Organisational factors Essay Example

Organisational factors Essay Purpose: To study and find out the organisational factors which play a significant role in the successful implementation of ERP and finally find out the relation between the factors which helps us in narrow down the factors so that we can get the most influenced factor to concentrate upon. It’s quite difficult for the company to take care of all the factors, so our next aim to find the major factor(s) which have more criticality over the others. Methods: During research project we collected the data from Primary and Secondary source.We prepared around 16 questions and get them answered from the employees and managers of the company who are currently using ERP. Apart from it we interviewed some top management level people for the detailed knowledge and its importance. Findings: After getting the results we found that we can group these factors into three groups according to the impact over the other. Introduction Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are adopted by many or ganisations to meet various challenges of information flow and competition. ERP systems help to make the key business processes to be automated and integrated in an organization.ERP systems help in timely flow of the information which can help in making efficient strategic decisions. Following pattern is followed, the related literature is reviewed. Then, hypothesis and objective is presented followed by research methodology used for study. Next, observation, findings and analysis are discussed. Finally, conclusion and suggestions are given. Literature Review 2. 1 ERP implementation success Several factors may affect ERP implementation in organizations. These factors include, lack of top management support (Supramaniam and Kuppusamy, 2011; Shah et al. , 2011; Finney and Corbett, 2007; Bhatti, 2005; Wong et al. 2005), business requirement gap (Shah et al. , 2011; Wong et al. , 2005), user involvement (Francoise et al. , 2009; Rasmy et al. , 2005) and vendor support (Al-Mashari et al. , 2006; Thavapragasam, 2003), communication and co-ordination which may cause ERP implementation failure. ERP systems always require changes in work flows which need organizational alignment which requires top management support. Top management commitment and support is noted as a critical factor which has a positive effect (i. e. positively related) on the success of ERP implementation success (Rasmy et al. 2005; Supramaniam and Kuppusamy, 2011, Shanks and Light, 1999; Shah et al. , 2011). Finney and Corbett (2007) also stated that top management support has the 1st most critical success factors regarding ERP success in his research. 2. 2 Organisational factors influencing successful ERP implementation Determining factors that are positioned behind a successful ERP system implementation has been a key research question in previous research. Implementation of an ERP system is a complex process including a great many factors and conditions which can potentially influence successful mplementation. These factors might have a positive effect on the ERP implementation project outcome, whereas the lack of these conditions could create trouble through ERP implementation. Many researchers have recognized that there are many factors that could be critical to the successful implementation of ERP. For example, [36] Somers and Nelson (2004) recognized that there are 22 critical success factors including Top management support, Education on new business processes, User training on software, On the hand, [1] Al-Mashari et al. 2003) found out that thre are 12 critical ERP factors such as ERP selection, project management, training and education, business process management, cultural and structural change management while [39] Umble et al. (2003) divided the factors into 10 categories including Commitment by top management, Clear understanding of strategic goals, Excellent implementation project management, Great implementation team, Successfully coping with technical issues , Organizational commitment to change, Data accuracy, Extensive education and training, Focused performance measures, and Multi-site issues resolved.Based on [12] Dezdar and Sulaimans (2009) work the factors can be grouped into 17 categories which subsequently can be re-organized into three main categories; organizational, project and system. [53] Dezdar (2010) found organizational factors to be quite instrumental in determining the ERP implementation success. This research focus on the following aspects of the organizational factors, i. e. Top management support, Organizational size , cooperation and coordination ,ERP training and education, and role of business vision and mission . These factors are discussed in detail in the following paragraphs. . 2. 1 Top management Top management support, has been emphasized, as a crucial factor in successful ERP implementation by many ([1] Al-Mashari et al. , 2003; [39] Umble et al. , 2003; [47] Zhang et al. , 2005). [29] Ngai et al. (2008), discussed that top management support, plays a significant role in the ERP implementation success because ERP are normally done on a large-scale and require extensive resources. Top management support has two major aspects or factors in ERP implementation projects: providing the necessary resources and providing leadership.Even the survey done for this project has shown the same results that management plays a very critical role in successful ERP implementation. 2. 2. 2 Training and education As mentioned earlier ERP is a complex system thus adequate training and education must be provided so that the users to use them effectively and efficiently ([8] Correa and Cruz, 2005; [47] Zhang et al. , 2005; [3] Bradley, 2008) and with ease. Training and education would enhance the users level of knowledge, understanding and efficiency, thus increasing individual performance and subsequently organizational performance. [27] Nah et al. 2003) stated that sufficient training can increase the pr obability of success of ERP system implementation, while inappropriate or no training can hinder its success greatly. Adequate training and education may also help the organization to build positive feelings towards the system. More important it may help ERP users to adjust to the organizational change-taking place with the implementation of the system. In addition, training increases ease of use, user acceptance and reduces user resistance, which, in turn, enhances the likelihood of ERP systems use and success ([3] Bradley, 2008). 2. 2. 3 Business mission:In order to successfully run a business, an entrepreneur needs a clear vision as to where the business is going. In other words, a business needs to know what its purpose is and where it is going. A mission statement is the perfect tool to develop in order to define a new businesss purpose, activities, and values . A mission statement should act as a lighthouse. If a company loses track of itself, it will be able to look back on t heir mission statement and be reminded of their overall purpose. In general, a mission statement should inform your workers and customers what the business is all about and where it is headed.A mission statement helps p a business to create a culture that is integrated with its overall purpose For purposes of this study, two notions, i. e. organizational mission and goals from the strategic management literature, are used to describe business vision. That said, many organizations in fact adopt ERP to meet their organizational objectives (business vision) ([8], [9] Davenport, 1998, 2000; [5] Bingi et al. , 1999). Sadly, it has been observed so far that many organizations fail to articulate their IT implementation strategy vis-a-vis overall business vision ([24] Keen, 1993; [10] Deloitte Consulting, 2000 According to [9]Davenport (2000), companies with a desire to implement ERP must be clear about their strategic intent before going for such an exercise. He quotes: In the same categor y of things that need to be settled beforehand if youre going to get value from an [ERP] is the notion of strategic clarity certainty as to what business the company is in [ ] ([9] Davenport, 2000, p. 47). 