Review Employees Files

Learning Team: Review Employees Files Shemika Williams, Maria Rios, Juakita Little, Yanelys Bobey HCS/341 October 8, 2012 Denise R. Holcomb Learning Team: Review Employees Files Bennie Bellamy: Had first event of not taking patient’s indispensable signs on January 14thand eighteenth; on the other hand on February third and sixth. Bennie was conversed with about this to perceive any reason why he was not getting them and he expressed that he didn't have time. He had a year assessment on May 20, 2003, in this he was appraised a 1 for not following directions.The following year May 21, 2004 Bennie had improved massively and got all 2’s on his yearly audit and got a 3% raise versus the 2% he got the prior year. Also, in the third year May 20, 2005 he was all the while improving, so after the episodes in 2003 Bennie made incredible improvement subsequent to being criticized for not taking vitals and he has not had an issue since. On February 7, 1997 King Lovell set in an app lication to work at Patton †Fuller Community Hospital. On February 20, 1997, King Lovell got a letter from Patton †Fuller Community Hospital offering the RN Staff Nurse position.King official beginning date was March 17, 1997. Lord Lovell got his yearly representative assessment in 1998 by the RN Staff Nurse. In his general assessment distinctive activity particulars were assessed. Ruler in 12 unique events was late and his reliability was inadmissible. For the primary assessment, King was educated to join up with documentation classes that were going to begin inside that month because of requiring some work. Another event there were two event were an inappropriate patient nearly got off-base medicine.Due to that episode, King was told to take a supplemental class taking drugs organization that was being offered in July. On August 12, 1998, King Lovell had a restorative activity structure by human asset staff. This was the principal gathering, King was proceeding to be lat e to work, damaging the participation strategy, accepting grievances about discourteous conduct towards the specialist, neglected to sign, and proceeding to have prescription blunders and not helping other collaborators. Ruler Lovell got to verbal admonitions on July 10 and August 2 however the issue is as yet occurring.King was educated by the board of the accompanying: Itâ is expected thatâ you will beâ toâ workâ onâ time. Itâ is expected thatâ you will showâ courtesyâ toâ staff,â physicians,â patients andâ theirâ families,â rudeness will notâ beâ tolerated. Itâ is expected thatâ you will completeâ all passages inâ theâ patient’s recordâ and thatâ youâ will properlyâ signâ all notationsâ atâ least once onâ eachâ shift. Lord got another yearly assessment in 1999, where his participation, mentality, and steadfastness were still lacking.Due to absence of progress in the course of the last year’s assessment, he was ended. The records appea r due determination was followed and given in various event by illuminating King Lovell to take extra classes to improve his activity execution and was likewise given verbal alerts to improve, yet the representative neglected to show improvement and kept on lacking. On March 10, 2007 Louise McFate went after the job of Director of Infection Control at Patton-Fuller Community Hospital.On May 9, 2007 Louise McFate got a recruit Letter from PFCH offering her the situation of Director of Infection Control with an official beginning date of July 11, 2007. On October 12, 2007, Louise McFate got her multi day assessment and got a rating of 2. 0 (Acceptable) in all zones. On January 14, 2008, McFate got her a half year assessment and again got a rating of 2. 0 in all zones. On July 14, 2008 McFate got her first yearly audit and got an improved generally score of 2. 17.Unfortunately, on November 7, 2008 Louise McFate got a restorative activity structure expressing that the Joint Commission g ave a Request for Improvement on a needle removal infringement discovered during their visit. Despite the fact that this is McFate’s solitary restorative activity they advised her to keep on setting up systems to forestall any further needle removal infringement. Louise McFate didn't sign this restorative activity structure since she didn't concur with it and accepts she was singled out unjustifiably in light of the fact that Mr.Adair from the joint Commission focused on her in reprisal after she declined a supper greeting from him. This requires examination from the association to decide whether surely there was an infringement made or if in truth it was in counter towards McFate. In the in the interim, McFate needs to cause to remain alert since this despite everything goes in her document and there may not be an approach to demonstrate it. As indicated by McFate there is no requirement for due determination and they haven’t caught up with her advancement or had some other occurrences following this one.On March 15, 1995 Alva Branham rounded out an application for a Security Officer position for Patton-Fuller Community Hospital. After five days, on March 20, 1995, Branham got a recruit letter from Patton-Fuller Community Hospital. Branham official beginning date would be on April 3, 1995 as followed with direction dates. Branham yearly representative assessment came up on April 9, 1996 by the Manager of Security. Throughout the years Branham yearly worker assessment scores has gotten diminished in some representative evaluations.On one of Branham worker assessments, it was remarked by the Manager that Branham has lost organization radios and furthermore not being accessible for focal control or other staff to get up with you particularly in a crisis. Branham has additionally been missing 15 days of work in the course of the last 8 ? months which is unsatisfactory and disregarding the participation strategy. On January 4, 1998, Branham had her f irst gathering with the human asset division to go over the remedial activity form.Branham had her second meeting of restorative activity on February 20, 1998 which expressed she didn’t utilize legitimate approach and strategies of logging quiet things when a patient is released from the medical clinic. Branham was then informed again pretty much all strategy and methods. After the last issue, Branham was then cautioned that if another event occurs inside the following 3 months that further remedial move will be made and in conclusion even end. Reference University of Phoenix. (2011). Patton-Fuller Community Hospital Virtual Organization. Recovered from: https://ecampus. phoenix. edu

Analysis of statement that “acquiring foreign companies creates shareholder wealth and helps reduce many risks” Essay

The above articulation talks about hazard decrease as an advantage of acquisitions.â I will part the announcement into two sections; one that examines the decrease of dangers through acquisitions, and the other which clarifies the making of investor riches through acquisitions.â The initial segment of this announcement can be clarified through the different types of hazard that are diminished due to acquisitions.â One significant hazard that is decreased through acquisitions is the hazard from contenders, through gaining a reasonable market share.â It is hard for firms which contribute through greenfield techniques to pull in customers from the current contenders. This is on the grounds that another firm needs to demonstrate its presentation to customers before it can effectively pull in customers from the present competitors.â This is a move that requires some serious energy, since the customers need to investigate the results of new firms before the firm can pick up the important altruism to draw in new clients.â However, acquisitions empower firms to utilize the generosity of the firm that has been procured to hold the current customers or portion of the market.â The market relates the new firm, for this situation TPS Connection Plc, with the brand name of the firm that has been obtained, and on the off chance that it had ideal generosity, the new firm will have less issues in holding the current customers, just as pulling in new customers from the contenders. A case of a firm that has experienced a fruitful securing process and appreciated this advantage is Tata Steel of India, which obtained Corus of Netherlands.â Before doing what needs to be done, Tata Steel Company needed to experience a long and exorbitant procedure of offering, which was evaluated to cost about $13.7 billion.â However, this procedure paid off after Tata steel profited by in addition to other things, the piece of the overall industry of Corus Company.â truth be told, after the procurement, Tata steel moved from being the fifty-6th maker of steel all inclusive, to the fifth position (ICFAI Center for Management Research 2007: 8). The second hazard that is decreased through acquisitions identifies with the conveyance channels.â another firm needs to make new circulation channels that are powerful enough to increase a portion of the market.â This is trying since the current contenders as of now utilize the best dispersion channels available.â another firm faces the danger of decrease of deals because of mediocre appropriation channels.â However, acquisitions empower new firms to utilize the previously existing dissemination channels of the firm that has been acquired.â This empowers the new firm, for this situation, TPS Connection Plc to enter the market all the more effectively using the current dissemination channels of the firm that has been acquired.â The Tata Steel obtaining that has been examined above profited Tata from Corus’ European conveyance channels, and this is among the variables that made it increase a huge portion of the market. The third hazard that can be discounted through acquisitions identifies with the expenses of market research.â another organization needs to successfully contemplate the market it is entering so it can have full data on the items to make, the valuing framework, methods of publicizing among different characteristics of the market.â This is a costly procedure, and if not done proficiently, it may prompt the failure of another firm to infiltrate the current market. Because of the high idea of the costs, this may be repressing to firms which don't have the essential assets and technology.â However, in instances of acquisitions, for example by TPS Connection Plc, the organization that is being gained as of now has significant data available division and trends.â It in this way turns out to be moderately simpler for TPS organization to infiltrate the market utilizing the accessible data from the procured company.â It is critical to take note of that in any case, TPS needs to do look into all alone, yet this will be less troublesome and will expend lesser assets when contrasted with a situation where it was actualizing a greenfield speculation.  Another chance that is diminished is the methodical hazard that may happen in specific pieces of the world, or certain markets.â For example, there is right now strife that is going on among Palestine and Israel.â The biggest brunt of the war is felt by Palestine, and it tends to be said that organizations in this nation are confronting a deliberate risk.â Firms in this nation with premiums in outside nations can be said to have diminished their hazard through diversification.â They can depend on the benefits from the remote firms in a period like this, when their benefits are inclined to decreasing.â This is one hazard that a securing lessens, and TPS Connection Plc should utilize a procurement as a type of entering the Chinese and Indian markets so as to diminish the efficient hazard through enhancement. Formation of riches through acquisitions. There are a few organizations that have attempted acquisitions which have demonstrated to diminish hazards and improve the abundance of shareholders.â Hindalco is one such organization, and it procured Novelis Inc, which is an organization that manages aluminum and is situated in Canada.â Since the two organizations had a huge market nearness, the blend of assets, conveyance channels, altruism and piece of the overall industry guaranteed that Hindalco manufactured an exceptionally solid market presence.â This nearness is felt in practically all mainlands of the world. Production of investor riches is accomplished through the accompanying advantages of acquisitions.â The primary advantage is more noteworthy worth age, and this implies an organization that attempts an obtaining or merger is probably going to accomplish higher incentive when contrasted with both individual firms.â This is clarified by the way that an organization that embraces a procurement is bound to create a higher investor esteem that is a lot bigger than the all out number of portions of the individual organizations. Another advantage that emerges from acquisitions and which is probably going to build the abundance of investors is the additions in advertise share.â This advantage can be all around outlined when a firm is confronting difficulties in the market.â In such a situation, a securing particularly by another firm which has a solid nearness in the market, is probably going to make the more fragile firm experience more prominent degrees of cost effectiveness and competitiveness.â For this situation, there are two recipients to the procurement; the frail organization profits by end of its market issues, while the joint organization profits by a bigger portion of the market. A third advantage of a securing which is predictable with the riches creation objective of an organization is the cost proficiency gain.â This advantage is acknowledged through economies of scale benefits that are acknowledged from acquisitions and mergers.â Such advantages incorporate simplicity of raising capital, sharing of assets by the two firms, headway of limits from mass buys among other benefits.â Other advantages remember increment for creation because of the procurement, which at that point prompts the decrease of the creation expenses of individual units.â Increase in effectiveness can likewise be accomplished through sharing of technology.â In the Hindalco obtaining, this firm increased exceptionally helpful innovation from Novelis Inc., which a few specialists gauge would have taken 10 years to create. The fourth advantage that can be credited to the acquisitions and mergers is the decrease in the organization costs.â This happens because of the sharing of set up assets between the two firms.â For example, when a firm enters another market through a procurement, it doesn't spend a lot of assets setting up the various offices that are required for operations.â Instead, a firm will utilize the current divisions of the new firm that is being obtained. A fifth advantage of a procurement which TPS Connection Plc would appreciate is the expansion in worldwide presence.â When this firm secures an organization which has a solid brand name, its essence will be felt in the market, which would draw in more customers to the company.â When Hindalco, an India based organization gained Novelis, an enormous Canada based aluminum organization, this expanded the worldwide nearness of the previous (ICFAI Center for Management Research 2007: 6).â This was accomplished through joining the qualities of the two organizations and their dissemination arrange, in this manner guaranteeing that it had a nearness in practically all landmasses of the world.â All these advantages either help to build income or decline costs, which is steady with the objective of an organization of expanding the abundance of the investors. Evaluation of the choice to contribute utilizing FDI. The choice to put resources into these nations utilizing FDI is a result of the advantages that are available in this type of investment.â This choice emerges out of numerous elements that are available in the nations where these organizations try to invest.â For example, when TPS Connections Plc is evaluating the sort of venture to embrace while entering the Chinese and Indian markets, it will be guided by some factors.â Some of these elements incorporate the macroeconomic states of these business sectors, for example, the advantages that outside speculators gain.â Other components incorporate the idea of the opposition and the accessible types of financing.â However, in totality, a portion of the principle factors that make FDI an ideal type of speculation are examined underneath; The primary explanation starts from the way that country states normally energize FDI in their countries.â This is because of a few advantages that such states receive from the FDI. One reward remembers the expansion for income for the host country.â In any nation, monetary development is expanded through investments.â This builds the buying intensity of inhabitants of the nation because of the increment of livelihoods owing to financial growth.â The expansion in buying power prompts the expansion popular for servi

