Free Journalism Essay Media Audience Free Essays

1.0Introduction and Aims New technologies are a poisoned chalice for newspaper journalists and their audiences: at once equipping journalists with the resources they need to compete in the 21st century but at the same time threatening their very survival and forcing newspaper insiders to contemplate what Robert Rosenthal, the former Managing Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, called: â€Å"the greatest upheaval our industry and the institution of journalism has ever faced† (Beckett 2008, p.9). We will write a custom essay sample on Free Journalism Essay: Media Audience or any similar topic only for you Order Now I have chosen newspapers as the basis of my inquiry into new technologies because it is a medium which some have observed to be in terminal decline due to flat lining circulations (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development 2010), merciless redundancies (Beckett 2008, p.27) and of course the rise of online journalism and new technologies (Bardoel 1999, p.379), one aspect of which is User Generated Content such as Youtube or Twitter where the audience is both a user and a producer of content (Birdsall 2007, p.1284). Web 2.0 technology has forced many commentators to reassess the ways in which both audience and audiences are understood (Nightingale 2011, p.7). We currently live in a time when both print and online newspapers exist side-by-side and in some respects we have our feet in both the last remnants of the industrial wave of technology and what has been identified by some commentators as the â€Å"information society† (Toffler 1980). Two related aspects of the decline of newspapers is the rise of online journalism and the advent of citizen journalism enabled by new technologies and symbolized by the Korean online newspaper OhmyNews. The specific focus of the secondary research and this report is citizen-journalism and User Generated Content (UGC) and their effect on media audience theories with comparison to newspapers and the traditional models of audience research which describe common features: â€Å"vertical, top-down, passive, one-way flow of information† (Birdsall 2007, p.1284). UGC comes in many different forms of course and, although as pointed out above Web 2.0 has forced many commentators to reassess media au dience theory (Nightingale, 2010 p.7), there is a lack of scrutiny of citizen journalism in media audience theories. This report hopes principally to correct some of this imbalance. The aim of this report is consequently to understand whether the traditional understanding of the media audience applies to UGC and online journalism and if not, which theory can best be applied to them without falling foul of â€Å"technological determinism† (Bardoel 1999, p.386). The core structural components of audience theory, adopting the words of Nightingale (2011), can be distilled to firstly the active passive dimension and the micro-macro dimension. Both of these dialectics can explain UGC to a large extent and the work of both Nightingale (2011) and Jenkins (1999) will both be examined to see if new media and UGC can be located within present theories of audiences and indeed whether the term â€Å"audience† is still a useful term: will the death of newspapers also bring about the death of the traditional passive audience (Lievrouw Livingstone, 2006, p.27 Valdivia, 2005, p.353)? 2.0 Context (a) Traditional audience theory and definitions It is Nightingale’s (2011) analysis of the two dimensions of audience theory which is adopted for the purpose of this report and have been described usefully by Littlejohn as firstly a tension between â€Å"the idea that the audience is a mass public versus the idea that it is a small community,† and the tension between â€Å"the idea that the audience is passive versus the belief that it is active† (1996, p.310). This dual framework is a useful starting point for understanding what is now commonly perceived to be the old model and the new interactive world of UGC (Nightingale 2011, p.191). The traditional model is recognized as being one-directional and it is McQuail who produces a classic definition: â€Å"the audience concept implies an attentive, receptive but relatively passive set of listeners or spectators assembled in a more or less public setting† (McQuail, 2010 p.391). When offering a definition for audience theories McQuail puts forward three cr iteria: people, medium or channel, the content of the message(s) and time (Ibid). McQuail himself concedes, however, that Nightingale’s definition is best suited to the new media environment and implicitly acknowledges that his own definition is becoming redundant in the face of diversity. Nightingale’s definition runs as follows and embraces audience interactions: â€Å"Audience as ‘the people assembled’†¦audience as the ‘people addressed’†¦audience as ‘happening’†¦audience as ‘hearing or audition’†. (Quoted from MacQuail 2011, p.399). (b) UGC and the decline of newspapers: According to Allan (2006) it was a speech made by media mogul Rupert Murdoch in 2005 which heralded the death of the newspaper, at least in its paper and ink format, in the irresistible current of new technology. As noted above there are many explanations for the demise of the print newspaper but chief among them are flat lining circulations (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development 2010), merciless redundancies (Beckett 2008, p.27) and of course the rise of online journalism and new technologies (Bardoel 1999, p.379). User Generated Content (UGC) has, in the opinion of some, shifted the balance of power between consumer and the media by enabling the public to become more intimately involved with the process of deciding the content of news (Kucuka Krishnamurthy 2007). According to Redden Witschge (2011) however, there has been no such fundamental rebalancing to the consumer or even to the audience as ultimately it is the editor and the journalist who retains control. T his approach is echoed by the experience of OhmyNews in citizen journalism where editorial control is retained (Kim and Hamilton 2006 p. 542). According to Bevans (2008), UGC is any news related material produced by the public via the internet. UGC has enabled a very radical form of reporting to flourish: citizen journalism. This is a very new concept and as such there is a lack of analysis but the term first surfaced during the Indonesian tsunami and has grown rapidly ever since. Guardian blogger Neil Mcintosh saw this as a pivotal moment: â€Å"†¦ for those watching this small, comparatively insignificant world of media, this may also be remembered as a time when citizen reporting, through the force of its huge army of volunteers and their simple type and publish weblog mechanisms, finally found its voice, and delivered in a way the established media simply could not.† (Guardian Unlimited News Blog, 4 January 2005). 