Managing Business Problems Essay Example for Free

Managing Business Problems EssayWhat atomic number 18 the causes of poor productiveness within large organizations and how can we look at hard to improve this?Productivity is the degree of trip upup get tod in relation to a certain level of input. For example, in a gossip mettle environment, productivity would be seen as the number of telesound cry outs answered per hour by a certain number of supply. The telephone songs are the output and the lag available to take the describes are the input.In order to improve productivity, one of the hobby has to occur The level of input is falloffd provided the level of output remains the same, or, the level of output increases but the level of input remains the same. In relation to the example of the surround sharpen, this would mean reducing the number of module available to answer the phone but yet the remaining staff would still have to answer the same number of scratchs, i.e. they would have to answer more(prenomina l) calls each to compensate for the decrease in staff. Or the other way to increase productivity in a call centre would be to keep the same number to staff available to take customer calls but the number of calls organism answered in total would have to increase.Productivity is a major issue within either organisation but especially call centres. Call centres do try to forecast the number of calls they expect e realday and allocate resources accordingly to deal with these pressures, however there are still thousands of calls abandoned (where the customer hangs up before even getting through to an advisor) each and every day, this is some cartridge clips referred to as call leakage. This is a growing problem for call centres across the country and it is surprising the amount of customers who allow take their business elsewhere simply because they cant get through on the phone as they see it as poor customer service.In many cases it isnt feasible for staff numbers to be increase in order to cope with the call volumes that are being received and so the only solution to reducing the call leakage is to increase the productivity of the existing staff. Working in a call centre environment myself I appreciate that this is a very challenging task as call centre agents generally feel overworked and underpaid already and trying to get more work out of them will be difficult. However my research into call centre life has thrown up some issues surrounding the task of increasing staff functioning in order for your business to work smarter. My research examines the hap of reward systems as a means of increasing productivity, how call centre staff view their own roles and changes they would like to see in order to back up them perform betterDuring my research I searched the Emerald website to find relevant journal articles to assist my studies. I came across an interesting one called An exploration of busial issues in call centres by Colin Armistead, Julia Kiely, Lin da Hole and Jean Prescott. This paper consisted of two case studies carried out in two large organisations these will be known as look Study A and Case Study B. I found this article useful as it explores why people work in call centres, how they feel about their jobs and this research is spread over all levels from call centre agent to general manager. Case Study A provides a well-behaved background to call centre life and will aid regarding of what it is like to work in a call centre environment.In Case Study A, a total of fourteen staff members of all levels were interviewed, interviews lasted one hour and were all taped and transcribed. The interviews explored the initial decision to work for a call centre, the expectations they had before they started and the extent to which their jobs had lived up to those expectations. The authors also examined troupe statistics they found evidence of high turnover in staff who had been employed for a few months consequently reducing to co mparatively low turnover after they had been employed for more than six months.I found the findings from Case Study A to be very surprising having worked in a call centre myself and non having had very many despotic experiences during my time there. The overall impression from those interviewed was that they felt very positive about their workplace. There were inevitable differences in how variant levels of employees viewed certain issued but there were more similarities than differences. I was evoke to see how employees had spoke about productivity and performance targets. It became apparent that performance targets were related to the number of calls answered, the time in which it took to answer the calls and also the levels of call leakage.It is very easy to monitor call centre agents against an array of time-related measures and staff felt under a push-down list of pressure at times due to this. I can relate to this, as this is on the nose how I felt working as a call centr e agent. One manager interviewed in Case Study A stated that the some important thing in managing call centre staff was motivation, motivation, motivation, yet the manager in question admitted he had little idea of how to motivate staff. I do agree that motivating staff to perform well is an issue and I appreciate that highly motivated staff will be more productive but I also recover that if staff working in call centres had a better understanding of the bigger picture and knew how their actions force upon the business as a whole they may change their attitudes and automatically perform better and more efficiently.This is just my opinion from my experience of working in a British Gas call centre for almost three years I have been privileged enough to have been given an perceptiveness into the deeper realms of the business, something which frontline staff rarely come into contact with and I do feel this would be of benefit to them. As it stand now, staff are being thrown tough per formance targets by management and expected to meet them without question, they have no understanding of why the business needs them to perform at a particular level and what the consequences will be if they dont.I believe business awareness to be a vital part of representing a company to the general and the company I work for do offer a business awareness course, however this is e-learning based and has to be completed in your own time. complimentary to say, there are not many staff who take advantage of this opportunity to understand the business they work for due to the above conditions and a lot of staff are probably unaware that the facility even exists. If British Gas were to allow the time for staff to complete this course during working hours or even to be paid overtime for the time they spend on it outside their scheduled hours, they would have a massive response and although this would be time consuming and possibly quite costly, I believe that the positive effects on how employees work would outweigh the costs.Productivity is very poor in the call centre I work in after reading relevant sections in a book called Remuneration Policy by Patrick McCauley I am under the impression that a successful reward system can help to improve productivity. McCauley defines motivation simply as goal directed demeanor and he makes it clear that employees will only be motivated to increase their performance by goals that are actually of interest to them, for example if a manager said to his team one day that the person with the highest productivity that day would be rewarded with a family ticket to the local pantomime then you would get Sandra, the render with 2.4 children, husband and nice semi-detached house working her socks off, however, Matt, Gary and Emma, the three students on the team and Harold the grandad of the team who is six months off retirement would not be interested in the slightest by the managers offer of reward.McCauley states that the three ke y questions we need to consider when devising a successful reward system are* What goals will employees actually pursue?* What factors will determine their success or failure in achieving these goals?