Monday, September 30, 2019

Health Care in United States Essay

The United States, as a leading developed country, is very attractive to many foreigners. Everyone dreams of coming to the United Sates to study or work. However, they are concerned about their health care while stay in the United States. The health care system in the United States is problematic. It is so extensive and complicated that it is almost impossible for the government to make everyone satisfied. Reformation of health care occurred many times in the history. President Bill Clinton tried to overhaul the health care system and failed. Before Clinton’s failure it had been Carter’s. Before Carter’s it had been Nixon’s. The health care system in the United States has several major problems. Among all of them, insurance policy is the core issue. The Unites States is the only developed country, except for South Korea, that does not provide healthcare for all of its citizens (Farrell). According to the research, there are still 50.7 million people uninsured, which is 16% of the United States population (about one in six people), or the combined population of 25 average-sized states, such as Oklahoma, Connecticut, Iowa, Mississippi, and Kansas (Parker-Pope). The main cause is that the price for health insurance is too high. Many people are not able to pay insurance premiums and over these years the situation has been getting worse and worse. During the past eight years, insurance premiums have nearly doubled, resulting in health insurance moving farther out of reach for millions (Farrell; Klein). Despite millions of people cannot afford medical insurance; the government do not have a solution. The government now only pays two kinds of insurance. Medicare is a program set up for senior citizens (65 or older). Most of them retire and do not have any income sources. Therefore the government offers them insurance. Medicaid is established for the disabled or those with low income. However, the criterion of qualifying low income is incomplete and farfetched. Those two programs were originally set for great purposes; now they are associated with many frauds. For example, federal authorities announced on May 2 they had arrested 107 health care providers, including doctors and nurses, in several cities and charged them with cheating Medicare out of $452 million (Matthews). Medicaid is just as bad, or worse. New York City has been a huge problem for Medicaid with one former official suggesting that 40% of NYC’s Medicaid payments are â€Å"questionable.† The New York Times reported that a Brooklyn dentist had filed 991 claims in one day (Matthews). These two kinds  of government support have many problems, and while there is benefit to those really in need, a major overhaul is needed. Generally, despite Medicare and Medicaid, there are two ways to get insured. One is employer-based which the employers pay premiums for employees. In that sense, employees do not have opportunity to choose their own health plan. The employers choose for their workers. Once one looses his or her job, the insurance plan automatically become invalid and one has to pay for his or her own premium. Due to this reason, many people are bonded to their current jobs. However, if one does not have a job or has a part-time job that the employers do not pay for premium because of shortage of working hours, one has to purchase his or her insurance plan. Individual plans can be quiet very expensive, especially for families. Statistics showed that Americans spend more than any other country in the world. In 2005, per capita, or per person spending on medical insurance was $6,697 (Klein). Medical insurance is so costly that it takes up ten percent of an average American’s annual income. The U.S. spends a higher percentage of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on healthcare than other industrialized countries. In 2003, it was 15%, versus an average of 8.6% in the OECD nations (the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, a group of major industrialized countries). Federal spending on healthcare in 2005 alone totaled $600 billion, a massive one-quarter of the federal budget. (Farrell). Although Americans spend so much they are still not receiving an equivalent amount of care. Approximately one-third (31%) of adults and a little more than one-half (54%) of children do not have a primary care doctor (Appendix A). Americans pay for advanced equipment in the hospital but only 30% of them report that they can access a doctor on the very day they need one, as opposed to 41% of Britons and 55% of Germans. A full 67% of Americans , more than in any other country, say it is difficult to get care on nights, weekends, or holidays and resort to the emergency room, where care is costlier and, if one’s injury is not grievous, less efficient (Klein). The waiting time is often too long and the treating time is too short. In the United States health care system, laws and regulations play essential roles within it. Supposedly, the PPACA (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) is going to lower the insurance premium and make health plans affordable, reduce overall health care costs by making services available to  the 32 million who currently can not afford insurance (Amadeo). Now, only 49% of adults are receiving recommended preventative care and screening tests according to guidelines for their age and sex (Farrell). On the one hand, increased coverage would enable more people to receive preventative care. However, on the other hand, increased coverage may move the cost up rapidly because many people will receive preventative care and testing who, fortunately, find out they didn’t have that critical illness. However, the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) found that additional testing, such as cancer screening and cholesterol tests, will lead to higher net medical spending (Amadeo). Therefore, if the expenditure is up, the tax must be raised to compensate the gap in between. Especially to those do not want to purchase insurance or are not qualified for Medicare or Medicaid, they would have nightmares. They will be assessed a tax of $95 (or 1% of income, whichever is higher) in 2014. It increases to $325 (or 2% of income) in 2015, and $695 (or 2.5% of income) in 2016 (Amadeo). Last but not least, the statistics conducted by Department of Health and Human Services demonstrates that National health-care spending per person will rise from $7421 in 2007 to estimated $13,100 in 2018 ( The Staff of The Washington Post)(Appendix B). The spending is almost doubled. The CBO also predicted that about four million people, 1.2% of population would end up paying more taxes to the government than paying their own insurance premium (Amadeo). As the health care gets more affordable, the pharmaceutical companies are going to give up enormous parts of their profit to make up the â€Å"doughnut hole† (a gap in prescription drug coverage) which is included in Medicare part D. Approximately extra $84.8 billion would be paid to fix the doughnut hole. Moreover, in 2013, medical-device manufacturers and importers will pay a 2.3% excise tax. Indoor tanning services already pay a 10% excise tax (Amadeo). This could discourage those businesses from hiring new employees, which is going to be a major problem in the future. Abortion is legal in the United States and there is a heated debate about it. An estimated 48 million babies have been aborted since 1973. Approximately 24% of all U.S. pregnancies end in abortion (Abortion Statistics). Abortion contradicts to God’s word and it is immoral. In Job 10:8-12, â€Å"Your hands shaped me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again? Did you not pour me out like milk †¦Ã‚  and knit me together with bones and sinews? You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit†. God clearly stated that abortion is not pleasing in His eyes. God also included in His great ten commandments: â€Å"You shall not murder.† Abortion is definitely considered murder. Psalm 127:3, â€Å"Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him†, suggests that children are gift from God. God also indicates that kids are wonderful in Psalm 139:13-16. â€Å"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that fully well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.† Therefore, abortion is inappropriate in the current health care law. In PPACA, the United States government is paying for birth control in order to reduce the abortion rate. Contraception is anti-life and unnatural; it also carries high risks. Contraception prevents people who might benefit humanity from being born (Summary of the arguments against contraception). Contraception is a personal choice that the government should not use taxpayers’ money to co-pay the prices. In this way, PPACA, the health plan passes by President Obama is unconstitutional. The government does not have the right to force citizens to buy insurance or to share the cost of birth control. To put all into a nutshell, the health care system in United States now is very costly and needs some major changes in regards to insurance policies and the budgets. Currently, the United States owes 16 trillion dollars to other countries, mostly to China. Health care is a major component for it. There are millions of people do not have primary care doctors and do not receive any treatment when sick. God bless the United States so much that most people do not need to worry about food or shelters. However, the government still needs to pay close attention to those do not have any form of health care. Instead of only trying to make to the goal with a band-aid approach, the government actually needs to think through the original problems with the system.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Basic Guide to PBL

