Sears Case Study free essay sample

Sears is our nation’s fourth largest retailer. With over 4,000 stores in the United States and Canada, Sears has grown from its humble beginnings. Sears is a leader in apparel, home appliances, home, lawn and garden, tools, automotive repair, maintenance, and electronics. Sears also provides home service, serving 11 million service calls yearly. Richard Sears founded Sears as a mail order company and it grew to be one of the largest retailers. He opened the first department store in Chicago in 1925. Sears found success and by 1928 three more stores had opened. Now Sears employs 249,000 employees and it has grown quickly. In 2005, Sears merged with K-Mart and has helped both evolve and the merger proved to be both successful and positive. Although they have faced challenges along the way they have been able to gain a large market share because of their product mix, quality services, products, and solutions. No matter what difficulties they have faced Sears has been a leader in the retail industry and they will strive to be sure that doesn’t change. We will write a custom essay sample on Sears Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Sears has come a long way from its beginnings as a catalog. Sears has many unique attributes that make it a place that people want to shop. Despite their great accomplishment and striving to become one the largest and most competitive retailers, Sears is facing several key issues. Sears must reevaluate their internal and external environment in order to implement the changes and solutions necessary to get Sears back to where it needs to be. This has definitely been key to their success because they are able to tailor their products to their customers needs using an integrated cost leadership/differentiation strategy. Sear is competing in a very competitive industry and if they follow through with their differentiated strategy they will continue to improve. Sears was able to pursue low cost and provide differentiation to their customers. Rosa Corporate Financial Position Sears financial position is currently improving. They are dealing with not only a let down on their fourth quarter losses but the sales have decreased as well in both their department stores and Kmart unit. To deal with their losses they are in the process of selling 11 stores to make up for their finances which has made their stocks go up at 19% (MarketWatch, 2012). If they sell these properties they could earn around $270 million in proceeds. It could go either way though since when sales decrease selling assets may not be the right way to bring in growth in the future. Also if they follow their plan of moving Sears Hometown and Outlet stores they could bring in between $400 million to $500 million of proceeds during the third fiscal quarter (SHLD: Nasdaq, 2012). Sears net income has dropped continually year after year from $235. M to a mere $133. 0m. One reason being is the percentage of sales has been more focused on the SGA (Sales General Administration) costs which has made it go from 23. 69% to 24. 09% (SHLD:Nasdaq GS, 2012). Core Competency The main core competency would have to be in there customer service. They offer great service to their customers which has gave them a comp etitive advantage against competitors. They use this to differentiate themselves from competition. They have built up a good customer base. They make sure they have their best associates available for customers especially through peak hours. They try and do all possible that will let them have a good customer relationship with their customers. Sears also likes to make sure their customers are completely satisfied with their shopping experience. Strengths/Capabilities/Resources †¢Strong balance sheet †¢Holds valuable assets-substantial liquidity($3. 2 billion total) †¢Strong retail network †¢ Economies of scale (3,847 stores in U. S Canada) †¢Brand mix is balanced †¢Extensive product offerings †¢Top market position †¢Many different lines to offer (appliances, automotive, lawn and garden, tools, home electronics, clothing, etc. †¢Dependable to the customers †¢Service Departments Weaknesses †¢Poor operating performance (high operating expenses than competitors) †¢ Store sales volumes are low †¢Inventory turnover is low †¢Negligence towards quality control †¢Weak in specialty retailing †¢High administrative costs †¢Sustainable growth †¢Too much diversification (offer too many services) Firm’s External Environment Amy Demographics Please note, I didn’t include any information about Sears’ target markets. I was not sure if this would go in the demographics section I thought it might flow better under strategy. I can certainly add more to this section as well, if any of you have any thoughts/suggestions. Thanks! Currently, worldwide demographic trajectories show that the fastest growing age group is people over the age of 60. As this age demographic continues to grow, younger populations are projected to decrease at the same rate. The under 15 age group is currently 26% of the global population, which will decrease to 20% by 2050. (Market Potential of Maturing Customers) This will drastically change business strategies in the future, as younger generations are target less marketing becomes more adult-focused. With an increasing older population, this will create additional buying power and opportunities for the retail market. Currently, individuals over the age of fifty own 80% of the U. S. financial assets and have half of the discretionary income needed for retail spending. Additionally, worldwide consumers over 60 years older are projected to spend $15 trillion by the end of the decade, which is a massive increase over the $8 trillion recently spent by this age demographic in 2010. (The Market Potential of Maturing Consumers) By focusing on this age demographic, it may provide great growth opportunities for Sears in the future. Changes in target age demographics will also change the dynamic of shopping. Mature consumers are likely to spend more time in-store, looking for a quality shopping experience. This will likely change the dynamic of retail service, store layouts, products, and prices. Sears and its competitors may become more focused on limited, high-quality products at low prices, rather than unlimited, low-quality, low-priced products. With these changes, there will also likely be a shift in marketing strategies, customer service focus, and product designs.

