Supply Chain free essay sample

A real world example of a second-tier supplier is â€Å"Wisconsin Aluminium† which supplies aluminium fuel filter housing to Mechanical Devices Company. Mechanical Devices uses the fuel filter housing on an engine component that they produce for Caterpillar Inc. Therefore, Wisconsin Aluminium is a second-tier supplier. b). Second Tier customer: The first tier’s customer’s customer is the focal firm’s second tier customer. Second tier customers buy from first tier customers (who now become a re-seller). The second tier customer may or may not be the end user of the product or service. A real world example of a second tier customer could be a retailer like Superstore where they would purchase the groceries from their first tier customers (wholesalers) and they would become the end user’s retailer. c). A focal firm: A focal firm is â€Å"the initiator of an International business transaction, they conceive, design, and produce the offerings, (goods and services) intended for consumption†. We will write a custom essay sample on Supply Chain or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Note 1. A real world example of a focal firm would be VW. Basically, there are many firms that help in the making of the VW, a different firm may assemble the car, and another one may provide the means of distribution, but the focal firm is still VW, as it â€Å"their car†. Q1-2). Is the use of a large number of suppliers a good idea? Why or why not? Support your answer with real business examples. It all depends on the nature of the industry as to how many suppliers would be needed, however, a few good suppliers is what organizations should aim for. This is because the key to developing effective chain management programs is keeping the customer in mind. When individual firms in a supply chain make business decisions while ignoring the interests of the end customer, and the other chain members, these suboptimal decisions transfer risks, costs and additional waiting time along the supply chain, ultimately leading to higher end-product prices, lower supply chain service levels and eventually lower end-customer demand. Firms should have few good suppliers that they can manage successfully. Building successful, trusting relationships with all the top-performing suppliers is a key ingredient of an effective supplier management effort. These few good suppliers can then provide tremendous benefits to the buying firm and the entire supply chain. Higher purchase volumes per supplier typically mean lower per unit purchase costs, and in many cases, higher quality and better delivery service. These important characteristics of few good suppliers are strategically important to the firm because of their impact on the firm’s competitiveness. A real world example of a good supplier is Imperial Oil who provides gasoline to their retailers. Q1-3). Why do companies practice supply chain management instead of buying out their suppliers and industrial customers forming conglomerates? The reason why firms are practicing supply chain management is because they want to be able to focus more on core capabilities, while trying to create alliances, or strategic partnerships with suppliers, transportation and warehousing companies, distributors and other customers who are good at what they can do best. This collaborative approach to making and distributing products and services to customers is becoming the most effective and efficient way for firms to stay successful. Especially for firms with large system inventories, many suppliers, complex product assemblies, and highly valued customers with large purchasing budgets, these have the most to gain by practising good supply management techniques. For these firms, even moderate supply chain management success can mean lower purchasing and inventory costs, better product quality and higher levels of customer service—all leading to more sales. Q1-4). Explain how the emergence of the concepts of JIT (Just in Time) and TQM (Total Quality Management) in the 1980’s contributed to the development of supply chain management. In the 1980’s, intense global competition began and manufacturers utilized JIT and TQM strategies to improve quality, manufacturing efficiency and delivery times. JIT is a lean-production system and it results in faster delivery times, lower inventory levels and better product quality. The supply chains had to be developed because an important aspect of a lean system is the quality of incoming purchased items and the quality of the various assemblies as they move through the production processes. This is due to the characteristically low levels of inventory purchased and work in process in lean-oriented facilities. Thus, firms employing concepts of lean usually have a TQM strategy in place to ensure continued quality compliance among suppliers with internal production facilities. So there was a real need of a good internal control system and chain management processes to be developed and that is how supply chain management got designed. And every supply chain design management is different from the other even if they practice JIT and TQM, depending on where they will construct their distribution centres, what transportation modes they will use, how big they want their production facilities and warehouses. The bottom line is was that if a company wanted faster delivery times, lower their inventory levels, and still give the customers the best product quality, they needed to work in a supply chain setting in collaboration with other tiers to gain a competitive advantage in the industry. And this all has been possible because of new technology as well as the emergence of the internet. Q2-1). Briefly summarize HBR (1997) article â€Å"What is the right supply chain for your product? † by Marshall Fisher. Although there has never been so much technology and brain power applied to improving supply chain performance, the actual performance of many supply chains has never been worse. In some cases, costs have risen to new levels because of adversarial relations between supply chain partners as well as dysfunctional industry practices. The new ideas and technologies have not worked because companies lack a framework for deciding which ones are best for their particular situation. A framework is provided to managers for helping them understand the nature of the demand for their products and devise the supply chain that can best satisfy that demand. Once products have been classified on the basis of their demand patterns, they fall into one of two categories: they are either primarily functional or primarily innovative. The root cause of the problems plaguing many supply chains is a mismatch between the type of product and the type of supply chain. Fisher states that products generally fall into two categories-innovative and functional-each requiring fundamentally different processes and goals. The first step to creating efficiency comes from assessing the supply chain and deciding which of the two product categories is following through it. This step is critical, in that innovative and functional products call for significantly different approaches to supply chain management. If products are functional, for example toothpaste, businesses should follow time-tested business models for identifying and trimming excess from different points along the supply chain. If, on the other hand, products are innovative, businesses should create a responsive supply chain to control the unpredictable nature of demand for example Louis Vuotton handbags. Q2-2). Explain the role of physical costs and market mediation costs according to Fisher’s article as they relate to different supply chain structures. Provide at least three examples each of physical costs and market mediation costs. Supply chains perform two distinct types of functions: a physical function and a market mediation function. A supply chain’s physical function is readily apparent and includes converting raw materials into parts, components, and eventually finished goods, and transporting all of them from one point in the supply chain to the next. Less visible but equally important is market mediation, whose purpose is ensuring that the variety of products reaching the marketplace matches what consumers want to buy. Each of the two functions incurs different costs. Physical costs are costs of production, costs of transportation and costs of inventory storage. Market mediation costs arise when supply exceeds demand and a products has to be marked down and sold at a loss or when supply falls short of demand, resulting in lost sales opportunities and dissatisfied customers. Market mediation costs can be costs of shortages, costs of obsolescence, and costs of holding excessive supplies. Q2-3). Provide at least two â€Å"real-industry† examples of product-supply chain mismatch which are out of the â€Å"strategic fit zones†. Clearly explain why and how they are out of â€Å"strategic fit†. Two â€Å"real-industry† examples of product selling supply chain mismatches are the automobile industry and the computer industry, as per Fisher’s paper. In the automobile industry for example, there are some cars such as the Ford Fairmont, which are inherently functional, while others, such as the BMW Z3 roadster, are innovative. A lean, efficient distribution channel is correct for functional cars but not appropriate for innovative cars, which requires inventory buffers to absorb uncertainty in demand. The most efficient place to put buffers is in parts, but doing so directly contradicts the JIT system that automakers have so vigorously adopted in the last decade. So, in the automobile industry, there is a variety of different makes and models (innovative) available for the consumer but when you visit the dealership, if you order a vehicle with your desired options, you may have to wait 4-6 weeks for delivery. That means, even though they are being innovative, they are not being responsive as they should be which would be a mismatch. Same goes with the computer industry—even though PC’s and workstations have replaced mainframes as the dominant technology, and even though acceptable lead time has dropped, because the computer industry has largely retained its emphasis on a physically efficient supply rather than a highly responsive supply chain, most computer companies find themselves in a mismatched situation and position themselves in the upper right hand cell of the matrix. Supply Chain free essay sample Gradual, long-term movement in time-series data is called a. seasonal variation b. cycles c. trends d. exponential variation e. random variation Which of the following is not present in a time series? a. seasonality b. operational variations c. trend d. cycles e. random variations The fundamental difference between cycles and seasonality is the a. duration of the repeating patterns b. magnitude of the variation c. ability to attribute the pattern to a cause d. all of the above In time series, which of the following cannot be predicted? a. large increases in demand b. technological trends c. easonal fluctuations d. random fluctuations e. large decreases in demand What is the approximate forecast for May using a four-month moving average? Which time series model below assumes that demand in the next period will be equal to the most recent periods demand? a. naive approach b. moving average approach c. weighted moving average approach d. We will write a custom essay sample on Supply Chain or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page exponential smoothing approach e. none of the above Which of the following is not a characteristic of simple moving averages? . it smoothes random variations in the data b. it has minimal data storage requirements c. it weights each historical value equally d. it smoothes real variations in the data 21. 3 22. A six-month moving average forecast is better than a three-month moving average forecast if demand a. is rather stable b. has been changing due to recent promotional efforts c. follows a downward trend d. follows an upward trend Increasing the number of periods in a moving average will accomplish greater smoothing, but at the expense of a. manager understanding b. accuracy c. stability d. esponsiveness to changes Which of the following statements comparing the weighted moving average technique and exponential smoothing is true? Exponential smoothing is more easily used in combination with the Delphi method. b. More emphasis can be placed on recent values using the weighted moving average. c. Exponential smoothing is considerably more difficult to implement on a computer. d. Exponential smoothing typically requires less record-keeping of past data. Which time series model uses past forecasts and past demand data to generate a new forecast? a. naive b. moving average c. weighted moving average d. xponential smoothing Which is not a characteristic of exponential smoothing? a. smoothes random variations in the data b. easily altered weighting scheme c. weights each historical value equally d. has minimal data storage requirements Which of the following smoothing constants would make an exponential smoothing forecast equivalent to a naive forecast?

