nothing Essays - Team Sports, Alexander Cartwright,

There are many myths surrounding the origins of baseball. Many people believe that a young West Point Cadet named Abner Doubleday invented baseball one day in 1839 while in Cooperstown, New York. That is definitely not true. The Doubleday Myth was first created by a panel of "baseball experts" appointed to determine the origins of the game. The Commission based its conclusions on the testimony of one Abner Graves. History proved that Graves may not have been the most credible witness, however. Just a year later, Mr. Graves shot his wife, was declared criminally insane, and spent the rest of his life in a mental institution. Furthermore, when Doubleday died, he left behind thousands of personal letters. None of them mentioned baseball. It's hard to believe that if the man invented the game, he wouldn't have mentioned it at some point during his lifetime. It is now agreed that Abner Doubleday didn't invent baseball. The Doubleday Myth was perpetuated by the businessmen who founded the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936 in Cooperstown. They used the myth to establish a geographic link between the new museum and the origins of the game that it honored. Greedy rats Who Invented Baseball? In reality, baseball evolved out of several different "bat and ball" games such as English Rounders, Cricket, and American Town Ball that had been around for centuries. But there is one man who deserves the credit for establishing the fundamental rules of the sport and for organizing the first baseball game. He is Alexander Cartwright. Cartwright was a member of the New York Knickerbockers, a club of young businessmen who regularly played Town Ball to escape the confines of their office lives and get some exercise after work. In 1845, Cartwright and a committee from his club drew up clear rules designed to convert Town Ball into a more elaborate sport. He called it Base Ball. Cartwright actually wrote down his rules for Base Ball, and many of them are still fundamental parts of the game, including the concepts of: (1) fair and foul territory; (2) three strikes per out; (3) three outs per inning; (4) nine players per side; and (5) ninety feet between bases. He also outlawed the Town Ball practice of "soaking a runner," which allowed a defender to hit a runner with the ball to get him out. Given the speed of a Roger Clemens fastball, that particular change was very good for today's players. The first baseball game played under these new rules took place on June 19, 1846 between Cartwright's Knickerbockers and another squad known as the New York Nine. The teams reviewed the Cartwright Rules before the game, and then began the competition. One difference between the First Baseball Game and the current game is that the teams played until one squad reached 21 runs. There were innings, but they were not limited to nine. The New York Nine slaughtered Cartwright's Knickerbockers 21-1. Cartwright eventually moved to California in 1849 to chase the gold rush. On his journey across the country, he introduced baseball to every town he stayed along the way. He later moved to Hawaii and set up formal baseball leagues, which have been credited as the direct precursors of the Major Leagues. In 1953, Congress officially recognized Cartwright as the inventor of modern baseball. Some baseball scholars now challenge this assertion, but to date, there is no proof of an earlier baseball game or an earlier delineation of the formal rules of the game. Unless and until such evidence is unearthed, it should be accepted that Alexander Cartwright invented baseball. Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_was_the_first_baseball_game_played#ixzz1IgmoXfNX

P-39 Airacobra - Bell Aircraft - World War II

P-39 Airacobra - Bell Aircraft - World War II P-39Q Airacobra - Specifications General Length: 30 ft. 2 in.Wingspan: 34 ft.Height: 12 ft. 5 in.Wing Area: 213 sq. ft.Empty Weight: 5,347 lbs.Loaded Weight: 7,379 lbs.Maximum Takeoff Weight: 8,400 lbs.Crew: 1 Performance Maximum Speed: 376 mphCombat Radius: 525 milesRate of Climb: 3,750 ft./min.Service Ceiling: 35,000 ft.Power Plant: 1 Ãâ€" Allison V-1710-85 liquid-cooled V-12, 1,200 hp Armament 1 x 37 mm M4 cannon2 x .50 cal. machine guns4 x .30 cal machine gunsup to 500 lbs. of bombs Design Development In early 1937, Lieutenant Benjamin S. Kelsey, the US Army Air Corps Project Officer for Fighters, began to express his frustration over the services armament limitations for pursuit aircraft. Joining with Captain Gordon Saville, a fighter tactics instructor at the Air Corps Tactical School, the two men wrote two circular proposals for a pair of new interceptors which would possess a heavier armament that would allow American aircraft to dominate aerial battles. The first, X-608, called for a twin-engine fighter and would ultimately lead to the development of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. The second, X-609, requested designs for a single-engine fighter capable of dealing with enemy aircraft at high altitude. Also included in X-609 was a requirement for a turbo-supercharged, liquid-cooled