Monday, May 4, 2020
Report Layout Internet Security
Question: Describe about the internet security and the requirement of internet security in the organization? Answer: Executive Summary This report will be dealing with the internet security and the requirement of internet security in the organization. It is seen that majority of the people are using the internet for a pretty long time that is 6-10 years and are also using laptops and phones majorly more than desktops and tablets for internet purpose. Moreover, the customers are also concerned about the internet security and use various methods for protecting their devices and data. A. Report Layout Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Outline of the thesis With the rising internet technology and advancement of internet, the chances of the internet devices getting affected by the virus, worms, Trojan, Adware and spywares has increased to a considerable extent (Huang et al. 2012). Internet Security is essential to protect the devices from the unauthorized poking by the unauthorized users, to maintain the data integrity, data security and avoid redundancy of data. To protect the internet from the unauthorized users and hackers, several steps such as firewalls, antivirus, limited uses of JavaScript, ActiveX etc need to be done (Bisiaux, 2014). This research will be discussing about the internet security, causes, ill-effects as well as ways to reduce it for making it safe for the users. 1.2 Problem Statement With the advancement of internet usage, several problems regarding its security and protection have raised. Through this report, it will be discussed about the causes of the rising problem of internet security and the necessity of it in daily life. 1.3 Research Questions What according to you is the necessity of having internet security? What are the possible ways of securing the internet? What are the main causes that compel you to maintain security of internet? 1.4 Structure of the paper 1st chapter: Introduction: This section will be discussing regarding the theme of internet security in a brief manner along with the problems regarding interne security. 2nd chapter: Literature Review: Different theories and concepts that helped the researcher in in-depth understanding the topic along with critical perspectives are discussed in a standardized manner. In addition, pros and cons of the research topic are also vividly discussed. 3rd Chapter: Research Methodology: This chapter is concerned about collection of data, research approach, philosophy, design that helped the researcher in analysis the topic in a methodical way. 4th Chapter: Results and Findings: This chapter will be dealing with the results and findings of the collected data that will help the researcher in better understanding of the topic. 5th Chapter: Discussion and Analysis: This chapter will be analyzing the collected data through various techniques that helped the researcher in gaining knowledge regarding the topic. 6th Chapter: Conclusion: Internet security is an essential part in todays world and this chapter will be discussing with the summary of the previous chapters that the researcher has tried to research in this topic. Chapter 2: Literature Review 2.1 Introduction Jsang (2014) commented on the fact that in this technologically driven world, the use of internet has made the world very small in size and helped the users in getting touch the rest part world very easily. Now days with the advancement of the internet and increase in internet usage, the security of the internet has become a matter of concern (Gold, 2013). This section will be dealing with the internet security, safety, types of internet attacks, and the need of internet security along with the ways of securing the internet. 2.2 Internet Security and Internet Safety According to Pawlik (2014) internet security and internet safety are the closely knitted terms and are closely related to each other helping in understanding the research topic in depth. According to the view of Wright (2005) internet security is the application of the technologies in securing the internet from unauthorized users and hackers. On the other hand, Ziegeldorf et al. (2013) commented that internet safety relates to protection of internet against any kind of risks and threats that may cause due to usage of internet. For securing the internet and to avoid the redundancy and data loss, protection of internet is essential and internet safety is needed to be maintained. 2.3 Types of internet attacks Virus attack- According to Kim and Chung (2013) the viruses are basically the program that are spread through internet, emails that damages the computer by damaging the program, deleting files, crashing the system and reformatting the hard disk. The viruses generally use the programming language and thereby take up the computer memory that is used by the genuine programs. Worm attack- Clarke et al. (2014) had a view that the worms are the self-contained programs that also attacks the host computer through internet by replicating themselves without the actual host file. The worm causes harm to the network as well as network bandwidth. Trojan attack- According to Shepherd et al. (2014) the Trojan Horses are the charlatan files that claim themselves to be useful to the user but are malicious in nature. They are generally sent to the users through internet and contain malicious codes that cause theft or loss of data. Spyware attack and Adware attack - Schaffer (2006) commented on the fact that spyware is a common attack thorough internet since it gathers the information regarding the search of the customers and delivers it to them. It can be a modification to the HTML package and also is a stand-alone installation package. They enter the users computers through Web browsers, browser enhancements, browser theme and games. On the other hand, Furnell (2005) had a view that adware is a program that displays the advertisement related to a specific website of the users web browser. 2.4 Requirement of Internet security According to Kabernik (2013) now days it has now become a necessity to the users to protect and have security of the internet. This is because, with the rising technological and internet advancement, the crime regarding the internet is also increasing in a rapid pace. In order to protect the computers, laptops and other mobile devices from the viruses, malwares, worms, Trojan horse etc. that are spread through internet need to be secured. So, Jung et al. (2001) commented on this fact that in order to protect the internet, the data and information of the user and for avoiding the redundancy of data, security of internet is essential. Moreover, for the personal security of the users data and to avoid the misuse and leakage of the data, internet security is essential. 2.5 Ways of Internet security With the increase in internet attacks, the advancement to internet security is also increasing in a rapid manner. There are various ways of internet security that are discussed below- Usage of secured Email- According to Hiller (2013) it is a common way of spreading viruses and bringing the internet users under danger. For securing the internet from these attacks, the users shouldnt accept any kind of attachments through email, need to disable the automatic downloading mode in the web browsers and limit the usages if Java Script, Windows Scripting Host and ActiveX in the web browsers (Bays et al. 2015). Encryption- Huang (2012) commented on the fact that for protecting the files within the device, encryption of data is essential. According to Nie (2013) there are certain application tools that are used for encryption of the data and decryption of the same without data redundancy and thereby protecting the data. Firewalls- According to Huang et al. (2012) another method of securing the internet is through usage of Firewalls. This is because; a firewall passes the message sin a selective manner and other messages are simply screened out. Aschenbruck (2012) commented on this fact that firewalls are quite effective in fending off the worms. Secured Web Browsing- Bainbridge (2007) commented on the fact that it is the tendency of the internet users to browse the internet to the maximum and thereby the security and privacy regarding this is to be taken most seriously. Shepherd et al. (2014) had a view that the available tools in the market are used to deactivate the tracking IP addresses of the sites and hence reduces the attack of the viruses and worms that are spread through web browsers and IP address trackers. 