* What will be the consequences of achievement or frustration for the employee and the organisation?As I have already mentioned, it is important to offer rewards that are of interest to the staff and that will actually motivate them to perform better and drive them towards goals which involve opposition productivity and performance targets on the way. It is important to offer generic rewards that are appealable to all or a choice of a few different rewards in order to cater for all the different ages, cultures etc. I have dome some research in to reward systems whilst working on a service excellence team in the British Gas call centre and the rewards that were constantly being requested by staff were things much(prenominal) as an extra days annual leave, high street vouchers, deputisi ng for a higher level role for half a day as a development opportunity etc.These were things that the frontline staff were telling management would motivate them to work harder and to a higher standard, however management declined these requests as they saw them as too ambitious and they were especially against the extra holiday which unfortunately was the most popular suggestion. It was a shame these suggestions were declined as staff then felt that they were being ignored which in turn lowered morale and saw a drop in productivity for a short while, it would probably have been cheaper for the company to have allowed a small number of craved rewards which would have increased productivity for while and certainly wouldnt have reduced it.Staff are already aware of what their targets are on a day to day basis and we need to remember that there will be a percentage of staff who do consistently meet these targets, thereof when setting criteria for a reward system we have to set it high er than daily performance targets to show that staff are being recognised for going above and beyond the call of duty and not just being coaxed into doing what is already expected of them. Staff will have to meet daily performance and productivity targets and then some before they can achieve a reward.If an employee successfully achieves a reward for their performance then not only will their productivity have had to increase to achieve the reward in the first place but as that desired behaviour has now been rewarded, the employee will be conditioned into repeating it in order to gain further rewards.If an employee either attempts and fails to reach the goal inevitable to achieve a reward or doesnt make the effort and sees his colleagues around him being rewarded for their increased effort and performance it will have one of the two following effects upon him* He will become de-motivated as he is feeling left out or a failure as his efforts are not being recognised because he fails to reach the required standard and his performance will drop further.* He will become determined to work to the required level to achieve a reward to prove to himself and his managers that he too can perform well.If the latter of the consequences occurs then the reward systems is still being rough-and-ready in all areas as even failures are being motivated to continue to strive for the reward on offer. However if the company begins to see individuals experiencing a drop in motivation and performance they may need to consider addressing this with a reward for example for the most improved productivity each month, therefore even those whose efforts dont bring them above the required productivity level for a standard reward have a chance of recognition for their efforts alone.McCauley examines Vrooms expectancy system and this supports the issues raised above. Vroom does state though that the criteria that needs to be met in order to achieve a reward has to be very clear golf shot and communicated thoroughly to all levels of staff so as to avoid woolly areas where decisions to reward or not may be disputed.Throughout my research I have identified underlying issues surrounding the productivity of call centre staff and how to improve this by encouraging motivation amongst staff and providing them with personal goals that at the same time guide them towards achieving the productivity levels required by the business. I have come to the conclusion that productivity can only really be successfully increased in the long term by providing something for the individual to work towards, not just setting targets and expecting them to be met. I also think that increased business awareness amongst frontline staff would be beneficial to any call centre so then at least they know and understand why there are certain pressures placed upon them and they may be more welcoming to the challenge of attaining higher targets.BibliographyAn exploration of managerial issues in call ce ntres. (Journal Article)Colin Armistead, Julia Kiely, Linda Hole Jean Prescott.Remuneration Policy

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Fiber Optics

Advantages And Disadvantages Of eccentric OpticsThis paper looks at roughage visuals as a technology that has been developing and improving the way the adult male communicates for more than two centuries. It examines its origins from 1790, when a French engineer Claude Chappe invented a system for sending messages using a series of semaphores mounted on top of two towers.This paper examines the advantages and disadvantages of fiber centres and describes some of the affairs of fiber hearts in our passing(a) lives.It analyzes the manner in which fiber center technology has revolutionised and advanced the field of telecoms, tomography and info transmittance. Modern selective information systems handle ever-increasing info loads, processor repairs and high-speed interconnection mesh topologys, thus impacting our world and expanding the boundaries of our technological development in all spheres of life.INTRODUCTION null in the world gives us more power and confidence than having information. The ability to communicate information is essential to achieve the successful advancement of humankind. Transmission of information is imperative to the expansion of our horizons.What does this all put one everyplace to do with fiber optics? This research paper will cover the basis of fiber optics in terms of its transmission, communication, origin, examples and applications. roughage optics transports commence in a very directional way. Light is foc employ into and guided finished a cylindrical ice-skating rink fiber. Inside the core of the fiber, light bounces back and forth at angles to the side walls, making its way to the end of the fiber where it eventually escapes. The light does not escape through with(predicate) with(predicate) the side walls beca ingestion of nitty-gritty internal reflection.Why is fiber optics so important? Besides cosmos a flexible conduit that is employ to illuminate microscopic objects, fiber optics can likewise enraptu re information similarly to the way a copper wire can transmit electricity. However, copper transmits only a few million galvanizing pulses per randomness, compargond to an ocular fiber that carries up to a 20 billion light pulses per second. This means bring forward, line and computer companies can handle huge amounts of data transfers at once, much more than conventional wires can choose. Fiber optic telephone circuit was developed because of the incredible increase in the quantity of data over the historic 20 years. Without fiber optic cable, the modern Internet and World Wide Web would not be possible.Origin of Fiber OpticsEven though it whitethorn seem new, the origin of fiber optics actually that dates back several centuries.This is a brief timeline illustrating the history and discovery of fiber optics.1790French engineer Claude Chappe invented the first ocular telegraph. This was an optical communication system which consisted of a series of human operated semaphore smounted on top of a tower.1870Irish philosopher and physicist, John Tyndall, demonstrated to the Royal Society, that light used internal reflection to follow a specific path. This simple experiment marked the first research into the guided transmission of light.1880Alexander Graham toll discernibleed an optical telephone system called the photo phone. The photo phone was an optical voice transmission system that used light to carry a human voice. This unique device used no wires to connect the transmitter and the receiver.William Wheeler invented a system of light pipes lined with a highly thoughtful coating that lit up homes. He used a light from an electric arc lamp placed it in the basement and directed the light or so the home with the pipes.1888Dr. Roth and Prof. Reuss of a medical company in Vienna used bent churl rods to illuminate body cavities.1895The French engineer Henry Saint-Rene intentional a system of bent glass rods.1898David Smith, an American from Indianapol is, applied for a clear on a dental illuminator using a curved glass rod.1926John Logie Baird applies for British patent on an array of parallel glass rods or hollow tubes to carry image in a mechanical television. Bairds 30 line images were the first demonstrations of television using the total internal reflection of light.During the same year, Cl bence W. Hansell outlined principles of the fiber optic imaging bundle1930Heinrich Lamm, a German medical student, was the first person to assemble a bundle of transparent fibers together to carry an image. During these experiments, he transmitted an image of a light bulb filament through the bundle of optical fibers. His