2. 2. 4 Organisation Size The journal â€Å"The impact of organization size on enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations in the US manufacturing sector† clearly states that organisation’s size plays a very important role in successful ERP implementation.The greater the size more the need to use standardized ERP for proper information flow. In the research done, it has been found out the organizations having branches ;gt;10 are implementing ERP package. 2. 2. 5 Employee resistance The research document â€Å"Resistance to change and ERP implementation success: the moderating role of change management initiative†. It clearly states that employee resistance plays a very important role in success of ERP. Even the research conducted stated the same result s. 2. 2. 6 Standardization of single packageThe research document â€Å"Understanding the Impact of ERP Standardization on Business Process Performance† states that standardization on a single ERP package contribute greatly in success of ERP implementation. Even the study conducted also showed the same results. 2. 2. 7 Connectivity across different companies The research document â€Å"Issues in multinational ERP implementation† try to state that connectivity across the organization play significant role in ERP implementation. This research carried out even stated the same results. 2. 2. 8 Range of branches: ERP implementation is beneficial when the organisations have wide range of branches.Various studies has been conducted which tried to state that only companies which has wide range of branches usually go for ERP implementation as it has more benefits in terms of information flow and resource allocation. Research Objective: â€Å"Our objective is to find out that o rganisational factors play a significant role in successful ERP implementation. † The relationship between each factor and the success of the ERP implementation is analysed in this research. The research analyses the data and information taken from various companies. Hypothesis: Null Hypothesis (H0):Organisational factors does not play significant role in successful ERP implementation. Alternate Hypothesis (Ha): Organisational factors play significant role in successful ERP implementation. Methodology: The methodology which we used in finding the survey data is from Primary and Secondary source both. We first examine the existing literature on critical success factors of ERP implementation (Secondary Data) and then assess the company perception on the criticality of these factors (Primary Data). The questionnaires were distributed to selected managers and employees of companies adopting ERP systems.We also gathered some data by taking interview of the Top management of some pr estigious company. This approach helps us in finding out various factors from practical scenario which really helps in the success of the ERP implementation. Few companies from where we gather the data are:– TCS, Ford, LnT, Renault, Daimler, Microsoft, Motherson Sumi Systems, John deer, Tyco, NCR Co. India Pvt. Ltd. , Yamaha motors Pvt. Ltd. , Infosys, and some experienced and knowledgably faculties of prestigious B-Schools e. g. IMT Hyderabad. Later we find the criticality of every factor by: Factor Analysis and Regression.We took 100 samples but only 54 relevant responses were found out. Number of sample questions in each survey are 16, some questions are objective type which can be answered on the likert scale and some are descriptive type because we are interviewing or gathering the data from the top management and employees of the company about the major factors and their importance. Therefore, we presented the mixed types of questions. While doing the project we come ac ross few limitations of the research: Firstly, the ERP implementation success dimensions were measured using subjective and perceptual measures.This was due to the difficulty in securing the related factual data from the participating organizations. Secondly, there can be some biasness in giving the data, as the companies who are currently in use of ERP and spend so much will give the biased information. The questionnaire is attached in annexure with all the responses from the industry i. e. primary source. Results: Linear  Regression  Results| The  REG  Procedure Model:  Linear_Regression_Model Dependent  Variable:  Success  in  implementation(Benefi  Success  in  implementation(Benefit  perception+Increase  in  satisfaction  level)| | Number of Observations Read| 52|Number of Observations Used| 52| | Analysis of Variance| Source| DF| Sum of Squares| Mean Square| F Value| Pr  ;gt;  F| Model| 8| 44. 19446| 5. 52431| 6. 46| ;lt;. 0001| Corrected To tal| 51| 80. 98077|   |   |   | Error| 43| 36. 78631| 0. 85550|   |   | | Root MSE| 0. 92493| R-Square| 0. 5457| Dependent Mean| 5. 51923| Adj R-Sq| 0. 4612| CoeffVar| 16. 75831|   |   | | - - - Note:  Model  is  not  full  rank. Least-squares  solutions  for  the  parameters  are  not  unique.Some  statistics  will  be  misleading. A  reported  DF  of  0  or  B  means  that  the  estimate  is  biased. | - Note:  The  following  parameters  have  been  set  to  0,  since  the  variables  are  a  linear  combination  of  other  variables  as  shown. | Top Management Influence =| 4 * Intercept| | | | Parameter Estimates| Variable| Label| DF| Parameter Estimate| Standard Error| t  Value| Pr  gt;  |t|| Intercept| Intercept| B| 3. 28844| 1. 89106| 1. 74| 0. 0892| Standardization of Single Packag| Standardization of Single Package| 1| 0. 10219| 0. 08832| 1. 16| 0. 537| Top M anagement Influence|   | 0| 0| . | . | . | Connectivity across different co| Connectivity across different companies| 1| 0. 19473| 0. 08456| 2. 30| 0. 0262| Organizational Size|   | 1| -0. 23147| 0. 19982| -1. 16| 0. 2531| Range of branches|   | 1| 0. 29018| 0. 11756| 2. 47| 0. 0176| Less degree of employee resistan| Less degree of employee resistance| 1| -0. 22751| 0. 17244| -1. 32| 0. 1940| Coperation and Cordination|   | 1| 0. 65358| 0. 24454| 2. 67| 0. 0106| Role of Business mission and vis| Role of Business mission and vision| 1| -0. 38776| 0. 23768| -1. 63| 0. 101| Training and Development|   | 1| 0. 35042| 0. 19639| 1. 78| 0. 0814| | Correlation of Estimates| Variable| Label| Intercept| Standardization of Single Packag| Connectivity across different co| Organizational Size| Range of branches| Less degree of employee resistan| Coperation and Cordination| Role of Business mission and vis| Training and Development| Intercept| Intercept| 1. 0000| -0. 2150| -0. 3886| -0. 7468| 0. 2264| -0. 4380| -0. 4969| -0. 5696| -0. 4536| Standardization of Single Packag| Standardization of Single Package| -0. 2150| 1. 0000| 0. 2258| 0. 1309| 0. 0552| 0. 0616| -0. 1327| 0. 2571| -0. 917| Connectivity across different co| Connectivity across different companies| -0. 3886| 0. 2258| 1. 0000| 0. 2307| 0. 1232| 0. 4621| -0. 0188| -0. 0187| 0. 3353| Organizational Size|   | -0. 7468| 0. 1309| 0. 2307| 1. 0000| -0. 1477| 0. 0832| 0. 3870| 0. 1966| 0. 2829| Range of branches|   | 0. 2264| 0. 0552| 0. 1232| -0. 1477| 1. 0000| -0. 1528| -0. 1183| -0. 4683| -0. 2168| Less degree of employee resistan| Less degree of employee resistance| -0. 4380| 0. 0616| 0. 4621| 0. 0832| -0. 1528| 1. 0000| -0. 0598| 0. 3169| 0. 3236| Coperation and Cordination|   | -0. 4969| -0. 1327| -0. 0188| 0. 3870| -0. 183| -0. 0598| 1. 0000| 0. 0296| -0. 1252| Role of Business mission and vis| Role of Business mission and vision| -0. 