Saturday, August 31, 2019

Studying Children’s Friendships in Bigelow and La Gaipa: Comparison

In this essay you will read about the many similarities and differences of the study and research of children’s friendships expectations, which were approached by Bigelow and La Gaipa (1975) and William Corsaro (2006). Firstly I will introduce both of the different approaches and methods and I will then later go into the results of their work. I will later go on to talk about the problems with some of the methods and what could have been changed to solve these and lastly the similarities and differences between them both. Bigelow and La Gaipa in 1975 approached a study on children’s friendships; they started the study in the 1970 when very little was known on children’s friendship and the aspects of ‘friendships’. Their main studies was to look at the differences in children’s understanding of friendship at various stages of development and how the children’s interpretation of friendship changes as they get older. In the Experiment itself they asked thirty girls and thirty boys from eight different schools, between the ages of six and fourteen to think about their best friend of the same sex. They were then told to write an essay on what they expected of their best friend and how it differs from expectations of other friends. Bigelow and La Gaipa sampled a study of four hundred and eighty essays. Before the study and research took place Bigelow and La Gaipa wrote a list of different characteristics of a best friend of which they believed the children may include in their essays, they created a list of twenty one difference categories of friendship expectations. For the results of this method they took all four hundred and eighty essays and compared them against their list of twenty one categories of friendship expectations, this was to count how many times each expectation was mentioned, this is usually referred to as a frequency count. Once they counted each expectation and the occurrences had been noted they could use the frequency count to look for patterns that could give them an insight into children’s friendships expectations and the changing nature of it. Bigelow and La Gaipa found some differences in the expectations of a best friend in different ages and how gender differs too. Sixteen of the twenty one categories were noted more frequent in the elder children’s essays compared to the younger, it is said that ‘’expectations of a best friend become increasingly complex and sophisticated as children get older’’. Bigelow and La Gaipa all came up with three different stages of development of children’s expectations in friendship: First stage- is based on shared activities, so when you’re a lot younger and your parents take you for meetings with other children to start the development of friendships. Second stage – this change is different from the first stage as the friendships are more emphasized on sharing, loyalty and commitment. Third stage – this stage is based more on growing up and the importance of similarity in attitudes, values and the potential of a more intimate friendship The problem with Bigelow and La Gaipa’s approach was that younger children lack the use of skills and higher education such as verbal and writing skills, older children may be a lot better with words and may be more descriptive, whereas the younger children will keep there’s more simple and basic. Another problem with their approach was that Bigelow and La Gaipa created the list themselves of the friendship expectations, this could be seen as unfair because what they wrote down could be their own expectations and not a varied supply of words for everyone’s views on friendship expectations. To change this they could have asked another variety of people on their first thoughts on what is a best friend and used a mixed variety of ideas. William Corsaro was more interested in how children spoke to each other and that research on children’s friendships should focus more on their understanding of the word. William Corsaro wanted to explore more into how friendship changes and is meant in different places and different times, he wanted to look more into the communication of children with each other rather than have an interviewer. He made notes on the different activities of children and their interactions with each other, whilst video recording them, this is an example of an ethnographic approach. An ethnographic approach can be seen as better when it used with younger children which may not be good with words like elder children, also this way he could get a first-hand account of the Childs experiences. Corsaro had to find a way of blending in with the social groups without seeming inconspicuous, he believed that a way which has worked well in the past is observing and watching from a distant and waiting to be approached by children, for them to then invite you into the social group. He firstly observed a group of children of the age of three years old playing in a box and discovered in order to gain access to be invited to play together you need to already be friends or become friends. He then observed to three year old girls, Jenny and Betty and discovered that they became concerned about one another when one disappeared to play with someone else, Betty also reassures Jenny that they are still best friends. William Corsaro’s last observation slightly contradicts Bigelow and La Gaipa’s idea of showing concern of each other comes as you get older, whereas Corsaro comes across the two girls whom at the age of three become concerned for one another. This may be due to the different approaches they both took in their research, Corsaro’s approach was more about translating the children’s words whereas Bigelow and La Gaipa’s at the end came down to translating the children’s essays into numbers. They both started off by using more qualitative data but later Bigelow and La Gaipa altered theirs to quantitative. The problems with Corsaro’s approach is that he didn’t vary his ideas enough and kept them to a small, minimum age range and didn’t vary the different situations, although his idea was to see the understanding of children’s idea on ‘friends’, if he had mixed situations and ages Corsaro may have had a very different result to what he got. I think it would have made his experiment more interesting if he had varied genders and the amount of children and also seen how boy and girl friends interact with one another. By looking at both studies there is an obvious similarity and this is that they both were interested in the research and study of children's friendships. Another similarity in both these approaches of children’s friendship is that the children had free will to do or write what they wanted, Bigelow and La Gaipa just told them to write what they looked for in a best friend and William Corsaro allowed the children to play where they wanted and allowed them to introduce him into their social group rather than approaching it himself which may have altered the results for his study. From my point of view there are a lot more differences comparing both the approaches, to start with although they were both looking into children’s friendships, William Corsaro was more interested in the children’s individual understanding of the word ‘friend’ and how place and time affect this, in contrast Bigelow and La Gaipa wanted to know a range of ideas of what children expect of their ‘best friend’. They also used different methods Corsaro used an ethnographic approach unlike Bigelow and La Gaipa which used a written quantitative research method. To conclude this essay I believe that the differences overrule over similarities with Bigelow and La Gaipa’s compared to William Corsaro’s approach. They both make valid points in their methods, studies and especially their results, but both results contradict one another, by one saying as you get older friendships become more complex and you become more concerned for friends, where on the other hand the other goes on to show that from a young age of three a couple of young girls show concern for each other, which opens the question of every child differs from each other. Bigelow and La Gaipa had a good idea of method by sampling a wide number and varied the ages and areas the children were from, whereas William Corsaro only observed a small amount of children which doesn’t open his sampling studies as he was then restricted to what he had. I believe that William Corsaro had the better method overall though by actually observing how children interact and by seeing it all himself from his own eyes, children’s views on each other can differ all the time, even days when they’re a lot younger.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Pussy Riot

This group has approximately 11 members, with women ranging from age 20 to 33. This group's activities include staging unauthorized provocative performances in public places and then video taping them to post on the internet. These women protest with lyrical songs consisting of topics on feminism, LIGHT rights, opposition to the policies of the Russian President Vladimir Putting. They also make inks between Putting and the Russian Orthodox Church.Puss Riot is already a controversial group because they perform in Inappropriate places, but one specific performance at Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior threw these women overboard. Their actions were immediately stopped by church security guards and two of the group members were arrested and charged with â€Å"hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. † They were each sentenced to two years in prison. The trial for this case became exhausting and complicated very fast and retests were being held all over the world after the gr oup's sentence was announced.What is interesting about this documentary Is that, although this group Is a subculture and they are definitely going against many social norms by performing provocative unpleasant to hear songs about their beliefs, many people actually like and support them. However, others may consider this a disgusting act of pure deviance. Although this group of women may look more like a counterculture than a subculture, considering their appearance and vulgarity, they actually do not fall ender this category because they are not trying to hurt anyone.As said In the documentary, these women are nice people who Just want to express their beliefs. We all have beliefs and we all probably express them from time to time, but these women Just decided to express them In more of an Inappropriate, blunt, and passionate way that goes against the social norm. This still means that these women were deviant. They were deviant In the fact that they were going against the norm as well as In the fact that they were arrested and charged with hooliganism.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Calibrating a pressure gauge using an air-operated dead-weight pressure gauge tester for air gauges