Differential diagnosis List out the differential diagnosis as u can (Some pre-reading will help) -State the positive history, state the negative history -Dif dig can be added or deleted as more triggers are revealed 4. Further history -Based on the dif dig, discuss the further questions to support or rule out your dif dig 5. Learning Issues Now discuss learning issues to be done, and list down on the board Finally discuss expected findings if possible 6.Physical Examination -Briefly discuss the PEE to perform, the normal findings and the expected outcome for ACH of the dif diagnosis -SEE questions will come out in similar fashion so treat this seriously to score in exam Make sure to do ALL of this before moving to trigger 2.. Trigger 2 1. Physical Examinations -Now compare the findings in the trigger with the previously discussed PEE in trigger 1 -Discuss each signs and its pathologically (SEE questions) -Note down learning issues along the way -Rule out or add dif dig 2.Investigatio ns -Briefly discuss the Investigation to order and the expected outcome for each of the if diagnosis -Be systematic and group your investigations (Blood ‘X, Imaging, urine IX etc) -Name each ‘X, the reason to order the ‘X, normal value(if possible) and expected result. -SEE questions will come out in similar fashion so treat this seriously to score in exam Trigger 3 1. Investigations -Compare the findings with previously discussed IX in trigger 2 -Discuss normal value and try to interpret the data (SEE question) -Note down learning issues along the way -Rule out dif dig 2.Diagnosis – by this time, the accurate diagnosis should have been made. Do the ethicalness of the disease as learning issue (very important in SEE) 2. Management -Outline your management of this patient before proceeding to trigger 3 (SEE questions) 3 basic steps of Mix (a) Identify the cause – Egg. The diagnosis may be stroke but u need to find the cause of the stroke through furthe r IX (b) Treat the disease – Non-pharmacological/ Pharmacological/Surgery/Radiation therapy (c) Prevent the complications -Acute Xx -Chronic Xx Trigger 4 1 .Management -Compare the management in the trigger with the mix in your discussions -Do learning issue on mix that u do not understand Classes, pharmaceutics, pharmacological and mode of action is more than enough -Ignore the doses -If possible ask the tutor or other doctors what are the type of drugs used by SUMS b)Surgery and radiation therapy -Know the procedure(brief) and possible complication 2.Prognosis and Rehabilitation -Briefly discuss about the prognosis of this disease -Outline your rehabilitation plan 3. Summarize -Summarize the whole case and the important points that u have learned in this Pl – Do as if u r doing a case summary after a clinical presentation (Clinical question) AY

