Monday, November 18, 2019

Organizational Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Organizational Change - Essay Example This essay discusses the issue of needed organizational change in business field. The researcher states that the often heard clarion call in every organization today is â€Å"Change or change will change you.† It is apparent therefore that an organization that does not heed this call and sticks its head in the sand like the ostrich is bound to die eventually. The researcher thinks that surviving in the present day global economy needs an organization to be flexible in addition to adapting readily to the constantly-changing global marketplace. In addition, the researcher states that there are numerous issues these days that are involved as far as change implementation is concerned. The time span for instance, that is needed in implementing the change is important. Frequently, the project team tasked with the change implementation is not given off their normal duties to execute the change program. Another big factor explained in this essay is cost, with the cost estimates consta ntly changing during the stages of implementation. Change expenditures must be estimated carefully for the change to be approved by the top management as well as tracked throughout the entire change period. It should be noted that the cost of the change must not exceed its advantages. In conclusion, the researcher sums up that a diversified functional team for change implementation brings about a common sense of responsibility cutting across every level of the organization, resulting to effective implementation.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Comparison Between Lan And Wan Architecture Computer Science Essay

Comparison Between Lan And Wan Architecture Computer Science Essay We have been given this assignment to discuss about the awareness of technologies that are related to the internet and the topic Internet application which we have decided that my topic will be Comparison between LAN and WAN architecture. Using this topic we would have to discuss the current and latest issues that are related to the topic and subject, furthermore discuss the uses of technology and internet applications used in the topic. This topic is about the networks that are used by users across the globe they use these wondrous networks to work, communicate, do business, find information and even play games. Ever since these networks are made people are able to purchase an item or send a massage all by the push of a button. WAN is a network that is more wide in range while LAN is a network that is more limited or has a localized range, both of these networks have their perks and drawbacks and this report is about to discuss all about them including the technologies involved. Objectives Introduce the latest issues of the topic Discuss about the topics advantages and disadvantages Discuss critical comments and analysis What is LAN and WAN Network Architectures WAN A network is a connection between two or more computers that share information, hardware and software with each other this connection can be established via wireless or non-wireless media. LAN and WAN are two different networks that are used by users all around the world. The internet is an example of a WAN network, WAN was first created in 1969 it was first a networking project by ARPANET Pentagons Advance Research Projects Agency the main goal of the project was to allow scientists all around the globe, at different locations to share their information. Only four host nodes at the time and grew to 1000 host nodes in 1984, today there are over 350 million host nodes worldwide using the internet. The internet uses Domain name and IP address to differentiate or identify the computers connected to the internet. WAN is a network that spans over large geographical areas and is consisting of smaller networks called LAN or MAN. WAN is mostly used for business, collecting information, commu nication and other daily uses regardless of the users location. There are many ways to access the internet for example trough Wireless Internet Service Provider, Access provider where some business that provides individuals and other companies and their employees access to the internet with payment or for free. LAN Local area network better known as LAN is a network that has a limited area such as a house, school, computer laboratory, workshop or a small office building. LAN is normally connected through a twisted pair cable, hub or Wi-Fi, LAN is also faster than WAN because of the small area of the network and that the network lack of the need for a leased telecommunication line, in order to share data, printers or a LAN party which means a gathering of users, computers and game consoles for a multiplayer game. In a LAN network there is the main computer called a server and remote computers called clients, a LAN connection can be wireless or wired. Wired LAN network uses cable to connect to all the computers which would like to join the network and the main device called a switch. The wireless however uses radio waves to connect with other clients. Comparison between LAN and WAN Network Architectures There are many differences between LAN and WAN networks, the table displayed below compares the many differences between these two everyday networks. Differences LAN WAN Speed Higher(1000mbps) Lower(150mbps) Owners Owned and controlled by only one user, organization or server Not owned by anyone or any organization Set up costs Set-up costs are low as the devices are low-cost Set-up cost is higher then LAN as the there will be a monthly payment for connection, some connections are free as they are provided by companies Data transfer rate Higher then WAN Lower then LAN Components Use hubs, repeaters, bridges and switches Use router, frame relay switches and multilayer switches Connection Telephone lines and radio waves Often connect trough public networks example telephone lines, leased lines, satellite Maintenance LAN network encounters fewer problems as there are few systems to deal with. Maintenance is easy, faster and cheaper than WAN More errors are encountered in WAN as there are many systems that are at work. Maintenance is harder, slower and tends to be more expensive then LAN Geographical Area LAN covers an area which is within 100meters in length WAN covers a geographical area which is more than 100meters in length Bandwidth High bandwidth then WAN is accessible Low bandwidth is accessible Technical Area of LAN and WAN Network Architectures LAN: How LAN connects LAN has both wired and wireless methods to connect to each other, most LAN networks have a cable running from every computer to a wall jack. The wall jack is connected to a very similar type of cable that runs to a patch panel in a wiring closet. A patch panel is simply cable ports that allow all of the cables coming out of each wall jack to be connected to the LAN freely. Any active wall jack must have the matching port in the patch panel connected to a switch in the wiring closet. A wiring closet is small room or area where all of the wires connect and a building that uses computer networking will have more than one of these wiring closets placed in them, these wiring closets are mainly used for LAN networking. If there are many switches in a wiring closet, they are connected to one or two switches within in the same closet. These serve to connect all of the switches there as well as some of the cable runs entering the room. The switches in a wiring closet are connected to a switch pair in a main wiring closet. The switch pair helps to connect the entire LAN together. These distribution switches connect to the routers that helps the network travel further, connect the switches to the internet or the WAN thus extending the LAN.C:UsersuserDownloadsLANArchitectureDiag1.jpeg LAN Network: Cabling or Wired network Coaxial cable Cable is a medium in where information flows freely from one network device to next and then the next. In a LAN network there are many different types of cables used to connect the devices and computers in it, in the early LAN cabling system LAN used various versions of the coaxial cable. These cables are hard to install and are highly resistant to signal interference. They have a single central solid wire that symmetrically surrounded by a braided or foil conductor. Between the center wire and foil there is the insulation