Is Coding the Right Career Path for You

Is Coding the Right Career Path for You Is Coding the Right Career Path for You? Is Coding the Right Career Path for You?Learning to code might not be a silver bullet to slay your job and salary-related woes, but coding is a very usefulâ€"and employableâ€"skill to have.Having trouble finding a good job? Or maybe you were just fired? Well, don’t worry, because there’s an easy, obvious solution: coding!From wealthy philanthropists to annoying people on Twitter yelling at laid-off journalists, many people seem to be suggesting that coding is the silver bullet to getting a great, well-paying career.But is that true? Not exactly.What is coding anyway?You probably have a basic (ha) idea of what coding is, but just in case, let’s review quickly.A program is a set of instructions telling a computer or similar device what to do. Programs are written in a programming language, and the process of writing in one of those languages is coding. Some programming languages include Python, Java, and Ruby, but those are just three of many, many examples.However, even if you a ren’t looking to become a software developer, there may still be jobs that require or benefit from coding ability. Most companies above a certain size are going to require someone who has a level of coding skills. That’s one reason why having coding skills can open up a lot of opportunities in the job market.Coding is a great skill to build!Not only is coding a great skill to develop, but it’s one that you could theoretically learn and practice for free.“The appeal of coding as a so-called silver bullet toward good job prospects is that it is a tried-and-true profession, and with the advent of the mobile web and applications, it has become a mainstream profession,” explained Larissa Lowthorp, founder and president of TimeJump Media (@timejumpmedia). “The bar to entry to coding as a profession is easier to access than many, as it does not necessarily require a degreeâ€"if you know it, you know it.“There are many free and low-cost resources and coding boot camps availabl e online. You can learn from books, videos, and by practicingâ€"coding is a mobile career that can be done as part of the corporate infrastructure or as a freelancer. It can migrate between clients of all sizes.There are many different types and applications of coding, and there will be crossover to backend programming development. Larger companies such as Amazon, IBM, and Google have recently removed the requirement for a degree for their programmers and coders, making the profession more accessible to many.”Learning to code is not a silver bullet.Nurturing coding ability is never going to be a bad idea. But you shouldn’t get your expectations up too high. Maybe you should think about it less as a silver bullet, and more like a bronze or lead bulletâ€"which is what bullets have been traditionally made from, after all.Or even better, consider it just one tool in your employment arsenal that might not be a bullet at all!“Programming is no silver bullet to your career,” cautio ned Gloria Metrick, owner of GeoMetrick Enterprises. “If a platform or tool is ‘hot’ then everyone wants to get into it. What got you a job, initially, becomes overcrowded and commoditized, at some point. Then, the smart person would think that they should learn the next ‘hot’ thing.“Unfortunately, its not easy to convince people who want your current skill set to give you an opportunity on something new. Partly, they want to keep you working with what you already have experience with.The other issue is that others are already getting experience in the new area. In addition, they will probably be younger and want less money than you do because, as you realize, you have experience in programming, overall, that could be applied. But it doesnt always translate that easily.“In addition to all of this, programmers age more quickly than some other professions. In programming, while there are many experienced programmers with some grey hairs, theyre not always as welcome on p rojects.Thats especially true considering those of us who write code are generally seen as commodities, even when we have special skills and experience. With that, many companies dont see the purpose of hiring anyone but the youngest and cheapest widgets, er, I mean, people.”Employers know that basic (ha) coding ability isn’t nearly as rare as it used to be. Which means that many of them, including one we talked to, are going to look for additional factors when it comes to hiring.While skilled developers are in high demand these days, having basic ‘coding’ skills is neither a silver bullet nor a guarantee of employment,” explained Garry Brownrigg, CEO and founder of Quicksilk (@QuickSilk). When evaluating candidates, we consider their problem-solving capabilities as well as their ability to step into the shoes of our clients, not just their coding skills.We hire candidates that embrace low code and AI software development that negates the need for users to have any develop ment skills whatsoeverâ€"which requires that every member of our development team is constantly learning new technologies and standards.Is it right for you?OK, now that your expectations are in a reasonable place, it’s time to find out if coding is right for you!“Coding is worth pursuing for people that love logic problems, that are creative and love experimenting, and are self-motivated when it comes to creating things from scratch,” offered Joe Bailey, operations manager at My Trading Skills (@MyTradingSkills).“If you hate sitting for long hours and want normal working hours, or if you cant motivate yourself, then coding might not be the best skill for you to pursue. Youll just be punishing yourself unnecessarily.”Want some more examples of personality traits that might be conducive to coding? Here you go!“Coding requires great attention to detail: a single misplaced semicolon can prevent an entire application from running,” warned Sean Sessel, founder and director o f  The Oculus Institute.Another aspect of coding is that it will bring more pleasure to task-focused introverts than people-focused extroverts. If you require social engagement to recharge your energy, then long hours in front of a computer are not for you.Finally, coding requires a mathematical mind. If youre a detail-focused introvert yet numbers and systems and quantitative thinking arent your forte, youll be better off learning marketing copywriting.“All this said, if you are a detailed-focused, introverted, mathematical thinker who is willing to put in the effort to master multiple languages as well as connect them to each other and the business context, coding can definitely be a road to riches and freedom.At that level, it pays extremely well (easily $100/hr to $200/hr, and sometimes higher), and its a skill thats very well suited to freelancing so that you can work from anywhere in the world, when you want, how you want.”So you want to learn to code. How?Have you reached this point of the article and decided that you’d like to take a swing at this coding thing? Well, as was mentioned earlier, it can be quite easy and cheap to get started.“Perhaps the best part is that coding doesnt require a highly expensive, multiyear degree to get started,” advised Sessel. “You can learn a lot for free at CodeAcademy.com and on YouTube videos, as well as taking structured courses for very little on Udemy or other online course repositories.The best path is to build skills using these free or low-cost options and then start actually doing freelance work for people, which will expose you to a wide variety of different situations and thus give you the ability to build your skill repertoire quickly. Coding is something that is best learned by doing, and you can even start making money as you build the skill set!”If you are planning to attend a traditional university, you can work coding into your education even if you’re not working on a major focused aro und programming or development.“Combine programming with some other specialty,” suggested Metrick. “There are many degree programs for combinations such as laboratory informatics or bioinformatics, where youre combining two areas. In these examples, science and programming. As with anything else, doing this is no guarantee toward getting a job but it can help.“Look for opportunities to grow. If you get a chance to learn something else, such as project management, business analysis or other skills that work along with programming, give them a try. Then, if you entirely get pushed out of programming jobs you at least have some other experience to apply to other types of jobs.”We hope this article has given you a greater understanding of the opportunities coding may or may not offer to you. Now please make us a cake robot. To learn more about increasing your future earning potential, check out these other posts and articles from OppLoans:10 College Majors That Will Get You Pa id10 Tips to Nail Your Job Interview10 Skills You’ll Need in the Job Market of Tomorrow10 Tips to Help You Score That Big PromotionDo you have a   personal finance question youd like us to answer? Let us know! You can find us  on  Facebook  and  Twitter.  |  InstagramContributorsJoe Bailey is the Operations Manager at  My Trading Skills (@MyTradingSkills), a financial trading courses provider. His experience includes web development, UX and conversion rate optimization for both B2B and B2C.In 1984,  Quicksilks (@QuickSilk)  founder and chief executive officer (CEO), Garry Brownrigg, uncovered a medical disorder that left him with the inability to speak, sidelining him from his banking career, and forcing him to earn a living by communicating through e-mail. Ever the optimist, Garry turned his adversity into opportunity and taught himself programming whilst completing his Masters degree, online, through the IPT program at Boise State University. Currently, Garry leads QuickSilk wit h conviction alongside his team of veteran industry execs, each having multiple start-up successes and winning numerous awards.Larissa Lowthorp is the founder and President of  TimeJump Media (@timejumpmedia)  and production agency headquartered in St. Paul Minnesota with satellite offices in Los Angeles, California, and Toronto, Ontario. She is a technology entrepreneur, filmmaker, and digital nomad who has been coding since she was a teenager. Her prior experience includes stints in advertising and marketing, publishing, web development and programming, IT consulting, user experience engineering, and more. Larissas expertise has helped revolutionize the digital experiences for numerous notable brands which include Fortune 100, Fortune 50, and Fortune 25 companies. In 2015, Larissa made the decision to trade the corporate world to pursue her passion for film and other interests. Soon thereafter, she donated 99 percent of her belongings and hit the road with her beagle, her laptop, and two suitcases of essentials.Gloria Metrick has been programming most of her adult life. She began her career writing business systems, manufacturing software, and mathematical one-off software for scientists. After that, she became an expert in sample management software for research and for product testing laboratories. Along the way, shes supplemented her programming work by also doing project management and business analysis, as well as doing the usual testing and documentation that programmers are often required to do. Combining skills this way not only provided more opportunities but it also has helped Gloria better understand how to work with people in the many different roles on the projects shes been a part of. In addition, she has written articles for her industrys periodicals and spoken at industry conferences. She wants to tell other programmers that taking these opportunities to improve our communication skills does also help us better communicate with our managers a nd users about the programming we do. Its also useful for those programmers who would like to become a team lead or a similar role.Sean Sessel is a voracious learner with a fervent belief in the ability of the individual to better himself or herself. After an epiphany that he derived intrinsic enjoyment from continual learning and the sharing of knowledge with others, he decided to make a career of it and started  The Oculus Institute. Through the Awaken program (which shows people how to escape burnout jobs and craft careers that truly inspire them), Mr. Sessel has found a means of enduring impact. Thousands have been inspired by the introductory presentation, and Mr. Sessel has personally worked with hundreds of different people on solving the problems discussed therein. Right now, his primary goal is to expand Awaken and then build out other programs to solve other major life problems for a greater number of people.

