with unanswerable ultimate questions about ethics and metaphysics, the meaning of life, or the nature of truth. Today’s philosophers and scientists travel along different paths, it is interesting to note that science and philosophy have had a common background and history. Till the emergence of special scientific branches in the 19th and 20th centuries, ‘natural philosophy’ covered all scientific activity. Isaac Newton called himself a â€Å"natural philosopher†, and telescopes and air pumps used to be classified as â€Å"philosophical instruments†. Natural philosophy or â€Å"philosophia naturalis† referred to the exploration and analysis of all things under the sky including stones to human mental functions and the winds and the stars. The natural philosophy evolved into modern scientific thought through the years 1200 to 1700. This period includes the introduction of Aristotle’s works into the nascent universities to the establishment of stable scientific institutions such as the Royal Society or the Acadà ©mie des Sciences. Science as is kno wn today is   were characterized by experimentation, mathematical modeling, the publication of research results, and the sponsoring of scientific collaboration. Science is usually associated with acquisition of knowledge and more specifically science is connected to theoretical knowledge compared to practical knowledge. The word â€Å"science† has its roots from the word â€Å"Scientia† originally meaning knowledge (Ross, 1996). Modern dictionaries define science as â€Å"the observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena through methodological activity, discipline, or study.† The true nature of science is best understood by focusing on its methodology. Fundamentally, then, science can be characterized as a method of obtaining reliable – though not infallible – knowledge about the universe around us. This knowledge includes both descriptions of what happens and explanations of why it happens. The knowledge is reliable because it is continually tested and retested – much of science is heavily interdependent, which means that any test of any scientific idea entails testing other, related ideas at the same time. The knowledge is not infallible; because at no point do scientists assume that they have arrived at a final, definitive truth. Science is mostly about natural processes and natural events. It involves both description and explanation. Description tells what has happened whereas explanation tells why it happened. According to Science, future events may be predicted only based on knowledge of such events. The ancient Greeks formed the word ‘philosophy’ from ‘philos’ meaning ‘lover’ and ‘sophia’ meaning ‘wisdom’. A philosopher according to them was a person who devoted his lfie to the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake without regard for its practical uses. The kind of knowledge that interested Thales and other philosophers of the 6th century B.C. was knowledge of nature and its laws. Philosophy on the other hand deals with the fundamental nature of existence, of man and of man’s relationship to existence. Whereas science tries to take a microscopic perspective in problem solving, philosophy tends to take a macroscopic perspective in problem solving. In general, philosophy questions often are a series of â€Å"why-questions,† whereas science is often said to ask â€Å"how-questions.† In the words of Ayn Rand: â€Å"In the realm of cognition, the special sciences are the trees, but philosophy is th e soil which makes the forest possible.† (Ayn Rand in â€Å"Philosophy: Who Needs It†) Generally speaking philosophy is an attitude, an approach, or even a calling to answer or to ask or to comment upon certain peculiar kinds of questions. Science and philosophy have always supported each other. While philosophy utilizes scientific discoveries to give it strength and a basis for generalizations, science utilizes philosophy to get a world view and perceive things from the framework of universal principles. It is a well known fact that early scientific ideas came from philosophers. The atomic structure of things was first expressed by Democritus and later expanded on by Lucretius and Diderot. What was hypothetically conceived by them was declared a scientific fact two centuries later. The Cartesian reflux as it is known in science was proposed by philosophers to explain conservation of motion in the universe. Spinoza hypothesized determinism based on a general philosophical perception. The idea of the existence of molecules as complex particles consisting of atoms was developed in the works of the French philosopher Pierre Gassendi and also Russia’s Mikhail Lomonosov. The hypothesis of the cellular structure of animal and vegetable organisms, the idea of the development and universal connection of phenomena and the principle of the material unity of the world were all obtained through philosophical thought. Lenin as a philosopher formulated the principle of the inexhaustibility of matter which scientists consider as a firm methodological base (Spirkin, 1983). Just as science progressed through philosophical thought, philosophy was also enriched by science. The philosophical world view and methodology was impacted greatly with every major scientific discovery.   Philosophical theories, statements and conclusions are deduced on the basis of scientific facts. Moreover, philosophical propositions, principles, concepts and laws are discovered through the generalization of these facts. Euclidian geometry and the mechanics of Galileo and Newton are scientific discoveries that impacted human reasoning in a significant manner. Copernicus’ heliocentric system changed the whole conception of the structure of the universe and Darwin’s theory of evolution, changed the general perception of man’s position in nature. Mendeleyev’s table of chemical elements enhanced understanding the structure of matter. Einstein’s theory of relativity exposed the relationship between matter, motion, space and time. The theory of higher nervous activity evolved by Sechenov and Pavlov deepened the philosophers’ understanding of the material foundations of mental activity, of consciousness. The creation and development by Marx, Engels and Lenin of the science of the laws of development of human society contributed further to philosophy in the realm of natural and social vortex of events (Spirkin, 1983). The history of natural and social science shows that scientists, on several occasions have leaned on world-views and methodological principles, categories and logical systems evolved by philosophers in the process of their researches. All scientists who think in terms of theory have expressed their gratitude in their writings and in their speeches. Thus, we find that the connection between philosophy and science is mutual. But this statement is found to be debatable among experts. There is a strong argument among scientists and philosophers that the two disciplines of science and philosophy do not necessarily need each other for growth. But there are others who feel that science can be informed by philosophy. Philosophy is highly valued due to its interconnection with life. But then, there are others who argue that philosophy is based on vague theorizing and it should not have any link to science. However, it is significant to note that there is no such warning for philosophers to keep away from science. The specific sciences cannot and should not break their connections with true philosophy (Spirkin, 1983). Most scientists, especial those who work with theories would agree that creative activity is closely linked with philosophy and that without serious knowledge of philosophical culture the results of that activity cannot become theoretically effective. Scientists with a powerful theoretical grasp, have always accepted the significance of philosophy to the growth of science. Philosophy does not replace the specialised sciences and does not command them, but it does arm them with general principles of theoretical thinking, with a method of cognition and world-view. In this sense scientific philosophy legitimately holds one of the key positions in the system of the sciences. Truly scientific thought is philosophical to the core; just as truly philosophical thought is profoundly scientific, rooted in the sum-total of scientific achievements. Philosophical training gives the scientist a breadth and penetration, a wider scope in posing and resolving problems. Sometimes these qualities are brilliantly expressed, as in the work of Marx, particularly in his Capital, or in Einstein’s wide-ranging natural scientific conceptions. The interconnection between science and philosophy that has existed through the years has only grown stronger with time. It is impossible to achieve complete understanding of theories related to global problems without a broad grasp of inter-disciplinary and philosophical views. There are some people who argue that science has no need of philosophy. It is their contention that science is in itself philosophy. They hold that scientific knowledge is sufficient to provide answers to all problems including philosophical problems. But the â€Å"cunning† of philosophy lies in the fact that any form of contempt for it, any rejection of philosophy is in itself a kind of philosophy. It is as impossible to get rid of philosophy as it is to rid oneself of all convictions. Many scientists who have maintained the positions of crude empiricism and scorned philosophy have eventually fallen into mysticism. Absence of philosophical assumptions leads to intellectual narrowness. Science needs philosophy due to its diversified branches. As Science has become so ramified, no can today master any particular subject such as medicine or biology or mathematics. Scientists are trying to know as much as possible about as little as possible. This kind of specific specialization is both good and bad. Without narrow specialization there can be no progress in science and at the same time, such specialization must be constantly filled out by a broad inter-disciplinary approach, by the integrative power of philosophical reason. Narrow specialization has no breadth of vision and can thus lead to empiricism, to the endless description of particulars. While science requires researchers to look externally, philosophers tend to look both internally and externally – at the world around man and man’s place in that world. This wholesome perception provided by philosophical consciousness is reflective in its very essence. Philosophy is not only an abstract science. It also deals with moral principles, ethics, and conscience. Today, advances in science have brought many kinds of conflict to society. For example, there is the question regarding nuclear bomb. Is it wrong for a nation to acquire nuclear bomb? Only ethical thinking combined with scientific thinking can provide the right answer. Such questions as this one cannot be answered by science alone. While there are many examples showing that philosophical thought was behind many scientific discoveries, Bernal conceived that science was the starting point for philosophy; it was the very basis of philosophy. Marxist social theory emerged within this process. For Bernal, there was no philosophy, no social theory, and no knowledge independent of science. Science was the foundation of it all (Sheehan, 1985). As Bernal saw the transition to the future, scientific and socialist philosophical thinking played a key role.   For a long time, philosophers as diverse as David Hume, Karl Marx, and Edmund Husser felt that philosophy was â€Å"scientific.† But, Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) felt that there are some problems that science alone can deal with and others it couldn’t. Science and philosophy are both different paths taken by different people who desire to explore the truth. Scientists and philosophers can be considered as seekers of true knowledge. These two subjects differ today in the nature and methodology. Despite these differences, true scientific theories are based on philosophy and true philosophical statements have their foundation in science.