3.0 Methodology I have focused on existing research and scholarship for this report and have drawn sources from the leading theorists in media audiences as well as those commentators who described the death of print newspapers and the advent of UGC and citizen journalism. I have drawn the sources widely from books, journals and websites. I chose this methodology because I felt that small-scale empirical research would be unsatisfactory in firstly giving any kind of indication of whether or not present theories of audiences can be applied to UGC which is absolutely crucial to the focus of this work. The conceptual difficulties behind adopting any kind of surveys or any kind of qualitative research would be manifest and would have to be conducted on a much larger scale than a report of 2,000 words can allow. Furthermore this particular issue is one which can only be understood with a comprehensive look at past scholarship on media audiences. As pointed out above many commentators shy away from techno logical determinism in hailing a new epoch and so try to explain UGC in terms of existing audience theory. How to cite Free Journalism Essay: Media Audience, Essay examples

Handbook of Logistics and Distribution Management †MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Handbook of Logistics and Distribution Management. Answer: Introduction Supply chain management refers to the methods involved in the management of goods and services, its flow from the manufacturing unit to the target customers. Nippon Express is a logistics company, which has many years of experience in transportation, warehousing, distribution and other services(Abbasi Nilsson, 2016). The report highlights the global challenges Nippon Express faces in relation to cost efficiency, greener operations, highest possible quality level of services and global access. The key performance indicators are the powerful tools which help in understanding the structure of the business. Keeping track of the key performance indicators and measuring those helps in the improvement of the business. To improve the efficiency and revenue, Nippon Express must eliminate its infrastructure from the dispersed tasks(Beske, Land, Seuring, 2014). They can opt for the cloud system in order to achieve their aim as well as leverage information technology resource in a cost effective yet flexible manner. Such processes help in reducing the costs, hence benefiting the company. In addition to this, cloud environment can add more value to their distribution unit and improve their processing time. Data analysts can easily automate the processes and find the right tool for visualization, hence reducing time. Interactive dashboards of KPIs must be created for highlighting the differences of each month. Improvement in the distribution services would increase the customer satisf action, which in turn will benefit the company (Green Jr, Zelbst, Meacham, Bhadauria, 2012). Challenges in Achieving the KPIs Nippon Express faces lots of challenges in achieving the cost efficiencies in terms of its supply chain management. The rising cost of fuel and increasing number of global customers is increasing the supply chain cost of the organization. Apart from that, with the advancement of technology, the organization always has to adhere to frequently changing technology and purchase highly advanced technological equipments for maintaining its supply chain. In such situation, it become quite challenging for the organization towards to achieve cost efficiency in its supply chain management (Ross, 2013). On other hand, the organization also faces difficulties in achieving the greener operation in terms of achieving sustainable supply chain management. The organization has to use trucks, ships and other vehicles for transporting their goods the clients. It is always not possible for the organization towards using electric vehicles for transporting goods, as they are quite less speedy than the normal transportation vehicles. Therefore, the organization often fails to meet greener operation in supply chain management (Jacobs Chase, 2013). Nippon Express also faces extreme difficulties in achieving global access in regards to supply chain. Moreover, the organization faces challenges in the integration of supply chain across the global boundaries. On the other hand, the organization faces the issues in terms of managing the quality of the products and services sent to the customers. The goods can often be damaged during its transportation through different vehicles. Therefore, it prevent s the organization in achieving the quality of products to be delivered to the customers (Dekker, Fleischmann, Inderfurth, van Wassenhove, 2013). Cost Efficiency Nippon Express a logistics company of Tokyo, Japan is taken as an example to explain the supply chain managements process. However, the RFID technology application can benefit the company to a huge extent, which may vary from industry to industry. The Nippon Express has been established in the year 1937, which has a strong network over forty countries. Previously, all the operations of manufacturing, producing, washing and others were being performed manually (Ahi Searcy, A comparative literature analysis of definitions for green and sustainable supply chain management, 2013). After the introduction of RFID technology, the tagging and counting of products are done in seconds. Moreover, it has applied several strategies like cost leadership strategies and others to improve its ratio of profitability. Among all those, the focus strategy of the company helps in improving its focus on their customer satisfaction (Stadtler, 2015). The industry uses scanner, which helps in scanning the ta gs automatically without any error. It helps in scanning multiple tags simultaneously. It reduces the work load of the labors and does the work more accurately and swiftly. It helps in reducing the costs of the manufacturers as the maximum work is machine-based (Brandenburg, Govindan, Sarkis, Seuring, 2014). Greener practices at different levels of the industry can build a corporate image, which in turn, will lead the industry to sustainability, in this competitive world of business. The management plays an integral part in such implementation of green practices. The Nippon Express company is changing their business pattern to reduce the carbon footprint. Ecological imbalances and global warming are one of the biggest problems; the earth is facing in modern days (Barney, 2012). The industrial sector however, can implement various environmental friendly measures in order to save the world from global warming and climatic changes. Furthermore, several initiatives are taken by the industry as a segment of the green practice in their supply chain movement. This includes; saving paper while carrying out their services, reducing the usage of water, reduction of carbon emissions, usage of alternative energy sources for production and manufacturing, eliminating the usage of plastics while packag ing and saving trees (Seuring, 2013). Highest possible quality level of