International business class (Discussion Board) Assignment - 1

International business class (Discussion Board) - Assignment Example Demand conditions simply meant the domestic demand for a product. Demand encourages production because of the incentive of profit. The more the company creates a particular product, the more they become good at it. Related supporting industries are complementary firms that make an industry benefit through it and enhances its competitiveness. Firms strategy, structure and rivalry simply meant the regulatory conditions in a certain country that could encourage innovation and rivalry that would ultimately make firms competitive. If Porter’s theory is to be taken as an absolute truth especially with his factor conditions that the availability of resources would make a country competitive, then Africa would have been one of the richest countries in the world because almost all raw materials in production can be found there. But as we already know, Africa is one of the poorest continent in the world and this posits that natural resources alone is not enough to make a country competitive debunking Porter’s first notion of factor condition as a prelude to national

Teenagers are too immature to discuss relationships Essay Example for Free

Teenagers are too immature to discuss relationships Essay Im not really sure what I think about the above statement; this is because I think its not only teenagers who are too immature in some cases to discuss relationships like those in poems, but older people are also too immature. Unfortunately I have to choose now, so, I would chose to be with and for the statement. I would choose to do so, because even as Ive said before that I think both older people and teenagers are both too immature to discuss relationships; I think because older people would have had more experience in discussing relationships than teenagers and by doing so, they would have been a bit more mature in discussing matters in those situations. I think that younger people are not mature enough to discuss relationships, like those, which are discussed in poems, because of two reasons. The first reason being, that I think people who are older have had more experience as to being in these situations in real life, so the more they discuss them, the more mature they get about handling those situations and talking about them. An objection could arise from my opinion that older some or even many older people may not have been in these situations more than teenagers have, but it could be the opposite of what I have said. If this is the case I have also got a chance for a counter argument for their objection that; older people along with having more experience at handling with those situations, they will have read more about them, so they would have gained a better understanding about them. The second reason as to why I am for this statement is that; I think that people within each different age group have different levels of maturity. By this I mean that as people grow up and enter different age groups, they have a higher level of maturity, than they had in the year before. As of this, they have a more mature way of thinking, so they can say and discuss sensitive subjects as relationships. As, this is what I think I have made an assumption that because of this, older people are more mature at discussing relationships like those mentioned in the poems. There could also be, and there is also an objection to this opinion of mine. This could be that, people may think that maturity has nothing to do with age, but it is to do with other factors such as knowledge and interests; such as reading newspapers and watching the news; also they may think that their knowledge may be a factor of their maturity. My counter argument for this, if this is the case would be that, many people judge maturity be age and possibly gender but not by intelligence, because a person will not stay with you just for a long time to find out how mature you are, but they will judge it upon age, gender and also your actions and how you handle different situations.

Symbolism in Hedda Gabler :: essays research papers

The mid-nineteenth century realist playwright Alexandre Dumas wrote the following about his drama. â€Å"If†¦I can exercise some influence over society; if, instead of treating effects I can treat causes; if, for example, while I satirize and describe and dramatize adultery, I can find means to force people to discuss the problem, and the law-maker to revise the law, I shall have done more than my part as a poet, I shall have done my duty as a man†¦.We need invent nothing; we have only to observe, remember, feel, coordinate, restore†¦.As for basis, the real; as for facts, what is possible; for means, what is ingenious; that is all that can rightfully be asked of us.† Along with the realist dramatists of his time, Dumas wrote his plays with a noble mission: to ignite social change and to raise social awareness of a problem or issue through realistic dramatization of his environment. Like Dumas, Henrik Ibsen concerned himself with problems of human behavior and m orality in society. And like his predecessors, Ibsen used naturalistic writing to exhibit human beings as they really are and as they really behave in the culture of his time. But the reasons why Ibsen was more effective and successful at Dumas’ objective that was Dumas himself was because he abandoned happy and acceptable resolutions to his plays, confronted human behavior with honesty and acute observation, often raising disturbing and embarrassing questions, and left out the didactic solutions to the problems in question in favor of offering no solution, leaving his questions open to thought and interpretation. Ibsen saw his wild success as a playwright well before he died, and it was in great part due to his rejection of realist proponents like the emphasis of mainly external detail and his uproar-causing and shocking resolutions to his plays. But in addition and I think more importantly, Ibsen’s triumph was because of his reach ahead of his time and his inclusion of symbolist elements in his drama. While at the base a naturalist play, the symbols and images in Hedda Gabler bring immeasurable weight and power his naturalistic depiction of a woman constricted by her society and, whether because of this constriction or simply because of her inherent nature, intent on similarly sucking the life out of other individuals. Ibsen did not strive to write a symbolist play. Naturalist drama is much better suited for social change than is symbolist drama.

Philosophy of Teaching Paper Essay

My philosophy of education encompasses three attributes that play a significant role in becoming an effective educator. The three qualities are as follows: creating an environment that is conducive to different types of learners, maintaining a respectful yet fun classroom setting, and using visual and creative teaching methods to sustain the hunger for knowledge in your classroom setting. An educator will remain successful if they possess these qualities in addition to enthusiasm and patience. It is the sole duty of the teacher to assess the different learning styles early and develop a plan of action. An effective educator should have the ability to foster the students’ confidence levels and monitor the teaching strategies that are unsuccessful. I find that relating math problems to real-life situations enables the students to grasp the material in a unique way. Other ways to address a class with different learning styles is to allow peer tutoring and demonstrate cooperative learning. Cooperative learning allows the students to learn the material as a group. This method is extremely useful because it stimulates discussion and creates an environment where mistakes and triumphs are shared. Peer tutoring is effective because it allows certain students to receive help in a smaller setting. This approach is preferred by most students because it allows them to work with another classmate on an individual basis. It is of equal importance that educators create an environment that is fun, yet respectable. Teachers should demonstrate a strict classroom management approach in the beginning and gradually encourage more smiles and laughter. This deviation from the norm reminds the students and teacher that a classroom can become a comfortable environment. However, this method can be altered at the teacher’s discretion. A relaxed classroom atmosphere gives the teacher an approachable disposition. With new-age technology on the rise, all educators must keep up with the times. Students are not responding well to teachers who remain stationary while facilitating a lesson. Educators are competing with cellular phones, IPods, MP3 players, and other technical devices. As a result, many instructors are changing their styles in order to appeal to the masses. This entails incorporating visual aids and creative presentations in the curriculum. The new advancements in technology allow the students to enjoy themselves and learn simultaneously. My philosophy of education also builds upon the theories of essentialism and progressivism. I am an advocate of essentialism because I believe that students should be taught based on a core curriculum that places emphasis on a core subject area. Students tend to gravitate towards structure and educators see better results. Additionally, students gain access to a plethora of knowledge when a core knowledge curriculum is introduced. For example, students should not be held accountable for mastery of basic mathematics skills. Students should also be taught about different mathematicians and the various theories that are associated with them. The core knowledge curriculum allows educators to push the envelope and encourage students to â€Å"think outside of the box†. Essentialism prohibits remediation and promotes the application of critical thinking skills. In defense of differentiated learning, I do applaud the progressivism theory. It is imperative that educators embrace the fact that the students learn differently. Hence, Dewey’s approach that states that education should be child-centered as opposed to subject-centered. Educators should be trained to practice the ability grouping strategy and create lesson plans that cater to all learning styles. We, as educators, should focus on the role as the facilitator in the classroom and encourage students to work independently while using us as a resource. All of the attributes listed above are a reflection of a new day and age. Classrooms with students learning at the same pace are long gone. The days are behind us when teachers were able to instruct from a podium for an entire period. We are in an era that proves that teaching directly from a textbook is not the best method. In conclusion, educators are accountable for ensuring that the students remain hungry by satisfying all of their educational needs.

British Television Essay

Soap opera is the most popular genre of television programming across the globe and has been the leading favourite of British television for the past forty-six years. The trend evolved from the radio soap operas of the 1930s and 1940s, surfacing first in the United States and later spreading across the world. It attracted large audiences consisting mainly of female listeners and with the growing popularity of television it soon became firmly rooted on the screen. The long running Coronation Street was the first British soap opera to make a significant impact on UK drama in 1960s. Its aim was to target mainly working class people in creating a microcosm of the working world we live in, focusing on realism as opposed to the escapism forms of the American soaps. In order to conclude on whether the dominance of this genre is beneficial or detrimental to the future welfare of British drama, I’m going to study the pros and cons of soap opera as a form of British Television. Over the years soap operas have been continuously praised and condemned by the general public and despite of its popularity the genre continues to carry the connotation of a degraded cultural form of television drama. There is the common belief that soap operas are for those with simple tastes and limited capacities, for the content and style of them are unable to truly challenge the viewers in the same way that the more serious single drama can. However, it is a known fact that soap opera is the most complex narrative form of all television drama requiring prior knowledge from its audience. David Buckingham (Public Secrets: ‘EastEnder’s’ and its Audience) mentions the mental demands that soap operas require from a viewer focusing on the ability to recall past events when cued, to look into the future and speculate about forth coming events and to use the multi-plot narrative for ‘lateral reference’. Hence although the content may not be truly challenging it would be wrong to say that soap operas require nothing from their audiences for it is a general assumption that the average viewer is a ‘fan’ of the show. Yet, it has been labelled as little more than â€Å"chewing gum for the eyes† (Richard Kilborn in Television Soaps), a harmful and corrupting product of broadcasting that feeds the soap viewers’ addictions with the so-called mindless forms of entertainment they offer. Issues of ‘influence over audience’ and the affects that the content may have on its viewers cause much controversy. There is the belief that as an active audience we are in control and therefore choose whether we watch something more challenging or something that we can watch unfold in front of us, no questions required. For this reason we also have the ability to see what’s real and what isn’t, and yet, we have the concern of â€Å"cultivation differential†, where the viewer begins to accept the values portrayed in the soap operas as their own, or more so than the values of the world we live in. We must ask ourselves then whether soap operas are an accurate portrait of life today and with regards to this, how harmful can the programmes be if the audience begins to take the soap’s values as their own? British soaps are watched for their realism having become our â€Å"virtual communities, doing more to break down social and class boundaries than any government leader could ever do† (Mal Young, BBC Television’s head of drama series). They cover a diverse range of issues, in particular domestic, from storylines of health, relationships, business and family, to the ever so popular murder and death. Based, for the most part, on problems experienced within personal relationships and family life the content of the soap is fundamentally humanised, and thus we find the lifestyles led on screen are not so different from our own. They attempt to represent the realities of a working class life and confront many of the problems faced in our society, exploring all the different possibilities and affects of such struggles but never claiming to offer a single solution. The realism of these soaps is emphasised more so by the reasonably slow pace at which the narrative is allowed to progress appearing more or less to be ‘unravelling’ in real time. Viewers can often identify with the stereotype characters of the drama series that become almost existent to them. However, there are much bigger dramas in our world than domestic murder and by resorting to melodrama it’s as if we are choosing a more safe and cosy view of society. So, should our soap operas be more demanding of their audiences, and should they be tackling greater issues becoming more like the golden ages of television when the programmes were revolutionary, making an impact on the viewers? I would argue that times have changed and soap operas, whether focusing on realism or glamorous escapism, are a form of harmless therapy for viewers to turn to, becoming a part of that world and forgetting theirs. It is in single drama that we look to be challenged and if soaps began to address the more serious issues, encouraging us to question and think then I feel the need for single drama would soon disappear. It’s not so much the form or content of soap operas that may be detrimental to future welfare of British drama, but the way is dominates our television schedules. The real danger is that other forms of drama with perhaps more important/ meaningful messages may be overlooked and that is where we may lose revolutionary television. It’s alarming how many hours of soaps and docu-soaps (reality programmes) are â€Å"choking up vast swathes of airtime like pondweed† (Adam Sweeting: Soap Springs Eternal: Guardian website). The former values of Lord Reith seem almost non-existent, for the once precious airtime to show variety is now seen as a mere tool for audience shares. The domination of this phenomenon has led television companies to believe that the somewhat cheap and open ended formats of soap operas are a much safer option than striving to make new original programmes with a challenging voice. â€Å"The soaps do what they do well, but that doesn’t mean that should be the only form of drama on T. V, or that they should be the only sources of good, interesting actors† (Christine Geraghty ). Soap operas are beneficial in that they tackle the smaller issues in our society leaving room for other forms of drama to make greater impacts with more challenging storylines, confronting the greater political issues like terrorism and racism. The fact that soap operas are continuous and avoid narrative closure would make it more difficult, I believe, to create a strong drama series about a deeply serious and ongoing issue. They are good at showing the domestic issues that many encounter and should rest at that. What is destructive to the welfare of British drama is that television companies are now avoiding more challenging storylines and forms of drama with the fear that they will lose money. Soap operas can easily recover but a single drama either works or ‘flops’. I feel that a balance is needed in that we have our intake of soap operas but there are so many crowding our television airtime that any more would be a waste and hinder other forms of more serious drama. I find myself also questioning the continuity of its popularity, for if there are too many soap operas then we see the same issues occurring again and again. The interest may soon die as we seek for more challenging material and thus, the necessity for a balance is vital, in having airtime for escaping into another world, realistic or not, without having to think to much, and having time for the more serious programmes where we are left questioning.

