National Emergency Communication Plan Research Paper

National Emergency Communication Plan - Research Paper Example Emergency communications is highly depended on by many agencies in United States (Safecom Program, Online). NECP was established by US department of Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communication. It was created due to lack of cooperation among the communication systems used by the nation’s first responders. Coordination in terms of passing information was crucial to enhance fire fighting, law enforcement, rescue, and other emergencies. Evidence of lack of proper coordination among systems was witnessed through the occurrence of attacks in the Pentagon, World Trade Centre in 2001 and Hurricane Katrina. NECP aims to provide up to date modes of communication to enhance response to emergency calls. The plan suggests reasonable goals for the federal, state, local, as well as tribal authorities to be achieved by 2013. It does not interfere with the distribution of funds by the Department of Homeland security (Department of Homeland Security, Online). NECP, being the first strategic plan, majorly aims to improve emergency response communications. It also works hand in hand with Homeland securities in its legislations. During the year 2010, it planned to achieve quick response emergency communication within one hour in high risk urban areas. In 2011, it aimed at achieving high level response emergency communication in low risk urban areas. By 2013, it aims to thrust all authorities to demonstrate response-level emergency communications within 3 hours in case of a major event a specified in nation’s planning scenarios (Walker 5). Land mobile radio and related public safety control systems have been put in place to ensure the quality and continuity of communications systems. Principles of chain and unity of command, unified command (for multi- agency incidents), and standardised span of control have also been put in place to clearly explain duties and responsibilities of responders. Shared laws and regulations have been structured to

Evaluate the way in which 'Big Four' Tour Operators ( TUI, MyTravel, Essay

Evaluate the way in which 'Big Four' Tour Operators ( TUI, MyTravel, First Choice and Thomas Cook) have established a cartel within the package holiday market i - Essay Example In 2000, the ‘Big Four’ controlled over 75% of all outbound package tours. As the travel industry undergoes a change, the Big Four show that one size does not fit all (PWC, 2006). This paper evaluates the way they have established a cartel within the package holiday market in the UK but changing trends have revolutionized the industry. The UK is the fourth most important generating market for holidays, after US, Germany and Japan (Meyer, 2003). As the British prefer to use the services of a tour operator for long-haul destinations, this sector had increasingly become mainstream with British tour operators. The main trends in the industry are economies of scale and vertical integration. These strategies give the tour operators tremendous buying power and control over the supply and distribution of their products. Vertical integration means investment into other suppliers which gives them control over quality, availability, access and price, and the ability to reach consumers. Besides, it helps to limit competition. The regulatory authorities have been challenging how the Big Four exercise control at several stages in the distribution chain. The Big Four are all vertically integrated. This vertical integration takes the form of control, normally through ownership by a single group, of a tour operator, an airline and a retail travel agent (R&M, 1999). The travel agent Lunn Poly, owned by TUI, UK had 800 shops in 2000. Going Places is owned by MyTravel, Thomas Cook has 700 travel agents and First Choice owns 361 shops under the name of Travel Choice and related brands (Meyer). If a customer walked into a Travel Choice office he would not know that he was buying a First Choice package. To reduce such misunderstandings, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC), ordered that the notice of ownership must be displayed outside the shop, in brochures, on official stationery and in advertisements. All the Big Four tour operators had some airline in