products and services In addition to the greener practices, supply chain management of the industry benefits the distribution processes by maintaining the highest possible quality of the products as well as services. It accelerates the delivery managements speed to a great extent, while improving efficiency and increasing accuracy in selecting and distributing processes (Ahi Searcy, An analysis of metrics used to measure performance in green and sustainable supply chains, 2015). The company has assembled all kinds of logistics techniques to reduce distribution costs and keep a track of the items and products, by registering it in the distribution centers computer system. The company has a network of large distribution centers and with the help of advanced technology; it can monitor its inventory levels and retain the quality of the products (Brandenburg, Govindan, Sarkis, Seuring, 2014). It also helps in maintaining the quality of the services by putting the cartons properly in right places, sorting the m quickly and also efficiently, dispatching of the cartons to its retailers in less span of time with accuracy. When the items reach their destination or store, at the entrance they get scanned as well as registered automatically. There quality is also taken care and kept intact. This in turn, helps in accelerating the delivery speed, while improving efficiency and quality, increasing accuracy and at the same time reducing distribution costs (Ahi Searcy, A comparative literature analysis of definitions for green and sustainable supply chain management, 2013). The implementation of information technology in the supply chain management of the company helps in manufacturing processes by reducing the manual work, which in turn reduces the costs. It also benefits in managing the warehouse by improving visibility and planning (Beske, Land, Seuring, 2014). Once the production is complete, the producers of Nippon Express pack the items in the cartons and then deliver those cartons to the buying companys warehouse (Fawcett, Ellram, Ogden, 2013). However, there are several challenges faced by the supply chain management of the industry. It is required to do a detailed research of the RFID technology before its application in the supply chain management. Managers must be well equipped with the handling of the technology so that they can train their employees with the utilization of the technology. It is important to understand whether its application is beneficial for the organization or not. Moreover, the technology can be expensive and requires proper maintenance. In addition to this, the RFID technology has a troublesome relationship with liquids and metals (Wisner, Tan, Leong, 2014). In a manufacturing industry, efficiency, compliance, automation and speed are necessary components for fulfilling the organizational goals. Nippon Express provides timeliness as well as greater accuracy, planning and forecasting, fulfilling orders, procuring materials and more (Tayur, Ganeshan, Magazine, 2012). In addition to this, the industrys supply chain management tools are designed well in order to meet the requirements. However, the industry faces certain challenges which can be handled and the recommendations given are quite feasible (Christopher, 2016). To achieve Just in Time management, the industry should be able to understand the needs and requirements of each and every client. Moreover, there should be a phase of preparation with each supplier for delivering the goods on time. In this manner, the production demands can be met easily. Furthermore, Nippon Express information technology solutions help in increasing the visibility and accuracy of their operations (Brindley , 2017). The application of supply chain management helps in the smooth flow of products and goods. It helps in building a relationship between the customer and the organization by fulfilling their demands. However, it is important to do a detailed research before applying the technology. The industry must adopt innovative technologies and top quality management. The seven concepts of top quality management includes; continuous improvement, employee empowerment, benchmarking and other concepts. The Nippon express must check whether their top quality management includes all parts and staffs of the organization or not. Therefore, to improve the quality of the supply chain, top quality management is essential. In addition to this, proper planning and execution is necessary. Six sigma procedures help in analyzing the data and improve the process. Lean system also helps in educating the suppliers, developing the workforce and reducing the job classes number. Other strategies include JIT or Just in Time which promises to deliver rights goods with right quality to the right people at right time. Therefore, Nippon Express can implement such strategies in order to make their supply chain processes more effective and efficient. Five different themes of current affecting Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Designing the Supply Chain from the Shelf Back: Most of the time, the consumer goods retailers and companies thought that the supply chain management ended at retail or the delivery of items to the stores. They completely forgot that supply chain exists in the areas where the consumers make their decisions. Moreover, their focus on demand driven industries still struggles to push the products to the stores (Seuring, 2013). Companies like Wal-Mart, Procter Gamble and others have senior level managers who are responsible for managing the supply chain. Managers are responsible for optimizing the processes with various retailers for streamlining the goods flow, in consumer goods company. This is done in order to manufacture floor to the retail shelf (McCormack Johnson, 2016). This can lead to some significant improvements in delivery and transportation of the goods. Shelf level view also helps in creating other insights . For instance, Wal-Mart has changed their way of looking at the q uality metrics. Previously, it was internally focused and tracked the quality of the products. It helped in changing the designs of the packages and thus, reducing damages from handling as well as stocking processes. It helped the manufacturers to look at the problems clearly and hence, providing them with opportunities for improving the procedures (Grant, Wong, Trautrims, 2017). Better Planning as well as Execution: In both retail companies and consumer goods, supply inefficiencies occur, which is created through the disconnection between the planning of supply chain and the execution of systems as well as processes. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, many companies have immature operations planning and sales processes. Due to this, it develops a strategy which drives supply chain management (Coyle, Langley, Novack, Gibson, 2016). Most of the companies still have poor information flow. Both the consumer goods and retailers are looking out for new and innovative processes as well as systems to reduce the information latency. This in turn will allow them to keep a track of the store shelf happenings. Moreover, it will drive appropriate replenishment and manufacturing decisions, by closing the loops between planning as well as execution (Gereffi Fernandez-Stark, 2016). In a recent study, it is found that, only eleven percent of the companies have hi ghly integrated supply chain planning as well as execution processes. On the other hand, more than ninety percent companies are still planning to have a better planning and execution process in the next three years. This can be done by adopting several strategies like improving the visibility of supply chain, better integrating of existing software and collaborating with the suppliers as well as retailers (Govindan, Soleimani, Kannan, 2015). Transportation Costs: The main focus must be on the transportation costs as the fuel costs are raising rapidly. However, with innovative technology and measures, these issues can be solved. Efficient planning of production helps in the smooth movement of products and its raw materials in a less span of time. Previously, in companies all the works were done manually (Zhu, Sarkis, Lai, 2017). It was necessary to count the products several times which includes the stages of manufacturing, production, washing of the products and its packing. Previously, all these operations were being performed manually. After the introduction of RFID technology, the tagging and counting of products are done in seconds. RFID scanner helps in scanning the tags automatically without any error. Moreover, it helps in scanning multiple tags simultaneously (Rushton, Croucher, Baker, 2014). It reduces the work load of the labors and does the work more accurately and swiftly. It helps in reducing the costs of the manufacturers as the maximum work is machine-based. Most of the companies are embracing different strategies for lowering their transportation costs. For instance, Clarks Company found that it can gain substantial profit by replacing its center of consolidation in China, instead of shipping from Asian locations. It helped in reducing the shipping costs through the usage of larger containers (Myerson, 2016). Proper Forecasting: Proper forecasting is essential for any organization or industry, as it ensures in having enough supply in hand, in order to satisfy the demands and desires of the consumers. Business analysts utilize the systems of logistics and supply chain management as well as some other tools, in order to forecast the demands in advance (Mangan Lalwani, 2016). For example; Amazon uses forecasting techniques to increase the satisfaction of the consumers, reduce the inventory stock outs, schedule the production effectively, lowering the safety requirements of stocks, reduce obsolescence costs of products, manage the shipping better, improve price and promote management (Awudu Zhang, 2017). The three major forecast types used within supply chains context are; demand forecasting to investigate the demands and requirements of the buyers, supply forecasting to know about the current suppliers and producers and lastly, the price forecast, which is the compilation of demands and su pplys information. Forecasting abilities of any business varies from organization to organization. In order to improve the forecasting abilities, one needs to understand the size of the demands and the uncertainty drivers. The demand planning and strategy needs to be kept simple. The organizations should always have backup plans as well as change their strategies when needed (McKinnon, Browne, Whiteing, Piecyk, 2015). Green Supply Chain: Consumer goods and retailer companies are taking the initiative of reducing their carbon emissions in order to develop a Green Supply Chain Management. Wal-Mart Company has announced several strategies and initiatives over the past years for undertaking green supply chain measures. This will not only help in reducing the carbon emissions, but also lower the transportation costs (Monczka, Handfield, Giunipero, Patterson, 2015). The companies are changing their business pattern to reduce the carbon footprint. Ecological imbalances and global warming are one of the biggest problems; the earth is facing in modern days. The industrial sectors however, can implement various environmental friendly measures in order to save the world from global warming and climatic changes (Heizer, 2016). Green practices at different levels of the industry can build a corporate image, which in turn, will lead the industry to sustainability, in this competitive world of business (Coyle, Langley, Novack, Gibson, 2016). The management plays an integral part in such implementation of green practices. For instance, Nippon Express takes several initiatives as a segment of the green practice. This includes; saving paper, reducing the usage of water, reduction of carbon emissions, usage of alternative energy sources for production and manufacturing, eliminating the usage of plastics while packaging and saving trees (Grant, Wong, Trautrims, 2017). Conclusion To conclude, supply chain management helps in the smooth flow of products and their distribution. It compiles all the steps of distribution along with the decisions of marketing, desires of the consumers in accordance with the companys goals and strategies. Moreover, it gives a brief explanation of the application of several technologies in the supply chain management. As per the findings of the report, application of such technology helps in the smooth movement of products and goods. In addition to this, the five different themes of global logistics and supply chain help in providing with useful insights. Bibliography Abbasi, M., Nilsson, F. (2016). Developing environmentally sustainable logistics: Exploring themes and challenges from a logistics service providers perspective. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 46, 273-283. Ahi, P., Searcy, C. (2013). A comparative literature analysis of definitions for green and sustainable supply chain management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 52, 329-341. Ahi, P., Searcy, C. (2015). An analysis of metrics used to measure performance in green and sustainable supply chains. Journal of Cleaner Production, 86, 360-377. Awudu, I., Zhang, J. (2017). Uncertainties and sustainability concepts in biofuel supply chain management. A review.Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16(2), 1359-1368. Barney, J. B. (2012). Purchasing, supply chain management and sustained competitive advantage: The relevance of resource?based theory. Journal of supply chain management, 48(2), 3-6. Beske, P., Land, A., Seuring, S. (2014). Sustainable supply chain management practices and dynamic capabilities in the food industry. A critical analysis of the literature.International Journal of Production Economics, 152, 131-143. Brandenburg, M., Govindan, K., Sarkis, J., Seuring, S. (2014). Quantitative models for sustainable supply chain management: Developments and directions. European Journal of Operational Research, 233(2), 299-312. Brindley, C. (2017). Supply chain risk. Taylor Francis. Christopher, M. (2016). Logistics supply chain management. Pearson UK. Coyle, J. J., Langley, C. J., Novack, R. A., Gibson, B. (2016). Supply chain management: a logistics perspective. Nelson Education. Dekker, R., Fleischmann, M., Inderfurth, K., van Wassenhove, L. N. (2013). Reverse logistics: quantitative models for closed-loop supply chains. Springer Science Business Media. Fawcett, S. E., Ellram, L. M., Ogden, J. A. (2013). Supply Chain Management: Pearson New International Edition: From Vision to Implementation. Pearson Higher Ed. Gereffi, G., Fernandez-Stark, K. (2016). Global value chain analysis. a primer. Govindan, K., Soleimani, H., Kannan, D. (2015). Reverse logistics and closed-loop supply chain: A comprehensive review to explore the future. European Journal of Operational Research, 240(3), 603-626. Grant, D. B., Wong, C. Y., Trautrims, A. (2017). Sustainable logistics and supply chain management: principles and practices for sustainable operations and management. Kogan Page Publishers. Green Jr, K. W., Zelbst, P. J., Meacham, J., Bhadauria, V. S. (2012). Green supply chain management practices: impact on performance.. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 17(3), 290-305. Heizer, J. (2016). Operations Management, 11/e. Pearson Education . Jacobs, R., Chase, R. (2013). Operations and supply chain management. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Mangan, J., Lalwani. (2016). Global logistics and supply chain management. John Wiley Sons. McCormack, K. P., Johnson, W. C. (2016). Supply chain networks and business process orientation. advanced strategies and best practices. McKinnon, A., Browne, M., Whiteing, A., Piecyk, M. (2015). Green logistics: Improving the environmental sustainability of logistics. Kogan Page Publishers. Monczka, R. M., Handfield, R. B., Giunipero, L. C., Patterson, J. L. (2015). Purchasing and supply chain management. Cengage Learning. Myerson, P. (2016). Lean supply chain and logistics management. New York: McGraw-Hill. Ross, D. F. (2013). Competing through supply chain management: creating market-winning strategies through supply chain partnerships. Springer Science Business Media. Rushton, A., Croucher, P., Baker, P. (2014). The handbook of logistics and distribution management: Understanding the supply chain. Kogan Page Publishers. Seuring, S. (2013). A review of modeling approaches for sustainable supply chain management. Decision support systems. Stadtler, H. (2015). Supply chain management: An overview. InSupply chain management and advanced planning(pp. 3-28). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Tayur, S., Ganeshan, R., Magazine, M. (2012). Quantitative models for supply chain management(Vol. 17). Springer Science Business Media. Wisner, J. D., Tan, K. C., Leong, G. K. (2014). Principles of supply chain management: A balanced approach. Cengage Learning. Zhu, Q., Sarkis, J., Lai, K. H. (2017). Examining the effects of green supply chain management practices and their mediations on performance improvements. International journal of production research, 50(5), 1377-1394.

The Australia Legal System free essay sample

CongressThe Australian Legal System Introduction All countries are a reflection of their histories and this is very much the case with governmental structures and the associated legal system. The Australian legal system is based on a fundamental belief in the rule of law, justice and the independence of the judiciary. All people—Australians and non-Australians alike—are treated equally before the law and safeguards exist to ensure that people are not treated arbitrarily or unfairly by governments or officials. Principles such as procedural fairness, judicial precedent and the separation of powers are fundamental to Australia’s legal system. The common law system, as developed in the United Kingdom, forms the basis of Australian jurisprudence. It is distinct from the civil law systems that operate in Europe, South America and Japan, which are derived from Roman law. Other countries that employ variations of the common law system are the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Malaysia and India. The chief feature of the common law system is that judges’ decisions in pending cases are informed by the decisions of previously settled cases. Australian law has evolved via many routes: customs of the people, legislation, case law and public opinion. And the major historical sources of law in Australia are the common law, the law of equity, statute based law and the law concerning native title. [i] Australia is a federation with seven constitutions; one for each of the six States and one for the Commonwealth. These constitutions provide for a parliament for each of the States and a parliament for the Commonwealth of Australia. [ii] The Australian Constitution of 1901 established a federal system of government, under which powers are distributed between the federal government and the states. It defined exclusive powers (investing the federal government with the exclusive power to make laws on matters such as trade and commerce, taxation, defence, external affairs, and immigration and citizenship) and concurrent powers (where both tiers of government are able to enact laws). The states and territories have independent legislative power in all matters not specifically assigned to the federal government. Where there is any inconsistency between federal and state or territory laws, federal laws prevail. Federal laws apply to the whole of Australia. In effect, Australia has nine legal systems—the eight state and territory systems and one federal system. However, it is the state and territory criminal laws that mainly affect the day-to-day lives of most Australians. Each of the federal and state systems incorporates three separate branches of government—legislative, executive and judicial. Parliaments make the laws, the executive government administers the laws, and the judiciary independently interprets and applies them. The Parliament of the Commonwealth is the federal legislature of Australia. The Australia Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the King or Queen and the two houses, the Senate (the Upper House) and the House of Representatives (the Lower House). [iii] In Australia, executive authority is vested in the Government General, who is appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the Prime Ministerthe head of the majority party in Parliament. The Government General is His or Her Majestys representative in the Commonwealth. Under the Constitution, the Government General has many important constitutional, official and ceremonial duties to perform. The judiciary is the government branch concerned with the administration of justice. It is absolutely separate from the executive branch and the legislature so as to check the concentration of