Allison engine as well as a level speed of 360 mph and an ability to reach 20,000 feet within six minutes. Responding to X-609, Bell Aircraft began work on a new fighter that was designed around the Oldsmobile T9 37mm cannon. To accommodate this weapon system, which was intended to fire through the propeller hub, Bell employed the unorthodox approach of mounting the aircrafts engine in the fuselage behind the pilot. This turned a shaft beneath the pilots feet which in turn powered the propeller. Due to this arrangement, the cockpit sat higher which gave the pilot an excellent field of view. It also allowed for a more streamlined design which Bell hoped would aid in achieving the required speed. In another difference from its contemporaries, pilots entered the new aircraft through side doors that were similar to those employed on automobiles rather than sliding canopy. To supplement the T9 cannon, Bell mounted twin .50 cal. machine guns in the aircrafts nose. Later models would also incorporate two to four .30 cal. machine guns mounted in the wings. A Fateful Choice First flying on April 6, 1939, with test pilot James Taylor at the controls, the XP-39 proved disappointing as its performance at altitude failed to meet the specifications set forth in Bells proposal. Attached to the design, Kelsey had hoped to guide the XP-39 through the development process but was thwarted when he received orders that sent him abroad. In June, Major General Henry Hap Arnold directed that the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics conduct wind tunnel tests on the design in an effort to improve performance. Following this testing, NACA recommended that the turbo-supercharger, which was cooled with scoop on the left side of the fuselage, be enclosed within the aircraft. Such a change would improve the XP-39s speed by 16 percent. Examining the design, Bells team was unable to find space within the XP-39s small fuselage for the turbo-supercharger. In August 1939, Larry Bell met with the USAAC and NACA to discuss the issue. At the meeting, Bell argued in favor of eliminating the turbo-supercharger altogether. This approach, much to Kelseys later dismay, was adopted and subsequent prototypes of the aircraft moved forward utilizing only a single-stage, single-speed supercharger. While this alteration provided the desired performance improvements at low altitude, the elimination of the turbo effectively made the type useless as a front-line fighter at heights above 12,000 feet. Unfortunately, the drop-off in performance at medium and high altitude was not immediately noticed and the USAAC ordered 80 P-39s in August 1939. Early Problems Initially introduced as the P-45 Airacobra, the type was soon re-designated P-39C. The initial twenty aircraft were built without armor or self-sealing fuel tanks. As World War II had begun in Europe, the USAAC began to assess combat conditions and realized that these were needed to ensure survivability. As a result, the remaining 60 aircraft of the order, designated P-39D, were built with armor, self-sealing tanks, and an enhanced armament. This added weight further hampered the aircrafts performance. In September 1940, the British Direct Purchase Commission ordered 675 of the aircraft under the name Bell Model 14 Caribou. This order was placed based on the performance of the unarmored and unarmed XP-39 prototype. Receiving their first aircraft in September 1941, the Royal Air Force soon found the production P-39 to be inferior to variants of the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire. In the Pacific As a result, the P-39 flew one combat mission with the British before the RAF shipped 200 aircraft to the Soviet Union for use with the Red Air Force. With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the US Army Air Forces purchased 200 P-39s from the British order for use in the Pacific. First engaging Japanese in April 1942 over New Guinea, the P-39 saw extensive use throughout the Southwest Pacific and flew with American and Australian forces. The Airacobra also served in the Cactus Air Force which operated from Henderson Field during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Engaging at lower altitudes, the P-39, with its heavy armament, frequently proved a tough opponent for the famed Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Also used in the Aleutians, pilots found that the P-39 had a variety of handling problems including a tendency to enter a flat spin. This often was the result of the aircrafts center of gravity shifting as ammunition was expended. As distances in the Pacific war increased, the sh ort-range P-39 was withdrawn in favor of increasing numbers of P-38s. In the Pacific Though found unsuitable for use in Western Europe by the RAF, the P-39 saw service in North Africa and the Mediterranean with the USAAF in 1943 and early 1944. Among those to briefly fly the type was the famed 99th Fighter Squadron (Tuskegee Airmen) who had transitioned from the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. Flying in support of Allied forces during the Battle of Anzio and maritime patrols, P-39 units found the type