Astronomers Count Galaxies in the Cosmos

How many galaxies are there in the cosmos? Thousands? Millions? More? Those are questions that astronomers revisit every few years. Periodically they count galaxies using sophisticated telescopes and techniques. Each time they do a new galactic census, they find more of these stellar cities than they did before. So, how many are there? It turns out that, thanks to some work done using Hubble Space Telescope, there are billions and billions of them. There could be up to 2 trillion...and counting. In fact, the universe is more vast than astronomers thought, too. The idea of billions and billions of galaxies may make the universe sound much bigger and more populated than ever. But, the more interesting news here is that there are fewer galaxies today than there were in the early universe. Which seems rather odd. What happened to the rest? The answer lies in the term merger. Over time, galaxies formed and merged with each other to form larger ones. So, the many galaxies we see today are what we have left after billions of years of evolution. The History of Galaxy Counts Back at the turn of the 19th century into the 20th, astronomers thought there was only one galaxy — our Milky Way — and that it was the entirety of the universe. They saw other odd, nebulous things in the sky that they called spiral nebulae, but it never occurred to them that these might be very distant galaxies. That all changed in the 1920s, when astronomer Edwin Hubble, using work done on calculating distances to stars using variable stars by astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, found a star that lay in a distant spiral nebula. It was farther away than any star in our own galaxy. That observation told him that the spiral nebula, which we know today as the Andromeda Galaxy, was not part of our own Milky Way. It was another galaxy. With that momentous observation, the number of known galaxies doubled to two. Astronomers were off to the races finding more and more galaxies.   Today, astronomers see galaxies as far as their telescopes  can see. Every part of the distant universe seems to be chock full of galaxies. They show up in all shapes, from irregular globs of light to spirals and ellipticals. As they study galaxies, astronomers have traced the ways they have formed and evolved. Theyve seen how galaxies merge, and what happens when they do. And, they know that our own Milky Way and Andromeda will merge in the distant future.  Each time they learn something new, whether its about our galaxy or some distant one, it adds to their understanding of how these large-scale structures behave. Galaxy Census Since Hubbles time, astronomers have found many other galaxies as their telescopes got better and better. Periodically they would take a census of galaxies. The latest census work, done by Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories, continues to identify more galaxies at greater distances. As find more of these stellar cities, astronomers get a better idea of how they form, merge, and evolve. However, even as they find evidence of more galaxies, it turns out that astronomers can only see about 10 percent of the galaxies they know are out there. Whats going on with that? Many more galaxies that cant be seen or detected with present-day telescopes and techniques. An astonishing 90 percent of the galaxy census falls into this unseen category. Eventually, they will be seen, with telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope, which will be able to detect their light (which turns out to be ultra-faint and much of it in the infrared portion of the spectrum). Fewer Galaxies Means Less to Light up Space So, while the universe has at least 2 trillion galaxies, the fact that it used to have MORE galaxies in the early days may also explain one of the most intriguing questions asked by astronomers: if theres so much light in the universe, why is the sky dark at night? This is known as Olbers Paradox (named for the German astronomer Heinrich Olbers, who first posed the question). The answer may well be because of those missing galaxies. Starlight from the most distant and oldest galaxies may well be invisible to our eyes for a variety of reasons, including the reddening of light due to the expansion of space, the universe’s dynamic nature, and the absorption of light by intergalactic dust and gas. If you combine these factors with other processes that reduce our ability to see visible and ultraviolet (and infrared) light from the most distant galaxies, these could all provide the answer to why we see a dark sky at night. The study of galaxies continues, and in the next few decades, its likely that astronomers will revise their census of these behemoths yet again.

Public Speaking Anxiety and Its Effect on Students Essay

Introduction Public speaking anxiety is a problem for many people. Some say that it is the number one fear of Americans over death. There have been many studies done in the general field of public speaking anxiety. I am going to review five articles that touch on various issues surrounding public speaking anxiety. All five of these articles are from Communication journals and are at most five years old. Literature Review There have been many studies done on public speaking anxiety in the field of communications. I have chosen these five articles to review because I believe that put together, they give a good background on the recent research done on this subject. The first article looks at students memories of speeches†¦show more content†¦They were asked one week later to fill out the scale again. They again found that the students recollection of anxiety had decreased over time. The level of decrease was contingent on the students level of communication apprehension. The second article is called Speech anxiety affects how people prepare speeches: A protocol analysis of the preparation processes of speakers. This article was written by J. Daly, A. Vangelisti, and D. Weber. They begin by telling the reader what a serious problem public speaking anxiety is. This alone gives me the feeling that they are doing this study because they really want to help people who are suffering from this anxiety. They took fifty-one undergraduate students who were enrolled in a large introductory lecture class on communication. They completed a measure of public speaking anxiety five weeks before the project. They randomly selected student from the class and came up with a group that represented the norm in terms of age, race, and gender. Each student was asked to prepare a speech in front of observers and speak out loud what he/she was thinking. The student then went and performed the speech in front of the class who were unaware of the study. The class then rated the student. The student was asked to answer some questions about their feelings. They found that their was a significant and inverse relationship between publicShow MoreRelatedPublic Speaking Anxiety and Its Effect on Students1417 Words   |  6 PagesPublic Speaking Anxiety and Its Effect on Students Introduction Public speaking anxiety is a problem for many people. Some say that it is the number one fear of Americans over death. There have been many studies done in the general field of public speaking anxiety. I am going to review five articles that touch on various issues surrounding public speaking anxiety. All five of these articles are from Communication journals and are at most five years old. Literature Review ThereRead MoreIt is widely known that in EFL learning situations, many students â€Å"exhibit fear of foreign language1300 Words   |  6 Pagesmany students â€Å"exhibit fear of foreign language speaking† (Yaikhong Usaha, 2012, p. 23). In Asian countries, EFL learners suffer even more in language classroom anxiety because of insufficient language environment. According to Scovel (1978), anxiety in language learning is â€Å"a state of apprehension, a vague fear† (p. 134). Such anxiety may exist in many aspects of language learning process. Language classroom anxiety is one of the most common concerns. Many researches showed that students’ classroomRead MoreOvercoming Foreign Language Anxiety1576 Words   |  7 