Creating a Competitive Strategy for a Discount Retailer (MKT 100) Essay

Creating a Competitive Strategy for a Discount Retailer (MKT 100) - Essay Example This has induced a lot of involvement and commitment from the managers of the stores. CanadaCo stores offer significantly higher level of customer service due to the reason mentioned above. The stores are cleaner, more attractive and better stocked. This has resulted in higher per store sales when compared to the competition and has lead to higher revenue and market share. Though CanadaCo has a wider variety of products, the product mix is similar to that of the competition. CanadaCo can expand the number of product categories and also include a number of varieties for each category. The SWOT analysis has given a clear picture of the current position of CanadaCo and also the potential challenges it has to face in the future due to the recent course of events. It is clear that UsCo is a big threat to CanadaCo as it has a larger infrastructure in terms of man power and number of stores. Moreover, the stores are centrally managed and hence, UsCo’s initial aim will be to gain a considerable market share in a short span by cutting down the profits. It is evident from UsCo’s approach in the United States, that it gives greater importance to market share. It has expanded rapidly by focussing on gaining consumer trust. UsCo also gives great importance to brand image and positioning, as the cheapest supplier of consumer goods. The pricing policy of UsCo has been set to meet the requirements of the target consumers. It is a well known fact that acquiring a new customer is about six times costlier than retaining an existing customer (Jobber, 2004). Hence CanadaCo can take initiatives to retain the existing customer base. This can be done by the introduction of Customer Loyalty schemes. As it is evident that UsCo will take initiatives in the future to expand its market share in Canada, CanadaCo should effectively counteract this by being the first mover in

Economic development Essay Example for Free

Economic development Essay Today, education is the most important tool for the development of society. There is a direct correlation between education and development of society. The countries that realize this fact, giving the required importance for their education system, have become highly developed. Education should be promoted since it is the most important factor for the development of a country. The promotion of the education is depended on the factors like literacy rate in a country, schooling rate in the primary, secondary and higher education, proliferation of training technologies, and the quality of the education. This promotion process should be considered as a necessary condition for economic, technological and social development for a nation. In other words, the process of a successful development depends on the fact of gibing the society a conscious of change which is highly connected to education. Fist of all, education enlightens people. The educated person is the person who improves oneself. A person increases her/his level of knowledge through education, so he/she has a better understanding and analyzing of daily matters and an agenda. That person can make logical deductions based on the knowledge he gains and refuses the traditional corrupted understanding. Individual’s ability of the interpretation of knowledge through one’s intelligence and skills is supported by education; accordingly, increasing the creativity and intellectual thinking. An individual can learn about different cultures, lifestyles and history from past to present; hence education provides universal perspective to an individual. The most important differential of uneducated person is having a narrow point of view. A person should be educated in order to learn taking objective decisions and being liberated from the social pressure. Besides, educated people respect the rights of others and they have a fair understanding of the concept of equality, right to life, and right to property. The reason why developed countries show highly respect to the individual rights is that the education level of the country is being fairly high. On the other hand, the reason why there are deep inequalities between women and men or rich and poor in under-developed countries is that the education level in there is being fairly low. Besides, there is also a lack of respect to the human rights in these under-developed countries due to low education level. Secondly, education affects the development of science and technology of a country. Technological developments increase by knowledge and research which is provided by education. It is the advancement and proliferation of technology that makes countries developing by the production of knowledge, schooling of creative minds leads countries develop economically, technologically and politically. Education, advancement of technology and development are in a circle movement which produces itself. Cakmak also says that as a result of the creation of science and technology, mobility of scientific knowledge, and nurturing of individuals with creative minds, countries have experienced important economic and political changes which lead to infinitive competition among them in the fields of education, development and innovation (Cakmak O. 2008). In addition, developed countries use technology as a part of their education system. Thus, every student can follow technology and learn about the newest advancements which lead them learn better and improve their intelligence. Finally, education leads knowledge turn into money that improves the economy of a country. Educated people knowing to learn how to invest, produce, expand the business adjusts and improves the economy causing the increase of gross domestic product per capita. Education also gives more job opportunities to people in the business sector. According to OECD, the effect of education to the economic development is proved in the researches of economic growth in 1960s. The researches show that contribution of education to the economic growths is really important and this percentage differs as %7 in England, %15 in USA, %14 in Belgium, %16 in Argentina, and %25 in Canada (OECD, 2005). Some may argue that education does not affect the economic development of a country. There are lots of uneducated but successful business men. People can learn how to run a business without an education. To illustrate, â€Å"Sak? p Sabanc? , who is the founder and chairman of the Sabanc? Holding due to the reason suffering from pneumonia three successive years, had to leave the high school and start to work in BOSSA Flour Factory in 1950 with a wage of 50 TL† (NTV Haber). Considering his life, it is obvious that one can learn how to run a business without education. Hence, it is not only education but also experience that makes one successful in business. All in all, economic, social and technologic development of a country is highly related to the education level of that country. Without education, a country can not develop. The only way of individual’s enlighten and learning to use knowledge, and increase of technology is education. Thus, education should be promoted since it is the most important factor for the development of a country. Oznur Sakar.