wire and then comes the copper mesh and the outer insulator.C:UsersuserDownloadscoaxla.gif Twisted-pair cable A twisted-pair cable is a cable that is made with an interesting technique, by intertwining the two separate insulated cables together with a certain color code, by doing this process it helps blocking out the electromagnetic interference EMI that could cause problems in the information sent through it. This cable is also the most widely used cable or the most suitable one for LAN networks. There are two different types of twisted pair cable unshielded twisted-pair UTP and shielded twisted-pair STP, the difference is that the STP has a fine wire mesh that surrounds the wire to protect transmissions while the UTP does not, and this is why the UTP is more sensitive than the STP. The STP can also extend to maximum distances and can withstand most environments. This cable was used in IBMs Token Ring in LAN implementation. C:UsersuserDownloadsutp and stp.jpg Fiber Optic cable Fiber optic cable is a the latest version of a LAN cable since the twisted-pair cable, this cable consists of tiny hair like fiber optic glass tubes that transmit the data which is protected by several layers of protective material called Kevlar. These hair like glass tubes transmit information or data with light signals rather than electronic signals, with this design and technology he fiber optic cable eliminates electrical interference, the cable is also known for its immunity to the effects of moisture and lightning which makes it ideal for network connections between buildings. This cable has the ability to transmit signals faster and further then both the coaxial and twisted-pair cable. However there are several disadvantages of the cable, which are the cable is more difficult to install and more costly than both the twisted-pair cable and the coaxial cable.C:UsersuserDownloadsFiber-Cable.jpg LAN Network Topology Network topology is the way they are assembled in which the network of computers and devices connect, each of this topology are used for a specific task and have their own advantages and disadvantages. The computers or users in a network topology are called nodes. Most network topology use a cable as a medium. Bus Topology The bus network topology is the simplest way to connect with multiple nodes, the bus has a single main cable that connects to other nodes, this main cable is also known as the backbone. Each node is connected one right after the other along the backbone, data or information that is sent from a node goes through the backbone until it reaches its receiving node, if an information or data sent such as an email does not reaches the receiving node it will be sent to the terminator which deletes the email completely. The bus is commonly used for implementing Ethernet at 10mbps.C:UsersuserDownloadsbus_topology.gif Advantages Disadvantages Easy to connect to computer or peripheral Backbone breaks entire system shutdown Requires less cable length then star topology Troubleshooting is difficult Ring Topology The ring network is a network topology where each node connects to two other nodes beside it forming a circle or ring and a single continuous link, the nodes are then connected to a main node or the first node. In the network information is passed from one node to the other, which means that a node acts as both the receiver and sender.C:UsersuserDownloadsRING_Topology.png Advantages Disadvantages Easy to wire and install If one node fails entire system fails Troubleshooting is difficult when the entire network fails. Star Topology Star topology is the most common network topology used, unlike the previous topology network the star has a hub or switch in its center, which acts as a conduit that transmits information through the network. Every device in the network is connected to the hub. The hub does not preform filtering or routing type tasks.C:UsersuserDownloadsfigure2.jpg Advantages Disadvantages Easy to modify and add new computers to network without shutting down network Requires more cable then bus and ring topology If one node fails the rest of the network will still function If the hub or switch goes fails the entire network fails Troubleshooting is easy More expensive WAN: NSP NSP also known as network service provider is an organization that does business by selling bandwidth or access to networks such as the internet by providing the backbone access to the internet itself as such the NSP is sometimes referred to or also known as backbone providers or internet providers. WAN network uses NSP to connect to other networks around the world and this is how, by connecting the NSP of other WANs together using links at Internet Packet Interchanges a global communication infrastructure is formed, these interchanges are also called peering points. The NSPs do not generally handle individual customer accounts except for the major corporate customers, but instead deal with intermediate organizations that they can charge for high capacity communications. They generally have an agreement to exchange certain volumes of data at a certain quality of service with other NSPs. So practically any NSP can reach any other NSP, but may require the use of one or more other NSP n etworks to reach the required destination. NSPs vary in terms of the transit delay, transmission rate, and connectivity offered.C:UsersuserDownloadswan.gif WAN: Dial-up access Dial-up internet is a connection which is made by the modem that is built in your computer and through a standard telephones line, by running by running the telephone line to the modem the computer can connect to the internet. This dialing must be done with a specific phone number. The dial-up system is a method that has been the thing of the past as it tends to take a long time to establish a connection with the internet, when it does the internet speed will be very slow. DSL DSL or dial subscribe line is a family of technologies that provide internet access by transmitting data by using the local telephone lines. POTS or better known as Plain Old Telephone Service One, POTS makes the most of the telephone companys wires and equipment is by limiting the frequencies that the switches, telephones and other equipment will carry. Human voices, speaking in normal conversational tones, can be carried in a frequency range of 0 to 3,400 Hertz cycles per second  for a great demonstration of this. This range of frequencies is tiny. These telephone lines are connected by copper wires to each home. Wi-Fi Wi-Fi is a wireless modem that allows a computer to connect to the internet. Wi-Fi can be less secure then the cable connections as bad weather or any other electrical interferences could damage the connection. Wi-Fi has adopted various encryption technologies. The early encryption  WEP, proved easy to break. Higher quality protocols WPA, WPA2 were added later. An optional feature added in 2007, called  Wi-Fi Protected Setup or  WPS, had a serious flaw that allowed an attacker to recover the routers password. Slow speed technology High speed technology Dial-up access uses a modem built in the computer that connects to the telephone line in the house to connect to the internet Cable modem, DSL, WI-FI and satellite modems Connection must be switched on when computer is turned on Connection is always on, when computer is running C:UsersuserDownloadsWAN-network.gif Critical Comments and Analysis This assignment has been a very interesting experience, not only have I learned a lot more regarding aspects of the Internet Applications module but it has also improved my understanding regarding various issues related to Wan and Lan network architectures. Ive come to understand that fundamental difference between them especially in the ways they function, and also in the way to set them up. Lan and Wan are two different networks architectures that are built to serve various users types and will come to play a very fundamental role as the world of information technology develops further. Conclusions The conclusion is, that LAN and WAN is two different networks yet both are just as important, these networks are used every day by everyday people like us. We use them to gather information and communicate with each other. This technology has helped develop our community and will continue developing it.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Descriptive Essay - Fifth Avenue -- Descriptive Essay, Descriptive Writ