2.6 Summary In this section it is clearly seen the different types of internet attacks and the different ways that are introduced for protecting the internet and securing it. Moreover, the need of internet security is also discussed that also helps in better understanding of the internet security. Chapter 3: Research Methodology 3.1 Introduction The research methodology helps in understanding and undertaking the appropriate methods for completing the research in the most appropriate way. However, Ziegeldorf et al. (2013) pointed out that this research methodology helps in collection of data and also focuses on the research design and hypotheses that help in understanding the internet security to a considerable depth. 3.2 Research design According to Pawlik (2014) there are three types of research design- exploratory, descriptive and explanatory. For this research, the researcher has chosen descriptive research designing. Jung et al. (2001) had an opinion regarding this research that this research design helps in understanding the internet security in details and also helps in understanding the influence of it on the users. 3.3 Data collection Methods The data are the useful sources of information and are collected both using primary and secondary sources for the better understanding of the research topic. Shepherd et al. (2014) commented on the fact that the primary data are collected through direct interaction with the customers and users as well as managers. The secondary data are collected from the sources, magazines, journals related to the research topic. 3.4 Hypotheses For conducting the research, nearly 100 internet users are interacted with regarding their internet security problem and internet usage. Out of the 100 users, only 50 of them responded to the researcher and this helped the researcher in progress of the research. 3.5 Summary This chapter of the research has dealt with the research design, data collection methods, hypotheses that are used for the better understanding of the subject to the researcher. Moreover, for the methodical and step by step approach, the research methodology has proved useful to the researcher. Chapter 4: Results and Findings 4.1 Introduction This chapter will be dealing with the collection of the data and using the collected data that will help the company in better understanding of the topic regarding the internet security. The data will that are collected from the respondents will be helping the researcher in further understanding the research work. 4.2 Quantitative Analysis (For Users) 1) For how long do you use internet? Options No of respondents Total Respondents Response % 1-2 years 5 50 10% 3-5 years 10 50 20% 6- 10 years 20 50 40% 11-15 years 8 50 16% More than 15 years 7 50 14% Table 1: Users usage of internet Figure 1: Users usage of internet This is seen that 10% of the users are uses the internet for 1-2 years, 20% of them uses them for 3-5 years and 40% of the users them for 6-10 years. In addition to this, for 11-15 years, 16% of the users use the internet and for more than 15 years, only 14% of the users use it. 2) What are the devices you use for internet? Options No of respondents Total Respondents Response % Computers 10 50 20% Laptops 20 50 40% Tablets 5 50 10% Phones 15 50 30% Table 2: Devices where internet are used Figure 2: Devices where internet are used 20% of the users use internet through computers, 40% uses it through laptops, 10% uses it through tablets and the rest 30% uses it through phones. 3) How much you are concerned about internet security? Options No of respondents Total Respondents Response % Most Likely 10 50 20% Likely 20 50 40% Neutral 5 50 10% Less 8 50 16% Very Less 7 50 14% Table 3: Concern about internet security Figure 3: Concern about internet security 20% and 40% of the users are concerned about the internet security very likely and likely respectively, only 10% of them are neutral and 16% and 14% of them are concerned in a less and very less manner about the internet security. Chapter 5: Discussion 1) It has been seen that maximum number of users are using the internet for the past 6-10 years since the usage of technology of using internet has become popular in these years. 2) Majority of the users are using internet in their laptops and phones since those devices are convenient for the users. 3) With the rising cases of hacking, the internet users are becoming more and more concerned about the internet usage. Chapter 6: Conclusion Throughout this research, it is seen that the internet security is a rising awareness among the internet users. This is done to keep the data and information secured in order to avoid leakage of the personal data of the users. It is seen that there are various methods of internet attack and similarly there are also methods of protecting the internet. Reflective Report According to me, the internet security is a rising concern in todays competitive world. This is because; with the increase in internet usage and advancement of internet technologies, the security regarding the internet has also increased. I have come across several journals that show the different methods of internet hacking and revealed how the hackers invent several methods of hacking procedures in order to bet access through the personal data and information of the users. Internet hacking or breaking down the security of the internet are done through the introduction of worms, virus, Trojan horse, Malware, Adware etc either through email, CDs, DVDs or external hard disk or other devices. While doing this report, I came across the fact that the attacks of viruses, Trojan horse, worms etc either replicates the files, make the redundancy of data, tracks the Email address or IP address of the users and make a blunder out of it. It even gathers the important information of the users an d tries to make a blunder of the user and his/her personal data. Since, with the advancement of the internet technology, the internet security has come under a question, so the advancements in securing the data has also been increased to a considerable rate. I have come across the related journals and articles regarding the security of the internet. I have learned that though the security of the internet is not very easy and cannot be reduced to the full. But still considerable amount of the steps and measures can be adopted to reduce the ill effects of the internet hacking and attack. I have learnt that for providing security to the internet users, the various methods that can be used are by using firewalls, encryption, secure web browsing and secure emailing. I have gained knowledge regarding the workings of the firewalls and encryption of data and securing the internet through the use of these. By using encryption and decryption method of data security, only the users who are sending the data and the receiver can understand the data without redundancy of data or misuse or loss of data. Moreover, by using firewalls, the data and information received from the internet are filtered effectively and efficiently and then passed to the respe ctive devices of the users. Moreover, I have also learnt that by using secured email process and secured web browsing method, the degree of getting infected by the viruses and worms will be reduced to a considerable extent. For carrying out the research work successfully, I made a quantitative questionnaire for the internet users. I questioned nearly 100 users and out of it only 50 users responded back. Through this questionnaire, I came across the facts that maximum of the users are well accustomed with the internet usage and are also concerned about the internet security. In addition to this, I have also seen that the users also use several methods that help in data security and stop data redundancy as well as maintain the data integration. Reference List Books Aschenbruck, N. (2012) Future security, Berlin: Springer Huang, D. (2012) Emerging intelligent computing technology and applications, Berlin: Springer. Huang, D., Ma, J., Jo, K. and Gromiha, M. (2012)Intelligent Computing Theories and Applications, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg Kim, K. and Chung, K. (2013) IT convergence and security 2012, Dordrecht: Springer Journals Bainbridge, D. (2007) Groundless