Thermal Solutions to Reduce Electricity Costs

Thermal Solutions to Reduce Electricity Costs Executive summary This report investigates and analyses the thermal solutions to reduce the electricity cost for senior school at St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School. Approaches of analysis include calculating energy loss, thermal current and comparing current costs and revised costs, as well as the long-term (each term and annual) prediction for power consumption. The annual electricity cost is predicted to be $23064.56. All calculations can be found in the Appendix. Results from calculated data show that 29.09% of the power consumption can be reduced by replacing 36 W lights from 18 W tube light bulbs ($4.90 for two tubes, $44.10 overall) and installing the Hampton thermal curtains ($276 in total) with pelmet boxes ($183) of five years life expectancy. Hence, they are suggested to renovate every five years to maintain the efficiency of thermal curtains. Although these installations will need $503.10 initially, the payback will begin from the 7th month. This report evaluates that the current setting of the classroom in senior school can be altered to protect the environment and minimise electricity costs. Therefore, there are some recommendations: Install the Hampton thermal curtains with pelmet boxes Thermal curtains should be shut all the time in order to achieve the revised cost Small technology devices (e.g. projector, printer, iron and hot glue guns) usage should be minimised to reduce power usage (e.g. turn them off instead of stand-by when not using) There are some weaknesses of the report: Thermal current of furniture in the room is not considered. Monthly temperature data are not exact results, they are based on past average temperature data. Number of classrooms are an approximation instead of counting due to variation in classroom setting (e.g. one air-conditioner, more or less lights, fridge) Key assumptions The power is assumed to be used only on schooldays. The energy loss from the recorded data (the energy required to cool down) is assumed to be the same every day. The room is assumed to be a closed system, so the thermal current of windows is equivalent to the power usage of both air-conditionings. Power Usage Analysis Introduction Thermal (heat) energy always tends to transfer from one hot space spreading to colder surroundings space by conduction, convection and radiation (Cambridge University Press, 2014) and its flow is affected by the temperature difference. Thermal current () is the rate at which heat energy passes through a material, which is calculated as . The thermal conductivity (k) is a measure of how well the material transfers heat; lower values of conductivity indicate better insulating material. Thermal insulators such as thermal curtains and double glazing windows are commonly used in homes or buildings to maintain constant room temperature by prevention of convection current and minimise energy usage. This report will investigate, analyse and recommend thermal solutions for the school to reduce electricity usage and environmental benefits. Investigation and discussion Note: All data refers to Appendix – Calculation The data was collected by using Sparkvue temperature sensors connected to a computer. The first 30 minutes of the data was disregarded due to the sensor being exposed to direct sunlight, leading to the extremely high temperature (especially the peak at 3:19pm at 47.4Â °C) at the beginning of the data (Graph 1). Through analysis and calculations of the data, the internal temperature change had a positive gradient (between 5:04pm and 6:04pm) which indicated the room was gaining energy as the air-conditioning turned off (347.08 W). Current power usage During schooldays, 18 lights were used 1 hour 43 minutes per day and two air-conditionings were used 10 hours daily on average. The lights were found to consume a relatively low amount of energy of 1.11 kWh daily. Since the room was assumed to be a closed system, theoretically, the thermal current of the windows (137.14 kWh) should be equivalent to the power usage of air-conditioners. However, due