Creative Intelligence And Leadership Example

Creative Intelligence And Leadership Example Creative Intelligence And Leadership – Coursework Example Creative Intelligence and Leadership Baderman Island Resort. Successful people are ambitious and make significant discoveries through willing to take risks. I prefer situations where discovering new ideas and trying new approaches are encouraged. Being a manager of this prestigious resort, I aim at achieving results depending on being responsive and using my own ideas as well as those others. People see me as direct in my approach to innovation and disciplined on my course. Therefore, when I was introduced to this goal of making Baderman Island Resort a destination palace, I took it with confidence. It’s evident that people who make things happen introduce change. In this case, I see the future of Baderman being brighter than the stars. By changing the advertising strategy of this resort my aim is using social networks and both local and international newspapers.Through this means, we will achieve maximum publicity which in turn will produce maximum numbers of visits. Accompli shed organizations accomplish important goals by trying new approaches. Personally, I aim at making this resort the most organized in the world. Consequently, the organization of staff will enable quick response therefore leading to efficient services. It is important to note that people admire efficient services and therefore by taking advantage of that fact, we will attract a god number of customers.In conclusion, my final push will be breaking with tradition, I assume responsibility by allowing freedom of expression; this is because I believe in support from the members of staff and recognizing original ideas. Furthermore, i communicate best by giving instruction and also allowing corrections from my juniors. Therefore, by us working as a group we will surely accomplish the objections set by Baderman Island Resort.Work CitedMay, S., & Doubtfire, D. (2008). Creative writing (4th ed.). London: Teach Yourself.

Tips on Writing a Law Personal Statement Essays

Tips on Writing a Law Personal Statement Essays Tips on Writing a Law Personal Statement Essay Tips on Writing a Law Personal Statement Essay In order to take admission in a good law college you have to pass different sorts of pre-requisites. One such pre-requisite that you have to write is a law personal statement. This particular statement provides the applicant a golden opportunity to demonstrate his/her personality and potential to the admission committee. Here you can also shed some light on your background and other important things that deserve the attention of the committee. The law personal statement is the only part of the admission process where you can leave aside your LSAT or GPA score and inject your character, your true traits and qualities. Usually, such particular statement helps the applicant in answering: Why he/she wants to pursue law degree? Why makes him/her different from other applicants? Why makes him/her fit for the law college? Remember that, admission committees of law colleges mainly focus on checking the dynamic qualities of the applicant. They check the personal interest, unique traits and experience of the applicant to evaluate whether his/her contribution in the law community will be beneficial or not. They also want to check whether you will be a good fit for their law college or not. The statement should also underline your reason for choosing this school. To write an impressive law personal statement, it is very necessary that you should adhere to the below listed important tips. First of all you need to determine why you desire to attend a law college and why you want to choose only the college which you are applying to. Therefore, it is necessary that you learn more about the place where you are applying at such as their objectives, ideals, standards, etc. Secondly you must also include your accomplishments and any other interesting things in the statement. Since it is already obvious that you are applying to the college because you have interest in law, the admission committee wants to see what other diverse hobbies or interest you have other than law studies. Start your law statement with an interesting quote or a unique sentence. Since the admission committee already has hundreds of applications to go through they usually don’t give much attention to those applications that have a poor or uninteresting opening. Normally such uninteresting applications end up getting rejected. If you don’t wish to let that happen to your personal statement you have to make it interesting by starting it with a hook or an interesting sentence. Talk about yourself in the statement. Tell the admission committee what makes you different from the rest of the crowd. If you have overcome different sorts of financial crisis to take admission in the law school, you should include it in the personal statement. This will exhibit to the committee how much passion you have for law studies. Tell them about your inspiration. Review your personal statement a couple of times to recheck whether all the important things included in the statement or not. Produce a first draft and let it be assessed by a person who has some experience with writing personal statements.

Louisa May Alcott - Author of Little Women

Louisa May Alcott - Author of Little Women Louisa May Alcott is known for writing  Little Women  and other childrens stories,  connections to other Transcendentalist thinkers and writers.   She was briefly a  tutor of Ellen Emerson, daughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson, nurse, and was a Civil War nurse.   She lived from November 29, 1832 to March 6, 1888. Early Life Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, but the family quickly moved to Massachusetts, a location with which Alcott and her father are usually associated. As was common at the time, she had little formal education, taught mainly by her father using his unconventional ideas about education. She read from the library of neighbor Ralph Waldo Emerson and learned botany from Henry David Thoreau. She associated with Nathaniel Hawthorne, Margaret Fuller, Elizabeth Peabody, Theodore Parker, Julia Ward Howe, Lydia Maria Child. The familys experience when her father founded a utopian community, Fruitlands, is satirized in Louisa May Alcotts later story, Transcendental Wild Oats. The descriptions of a flighty father and down-to-earth mother probably reflect well the family life of Louisa May Alcotts childhood. She early realized that her fathers flighty educational and philosophical ventures could not adequately support the family, and she sought ways to provide financial stability. She wrote short stories for magazines and published a collection of fables shed originally written as tutor for Ellen Emerson, Ralph Waldo Emersons daughter. Civil War During the Civil War, Louisa May Alcott tried her hand at nursing, going to Washington, DC, to work with Dorothea Dix and the U.S. Sanitary Commission. She wrote in her journal, I want new experiences, and am sure to get em if I go. She became ill with typhoid fever and was affected for the rest of her life with mercury poisoning, the result of the treatment for that illness. When she returned to Massachusetts, she published a memoir of her time as a nurse, Hospital Sketches, which was a commercial success. Becoming a Writer She published her first novel, Moods, in 1864, traveled to Europe in 1865, and in 1867 began editing a childrens magazine. In 1868, Louisa May Alcott wrote a book about four sisters, published in September as Little Women, based on an idealized version of her own family. The book was successful quickly, and Louisa followed it a few months later with a sequel, Good Wives, published as Little Women or, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, Part Second. The naturalism of the characterizations and the non-traditional marriage of Jo were unusual and reflected the Alcott and May families interest in Transcendentalism and social reform, including womens rights. Louisa May Alcotts other books never matched the lasting popularity of Little Women. Her Little Men not only continues the story of Jo and her husband, but also reflects the educational ideas of her father, which he was never able to communicate effectively in writing. Illness Louisa May Alcott nursed her mother through her final illness, while continuing to write short stories and some books. Louisas income financed the move from the Orchard House to the Thoreau house, more central in Concord. Her sister May died of complications of childbirth, and assigned guardianship of her child to Louisa. She also adopted her nephew John Sewell Pratt, who changed his name to Alcott. Louisa May Alcott had been ill since her Civil War nursing work, but she became worse. She hired assistants to care for her niece, and moved to Boston to be near her doctors. She wrote Jos Boys which neatly detailed the fates of her characters from her most popular fiction series. She also included the strongest feminist sentiments in this final book. By this time, Louisa had retired to a rest home. Visiting her fathers deathbed on March 4, she returned to die in her sleep on March 6. A joint funeral was held, and they were both buried in the family cemetery plot. While she is best known for her writings, and is sometimes a source of quotations, Louisa May Alcott was also a supporter of reform movements including antislavery, temperance, womens education, and womens suffrage. Also known as:  L. M. Alcott, Louisa M. Alcott, A. M. Barnard, Flora Fairchild, Flora Fairfield Family: Father: Amos Bronson Alcott, Transcendentalist, philosopher and educational experimenter, founder of Fruitlands, a utopian community which failedMother: Abigail May, relative of abolitionist Samuel MayLouisa was the second of four daughtersLouisa May Alcott never married. She was a guardian for her sisters daughter and adopted a nephew.

Freedom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Freedom - Essay Example (Merriam-Webster English Dictionary, 2006-2007 Edition). It is evident that one of the necessary conditions of freedom is the absence of oppression by an external actor, whether it be another individual, group of individuals or a government or society. One is free when they are not restrained and regulated by the mandates made by others than themselves. 18th Century political philosopher contributed to this conception of freedom in his Second Treatise of Civil Government. Locke defined freedom as "that all things equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his Life, Health, Liberty or Possessions." (Locke, 318). In this definition, Locke concluded that freedom consisted of an individual's rights to their life and health in addition with their freedom to pursue happiness that includes protection of private property and the liberty to pursue their own living. While Locke wrote this with the intent of establishing the foundations of a just government and civil society, the very meaning of freedom must first be defined and justifie d in order to set the framework for any form of civil society.