government power. The Australia judiciary includes the High Court, the Federal Court, and the Family Court, and courts of the six states and two territories. The courts The High Court is the superior court in Australia. It has a Chief Justice and six other judges who can preside either individually or together. Its functions include interpreting and applying the law, deciding cases of special federal significance, including challenges to the constitutional validity of laws, and hearing appeals from the federal, state and territory courts. The Federal Court’s jurisdiction is broad, covering almost all civil matters arising under Australian federal law and some summary criminal matters. The court also has substantial and diverse appellate jurisdiction, including over the decisions of single judges of the Federal Court and the Federal Magistrates Court (in non-family-law matters) and some decisions of the state and territory courts. The Family Court is Australia’s superior court in family law. Through its specialist judges and staff, the court helps to resolve complex family disputes. It also covers specialized areas such as cases relating to the Hague Convention on International Child Abductions (which came into force in Australia in December 1998) and the international relocation of children by parents or guardians. The Federal Magistrates Court was established by the federal parliament in 1999 and conducted its first sittings in July 2000. Its jurisdiction includes family law, bankruptcy, unlawful discrimination, consumer protection and trade practices, privacy, migration, copyright and industrial law. Nearly all of its jurisdiction is shared with the Family Court or the Federal Court. [iv] Australian state and territory courts have jurisdiction in all matters brought under state or territory laws. They also handle some matters arising under federal laws, where jurisdiction has been conferred by the federal parliament. State and territory courts deal with most criminal matters, whether arising under federal, state or territory law. Each state and territory court system operates independently. All states have supreme courts and some also have courts of criminal appeal, which are the highest appellate courts at the state level. Courts known as ‘district’ or ‘county’ courts hear the more serious cases, with a judge presiding over the court to interpret and determine the law. For more serious charges it is usual for a jury (usually of 12 people) to determine the guilt or innocence of defendants. Serious offences such as murder, rape and armed robbery are usually tried in a higher court. Lesser offences are dealt with in lower courts, known as local or magistrates courts (or courts of petty sessions), where magistrates determine the guilt or innocence of defendants. In all cases, defendants are considered to be innocent until proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. There is no death penalty in Australia. Legal aid and representation Australian governments recognize that access to legal representation is an important element in ensuring justice for all. They provide some legal aid for people assessed as being least able to afford to cover the costs of a court appearance. The federal Attorney-General’s Department is responsible for administering funding for the provision of legal aid services for federal law matters through legal aid commissions, administering a Community Legal Services Program and managing legal aid services for Indigenous Australians. State and territory governments fund legal aid services for cases being tried under state and territory law. There are eight independent legal aid commissions, one in each of the states and territories, with a total budget of around $400 million. Funding is provided by the federal government and state and territory governments. Other revenue comes from interest earnings, contributions and fees. Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission was established in 1986 as an independent statutory organization reporting to the federal parliament through the Attorney-General. Its goals are to foster understanding about, and protection of, human rights in Australia and to address human rights concerns. Its functions include resolving complaints of discrimination or breaches of human rights under federal law and holding public inquiries into human rights issues of national importance. Australian Crime Commission The Australian Crime Commission was established in January 2003 (replacing the National Crime Authority) as an independent statutory body to work nationally with federal, state and territory agencies, principally to counter serious and organized crime. It brings together all arms of Australian intelligence gathering and law enforcement to coordinate the fight against major crime. International legal cooperation and treaties Australia seeks to promote international cooperation in the legal sector. The federal government established the International Legal Services Advisory Council in 1990 to promote the globalization of legal services. The council seeks to promote understanding of different countries’ laws, legal systems and legal institutions, particularly in the areas of trade, business and international law. It also contributes to the development of legal institutions, education and training, and legal interchanges and contacts. [i] David Barker, Essential Australian Law [ii] The Australian System of Government [iii] Donald Gifford, Understanding the Australian Legal System [iv] Federal Magistrates Court of Australia

The Worthiness of Success free essay sample

There comes a moment in a man’s life when some wisdom starts creeping into his brain, and this wisdom, although its acquisition is traditionally scarcely voluntary, aids him in the many dimensions of his life, but most of all, it help him understand himself, and, perhaps as a consequent, life. As for me, I’ve always been the odd one out; at home, at school, in the street. At home, I was raised with three sisters, all older than I am. At school, I was the class nerd because I excelled at languages (a paradox in my society) and I was never quite the loud charismatic one, unlike most boys around me. In the street, I wasn’t comfortable walking alone; I felt out of place and a sense of being exposed haunted me, exacerbated by the looks that followed me. As a child growing into adolescence, I was amazed at how different I am from other boys in my limited environment (I admit I was introverted). We will write a custom essay sample on The Worthiness of Success or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The difference had always been there, but I’d never been able to cognize its immensity. While other boys would play soccer, I would stay at home baking cookies. As I grew, I tried to be more open and positive, but by the time, the underlying sense of how diametrically different I was from others never evaded me; no matter what I did, it wouldn’t hush. An inexplicable feeling that I would never