threats and the Internet,Computer Law Security Review, 23(3), pp.282-284 Bays, L., Oliveira, R., Barcellos, M., Gaspary, L. and Mauro Madeira, E. (2015) Virtual network security: threats, countermeasures, and challenges,J Internet Serv Appl, 6(1), pp. 34-56 Bisiaux, J. (2014) DNS threats and mitigation strategies,Network Security, 2014(7), pp.5-9 Clarke, J., Gritzalis, S., Zhou, J. and Roman, R. (2014) Protecting the internet of things, Security Comm. Networks, 7(12), pp.2637-2638 Furnell, S. (2005) Internet threats to end-users: Hunting easy prey,Network Security, pp.5-9 Gold, S. (2013) Getting lost on the Internet: the problem with anonymity,Network Security, pp.10-13 Hiller, J. (2013) End-to-End Security for Internet-Connected Smart Objects,PIK - Praxis der Information sverarbeitung und Kommunikation, 36(1), pp. 45-65 Jsang, A. (2014) Identity management and trusted interaction in Internet and mobile computing,IET Information Security, 8(2), pp.67-79 Jung, B., Han, I. and Lee, S. (2001) Security threats to Internet: a Korean multi-industry investigation,Information Management, 38(8), pp.487-498 Kabernik, V. (2013) More than Just a Game: Impact of the Ingress Project on the Internet and Security,Security Index: A Russian Journal on International Security, 19(4), pp.89-90 Nie, X. (2013) Security Threats and Countermeasures in the Internet of Things Based on RFID,AMM, 380-384, pp.2817-2821 Pawlik, A. (2014) Safeguarding the future of the Internet,Computer Fraud Security, 2014(6), pp.13-15. Schaffer, G. (2006) Worms and viruses and botnets, oh my! Rational responses to emerging Internet threats, IEEE Security Privacy Magazine, 4(3), pp.52-58 Shepherd, L., Archibald, J. and Ferguson, R. (2014) Reducing Risky Security Behaviours: Utilising Affective Feedback to Educate Users,Future Internet, 6(4), pp.760-772 Wright, M. (2005) Protecting information from internet threats,Computer Fraud Security Bulletin, pp.6-10 Ziegeldorf, J., Morchon, O. and Wehrle, K. (2013) Privacy in the Internet of Things: threats and challengesSecurity Comm. Networks, 7(12), pp.2728-2742.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Sample Graduate School Essay Topics for Psychology Majors
Sample Graduate School Essay Topics for Psychology MajorsMastering sample graduate school essay topics is one of the most difficult and challenging parts of writing a paper. The ability to determine just what kinds of questions and responses will be required is equally as important. Graduate students must be able to assess what the readers of their essay will require, as well as knowing what sorts of questions they should be expecting from the essay.There are a number of different forms of an essay that can be used for a graduate school thesis or graduate paper. A college graduate, however, is expected to write a specific type of essay based on their specific field of study. In order to avoid writing in an incorrect way or to eliminate redundant or boring passages, it is necessary to be aware of the various techniques that are available to assist with this endeavor. Each graduate student has their own strengths and weaknesses that they must utilize when formulating their own essay.Sa mple graduate school papers are written to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the graduate student. The individual should determine how much space should be allotted to the details of their chosen program. Reading the definitions of key terms will allow the writer to begin to recognize the areas of strength and weakness.As a student moves toward completing their thesis statements, they will start to discover what specific areas of their field of study require more work. The most common form of these kinds of assignments involves attaching specific events to the statements that relate to the individual's studies. By attaching these particular events to their thesis statements, the graduate student will find that they have much more space to work with.Many times the writers of sample graduate school essays are asked to create longer answers to certain types of question. This is due to the fact that the graduate students themselves may not possess the answers to the questions the y are posed with. It is essential that the student is given enough space to perform a thorough investigation of the question they are addressing.Many graduate students find that when they focus their attention on their thesis statement, they are able to increase their confidence when dealing with the various other details of their thesis. It is important that the writers do not neglect any of the parts of their document that requires additional research. Once the students are confident that they know enough about the topic to address theses, the graduate students should still be encouraged to spend some time engaging in the research process themselves.It is also possible to develop a strong relationship with your thesis advisor at your different graduate programs. You will need to maintain your relationship with the person you consult with even after you graduate from your respective schools. It is always a good idea to continue your relationship with your advisor and to learn the d etails of the requirements of your program of study, no matter what is required for your thesis.When writing a graduate school paper or thesis, the mind must be aware of the concepts of psychology. A graduate student must be able to construct a thesis that will satisfy the psychology professor that is assigned to the project. By engaging in the reading process in order to create a strong foundation for their thesis, students will find that their application and coursework are far less stressful.
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Bipolar Disorder Symptoms, Effects, Diagnosis and Treatment
Table of Contents Symptoms Effects of Bipolar Disorder Other Diseases That Co-Exist With Bipolar Risk Factors for Bipolar Diagnosis of Bipolar Treatment of Bipolar References The other name for bipolar disorder is Manic-depressive illness. This disease specifically causes the patient to experience extra ordinary changes in mood, strength, levels of concentration, and the ability to execute daily tasks (Kato, 2007). Unless the disease has been diagnosed, it is difficult to identify the symptoms.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms, Effects, Diagnosis and Treatment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, the infected person is constantly in conflicts with the people who interact with him/her. For instance, such persons can barely be in a stable relationship for a considerable period. Moreover, they seem to be in a habit of engaging in intense arguments at their places of work . This is probably because they cannot fully concentrate on what they are doing at a particular time. Symptoms Bipolar disorder is common in persons under the age of 25 years. However, there are situations that have been reported involving patients who are in their sun set years and others who are considered too young to contract this condition such as children below the age of ten years (Miklowitz, 2008). Bipolar disorder is considered a long-term condition that often begins gradually because it can take up to 10 years before the symptoms are visible. Usually, symptoms are only uncovered through diagnosis. This implies that bipolar disorder falls into the category of diseases such as diabetes and heart condition, which need to be managed throughout the affected personââ¬â¢s lifetime (Serretti Mandelli, 2008). Bipolar patients experience irregular mood swings that range between exaggerated amusement and sadness (Srivastava Ketter, 2010). This means that the patient can be extre mely happy in one minute and the next minute the person looks dull. Such people are easily irritated and hence, should be handled with a lot of care and understanding. These mood swings are not influenced by the events that are going on in their surroundings because their sadness or joy cannot be linked to anything. For instance, under normal circumstances, people laugh because something funny has been done or said, but to bipolar patients, joy and sadness alternate without a justifiable reason (Miklowitz, 2008). Likewise, persons suffering from bipolar disorder tend to speak very fast during conversations like there is a matter of urgency. When they embark on making a statement, they hardly finish putting their point across because they encounter numerous distractions in their minds that cause them to divert from the topic of discussion (Kieseppa et al., 2004).Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15 % OFF Learn More At the end of their conversations, there are so many half-complete stories. Moreover, they have a habit of setting unrealistic goals. This is caused by their thought of having unique abilities and hence they feel they can achieve goals that are deemed unachievable. This overconfidence causes them to handle more tasks beyond their capacity, such as assuming more roles at a go (Kato, 2007). Furthermore, bipolar patients experience lack of sleep probably because they work for long hours. Nonetheless, they sleep for few hours due to the restlessness that keeps them up all night. Besides, they loose interest in activities that they previously enjoyed and in most occasions, they seem to be carried away due to their low level of concentration. They are quite forgetful and hence tend to have varied opinion or fail to stick to an agreementââ¬â¢s terms due to their poor memory (Miklowitz, 2008). For instance, the infected person can schedule a meeting and later fa il to avail him/herself without a good reason. Effects of Bipolar Disorder If a person suffering from bipolar is not diagnosed and the illness persists for a long time, the effects worsen with time. According to Miklowitz (2008), ââ¬Å"The behavioral and emotional experiences of the person with bipolar disorder affect everyone ââ¬â the patientââ¬â¢s parents, spouse, siblings, and childrenâ⬠(p. 5). A bipolar individual is prone to getting into fights and arguments with friends and relatives including their spouse. In the end, their family ties are disintegrated. Similarly, their employers are hardly satisfied with their performance because they make avoidable mistakes, which may lead to dismissals. This turn of events makes them to resort to abusing substances such as alcohol and other related drugs (Lam, Wright, Smith, 2004). They abuse drugs in an attempt to divert their attention. They also experience hallucinations. Furthermore, patients who suffer from this condit ion are known to have thoughts of ending their own lives and hence, they are likely to commit suicide. Other Diseases That Co-Exist With Bipolar Bipolar disorder can go for a long time without being noticed because it exhibits symptoms common to related conditions. These illnesses include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social Phobia and attention deï ¬ cit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Lack of concentration and restlessness are very common in these diseases and hence one may be confused for the other. When this happens, the medical expert ends up prescribing treatment for the wrong ailment and thus the symptoms persist (Srivastava Ketter, 2010).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms, Effects, Diagnosis and Treatment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Additionally, bipolar patients are prone to contracting thyroid illness, migraine headaches, heart disorders, diabetes and o besity. It is therefore advisable for patients to consult the doctor if their treatment is not making any positive progress. This will cause the doctor to carry out a thorough diagnosis that could probably unveil other underlying illnesses that could be hindering the effective treatment of bipolar (Miklowitz, 2008). Risk Factors for Bipolar There is no exact cause of bipolar disorder. However, several issues have been identified as major contributors to contracting the ailment. The generic background of an individual has been sighted as the major contributing factor. This implies that bipolar disorder is a hereditary ailment because it can be passed on from parents to their children (Mansell Pedley, 2008). People who hail from family backgrounds that have had a history of being affected by this disease are more likely to contract the ailment than their counterparts whose families have never had any brain disorder related to bipolar. Twins are also prone to contracting bipolar, but in most cases, its only one child among the pair that tests positive to bipolar diagnosis. This does not mean that the other child will also contract bipolar disease because each of them exists as an independent entity (Serretti Mandelli, 2010). Diagnosis of Bipolar Unlike other illnesses, bipolar cannot be detected through evaluation of blood samples or brain screening. However, these tests can be carried out to unearth other underlying illnesses that could hinder effective treatment of bipolar. The condition is therefore best diagnosed through physical observation coupled with thorough interrogation of the patient (Miklowitz, 2008). Psychiatrists are in a much better position to handle conditions like bipolar due to their expertise. The medical health practitioner should seek to obtain adequate information regarding the patientââ¬â¢s family history regarding bipolar disorder. If the condition of the patient does not favor interrogation, the practitioner should consult a close relative to the affected person such as brothers, sisters and spouse such as wife or husband. Previous medical records can also be referred to while probing the health history of the patient (Kieseppa et al., 2004). Treatment of Bipolar Bipolar is not curable, but it is manageable. People who stick to the prescribed medication are able to regulate mood swings and hence lead healthy productive lives (Serretti Mandelli, 2008). It is important to note that bipolar is a condition that keeps on recurring and hence the patient has to be on medication for the rest of his/her life. The medicine for treating bipolar is usually prescribed by licensed medical experts; it cannot be purchased without written prescription. Among the drugs that are used to treat bipolar include Lithium, Valproic acid, Anticonvulsant lamotrigine, Neurontin, and Topamax (Miklowitz, 2008).Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Besides medication, bipolar can be treated through psychotherapy. In this form of treatment, the patient is offered emotional support through regular conversations. The patient is helped to stop his/her destructive habits by being made to understand the consequences of his/her actions. Alternatively, the therapy can take place at the family level where the family members counsel one of their own. However, Miklowitz (2008) argue that: A close working relationship between the bipolar patient and his or her family members can not only address the multiple psychological problems that emerge in the context of this disorder, but can also facilitate the patientââ¬â¢s willingness to follow a prescribed medication regimen. (p. 6) Similarly, people suffering from bipolar can undergo collective counseling on the effects of bipolar disorder. Moreover, psycho-education is reserved for people who suffer from bipolar disorder. The training empowers them to be in a position to manage this lifeti me condition, and seek medical attention while there is still enough time. This reduces the impact of the disease on the patients (Kato, 2007). References Kato, T. (2007). Molecular genetics of bipolar disorder and depression. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 61(1), 3-19. Kieseppa, T., et al. (2004). High concordance of bipolar I disorder in a nationwide sample of twins. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161(10), 1814-1821. Lam, D., Wright, K., Smith, N. (2004). Dysfunctional assumptions in bipolar disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 79(1-3), 193-199. Mansell, W. Pedley, R. (2008). The ascent into mania: A review of psychological processes associated with the development of manic symptoms. Clinical Psychology Review, 28(3), 494-520. Miklowitz, D.J. (2008). Bipolar disorder: A family-focused treatment approach (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press. Serretti, A. Mandelli, L. (2008). The genetics of bipolar disorder: Genome ââ¬Ëhot regions,ââ¬â¢ genes, new potentia l candidates and future directions. Molecular Psychiatry, 13(8), 742-771. Srivastava, S. Ketter, T. A. (2010). The link between bipolar disorders and creativity: Evidence from personality and temperament studies. Current Psychiatry Reports, 12(6), 522-530. This research paper on Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms, Effects, Diagnosis and Treatment was written and submitted by user Maryam Spence to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Maggie Fox writing for NBC News wrote that, if health care was banking it would take days to withdraw money from an ATM because records would be misplaced and if it were airline pilots would have to depend on their own intuitions to dictate which safety checks to carry out (Fox, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Well, not too harsh an assessment considering the mess that currently bedevils our health care system. As a matter of fact, the rain has not just started beating us now; the US health care system was declared broken and requiring fixing more than a decade ago. This underscores the recent spate of actions in terms of policy legislation that we are still yet to all agree on. That aside, there are serious issues with our health care system. Issues of priority such as access in terms of the uninsured, quality and cost in that ord er are the three most important things in a health care system (Nyman, 2003). I will highlight and discuss in detail each of the three in this paper. It is quite unfortunate that in the US the most developed economy in the world today access to health care is right now an issue yet to be addressed fully. Most recent statistics indicate that close to 40 million Americans in this day and era are uninsured and still have to struggle to meet their health care requirements (Squires, 2012). A few critics would argue that insurance and access cannot be taken as one since the uninsured could still walk into any health care facility and get medical attention at their own cost. However, this would be the narrowest thinking to look at this issue.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With the ever escalating costs, upsurge of chronic diseases requiring complex and costly medical routi nes to prevent and cure, one can never go wrong in arguing that health insurance is an essential part of care access. Any sound and viable plan for the future to fix our health care system therefore must arise to this fact and promise to offer universal coverage that guarantees every American citizen right to basic health plan of their choice. Secondly, quality is an important aspect of a sound health care system. According to OECD health data database 2011, despite high health care costs and spending as well quality indicators of health in the US reflect variable performance and notably not any superior in comparison with other far less expensive systems of other countries in the study (Squires, 2012). Even though the US is notably rated among the best countries with the highest survival rates for certain chronic ailments in some other chronic diseases the same trend is not consistent with poor showing and in some instances below average performance. Given that in some of these chr onic conditions that the US records a poor showing make up and indeed constitute an increasing share of the disease burden casts doubts as to the quality of care accorded by our current system. Thirdly but not least is the cost of health care. With nearly $8,000 average spending on health per capita according to statistics carried out in 2009, the cost of health care in the US is arguably the most expensive in the world (Squires, 2012). This is in comparison with countries such as Japan and New Zealand spending one-third of that and Switzerland and Norway that spends about two-thirds of same. In fact if the trend is anything to go by, the US average per capita spending on health care continue to grow highest than any other economy (Squires, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More We need a health care system that can address these both in terms of reversing the unsustainable trend of escalating health associated costs and also reduce the current recorded spending on health care. It is important to note the Affordable Care Act of 2010 cognizant of each of the three major issues highlighted above was designed with specific attention to address them. Firstly with respect to access, the Act proposes universal health insurance coverage for all that would guarantee every citizen to a basic health plan of their choice effectively doing away with previously income-related payments that uninsured would have received. In addition, the ACA envisages an electronic medical record to store patientsââ¬â¢ records and allows physicians via a tight security protocols this information effectively simplifying the health care system that hitherto preapproval requirement by authorities to gain access to this information. This measure also addresses the issue of quality of health care as both the physician and the patient can be able t o trend the medical history. Effectively patients would be able to demand quality care and physicians afraid to taint their careers offer better services. Having addressed both access and quality the issue of cost comes in automatically through improved system efficiencies and use of preventive rather than curative measures (Santerre Neun, 2013). In conclusion it will be interesting to see how the plan works given it will be difficult to eliminate the unnecessary services currently offered which compounds the cost of health care as well as the huge administrative challenges.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the downside, the plan as some critics point out are the unintended consequences in terms of tax burden which not until the current costs are brought down is a concern to many. On the upward side though, is an ambitious plan which if it works could lift up the welfare of all Americans and be a major reprieve of our ailing health care system. References Fox, M. (2012). US health care: Its officially a mess, institute says. Web. Nyman, J. A. (2003). The Theory of Demand for Health Insurance. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. Santerre, R. E. and Neun, S. P. (2013). Health Economics: Theories, Insights, and Industry Studies, 6th Edition, Mason, OH: South-Western. Squires, D. A. (2012). Explaining High Health Care Spending in the United States: An International Comparison of Supply, Utilization, Prices, and Quality. Commonwealth Fund pub. 1595, Vol. 10.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Summary three articles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1
Summary three articles - Essay Example This structure offered a solid statement on the connection between human rights and business practices; identifying that while governments have the principal duty to safeguard and uphold human rights, businesses have the duty to value the human rights of their workers and consumers. It also reiterated the importance of wronged persons having access to efficient non-judicial as well as judicial remedies in cases of contraventions of human rights. The United Nations Human Rights Council collectively authorized the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in 2011, to make the framework functional. These doctrines present a global standard for checking as well as addressing the risk of unfavorable human outcomes that are related to business functions. The principles include preventing and dealing with favoritism and harassment, supporting women to take over roles of leadership, encouraging companies to institute paid parental leave , encouraging factors that help consumers to reach businesses more effectively, and endorsing plans for disability action. Other principles are promoting practices that preserve the environment, resolving grievances, and removing barriers against employees of a mature age. Global corporations are habitually accused of being offenders in conflicts over human rights abuses as well as ecological problems in developing nations. Due to the lack of financial assets, the groups campaigning for environmental preservation usually appeal to overseas consumer audiences to coerce multinational corporations into doing the right thing. The Royal Dutch/Shell first discovered oil in the Nigerian Ogoni lands in 1958. Some environmental protection groups assert that the corporation has raked in more than $30 billion as a result of oil mining since then. However, Shell has not appeared to give back in any way to the community that
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Essay for applaying to the university Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