to be particularly effective at strafing. By early 1944, most American units transitioned to the newer Republic P-47 Thunderbolt or North American P-51 Mustang. The P-39 was also employed with the Free French and Italian Co-Belligerent Air Forces. While the former was less than pleased with the type, the latter effectively employed the P-39 as a ground-attack aircraft in Albania. Soviet Union Exiled by the RAF and disliked by the USAAF, the P-39 found its home flying for the Soviet Union. Employed by that nations tactical air arm, the P-39 was able to play to its strengths as most of its combat occurred at lower altitudes. In that arena, it proved capable against German fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190. In addition, its heavy armament allowed it to make quick work of Junkers Ju 87 Stukas and other German bombers. A total of 4,719 P-39s were sent to the Soviet Union through the Lend-Lease Program. These were transported to the front via the Alaska-Siberia ferry route. During the course of the war, five of the top ten Soviet aces scored the majority of their kills in the P-39. Of those P-39s flown by the Soviets, 1,030 were lost in combat. The P-39 remained in use with the Soviets until 1949. Selected Sources Military Factory: P-39 AiracobraNational Museum of the US Air Force: P-39 AiracobraAce Pilots: P-39 Airacobra

Reflective journal Mo4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reflective journal Mo4 - Essay Example Sometimes, however, we just don’t want to be blamed for what might be a wrong decision, so it is easier to share the blame with others in a group decision. After all, if several of us agreed to the decision, then maybe the mistake was not that obvious, and therefore I, as one of the decision makers, won’t look too ridiculous for making it. But there are decisions, I know, that I alone could make: what career to take, whom to marry, where to work, what would make me happy. If I were a manager, then there would be decisions the company would expect me to make personally, due to shortness of time or lack of resources. There may be consultants, or techniques such as the SWOT, which could help me to decide by clarifying issues and gaining a balanced perspective on the problem. However, I will have to find the courage to make the decision by myself, with due care, but in due time. In the end, if we aspire to be managers – of businesses, projects, people, even of our own lives – then we must face the task of decision-making with confidence and competence. We must develop the skill of sound and rational deliberation based on the information and time available. There will always be a risk of being wrong, but being wrong is better than being

Personal statement for communication major Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

For communication major - Personal Statement Example Yet my parents could understand what I was trying to say in my child-speak way. Then as I grew older, I began to notice the way that people are always interconnected and talking to each other. Communication has become a vital tool in the existence of mankind. In fact, it seems that without the interconnectivity that technology and communication allows us to have, our evolution as a people would come to a standstill. One would be hard pressed to imagine a word without communication. Even the deaf, mute, and the blind have their own methods by which they communicate with each other and those around. It is this fascination and simple understanding of how communication works for us as a society that led to my continuously increasing interest in the field of communication. Communication is the most important tool that we have as a people in terms of creating a bond and fostering understanding of people across the borders of countries. It is what unites us as the people of this planet. Due to the existence of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, Instagram, and the like, communication has come to the forefront of the consciousness of the people. This instant method of connecting with each other has served to bring communication to higher levels of use and existence. These days, one will be hard pressed to find somebody who does not have an international base of friends due to the network that these communication channels allow us to create based upon shared interests and other criteria. The world has become a better place because of evolution of our communication skills and gadgets. People easily connect and find common ground with each other these days because the internet has allowed people who communicate in various languages. In fact, I have often said that communication, just like any other spoken language on this planet, is a living, breathing, and evolving thing. Communication has in effect, taken on a life of its own and we owe

A Stereotypical Teenager Essay Example for Free