5696| 0. 2571| -0. 0187| 0. 1966| -0. 4683| 0. 3169| 0. 0296 | 1. 0000| 0. 0922| Training and Development|   | -0. 4536| -0. 1917| 0. 3353| 0. 2829| -0. 2168| 0. 3236| -0. 1252| 0. 0922| 1. 0000| | | Factor  Analysis  Results| The  FACTOR  Procedure| | Input Data Type| Raw Data| Number of Records Read| 52| Number of Records Used| 52| N for Significance Tests| 52| | | Generated  by  the  SAS  System  (Local,  W32_VSHOME)  on  February  24,  2013  at  7:27:27  PM| | | Factor  Analysis  Results| The  FACTOR  ProcedureInitial  Factor  Method:  Principal  Components Prior  Communality  Estimates:  ONE  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  | | Eigenvalues of the Correlation Matrix: Total = 8 Average = 0. 88888889| | Eigenvalue| Difference| Proportion| Cumulative| 1| 2. 11694553| 0. 24953625| 0. 2646| 0. 2646| 2| 1. 86740928| 0. 50755333| 0. 2334| 0. 4980| 3| 1. 35985595| 0. 49497679| 0. 1700| 0. 6680| 4| 0. 86487917| 0. 32219842| 0. 1081| 0. 7761| 5| 0. 54268075| 0. 02774770| 0. 0678| 0. 8440| 6| 0. 51493305| 0. 0 7920770| 0. 0644| 0. 9083| 7| 0. 43572535| 0. 13815443| 0. 0545| 0. 9628| 8| 0. 29757092| 0. 29757092| 0. 0372| 1. 0000| 9| 0. 00000000|   | 0. 0000| 1. 0000| 3  factors  will  be  retained  by  the  MINEIGEN  criterion| Factor  Pattern| |   | Factor1| Factor2| Factor3| Standardization of Single Packag| Standardization of Single Package| 0. 69014| -0. 26162| -0. 23207| Top Management Influence|   | 0. 00000| 0. 00000| 0. 00000| Connectivity across different co| Connectivity across different companies| -0. 49203| 0. 54147| -0. 48463| Organizational Size|   | -0. 55073| -0. 48025| 0. 33725| Range of branches|   | 0. 20013| 0. 34213| 0. 80756| Less degree of employee resistan| Less degree of employee resistance| 0. 17237| -0. 68893| 0. 30760| Coperation and Cordination|   | 0. 7166| 0. 28393| -0. 13602| Role of Business mission and vis| Role of Business mission and vision| -0. 17059| 0. 74207| 0. 43129| Training and Development|   | 0. 73842| 0. 22839| 0 . 07819| | Variance Explained by Each Factor| Factor1| Factor2| Factor3| 2. 1169455| 1. 8674093| 1. 3598560| | Final Communality Estimates: Total = 5. 344211| Standardization of Single Packag| Top Management Influence| Connectivity across different co| Organizational Size| Range of branches| Less degree of employee resistan| Coperation and Cordination| Role of Business mission and vis| Training and Development| 0. 59859241| 0. 0000000| 0. 77015031| 0. 64768308| 0. 80925749| 0. 59896039| 0. 55025088| 0. 76578116| 0. 60353504| | | Generated  by  the  SAS  System  (Local,  W32_VSHOME)  on  February  24,  2013  at  7:27:27  PM| | | | | | | Findings: * The Regression equation is as follows: Success in Implementation = 3. 28844 + 0. 10219 * (Standardization of single package) + 0. 19473 * (Connectivity across different companies) 0. 23147 * (Organizational Size) + 0. 29018 * (Range of Branches) 0. 22751 * (less degree of employee resistance) + 0. 65358 * (Coope ration and Coordination) 0. 38776 * (Role of Business vision and Mission) 0. 35042 * (Training and Development) * R Square Value = 0. 5457 * Significance: 1. Corporation and Coordination, range of branches and connectivity across different companies has t-value ;gt; 2. 2. Standardization of single package and Training ;amp; Development have positive t-values but less than 2. 3. Organizational Size, Less Degree of Employee Resistance and Role of Business Mission and Vision have negative t-value. * In Factor Analysis, the organisational factors as 9 independent variables can be grouped into 3 factors: * Factor1 (Infrastructural and Structural factor)Standardization of single Package Organisational Size Cooperation and Coordination Training and Development * Factor2 (Organizational cultural factor) Connectivity across different companies Less degree of Employee resistance Role of Business Vision and Mission * Factor3 (Size factor) Range of Branches Discussion: Following is the interpr etation from the regression results: * The Organizational factors that have t-value greater than 2 will have significant positive impact on the successful implementation of ERP. These factors are: 1. Connectivity across different companiesFor the Organization to implement ERP successfully it should develop and maintain proper and high connectivity across different companies. 2. Range of Branches The organization which has large range of branches is more likely to be successful in ERP implementation. 3. Co-operation and Co-ordination There must be good cooperation and coordination among the employees working in the organisation as it is very crucial factor for the success of ERP * The Organizational factors that has positive t-value less than 2 will have positive impact on the successful implementation of ERP but not very significant. These factors are: . Standardization of single package All the different functional areas of company like HR, Finance, Marketing, and Sales and distrib ution should be standardize on single ERP package for successful implementation. 2. Training and Development The employees of the company should be given proper training on ERP modules for it to be successful in future. * The Organizational factors that have negative t-value will have negative impact on the successful implementation of ERP. These factors are: 1. Organisational Size If the organization size is small the ERP can be implemented quickly as compared to large. 2.Less Degree of Employee Resistance From our results, we found that the Less Degree of Employee Resistance factor will not contribute more for the successful ERP implementation. 3. Business Vision and Mission From our results, we found that the Business Vision and Mission factor will not contribute more for the successful ERP implementation. * Top Management influence is present everywhere the ERP was implemented. This shows that it is the most critical factor for the successful implementation of ERP. The R square value â€Å"0. 5457† shows that these independent variables are covering about 54% of variation in the output i. . , successful implementation of ERP. When we run the factor analysis we were able to group these 9 independent variables into three factors and these factors contributed about 66% of deviation. 1. The first factor which is the most important factor is having the independent variables as follows: * Standardization of single Package * Organisational Size * Cooperation and Coordination * Training and Development These independent variables show the common element of infrastructure and working structure of the organization. So, the first factor is named as Infrastructural and Structural factor. . The second factor which is the next crucial factor is having the independent variables as follows: * Connectivity across different companies * Less degree of Employee resistance * Role of Business Vision and Mission These independent variables show the common element of organ izational culture. So, the second factor is named as Organizational cultural factor. 3. The third factor is the next crucial factor having only one independent variable as: * Range of Branches This independent variable has the element as size of the organization. So, this factor is named as Size factor.From the correlation matrix we found high correlation among the independent variables that are in the same factor group which confirms our parity of results. Conclusion : The companies which have high connectivity across different companies, high range of branches, high cooperation and coordination among employees, and good training facilities are most likely to effect the successful ERP implementation. From our findings we found that the top management influence was an important and critical factor for success of ERP in companies. Recommendations:For the company to successfully implement ERP it should invest heavily in Training ;amp; Development facilities. It should encourage high c ooperation and coordination among employees. Because the organization cannot concentrate on 9 organizational factors and work upon that. So, we divided the 9 organizational factors into 3 factor groups and the company can choose one of the factor groups that can be Infrastructural and Structural factor. Simultaneously, it can work on the independent variables that are present in this factor to enhance the probability of success of ERP implementation.Sources :http://www. sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/S0378720601001343ttp://fico-forum. com/? p=147 https://dspace. lboro. ac. uk/dspace-jspui/handle/2134/8091http://www. researchersworld. com/vol2/issue2/Paper_07. pdf