attempt to file a patent is denied because of Hansells British patent.1931Owens-Illinois invented a method to mass-produce glass fibers for Fiberglas.1937Armand Lamesch of Ger numerous applied for U.S. patent on two-layer glass fiber.1939Curvlite Sales offered illuminated tongue depressor and dental illuminators made o f Lucite, a transparent plastic invented by DuPont.1951Holger Moeller applied for a danish pastry patent on fiber optic imaging in which he used cladding on glass or plastic fibers with transparent low-index material. This patent was alike declined because of Hansells patents.In October of that same year, Brian OBrien, from the University of Rochester suggested to Abraham C. S. avant-garde Heel of the Technical University of Delft, that applying a transparent cladding would improve transmission of fibers in his imaging bundle.1954The Dutch scientist Abraham Van Heel and British scientist Harold H. Hopkins separately published papers on imaging bundles. Hopkins delivered his paper on imaging bundles of unclad fibers while Van Heel inform on simple bundles of cladded fibers that greatly reduced signal interference.American ocular hired Will Hicks to implement and develop fiber optic image scramblers, an psyche OBrien proposed to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).1955Hirschowi tz and C. Wilbur Peters hired an undergraduate student, Larry Curtiss, to work on their fiber optic endoscope project.1956Curtiss suggested making glass clad fibers by melting a tube onto a rod of higher-index glass.Later that year Curtiss made the first glass-clad fibers using the rod-in-tube method.1957Hirschowitz was the first to test fiber optic endoscope in a patient.The mental picture scrambler project ended after Hicks tells the CIA the code was easy to break.1959Working with Hicks, American Optical drew fibers so fine they transmitted only a single mode of light.Elias Snitzer recognised the fibers as single-mode waveguides.1960Theodore Maiman demonstrated the first laser at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu.1961Elias Snitzer of American Optical published a theory-based description of single mode fibers. A fiber with a core so small it could carry light with only one wave-guide mode.1964Charles Kao and George Hockham, of Standard communication theory Laboratories in E ngland, published a paper indicating that light loss in existing glass fibers could be decreased dramatically by removing impurities.1967Corning summer intern, free fall Fonstad, made fibers. Loss is high, but Maurer decides to continue the research using titania-doped cores and pure-silica cladding.1970Corning Glass researchers Robert Maurer, Donald Keck and Peter Schultzinvented fiber optic wire or Optical Waveguide Fibers undetermined of carrying 65,000 times more information than copper wire. These optical fibers could carry information in a pattern of light waves and could be decoded at a last a thousand miles apart.The Corning breakthrough was among the most dramatic of some(prenominal) developments that opened the door to fiber optic communications. In that same year, Morton Panish and Izuo Hayashi of Bell Laboratories worked with a conference from the Ioffe Physical Institute in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and made the first semiconductor diode laser capable of emit ting continuous waves at room temperature.Telephone companies began to incorporate the use of optical fibers into their communications infrastructure.1973Bell Laboratories developed a modified chemical vapour deposition process that heats chemical vapours and oxygen to form ultra-transparent glass that can be mass-produced into low-loss optical fiber. This process still remains the standard for fiber-optic cable manufacturing1975First non-experimental fiber-optic link installed by the Dorset jurisprudence in UK police after lightning knocks out their communication system1977Corning joined forces Siemens Corporation, to form Corning Cable Systems. Cornings extensive work with fiber, coupled with Siemens cabling technology, helped launch a new era in the manufacturing of optical fiber cable.General Telephone and Electronics started to send live telephone messages through underground fiber optic cables at 6Mbit/s, in Long Beach, California.Bell System started to send live telephone m essages through fibers in underground ducts at 45Mbit/s, in downtown Chicargo.1978Optical fibers began to carry signals to homes in JapanAT T, British Post Office and STL pledge to develop a single mode transatlantic fiber cable to be operational by 1988.1980Graded-index fiber system carries video signals for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.1981British Telecom transmits 140 million bits per second through 49 kilometers of single-mode fiber at 1.3 micrometers1982MCI leases the right of way to install single-mode fiber from New York to Washington. The system will operate at 400 million bits per second at 1.3 micrometers.1984British Telecom lays the first submarine fiber to carry regular traffic to the Isle of Wight.1985Single-mode fiber deal outs crossways America, carrying long distance telephone signals at 400 million bits per second.1986The first fiber optic cable begins service across the English Channel.In the same year, ATT sends 1.7 billion bits per second t hrough single-mode optic fiber1991Masataka Nakazawa of NTT reports sending soliton signals through a million kilometres of cable1996Fujitsu, NTT Labs and Bell Laboratories all report sending one trillion bits per seconds through a single optical fiber. They cave in all used separate experiments and different techniques to achieve this.APPLICATIONS OF type OPTICSAs the popularity of optical fibers continue to grow, so does their applications and possible uses. Fiber optic cables became more and more popular in a variety of industries and applications.Communications / information StorageSince fiber optics are resistant to electronic noise, fiber optics has made significant advances in the field of communications. The use of light as its source of data transmission has improved the sound quality in voice communications. It is also being used for transmitting and receiving purposes.MilitaryOptical systems offer more security than conventional metal-based systems. The magnetic inter ference allows the leak of information in the coaxial cables. Fiber optics is not sensitive to electrical interference therefore fiber optics is suitable for military applications and communications, where signal quality and security of data transmission are important.The increased interest of the military in this technology caused the development of stronger fibers, specially designed cables and high quality components. It was also applied in more varied areas such(prenominal) as hydrophones for seismic and sonar, aircrafts, submarines and otherwise underwater applications.MedicalFiber optics is used as light guides, imaging tools and as lasers for surgeries. other popular use of fiber optic cable is in an endoscope, which is a diagnostic instrument that enables users to see through small holes in the body. Medical endoscopes are used for minimum invasive surgical procedures. Fiber optics is also used in bronchoscopes (for lungs) and laparoscopes.All versions of endoscopes look like a long thin tube, with a lens or camera at one end through which light is emitted from the bundle of optical fibers banded together inside the enclosure.Mechanical or IndustrialIndustrial endoscopes also called a borescope or fiberscope, enables the user to observe areas that are difficult to reach or to see under normal circumstances, such as jet engine interiors, inspecting mechanical welds in pipes and engines, inspecting space shuttles and rockets and the inspection of sewer lines and pipes.NetworkingFiber optics is used to connect servers and users in a variety of network settings. It increases the speed, quality and accuracy of data transmission. Computer and Internet technology has improved due to the enhanced transmission of digital signals through optical fibers.Industrial/commercialFiber optics is used for imaging in areas which are difficult to reach. It is also used in wiring where electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a problem. It gets used oft as sensory devices to make temperature, pressure and other measurements as well as in the wiring of motorcars and in industrial settings.SpectroscopyOptical fiber bundles are used to transmit light from a spectrometer to a substance which cannot be placed inside the spectrometer itself, in order to disassemble its composition. A spectrometer analyses substances by bouncing light off of and through them. By using optical fibers, a spectrometer can be used to study objects that are too large to fit inside, or gasses, or reactions which