All Quiet on the Western Front Essay Essay

A soldier must have the mentality of, â€Å"I must kill or I’ll be killed† or they will surely perish. Taking this idea to heart can be a very moralistic test that most people can’t handle. All Quiet on the Western Front is one of the greatest war novels ever written because of its exposing graphic depiction of war. In the short note before Chapter One, Remarque lets the reader know exactly what themes he intends. War is savage, unjustified and unnatural. He intends to explain why the war was responsible for the destruction of an entire generation. Remarque is very clear on the strength of his themes, and uses graphic imagery to show the reader the physical and psychological impact that war has on a person. War brings about hardship, pain and suffering to all involved. It is the battle of two sides made of young men; many of them do not understand what they are fighting for or who they are fighting. Remarque’s novel All Quiet on the Western Front helps portray the image of war and idea of warfare in a pretty gruesome way. He also made his point through the physical deterioration, but mostly through mental and emotional destruction of Paul Baumer and his comrades. In the novel, Remarque does a flawless job conveying the horrible misfortunes of war. Through the eyes of Paul Baumer, a story is told of hopelessness and desperation on the German front lines of WWI. As Baumer and his comrades experience starvation and injury among other hardships, the reader begins to comprehend how tragic war is. They experienced things that can and will traumatize most human beings. â€Å"It’s unendurable. It is the moaning of the world, it is the martyred creation, wild with anguish, filled with terror, and groaning. Ch. 4, p. 62. This scene was the most graphic and horrendous part of the book. It really exemplified the tragedy of war. Detering was very disturbed by this because he’s a farmer. He believed that the horses have innocent souls and that they’re beautiful and should never have been involved. Detering has a special place for animals in his heart so much so that he’d risk his life to find them and put them out of their misery. Remarque knew that war changes people mentally and emotionally, more often than physically. It is very possible that he himself was damaged mentally and emotionally through his service in WWI. â€Å"We have lost all feeling for one another. We can hardly control ourselves when our hunted glance lights on the form of some other man. We are insensible, dead men, who through some trick, some dreadful magic, are still able to run and to kill. † Ch. 6, p. 115. This quote embodies the thesis that Remarque was portraying in this novel. It explains how the soldiers notice their mental and emotional corrosion caused by the horrific things they have witnessed and committed during the war. They can’t really understand why they are still able to fight, but they know that they can’t stop under any circumstances. Soldiers are forced to adopt the dominating mindset of â€Å"kill or be killed. † Remarque realized that when this embracement happens it’s just a matter of time before they become â€Å"dead men. † During WW1 men between the ages of 18 and 30 had to enter the military draft. This meant that post teens would be fighting for their country and risking their lives, while all they knew was school and the safety of their own homes. The protagonist in Paul Baumer was only 19 years old in the novel and he frequently thought about girls and liked to drink a lot. In many ways, Paul is ordinary, and that’s why it’s so easy to relate to him. We see ourselves in Paul, and because of that, the war he suffers through seems all more horrible to us. This age group during WW1 was a damaged and broken generation. They fought for the principle of hatred and the dream of going back home to their families. â€Å"We are none of us more than twenty years old. But young? That is long ago. We are old folk. Ch. 1 Pg. 18 The war has altered these boys; it has turned them into matured old men. Remarque was just solidifying the idea of the bad effects that war can have on a person. These boys are just out of school and most of them have probably experienced some sort of traumatic stress, which can permanently damage someone beyond repair. War affects everyone and everything it gets its hands on. It turns innocent boys i nto murderous men right before your eyes. It obliterates generations and makes millions suffer through the benefit of no one. Erich Remarque was a German war veteran and experienced firsthand the atrocity that warfare can bring. All Quite on the Western Front symbolizes war exactly. It portrays the horribleness of war through the German soldiers; Baumer and his companions. Remarque has them killed, brutally injured and mentally destroyed, all to prove how terrible war can truly be. Through this novel we can truly go back and see the experiences of WW1 soldiers and how the war changed them in every way possible, as a result All Quite on the Western Front is considered one of the best war novels ever written.

Education for Rizal… Education for me… Essay

Every now and then my parents keep on telling me that my education should be in the number one slot in my list of priorities. They keep on telling me that I should put a great deal on finishing my studies. They say (like every parents say), it is the only thing they could leave to us when they pass away. So, without thinking about it thoroughly, this idea was instilled in my mind right away. But now that we were asked to write our idea about education and relate it with Rizals, this may serve as an opportunity for me to assess and reinforce this thought. As what the books say, the importance of education is quite clear. Education is the knowledge of putting one’s potentials to maximum use. One can safely say that a human being is not in the proper sense till he is educated. The training of a human mind is not complete without education. Education makes man a right thinker. It tells man how to think and how to make decision. Only through the attainment of education, man is enabled to receive information from the external world; to acquaint himself with past history and receive all necessary information regarding the present. Without education, man is as though in a closed room and with education he finds himself in a room with all its windows open towards outside world. The thought that education is indeed very critical for a nation to be at its best is not new to us. Right? Even our national hero has a say on this. In his works and writings, his educational philosophy is the most emphasized. Philosophy may be defined as the study and pursuit of facts which deal with the ultimate reality or causes of things as they affect life. Rizals concept of the importance of education is clearly enunciated in his work entitled Instruction wherein he sought improvements in the schools and in the methods of teaching. He maintained that the backwardness of his country during the Spanish era was not due to the Filipinos indifference, apathy or indolence as claimed by the rulers, but to the neglect of the Spanish authorities in the islands. For Rizal, the mission of education is to elevate the country to the highest seat of glory and to develop the peoples mentality. Since education is the foundation of society and a prerequisite for social progress, Rizal claimed that only through education could the country be saved from domination. Rizals philosophy of education, therefore, centers on the provision of proper motivation in order to strengthen the great social forces that make education a success, to create in the youth an innate desire to cultivate his intelligence and give him life eternal. Another thing, Rizal also sees education as the basis for his idea of an ideal Filipino. We can even observe in all his works and writings education plays a very important role. His characters are greatly shaped by education. For instance, in his Noli Me Tangere, the character of Crisostomo Ibarra, the elements of knowledge and education is clearly depicted. This is the reason why it is said that Ibarra is the character representation of Jose Rizal. He used education as a means towards attaining his aim of Philippine independence. Upon searching for our report in PI which is the Second Wave of Rizals Travels, I came across his letter to the women of Malolos. This letter is a way of extending his admiration to the said women. This also make my previous statements true, Rizal really puts much value on education. In this letter of his, Rizal pleads to the mothers for them to teach their children to love our mother nation and to fight for our liberty. Through this end also, our children will be able to acquire their worthy education. The thoughts of Rizal on education and how he used it as weapon for attaining Philippines independence made me realize its true meaning and importance. I remember, when I was still young, education for me is being able to go to school, nothing more. But it is a whole heap more. Education is a word with too many dimensions, too many to mention. Education plays an important role in the progress of an individuals mind and country. Ignorance and poverty are major speed-breakers in the swift developing country and can be overcome easily through education. You cant really call yourself educated if you can read and write or get flat 1s in every subject. A person who is educated has a certain atmosphere around him, of dignity and wisdom. If you are educated, you dont need to abide by the facts that the book recites, or follow Aristotles philosophy. Like Jose Rizal, an educated person builds on the facts the book says and has his own philosophy. If you are educated, you cant have a wrong philosophy. Education is everything. People are made aware of what is going on in the wide world and can understand these issues and take necessary measures. The quality of human resource of a nation is easily judged by the number of literate population living in it. This is to say that education is a must if a nation aspires to achieve growth and development and more importantly sustain it. This may well explain the fact that rich and developed nations of the world have very high literacy rate and productive human resource. In fact these nations have started imparting selective training and education programs so as to meet the new technical and business demands of the 21st century. The importance of education cannot be neglected by any nation. And in todays world, the role of education has become even more vital. It is an absolute necessity for economic and social development of any nation. Source:Life, Ideas, and Works or Rizal by Zalde.

CONTEMPORARY DOCUMENTARY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

CONTEMPORARY DOCUMENTARY - Essay Example Numerous naturalists and every living creatures common sense entitlement activists acknowledge Disney for raising their sympathy toward the earth (Van Riper 181). Anyhow, this gratefulness has not been conveyed in a quality free bundle. From the beginning, Disneys tendency movies have upheld the idea that the characteristic worlds boss quality lies in the benefit that modern culture can remove from it. At first, this backing took the type of straightforward paeans to the honorability of logging, mining and urban improvement. Presently, in the midst of the expanding commodification of everything from tribal myth to basmati rice, the worth removed from nature is the privilege to characterize nature. Disney desires that privilege and will pick up it at our hazard. Very little other than insight into the past recognizes the organizations initial work from its ancestors and rivals. Where nature showed up, it was in its customary part of the destructive danger, or as humanoid cartoon creatures (Van Riper 148). It was not until Bambi (1942) that Disney discovered the structure on which his later nature works would hang. Instead of living clearly human lives, wearing garments, managing a furrow or in charge of a steamboat, the creatures in Bambi were far closer to the genuine article. They were not people; that part was saved for the films scalawag. They were, notwithstanding, individuals. So that the passing of Bambis mom because of the Hunter is plainly killed. Bambi was the model for Disneys later nature work, most outstandingly the Genuine Life Adventures, a progression of what were inexactly alluded to as documentaries, set in environments from the Sonoran Desert to the Canadian tundra (Van Riper 166) Winged Migration (2001) is an outwardly staggering "narrative enterprise" that takes a few groups of feathered creatures on their occasional transitory excursions. Despite the fact that the