A Stereotypical Teenager Essay Loud, obnoxious, rebellious, out of control, and up to no good†¦ these are just a few of a wide number of stereotypes that are attributed to American teenagers. What is it about teenagers that make the rest of society seem to turn against them? I believe that there are many misconceptions about teenagers. Many people in different generations sincerely believe that all teenagers are up to no good, and are guaranteed trouble no matter where they are. I am not arguing that teenagers like that don’t exist, because there are plenty of them out there, but it bothers me that one type of teenager has been able to spoil the image of all other teenagers. Personally I think that these stereotypes apply more to me because I am a male. In addition to being a male teenager, I also have noticed that people think negatively of me because I wear a longer hair style than what is typically expected in society. Some people grow long hair to show rebellion, or to be unique, but I wouldn’t classify myself into either of those categories, I simply enjoy having it more than short hair. But because of that, many members of society link certain stereotypes of male teenagers to me because I show long hair. I could be considered many different things including: rebellious, troubled, angry, arrogant, or any other sort of stereotype out there. How could anyone possibly claim to know all of these false accusations simply based on my age, and my gender? At times it can be bothersome when people take certain precautions around teenagers, because they believe that we are all reckless, and dangerous. Parents will cross to the opposite side of the street with their kids, people clear sidewalks when walking, other drivers tense up on the road, and all while this is happening, other people will keep one eye carefully watching, just to make sure that all of the rotten teenagers don’t do anything dangerous. I sometimes think that people see me and other teenagers as giant, shiny explosives that are about to detonate, so everyone else needs to distance themselves as much and as quickly as possible. Just because a teenager happens to be walking around outside, that should in no way trigger a response where people feel that it isn’t safe to be near  teenagers. Although it does bother me, I can also see a point of view where I would do the same thing. If I saw someone outside that looked a little bit off-beat to me, I would most likely go a different path as well. However, that raises the question, why does society take in all of these stereotypes and live all of their lives believing false statements? All of it is ridiculous I believe. Anyone that knows me will be able to explain that I am the exact opposite of a stereotypical teenager, so no one should need to take precautions if they see me out somewhere. A stereotypical teenager would most likely be thought of being connected to alcohol, tobacco, and drugs in some way, shape, or form; I on the other hand do not do any of those things, and am strongly against them. Because I do not consider myself anywhere close to a stereotypical teenager, it does bother me when people mistake me for doing those types of activities. All of these common stereotypes don’t do any good for the people who actually work hard, and try to do something with their lives. For many people, stereotyping does more than just become a bothersome hassle. For a handful of teenagers, the effect of stereotyping makes them feel pressured into behaving like a stereotypical teenager. For example, some people do drugs and alcohol because they are expected to by society’s stereotypes, so someone may think, â€Å"Oh, I am a teenager now, I guess because other people are drinking then I have to as well.† I don’t even see peer pressure as that much of an issue here, people tend to start drinking or doing drugs voluntarily; more often than not, there isn’t peer pressure that is forcing them into doing something. And that creates an entire roundabout of madness. To simplify this; many people start acting like stereotypical teenagers, because they feel that they need to in order to be a â€Å"normal† teenager. But that in turn makes society cast out teenagers, when it is actually those same members of society who created these stereotypes for teenagers to follow. In reality, there are several statistics that illustrate a decline in teenage drug abuse, alcoholism, and teenage pregnancy, yet stereotypes still exist (Poole). Are all teenagers loud, obnoxious, rebellious, out of control, and up to no good? Obviously not, there is no way that every single teenager in the world  could fit that description. And yet, society still labels every teenager in the world by a description very similar to that. The few teenagers that live a life similar to that have managed to destroy the image of every teenager that happens to be a good kid. It seems that hardworking, determined, and honest teenagers don’t have a place in the world anymore. They are out there, and ready to be noticed, but the rest of society has chosen to view them in the same manner as the bad crowds that exist in the teenage population. Quite strange, that the model teenager that is acceptable in society is not taken seriously. Why does society view superior teenagers that way? It is not only teenagers; it is everybody in the world. No person will ever be right in prejudicing someone, no matter who they are.