Naples is a very unique city that attracts people from all over the world to its beautiful surroundings. Amongst the pristine beaches and championship golf courses, a teenager can find many entertaining locations. One such area can be found in downtown Naples on Fifth Avenue. Along this stretch of road near the beach lies a vast array of shops, cafes, restaurants, and other establishments. I often find myself spending many nights on Fifth Avenue, walking along the tree-lined streets or sitting in one of the numerous cafà ©s or restaurants. One of my favorite places located along Fifth Avenue is Starbucks, a coffee shop offering many different types of coffees, teas, and snacks. I frequently find my way down to this coffee shop after school meetings, on weekends, or on days when I just ne... Descriptive Essay - Fifth Avenue -- Descriptive Essay, Descriptive Writ Naples is a very unique city that attracts people from all over the world to its beautiful surroundings. Amongst the pristine beaches and championship golf courses, a teenager can find many entertaining locations. One such area can be found in downtown Naples on Fifth Avenue. Along this stretch of road near the beach lies a vast array of shops, cafes, restaurants, and other establishments. I often find myself spending many nights on Fifth Avenue, walking along the tree-lined streets or sitting in one of the numerous cafà ©s or restaurants. One of my favorite places located along Fifth Avenue is Starbucks, a coffee shop offering many different types of coffees, teas, and snacks. I frequently find my way down to this coffee shop after school meetings, on weekends, or on days when I just ne...