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Why it is important study quiescent cancer stem cells Essay

Why it is important study quiescent cancer stem cells - Essay Example The study done by Dembinski and Krauss (2009) gave a profound evidence of linkages between quiescence and cancer stem cells. Moreover, the study of quiescence CSCs is important for the reason that the quiescent cancer stem cells are found to be resistant to chemotherapy and other applied therapies (Moore 2010). It has been discovered that as soon as the therapy is discontinued, they retain their state. In this perspective, it becomes necessary to understand the mechanisms of stem cell quiescent state so that normal stem cell functionality could be manipulated. The understanding on this account helps develop the clinical approaches to quell and target cancer stem cells. As per Li (2011), the recent findings explain the resistance of cancer stem cells by their state of dormancy. Dormant cancer stem cells can be activated by altering their intrinsic or extrinsic mechanisms that tend to maintain their quiescent state so that they become susceptible to the applied chemotherapy and help discover new visions in the cancer treatment. From above it is quite clear that the study of quiescence CSCs is likely to open new vistas in the discovery of new cancer drugs and therapies to get effective and lasting treatment for all kinds of cancers. 1. Moore N.; Lyle, S. (2010),Quiescent, Slow-Cycling Stem Cell Populations in Cancer: A Review of the Evidence and Discussion of Significance, Online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2948913/#sec6 [Accessed 23 October 2011] 3. Roesch A, Fukunaga-Kalabis M, et al (2010). A temporarily distinct subpopulation of slow-cycling melanoma cells is required for continuous tumor growth. Cell., 141(4):583–594. Also online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2882693/ [Accessed 23 October 2011] 4. Dembinski JL, Krauss S. (2009), Characterization and functional analysis of a slow cycling stem cell-like subpopulation in pancreas adenocarcinoma, Clinical and Experimental Metastasis, 26 (7):611–623.

Friday, September 27, 2019

The Science of Giftcards Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

The Science of Giftcards - Research Paper Example Cards issued by banks are also usually accepted at any vendor. Just as with anything else there are laws governing gift cards, though they vary quite a lot by different States. Provisions are in place regarding fees that may be assessed on them, rules concerning expiration dates, and still more rules governing escheat provisions, which are to describe when property considered abandoned or unclaimed can be reclaimed by the government. According to the Federal Reserve’s website as of July 2010, new laws will take effect governing gift cards, also another 20 iStates have legislation pending regarding gift certificates and gift cards. We will not look more closely at these laws in recognition of the fact that this report is being prepared for a National Company. 2011 saw over 25 billion dollars spent on cards of all kinds, from the traditional store valued, rebates, promotional and loyalty cards, electronic and e cards. Holiday gift cards have been the most requested gift the previous four years with no competition even close. National Retail Fashion estimated that more than 75% of shoppers purchased at least one this Christmas Season. In the past few years gift cards sales have increased exponentially. Bankers, merchants, retailers, credit card companies, and makers of consumer goods haven’t failed to take notice of this. A secondary market has even formed as backlash from the high success of the gift card market, where customers can sell, swap, and buy one another’s cards. Third party processors are now needed to manage the cards legal, regulatory and accounting issues. The last fact of these gift cards is quickly becoming a concern for some. Liabilities are complex when a gift card expires before the consumer has been able to redeem the card. Some States feel that unused breakage or balances are unclaimed property due them under State escheatment laws.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Public relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Public relations - Essay Example â€Å"Corporate reputation, a key (albeit implicit) responsibility of business continuity managers for years, has become a topical and vital asset and risk for companies to manage.† (Binneman, 2006). Earning good reputation as a successful company in construction industry requires a lot of input from the owners. In the dynamic environment of the modern world, a company needs to be good at things more than just the end products, in order to satisfy the critiques and gain room and value in the business world. Modern age is an age of technology. Everybody is interconnected. Communication is frequent, meaningful and effective. In such an environment, it has become very essential for the companies in the market to earn a good reputation to progress in the market. Companies need to take care of professional ethics in their style of dealing and relationships with other companies, people and the society. â€Å"The adoption of a code of conduct is a fundamental step in the attempt to improve the ethical culture in todays business world†. (Rotta, 2007). They need to work in a way that would conform to the standards and requirements of the corporate social responsibility. The need of reputation management is increasing. To explain these concepts, it would be very appropriate to achieve this with the help of a practical situation. Therefore, a construction company named Bridgestone Construction Company is referred to in this case study. This construction firm is serving as a contractor on one of the mega projects in Pakistan. Name of the project is Canyon Views. It is a house-development project. The client of the project is EMAAR, and Kasif Aslam Associates (KAA) is serving as the consultant on the project. Project manager firm selected by EMAAR for the project is Turner Inc. all of the information has been collected from my friend who has served in the Bridgestone Construction Company as a Site Engineer for three months as a part of his internship. The project is