to the information written on the air-conditioning was its upper most power usage, they would not be equal. In fact, the calculated consumption (Table 2) was less than the given data, which indicated the difference in power usage could be attributed to dissipation through the walls, floors and doors openings. Moreover, the total consumption (139.52 kWh) included the power consumption of lights and technology devices in the room to achieve higher accuracy. Thermal solutions Thermal solutions are reasonable and beneficial to diminish power consumption. The 36 W light bulbs can be replaced by 18 W lights, which each consume 0.56 kWh daily. Furthermore, thermal curtains are the most common thermal products, because more internal thermal convection current will be blocked, especially when the curtains are extended so that it reaches the floor. This would prevent the convection current and reduce energy flow into the room (Figure 9). Double and triple glazing of windows are commonly used as well, due to vacuum between glass panes eliminating losses by conduction and convection; however, installation is expensive, so thermal curtains are the most economic thermodynamic barriers to use in order to reduce the energy usage. Figure 9 – No gap (Rogers A, 2011) From researching thermal curtains, the Hampton thermal curtain is thermal coated which reduces a maximum of 25% energy loss (Energy.GOV, 2012). Only the front windows have contact with direct sunlight; others are all under shelter, so thermal curtains will only cover these. Hence, the Hampton thermal curtain is suggested to be installed for energy reduction, costing $276 in total. Pelmet boxes cost $183 overall, because the side of the front windows have a length of 6.02 m each, it would be reasonable to get two 6.10 m pelmet box on each side(some space for the curtain rod). The life expectancy of thermal curtains is usually five years; it is reasonable for the school to renovate new curtains every five years. It can be seen from Graph 2 that the costs maintain the same and increases by another full cost of $503.1 after renovating at the end of each five year cycle. Furthermore, the power usage with thermal solutions is calculated to be 97.25 kWh, having a 29.09% difference compared with the current settings. CBA – Cost Benefit Analysis The CBA graph (Graph 3) shows the current cost model and revised cost model accumulating over time. The break-even point occurs in the 7th month and when the current cost is approximately equivalent to the revised cost at $1661.8 and $1654.3, the current cost will exceed the revised cost. According to the CPI in Queensland has been fluctuating from 2007 to 2012 (Figure 10), which may continue changing in the next few years. By considering a long-term situation, Graph 4 illustrates an example of revised cost will increase every five years due to renovation of curtains, whilst maintaining a smaller rate of power consumption than the current cost. The power consumption for each term is calculated (Table 3-6) and used to investigate the annual revised cost of $23064.56 and 28.98% of electricity cost will be reduced from current cost in the senior school. If the electricity price increases 5% for both peak and off-peak hours, the trend would stay the same as the current cost has a higher gradient than the revised cost (Graph 4) and the fluctuation has an impact on the overall costs. (Australian Government, 2015) Figure 10 – CPI Annual Change Brisbane Recommendations The ultimate goal of diminishing the energy usage is to protect our environment and minimise energy consumption. Therefore: Thermal curtains with pelmet boxes and light bulbs should be installed. Curtains should be shut all the time in order to achieve the revised cost. It would be the most economical way if all small technology devices are not used at all (e.g. projector, printer, iron and hot glue guns). In conclusion, after installing the thermal solutions it is predicted to spend $23064.56 annually in the senior school, and results in saving approximately $13072 on power usage when all assumptions are valid, which will therefore reduce environment impact.