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Cognitive component Essay

The cognitive component of SWB involves making judgments of one’s life: either satisfaction with life as a whole, or satisfaction with life domains such as work, family, leisure, health, and finances (Prince, & Prince 2001; Diener et al. , 1999). It can be viewed as how you think about your life (in contrast to the affective component: how you feel about your life). In this study, the cognitive component means the way the elderly perceive, think and assess their life and their beliefs and attitude toward life, world and God. Campbell (1976) suggested that individuals judge their objective situation in each of various life domains according to standards of comparison based on aspiration, expectations, feelings of what would be just, reference group comparisons, personal needs, and personal values. Domain-satisfaction provides useful information about with which aspects of life an individual may be happy or unhappy, but cannot be summed to give an overall impression of life satisfaction. This would mean that it is necessary to assess overall satisfaction with life, as well as life domains (Susan Hird, 2003). An idea that has long captivated writers is that how we perceive and think about the world determines our SWB. In the area of SWB, researchers find that one can dampen or amplify one’s emotions by what one thinks, and thereby experience more or less intense emotions (Larsen, Diener, & Croponzano, 1987). This approach relies on the standards of the individual to determine what is the good life and the personal choices the person make at the moment (Diener, 1984). People might increase their SWB by control of their thoughts. For example, perhaps SWB can be increased by believing in a larger meaning or force in the universe. Support for this proposition comes from findings showing that on average religious people are happier than nonreligious people (e. g. , Ellison, 1983; Myers, 1992, cited in Diener et al. , 1997). The study explored how the elderly think about their life or what thought processes, beliefs and attitudes predominantly helped the elderly to experience a sense of well-being at this point of their lives. Affective Components (Affect Balance) It is the second component or construct of SWB, which corresponds to what we generally understand as happiness. According to (Prince, & Prince 2001) affect is thought of as how happy or unhappy you are. It results from a balance between positive affect and negative affect (Christopher, 1999). As it has been already indicated, when we appraise how much we appreciate the life we live, we estimate our typical affective experience to assess how well we feel generally, which is referred to here in the study as affective component. In summary, the affective component can be thought of as how you feel about your life (Susan Hird, 2003). Suh & Diener (1997) observed that feeling pleasant emotions most of the time and infrequently experiencing unpleasant emotions, even if the pleasant emotions are only mild, is sufficient for high reports of happiness. Although people report being above neutral in mood the majority of the time (Diener & Diener, 1995), intense positive moments are rare even among the happiest individuals. Instead happy people report mild-to-moderate pleasant emotions most of the time when alone or with others and when working or at leisure. One thing is clear, that people need to understand that intense experiences are not the corer stone of a happy life (Diener, 2000). Mood and emotions are called ‘affect’, and there is contradictory evidence as to whether ‘pleasant affect’ and ‘unpleasant affect’ form two independent factors and should be measured separately, or whether they are interdependent (Diener et al. , 1999). The amount of difference between momentary pleasant and unpleasant affect is still debated, but the separability of long-term affective dimensions is less controversial. Diener and Emmons (1984) found that unpleasant and pleasant affect become increasingly separate as the time frame is increased (Diener et al. , 1999). In the case of the institutionalized elderly, the study examined the affective component in general, mainly how they felt generally about their lives that helped them experiencing a sense of well-being in their lives. As indicated by Christopher (1999), it is this second aspect of SWB that corresponds to what we generally understand as happiness and it results from a balance between positive affect and negative affect.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Financial Ratios and Monsanto 4.to Rationalize Essay Example

