Abstract This paper discusses the power shortage in South Africa and the competition between Chinese companies and AES to enter the market there. An overview is given of AES's business strategies and its agreement with Eskom, the South African power company. The author analyzes the challenges facing AES in South Africa, where the government favors domestic over foreign companies, and provides suggestions on how to overcome them.
Outline
Part I: Case Study
AES Business Approach
South African Expansion
Key Problems
Part 2: Recommendations and Analysis
From the Paper "The key advantage that AES has over potential Chinese companies that might try to establish themselves in the power industry is their experience in supplying power to emerging markets. Emerging markets represent one of the highest risk categories for investment. This is particularly true for countries that have not yet built a sufficient infrastructure. Projects are more capital intensive than those in areas that have a sufficient infrastructure to support expansion."
Tags: blackout opportunity generation, power plant, grid conglomeration
Abstract This paper describes and analyzes various methods of computer encryption that are used to protect data as it traverses the Internet. The author describes how data and information packets going through cyberspace are susceptible to interception and compromise. Several programs that protect data are described, including DES, RSA, AES, Blowfish and ECC. The author reviews these packages, and concludes that despite the availability of several cryptosystems in the market, security should still be based on the needs of the situation
From the Paper "Aside from DES and RSA, other crypto solutions are Blowfish, ECC and AES. Blowfish is a block cipher using 32 to 448 bits long keys. The data blocks go through 16 rounds of cryptographic functions (Staron and Adams, 2001) and the technique was designed by Bruce Schneier "to be immune to linear and differential cryptanalysis (Staron and Adams, 2001)." Ellipse Curve Cryptosystems (ECC) is similar to RSA in terms of providing both digital signature and encryption. By using properties of elliptic curves, ECC "provide ways of constructing groups of elements and specific rules on how the elements within these groups combine. One differing factor of ECC is its efficiency since it could work with limited processing capacity, storage supply, and bandwidth (Harris, 2003)," which makes it a good solution for wireless and mobile technologies."
Tags: computer security encryption Internet DES, RSA, AES, Blowfish ECC
From the Paper "The phoneme /?/ is also known as "ash." The lower-case symbol ? is the form used in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to refer to "a not quite open, front unrounded vowel, higher than Cardinal 4 and lower than Cardinal 3" (McArthur & Weiner, 1992, p. 84). An example of its phonetic use is the common American pronunciation of the word cat, /k?t/. The orthographic ligature <?>, or upper case <?>, was employed in Old English orthography to indicate a sound that fell somewhere between a and e, containing elements of both, while being distinct from either of those vowels. The scholarly name ash was given to this grapheme because the Old English word for ash tree (also ?sc, or aesc) was a mnemonic name used for the character. This name was then adopted by linguistics scholars to refer to the phoneme /?/. Though subsequent orthographic uses of <?> did ..."
Abstract Visionary Design Systems (VDS) is a highly successful developer of CAD (computer aided design) software that is sold in conjunction with the company's position as a value-added reseller of Hewlett-Packard CAD hardware and software. The paper shows that VDS has expanded its operations to include multiple remote offices staffed by a sales representative and at least one application engineer (AE). In addition, the company has a progressive approach toward its management, with the result that all employees are stockholders in the organization (which is currently privately held) and all employees receive both bonuses and commissions on their efforts related to selling the core product (CAD). The paper shows that, at this point, the company is intent on selling Product Data Management (PDM), which is an adjunct product to the CAD products and which has received strong support in the industry. However, the company is disappointed in the performance of its PDM specialist, and the specialist is disappointed in the internal support he has received from the company. This research considers the company's current position with regard to PDM and alternatives which might help the company achieve its long-term goals and objectives.
From the Paper "VDS could purchase a PDM company (or the PDM organization from another company) and integrate it into the organization. This would require a considerable amount of cash outlay up front, but would save VDS the problem of having to "invent" the PDM organization within its own company. The problems associated with changing the corporate culture would not be avoided, since the new employees would have to be integrated into the culture of VDS, but the focus would be on bringing those employees into the VDS culture rather than changing the culture of VDS so radically that PDM could succeed."
Abstract Interval training is a concept wherein a person works out at a medium to high intensity for a specified period of time or distance and then reduces the exercise intensity for an equal period of time or distance. A 1997 study found that splitting training tasks into intervals or repetitions will increase the amount of oxygen consumed and needed to be repaid after each unit when compared to performing the same distance at the same workload in a continuous or steady exercise regimen. The paper explains that intermittent, or interval, training tasks were found to place a greater load on the oxygen transport system than do continuous tasks This study investigates the effects of interval versus steady (continuous) training on endurance performance. The paper includes detailed tables.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Operational Definitions
Delimitations
Limitations
Hypotheses
Significance of the Study
Review of the Literature
Introduction
Theoretical Framework
The Muscle System
Muscle As Motors and Regulators
Classification of Muscles by Location, Function, and Structure
Gross Structure and Functioning
Structure of Myofilaments
Internal Membranes of Muscle Fiber
Skeletal Muscle Contraction and Muscle Power
Energy Pathways Involved in Exercise
Interval Training Versus Continuous Training
Short-Term Maximal Performance
Methods
Subjects
Instrumentation
Experimental Protocol
Design and Statistics
Bibliography
From the Paper "The creatine phosphate pool provides a buffer for the rapid supply of ATP for the work of contraction, as well as a link to the cellular sources of ATP. Depending on the type of muscle fiber, this cellular ATP is produced by one or both of two common biochemical pathways?glycolysis (anaerobic) and the citric acid cycle (aerobic). The aerobic pathway is the most efficient off the two; however, when muscle activity level reaches approximately 70 percent of the maximum possible level, aerobic metabolism no longer is able to supply the muscle with a sufficient supply of ATP. At this point, the anaerobic metabolism pathway begins to function. The anaerobic pathway works more quickly, although less efficiently, than the aerobic pathway, and thus can supply large amounts of ATP that are stored in the muscle itself (24)."