Chapter 9 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Chapter 9 - Essay Example Though in these cases the stages of acculturation might not be so visible, they still exist – a sojourner feels excitement about coming to a new area, then a crisis due to the differences one has to get used to, and, finally, readjustment to normal life in case he or she either stays or returns back (general model of acculturation). Another thing I particularly liked is that the chapter also teaches us on how to behave after we return from another culture. My attention was drawn to this part because, from my experience, when talking about the difficulties of acculturation, the problems a person faces in a foreign culture are discussed, while not so much is usually said about the after-return challenges. At the same time, it seems rather important to know what to do and how to behave upon the return to the changed with time native culture. The chapter also presents a hierarchy of needs developed by Maslow. Though it is not the first time I meet Maslow’s pyramid of needs, what I liked about this text is that it clearly explains how to apply Maslow’s theory to real situations of acculturating – appeal to higher needs, such as usefulness or self-esteem, does not work up until the lower needs, such as security of friendship, are met. The author also describes four models of acculturation: general model, the hero’s journey, the surprise and sense-making model, and the comprehensive model of stress, adaptation and growth. I believe it is very useful to know all the four approaches to acculturation, because the more sides and peculiarities of the problem we are aware of, the easier for us it will be to deal with acculturation when such a need arises. While each separate model may be self-sufficing, all of them together show a wider and deeper picture of what happens to an individual in a new culture, how one should deal with the challenges, and what reactions various problems may

Case studye Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Studye - Case Study Example Despite all this, there are a few among the numerous African countries that have managed to achieve a rather stable economic and social standing that is quite exemplary in the eyes of the other nations. South Africa, Morocco and Angola are some of the states looked up to within Africa for their economic prowess. Growth and development which is much sought after by each and every state cannot only be achieved through economic growth and power. A combination of factors is necessary towards achieving development. For this paper focus will be placed upon Botswana as a case study, a Southern African independent state that has experienced stable and constant growth over the years. Lewin (2011) describes Botswana’s economy as one of the most successful in the world, he terms is as remarkable considering that just after staining independence Botswana was not seen as a powerful state. Despite its limitations as a sparsely populated, landlocked country with little arid land, Botswana has overcome numerous setbacks and issues to improve its economic state and to stand out as an African country with great potential. Without focusing only on its economic strength, Botswana is a country that has enjoyed a stable democracy for a long period of time, political stability is crucial in the development of a state. Numerous states that are considered to be economically wealthy always seem to become victims of ‘the resource curse’ States with resources are prone to abuse of power from leaders and generally bad governance, somehow Botswana has managed to avoid such obstacles probably because of the small population and the homogeneity of the cultures and tribes within the country. Aside from good policy and good governance Botswana has also made a major effort to invest in education and to implement ways to curb money laundering which can

A historical and critical analysis of an entrepreneurial venture Essay - 1

A historical and critical analysis of an entrepreneurial venture - Essay Example Starting a business is an exciting venture; however, it involves certain steps and stages in development. Therefore, in my paper, I would like to make a historical and critical analysis of an entrepreneurial venture; I will further construct my case study based on Amazon.com and analyze how the company has started and how it has developed, including the stages of venturing that I have identified, as well as problems it has struggled with and the business model that it has used according to a specific time frame and economic context. The founder of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos, had the vision of building a place where people can find and discover anything they want to buy online at the lowest price possible. Now, before going any further into analyzing the way Jeff Bezos materialized this idea, I would like to look at one of Professor William Sahlman2’s lectures at Stanford and single out the fact that he stated that entrepreneurship is â€Å"about a way of managing that is focused on opportunity pursuit, future orientation and relentless execution regardless of the resources one actually possesses† (Academic Earth). ... Even though he did not have very extensive knowledge about the Internet, he decided to take the risk, because, as a true entrepreneur, he managed to grasp profit opportunities. This way, Jeff Bezos entered the universe of e-commerce and started his entrepreneurial venture with no previous trading experience. However, he did understand that the Internet was the one place that had the necessary means to help him accomplish his vision, since on the Internet one is able to develop a business that would be able to compete with other bigger businesses, by reaching customers which prefer the convenience of buying online. Jeff Bezos decided to start the company in Seattle because he believed that here he would find most of the technical professionals he needed. This way, Amazon.com was founded in Seattle, in 1994 and the company went online in 1995. The beginnings of the business were very humble: operating from a garage, Amazon.com benefited from a total investment of 1 million dollars, mon ey which came from Jeff Bezos’s personal funds, as well as loans from family and former co-workers. At that time, Amazon.com was selling only books online and the main strategy was to save money while honoring first orders from the customers: in order to cut operational costs, Bezos â€Å"built desks, bookcases, and other office furniture out of old doors and pieces of used lumber. To help supply electricity, he used power cables to bring electricity from the house to the garage. Once a customer placed an order, the staff would immediately request the title from one of their book suppliers. Everyone took turns packing books for shipment.† ( Encyclopedia of Business, 2nd ed.). The company struggled indeed with costs and expenses and

Online Social Entrepreneur Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Online Social Entrepreneur - Essay Example From the essay it is clear that social enterprises are relatively different from the traditional commercial organizations in the sense that they apply business and commercial strategies for maximizing improvements in human and environmental well-being. As such, social enterprises are directed by the ultimate goal of making real change in the human life while not focusing on maximizing their own profits. There is therefore a fundamental difference between how social enterprises and commercial organizations approach the business. This discussion stresses thatmobile apps have been a new revolution in the international economy wherein small developers have been able to develop small applications fulfilling various purposes. Over the period of time, millions of applications have been developed for various platforms including Apple iOS, Google Android as well as Windows 8. These applications are sold through various business models wherein some are offered free, some are paid whereas some are hybrid in nature offering some features for free while premium features are paid in nature. This research proposal will outline as to how business models followed by mobile apps can have potential applications for the social enterprises. This paper will comprises of a literature review, research question and methodology, analysis and results, discussions and the implications and finally recommendations and conclusion will be offered.

A historical and critical analysis of an entrepreneurial venture Essay - 1

A historical and critical analysis of an entrepreneurial venture - Essay Example Starting a business is an exciting venture; however, it involves certain steps and stages in development. Therefore, in my paper, I would like to make a historical and critical analysis of an entrepreneurial venture; I will further construct my case study based on Amazon.com and analyze how the company has started and how it has developed, including the stages of venturing that I have identified, as well as problems it has struggled with and the business model that it has used according to a specific time frame and economic context. The founder of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos, had the vision of building a place where people can find and discover anything they want to buy online at the lowest price possible. Now, before going any further into analyzing the way Jeff Bezos materialized this idea, I would like to look at one of Professor William Sahlman2’s lectures at Stanford and single out the fact that he stated that entrepreneurship is â€Å"about a way of managing that is focused on opportunity pursuit, future orientation and relentless execution regardless of the resources one actually possesses† (Academic Earth). ... Even though he did not have very extensive knowledge about the Internet, he decided to take the risk, because, as a true entrepreneur, he managed to grasp profit opportunities. This way, Jeff Bezos entered the universe of e-commerce and started his entrepreneurial venture with no previous trading experience. However, he did understand that the Internet was the one place that had the necessary means to help him accomplish his vision, since on the Internet one is able to develop a business that would be able to compete with other bigger businesses, by reaching customers which prefer the convenience of buying online. Jeff Bezos decided to start the company in Seattle because he believed that here he would find most of the technical professionals he needed. This way, Amazon.com was founded in Seattle, in 1994 and the company went online in 1995. The beginnings of the business were very humble: operating from a garage, Amazon.com benefited from a total investment of 1 million dollars, mon ey which came from Jeff Bezos’s personal funds, as well as loans from family and former co-workers. At that time, Amazon.com was selling only books online and the main strategy was to save money while honoring first orders from the customers: in order to cut operational costs, Bezos â€Å"built desks, bookcases, and other office furniture out of old doors and pieces of used lumber. To help supply electricity, he used power cables to bring electricity from the house to the garage. Once a customer placed an order, the staff would immediately request the title from one of their book suppliers. Everyone took turns packing books for shipment.† ( Encyclopedia of Business, 2nd ed.). The company struggled indeed with costs and expenses and

Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 22

Ethics - Essay Example The users of computers need to be aware of the ethical issues that are likely to arise from their use of the computers. The main ethical concerns from the use of computers include effects on privacy, effects of computer on the society and the issues concerning property rights. The privacy issue has increasingly become a major concern from the fact that sharing of information has been made easy by the availability of many options of sharing information over the internet. This raises concern because individuals or organizations might take advantage of this and might start sharing other people’s information without their concern. The ability of the computer information systems to hold huge amounts of information has also resulted to a situation where the privacy of the stored information is at risk of other people’s access. The effects caused by computers to the society may include health problems whereby use of the emerging computer information systems has resulted to man y health problems such as the Computer Vision Syndrome and many others, which arise as a result of using computers over a long time period (Olumoye 155). Computer information systems have also resulted to ethical issues concerning employment. Implementation of these systems require redesigning of the existing processes of the business and at the end render many people unemployed. This is because the systems perform much of the work, which requires laying off some employees. Other ethical impacts that result from using the information systems include the effects on school. The impact caused on school going is that use of the computer information systems result to dishonesty in undertaking the academic work. The systems have impacted heavily on school going in that the school going students have acquired new ways of cheat in their class work, assignments and in their exams. Some students take advantage that their teachers and instructors have little knowledge concerning the

CutePet Store Essay Example for Free

CutePet Store Essay 1. Who is the target market for CutePet Store? Why? Target Markets This analysis requires the marketing department to recognize the needs of various consumer and business groups. 1. Benefit sought- company marketers will identify the benefits customers 2. Methods of reaching markets seeking and determine the various ways to reach customers. 3. Appeal to each market. 4. Needs not being met- needs and wants of individual groups 5. Demographic and psychographic profile of each market. (Promotion’ book) 1. Benefit sought One of the benefits that CutePet Store has is they offers the high-quality pet food, pet accessories and; healthy and care for the pet. Therefore, the suitable CutePet Store target markets are likely among specific individual customers, design professionals, pet care professionals and government agencies. 2. Methods of reaching markets CutePet attract their current customer and potential customers by communicate the products and services that they have offering. Customers have concerned and interested about CutePet Store through the products and services’ benefit, which have meet their need and wants. 3. Appeal to each market. As CutePet Store have offers the healthy and care for the pet, CutePet Store strategically placed near design professionals offices, veterinary offices and governments agencies, therefore, these target market can easily reach. CutePet also reaching the market are through Internet such as Facebook and website. Through the Internet, individual customer especially pet owner can explore the detail information about CutePet Store. 4. Needs not being met * Consumers consider the issue of quality of their pet foods, accessories and; healthy and care. For these things, they want give more money at premium price. CutePet Store have these following needs, consumers can have high quality product. * Consumers such as police departments need the collars for their dog to teach a pet not to bark. CutePet Store has sells high-tech collars such as those that use ultrasonics collars and this make CutePet Store some comparability to other pet store. * Consumers who want their pet healthier and clean. CutePet Store provides pet grooming. The main reasons for pet grooming include: * decreased chance of various health problems, such as thrush, scratches, and other skin problems * general cleanliness of the dog * monitoring of the dogs health by checking for cuts, heat, swelling, lameness, or changes in temperament, all of which could be indicative of illness * forging of a closer bond between dog and owner * Reducing infestation load of external parasites on skin. 5. Demographic and psychographic profile of each market. Individual consumers, design professionals, pet care professionals, and government agencies were selected as CutePet Store’s target market. a) Individual consumers Individual consumers such as pet owners of course CutePet Store target market. As well CutePet Store offers their consumers the high-quality pet food, accessories and; healthy and care, therefore, the demographic groups also have been specific narrow. CutePet Store more targeting the women, as well women make more pet purchasing decisions more than men since women are the consumers who subscribe to pet magazines and become more educated on pets and pet products. Women are also the consumers who take their time at pet stores to get themselves familiar with products. Women also spend time doing other research through the internet, gather information through word of mouth and listen to the advice given by veterinarians. Therefore, CutePet Store target market for individual consumers are likely to be individuals who are married, between the age of 35-54, lives in a town area, earns an income of approximately RM3000 and has one child. b) Design professionals Design professionals such as interior designer’s professionals, architects, and landscape architects, has been selected as a target market for these products as high-end models are designed to suit the needs of animals owner. Designers who have clients with pets will have access to a solution that is essential for their design, not outdated. c) Pet care professionals Next, pet care professionals such as veterinarians, breeders, kennels and pet day care centers also have special access to the most appropriate solution for their customers. Veterinarians recognize high health benefits for digestive health eating animals, as well as for joint, muscle and bone health of older animals. They also recognize the benefits and preferential flow instead of animals for stagnant water and can offer products to customers to address their healthcare customers required. Breeders, kennels and pet daycare centers can all have animal facilities. Some of these facilities meet the high-end customers who want the assurance that their pets are an existing or future well-kept. Special units of various animals we can meet the need to eat and drink animal and pet owners pet care professionals need to know that their pet receives the highest quality treatment. Veterinary medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness, disease and injury in animals. Veterinary medicine is a broad scope, covering all species of animals, both domesticated and wild, with a variety of conditions that can affect different species. It is suitable as a unique target market for professional work field can influence other customers to try the products offered health. In addition, these people are also those who can give confidence to the consumers to buy as field work that reliability and dependability. d) Government Agencies Lastly, target market is government agencies. Government agencies such as police departments and fire departments have dog as their pet their animal services. CutePet Store take government agencies as target market by offer them to buy high-tech collars for their use when do dog training and also do hygienic care to make sure the dog stay clean.