Financial Ratios and Monsanto 4.to Rationalize Essay Example Financial Ratios and Monsanto 4.to Rationalize Essay Financial Ratios and Monsanto 4.to Rationalize Essay EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Purpose statements: 1. To assess the strengths and weaknesses of Monsanto 2. To determine the courses of action to be taken 3. To find out the competitive advantage of Monsanto 4. To rationalize and analyze case of an existing company Objective of the case/ problem: To transform the company into a life sciences behemoth. Alternative courses of action: 1. To merge with companies having strong financial resources 2. To have interrelationships 3. Acquisitions Analytical tools employed: 1. SWOT (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Analysis 2. Porters Five Force Analysis Recommendation: Monsantos swelling new product pipelines is an expensive endeavor and so it has to merge with companies that can provide them the resources and at the same time maximize its potential pharmaceutical and agricultural biotechnology pipelines. Implementation: Implementing the said alternative courses of action needs careful analysis as this involves large amount of money. Monsanto must create linkage to companies that would complement its strengths and overcome its weaknesses. In acquiring, the company must make sure that it would add to the value of the organization. Conclusion: Monsanto has lots of potentials. Tying up with firms can push them more beyond their limits and eliminate unnecessary duplications and high activity costs. Establishing interrelationships is a capability driver and if it would be matched with opportunities, it would eventually lead to the achievement of their goal- worlds leading life sciences company. METHODS OF ANALYSIS 1. SWOT Analysis Strength The strength of Monsanto is its pharmaceutical and agricultural biotechnology pipelines Weaknesses Lack of financial resources, sales and marketing muscles and distribution network Opportunities : Interrelationships and acquisitions of companies will be the vehicles by which they can go forward and commercialize new product worldwide. Threats Expiration of the patents, growing oppositions to genetically engineered foodstuffs, failed merging with the American Home Products (AHP) 2. Porters Five Force Analysis New entrants Monsanto is new to pharmaceutical industry. Mercks competing COX-2 inhibitor is said to join the market. Zenecas new own brand of glyphosate-based herbicide, Touchdown is ready to penetrate the United States. Bargaining power of customers They charged their genetically- altered seed at market rate plus a technology fee but they dont control the retail price. On their pharmaceutical products, they tested 700 different pricing models before settling on a cost to customers which is significantly more than the generic drugs but less than most analysts had initially expected. Bargaining power of suppliers The Washington University in which Monsanto is affiliated to arranged terms and agreements apart from the payment tendered. With the use of technology o mass-produce animal growth hormones, Monsanto paid thousands of dollars and agreed to make several subsequent milestone payments and promised royalties on future sales. Nature of rivalry in the market When Monsanto started to search for COX-2 inhibitor,Merck was also racing to develop the same. There were several smaller agricultural biotechnology companies had also been developing genetically altered crops. Zeneca tests its own brand, Touchd own to match with Monsantos Roundup. Threat of substitutions Zeneca already sold Touchdown outside the United States and was preparing to market also in the said country. APPENDICES: Financial Ratios: (dollars in millions) Liquidity Ratios 1998 1997 Current Ratio 1. 53 1. 21 Quick Ratio 1. 40 1. 60 Working Capital Ratio 2. 07 2. 35 Leverage Ratios 1998 1997 Total Debt to Equity Ratio 1. 53 0. 7629 Long-Term Debt to Equity Ratio 1. 25 0. 4822 Total Debt to Asset Ratio 0. 701 0. 619 Activity Ratios 1998 1997 Inventory Turnover 4. 315 5. 469 Fixed Assets Turnover 2. 658 3. 130 Total Assets Turnover 0. 517 0. 697 Profitability Ratios 1998 1997 Gross Profit Margin 0. 585 0. 589 Operating Profit Margin 0. 013 0. 066 Net Profit Margin -0. 029 0. 062 Return on Assets (ROA) 0. 007 0. 062 Return on Equity (ROE) -0. 050 0. 044

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Free Essays on The Souls Of Black Folk