occur in pressure vessels.Broadcast/CATV /Cable TelevisionBroadcast or cable companies use fiber optic cables for wiring CATV, HDTV, internet, video and other applications.Usage of fiber optic cables in the cable-television industry began in 1976 and quickly spread because of the superiority of fiber optic cable over traditional coaxial cable. Fiber optic systems became less expensive and capable of transmitting clearer signals further away from the source signal. It al so reduced signal losses and decreased the number of amplifiers required for each customer. Fiber optic cable allows cable providers to offer breach service, because only one optical line is needed for every 500 households.Lighting and ImagingFiber optic cables are used for lighting and imaging and as sensors to measure and monitor a vast range of variables. It is also used in research, development and testing in the medical, technological and industrial fields.Fiber optics are used as light guides in medical and other applications where bright light needs to shine on a target without a clear line-of-sight path. In some buildings, optical fibers are used to route sunlight from the roof to other parts of the building. Optical fiber illumination is also used for decorative applications, including signs, art and artificial Christmas trees.Optical fiber is an essential part of the light-transmitting concrete building product, LiTraCon which is a translucent concrete building material. ADVANTAGES OF FIBER OPTICSThe use of fiber optics is fast becoming the medium of choice for telecommunication systems, television transmission and data networks. Fiber optic cables have a military of advantages and benefits over the more traditional methods of information systems, such as copper or coaxial cables.SpeedOne of the greatest benefits to using fiber optic systems is the capacity and speed of such a system. Light travels faster than electrical impulses which allow faster delivery and reception of information. Fiber optic cables also have a much higher capacity for bandwidth than the more traditional copper cables.Immunity to electromagnetic interferenceCoaxial cables have a tendency for electromagnetic interference, which renders them less effective. Fiber optics is not affected by external electrical signals, because the data is transmitted with light.SecurityOptical systems are more secure than traditional mediums. Electromagnetic interference causes coaxial cables to leak information. Optical fiber makes it impossible to remotely detect the signal which is transmitted inwardly the cable. The only way to do so is by actually accessing the optical fiber itself. Accessing the fiber requires intervention that is easily detectable by security surveillance. These circumstances make fiber optics passing attractive to governments, banks and companies requiring increased security of data.Fire preventionCopper wire transmission can generate sparks, causing shortages and even fire. Because fiber optical strands use light instead of electricity to carry signals, the chance of an electrical fire is eliminated. This makes fiber optics an exceptionally safe form of wiring and one of the safest forms of data transmission.Data signallingFiber optic systems are much more effective than coaxial or copper systems, because there is minimal loss of data. This can be credit to the design of optical fibers, because of the principle of total internal reflection. The c ladding increases the effectiveness of data transmission significantly. There is no crosstalk between cables, e.g. telephone signals from overseas using a signal bounced off a communications satellite, will result in an echo being heard. With undersea fiber optic cables, you have a direct connection with no echoes.Unlike electrical signals in copper wires the light signals from one fiber do not interfere with those of other fibers in the same cable. This means clearer phone conversations or TV reception.Less expensiveSeveral kilometers of optical cable can be made furthest cheaper than equivalent lengths of copper wire. Service, such as the internet is often cheaper because fiber optic signals stay strong longer, requiring less power over time to transmit signals than copper-wire systems, which need high-voltage transmitters.Large Bandwidth, Light Weight and Small DiameterModern applications require increased amounts of bandwidth or data capacity, fiber optics can carry much large r bandwidth through a much smaller cable and they arent prone to the loss of information. With the rapid increase of bandwidth demand, fiber optics will continue to adopt a vital role in the long-term success of telecommunications.Space constraints of many end-users are easily overcome because new cabling can be installed within existing duct systems. The relatively small diameter and light weight of optical cables makes such installations easy and practical.Easy Installation and UpgradesLong lengths of optical cable make installation much easier and less expensive. Fiber optic cables can be installed with the same equipment that is used to install copper and coaxial cables.Long outdistance Signal TransmissionThe low attenuation and superior signal capacity found in optical systems allow much longer intervals of signal transmission than metallic-based systems. Metal based systems require signal repeaters to perform satisfactory. Fiber optic cables can transmit over hundreds of kil ometres without any problems. Even greater distances are being investigated for the future.To use fiber optics in data systems have proven to be a far better alternative to copper wire and coaxial cables. As new technologies are developed, transmission will become even more efficient, assuring the expansion of telecommunication, television and data network industries.DISADVANTAGES OF FIBER OPTICSDespite the many advantages of fiber optic systems, there are some disadvantages.The relative new technology of fiber optic makes the components expensive. Fiber optic transmitters and receivers are still passably expensive compared to electrical components. The absence of standardisation in the industry has also limited the acceptance of fiber optics. Many industries are more comfortable with the use of electrical systems and are reluctant to switch to fiber optics.The cost to install fiber optic systems is falling because of an increase in the use of fiber optic technology. As more inform ation about fiber optics is made available to educate managers and technicians, the use of fiber optics in the industry will increase over time.The advantages and the need for more capacity and information will also increase the use of fiber optics in our everyday life.ConclusionFrom its humble beginnings in the 1790s to the launch of highly transparent fiber optic cable in the 1970s, very high-frequency optic fibers now carry phenomenal loads of communication and data signals across the country and around the world.From surgical procedures to worldwide communication via the internet, fiber optics has revolutionised our world. Fiber optics has made important contributions to the medical field, especially with regards to surgery. One of the most useful characteristics of optical fibers is their ability to enter the minute passageways and hard-to-reach areas of the human body. But perhaps the greatest contribution of the 20th century is the combination of fiber optics and electronics to transform telecommunications.Fiber optic transmission has found a vast range of applications in computer systems. As we move towards a more sophisticated and modern future, the uses of fiber optics are increasing in all computer systems as well as telecommunication networks.As new optical fibers are being made, many telecommunication companies are joining forces to share the cost of installing new network cables. In July 2009 and underwater fiber optic cable was put down along the East African coast by Seacom. New technologies are constantly being invented and video phones and video conferencing such as Skype are becoming an everyday occurrence in many businesses and households. Shopping from home via the internet and online stores such as Amazon.com and Kalahari.net are making many peoples lives easier. Even television on demand, such as being offered by DSTV, will replace the current cable television systems of today.We live in a technological age that is the result of many br illiant discoveries and inventions. However, it is our ability to transmit information and all the media we use to achieve this that is responsible for this evolution. Our progress from using copper wire a century agone to modern day fiber optics that can transmit phenomenal loads of data over longer and longer distances at ever increasing speed has expanded the boundaries of our technological development in all spheres of life.