UV Of Sodium Aminosalicylate Biology Essay

UV Of Sodium Aminosalicylate Biology Essay Specific absorbance of the sodium aminosalicylate can be determined by using the Beer-Lambert law equation with the presence of the value of concentration of the sodium aminosalicylate and the absorbance values which can be obtained through UV spectrophotometry. The concentration of Unknown solutions can also be determined by getting the absorbance values through the calibration graph, absolute method and comparative method. Introduction UV spectrophotometry is a technique which is based on measuring the absorption of near-UV or visible radiation by molecules. [1] It acts by where the electrons in the bonds within the molecule become excited to reach up to a higher quantum state and in the process to absorb some of the energy passing through the solution. The more loosely the electrons are been held within the bonds of the molecules, the longer will the wavelength of the radiation (lower the energy) been absorbed. [2] Radiation in this wavelength region causes the characteristics of the molecular structure of the molecule to be determined. [1] As there is a broad absorption bands due to different vibrational and rotational energy levels, UV spectrophotometry is used mainly for quantitative purposes rather than identification.[3] Spectrophotometer works by where the sample of the solution is inserted into the spectrometer for the UV/visible light to pass through the sample to get the value of absorbance/transmittance. The value of the absorbance indicates the amount of light being absorbed by the sample. The measurement of light absorption of molecules can be governed by Beer-Lambert law equation, A= e.c.l. With the presence of the absorbance value (A), concentration of the sample (c) and the pathlength of the cell (l), the molar absorptivitiy (e) can therefore be determined. Concentration of an unknown solution can also be determined by measuring its absorbance using the UV spectrophotometry at the selected wavelength. The determination of the concentration of the unknown can be determined by using three methods, which are by using the Beer-Lambert graph, comparative method and absolute method. In this experiment, sodium aminosalicylate will be used as the sample as it is a good absorber of ultraviolet light which allows it to be conveniently to be analysed using spectrophotometry. The purpose of this experiment is to find the specific absorbance of the sodium aminosalicylate solution by using different concentrations of it and also to determine the concentration of the unknown solutions by using calibration graph of Beer-Lambert, comparative method and absolute method. Experimental (a) Absorption Spectrum of Sodium Aminosalicylate in 0.1M NaOH The spectrum of a 1-cm layer of 0.001% solution of sodium aminosalicylate in 0.1M NaOH over the wavelength range 235 to 325nm was been scanned and examined. The wavelengths (ÃŽ »max) and the absorbance values at these wavelengths of the two maxima was then been measured from the spectrum. Approximate specific absorbance [i.e. the absorbance of a 1-cm layer of a 1% solution, A(1%,1cm)] was then been calculated at each of these maxima using the Beer-Lambert equation ; A=A(1%,1cm).c.l Where A= Absorbance A(1%,1cm) = Specific absorbance of a 1 cm layer of a 1% solution c = Concentration (%) l = path length (cm) (b) Beers Law, Specific Absorbance and Molar Absorptivity 50mL volumes of 0.0002, 0.0004, 0.0006 and 0.008 % solutions of sodium aminosalicylate in 0.1M NaOH from the 0.0010 % stock solution had been prepared. One of the ÃŽ »max from (a) had been selected and the wavelength was set to the selected value. The solvent (0.1M NaOH) was been placed in both cells and the absorbance reading of the single beam spectrophotometer was been set to zero. The absorbance was been checked a few nm each side of the selected wavelength using the 0.0010 % and been recorded. The new ÃŽ »max from the table of absorbance values that had been recorded was been selected and the spectrophotometer was been set to that wavelength. The absorbance of a 1-cm layer of each of the five solutions of sodium aminosalicylate that had been prepared earlier were been recorded and replicate readings were been obtained. A graph of absorbance against concentration had been plotted and the specific absorbance had been determined using the gradient of the graph. The molar absorptivi ty of the sodium aminosalicylate in 0.1M NaOH at the selected maximum was been calculated. (c) Determination of Concentrations (i) Calibration Graph The absorbance of a 1-cm layer of Unknown 1 was been determined. Unknown 1 was then been diluted so that its absorbance is in the mid range of the graph of absorbance against concentration. The graph was then been used to determine the concentration of the diluted solution and hence the concentration of Unknown 1 was been calculated. (ii) Absolute Method The absorbance of a 1-cm layer of Unknown 2 was been recorded. The concentration of Unknown 2 was been calculated using the A (1%.1cm) value which had been determined previously. (iii) Comparative Method The wavelength was set to the second ÃŽ »max which had been determined in (a). The absorbance of a 1-cm layer of the 0.0010 % and a 1-cm layer of Unknown 2 was been recorded. The concentration of Unknown 2, C2, using the relationship below, = Results (a) Wavelength / nm Absorbance Reading 264 0.630 300 0.430 Wavelengths (ÃŽ »max) = 264nm and 300nm Concentration) = 0.001 % At 264nm, Specific Absorbance = = = 630 At 300nm, Specific Absorbance = = = 430 (b) ÃŽ »max which been selected from (a) = 264nm Wavelength / nm Absorbance Reading 259 0.584 260 0.588 261 0.588 262 0.582 263 0.573 264 0.559 265 0.546 Table of Absorbance Values New ÃŽ »max selected from table of absorbance = 261nm Concentration of sodium aminosalicylate solution / % First Absorbance Reading Second Absorbance Reading Average Absorbance Reading 0.001 0.608 0.606 0.607 0.0008 0.477 0.482 0.480 0.0006 0.360 0.364 0.362 0.0004 0.243 0.243 0.243 0.0002 0.119 0.123 0.121 Specific Absorbance (Gradient) = = 606.06 From the graph of absorbance reading of 0.46, Concentration of Sodium Aminosalicylate = 0.00076 % RMM of sodium aminosalicylate = 211.15 0.00076 % = 0.00076 g/100mL = 0.0076 g/1000mL = 0.000036 mol/1000mL = 0.000036M By using the Beer Lambert equation, A= e.c.l., e = = = 12777.78 Molar absorptivity (e) of sodium aminosalicylate in 0.1M NaOH at the selected maximum = 12777.78 (c) (i) Type of Solution First Absorbance Reading Second Absorbance Reading Average Absorbance Reading Unknown 1 1.187 1.188 1.188 Diluted Unknown 1 (Unknown 1 + Â ¾ 0.1M NaOH) 0.286 0.287 0.287 Concentration of Diluted Unknown 1 Solution from the graph = 0.00048 % Using the formula C1V1 = C2V2 , (0.00048) (100) = (C2) (25) C2 (Concentration of Unknown 1) = 0.00192 % (ii) Type of Solution First Absorbance Reading Second Absorbance Reading Average Absorbance Reading Unknown 2 0.525 0.525 0.525 Using Beer-Lambert equation, A=A(1%,1cm).c.l A(1%,1cm) = 606.06 l = 1.00 Concentration of Unknown 2 (c) = = 0.000866 % (iii) Wavelength (ÃŽ »max) selected from (a) = 300nm Type of Solution First Absorbance Reading Second Absorbance Reading Average Absorbance Reading 0.0010 % sodium aminosalicylate 0.337 0.336 0.337 Unknown 2 0.300 0.300 0.300 = C2 (Concentration of Unknown 2) = 0.000890 % Discussion From the experiment (a), we can see that the absorbance reading decreases with the increase of the wavelength where 0.630 absorbance value had been recorded at 264nm wavelength and 0.430 absorbance at 300nm wavelength. When wavelength increases, the amount of energy of the molecules of sodium aminosaliylate will decrease as well. Therefore, the amount of light that will be absorbed by the sodium aminosalicylate will decrease which resulting in the decrease in the value of the absorbance. By using the Beer-Lambert law equation, we can know that the specific absorbance of the sample decreases with the decrease of the absorbance value with a fixed concentration of sodium aminosalicylate and pathlength of the cell. In experiment (b), new ÃŽ »max had been selected from the table of absorbance which is 261nm because it had the highest absorbance reading among all values which had been obtained. Repeated readings of absorbance had been recorded when measuring the absorbance values of each of the different concentrations of sodium aminosalicylate. This is to prevent getting an error in the measurement of the absorbance reading in the experiment. When plotting the graph of average absorbance against concentration of sodium aminosalicylate, a linear line was obtained. This shows that the value of absorbance increases with the increase of the concentration of sodium aminosalicylate in the experiment. The value of specific absorbance that had been obtained from the gradient of the graph of average absorbance against concentration of sodium aminosalicylate is 606.06. The value is quite typical which is in the range of 20-1,000. However, the value of the molar absorptivity of the sodium aminosalicylate o btained from the graph is 12777.78 which is more than the typical values ranging from 1,000-100,000. This may be due to some errors produced during the experiment. In experiment (c)(i), the concentration of Unknown 1 obtained from the spectroscopy and calibrating graph are almost the same. However, the concentration of Unknown 1 obtained through the calibrating graph is slightly higher than that of the one obtained from spectroscopy. This might be due to some errors in calibrating the graph. Error in the graph will result in getting an incorrect absorbance reading which will be used to calculate the concentration of the unknown solution. However, several measurements can be recorded to minimize the errors. In experiment (c)(ii) and (iii), the results showed that the concentration of Unknown 2 obtained using absolute method is almost the same with the value of concentration obtained using comparative method. Absolute method can be carried if the value of specific absorbance is known with the presence of the value of absorbance. It works exactly based on the Beer-Lambert law equation and is a preferred method in BP. If the specific absorbance of the solution is not known, then comparative method is preferably to be used as it only needs the absorbance reading of the standard solution and the unknown solution.This is a preferred method in USP and works the best if the standard and sample concentrations are close.[3] As the specific absorbance of sodium aminosalicylate used in (c)(ii) is obtained from experiment (b), there might be some errors in the value of the concentration of Unknown 2 if errors had occurred when calibrating the graph in (b) which resulting in the value of specific abs orbance to be not accurate. Compared to comparative method, only the absorbance reading of the standard and sample solutions obtained from the spectroscopy are required in order to calculate the concentration of Unknown 2. Therefore, in this case the concentration of Unknown 2 using absolute method is not as accurate as the one obtained by using comparative method in this experiment. Conclusion UV spectrophotometry is an universal technique where it can find the value of specific absorbance of a sample using the Beer-Lambert equation with the presence of the other 3 factors value and also to identify the concentration of an unknown either through methods of calibration, absolute and comparative.