For applaying to the university - Essay Example I am well-versed in circuits and electronics and enjoy working with items such as resistors, inductors, transistors, and circuits. Computer engineering is another area that I thrive in because of my passion for computers. My background in geometry and calculus should give me an advantage over my peers in the area of mathematics. Algebra is another subject that will help me in my endeavor to becoming an Electrical Engineer. All these subjects will assist me in learning any new concepts that may come up. In addition to my educational knowledge, my life experiences will help me to achieve my goals. I like to meet people from different cultures because it gives me an opportunity to learn something new about the world; I do not claim to know everything that there is to know. In my free time I like to play soccer in order to remain active. I am very excited to hear back from you about my application to your university. I know I can surpass all your
Monday, January 27, 2020
Marketing Strategy For The Chevy Volt Marketing Essay
Marketing Strategy For The Chevy Volt Marketing Essay In November of 1911, Louis Chevrolet, William Little and Edwin Campbell integrated the Chevrolet Motor Company. Chevrolet offers an assortment of motorized vehicles to the general public such as subcompact cars, sports cars, luxury cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans. Chevrolet made the cut and will continue to serve its customers for years to come, stated Nick Kalapos the Times leader in a documentary about Chevrolet being the leader in their community (15). Chevrolet continues to be on top with performance, price, fuel economy, and value leader for General Motors North America (13). Many people are becoming more aware of global warming and they are trying to find various ways to become more environmentally friendly. Record oil prices have pushed consumers toward fuel efficient vehicles and have prompted many governments to consider electric transportations as a way of traveling (5). Research shows that consumers want eco friendly cars. About 68 percent people say that they are willing to buy an eco friendly car within the next couple of years (1). Will Buss said that in reference to Newtons Third Law of Motion, consumers have reacted to gas prices, which have soared to record levels, by buying fewer gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicles and more of the fuel-efficient and hybrid-powered variety. As consumers become more aware of how harmful emissions are and how much oil prices continue to rise they will be more willing to buy and the need for electric cars and hybrids will take over the automotive marketplace (1). Chevrolet is searching for those who are willing go the extra mile to be early adopters for the new Volt that will hit the market in late 2010. The people who are going to be more interested in the Eco friendly cars are the Generation Y consumers, says James Schroer. As Generation Y grows up they are going to demand for their vehicles to become more environmental friendly. Gen Y consumers have grown-up up to be technology savvy and they are known to be more familiar with technology than any other generation (1). By developing high technology that could be appealing to the consumers it would entice drivers to plug in rather than filling up (5). Chevy Volt has soaring technology that will give buyers a smart phone application that will let the owners control key vehicle functions along with On star. I phones, blackberries and android phones will be available with the electric car. Remote access will also be possible from a cell phone web browser that will have applications for starting , locking and unlocking the doors, security system arming and disarming commands, and trunk popping. Also there are applications for honking the horn so people will be able to locate their cars easily. The Chevy volt has new technology innovations for the generation Y. As this generation matures and gains more power, their influence will spread across the country (4). There are also some cultural issues to deal with when it comes to electric cars. Some Issues about the electric car depends solely on the time the vehicle will come out, the cost of the Volt and most importantly the consumers (5). Americans want to do good things for the environment, as long as they do not have to compromise performance, convenience, or comfort which causes a major issue (1). Americans only want to do what is suitable and as long as it does not affect their everyday life. Many Americans have a large family which requires them to need a bigger vehicle like a SUV making a gas eating vehicle more suitable than a small electric car. Bigger issue that arises is the lack of batteries that are available. Many car manufactures have been slow to commit to their decisions about electric vehicles, because they are unsure about how many people will want to purchase the electric car. Without orders being placed battery manufactures cannot invest in the time and money that is necessary to produce the batteries at a timely fashion. Gassenheimer says that he has concern that the United States will trade their dependence on the Middle Eastern oil for a reliance on Asian batteries (5). Many experts say that Western companies have more experience in technology and Asians are the leaders in producing Lithium-iron batteries for electronics. A concern for the U.S is that they really dont know if they have the resources or capabilities to produce mass loads of Lithium-iron batteries and the same concern goes for Europe. So a major concern arises about where the Lithium-iron batteries are going to be made. This is a huge issue due to Asians being the only ones that are experienced in making loads of Lithium-iron batteries. An issue about shipments of the Lithium-iron batteries is that its on a strict International Regulation that would be placed on goods making these goods being labeled in the dangerous goods category. Tollefson stated, When the first generation of anything comes out, to a certain extent car manufactures are rolling the dice and this is the biggest roll of the dice anybody has ever made (5). With the rising gasoline prices and consumers growing preference for environmentally-friendly technologies, the hybrid car market has grown tremendously. Toyota, being a huge competitor to General Motors captured the largest percentage of the hybrid car market. Automobile companies such as DaimlerChrysler, Ford and General Motors (GM) have agreed to double their annual production of energy efficient vehicles by 2010. With all the environmental issues going on, nearly all automobile companies are scrambling to be the first and best new electric or hybrid on the market. Shane Donahue stated, Our competitors and others are pursuing similar technologies and other competing technologies, in some cases with more money available. There can be no assurance that they will not acquire similar or superior technologies sooner than we do. With that being said, it can be recognized that General Motors feels that their competitors are one step-ahead of them in the hybrid car market. The GM Chevy Volt will enter the market as a direct competitor to the Toyota Prius hybrid and the Honda Insight hybrid. The Toyota Prius is only a conventional hybrid, the Volt is essentially a plug-in car that has to affirm the companys ability to innovate and turn the company around. However, Nissan has announced that it will beat the Volt to market in fall 2010 with its Nissan Leaf, which boasts a 100 mile range on a charge. The Leafs target launch date will beat General Motors Volt plug-in hybrid, and while Japans Mitsubishi and Subaru both launched EVs for sale to fleets in Japan last month, the cars are smaller, lower-speed, city cars with far less range than the 100 miles-per-charge, claims Nissan for the Leaf. With the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf threatening to steal the green car market, Nissan is accelerating its plans for a plug-in version of the Prius (19) Ford has also announced that it will produce a battery-powered version of its Focus, called Focus EV, in late 2011. As well as many other companies are working on electric cars such as the BMW City, Dodge Circuit, Tesla Model S, and Chinas BYD E6. Although they are way more expensive, Tesla has actually sold a few of its cars, which gives it some advantage. Another eco friendly competitor of Chevrolet is