I Have a Dream Metaphoric Criticism - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2030 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/08/16 Category History Essay Level High school Tags: I Have a Dream Essay Martin Luther King Essay Did you like this example? Rhetoric lies at the center of our human experience and facilitates human interaction. It consists of language (made up entirely of symbols) that ultimately allows us to construct our reality. A significant component of rhetoric is rhetorical criticism. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "I Have a Dream Metaphoric Criticism" essay for you Create order Rhetorical criticism analyzes artifacts of communication; from images to phrases to films and speeches. It serves as a qualitative research method that strives to investigate and find an explanation for the true meaning behind these artifacts and their impact on our society. The entirety of this paper centers around the application of Metaphoric Criticism to the legendary I have a Dream speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, allowing us to surpass linguistic embellishment and acknowledge the injustice faced by the African American community. It elaborates on the context of the artifact, expands on the chosen rhetorical critic method, and significantly, showcases discoveries from applying rhetorical criticism to the artifact.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Beginning with an elaboration on the context of the chosen artifact, Martin Luther King stands as not only one of the most significant figures in American history but one of the most influential figures in the world. Fueled by the injustice surrounding segregation, African Americans began the fight for racial equality with the Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King, a young pastor from Atlanta, Georgia, stood at the center of this movement. His I have a Dream Speech (the most notable speech he gave throughout the course of his activism) put the Civil Rights Movement on the map. The speech was given in 1963 during the March on Washington, an event where hundreds of thousands of people gathered to advocate for freedom and jobs. After directing a nonviolent protest (the march), Dr. King took center stage at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. and began sharing his hopes and dreams for the American population. He identifies the role the Emancipatio n Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln played in freeing the American population and highlights how the change must continue until equality has been established. While countless inspirational artifacts exist in our society, this speech, as a result of its effective incorporation of metaphors, truly exemplifies the power of rhetoric and the role it plays in moving a nation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Now that the context of the artifact has been elaborated upon, lets discuss the chosen rhetorical criticism method. Metaphoric Criticism revolves around the use of metaphors in artifacts to convey the underlining message of the artifact. A metaphor can be defined as a figure of speech in which an action or phrase denoting a symbol is used in comparison to another as a way of illustrating meaning. There are two components to a metaphor, the tenor and the vehicle. The tenor can be described as the topic or subject that is being explained, while the vehicle is the mechanism or lens through which the topic is viewed (Foss, 285, 2018). These comparisons are nonliteral and simply suggest a similarity between the two words/phrases. To provide an example take the metaphor life is a journey. Life (the tenor) is compared to the journey (the vehicle), so as to more effectively capture the rigor and tedious nature of life. To continue with the discussion on metap hors, these forms of figurative language are linguistic embroidery that the rhetor uses only occasionally to give extra force to language (Foss, 286, 2018). Metaphors bring beauty and drama to an otherwise dry description. Often times, topics of discussion can be difficult to comprehend or difficult to mention candidly. Metaphors allow its rhetors to effectively capture these instances. The use and purpose of metaphors go far beyond being a form of decoration. Metaphors are also a constituting force by being a basic way by which the process of using symbols to construct reality occur (Foss, 287, 2018). Metaphors have the ability to shine a light of certain phenomena, while continuing to keep others hidden, paving the way to a formulation of perspective.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With an understanding of the meaning of metaphors and the role they place in communication, lets delve deeper into metaphoric criticism. Sonja Foss highlights a four-step procedure to effectively utilizing and applying metaphoric criticism. The four-step procedure consists of selecting an artifact, analyzing the artifact, formulating a research question and writing the essay (Foss, 289, 2018). The significant aspect of this four-step procedure is the 2nd step, analyzing an artifact. Analyzing an artifact contains five essential parts: examining the artifact as a whole, isolating the metaphors, sorting the metaphors, and discovering an explanation for the artifact. Examining the artifact as a whole pertains to becoming familiar with the text or elements of the artifact and its context to gain a sense of the complete experience of the artifact (Foss, 290, 2018). Understanding the text as a whole improves understanding of the metaphors within them. The s econd step, isolating the metaphors, is as it says. It captures the process of isolating the metaphors used by the rhetor. Effectively identifying these metaphors is relevant for the next step, sorting the metaphors. This step involves sorting the metaphors you have identified into groups and looking for patterns (Foss, 293, 2018). Finding patterns leads to the creation of themes, which paves the way towards the last step of metaphoric criticism, discovering an explanation for the artifact. Also known as identifying the deeper meaning. Now that weve discussed the moving parts of Metaphoric Criticism, lets begin with the application by addressing the four components of metaphoric criticism previously discussed. We examined the artifact as a whole by elaborating on the context behind the I have a Dream speech and its significance. Lets proceed to the isolation of the metaphors within the speech itself. For the sake of comprehension and organization, the quotes highlighted will be numbered (with subscripts) for further analysis. At the beginning of the speech, MLK mentions the Emancipation Proclamation and how this momentous decree is a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice1 (King, 1963). With this metaphor, the emancipation proclamation, which serves as a tenor is compared to a beacon of hope, the vehicle. King also mentions that this sweltering summer of the Negros legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of fr eedom and equality2 (King 1963). With this metaphor, the anger of the African American community (tenor) is compared to the sweltering summer sun (vehicle) and freedom and equality (tenor) are compared to invigorating autumn (vehicle). Continuing with the isolation of metaphors from the artifact, King mentions toward the middle of the speech let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred3 (King 1963). Freedom (tenor) is compared to a draught (vehicle), while hatred (tenor) is compared to a cup of bitterness (vehicle). Other significant quotes from the artifact are the whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nations until the bright day of justice emerges4 and I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice5 (King, 1963). With the first quote, the danger that the nation will continue to face if the needs of the Civil Rights Movement are not met (the tenor) is compared to a whirlwind (vehicle). For the second quote, injustice and oppression (tenor) are compared to heat (vehicle), while freedom and justice (tenor) are compared to an oasis (vehicle). Following isolation of the metaphors, comes sorting of the metaphors. Exemplified through the highlighted quotes from the artifact, King relies heavily on weather metaphors and high and low contrasts. The theme of incorporating weather can be found in the 2nd, 4th, and 5th quotes, when he speaks of the sweltering summer, the invigorating autumn, the whirlwinds of revolt, the bright rays of justice, and the oasis of freedom. As for the high and low contrast, these can be found when King compares the whirlwinds of revolt (low) to the bright days of justice (high). It can also be found in his juxtaposition between the sweltering summer and the invigorating autumn (the 2nd quote). Another significant theme within Kings I have a Dream speech is the notion of love and brotherhood. Despite the injustice, the African American community continued to face and despite their efforts for equality being dismissed, King continues to stand by non-violent revolt and dispels anger and hatred. This is evident in the 3rd quote when he speaks of how the thirst (desire) for freedom and equality shouldnt be satisfied with bitterness and hatred. Its also evident when he argues we must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. He continues, we must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again, and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force (King, 1963). Even after personally experiencing the detrimental effects of racism and inequality, love stands at the center of his heart and he urges for it to stand at the center of the Civil Rights Movement. Weve isolated significant quotes from the artifact and sorted them through the creation of themes, so what does this analysis reveal about the artifact in particular and about the rhetorical process in general? Through metaphoric criticism, weve been able to gain a more profound insight into the intentions of Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement. Upon initial recognition, many viewed the intentions of MLK and the Civil Rights Movements as advocacy for the black perspective and moreover that their desires were driven by pain and hatred with no regard for how their actions could negatively impact the population at large. In addition to this, many (those around the world and in the United States) remained completely unaware of the struggles faced by the African American population. They believed the Emancipation Proclamation was sufficient and that through segregation (separate but equal) the circumstances of the black man had improved. MLKs I Have a Dream speech addressed t hese misconceptions. As revealed through Metaphoric Criticism, the metaphors embedded in his speech exemplified the true nature of the Civil Rights Movement and their true intentions. As previously mentioned in the 3rd and 6th quote (introduced above), King dismissed desires of hatred and bitterness and pushed for individuals to act with kindness and love. He encouraged the African American population and the world in general that violence, pain, and damage should be welcomed with dignity, discipline, and compassion. As for awareness regarding the struggles faced by the African American community, the metaphors within Kings I Have a Dream speech shines a light to its full extent. Lets take as an example the 2nd quote where King says this sweltering summer of the Negros legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality (King, 1963). As previously mentioned, the I Have a Dream speech was given in Washington D.C. Anyone who has spent a summer in the south or a nywhere, in general, know its accompanied by frustration, a sense of suffering, misery, and significantly, a longing for relief. Theres difficulty in understanding struggles faced by those outside your community. Metaphors such as the one mentioned above (and just about everywhere in the artifact), not only enable those outside the African American community to understand the extent of their struggle, but it allows them to relate to it, and become advocates for change. As exemplified through metaphoric criticism of Dr. Martin Luther Kings I Have a Dream speech, metaphors are far more than forms of figurative language. The metaphors highlighted in Kings speech drew on themes such as nature, brotherhood, compassion, and high/low juxtapositions. They made the American population and the world knowledgeable on the intentions of the black community, as well as the extent of their struggles. Metaphors and metaphoric criticism are means of exemplifying intentions, perspectives, and truth that would otherwise remain silent and submerged. They capture the power of rhetoric on the human experience and its ability to shape our reality. Through specific, purposeful, persuasive, and metaphoric communication, Kings speech propelled the American Civil Rights Movement and began the establishment of change and equality for all.

Assignment on Starbucks - 3208 Words

1. INTRODUCTION Since opening its first store in Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington (USA) in 1971, Starbucks has established itself as the world’s leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee with over with 17,009 stores in 55 countries. The company, which ranks amongst the world’s top 100 global brands according to Interbrand 2006, has an impressive record of sales and profit growth. In FY2006 Starbucks achieved a sales turnover of $7.8 billion, an increase of 22% on 2005, and operating margin of 11.4%. In 2010 the revenue of Starbucks is $ 10.71 billion. Starbucks Headquarters Seattle Starbucks has grown from a single coffee shop in Seattle 40 years ago to a $6.38 billion worth of an international†¦show more content†¦Partnership with Kraft Foods is formed for the distribution of Starbucks coffee into supermarkets. 1999: Pasqua Coffee Co. and Tazo Tea Company are acquired. 2000: Schultz steps aside as CEO to become chief global strategist, while remaining chairman; Orin Smith takes over as CEO. 2001: Mobilestar- This Texas firm, which shared some history with Wayport signed the first contract with Starbucks in January 2001 to build out thousands of locations. 2005: Introduces Starbucks Coffee Liqueur; Acquires Ethos Water. 2007: Feb 14, 2007 was an auspicious day in the history of Starbucks. On that day Schultz sent an e-mail to Donald, copying the other members of the executive team, entitled â€Å"The Commoditization of the Starbucks Experience.† 2008: In early January 2008, Schultz, the company s chairman, again took over the chief executive post as the company reported the worst quarterly same-store sales in its history. In 2008, total international stores became 5113 store 11567store in United States. 2.1 Why was Starbucks so successful? The dramatic explanation of Starbucks prevalence in today s society says their success was due to the creation of a so-called Third Place culture. In reality, it was because an entrepreneur who believed in strong operations management and having a central focus for everyone in the company to follow. This was the long-term vision of Howard Schultz. 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The Effect of Smoking Free Essays