Free Essays on Anywhere But Here

â€Å"ANYWHERE BUT HERE† For the third our assignment I had decided to read a book that relates very much to my personal life. The novel I had decided to read is called â€Å"Anywhere But Here† written by Mona Simpson. This particular book doesn’t have to deal to much with work issues, but enough to write a paper. â€Å"Anywhere but Here† is a great book that to me it seems that somebody had written my life story. This novel is about a single mother, Adele, and her daughter Ann August, that move from Bay City, Wisconsin, to California. Adele is an American dreamer that believes in a better life. On the other hand Ann is a young girl that likes her life in Wisconsin and hates her mother for wanting to move away. Ann hasn’t seen her father since she was very young and doesn’t even remember him anymore, but she keeps searching for him. Finally Ann and her mother Adele take off for their new beginning, their new life. Their trip was disaster. They fought all the way and Ann all she wanted was to go back home to her cousin and grandmother. Adele just wanted to continue her journey. Once they arrived in California life started to get a little rough. Money were scarce and for Adele it was hard to find a job in her field, as a teacher, that could support both of them. Ann soon started high school in a very rich neighborhood. She hated it. Everything was so different and she felt that she was a nobody. She didn’t want to make any new friends and her relation with her mother was getting worse every day. Ann wanted to go home, but her mother would not even think about it. Adele got a job as a teacher in high school in a very low neighborhood. They also got an apartment and try to survive this though life. Through all the problems Ann did not give up searching for her father. Soon even worse news arrived, her cousin, her best friend had died back home. She flew there and realized that the only... Free Essays on Anywhere But Here Free Essays on Anywhere But Here â€Å"ANYWHERE BUT HERE† For the third our assignment I had decided to read a book that relates very much to my personal life. The novel I had decided to read is called â€Å"Anywhere But Here† written by Mona Simpson. This particular book doesn’t have to deal to much with work issues, but enough to write a paper. â€Å"Anywhere but Here† is a great book that to me it seems that somebody had written my life story. This novel is about a single mother, Adele, and her daughter Ann August, that move from Bay City, Wisconsin, to California. Adele is an American dreamer that believes in a better life. On the other hand Ann is a young girl that likes her life in Wisconsin and hates her mother for wanting to move away. Ann hasn’t seen her father since she was very young and doesn’t even remember him anymore, but she keeps searching for him. Finally Ann and her mother Adele take off for their new beginning, their new life. Their trip was disaster. They fought all the way and Ann all she wanted was to go back home to her cousin and grandmother. Adele just wanted to continue her journey. Once they arrived in California life started to get a little rough. Money were scarce and for Adele it was hard to find a job in her field, as a teacher, that could support both of them. Ann soon started high school in a very rich neighborhood. She hated it. Everything was so different and she felt that she was a nobody. She didn’t want to make any new friends and her relation with her mother was getting worse every day. Ann wanted to go home, but her mother would not even think about it. Adele got a job as a teacher in high school in a very low neighborhood. They also got an apartment and try to survive this though life. Through all the problems Ann did not give up searching for her father. Soon even worse news arrived, her cousin, her best friend had died back home. She flew there and realized that the only...