Assignment 6 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

6 - Assignment Example Some of the differences between managers are leaders are that managers are administers while leaders are innovates and that managers are never original in their positions or even capacities but leaders are original (McCue & Jack 42-51). A manager tends to maintain status quo, focusses on control, and has a short-range view while a leader develops, focuses on people, inspires trust, and has a long-range perspective. Managers ask how and when, has eye on the bottom line while leaders ask what and why, and have eye on the horizon. A leader or a manager are two words that are used interchangeably to describe individuals holding formal authorities in organizations irrespective of their behavior in such positions. A manager does not necessarily exercise leadership in positions in which they are appointed even though leadership is just part of management. Generally, there are skills or traits that an effective leader is required to have as explained by various theories both old and contemporary theories. Some of the main traits that appear in leaders are ambition, zeal, intelligence, self-directive, and self-confidence (McCue & Jack 45-57). At times, physical characteristics, capability, and persona may be important aspects used to summarize what a leader is. There are six distinct characters that popular effective leaders have such as honesty and integrity. In addition, drive, motivation, cognitive ability, and business knowledge are also other characteristics of leaders. These traits would definitely distinguis h whether a manager will be an effective leader or not. Leaders are incredibly ambitious persons who are never afraid of taking inventiveness as well as people whom apart from willingness to lead, are especially ready to take charge. Furthermore, leaders usually have technical expertise in their businesses and are straightforward people who fulfill their promises. Leaders are individuals who

The Bretton Wood's institutions play a big role in intervening with Essay

The Bretton Wood's institutions play a big role in intervening with internal affairs of developing countries. How successful hav - Essay Example This is through regular monitoring and rigid policies especially on nations with weak institutions. On the other hand, foreign investment for poor nations should be limited to acquiring manageable loans and grants that do not collapse the economies. This will increase excellence both African and Asian nations in terms of economic prosperity. Development entails the well-being of a nation or individual in various forms. This may include economic, social or political development and the way it affects the citizens of such a country. Similarly, development may also encompass the gradual advancement or growth that leads to the progress in other sectors of the nation in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and exports among others. Other fundamental areas include education, health and governance in the context of the provision of services for the benefit of the citizenry. Therefore, the involvement of Bretton Wood’s institutions such as IMF, World Bank and IBRD ensure there is a f inancial regulation and fair dispensation of funds to sponsor developmental projects. Such institutions also participate in the regulation of the systems that oversee the monies dished to nations especially the third world countries (Szirmai 45). On that account, there are several ways, which education development, through funds acquired from Bretton Wood’s institutions has helped the advancement of nations. This is manifested in the increase of public schools and literacy levels where there participation of IMF and World Bank is high. In other words, education is now associated with sustainable development that permits people to gain skills, knowledge and skills. Other benefits include values and attitudes that are meant indicate a sustainable future where everyone thrives. Similarly, educational development has meant that matters of sustainable prosperity are translated in areas of learning and teaching for the purpose of students and society. In the same breadth, Bretton W ood’s institutions have given funds to support the reduction of poverty, biodiversity and sustainable consumption to education an enjoyable venture (Tiwari 167). This is manifested in a nations such India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore where financial aid is boosting the education standards of most schools. In this case, the IMF and World Bank has dispensed funds in the ministries of education to facilitate standards of education. Therefore, this has translated to competencies of imagination, critical thinking and decision making skills in a mutual may for kids. This is also apparent in teachers and tutors who get motivation from governmental and non-governmental ventures. However, when it comes to economic development in terms of assistance from Bretton Wood’s institutions, there are interesting issues. This suggests that economic development entails concerted and sustained actions that are used by policymakers in the promotion of the living standards including eco nomic health. In the same breath, y in failed states mostly found in Africa such as Somalia and Democratic Republic of Congo, economic development refers to qualitative and quantitative alterations in the economy (Mbaku 134). Therefore, IMF and World Bank have not been successful in their development ventures because of several reasons. For example, issues such as bad governance policies, corruption and civil wars have hampered the efforts of Bretton

Interview Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Interview Report - Assignment Example Mr. Joe has worked at different positions within the company at different points in time. He started at the basic level where he provided help in different kinds of tasks and over the time, acquired new skills and talents and ultimately became the Branch Manager of the company. Mr. Joe has worked with a paralegal company before where he learnt image scanning. His ability to manipulate images played a fundamental role in his selection in Joseph & Merritt. Mr. Joe shared his experiences with this company and has thrown light upon the risks, challenges, opportunities, and strategies to be successful. In this paper, I have discussed the main points that I gained from the interview and have reflected upon my experience of conducting this interview. This interview was a very informative session for me in which I learnt many things from Mr. Joe. One thing that I have gained from the interview is that a businessman has to actively observe the market all the time in order to identify what are the current trends and business practices. For example, having observed that immense reliance on technology has made the businesses digital in their practices, Joseph Merritt & Company assessed the risk of decrease in the need of printing in the future and accordingly started offering new kinds of services including the sale of printing equipment and providing its clients with software services. Another thing that I have observed is that managing a business is much more interesting as compared to serving in a company as an employee. The main reason for this is that when one has one’s own business, it puts one in a position to experiment according to one’s knowledge, understanding, and assessment. One becomes more responsible since the future of the business is integrally linked with the extent to which the businessman makes informed and timely decisions. Working as an employee in a company provides very little, if any, opportunity to an individual to modify the busine ss practices and there is usually very little appreciation whereas in business, even the losses are a source of learning for an individual because they tell how the strategies have to be modified to gain success. Success attained from personal decision making is a big motivation driver, which is why business is fulfilling and satiating psychologically, and emotionally. I also learnt that in order to do business in a rapidly changing market as the contemporary market, it is imperative that one knows what the right kinds of services are to be offered at a particular place at a particular point in time. For example, Joseph Merritt & Company has different kinds of clients in different places where its branches have opened. In some places, most of the business is conducted with the construction companies whereas in other places, schools and other institutions are the potential clients. Mr. Joe told me a lot about the use of social media in business in the contemporary age. Till now, I th ought of social media only as a platform where people socialize with their family and friends and make new friends or run campaigns. This interview has told me a lot about the significance of social media as a business tool. I have found out how social media is being increasingly used by the companies and businessmen to approach potential clients, share information with them about the company’

Explore the ways in which Bernard ODonoghue presents the sense of loss Coursework

Explore the ways in which Bernard ODonoghue presents the sense of loss in Round the Campfire and consider to what extent it is typical of ODonoghues poetry - Coursework Example Apart from highlighting the sense of loss, O’Donoghue appeared to coil the memories around the theme of mortality, which is a common feature of his poems. The lines that highlighted the weight of the loss included â€Å"she darted laughing, From the van, dodging hooves, Better than anyone. She sang Dingle Bay all down the MI†.3In the second stanza, the poet introduces the reader to the memories of her daughter, and the memories that made the loss extremely painful. The memories highlighted the weight of loss included her liveliness, and the joy of the moments spent together, during the day that she died. The sense of loss is demonstrated through the poet’s ability to reflect the theme of loss in the style of writing and also the contents of the poem. After introducing the reader to the memories that made the loss of the daughter a source of pain, the poet explains the events leading to her death, through stating that â€Å"she died, I couldn’t say†.4The poet expresses the unexplainable nature of the events leading to the death, and then moved ahead to the last memories about the daughter in the fourth stanza.5At the fifth stanza O’Donoghue added some beauty to the memories related to the last moments, including the properties that did not have identified owners.6 At the sixth stanza, the poem reinforced the sense of loss, by reminding the reader about the memories that lingered in his mind about the daughter. The poetic style gave the indication that O’Donoghue is emphasizing the themes of lost memories and mortality. The poet makes reference to real and figurative things, including dodging hooves, which could be an indication of her movement and pace as she left the van, during the last moments they spent together. The poet could probably tell about the causes of the death of the daughter, and also a form of

Midterm Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Midterm - Assignment Example Some of the code’s provisions do not sound fair, for example, a code number 2. It states that an employee of Ashland University, who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or any agent, shall not accept any gift from a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans. This is quite unfair owing to the fact that, at times, an employee can be awarded just for services well rendered and refusal to accept it might be taken as rudeness by the giver (Holloway, 2011). A loan can also be given to an employee on the basis of need and not on any favor’s basis; hence, it turns out to be inconsiderate on the side of the employees (Holloway, 2011). Code number 6 forbids the institution from borrowing loans from various parties. This happens to be quite unfair basing on the fact that once in a while the bank may happen to be down financially and the loan might be of great help. There is no crime in asking for the loan as long as the payment is guaranteed. Is any part of the code routinely violated? The rule on accepting gifts from lenders is often violated. Why do you think these violations occur? The human part of a person finds it hard to resist a gift just because of professionalism. At times, one gets into a problem and is in a real need of a loan and the only option is the forbidden party, hence goes ahead and breaks the code. What are the usual consequences of such violations? The consequences of such violations can be tough. The most common is being sacked.