How Do I Apply to College With a Low GPA

How Do I Apply to College With a Low GPA SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you worried that your college plans will be derailed by an underwhelming GPA? Don't be discouraged and don't give up on your dream of college! You can still go to a great school, even if you have a low GPA. Whether you are just startinghigh school or already at the application stage, read on to see the many things you can do to either raise your GPA,boost the rest of your application, explain your circumstances,or even find an alternate route to a degree. What Is Considered a Low GPA? Is Your GPA Actually Low? A low GPA may be a little bit like beauty - in the eye of the beholder. You might feel that your GPA is low because itfalls below the average at your target school. Or maybe your grades really aren't so hot. Generally speaking, highly selective colleges consider 3.5 to be on the low end. At most other schools, low GPA scores are in the 2.0 range. To find out whether your GPA could weight down the rest of your application, first research what the average acceptance GPA is at each of your target schools. To do this, try searching forâ€Å"[college name] admission GPA† or â€Å"[college name] average GPA.† Is your GPA only slightly below (.1 or .2 points less) the averages you found? Then excellent test scores and a solidapplication will go a long way to make up for it! Is your GPA much lower than the averages you found? The read on for our advice on what to do about it. Get that GPA up! Higher... higher... Can YouRaise Your GPA? If you're not happy with your GPA, the good news is that there's almost always time to raise it before you send off your college applications. Your strategy will depend on which grade you're currently in. Grades 9 and 10 If you're a freshman or sophomore, great news! You still have timeto getyour GPA up through dedicated studying. For example, imagine Haileyendsfreshman year with a GPA of 2.5 (a B-/C+ average). Ifshe then really puts her shoulder to the wheel and gets straight A-'s in 10th grade, her GPA would go up to 3.1. If she continues the hard work and earns more A-'s junior year, she'll be looking at a 3.3 GPA! With that in mind, ask yourself what is holding your GPA back: Are you struggling in a particular subject?Think about getting a tutor to help you catch up, or ask your teacher for extra help outsideof class. Are you so overwhelmed with extracurricular demands that you don't have enough time to study?If you aren't doing this outside interest at a very high level, think about pulling back a bit to give yourself room to do to schoolwork. Are you bored by your classes?This sounds counterintuitive, butthink about whether a harder level class will spur extra interest - and extra effort on your part. Grades and 12 If you are already in the second half of high school, you probably won't be able to significantly raise your GPA. For example, picture Sven, who ended his junior year with a cumulative GPA of 2.5. Because college applications are due in the middle of senior year, he only has one semester to bring up his grades. Even if he manages to get straight A's during that semester, his GPA will still only be 2.7 - not a huge improvement. But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to do your best anyway: Are you doing better and better? Even if your grades are low, if you can show collegesthat your GPA is on an upward trend, you will demonstrate that you have untapped potential. Are you taking difficult, honors-level classes? Ask your guidance counselor whether your school can provide colleges with a weighted GPA that will give colleges a sense of your challenging course load. Do you have the resources to take an extra year?Many private boarding schools offer a postgraduate year (basically a 5th year of high school). Classes that you take during this year factor into your GPA, giving you time to raise it. To find theseschools, search for "boarding schools with PG year." College applications put together the pieces to solve the puzzle of you. Can YouBoost Your Application in Other Ways? Did you know that although the GPA is very important, it is only one part of the many different things admissions officers take into account? Focusing on these other pieces of the application is a key strategy for offsetting alow GPA. Boost 1: Raise Your Test Scores If your GPA showshow you compare to the rest of your classmates, then SAT or ACT scores show how you rank compared to students across the whole country. It's no wonder they are another key component of your college application - and that having high test scores greatly improves your application! For example, imagineStella, who would love to go to the University of Georgia. Unfortunately, hernot-so-great work habits resulted in aGPA of 3.3, which is below UGA's average. Using our admissions calculator, we can see that If she alsogets 1290on her SAT's, she has only a 17% chance of getting into UGA. But, if she busts her derriere over 3-4 monthsto get a 1450, her chances of getting in go up to almost 50! Tosee how your chances to get into the University of Georgia would change if you GPA stayed the same but your SAT scores goes up, check out our UGA admissions calculator. To find our admissions tools for other schools, just Google "[name of school] admissions prepscholar" (for example, "UCLA admissions prepscholar"). Boost 2: Hype Your Non-Academic Skills and Talents It makes no sense to judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree - so admissions officers don't judge applicants only on their academics. If they did, they would miss applicants who have other amazing qualities. Do You Already Do Remarkable Extracurricular Things? Do you play sports at a very high level? Are you deeplyinvolved in theater, music, or the visual arts? Do you hold an unusually important leadership position in any clubs or organizations? Do you spend your free time building impressive things like robots, buildings, or vehicles? Are you an entrepreneur who has started a business or two? If you have skills and talents that don't show up on your transcript, make sure your application makes a big deal out of theseother accomplishments.Colleges will be impressed and can even infer that spending so much time on your other talents may have caused your grades to fall a bit. Can You Start Doing Remarkable Extracurricular Things? If you're a junior or have the summer before senior year, it's not too late to improve your extracurricular depth. Figure out what you're interested in and good at, and try to take it to the next level. Read our guide to getting into the top schools in the country for more examples of how to do this. Anotherway to show off your non-academic talents is to take a gap year between high school and college. However, this only makes sense if you have an opportunity for really meaningful travel, an internship, or a job that will make you a more appealing applicant. So, taking a year off to surf is probably not the best idea. But, taking a year off to teach English to kids in Ecuador or to participate in AmeriCorps could be just what your application - and your sense of personal achievement and maturity - needs. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Boost 3: Amaze With Your Essay The third key element of your college application is the essay. Imagine it: a space reserved just for your voice, where you get to define yourself and what is important to you! Just how important is the essay? Dean Fred Hargadon, who was the head of admissions at Princeton when I went there, could remember off the top of his head what each admitted student's essay was about! To set your application apart, consider writing about: How excited you are about studying X The talents, strengths, or challenges that aren't in your transcript If you need help getting started, check out our step-by-step guide to writing an outstanding college essay. Sometimes complicated situations have simple explanations. Can You Explain Your Low GPA? Sometimes your GPA is low because of circumstances outside your control. If this is the case you can use the rest of your application to explain and give context. Was There a Crisis in Your Home? When you or your family undergoes a period of personal, financial, or health-related upheaval, it's perfectly understandable that your grades could slip. For example, in 10th grade I became verydepressed when my parents got divorced, and my grades that year were B’s and C’s. Junior year, I brought my grades up, got excellent test scores, and wrote an essay explaining how hard it was to suddenly have to live alonefor weeks on end while my mom traveled for her job. My high school counselor also explained the situation, and I ended up going toPrinceton. Colleges are happy to take these kinds of events into consideration, so let them know the difficulty you overcame or are still facing: First, write an excellent essay explaining what happened Then, make sure your recommendation letter writersalso mention these extenuating circumstances Did You Attend a Failing or Underperforming School? Unfortunately, not all high schools can provide a great education. If you went to a school that did not have enough resources, look into programs that cater specifically to students whose circumstances have not allowed their potential to develop. Two examples are: TheNorthern Illinois University Deacon Davis CHANCE Program TheUniversity of Minnesota’s TRIO Program They will all get you there eventually. Is There Another Way to Get a College Degree? If boosting your GPA, raising your test scores, or highlighting your extracurriculars all seem out of reach, you can pursue alternative paths to get a college degree. Split Up Your College Experience One option is to transfer from a lower tier college to a higher tier one after one or two years.If you would rather not figure out the logistics of this yourself, consider starting with a community college. Some state universities now offer "2+2" Programs, affiliating themselves with community colleges so that students can earn an associate degree and then get guaranteed admission to the state university. The advantage of these programs is that you will have advisers keeping you on the right track for your major and course of study. One example isthe 2 Plus 2 Plan at the University of Iowa. To find others, search for "[your state university name] 2+2 program." Four-Year College Options There are many schools that will accept students with a very low GPA, and even some that will accept anyone who applies. For example, check out this list of the easiest colleges to get into. What's Next? Ready to raise your SAT or ACT scores? Start with PrepScholar’s best SAT advice and best ACT advice. Got high your SAT/ACT scores, but still struggling with a lagging GPA? Learn what to do about it here. Need to get a handle on the college application process? This infographic lays it all out for you. Excited to build a dynamic college application? Here is advice onhow to make yourself sound competitive anywhere. Want to improve your SAT score by 160points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Ebay website analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Ebay website analysis - Essay Example It is not just a pioneer of the market but it can also be considered as a model of e-business. Together with he payment system Paypal, it has revolutionized commerce and has paved the way for other business, particularly retail and trading. However, together with the success that Ebay has been able to achieve is the realization that it needs to stay competitive and anticipate developments. In the last few years, there has been an abundance of other similar services on the internet, some even being sponsored by industry leaders such as MSN and Yahoo!. To be able to accomplish this, Ebay must be able to offer not only quality services but develop new ones based on the needs of its patrons. The purpose of this paper is to study Ebay and the current features and functionality of its auction website to learn its competencies and deficiencies. In doing so, the paper will be able to present ways to improve services or features that can enhance the experience of website users. The features recommended will be assessed considering their requirements for operation and the possible partners that the company can have to provide the services. Businesses on the web it is important that there is a thorough understanding of how buyers are motivated to buy. eBay's competitors such as those Figure 1 all have their specializations. Overstock, based in Cottonwood Heights, Utah that sells surpluses; uBid is a identical service with eBay selling directly by companies and those sold by pre-approved Certified Merchants; Oztion is an Australian version of eBay; and eBid is a online auction that has its own payment service called PPPay which is similar to eBay's PayPal. Consumers will consider status, security, comfort and quality to be the essential requirements of selecting a product or service and their perception of this is influenced by factors such as culture, politics, technology and economy. Buying decisions are motivated on maximizing profitability, reducing costs and enhancing productivity (Johansson, 2001). Business should offer products and services concentrate on marketing programs and materials that offer target markets what they need to be able to achieve their individual objectives. It is important to understand what motivates, perceptions and emotions of your buyers and in the case of eBay this entails providing them services and products they most want and need. eBay can accomplish this by developing materials that build awareness, convenience, and service. Goals of Ebay Ebay, Inc., owner of the eBay online auction website Marketplace and services states that their goal is "to pioneer new communities around the world built on commerce, sustained by trust, and inspired by opportunity". The company's eBay Marketplace serves to fulfill this objective by providing the a marketplace for the all internet users. Furthermore, they say that the eBay Marketplace "exists as an online trading platform that enables a global community of buyers and sellers to interact and trade" where the company has the objective to "create, maintain, and expand the functionality, safety, ease-of-use, and reliability of our trading platform while, at the same time, supporting the growth and success of our community of users". Content The company's