be accepted weighed me down, preventing me from hoping to go further, and whatever I did only added more to that weight, widening further the already vast chasm. That sense of lack of communication led me to practice individual sports where I can meditate such as swimming and jogging. I began doubting myself. As the evidence showed me, I clearly had an underlying fault which made me repulsive on sight. I shriveled up and detested the sun’s rays. I’d come to realize why so many poets rhymed to the silence of solitude. Life became a black abyss which slowly pulled me down into its nefarious emptiness. But, something inside me stirred, perhaps my will to survive. As a defense mechanism, I took voluntary refuge in carefully selected ‘fixations’; delving into a subject to take my mind off of life. My fixations were many, with my latest being over Dalida -a French singer- during which I ameliorated my French language. This lasted for some time until recently, when some wisdom started lighting up the little neurons in my brain. I was hit by an epiphany: Life had been setting me up for greatness. The idea, though simple, packs a potent punch. Every person that walked this earth had a great challenge to overcome, but only the great ones did. Others forgot that greatness is composed of ordinary things, such as a luxurious yacht is built by normal wood and ordinary nails, that we all have warrior instinct and that we all have inner strength. Thus, greatness is in the reach of all. The mountains we have to conquer only help us to harness that strength. From that vantage point, it becomes clear that we’re meant to achieve greatness, and no gain comes without hard work and a limited amount of pain In a humble attempt, and armed with a new found self-esteem, I have taken many steps to improve my life, and to mention all of them here would be cumbersome. So I will only mention one: My quest for knowledge. Strength without knowledge is destruction, knowledge without strength is a life wasted. Life has given me (I genuinely hope) strength, and I plan on learning everything there is about life. I would like to conclude my essay with this inspiring quote: â€Å"Do today what others won’t, so tomorrow you can do what others can’t.†

Osmoregulation Definition and Explanation

Osmoregulation Definition and Explanation Osmoregulation is the active regulation of osmotic pressure to maintain the balance of water and electrolytes in an organism. Control of osmotic pressure is  needed to perform biochemical reactions and preserve homeostasis. How Osmoregulation Works Osmosis is the movement of solvent molecules through a semipermeable membrane into an area that has a higher solute concentration. Osmotic pressure is the external pressure needed to prevent the solvent from crossing the membrane. Osmotic pressure depends on the concentration of solute particles. In an organism, the solvent is water and the solute particles are mainly dissolved salts and other ions, since larger molecules (proteins and polysaccharides) and nonpolar or hydrophobic molecules (dissolved gases, lipids) dont cross a semipermeable membrane. To maintain the water and electrolyte balance, organisms excrete excess water, solute molecules, and wastes. Osmoconformers and Osmoregulators There are two strategies used for osmoregulation- conforming and regulating. Osmoconformers use active or passive processes to match their internal osmolarity to that of the environment. This is commonly seen in marine invertebrates, which have the same internal osmotic pressure inside their cells as the outside water, even though the chemical composition of the solutes may be different. Osmoregulators control internal osmotic pressure so that conditions are maintained within a tightly-regulated range. Many animals are osmoregulators, including vertebrates (like humans). Osmoregulation Strategies of Different Organisms Bacteria - When osmolarity increases around bacteria, they may use transport mechanisms to absorb electrolytes or small organic molecules. The osmotic stress activates genes in certain bacteria that lead to the synthesis of osmoprotectant molecules. Protozoa - Protists use contractile vacuoles to transport ammonia and other excretory wastes from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane, where the vacuole opens to the environment. Osmotic pressure forces water into the cytoplasm, while diffusion and active transport control the flow of water and electrolytes. Plants - Higher plants use the stomata on the underside of leaves to control water loss. Plant cells rely on vacuoles to regulate  cytoplasm osmolarity. Plants that live in hydrated soil (mesophytes) easily compensate for water lost from transpiration by absorbing more water. The leaves and stem of the plants may be protected from excessive water loss by a waxy outer coating called the cuticle. Plants that live in dry habitats (xerophytes) store water in vacuoles, have thick cuticles, and may have structural modifications (i.e., needle-shaped leaves, protected stomata) to protect against water loss. Plants that live in salty environments (halophytes) have to regulate not only water intake/loss but also the effect on osmotic pressure by salt. Some species store salts in their roots so the low water potential will draw the solvent in via osmosis. Salt may be excreted onto leaves to trap water molecules for absorption by leaf cells. Plants that live in water or damp environments (hydr ophytes) can absorb water across their entire surface. Animals - Animals utilize an excretory system to control the amount of water that is lost to the environment and maintain osmotic pressure. Protein metabolism also generates waste molecules which could disrupt osmotic pressure. The organs that are responsible for osmoregulation depend on the species. Osmoregulation in Humans In humans, the primary organ that regulates water is the kidney. Water, glucose, and amino acids may be reabsorbed from the glomerular filtrate in the kidneys or it may continue through the ureters to the bladder for excretion in urine. In this way, the kidneys maintain the electrolyte balance of the blood and also regulate blood pressure. Absorption is controlled by the hormones aldosterone, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), and angiotensin II. Humans also lose water and electrolytes via perspiration. Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus of the brain monitor changes in water potential, controlling thirst and secreting ADH. ADH is stored in the pituitary gland. When it is released, it targets the endothelial cells in the nephrons of the kidneys. These cells are unique because they have aquaporins. Water can pass through aquaporins directly rather than having to navigate through the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane. ADH opens the water channels of the aquaporins, allowing water to flow. The kidneys continue to absorb water, returning it to the bloodstream, until the pituitary gland stops releasing ADH.