The Conscience of Dorian Gray in Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gr

The Conscience of Dorian Gray in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray Much of the criticism regarding The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde has dealt with Dorian Gray’s relation to his own portrait (Raby 392). While some may argue that the portrait represents a reflection of Dorian Gray’s character, this is only a superficial analysis of the novel and Dorian’s character. While Dorian Gray’s true character never changes, it is his own perception of his character (his conscience) that is reflected in the changing face of his portrait. In essence Dorian’s picture becomes a mirror through which the "true Dorian" judges his own metamorphasis as the superficial "Lord Henry Dorian" attempts to embrace Lord Henry’s teachings. Dorian’s duality of character causes a constant internal struggle within him, ultimately culminating in his own suicide. Initially, Lord Henry’s doctrine of "new Hedonism" contrasts sharply with Dorian’s youthful innocence and passions. These initial feelings are the reader’s first and clearest experience with the soon to be repressed "true Dorian." The terminology, however, does not imply that Dorian has never been influenced before. This unblemished character simply represents Dorian’s self at the start of the novel, a state which he accepts as his own and is able to find peace in. From this first conversation, Dorian’s peace begins shatter when he learns of Lord Henry’s philosophy and its implications for his own life. Dorian is described as a "brainless, beautiful creature" (3), appropriate since all Dorian has at this stage in the novel is his own initial, untainted feelings. Thus this "pre-Henry" stage is the only time in the novel at which Dorian expresses his "true self" outwardly. This "brai... ...he Picture of Dorian Gray: A Norton Critical Edition. Ed. Lawler, Donald L. (1988). 405-412. Raby, Peter. Oscar Wilde. (1980): 164. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. DiMauro, Laurie. Vol. 41. Detroit: Gale, 1991. 392-397. Spivey, Ted R. "Oscar Wilde and the Tragedy of Symbolism." The Journey Beyond Tragedy. (1980): 57-71. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. DiMauro, Laurie. Vol. 41. Detroit: Gale, 1991. 501-502. Summers, Claude J. "In Such Surrender There May Be Gain’: Oscar Wilde and the Beginnings of Gay Fiction." Gay Fictions: Wilde to Stonewall, Studies in a Male Homosexual Literary Tradition. (1990): 29-61. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. DiMauro, Laurie. Vol. 41. Detroit: Gale, 1991. 398-401. Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray: Oxford World’s Classics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Agent Orange :: essays research papers

Agent orange was an herbicide used in Vietnam. It was use to kill overgrown trees and shrubs that were in the way of advancing United States troops. Agent orange got its name from the barrel it was transported in; the barrel had a large orange stripe running across it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Agent orange was heavily used; in fact, it was the most used of all herbicides in Vietnam. From 1962 until 1971 over 20 millions gallons were used to cover a large 6 million acre area. The most heavily covered areas were those where very thick brush was present; it would give the enemy cover, as well as hindering the troops ability to move. The areas were located in South Vietnam, the transportation areas of Laos and Cambodia, and the forests of the demarcation zone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Agent orange, along with its brothers, Agent White and Agent Blue, did a great job clearing away the brush. It did this with severe costs; people exposed to Agent Orange have had many problems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before you know what Agent Orange did to people, you have to understand what it was made of and how it worked. Agent orange contained a mixture of many plant hormones, which would confuse the plants metabolism and cause the plants to lose flowers, leaves and fruit within two to three weeks. Not only did it have bad effects on plants, it did things to humans, especially the ground troops who carried it and the airplane crew that dropped it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dioxin, what was created in the mixture of hormones, has been proven to be very dangerous and poisonous. In lab tests, Agent Orange has given animals cancer and causes birth effects. This is also thought to be true in humans, as many veterans complain about things like; cancer, birth defects, liver infections, tumors, elevated blood pressure, blood deficiency, enlarged head, club feet and many other illnesses. Although it hasn’t been proven 100% sure that Agent Orange is the cause for this, it is the one linking factor for all the people involved.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The United States government has handled this outbreak rather well, in 1978 the Veterans Administration set up the Agent Orange Registry program. This allowed concerned veterans to enroll in a program that would test them for all known effects and allow them to seek treatment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Agent Orange story is not over yet, in 1994, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) found that the level of dioxin was not high, and most people could tolerate it well.