Mathematical Tasks Math Problem Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Mathematical Tasks - Math Problem Example which is 4. Then we have 14 x 4 -= 56cm Similarly, CD = 15 x 4 = 60 cm The perimeter of CDE then becomes 60+52+56 = 168cm Measurement as a mathematical object is also very necessary in this mathematical task where the measurement units are given in centimeters. Mathematical process like connection where mathematic ideas interconnect and build on one another to produce a coherent whole has highly been applied on this task. Mathematical processes like representation is also very important as it helps the learner to organize, record, and communicate mathematical ideas. Geometric reasoning. (ii) Chapter 3 is about geometric reasoning. Basing on task 3.3.3 the following mathematical task has been formulated. B A C To construct a circle inside the triangle to touch the side of the triangle which is generally termed as an inscribed circle, then there is a lot of geometry involved (Bates, 1979). This can be done as follows: - (a) Bisection of angle BAC and extending the bisecting line to a point, p. (b) Bisecting the angle ACB and extending the bisector to a point, m. Where the two bisecting lines meet, say point O, becomes the centre of the circle. With a pair of compasses, you pin at the meeting point of the two lines and draw a circle that touches the vertices of the triangle ABC. This is what is called an inscribed circle. This can be shown in fig,1.2 below: - B o A C Measurement as a mathematical tool is highly used here. The length of the sides of the triangle can be measured as well as the radius of the inscribed circle. Reasoning and proof are mathematical processes that are also applied on this mathematical task. It is only...A mathematical task like the one below entails many more mathematical objects apart from geometry because algebra can also be involved. Measurement as a mathematical object is also very necessary in this mathematical task where the measurement units are given in centimeters. Mathematical process like connection where mathematic ideas interconnect and build on one another to produce a coherent whole has highly been applied on this task. Mathematical processes like representation is also very important as it helps the learner to organize, record, and communicate mathematical ideas. Measurement as a mathematical tool is highly used here. The length of the sides of the triangle can be measured as well as the radius of the inscribed circle. Reasoning and proof are mathematical processes that are also applied on this mathematical task. It is only through concrete reasoning and proofing what you reason by for example bisecting the angles that one comes to see that the circle touches the sides of the triangle but not the vertices. Use of mathematical tools like a pair of compasses, calculators and rulers has also been highly applied to solve this mathematical task. Mathematics thinking and language is highly exercised and mathematics ideas expressed precisely. (iii) In chapter 4 which is

Preventing Vomiting in Children Undergoing Tonsillectomy

Preventing Vomiting in Children Undergoing Tonsillectomy Efficacy of Preoperative Administration of Metoclopramide and Dexamethasone in Preventing Vomiting in Children Undergoing Tonsillectomy Shatha Abutineh Ph., Ola Samawi Ph., Lana Mattar Ph., Dr. Osama Al-Elwan, Dr. Basem Al-Kousheh Abstract Objective: To carry out a comparative study between metoclopramide and dexamethasone to find out its effect by the way of preoperative administration on the rate of postoperative emesis in children who undergoing tonsillectomy. Patients and Methods: Ninety patients between the age of 3-14 years who planned for tonsillectomy were enrolled in our study. Patients were randomly divided into three main groups: Group I: In which children received Dexamethasone injection with a dose of 0.15 mg/kg IV (n = 30). Group II: In which children received Metoclopramide injection with a dose of 0.15 mg/kg IV (n = 30). Group III: In which children received 4 ml saline (n = 30). All episodes of Postoperative vomiting were recorded Results: There were no significant differences between these three main groups of patients regarding the age, sex, weight, type of surgery, duration of surgery and duration of anesthesia. The incidence of vomiting throughout the initial four hours (0-4 hours) was not wasnt considerably different between the three groups, three patients (10%) in the dexamethasone group compared with 3 patients (10%) in the metoclopramide group and 4 patients (13%) in the saline group (P < 0.05). The incidence of vomiting during (4-24 hours) was more frequent in the saline group, 8 patients (27%) developed vomiting (P < 0.001). Only three (10%) patients in the metoclopramide group vomited during this period compared with 6 patients (20%) in the dexamethasone group Conclusion: Metoclopramide found to be more effective than dexamethasone in preventing vomiting in children undergoing tonsillectomy. Key words: Dexamethasone, Metoclopramide, Tonsillectomy. Introduction Tonsillectomy is considered one of the foremost performed surgical procedures in pediatric age group with a reported rate of postoperative vomiting ranging between 40%-73% (1-3).The rate of postoperative emesis is found to be higher in pediatric patients than in adults who undergo tonsillectomy (4). Patients often perceive Postoperative nausea and vomiting as one of the foremost bothering side effects of anesthesia and many believe about it as distressing as the pain related to the operation (5). Postoperative nausea and vomiting can contribute to the event of medical complications (6,7), and patients with Postoperative nausea and vomiting consume a lot of resources and need extra health care skilled time compared with patients in whom these complications square measure avoided. Metoclopramide is often used as prophylactic medicine in these patients to prevent vomiting. However, its use is restricted by low efficiency and the chance and risk of unwanted adverse effects, such as extrapyramidal symptoms (8). Dexamethasone is considered to be a steroid of low price, with low rate of adverse effects, prolonged anti vomiting effect in cancer patients, and highly effective in reducing the rate of postoperative vomiting in kids who undergo tonsillectomy (8). However, their actual mechanism in preventing nausea or vomiting continues to be unknown. The aim of our study is to carry out a comparative study between metoclopramide and dexamethasone to find out its effect by the way of preoperative administration on the rate of postoperative emesis in children who undergoing tonsillectomy. Material and Methods Ninety patients of both genders, aged 3-14 years who planned for tonsillectomy were enrolled in the study. The exclusion criteria were, all Children who received steroids, antiemetic and antihistamine drugs twenty four hours prior to surgery. Patients were randomly divided into three main groups: Group I: In which children received Dexamethasone injection with a dose of 0.15 mg/kg IV (n = 30). Group II: In which children received Metoclopramide injection with a dose of 0.15 mg/kg IV (n = 30). Group III: In which children received 4 ml saline (n = 30). The drugs were administered i.v immediately before induction of anesthesia. Patients were instructed to fast from midnight and without giving them any premedication. All the operations were performed by one surgeon using the cold dissection method. The bleeding was controlled by cauterization using bipolar diathermy. All patients were transferred after surgery to the recovery room first before they transferred to the ward. After being transferred to the floor, a soft food was given to all patients throughout their hospital stay. In addition to that, all patients had given a maintenance intra venous fluid until adequate oral intake was achieved. All attacks of Postoperative vomiting were reported by nurses who do not know about the study group during the first 4 hours and 4-24 hours after the end of general anesthesia. We defined Vomiting as expulsion of the contents of stomach through the mouth; and