Condoms: Advantages and Disadvantages

Condoms Advantages and DisadvantagesContraception is the control of fertility to celebrate unwished-for pregnancy. Methods oppose ovulation in the woman, step down sperm from meeting an ovum in the fallopian tube, or prevent a fertilized ovum implant in the uterus. Methods of contraception include total or occasional(a) abstinence from the inner intercourse (Contraception, 2010, p.167). Contraceptive (2001) provides that contraceptive is An element that prevent conception (p.333). Contraceptive (2001) also provides that Relating to any measure or agent designed to prevent conception (p.333). This essay briefly outline the historical background of contraception, and then discuss the benefits and risks of one specific form of contraception, followed by a discussion of a range of possible causes of infertility.For all practical purposes the education of the general populace on the subject of contraception was not initiated until the early 1800s. The graduation systematic work i n contraception was begun in 1882 by Dr. Aletta Jacobs of the Netherlands (Contraception, 2014, para. 2).Quarini (2005, pp. 28-30) acknowledge that in 1839, the process of vulcanizing rubber was developed for that reason golosh became cut-price and widely available. Seamless caoutchoucs were being made up in factory by 1890. When liquid latex became available in the mid-1930s, pencil erasers became more reliable. Polyurethane condoms, working(a) since the 1990s. These are thinner and possibility of break is lower than latex condoms. In addition, they are less likely to cause the allergic reactions and these are not bear upon by heatThere are some(prenominal) discussion about benefits and risks of using condom. The benefit of using condom condoms during knowledgeable intercourse, the infected with herpes unidirectional virus type 2 (HSV 2) to feminine is significant decreases according to the first study to examine the effectiveness of condoms in preventing this infection. (Larson et al, 2013, pp. 25-31). According to Tishler (2009, para. 1) Condoms can help to prevent people against herpes. But Tishler (2009) stated that herpes can spread by simple skin contact as well as by sexual intercourse so the protection is only partial. People who employ condom only for sometimes was less protection.Another benefits of condom is that it can prevent unsought pregnancy. According to Long et al (2012, pp.1-2) using condom constantly and correctly will reduce unwanted teenager pregnancy. Male partner can better reproductive health outcome by using condoms consistently with sexual partner to prevent unwanted pregnancy. A better understanding about factors associated with condom use among male students will not only protect students from unwanted pregnancy. stock-still M Carter et al (2012, pp. 449-456) acknowledge that condom is good material to prevent unwanted pregnancy but reported that teenagers do not often use condoms plus other contraception.The first r isk of condom is that breakage is kinda high school In South India the surveys of pistillate sex workers (FSWs) suggest that breakage of condoms are quite high. In Benin in 2005, the study of FSWs reported that 33% of FSWs had experience a breakage in the previous 2 days. 11.4% of FSWs reported that in the previous month, at least one condom break. (Bradley et al, 2011, pp.S6-S14). However, condom breakage is high in vulnerable population than cross-sectional studies but condom breakage were lower than estimated rates because the proportion all condoms used that broker was only 2.1%.The abet risk of condom is that it is not fool proof which mean is that it can fail to prevent pregnancy. Durrer et al (2011, p. 580) acknowledged that there are some condom failure because of miss used. According to laboratory test, they reported that the used condom breakage rate was 1.1% and leaks rate was 2.0 %( Bradly et al, 2013, pp.559-567)Majra (2009, p.53) stated 100 woman and their partner used condoms and approximately 15 of woman pregnant but when they used condom perfect way, only two woman pregnant. However, Majra (2009) believe when people use condom constantly and correct way, it can prevent unwanted pregnancy as well as decrease failure rate.Infertility can occur to female or male and there are many possible causes of infertility. There have been many discussions about possible cause of male or female infertility. The first possible causes of infertility is endocrine disorder. Luciao, Lanzone and G everyplacede (2013, pp.s9-s17) stats that endocrine disorder is one of main causes of female infertility. The management of female hormonal causes of infertility involves a stark(a) understanding of all the potential disorders that may interfere with normal ovulatory function. Unuane, Tournaye, Velkeniers and Poppe (2011, pp.861-873) acknowledged that Female infertility occurs in about 37% of all infertile couples and ovulatory disorders theme for more than half o f these. The ovaries are in continuous interaction with the other endocrine organs. Many endocrine disorders, can lead to female infertility by interacting and impairing the normal reproductive ovarian function. However, Unuane, Tournaye, Velkeniers and Poppe (2011) added these endocrine disorders should be excluded in women with ovarian causes of infertility, without neglecting the other causes of female infertility, such as tubal disorders, obstructions of the genital tract and adenomyosisThe second possible causes of infertility is oxidative tense up. It cause male infertility. It results from high concentrations of free radicals and suppressed antioxidant potential, which may alter protein expression in seminal blood plasma and spermatozoa. The test found out 30 to 80% of male infertility causes by sperm damage due to oxidative stress. (Agarwal, Durairajanayagam, Halabi, Peng Vazquez-Levin, 2014, pp.32-58). Lanzafame, La Vignera, Vicari and Calogero (2009, pp.638-659) stats th at Oxidative stress (OS) has been recognized as one of the most important cause of male infertility. Despite the antioxidant activity of seminal plasma, epididymis and spermatozoa, OS damages sperm function and deoxyribonucleic acid integrity. However, it emerges that no single antioxidant is able to enhance fertilizing capability in infertile men and a combination of compounds, at an appropriate dosage, may be a possible better approach.The last possible causes of infertility is smoking. The test states that smoking is alter negatively every system in body include replication system. Smokers Spermatozoa have decreased fertilising capacity, and embryos display lower implantation rates. In additional, the smoking cause decrease fertility in woman. It also increase the frequency menstrual abnormalities. It make female memopause age decrease. (Mostafa,2010,pp.179-186). According to Ji,Yan, Jianhua,Qu and Gu, (2011,pp.144-149) Oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 (OGG1)is an very important role in repairing oxidative DNA damage induced by chemical agents, such as cigarette. This study found out that OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and cigarette smoking is damaged on sperm oxidative DNA also it can causes the male inferilityHowever, Ji,Yan, Jianhua,Qu and Gu, (2011) suggest it need additional test to validate our findings. To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of association, mechanistic test are needed.In conclusion, over the centuries, contraception developed quickly. Recently contraception material is getting cheaper. Also it is easy to find and use it. Contraception is very affective to prevent unwanted pregnancy. There are many discuss about benefits and risks. Contraception help to prevent spread sexual transmitted such as herpes and HIV. However it has risks as well such as it is not foolproof it means it can fail to prevent unwanted pregnancy or spread sexual diseases and the breakage is quite high but people can reduce this risk when they use contracept ion in correct way. There are many possible causes of infertility such as endocrine disorder, oxidative stress and smoking. Endocrine disorder is the diseases which affected to female infertility and oxidative stress is affected to male infertility. Smoking is negatively affected to male and female. Important thing is that use contraceptive correctly and constantly.