Graduate Labor Market Of Banking Industry In The United Kingdom Essay

Graduate Labor Market Of Banking Industry In The United Kingdom (Information For 2nd Year Economics Undergraduate.) - Essay Example Careers available in the industry are relatively attractive, and the opportunities are numerous. Accounting is one of the overriding career choices that are highly marketable in banking sector (Clement, 2003). It requires people with requisite analytical skills, accurate performance, and arithmetic techniques. Due to the current competitive market and uncertainties surrounding the future of the financial market, strategic management is proving to be a very essential career choice. It involves exceptional statistical and economic analytical talent. Securities and financial analyst also find significant role in the banking sector among other careers (Clement & Williams, 1989). It is fundamental that a student performs in school and attains better grades, but this is not all as observed by the employers. The current career choice and job placement require a graduate to show competencies beyond the class performance and be able to solve the practical problems in the society (Great Britain, 2010). This begins with even Curriculum Vitae presentation where one needs to show abilities and attributes that match the requirements of the financial market. Any graduate seeking to advance his/her career in banking must have skills that present a resolution to the bank’s placement descriptions (Bonanno & Cavalcanti, 2011). It is imperative that a graduate shows exemplary command of written and spoken English as this shows required communication skills and competencies crucial in this sector. Such abilities may be subjected to test especially during interviews where the aptitude test and oral interview will expose the graduates’ ability (Field, 2002). In order to achieve great in this industry, one needs to join reputable institution and exhibit high standards of discipline (Clark & Daunton,

An Analysis of Two Comparative E-commerce Companies in China Dissertation

An Analysis of Two Comparative E-commerce Companies in China - Dissertation Example As a result, business trust is built only when consumers have opportunities to conduct business in a face-to-face context. Thus it is generally concluded that e-commerce challenges in China is a result of a deficiency in trust in online merchants and the fact that individuals purchase goods in the absence of a face-to-fact meeting and an absence of â€Å"guanxi† (interpersonal relations).3 This research study seeks to provide an understanding of how and why e-commerce has been slow to develop in China. We examine and analyse, organizational culture and its impact on competitive strategies in China’s e-commerce business and the impact of Chinese culture on the e-commerce business in China and on organizational culture generally. This study is conducted by virtue of a qualitative case study in which a comparative analysis of two e-businesses forms the basis of the research: E-bay China and Taobao. Table of Contents Abstract 2 Chapter One 5 Introduction 5 1.1Introduction t o the Study 5 1.2. Problem Definition and Key Questions 12 1.3 Research Aims and Objectives 13 1.4 Motivation for Study 13 1.5 Importance of the Study 14 1.6 Research Task 15 1.7 Structure of the Thesis 15 Chapter Two 16 A Review of the Literature 16 2.1. Introduction 17 This research study attempts to answer key questions namely: 17 2.2. The Significance of E-Commerce for Organizational Performance and Success 18 2.3. The Impact of Organizational and Environmental Factors on E-Commerce Success 20 2.4. Obstacles to E-Commerce in China 25 2.5. Conclusion 28 Chapter Three 29 Research Methodology 29 3.1. Introduction 29 3.2. The Nature of the Enquiry 30 3.3. Sampling 31 3.4. Questionnaire Development and Interview Schedule Development 32 3.5. Treatment of Bias in Study 33 3.6. Non Responses 33 3.7. Ethical Considerations 34 Chapter Four 36 Qualitative Data Analysis 36 4.1. Introduction 36 4.2. Qualitative Theme: Cluster Analysis 37 4.3. Results 38 4.4. Reliability and Validity Analyses 40 4.5. Association Between Variables/Constructs 41 4.6. Conclusion 42 Chapter Five 43 Discussion and Conclusion 43 5.1. Major Research Findings 43 5.2. Implications of the Study 47 5.3. Limitations of the Study 48 5.4. Further Research 48 Bibliography 51 Appendices...............................................................................................................................50 Chapter One Introduction 1.1 Introduction to the Study E-commerce is driven by global, environmental and policy issues that function to determine the extent to which e-commerce diffusion emerge in a particular environment. Business to business (B2B) e-commerce is typically steered by global factors and business-to-consumer (B2C) appears to be driven by local factors. However, in B2B e-commerce, businesses are under pressure to adopt B2C e-commerce strategies in local markets so as to remain competitive. Thus, local consumer markets and local e-commerce is important for businesses wishing to re main competitive globally. Although all consumers are attracted to â€Å"convenience and low prices†, there is a difference in terms of consumer attitudes, preferences values, culture and distribution along consumer markets in different countries.4 This