Functionalist theories Essay

The functionalist theory posits that the society is composed of interconnected parts which function like a social system. In a society, there are parts that work in a similar manner the human body works as a system made of different organs. The ‘organs’ of a society are the social institutions that are set up to work together to ensure that the society runs smoothly. Such institutions include schools and family set ups. Levin (2009, para 3) defines functionalism as â€Å"the doctrine that what makes something a thought, desire, pain (or any other type of mental state) depends not on its internal constitution, but solely on its function. † As such, functionalism theories describe the mental state as a function of behavior, stimulation of senses or other states of the mind. For instance, it is possible to say that pain results from injury in the body thus symbolizing that something is not functioning as expected and therefore the body desires to be out of the painful state. The functionalist theory is not restricted to creatures that have a mental state and can be applicable in silicon-based conditions. That is why the different states of mind can be said to be multiply realized. Physical states as well as non-physical states are viewed as able to cause a specific mental state. This is why Levin (2009) finds functionalism being similar to dualism. Under functionalism theories, there are theories that the mental states are said to give a description of what our mental state descriptions mean. Other theories under functionalism provide that mental states can be characterized according to facts proved through scientific experimentations. Different social scientists have made different contributions to the functionalist theory. Aristotle is among the earliest ancestors of functionalism. Aristotle came up with the theory of the soul where he argued that the soul of a human being cannot exist independent of the body and thus the soul forms the natural part of the entire human body. The soul is therefore a combination of powers that help the body to express itself. The human body as a system functions to enable survival (living) as well as to reason thereby acting as necessary. Aristotle therefore finds the soul as a part of the human body which cannot be separated. In addition, the soul empowers the body to live as well as perceive stimuli with subsequent action. Hobbes (1651) is also recognized as one of the important contributors to functionalism. Hobbes takes a mechanistic approach of the state of mind by arguing that human reasoning is comparable to arithmetic computation with adherence to arithmetic rules. Hobbes proceeds to argue that human reasoning as a function is not restricted to human minds only and instead physical systems also possess the capacity to carry out reasoning. As such, machines are able to carry out the functions that are similar to that of a reasoning mind. Levin (2009) cites that Hobbes arguments were accepted in the twentieth century where social scientists realized that different physical creatures can perform the thinking function since thinking per se is controlled by functions similar to computation. Jean Piaget is an influential social scientist who had a functionalist view. Piaget (1896-1980) was a developmental psychologist who looked into the thinking in children. Piaget posited that new born have reflexes that are responsible for behavior control in other species throughout life. The reflexes in infants enable adaptation thus they are replaced by complex schemes as the infant grows. Assimilation processes occur to enable the environment match with the individual’s cognitive structures. On the other hand, an accommodation process involves the cognitive structures being modified to adapt changes in the environment. Piaget therefore came up with four cognitive development stages. These include sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational phase and formal operational phase (Huitt & Hummel, 2003). It is therefore evident that complexity of behaviors is hierarchical and so are the adaptation mechanisms. Social scientists have contributed significantly to current learning theory by forming the basis for development of schooling programs that are accommodative of human beings at all stages of life. Piaget’s theory for instance is the foundational theory for pre-school programs as well as programs for primary school students. In addition, the theory also provides a basis for constructivist learning (Huitt & Hummel, 2003). Aristotle’s and Hobbes’s theories are foundational to behaviorism whether logical or machine state. All these have expanded the field of cognitive psychology. Indeed, functionalist theories will remain invaluable in psychology as evidenced by the usefulness of the functionalist theories developed by Aristotle, Hobbes and Piaget. At the same time, the theories will remain debatable as long as social scientists continue with their endeavor to understand human mind and behavior. Functionalist theories will also be at the center of understanding the psychology of learning. References Huitt, W. , and Hummel, J. (2003). Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University. Retrieved 19, July 2010 from http://www. edpsycinteractive. org/topics/cogsys/piaget. html Levin, J. (2009). Functionalism. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 19, July 2010 from http://plato. stanford. edu/entries/functionalism/