Business strategy IKEA group Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business strategy IKEA group - Case Study Example Using secondary research this report will present the emergent and direct strategies of this company and will also explain the reasons for IKEA to follow them. The report will then explain the importance of written strategic plan and cite the approach companies must take to deal with emergent events. This report also presents the future strategies for IKEA by using Ansoff's matrix. The history of IKEA in the Appendices section shows its steady growth over the years. This report now gives examples of emergent strategies and direct strategies of IKEA and the reasons for following them. (i) The company generally works through a network of worldwide suppliers and doesn't manufacture its own products. But, the company has few factories that set benchmarks for their suppliers on production economy, and quality (Nattrass and Altomare, 1999). The company focuses on achieving efficiency at low cost without compromising on the quality (Rosenhauer, 2008). By setting an example in front of the suppliers, the company can get better products from them and deliver more customer satisfaction. (ii) IKEA is also the joint owner or financer in a number of countries to secure supplies and help suppliers develop (Nattrass and Altomare, 1999). This may increase IKEA's competitiveness as companies can increase their competitive positioning by undertaking key activities in the value chain. The company also makes efforts to form close relationship with the suppliers and helps them develop, and innovate through training programs (Rosenhauer, 2008). This ensures better cooperation with the suppliers who strive to give quality products at a very low price. Relevant and timely training can provide the valuable guidance that can help suppliers produce the right product for the customers. (iii) The global furniture giant is characterized by lesser hierarchical structure and absence of bureaucracy. This helps the company to have centralized control over key functional activities. The Chairman of the company believes that strategic decisions of an organization should be reached in a simple manner (Rosenhauer, 2008). IKEA also delegates important strategy decisions to their store managers (Nesbitt, 2004). Apparently, this freedom to take decisions will make the managers feel more responsible towards their jobs and they will become more loyal to the organization. Emerging Strategies (i) The company has begun to focus on inviting the customers to be involved in the design and production of the products. IKEA is focussed on redefining roles of their stakeholders in the furniture business so that it can effectively beat the competition (Rosenhauer, 2008). The company has also begun to target young people who have a liking for stylish designs available at affordable price (Winfield et al, 2004). By involving the stakeholders in the design the company can provide customers with products that they really want and this will give them a competitive edge. The company will no longer waste its energies in unproductive work and focus on making only those designs that click. (ii) IKEA was driven to change its strategy and pay more attention to taking care of the environment. The company was criticized for the huge packaging waste, using excess of PVC plastic and cutting trees to make its catalogues. This global home furnishings

Computer, Programming,signal Processing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Computer, Programming,signal Processing - Essay Example It is found that various current sources in the human brain are capable to respond against similar EEG. The forward problem and the inverse problem can be diagrammatically represented with the help of source model having current dipole capable to develop neural currents which are always found localized in small regions. The electroencephalogram system consists of some connecting devices which are meant to connect with both the scalp of the individual and personal computer. The process taking place in the brain is reflected over the surface of the scalp. This is the reason why electrodes and connections are provided on the scalp. Then electrode paste is applied on the scalp and after that electrodes are placed on them. The scalp provides information to the small box attached to the computer system and the whole device after processing the information sent back to the user. Numerous neurological wave patterns can be collected with the help of this EEG system. These electrical wave patterns developing inside the brain are reflected at the scalp region. These reflections are passed in to the storage unit of the computer and the electrodes kept on the scalp region send signals of voltage variations to the amplifier. The success of this technology mainly depends on the positioning and developing contact with the electrodes. Due to this reason electrodes of highly conductive materials like gold or silver chloride are normally employed. Actually the discovery of electrical wave pattern from the brain has taken place only hundred years back and this led to the application process of Brain computer Interface. EEG is a special type of communication media between men and machines which is performed by employing the influence of electronic signals on current sources in human brain. The system of communication by means of electronic signals is termed as Brain Computer Interface. This is

Assessing Autism Article Critique Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Assessing Autism Article Critique - Term Paper Example The usual way of measuring behavior such as limited eye contact, lack of reciprocal social interaction, fewer greetings and failure to initiate interactions such as offering comfort to someone who is hurt, for example, is to observe how children react in certain contrived situations. This study hypothesizes that children with autism will behave differently from children with mental retardation and children with typical development during natural situations. It proposes that that a standardized way of observing children in the everyday context of school recess would be a helpful assessment tool. The playground observation checklist is just such an observation tool, and the article describes how it was used and the results it produced. These results were then checked for accuracy against other information obtained by the usual autism assessment methods. There were ten items on the behavior checklist, which is a very small amount, and for each child in the sample of 81 a score of yes/no was recorded against each item during a 15 minute observation period. Two observers recorded the sessions simultaneously, and any instance where a child interacted with an adult during the 15 minutes was discounted, and the observation was repeated until a session with only peer to peer interaction took place.... n educator this is an interesting article which recommends an intervention that is relatively inexpensive, easy to administer and suitable for operation in a school context in a way that does not place any undue pressure on the child. This article was an exploration of the method itself, and more needs to be done on that to ensure that the criteria are worded well, for example avoiding gender bias in the way interactions are described and scored. Assuming these details could be ironed out, this observation checklist does appear to be a good method for making initial assessments to indicate what kind of specialist referral, if any, would be appropriate for a particular child. So long as the observation is conducted by trained observers it could be introduced in an elementary school. There are ethical issues about the method, of course, since parents would need to give permission for such observations to take place, whether for research purposes, or for the benefit of the children them selves. There could be a danger of over-diagnosis, or of inappropriate referrals if too much weight is placed on a single fifteen minute observation, and so any use of this tool would be best placed within a school policy on autism, to be called upon under specific circumstances and regulated by school protocols that protect everyone’s rights. The article by Bradley-Johnson et al. (2008) takes a wider perspective than the article by Ingram et al. (2007) and is aimed at school psychologists, rather than educators. The definition of autism used by Bradley-Johnson et al. (2008) is that of the Disabilities Education Improvement Act (2004) which is broader than the DSM criteria. From the start there is an emphasis on â€Å"verifying eligibility for special services for autism† which betrays an