Abstract This paper examines two contradictory quotations regarding the same economic scenario and questions why the markets should fear a predicted economic slowdown if company profits are growing strongly. The paper presents the answer in the form of the "Keynesian Aggregate Expenditure" model, which is the generic term for several graphical models used to analyze the basic components of Keynesian economics and to identify Keynesian equilibrium as the intersection of the aggregate-expenditures line and the 45-degree line.
From the Paper "In other words, if consumers are spending less, it is unlikely that companies will continue to spend more and thus the companies will have to let workers go to make up for the decrease in consumer demand. The Keynesian model of aggregate demand was introduced in the 1930's as a answer to the worldwide great depression that the global economy found itself spiraling into after years of boom and financial speculation. Keynes departed from his predecessors when he ?rejected the view of Adam Smith that, left alone, a market system generally functions well,? namely that the "invisible hand? works when consumer confidence is low.? (Schenk, 1997, "Activism")"
Abstract This document discusses a case in which an editor, Alice, and a reporter, Bob, exchange data encryption keys with a source, Charlie, and utilize this data encryption method as a secure way to exchange information. Alice does not trust the encryption protocol and is demanding Bob produce some sort of physical or tangible evidence it was in fact Charlie who encrypted and sent a digital message. The paper further discusses how this demand undermines the entire purpose of encrypting the data in the first place if one is going to doubt the origin of the data following the implementation of encryption procedures.
From the Paper "Alice is an editor for a major newspaper while Bob is a reporter for that same newspaper. Bob's contact, Charlie, is an executive for a major corporation and regularly provides Bob with proprietary information. Alice, Bob and Charlie collectively agreed to exchange information electronically after mediating that data through encryption technology. This process works in several ways to ensure the data and information retains its integrity: 1) because the encryption key is known only to the relevant parties, the data or information is effectively assured of originating from the relevant parties, and 2) because it is encrypted in a sophisticated manner, the data or information is incredibly secure as it would take an even more sophisticated program and programmer to un-encrypt it."
Abstract This paper assesses the issue of political culture and whether its varying nature in different countries affects the establishment and maintenance of democracy. The paper achieves this by first offering a definitional explanation of political culture and how its characteristics alter depending on the country in question. The paper then examines the manner in which democratic processes are affected by national political culture. Two countries ae used as examples in exemplifying the inherent links between the two concepts; Pakistan and Slovakia. The paper contends that political culture is a vital component in the democratic process. Therefore, if a respective political culture fails to either understand or believe in the underlying principles of democratic thought, it becomes very difficult to instil a culture based on democratic principles. The paper further contends that further factors such as; national history; religious beliefs and the role of the military have a large part to play. Indeed, the two example countries provide us with prove of this fact.
From the Paper "Let us look at out first example country, Pakistan. Since independence from Britain in 1947, much of the political culture of Pakistan has been formed on the same theoretical basis as that of the British Raj. When the British left what is know known as Pakistan, the democratic forces they attempted to instil were often contradictory in their nature. On the one hand, democratic representative government was established, but underpinning it lay the same subject based culture that had endured during British rule."
Tags: independence authoritarian, national history, religious beliefs, military role
Abstract The paper discusses how Lincoln Electric's success was due to its innovative management style, culture and the incentive system, and in particular, the company's founding philosophy based on employee motivation. The paper then deals with Lincoln's internationalization fiasco where the management imposed its domestic management styles and compensation methods on foreign operations, with no success. The paper outlines the resulting international strategy that was pursued in order to improve the international operations. The issues that the company faced in entering the Indonesian market ae also explored and recommendations to resolve those issues are offered.
From the Paper "Lincoln was able to grow and proper for so long because of the innovative management style and culture and the incentive system. This had a highly positive effect on employee motivation and thus their productivity. As a result, productivity at the company was increasing at twice the rate of benchmark manufacturing companies. The innovative management style and culture was based in erasing hierarchical distinctions and building an approachable management style. This created trust between the employees and the management. As a result, the employees were opposed to the process of unionization and organization-wide cooperation was maximized. Open communication was regarded as essential and everyone in the management from the CEO down worked in direct association with the employees. Because of the effective communications structure, the employees were able to link their work to the strategic focus of the company."