A Separate Peace Analysis

A Separate Peace Analysis Essay In Knowles novel, A Separate Peace, Gene is portrayed as an intelligent student who is motivated by academics. He is also a thinker that considers a situation from all sides before making a decision. Gene is also a person who follows all the rules and regulations. He always obeys his teachers, studies hard, never misses a class, and makes excellent grades. He does not really enjoy sports, for he is not a good athlete. While in school he lets many distractions such as his friend Finny take part in his life. This leads to his internal wars. Finny is Genes roommate and best friend, who has a completely opposite personality from Gene. He always acts on blind impulse, never thinking about the rules or the consequences. He is also a poor student, for he does not devote himself to his studies. He would rather be playing sports, since he is the best athlete on campus. He lets sports motivate him and wants to participate in the 1944 Olympics. During their days at Devon, Gene is motivated by Finnys perfect grace and coordination. Gene begins to adore and worship Finny as a super hero. He feels his roommate can handle any situation and charm the teachers and classmates. As a result, Gene tries to imitate him and also lets himself be controlled by him. Gradually, Gene grows jealous of his friend. He begins to hope that Finny will get caught and punished for one of his many wild stunts. For instance, when Pinny wore an outrageous pink shirt, he escaped punishment by giving a satisfying reason saying that it was his emblem. Gene wants Finny to be forced down to his level so that he can compete with him and not just lose to him.Gene tries to please Finny. Although he knows that by doing so, he is acting against every instinct of his behavior. In order to keep up with Finny, he jumps from the tree into the river, a daring feat, even though he is scared to death. He also allows Finny to take him away from his studies, which are very important to Gene. When Finny saves Genes life by preventing him from falling from the tree, Gene knows that he should be grateful, instead he accuses him by saying he would not have been up in the tree if werent for Finny. He concludes that he should not feel any gratitude towards his roommate. Since everything seems to come so easily and naturally to Finny, especially his athletic abilities, Gene grows insanely jealous of him. The jealousy is carefully hidden inside until he can stand it no more. He causes Finny to fall out of the tree, crippling him for life. By hurting him, Gene could bring him down to his level. After the accident, Gene even sees himself as Finny. He dresses in his roommates clothes and says, I was Phineas, Phineas to the life. He also becomes the crippled Finny, refusing to participate in sports, since Finny cannot do it. After the accident, Gene is riddled with guilt and shame. During summer vacation, he decides he must confess that he has caused the accident to Finny. He goes to his home, where he is recovering, and tries to tell Finny that he has bounced him out of the tree. Finny refuses to believe the story, for he trusts Gene as his best friend in life. When Finny returns to Devon, he tells Gene that he is going prepare him for the next Olympics. The agreement is that Finny will coach Gene in sports, and Gene will coach Finny in his studies. During the winter, Gene participates in a winter carnival that Finny has organized. He easily wins all of the sporting events, proving that Finnys efforts have paid off. READ: Serial killer Essay But Gene is still not at peace with himself. The war that is raging in Europe, and his internal war, driven by guilt and shame. When the friendship between Pinny and Gene strengthens, Gene gets motivated by Lepers telegram to join the Navy. Gene lets go of Pinny and goes off to find Leper. Gene sees that Leper has gone crazy from the internal conflict. When Leper describes himself as a psycho, Gene is has a fear because he is afraid that this will also happen to him. When Leper suggests that Gene has caused Finny to fall from the tree, Genes fear turn into actions. He reacts violently, kicking the chair from underneath causing Leper to fall. Gene obviously feels threatened that somebody else knows the truth about what he has done to Finny. Returning from Lepers house, Gene joins in a student snowball fight organized by Finny. As they playfully wage a war, far removed from the real world war that haunts them, Gene tries to kid himself into believing that he is at peace with himself. He genuinely believes that there is no longer a conflict between him and Finny because Finny has been brought down to his level. Additionally, Finny has confessed his absolute faith and trust in Gene. Brinker, one of the students, senses that Gene is living a lie. Suspecting that he is responsible for Finnys accident, he then organizes a student trial in the First Building. Finny and Gene are both brought in for questioning. Finny, still unable to face the truth of what has really happened in the accident, tells Brinkerthat he lost his balance and fell out of the tree. Gene, afraid to tell the truth in front of his peers, says he has been on the ground during the accident. Leper, however, is called in to testify. He states that on the night of the accident he saw two figures in the tree, one out on a limb and one near the trunk. When the lowermoved, the figure on the branch fell. Forced to face the truth, Finny is shocked and crushed. With tears flowing from his eyes, he runs from the room trips on the steps. Gene is so ashamed at what he has done and what he has caused that he cannot even help to carry Finny to the infirmary. When Gene is finally courageous enough to enter Finnys room, his friend turns on him. With anger, Finny asks if Gene has come to break another part of his body. Gene reminds him that he had tried to tell Finny the truth about the accident, but was always silenced. Realizing that his presence causes pain so Gene leaves. The next morning he returns with Finnys clothes and toiletries, as the doctor has requested. Finny has regained his composure and tells his friend about the hurt he feels about not being able to help in the war effort. Gene tries to cheer him by making a joke. When Gene leaves feels better about the relationship he has with Finny. The doctor tells Gene that he can return at five oclock in the evening to see his friend after his leg has been set. When Gene comes to the infirmary after his classes, he learns that Finny has passed away. Gene is too shocked to even shed tears. He feels indirectly responsible for causing Finnys death. He also feels like a part of himself has died with the death of his friend. Gene joins the Navy and fights in the war, but his heart is not in it. He cannot even think about killing a person, even the enemy. He has fought one war, his own personal battle and that war ended with a horrible death. READ: Dangerous Mind Essay Gene proves that he has great difficulty getting over the loss of Finny. Even after fifteen years, he has come back to Devon to come visit the two frightening places the First Building and the tree that hangs over the river.