Calibrating a pressure gauge using an air-operated dead-weight pressure gauge tester for air gauges INTRODUCTION: Calibrationis the set of operations that establish the relationship between the values of quantities indicated by a measuring instrument and the corresponding values realized by standards. The result of a calibration allows for the determination of corrections to be made with regards to the indicated values. It may also help in determining other metrological properties such as the effect of influence quantities. The results of a calibration are usually documented and referred to as calibration certificate or a calibration report. Necessary adjustments are made to the instrument after calibration so that it always indicates readings corresponding to given values of the quantity measured. When the instrument is made to give a null indication corresponding to a null value of the quantity to be measured, the set of operation is called zero adjustment . The Calibration Process The first thing to consider in calibrating an instrument is its design. In order to be able to cal ibrate an instrument, the design of the instrument has to be capable of measurements that are â€Å"withinengineering tolerance† when used within certain conditions and over a reasonable period of time. The criteria used for assigning tolerance values vary according to regions and according to type of industry. Manufacturers of instruments assign a general measurement tolerance and suggest the calibration interval as well as the optimum environment for use and storage of the instrument. The user of the instrument on the other hand assigns the actual calibration interval, on the instrument’s likely usage level. For example, if a manufacturer states that an instrument needs to be calibrated after usage for 8-12 hours of use 5 days per week is six months, that same instrument in 24/7 usage would generally get a shorter interval. The assignment of calibration intervals can be a formal process based on the results of previous calibrations. Calibration process versus cost G enerally, the process of calibrating an instrument is a difficult and expensive one. As a rule of thumb, the cost for ordinary equipment support is generally about 10% of the purchasing cost of the instrument on a yearly basis. Exotic devices such asscanning electron microscopes,gas chromatographsystems andlaserinterferometerdevices can be even more expensive to calibrate. When the instruments being calibrated are integrated with computers, the integrated computer programs and any calibration corrections are also under control. The calibration paradox Successful calibration has to be consistent and systematic. At the same time, the complexity of some instruments requires that only key functions be identified and calibrated. Under those conditions, a degree of randomness is needed to find unexpected deficiencies. Even the most routine calibration requires a willingness to investigate any unexpected observation. Theoretically, anyone who can read and follow the directions of a calibra tion procedure can perform the work. It is recognizing and dealing with the exceptions that is the most challenging aspect of the work. This is where experience and judgement are called for and where most of the resources are consumed. THEORY Principles of Operation Of Dead Weight Testers Pressure is defined as force per unit area i.e.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Democratic Awakening (1989 - 2009) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Democratic Awakening (1989 - 2009) - Essay Example The fall of the Berlin Wall identified the turning point in the 20th-century history with the end of the Cold War in Europe. People were tired of the long period of misery in one of the world’s greatest cities. The Berlin Wall divides Germany for 45 years, and its fall signified that German was once again one country (Sarotte, 2014). In the 20th century, Berlin went through violence and hatred that saw most of the city destroyed during the World War II (1939-1945). The city was separated amongst the nations that won the war during the period of peace. In the East Germany, the Soviet Union established a Communist government and took control of East Berlin. The West Berlin was further divided into three parts that were governed by the Americans, the British, and the French. The East Germany under communism was under a strict Soviet control while the West was made up of free democracies.   The East Berlin was poorer as compared to West Berlin. To stop the movement of people fro m East to West Berlin, the East Germans constructed a wall of iron and concrete through the city in 1961. The fall of the Berlin Wall on 10 November 1989, marked a new era in German (Williams, 2007).   Ã‚  Ã‚   The fall of Berlin Wall was the beginning of a key shift in Europe since the World War II. This is evident on November 9, 1989, where the East German government announced its effective opening of the Berlin Wall. The period of the collapse of Berlin Wall concentrated on the diplomacy that resulted in the unification of German and realignment of Europe (Wohlforth, 2010).

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Marketing Information System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing Information System - Essay Example The technological opportunities are obviously highly appealing for Marketers to explore and use extensively and intensively. Technology has no inherent morality and the way in which it is utilized is what really matters. In this matter, both the deontological as well as the utilitarian view of ethics (Bergman, 1997) apply. Drawing coop concentration to the ethical facet of the use of web-based technologies in the area of marketing might comprise of differentiating force for proactive firms. Some aspects of information gathered are visible (such as self-divulgence of information for purchase, self-divulgence of information in accessing a web-site, self-divulgence of information for free merchandise) and some are less visible (such as anonymous profile data, IP, cookies). Owing to these possible uses and abuses of information, many consumers remain hesitant about Internet purchasing. The development of software allowing "private Internet experience" and "completely undetected surfing" is an indication of consumer concern regarding the invasion of privacy. There is room for the development of competitive advantage. The Issue of Marketing Tools Advertising is an important marketing tool on the Internet with a range of possibilities for customer interactivity and involvement (Ranchhod, 1998). Banner advertising has been an important tool for many Internet based advertisements with much research dedicated to its design elements. At the same time, marketing professionals try to comprehend how individuals surf through websites and consequently attempt to increase the CTR (click-through ratio). In this regard, researchers as well as practitioners attempt to recognize key variables like type and size of ad banners, animation, use of color, sounds, images, incentives, etc. Certain practices can be monitored and are endorsed as efficient ones like pop-ups, deceiving banners (computer-like messages, with "ok" button). Parallel to Internet advertising, the development of e-mail marketing and Spam are features of aggressive e marketing. However, there is still a long way to go before many companies put in place the best and most effective approaches to conduct an exceptional email marketing campaign.Companies already have the creativity, the magnificent deals on offer and the colourful landscapes of dreamy holidays to mention a few, but what marketers don't know is that sometimes this creativity can actually get in the way, preventing emails from making it into the inbox. If this is the case, what good does a top-notch creative campaign do if the email is never opened. Although marketers are often from a creative background, one cannot ignore the vital impact of analysis. The information convened from campaigns, such as click through rates and churn rates, is definatele key to gain the discernment about customer's likes and dislikes, and provides the preliminaries to make future campaigns more effective and pertinent. This lead to the conclusion that the emails that companies send are delivered and contain valuable information for customers. By targeting messages more closely and handling customer data more efficiently and effectively, not only will the possibility of fabricating a sale increase, but the overall costs can be cut, databases cleaned and a greater

Monday, August 26, 2019

Business Ethics Reverse Discrimination Term Paper

Business Ethics Reverse Discrimination - Term Paper Example However, there is a phenomenon referred to as reverse discrimination, which is defined as occurring â€Å"when a person is denied an opportunity because of preferences given to protected-class individuals who may be less qualified† (Mathis & Jackson, 2005, p.103). In this situation, it must be proven that the organization where the individual is employed was denied opportunities or received discriminatory actions because a member of a protected class was given preferential treatment. This paper describes situations in the workplace that involve reverse discrimination, with a focus on the legal structure that forbids this from occurring and the ethical issues potentially involved in workplace reverse discrimination scenarios. The Letter of the Law The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibits discrimination related to compensation, working conditions, or certain privileges for individuals over the age of 40 that work for employers with 20 or more employees (Mathis & Jackson). It is a federal law, thus it applies to all businesses across the United States fitting the profile of 20 or more employees. A situation occurred where those individuals who were considered a protected class against the ADEA filed suit alleging reverse discrimination based on benefits provisions and early retirement benefits options. At General Dynamics Land Systems, the company decided it would be in the best interest of the business to alter the retiree health care benefits scheme. Full health care benefits were to be provided upon signing the new General Dynamics contract, but only if the individual was 50 years of age or older (Zink, 2006). Workers who were not yet of 50 years of age, thus not in a protected class under the ADEA, filed suit against General Dynamics citing reverse discrimination since they were not to be afforded the full health care benefits due to their younger age profiles. The ADEA explicitly states the following: â€Å"It shall be unlawful for an employer – (1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, term, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s age† (Zink, 2006, p.2). Ultimately, this case was dismissed by the Circuit Court, citing that reverse discrimination was not allowed under the ADEA. However, the younger workers were allowed to pursue their reverse discrimination suit citing other legal precedents. This particular case was chosen for analysis because many organizations, in fear of receiving liability outcomes, will deny opportunities to younger workers in favor of those in an age-related protected class. Though General Dynamics does not necessarily fit this profile, it was necessary to show how the language of the ADEA and similar legislation can be misinterpreted so that younger workers miss out on many workplace opportunities because of how the language is spelled ou t. Consider the following case that did meet with victory in the court system alleging reverse discrimination, where the business did deny opportunities to a non-protected class in favor of avoiding liability. The New Haven Fire Department had established a proficiency test to determine which firefighter candidates were most qualified to receive promotions. Detailed steps were undertaken to ensure that the tests were unbiased, â€Å"including painstaking analyses to ensure the tests

The Role of Activating Home-school Partnership in Education of Essay

The Role of Activating Home-school Partnership in Education of Mentally Retarded and Its Effect - Essay Example with their peers in the community setting gives them an opportunity to be free and express themselves hence the ultimate development in their communication. Students experience more communication in the activated partnership through interaction than a specialized classroom. A partnership environment setting gives the students an opportunity and supports them in increasing a variety of skills in social, cultural and academic interaction. Furthermore, the students in partnership collaboration develop physical coordination and skills by observing those in the community, school and family. Inclusion of the students in partnership is a vital approach in ensuring that severely retarded students acquire and develop their communication skills just as their other peers (Allen & McLaughlin, 1995).. Thus fully activated home school partnership is important in ensuring the development of communication skills among the retarded students. Typically developing peers The home - school partnership is essential in the development of the mentally disabled students. Peers, both in school and community play an important role in this inclusion process (Cole & Meyer, (1991. Retarded students are given an opportunity to interact and observe the behavior of the typical peers in society hence furthering their development. Peers have positive effects on the life and development of the disabled students. They play important roles of tutors and guides to the mentally retarded students hence contributing positively towards disabled’s development. The peers in the activation process, are helpful in many ways. They help the other students to manage their communications, facilitate their interaction and participation both in society and class setting as well as pairing of themselves and the... This paper approves that activation of home-school partnership results to changes in the system of education that aims to improve the education. This gives rise to assistive technology that changes the lives of the mentally disabled students as it makes it possible for them to participate in more activities that the previously; you were not able to. Furthermore, the assistive technology recognizes the different unique characteristics of the mentally retarded students thus providing the disparities in the usage for the good of the students. This beneficial and vital technology requires the collaboration of all stakeholders for them to be made available to students. The family should play its part in learning the usage from the schools so as to aid their children while at home to ensure continuity. The collaboration also ensures that the activities done outside the classroom setting but are in line with that class is effectively performed. Aside from the normal teachers, there are many professional facilitators that play supportive roles in the partnership aimed at the successful inclusion of the process. This essay makes a conclusion that home-school partnership plays an important role in the development of student education as well as achievement at all levels of society. There is better communication, improved teacher student relations and deeper understanding of the behaviors and needs of the students that are realized through this partnership. There is need therefore to increase the collaboration of family, community and schools to improve education and living standards of the mentally retarded students.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 8