Coffee Speech Essay

General Purpose: Informal Specific Purpose: is on the topic of caffeine†¦ its beneficial effects AND its negative effects. Statement: also to inform coffee users about coffee. Introduction IOpen with impact: before you go to Starbucks store buy take and take a sip of your favorite coffee†¦ AWouldn’t you want to know a better about what you benefit and don’t out of your coffee? B I drink a lot of coffee, so I was wondering how that might affect my health CThis inspired me to do some research on the subject II Thesis: This knowledge better informs the user on what they are investing their money in. Connect: What you whant to know about caffeine is, A. Why do most humans use it. BWhat products have it CWhat are the advantages and disadvantages Preview: How many of you here consider yourself caffeine addicts? How much coffee do you drink in a day? One cup? Two cups? More? How about caffeinated sodas? Body I. Main point: Caffeine is pervasive in our society these days and every few months we hear about how a study has shown that it is bad for us or good for us. What are we to believe? A. Benefits B. Disadvantages C. Safe levels of caffeine consumption D. Effects on the body II. Main point: Today, I’d like to give you some of the facts about caffeine and its effects on your body. I may not cause you to change your coffee consumption, but at least you’ll be better informed about what you are putting into your body. III. (Transitional sentence: I’m going to talk about the beneficial effects of caffeine, the negative effects and discuss what are considered to be ‘safe’ levels of caffeine consumption Main point: Let’s start with the good news. Caffeine, which comes from the leaves, seeds and fruits of about 63 different plants, is well known as a stimulant. That’s why people drink it, right? A. Caffeine does help you wake up and feel more alert and it has been shown to increase attention spans. 1. This is a beneficial effect for people who are driving long distances and for people who are doing tedious work. 2. Calling this a health benefit may be stretching it, though staying awake while you are driving a car definitely contributes to your well-being! 3. Caffeine also contains antioxidants, which have been shown to have cancer prevention qualities 4. When consumed in small quantities – for example, when you have one cup of coffee or one soda – caffeine can increase your heart rate, cause you to urinate more (which can cause dehydration) and prompt your digestive system to produce more acid. B. When larger amounts of caffeine (over 600 mg per day) are ingested over long periods of time, they can cause sleep problems, depression and digestion issues, and headaches when not used. 1. Transition: According to a Medline article on the National Institutes of Health website, having caffeine in your diet is not of any benefit to your health, but by the same token moderate consumption is not considered harmful. 2. They say that having up to 3 eight ounce cups of coffee a day – or 250 mg of caffeine – is considered (quote) â€Å"average or moderate†. 10 cups of coffee a day is considered excessive. Also, remember that the amount of caffeine per cup can vary greatly depending on the type of beans that are used and the strength of the brew. Conclusion Summarize: As you can see, caffeine can have both positive and negative effects on our health and well-being. Nevertheless, the bottom line is that if you drink your coffee or sodas in moderation, you don’t have to worry too much. Close with impact: So, the next time you are wondering whether or not you should have that second cup of coffee to perk you up, relax. At least now you know what it will – and won’t – do for you! References before you go to Starbucks or any other coffee selling store or brands, buy and take and take a sip of your favorite coffee, Wouldn’t you want to know better about what you benefit and don’t out of your coffee? I drink a lot of coffee, so I was wondering how that might affect my health, this inspired me to do some research on the subject. This knowledge better informs the user on what they are investing their money in, Why do most humans use it, what products have it, what are the advantages and disadvantages. How many of you here consider yourself caffeine addicts? How much coffee do you drink in a day? One cup? Two cups? More? How about caffeinated sodas? : Caffeine is pervasive in our society these days and every few months we hear about how a study has shown that it is bad for us or good for us. What are we to believe? But Today, I’d like to give you some of the facts about caffeine and its effects on your body. I may not cause you to change your coffee consumption, but at least you’ll be better informed about what you are putting into your body, I’m going to talk about the beneficial effects of caffeine, the negative effects and discuss what are considered to be ‘safe’ levels of caffeine consumption. Let’s start with the good news. Caffeine, which comes from the leaves, seeds and fruits of about 63 different plants, Caffeine does help you wake up and feel more alert and it has been shown to increase attention spans. It’s well known as a stimulant. That’s why people drink it, right? This is a beneficial effect for people who are driving long distances and for people who are doing tedious work, calling this a health benefit may be stretching it, though staying awake while you are driving a car definitely contributes to your well-being! Caffeine also contains antioxidants, which have been shown to have cancer prevention qualities, When consumed in small quantities – for example, when you have one cup of coffee or one soda – caffeine can increase your heart rate, cause you to urinate more which can cause dehydration but it can prompt your digestive system to produce more acid. When larger amounts of caffeine over 600 mg per day are ingested over long periods of time, they can cause sleep problems, depression and digestion issues, and headaches when it’s not used. According to a Medline article on the National Institutes of Health website, having caffeine in your diet is not of any benefit to your health, but by the same token moderate consumption is not considered harmful. They say that having up to 3 eight ounce cups of coffee a day or 250 mg of caffeine is considered â€Å"average or moderate† now 10 cups of coffee a day is considered excessive. Also, remember that the amount of caffeine per cup can vary greatly depending on the type of beans that are used and the strength of the brew. As you can see, caffeine can have both positive and negative effects on our health and well-being. Nevertheless, the bottom line is that if you drink your coffee or sodas in moderation, you don’t have to worry too much. So, the next time you are wondering whether or not you should have that second cup of coffee to perk you up, relax. At least now you know what it will – and won’t – do for you!