Destiny, Fate, and Free Will in Shakespeares Macbeth Essay -- GCSE En

Macbeth: The Role of Fate Fate plays an important role in Shakespeare's Macbeth. The weird sisters use fate to wreak havoc among the Scottish nobility. Also, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth tempt fate. Later in the play, Malcolm, Macduff and the other revolutionaries try to alter fate. Fate can be many things to many different people. If one believes that fate is all-encompassing, then it becomes a perfect excuse for one's deeds. Yet, to Macbeth fate was something far more complex. Macbeth, upon seeing some truth in the witches’ prophecies, chose to believe all that they spoke and yet occasionally felt that he needed to give fate a hand The weird sisters, consider that fate is not something to be overly concerned with, but rather it is something to be enjoyed. However, their superior, Hecate, obviously thinks that it was important enough to discipline the weird sisters verbally for abusing it. The weird sisters view fate as routinely as Macbeth views water and bread. In Macbeth, it seems, the witches can travel in and out of time at will. Thus, they are able to both see the future and to change its very course. When examined analytically, this ability appears to be an illogical paradox, but Shakespeare's great work is brimming with paradoxes, "Fair is foul, and foul is fair"(I.i.11). The witches seem to already know the consummation of both Macbeth’s and Banquo's respective fates. However, they, for some reason unbeknownst to the audience, deem it necessary to interfere with this fate telling Macbeth and Banquo about their futures. Actions of this nature make it seem as if the... ...n was again his downfall when he became terrified of MacDuff and lost the battle that resulted in his decapitation. While fate can be viewed as something that cannot be altered, the only way a strong person would ever use fate is to his or her advantage. To use fate as a source of stability and grounds for faith in one's own self and one's own abilities is a positive use of fate. However, becoming over-confident in or basing one's few momentous decisions on fate is not a wise undertaking as Macbeth learned. Fate is like religion and any other belief based on intangible ideas: it can be a good excuse to not take control of one's own life and responsibility for one's own decisions. When fate supersedes free will in the order of importance, then chaos is bound to follow.

Secret Life of Bees Book Report

Some girls grow up without a mother, but they don’t know how lucky they are that they don’t have to live with the feeling of guilt and remorse that Lilly Owens has to live with everyday. Everyday, since the age of four, Lilly has to deal with the regret of killing her own mother, Deborah. On December 3, 1954, in the small town outside of Sylvan, South Carolina, a normal day turned tragic. Deborah Owens was trying to escape from home with Lilly in her hands, hoping to abandon her abusive husband, T. Ray. [pic] The situation turned physical when T. Ray tried stopping Deborah from leaving.Lilly saw that her beloved mother was in need of help. In an effort to aid her, she retrieved the gun. Lilly picked it up and BANG! The noise exploded, and ended Deborah’s life. The whole town found out about how Deborah Owens died and looked at Lilly a different way. She was neglected by her father, and teased by several schoolmates. Her father continuously told her how her mother was leaving Lilly that devastating night. Although she refused to believe T. Ray’s accusation, Lilly felt unloved by everyone: her father, her friends, and even, at times, her deceased mother.Her only friend was her black maid, Rosaleen. After getting into trouble, she and Rosaleen, ran away. Lilly tried to find the true story of what happened that night her mother died. R. I. P. Deborah Owens, December 3, 1954. Mother of Lilly Owens, wife of Terrence (T. Ray) Owens. In 1964, the Civil Rights Movement allowed for African Americans to speak up against injustices and demand equality. Although this movement allowed for African Americans to vote, they had a lot of trouble doing so. [pic] In The Secret Life of Bees, Rosaleen, Lilly’s black maid, decided to vote for the first time.Two white southerners stopped Rosaleen in her path, and began taunting her. After spitting â€Å"snuff† on their shoes, Rosaleen was beaten up and demanded to apologize. Rosaleen refused to apologize, landing her in jail with stitches and several injuries from the white men. Although the Civil rights acts tried to give equality to African Americans, many white’s refused to acknowledge these new laws. The South was known for outbursts from white people, who tried to hinder African American’s search for equality. The 1960s was a time for change, whether our nation was ready or not.