Case study - Essay Example Josephine and Connor are the parents of 18 month old boy named Taj. They were planning day care centre assistance for his development. They were concerned about his speech as he is not perfect in delivering up proper sentences. They are curious to know is this normal in all kids of this age or do their child having a problem. Sometime, it happens that parent’s don’t understand what their child exactly wants and they fail in understating his requirements/actions and sentences then it frustrates their child and he becomes stubborn. They are worried that if they use day care service then people will consider them bad parents who couldn’t control their child. Both were depressed due to their child behavior and are scared to have a day care service for their child. They are assuming that when their baby having issues at home then he will face issues at day care center as well. Sometimes, it happen that parent gets fail to understand a child’s actions/ sentences and this makes a child stubborn and frustrated. It’s a common issue with almost all kids that in early stages, they can’t deliver proper sentences and can’t elaborate their feelings. A child needs special care and attention in his childhood; parents need patience and love to understand his feelings in his childhood. In the above case, there are two issues related to child’s development. According to Jean Piaget, such issues can get solved by understanding child’s mental status and nature. As in childhood, children are neutral and they just do what they see. Such issues can be handled easily if parents deal them with patience and care. Understanding child’s mental approach helps a lot in understanding his actions. His insight plays a role of maturation (growing up gradually) in childrens rising capacity to explore their world: they cannot perform certain tasks until they become psychologically strong enough to do so. His work has spawned a big deal more, a great extent

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Concept Analysis. The Concept of Therapuetic Relationship in Mental Essay

Concept Analysis. The Concept of Therapuetic Relationship in Mental Health Nursing - Essay Example In a mental health setting, establishing a therapeutic relationship with the patient makes it easier to provide interventions and initiating two-way communication with the patient. Assumptions Mental health nurses hold a set of beliefs or values that guide them in their work. First, mental health is considered as a specialized area of nursing practice, education, and research (Videbeck 2010). Mental health nursing is an essential component of the mental help profession, making use of various nursing, psychosocial, and neurobiological theories, as well as research evidence towards the development of general, patient-centred mental health interventions (International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses 2011). Second, the mental health nursing practice places importance on the promotion of mental health and interventions focused on the prevention, treatment, and management of mental disorders. Moreover, a successful therapeutic relation between patient and nurse is founded on tr ust and mutual respect. Establishing a therapeutic relationship with a patient is an important step towards removing the stigma and discrimination commonly associated with mental illness (Videbeck 2010). Third, the mental health nursing profession acknowledges the essential role of research in the development of improved mental health care approaches and interventions. Fourth, the promotion of mental health goes beyond the doors of a mental institution by encouraging society to take action and take part in shaping health and organizational policy. This can be realized by fostering collaboration between individuals, families, communities, populations and social agencies (Videbeck 2010). Mental health nurses advocate a holistic approach, equal access to culturally competent care, protection of human rights, and safe, conducive work environments. Moreover, the mental health profession promotes reflective ethical practice, continuous learning, and the establishment of a moral and vision ary nursing leadership that adheres to the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses (Videbeck 2010). Goals of Concept Analysis Rodgers (1989) acknowledged the importance of the development and clarification of the nursing knowledge base. Concepts are essential components required to perform specific tasks, and any ambiguity that exists on a concept, whether by definition or attribute, would affect its effectiveness in addressing a particular situation. This is the reason why concept analysis is commonly utilized to ensure that important concepts possess a definite degree of clarity. However, the method of concept analysis in the field of nursing is not fully understood by nurses. This is due to the fact that most nurse scholars fail to fully examine the philosophical foundations and results of concept analysis. Most nurses therefore have no clear idea how the methods of concept analysis works Meleis (2007) described the goal of concept analysis as a method of advancing a specific concep t to a higher level of development. Specifically, concept analysis is performed to determine how a concept may be used in research, clinical practice, instrument development, and theory testing. The most common methods utilized are: Wilson’s Method of Concept Analysis, an 11-step technique for clarification and conceptual communication;

Friday, August 23, 2019

Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Communication Methods Research Paper

Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Communication Methods - Research Paper Example In a meeting, the manager or the supervisor gets the opportunity to communicate with the employees who also have the chance to discuss the issue. However, meetings are time consuming since they take much time as the ideas contributed are analyzed and a specific one settled upon. This provides one of the best ways of reducing company expenses through reduced travel expenses (Gilmore, 2012). However, this method may be challenging for the company at first because it takes significant resources to set up. If an employee is repetitively behaving in a way that is against the organization’s culture, then as the manager, I would use face to face communication since immediate reply from the specific employee is essential. In addition, as the manager, I would have to show the employee that the continuous irresponsibility would not be tolerated in the organization. Therefore, it would make a greater impact if I would address them directly. If I want to ensure that the employees are well aware of an existing company event, it would be effective if I would pass this information during the meetings. This is because all employees attend these meetings. In addition, this eliminates the expenses that would be incurred if other methods such as telephone were used. If one of my clients were considering signing up with a competitor, I would telephone call to deal with the case. This is because such issues are critical because they could expose the company’s competitive advantage compromising its ability to remain competitive in the market. Therefore, I would call the customer and request for a reason behind the change of mind so that I could help in improving the company and possibly retain the client. On the other hand, if I had several bids on a piece of equipment and needed a management decision on its purchase, I would result to using video conferencing to deal with the current case.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Internet Marketing Essay Example for Free

Internet Marketing Essay This is perhaps the biggest threat gained from the internet as standardised products have become easier to compare throughout online intermediaries like kelkoo(Chaffney 2006) However business have to view it as an opportunity rather than a threat. (Chaffney 2006)states the bargaining power of its suppliers is reduced since there is a wider choice and increased commoditisation due to e-procurement and e-marketplace. Companies can demand that supplier uses â€Å"Internet use of electronic data interchange†(Strauss et al 2006), in order to increase supply chain sufficiency and reduce costs. Substitution is on the increase since digital products can be introduced faster making it a steady threat as consumers have broader choices online. The replacing of online channels mean existing services are now on the net, I. e. online banking. The barriers to entry have declined, enabling new competitors that have previously required a high street presence to trade online, along with foreign competitors. All these factors must be monitored to avoid deterioration of market share. The microenvironment is defined as â€Å"all stakeholder, organizations, and forces external to the organisation†(Strauss,2006) . Social Factors are one of the key trends effecting businesses, to date a vast majority of the population obtain access to the internet, however firms need to take into account when forecasting future demands that groups do not wish to have access and the shortage of demand for online services. Moreover firms need to think how to avoid social exclusion (Chaffney 2006) defined as social exclusion as part of society that is excluded from the facilities available to the remainder and so becomes isolated (Strauss, 2006) Digital inequality matters due to those without access and skills are loosing out on the benefits of the digital world and research shows a clear correlation between social and digital exclusion.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Solutions and Requirements of Project Essay Example for Free