Booker T. Washington was the first African American whose likeness appeared on a United States postage stamp. Washington also was thus honored a quarter century after his death. In 1946 he also became the first black with his image on a coin, a 50-cent piece. The Tuskegee Institute, which Washington started at the age of 25, was the where the 10-cent stamps first were available. The educator's monument on its campus shows him lifting a symbolic veil from the head of a freed slave. Booker Taliaferro Washington was born a slave on April 5, 1856, in Franklin County, Va. His mother, Jane Burroughs, was a plantation cook. His father was an unknown white man. As a child, Booker swept yards and brought water to slaves working in the fields. Freed after the American Civil War, he went with his mother to Malden, W. Va., to join Washington Ferguson, whom she had married during the war. At about age 16 Booker set out for Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, which had been established by the chief of the Freedmen's Bureau to educate former slaves. He walked much of the way, working to earn the fare to complete the long, dusty journey to Virginia. For his admission test he repeatedly swept and dusted a classroom, and he was able to earn his board by working as a janitor. After graduation three years later he taught in Malden and at Hampton. A former slave who had become a successful farmer, and a white politician in search of the Negro vote in Macon County obtained financial support for a training school for blacks in Tuskegee, Ala. When the board of commissioners asked the head of Hampton to send a principal for their new school, they had expected the principal to be white. Instead Washington arrived in June 1881. He began classes in July with 30 students in a shanty donated by a black church. Later he borrowed money to buy an abandoned plantation nearby and moved the school there. By the time of his death in Tuskegee in 1915 the instit... Free Essays on The Souls Of Black Folk Free Essays on The Souls Of Black Folk Booker T. Washington was the first African American whose likeness appeared on a United States postage stamp. Washington also was thus honored a quarter century after his death. In 1946 he also became the first black with his image on a coin, a 50-cent piece. The Tuskegee Institute, which Washington started at the age of 25, was the where the 10-cent stamps first were available. The educator's monument on its campus shows him lifting a symbolic veil from the head of a freed slave. Booker Taliaferro Washington was born a slave on April 5, 1856, in Franklin County, Va. His mother, Jane Burroughs, was a plantation cook. His father was an unknown white man. As a child, Booker swept yards and brought water to slaves working in the fields. Freed after the American Civil War, he went with his mother to Malden, W. Va., to join Washington Ferguson, whom she had married during the war. At about age 16 Booker set out for Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, which had been established by the chief of the Freedmen's Bureau to educate former slaves. He walked much of the way, working to earn the fare to complete the long, dusty journey to Virginia. For his admission test he repeatedly swept and dusted a classroom, and he was able to earn his board by working as a janitor. After graduation three years later he taught in Malden and at Hampton. A former slave who had become a successful farmer, and a white politician in search of the Negro vote in Macon County obtained financial support for a training school for blacks in Tuskegee, Ala. When the board of commissioners asked the head of Hampton to send a principal for their new school, they had expected the principal to be white. Instead Washington arrived in June 1881. He began classes in July with 30 students in a shanty donated by a black church. Later he borrowed money to buy an abandoned plantation nearby and moved the school there. By the time of his death in Tuskegee in 1915 the instit...

Monday, November 4, 2019

GGP of Russia for the past year Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

GGP of Russia for the past year - Essay Example This is especially the case in Russia. When GDP shrinks, that means a country’s economy is in serious trouble and a recession is looming. As the world continues to freefall in the current economic crisis, many country’s GDPs are shrinking. Russia, which for many years had been riding the recent increase in energy prices, has an economy and GDP which have been growing substantially over the last few years; however, this may not continue because of the way energy prices have seriously tumbled. The Gross Domestic Product of Russia is $1.29 trillion. This is one of the largest GDPs in the world, definitely in the top fifteen of all countries. It grew 5.8 per cent in 2008 which was one of the lowest rates of growth in several years and was largely due to the decrease in the price of oil and other resource of which Russia has a lot. Now the IMF has been predicting that the Russian economy will contract 0.7% in 2009 which is very bad for Russians who are hoping to see their country continue to grow and become more powerful.1 Part of the problem is that the Russian economy is not very diversified. Unlike more developed economies that have a good mix between resources, manufacturing, and services—Russia mostly exports gas and minerals and not much else. That means the economy is very dependent on international prices which it has little control over. A Russia continues to develop hopefully its economy will become more