What Do SAT Scores Measure IQ Income

What Do SAT Scores Measure IQ Income SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Everyone knows that scores on the SAT can make or break your college admissions chances, but can they measure your innate cognitive abilities? What do they really say about your potential? In this article, I'll tell you what SAT scores can and can't measure and provide advice about when you might use them to estimate your own capabilities. Do SAT Scores Measure Intelligence? There's a big debate about this, and the question depends on how you define intelligence. Scores on the SAT do correlate with scores on IQ tests and other standardized tests of intelligence. This is unsurprising considering that the SAT was originally derived from an IQ test for army recruits. SAT Scores Are More Variable Than "Innate Intelligence" Despite what some may argue, it is, in fact, possible to prepare for a standardized test like the SAT. At PrepScholar, we know firsthand that students can dramatically improve their SAT scores through dedicated studying. If a person has slightly above average intelligence, with enough preparation they should be able to get a very good or even perfect score on the SAT. Through extensive studying of question types, test content, and test format, you can do extremely well without being some kind of super genius. But isn't the decision to prep this extensively a demonstration of intelligence (and maturity and foresight) in itself? This is where it gets a little harder to make clear judgments. Who's "smarter"- the kid who prepared for 80 hours and raised his score from a 1100 to an 1500 or the kid who got an 1500 without any prep at all? It's likely that a traditional IQ test would say that the kid who didn't prepare has a higher IQ, but in terms of SAT scores (and in the eyes of colleges) the two students are equal. In this sense, you could argue that since students have the ability to prep for the SAT, it's a better measure of intelligence than traditional IQ tests. The score is a result of innate intelligence and perseverance. Two people can get the same score while possessing different amounts of each quality. If we're talking about innate intelligence alone, the SAT doesn't necessarily measure accurately. If we're talking about a combination of innate intelligence and the determination that allows students to succeed in school, it may be a better metric. The brain is a complicated place. And clearly this artist is biased towards the right brain even though the whole idea of people being right or left brained is bogus. It's Not Quite That Simple, Though- There Are Other Reasons Why The SAT Isn't an Ideal Measure of Intelligence The SAT would do a better job of measuring academic ability and intelligence if high schools across the country were all equivalent in their funding and quality, but that isn't the case. Students have different educational backgrounds, and this strongly affects performance on the SAT. Many students may have strong combinations of innate intelligence and perseverance but are unable to utilize these qualities to do well on the SAT due to circumstances beyond their control. These students might lack the extra time they need to prep, or they might not even know how to begin the prep process because their schooling so far has been low quality. For wealthy students who grow up in a good educational system with a supportive family, it's much easier to bring out the qualities and knowledge that will allow them to succeed on the SAT. With parental pressure and monetary support, these students are more likely to enroll in prep programs and get the added benefits of this instruction on top of their already high-quality high school education. The cards are stacked in favor of these types of students even if they are of average intelligence. So it's complicated. On the one hand, yes, SAT results can measure some degree of intelligence and academic ability. On the other hand, in some cases the SAT is not an appropriate way to judge someone's intelligence because of other obstacles they've had to face. The gap between the SAT scores of rich and poor students is a very real thing. The SAT Is Still a Pretty Good Predictor of College Academic Success Students who score highly on the SAT either prep extensively or are intelligent and well-educated enough in the first place to get a good score without preparation. Students who do well on the SAT are probably more prepared for college in general, but this is different from them being objectively "smarter." Of course, every test has its problems, and the SAT certainly is flawed, but many of its shortcomings in measuring student ability and intelligence are due to societal factors beyond the control of the makers of the test. You could argue that the continued use of the test perpetuates these problems, but that's a discussion for another article! Then again, is anyone ever prepared for stuff like whatever this is? Do SAT Scores Measure Career Potential? Different people arrive at their scores on the SAT in different ways (as discussed in the previous section), so it's tough to make these types of blanket judgments. One thing we do know is that SAT scores correlate with parental income. If by "career potential" we mean higher income, then yes, SAT scores can roughly measure the likelihood that a student will end up earning a high income as an adult. Students who earn high SAT scores are more likely to have parents who can support them in college and help them connect with more job opportunities in lucrative fields. The SAT does help provide some poor students with more opportunities to attend college, but it can also contribute to keeping people where they are on the economic ladder. As I've said, though, there are far more complex and deep-rooted societal forces at play here than standardized testing. The SAT can measure career potential to a very limited degree, but there are so many other factors that exist in the job market that nothing is set in stone. The skills you'll need to do well in a job may be very different than the skills you needed to do well on the SAT. Since the SAT tests knowledge of relatively simple concepts and ideas, it may not be the best predictor of whether someone will do well in an advanced job that requires a lot of specialized knowledge. It also won't be able to measure a person's emotional intelligence and ability to manage others, which are key factors in determining whether someone will advance in most job fields. The revised 2016 SAT represents an effort by the College Board to remedy these issues with the test. The goal of the current format is to test material in a way that makes more practical sense and considers the skills that students will