Solutions and Requirements of Project Essay Solutions The best solutions for the problems the college is facing is as follows: Creation of a Web Presentation: This will involve a brief presentation about the college showing the facilities, the area and people, transportation, courses, Fees, Support, News and Event, Student Union and Links to other institution for higher education. The presentation will be made in a slide view mode and would be accessed on the web using the address or the domain name used. Images the existing tutors and student will be put in the slide to make it attractive and the logo will be placed on every slide background. Open days times will be shown on the presentation and any job vacancy will be advertise on the web presentation. This is will be a solution to the problems facing the college but would need a lot of updating and work. Creation of a Website: This website would shows all Departments; at least one division of which would show all the courses offered. The site would fit the purpose for which it was designed using of a wide variety of techniques and showing accuracy in its content, construction and organization. The site would give an accurate impression of what a full site would look like. It must include: * An introductory page (this may be the home page or could be separate) * A page on each department of the college indicating sub divisions (eg Business ICT/Travel Tourism/Business Studies) * Information on all courses in a particular division (ICT) * Facilities/campus (a slideshow might be useful here, perhaps a map linking to images) * Student union * News (indicating events, perhaps a video of a music event) * Equal opportunities * Contact details * Location Travel details * An application form Requirements The following are the requirements of the project: i. Web server I would need a server to be able to upload the website which is JANET(JOINT ACADEMIC NETWORK) because it is specifically designed for colleges and is very reliable. The main reason why I chose Janet because it provides the following resources shown below: * Has Windows Server 2003 and Linus Hosting * Has a web space to upload the website content using FTP and Microsoft FrontPage * Has 5GB storage space per hosted domain with an option to purchase additional web space if required * Has a daily backups of user data and a simple process for recovering backup data * Provides technical reports on the hosted domain Web space, back up ,security, FTP accessibility, fast connection , scripting and technical support services are all included in the features of the JANET. ii. Dream weaver Dream weaver is the market leader and automates or semi-automates almost every command, action and behaviour most web designer would want to use. Specific scripting can be added to web pages to perform certain actions or behaviours such as hit counters (these are often server side and require scripts that particular servers understand). Colours used have to be web safe and are built into most programs. Images have to be rgb/jpg or indexed/gif. Videos can be of various formats but tend to be mpg, wmv, avi and may require specific codecs to be read properly by individual pcs. Animations are generally created by using animated gifs or created in Flash though some can be purely created using type such as scrolling marquees). Audio files are generally wav, wma, mpg or ram but again there are many other formats which may be used and may need specific codecs. File management of web sites must be organised properly or they will not work efficiently. Dream weaver allows uploading to remote si te (server) via the software but most programs do not allow this so a separate ftp program is generally needed. Therefore I chose to use dream weaver because web authoring can be done by any text based program but specialist software programs have been developed to dispense with the extremely tedious method of writing html code. iii. Copyright Security Issues Copyright and security issues should be observed so that the college wouldnt suffer from any complaints. All images should be authorised by the college board to avoid these issues. iv. System Framework The initial site is designed according to the way the pages will be linked and the pages which will be available. Site is another name for the system framework. v. Constraints I would need a n FTP address in order to upload the site which is sometime difficult to get hold off due to security reasons. The budget for the budget is 10000 and should be up and running by summer.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Suitability of leadership styles to implementing changes

Suitability of leadership styles to implementing changes Leadership styles are the main subject of this chapter. First will be looked at what leadership is, thereafter the differences between managers and leaders are mentioned in short. Then, different leadership styles are described and the characteristics of an effective leader are given. Finally, the relation between leadership and changes in the organization as a result of organic growth are discussed and the most suitable type of leadership to implement these changes are given. What is leadership Leadership is a widely studied phenomena in the scientific literature but it is hard to give a consistent and comprehensive definition of it. This is, according to Grint (2004), due to lack of agreement on four problems which are related to leadership; (1) the process problem is leadership derived from the personal qualities, or is it social process? (2) the position problem has the leader formally allocated authority, or leads he with informal influence? (3) the philosophy problem are actions determined by context and situation, or by intentional influence? (4) the purity problem is leadership an individuals, or a group phenomenon? In the same year of Grints research publication, Northouse also reviewed his theory about leadership. He stated that leadership is a process and involves influence, occurs in a group and involves goal attainment. However, an universal definition of what is meant by organizational leadership is commonly stated as the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organizations of which they are members. In short, leadership is a combination of the leaders traits, the behaviour of the leader, and the situation in which the leader exist. This means that leadership could be different in every situation. Differences manager and leader In many management books and scientific articles the terms manager and leader are used interchangeably which imply that these words have the same meaning. Because this is not correct and can lead to misconception, the main differences and comparisons between a manager and a leader, based on an article of Abraham Zaleznik (1977), are given in short in table 3.1Managers and leaders. Table 3.1 Managers and leaders Managers Leaders Attitudes toward goals Take an impersonal, passive outlook Goals arise out of necessities, not desires. Take a personal, active outlook. Shape rather than respond to ideas. Alter moods; evoke images, expectations. Change how people think about whats desirable and possible. Set company direction. Conceptions of work Negotiate and coerce. Balance opposing views. Design compromises. Limit choices. Avoid risk. Develop fresh approaches to problems. Increase options. Turn ideas into exciting images. Seek risk when opportunities appear promising. Relation with others Prefer working with people, but maintain minimal emotional involvement. Lack empathy. Focus on process, e.g., how decisions are made rather than what decisions to make. Communicate by sending ambiguous signals. Subordinates perceive them as inscrutable, detached, manipulative. Organization accumulates bureaucracy and political intrigue. Attracted to ideas. Relate to others directly, intuitively, empathetically. Focus on substance of events and decisions, including their meaning for participants. Subordinates describe them with emotionally rich adjectives; e.g., love, hate. Relations appear turbulent, intense, disorganized. Yet motivation intensifies, and unanticipated outcomes proliferate. Sense of self Comes from perpetuating and strengthening existing institutions. Feel part of the organization. Comes from struggles to profoundly alter human and economic relationships. Feel separate from the organization. Different leadership styles and effectiveness To achieve success, a leader needs an appropriate leadership style which fits within the whole organization. Therefore it is crucial to know which different leadership styles there are and which of them are most effective in certain circumstances. Although there are several studies about these topics, just some theories and styles will be explained in this section. The two most fundamentally different and common used leadership styles are transactional leadership and transformational leadership. Transactional leaders adjust their style to the existing organizational culture and operates within that framework. The structure is given in which their goals and needs have to be reached. This leaders implement only incremental changes. In contrast of that, transformational leaders have a clear vision of what have to be done, and the organization has to alter to reach this vision. So, the groups wants and needs and the organizations culture need to change. They lead trough implementing radical changes (Bass, 1990). Rooke and Torbert (2005) looked at another way to the topic of leadership. They argues that there are seven transformations of leadership, although seven ways of leading, which they called action logics. Each of the seven transformations is a leaders dominant way of thinking and leaders have the possibility to move through these categories. Out of their research of thousand leaders, they observed the next action logics showed in table 3.2 Seven ways of leading, with their characteristics, their strengths and the percentage of the sample that belongs to it. Table 3.2 Seven ways of leadingthis action logic Action logic Characteristics Strenghts % of research sample profiling at this action logic Opportunist Wins any way possible. Self-oriented; manipulative; might makes right. Good in emergencies and in sales opportunities. 5% Diplomat Avoids overt conflict. Wants to belong; obeys group norms; rarely rocks the boat. Good as supportive glue within an office; helps bring people together. 12% Expert Rules by logic and expertise. Seeks rational efficiency. Good as an individual contributor. 38% Achiever Meets strategic goals. Effectively achieves goals through teams; juggles managerial duties and market demands. Well suited to managerial roles; action and goal oriented. 30% Individualist Interweaves competing personal and company action logics. Creates unique structures to resolve gaps between strategy and performance. Effective in venture and consulting roles. 10% Strategist Generates organizational and personal transformations. Exercises the power of mutual inquiry, vigilance, and vulnerability for both the short and long term. Effective as a transformational leader. 4% Alchemist Generates social transformations. Integrates material, spiritual, and societal transformation. Good at leading society-wide transformations. 1% The managerial implications of these findings is that the Opportunist, Diplomats, and Experts are associated with below average corporate performance. The Achievers are associated with effective implementing of organizational strategies, but only the Individualist, Strategists, and Alchemist (which accounted for 15% of the sample) have the capacity to innovate and to transform organizations in a successfully way. Because there is no single style that is effective in all situations, Flamholtz created his Leadership Effectiveness framework whereby the situation determines which style of leadership will be most effective. According to Flamholtz, leadership effectiveness is dependent on leadership tasks, situational factors, leadership styles and the combination of the style-situation fit. An overview of Flamholtz Leadership Effectiveness framework can be seen in figure 3.1 The Flamholtz leadership effectiveness framework. Figure 3.1 The Flamholtz leadership effectiveness framework Leadership Effectiveness Leadership tasks Work Orientation People Orientation Situational factors Organization Work to be done People doing the work Leadership styles Directive Interactive Nondirective Style-Situation Fit The leadership tasks consist of work orientation and people orientation. Work orientation, which means that the work has to be done, is related to goal emphasis and task facilitation. People orientation gives care to the needs of the people doing the work, and is related to personnel development, interaction facilitation and supportive behaviour. The situational factors can be divided into the degree of task programmability, which is the extent to a work task can be specified prior its execution, and the potential for job autonomy, which is the extent to someone can work without supervision. Each leadership category in Flamholtz framework pertains two leadership styles. Autocratic and benevolent autocratic belong to the directive category. This styles declares what is to be done respectively without, and with an explanation. Consultative and participative belong to the interactive style. A leader with such a style respectively gets opinions before deciding on the plan presented, or first formulates alternatives with a group and then decides. The last two styles, consensus and laissez-fair, belongs to the nondirective category. By the consensus style has every member of the group an equal voice in making decisions, the laissez-faire style leaves it up to the group to decide what to do. Overall, to achieve a high level of effectiveness a leader has to find a balance in emphasizing the work and people orientations of leadership tasks

Monday, August 19, 2019

Tony Horwitz’s Confederates in the Attic, History, and Reconciliation :: Confederates Attic