Uppsala Model, Transaction Cost Theory and Network Model

Uppsala baffle, Transaction Cost Theory and Network mould t totallyy to Calof and Beamish (1995), transnationalization is the method of adapting organizations operations (resources, strategy, grammatical construction,) to foreign environments. This process comprises of the amount and geographic outgo of the foreign market that is entered the opposite amount of activities that atomic number 18 carried verboten in the different countries and the intensity of integration of these activities. Firms go into internationalization as a result of their customers migrating and their competitors globalizing while some companies go into it as a symbol of success and progress (multinationalism idea).Due to the complexity of the processes involved in the internationalization, several theories have been designed by different scholars to enable the easy accomplishment of the international emerging markets. Amongst the theories and their different features that are to be discussed are the U ppsala Model, Transaction Cost guess and the Network Model.Uppsala Model of Internationalization is the theory that is ground on the cultivation and the evolutionary view floor. This theory is derived from the behavioral theory which is explained as the nature of the firm through behavioral actions of its customers and the country of its emergence (Cyert and March, 1992). This theorys strength is based on the cognition on how to conduct a business in a foreign market on which with by the knowledge, the intended company to internationalize would be rendered handicapped (Carlson, 1966).Firms development this theory have the tendency of entering a new market no-hitly through the geographic and psychic distance which means the summation of factors that is prevent the flowing of information from one market to a nonher market these include differences in language, education, business practices, culture, and industrial development (Johanson Vahlne, 1977, Johanson Associates, 1994). Just as it was mentioned in the third lecture on the 8th of February, the socio-cultural environment/ culture and cultural differences have a big role to play when a company is entering a foreign market, this is because the ways of life of the people, organizations and government depart be different from that of the domestic country of the entering firm. This means that the company has to plan on different strategies to use desire using two or three languages pattern as the organizational language base and strategies to suit the countrys religion and other nociceptive factors in order to be able to penetrate faster than it would have taken.Thus, the lesson expects that the internationalization process, once it has started, will tend to proceed regardless of whether strategical decisions in that direction are made or not. (Johanson Vahlne, 1990,)There are two types of knowledge that are involved in this theory the general or objective knowledge which foundation be taught and the market-specific or the experimental knowledge which can only be learnt via personal experience and is difficult to transfer nor quarantined from its original source (tacit knowledge) Penrose, (1959). The experimental knowledge is very important as it cannot be easily acquired like the objective knowledge.An example of this can be the carrying out of marketing researches and reports. All the information on the threats and opportunities of the international market can best be gotten from the people working in that country just as it is explained in Johanson and Vahlne, 1990 That it is the experience that generates the business opportunities and constitute the driving force in the internationalization process. This is why this theory is seen to be a slow process because it involves the instruction through experience from a firms own activities. It is always the lack of experiential knowledge in the new market that pushes the firm to use the internationalization characterized dil atory process which is in stages and known to the Establishment Chain (Johanson and Wiedersheim-Paul, 1975).Critiques of Uppsala ModelThis model is too deterministic because its principles are predicted by the evolution of time. All its advances are based and controlled by the environment of which the firm exist or planning to internalize. The model does not take into account the interdependencies between different countriess markets of which a firm operates under.This model is mostly relevant to the physical product industries but usually very slow in entering contradictory markets in terms of psychic distance at an early stage and its frequently not valid for the service industries as services can be dynamic and more time slopped also requires initial commitments. Subsequently, there are many models and strategies that facilitate the faster and easier avenues to extend a business abroad, therefore, it is no longer necessary to build up knowledge using the in house method due to the present technology nature that stimulates the interactivity with customers.To conclude this theory, it is quite clear that this theory has the competitive wages opportunities base to the amount of resources and researches that are carried out in the foreign country before entering.This model only focuses on the selected firm unlike other models that extends their researches to environmental explanatory variables rather than organism static.The key features of Uppsala theory areFirms first of all achieve their knowledge from the home market before moving to the distant markets.Organizations start their abroad operations from culturally/ geographically and religiously close nations and progress slowly to culturally and geographically further far-away countries.Organizations also launch their overseas operations by making use of the traditional exports and slowly but surely moving to the using of a more intensified and demanding operational modes like sales subsidiaries at the co mpany and target country level.It is the objectives of the firm to produce abroad I all markets.Transaction Cost Theory is a represent that is incurred in creating an economic trading (which is the make up of taking part in a market, economies of scale and transportation represent). This involves all the greet incurred from the starting of a accompaniment transaction to the end. This is the summation of all the expenses involved in establishing a new market in a foreign country, this include both the explicit woo and the implicit cost and it affects both the both the service provider and the customer. Normally, it is advantageous to have the external transaction costs more than the internal transaction costs, this will guarantee the companys growth but, if the internal transaction costs are more than the external transaction costs this will lead the company to a downmarket by outsourcing.Transaction cost economics arises when multinational companies are more efficient than th eir markets and contracts in organizing interdependencies between their agents that are located in different countries. It is the theory of the role and size of a firm.If a company plans to utilize a firm-specific asset in a foreign market and this utilization has to be do in that market due to their localization factors for example, trade barriers, high transportation costs and some other specific factors, the company can best do this by obtaining the required license to invest abroad on their own facilities rather than using that of the foreign countrys market. This is because the more intangible the firm-specific assets are, the stronger its tendency of being successful would be.Transaction Cost theory is closely related to the internalization theory. With the transaction cost theory, firms always strive to minimize their cost at all point during their operations and decision making. This is why firms would need to consider to either entering a foreign market with their total as sets or collaborating with their external partners as externalization (Williamson, 1975). The failure of a foreign emerging market strongly depends on this decision (Williamson, 1979).The key features of the Transaction Cost Theory are* The transaction cost approach focuses on costs and how these costs would affect a firms choice of market and their modes of entry into a new boundary market.* This theory views organizational structure as a single important arrangement for establishing and safeguarding transactions and reducing transaction costs between participants and across organizational boundaries.