actually need upon entering the job world. Setting aside the extra features of the latest version of the SAT, judgments of career potential need to take education level and major type into account. On average, STEM majors make more money than humanities majors even if both students have equal test scores and equal overall intelligence. If you plan to use your SAT scores to judge whether you'll succeed in a career field in the future, you should think twice. There are many other factors, including your specific career interests, the amount of prep time you put into the SAT, and the educational experience you had in high school that may make your scores more or less indicative of your potential. If you work hard, you too can have a career in jumping up to progressively higher orange rectangles. This guy is really living the dream. What Will Your SAT Scores Really Tell You? Should You Listen? Is it useful for you to judge yourself based on the results of a standardized test? In some cases yes, and in other cases definitely not. SAT Scores Are a More Useful Measurement If: You're Planning to Apply to Colleges That Require Standardized Test Scores If the colleges where you're applying consider SAT scores in their admissions decisions, you'll have to make judgments about where to apply based on your performance. Your SAT scores will help you estimate your admissions chances at different colleges. After comparing them to the statistics, you can set logical improvement goals or make an informed choice not to waste time applying to schools that are too selective based on their average score ranges. You Have a Low GPA If you have a low GPA, you should take your SAT scores more seriously as a measurement of your ability. High scores can make a big impact on your chances of college admission even if your overall performance in high school wasn't great. If you earn high scores with a low GPA, your scores might also compel you to think more critically about why you're doing poorly in school. High scores might indicate that your academic potential is greater than you thought. Your Scores Are Especially High or Low If you have extreme SAT scores (outside the average range of 1000-1100), they may be a more useful measurement of your abilities. If your score is lower than 1000, consider whether you have any major knowledge gaps you need to address that might cause you problems later in college. If your score is higher than 1100, you can assume that you have fairly strong reasoning abilities and knowledge of basic high school subject matter. If your scores are XTREME, you should pay more attention to them. SAT Scores Are a Less Useful Measurement If: You Plan on Applying to Test Optional Colleges If you're planning on applying to colleges that don't require you to submit SAT scores, there's no need to consider the SAT as a measurement of your ability. You don't have to show your scores to these colleges if you choose not to, so your performance won't impact your chances of admission negatively. You Have a High GPA If you have a high GPA, your SAT score is a less critical measurement in the college application process. It's still important if you want to attend competitive schools, but you have the option of applying to test optional colleges or less competitive schools where your high GPA will be enough to prove your academic qualifications. When I say a "high GPA," I mean any GPA that indicates that you've earned mostly As in challenging classes. This could be anywhere from a 3.7 to a 5.0 depending on whether your school uses a weighted or unweighted GPA scale. Even if you have an SAT score that's not stellar, you'll most likely be able to get into college based on your high GPA. You may still have some trouble if your SAT score is below average (lower than 1000). However, if you have a low SAT score and a high GPA, this might mean that the SAT isn't a useful way for you to measure your academic abilities. The Bottom Line: Don't Judge Yourself too Harshly Based on Your SAT Scores SAT scores represent a limited measurement of cognitive abilities. They can vary greatly based on each student's level of preparation and high school experiences. You should pay attention to scores that are especially low or high so you're aware of your strengths and shortcomings in the context of the material that's being tested, but don't let your SAT scores completely dictate judgments about your potential. If you're really concerned about your scores, you can improve them by following a focused study plan! What's Next? Not sure whether your SAT score is "good enough"? Read my article on the different ways you might define a good SAT score based on your personal goals. If you're trying to raise your scores, check out these 15 tips that will help you do better on the SAT without too much extra studying. If you've taken the SAT multiple times, you might not be sure which score will be the most relevant when applying to college. Find out which SAT scores colleges will look at when judging your application. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? We have the industry's leading SAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

Management Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Management Leadership - Assignment Example How does one become an authentic leader?First, acknowledge that authenticity in leadership is a learned skill and not inborn. Second, discovering potential means being independent of approval to from individuals or parties outside the support team regarding decision-making process. Third, one has to be devoted to building one’s personality to exploit the full potential as a leader.What are the steps to build a support team?First, include an individual with whom one has a past with and can be free and open with at all times. This person is important since it is whom one can communicate the truth with only. Second, allow the relationships amongst the support team members to grow with you by expressing mutual principles and a common aim. Third, become a mentor capable of changing the lives of his or her support team’s members. Fourth, strengthen each of the member’s behaviors by discussing their reliance on fellow team members in an orderly manner.Describe the struc ture of the support team for an authentic leadership.A support team suitable for an authentic leadership is often multilayered since they include family members, spouses, close friends, and coworkers. Such a support team develops its networks over a given period, during which its members share their experiences, preferences, and histories. At this point, support team members can share truths about personal and formal issues, which creates trust and confidence within the team (George, Sims, McLean, and Mayer 2).