complete response was defined as absence of Postoperative vomiting without a need for antiemetic. Antiemetic was given when there are 2 or more attacks of Postoperative vomiting in the first 24 hours after general anesthesia. Results: 90 patients (30 per group) were included in the study. There were no significant differences between these three main groups of patients regarding the age, sex, weight, type of surgery, duration of surgery and duration of anesthesia. (Table 1). Table 1: Demographic characteristics of patients in their respective group. Characteristics Group I (n = 30) Group II (n = 30) Group III (n = 30) Age (yr) 4.9 Â ± 3.1 4.8 Â ± 3.2 4.6 Â ± 3.2 Weight (kg) 19.7 Â ± 5.7 20.6 Â ± 5.5 20.1 Â ± 5.3 Sex (male/female) 19/11 20/10 18/12 Type of surgery Tonsillectomy -Adenotonsillectomy 8 22 6 24 6 24 Duration of surgery (min) 17.8 Â ± 3.7 16.6 Â ± 4.2 18.1 Â ± 3.5 Duration of anesthesia (min) 35.1 Â ± 6.3 36.2 Â ± 5.3 36.2 Â ± 6.1 No significant difference were found between these three groups in regard to the incidence of post operative vomiting in first 4 hours (0-4 hours), three patients (10%) in the dexamethasone group compared with 3 patients (10%) in the metoclopramide group and 4 patients (13%) in the saline group (P < 0.05). The incidence of vomiting during (4-24 hours) was more frequent in the saline group, 8 patients (27%) developed vomiting (P < 0.001). Only three (10%) patients in the metoclopramide group vomited during this period compared with 6 patients (20%) in the dexamethasone group. Thus Emesis-free within the first 24 hours was achieved significantly more often in patients who had received metoclopramide than in those who had received dexamethasone or placebo (saline). Discussion Complications of tonsillectomy in children are not uncommon and include pain which may result in poor oral intake, dehydration, vomiting, infection, fever and bleeding. Tonsillectomy using bipolar method has been used because of the advantage that it decreases the time of operation and it thus reduce the risk of immediate postoperative bleeding (9). However, bipolar dissection method may result in more postoperative pain (9). The mechanism of action of dexamethasone as an antiemetic is by antagonizing the prostaglandin, inhibit release of tryptophan and endorphins (10-13). These therapeutic effects of dexamethasone leaded to common use of it in children undergoing tonsillectomy. Many medications have been used in order to prevent post operative vomiting (14). The ideal drug to be used should have a good efficacy, little adverse effects and cheap (14,15) . The action of metoclopramide is mainly facilitating the release of acetylcholine. This action may be mediated by many different mechanisms. The antiemetic and nausea inhibitory effects of metoclopramide are related to its central dopaminergic effects (8). Metoclopramide in high doses was found to be very effective in decreasing chemotherapy-induced vomiting. In very low doses it frequently used to treat nausea and vomiting (8). The aim of using these low doses is to decrease central pyramidal and sedative effects which are found to be more common in children than adults. The efficacy of lower doses of metoclopramide in preventing post operative nausea and vomiting is very variable (8). Because of the short half-life of metoclopramide, it is unlikely to produce any antiemetic effect in the recovery period if administered during induction of anesthesia (8,16). Different reports have studied the benefit of administration of 10 mg metoclopramide in adult patients (17). Several studies regarding the effect of a single preoperative I.V dose of steroid on the morbidity of tonsillectomy has been reported different results (18,19). Many reports have found that preoperative administration of a single dose of I.V steroid have reduced the postoperative pain, emesis with an earlier return to normal oral intake feeding (20-22).On other hand another different studies have found no significant differences (23). However, in our study only three (10%) patients in the metoclopramide group vomited during 4-24 hour period compared with 6 patients (20%) in the dexamethasone group and 8 patients (27%) in the saline group. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the three groups in regard to the incidence of vomiting during the first four hours. Conclusion Metoclopramide found to be more effective than dexamethasone in preventing vomiting in children undergoing tonsillectomy. References 1. Litman RS, Wu CL, et al. Ondansetron reduces vomiting after tonsillectomy in children. Anesth Analg. 1994 Mar;78(3):478-81 2. Furst SR, et al. Prophylactic antiemetic treatment with ondansetron in children undergoing tonsillectomy. Anesthesiology, 81 (1994), pp. 799-803 3. Ferrari LR, et al. Metoclopramide reduces the incidence of vomiting after tonsillectomy in children. Anesth Analg, 75 (1992), pp. 351-354 4. Rose JB, et al. Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Pediatric Patients. British Journal of Anaesthesia1999;83:104 -117. 5. Ledesma MJS, et al. A comparison of three antiemetic combinations for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Anesth Analg. 2002 Dec;95(6):1590-5. 6. Celiker V, et al. Minimum effective dose of dexamethasone for preventing nausia and vomiting after adenotonsillectomy. J Ankra medical school 2003; 25(1):21-25. 7. Schumann R, et al. Massive subcutaneous emphysema and sudden airway compromise after postoperative vomiting. Anesth Analg 1999; 89: 796-797. 8. Olutoye O, et al. Management of postoperative vomiting in pediatric patients. Int Anesthesiol Clin 2003;41:99-117. 9. Weimert TA, et al. Electro dissection tonsillectomy. Arch Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery 1990; 116:186-8. 10. Rich W, et al. Methylprednisolone as an antiemetic during cancer chemotherapy: a pilot study. Gynecol Oncol. 1980;9:193-198 11. Harris AL. Cytotoxic-therapy-induced vomiting is mediated via enkephalin pathways. Lancet 1982;1:714-6. 12. Young SN. Mechanism of decline in rat brain 5-hydroxytryptamine after induction of liver tryptophan pyrrolase by hydrocortisone: roles of tryptophan catabolism and kynurenine synthesis. British Journal Pharmacology. 1981 Nov;74(3):695-700 13. Sagar S. The current role of antiemetic drugs in oncology: a recent revolution in patient symptom control. Cancer Treatement Revion 1991;18:95-135. 14. Apfel CC, et al. How to study postoperative nausea and vomiting. Acta Anaesthesiol Scandaneivia, 2002; 46:921-928. 15. Watcha MF Management of postoperative vomiting in pediatric patients. Current Opinion Anaesthesia, 2003; 16:575-583. 16. Scuderi PE. Pharmacology of antiemetics. Int Anesthesiol Clin, 2003; 41:41-66. 17. Gan TJ, Meyer T, Apfel CC et al Consensus guidelines for managing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Anesthesia Analgesia, 2003; 97:62-71. 18. Heatley DG. Perioperative intravenous steroid treatment and tonsillectomy. Archives of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery. 2001; 127:1007-1008. 19. Shott SR. Tonsillectomy and postoperative vomiting: do steroids really work? Archives of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery. 2001; 127:1009-1010. 20. Vosdoganis F et al (1999). The effect of single dose IV dexamethasone in tonsillectomy in children. Anaesthesia and Intensive Care 27 489-492 21. Catlin FI, et al. The effect of steroid therapy on recovery from tonsillectomy in children. Archives of Otolaryngoogyl Head Neck Surgery. 1991;117(6):649-52. 22. Volk MS, et al. The effects of pre operative steroids on tonsillectomy patients. Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery. 1993; 109:26-30. 23. Ohlms LA, et al. Use of intra operative steroids in pediatric tonsillectomy. Arch Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery. 1995; 121:737-742.