All men by their very nature feel the urge to know. How does knowledge Essay

All men by their very nature feel the urge to know. How does knowledge arise, and what characterizes scientific knowledge, - Essay Example He believes that human senses do not create wisdom, only experience. An individual remains unaware of the substance of a desire unless s/he discovers what truly fulfills it. Through its fulfillment individuals discover what is being desired by the desire. Hence Aristotle talks about the ‘delight’ individuals get from their senses. If the knowledge individuals desire for were only a way to achieve another objective, for instance, power, then the inherent desire would not be a yearning for knowledge.3 That human beings delight in the mere use of their senses is an indication that they do have a yearning for knowledge. This essay analyzes Aristotle’s argument that â€Å"All men by nature desire to know†. The analysis includes a discussion of the following questions: how does knowledge arise, and what characterizes scientific knowledge? How does Knowledge Arise? Aristotle classified knowledge into three main groups. He thinks that all ideas are either theoretic al or productive or practical. Theoretical knowledge pursues neither action nor production, but only truth. It comprises everything that people now regards as science, and in the point of view of Aristotle it includes thus far the ultimate part of the entirety of human knowledge.4 On the other hand, productive sciences focus on the production like farming, engineering, and so on. And practical sciences focus on action, such as how a person has to behave or respond in various situations. The basic assumptions of Aristotle’s model of scientific knowledge start with the broad statement that every intellectual learning and teaching develop from prior knowledge.5 Aristotle believes that the two forms of initial knowledge are needed—knowledge that an object exists, and knowledge of what that object is. This prior knowledge may involve the existence of an object, or to the description of certain concepts.6 It should also be established that scientific knowledge cannot arise t hrough sense-perception, and that scientific knowledge is developed by using the ‘syllogistic’ technique, which is how a person gives a scientific explanation of specific patterns and facts by demonstrating how they logically arise from specific first premises.7 For Aristotle, knowledge is not only having verified, factual belief. Knowledge is a concept quite precise for Aristotle. There are only certain statements that can be known. According to Aristotle, so as to know some statement P, first, P must be essentially correct or factual and, second, one should be capable of proving or demonstrating P from ideas that are essentially universal and factual. A ‘universal statement’ is defined as basically a statement about a group of objects, instead of a statement about a specific object.8 How Aristotle defines knowledge shows that statements such as â€Å"the speaker is a man† and â€Å"the boy is sad† are not bodies of knowledge, for only univer sal statements can be known, and the two abovementioned sample statements are specific, instead of universal statements. Aristotle would argue that a person ‘perceives’ that the speaker is a man, and a person ‘perceives’ that the boy is sad. Aristotle clearly explains that wisdom is the knowledge of causes and principles, because a person who has knowledge of such, also has

The Presidency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

The Presidency - Essay Example He was barely twenty years old when he started out with FBI in this modest fashion. He climbed up the career ladder steadily thereafter. His appointment as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) in Chicago is a notable milestone. But it is the World Trade Center (WTC) bombing at Oklahoma in 1993 that would prove to be a turning point in his career. A year later he was made supervisor of VAPCON in 1994. From this point onwards John was deeply involvement in counter-terror operations for the rest of his life. In hindsight a lot of warnings given by O’Neill have proven to be right. His fractious relationship with the FBI bosses and his own abrasive personality had created distrust or disregard for the information that he was passing on. Though a lone voice among his colleagues, he kept repeating the threat of terrorist attacks till the very end of his tenure with the FBI. In the last few years of his service, he served as the Chief of Counterterrorism Section within the FBI . Despite this critical position he held within the national intelligence apparatus his words were not given due respect. Every time an important lead would emerge, â€Å"John would fight with Washington to make sure that we constantly took the lead on these investigations. So we would build this intelligence base, and so we would have investigators that had the institutional knowledge and that was the way it was.† (Clint Guenther, Former FBI Agent NYC – Counterterrorism) Investigating the 911 terror attacks in retrospect, there is nothing inevitable about its occurrence. There were enough indications for the FBI to take preventative action. John O’Neill saw himself as the champion of this cause – one of saving America from a grave security threat. But, unfortunately, those around him, especially the top leaders in the FBI did not concur with O’Neill’s views. More than an odd lapse it is a systematic failure on part of the key national agenc y. Bureaucratic bungling and red tape have made O’Neill’s desperate attempts to communicate a challenge. Personal ego hassles between O’Neill and his peers and superiors was another mitigating factor. O’Neill’s abrasive personality rubbed off his colleagues the wrong way. As a result, the intelligence reports given out by O’Neill did not get the urgent attention that they merited. One needs to ask how personal favoritism and prejudice can undermine the high profile operations of the FBI. John O’Neill was quite vocal and persistent about the presence of Al Qaeda sleeper cells in the United States. John had communicated how the terror network had developed capabilities for attacking many strategic locations not just in the United States but anywhere in the world. It was O’Neill who identified Al Qaeda as the foremost threat to America -much ahead of his peers did. As his colleague Richard Clarke recounts, â€Å"I would go around the country to FBI offices and ask, "Is there an Al Qaeda presence in Chicago, in San Francisco, in Boston?" And typically the reaction I would get is, "What's Al Qaeda?"...But not with John. John knew what Al Qaeda was; he was among the first people to see the bin Laden threat. He believed there was a bin Laden network in the United States even if he couldn't prove it. So he was constantly trying to prove it†¦" (Richard Clarke, NSS Coordinator for Counterterrorism, 1992-2001) John O’

The field of arts Essay Example for Free

The field of arts Essay Since my childhood years, my passion in the field of arts, music and dance has trained me to focus on my goals and strive for excellence. The skills that I have mastered in playing the flute and violin as well as in dancing were not learned overnight. It took many years of hard work, discipline and determination to perfect my craft but the fulfillment was worth all the efforts that I have given when I performed on stage from the age of 4 to 17 years old and when I won first prize in the art contest when I was 6 years old. In my entry to the University of Southern California, I would apply the same discipline and drive in my studies so I can earn a degree in Business Administration minor in Marketing. In the future, I would like to establish a business related to music and dance and train children and young adults who are aspiring to be musicians, artist or dancers. I will also offer my services to the at-risk youth to keep them away from criminal activities and to help them find meaning to their lives that will lead them to become contributing members of their communities. I plan to turn my passion into a business that is wholeheartedly fulfilling and lived up to the saying of the 18th-century French philosopher, Denis Diderot that, â€Å"only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things†. Being an international student in a foreign country is a challenging experience. However, this will open doors to learn new things, and to meet a lot of people with diverse nationalities and cultures. As I travel and study in a foreign country, my knowledge and exposures in various areas of business will be enhanced and at the same time whenever time permits during summer and holiday breaks, I would like to volunteer my services to the animal shelters and learn about the business of establishing shelter homes for the animals. The United States is one of the major countries that is noted for extending rights and protection to the animals. Establishing a foundation related to worldwide animal shelter is also a passion that I want to pursue after gaining years of work experience and after I have earned a Masters degree in Business Administration. I have heard a lot of abuses and neglect to animals in other countries. I want to be part of a worldwide campaign to end animal abuse and to provide homes to the homeless and abandoned animals. The University of California is noted around the world for its excellent business programs. My studies in the field of business and marketing in the United States will provide me with the extensive knowledge that will help me fully understand the common problems that foreign business people encounter. This will also enable me to establish a network in preparation for my future business plans. Since I have good communication, organization and budgeting skills and love to be with people, I would like to specialize in marketing as I want to understand marketing management, consumer behavior, advertising, product research and development, competitive pricing, promotion and sales so I can effectively serve the needs of my clients. In addition, I would also like to learn about theories and practices of marketing and gain hands-on experience during my studies as the Marshall School of Business recognizes the importance of integrating education with experience. The externship and internship programs will maximize my opportunity for professional development and will provide me with an edge in employment after graduation. The knowledge and experience that I will learn in the university will be applied in my country of birth where I plan to initially work in a company and establish a business and a foundation after getting a better grasp of the industry. This is my short and long term goals and I am determined to reach my goals after completing my studies in the prestigious University of Southern California.