PagesOVERCOMING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ANXIETY By Saranda Nuredini Instructor: Luiza Zeqiri Course: ESP Communication I January 2012 â€Å"Sweaty palms, shaking hands, dry mouth and muscle tension mean for many of us, that we are about to speak in public. Couple this fear of speaking in public with performing or speaking in another language and the success of the speaker may be dramatically compromised† (Leigh, 2009). By having to speak in a foreign language, the amount of fear in us grows and transformsRead MorePresentation Fears And Lack Of Self Confidence1452 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Presentation fears is when students feel intimidated to present their work in front of their class due to lack of self-confidence. According to Martinuzzi on his article on â€Å"11 Easy Ways to Finally Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking†, attribute the success of a presentation to the ability to stand and be heard (February 01, 2013). He also attributes the reasons for an unsuccessful presentation to the inability of the presenters to confidently stand before the audience and speak outRead MoreLearning A Foreign Language Is Not An Easy Task Essay1317 Words   |  6 Pagesserious effects on learners achievements. In this case, there must be a lot of awareness and consciousness from students and teachers as well, and that for the sake of knowing how to proceed, to cope and even properly deal with these obstructions.Therefore, this chapter will provide possible solutions and coping strategies that would decrease the unfavourable outcomes of anxiety, boost low self esteem an d encourage learners to take risks inside the classroom. SECTION ONE : ANXIETY InitiallyRead MorePublic Speaking Anxiety2045 Words   |  9 PagesCOPING WITH PUBLIC SPEAKING ANXIETY Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the teaching of affective strategies helps students’ reduce their public speaking anxiety. We used the questionnaire Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety (PRPSA) developed by McCroskey (1970; 1992) in order to determine the level of anxiety that a student experiences while holding a speech. At the beginning of the semester, the students were asked to fill out the questionnaire by approximatingRead MoreHow Does Humor Use Humor?1186 Words   |  5 Pagesout claiming that appropriate humor can be used as a tool in the classroom by alleviating anxiety, stress, and helping relate the content by using funny, real world examples. When an instructor successfully uses humor, the learning environment that is created can be a catalyst for success. Humor can alleviate anxiety, especially in second language classrooms. â€Å"First, Young (1991) argues that when students are asked to deliver their thoughts or idea in a foreign language in which they have limitedRead MoreFactor Affecting Public Speaking Anxiety5792 Words   |  24 PagesINTRODUCTION Commonly, students refuse to do the task of speaking in public due to discomfort of being viewed upon by the classmates or the audience and does create inferiority in delivering a certain speech. Public speaking is a common source of stress for everyone especially to students who are not used to speak in front of public because of fear to be criticized by others. Many would like to avoid this situation completely, but that is difficult to accomplish. Oral communication anxiety or commonly knownRead MoreThe Impact Of Technology On Our Lives1333 Words   |  6 Pagessocial networking have changed the communication game. However, the simplicity of communicating behind a screen has hindered our verbal communication skills. Sherry Turkle, author of the book Alone Together, stated in an interview for the National Public Radio (2012), â€Å"Face-to-face interaction teaches skills of negotiation, of reading each other s emotion, of having to face the complexity of confrontation, dealing with complex emotion. These skills are hindered when individuals depend on textingRead More Personal and Public Speech Skills Essay807 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal and Public Speech Skills Throughout life we express ourselves through words. The way we present ourselves through speech says a lot about our character. The way one speaks to others can jeopardize the amount of respect and trust others have for them. From the way one pronounces a word to their posture can affect the way an audience interprets what is being said. Personally, I am not confident with my speaking skills at this point. I would like my audience to fully comprehend the concepts

Obesity And Its Increasing Prevalence Essay - 1437 Words

The topic of obesity and its increasing prevalence has captured much attention in the course of several decades. With over 36 percent of the American adult population considered obese between 2011-2014, speculations about its cause, contribution to chronic health conditions, and economic burdens have received considerable awareness (Ogden, Carroll, Fryar and Flegal, 2015). Commonly in research, obesity levels are measured through the Body Mass Index (BMI) scale. A BMI of 25-30 is considered overweight, and a BMI of greater than 30 is considered obese (Stommel and Schoenborn, 2009). The risk of death increases with higher BMI (due to obesity related comorbidities) accounting for nearly 300,000 deaths annually. These trends have been observed across all age groups, both genders, all educational levels, races, and smoking statuses (Aronne, 2001). While diet and energy intake have been on the forerunner when explaining weight gain, another recent trend which has been gaining notice is t he shift towards a sedentary lifestyle among the US population (Blair Brodney, 1999). In 2000, the CDC approximated that less than 30 percent of the American population gets the adequate amount of physical activity (Caballero, 2007). Physical inactivity was associated with 54% higher odds of obesity, while socioeconomic status and societal conditions further influenced its prevalence (Singh, Siahpush, Hiatt, and Timsina, 2011). As a result, in addition to weight-related diseases, obesityShow MoreRelatedThe Increasing Prevalence Of Obesity Essay980 Words   |  4 Pages Delay Discounting, Impulsivity and Eating Behaviours that Predispose Individuals to Excess Weight Gain Monique T. Andreacchio Australian Catholic University Word Count: 2053 Abstract The increasing prevalence of obesity is a continuing global health issue. Individuals are more likely to eat in our current food environment where food are more desirable but less nutritional. To investigate whether there is a relationship between delayed discounting and an individual’s impulsivity andRead MoreObesity Is An Increasing Problem All Over The World And Its Prevalence1379 Words   |  6 PagesObesity is an increasing problem all over the world and its prevalence differs from one area to another. According to World health Organization (WHO) obesity is defined as body mass index (BMI) of 30kg/m2 or more.1 It was reported that the proportion of obesity in surgical patients is greater than general population.2 This means that anesthesiologists are going to deal with increased number of obese patients whose airway management is one of their own responsibilities. Endotracheal intubation isRead MoreThe Influence Of Obesity In America808 Words   |  4 PagesWithin the last decade, the rate of obesity has been increasing. In 2012, at least one-third of U.S. adults were obese.1 It is expected by 2018 that the number of obese adults increases to half of U.S. adults.2 The rates for children and adolescents are increasing as well. In 2012, about seventeen percent of children and adolescents were obese.2 However, the number of obese individuals vary throughout the U.S. The South and Midwest have a higher prevalence of obesity while the West and Northeast haveRead MoreDietary Factors That Affect Obesity Essay1222 Words   |  5 PagesDietary Factors There are many dietary factors that may contribute to obesity in children. The major factors are increased consumption of calorie-dense foods, saturated fats, and sugar in combination with sedentary behavior 8. Consumption of refined grains and sugar-sweetened beverages have lead to increases