Zenn. Their marketing slogan is Zero Emission and No Noise. The Zenn does not use gasoline but is all electrical The Zenn companys idea on eco friendly cars is about purity and original feeling. The Volt needs at least 8 hours for it to charge fully, but the Zenn can take as little as 4 hours to get a full charge. The price of owning a Zenn is half the cost of the 2010 Volt which has not even hit the market yet. The Zenn has been stated in Time magazine as small, inexpensive electric vehicles that can be charged to cover enough miles to handle the daily commute. (20) The Zenn is a Canada based company which has already launched the car in Canada and in the United States. Its sales are increasing with the concerns of a bad economy. A Zenn has significantly less parts than a regular vehicle that will have to be maintained on a regular basis. The owner will never have to worry about changing the oil, replace a filter or muffler and there i s absolutely no need for an emission test. Chevrolet has many routes to take its new innovations with its worldwide channels of production and distribution. GM has organized its brands into four channels: Chevrolet, Buick-Pontiac-GMC, Cadillac-Hummer-Saab and Saturn. Now it has changed the job responsibilities and titles of several of its channel leaders (3). A channels brand name depends on where the vehicles are being produced and sold in. Channels use different brand names to make their vehicles appear more localized. Many of the changes made to the cars are designed specifically to meet the customer needs of where their production is being made. GM took over bankrupt Daewoo Auto and technology to help regain Daewoo reputation at home. GM received a big achievement with Daewoo with their exports. Chevy Europe is a swiss-based firm that sells rebranded products of the GM Daewoo. Chevy Europe sold few United States domestic markets that were modified to suit the European regulations. Chevy Europe sold the Camaro, Beretta, Co rvette, Blazer and the Trailblazer. In 2005 Chevy Europe rebranded its ownership to the Ssangyong, however the Daewoo name retained its name in South Korea and Vietnam after 2005. The Suzuki badge is in the U.S and Canada, Pontiac Badge Canada, the Holden badge in Australia and New Zealand, and the Buick badge in China for some certain GM Daewoo models. Marketed in different distribution channels operated by the Netherlands-based Kroymans Corporation group are the Corvette and Cadillac. Kroymans Corporation going to sell German GM vehicles such as the Opel and they will also sell Netherlands and Belgium made brands. Kroymans is going to stay focused only on importing, distribution, marketing car and retail sales in the Netherlands. The reason for this is because the Chevy Brand represents value-driven cars in Europe. The Corvette name was made into different brand for Europe and Japan. With this World wide vast coverage GM will be capable of designing and marketing vehicles to diffe rent parts of the world. By having this wide coverage GM will be able to draw knowledge and cultural differences from engineers around the world (2). Market Approach The Chevrolet Volt is a hybrid electric automobile. The cars main source of power comes from lithium-ion batteries stored underneath its hood. The batteries can receive charge through one of two ways. They can store electrical energy from the small, gasoline powered engine, or can be charged by using 120-240V AC outlets. On a full battery charge, the Volt is capable of traveling over 40 miles (22). A study found that this distance satisfies nearly three quarters of Americans daily commutes. In addition, Chevrolet expects the batteries to last for up to ten years. The Chevrolet Volts main target market is middle class families that share similar opinions, interests, and hobbies. Segmenting the market and choosing this group is reflected within GMs marketing strategy. They will adapt a strategy that is tailored to attract consumers with related lifestyles and purchasing behaviors. With all the Green Marketing focus in todays world, many consumers are looking for vehicles that are environmentally friendly. Also, with the recent state of the economy, many consumers are seeking a car that provides good value and quality at a fair price. The Volt is a new kind of hybrid that runs primarily off of electricity which greatly reduces its fuel consumption. With increasing gas prices and a poor economic state, this makes the Volt attractive to these eco-friendly customers. As GM seeks to be a part of the Go Green initiative, many consumers who value this idea will begin to become loyal to General Motors. When GM set out to price the Volt, they had a good idea of where to position their product. Some other big automobile companies have already dipped into this market and give the Volts marketers a good idea of a fair price for this type of vehicle. Nissans Altima Hybrid is priced at $34,000, followed by Hondas Accord ranging from $35,000-$40,000 (23). The Toyota Camry Hybrid rounds off this vehicle class with a standard price tag of $37,000 (24). These prices made it apparent to Chevrolet that for the Volt to be competitive it should be priced somewhere in the range of $30,000 to $40,000 depending on available options. The anticipation of the introduction of the Volt is growing, according to Chevrolet. They have over 30,000 potential buyers that cannot wait to drive one of these fascinating cars. Chevrolet wants consumers to see the car as more than just an inexpensive way to travel. They want to the vehicle to reflect style, and be a car that people aspire to own (24). However, some automakers are skeptical of the Volt. Some of the more luxurious competitors feel that most consumers will not pay a higher premium for a car that really doesnt offer much more than a basic automobile. Chevrolet hopes to shock them as well as the consumers it captures with the Volts release. Chevy and GM have worked hard to make the Volt a user friendly and customizable car. One of the features they are offering will be a few different gauge interfaces from which the driver will be able to choose. One set contains a standard, traditional gauge set with all normal gauges placed directly over the steering wheel, while a second set displays the gauges from the center of the dash. This second set is impressive, in that it uses touch screen technology and backlit LED lighting for a bright, clear display. Both sets allow drivers to see how they are using the cars energy, which can let them adjust driving patterns to reduce lost energy (25). Still, the location of the interface is strictly up to the driver, and consumers like the idea of being able to customize a vehicle to their liking. Another advantage the Volt has over foreign electric vehicles is its federal rebate program. The government offers $7,500 off for buying the Chevrolet brand. This becomes quite a bargaining chip when talking about a sticker price of 30-40K. General Motors is planning to produce tens of thousands of these new vehicles to be sold around the world. An actual price has not been set but the pricing strategy and final MSRP will factor in gasoline prices (26). Chevrolet offers many services that other companys lack. An important service that Chevrolet has is a life saving service called On-Star. The Chevrolet Volt will be equipped with On-Star, but not just any On-Star, it will come with On-Star EV Lab. This version is offered to give the Volt a more high tech appeal (6). One of the features includes communicating with the Volt by telling it to charge during the night at off peak times to take advantage of lower rates; this technology is called smart charging (6). On-Star automatically runs hundreds of diagnostic and maintenance checks on your vehicles key operating systems and deliver a summary report right to your inbox every month (7). Chevrolet has been a loyal company that has always been superb when coming up with new ideas for vehicles. Chevrolet has been working hard to process this new advanced automobile. Volt is an electric vehicle with a range extender. Volt runs on electricity from its battery, and then it runs on electricity it creates from gas. Depending on the weather, the electrical features that are turned on and how you drive, you can drive up to 40 miles on the electricity stored in the battery totally gas and emissions free(8). After this takes place, the range-extending