An alloy is a partial or complete solid solution

An alloy is a partial or complete solid solution INTRODUCTION An alloy is a partial or complete solid solution of one or more elements in a metallic matrix. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may be homogeneous in distribution depending on thermal heat treatment. Alloys usually have different properties from those of the component elements. Alloying one metal with other metal(s) or non metal(s) often enhances its properties. For example, steel is stronger than iron, its primary element. It is sometimes due to the sizes of the atoms in the alloy, since larger atoms exert a compressive force on neighbouring atoms, and smaller atoms exert a tensile force on their neighbours, helping the alloy resist deformation. Sometimes alloys may exhibit marked differences in behaviour even when small amounts of one element occur. For example, impurities in semi-conducting ferromagnetic alloys lead to different properties, as first predicted by White, Hogan, Suhl, Tian Abrie and Nakamura. Some alloys are made by melting and mixing two or more metals. Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, was the first alloy discovered, during the prehistoric period now known as the Bronze Age; it was harder than pure copper and originally used to make tools and weapons, but was later superseded by metals and alloys with better properties. In later times bronze has been used for ornaments, bells, statues, and bearings. Brass is an alloy made from copper and zinc. Unlike pure metals, most alloys do not have a single melting point, but a melting range in which the material is a mixture of solid and liquid phases. The temperature at which melting begins is called the solidus, and the temperature when melting is just complete is called the liquidus. However, for most alloys there is a particular proportion of constituents (in rare cases two)-the eutectic mixture-which gives the alloy a unique melting point. IMPORTANT OF ALLOYS Some alloys are used so predominantly with respect to their base metals that the name of the primary constituent is also used as the name of the alloy. For example, 14 karat gold is an alloy of gold with other elements. Similarly, the silver used in jewellery and the aluminium used as a structural building material are also alloys. The term alloy is sometimes used in everyday speech as a synonym for a particular alloy. For example, automobile wheels made of an aluminium alloy are commonly referred to as simply alloy wheels, although in point of fact steels and most other metals in practical use are also alloys. ALLOY OF IRON Iron Anthracite iron (carbon) Cast iron (carbon) Pig iron (carbon) Wrought iron (carbon) Fernico (nickel, cobalt) Elinvar (nickel, chromium) Invar (nickel) Kovar (cobalt) Spiegeleisen (manganese, carbon, silicon) Ferroalloys Ferroboron Ferrochrome Ferromagnesium Ferromanganese Ferromolybdenum Ferronickel Ferrophosphorus Ferrotitanium Ferrovanadium Ferrosilicon ANTHRACITE IRON Anthracite iron is the substance created by the smelting together of anthracite coal and iron ore. Research into the smelting of iron using anthracite coal began in the 1820s. Initial experiments, most notably by Gueymard and Robin at Vizille in 1827, attempted to gradually substitute anthracite for other fuels, such as coke or charcoal, but all failed due to the use of cold blast techniques, which generated insufficient heat to keep the anthracite in combustion. In the United States, where the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company (LCN) had begun shipping anthracite to Philadelphia in 1820, there was great interest in exploiting the great anthracite deposits of Schuylkill County for iron making. The Franklin Institute, in 1830, offered a gold medal to the manufacturer of the greatest quantity of anthracite iron, and Nicholas Biddle and his associates offered a prize of $5,000 to the first individual to smelt a certain quantity of iron ore within a given time, using anthracite. The Lehigh Coal and Navigation also offered free water power and discount rates on coal and shipping to encourage the development of the process. HISTORY OF ANTHRACITE IRON The key breakthrough occurred in 1829, when James Beaumont Neilson patented the hot blast, which he had conceived in an attempt to improve the efficiency of conventionally-fueled furnaces. The first person to employ the hot blast technique to anthracite smelting was Dr. Frederick W. Gesenhainer, who filed for a patent on the process in 1831 and received it in 1833. In 1836, he tried smelting anthracite iron on a practical scale at his property, Valley Furnace, near Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He produced a small quantity of iron, but due to mechanical breakdowns, could not keep the furnace in operation for more than two months. While distinguished visitors, including Governor Joseph Ritner, acknowledged his success, he sold out his share in Valley Furnace and went to New York City. Research was proceeding along parallel lines across the Atlantic. George Crane, owner, and David Thomas, supterintendent of the Yniscedwyn Iron Works, had themselves conceived of the idea of using hot blast to smelt anthracite. Thomas was sent to Scotland to examine Neilsons installation and reproduced it at Yniscedwyn. Crane filed for a British patent on smelting iron with anthracite and hot blast in 1836, and received it in 1837. By the time the patent was sealed, Yniscedwyn was producing about 35 tons of iron using anthracite only as a fuel. Inspired both by Geisenhainer and Crane (whose success was closely followed by the LCN), experiments in the US continued. Baughman, Guiteau and Company used an old furnace near Mauch Chunk to produce some anthracite iron during late 1837. They built another experimental furnace nearby, which was worked for about two months during fall and winter 1838 and for some time in 1839, but mechanical deficiencies led them to abandon the furnace at the end of 1839. In the meantime, Pioneer Furnace, in Pottsville, was blown in using anthracite fuel in 1839. It was built by William Lyman obtained the aid of a Welsh emigrant, Benjamin Perry, who was familiar with Neilsons process and the Yniscedwyn works, for the blowing-in. The furnace ran for three months on anthracite alone and fulfilled the conditions to win the $5,000 prize. In the design of Pioneer Furnace, Lyman had also been assisted by David Thomas, who had arrived in the United States in May 1839. Thomas was engaged by the LCN to set up the Lehigh Crane Iron Company and its first furnace at Catasauqua, which went into blast in 1840, along with five other anthracite furnaces. This marked the commercial establishment of anthracite iron production in the United States. CAST IRON Cast iron usually refers to grey iron, but also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys, which solidify with a eutectic. The colour of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due to its carbide impurities which allow cracks to pass straight through. Grey cast iron is named after its grey fractured surface, which occurs because the graphitic flakes deflect a passing crack and initiate countless new cracks as the material breaks. Iron (Fe) accounts for more than 95% by weight (wt%) of the alloy material, while the main alloying elements are carbon (C) and silicon (Si). The amount of carbon in cast irons is 2.1 to 4wt%. Cast irons contain appreciable amounts of silicon, normally 1 to 3wt%, and consequently these alloys should be considered ternary Fe-C-Si alloys. Despite this, the principles of cast iron solidification are understood from the binary iron-carbon phase diagram, where the eutectic point lies at 1,154Â °C (2,109Â °F) and 4.3wt% carbon. Since cast iron has nearly this composition, its melting temperature of 1,150 to 1,200Â °C (2,102to 2,192Â °F) is about 300Â °C (572Â °F) lower than the melting point of pure iron. Cast iron tends to be brittle, except for malleable cast irons. With its low melting point, good fluidity, castability, excellent machinability, resistance to deformation, and wear resistance, cast irons have become an engineering material with a wide range of applications, including pipes, machine and automotive industry parts, such as cylinder heads (declining usage), cylinder blocks, and gearbox cases (declining usage). It is resistant to destruction and weakening by oxidisation (rust). PIG IRON Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Pig iron has a very high carbon content, typically 3.5-4.5%, which makes it very brittle and not useful directly as a material except for limited applications. The traditional shape of the molds used for these ingots was a branching structure formed in sand, with many individual ingots at right angles to a central channel or runner. Such a configuration is similar in appearance to a litter of piglets suckling on a sow. When the metal had cooled and hardened, the smaller ingots (the pigs) were simply broken from the much thinner runner (the sow), hence the name pig iron. As pig iron is intended for remelting, the uneven size of the ingots and inclusion of small amounts of sand was insignificant compared to the ease of casting and of handling. WROUGHT IRON Wrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon content, in comparison to steel, and has fibrous inclusions, known as slag. This is what gives it a grain resembling wood, which is visible when it is etched or bent to the point of failure. Wrought iron is tough, malleable, ductile and easily welded. Historically, it was known as commercially pure iron however it no longer qualifies because current standards for commercially pure iron require a carbon content of less than 0.008 wt%. Before the development of effective methods of steelmaking and the availability of large quantities of steel, wrought iron was the most common form of malleable iron. A modest amount of wrought iron was used as a raw material for manufacturing of steel, which was mainly to produce swords, cutlery and other blades. Demand for wrought iron reached its peak in the 1860s with the adaptation of ironclad warships and railways, but then declined as mild steel became more available. Before they came to be made of mild steel, items produced from wrought iron included rivets, nails, chains, railway couplings, water and steam pipes, nuts, bolts, horseshoes, handrails, straps for timber roof trusses, and ornamental ironwork. Wrought iron is no longer produced on a commercial scale. Many products described as wrought iron, such as guard rails, garden furniture and gates, are made of mild steel. They retain that description because they were formerly made of wrought iron or have the appearance of wrought iron. True wrought iron is required for the authentic conservation of historic structures. FERROSILICON Ferrosilicon, or ferrosilicium, is a ferroalloy an alloy of iron and silicon with between 15% and 90% silicon. It contains a high proportion of iron silicides. Its melting point is about 1200 Â °C to 1250 Â °C with a boiling point of 2355 Â °C. It also contains about 1% to 2% of calcium and aluminium. Ferrosilicon is used as a source of silicon to deoxidize steel and other ferrous alloys. This prevents the loss of carbon from the molten steel (so called blocking the heat); ferromanganese, spiegeleisen, silicides of calcium, and many other materials are used for the same purpose. It can be used to make other ferroalloys. Ferrosilicon is also used for manufacture of silicon, corrosion-resistant and high-temperature resistant ferrous silicon alloys, and silicon steel for electromotors and transformer cores. In manufacture of cast iron, ferrosilicon is used for inoculation of the iron to accelerate graphitization. In arc welding, ferrosilicon can be found in some electrode coatings. Ferrosilicon is a basis for manufacture of prealloys like magnesium ferrosilicon (FeSiMg), used for modification of melted malleable iron. FeSiMg contains 3-42% magnesium and small amounts of rare earth metals. Ferrosilicon is also important as an additive to cast irons for controlling the initial content of silicon. Ferrosilicon is also used in the Pidgeon process to make magnesium from dolomite. In contact with water, ferrosilicon may slowly produce hydrogen. Ferrosilicon is produced by reduction of silica or sand with coke in presence of scrap iron, millscale, or other source of iron. Ferrosilicons with silicon content up to about 15% are made in blast furnaces lined with acid fire bricks. Ferrosilicons with higher silicon content are made in electric arc furnaces. An overabundance of silica is used to prevent formation of silicon carbide. Microsilica is a useful byproduct. The usual formulations on the market are ferrosilicons with 15%, 45%, 75%, and 90% silicon. The remainder is iron, with about 2% consisting of other elements like aluminium and calcium. FERROMOLYBDENUM Ferromolybdenum is an important iron molybdenum alloy, with a molybdenum content of 60-70% It is the main source for molybdenum alloying of HSLA steel. The molybdenum is mined and is subsequently transformed into the molybdenum(VI) oxide. FERROTITANIUM ? Ferrotitanium is a ferroalloy, an alloy of iron and titanium with between 10-20..45-75% titanium and sometimes a small amount of carbon. It is used in steelmaking as a cleansing agent for iron and steel; the titanium is highly reactive with sulfur, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen, forming insoluble compounds and sequestering them in slag, and is therefore used for deoxidizing, and sometimes for desulfurization and denitrification. ? In steelmaking the addition of titanium yields metal with finer grain structure.ferrotitanium rowmaterial name is Ilmenitesant.making process of ferro titanium:- ilmenite-100%600kge MoO3. This oxide is mixed with iron oxide and aluminium and is reduced in the an aluminothermic reaction to molybdenum and iron. ? The ferromolybdenum can be purified by electron beam melting or used as it is. For alloying with steel the ferromolybdenum is added to molten steel before casting. Among the biggest suppliers of Ferromolybdenum in Europe is the German trading house Grondmet in DÃ ¼sseldorf, Germany. SPIEGELEISEN Spiegeleisen is a ferromanganese alloy containing approximately 15% manganese and small quantities of carbon and silicon. Historically, this was the standard form in which manganese was traded and used in steel making (see Bessemer process); today, manganese is usually traded and used in more concentrated form, 80% manganese content being typical. Spiegeleisen is sometimes also referred to as specular pig iron, Spiegel iron, just Spiegel, or Bisalloy. FERROCHROME Ferrochrome (FeCr) is an alloy of chromium and iron containing between 50% and 70% chromium. The ferrochrome is produced by electric arc melting of chromite, an iron magnesium chromium oxide and the most important chromium ore. Most of the worlds ferrochrome is produced in South Africa, Kazakhstan and India, which have large domestic chromite resources. Increasing amounts are coming from Russia and China. The production of steel is the largest consumer of ferrochrome, especially the production of stainless steel with chromium content of 10 to 20% is the main application of ferrochrome. REFERENCES http://www.omikk.bme.hu/archivum/angol/htm/ganz_a.htm http://www.glue-it.com/model-engineering/general-information/glossary/c/cast_iron.html http://www.freshney.org/ptonline/data/glossary/alloy.htm http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060917122846AAtf5DH http://encyclopedia.stateuniversity.com/pages/1146/alloy.html http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061010114339AAnfc2h http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alloy http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Cast_iron