Constructivism and international relations Essay

Constructivism and international relations - Essay Example Thus the debate between liberals and realists forms an axis of contention regarding international relations. Constructivists reject the idea by neorealism that states have a one-sided focus on material advantage. Wendt for example argues the most significant character of international relations is based on social term and not material items . Furthermore, social reality is subjective to international affairs. The social and political world cannot define international relations as a physical institution outside human cognizance. The main focus is, therefore, the extent of anarchy and power in relation to interaction and learning. Wendt (1992) focuses his argument more on rejecting the neorealist position to which constructivism results to anarchy which is mainly geared to self-help of states . In these aspects, state identities and interests come from the relationship subsisting between international and domestic societies. Constructivists argue that state interests are not defined by egoistic terms. This situation is effective because egoistic interests do not form a significant aspect of individuality and are based on individual representation relationships. The relative stabilities in these individual relationships act as if they were authorized by an institution. A lot of convergent factors expose states towards egoism, which in most cases do not preclude collective interests. Constructivism is interested in converging domestic values from a transnational scale through the establishment of democratic institutions.

Startups. Young Entrepreneurs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Startups. Young Entrepreneurs - Essay Example And of course there are the "children" that refuse to be seen as incapable members of the society and by chance or knowledge they make it work in the very competitive business market, hit the screen and make a fortune even from their adolescence. This is the case of two young entrepreneurs that share their secret and how they cracked the market. The first case is the one of Dominic McVey. He started his business around the age of 13, when boys have dreams of driving anything that moves. He is now 19 and his business still goes one and flourishes. There could be said that his story is one of sheer luck, but the fact is that he took advantage of a simple fact that happened in his life. By mistake, when he was looking for a Visa credit card, he introduced the word "Viza", which is a brand of scooters. As a young boy he wanted one for himself, but knew that neither he, nor his parents had the money to buy one. He dared to write them an e-mail through which he requested a free one, with the promise that he could sell much more in his town. The answer from the company was that if he bought five, he would get one for free. McVey was not a complete stranger in the field of business and he started gathering the money from different sources, like organizing parties and selling various things on the internet. When he finally got the si x scooters, a new business opportunity opened for him. He sold the five scooters to friends and family and within a week he sold other ten ones. From there the sky was the limit. Some people said that Dominic's business was sheer luck, but when we hear the version of his promotion there are some clear strategies that he followed in order to be successful on a large scale. One of the strong points of Dominic was his great persuasive manner of presenting the product. He admits that "I was very, very competitive. I guess I was very mouthy about other products out there, but all the others out there were crap and expensive." He proved to have a good knowledge of the product and at first he had a great direct marketing strategy, which involved a personal touch and contact with the customers. This touch brought him in the center of attention both for the press and the people in general. The fact that he was liked by the press proved to be essential in his business, as he got the kind of promotion and advertising he never thought to achieve before. Even if as a child he got bored of his scooter, he did not stop selling them. He thought of a way of promoting his pro duct through flyers and was not discouraged when he was chased around by security or the traffic safety people started to be unhappy with so many scooters. His customers had different backgrounds, from the businessmen that bought them as toys, to the persons that used them to commute to their work place. One of the problems that Dominic faced was obviously his age. He managed to overcome this by working mostly on the internet and on the phone. He had good presentations made by his friends and practically this was all he needed. The big companies tended to see him as the little brother and found it a pleasure to share information with his. Anyhow the great advantage of the business was that all the money was his and the only things that were needed to be paid were the phone and internet bills. For Dominic technology filled the gap. The internet marketing strategy worked out. Anyhow, McVey is for now not taking into