in unhealthy eating habits resulting in the rise of obesity 4. These sugar-sweetened drinks are also associated with increasing BMI 11. The focus of this synthesis is the importance of physicalRead MoreThe Ethical Regulation Of Transnational Food Companies And Implement Strategies That Promote Healthy Diets846 Words   |  4 Pages Over the last 20 years the worldwide prevalence of obesity has more than doubled, making it the fastest growing cause of disease and death worldwide1 . The expanding markets in developing countries due to globalization have attracted the influx of multinational food and drink companies into these countries with aggressive marketing strategies targeted mainly at children. This has resulted in a nutritional transition from traditional plant based diets to western high fat, energy dense diets withRead MoreRisk Factors for Stroke in Young Adults1635 Words   |  7 Pagesmillion Americans over the age of 20 and representing 3% of the population (Rogers et al. e68). Current estimates suggest close to 800,000 Americans will experience a stroke each year; however, symptoms related to strokes often go undiagnosed. The prevalence of undiagnosed strokes is estimated to be 17.8% of the population over the age of 45, but some minorities and those with low incomes make up a disproportionate perce ntage of this number. Ethnicity also influences the risk of a stroke for all adultsRead MoreStudy Participants Age Ranged From 6 Years Up To 17 Years1538 Words   |  7 Pagesthan 5) with half of participants classified in the low socioeconomic level. The prevalence of stunting (HAZ 2SD for HAZ, WAZ, and BAZ are 0.3%, 4.4% and 14.9% respectively. Double malnutrition problem was reported among participants. The problem of stunting is shown in Height for age distribution in figure 1 where the curve is skewed to the left to WHO world standard normal distribution curve. And obesity is seen in BAZ distribution where the curve is slightly skewed to right to WHO worldRead MoreThe Health Of The Youth Of Australia Face798 Words   |  4 Pages(Eckersley 2008). After thorough research into the health impediments the youth of Australia face, it was found that the most predominant biophysical and psychosocial issues that influence their quality of life and are subsequently correlated are: obesity, diabetes, anxiety and major depressive disorder. Though some mental disorders such as ADHD are more common than that of anxiety disorders, they do not have as much of an impact on quality of life, therefore these health issues will not be includedRead MoreThe Effects Of Obesity On Children And Adults1462 Words   |  6 PagesObesity is c onsidered to be the significant health problem in the United States affecting children and adults. It occurs when a child is well above the normal or healthy weight for his or her age and height. The main causes of excess weight in youth are similar to those in adults, including individual causes such as behavior and genetics. Different behaviors include dietary patterns, medication use, physical inactivity, and other exposures. Additional contributing factors in society include the foodRead MorePrevalence Of Overweight And Obesity Essay1249 Words   |  5 PagesThe aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of overweight/obesity among parents of children entering childhood obesity treatment and to evaluate changes in the parents’ weight during their child’s treatment (Trier, 2016). The study included the parents of 1,125 children and adolescents (aged 3-22) who were enrolled in a children obesity treatment program. They began by taking the heights and weight s of the children and the BMI scores were calculated. After 2.5 years of treatment, the

Stop-Loss Policy Essay - 2517 Words

Stop-Loss Policy War has been around since the beginning of time. People have been asked to defend for their country and to die for their cause. But is the war that America is currently involved in, one of the times where people should be forced to die and stay overseas. The men and women who volunteered to fight for the country they love, are not being forced to stay longer then the original time they were supposed to stay, all thanks to President Bush’s â€Å"stop-loss policy† otherwise known as the â€Å"back-door draft.† The â€Å"stop-loss program† was introduced in order to counter act the number of men and women’s lives lost in the war and the number of people who have not been signing up to join. There are few arguments that are pro†¦show more content†¦As well as the deaths, there have been many people detaching from the military without making the commitment to return, but instead to head off to make their way in the civilian world, using what the military taught them to survive. Plus the number of civilians who have been signing up has drastically decreased; leaving the number of soldiers to fight what Bush stared very minimal. According to Dennis Wagner, a reporter for The Arizona Republic on Friday December 10, 2004 â€Å"National Guard sign-ups were 12 percent short of the military’s goal.† Before America went into this war to free the Iraqi people, the military and government should have thought about all of the outcomes. They should have seen tha t the numbers of military personnel was decreasing even before the war started. How is the United States of America going to give someone freedom, when their own citizens do not have the freedom that they deserve. The war America is fighting over in Iraq is to bring democracy to their country; it was at first though to find the â€Å"weapons of mass destruction† that Bush claimed Saddam Hussein was holding in Iraq. Though this search was done only after President Bush could not find Bin Laden, even after he swore he would, and without the support of most of the world, and no weapons were found. So is America fighting this war for the right reasons or are they justShow MoreRelated America Needs the Stop-loss Program Essay1172 Words   |  5 PagesAmerica Needs the Stop-loss Program The scary reality of the war on Iraq is something all Americans face today, the reality being, what happens if we do not have enough soldiers to continue all of the projects that the United States have already started. Does America have enough troops for what they are doing? Can America afford to tell people when they leave the military, thanks and we wish the best for you with civilian life, or should they be fighting to keep them as long as possibleRead MoreFederal Debt And Its Effects On America s Economy1163 Words   |  5 Pagesendless void of blackness that is going to keep getting dimmer and dimmer until it sizzles out, and unless America realizes this and does something about it, American economy is doomed. Federal debt, lack of jobs, discouraged workers, jobs overseas, job loss, state and local bankruptcy, and reckless inflation all take a large part in the deteriorating of America’s economy. American’s have failed to acknowledge the growing cris is, and because of this, our economy is reaping the consequences. Each problemRead MoreInsurance1247 Words   |  5 PagesINSURANCE CONCEPT: Insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. NATURE: The purpose of any insurance is to provide economic protection against the losses that may be incurred due to chance events such as: 1. Death 2. Disability 3. Medical expenses 4. Home or automobile damage, etc. FUNCTIONS: BasicRead MoreAdvantages and Disadvantages of the Baning of Somiking Inside Your Own Home659 Words   |  3 Pages(benefits to society of consuming one more unit of a good. The externality causes welfare loss, a loss to society as a result of misallocation of resources, as shown in Diagram 1, where for every unit of output, marginal private benefits (MPB) are greater than marginal social benefits (MSB). The vertical difference between MPB and MSB is the external cost to society. For this reason, there is a welfare loss; the market overallocates resources to the production of cigarettes at units greater thanRead MoreUnited States Loss to Vietnam Essays1033 Words   |  5 PagesUnited States Loss to Vietnam There were many reasons for the USAs loss in the Vietnam War. There is no singular reason for the USAs loss; instead there are many, and each of