International human resource management due to globalization

International human resource management due to globalization As the globalisation trend advanced, IHRM (International Human Resource Management) plays a critical role in helping companies evaluate the human resource skills /capabilities and possibilities involved in moving to different regions of the world (Luthans, Marsnik and Luthans,1997). The HR (Human Resource) function is to help manage the organisations people as effective as possible based on the organisation business objectives for competitive advantage (Porter, 1990). To be successful in the global marketplace, a need for global mindset is the key source for long-term competitive advantage. The current HR issues faced by PC is illustrated in Appendix A. The HR management in PC HQ did not consult the local HR representative information on local culture, employment aspects, safety, customs and traditions in order to operate in harmony with a local companys procedures which is the root cause of the HR dilemma faced by PC. Looking at the current HR issues that PC is facing, the complexities of operating in different countries and employing people of different nationalities are challenges arising from the internationalisation of business. Also the challenge PC requires to undertake its HR strategies, policies, practices to global level for multinational ventures (Scullion Linehan, 2005). Company characteristic, business strategy and organisational structure are important elements in policy choice for the Flexibility and HRM strategies (Delery and Doty, 1996; Tsui et al., 1995; Mayne et al., 1996; Doorewaard and Meihuizen, 2000). According to Philip Condit (Financial Times 1997), as the era move towards globalisation, it is advantageous global companies, workforce, management transform into a global enterprise. A standardized approach to IHRM may put an organisation to disadvantage because cultural differences are ignored rather than built upon. (Adler,1991). Competing demands of global integration and local differentiation are important elements which give rise the need to develop human resources as a source of competitive advantage (Caligiuri and Stroh,1995;Schuler et al.,1993;Taylor et al.,1996). PC required adopting a geocentric approach to IHRM integration to balance between the conflicting priorities of global integration and local responsiveness (Caligiuri and Stroh (1995). GLOBE research confirmed that selected cultural differences strongly influence important ways in which people think about leaders and norms. According to Spence Hayden (1990), the most critical HRM issue for going international is to select and train local managers (see Appendix B) as people is the main source for competitive advantage in international business. It is critical that PC focus on the first seven points of the HRM issues listed in Appendix B to enhance its current HR issues in Germany, France and India for the business expansion. The overall twelve HRM issues are for PC to apply for its going international plan to other Asia countries to build long term business success. The key challenge for PC is to capitalise on the diversity of global workforce without suppressing each other nations desire to maintain their own cultural heritage. Although it is tough, PC have to build, maintain and develop its corporate identity by managing its people on a worldwide basis, local responsiveness by adapting and conforming to the norms and customs of different societies in which PC operate (Laurent, 1986). This will enhance worldwide competitiveness, innovation combined with achievement, consistent across MNE units (Bartlett and Ghoshal, 1989). According to Schuler and Florkowski (1994), for control purpose, flexible HRM policies and practices at the local level must be balanced with the requirement of MNE to maintain its global set of IHRM policies. Deeper Analysis-HRM issues a) Training and Development As noted in PC case, there is no formal training to consultants after recruited. Failure to train employees can affect the values, beliefs, and assumptions shared by employees to the organisational culture (Bunch, 2007, p. 157). Au and Chong (1993) conclude that failing to incorporate organisational culture in training programmes might lead to total failure in building a successful organisation. Listed below are the ways to determine employees taining needs: In todays highly competitive global business environment, human resources play an important role in developing and sustaining organisation competitive advantage (Brewster, 2002). IHRM has enforced common methods of acquisition of knowledge through hiring and training, distribution of knowledge via training and development, and utilization of knowledge via performance management in an organisation. Training Assessment is used to determine if and what type of training is necessary to acquire skills, knowledge, and improvement in order to perform well for the organisation growth and success. (see Appendix C -General Systems Model of Training and Development). Cross cultural training is also critical for international assignments, for managers to be acculturated to other societies value, norms and behaviour. Training is also recognised as an important means for socialisation (Child, 1984; De Meyer, 1991; Derr and Oddou, 1993; Ondrack, 1985). Orientation is where new employee learns the organisational goals, corporate culture, job and to develop realistic expectations. Formal training on the other hand promotes shared values and facilitates network building between headquarters and subsidiaries. Only successful organisation (example: Accenture) will believe/continue to train, develop their employees in order to adapt to the constant change in the dynamic working environment as new technologies develop and emergence of global assignments. (see Appendix D Diagnostic steps in Development Programmes) According to Bramley, 2003, extensive training, learning and development are important. Learning organisations (example: Xerox, General Electric) have applied three stages of learning perspective. PC needs to ensure that outstanding talent remain at the forefront of its field in terms of professional expertise and product knowledge gained through training which facilitates learning so that employees can become more effective in carrying out their task. It is essential as people, technology, jobs, and organisations are always evolving. Technology is advancing at a staggering pace. Therefore, it is vital that employees be trained and developed to utilise the latest technology so as to attain the highest levels of productivity. b) International Managers As International business continues to grow intensely, PC must understand the need for highly qualified international managers, a crucial factor in implementing global strategies for business success (Gregersen, Morrison, Black, 1998). Overall International managers need to have effective cross cultural communication, non-judgemental capability, flexibility, empathy (Berrell et al.2002:92). Expatriates A successful expatriate manager must have sound knowledge of technical, functional, cultural, social, and political skills (Bartlett, 1986; Bartlett Ghoshal, 1994; Ghoshal Barlett,1997). The most common factors that determine the expatriates success or failure is illustrated in Appendix E. Expatriate managers that possess an acculturation characteristic will be able to adapt/adopt themselves to any region for international assignment. The key point for international transfer is to initiate, expand and control international operations to ensure various organisational units strive towards achieving organisation common goals which is linked to HQ control aspects. (Edstrà ¶m and Galbraith,1977). Appendix F described why transfer of international managers happen. According to Roessel (1988), the benefits of various functions of international transfers can enhance internationalisation of the MNE, which make it more sustainable in international market. Inpatriates The value of managers with unique local market knowledge can develop a dynamic capability for global assignments. In this manner, inpatriate manager is another option envisioned to build managerial talents which organisations can develop distinct competitive advantage in the market they entered. The inpatriation process is positively related to the global HRM for organisations development of organisational capabilities: quality, low-cost operations, speed learning, innovation and customer focus (Lawler, 1996; Urlich Lake, 1990). The criteria and characteristic of the right candidate for inpatriate managers are similar to the expatriate factors which illustrated in Appendix D. Although HQ prefers the expatriate managers contribution in multicultural management on the stabilisation control aspect for competitive advantage (Dadfer Gustavsson, 1992; Granstrand, Hakanson, Sjolander, 1993), inpatriate managers do play an important part in the bridging role between HQ and the emerging market that the organisation wish to penetrate (Harvey et al., 1999b,c,d). Inpatriate managers, as substitutes and complements of expatriates, can provide accurate advice on adaptation of technical dimensions of HR processes (recruitment criteria, compensation, appraisals, training and development of host country nationals). Inpatriate managers also act as a mentor to calibre managers from host country nations to insure a succession plan when new inpatriate managers are moved into the home country organisation. If PC would to consider inpatriate manager option, it has undertaken the step in developing a multicultural strategic leadership capability, developing a global learning organisation to compete effectively in a globalised world (Aguirre, 1997; Hofstede, 1980, 1984; McBride, 1992; McMillen, Baker, White, 1997; Nemetz Christensen, 1996; Reynolds, 1997). Statement to the Board of Paine Co (PC) Core Components of HR Strategy IHRM policies and practices are influenced by the organisations structure, strategy, its institutional and cultural environments (Ngo et al., 1998; Schuler and Rogovsky, 1998; Schuler et al., 2002; Sparrow et al., 2004). For management consulting multinationals, definition of HRM policies at international level should be followed by a more standardised local implementation (Boxall and Steeneveld (1999). At the same time, applying the right kind of policies and practices was a