* The Transaction cost covers all the costs of searching for information about a foreign market, products, buyers and sellers negotiation costs and monitoring which is part of the enforcement costs.* Transaction costs and transactional difficulties increases when transactions are characterized by Asset specificity Uncertainty (internal and external) and Frequency of transaction.* The international market decision is made in a rational manner base on the analysis of the cost of transaction.* Organizations make decisions based on the evaluations and comparing of their cost of an entry mode that is related to their objectives.Critiques of Transaction Cost theoryThis theory can be ill-use and also dangerous for corporate managers because of its assumptions on which it is based on. Firms are not mere alternatives for the structuring of efficient transactions when markets results disappoints they hold a strong advantages for leading and tyrannical certain kinds of economic actions via a strategy that is extremely unusual from that of a market both national and international. Transaction Cost theory is bad for being put into practice because it fails to recognize the just mentioned difference (Masten, 1993).Conclusively, Firms should select the organizational forms and locations for which transaction costs are minimized. (Donaldson OToole, 2007).A firm should expand its operations until their cost of making an extra transaction within the firm is equal to the cost of making similar or more transaction in another nursing home (foreign market). The firm should first of all continue to grow internally until external sources have a cost advantage before externalizing (Hollensen, 2007).Network Model In the electronic network model theory, the market is seen as a system of social and industrial relationships among customers, suppliers, competitors, families and friends within a given boundary and beyond. This is for the purpose of creating the opportunity and pauperization for internationalization. Following the network perspectives, the strategic decisions that are usually taken by organizations strongly depends on the relationships between the various parties and individual firms also depends on the resources that are controlled by other national and international firms.The structure of the Network Model can be demonstrated belowActorsActivitie s Resources(Johanson and Mattsson, 1988)The key features of the Network Model are as follows* This model is based on the theories of social exchange and focuses on firm behavior in the context of inter-organizational and interpersonal relationships.* The glue that bonds the relationships together between the actors is based on technical, economic, legal and above all personal ties.* The long-term relationships between business actors and the background in which the organization operates have the illustrative logical implication in the description of the internationalization of firms.* A firm does not act alone in relation to other actors in a market.* A expect in this model is that an organization is reliant on other firms resources surrounded by the same network an example is the customer and supplier relationships.Critiques of the Network ModelThe start-up problem in this model prevents even-adoption of superior products excess sluggishness can occur as no actor is be willing to put up with the over proportional threat of being the first adopter of a standard.In many cases, the existence of network effects could lead to a worn out and inferior result in markets (pareto-inferior).Also, In the case of sponsored technologies, there is a possibility to internalize the otherwise more or less lost of network gains by strategic inter-temporal pricing. Private incentives to providing networks that can overcome the inertia problems can be made possible but still the assurance of social optimality would not be certain.Conclusively, the network relationships are significant opportunities for the acquirement of resources and knowledge that are necessary for foreign development of firms. Also, the relationships of firms in a domestic network can be used as bridges to other networks in other Countries. Such direct and indirect bridges to different country networks can be important in the opening steps abroad and in the successive entry of new markets in an emerging ind ustry.ReferencesBooksCyert, R.M., and March, J.G., (1963). A Behavioral Theory of the Firm. Englewood Cliffs Prentice-Hall.Donaldson, B., and OToole, T., (2007). strategical Market Relationships From strategy toImplementation. Chichester John Wiley Sons.Hadjiikhani, A., and Johanson, M., (2001). Expectation- The Missing Link in the Internationalization Process Model. New Plymouth Pergamon Press.Hollensen, S. (2001). spheric Marketing- A market-responsive approach. 2nd ed. Gosport Prentice Hall.Hakansson, H., and Johanson, J., (1992). A Model of Industrial Networks. Stockholm Almquist Wiksell International.Hollensen, S. (2007). Global Marketing A Market-Responsive Approach, London Prentice Hall.Johanson, J. associates, (1994). Internationalization, Relationships and Networks. Stockholm Almqvist Wiksell International.Johanson, J., and Vahlne, J-E., (1977). The Internationalization Process of the Firm- A Model of Knowledge Development and increase Foreign Market Commitments. Sto ckholm Almquist Wiksell International.Johanson, J., and Vahlne, J-E. (1990). The Mechanism of Internationalization. Stockholm Almquist Wiksell International.Johanson, J., and Mattson, L-G., (1988). Internationalization in Industrial Systems A network Approach in Strategies in Global competitor (ed. By Hood, N Vahlne J-E. 287-314). Oxford Oxford University Press.Penrose, E., (1995). The Theory of the Growth of the Firm (3rd ed.). Great Britain Oxford University Press.Williams, O., (1985). The Economic Institutions of Capitalism, New York The Free PressJOURNALSKotabe, M., and Helson, K., (2008). Global Marketing Management. A Journal of Global Marketing. 6th February, pp. 329-331.Whitelock, J., (2002). Theories of Internationalization and Their Impact on Market Entry. A Journal of International Marketing Review. 7th February, 342-344.Williams, O., (1979). Transaction Cost Economics The Governance of contractual Relations, Journal of Law and Economics. 3rd February, pp. 233-262.

Will Computer Growth Ever Slow Down :: Essays Papers

Will Computer Growth Ever Slow DownIt all started in 1930, when Vannevar Bush created what he called a first derivative analyzer for what amounted to simple calculations (Epstein 919). Who knew then that this simple technology would evolve into virtuallything as diverse and complex as it has today? These machines and the plethora of technology that surrounds them continue to be produced and improved upon at a phenomenal, almost break-neck, and somewhat frustrating pace for consumers. We are left to wonder if and when the computer industry go away ever leaden down and what are the repercussions if it does not? Will there be any jobs left for the human race? Or perhaps there could be some frightening future in store for us if artificial intelligence gets less artificial and more intelligent. Questions upon questions continue to surface as the computer eon continues to rage on, stellar(a) to one significant query will this computer revolution ever slow down?Since the 80s, a massive bump in our countrys industry has occurred. Almost any and every aspect of this great nation and other nations industry has become saturated with computer technology. From automated teller machines, to robots that build our cars for us, every warehouse on earth seems to read an electronic buddy helping their production. Beginning with ideas to assist us and leading to something much greater, we have become dependant on machines to do a great variety of tasks for us. With such enormous human interest and demand for products that will do our work for us, there are companies that will do much of anything to create or I prove upon a marketable product. What is known as one of the largest industries in the world, c9omputers gross(annual net income) Ranking among the car industries of the world, which gross(annual net income) So it would seem that the greatest force pushing this industry is bullion. And with money companies need to utilize whatever edge is available. In the United States, and other countries alike, that edge would be innovation. With the large amount of college graduates, (computer science majors graduating college) and the occasional genius, these companies have the resources to continually create a great product, keeping ideas as fresh as possible. In part this is why the computers we had a couple of years past or even a few months ago, are deemed obsolete.