In today’s civilization, tobacco smoking has always been discouraged by communities and organizations due to its lethal effects on human health, but its impact on the environment has not been taken into account. Even though people are aware of all the side-effects, that are associated with smoking, they still tend to try it anyways. Not only is tobacco bad for the user, but it can be a danger to the planet itself. We will write a custom essay sample on The Effect of Smoking or any similar topic only for you Order Now This results because of deforestation, a polluted ecosystem, and unfertile soil. Tobacco smoking is an addictive habit that is becoming increasingly common. As the number of people smoking tobacco grows, farmers figure out ways to make more of it. Unfortunately, they result to clearing land reserved for forests. Before the tobacco plant can be used to make cigarettes, it has to be dried or cured. The main approach farmers take to cure the crop is usually coal, natural gas or oil. Since tobacco farmers come from poor countries, they must use the most economically suitable option, firewood. In order to provide this wood, large amounts of trees are dislodged. Trees have much importance and use in our ecosystem that most people don’t understand. As stated by the Tree and Shrub Company, they play their role in the environment by providing oxygen, improving air quality, climate amelioration, conserving water, preserving soil, and supporting wildlife (â€Å"Importance and Value of Trees†). Even though deforestation helps in producing tobacco, its negative impacts overweigh the positive and as a result, it will lead to a damaged environment. Tobacco smoke’s indirect effect on the environment does not end there. Another major issue that smoking tobacco brings is that it pollutes the water. This can be brought back to the farms in which the tobacco seeds are planted. These plants are vulnerable to thousands of insects that may bring sickness to the plant, causing death. Consequently, plants are sprayed regularly and heavily with pesticide to prevent pests and disease. This in turn brings rise to other problems such as a danger to the health of the farmer and these chemicals have a risk of leaking into the community water. This will cause the water to become contaminated, and affect not only the community but most species in that environment. As pesticides move from our lawn to nearby rivers and streams, they bring harmful chemicals along the way. This not only pollutes the water, but it also risks the lives of the animals in that environment. Not only will these pesticides risk animal lives, but it will also decrease water quality by huge amounts making the community at risk from getting sick from the water. Another major issue people don’t consider while smoking tobacco is it’s impact on the soil. Ground pollution is one of the main concerns for the environment. Tobacco plants demand high concentrations of fertilizer for optimal growth. Since these plants are grown in poor countries, farmers cannot afford fertilizers. Consequently, the plants absorb nutrients from the soil until infertility occurs. This may seem simple, but the effect on the environment is huge. Due to lack of nutrients in the soil, plants that depended on it will usually be denied the nutrients they so badly need. As a result, most plants will become either very weak or they will die. This not only decreases wildlife species, but it endangers other animals as well. This is because animals that depend on those plants will most likely lose their source of food, leading to the extinction of those species. How to cite The Effect of Smoking, Papers

Asian Variant Of Theatre Essay Example For Students

Asian Variant Of Theatre Essay Asian theatre is comprised of more than one geographic area. It consists ofIndia, China and Japan. Each brought their own uniqueness to Asian theatre. Asian theatre as it pertains to China will be discussed in this chapter. AncientChinese chronicles mention other theatrical activities such as skits,pantomimes, juggling, singing and dancing. This serves as an indication thatthere were early Chinese versions of popular entertainment. During the YuanDynasty, China was ruled not by a Chinese emperor but rather by a Mongol. Therewas an outbreak of drama in the Yuan Dynasty. Yuan drama was usually written infour acts. Usually the leading character sang all of the music in any given act. The poetic content in these plays was considered the central factor in theirsuccess. One of the most famous plays that have survived from this period is TheRomance of the Western Chamber, by Wang Shifu. Also, by this point both malesand females alike were performing on stage. Chinese theatre in the Ming Dynasty,which came when the Mongols were overthrown after the Yuan Dynasty, brought backtraditional social behavior. A Chinese emperor was restored to the throne duringthis time. Dramatists reverted to writing only for the elite, and theaters lostcontact with the broad public. Lute Song by Gao Ming was a best known play ofthis time. It dealt with questions of family loyalty. In particular it dealtwith a husband leaving his wife abandoned. Beijing Opera was formed fromelements of folk theater and other genres popular among ordinary people. It wasoriginally called Peking Opera because for many years it was known westerners asPeking. It is not like the grand opera of the west. It combine s music andtheater, but is also based on dance and even acrobatics. The theater arrangementfor these operas are like a modern dinner theater. The audience has dinner anddrinks as the performance goes on. The costumes and makeup are also verysymbolic. Chinese theatre has its own uniqueness. Although other areas oftheatre have used makeup and costume symbolically, Chinese theatre symbolism isexaggerated more. The bright costumes and lavish makeup tell you a story aboutthese characters, not only their emotion. The colors and patterns of makeupsignal to he audience what kind of character the performer is playing.

Usa in the Second Half of the 19th Century Essay Example

Usa in the Second Half of the 19th Century Essay The second half of the 19th century introduced a new style of enterprise to America, Big Business. The 19th century values of work and of being an independent business man clashed with the modern 20th century values of extreme expansion with large work forces and of earning the most money possible. The rise of the robber barons and the captains of industry helped the economy by pushing America into first place in the production of several products and by creating many new jobs. Although these new opportunities appealed to the masses, not everyone was satisfied by his new occupation. The creation of labor unions was a reaction to the numerous complaints about working conditions, wages, and work hours. The first unions protested with peace and reason. Once they realized that nothing could be accomplished through negotiation, drastic measures were taken and violence was the answer to their problems. The clashes between management and workforce in the Great Railroad Strike, Homestead Strike, and Pullman Strike emphasize these crises that were resolved through force and destruction. Economic depression in 1873 was the main factor in setting off the 10% wage cuts and shortening of work days in the railroad business. In 1877, Laborers took action by seizing control of the rails by sequestering the rail switches and by blockading freight trains, only letting passenger trains through. Strikes broke out in many cities including Baltimore where 10 protesters and bystanders were killed by the local militia. Engulfed in rage, the laborers rampaged through the city destroying all things pertaining to trains. We will write a custom essay sample on Usa in the Second Half of the 19th Century specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Usa in the Second Half of the 19th Century specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Usa in the Second Half of the 19th Century specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Only after Hayes was called for help did the real action begin. In Pittsburgh, the National Guard was called to quell another strike by any means necessary, even if it meant killing 20 people including women and children. Tempers exploded as fires raged through the city destroying $4 million worth of railroad property. The country suffered an estimated 100 deaths due to these rash actions and violence. The casualties could’ve been avoided through peaceful negotiation, but that never worked. Carnegie’s Homestead Steel mills, a part of US Steel, were the center of a hostile conflict in 1892 between laborers and management caused by large wage cuts and short work weeks. These cuts were commanded by Frick who reasoned that increased efficiency inflated salaries. Frick closed the mill and hired and placed 300 Pinkerton Detectives on guard duty. On July 6th, much blood was spilled as a gunfight between the guards and laborers ensued for 12 hours. The workers won the battle, but lost the war completely. ,500 National Guard members took control of the mill and the blame of an assassination attempt at Frick was blamed on the Labor Unions. In November, all steel unions were broken, and the mill operated on cheap labor from African Americans and immigrants. The hours were brutal as they were pushed to work 12 hours a day with a 24 hour day every 2 weeks. The Steel Industry didn’t see unions for another 44 years. The management had won. The government was an avid supp orter of big business which is evident in the Pullman Strike of 1894. Still feeling the effects of depression, the Pullman Palace Car Company had to lay off 5,800 workers and also cut wages from 25-50%. Even though they were making less money, the Pullman town didn’t lower the rent. On May 11th, 90% of the workers went on strike and a month later, ? million across the country joined them by refusing to pull Pullman sleeping cars. Lawyers, as tricky as they are, managed to get a court injunction to force the workers back to work by attaching a US mail car to a Pullman car and say the laborers were disturbing the distribution of mail. The workers didn’t comply to with the courts jurisdiction and so 14,000 troops were sent by Grover Cleveland to enforce the ruling. 25 were killed as the troops shot into a crowd of 10,000 in Chicago. Hundred were jailed including Eugene Debs, leader of the American Railway Union who ordered the workers to stop pulling the Pullman cars. The government prioritized a strong healthy economy over a large and happy population. Rapid industrialization and nation-wide corporations led to wealthier families and a new middle class. Although there were many who did enjoy the new luxuries paid for by new salaried jobs like managers, technicians, and engineers, many more people were below the poverty line and resided in the slums, living with other families with no privacy and unsanitary conditions. These families were unfortunate because of the wage cuts and the replacement of labor by immigrants and African Americans. A change was in order and the labor unions took the plate by voicing their complaints, and, when that didn’t work, resorting to physical means to get what they wanted.

DANCE ME OUTSIDE ISP essays

DANCE ME OUTSIDE ISP essays The novel DANCE ME OUTSIDE is written by W.P. Kinsella and is inspired by Native life in Canada. The story creatively explores the ways of Natives adjusting to a new life in a new land. The location is in Sucker Lake, Ontario on a reserve named Kidiabinessee. The main character is an eighteen-year-old boy who has to deal with issues that mainly involve the relationship between Natives and the Whites. Silas Crow is the narrator of the novel and introduces Native life to the reader with great emphasis on the personal concerns that he has with his lifestyle. Silas and his best friend, Frank Fencepost, live in a Native Community where it is hard to get along with the white folks that live nearby. The plot contains strong problems that involve drug abuse, racism, violence, and murder. The story starts off with Silas and Frank planning to get somewhere in life and attend mechanic school in British Columbia. Silas older sister, Illiana, is coming back to town from Toronto, Ontario to visit the family with her white husband, Robert McVee. Robert is a top-notch lawyer who really wants Illianas family to accept him. Illiana comes back to find her ex-boyfriend, Gooch, out of jail. Illianas feelings return for him, but she decides to stick with her true love, McVee. Illianas mother, who is very traditional, is worried about her daughter having a family with a white man. She urges Illiana to begin starting a family as soon as possible and to maintain the Native values within her children. The problem calms down once Illiana is showing interest in Native life again and McVee is taking notice to preserving the Native ways as well. Silas meanwhile seems to be experiencing problems with his girlfriend, Sadie, who is having a hard time dealing with the fact that Silas will be going away to mechanic school. Problems keep arising, but solutions do not appear. Sadie and Silas decide to break u...

Video tape evaluation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Video tape evaluation - Case Study Example As a 'good girl,' she is expected to meet the domestic demands of the family without complaining. She is also required to excel in studies in the university course. I recognized that I had a tendency to rush through the questions during interview. I did not allow much time for reflection, and summarizing the discussions. At times, I did not ask more probing questions, even when such opportunities were present. I therefore decided to use this session to practice reflective listening, and "stay with the interviewee" than "getting ahead of her." I also wished to practice empathic response, and make concerted efforts to understand the interviewee's propositions. I also studied the tools presented in the video training material, "Building on Strength" which provided practical techniques in effective counseling for community based family workers (Armstrong, 1994). In particular, I decided to use Genograms and family maps to identify the immediate and extended family members, their interdependencies, and interconnectedness (Maidment, 2004). I subscribe to Adlerian Family Therapy (Bitter, 1997), which assumes that both parents and children often become locked in repetitive, negative interactions based on mistaken goals. I also believe that the climate of relationships that exist between members in a family exerts tremendous influence in one's belief, thinking and responses (Sherman & Dinkmeyer, 1987). I found this paradigm useful in the context of current counseling session. I also find great merit in adapting to the Adler's theory, that each person must be viewed as an individual from a holistic perspective (1938). I feel it is important to understand the whole person in a social context, than understanding different aspects of one's life or personality. In this regard, I applied the Genogram tool to the current counseling assignment. Demonstrated Positive Counseling Behaviors: Reflective Listening: I tried to reflect upon the interviewee's feelings through empathic response during the interactions. A strong feeling that emerged from discussions was that the interviewee has been subject to unfair quantum of work at home. Despite three younger siblings, incidentally all brothers, the mantle of domestic chores directly fell upon her. The interviewee was also expected to perform equally well in her full time University study. She had to carry