these contributes to the end result. Some historians believe that the USA didnt lose the war at all. The USA first invaded Vietnam on the 8th March 1965, with the first 3,500 US marines landing on Vietnam soil, this seemingly small amount of troops would mass to 525,000 in 1967. America firstRead MoreGeography Assignment : The Population1155 Words   |  5 PagesAustralia’s growing population changes over time as the combined factors change, such as overseas migration, internal migration gain, internal migration loss, high fertility rate and ageing population. Growth in Australia’s population is made up of three main components: †¢ Natural increase—births - deaths †¢ Net overseas migration— the net gain or loss of population through immigration and emigration. †¢ Refugees- people who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, orRead MoreThe United States And The Civil Right Movement1594 Words   |  7 Pages2006) . In many states begin a felon come with obstacles both informal and formal in the lives of people with a felony convicted. In the midst of the growing civil right movement, the augmented by racially disparate law enforcement and corrections policies the word â€Å"felon† is commonly linked to the African American community. Having a felony conviction limited housing, employment and educational opportunities. The barriers that of begin a felon limited the accessing to opportunities that is availableRead MoreThe New York Police Department1733 Words   |  7 Pagesthe responsibility of the government or states to safeguard its citizens and uphold the constitution. But what are the citizens supposed to do when these two fundamental philosophies suddenly are set in opposition with each ot her? In New York, the stop-and-frisk law is designed to protect its citizens, and yet it is taking away their constitutional rights. Although in some instances this method is deemed legal, the New York Police Department has adapted the process into one that stems from criminalRead MoreCauses of World War II784 Words   |  3 PagesNations, and the failed policy of appeasement. These three points are long term causes which express thee reasoning for the outbreak of war. The inability to enforce the Treaty of Versailles played an important role in the starting of World War II. The weight of enforcing the rules of the Treaty was put all on the shoulders of Britain and France. It was hard to impose because some major powers did not sign the Treaty like the United States and the Soviet Union. The loss of the support from majorRead MoreDifferent Security Policies And Guideline And How They Are Needed1702 Words   |  7 Pagesreport I will be talking about different security policies and guideline and how they are needed in an organisation. The first one I will be talking about will be the disaster recovery policy, what this policy is basically about is that the organization will have so kind of plan or strategy put in place for things like natural disasters for example floods, fire, earthquake and things like theft and major human error that can cause major data loss, which and ultimately impact the organization security

Ethical Principles in Medical Decision Making Essay Example For Students

Ethical Principles in Medical Decision Making Essay In order for the interests of family members to be taken into account in medical decision making, I think that two principles have to be balanced. I think that patient autonomy and respect for persons have to be a part of every medical decision that an individual makes. The two principles are obviously going to come into conflict with one another in the decision making process, in which case autonomy should have more weight over the respect for persons principle. I do not agree with John Hardwigs presumption of equality. Humans are just not wired to think that way, and the decision making process would become much too complicated as physicians became involved in the dynamics of families, attempting to morally and equally weigh the interests of patients and their families. Physicians have enough to consider as it is, as it is difficult enough determining which treatments and options will best benefit each patients values and interests. Hardwig had the moral reasons for presumption of equality, but no solid explanations as to how the principle could be implemented. Patient autonomy would have to be sacrificed in order for the idea of presumption of equality to be honored. I think that the interests of family members and those close to an individual should always be taken into consideration, but not necessarily given equal importance. Naturally family members can persuade, support, and participate in discussion and the joint decision making process, but when there is a conflict between autonomy and respect for the interests of family members, autonomy wins out. The role of the physician, then, should be to respect patient autonomy by discussing possible treatments and providing all of the necessary information the patient needs to make an informed and autonomous decision as usual. In addition to this responsibility, doctors ought to also be trained to initiate discussion with the patient of their rights and responsibilities and encouraging patients to examine the moral implications and impact that their medical decisions will have on the family. If conflict between a patients decision and familys interests arises, the physician should respect the patients choice and right to be autonomous. #3)In Helga Wanglies case, the physicians should have been allowed to withdraw from the case. Ackerman argues that the decision of whether or not treatment is beneficial to the patient is an ethical one, and has little to do with medical expertise. However, in order to make treatment decisions based on values, one must first have a general idea of what those values are. Mrs. Wanglie left no advanced directives to specify what she would have wanted, and the initial admission made by her husband revealed that the couple had never discussed what her desires would be should she ever become dependent on a respirator. In the absence of clear and convincing evidence of the patients values, as well as a lack of information on which to base substituted judgment, the desires of an average reasonable person should be examined. As argued by Miles, a large majority of elderly patients prefer not to receive respirator support in circumstances of irreversible unconsciousness. Most would find that the burdens of this prolonged treatment outweigh the possible, albeit highly unlikely benefit of a return to consciousness. This view is similar to that of the physicians, who found Mrs. Wanglies treatment to be non-beneficial because the respirator could not heal her, prevent her from suffering, or enable her to experience the life it ultimately prolonged. The treatment not only failed to physically benefit Mrs. Wanglie, but detracts from the common good of the community as the insurance premiums members pay provide for Mrs. Wanglies non-beneficial treatment. The physicians view is closer to the truth in this case. The medical care provided could no longer benefit Mrs. Wanglie, and without substantial proof that she would prefer to be kept alive under such circumstances, it is inappropriate to prolong treatment that does not achieve any sort of beneficial result beyond sustaining an irreversible coma. .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e , .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e .postImageUrl , .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e , .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e:hover , .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e:visited , .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e:active { border:0!important; } .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e:active , .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u17e3e291e2eed3b7fbcaed9cf90b045e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Study of Linguistics Essay #4)In the Cruzan case, the biggest hurdle that had to be cleared was proving that Nancy would want nutrition and hydration removed in a clear and concise manner. Ultimately it was this key issue that was responsible .