The Municipal Solid Waste Environmental Sciences Essay

1.0 IntroductionChapter one provides an overview of the whole survey. It begins with the background to the survey. It besides inside informations the intent of the survey, the job statement, the research inquiries and the aims. The research hypothesis, the significance of the survey and the restrictions to the survey are besides included in this chapter.1.1 Background to the StudyMore than half of the universe ‘s population live in countries that are classified as urban ( Brook and Davila, 2001 ) . Taking Africa as an illustration, its population will about treble by 2050 and this will be chiefly in the urban and peri-urban countries ( UN-Habitat 2001 ) . Rapid urbanization, which is chiefly driven by the inflow of migrators from rural countries in hunt of better supports, has its attendant effects. Increasing waste coevals rates due population growing, altering life styles of people, development and ingestion of merchandises with stuffs that are less biodegradable have led to the diverse challenges for Municipal Solid Waste Management ( MSWM ) in assorted metropoliss of the universe ( Asase et al 2009 ) Nemerow et Al ( 2009 ) define solid waste as any assortment of solid stuffs every bit good as some liquids in containers, which are discarded or rejected as being spent, useless, worthless or in extra. It must be noted that although waste might non hold any user value to the proprietor it still holds some value, peculiarly plastic and metallic waste still keep some value when discarded. This is apparent in the recycling of fictile waste and the aggregation of metallic waste by scavengers for recycling. Harmonizing to UNEP ( 2005 ) , waste coevals rates of a state normally goes up straight relative to technological promotion in development, and the inability to set in topographic point a waste direction system. Consequently, there could be enhanced urban population hazard, as a consequence of pronounced environmental crud. A important proportion of urban waste in Ghana is deposited either on the roads, waysides, unapproved shit sites, in waterways, drainage system, or in unfastened topographic points. In fact, solid waste poses assorted menaces to public wellness, and adversely affects vegetations and zoologies every bit good as the environment ; particularly when it is non suitably collected and disposed ( Geraldu, 1995 ) . Sanitation and good hygiene are cardinal to wellness, endurance, growing and development. The Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs ) have set us on a common class to force back poorness, inequality, hungriness and unwellness. Having a healthy urban environment sets a metropolis on path for development. The effects of solid waste direction is a large cost to the state in footings of wellness because when refuse ends up in the incorrect topographic point, it pollutes H2O, air and the dirt, making negative wellness impacts, and offers bacteriums and pests a friendly environment in which to multiply. Ghana, with a population of 23 million generates about 4.5 million metric dozenss of solid waste a twelvemonth ( Agyepong, 2011 ) . With an estimated population of about 2 million people, the Kumasi Metropolis generates an norm of 1,500 metric tons of solid waste daily. Out of this sum the KMA is merely able to roll up about 1,300 metric tons go forthing the staying 200 metric tons uncollected due to inadequate waste aggregation logistics ( KMA, 2010 ) . No purpose about effectivity in disposal and recycling or reuse. In recent times, a popular waste direction option that has caught the attending of the Metropolitan Authorities in the urban Centres is the use of private waste direction companies. Though the usage of private waste direction companies in covering with the challenge of effectual direction of urban waste is yet gaining popularity among developing states in sub-Saharan Africa, it provides a formidable agencies of procuring a feasible waste direction option for urban governments and carry throughing the dreams of accomplishing environmentally clean vicinities for urban inhabitants. Prominent among the private waste direction companies contracted by the Waste Management Department of the KMA to assist carry through its authorization of turn toing solid waste direction issues in the city is the Zoomlion Ghana Limited, which seems to be executing its undertaking creditably in the face of dashing challenges associated with urban solid waste direction in Ghana. From literature and experts in the field of waste direction field, a set of public presentation indexs like the waste direction activities they render ( ie street sweeping, drain cleansing, waste aggregation and disposal ) , operational capacity in footings of staffing, machinery and equipments, the fiscal viability of their activities etc. are needed to measure operations of waste direction in the Metropolis efficaciously.1.2 Problem StatementKumasi is referred to as Garden City of West Africa. The latter is an award earned from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on a Royal visit to Ghana in 1957, chiefly due to its vegetations and beauty. Kumasi is fast losing its glorification chiefly due to rapid urbanisation and its attender job of comparatively immense waste coevals and hapless direction of the waste. It is now rather common to see tonss of waste dotted all over the cities, Normally the ground given by the general populace for these ugly sights is that metropolis governments fail to either provide or oversee t he proviso of waste containers at vantage points. The City Authorities are further accused of neglecting to guarantee that regular and/or frequent voidance of the waste containers are done, even where these are provided. Individual end-users of the services of private waste direction companies frequently complain about undependable service bringing by these waste direction houses. On the other manus, these private waste direction houses argue that metropolis governments hamper their pursuit for quality service bringing through bureaucratism, with respects to honoring contractual understandings with the City Authorities. All this leads to ineffective waste direction. It is by and large believed that uneffective waste direction can do taint of surface H2O, groundwater, dirt, and air, which bring more jobs to worlds, other species, and ecosystems. Additionally, there is attractive force of insects and gnawers, which provides a oasis for xanthous febrility, the pestilence, GI parasites, worms, and assorted inauspicious human conditions. Several diseases, every bit good as malignant neoplastic diseases are caused by exposing worlds to wastes ensuing from the burnt gnawers and insects. Waste intervention and disposal produce important nursery gas ( GHG ) emanations, notably methane, and contributes significantly to planetary clime alteration ( International Waste Activities, 2003 ) . Besides, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly ( KMA ) incurs a monthly outgo of GHA?585,000.00 on the direction of solid waste in the Metropolis ( KMA, 2011 ) . Intelligibly, the significant cost involved in solid waste direction within the Metropolis arouses stakeholder involvement in cognizing the quality of service being rendered by contracted waste direction houses. This survey seeks to look into the public presentation of urban solid waste direction in the Kumasi Metropolis, find how effectively Zoomlion, a contracted private waste direction company performs its operations1.3 Aims of the StudyTo measure the public presentation of private sector engagement via Zoomlion a privately-owned waste direction company, with respect to urban solid waste direction in the Kumasi Metropolis. Specific Aims of the survey are: To measure the operational capacity of Zoomlion in footings of staffing and equipment for effectual operations. To gauge the measure of waste handled per period and its associated cost. To gauge the gross generated and the fiscal viability of Municipal solid waste direction operations of Zoomlion. To measure solid waste recycling activity in Kumasi Metropolis. To find the challenges of waste direction and perceptual experience of end-users on quality of waste direction in Kumasi.1.4 Research QuestionsThe inquiries this survey seeks to turn to are: What is the operational capacity of Zoomlion in footings of staffing and equipment for effectual operation? What are the measure of waste handled per period and its associated cost? What are the gross generated and the fiscal viability of the municipal solid direction operations of Zoomlion? What solid waste recycling activities are in the Metropolis? What are the challenges of waste direction and perceptual experience of end-users on quality of waste direction in Kumasi?1.5 Justification of the surveyEfficient urban waste direction is important in the attainment and nutriment of the position of millenary metropolis by Kumasi. Indeed, sanitation signifiers one of the major focal points of the Millennium Cities Initiatives ‘ societal sector and investment-related research in Kumasi. Knowledge of the grade of efficiency of waste direction by the Zoom king of beasts in the Kumasi Metropolis and the challenges faced in the bringing of this service would guarantee better grasp of the kineticss of urban waste direction by all stakeholders including policy shapers. It would besides supply critical information to prospective investors in the urban waste direction venture. Assorted surveies have been conducted sing urban waste direction in the Kumasi Metropolis but small or nil seems to hold been done in the country of measuring the public presentation of private urban waste direction houses, and consequences from this survey will make full the cognition spread.1.6 Scope of the StudyThe survey would be carried out within the Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The survey seeks to reexamine the waste direction policy of KMA waste section and the operations of its associated contracted private waste companies in the Kumasi Metropolis. Zoomlion Ghana Limited would be used as a instance survey for the whole undertaking. The mark for the survey includes staff members of the KMA waste section, Zoomlion Ghana Limited every bit good as that of little recycling concern ( scavengers ) . The participants for the survey would be selected utilizing simple random trying whereby each participant would hold an equal opportunity of being involved in the survey. The usage of simple random sampling is to enable the research worker avoid any signifier of biaseness in the choice procedure. Interviews, questionnaires a nd observation would be used to arouse the needed information from the mark group. Performance Indexs are: frequent dislocation of vehicles and equipments, payment of service fees, logistical restraints, monitoring/ supervising by KMA, abregation/revision of contractual understanding, and consciousness of sanitation pass Torahs.1.7 Restriction of the StudyAcquisition of information on cost of operations and gross generated by Zoomlion Gh Ltd is anticipated to be hard because of the high confidentiality that persons and concerns attach to such information. Most functionaries will non voluntarily grant interviews until they have sought permission from higher authorization.1.8 Structure of the StudyThe survey is structured into five chapters. Chapter one will present the survey including the background, the job statement, aims and the undertaking range. Chapter two will supply information refering to reexamine of literature relevant to the survey subject. In this chapter, the bing orga nic structure of cognition would be reviewed to decently set up the theoretical foundation for the thesis. Chapter three will capture the research methodological analysis, detailing the research instruments and techniques that would be employed by the research worker in roll uping informations, analyzing the information and construing the consequences. Chapter four will give an overview of the consequences of informations collected in chapter three, together with analysis and treatment with regard to findings of other similar surveies. Chapter five will wrap up the whole survey by supplying information refering to the sum-up, the decision and recommendation of the survey.Chapter TWOLITERATURE REVIEW2.1 Definition of WasteMaterials that are non needfully classified as premier merchandises are regarded as waste. By and large, these stuffs are those that the generator intends to dispose of. Further, these stuffs do non happen extra use with regard to alter, ingestion, or production by the generator of the waste. The coevals of wastes may ensue from natural stuffs extraction, natural stuffs treating into in-process and concluding merchandises, the use of finished merchandises and diverse human actions. The recycling of remainders or unmoved reuse are non included ( GST, 2002 ) . The returning of substances to the environment is a end point of the happening of a natural portion of the recycle. The wastes recycled by populating beings are excreted by in-take of natural stuffs by populating beings. However, a farther flow of the residue of stuffs that would make an overload of the capacity of procedure involved in natural recycling is produced by people. Therefore, to cut down their impact on the wellness, aesthetics and the environment, there should be proper direction of the wastes ( Environmental Literacy Council, 2002 ) . Man-made systems which emphasize the economic value of stuffs and energy, and where production and ingestion are the dominant economic activities. Such systems tend to be extremely destructive of the environment as they require monolithic ingestion of natural capital and energy, return the terminal merchandise ( waste ) to the environment in a signifier that amendss the environment and necessitate more natural capital be consumed in order to feed the system. Where resources and infinite are finite ( the Earth is non acquiring any bigger ) this is finally non sustainable. The presence of waste is an indicant of overconsumption and that stuffs are non being used expeditiously ( Fullcycle, 2009 ) .2.2 Types of Waste2.2.1 Municipal Solid Waste ( MSW )The nomenclature – municipal solid waste ( MSW ) – is used for the wastes that are collected from commercial edifices, families, light industrial procedures and establishments like schools and infirmaries. The chief constituent s of MSW are yard fixingss, containers and packing stuffs, wastes from nutrients, paper and containers. In add-on, the followers may besides be contained in MSW ; industrial sludge, which may be either non-hazardous or risky from n, building, excavation, and processes involved in fabrication. There is no immediate menace to the wellness of homo or the natural environment, if MSW is managed decently. In Ghana solid waste refers chiefly to: Domestic waste ( waste from nutrient readying, brushing, discarded family points ) , Municipal waste ( waste generated in commercial Centres ) , Industrial waste ( e.g. wood waste, waste from butcheries and nutrient processing industries, metal garbages from garages ) ( Poku, 2009 ) .2.2.2 WasteExisting in a solid, liquid or gaseous signifier, a waste stuff may be flammable, reactive, caustic or toxic. Despite the fact that the term â€Å" waste † is associated with risky stuffs, the former includes merchandises used on a day-to-day footing. Waste stuffs include shoe Polish, detergents, batteries, used oil from motorised conveyance, and pigment. Additionally, the production processes of several times that we use day-to-day generate risky wastes. Legislations have been put in topographic point to enjoin commercial and industrial concerns to pull off their wastes from the point of coevals till the clip of disposal. In order to understate the risky nature of wastes, the latter is frequently made to undergo intervention with a position to modifying their biological, chemical and physical features. In modern-day times, many industrial concerns change their production processes or replace harmful stuffs with less insecure 1s in the value concatenation, so as to understate the coevals of risky wastes.2.2.3 E-WasteIn modern times, there is a new waste watercourse, which is competently termed ‘e-waste ‘ . The term e-waste is applied to electronic equipment and appliances that are utilised by industries and end-users, which have virtually come to the terminal of their utile life. The equipment and appliances in inquiry include facsimile machines, duplicators and telecasting screens. Classical illustrations of e-waste are the cathode beam tubings in telecastings and computing machine proctors, which are virtually exhausted. The fact that these equipment and appliances contain risky stuffs airss challenges during their disposal. On history of the famine of proper processs to pull off them, most of the e-waste sits lazily, alternatively of being recycled or being reused. Reselling and contribution to charities by their proprietor are some of the ways by which some of these equipment and appliances could be put to good usage.2.3 Composition of Solid WasteInformation on the composing of solid waste is of import in measuring alternate equipment demands, systems, and direction programme and programs for solid waste aggregation ( Tchobanoglous et al. , 1993 ) . For case, if wastes are generated from a commercial installation that consists of merely paper merchandises, the usage of particular treating equipment such as shredders and balers may be