Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems

Key Concepts in Business and Information Systems

Processing

Converts raw input into a meaningful form.

Digital Firm

An organization where nearly all significant business relationships with customers, suppliers, and employees are digitally enabled and mediated.

Major Business Functions

These include core areas such as production, finance and accounting, and human resources, essential for an organization's operation.

Complementary Assets

Assets required to derive value from a primary investment, such as technology or infrastructure.

World Wide Web

A service provided by the internet that uses universally accepted standards for storing, retrieving, formatting, and displaying information in a page format.

Networking and Telecommunications Technology

Technology... Continue reading "Essential Business & Information Systems Concepts Defined" »

The Opioid Crisis: A Case Study in Ethical Failure

An ethical dilemma arises when an individual or organization faces two conflicting moral principles, where neither option leads to a completely ethical outcome. In the context of the opioid crisis, pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies faced a critical choice:

• Maximizing Profits: Aggressively marketing and distributing opioids, despite knowing the devastating effects such as addiction, death, and a widespread social crisis.
• Acting Ethically: Prioritizing public health, transparency, and responsible marketing, even if it meant sacrificing potential revenue and market share.

This dilemma starkly highlights the conflict between economic self-interest and moral responsibility. Instead of choosing... Continue reading "Opioid Crisis: Unraveling Corporate Ethical Failures" »

The Power of Love in Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls

In For Whom the Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemingway masterfully portrays a poignant love story between Robert Jordan and Maria. Their relationship unfolds during the Spanish Civil War, illustrating how love can instill hope even amidst the most terrible circumstances. Despite their brief time together, their love feels profoundly deep and strong, underscoring the vital role love can play during wartime.

A Fateful Encounter Amidst Conflict

Robert and Maria's paths converge during a profoundly difficult period. Maria, a young Spanish woman, has been severely traumatized by the war, having endured abuse by the Nationalists. Initially, she is fearful and uncertain if she can ever love again.... Continue reading "Love and Survival in Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls" »

Project Evaluation

Project evaluation is a systematic assessment of a project’s relevance, design, implementation, and outcomes.

It is carried out to determine the effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of a project, and to draw lessons for future planning.

Helps in:

• Measuring performance
• Ensuring accountability
• Enhancing learning for future projects

Objectives of Project Evaluation

• To assess whether the project has met its intended goals and objectives
• To evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of project execution
• To support decision-making for similar future initiatives

Principles of Project Evaluation

As outlined in the module, project evaluation should be based on principles such as:

• Impartiality and independence
• Credibility of results
• Usefulness

Question 1: Decimal Representation of a Fraction

Question: Consider the fraction 6/7. The decimal representation of this fraction is:

Answer: 6 ÷ 7 = 0.857142857... (repeating)

Question 2: Vaccinated to Unvaccinated Ratio

Question: If 60% of a population is vaccinated, what is the ratio of vaccinated to unvaccinated individuals?

Answer: 60% vaccinated → 60 : 40 → Simplified = 3 : 2

Question 3: Property Tax Calculation

Question: A property has been assessed at $225,000. The mill rate is 14.5. To find the property tax, you would multiply the assessed value by:

Answer: The mill rate of 14.5 means $14.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. To convert this to a decimal factor, divide by 1,000:

• 14.5 ÷ 1,000 = 0.0145
• Property tax = $225,000 × 0.0145 = $3,262.

Essential Economic Concepts

• Scarcity: Limited resources, unlimited wants.

• Economics: The study of choices made due to scarcity.

• Economic Problem: The challenge of allocating scarce resources.

• Goods and Services: Goods are tangible items; services are actions or activities.

• Resources:

  • Natural: Raw materials.

  • Human: Labor.

  • Capital: Tools and machines used in production.

  • Entrepreneur: A risk-taker and innovator.

  • Productive Resources: All the above combined.

• Opportunity Cost: What is given up when choosing one alternative over another.

• Specialization: Focusing on a specific task to achieve greater efficiency.

• Production Possibilities Frontier (PPF): Illustrates trade-offs and efficiency.

Economic Systems

• Traditional Economy: Based on custom and historical practices.

This document is an excerpt from a 1950 speech by Senator Joseph McCarthy, a key figure during the early years of the Cold War. In this speech, McCarthy warns of widespread communist infiltration within the U.S. government, claiming that traitors were working to weaken American democracy from the inside.

Historical Context of McCarthy's Speech

In the early Cold War period, tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union were intensifying. The U.S. feared the spread of communism abroad and at home, especially after the Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb in 1949 and China became a communist nation. These events fueled widespread paranoia and set the stage for what became known as McCarthyism.

Audience and Purpose of the Speech

McCarthy’s... Continue reading "Senator Joseph McCarthy's 1950 Speech: The Internal Communist Threat" »

Key Literary Concepts: Short Notes

1. Duality of Human Nature in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson beautifully explores the idea that every human carries both good and evil within. Dr. Jekyll creates Mr. Hyde to experience freedom without guilt, separating his moral self from his darker desires. But once unleashed, Hyde grows stronger, overpowering Jekyll's control. The story reflects how suppressing our dark side only gives it more power, and that human nature is never purely one or the other—it's a constant inner conflict.

2. Symbolism of Venice in Death in Venice

Venice stands as a haunting symbol of beauty hiding decay. Its stunning scenery and rich culture reflect Aschenbach's admiration for youth and perfection. But underneath,... Continue reading "Classic Novels: Themes, Characters, and Symbolism" »

Vietnam's Economic Future: Growth and Stability

Vietnam’s political stability is closely tied to its economic performance. Unlike other one-party regimes that base their legitimacy on ideology, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) derives its authority from delivering sustained prosperity—a reflection of the Confucian notion that rulers remain legitimate as long as they ensure national well-being.

Today, Vietnam’s economic fundamentals are strong: unemployment is low, poverty is declining, and growth remains steady. These outcomes reinforce the Party’s image as an effective steward of development.

But as Vietnam climbs toward middle-income status, the stakes grow higher. The country now faces the classic dilemma of the middle-income trap—where... Continue reading "Vietnam's Economic Future: Scenarios for Growth and Stability" »

Understanding Cloud Computing Fundamentals

In Cloud Computing, the term "cloud" refers to a network of remote servers accessed over the internet. These servers provide various computing resources such as storage, processing power, and applications to end-users. The cloud infrastructure is owned and maintained by a cloud service provider, allowing users to access resources on-demand without managing or maintaining the underlying physical infrastructure.

Types of Cloud Deployments

There are three main types of clouds in Cloud Computing:

• Public Cloud

  A public cloud is a cloud infrastructure owned and operated by a third-party cloud service provider. Its resources are shared across multiple customers, who access services over the internet. Public clouds