Economics for Business Quality Business Product

Question: Discuss about the Economics for Business of Quality Business Product. Answer: Introduction Product differentiation is a concept used by producers of the market where there are many buyers and sellers and where the producers indulge in producing similar type of product. The producers use different methods to make the goods produced more attractive rather than price. The methods can be in form of advertisement, improving quality, discounts and attractive packaging. It is a method used to distinguish its product to sell the product in the target market. Economic profit can be defined as the profit earned by deducting opportunity cost of the inputs used for production minus the revenue. Product differentiation does not exist in all types of market structure.[1] Firms in perfectly competitive market do not earn economic profit. Hence, an appropriate once off expenditure on product differentiation will not guarantee the firms ability maximize economic profit in any type of market structure. The following part of the assignment discusses how the expenditure on product differentia tion can lead few types of market to maximize the economic profit in long run.[2] Analysis Monopolistic competition is a type of market structure where there are large number of buyers and sellers producing similar type of products. The products acts as substitutes for the consumers where they have large choice for the consumption. It is in the monopolistic type of market structure where the firms make economic profit. The main technique used by monopolistic competitive firms to make economic profit is product differentiation. That is they portray that the product is different from the other producers. The condition is applied in case of imperfect substitutes.[3] Monopolistically competitive firm earns profit in long run along with incurring a deadweight loss. Monopolistically competitive market structure behave like monopolists in short run. This is explained with a help of diagram as shown below. Figure: Monopolistic competition in short run[4] Monopolistic competitive firm faces a downward sloping demand curve as the producers cannot change the price of the product unless there is change in the quantity consumed. Firms face a U shaped average cost curve due to presence of both fixed and average cost. All the firms aims at maximizing profit. The profit maximizing condition for the firm in short run is at a point where marginal revenue is equal to marginal cost. Product differentiation occurs when there is no available substitutes of a product and this occurs in case of monopoly. The above diagram shows that firms in monopolistically competitive market will produce till a point where MR is equal to MC. The price will be determined from the point at the demand curve. The firm earn positive economic profit in short run that is market in green in the above diagram. Along with earning profit the firm also faces loss that is market in blue in the diagram. Deadweight loss is a triangle measured from consumer and producer surplus. The more the product is differentiated in the market the more steeper is the demand curve. [5] The monopolistically competitive firm earns positive economic profit only in short run. In long run seeing the firms earn positive economic profit, new firms enter the market. The competition of the firms increase which makes it difficult for the firms to produce goods that are differentiated in nature. Hence in long run the firms only earn normal profit due to failure of product differentiation.[6] In case of a perfectly competitive market where there are large number of buyers and sellers, the concept of product differentiation is not applicable. This is so because the producers produce same type of products that acts as substitute for the consumers. Hence firms in perfectly competitive market also earn normal profit and the differentiation is done on the basis of price. Lower the price higher is the sale and ultimately profit.[7] Product differentiation enables the firms to earn positive economic profit only in short run. There are various ways through which products can be differentiated. The most common techniques used by firm is that of advertisement. Advertisement adds on to the cost of production. It is useful in conveying important messages and information to consumers. Oligopoly is a market structure with only few firms that sell similar types of products. The sellers have power of price control over their product. Hence the concept of product differentiation is not applicable in case of oligopoly. It is only applicable in case of monopolistic competition. [8] In case of monopolistic competition market the two main characteristics are that the competitors perceive over non price difference products and the firms have no price control over the product. The expenditures on the product differentiation is not great to eliminate the substitutes of the product. If the cross elasticities of demand of goods is high in the market the product differentiation will not allow the prices to rise. This will lead the average total cost to rise as the cost of advertisement expenditures will rise. The average total cost will exceed the price charged by the firm that will lead the firms incur loss in short run. Hence, it can be seen that product differentiation does not lead to positive economic profit in all the situations or the market condition. Profit maximization condition occurs at a biggest gap of total revenue and total cost. [9] Conclusion From the above discussion it is visible that expenditure on product differentiation to earn economic profit does not guarantee positive income in all the market structures and conditions. Product differentiation is a concept that is used only in Monopolistic competition where there are large number of buyers and sellers producing similar type of products. Also if the cross elasticity of demand is strong then the product differentiation will lead the firms incur loss or normal profit. Positive profit is only incurred in short run where the firms are able to differentiate its products. Product differentiation will lead to earning of positive economic profit in monopolistic competition where the firms act as monopolist. Hence, In any market structure, an appropriate once-off expenditure on product differentiation does not guarantee the firms ability to maximize economic profit into the future. Economics has difficulty in explaining why wage rates for individuals vary across occupations and industries and within occupations and industries. 