What duties, if any, do we have to non-human animals Essay

What duties, if any, do we have to non-human animals - Essay Example ’1 In examining theories by Singer, McMahan, Warnock, Spira and Benson regarding the eating of non-human animals, consideration will also be given to the impact this may have on moral arguments regarding ‘duty’ in vivisection, and industries such as cosmetics, detergents and pharmaceuticals. Peter Singer believes chimpanzees and apes, should be granted ‘the right to life, to liberty and to protection from torture,’2 because they have autonomy like humans. Singer’s term ‘speciesists’ is used for people who ‘regard human beings as intrinsically more valuable than members of other species.’3 Singer purports to believe in equality between species, but Benson argues this is false ‘because of the relationships with other individuals which are inseparable from belonging to the same species.’4 Singer contradictiously suggests that chimps and apes have a greater level of consiousness, compared to other non-human an imals. In an article and the book Ethics into Action, Singer discusses Henry Spira who campaigned to reduce animal suffering related to the Draize and LD50 tests. Spira’s advertising campaign was criticized for using a Beagle to gain an emotive response; it was suggested if a rodent appeared in the advert people would not have been so outraged. Spira pointed to the importance of ‘not how popular is an animal, but can it tell the difference between pain and pleasure?’5 Singer discusses Kant’s work and states that we ‘find moral worth only when duty is done for duty’s sake.’6 What is meant by this relates to the advertising, in that if people do their duty out of sympathy or shame, they wouldn’t be doing their duty for the sake of believing and feeling it to be true. Gary L. Francione criticises Peter Singer’s work, suggesting that whilst it contains an element of reform for animal-welfare, it ‘makes people feel better about animal uses, but does not actually achieve its proper aim of protecting animals.’7 Francione argues for full abolition of animal use, claiming that because animals are sentient beings this should enable them to have full moral and legal rights. Professor of Philosophy, Jeff McMahan, discusses animals raised in good conditions, then killed humanely, for human consumption and terms this ‘benign carnivorism.’8 McMahan states the main premise of benign carnivorism’s moral philosophical argument, is that it’s preferable animals live in a contented manner, with no suffering (up until their humane death), than to not have existed at all. Mary Warnock claims animals ‘should be used for the sake of human society,’9 she lists activities such as horse riding; sledging; the food and clothing they provide. This argument is favourable to those wishing to consume meat, though McMahan points out the illogical flaw that: ‘there are no indiv iduals who never exist.’10 A comparative sense of ‘well-being’ is made between non-human animals and humans. Whilst non-human animals can appear to show emotion; other aspects of human life such as success, artistic endeavours, wisdom, meaningful connections to others, the ability to think rationally and appreciation of beauty aren’t always as easy to perceive in non-human animals. McMahan suggests that non-human animals lack a self-awareness for the future, claiming that they ‘do not†¦have desires or intentions or ambitions†¦that would be frustrated by death,’11 thus making it easier to justify killing them. McMahan’s argument makes interesting comparison to humans but his key premise throughout is that animals do not have the same rights as humans they have lesser rights; humans constantly place a higher value on human life. If non-human animals were seen to have a

The role of supply chain management in tourism Research Paper

The role of supply chain management in tourism - Research Paper Example According to Zhang, Song and Huang, tourism supply chain management is â€Å"a set of approaches utilized to efficiently manage the operations of the tourism supply chain within a specific tourism destination, to meet tourist needs from the targeted source markets and accomplish the business objectives of different enterprises within the TSC† (p.345). In other words, supply chain management in tourism is essentially about coordinating the efforts of numerous providers within one and the same package of services, targeting one specific consumer market segment. A supply chain presupposes having a number of product and service providers enter in and sustain contractual relationships with one another. Consequentially, how each organization performs largely depends upon the quality and efficiency of performance among other organizations in the same supply chain. Over the last decade, supply chain management has already become a distinctive feature of business activity in tourism: this is mainly because tourism by itself operates through a complex combination of activities, interests, resources, and stakeholders all of which must be coordinated and functionally linked into a single supply chain. Certainly, the essence of SCM in tourism is distinctly different from that in manufacturing. While in manufacturing consumption usually follows production, in tourism production and consumption are almost always simultaneous. (Harewood 2008). Moreover, bearing in mind that tourism is neither tangible nor physical, supply chain