generator automatically kicks in to provide the electrical power. This allows the Volt to go for several hundred additional miles, until it is plugged in again. Chevrolets brand is becoming more solid after GM filed for chapter 11 bankruptcies and has just recently emerged. Chevrolet is one of the leading automobile brands in America. The automakers are continuing to launch fuel efficiency options, while also introducing safety and security packages for the new models. Trailing the American urban congestion, the Chevys hybrids are poised to surpass their mainstream competitors. Above all, the most visually arresting feature for the brand of Chevrolet vehicles is the Chevrolets corporate logo that creates a distinct look for the exterior(9). Financials: The Chevrolet Volt has an estimated price of around $40,000, in the U.S. market. Due to the capacity of the Volts battery pack it qualifies for the maximum US $7,500 federal tax credit. The former vice president Bob Lutz initially wanted the Volt to be sold at around $30,000. Electricity is an extremely affordable way to power a car the average American pays less than 12 cents per kilowatt hour. If the average American drives less than 40 miles, it will cost about a dollar a day for electricity (8). This is about the same cost as running a basic household appliance. To save even more, some utility companies recommend charging overnight for off-peak rates and may even offer incentives to customers who do so (8). The Volt is being endorsed by Dalton McGuinty and the Ontario government in Canada. The province will provide a $10,000 subsidy, and will purchase 500 Volts for the Ontario Public Service fleet. The subsidies are part of McGuintys target to have electric vehicles make up 5% o f all cars in Ontario by 2020. (10) At the Sydney Motor Show in October 2008, Holden stated that the Volt would be available in Australia by 2012 for more than $30,000. At the U.S. average cost of electricity (approximately 11 cents per kWh), a typical Volt driver would pay about $2.75 for electricity to travel 100 miles, or less than 3 cents per mile. GMs average annual sales growth over the past five years is a low 0.7 per cent. It has accumulated losses of $51 billion (U.S.) since 2005, and the shareholder value of GM, with 2007 sales of $297 billion, is a humbling $12 billion. (21) An analysis of the financial statements of the Chevrolet Volt show that the accounts receivable remain at about $500,000 throughout the year; not including a seasonal fluctuation in sales. The accounts receivable turns over once every 60 days. The inventory on the other hand remains about $800,000 and turns over every 90 days. The accounts payable remains at $400,000 and turns over about once every 45 days. With an accounts receivable collection period of 60 days and an average balance outstanding of $500,000, results show that $750,000, is the amount that should be collected on the receivables in 90 days. If the inventory of $800,000 valued at cost turns over once in 90 days and if the average markup is about $200,000, cash sales should amount to about $250,000. If there is no seasonal factor, the total amount divided by four should be an approximate test on the amount budgeted for the next 90 days. A Chevy Volt owner could theoretically drive 15,000 miles for less than $300.00 a year, assuming current rates for electricity stay the same. Volt uses about 2500 kWh annually, which is an extremely affordable way to power a car as the average American pays less than 12 cents per kilowatt hour. In other words, if you drive 40 miles or less that could work out to be about a dollar a day. And that can add up to big savings. (27). Depending on the weather, the electrical features that are turned on and how you drive, you can drive up to 40 miles on the electricity stored in the battery totally gas and emissions free. After that, its gas-powered, range-extending generator automatically kicks in to provide electrical power. Assuming the EPA estimates $2,000 a year in fuel cost for a compact car, like the Chevy Cobalt or Honda Civic cost savings in fuel would go a long way toward offsetting the cost of a $40,000 electric vehicle. Battery and size and vehicle cost should fall rapidly as pr oduction rises.Ã (27). In Flint Michigan, General Motors Company is investing more than $230 million in four different GM plants in the greater Flint area to support the production of the fuel-efficient 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and Volt, according to the automaker.Ã The four GM plants include Flint Engine South, Flint Metal Center, Flint Tool Die, and Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center.Ã At the Flint Engine South nearly $202 million dollars have been invested to renovate the former I5/I6 manufacturing operations for production of a 1.4L four-cylinder engine generator for the Chevrolet Volt.Ã In the Flint metal center, $1.7 million has been invested to refurbish press lines that will produce sheet metal stampings for the Volt.Ã All dies for the Chevy Volt were engineered at Flint Tool Die. Approximately 50 percent of dies for the Volt were designed at this facility. At the Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center, approximately $30 million invested in this facility to build the robotic weld tool cells that will ass emble the Volt body at the Volt assembly plant. Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center also built the robotic weld tool cells for the body shop to assemble the Chevrolet Cruze at Lordstown (Ohio) Assembly (28). When GM CEO Rick Wagoner testified that the Volt is being pushed into production for 2011, he added that, It will not be at that point fully cost competitive.Ã GM has actually spent about three quarters of a billion to develop the Volt, and much of that is in battery research. GM recognizes the importance of staying ahead of the competition in developing new technology. They are willing to take the risk of spending a large amount of money even in these desperate times of recession. Without doubt, some of that money will eventually be spread across the automobile industry when the Volts power train and battery advances get shared with other GM models. However, it is still unlikely that the Volts addition will bring down the bottom line until a second generation model is introduced, which may not be until 2014 to 2016Ã (29). Electricity is defiantly the way of the future when talking about the automobile. Electricity runs clean in a vehicle, therefore there will be no tailpipe emissions. And if the electricity is generated using alternate power sources such as wind, hydro, solar or bio-fuels, there is the potential to considerably reduce the emissions associated with personal transportation. Advancements in electricity production along with reduction in emissions from electric-powered driven cars can make our world a cleaner place.(30) Ã General Motors Corporation will open the first lithium-ion battery pack manufacturing plant in the United States in Michigan with production expected by 2010. The lithium-ion battery cells will be supplied by Compact Power Inc., a subsidiary of South Koreas LG Chem based in Troy, Michigan for Volt prototype vehicles until GMs battery facility is operational. GM has also signed a joint engineering contract with Compact Power and LG Chem to develop Volts lithium-ion batt ery technology. The advanced battery strategy is expected to strengthen GMs capabilities to develop hybrid and electric vehicles (30). By using the battery as a power source, we will in the long run help cut back our dependency from other countries. Since almost all of our electricity is produced domestically, its a great way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The U.S. has a variety of electricity sources, all with the potential to help us become more energy-independent. (31) Because the market of electric cars is still forming, there is not any real information available about cash flows.Ã There are a few known factors, though.Ã First of all, GM has spent about $750 million to develop the Volt, and will probably still spend even more.Ã For another, there is no way to break even on this investment for at least another several years (and several models) have passed.Ã Only time and 2011 income statements will tell how well GMs bottom line fairs with its new Volt.
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