Edgar Allen Poe :: essays research papers

Edgar Allan Poe Overview On January 19, 1809, in Boston Massachusetts unitary of the worlds virtually distinguished writers was born. This writers allude was Edgar Allan Poe, he was born the son of an actress and an actor . At the age of three, Poes suffer gave him up to a prosperous merchant by the name of John Allan who took care of him until he began running into gambling problems at the school which he go to in Virginia. He only attended for one grade due to these troubles. Poe than began to continue his studies in England and began to write. After Poe had finished his studies in England he came back to the States to hire in the army. There he wrote and published his first check called Tamerlane and Other Poems at his own expense. After Poes leaving the army, with the help of John Allan and his curse cadets he wrote his second book. In 1837, Poe went to New York in await of work and this is where he not only marries his cousin Virginia, but is also the place in time wh en his writing courier really launches. In 1847 Poes smell becomes a disaster due to the death of his beloved wife, Virginia. Poe become absent minded and began inebriety heavily. Edgar Allen Poes life experiences, particularly his repeated substance twist around and the loss of the women he loved, are evident in the stories that he wrote. Edgar Allan Poe Pg.1 On January 29, 1845, Poes most mystifying poem appeared, The Raven. This was a story that Poe wrote that helped us commiserate his feelings that were felt due to the loss of his wife(Double Day & Company). The words used to describe the foredate in the story make the raven up to be death coming for him. The words such as "so faintly you cam tapping, tapping at my bedchamber door" show how the raven resembled death which took his wife turn upside(a) and will soon take him. Poe also described his heart ache by describing the ravens eyeball as burning through his chest. Alcohol and drugs played a key role in t he deep dark setting of this story. Also Poe had a fixture with the name Lanoro but nobody ever found out who she was, but men believe that it was Poes secret lover after the death of his wife.Edgar Allen Poe essays research papers Edgar Allan Poe Overview On January 19, 1809, in Boston Massachusetts one of the worlds most distinguished writers was born. This writers name was Edgar Allan Poe, he was born the son of an actress and an actor . At the age of three, Poes mother gave him up to a prosperous merchant by the name of John Allan who took care of him until he began running into gambling problems at the school which he attended in Virginia. He only attended for one year due to these troubles. Poe than began to continue his studies in England and began to write. After Poe had finished his studies in England he came back to the States to enlist in the army. There he wrote and published his first book called Tamerlane and Other Poems at his own expense. After Poes leaving the a rmy, with the help of John Allan and his fellow cadets he wrote his second book. In 1837, Poe went to New York in search of work and this is where he not only marries his cousin Virginia, but is also the place in time when his writing courier really launches. In 1847 Poes life becomes a disaster due to the death of his beloved wife, Virginia. Poe become absent minded and began drinking heavily. Edgar Allen Poes life experiences, particularly his repeated substance abuse and the loss of the women he loved, are evident in the stories that he wrote. Edgar Allan Poe Pg.1 On January 29, 1845, Poes most mystifying poem appeared, The Raven. This was a story that Poe wrote that helped us understand his feelings that were felt due to the loss of his wife(Double Day & Company). The words used to describe the raven in the story make the raven up to be death coming for him. The words such as "so faintly you cam tapping, tapping at my chamber door" show how the raven resembled death w hich took his wife away and will soon take him. Poe also described his heart ache by describing the ravens eyes as burning through his chest. Alcohol and drugs played a key role in the deep dark setting of this story. Also Poe had a fixation with the name Lanoro but nobody ever found out who she was, but men believe that it was Poes secret lover after the death of his wife.

Non-Chronological Narration Technique Used in Faulkner’s The Unvanquished :: Unvanquished Essays

Non-Chronological Narration Technique Used in Faulkners The UnvanquishedThe novel The Unvanquished is a about a young male childs coming of age story, as seen through the eyes of the grown man that he is to become. The great advantage of this form of news report is the ability it grants Faulkner to be able to reach forward and backward through time unrestrained in order to pull the type of significance and lesson from this boys story that can only be seen upon reflection. Despite surely being a technique borrowed from the author James Joyce, William Faulkner was arguably the first to pass what this disregard for chronology could offer to a story of values of masculinity. By looking back on what it means to be a man, as opposed to forward, William keeps the lessons of humankind clear and concise, as opposed to the vague and confused path a boy must in actuality take.From the very first lines we see the stark bloodline between protagonist and narrator, and the important role it pl ays. The story opens with the two youthful friends, Ringo and Bayard, fantasizing about the battle in Vicksburg they believed their hero and Bayards father, Colonel Sartoris, was fighting. As they degree their own imitation though, the narrators tone is wholly opposite of the idolatry of the children. He says of their mock Vicksburg landscape, that it was possessing even in miniature that cogitable though passive recalcitrance of topography which outweighs artillery, against which the most brilliant of victories and the most tragic of defeats are but the loud noises of a moment. In this way the narrator has completely laid bare the naivety of the children in getting caught up in the passions of their limited and ultimately insignificant struggles, and even more importantly, the ignorance of the man whom they attempt to emulate. opus the story is one of confederate pride, embodied in spirit by the character of Bayards father, the narrator is the voice of tempered reflection. He de scribes the futility of the souths plight through the metaphor of the children playing. He says of their miniature battle of Vicksburg, It was the very setting of the stage for conflict a prolonged and wellnigh hopeless ordeal in which we ran, panting and interminable, with the leaking bucket between wellhouse and battlefield, to join forcesagainsttime, before we could engender between us and hold intact the pattern of recapitulant mimic furious victory worry a cloth, a shield between ourselves and reality, between us and fact and doom.