Live Electronic Music An analysis and documentry of the last century Essay

Live Electronic Music An analysis and documentry of the last century - Essay Example The last century or so has seen rapid developments in sound technologies where as the last 50 years have been particularly instrumental in changing the pith and substance of how music is viewed and perceived in popular culture and this has led to a rapid change in how music is â€Å"packaged† and â€Å"consumed†.This is particularly true for live electronic music where as the developments in electronic technologies over the last 50 years have dramatically changed it itself .Unlike the 19th century electronic music today is both live and recorded.However early influences saw most of electronic music experienced as live performance. ( Pinch and Bijsterveld 2004). The current electronic music scene is based on individual performances through technologically mediated devices, such as a personal stereo or a personal computer that enables the downloading of MP3 files over the Internet. ( Pinch and Bijsterveld 2004)The recent years in particular have seen that there has been an increase in the inflow of electronic instruments like Theremin, Hammond Organ, the electric guitar, the synthesizer, and the digital sampler. The paper also explores how teechnologies such as the phonograph, tape-recorder, and compact disk have enabled ‘electronic sound’ to be produced, controlled, and manipulated without interference from musicians. ( Pinch and Bijsterveld 2004) ... ( Pinch and Bijsterveld 2004)The question remains though how such changes can be viewed in the context of music audiences and for the science and technology studies.Thus the paper has addressed in the context of live and recorded music based on the new technologies and music and how the use of new instruments, such as new varieties of electric guitars and violas; new means of manipulating and controlling sound through microphones, reverberation units, mixing consoles, and new forms of networking software and audiophilia holds for the future of electronic live music. ( Pinch and Bijsterveld 2004)This essay question explores the development of Electronic Music over the past many decades and how the post modern era has moulded it to its styles and tastes based upon aesthetic and political motivation, as well as focus upon particular composers. (Griffiths, P. 1995). Whilst remaining primarily historical some example works will be analysed in detail. However the focus will inevitably be u pon how the past two decades have changed the face of music and this will entail a discussion how the younger crowd of musicians is bringing innovative styles and aesthetics into the spot light. (Griffiths, P. 1995).The most important thing to review here is that all these developments have reflected the changing technology of the times. (Griffiths, P. 1995).The 1980's saw the advent of the MIDI instruments and software which made the control of sophisticated instruments very easy and made the production of music out of the studios much cheaper. (Schwartz, S. 1993.).This further allowed the reintegration of Acoustic sounds to allow for the reintegration of Acoustic sounds through carefully sampled computer based musical instruments. (Schwartz, S. 1993.).This is particularly true

PS3201 Family Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

PS3201 Family Studies - Essay Example The element of a family constitutes a husband, children, and a wife who reside under the same roof. The interaction among the above elements shapes or defines the behavior that a person who demonstrate in the society. However, the description is limited to what many people believe to constitute nuclear family. In some traditional settings especially in Africa, family would constitute members of nuclear family and members from the extended wing (Strong, et.al. 2010:420). The extended elements are aunts, uncles, and grandparents. This paper will examine a family in the modern era. Family setting depends with cultural practices observed by a given community. Communities across the globe demonstrate their cultural heritage through the association, which they project through their families. Traditions in Nigeria regarded a family as institution that was center to human existence i.e. sustainability of human race depended on the constitution of new families (Rotimi, 2005:8). The culture propagated by people started from a family. The regard that the community gave to family was an institution just like other social institutions where people demonstrated adherence to order or law. The values set in the family included how to bring up a child, how children would relate with community members, courtship, rules of descent, ownership of property among other taboos. The taboos observed by a family had moral consequence to individuals who went against the norms. People believed in practices stipulated in cultural norms. Men had cultural responsibility of heading their f amilies (The Fellows’ Forum, 2005:13). Rules set by communities gave an opportunity to men to have as men women as possible as long as the man was able to cater for their needs. The traditional setting recognized the existence of the relatives and the role in the family (Omoera, 2010:78). For example, brothers in law

Entrepreneurial Organization Essay Example for Free

Entrepreneurial Organization Essay In Business today the Entrepreneurial Organizations continue to grow, thrive and help change the way companies and people do business. These Entrepreneurial changes that happen internal to large organizations or at small start-up companies all have some of the same traits in common with each other and use some of the same tactics to create business opportunities. Some of the traits they share to promote their business are: Individual action and initiative, Innovation, Differentiation and Risk Taking. Individual action and initiatives taken by the employees within the organization are to create new product offerings or enhance existing products. These actions do not always succeed in creating revenue for the business, but might help start another product line that will create revenue in the future, but the failures of these products is not seen as a negative within the organization but are treated as growth and are seen as positive steps. Innovation is a primary and necessary building block for the entrepreneurial organization. There are 2 types of innovation that should be looked at, used, changed and viewed when using innovation and these are Product and Process. These types of innovation will create change in either a product or process but both are essential to using innovation within the organization and will be used to create new ideas, process and test new theories. Differentiation is another advantage that has to be used, displayed and shown for an entrepreneurial organization. This shows the advantage to customers and investors what unique good, service, talent and innovation that the organization has that makes the customers willing to pay a premium for their services. Risk taking from a large or small organization requires some sort of investment on the part of the company, either in personal resources or financial resources. The level of risk that the organization is willing to support shows the employees that the organization is willing and able to make changes if the risks are worth the reward. But risks must be taken in these types of organizations to create and discover new opportunities. In conclusion, these are four reasons why entrepreneurial organizations seek to use innovation to create new opportunities and are  some of the building blocks for many large and successful companies. With the landscape of business always changing, if companies are not willing to use innovation to try and create new opportunities they might not be successful in the future.

Gluttony in Doctor Faustus Essay -- Doctor Faustus Essays

Gluttony in Doctor Faustus    Doctor Faustus is a scholar who questions all knowledge and finds it lacking.   Because none of his learning will allow him to transcend his mortal condition, he rejects God and forms a pact with Lucifer all the while pursuing the arts of black magic.   Of course, this is one more propaganda piece of Western Christianity attempting to argue that knowledge is dangerous and confining instead of rewarding and liberating.   It also suggests a Protestant parallel in its representation that one who believes in everything ends up believing in nothing.   However, if we cast aside its use as a socio-economic, ideological tool of manipulation, we can explore its character, action and themes without suffering too much offense as open-minded scholars.   In a play of five acts, twenty scenes and more than 70 pages of typed text, Gluttony, one of the seven deadly sins, consumes a mere 13 lines.   While such economy of space and expression is atypical of Gluttony, it is not typical of Marlowe who surfeits our senses with images of gluttonous, swollen, and surfeited allusions.   In fact, Faustus appears to be a fathead because his head has become swollen in self-conceit due to his attempt to understand more than it is within the power of humans to know.   According to Marlowe (23-24), "Till swoll'n with cunning, of a self-conceit,/His waxen wings did mount above his reach/And melting, heavens conspired his overthrow!/For falling to a devlish exercise/And glutted now with learning's golden gifts/He surfeits upon cursed necromancy/Nothing so sweet as magic is to him/Which he prefers before his chiefest bliss-/And this the man that in his study sits." Gluttony, personified, only has two dialogue exchanges with Faus... ...demption. WORKS   CITED Fitzhenry, R. I.   Barnes & Noble Book of Quotations.   New York, Barnes & Noble Books, 1986. Marlowe, C.   Doctor Faustus.   Barnet, S. (ed.) New York, Signet Classics, 1969. The student may wish to begin the essay with several of the following quotes: Puritanism - the haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be happy.  H. L. Mencken Christianity might be a good thing if anyone ever tried it.  George Bernard Shaw Men prefer to believe that they are degenerated angels, rather than elevated apes.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   W. Winwood Roade As for a future life, every man must judge for himself between conflicting vague interests.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Charles Darwin God is dead.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   F. Neitzsche When a man is freed of religion, he has a better chance to live a normal and wholesome life.   Sigmund Freud   (Barnes & Noble Book of Quotations, 310-312)