Star Trek - The Next Generation :: essays research papers

Star Trek - The Next Generation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Star date: 41176.8 Captain's log. This is my (Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the U.S.S. Enterprise #NCC-17O1 D) account of the events leading up to and beyond the Federation and Romulan war (2380-2385 AD).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Star date: 32851.2: The Enterprise received a distressed call from a fleeing scout ship. SOS... I am ... under ... attack!! request ... asylum ... Federation ... Space!!..   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The ship was pushing the limits of its engines as it hurtled out of the neutral zone -- the volume of space that serves as a no-ones-land separating the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Empire. A powerful Romulan warbird was mercilessly firing wave after wave of disrupter blasts at the small defenseless scout ship. Once the scout was in Federation space, the warbird broke off the attack and quickly retreated back to Romulan space.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We hailed the ship and found out from her captain that he was alone. His name was Shaq, captain of the Check Mate. He claimed to be a Romulan captain in search of Federation asylum. I had never heard of such a thing; in Romulan society, loyalty to the Romulan Empire is more sacred than life itself. In any event, I was certain that we would learn a lot more during the next few days.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Star date: 32851.5: Captain Shaq claimed that he was defecting in order to prevent intergalactic war. He told us that the Romulan Empire has plans for an abominable new weapon for use against the Federation and any others who might dare to resist total domination of the Romulans. The weapon, called the Metagenic Device, would be launched from orbit to any planet and release a deadly virus throughout the planet's atmosphere. The virus would then quickly infect all forms of life and cause fatal mutations in the DNA of its victims. Within twenty-four hours, all life would cease. Within thirty-six hours, the virus itself would break down becoming inviolable, leaving the planet's resources free for plunder.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At this time we did not know if we should trust Captain Shaq, so I decided to send an away team to investigate his ship and its computer record. As I was ordering my number 1 officer, Commander Riker, with the away team over to the Checkmate, Shaq warned me against such action claiming that he had initiated a self-destruct sequence before leaving his vessel. Seconds later, the scout ship exploded. We immediately questioned Captain Shaq as to why he initiated the self-destruct. He replied, that though he wanted to prevent the war, he was no traitor and would not willingly give up the secrets of his

Humanities Religion Paper Essay

Throughout the span of this course I have learned what it takes to build a successful empire. There are many tactics that are involved in constructing an empire that is stable, which include an effective irrigation system, having an army, land for crops to grow, a system of government, the development of social classes, a trading system, tools and specialized skills for the making of goods, and a shared standpoint of religious beliefs. The one thing that I found most intriguing is how throughout the period of time every civilization has had some sort of caste system. A caste system is a social structure which separates individuals of a civilization into their inherited social class; it can also prohibit the marriage of two individuals of different caste. In the time we live in now you can still separate people into a variety of different social classes such as: upper class, upper middle-class, middle-class, lower middle-class and poor. But let’s rewind a few thousand years in to one of the earliest known civilizations, the Mesopotamians. The history of Mesopotamians can be separated into two categories, the Sumerian period and the Semitic period. During these periods I see the caste system come into play because Priests were at the top of the chain, they were the ones who controlled religious and economic dealings. The Law Code of Hammurabi, I would also consider to be part of a caste system. Majority of the Law code’s requirements deal with the relationship between a husband and wife, along with the relationship between other members of the family, these are a couple of the passages from the code: 131. If a man accuses his wife and she has not been taken lying with another man, she shall take an oath in the name of god and she shall return to her house (book). 145. If a man takes his wife and she does not present him with children, and he sets his face to take a concubine, that man may take a concubine and bring her into his house (book). Even though these do not directly deal with a certain social standing they do however show the standing of women during this period, and also these laws would apply to anyone in any social class. The Egyptians had their own form of the caste system. Egypt was structured so that there was an upper and lower caste. They had a strongly controlled government ruled by one single ruler, the pharaoh. The pharaoh was regarded as a living god, the equal of any other deity (book). Right below the pharaoh was the priest, whose responsibility was to preserve the tradition of religious beliefs. Pharaohs are at the top of the chain, government officials fall directly below the pharaoh and consist of nobles and priests. Next on the chain below the government officials would be the soldiers, merchants and artisans fell directly under the soldiers, farmers were second to last on the chain and then at the very bottom you find the slaves. During ancient Greece time in the city of Athens, I see a form of the caste system fall into place. Social classes during the ancient Greece period applied strictly to men and women took their social standing from their husbands. Any person born into an Athenian family is considered to be a citizen and part of the upper class during this period. The middle class was comprised with merchants, merchants were any men who were non-citizens and are ineligible to become a citizen. The lower class was any freed slave. A slave could become free only if his/her ransom was paid off by a family member. Again you see the slaves fall at the very bottom of all caste systems. Athenians viewed their slaves as barbarians because most, if not all were from a foreign region. I have also learned that the Romans had a set caste system. In my book it states that the Romans had an extremely hard working middle class that were devoted to their central government. When I was reading this, all I could think about is how my family would be considered middle class and how hard working both my parents are. They are devoted to making sure I am provided with what I need, which is what Augustine wanted for the Romans. Augustine’s social reforms were intended directly at the upper classes and were anticipated to return his people to traditional family values. During the Roman republic citizens were split into two classes the patricians and the plebeians. Patricians also known as aristocrats filled the upper class; they had elite rights to the Roman Senate and magistrates. The lower class was known as the plebeians. The plebeians would elect leaders to represent them and their interests while also protecting the lower class people against states officials who treated them discriminatorily. The Aryans are the true developers of the caste system. They made a separation between nobility and the common people. The caste system of the Aryans divided their society into castes of priesthood, the warriors, the laborers and the serfs. India went through many changes and so did their caste system. The caste system was one the shaping social forces in India, reinforced by many laws concerning marriage, table exclusion, laws of rituals purity and so on (book). I have found the caste system of India the most fascinating so far, I believe it most accurately represents the way we caste individuals now.