appropriate. Separate aggregation may besides be considered if different metropolis aggregation bureaus are involved. Harmonizing to ( Asase et al. , 2009 ) the composing of solid waste in the Kumasi metropolis is preponderantly made of biodegradable stuffs and high per centum of inert stuffs which include wood ash, sand and wood coal. Table 2.1 shows the solid waste composing in the Kumasi country. Table 2.1: Composition of Municipal Solid Waste ( MSW ) for Kumasi in 2011Waste constituentPercentage of Municipal Solid Waste constituentOrganic Material 40.19 Plastics 19.86 Glass/ bottles 1.20 Paper and composition board 7.04 Metallic elements 2.23 Fabrics 6.94 Inert ( Sand, ash, all right organics, destruction waste ) Material 20.84 Wood 1.71 Entire 100.00 Beginning: KMA WMD ( 2012 )2.4 Waste Management HierarchyThe waste direction hierarchy can be traced back to the seventiess, when the environment motion started to review the pattern of disposal-based waste direction. Rather than sing ‘rubbish ‘ as a homogeneous mass that should be buried, they argued that it was made up of different stuffs that should be treated otherwise – some should n't be produced, some should be reused, some recycled or composted, some should be burnt and others buried ( Schall 1992 ) . The waste hierarchy refers to the practical ways of pull offing waste with the chief purpose of pull outing maximal benefits from merchandises and bring forth minimal sum of waste, the ways are listed in order of importance. They are beginning decrease and reuse, recycle and composting, energy recovery and in conclusion, intervention and disposal. ( US EPA, 2012 ) Below is graphical representation of the waste direction Hierarchy, with the least preferable option, disposal marked at the underside of the trigon, and at the top is the most preferable option, that is beginning decrease and reuse. Unfortunately WMD of KMA pattern the least preferable option, which is the the disposal at the landfill site, that means our direction system in the city is non the best and it looks non sustainable excessively without the other intercessions shown on the diagram. Degree centigrades: UsersuserDesktopwaste_hierarchy_green_400pxw.png Figure 2.1: Waste Management Hierarchy Beginning: . ( US EPA, 2012 )2.4.1 Source Reduction and ReuseThis intercession or scheme agencies cut downing waste at beginning, cut downing the sum of waste you produce really prevents it from stacking up. To travel by this scheme, avoid unneeded packaging, and points designed to be used merely one time. Example, a lasting re-useable bags should be used for shopping alternatively of roll uping a batch of polyethene bags. Recycling points saves a batch of energy, natural resources, saves money for consumers and concerns. For illustration functional containers, vesture, furniture etc can be donated to charity alternatively of dumping them at the garbage dump to increase waste coevals. ( US EPA, 2012 ) .2.4.2 Recycling and CompostingRecyclingThe assemblage of used points and discarded stuffs and treating them into new merchandises is referred to as recycling. In recycling, there is minimization of the quantum that is otherwise discarded into the rubbish bins of communities. This consequences in comparatively clean environment, while bettering the quality of the ambient air ( Lave et al.,1999 ) . Some of the benefits of recycling waste are resource efficiency, extenuation in the impact on the environment from waste intervention and the disposal thereof. In consequence, this leads to a cleansing agent and a healthier environment. Extra benefits include a lessening in infinite for landfill sites, thereby, salvaging money and clip. There is besides a net economy in the quantum of resources required for bring forthing of new and advanced merchandises ( Tchobanoglous et al. , 2003 ) . During composting, which is a biological procedure, bacteriums and fungi – micro-organisms – help the transition of biodegradable substances into other stuffs which look like humus. This procedure leads to a substance with the features of a dirt, which is rich in C and N and provides a medium for seting harvests and trees. The composting procedure allows waste in kitchens to be put to good usage as foods through recycling some utile substances in waste nutrient and other stuffs. Composting combines the advantages of cleanliness, safety, bargain rate, while markedly understating the quantum of refuse intended for the rubbish bins. Compost stuff, which is an organic type of a fertiliser, may be used alternatively of chemical fertilisers chiefly for the growth of veggies. Another advantage of compost is its leaning to retain H2O, while doing the dirt comparatively easy to cultivate. More significantly, the ability of the works to retain foods is aided by compost ( Mensah a nd Larbi, 2005 ) . In general, the ambient conditions in Ghana are really suited for composting.2.4.3 Energy RecoveryThis intercession is retrieving functional energy such as heat, electricity, or fuel from waste stuffs that are to recycle and recycle, peculiarly plastics, through assortment procedures including burning, gasification, anaerobiotic digestion, landfill gas recovery and pyrolization. Example solid waste can be combusted at really high temperatures which produces heat, that heat is used to change over H2O in to steam. That steam can be used to turn turbines to bring forth electricity ( US EPA, 2012 ) .2.4.4 Treatment and DisposalThis intercession is the last of the assorted solid waste direction options mentioned above.There are many different methods of disposing of solid waste in the universe but the most common methods used in Ghana and other parts of Africa are landfill, unfastened dumping and incineration. Landfill is the most common and likely histories for more t han 90 per centum of the state ‘s municipal garbage even though landfills have been proven contaminates of imbibing H2O in certain countries. Landfills are constructed and operated to strict environmental criterions, illustration the line drives are designed in a manner to protect the land H2O.2.5 Waste Management IndexsWaste Management Indicators are variables that influence the public presentation of waste direction operations. These indexs are largely derived from literature and experts in the field of waste. From the contractual understandings ( signed between the WMD of KMA and the private waste direction ‘s companies in the Kumasi Metropolis, public presentation indexs like the waste direction activities and how they are suppose to put to death it ( ie. waste aggregation from house and communal garbage dump and disposal ) , operational capacity in footings of staffing, machinery and equipments are listed in it. Garcia-Sanchez ( 2007 ) besides used street cleansing, waste aggregation and the intervention of solid waste as indexs on the public presentation of Spanish solid waste aggregation.2.6 Theory of Waste ManagementIn industrialized states the waste direction patterns evolved with the 1970 ‘s concentrating on cut downing environmental impacts ( Tanskanen, 2000 ) . This was done by making controlled landfill sites ( Read, 2003 ) , set uping waste transportation Stationss or airting waste aggregation vehicle paths ( Truitt et al. 1969 ) . The 1980 ‘s and early 1990 ‘s focused on new technological solutions for waste direction while the mid 1990 ‘s until today, the focal point is on resource recovery ( Read, 2003 ) . In this respect recycling, incineration, composting and bioreactor intervention for energy and alimentary recovery methods are included in MSWM systems ( Chang and Wei, 1999 ; MacDonald, 1996a ) . Changes in waste direction policies in recent times have shifted waste direction planning from trust on landfill towards Integrated Solid Waste Management ( ISWM ) attacks ( Read, 2003 ) . New directives/legislations are being promulgated in the EU and the US on waste disposal in the involvement of the environment. Examples among them are ; the January 1st 2003 addition in revenue enhancement to 370 Swedish Kronor per ton of landfilled waste in Sweden ( RVF, 2003 ) ; and the 1993 United States ‘ Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ( RCRA ) Subtitle D which requires landfills to be impermeably lined and equipped with leachate and gas aggregation equipment ( Pacey, 1999 ) . These policies and their enforcement have helped the developed states in implementing the waste hierarchy ; bar, stuffs recovery, incineration and landfill. For case the 1993 Government Action Plan on Waste and Recycling in Denmark set out to accomplish marks of 54 % recycling, 25 % incineration and 21 % la ndfill by the twelvemonth 2000 ( Sakai et al. , 1996 ) . In the development universe nevertheless, hapless enforcement or non-existence of waste direction policies have resulted in the dependance on unfastened dumping. Improvements in the country of building healthful landfills in these parts have most frequently been supported by the World Bank and other bilateral giver bureaus ( Johannessen and Boyer, 1999 ) .2.6.1 Waste CollectionThe term waste aggregation includes non merely the aggregation of solid waste from assorted beginnings but besides the trucking of these wastes to the location where the contents of the aggregation vehicles are emptied ( Tchobanoglous et al. , 1993 ) . Waste aggregation is besides described as a constituent of waste direction which consequences in the transition of waste stuffs from the beginning of production to either the point of intervention or concluding disposal site ( Sampson, 2003 ) . The manner and mode in which waste is collected in footings of vehicle types, capacities, staffing degrees and unit of ammunition constellation depends on the nature of the aggregation. For illustration family / commercial, and the contractual agreements put in topographic point ( working hours, disposal points, stuffs collected and receptacles used, e.g. black bag, wheelie-bin, orangish poke ) . Harmonizing to Tchobanoglous et Al. ( 1993 ) , waste aggregation starts with the containers keeping stuffs that a generator has designated as no longer utile and ends with the transit of the solid waste to a location for processing or disposal. In high income countries, the private waste aggregation companies collect the waste straight from families with compactor trucks for dumping pieces in low and in-between income countries, occupants carry their waste to public waste containers provided by the Waste Management Department at communal aggregation points ( Boadi and Kuitunen, 2003 ) .2.6.2 Waste Collection Service/MethodsSolid waste aggregation systems and methods in Kumasi are unequal to cover a big portion of the metropolis, peculiarly, in hapless homesteader colonies, and unaccessible vicinity to roll up all the expected waste to be generated in the metropoliss ( Boadi and Kuitunen, 2003 ) . The chief types of waste aggregation methods are roll uping co-mingle or non-separated w aste at beginning and waste at beginning separated. Waste aggregation methods vary widely between different states and parts. Domestic waste aggregation services are frequently provided by local authorities governments, or by private industry. Developing states do non hold a formal waste-collection system even though these states are now following some of the popular waste aggregation systems around the universe. For case in Australia, the curbside aggregation is the method of disposal of waste where every urban domestic family is provided with three bins: one for recyclables, another for general waste and another for garden stuffs. These bins are provided by the municipality if requested. In Ghana the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies are responsible for the aggregation and concluding disposal of solid waste through their Waste Management Departments ( WMDs ) and their Environmental Health and Sanitation Departments ( www.ghanadistrics.com, 2009 ) . There are two chief types of waste aggregation services that are delivered by the private operators in the Kumasi Metropolis. These are house-to-house and communal aggregation services. Peter et al. , ( 2009 ) asserted that the backing of the house-to-house aggregation services in the Kumasi Metropolis increased from 2.1 per cent of the population in 1999 to 20.8 per cent in 2005. It was besides observed that occupants of the metropolis are willing to sponsor the service if satisfactory degrees of service could be guaranteed.2.6.3 Household and Commercial Waste CollectionFamily wastes are by and large generated from places. They are gathered in waste bins, plastic or metal containers, plastic bags for aggregation by waste aggregator utilizing a waste aggregation vehicle. The waste generated from families are carried to cardinal waste aggregation point ( reassign Stationss ) where they would be loaded into a vehicle and either sent to a landfill site or to an alternate waste intervent ion installation. The sum of waste generated from families and commercial topographic points far exceeds the volume collected. Harmonizing to Boadi and Kuitunen ( 2003 ) , 60 % of the entire waste generated in Accra is collected yearly go forthing the 40 % ungathered. Harmonizing to the Kumasi Waste Management Department ( 2009 ) , and the private waste direction companies in Kumasi, their inability to roll up all the waste generated from the families and the commercial countries are as a consequence of hapless route web within the metropolis, unequal waste aggregation containers and the frequent interruption down of bulldozers and compactors at the landfill site. Harmonizing to Boadi and Kuitunen, ( 2003 ) , households resort to alternate ways of disposing their waste. For case in high income countries waste bins are non emptied in clip coercing abode to engage persons to dispose of the waste at the cardinal aggregation points. In low income countries, the containers are non remove d in clip and this causes people to dump waste in unauthorised mopess such as canals, H2O organic structures, and surface drains.2.6.4 Logisticss of Solid Waste CollectionPast methods of planning for and runing waste aggregation systems are under force per unit area, ensuing from the demand to better the aggregation systems to protect the environment and public safety. Sampson ( 2003 ) stated in his study that waste aggregation and conveyance has important environmental, wellness and safety deductions every bit good as the economic cost due to the types of logistics that are used to roll up and transport the waste. The entire measure of waste coevals keeps increasing coupled with the nature and type of waste produced in our technological society gives the complexness of the type of logistics requires for the aggregation of waste. There are a figure of barriers that limit attempts to better the efficiency of waste aggregation logistics ( Sampson, 2003 ) . These are: The inconsistent nature of waste production, with fluctuations happening on a hebdomadal and seasonal footing and from street-to-street and region-to-region, Access limitations, intending that non all belongingss can be serviced by the same vehicles, Ineffective matching of vehicles to unit of ammunitions, and Variations in stuff bringing points over clip, a state of affairs that will originate more often as stuff reprocessing and bringing to new markets increases. To better the efficiency of waste aggregation logistics the followers may be considered: Raising the issue of logistics earlier in the planning stages of incorporate waste direction systems, Phased debut of new aggregation strategies such that conveyance jobs can be addressed and costs more to the full understood prior to full strategy acceptance, Partnership working, e.g. through shared terminals, Improved apprehension of the capablenesss of the asset-base, Collection and usage of operational public presentation informations to inform future planning, Effective periodic work programming and routing, and Eventuality planning, e.g. for unplanned closing of waste disposal installations.2.6.5 Methods of Waste DisposalThere are many different methods of disposing of solid waste in the universe but the most common methods used in Ghana and other parts of Africa are landfill, unfastened dumping and incineration. Landfill is the most common and likely histories for more than 90 per centum of the state ‘s municipal garbage even though landfills have been proven contaminates of imbibing H2O in certain countries. The most common methods of disposing solid waste are described below:LandfillDisposing of waste in landfill involves burying the waste in cavities and this is the most common pattern in most states. It is the most cost effectual method of disposal, with aggregation and transit accounting for 75 per centum of the entire cost ( Bassis, 2009 ) . In a modern landfill, garbage is dispersed thin, compacted in beds and covered by a bed of clean Earth. Pollution of surface H2O and groun dwater is minimised by run alonging and contouring the fill, packing and seting the topmost screen bed, deviating drainage, and choosing proper sites non capable to deluging or high groundwater degrees. The best dirt for a landfill is clay because clay is less permeable than other types of dirt ( Mensa and Larbi, 2005 ) . Materials disposed off in a landfill can be farther secured from escapes by solidifying them in stuffs such as cement, fly ash from power workss, asphalt, or organic polymers. A properly-designed and well-managed landfill can be a hygienic and comparatively cheap method of disposing of waste