Financial Management Notes Essay -- GCSE Business Management Studies

ROLE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Financial management is one of the functions of management -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Financial management is concerned with o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Profits and losses of operations  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Control over funds o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ensuring appropriate cash flow is available o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chas management o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Raising funds / controlling internal funds o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Investment of funds o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cost control / pricing o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Forecasting / measuring financial performance against expectations -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Accounting is a subset of financial management. Financial transactions must be recorded, classified, stored and eventually reported to the managers. -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  OBJECTIVES OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liquidity Refers to cash reserves being held, or to the ability to turn and investment into cash with little or no delay or loss of capital o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Solvency Refers to a business ability to pay its debts when due, and remain a going concern o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Profitability Refers to how profitable the business is from the perspectives of profit on sales, assets and shareholders equity o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Efficiency Examines how well working capital is managed, that is how quickly cash is collected from debtors, inventory sold and creditors paid. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Growth Once a business is formed and operations commence, it enters a growth phase, where there should be an increase in the number of goods or services sold -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  THE PLANNING CYCLE o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Strategic or corporate plans involve how the business can accomplish its objectives, generally to create a strong competitive advantage o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Organisational planning processes involve   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The formulation of mission, goals and objectives,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An analysis of key environmental variables that present opportunities, threats, and constraints. It is known as an environmental audit   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An organisational audit to evaluate strengths and weaknesses and identify where change needs to be met   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The formulation of strategies within deadlines to achieve specific objectives   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Monitoring and review to ensure that the mission is on target and that performance indicators are being met o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tactical plans focus on the most efficient resource use by a business unit or department o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Operational plans are concerned with implementing the strategic plan through day to day processes, procedures, workflow and efficiency o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Financial plans represent the dollar quantification of the stra... ...e lease agreement come to an end. Here the emphasis is on rental, rather than what is effectively deferred purchase. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The lessee may be responsible for paying all or any of the maintenance, insurance operating costs etc ï‚ §Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Factoring †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is the selling of accounts receivable or debtors ledgers to a third party for less than the book value ï‚ §Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sale and leaseback †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Refers to a transaction in which the seller retains the use of an asset such as occupancy of a building, by simultaneously signing a lease, with the purchaser of the asset at the time of sale -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  EFFECTIVE FINANCIAL PLANNING  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  EFFECTIVE CASHFLOW MANAGEMENT ï‚ §Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Source of funds = use (application) of funds ï‚ §Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sources include †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Injection of new capital †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Raising new loans †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Reductions in stock ï‚ §Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Applications include †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pay out of loans †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tax paid †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Purchase of fixed assets ï‚ §Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Management strategies for cash flow problems include †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shortening the operations cycle †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Increasing net profit margins †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Increasing trade payable †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Borrowing money †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Maintaining a minimum cash reserve