Tony Horwitz’s Confederates in the Attic, History, and Reconciliation Long after the Civil War we are still fascinated by it. In some circles, the "War of Northern Agression" or the "Lost Cause" is thought of, discussed, brought to life daily. While every war has its fanbase, the Civil War has a special distinction for America. It was the war for the preservation of the Union in some classes, a violent and tyrranical putting-down of a justified rebellion in others. I have never been particularly interested in the war, or any war for that matter. I have also never been terribly entertained by professional sports or cowboy movies, either, so I blame my lack of enthusiasm for Civil War lore and history more on my general lack of manliness rather than any fault of the war’s. It was obviously a very moving conflict. When I moved from Illinois to Arkansas and entered the eighth grade, I discovered my new school was approximately a year behind my old school in most subjects. I spent an additional nine months firming up my knowledge of "Earth Science," and relearning American History. For the most part, the entire academic year was simply a refresher – we even used some of the same textbooks I had used in the seventh gade. It was the same, that is, until we got to the Civil War. In Illinois the war was portrayed in fairly objective terms, something like this: "In the Civil War the North and South fought against each other. The South wanted to secede from the union, and the North wanted to keep the US together, oh and free the slaves. Illinois was part of the North." The instruction wasn’t necessarily complete or elevated, but I never felt like I was personally involved in the war. However, in Arkansas, in the South, I received an education much more like this: "During the Civil War, w e fought against the North. They didn’t want to let us secede. We wanted to, and would have, but we lost. They freed the slaves." Even at 13 I understood there was something very different about the way that people in the North and in the South view the war. Many writers, poets, and critics have pronounced that part of what makes the South so southern is the fact that it builds itself on its past. It cannot let go of the past. Tony Horwitz’s Confederates in the Attic, History, and Reconciliation :: Confederates Attic Tony Horwitz’s Confederates in the Attic, History, and Reconciliation Long after the Civil War we are still fascinated by it. In some circles, the "War of Northern Agression" or the "Lost Cause" is thought of, discussed, brought to life daily. While every war has its fanbase, the Civil War has a special distinction for America. It was the war for the preservation of the Union in some classes, a violent and tyrranical putting-down of a justified rebellion in others. I have never been particularly interested in the war, or any war for that matter. I have also never been terribly entertained by professional sports or cowboy movies, either, so I blame my lack of enthusiasm for Civil War lore and history more on my general lack of manliness rather than any fault of the war’s. It was obviously a very moving conflict. When I moved from Illinois to Arkansas and entered the eighth grade, I discovered my new school was approximately a year behind my old school in most subjects. I spent an additional nine months firming up my knowledge of "Earth Science," and relearning American History. For the most part, the entire academic year was simply a refresher – we even used some of the same textbooks I had used in the seventh gade. It was the same, that is, until we got to the Civil War. In Illinois the war was portrayed in fairly objective terms, something like this: "In the Civil War the North and South fought against each other. The South wanted to secede from the union, and the North wanted to keep the US together, oh and free the slaves. Illinois was part of the North." The instruction wasn’t necessarily complete or elevated, but I never felt like I was personally involved in the war. However, in Arkansas, in the South, I received an education much more like this: "During the Civil War, w e fought against the North. They didn’t want to let us secede. We wanted to, and would have, but we lost. They freed the slaves." Even at 13 I understood there was something very different about the way that people in the North and in the South view the war. Many writers, poets, and critics have pronounced that part of what makes the South so southern is the fact that it builds itself on its past. It cannot let go of the past.

Women :: History, Caribbean Women

â€Å"During the twentieth century, poor women in the Caribbean were pulled into a predictable, gendered, labor pattern operating at investment sites in the region. In this pattern poor men leave home to find temporary, labor-intensive employment in the initial phases of economic development. Women follow later to take up more permanent service employment as maids, domestics, and cleaners† (Almer, 99). The significance of the quote is its showing the emergence of a labor model that has shaped the Caribbean for generations. In the beginning of the twentieth century poor eastern Caribbean women followed male migrant workers to various places such as: the Panama Canal, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Trinidad, Curacao, and Aruba in order to provide for their families. Eastern Caribbean women have developed their own family model, which include non-marital relationships and freedom to travel for work. According to eastern Caribbean social norms poor women are expected to have children and support them financially. This results in women leaving their children with extended family and supporting them by working in distant places (99). During the Pre-1960s women migrant workers found employment as seamstresses, cooks, laundresses, and maids at labor camps located in the Panama Canal Zone, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic (100). When employment on these islands decreased, women followed the labor migrant pattern again by traveling to Trinidad, Curacao and Aruba to perform domestic work (101). â€Å"The female labor migrants experienced a form of freedom and independence that came with consistent predictable wages. These migrant domestics were economic mainstays for their dependents left behind in their sending societies† (101). The quote is showing how migrant women have moved from their economic status in their home town to now being able to support themselves and their families through steady employment. During the Post-1960s increased economic investment in tourism on the US and British Virgin Islands, in addition to the Dutch’s Aruba and St. Maarten brought again the labor migrant pattern of women coming to work in the tourism industry (101). The increase in tourism on the Virgin Islands brought with it increases in foreign born populations and in female workers. â€Å" ’The general prosperity that was stimulated by tourism resulted in a demand for female workers, as maids and ancillary personal in hotels and gift shops and as domestics in private households’† (102). The quote shows how female labor plays an important role in the economies of these islands.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Reality Vs. Fantasy Essay -- essays research papers

Renà © Descartes, author of â€Å"Meditation 1†, writes how he must erase everything he had ever learned and thought to be true and must â€Å"begin again from the first foundations† (222). One may ask how Descartes came to this conclusion. The answer is that of he â€Å"realized how many were the false opinions that in [his] youth [he] took to be true, and thus how doubtful were all the things that [he] subsequently built upon these opinions† (222). This change was to take place at the perfect time in Descartes life however, he wasted much time waiting for that moment Descartes decided to simply let go of it. He started questioning everything he ever believed in. Descartes raised one specific question: How does one justify being awake from dreaming? He gives an example stating â€Å"that I am here, clothed in my dressing gown, seated at the fireplace, when in fact I am lying undressed between he blankets!† (222). Descartes describes how a dream may feel so real, one might actually think their dream is in fact reality. He goes on further saying â€Å"plainly that there are no definite signs to distinguish being awake from being asleep that I am quite astonished, and this astonishment almost convinces me that I am sleeping† (222). This all lead to Descartes coming up with a theory that â€Å"perhaps we do not even have these hands, or any such body at all† (223). He started questioning the existence of God as well, wondering whether or not he existed or if the heavens and earth were actuall...

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Martha Stewart: A Brand in Crisis

1. Stewart repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, despite the conviction and failed appeal, yet she still says she did nothing wrong. Is this the right strategy? Yes, admit your mistakes, learn from them and move on but don’t continue to make them over and over again. Stewart demoed that she engaged in any improper trading when she sold her shares of ImClone stock (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2007, page 345). Stewart claimed she had previously issued a â€Å"stop-loss† order to sell her 3928 shares; she also called her friend Sam Waksal, but could not reach him. However, Stewart’s explanation that she unloaded her stock because of a pre-arranged sell order collapsed when Douglas Faneuil, the broker’s assistant who handled the sale of the ImClone stock for Stewart, told Merrill Lynch lawyers that his boss, Peter Bacanovic, had pressured him to lie about a stop-loss order. 2. Did Stewart’s actions justify the subsequent sentence to her and those around her? Despite her reputation and business successes, Stewart was indicted in 2003 on criminal charges and faced several civil lawsuits to her sale of the ImClone stock (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2007, page 344). Stewart sold the stock on December 27, 2001, one day before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refused to review ImClone System’s cancer drug Erbitux; the company’s stock tumbled following the FDA’s announcement. On June 4, 2003, a federal grand jury indicted Stewart on charges of securities fraud, conspiracy (together with Bacanovic), making false statements, and obstruction of justice (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2007, page 346). At her trial, the indictments for securities fraud were dropped, but the other indictments were prosecuted (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2007, page 347). Stewart faced humiliation and some prison time but examples have to be set when running a company. You just can’t do what you please because you own it and not face the consequences. 3. Compare other executives’ wrongdoings versus Stewart’s. Discuss why MSLO is or is not different from what happened at companies such as Enron and Tyco. Enron’s demise caused tens of billions of dollars of investor losses, triggered a collapse of electricity-trading markets, and ushered in an era of accounting scandals that precipitated a global loss of confidence in corporate integrity (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2007, page 328). Now companies must defend legitimate but complicated financing arrangements, even legitimate financing tools tainted by association with Enron. Executives in these positions have a duty to protect the investors and shareholders of the company. Consumers put their trust in them for results and their ethical standards should be top priority. Enormous evidence of book-cooking and scandals involving WorldCom, Enron, Andersen Consulting and now Xerox, combined with Martha Stewart's embroglio over dumping ImClone stock last year, have caused growing skepticism among consumers about big brands in an already shaky economy that's trying its best to rebound. â€Å"The overall impact of the corporate financial scandals are going to cause consumers to question the ethics and the corporate behavior of many corporations,† said Lynne Doll, president of Rogers & Associates, a crisis communications firm in Los Angeles. (Hein & Cassidy, 2002). The investigation of Ms. Stewart's trading of ImClone stock continues. But at issue is perhaps less the outcome of the investigation than the more mystical question of what this does to the brand-a subject on which brand experts are more pessimistic than marketers. â€Å"An important element of the brand is authenticity,† said Don Pettit, president-CEO of brand identity firm Sterling Group. â€Å"A lot of Martha's credibility is built on her integrity and authority, and that's exactly what's being called into question. â€Å"