2. Introduction Wage rate is not uniform for all the occupation and industries. It varies on the skills that the employees posses and the budget that firms have for the production of goods and services. Economics can explain the reason for the differences in the wages as it occurs through the differences in the demand and supply of labor and goods in the market. Theories of minimum wage, wage differentials, compensation are used to explain the reason for the differences in wages for occupations and industries. Differences in the demand and supply of labor in the market leads to variations in the wages of employees in same occupation as well. Since no two jobs has same characteristics this is the major reason for the wages to vary. Economics and statistics can be used to show the and discuss the reason for the variation in wages of labor in the market. The differences occur due to differences in education and desirability of the job[10]. Analysis Minimum wage theory is a theory that explains the minimum amount of the pay that the employer must pay the employees. The main purpose of the minimum wage theory is to support the unskilled workers for their living. The minimum wage is set by the government. The theory of minimum wage has both the advantages and disadvantages. Minimum wage theory helps in increasing employment level but it reduces the pay of the employees that are skilled and trained. The critics says that minimum wage does not have any impact of the level of employment.[11] Figure: Minimum wage theory[12] The wage differential theory states five reasons for the differences in wages that are: Occupational differences Inter firm differentials Regional differences Inter industry differences Personal wage differences[13] Wage differentials is also known as inter firm or inter area differentials. Method of percentile wages is used to measure the differences in the wages of employees in industries and occupation. Wage difference is the difference between the wages of high earners and low earners. It is statistics that explains the reasons for the differences in wager by using the technique of percentile wage while economics is used to explain the reason for the differences in the wages of employees.[14] Reasons for the differences in wages of employees are as follows: Credentials- The main reason for the differences in wages of employees is difference in the educational qualification and the training that the employee has undergone. People with higher degree and qualification get higher wages than the ones with lower wages. Experience and skill- higher the experience higher is the productive capacity of an employee. Workers who have in demand skills earns higher money than the ones who don't. Industry or employer- Occupational wages across industry and employer. The wages differ from one to the other due to differences in the working conditions, training requirement, company name and clientele. Job tasks-The individual tasks of all the employees vary. Employees who are indulged in doing complex tasks get higher wages than the ones who do simpler tasks. Geographic location- Wage highly depends on geographic location as well. Some states and areas have higher wages than the other. Wages depends on the cost of living and geographic factors. Occupational Differences Occupational differences of wages encourages people to take more challenging and complex tasks as skilled people get higher wages than the unskilled people. Human capital that is the skills that is required to enter the job market varies in people that causes the differences to arise in wages. [15] Inter firm differentials Wages also depends on the quality of labor employed, imperfections in the labor market and the differences in the efficiency of equipment and supervision. A firm despite of being in same location and area ,may vary in the amount of wage that it pays to its employees. Managerial efficiency and other facilities also adds on to the differences in the wages.[16] Inter Industry differences Inter industry differences of wages exists in case of same occupation and same area. It also exists in same industries as well. The reasons for these variations are the nature of the product market that it functions in, ability to pay, skill requirement and unionization.[17] Compensating wage differentials Higher wages can also be in form of reward for risk taking jobs and also in form of compensation. Reward for human capital In a competitive labor market it is the wages that compensates the opportunity cost that they have to incur that is in form of education or leisure activity. Labor productivity and revenue creation An employee who has highest efficiency and contributes in generating higher revenue for the company is awarded with higher wages. Trade unions and their collective bargaining power Trade unions are the group of employees with equal demand from employees. Bargaining power is the power that they hold to fight with Their employees over the demand. If the unionization is strong in a particular area then the wages of those employees is higher than the others.[18] Conclusion Hence, the above analysis shows that economics can explain the reason for the differences in wages of employees across occupation and industries. Various economic theories such as minimum wage theory and wage differentials is used to explain then reason for the variation in wages of employees. Wages depends on the skills, type of work, occupation, education and market in which they work. Both statistics and economics can be used to explain the differences in the wages of employees. Minimum wage theory is the upper ceiling set by the government to help the poor. References "Top 5 Causes Of Wage Differentials Explained!",YourArticleLibrary.com: The Next Generation Library, 2014 https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/hrm/jobs/top-5-causes-of-wage-differentials-explained/35339/ [accessed 2 September 2016] Banerjee, Dyuti S. and Ishita Chatterjee, "Exploring Stackelberg Profit Ordering Under Asymmetric Product Differentiation",Economic Modelling, 36 (2014), 309-315 https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2013.09.056 Chang, Winston W., "MONOPOLISTIC COMPETITION AND PRODUCT DIVERSITY: REVIEW AND EXTENSION",Journal of Economic Surveys, 26 (2011), 879-910 https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6419.2011.00682.x FINGLETON, BERNARD and MICHELLE CATHERINE BADDELEY, "GLOBALISATION AND WAGE DIFFERENTIALS: A SPATIAL ANALYSIS*",The Manchester School, 79 (2011), 1018-1034 https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9957.2011.02217.x Hajiha, Fatemeh,Employment And Wages By Major Occupational Group And Industry, 1st edn (Fatemeh Hajiha, 2016), pp. 1-4 https://www.bls.gov/oes/major.pdf [accessed 2 September 2016] Harford, Tim,Perfect Competition, Monopoly, And Monopolistic Competition, 1st edn (Tim Harford, 2016), pp. 1-41 https://www.econ.jku.at/members/WinterEbmer/files/Teaching/managerial/lecture4.pdf [accessed 2 September 2016] Kishtainy, Niall,The Economics Book(New York: DK Pub., 2012) Krugman, Paul R and Robin Wells,MICROECONOMICS Monopolistic Competition And Product Differentiation, 1st edn, 2016 https://ebooks.narotama.ac.id/files/Exploring%20Economics%20(5th%20Edition)/Chapter%2014%20Monopolistic%20Competition%20and%20Product%20Differentiation.pdf [accessed 2 September 2016] Neumuller, Seth, "Inter-Industry Wage Differentials Revisited: Premiums For Low Wage Volatility?",SSRN Electronic Journalhttps://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2143814 Olsson, Ola,Essentials Of Advanced Macroeconomic Theory(London: Routledge, 2012) PRICING UNDER DIFFERENT MARKET STRUCTURES, 1st edn, 2016 https://www.nust.na/sites/default/files/documents/MEN311S-2016-Unit%206%20(Monopolistic%20Competition).pdf [accessed 2 September 2016] Saito, Keiji, "A Fallacy Of Wage Differentials: Wage Ratio In Distribution",SSRN Electronic Journalhttps://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.782685 Sunday, Krista and Jordan Pfuntner,Wage Dispersion, 1st edn (Krista Sunday and Jordan Pfuntner, 2016), pp. 1-34 https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2008/02/art2full.pdf [accessed 2 September 2016] Tonin, Mirco, "Minimum Wage And Tax Evasion: Theory And Evidence",SSRN Electronic Journalhttps://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.988188 Torpey, Elka, "Same Occupation, Different Pay: How Wages Vary : Career Outlook: U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics",Bls.gov, 2016 https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm [accessed 2 September 2016]