management in tourism is essentially about coordinating various services from different suppliers at every single point of the tourism supply chain (Harewood 2008). It goes without saying that the nature and complexity of supply chains vary across tourism industries. Hotels, restaurants, and theme parks rely on different standards and principles of SCM. Nonetheless, whatever the industry, SCM is always a value-added activity that makes tourism providers more competitive and strengthens their position in the market. Supply chain effects on hotels Hotels are probably the basic and most influential ingredients in contemporary tourism industry. Much has been written and said about hotel operations and their implications for the development of the entire tourism industry. In its current state, the hotel sector of the global tourism industry comprises the features of rapid development and consumer-focused approaches to business. In this context, supply chains have a potential to enhance the quality and efficiency of hotel services supply and ensure that even the most sophisticated demands of consumers are consistently met. Supply chains are integrally linked to the quality and nature of

Country Research Report Colombia About Colombia History Essay

Country Research Report Colombia About Colombia History Essay When Gran Colombia collapsed in 1830, Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged along with Ecuador and Venezuela. In Latin America, Columbia is the fourth largest economy and in South America it is the third largest (Republic of Colombia). Colombia is the member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and also the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It is also one of the continents most heavily populated nations. Its capital city Bogota, which was formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogota is located in the center of the country. The country has 32 administrative regions (called departamentos) plus the capital district which has its own autonomous administrative. (Industrial Field of Colombia)  . History Facts and Figures: Official Name: The official name of Colombia is Republica de Colombia. But the conventional long form of the name is Republic of Colombia and the short form, which is widely known, is Colombia. Earlier it was known as United States of Colombia (Republic of Colombia). Land Areas: The country has land area of 401,042 sq mi (1,038,699 sq km) and a total coastline of 3,207 kilometers (1,993 miles) spread between the Caribbean Sea and North Pacific Ocean. Geography: Relative Location Colombia looks like an odd-looking pear which has a thin top. Columbia is just about the similar dimension as of France, Germany and United Kingdom and United States is 9 times the size of this country. Located in the northwestern corner of South America, the country lies entirely within the tropics. Colombia is surrounded by Panama in northwest, by Venezuela and Brazil in the east, by Peru and Ecuador in the southwest, the three Andean ranges run north to south through the western half of the country. The eastern half of the country is low, jungle-covered plain with Amazon and Orinoco Rivers.teh Andes western, central and eastern cordilleras (mountain ranges) run parallel south-west to north-east. The valley of the eastern range and the fertile plateau are the most thickly populated areas of the country (Columbian Facts). Geographical Map of Colombia images (1).jpg (Geography of Colombia). Population Flag: According to population, The Republic of Columbia is the 27th largest country in the world . In overall population, Columbia ranks fourth in Latin America and in density it holds tenth position. The estimated population of the country (2012) is  45,239,079 with the growth rate of about 1.36 % (according to the report published by World Bank in 2012). The estimated birth rate is 17.23 per 1000 with infant mortality rate of 15.92 per 1000. The life expectancy is expected to be 74.79 and density per sq km is 43. The majority of Colombians live in the western coastal area of the country which means that the region east of the Andes mountain chain is thinly populated (Colombia). After the end of World War II, the countrys population grew dramatically, growing by 3.2 percent per year. In 1951 the population was 11.5 million but got doubled in the year 1973 to 22.9 million. The population is expected to attain 53.2 million by the year 2015. The country was one of those few countries of Latin America to have adopted the family planning as an authorized policy and to include it in their development plans. Distribution of population is highly uneven. About 94.5 % of the population is concentrated on 42 percent of the country, in plateaus and basins over Andes cordilleras and the valleys of Magdalena and Cauca rivers. About 58 percent of the country inhibits mere 5.5 percent of the population. The largest part of the population of country lives in the Central Highlands in the pleasant and cool region and the remainder in the Caribbean lowlands (Country Overview). According to the recent studies done in the Republic of Colombia, about 30.7% of the total population of the country consists of children below the age of 14 years, 64.2 % is the percentage of the age group between the age of 15 years and 64 years and 5.2% above 65 years age (Population of Colombia). The flag of Columbia is inspired by Christophers Columbus flag which he used in his expedition. It has three horizontal bands. The first part is yellow, the second (middle) part is blue, and the third (bottom) part is red. Yellow color of first part represents the gold found in the country. Blue color is a sign of the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that borders the country; it also corresponds to the equality of all races and classes in the countrys society. Red color stands for the sacrifices and blood spilled by the martyrs in the struggle of independence (Colombia Flag).   