Procces to practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Procces to practice - Essay Example the floor, the viewer is just able to skirt around it, for my suspending object from the ceiling and the wall plays with the visual of weight, drop and breakable. For example, during the process of my experiments with the various mediums and finding a way to represent, I made two different sorts of object, in one object I made amalgamates space around it, following works (intimately object, a chair and the dead body). This type of composition identifies with the quote, â€Å"Three dimensional works by minimalist artists used wide range both the surrounding space and the viewer.† Hence, I desire to establish the relationship between the sculptures processes and materials used and the idea of making uncanny objects. Nevertheless, in some of my works I did not incorporate space since, â€Å"You cannot understand the place without being capable of understanding form and to understand form you must be capable of understand space.† These include works such as Au nature, and untitled water object. In terms of material, I used particular materials such as an everyday object, cement, water, and the plastic bag, latex, fruit and here they act as properties in determining the form of my objects. This is a new exploration just like, â€Å"In the twenty century arts began to explore new recourse in a quest to discover what sculpture could be and what it could be made for.† As mentioned above; cement is one of the materials I have used in my work. Cement is a dead, waterproof material often used for outdoor sculpture, building and big scale; it can directly onto a supporting structure, pattern and object. First, I mixed plaster powder with water, which is fast sited, I practiced as a construction material of the making mould. Then, I used water, which is as a significant influential material in my recent works. It is an element of nature that brings specific aesthetic qualities. I also used fruit, which is an organic material and rot material. In terms of technique and material,