condition of ongoing viability, the success to implement HR policies and practices synergistically constitute the basis for competitive advantage. IT consultancy firm, like PC depends highly on qualified and specialised professionals to offer services based on their creativity and intellectual work. This profession requires versatility, adaptability and constant learning due to its ever evolving job nature (Starbuck, 1992; Ram, 1999; Ka ¨rreman, 2002). In this case, PC should look at the need for highly qualified multicultural workforce as a means to build managerial talents, develop organisations competitiveness in the market it enter. Furthermore, global competition has caused organisations to be more conscious of cost and productivity. Therefore, HRM strategies must reflect clearly the organisations strategy people, profit and overall effectiveness in managing an increasing diverse workforce to compete in an increasingly complex, competitive world. (see Appendix G -Important Factors /Requirement in HRM). According to Sparrow 1998, recognising organisations need for multiple and parallel flexibilities especially in a time of increasing international competition and technological change is vital (Atkinson, 1987; Tsui et al., 1995). The proposed core components of HR strategy that PC should apply is highlighted in Appendix H, taking into consideration the difference in nationality, culture and institutional factors, to enhance its organisation performance and build long-term competitive advantage. Notes to the Core Components Based on Best Practice HRM, staffing need to be highly selective, performance regularly and systematically assessed, teamwork orientated, autonomy and responsibility were encouraged (Huselid, 1995; MacDuffie, 1995; Delery and Doty, 1996). With the growth of PC business internationally, PC needs appropriate information to develop its HRM policies and practices through comparing cross-national dimension on an international perspective (Brewster et al., 1996; Clark et al., 1999; Kochan, Dyer, Batt, 1992), a business strategy to develop bigger market share one step ahead of its competitors. Cross-national HRM policies and practices are also influenced by both culture-bound variables such as national and organisational culture, institutions, industrial sector dynamics and culture-free variables such as age, size, nature, and life cycle stages of organisation (Brewster, 1995; Hofstede, 1993; Jackson Schuler, 1995; Sparrow, 1995). The degree and direction of influence of these factors varies from region to region (Jackson Schuler, 1995; Locke Thelen, 1995). Creating a global corporate culture requires a geocentric mindset, drawing upon cultural capabilities that exist across the global operations and incorporating diverse cultural values and practices. Understanding HRM roles/strategies requires a contextual approach, underlining the importance of taking the institutional context into account (Paauwe, 2004). The table below shows the factors determining cross culture HRM practices. A detailed list of the subcomponents factors/variables in determining cross-national HRM is listed in Appendix I. The strategic importance of a unique, specific and valuable human capital for knowledge-intensive firm like PC would suggest a preference for employment internalisation (Matusik and Hill, 1998; Lepak and Snell, 1999). PC must actively seek creative destruction of its existing competencies to retain competitive advantage in the marketplace (Schumpter, 1934,1942) via an adequate HRM policies and practices. The organisational competitiveness of PC will depends on its strength/capacity to shape a unique set of resources where competitors find it hard to copy, which mobilized with the help of developed organisational and managerial systems that provide the organisation with a series of distinctive capacities that allow to generate long-term sustainable income (Fernà ¡ndez Rodrà ­guez, 1995). The process of continuous learning and modification of resource bundles for efficiency and effectiveness of strategies contribute to development of the organisations dynamic capabilities (global management capabilities difficult to imitate) to gain/sustain competitive advantage. (Teece,1988; Teece, Pisano Shuen, 1997). According to Barney (1991), if resources meet the following elements, the firm earns a unique strategy profile which assist for international expansion. On the other hand, Behavioural Theory is based on the assumption that different strategies require different behaviours, attitudes and capabilities in workers (Schuler, 1987). According to this theory, HR practices do influence workers behaviour which results in improvements of organisational performance (Lawler,1986; Huselid, 1995; Becker, Huselid, Pickus Spratt, 1997; Guest, 1997;Appelbaum et al., 2000; Takeuchi, 2003). This implies PC must implement a set of personnel practices consistent with the organisations business strategy to build its international presence successfully (see below). When workers have positive perceptions, this will increase their work commitment with the organisation, degree of involvement and their level of working satisfaction, which results in better performance for PC and talented workers can be retained for future prospect. Developing a systematic approach of HR policies and practices consistent with business strategy can assist in the integration of business competitive advantage, where every possible source of competitive advantage need to be identified/utilised in facilitating the learning and knowledge transfer processes across units (Schuler et al. (1993:427). A high performance work system (HPWS) practices is perceived by employees as organisations commitment (Batt, 2002). [see Appendix J] Definitely with HPWS implemented in PC, it will be able to develop talented, motivated employees to meet organisations objective to achieve competitive advantage in the international arena (McDuffie (1995). By developing the necessary skills, knowledge and increasing motivation of employee contribution, PC can reflect the opportunities to realize economies of scale at the international level. With the rapid evolving technologies, this encourages PC to engage in innovation and continuous learning across its operation. According to Wright Snell (1991), a successful organisation should have motivated workers who are involved in the achievement of organisational objectives. Managers are responsible to create a more positive working environment where employees can flourish and increase their feelings of wellbeing at work (Tehrani et al., 2007). Line managers are also responsible to deliver the HR practices and to ensure that the perception of support, trust, fairness and consistency are maintained amongst employees. The biggest mistake unsuccessful global organisations make is to assume that there is one best way to structure HRM policies and practices. Trying to apply HRM principles that work well in one environment may not lead to the same level of degree of success in another. Challenges Globalisation competition has become so intensify, HRM professionals require to optimise the skills, talent, creativity of every employee more effectively. Failure to do so will probably mean the organisation cannot compete in the flat world. Every aspect of HRM strategic can be influenced by cultural differences in one or more dimensions. Therefore, PC needs to understand the cultural differences and ensuring HRM and cultural orientation of workers are coincide with one another without sacrificing efficiency. Conclusion To be successful in the international marketplace, PC must ensure HR policies are fit with strategic international plan of the organisation and with the work-related values of foreign culture due to cross-national interaction. Total word count=2,593

Sketchers Advertising :: Business and Management Studies

Sketchers Advertising Advertising is used to inform people about products for sale and to encourage people to buy them. It is a way of telling people about different products that companies are selling. Things are advertised differently depending on whether they are in the newspaper, on television, on the radio or in magazines. The purpose of advertising is to encourage people to buy that particular product rather than another product. There are different forms of advertising. These are: industry and commerce, to sell goods and services and to give information about a certain product. Organizer of event, this is to promote events such as the cinema, theatre, and charity events. Political party, this is to win support on votes, to lobby government. Educational establishments. Which are to advertise colleges and universities. There are also other forms of advertising such as: charity, media, government and private individual. There are also many pros and cons of advertising. The pros are that the advertisements bring the prices down because it encourages competition and increases sales. It gives people information about goods and services. The cons are that it persuades people to spend money on things they don’t really want or need, and they interrupt television programmes, and fill up page after page of magazines. I have looked at the ‘sketchers’ footwear advertisement that I found in a J-17 magazine. The ‘Sketchers’ advertisement is on a plain blue background and takes up a whole double page spread. They have used Britney Spears to advertise the footwear so that people are encouraged to buy them because they think that Britney wears them and they want to be like her. On the first half of the advert there are two pictures of Britney Spears, the ‘Sketchers’ logo, the website address and the words ‘Sketchers USA Footwear’. The website was put on the advert to make people go onto the site and look at more of their shoes. They include these pictures of Britney spears to make the trainers more appealing to the audience to make people try and buy their shoes. On the other half of the advertisement there are two more pictures of Britney Spears. The product is ‘Sketchers’ footwear, the brand name and company is ‘Sketchers’ and there is no slogan. The logo is the letter ‘S’ in a oval shape. The outline of the logo is white, the inside is red and the letter ‘S’ is white. The target audience is teenage girls and women up to the age of about thirty, possibly a bit older. The purpose of this advert is to encourage people to choose their product of