download.jpg Source: (Colombia Flag). Francisco Miranda created the national flag of Colombia on March 12, 1807, who was an eminent figure Lin fight for independence of the country. Miranda, Lino de Clemente and Jose Sata, offered the flag at the Congress of Venezuela in 1811 and was adopted as the national flag.   In 1834, Francisco de Paula Santander wanted some modification in the flag so that the stripes should run vertically instead of horizontally.   Later in 1861, President Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera ordered that eight stars should be positioned on the blue stripes to represent the eight provinces that make the  Estados Unidos de Colombia  (United States of Colombia) and that the yellow stripe should be positioned in the middle.  Ã‚   In addition to that, he also ordered that like original the stripes should be in horizontal position, as done by Miranda in 1807. Again in 1909, Simon Bolivar ordered that Mirandas design should be restored as the flag of Colombia .The flag was constantly modified in terms of placement of the stripes and their size. In the year 1934,    President Enrique Olaya Herrera established the present flag, which was designed by Miranda in 1807 as the National flag (National Flag of Colombia). Currency: The official currency of Colombia is the Columbian Peso which is denoted by COP or COL$. The bills are available in the denominations of $1K, $2K, $5K, $10K, $20K, and $50K. The coins are available in $50, $100, $200, $500 and $1000 (Columbian Currency). currency_looks_like_colom2 (1).gifcurrency_looks_like_colom1.gifcurrency_looks_like_colom2.gif National Day: Every year 20 July is celebrated as independence in Colombia when it claimed its freedom from Spain in the year 1810. It is happened that on July 20, 1810, Colombian nationalists stimulated the people of Bogota in streets to protest against Spanish rule. The Viceroy was forced to allow some degree of independence which later became everlasting. From then, July 20 is celebrated in Colombia as Independence Day. The Colombians are known to celebrate this day with great patriotism and enjoy with festivities, parades, traditional food and parties (National Day of Colombia). Industrial field: Colombia is basically a liberated market economy with key commercial and investment ties to the United States.  The countrys industrial hub developed around four urban areas:  Bogota (the capital city), Medellin, Cali, and Barranquilla. The other centers developed in the departments of Boyaca, Magdalena, Narià ±o, and Santander.  The mining sector of the country comprises of oil production and coal.. Its major oil export market is the United States. Oil Production is sited primarily in the Cusiana and Cupiagua fields in the Andes foothills and in the Cano Limon field in the vicinity of the Venezuelan border. All the foreign investment in the petroleum exploration and its development are done on a profit-sharing relationship contract between the investors and Ecopetrol (the state petroleum company). Most of Colombias natural gas production is done in the Guajira region. The country fabricates more than 90 percent of the worlds total emerald production and it is also known to be the second-largest South American producer of gold. It is also one of the most important coal producers in Latin America. Colombia has plentiful water wealth for hydroelectric power and so is second only to Brazil in Latin America. Hydroelectric powers offer more than 70% of countrys electricity power generation. A great deal of Colombias hydroelectric production is situated in the mountainous northwest part of the country, which produces about 40% of the hydroelectric power (Industrial Field of Colombia). The economic landscape of Colombia has changed considerably in the last 40 years, and it is shown by the changes in the manufacturing industry by the late twentieth century. Industrial manufacturing in Colombia is quite speckled. Manufacturing units are mostly located in the provinces of Antioquia, Cauca, in the capital region area, and some in Barranquilla, on the Atlantic coast. The most important products include basic chemicals, beverages, milling and cereal processing, oil refining, textiles, paper and derived products. Textiles and chemicals are at the top for nearly 40 % of all exports of the country. The construction industry (approx. 