Benefits of Internet Opportunities for SMEs in Mauritius

Benefits of Internet Opportunities for SMEs in Mauritius Acknowledgement Many individuals have played an important role in our upbringing and education To our parents, who deserve special recognition. We would also like to extend a special acknowledgement to our lecturer, Mr. D Seethiah for giving us the opportunity to reflect and work on such a project. Thanks to our group who have been working very hard for accomplishment of this assignment. Finally, we extend our appreciation to the Almighty for granting us good health and prosperity. Executive summary SMEs are called upon to play a competitive role in the economy of Mauritius. Adoption of ICT by SMEs can a have positive impact on the national economy. The reasons are: (a) Internet based infrastructures are relatively cheap; (b) they provide an ever converging and rich environment for effective business networking; and (c) they provide SMEs access to a larger market. This assignment examines the extent internet provides opportunities for business expansion of SMEs in Mauritius. It also identifies the enablers and barriers to the use of internet by SMEs. A questionnaire was used to collect data among some SMEs. They were classified as follows: IT Novice, IT Savvy and e-Commerce Specialist. The findings are reported, based on the analysis of the data collected. Several key findings emerge from the research in this assignment: IT Savvy and e-Commerce Specialist use computers, they have internet connection that they exclusively use for email and they have a website too. The degree of diffusion of the internet is high among IT Savvy and e-Commerce Specialist. For SMEs to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the internet for business expansion, they will have to acquire knowledge and skills in using the internet and be made aware of the facilities being offered by the NCB and the existing laws in the field of e-commerce. They will also have to bank on the vulgarization of the use of internet amongst customers or at least, for the time being, design/customize products that could help target a certain market segment. Introduction Internet has revolutionized and continues to deeply impact on the way one does business. It is now a major tool for conducting business. It allows buyers and sellers to meet online, communicate and exchange information on goods and services. Besides, it does away with the geographical boundaries, the time zones and, in some cases, the need for physical space to transact business. With its tremendous potential, it has become commonplace for businesses and consumers to transact business via the Internet through email or online purchasing. For the SMEs, it offers a vista of opportunities for business expansion. However, many SMEs do not take advantage of the Internet thinking that their goods and services do not lend themselves to Internet transactions. Moreover, they do not possess the managerial knowledge and skills for e-business. Hiring an IT-expert or an e-business consultant to fill this gap requires relatively huge sum of money, which they cannot afford. Sometimes, the availability of broadband connections may affect the decisions of SMEs to adopt e-commerce. Further, sound government policies should be in place to create the necessary environment and incentives to encourage SMEs to take advantage of the Internet to create business opportunities. Many unscrupulous persons are interested in the huge potential of the Internet for their own selfish motives. In countries where there are no appropriate legal instruments, there may be a host of possible attacks that compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information that they exchange through the Internet. Consequently, people may lose trust on the security of doing business in the Internet and thus forego it huge potential for business. Literature Review SMEs in MAURITIUS According to the minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr. R. K. Sithanen: A key component in the governments agenda for economic development and democratization is the development of the small and medium enterprise sector into a competitive force (April 2006). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are widely acknowledged as an important sector for national and international economic development. Growth oriented small business make a major contribution to economic development and employment generation within local communities and national economies. (Smallbone and Wyer, 2000) SMEs contribute substantially to national economies (Poon and Swatman, 1999) and are estimated to account for 80 per cent of global economic growth (Jutla et al, 2002). It is no secret that globalization (r)evolution and communication technologies (ICT) are going to change the structure of the any economy. (Kaushalesh Lal and Aveeraj Sharma Peedoly, 2006). With the government of Mauritius promoting small and medium enterprises as a competitive sector of the economy, organizational and technological changes in these firms are expected to have significant impact on the national economy. Proponents of globalization argue that it will open a window of opportunities for SMEs while networking capabilities of ICTs suggest that SMEs can augment their competitiveness in global markets. In fact several studies (Lal, 2004 and Drew, 2003) found positive impact of the adoption of ICTs by SMEs. Although there is very little data pertaining to the evolution of SMEs across time, the origins of SMEs in Mauritius can be traced back to the 1960s when Mauritius was witnessing the beginning of a timid industrialization process with an import-substitution strategy with the main objective of supplying the local market and giving certain autonomy to the country. The inward-looking industrial policy of the Government of the day was of encouraging the production of such commodities as the manufacturing of blades, electrical bulbs, batteries, soap, welding and steel work for construction, refining edible oils, plastic industry, food canning, industrial poultry breeding, yogurt manufacturing, biscuits, shoes, matches etc for the domestic market; this was also the prevailing orthodoxy of the time especially for African developing economies. Many critics (see e.g Maujean, 1996) argue that this programme was superficially planned with no support schemes nor incentives proposed to the enterp rises. Although, the import substitution strategy was soon overshadowed by an export-oriented strategy with the setting up of Export-Processing Zones, many small-scale enterprises exploited the products mentioned above for the domestic market. In fact, most SMEs today cater for the local market in similar areas as mentioned above. According to Maujean (1996) the early enterprises were attempts to reproduce locally models which existed abroad. In food processing, firms like Purlait Ltd, La Boulangerie Industrielle and Lyons Maid which pioneered private, small-scale enterprises in the country started off with enormous difficulties in spite of being relatively modern with an important capital investment and sophisticated distribution network. The concern with survival in a largely traditional and poorly developed society meant that the local market was not yet ready for such products. Nevertheless against this background a protectionist strategy which involved high tariff against competitive goods helped these industries to operate. As Wignaraja and Oneil (1999) argue, for the size of the country and its stage of development, Mauritius has a particularly wide range of support services for the SME sector. Beyene (2002) makes a largely similar argument especially when looking at it by African standards. This wide array of support is provided mainly through Government and parastatal agencies or financial institutions. The Small Enterprises and handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA), Enterprise Mauritius (EM), the Development Bank of Mauritius Ltd (DBM), the Small Medium Enterprises Partnership Fund (SMEPF), the National Computer Board (NCB) are generally regarded as the main institutions which provide support to SMEs by operating schemes to enhance the setting up or development of enterprises. They act mainly as facilitators, providing financial support, training and consultancy services, marketing and export assistance. The Small Enterprises and Handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA) The Small Enterprises Handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA) was created following the merger of the Small Medium industries Development Organisation (SMIDO) and the National Handicraft Promotion Agency (NHPA). The aim of the merger is to rationalize and optimize the use of resources dedicated to the small business sector in Mauritius. SEHDA, falling under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry, SMEs, Commerce Co-operatives, provides support to potential and existing small entrepreneurs with a view to enable them to start new enterprises or to improve their existing businesses. Enterprise Mauritius (EM) Enterprise Mauritius operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry, SMEs, Commerce Co-operatives and we have one primary objective, driving growth in exports both regionally and internationally through export sectors at 3 levels: Assisting in the development of Industry Sector strategies and Action plans The facilitation of Strategic Clusters to meet commonly shared group objectives And ultimately, working with individual businesses to help them develop an integrated market and capability development plan to provide access to resources that meet their specific requirements Development Bank of Mauritius An important part of the Banks resources is geared towards the development, consolidation and modernization of the SME sector. A separate department at the DBM is in fact dedicated to promote entrepreneurship development. Loans are provided at competitive rates for start-ups, financing of production equipment, technology improvement and also for working capital with the maximum quantum allocated varying according to industrial sectors. With respect to exports, the DBM runs the Export Development Fund for participation in overseas trade fairs and market surveys and also provides loans for joint ventures with overseas partners. Together with the DBM, other commercial banks such as the Mauritius Post and Cooperative Bank (MPCB), the MCB and the STB offer credit facilities albeit at less competitive rates and relatively more important collaterals to small entrepreneurs. Recently most of the main banks in the country (MCCB, MCB, Barclays and the State Bank) have also announced preferentia l interest rates for SMEs. Small and Medium Enterprises Partnership Fund (SMEPF) A parastatal body set up to provide funding ranging from Rs. 300,000 to Rs. 3 million amounting up to 50% of the total capitalization of the business. The criterion used is the evaluation of the business plan of the proposed venture to assess its feasibility to allow the return of the allocated funds within a period of five years. SMEPF is gradually gaining more importance as a source of funding to SMEs. National Computer Board (NCB) The NCB was set up as the apex organisation to develop and promote ICT and ICT-related services in Mauritius. Its main contribution towards SME development has been in terms of its incubator centre mainly for ICT start-ups with the main objectives of promoting entrepreneurship in the ICT sector by providing the necessary infrastructure and logistics, the development of linkages with other institutions and marketing. Moreover it runs sensitization programmes regularly for SMEs in order to familiarize and influence them to the strategic and financial benefits of integrating ICTs in the running of their enterprises. Information and Communication Technology Authority (ICTA) The ICTA is a regulatory body set up in 2001 replacing the former Mauritius Telecommunications Authority. The main objectives of ICTA are listed below: To democratize access to information, taking into account quality, diversity and plurality To license and regulate the information and communication services To encourage optimum use of ICT in business, industry and government at large, the introduction of new technology and the investment in infrastructure and services Other SME Supporting Institutions Together with the above institutions there are others, which mainly private sector bodies such as the Mauritius Employers Federation (MEF), and Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) do provide miscellaneous facilities for SMEs more specifically in terms of documentation, training, advice and consultancy. Despite the variety of measures described above, it is acknowledged that the full potential of the SME sector has yet to be unleashed, the more so in the contemporary context of globalization which calls for greater competitiveness and efficiency in both local and overseas markets. A review of the existing literature on the difficulties faced by the SME sector pinpoints the shortcomings of the existing support system. As Wignaraja and ONeil (1999, p 64) argue: Undoubtedly the investment in SME support is not delivering the growth required or expected at the enterprise level and this must be improved. An overhaul of the entire support system is required to address the deficiencies () and to create a more cohesive integrated framework. It has been noted that owing to the fact that SMEs are quite flexible, they sometimes lack the vision and discipline to maintain a coherent strategy to wards the market. IFC (2004) proposed that an aggressive push to be given to the sector of training and education. One of the most important barriers to the adoption of e-business in Mauritius remains the lack of trust into the system. Indeed, (Kuwayama, 2001) found that companies believed that transactions on the internet were very unsafe. This situation seems to be recurrent in other developing countries as suggested by (Payne, 2002) Aspects of Internet and Issues The use of internet in business is one of the tools that e-commerce offers. We start therefore by overseeing some general facts about e-commerce as pertains to SMEs. General e-commerce facts related to SMEs The use of the Internet and communication technologies has been found to improve business competitiveness, with the Internet providing the opportunity for SMEs to compete on equal terms with larger organizations (Chapman et al., 2000). The development of e-commerce in the last ten years all over the world has involved a growing number of businesses. E-commerce has been used as an important lever to promote business growth (Bianchi and Bivona, 2002). It is important for a firm grow continuously if the firm wants to maintain competitive advantage. Thus firms should struggle for continuous growth keeping the aim of increasing or simply maintaining their sales and profits levels, to ensure their survival (Claver et al., 2006). Throughout management literature, many successful stories are spread and researchers are encouraging SMEs to start e-commerce ventures in order to increase their sales (Bianchi and Bivona, 2002). At the same time there is considerable effort expended, both in time and money, by governments to encourage small and medium sized enterprises to invest in the use of the Internet (Beckinsale and Levy, 2004). According to Levy and Powell (2002) most SMEs do not view the Internet as the key to their business strategy. Strategy is rarely raised as an enabler or as an inhibitor in the literature. The entrepreneur is critical in determining the Internet development. However, strategic commitment has been shown to be critical in SMEs. Research in several countries show that SMEs have been slower to adopt e-commerce than their larger counterparts, but the rate of the Internet usage in SMEs is growing quite rapidly. Internet has focused on large firms, new business models, the growth and development of dot-coms and the new economy. SMEs in traditional industries have been slower to adopt e-commerce than their larger competitors and research into the use of the Internet by such firms is more recent. (Drew, 2003) Furthermore, compared to the extensive literature on the importance and potential of the Internet as component of the business environment, research on organizational evolution and strategy for the Internet in businesses is limited and sketchy. The majority of publications, text books, press articles, and white papers on the Internet strategy deal with this issue on a somewhat tactical level: How to build up unique competitive position, attract customers, and increase sales. (Constantinides, 2004) In many ways the field of entrepreneurship and small medium sized firm research seems no closer to understanding the dynamics of small business growth after decades of empirical studies (Lowe and Henson, 2004). Whilst the issue of growth in small firms is topical and well researched, the literature on growth processes and transitions in high-growth small firms is sparse and underrepresented in the entrepreneurship and small business journals. A recent content review of abstracts obtained via a database search identified only two percent addressing issues of high growth, growth processes and transitions as being key elements of the published papers. Saulnier and Rosson (2004) further mention that expressions made about the importance of e-business have not been fully matched by actions taken, particularly in the areas of staff training, technology infrastructure, and applications to deal with growth. The use of ICT, technology upgrading, and continuous innovation are paramount to being competitive and run at optimum efficiency. However there is relatively little empirical data pertaining to SMEs in Mauritius and more particularly regarding the extent to which they have adopted ICTs in day to day running of their businesses. A survey by Matadeen (2004) showed that most of the Mauritian companies were managed by the owners themselves irrespective of the fact that they may have management skills or not. With this in mind, the strategy to develop for SMEs and e-business must take into account the local culture and customs in Mauritius. Possible Role of the Internet in Specific Growth Strategies Adopted by SMEs The Internet is usually presented as an opportunity for smaller firms because it helps reduce transaction costs and level the playing field. Often cited benefits include expanding the scope of marketing, wider and richer communication, reaching new markets, reducing the cost of operations and partnering with suppliers and other collaborators. (Drew, 2003) The Internet provides a unique opportunity to examine the evolution and growth of a business sector because it has taken place over a relatively short time period (Javalgi et al. 2004). The initial Internet environment might be described as a virgin environment, in which rapid growth could be expected. Among emerging technologies, the Internet is a new channel for commerce applicable in a wide variety of industries around the world. As a new strategic tool, it is transforming businesses and creating new opportunities as well as challenges for international marketers as many nations are fast connecting to the global marketplace. Information technology is continuing to be an integral part of the business plan. Electronic commerce is affecting the way business are planning growth strategies and is the leading driver of corporate growth. The key is for IT to be seen as the new engine for growth, and not as a frustrating cost center. This result in a new way of thinking: The focus should be not on how much new technology should cost, but on how much revenue it will bring in. (Fruhling and Digman, 2000) Many SMEs have made innovative uses of the Internet to invent new business models or to enhance existing practices (Drew, 2003). Firms with a history of innovation are embarking on a full- scale electronic commerce strategy. These firms are tying innovation with electronic commerce with the hopes to ensure company growth. Fruhling and Digman (2000) mention electronic commerce enables business to quickly and efficiently implement growth strategies. One of the main reasons this strategy is so attractive is the incredible growth rate of the Internet users. Key Drivers for adoption of the Internet in SME Growth Levy and Powell (2002) explored the adoption of the Internet among SMEs and formulated a model for the Internet adoption. This model identifies four roles for the Internet in SMEs brochure ware, support, opportunity, and network. These are driven by business growth planning and perceived the Internet value as shown in figure: Business Growth Levy and Powell (2002) advocate two key drivers in determining the use of internet by SMEs. The first driver is business growth. In some firms business growth is planned and investments are made ahead of need. In many other SMEs growth may occur but not as a result of planning. Attitude to business growth often determine whether SME owners consider resource investment in the business. IT investment is traditionally restricted in SMEs, with many investing at start-up, but no further investment is made until business outgrows existing system. It is reasonable that attitude to growth will impact SMEs decision to invest in the Internet. Business Value from Use of the Internet The second driver is business value from use of the Internet. Business value of the Internet is identified through response to the firms competitive positioning and their knowledge of respective industries. SMEs do consider the role of the Internet for their business generally with cautious approach. Most firms do not see the value of the Internet to their growth strategy. However, a number of visionary owners believe they can change their business through the use of the Internet. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Brochureware are those firms that do not plan business growth and see the value of the Internet as low. Owners generally think about the Internet but cannot see its relevance to their business. One of the reasons is nature of industry in which SME operates. Hence, there is a role for the Internet for these firms but it is restricted to the presentation of on-line firm information or brochures and for e-mails. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Business Opportunity is SMEs with recognition that the Internet has some value to them, in the future. However, it is limited to improving efficiency internally, customer communication, and research. The contrast between this category and Brochureware is that owners recognize the business value of the Internet and although not seeking growth, recognize that competitive pressure demand investment. These firms see a business opportunity from use of the Internet and related. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Firms using the Internet for Business Support are planning growth, but currently see little future for their businesses from the Internet. Most of time these SMEs are innovative firms seeking growth. They have a number of innovative products that are sold to large firms, so personal contact is regarded by customers as important and there is little indication that the Internet is of value. These SMEs seek to grow but do not believe that industry demands investment in the Internet to support that growth. These firms see the worth of the Internet as a medium for business support. (Levy and Powell, 2002) In Business Network opportunity from the Internet is seen as key to the development of SMEs. Firms see their future tied into using the Internet. Firms develop IT strategy alongside their business strategy most of the time. These are well positioned to take advantage of e-Business. These firms possesses effective internal network accessible by all employees as means to manage the business processes. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Advantages of the Internet for SME Growth According to Davis et al. (2000) a firm-specific advantage in penetrating international markets and facilitating organizational growth may stem from investments in technology or the use of specific technologies, such as the Internet. There is a long history of research linking technology and internationalization. Researchers advocate that to enter foreign markets, a firm must possess some clear advantage that will allow it to overcome native firms more thorough understanding of the local market. Traditionally, multinational corporations use economies of scale and other advantages of large size. However, many entrepreneurial firms can overcome the disadvantage of small size through their use of technology, such as the Internet, to reach consumers beyond their borders. Certain technologies can provide an advantage that widens market opportunities and serves as a platform for expansion. The Internet is widely considered to be one such technology rapid internationalization. (Davis et al. 2000) Authors argue that internationalization and growth of firms are positively affected by increased use of the Internet and increased investments in information technology. In addition, more attention is to be paid to the application of the Internet as well as to the pattern of investments in information technology to explain international expansion and growth among entrepreneur- led businesses. The continued globalization of the world economy makes the realization of role of technology in expanding overseas and maintaining healthy growth. Davis et al. (2000) mention that firms with more aggressive use of technology are likely to engage more in international activities. Their study of internationalization among new, high-tech firms reveals that firms with higher levels of technology usage incur costs associated with internationalizing to be significantly lower than firms with lower levels of technology usage. It appears that companies with a technological advantage have an incentive to expand overseas because they can use that advantage in overseas markets at little or no marginal cost over the cost of developing the advantage in the domestic market. Role of the Internet in Product-Market Development Strategy Market Development Online channels are used to sell into new markets, taking advantage of the low cost of advertising internationally without the necessity for a supporting sales infrastructure in the customers regions (Chaffey et al. 2003). This is a relatively conservative use of the Internet, but is great opportunity for SMEs to increase exports at low cost. A less evident benefit of the Internet is that as well as selling into new geographic markets, products can also be sold to new market segments or different types of customers. This may happen simply as a byproduct of having a web site. The Internet may offer further opportunities for selling to market sub-segments that have not been previously targeted. For example, a product sold to large businesses may also appeal to small firms. Product Development The Internet can be the basis for product development, information sharing, resource sharing, knowledge sharing and task assigning between different businesses. This can improve product quality and decrease development time and cost. (Yujun et al., 2006) Product development is innovative use of the Internet (Chaffey et al., 2003). Howe et al., (2000) report that the Internet provides global access to people, data, software, documents and multimedia have allowed organizations to shorten the development cycle of new products, to communicate with experts from around the world, to receive immediate customer feedback, and to access supercomputers for industrial research and development. According to Howe et al., (2000) the Internet and its related applications can be effectively implemented at various stages of product development. For example, online forums, newsgroups, and Web sites provide an external source for product ideas. Market research can be performed on the Internet as numerous Web sites provide demographic information useful for estimating market size and potential. Surveys can be conducted on the Internet during the business case preparation to determine consumers needs, wants and preferences. Web-based and intranet applications can play an important role in the development phase, particularly when projects involve numerous teams at various locations. Providing effective media for communicating and disseminating information, these technologies also facilitate concurrent engineering. The Internet can be used for beta testing of new products, allowing lead users and firms to collaboratively eliminate product defects prior to market introduction. The Internet and its related technologies can add significant value to new-product development projects. The main value lies in the acceleration of profitable ideas through the new product development process. At the same time, risks associated with this `rush to market are minimized as a formal system to weed out poor ideas quickly and to suggest modifications to product concepts. The use of the Internet and/or intranet at various stages not only minimizes time to launch but can also increase the integration of constituent viewpoints/recommendations, example consumers, engineers, marketing, etc., during development. This integration of the `voice of the customer and other functional members of the firm are critical in successful new product introductions. Need for speed is becoming more salient in todays competitive arena. The firm that is first to launch a new product/technology, i.e. the pioneer, can accrue several pioneering advantages. These advantages include, but are not limit ed to: establishing product standards, building brand equity (combination of awareness, perceived quality, brand loyalty, etc.), securing distribution channels, and setting initial customer expectation for all other products. (Howe et al., 2000) The Internet offers opportunities for firms in their new product development pursuits in terms of enhancing their abilities to collect, categorize and use information needed for product development; helping them understand their market better and thus target it more effectively; generating a wider range of new product ideas from a wider range of sources; making the concept screening process more comprehensive, flexible and objective; increasing the speed and the quality of business analyses; facilitating the collaboration of new product team members and enhancing operational performance; increasing the speed and the quality of testing and validation; improving the effectiveness and the efficiency of manufacturing development; enhancing the effectiveness and the efficiency of new product launch. (Howe et al., 2000) LEGAL ASPECTS Laws Covering Cross-Border Electronic Transactions between a Buyer and a Seller Business to Business (B2B) transactions differs from Business to Consumer (B2C) transactions on the way an agreement is entered. In the case of a B2C transaction, the parties involved have to abide by the public policy laws of the consumers country, which are meant to protect the consumer. On the other hand, parties have the freedom to choose which law will govern their contract. They have to state which law will govern their transaction(s). In case they have not specified, the jurisdiction responsible for the case will have to decide which law is applicable. In general, two solutions are most commonly applied: The applicable law will be the law of the country of the seller or The applicable law is that of the place of the signing of the contract. Point of Sale for Which the Buyer and the Seller Become Legally Bound Benefits of Internet Opportunities for SMEs in Mauritius Benefits of Internet Opportunities for SMEs in Mauritius Acknowledgement Many individuals have played an important role in our upbringing and education To our parents, who deserve special recognition. We would also like to extend a special acknowledgement to our lecturer, Mr. D Seethiah for giving us the opportunity to reflect and work on such a project. Thanks to our group who have been working very hard for accomplishment of this assignment. Finally, we extend our appreciation to the Almighty for granting us good health and prosperity. Executive summary SMEs are called upon to play a competitive role in the economy of Mauritius. Adoption of ICT by SMEs can a have positive impact on the national economy. The reasons are: (a) Internet based infrastructures are relatively cheap; (b) they provide an ever converging and rich environment for effective business networking; and (c) they provide SMEs access to a larger market. This assignment examines the extent internet provides opportunities for business expansion of SMEs in Mauritius. It also identifies the enablers and barriers to the use of internet by SMEs. A questionnaire was used to collect data among some SMEs. They were classified as follows: IT Novice, IT Savvy and e-Commerce Specialist. The findings are reported, based on the analysis of the data collected. Several key findings emerge from the research in this assignment: IT Savvy and e-Commerce Specialist use computers, they have internet connection that they exclusively use for email and they have a website too. The degree of diffusion of the internet is high among IT Savvy and e-Commerce Specialist. For SMEs to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the internet for business expansion, they will have to acquire knowledge and skills in using the internet and be made aware of the facilities being offered by the NCB and the existing laws in the field of e-commerce. They will also have to bank on the vulgarization of the use of internet amongst customers or at least, for the time being, design/customize products that could help target a certain market segment. Introduction Internet has revolutionized and continues to deeply impact on the way one does business. It is now a major tool for conducting business. It allows buyers and sellers to meet online, communicate and exchange information on goods and services. Besides, it does away with the geographical boundaries, the time zones and, in some cases, the need for physical space to transact business. With its tremendous potential, it has become commonplace for businesses and consumers to transact business via the Internet through email or online purchasing. For the SMEs, it offers a vista of opportunities for business expansion. However, many SMEs do not take advantage of the Internet thinking that their goods and services do not lend themselves to Internet transactions. Moreover, they do not possess the managerial knowledge and skills for e-business. Hiring an IT-expert or an e-business consultant to fill this gap requires relatively huge sum of money, which they cannot afford. Sometimes, the availability of broadband connections may affect the decisions of SMEs to adopt e-commerce. Further, sound government policies should be in place to create the necessary environment and incentives to encourage SMEs to take advantage of the Internet to create business opportunities. Many unscrupulous persons are interested in the huge potential of the Internet for their own selfish motives. In countries where there are no appropriate legal instruments, there may be a host of possible attacks that compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information that they exchange through the Internet. Consequently, people may lose trust on the security of doing business in the Internet and thus forego it huge potential for business. Literature Review SMEs in MAURITIUS According to the minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr. R. K. Sithanen: A key component in the governments agenda for economic development and democratization is the development of the small and medium enterprise sector into a competitive force (April 2006). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are widely acknowledged as an important sector for national and international economic development. Growth oriented small business make a major contribution to economic development and employment generation within local communities and national economies. (Smallbone and Wyer, 2000) SMEs contribute substantially to national economies (Poon and Swatman, 1999) and are estimated to account for 80 per cent of global economic growth (Jutla et al, 2002). It is no secret that globalization (r)evolution and communication technologies (ICT) are going to change the structure of the any economy. (Kaushalesh Lal and Aveeraj Sharma Peedoly, 2006). With the government of Mauritius promoting small and medium enterprises as a competitive sector of the economy, organizational and technological changes in these firms are expected to have significant impact on the national economy. Proponents of globalization argue that it will open a window of opportunities for SMEs while networking capabilities of ICTs suggest that SMEs can augment their competitiveness in global markets. In fact several studies (Lal, 2004 and Drew, 2003) found positive impact of the adoption of ICTs by SMEs. Although there is very little data pertaining to the evolution of SMEs across time, the origins of SMEs in Mauritius can be traced back to the 1960s when Mauritius was witnessing the beginning of a timid industrialization process with an import-substitution strategy with the main objective of supplying the local market and giving certain autonomy to the country. The inward-looking industrial policy of the Government of the day was of encouraging the production of such commodities as the manufacturing of blades, electrical bulbs, batteries, soap, welding and steel work for construction, refining edible oils, plastic industry, food canning, industrial poultry breeding, yogurt manufacturing, biscuits, shoes, matches etc for the domestic market; this was also the prevailing orthodoxy of the time especially for African developing economies. Many critics (see e.g Maujean, 1996) argue that this programme was superficially planned with no support schemes nor incentives proposed to the enterp rises. Although, the import substitution strategy was soon overshadowed by an export-oriented strategy with the setting up of Export-Processing Zones, many small-scale enterprises exploited the products mentioned above for the domestic market. In fact, most SMEs today cater for the local market in similar areas as mentioned above. According to Maujean (1996) the early enterprises were attempts to reproduce locally models which existed abroad. In food processing, firms like Purlait Ltd, La Boulangerie Industrielle and Lyons Maid which pioneered private, small-scale enterprises in the country started off with enormous difficulties in spite of being relatively modern with an important capital investment and sophisticated distribution network. The concern with survival in a largely traditional and poorly developed society meant that the local market was not yet ready for such products. Nevertheless against this background a protectionist strategy which involved high tariff against competitive goods helped these industries to operate. As Wignaraja and Oneil (1999) argue, for the size of the country and its stage of development, Mauritius has a particularly wide range of support services for the SME sector. Beyene (2002) makes a largely similar argument especially when looking at it by African standards. This wide array of support is provided mainly through Government and parastatal agencies or financial institutions. The Small Enterprises and handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA), Enterprise Mauritius (EM), the Development Bank of Mauritius Ltd (DBM), the Small Medium Enterprises Partnership Fund (SMEPF), the National Computer Board (NCB) are generally regarded as the main institutions which provide support to SMEs by operating schemes to enhance the setting up or development of enterprises. They act mainly as facilitators, providing financial support, training and consultancy services, marketing and export assistance. The Small Enterprises and Handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA) The Small Enterprises Handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA) was created following the merger of the Small Medium industries Development Organisation (SMIDO) and the National Handicraft Promotion Agency (NHPA). The aim of the merger is to rationalize and optimize the use of resources dedicated to the small business sector in Mauritius. SEHDA, falling under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry, SMEs, Commerce Co-operatives, provides support to potential and existing small entrepreneurs with a view to enable them to start new enterprises or to improve their existing businesses. Enterprise Mauritius (EM) Enterprise Mauritius operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry, SMEs, Commerce Co-operatives and we have one primary objective, driving growth in exports both regionally and internationally through export sectors at 3 levels: Assisting in the development of Industry Sector strategies and Action plans The facilitation of Strategic Clusters to meet commonly shared group objectives And ultimately, working with individual businesses to help them develop an integrated market and capability development plan to provide access to resources that meet their specific requirements Development Bank of Mauritius An important part of the Banks resources is geared towards the development, consolidation and modernization of the SME sector. A separate department at the DBM is in fact dedicated to promote entrepreneurship development. Loans are provided at competitive rates for start-ups, financing of production equipment, technology improvement and also for working capital with the maximum quantum allocated varying according to industrial sectors. With respect to exports, the DBM runs the Export Development Fund for participation in overseas trade fairs and market surveys and also provides loans for joint ventures with overseas partners. Together with the DBM, other commercial banks such as the Mauritius Post and Cooperative Bank (MPCB), the MCB and the STB offer credit facilities albeit at less competitive rates and relatively more important