Romeo And Juliet: Fate :: essays research papers

The only theme that tragedy reveals is that the noble and good must suffer. There is no lesson we can draw from tragedy that will help us avoid the fate of the protagonist. It is known that in Shakespeare’s tragedies the main characters die in the end. Romeo and Juliet being a tragedy, sets up a situation where we know that Romeo and Juliet are going to die in the end. There are many events that lead to their deaths. The Capulets and Montagues share the responsibility for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because of each family’s stubborn refusal to end an enduring feud. If their feud could have been resolved the children of each family would not have shared this terrible fate. Friar Lawrence was also partially to blame through his actions in trying to help the couple. At the end of the story the Prince, is the only character who reminds everyone the reality of how Romeo and Juliet’s death occurred because of everyone’s faults. Romeo and Juliet didn’t even try to tell their parents, Lord and Lady Montague and Lord and Lady Capulet, about love between they shared for each other because they were afraid that their parents wouldn’t understand them. Perhaps the families would have understood, the problem is, we don’t know, because Capulet and Montague learned about their children’s love when they were already dead. If Romeo and Juliet were comfortable with telling their parents of their marriage then there would have been fewer complications regarding the marriage with Paris. If it wasn’t for the hostility between the two families then they wouldn’t have cost Romeo and Juliet their lives. The masque was the most important part of the story. Romeo was wearing a mask to hide his face. Since Juliet couldn’t see his face, it allowed Juliet to fall in love with him before she saw who it was. If Juliet had known Romeo was a Montague she would probably not have fallen in love with him. Juliet said: "My only love, sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late!" (I-5) Juliet realizes that it was a mistake to fall in love with Romeo, because he is a Montague, but it is too late, because she is already in love. Friar Lawrence also had a big part in the story. All his good intentions, the play still ends in tragedy.

A Looking Glass Fogged :: Journalism Journalist Essays

A Looking Glass Fogged In reporting, it is sometimes the case that a story is told from a certain point of view due to political pressures, especially when dispute surrounds the subject matter. One such case is the reporting on the Chinese-Tibetan conflict, in which China's overwhelming political and fiscal power has the potential to seep into the affairs of newspaper owners. In my paper, I will examine a certain event as it was published in a variety of newspapers, and how their coverage differs from the AP Worldstream report. Additionally, I will analyze what appears to be an extremely one-sided report and how it is of benefit to its publisher. China has always sought to culturally integrate Tibet with the Chinese mainland, for reasons as diverse as the parties involved. Recently this has expressed itself in the form of a planned railway reaching from Beijing to Lhasa, the Tibetan Capital. China has justified this action with its usual stance on Tibetan integration, as an effort to modernize Tibet 'for its own good' and provide it with an influx of labor and industry. Groups opposed to the project fear that the railway will cause a new wave of Chinese settlers who will dilute the region's unique culture and exploit the land for its resources. (AP-Worldstream) The Associated Press is a news source for news sources. Their business consists of covering events and reselling the reports to a variety of papers, so it is in their interest to stay as neutral as possible. In their coverage of the Railway project they cover both sides equally, starting with China's moral obligation to "enrich" the Tibetan culture with an inflow of Chinese culture and labor. To quote Shi, an overseer: "Tibet has been without the railway, but now they will have the same great things and great life as us."(2) While the Chinese side makes no mention of this, the AP report covers political motives for this $3.3 billion investment. With the railroad in place, China would be able to immediately deploy troops to stomp any sort of Tibetan uprising as well as saturate the area and culture with Chinese immigrants, furthering China's grip on the Tibetan region. The article does a thorough job of showing both unrelenting sides of the issue - the Chinese developer's zeal for get ting the railroad underway and wants for further development, employment and opportunities, and the Tibetan fear of exploitation and cultural dilution.

Advantages and Disadvantages of ESL Course Books Essay

The use of course books in the ESL classroom is very common because the course books have the advantages of being visually appealing, easy for the teacher to prepare, and the activities fits well into the timetable. However, from the researcher’s own teaching experience, there are several problems and issues with the course books such as uninteresting topics, repetitive activities, and not enough language exposure. This in terms may affect the student’s learning attitude and motivation. Overall, using course books has its share of benefits and advantages such as having a well organized content with a consistency in the topics and genres for the four skill area (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Teachers who adopt a course book may also find it easier to teach since most of the preparation, including the types of activities, audios and in some cases, achievement tests, are already done by the publisher. This would be a great help to those inexperienced teachers who are just getting started into teaching. However, nothing in the world is perfect and teachers need to somehow solve the issues and problems that may come with ESL course books. These issues and problems may include finding ways to motivate students and teaching students academic skills not found in the course books. In this sense, the teacher’s job is not as easy as it seems. Many hours of planning and developing other activities are still required, but these planning and development will benefit both the student and the teacher by making the classroom activities more fun, more interesting, and result in more learning.

Car Safety Features Essay

As automobiles and other motor vehicles give faster, they force more and more dangerous to use. speckle this is the case, thither atomic number 18 m any incompatible methods that manufacturers have used to help block harm to their consumers. These methods include air get along outs, seatbelts, antilock happy chance systems and many more. These troika features be by far the al near commonly know rubber eraser features for simple machines, and pretty much any new simple machine that is manufactured leave behind have all three of these guard duty features, not only because of the interest in containing drivers safe but akinwise the recently huge appeal to gumshoe features and ratings for cars.Seat Belts Seat belts be by far the most common safety feature among cars. E veryone knows what they are, been taught to always buckle up, they muffle the risk of death by nearly 50%, and is illegal to not be wearing one while locomotion in a car. But barely do seatbelts do? Seat belts value drivers and passengers by strapping them into their seat. This foresees violent jerks caused by either collisions or sudden stops. The staple fibre idea of seatbelts is that they stop you from flying kayoed of the windshield of your car.Why would this happen? It happens because of something called inertia. inactivity matters tendency to keep mournful if its contemptible or keep staying still if its staying still, until it becomes low the influence of a force. Kind of like if you wake up in the aurora felling tired, you want to go concealment to eternal sleep until you force yourself to wake up. This is how inertia works. If you were travel in a car at 60 kilometres per hour, inertia would mean that the car, and everything deep shore it, would want to keep moving at 60 kilometres per hour.If the car decelerates very quickly, by chance due to a crock up, everything inside the car will still be moving at 60 kilometres per hour, but the car will be slo wing down very quickly. If you were not wearing a seatbelt, you would travel forwards at 60 kilometres per hour and crash through your windshield. Since windshields are do of thick glass, crashing into it would very easily kill you at a focal ratio like this. If you were wearing a seatbelt in a situation like this, the seatbelt acts as a force to stop you from moving forwards, greatly reducing the impact of the inertia.The most commonly know kind of seatbelt is known as the three-point seatbelt, which tramp be seen on the right. The three-point seatbelt is almost always used in cars and buses. The three-point seatbelt works by having a publicize of fabric not only crosswise your hip, but also across your social unit torso. The seatbelt has three points, two of them being make into the car, and the third point being where the seatbelt locks in, wherefore the name three-point seatbelt. Air Bags Another very common form of passenger testimonial is the air bag. Air bags are ba sically just what theyre called.They are bags and get filled with air during a crash, preventing the driver/passenger from hitting their transport onto the dashboard. practically like seat belts, they strive to decline the impact of inertia to prevent injury, by stopping the passengers head from moving forward. Air bags have three components that work in unison to business correctly the crash sensor, the inflator, and the air bag itself. The crash sensor is a whirl that detects the force that is equal to or great than driving into a brick wall at 16 to 24 kilometres per hour. If this force is met, the crash sensor sends a command to the inflator.The inflator tbiddy attains a reaction surrounded by sodium azide (NaN3) and potassium nitrate (KNO3) to create nitrogen attack (NO3). The inflator forces this gas into the airbag, cause the bag to inflate. The bag is made of a thin nylon fabric, which is folded into a compartment in both the steering wheel and the the dashboard, an d most of the time the seat or door. Anti-lock Braking dodging (ABS) Many accidents are cause by brakes being applies too much, fix up the wheels and cause the car to skid. ABS tries to prevent the wheel from locking up and reservation the car lose control. at that place are 4 components to ABS systems hurrying sensors, the pump, valves and the ascendence. The speed sensors furnish information to the controller of what speed the car is travelling at, they are usually fixed at the wheels. There is a valve in each of the brakes controlled by the ABS. There are three different positions that the valves can be in the valve being open, obturate the break line and releasing instancy form the brakes. Since valves release the pressure from the brakes, there needs to be something that puts the pressure tail in.Thats there the pump come in. When a valve reduces the pressure in the brakes, the pumps are there to put the pressure back in the brake system. And finally, there is the con troller. The controller is a computer placed somewhere in the car. The controller just controls how the speed sensors, the pumps and the valve operate. ABS works by detecting hen brakes are applied to hard, and begins to playing period the brakes on and off by taking away and re-applying the pressure on them. This stops the wheels on the cars from locking up, and most of the time stops the car from skidding.