Factors affecting women working in the pharmaceutical sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Introduction Thanks to its considerable oil resources, Saudi Arabia has evolved from a relatively poor country to become the world’s dominant oil producer and one of the wealthiest regions in the Middle East. There is international pressure on the rulers to embrace political and social reforms, including enhancing the participation of women within the national workforce. Research Background Interesting findings about working women in adjacent Jordan have been generated by the country’s National Centre for Human Resource Development, which has carried out research into the experience of women workers in the private sector, namely in the Communications, Internet and Pharmaceuticals industries. This research was prompted because of recognition that â€Å"women’s participation in the Jordanian labour market is growing and the fact that women’s participation is often hindered by social perceptions, practices and sometimes legislation† (Peebles, Darwazeh, Ghosheh and Sabbah, 2007). Given the size and scale of Jordan (population approximately 6.5 million) compared with Saudi Arabia (population approximately 27.1 million), it seems likely that some of these hindrances will also apply to Saudi Arabia. The pharmaceuticals industry in Saudi Arabia is the richest in the Gulf region[1] and among the largest of all those in the Middle East: â€Å"Saudi Arabia represents 65%, or $1.7 billion of the pharmaceutical market in the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)[2], which is currently valued at $2.7 billion per year[3]† (Issa, Al-Ammar and Mostafa, 2009). Proposal The research proposal is to examine the factors affecting women working in the pharmaceuticals industry, with particular reference to perceived advantages and barriers. It is anticipated that the issues arising will include those touching on human rights, equal opportunities and discrimination; religion and education; legislation, including family law; cultural norms; and also resistance to radical change within the community of Saudi Arabian females. Academic Literature Academic treatises on women in Muslim cultures include a synopsis of literature reviews produced by the Library of Congress (Offenhauer, 2005), which includes chapters on women’s roles in the productive economy as well as in the domestic setting. Maryland University’s Professor in the Department of Business and Executive Programs, Dr. Dorothy Minkus-McKenna, researched entrepreneurship among Saudi Arabian women albeit on an exploratory basis and without the benefit of statistical data, and noted the different ways in which ‘success’ is measured and valued. This provides useful background information about women’s perceptions of their role in the workplace. In a further look at entrepreneurship, another study (Sadi and Al-Ghazali, 2009) sought to establish what motivated women entrepreneurs and pinpointed barriers as being a lack of co-ordination and governmental support; limited competition due to market domination; a dearth of market studies; poor support from the internal community and the general restrictions imposed by society. Whilst limited, the available literature serves to confirm that women in Saudi Arabia struggle to establish themselves in the workplace on an equal footing with men. Overall Aim and Objectives The aim of the research is to identify the key factors that act as obstacles to women working in the pharmaceuticals sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). To achieve this, the focus of the research will be on the pharmaceuticals company, Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries[4], one of the largest research-driven companies producing veterinary, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals products in KSA. The objectives of the research will be to establish: Whether societal and cultural norms in KSA act against women making progress in the workplace. Whether the impact of legislation relating to the workplace has an adverse affect on women. Whether childcare responsibilities interfere with women’s progress in their working lives. Whether financial pressures, and related issues, have a bearing on working women. In relation to the pharmaceuticals sector: Whether there are perceptions that some jobs are more appropriate for women than others. Whether gender bias, marital status, personal appearance and religious discrimination have a bearing on recruitment techniques and practices. Whether there are perceived or real barriers to women achieving management positions. Research Methodology and Methods A number of methods will be used in order to achieve the objectives. Secondary research will establish the required information on cultural and societal norms, and legislation. Primary research will provide the quantitative and qualitative information pertaining to women in the workplace. Participants will be invited to complete a questionnaire without disclosing their name. In this way their anonymity will be protected and it should ensure that they are able to be open and honest about their workplace experiences without any fear of reprisal. Online questionnaires will enable participants with access to a computer to respond relatively quickly and easily, however paper questionnaires can also be issued if this is deemed more suitable for certain members of the sample population. Primary Research A questionnaire designed to elicit the required information will be prepared for workers at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). The Authority was established on 10th March 2033 and is charged with ensuring that drugs and foodstuffs manufactured for consumption by humans and animals are safe; this includes chemical and biological substances and also medical equipment. SFDA has been chosen because it has a relationship at some level with all the pharmaceuticals companies in Saudi Arabia, and it also sets the