stuffs. Older, poorly-designed or poorly-managed landfills can make a figure of inauspicious environmental impacts such as wind-blown litter and coevals of liquid leachate. Another common byproduct of landfills is gas ( largely composed of methane and C dioxide ) , which is produced as a consequence of anaerobiotic break down of organic waste. This gas can make odour jobs, kill surface flora, and is a nursery gasOpen dumpingOpen mopess was a popular method of waste disposal in the early parts of the twentieth century. This involved disposing the waste in unfastened mopess without any screen or protection. Dumpss were normally located in countries where there was land in copiousness. A common site for unfastened mopess is abandoned mines, preies, swamps and hillsides. The waste is normally piled up every bit long as the equipments being used can pull off to travel in an d out of the garbage dump. Open mopess are popular in developing states as a agency of waste disposal ( Tchobanoglous et al. , 1993 ) . It is practised in the families on a smaller graduated table and sporadically burned to cut down the volume of waste and in some cases it is levelled and compacted. This is a common pattern in Ghana.IncinerationIncineration is another method of solid waste disposal. Incineration is a method of firing waste that is combustible at high temperatures in the scope of 1000 grades Celsius in other to cut down the waste to ashes. Incineration is more expensive but a safer method of disposal than landfills ( Bassis, 2009 ) . Modern incinerators are designed to destruct at least 99.9 % of the organic waste stuff they handle. Garbage burned in incinerators can poison air, dirt, and H2O. Incineration converts waste stuffs in to heat, gas, steam and ash. Communities near incinerators have objected to them because of frights about possible emanations of gaseous p ollutants ( Bach et al. , 2009 ) . The national policy in Ghana endorses the seting in topographic point of miniaturized workss for incinerating risky and wellness attention wastes. Relatively little incinerating workss have been built as portion of the wellness proviso substructure in most of the towns holding wellness installations in the state. The incinerators, which are really simplistic in building, are made up of cement, clay bricks and metal. These incinerators are normally fired by woodfuel and are easy operated and maintained by the wellness staff of the District Assemblies. It worthy of note these local incinerators do non hold the needed environmental controls ( Mensah and Larbi, 2005 ) .Recycling methodsRecycling is change overing used and cast-off stuffs into new merchandises. This is a signifier O f decrease of waste disposed, ensuing in cleansing agent environment and besides giving in fresher air to take a breath ( Lave et al. , 1999 ) . Waste recycling has some important advantages such as minimum us age of natural stuffs, cut downing imparts on environment, originating from waste intervention and disposal and makes the milieus cleansing agent and healthier. Additionally saves on landfill infinite, money, and cut downing the measure of energy needed to fabricate new merchandises ( Tchobanoglous et al.. , 1993 ) . A big figure of the waste generated in our houses can be recycled and reused. Organic kitchen waste such as remnant grocery, vegetable Peels, and spoilt or dried fruits and veggies can be recycled by seting them in the compost cavities that have been dug in the garden. Old newspapers, magazines and bottles can be sold to the adult male who buys these points from places ( United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2007 ) .CompostingComposting is a biological procedure in which micro-organisms, chiefly fungi and bacteriums, convert degradable organic waste into humus-like substance. This finished merchandise, which looks like dirt, is high in C and N and is an first-class medium for turning workss. The procedure of composting ensures that the waste produced in the kitchens is non heedlessly thrown and left to decompose. It recycles the foods and returns them to the dirt as foods. Apart from being clean, inexpensive, and safe, composting can significantly cut down the sum of disposa ble refuse. The organic fertiliser can be used alternatively of chemical fertilisers and is better when used for veggies. It increases the dirt ‘s ability to keep H2O and makes the dirt easier to cultivate. It helps the dirt to retain more of the works foods ( Mensah and Larbi, 2005 ) . Generally, conditions in Ghana are really contributing for composting in footings of the waste composing and conditions conditions. However, composting has ne'er flourished as an option for garbage intervention and disposal. Most local governments feel, based on local experience, that the running costs of composting workss are inordinate and indefensible ( Mensah and Larbi, 2005 ) . The lone known big composting works in Ghana was built with external giver support and commissioned in the early 1980s. During its early old ages of operation the works was utile in assisting cut down the volume of waste. However, high care costs adversely affected its sustainability. In the last few old ages most o f the mechanical constituents have been decommissioned and the works presently operates merely for presentation intents.2.7 Waste Costing2.7.1 Environmental CostssAdditionally, there is attractive force of insects and gnawers, which provides a oasis for xanthous febrility, the pestilence, GI parasites, worms, and assorted inauspicious human conditions. Several diseases, every bit good as malignant neoplastic diseases are caused by exposing worlds to wastes ensuing from the burnt gnawers and insects. Waste can pollute surface H2O, groundwater, dirt, and air, which causes more jobs for worlds, other species, and ecosystems. ( Diaz et al. , 2006 ) Waste intervention and disposal produces important green house gas ( GHG ) emanations, notably methane, and contributes significantly to planetary clime alteration ( International Waste Activities, 2003 ) .2.7.2 Social CostssWaste direction is a important environmental justness issue. Many of the environmental loads cited above are more frequently borne by marginalized groups, such as racial minorities, adult females, and occupants of developing states. NIMBY ( not-in-my-back-yard ) is a popular term used to depict the resistance of occupants to a proposal for a new development near to them ( Wolsink, 1994 ) . However, the demand for enlargement and siting of waste intervention and disposal installations is increasing worldwide. There is now a turning market in the transboundary motion of waste, and although most waste that flows between states goes between developed states, a important sum of waste is moved from developed to developing states ( Ray, 2008 ) .2.7.3 Economic CostssThe costs of pull offing waste are comparatively high, and the cost is frequently beared by authoritiess ( Muck and Brass, 2009 ) . Cost of operation can be reduced by expeditiously designed aggregation paths, modifying vehicles, and with public instruction. Environmental policies such as wage as you dump can cut down the cost of direction and cut down waste measures. Waste recovery ( that is, recycling, reuse ) can be cut down economic costs because it avoids pull outing natural stuffs and frequently cuts transit costs ( Carlsson Reich, 2005 ) . The location of waste intervention and disposal installations frequently has an impact on belongings values due to dust, noise, pollution, unsightliness, and negative stigma. The unrecognized sector consists usually the choosers of waste who scavenge for plastics, glass, metals, fabrics etc for sale . These scavengers can significantly alter or cut down waste collected, but there are alot of challenges that comes into drama, illustration maltreatment of workers and development, poorness, disease, ( Wilson et al. , 2006 ) .2.8 Overview of Solid Waste Management in GhanaThe 2000 Housing and Population Census reports that on the national degree, 4.8 % of families have their solid waste collected straight from their home, 7.9 % burn their family garbage, 57.6 % usage assorted family receptacles for storage and direct it to designated public mopess including communal-container Stationss or healthful sites. It is reported that 25.9 % of families dump their garbage at unspecified locations including vacant tonss, drains, embankment of H2O classs, rivers, lakes and wetlands. Chiefly, there are two solid waste aggregation systems in Ghana – door to door aggregation system which takes topographic point in the low denseness countries of the urban Centres, and communal aggregation system in the high denseness countries. There is some sum of pre-collection in countries of hapless handiness based on the usage of Manual and Motorized Tricycles introduced by Zoomlion. Waste disposal in Ghana is chiefly by landfilling and presently the state can tout of merely two Sanitary Landfill installations located in Kumasi and Tamale. Two others are under building in Sekondi-Takoradi and Tema. The other metropoliss and towns depend on garbage dumps for their waste disposal. Other systems such as incineration, waste to energy, anaerobiotic digestion, etc have so far remained at explorative phases, with the exclusion of composting which is at the execution phase at Zoomlion ( Agyepong, 2011 ) . Engineered landfills are constructed to run into specific environmental cr iterions including low permeableness clay line drive and natural flow ( gravitation based ) leachate direction ( Boyer and Johannessen, 2010 ) . The first Waste Management Department ( WMD ) , Accra Metropolitan Authority ‘s – Weapon of mass destruction, was inaugurated in 1985 with the transition of the so Mechanical Engineers Department which was entirely responsible for pull offing the workshop for vehicle/equipment fix and care to include solid waste aggregation and disposal services. The Kumasi Metropolitan Authority ‘s Waste Management Department ( KMA-WMD ) followed in 1992 with the aid of the UNDP-Kumasi Sanitation Project. The Overseas Development Association, ODA ( now DFID ) of the UK besides provided vehicles, machinery and equipment under the Kumasi Solid Waste Disposal undertaking ( 1992 – 1995 ) ( Salifu, 2011 ) .2.9.1 National Environmental Sanitation PolicyThe Environmental Sanitation Policy is aimed at developing and keeping a clean, safe and pleasant physical environment in all human colonies, to advance the societal, economic and physical wellbeing of all subdivisions of the popul ation. It comprises a figure of complementary activities, including the building and care of healthful substructure, the proviso of services, public instruction, community and single action, ordinance and statute law ( MLGRD, 1999 ) . The Policy besides outlines the functions and duties of the Community and Individuals. Guaranting good environmental sanitation is the duty of all citizens, communities, private sector, endeavors, NGOs and authorities establishments. All these histrions have an indispensable portion to play in keeping a high criterion of environmental sanitation. The policy indicates that, every person, constitution or establishment shall be responsible for: Cleansing within and in the immediate environments of the belongings they occupy, including entree ways and the drains and roads bordering the belongings ; Impermanent storage of wastes within the belongings and disposal thereof outside the belongings, as may be directed by the competent authorization ; Taking steps to forestall the genteelness of disease vectors within and in the immediate environments of the belongings they occupy ; Guaranting that the wider environment is non polluted or otherwise adversely affected by their activities ; Hygienically disposing of all wastes they generate in public countries by usage of an authorized public lavatory or solid waste container as appropriate ; Participating in all communal environmental sanitation exercisings organised by the community or its representatives ( MLGRD, 1999 ) . The policy besides entrusts in the Assemblies the power to proclaim bye-laws and ordinances to assist in their environmental sanitation direction procedure. To complement these attempts, the Judiciary is expected to set up and authorise Community Tribunals to prosecute wrongdoers against environmental sanitation bye-laws and ordinances ( MLGRD, 1999 ) . This is a clear chance for KMA to ordain rigorous environmental sanitation bye-laws to do the metropolis dwellers responsible for environmental sanitation in Kumasi to guarantee good environmental sanitation patterns.2.8.2 Environmental Sanitation Bye-Laws in the Kumasi Metropolitan AreaSound environmental jurisprudence and administration are indispensable for protecting the natural environment and the life and supports that depend on it. Governance here refers to the Assembly ‘s usage of a scope of legal tools to necessitate or advance coveted behavior. These tools could be traditional ordinances, environmental appraisals, info rmation revelation demands, market mechanisms, economic inducements, or public policies to advance voluntary action on a graduated table that will heighten urban environmental sanitation and environmental protection. The sum-up of the Bye-laws includes the followers: Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly ( House Owners and Occupier ) Bye-Laws, 1995. – This bye-law defines the duties of house proprietors, belongings proprietors, renters or other residents in maintaining their immediate environment clean. It besides prescribes the penalty that should be meted out with wrongdoers of the bye-laws. Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly ( Sanitation ) Bye-Laws, 1995. – This bye-law besides covers general sanitation or hygiene. It describes what constitutes a sanitation offense and what should non be done by both belongings proprietors and walkers to do pollution in the metropolis. Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly ( Cleansing ) Bye-Laws, 1995 – The cleansing bye-law regulates activities that promote ocular pollution and nuisances and prescribes punishments for such offenses.2.9 Challenges of Waste Management – Private-Sector Engagement as RedressBefore 1995 solid waste direction in Ghana was run strictly as a authorities monopoly ( Post et al. , 2003 ) . However the authorities was neglecting to adequately turn to the healthful demands of its citizens and failures in public service opened the sphere to assorted manners of public-private cooperation ( Thompson, 2010 ) . The formal battle of private sector in everyday services, commenced earnestly with the denationalization of cesspool emptying services in Kumasi. It was a logical next-step to formalise private-sector engagement in solid waste direction every bit good. And so in transporting out the Urban Environment Review, in 1994, with support from the World Bank, the issue of turn toing institutional functions was given much importance. The urban reappraisal which led to the readying of the first-phase of the Urban Environmental Sanitation Project ( UESPI ) which is in its 2nd stage ( UESPII ) influenced the navigation of franchise zones for solid waste services in Accra, Sekondi-Takoradi, Kumasi and Tamale. The purpose was for an incremental enlargement of zones to finally cover the whole of each metropolis – which is mostly the agreement we see today ( Salifu, 2011 ) . In a presentation made at a UN conference on edifice partnerships for traveling towards zero waste, Agyepong ( 2011 ) outlined some issues identified by private operator ( s ) as barriers to private-sector-participation or public-private-partnerships which included ; proliferation of statute law that entrenches public-monopoly of bringing of services, incorrect attitudes of the general populace to solid waste disposal, sustainable funding, hapless planning and rapid urbanisation, weak human resource capacity and research support base, and political relations. Harmonizing to Salifu ( 2011 ) as portion of the solid waste direction betterment services of the five largest metropoliss in Ghana UESP1 implemented an luxuriant strategy for private sector engagement. Subsequent acceptance of franchise direction for the aggregation of solid waste meant to get down on pilot footing was replaced with the debut of the City and Country Waste Limited city-wide catching enterprise in Accra by AMA. The constrictions of the both the franchise system and contract manner of service bringing has included: The Torahs declaring such franchise or contract zones were simply announced without the corresponding gazeted bye-laws backup these declarations ; The capacity of private operators to roll up the fees ( under franchise ) ; Where pockets of communal-storage containers at public topographic points like markets and lorry Parkss are within the franchise zones, costs of these were still to be borne by MMDAs through their IGFs, with high default rates of payment of contractors – in some cases up to 6 months ; Poor aggregation modus operandis by private operators that eroded assurance of occupants ; Start-up pilot zones gave the feeling of an experiment, peculiarly when aggregation by the metropolis ‘s ain side-loading truck ( in the instance of Kumasi ) was still traveling on in countries where fee-collection was left to drivers and secret agents ;Other establishments like the Army, Prisons, Police, Civil Aviation and others operated parallel aggregation strategies for their barracks and from cottages of senior forces.