Comitatus: Anglo Saxon

The phrase comitatus is exceedingly important in Anglo-Saxon culture, and is demonstrated profoundly in Anglo-Saxon texts. Comitatus means fellowship, particularly an allegiance between a chieftain and his men. This phrase refers to a very important tradition during the times of the Anglo-Saxons. It was so important because these men were constantly protecting their people from outside attacks and invasions and the comitatus was the bond that held these men together and that is what they lived for. Specific Anglo-Saxon texts where comitatus is eminently portrayed is Beowulf, The Wanderer, and The Seafarer. Beowulf is an Old-English written epic, during the Anglo-Saxon period in which a hero, Beowulf, is shown battling three different agons throughout his life. Comitatus is tremendously present throughout this entire story. For example Beowulf sails to Denmark with fourteen warriors to defeat Grendel, out of respect and to protect their allies, the Danes. This shows Comitatus because Beowulf is not only trusting of his men, but also risking his life for good riddance with King Hrothgar of Denmark. The reason to why Beowulf must defeat the Grendel is because of comitatus as well, because the Danes night in and night out were strengthening their friendship in the mead-hall, Heorot, and Grendel became jealous of this â€Å"fellowship. † Another example of comitatus in Beowulf is when Beowulf is fighting the dragon and Wiglaf comes in and helps Beowulf win out of respect for his leader and his accomplishments. Comitatus is presented numerously throughout Beowulf and represents the ideals and way of life of the Anglo-Saxons. The Wanderer is an Anglo-Saxon poem in which a warrior longs for old times, as he nostalgically ponders when he served his lord as well as feasted with his friends. The wanderer in the story has lost his fellow warriors and lord in battle, and now walks alone in exile. This poem shows the wanderer remembering times of comitatus and wishing those times were once again subsisting. He recalls his comrades and the costly hall gifts of his gracious gold friend, which he gave him in youth. † (ln. 34-35) The wanderer dreams of seeing his lord, kissing him and experiencing pleasure of doing him favors. At the end of the poem the man talks of the present times and his soul becoming sick and dark, because comitatus is no longer a value in his life. In the Anglo-Saxon poem The Seafarer, it is much like The Wanderer in which the speaker of the poem dreams of times with fellow ship or comitatus. The man in the poem is out at sea, as days go by and he sits in the freezing cold jealous of men blessed with happy land-life. â€Å"The swan’s blare my seldom amusement; for men’s laughter there was curlew call, there were the cries of gannets, for mead-drinking the music of the gull. † (ln. 23-26) The seafarer wants to be with his people drinking mead and listening to music and stories, otherwise known as comitatus. He speaks of his despairing mind and how there is no friend or brother or around to share his thoughts with. He also says that no man is likely to guess how he has wasted whole winters, cut off from kind. The Seafarer truly displays the sorrow of the speaker and really portrays the importance of comitatus in one’s life, because without it he is devastated. Anglo-Saxons based their entire lives and worthiness off of comitatus, as well as making a name for themselves. These values feed off one another because while making a name for yourself you want to have others to share it with in order to make it worthy. Comitatus is evident in many Anglo-Saxon texts and is validated in Beowulf, The Wanderer, and The Seafarer. In Beowulf comitatus is constantly shown on a regular basis and is present many times throughout the story. In The Wanderer, and The Seafarer, comitatus is not present, but rather the men of these stories wish that it was in their lives at the time. The constant display of this value as well as the desire to have comitatus in one’s life shows just how important it is in the life of an Anglo-Saxon.