Project Cost Management Techniques Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Project Cost Management Techniques. Answer: Introduction The report relates us to the topic of cost management involved in managing the cost required for the setup of a new call center. It helps the various business in predicting various expenses in an organization which will ultimate reduce their risk of going over the budget. Reducing the cost involved in a project can be achieved by increasing hiring, coaching and lastly better training of staff members, keeping an eye on the action or activities of various agents, improving the resolution of first call, Improving the schedule of cost and reducing or minimizing the cost of attrition. Various responsibilities which are involved for applying proper techniques for the development of new call center for large organization. Various factors like budget, monitoring expenditure, finalizing of cost, improvements which are involved in this project cost management has been discussed in details. Budget of a project mainly depends on following parameters like labor, materials, equipment, services and facilities. Cost control of project mainly comprises of following things like meeting of targets, progression as planned, cost as planned. Budgeting of project mainly comprises of following parameters like baseline of the cost involved in project. Project cost management consist of various process which mainly checks that the given project is completed in given time. It mainly helps in ensuring that the given project is completed within project. Budget Budget mainly involves development of an approximation or estimation of cost of resources which are needed for completion of various project activities. Cost Budgeting generally comprises of overall estimation of cost involved in project which will help in establishing a baseline for measuring the performance of various project. Inputs required for cost Budgeting: There are certain tools involved in cost budgeting that are estimation of cost, Work breakdown structure, schedule of project. It helps in estimation of cost of various resources like hardware, software, development of team salaries, training, operation labor which are involved in a project has been discussed in details. It can be present in summary or in details (McNeil, Frey and Embrechts., 2015). Scheduling of project is inclusive of planned start and proper finished dates for a project. Tools for cost Budgeting: Tools and techniques are considered to be mandatory for project development and estimation of cost and development of budget of various work items involved in a project (Meng., 2012). There are certain tools like Analog estimation, parametric modelling, Bottom-up estimation, tools for computerized, bottom up estimation, computerized tools. Analog estimation: Analog estimation is also known as top down estimation which means the cost of a previous project is compared with the present cost of project that is the implementation of new call center in a large firm. This method is generally less expensive than other method or techniques. Parametric Modelling: Parametric modelling consist of various parameters of project in a mathematical model which helps in analyzing the involved cost of this project that is the implementation of new call center. Models can be simple or complex as per the needs it is used accordingly. This model depends on various parameters like accurate information, various parameters used are quantifiable and lastly it should be flexible that is it can work for large project as well as for small project. Bottom- up estimation: Techniques which are involved in estimation of specific and individual work items and then adding the individual items for the various cost involved in a project. Computerized Tools: Various software tools likeproject management software and spreadsheets are widely used for analyzing and estimation of cost (Schwalbe, 2015). Theses software products can help in simplifying the use of tools involved in the project. Outputs of cost Budgeting: Cost budgeting helps in analyzing the cost baseline of a project. In this project that is the implementation of a new call center in an organization cost baseline is a time phased budget which will help in measuring and controlling the performance of cost involved in a project (Mir and Pinnington., 2014). It is developed by the help of estimation of cost and displaying it in the form of S curve. Monitoring Cost management Cost management generally comprises of following factors like changes in the cost of baseline to check for changes which can be beneficial for a firm and it also helps in analyzing the bassline of cost involved in a project and also managing the changes which can occur in a project like implementation of new call center in an organization. It generally comprises of four factors that are: Analyzation of performance of cost to checking the plan. Checking the various changes as recorded in the baseline of the cost involved. It prevents incorrect and unauthorized changes being implanted in the cost baseline. Altering the various involved stakeholders about the authorized changes. Inputs to cost controlling There are generally four parameters involved in it and this are cost baseline, performance report, change request and lastly cost management plan. Report of performance: It helps in analyzing information on performance of cost like the budget which has successfully completed and which has not been successfully completed (Reiss., 2013). This report can beneficial to project team to tackle problem which can arise in future. Change in request: Change in request may in many forms which can be oral or written, direct or indirect, external or internal which can be legally mandated or optional. Changes may be considered to be important for increasing the budget or decreasing it. Cost management plan: This plan describes how the variances in cost can be managed. A cost management can be formal or informal which can have details on the various requirements of the project. Tools and methods for cost controlling Change in cost control system: This system generally defines the various methods by which the cost baseline can be easily changed. It is inclusive of paperwork, tracking systems and approval levels. Cost change control system should be added with the overall change control system. Measurement of performance: This technique is very useful in controlling the cost involved in a project. Additional Planning: Generally, few project run according to the plan and changes may be required. Changes may be need new or update value of estimation of cost involved in a project. Computerized Tool: Various software equipments likeproject management software or spreadsheet can be considered to be beneficial for