Friday, August 16, 2019

Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation of the Eagle Manufacturing Company

A. Ted Jones has been the supply manager for the Eagle Manufacturing Company for the past two years. B. Although Ted Jones has a great team of buyers, expediters, and support staff who carry out top notch work, the morale in Ted’s department is low. i. One of the senior buyer’s in Ted’s department, Bill Wilson, submitted his resignation. Bill accepted a position at another company where he will be paid substantially more although he will be doing the same work and will be under the same amount of stress. C. The previous month’s performance data for the office shows: 743 transactions, 98 percent with delivery on or before specified dates, 87 percent of supplies and material purchases at or within 5 percent of target price, 9 percent late deliveries, and a 5 percent rejection rate of materials and supplies received. D. A purchase request for a new robot, that according to estimates would cost $5. 5 million, was submitted by the maintenance department. It was supposed to be delivered and operational in seven months and only one source of supply was able to meet the delivery date. . An experienced buyer in Ted’s department, John McCauly, was negotiating with Fenwick Electronics for the robot. Although the maintenance department proposed $5. 5 million, Fenwick proposed $7. 2 million. Because of time, Fenwick was the sole source for obtaining the robot. b. John learned that the $5. 5 million estimate on the robot was in reality not an estimate but the amount budgeted for the machine last year. E. Several members from other departments of Eagle Manufacturing Company are not satisfied with Ted and the supply management department’s work. c. The Vice President of Operations, Tim Raines, and the Vice President of Marketing, Ron Hankins, were not happy that operations had run out of parts that week. Also the quality of the incoming parts was causing major production problems. d. The president’s secretary was not satisfied with the poor quality of the janitorial services contractor. e. The head of administration, Mary Jacobs was not satisfied with the quality of the new brand of paper which was constantly jamming the machine thus reducing productivity and increasing frustration amongst the administration epartment. II. Major Problem A. One major problem is communication between the various department and an understanding of the ins and out of each department and how each function of each department can affect another department in some way. B. Another problem is the quality of the services or products purchased by the supply management department. Because the quality of the services or products were low, the quali ty of work or product are also low which can affect profit and can also affect the way another department can accomplish tasks. III. Possible Solutions/Alternatives A. Communication would greatly help this situation. For example John, who is a buyer in Ted’s department did not know the $5. 5 million estimate on the new robot was actually the amount budgeted for the robot from the previous year. If John, the maintenance department, and even the finance department had been in frequent communication with each other regarding the new robot, John would have had a basis for developing a realistic negotiating objective with the supplier of the robot, Fenwick Electronics. There really is no disadvantage to good communication within each department. B. Each department needs to understand how the activities in their department can affect other departments, company profits etc. For example supply management, manufacturing, and operations are related. New product development begins with the manufacturing department. The manufacturing department submits a materials requisition to the supply management department. If the manufacturing department does not give the supply management department sufficient time to compare costs in order to purchase wisely, the company will most likely pay higher prices for materials. C. Eagle Manufacturing Company should hire a Director of Quality Assurance if they have not done so already. The Director of Quality Assurance would be involved in the development of new products to involvement in sourcing, supplier development, and qualifying the potential supplier. The Director of Quality Assurance’s objective would be to minimize quality problems throughout the supply chain thus minimizing problems other departments may experience. Although hiring somebody to handle quality assurance would be another expense to Eagle Manufacturing Company, hiring somebody to handle quality assurance would be like an investment. This person would ensure that the quality of a potential supplier is exceptional which would then create good quality work which would then increase profits for Eagle Manufacturing Company. IV. Choice and Rationale Eagle Manufacturing should first and most importantly focus on good communication within their departments and also make sure each department understands how all departments are interconnected and affect one another. Encouraging and maintaining open communication throughout the procurement process will 1) reduce the frustrations within each department and raise company morale and 2) possibly cut costs for supplies. V. Implementation/The Action Plan Ted Jones, the supply management manager for Eagle Manufacturing, must discuss the communication problem between departments to manager of each department immediately.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Why is it Justifiable

Classical architects developed their approach to design, considering its form and function for both private and civic buildings throughout the 17th century. The Examination Hall In Trinity College, Dublin, stands in Parliament Square. Designed by the architect Sir William Chambers, but realized by Christopher Myers, and completed In 1785. Entering the college through the classical portico of the West Front of Trinity College, one emerges into a beautiful, elegant and enormous space consisting of two squares, Parliament Square, a cobblestones quadrangle, and Library square, which is set with lawns and trees.Facing across the main quadrangle towards the Chapel, these two buildings mirror each other. Both are large single vaulted chambers with an apse, and a temple front portico in the tetra style, the columns being of the Corinthian order, supporting a pediment with unadorned tympanum, this mirroring was a device used in classical architecture to try to achieve balance, majesty, space and calm. The roof of the portico is of groin vaults springing from the imposts of Corinthian pilasters on the inside and the front columns.There are three principle registers, the ground floor, the piano mobile and the upper or attic level. There are five bays on the front elevation. The fenestration is typical, neoclassical, symmetrical distribution; the windows on the ground floor are round headed in keeping with the three arches in the portico, and the three arched windows above the entrance. On the piano mobile the windows are large, rectangular, with a pediment above, and console brackets and festoons below, the sills united with continuous molding.The attic windows are smaller, and square with a lintel above them. The walls of the building are made from ashlars granite, with channeled rustication on the ground floor, giving the building a fortified and secure effect. The portico and three central bays are made from Portland stone, a sign of the illustrious economic climate du ring the last half of the 18th century (Portland stone was expensive and had to be imported from Dorset at some considerable cost). The longitude elevation of the exam hall consists of seven bays; the central window on the piano Mobile has a pediment.Again the fenestration is symmetrical, with square windows on the attic floor, above each window is a lintel, on the ground floor the ashlars granite is channel rusticated, and the rectangular windows again have lintels above them. An undecorated transfigures spans the building between the ground floor and the piano mobile. Central to the ground floor is a door with block rustication surrounding the entrance. A balustrade runs along the parapet on the roof. Behind the balustrade on the roof, semi-circular windows run the length of the building including the three semi-circular windows on the south facing elevation, which is where the apse is.The apse has three bays, the attic level contains the aforementioned semi-circular windows, the piano mobile contains three large rectangular, round headed windows which are framed with a keystone surrounded y five vigorous either side of it. Inside is an ‘aphasia hall with a three-bay arcaded vestibule and gallery above'2, the hall is lit naturally by the semi-circular windows on the clerestory, the round headed windows in the gallery and by the large round headed windows in the hemispherical semi-dome apse.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Family or the Individual: Who Do We Work with?