standards and regulations as to how they operate. Questionnaire 1: The survey will include a sample of both male and female workers at SFDA, based on the demographic of people of working age in Saudi Arabia. Current estimates indicate that the ratio of males to females aged 15–64 years is approximately 5:4, however it is not known exactly how many female workers are currently employed at SFDA. Ideally, a sample of 180 employees would include 100 men and 80 women. The questionnaire will ask workers about their educational background prior to employment, to provide information on their current position at SFDA. Data will be gathered on their responsibilities in the workplace, and also those outside work relating to childcare and care of any other dependants. Questions about the impact the job makes on their financial situation will be included. Finally, the questionnaire will seek to establish the career plans of participants and their experiences of training and promotion. Questionnaire 2: Directed at Human Resources (HR) personnel, this questionnaire will ask about participants’ interview techniques when recruiting staff, including the extent to which personal questions about an applicant’s marital status, social status, place of residency and childbearing plans are discussed. Peebles, Darwazeh, Ghosheh and Sabbah (2007) found it was common practice among HR professionals in Jordan to ask personal questions at job interviews, which the staff justified on the basis that this was a way of obtaining information about the character of an applicant, and of determining their suitability for work-related travel or overtime. The questionnaire will ask about the types of jobs, and the opportunities for training and promotion, that are available to men and women, with the intention of determining whether these are on an equal footing. Qualitative information on the perceived commitment levels of female and male employees will also be sought. Other Methods Data collection could also be achieved via a longitudinal study, that is where the researcher spends a considerable period of time embedded in the organisation in order to observe interrelationships and company operations on a day-to-day basis. Structured or semi-structured interviews could be conducted with workers and HR personnel as an alternative to a survey. One or more focus groups could be convened to discuss the findings of the survey, in order to provide enhanced qualitative information. These methods have been considered and rejected as they are either too time-consuming and impracticable. Secondary Research Reports and articles by other researchers concerned with female workers in the Middle East and their work experiences in pharmaceuticals companies will be studied to obtain an overview of the sector and the key issues relating to women workers. Very basic statistical information about SFDA is also available on LinkedIn[5] where a few members of staff are also listed. Data Analysis Information from the questionnaires will be analysed to elicit clear information on the position of women working in pharmaceuticals in KSA – their educational background, experience of recruitment, training and promotion and any barriers they have encountered in terms of their advancement in the workplace. Qualitative information will provide the context for the statistics. Planning and Critical Analysis Permission will be needed from the SFDA Executive Management to conduct the survey among a sample of staff members, and the researcher’s contact person within the company could facilitate this. If permission is not granted, it may still be possible for some members of staff to participate in a private capacity (for example, via LinkedIn) although participants may be hesitant and it may be difficult to attract 180 people by this method. SFDA may wish to alter the wording or the questions in the survey to suit company needs, however any proposed changes will have to be carefully scrutinised by the researcher before any changes are agreed. Alternatively, another pharmaceuticals company could be used, such as Merck Serono, which has a base in Saudi Arabia but company headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and a UK office. Limitations The surveys are limited to a selection of the working population in one specific organisation and although a degree of extrapolation is possible the findings will not represent a comprehensive and in-depth view of the country’s entire pharmaceuticals sector. Timescale Obtaining permissions and approvals and distributing questionnaires will take up to five weeks, with data analysis in week six and writing up of the findings in weeks seven – ten. References: BBC (2012). Saudi Arabia profile. Online. 16th January. [available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14702705] Issa, N.A., Al-Ammar, A.I. and Mostafa, S. (2009) Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Industries in Saudi Arabia. American Health Lawyers Association. Minkus-McKenna, D. (2009). Women Entrepreneurs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Working paper. http://bit.ly/yCoxTY Offenhauer, P. (2005). Women in Islamic societies: a selected review of social scientific literature. Report. Library of Congress. Online. [available at: http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/Women_Islamic_Societies.pdf] Peebles, D., Darwazeh, N., Ghosheh H. and Sabbah, A. (2007) Factors Affecting Women’s Participation in the Private Sector in Jordan. Research Report. National Center for Human Resources Development. Sadi, M. A. and Al-Ghazali, B. M. (2010). ‘Doing business with impudence: A focus on women entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia. Research paper.’ African Journal of Business Management Vol. 4(1), pp.1-11, January. Online. [available at: http://www.academicjournals.org/AJBM]. Saudi Food and Drug Authority. [available at: http://www.sfda.gov.sa/En/Home/Topics/about/]