keeping a track of expected cost vs real cost and keeping a track of various effects of changes involved in it. Benefits of Cost control Helps in Revised estimation of cost: It is used for making changes in the cost information which is helpful in managing the project. Right stakeholder must be informed as pefr the need. Budget Updates: Budget updates are nothing but updated form of cost estimation. In other words, they can be stated as various changes which are involved in approval of cost baseline. Estimation at Completion: Estimation at cost or EAC is a forecast of total cost involved in a project. Some of the techniques involved in a project are tracking of remaining portion of a project, estimated of budget of the remaining work. Finalization of Cost Budget plan - INPUT VALUES Hardware $ 20,000.00 Software $ 900.00 Development team salaries $ 8,000.00 Training $ 1,000.00 Total Development Cost $ 29,900.00 Hardware $ 12,000.00 Software $ 210.00 Operational Labor $ 16,000.00 Total Operational Cost $ 28,210.00 Approximate salary savings $ 110,000.00 Reduced operating cost $ 45,000.00 Total Benefit $ 155,000.00 Improvements For the improvements of cost management technique in the new call center set up following twelve techniques must be applied (Phillips, 2013). These are activity based costing, target costing, total quality management, Benchmarking, Reengineering of various business process, JIT inventory control system, maintaining a balance score card, six sigmas, life cycle costing, Kaizan costing, Theory of constraints and lastly activity based management. Kaizan Costing: It refers to the continuous and gradual upgradation through small activities instead of large or radical movement which can be achieved through innovation or innovation in technology (Potts and Ankrah, 2014). In other words, it can be stated as the method of cost reduction which takes place during the manufacturing phase of the product. This method can be used in the implementation of new call center as it can benefit it through a number of ways. Six Sigma: This method or technique was first implement in Motorola which is a well-known organization. This method mainly focuses in reducing the cost, improvisation of process and increase in profits (Potts and Ankrah., 2014). This method consists of six steps like identification of process, defining of it, taking proper measure, analysis of it, improvisation and lastly control. Above mentioned steps can be proved to be beneficial for this organization that is call center. If this methodology is applied in this call center setup it can help in reducing different cost involved in it. This will ultimately help in reducing various cost which are involved in the set of this project. References DRURY, C.M., 2013.Management and cost accounting. Springer. Flyvbjerg, B., 2013. From Nobel prize to project management: getting risks right.arXiv preprint arXiv:1302.3642. Kerzner, H., 2013. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons.prize to project management: getting risks right.arXiv preprint arXiv:1302.3642. Larson, E.W. and Gray, C., 2013.Project Management: The Managerial Process with MS Project. McGraw-Hill. Martinelli, R.J. and Milosevic, D.Z., 2016.Project management toolbox: tools and techniques for the practicing project manager. John Wiley Sons. McNeil, A.J., Frey, R. and Embrechts, P., 2015.Quantitative risk management: Concepts, techniques and tools. Princeton university press. Meng, X., 2012. The effect of relationship management on project performance in construction.International journal of project management,30(2), pp.188-198. Mir, F.A. and Pinnington, A.H., 2014. Exploring the value of project management: linking project management performance and project success.International journal of project management,32(2), pp.202-217. Phillips, J., 2013.PMP, Project Management Professional (Certification Study Guides). McGraw-Hill Osborne Media. Potts, K. and Ankrah, N., 2014.Construction cost management: learning from case studies. Routledge. Reiss, G., 2013.Project management demystified: Today's tools and techniques. Routledge. Schwalbe, K., 2015.Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.

Stalin Rise to Power free essay sample

To what extent did Stalin rise to power because of his cunning personality? Explain your answer. [12m] Stalin rose in power because of his cunning and manipulative personality. He used propaganda to manipulate the images he created for himself and Trotsky as he wanted to get more popularity and support from the people because he wanted to portray himself as the legitimate successor and destroy Trotsky’s positive image as Lenin’s chosen successor. Stalin was cunning enough to prevent Trotsky from going to Lenin’s funeral by tricking him to create a negative image as he wanted to destroy Trotsky’s positive image. When Trotsky did not attend the funeral, it reflected very badly on him. Stalin also gave people the impression that he was close to Lenin by appointing himself as the chief mourner at the funeral. This allowed him to rise in power as people had the impression that he was designated to become Lenin’s successor. We will write a custom essay sample on Stalin Rise to Power or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Stalin also made alliances with the other contenders, Kamenev and Zinoviev, to get rid of Trotsky. As Kamenev and Zinoviev did not see Stalin as a threat, they co-operated with him. After he had dealt with Trotsky, Stalin turned on the other two and removed them from their power. By using his rivals against each other, Stalin was able to rise to power without worrying about threats to his rule. At the same time, Stalin used his position as General Secretary of the Communist Party to appoint people who were close or loyal to him. This enabled him to create a strong support base of supporters who would agree with him or vote according to his wishes. This was particularly useful when Stalin had Trotsky voted out of his positions and exiled from Russia. However, Stalin was also able to rise because of Trotsky’s weaknesses. Unlike Stalin’s strong party support base, Trotsky only had the support of the Red Army. Trotsky was also confident that he was chosen to replace Lenin and did not bother to build up a stronger support base like Stalin. At the same time, Trotsky believed that the USSR should embark on a world revolution. These views were not popular as the Russian people and the Communist Party believed that domestic problems should be addressed first. They preferred Stalin’s views as Stalin also favoured solving the USSR’s domestic problems first and working on Socialism within the country. Due to his complacency, Trotsky’s weaknesses were exploited by Stalin and used to give Stalin better credibility as a leader. In conclusion, Stalin’s cunning personality was more important in helping him rise because Trotsky’s weaknesses were only limited to his complacency and party views. If Stalin had not used his cunning personality to manipulate his rivals and remove them as threats or build up a stronger support base, it would have been just as difficult for him to rise to power. Furthermore, Trotsky’s weaknesses were circumstances that existed as a benefit to Stalin but it was ultimately his cunning personality that allowed him to take full advantage of them.