collaterals to small entrepreneurs. Recently most of the main banks in the country (MCCB, MCB, Barclays and the State Bank) have also announced preferentia l interest rates for SMEs. Small and Medium Enterprises Partnership Fund (SMEPF) A parastatal body set up to provide funding ranging from Rs. 300,000 to Rs. 3 million amounting up to 50% of the total capitalization of the business. The criterion used is the evaluation of the business plan of the proposed venture to assess its feasibility to allow the return of the allocated funds within a period of five years. SMEPF is gradually gaining more importance as a source of funding to SMEs. National Computer Board (NCB) The NCB was set up as the apex organisation to develop and promote ICT and ICT-related services in Mauritius. Its main contribution towards SME development has been in terms of its incubator centre mainly for ICT start-ups with the main objectives of promoting entrepreneurship in the ICT sector by providing the necessary infrastructure and logistics, the development of linkages with other institutions and marketing. Moreover it runs sensitization programmes regularly for SMEs in order to familiarize and influence them to the strategic and financial benefits of integrating ICTs in the running of their enterprises. Information and Communication Technology Authority (ICTA) The ICTA is a regulatory body set up in 2001 replacing the former Mauritius Telecommunications Authority. The main objectives of ICTA are listed below: To democratize access to information, taking into account quality, diversity and plurality To license and regulate the information and communication services To encourage optimum use of ICT in business, industry and government at large, the introduction of new technology and the investment in infrastructure and services Other SME Supporting Institutions Together with the above institutions there are others, which mainly private sector bodies such as the Mauritius Employers Federation (MEF), and Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) do provide miscellaneous facilities for SMEs more specifically in terms of documentation, training, advice and consultancy. Despite the variety of measures described above, it is acknowledged that the full potential of the SME sector has yet to be unleashed, the more so in the contemporary context of globalization which calls for greater competitiveness and efficiency in both local and overseas markets. A review of the existing literature on the difficulties faced by the SME sector pinpoints the shortcomings of the existing support system. As Wignaraja and ONeil (1999, p 64) argue: Undoubtedly the investment in SME support is not delivering the growth required or expected at the enterprise level and this must be improved. An overhaul of the entire support system is required to address the deficiencies () and to create a more cohesive integrated framework. It has been noted that owing to the fact that SMEs are quite flexible, they sometimes lack the vision and discipline to maintain a coherent strategy to wards the market. IFC (2004) proposed that an aggressive push to be given to the sector of training and education. One of the most important barriers to the adoption of e-business in Mauritius remains the lack of trust into the system. Indeed, (Kuwayama, 2001) found that companies believed that transactions on the internet were very unsafe. This situation seems to be recurrent in other developing countries as suggested by (Payne, 2002) Aspects of Internet and Issues The use of internet in business is one of the tools that e-commerce offers. We start therefore by overseeing some general facts about e-commerce as pertains to SMEs. General e-commerce facts related to SMEs The use of the Internet and communication technologies has been found to improve business competitiveness, with the Internet providing the opportunity for SMEs to compete on equal terms with larger organizations (Chapman et al., 2000). The development of e-commerce in the last ten years all over the world has involved a growing number of businesses. E-commerce has been used as an important lever to promote business growth (Bianchi and Bivona, 2002). It is important for a firm grow continuously if the firm wants to maintain competitive advantage. Thus firms should struggle for continuous growth keeping the aim of increasing or simply maintaining their sales and profits levels, to ensure their survival (Claver et al., 2006). Throughout management literature, many successful stories are spread and researchers are encouraging SMEs to start e-commerce ventures in order to increase their sales (Bianchi and Bivona, 2002). At the same time there is considerable effort expended, both in time and money, by governments to encourage small and medium sized enterprises to invest in the use of the Internet (Beckinsale and Levy, 2004). According to Levy and Powell (2002) most SMEs do not view the Internet as the key to their business strategy. Strategy is rarely raised as an enabler or as an inhibitor in the literature. The entrepreneur is critical in determining the Internet development. However, strategic commitment has been shown to be critical in SMEs. Research in several countries show that SMEs have been slower to adopt e-commerce than their larger counterparts, but the rate of the Internet usage in SMEs is growing quite rapidly. Internet has focused on large firms, new business models, the growth and development of dot-coms and the new economy. SMEs in traditional industries have been slower to adopt e-commerce than their larger competitors and research into the use of the Internet by such firms is more recent. (Drew, 2003) Furthermore, compared to the extensive literature on the importance and potential of the Internet as component of the business environment, research on organizational evolution and strategy for the Internet in businesses is limited and sketchy. The majority of publications, text books, press articles, and white papers on the Internet strategy deal with this issue on a somewhat tactical level: How to build up unique competitive position, attract customers, and increase sales. (Constantinides, 2004) In many ways the field of entrepreneurship and small medium sized firm research seems no closer to understanding the dynamics of small business growth after decades of empirical studies (Lowe and Henson, 2004). Whilst the issue of growth in small firms is topical and well researched, the literature on growth processes and transitions in high-growth small firms is sparse and underrepresented in the entrepreneurship and small business journals. A recent content review of abstracts obtained via a database search identified only two percent addressing issues of high growth, growth processes and transitions as being key elements of the published papers. Saulnier and Rosson (2004) further mention that expressions made about the importance of e-business have not been fully matched by actions taken, particularly in the areas of staff training, technology infrastructure, and applications to deal with growth. The use of ICT, technology upgrading, and continuous innovation are paramount to being competitive and run at optimum efficiency. However there is relatively little empirical data pertaining to SMEs in Mauritius and more particularly regarding the extent to which they have adopted ICTs in day to day running of their businesses. A survey by Matadeen (2004) showed that most of the Mauritian companies were managed by the owners themselves irrespective of the fact that they may have management skills or not. With this in mind, the strategy to develop for SMEs and e-business must take into account the local culture and customs in Mauritius. Possible Role of the Internet in Specific Growth Strategies Adopted by SMEs The Internet is usually presented as an opportunity for smaller firms because it helps reduce transaction costs and level the playing field. Often cited benefits include expanding the scope of marketing, wider and richer communication, reaching new markets, reducing the cost of operations and partnering with suppliers and other collaborators. (Drew, 2003) The Internet provides a unique opportunity to examine the evolution and growth of a business sector because it has taken place over a relatively short time period (Javalgi et al. 2004). The initial Internet environment might be described as a virgin environment, in which rapid growth could be expected. Among emerging technologies, the Internet is a new channel for commerce applicable in a wide variety of industries around the world. As a new strategic tool, it is transforming businesses and creating new opportunities as well as challenges for international marketers as many nations are fast connecting to the global marketplace. Information technology is continuing to be an integral part of the business plan. Electronic commerce is affecting the way business are planning growth strategies and is the leading driver of corporate growth. The key is for IT to be seen as the new engine for growth, and not as a frustrating cost center. This result in a new way of thinking: The focus should be not on how much new technology should cost, but on how much revenue it will bring in. (Fruhling and Digman, 2000) Many SMEs have made innovative uses of the Internet to invent new business models or to enhance existing practices (Drew, 2003). Firms with a history of innovation are embarking on a full- scale electronic commerce strategy. These firms are tying innovation with electronic commerce with the hopes to ensure company growth. Fruhling and Digman (2000) mention electronic commerce enables business to quickly and efficiently implement growth strategies. One of the main reasons this strategy is so attractive is the incredible growth rate of the Internet users. Key Drivers for adoption of the Internet in SME Growth Levy and Powell (2002) explored the adoption of the Internet among SMEs and formulated a model for the Internet adoption. This model identifies four roles for the Internet in SMEs brochure ware, support, opportunity, and network. These are driven by business growth planning and perceived the Internet value as shown in figure: Business Growth Levy and Powell (2002) advocate two key drivers in determining the use of internet by SMEs. The first driver is business growth. In some firms business growth is planned and investments are made ahead of need. In many other SMEs growth may occur but not as a result of planning. Attitude to business growth often determine whether SME owners consider resource investment in the business. IT investment is traditionally restricted in SMEs, with many investing at start-up, but no further investment is made until business outgrows existing system. It is reasonable that attitude to growth will impact SMEs decision to invest in the Internet. Business Value from Use of the Internet The second driver is business value from use of the Internet. Business value of the Internet is identified through response to the firms competitive positioning and their knowledge of respective industries. SMEs do consider the role of the Internet for their business generally with cautious approach. Most firms do not see the value of the Internet to their growth strategy. However, a number of visionary owners believe they can change their business through the use of the Internet. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Brochureware are those firms that do not plan business growth and see the value of the Internet as low. Owners generally think about the Internet but cannot see its relevance to their business. One of the reasons is nature of industry in which SME operates. Hence, there is a role for the Internet for these firms but it is restricted to the presentation of on-line firm information or brochures and for e-mails. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Business Opportunity is SMEs with recognition that the Internet has some value to them, in the future. However, it is limited to improving efficiency internally, customer communication, and research. The contrast between this category and Brochureware is that owners recognize the business value of the Internet and although not seeking growth, recognize that competitive pressure demand investment. These firms see a business opportunity from use of the Internet and related. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Firms using the Internet for Business Support are planning growth, but currently see little future for their businesses from the Internet. Most of time these SMEs are innovative firms seeking growth. They have a number of innovative products that are sold to large firms, so personal contact is regarded by customers as important and there is little indication that the Internet is of value. These SMEs seek to grow but do not believe that industry demands investment in the Internet to support that growth. These firms see the worth of the Internet as a medium for business support. (Levy and Powell, 2002) In Business Network opportunity from the Internet is seen as key to the development of SMEs. Firms see their future tied into using the Internet. Firms develop IT strategy alongside their business strategy most of the time. These are well positioned to take advantage of e-Business. These firms possesses effective internal network accessible by all employees as means to manage the business processes. (Levy and Powell, 2002) Advantages of the Internet for SME Growth According to Davis et al. (2000) a firm-specific advantage in penetrating international markets and facilitating organizational growth may stem from investments in technology or the use of specific technologies, such as the Internet. There is a long history of research linking technology and internationalization. Researchers advocate that to enter foreign markets, a firm must possess some clear advantage that will allow it to overcome native firms more thorough understanding of the local market. Traditionally, multinational corporations use economies of scale and other advantages of large size. However, many entrepreneurial firms can overcome the disadvantage of small size through their use of technology, such as the Internet, to reach consumers beyond their borders. Certain technologies can provide an advantage that widens market opportunities and serves as a platform for expansion. The Internet is widely considered to be one such technology rapid internationalization. (Davis et al. 2000) Authors argue that internationalization and growth of firms are positively affected by increased use of the Internet and increased investments in information technology. In addition, more attention is to be paid to the application of the Internet as well as to the pattern of investments in information technology to explain international expansion and growth among entrepreneur- led businesses. The continued globalization of the world economy makes the realization of role of technology in expanding overseas and maintaining healthy growth. Davis et al. (2000) mention that firms with more aggressive use of technology are likely to engage more in international activities. Their study of internationalization among new, high-tech firms reveals that firms with higher levels of technology usage incur costs associated with internationalizing to be significantly lower than firms with lower levels of technology usage. It appears that companies with a technological advantage have an incentive to expand overseas because they can use that advantage in overseas markets at little or no marginal cost over the cost of developing the advantage in the domestic market. Role of the Internet in Product-Market Development Strategy Market Development Online channels are used to sell into new markets, taking advantage of the low cost of advertising internationally without the necessity for a supporting sales infrastructure in the customers regions (Chaffey et al. 2003). This is a relatively conservative use of the Internet, but is great opportunity for SMEs to increase exports at low cost. A less evident benefit of the Internet is that as well as selling into new geographic markets, products can also be sold to new market segments or different types of customers. This may happen simply as a byproduct of having a web site. The Internet may offer further opportunities for selling to market sub-segments that have not been previously targeted. For example, a product sold to large businesses may also appeal to small firms. Product Development The Internet can be the basis for product development, information sharing, resource sharing, knowledge sharing and task assigning between different businesses. This can improve product quality and decrease development time and cost. (Yujun et al., 2006) Product development is innovative use of the Internet (Chaffey et al., 2003). Howe et al., (2000) report that the Internet provides global access to people, data, software, documents and multimedia have allowed organizations to shorten the development cycle of new products, to communicate with experts from around the world, to receive immediate customer feedback, and to access supercomputers for industrial research and development. According to Howe et al., (2000) the Internet and its related applications can be effectively implemented at various stages of product development. For example, online forums, newsgroups, and Web sites provide an external source for product ideas. Market research can be performed on the Internet as numerous Web sites provide demographic information useful for estimating market size and potential. Surveys can be conducted on the Internet during the business case preparation to determine consumers needs, wants and preferences. Web-based and intranet applications can play an important role in the development phase, particularly when projects involve numerous teams at various locations. Providing effective media for communicating and disseminating information, these technologies also facilitate concurrent engineering. The Internet can be used for beta testing of new products, allowing lead users and firms to collaboratively eliminate product defects prior to market introduction. The Internet and its related technologies can add significant value to new-product development projects. The main value lies in the acceleration of profitable ideas through the new product development process. At the same time, risks associated with this `rush to market are minimized as a formal system to weed out poor ideas quickly and to suggest modifications to product concepts. The use of the Internet and/or intranet at various stages not only minimizes time to launch but can also increase the integration of constituent viewpoints/recommendations, example consumers, engineers, marketing, etc., during development. This integration of the `voice of the customer and other functional members of the firm are critical in successful new product introductions. Need for speed is becoming more salient in todays competitive arena. The firm that is first to launch a new product/technology, i.e. the pioneer, can accrue several pioneering advantages. These advantages include, but are not limit ed to: establishing product standards, building brand equity (combination of awareness, perceived quality, brand loyalty, etc.), securing distribution channels, and setting initial customer expectation for all other products. (Howe et al., 2000) The Internet offers opportunities for firms in their new product development pursuits in terms of enhancing their abilities to collect, categorize and use information needed for product development; helping them understand their market better and thus target it more effectively; generating a wider range of new product ideas from a wider range of sources; making the concept screening process more comprehensive, flexible and objective; increasing the speed and the quality of business analyses; facilitating the collaboration of new product team members and enhancing operational performance; increasing the speed and the quality of testing and validation; improving the effectiveness and the efficiency of manufacturing development; enhancing the effectiveness and the efficiency of new product launch. (Howe et al., 2000) LEGAL ASPECTS Laws Covering Cross-Border Electronic Transactions between a Buyer and a Seller Business to Business (B2B) transactions differs from Business to Consumer (B2C) transactions on the way an agreement is entered. In the case of a B2C transaction, the parties involved have to abide by the public policy laws of the consumers country, which are meant to protect the consumer. On the other hand, parties have the freedom to choose which law will govern their contract. They have to state which law will govern their transaction(s). In case they have not specified, the jurisdiction responsible for the case will have to decide which law is applicable. In general, two solutions are most commonly applied: The applicable law will be the law of the country of the seller or The applicable law is that of the place of the signing of the contract. Point of Sale for Which the Buyer and the Seller Become Legally Bound