Child Case Study

Child Case Study Physical Presence and Gesture: Brady is a boy who is 7 yrs. 3 months in age. For his age Brady appears to be large in size. He stands 4 ft. 6 inches tall and weighs 95 pounds. Next to his peers Brady stands out as he is in the 99th percentile for both height and weight. Brady is the oldest child of 4. Brady has short brown hair, big brown eyes, and a big smile. When Brady is smiling the gap in his front teeth is very noticeable as well as his dimples. When Brady is feeling mischievous he gets slightly cross-eyes but only for a brief moment.Brady has big ears and his right ear is missing cartilage causing it to fold over slightly. Brady has several freckles and a couple of tiny moles on his cheeks. Brady has a creamy white complexion but when frustrated becomes very red in the cheeks as well as on the tops of his ears. Brady’s head is very circular and seems a bit large for his body. Brady has what some might consider a flat face. He has a button nose, big chee ks, and very long, thick eyelashes. Brady is quite stalky with a little bit of chubbiness about him. Brady likes to fidget and is constantly moving.He likes to sway his arms, kick his feet, fidget with his fingers; he is constantly moving some body part. Disposition & Temperament Brady is diagnosed as having an anger disorder and ODD. Brady likes to talk a lot and is very inquisitive. Brady is also gifted/talented causing him to become bored easily if he is not challenged. Brady is easily angered and is often triggered to an anger outburst by simple rejections. Brady at times can be very loving and cuddly. Brady fears being alone and is scared to be in a room when nobody is present. Brady appears to have two sides to him.When Brady is not triggered by anger outbursts he is very friendly, kind, has a heart of gold, is helpful to others, likes to play with his friends & siblings, doesn’t seem so fearful of small everyday events and situations, and yet when he is experiencing an ger outbursts his anxiety level is extreme, he is harmful to himself/others, makes threats to kill people (has begun to tell them how he would kill them), states that he sees monsters/alligators, becomes extremely hot, and then when the outbursts are depleting he begins to feel sick to his stomach, coughs, and cries. Sometimes Brady feels remorse for his actions, but most likely not.Brady has been physical with his siblings/friends & mother. Brady has hit things (causing himself to break his pinky), smashed things, and threatened to run away. Brady takes medication for his outbursts but they don’t seem to be working. There are sometimes where these angry bouts disappear for a couple of weeks and then there are times where they happen several times throughout one day. Connections with other people Brady values his friendships that he does have and his relationships with teachers/authority. It takes a very long time for Brady to open up to others and trust is not something that Brady easily comes by.Brady likes to learn a lot about a person before he decides if they will be of value to him. Once Brady has developed close relationships he tends to try to purposely destroy these relationships by being hurtful to others. He says hurtful thing’s, he becomes cold and distant, and then becomes sad when the other person gets angry or upset with him. He doesn’t seem to want these relationships to end when all is considered. Brady is very funny. Brady likes to talk in different voices and enjoys making people laugh. Brady looks for reassurance when he says something funny.Brady loves to give hugs and kisses and loves to cuddle. Brady seems to become more engaged with peers much older than him. Brady began the current school year in first grade and was skipped to second. Brady did not build any friendships in his first grade class and only has a couple in his second grade class. Brady tends to attach to the older children in school between the fifth a nd sixth grade. Brady spends a great portion of his day out of the classroom and in the guidance office, this is where Brady has developed these friendships. Brady has two close friends who are both seven years of age.Brady spends time at their homes but not often as he prefers to have his friends over to his house. Brady likes to play video games with his friends, tag, and they enjoy making their own activities up. Brady has two younger brothers who are 4 & 5 and Brady doesn’t always choose to play with them. Brady is often annoyed and irritated by the noise that he brothers make and he does not enjoy playing using the imagination. Brady has a great relationship with his one year old sister and is a wonderful big brother. Only when Brady is in an anger outburst does he make mean comments about the baby.At times he calls her stupid baby, shut up baby, etc. He has not harmed his sister as he has his brothers. Brady is very attached to his mother and suffers a great deal of sep aration anxiety. Four days a month Brady goes to his father’s house with his five year old brother, step mother, and step brother (15). Brady does not have a close relationship with his real father as he is angry about the divorce and his father’s lack of presence in his life. Brady does not enjoy his step brother because he states that his step brother does not play with him or engage with him and his sibling.Brady is very close with his stepfather. Brady values his relationship with his stepfather and always seeks to spend time with him. Brady enjoys his stepfather’s sense of humor and they have a very close bond and mutual respect for each other. Brady enjoys helping his stepfather lift weights, work on vehicles, tinker with tools, and play video games or trucks together. Strong Interests & Preferences Brady’s main preference is to play with electronics. Brady enjoys playing his XBOX 360. There is much controversy between him and his mother about what games should be age appropriate.As he is 7 but is much more mature for his age, his mother allows him to play games that may not seem appropriate. Brady likes to play war games, shooting games, and some strategy games. He also enjoys playing with the laptop and talking with friends through instant message and texting. The activities that Brady prefers are for the teenage years and he gets upset when he is told this. There are some times where he will become engaged in a game with his brother around the house of hide & seek, tag, board games, etc. but that is generally when he is told that he can’t have electronics.He enjoys playing board games such as Monopoly, Chess, Yahtzee, and Memory. He is very inquisitive when it comes to learning new games and likes to play until he has mastered the game. Brady participates in Border Hoop. He enjoys playing basketball and when weather permits spends most of his time practicing at home. He likes to play basketball with his stepfather an d learn new techniques. He asks a lot of questions, pays very close attention to body movement, and continuously practices new techniques until he has them down. This year will be Brady’s first attempt at soccer.Modes of Thinking & Learning Brady is a very hand’s on learner. He enjoys learning new math problems, new spelling words, and new ways to solve problems. When Brady becomes intrigues by a new subject he likes to fully research that subject until he knows the ins and outs. He is very thorough in his learning technique and quickly finds shortcuts to solving problems. He enjoys learning big numbers using the calculator and asks people to give him hard problems. Brady learns a lot by asking a lot of questions. Generally one answer to a question leads to long conversations.He loves to hear of others experiences and later will recap the story to someone else pretending that it was him who experienced it. He fully applies himself to written work and is far ahead of hi s age group. Brady’s school was very impressed by his IQ score and other academic scores. Brady spends about an hour each week with his schools gifted/talented teacher. Brady’s mom does not think that this is enough time and thinks that it should be more time. With Brady lacking in the social area, too much time out of the regular classroom would not be beneficial for his education.Brady has been told many times by his teachers and administrators that he is very smart and so he is afraid to fail. He approaches challenges by avoiding them. When he begins to struggle with something academically he will not seek help as he feels as though he has not met the expectations of those who think he is extremely smart. He is beginning to learn that the point of education is to struggle so that he can learn. He has had to be explained to him that if he wasn’t struggling in any area then he would know everything and wouldn’t need to be educated. That would be no fun, and that challenges are always a great thing.