7000 companies) is one of the largest employment sectors in Colombia (Industry). Commercial Field: In the recent times, the global commercial sector represents 65% of the total world product and around 25% of business transactions in the worldwide. Particularly in the commercial sector of Colombia such as information technology, financial and banking sector have its market in the country. This commercial growth of country facilitates growth in the world and also enables to manage their natural resources and trade by generating revenues (The Service Sector in Colombia and The FTAA negotiations). Culture and Traditions: A diversified culture occupied Colombian territory before the Spanish have arrived. Some as sophisticated and advanced in such a way that produced San Agustins statue in the Huila department, profound tombs of Tierradentro in the Cauca department or in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta the Lost City. The Spanish was arrived with an aim to take over and colonization and carried slaves along with them from Africa. Because of these reasons Colombia is recognized as diversified ethnics and cultural country where each region has some unique characteristics which discriminate it from other nations. Accordingly the Andean culture that strongly experienced its European ancestry of a culture of Caribbean which is a blend of Indian and African legacy; roots of African culture with the pacific culture and Orinoquia culture and Amazon culture which is basically an Indian. This complex combination of American and European ancestry is not only articulated in the tradition of country although also comprises of several artistic ground such as handicrafts, cuisines, architecture, sculpture, painting, literature, film, photography, music, dance, theater and many more. Colombian culture is the summation of geographical sites, its colonizers, religious communities and many other things. All these have significant reflection in the lifestyle and religion of Colombian people. Along with this, these things also influenced the language and other aspects of Colombian life (Colombia Culture; Culture: Tradition and avant-garde). Landforms in Colombia: Landforms are the natural features on the surface of earth. Colombia is full of several landforms which enables it to become incredible country in the world. This country is fronted by valleys such as Caribbean, Pacific as well as Eastern Amazon which lengthen its borders Venezuela and Brazil. The western side of Colombia is crossed by three rocky equivalent ranges of the Andes Mountain which was named as Eastern, Central and Western Cordilleras. Many of the significant rivers like Cauca, Magdalena and Putumayo were climbed in the upper elevation of the mountain. These Cauca and Magdalena disconnected the three ranges of Andean Mountain, ultimately merging and later on ending in the Caribbean Sea (Landforms). Land Division in Colombia: The land of Colombia divided into many sub divisions which comprises of thirty two departments and one capital district. The thirty two departments of Colombia includes Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes and Vichada. Other than these departments, the Colombia has one capital district which is named as Capital de Bogota (Land Statistics). Information about Traveler in Colombia: In the early 00s, the Colombia has been opened for world travelers because violence has been decreased dramatically. The diversity of climate and cultural zone in the Colombia provided something unique to the travelers. In the north of country, Caribbean beaches facilitate high class resorts with some historic colonial cities although economical beach towns next to Pacific Coast like Nuqui. In the Andean region, local population resides with the diversified culture. Despite being diversified culture, climatic zone has extreme variations which contributed beauty to the region and aid Colombia as one of the bio-diverse country in the world wide. The points of attraction in the Colombia as elaborated below (Welcome to Colombia Information). Attractions: The Colombia is the country which comprises of diversified culture and climate. This diversity of climate and culture placed this country at different platform and also these diversities attracts more travelers from the worldwide. The climate of Colombia is identified by trade winds, altitude and humidity because it is an equatorial country. The country took pleasure consistent luminosity during the year with the identical duration of day and night hours. The point of attractions of the Colombia country comprises of several natural features. The historical landmarks comprises of Capitol, Capilla Del Sangrario, cathedral on Plaza Bolivar which is a main square. The capital city Bogota includes a museum the Museo Del Oro that is one of the best Colombian museums globally. It also includes churches as Iglesia de Santa Clara and Iglesia de San Ignacio. Other than this, Cartagena on the Caribbean coast is the building of colonial walled and the white sand beaches are truly attractive. A f amous Salt Cathedral in the Zipaquira which is an underground church built under a salt mine. Other than these Colombia is also full of parks such as Tayrona National park (Attractions; Attractions from Colombia). The overviews of point of attractions in the Colombia country are described underlined as below: Museums and churches: The country has many museums and churches such as Museo Del Oro, Museo national, Museo Arqueologico, Santa Clara and San Francisco. The major and unique feature of these are, all are situated in the mid of the city. The Mountain Cerro de Monserrate (Bogota): This Mountain gave pleasure to all travelers who come from worldwide. The Salt Cathedrals at Zipaquira (Bogota): Zipaquira is situated in the north of Bogota. These mines have been vacant and comprises of small reserves which place like a mountain of salt. The Island Del Rosario (Colombia): It is situated in the southwest of Cartagena which is next