Dani Romero Dr. Mack Cherry PHIL 3311 3/1/2013 Family or the individual: Who do we work with? Just as culture and individuals, medical ethics varies around the world. In the Western world medical ethics regarding consent is almost driven by the idea of separating the patient from the family. As discussed in class and readings, Western bio-ethics, compared to other countries, goes to the extent in dehumanizing the family figure when it comes to medical ethics, unless the patient is incapable to make their own decisions on their care.This idea is applied to most cases, even to those pertaining to minors. In other countries, for example China, family is the first source a physician goes to in order to to discuss the patients care and state before talking to the patient. The main question is, which approach should be used when it comes to consent? Is it better to glorify the patients independence by getting rid of the family figure or is it better for the physician to go to the family fi rst before bombarding a patient with overwhelming information?Of course, both sides of the argument have valid ideas defending their reasoning; however, trying to approach this as unbiased standard would be useless. In addition to making an insight to both arguments I will also apply what I have experienced with regards to a family vs. individual approach in my culture. First of all, we must understand that each approach is based on a statistical analysis, meaning that it’s a summation of the most common outcomes of each individual case.We approach each case like this because it would be impossible to remember every single outcome for each individual case that is relevant. This doesn’t mean that every single family is evil and tries to exclude the patient from their own choices; however, it also doesn’t mean that every family is a depiction of the Brady Bunch where everyone is happy, understanding and embraces each others flaws and quirks. In addition, we must a lso fully understand what the term family really means.According to the Oxford Dictionary a family means â€Å" a group consisting of parents and children living together in a household†. If you approach this through a biological point of view it means â€Å"a principal taxonomic category that ranks above genus and below order† (Oxford Dictionary). In both descriptions a family is basically a group that shares similar qualities and characteristics, but unlike friends that share same interests, family members are joined by a blood line that holds together by, not only interest, but also biological need to survive (e. . Propagation of their genes to future generations) In Western culture there has been a desire to separate the patient from the family. It almost feels as if society sees the family figure as a source of unfair control or a dictatorship that silences the individuals voice. In our modern society, bio ethics is driven by working for whats the best interest of the patient and what they, as an individual, say is better fit for them.In this approach, the family plays a only a â€Å"by default† sense, meaning that the patient is incapable of acting on their own behalf and has failed to appoint another individual to serve in their behalf and make decisions in the patients best interest (Boisaubin, 2004; Cherry and Engelhardt, 2004) Through the passing of the years, we as American’s have built up a mind set that families are evil and should not be trusted since we believe that no one knows better than what the individual wants but the individual himself.The ideas behind isolating the individual from the family is to protect their â€Å"best interest†. By having the patient as the â€Å"go to figure† we are enforcing the authority the patient has over themselves thus assuring that they are the only one that have control on what should happen to them. The idea of liberty plays a great part in Western culture, thus by isolating the patient we are playing by what every American is entitled to, which in this case, is the liberty to either accept or deny treatments offered by physicians.Also, as mentioned before, the main reason why an a patient is treated as an individual is in order to protect their best interest. As it can be easily seen, the family figure plays no role in this approach. The families main role is to play a historian in order to help the physician fill any gaps left by the patient. In this case families are suppose to be trusted, unless they show signs that they are incapable of being trusted. As mentioned in Ruiping Fan’s and Julia Tao’s â€Å"Consent to Medical Treatment: The Complex Interplay of Patients, Families, and Physicians,Western ioethics began as a fight against paternalism in order for the patient to gain autonomy over themselves (Engelhardt, 2002). Bioethics was build up on the pillars of individualism and autonomy over ones own body and decisions. Kn owing this it doesn’t seem strange that Western bioethics drive a wedge between the family and the individual. Most would believe that the wedge driven between patient and family wouldn’t affect pediatrics since children aren’t seen as a someone who is responsible and aware of their actions and their repercussions.However, in Western society the same idea is being applied to pediatric care. In today’s society, under the â€Å"Convention on the Rights of Children† by the United nations â€Å"minor children ought to be treated as self-possessed moral agents, who are to undertake their own moral and life-style decision making as soon as possible and as far as feasible† (Parental Authority and Pediatric Bioethical, pg. 553). An example would be acceptance of allowing children as young as 14 years-old to get birth control and abortion with out parental consent.Even if, according to Englehardt, some isn’t considered a responsible person in the sense that they are rational and are able to understand their actions till the age of 18 (). It almost seems strange that children at such young age have the mental and moral capacity to make such drastic decisions with out parental consent. This all falls under the same idea of the individual being independent and free to make their own choice, even if the individual doesn’t have full control over their impulses.Granted that parents and guardians are suppose to act in behalf of their child’s best interest; however, how is possible for Western bioethics to try to drive a wedge between the bond of child and parent at such an early age? On the other hand when we look at other countries such as China, we see that there is there is a more family oriented approach to medical ethics. According to Yali Cong’s article â€Å"Doctor-Family-Patient Relationship: The Chinese Paradigm of Informed Consent† a â€Å"family member† can either be the patients fa mily or the representative of the patient’s entire family, usually meaning the grandfather, father or elder son (pg. 52). The individual makes part of the family, thus whatever causes harm to the individual causes harm to the family ( e. c emotionally, mentally, economically) therefore the family should be with the individual in order to support them through the process. In most cases in China, the physician discusses the patients health with the family first and then they decide how much the patient should be told or if they should be told at all.Even if this approach is family oriented, it doesn’t mean that the individuals voice is ignored and all the decisions are made by the family and don’t consider the individual. It means that if the individual isn’t able to communicate or the family decides not fully disclose all the information to the patient, family members will act in the patients behalf and follow what the patient best interest is. This bioeth ical approach revolves around one central idea: why should we separate the patient from the people they are there to support them?As explained, Chinese physicians would never directly tell the patient that they are suffering from a terminal illness. On the other hand they would approach the family and educate them about what’s going on and what could happen and then the family can decide what to do in regards of letting the patient know. Families usually tell their loved ones the diagnosis gradually in order for them to take in the news and learn to accept it little-by-little and allowing them to adjust to their state (Doctor-Family-Patient Relationship, pg. 155)Another similar approach to the family oriented consent is that of Confucian moral balance where not only is family integrity important but also pursuits a harmonious ambiance where family members can cooperate and work harmoniously with one another in order to work for the patients best interest (The Family and Harmo nious Medical Decision Making, pg. 580). In the case of Tankai and her unfortunate death due a strike to the head in an accident her parents had to become the figure of authority since Tankai couldn’t possible act in her behalf.After her death, Tankai’s father decided to donate her organs in the hope that â€Å"their daughters life could at least partially be continued in someone [else]† (HEC Forum 2008, pg. 191). In this case, the family stepped in and acted on their daughters behalf and did what they knew Tankai would have decided on if she where to be of sound and mind before her passing. As shown by this case, the families job is to act in the behalf of the individual and do what they would have considered their best interest.In addition, it is understood that when the term â€Å"best interest† is used in this context it doesn’t mean the what the family may benefit from but what a the individual of the family will ultimately benefit from. After understanding both sides of the argument, I can see that I lean more towards the family oriented approach. I was brought up in a traditional Catholic home, in addition I come from a Mexican background meaning that I come from a very conservative household.Family plays a big role in the morals that have been taught to me through both my religion and culture. As I grew older I started to deviate from some of the ideas that had been drilled into my head by my culture. However, I don’t understand the Western obsession with separating the individual from the family as if they where to ignore the individuals voice and carry out their beliefs on them. Family is seen as the core of social and economic activity and therefore the locust of moral activity.I’m not saying that individuals choices should be manipulated by the families interest but the family shouldn’t be removed from the picture since they are the source of the individuals moral and ethical reasoning. The in dividual’s reasoning usually comes from elder family members that have been passed down from one generation to another, which makes the idea of cutting off the family seem even more irrational. As I grew up, I was taught that with out family you don’t have anything. I was taught that family is the glue that holds all your life together and without it life would be hard and eventually fall apart.Of course, not all families are the same and there may be a reason why Western medical ethics have decided to remove the family figure, but for the most part family members tend to care more for the people they have a stronger connection to thus making them one of the most reliable choice rather than a â€Å"by default† choice. However, if the family doesn’t seem to be trust worthy (due to their actions, behavior, and decisions of care for the patient) or the patient has expressed that they don’t wish to have to do anything with them, I believe that the fami ly oriented approach is the better one.I trust that my parents, siblings or any other family member, can responsibly act on my behalf if I’m not able to do so. Why wouldn’t I trust the people that have been there for me through thick and thin, and have molded me to become the person I am today? It seems bizarre to think that some people can’t trust their own family members; however, I do understand that not everyone has the same luck with family members and experience. In my own personal view of the situation I would prefer for my parents to be informed first about by condition, that is if it’s a horrble diagnosis.I would prefer for my parents to have their breakdown and cry out their feelings prior to me knowing the diagnoses. I believe this because when I am informed by the physician I would have my moment and would be able to look at my parents and have them be the shoulder for me to cry on, rather than them having a meltdown and me not have anyone to look up to and reassure me â€Å"everything would be ok†. Generally, it’s the families duty to comfort the ill family member, and having them cry and have a meltdown would be more stressful rather than comforting.I also agree with the Chinese ethical belief that when it comes to medical context it should com down to three different parties: the patient, family and physician (The Family and Harmonious Medical Decision Making, pg. 580) Another thing to think about when it comes to family oriented approach is the role parental and guardian supervision take place in pediatric care. Due to my upbringing in a catholic home it’s really hard for me to stomach the idea that children as young as 14 years-old can receive abortions and birth-control without parental consent.Yes, I understand the idea that it’s better for them to be sexually active with protection rather than having them have unprotected intimate relationship. However, this comes back to the idea of m oral pluralism, that everyone is a secular individual and necessarily share the same beliefs. However, maybe it’s because it got beaten into my head that it wasn’t acceptable to be intimate till marriage, but to me it seems that we are giving children the easy way out.Technically, Western culture is enforcing children to go behind their parents back and engage in such activities that they [the child] could lead to consequences that they can easily be protected from or taken out of. My question is; when is protecting the child’s â€Å"best interest† gone too far? Western culture is attempting to take apart the family figure by allowing children to be â€Å" self-possessed moral agents† (Parental Authority†¦ pg. 553). Overall, there is a definite connection between Chinese morals with hose that I have been exposed to, making it harder for me to understand the reasoning behind Western fight for the separation of the patient from the family. Famil y oriented and individual oriented approaches to medical cases have one thing in common; that they both strive for the patients best interest; however, how you arrive at that is a long path that has been twisted and turned by modern Western society. This makes is impossible for physicians to choose a default approach to all cases.Unless you live in a family and tradition driven society like China, one can’t assume that everyone is comfortable with a family approach. However, since America is a melting-pot or cultures there really isn’t a right answer for which approach should be the default one. Most individuals, and physicians, prefer the individual approach since it’s just easier to talk to the individual with out having 10 different people screaming at you giving different opinions.Regardless of what’s easier, I believe that if the patient is to say that they prefer a family oriented approach as that the one used in China, their wishes should be respec ted and carried out since it is considered the patients best interest. As a prospective medical student I know I will have to understand and keep an open mind and do what the patients best interest is. Overall, I find that the family approach may be more relaxing to the patient; however, if the patients family doesn’t seem trustworthy or doesn’t seem interested on the patients best interest