Strategic Organizational Management in Moog Controls, Philippines

Strategic Organizational Management in Moog Controls, Philippines Free Online Research Papers Strategic operations management could not be illustrated in a simple form for Moog Controls since it involves the entire organization in its planning, execution and improvements. On the other hand, it can be simply described as paving the way for the organization to reach its future state based on its current status. Strategy involves the senior management team planning for the organization’s competitive advantage, balancing and forecasting the consequences of these strategic decisions and finally looking into the long-term implications of such decisions. (Brown et al. 2005) The strategic areas that are encompassed within operations management include scheduling, quality management, process technology and inventory management. Bill Moog has always known that the work environment played an important role in any company’s success. He has observed the manufacturing environments of other industries and noticed that employees worked better when they were treated with trust and respect. These modest ideas rested the base for what would ultimately become part of Moog’s much-acclaimed work environment and culture. (About Moog 2010) It could safely be said, therefore that the strategy involved in improving Moog Controls Philippines revolves around its human resources, from proper selection, training, developing and maintaining them, keeping them involved in achieving the whole organization’s goals. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT The human resources function in Moog has evolved from being a business function in the organization – administrative personnel maintenance tasks, to a business partner that catered to learning and development of employees, and finally as a strategic partner whose roles include talent management, performance management, competency management and succession planning. (Bhatia 2008) In the Philippines, a country that currently encourages its labor force to work abroad, selecting and hiring competent employees is difficult, simply because the salaries being offered here are a lot smaller than other countries. (Macaraig 2010 Torio 2010) On the other hand, doing business in the Philippines is relatively easy, considering that the business norms that the Filipinos value are the following: courtesy, social events, grooming and hygiene, dining, religion and superstition, equal opportunities, savings, and word of honor and integrity. (Andres 1997) These are the basis of most multinati onal companies in hiring, training, motivating and retaining their current workforce. Moog’s culture and philosophy revolves around trust – an employee can trust that everyone he works with is competent. Moog Controls operates in teams, creating a democratic environment and job titles are overlooked. Employees are developed, recognized and rewarded for their efforts, making them proud of their output. Moog Controls, Philippines has accepted the concept of Hamel and Prahalad (1994) that the human resources must be linked to the organization’s core competencies, being â€Å"a bundle of skills and technologies rather than a single discrete skill or technology,† – and skills come from human means. Consequently, in 2005, Moog Controls, Philippines has been the recipient of the Personnel Managers Association of the Philippines (PMAP) Outstanding Program of the Year Award in their demonstration of the Filipino worker at his best, and the risk that the company has taken in trusting its employees. (Mosqueda 2005) Performance management A performance management system is a process that involves identifying, measuring, encouraging, evaluating, improving and rewarding employee performance. It is basically an employee appraisal system that (a) improves the employee performance by making them realize and utilize their full potential in carrying out their tasks; (b) provides information to employees and managers in making work-related decisions. (Purposes of Performance Management System 2010) From the feedback mechanisms, development concerns, documentation, diagnoses of organizational problems, diagnoses of organizational problems and employment decisions, the following employee necessities have been realized: Competitive salaries and benefits, work-life balance, educational assistance through academe and trainings in other facilities, attractive retirement benefits, stock investment options, comprehensive health programs, recreational activities, employee exchange programs, and trainings in other facilities (Moog 201 0). PROCESS MANAGEMENT Just In Time (JIT) JIT is fully dependent on an integrated and strategic approach linking customer requirements with supplier capabilities and excellence in internal operations. In Japan, JIT has grown into a total management system from marketing to delivery. It has presented Japanese companies with a sturdy competitive advantage over their Western rival (Harrison 1992). Moog has adopted this lean production, Japanese manufacturing approach developed by the Toyota Motor Company whose main principle is focused on the removal of all waste from the operations environment. The produced amount fills in the exact number required when it is needed. The major forms of waste or contributors or sources of waste that have been identified are: overproduction, waiting, transportation, the process itself, stock on hand, motion, defective and goods (Brown et al. 2005) Consequently, with the use of JIT, Moog Controls has also included the use of the kanban system or the â€Å"card† system of communicating to, from and within operating departments, signalling to trigger an action. (Kanban System 2010) JIT has addressed the challenges of Moog with holding inventory, such as, storage costs, loss or stagnancy of capital, obsoleting of stocks, revolving capital for the organization has increased, and losses to deterioration, theft or damage was minimized greatly. Understanding the risks and the magnitude of accountability when managing the risks involved in the JIT system has further motivated the employees to comply and exceed quality standards that have been put in place. AS 9100 Certification AS 9100 is the quality management standard specifically written for the aerospace industry. It has long been considered by some entities, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the ISO 900 series of standards are inadequate in terms of ensuring quality and safety in the â€Å"high risk† aerospace industry. The existing description of AS 9100, Revision B, brings together its standard with ISO 9001: 2000 and has extra necessities regarding Regulatory Compliance and the following aerospace-sector specific requirements such as configuration management, design phase, verification, validation and testing processes, reliability, maintainability and safety, product identification, documentation and control of production process changes, production equipment, tools and numerical control machine programs, and many more. Accordingly, ISO 9001:2000 is completely incorporated within AS9100 in addressing aviation safety concerns. (AS9100 The Standard for Aerospace 2010) The Japanese 5-S Moog Controls Philippines also practices the Japanese 5S method of workplace improvement. This is a housekeeping system of keeping the shared work areas organized to maintain morale and efficiency. The main point of 5S is simply putting everything in its proper storage place lessening the time used in looking for things needed, improving the work flow process instilling ownership amongst employees. (5S: Japanese concept of workplace improvement 2010) The 5S are: Seiri (Separating): This is sorting only the needed materials in the workplace and storing or discarding those that are not important. Seiton (Sorting): This catalogues tools and materials in the workplace, keeping them close to the work station they are needed in, stored in a fashion that removes extra motion. Seiso (Shine): This simply indicates that the workstation and work area should be maintained clean after every job. Seiketsu (Standardizing): This means a consistent, standardized work practice. Each employee knows exa ctly what his tasks or responsibilities are. Shitsuke (Sustaining): Meaning maintaining the optimized standards, and not returning back to the old ways of operating. Six Sigma Six sigma is a statistical problem solving methodology that helps enhance organizational operations. It ensures a quality level of 3.4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO), with a rate of improvement of 70 percent or more. It is data-driven based on the Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control method undertaken to create bottom-line breakthrough change.(Statistical Six Sigma Definition 2010). The DMAIC method of six sigma is a formalized problem solving method used to improve effectiveness of the production processes. The six key principles of six sigma involve: (1) Focus on the customer (2) Identify and understand the value stream process (3) Manage, improve and smoothen the process flow (4) Remove non value-added steps and waste (5) Manage by fact and reduce variation (6) Involve and equip the people involved in the process (7) Undertake improvement activities in a systematic way. The success of Moog’s status as a world-class manufacturer and innovator rests largely on its human resources and the programs included in HR development. As seen on Moog’s website, there are testimonies from individuals posted that emulate Moog’s performance management processes (Our People: Asia Pacific 2010), especially the benefits that they have been recipients of. What is encouraging in this scenario is that Moog as organization also benefits from the skills, knowledge and talents gained by the individual. Processes, innovation and technological advancements have more often than not originated within the organization itself – a result of trusting its employees to â€Å"run† the company as innovation and process improvements have always been within arm’s length. The effect of caring and uplifting employee morale is not only experienced by Moog, but also by other successful companies, such as The Tata Group of India, Allen and Co, GE, and Toyota. The flattened organizational structure that promotes democracy, easy communication and the sharing of knowledge through social networks currently presents a better means of raising accountability in employees, and also finding and solving operational barriers that can lead to optimization of work. (Maqsood Walker 2007) Just like in any organization, any undertaking’s results can be seen through profit. Moog’s overall annual diluted earnings per share has reached an all-time high in 2009 at $2.75 – more than double its amount ten years before at $0.80, under a ten year compound growth rate of 9%. (Moog Annual Report 2009) Although the organization has been affected by the economic crisis, it still brags of $1,849M net sales and $85.1M net earnings. These figures would not have been met if there was a weak support on the HR level, allowing uncontrollable attrition and retrenchments during the financial crisis of 2007 to 2010. The investments the organization has done in developing their manpower and knowledge base has made them resilient in such cases, being affected but not overly alarmed by such crises. The shift in the role of human resource management, from being just administrative business solutions to strategic partners in planning, has been the root of most of Moog’s accomplishments. Strategic decisions, therefore, must take into consideration the welfare of the human resources involved. The shift to honing knowledge workers would create innovations in processes, methods and other operational procedures, enhancing not only that employee’s team performance but also the performance of the organization as a whole. Continuous improvements under the JIT, six sigma and kaizen methods of operations will take place constantly, causing technological advancements, product advancements and process improvements and cost effectiveness that can benefit the organization itself. Process improvements and innovation is not an instant fix to any operational activity; therefore, time, technology, money and skill are required to carry these through. Skill is the most important ingredient in innovation, and skills can only be taken from the human aspect of any industry; thus the accomplishment of any strategic operations management plan or for any quality method would only be realized through human resources. Research Papers on Strategic Organizational Management in Moog Controls, PhilippinesThe Project Managment Office SystemAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfPETSTEL analysis of IndiaDefinition of Export QuotasIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalOpen Architechture a white paperInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesResearch Process Part One