to the Caribbean coast. It is situated thirty kilometer in the southwest of Cartagena. This area is full of incredible scenes and sand beaches. Along with these also offered glorious coral reefs and colorful fishes. Source: (Attractions) The city of Cali: This is a rich city and having hot climate. This city is famous for its cigars and for exotic dishes. San Andres (Colombia): This Island is only 13 kilometer long and 3 kilometer broad. This island is flat and plain in nature and full of coco palms. Its sunny beaches offered a place for relaxing to the travelers. The nature reserve of Parque National los Katios (Colombia): This is one of the beautiful nature parks which are enclosed with rain forest and lakes. One of the points of attraction in the park is a waterfall of 100 meter. These natural scenes gave pleasures to all travelers who came to Colombia (Attractions; Attractions from Colombia). Country Dialing Code: The country dialing code is a series of numbers which is used for establishing connections between two telephones at the international platform. The dialing code of Colombia country is of two digits as 57. This dialing code allowed user to contact Colombia from another countries in the world wide. This dialing code 57 is dialed after the International Direct Dialing (IDD) and this Colombia dialing code is followed by an area code. By using complete Colombia dialing code a user may call in Colombia (Colombia Country Codes). Electricity: The voltage in Colombia country is 110 volts which is similar to the voltage utilized in the United States of America, Canada and Japan. The 110 volts has been considered as safer to use and less powerful because it has ad vantage over the high voltage like 230 volts. On the other hand, it costs more in the transmission of power to the end users by utilizing 110 volts as for this purpose copper lines must be thicker in size. For this reason wealthy countries are generally used these lower voltages (Electricity in Colombia). In Colombia, the electricity frequency is 60 Hz. Since electricity frequency is not a major issue in regards of compatibility because in the recent time most of the electrical equipments are supportive to the multiple frequencies (Colombia Technical Information for Travelers). The plug adapters that are used in Colombia are A or B. the electrical outlets of type A and type B are shown below: Source: (Colombia Country Codes) The graphical representation of electricity production in Colombia country is as shown below: Source: (Electricity in Colombia) The attractive feature of electricity sector in Colombia is if certain area has a number then it is called Stratum. If this number is higher than that area considered as better as compared to others and the people need to pay more amounts for electricity. This system is operated by cross-subsidies and kept very simple phenomenon that the person who earns more have to pay more for electricity. This makes sure that power is accessible by everyone (Electricity in Colombia). Conclusion: The Colombia is the country which comprises of diversified culture and climate. This diversity of climate and culture placed this country at different platform and also these diversities attracts more travelers from the worldwide. This country is known for their several landforms, culture and traditions. This gives additional advantage to the country for attracting more travelers. In totality, Colombia is the country which is considered as incredible place in the world wide.

Community Values Essay -- Medicine College Admissions Essays

Community Values Imani. Broken windows carelessly hidden by weather-tormented wood, chunks of bricks randomly sprawled across dry plots of grass and doors barely hanging onto one hinge create the backdrop for a bright yellow sign with the Swahili word for faith painted in large red letters. Old tires, pipes, waste material and junk cars are unfortunately not the only residents of the New Orleans housing project, as it initially appears. Without any warning, underneath all of the public health hazards small chocolate faces emerge with big smiles completely oblivious to their dangerous surroundings. Although their playground lacks a swing, monkey bars, slides or even a hopscotch area these children continue to play with makeshift toys. Being outnumbered by junkyard waste forces them to create new games with the debris that coexists in their safe haven. While viewing this housing project, I realized the trigger for change lay deep within the heart of the community. I was also reminded of the words I heard during the address given at my high school graduation speech, "a community can only be as strong as those who build it." Therefore, I joined Mobilization at Xavier, which created an outlet for me to share my excitement about learning wi... ...the remarkable mechanisms within the human body that work towards fighting off this disease. My future is centered on being a changing force in my community through the gift of medicine. A medical education will equip me with a powerful tool to improve health disparities in underserved communities. A physician is not solely a provider of medical care but a source of faith and a symbol of reassurance. Each activity I have been a part of has fostered and nourished my motivation towards becoming a part of a sector of society focused on renewing and maintaining strength within families, which are the core unit of a community.