Sati & Sutee Tradition in India - History of Sati Tradition Research Paper

Sati & Sutee Tradition in India - History of Sati Tradition - Research Paper Example Hinduism contains a collection of scriptures written for over four thousand years. Among these writing, discrepancies on widow burning led many to exalt the act while others condemned it in the name of religion. During Vishnusmriti, widows were provided with two options: celibacy or immolation. The Ninayasindu later declared sati as a widow’s essential duty; so did the Puritans of the 6th century. These texts went further to elaborate on how the act was to be performed. In the years that followed, religious leaders and followers deified women who sacrificed themselves and became sites. Regardless of the religious interpretation of the act, the practice became deeply embedded in Indian culture. This presented new challenges to people trying to eradicate it. In addition, the social value accorded to widows who sacrificed themselves presented more barriers. Widows were perceived as worthless, with very low social status making a life for them unbearable. Widows who did not want to go ahead with the practice were coerced, physically forced or threatened onto the pyre. In many cases, the male relatives played a significant role in a widow’s decision to pursue sati. The demise of sati is attributed to British ruling during the 19th century. The British colonialist had refrained from interfering with Indian tradition, culture, and practices. The British rarely tried to enforce change in Muslim or Hindu practices. The governor general to India, however, in the 19th century wondered whether the British government should take measures to eliminate static.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

An outline marketing plan for the next year for Atlantic Quench 304 Essay

An outline marketing plan for the next year for Atlantic Quench 304 - Essay Example market. Theoretical frameworks of Porter’s five forces, Ansoff Matrix and Marketing Communication mix has been used in this paper. The paper suggests that AQC must continue with its quest of new product development primarily focusing on healthy products for consumers. A slightly high price can be charged from the consumers if they assume that the products provide functional value. The global fruit juice industry is also facing a number of challenges from the health organizations in the developed countries regarding their fatty contents and the amount of sugar in these drinks. It has therefore become difficult for fruit juice companies to retain their market share in face of volatile demand conditions. In this light, this paper makes an attempt to create a marketing plan for Atlantic Quench Cranberries (AQC), a US based agricultural cooperative which have pioneered in the production of canned fruit juices. AQC had a slow but steady beginning in 1930’s. It started as a cooperative which was initially controlled by three farmers from New Jersey and Massachusetts. Presently the company is the top player in the U.S. fruit juice market. The success story of AQC had been strong even in the United Kingdom ever since its entry in the U.K. market. This report provides an elaborate marketing plan for AQC in the next one year so that the company can increase its market share in the U.K. The government of the U.K. is trying to introduce measures to reduce obesity and fruit juices are items which contains high volume of saturated sugar. However, Atlantic Quench produces drinks with very low sugar content and low calories that provide chances of growth in the U.K. markets. The market conditions in the U.K. fruit juice industry are quite dynamic. An estimated growth of 10% has been noted in the value of fruit juice markets including the smoothies. Despite the

Monday, August 12, 2019

Relationship between Video Games among Children and Violent Behavior Research Paper

Relationship between Video Games among Children and Violent Behavior - Research Paper Example A few years ago, movies and television shows were monitored keenly to ensure they do not pollute the minds of young people by disseminating inappropriate ideas or information to this generation of people. In of that light, all forms of programs or movies that were aired in televisions or cinemas were viewer discredited with parental guidance information being provided to the appropriate audience the shows fit (Anderson and Dill 772-790). Â  However, children were able to access inappropriate information such as pornographic scenes and violent murder situations in video animations; a genre of movies that is very popular among the young generation. The emergence of video games revolutionized the digital media since children were now more involved in these form of media through active participation in the games. Psychologists believe that what children are exposed to in their tender age shapes the kind of character and behavior they develop later in life. Thus, it is prudent to state that violent video games can be linked to the violent behavior of children because most of the acts in the games are exhibited in real life situations (Sherry 410-415). Video games account for the violent behavior exhibited by children in their later years in life because of the psychological influence they have on the development of a child. Â  There are various genres of video games on the market. Some are strategy in nature and thus tend to test and enhance the ability of the player to coordinate his/her hands and mind while at the same time improving a user’s problem-solving skills to enable him/her overcome the numerous occasions of dilemmas they face in life, which require him/her to make prompt decisions. In addition, there is another genre of video games that replicate movies, especially the ones based on science fiction (Sherry 423).

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Climat change and sustainable development in Saudi Arabia Essay

Climat change and sustainable development in Saudi Arabia - Essay Example Deforestation increases the global warming further by destroying the natural equilibrium existing in the planet. Middle-east countries are the major sources of fuel oil to the world. The industrial development in these countries and rise in income levels of the people has increased the emission of greenhouse gases significantly during the recent years. Saudi Arabia, the largest country with more population in this region, is a leading exporter of oil. While the oil exporting countries have the rights to exploit the natural resources, the world community expects them to contribute significantly for combating global warming. This paper seeks to study the role of Saudi Arabia in reducing pollution within the country and combating climate change. This paper also focuses on the various policy measures adopted by Saudi Arabia with respect to the international negotiations on Climate Change in combating climate change. The Saudi Arabian government is headed by the King who is helped by the Council of Ministers. The government is assisted by legislative body, Consultative Council.   The country is divided by thirteen provinces headed by the governors. The judicial system in the country is based on Islamic law. â€Å"In October 2003, the cabinet approved procedures for the election of half of the members of the municipal councils, as a start towards greater participation of the citizens in the governing of their country.† 1 General Environmental Law and Rules for Implementation of the government envisages precautions, measures, methods and environmental standards to be adopted in relation to environmental protection along with the General Environmental Regulations and Rules for implementation in the country. Casey 2 reported â€Å"The Middle East and North Africa will be especially hard hit by climate change in the coming decades, the World Bank said in a report Wednesday, saying

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Competencies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Competencies - Assignment Example d nurse to combine knowledge from an assortment of fields such as humanities, health sciences, genetics, health economics and public health for constant improvement of the quality of care they deliver. They are also more qualified than their baccalaureate prepared counterparts to collect, analyze and interpret statistical data in order come up to identify problems within the health sector and design solutions to these issues. This paper discusses the competencies the masters’ prepared nurses acquire during the program and how they aid in improving the health sector. Nursing as an education and a profession is able to address some of the critical issues that arise in this evolving health care system. A study conducted in the USA showed that the US government could save up to 8.75 US dollars annually if hospitals used advanced practice nurses (APNs) in place of physicians for some medical cases. This way they can also plan for their career (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2007). They also help the consumers because they ensure that the service the patients they receive is of high quality and meets set standards. This paper will examine masters’ level competencies for determining the areas that need improvement and if they are still viable given the health care system. I will hence discuss competencies from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Quality, and Safety Education for Nursing (QSEN) and National League for Nursing (NLN). The AACN outlines master-level competencies for adult nurse practitioners that add to the core competencies for all nurse practitioners (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2007). The adult nurse is the provider of direct health care services. Within this role, the nurse applies nursing theories, scientific knowledge, and contemporary clinical knowledge to assess and manage the health and illness state of a patient. In the assessment of health, the adult nurse practitioner assesses all aspects

Friday, August 9, 2019

PESTEL Analysis of Alibaba Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

PESTEL Analysis of Alibaba - Assignment Example The researcher states that a number of political factors and legal issues that come up due to the government regulations affect Alibaba. In China, the political force is the most turbulent force in the electronic commerce industry in which Alibaba is a player. For instance, the ministry of information industry has guidelines on the standards of operation in e-commerce. In fact, the Chinese government has laid a lot of emphasis on the development of the e-commerce. By so doing, the ministry of information industry has an obligation of coming up with summaries on the development of technology as time goes by. For instance, it has to provide a summary of both the middle and long-term goals on the development of information technology plan. Thus, this is a major booster in the development of Alibaba since it already has the support of the government and by the fact that it is the largest company in e-commerce in China. There is no clear legal legislation on the e-commerce industry in the Chinese government. This is because the Chinese government has not dealt with the issues for long. There minimal experience in coming up with legislation like transactional security, tax and intellectual protection of business rights in the Chines government. Much worse is the fact that there are no laws written on consumer rights, privacy, and recognition of digital signatures and validation of online contracts. This is one of the major threats to the growth of Alibaba as a company. Development in a countries economy has a great impact on the operation of a particular business. For instance, fiscal and monetary policies, of employment, GDP per head, rate of inflation and the banking policies. In China, there has been a prolonged rapid growth of its economy, at the same time, there is a continued improvement on the country’s GDP per head. This is one of the major advantages of the company Alibaba since it leads to increased shopping rates by the residents. Alibaba is affecte d by the global economy because it has now spread its wings further to serve most developed and developing countries.