The Law of Electronic Commerce and the Internet Research Paper

The Law of Electronic Commerce and the Internet - Research Paper Example Irrespective of the contractual arrangements between the parties, the misleading and deceptive conduct provisions of the TPA and/or equivalent Fair Trading legislation may well apply, provided a sufficient jurisdictional nexus is established in relation to the relevant conduct. However, this is on particular problems arose by eBuy and Mr. John Online auction transactions. In the case of an eBay, auction company has control over the goods that are being auctioned. In this case of the auction, the buyers Mr. Paul paid $ 1500 the eBuy company for the goods Television. Misleading and deceptive conduct will extend to the layout of the site itself. In this regard factors such as the size, type, and color of the font, the prominence and location of hyperlinks, visibility and location of key terms and conditions, whether any distracting graphics or technology are used as well as other relevant circumstances, may be relevant to whether the Internet-based conduct is misleading or deceptive. In this case, terms and conditions of the eBay Company were not clear and the size was big so that customers clicking "I Accept" Button without reading and understanding the terms and conditions. And Mr. John was clicking "I Accept" Button without reading and understanding the terms and conditions.Mr. John's claim would depend, essentially, on whether he could establish that he was led to believe that the auction site eBay, through terms and conditions or through representations on the website, misled him as to the characteristics and security of the auction process. This issue was considered in the case of Evagora v eBay Australia & New Zealand Pty Limited [2001] VCAT 49, although, being a Tribunal decision, its precedent value is limited. In that case, Evagora successfully bid for a computer in an eBay hosted auction, which was paid for but never arrived. The seller of the computer was based overseas. Evagora claimed for his loss against eBay, arguing that he did not read eBay's user agreement and that eBay represented that the auction site was safe, which overrode the terms of the user agreement. eBay was held liable by the Tribunal for the loss suffered by Evagora. It is important that the terms and conditions on which a consumer participates in Online auctions website are clear, accurate, and accessible to avoid potential claims under sections 52 and 53. It is also important not to reduce or nullify the effectiveness of any terms and conditions by contrary or inconsistent representations or impressions given to users via the actual content of the website. Answer 2 Harry's Burger Farm collects personal details from Paul. Two years later Paul is upset when his health insurer charges a higher health insurance premium because he is deemed a 'high risk' heart attack candidate. Another insurer refuses to ensure his car, citing high clash statistics for owners of mobile phones.

The State of Mexico's International Trade Essay

The State of Mexico's International Trade - Essay Example Some of these prominent FTA's are the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), with the United States and Canada (1994), Colombia and Venezuela (G-3, 1995), the European Union (2000), Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland (EFTA, 2001) and Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador (North Triangle, 2001). FTA's have helped Mexico increase its international trade with countries around the world. They have also aided in reducing the effects of the untimely and unpredictable economic crisis such as crashing prices of oil, recession in the global economies and so on. Today Mexico stands at the seventh position in the list of leading trading nations in the world owing to its free trade policies. Mexico contributes to 46 percent of the Latin America's exports and 47 percent of its imports. NAFTA proved to be a major step in attracting foreign direct investments in the country. Foreign capital has increased the employment rates and the output in the country. Earlier Mexico relied on oil for its exports while at present times the manufactured goods compose the major section of export. All these steps have lead to the significant overall economic development of all the parts of the country (Derbez ""Beyond NAFTA -- Mexico and the Free Trade Area of the Americas," by Luis Ernesto Derbez, Secretary of the Economy, Mexico -- "The Free Trade Area of the Americas" -- U.S. Department of State, October 2002"). The biggest trading partners of Mexico are USA and Canada. Table 1 (Davy and Meyers, "United States-Canada-Mexico Fact Sheet on Trade and Migration"). Table 1 shows the export and import statistics of different NAFTA partners in 2003. The major trade partners of Mexico are US and Canada. USA holds a major share in Mexican export sector. Mexico sends 88% of its exports to US. Chart 1 demonstrates the trade among the three countries: US, Mexico and Canada. Mexico-US trade accounted for $286 billion in 2004. Canada and US are the most important contributors to the Foreign Direct investment in Mexico. 40% of the total FDI to Mexico comes from USA. In 2004 this amount was around $7.3 billion from USA. Canada comes at fourth place in the major FDI contributors to Mexico listing. Canada accounted for $379.2 million FDI in 2004 (Davy and Meyers, "United States-Canada-Mexico Fact Sheet on Trade and Migration"). On the other hand Mexico serves as third largest source of oil imports to US as shown in Fig.1 ("Mexico Energy Data, Statistics and Analysis - Oil, Gas, Electricity, Coal"). Chart 1 (Davy and Meyers, "United States-Canada-Mexico Fact Sheet on Trade and Migration"). Fig.1 ("Mexico Energy Data, Statistics and Analysis - Oil, Gas, Electricity, Coal"). Mexico has a strong existence in the international agro-food market owing to its different products like agriculture, forestry, livestock, hunting, fishing, foods, beverages and tobacco. Mexico exported worth $11.8 billion in 2005 and imported worth $14.3 billion in the same year. 65% of Mexico's imports come from USA ("RS/USDA Briefing Room - Mexico: Trade"). Chart 2 ("RS/USDA Briefing Room - Mexico: Trade"). Mexico recorded an annual GDP growth rate of 4.8% in 2006. It increased from 0.8% to 2.8% in three years from 2002 from 2005. The total trade of Mexico showed a significant increase to 60.3 per cent of GDP from earlier