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Report based on group discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Report based on group discussion - Essay Example BASF has an employee base of 112,000 employees who have helped the company post a strong revenue growth; in 2013 the company’s turnover was â‚ ¬74.0 billion and a profit of â‚ ¬7.2 billion (BASF). BASF like other companies in the chemical industry represent an important sector in every economy, in our case Germany. At the same time, the industry represents one of the greatest environmental costs and is a clear threat if no mitigating factors are enforced. The chemical industry is also interlinked with other sectors in the economy considering that only about 13 percent of the total production leaves the plant as finished products (Esty & Simmons, 2011.p.15). In regard to the environment, chemical production utilizes the environment to source for materials with much greater intensity than any other sector. At the same time, these companies use the environment as a medium for production, storage, transport, and disposal of resulting products. Almost every stage of the production process in chemical companies represents a threat to the environment. However, this should not be the case as there are ways and means to curtail these threats without affecting the company’s prof itability. In studying BASF, we examine ways through which the company can sustainably fashion its production process and products to achieve eco-efficiency. Eco-efficiency in this case not only represents green processing but a means to improve the company’s financial standing. In setting up a win-win strategy, BASF will have to address the major processes especially those with the highest impact on the environment. In this section, we look at the foremost changes that would help achieve eco-efficiency with greater emphasis on the manufacturing processes. The first step is to research and put up alternate means of supplying energy to the manufacturing process. At present, there are several ways through which energy for manufacturing

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

New venture opportunity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

New venture opportunity - Essay Example The main aim of ESS Designs will be to provide a simple, classy and well-tailored look for all our clients. We not only want to provide a distinctive look but we also want to be recognized as a trendsetter in the clothing industry. To start with the new company, the first range of product that ESS Designs will focus on will be a collection of jackets for women, men and children. Based on the research that the appointed team members of ESS Designs have conducted, there have been a lot of customer’s requests that have been made by various customers on the scarcity of jackets’ design. Therefore, building upon this, the first range of product that ESS Designs will focus on will be on a collection of jackets for all our targeted clientele. As a start-up company, ESS Designs will first operate in a small geographical region. However, it is evident that with the inception of technology our client reach may go beyond the borders. The company will be located in the United States in Pennsylvania. This is where our headquarters will be. Nevertheless, ESS Designs will embrace the use of advertising and public relation to make our new range of product known and also to build upon the image of the company. It is also worth noting that the prices of our products will be quite pocket-friendly thus aside from quality will strive to ensure that our targeted consumers are well catered for with regards to the pricing range. In order to examine the impact of this new venture, a thorough SWOT analysis will be conducted on ESS Designs.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Philosophy 1 - Term Paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Philosophy 1 - Term Paper - Assignment Example That is deductive argument. However, if the process were done backward, then that would be inductive argumentation. There are three perennial issues philosophy has always been concerned and trying to resolve until now. The first issue is the meaning of life, which philosophy tries to find value and reason, or purpose, for one to exist. The next issue is the origin of life, which philosophy searches for understandable answers as to where do all life and existence begin or come from. The last issue is the question of reality. Philosophy seeks to understand whether what we know and experience with our perception actually exists, not merely appears. The cosmological argument for the existence of God states that the world or the cosmos most probably had a creator, a first cause, an unmoved mover who created everything that exist, which is attributed to God. On the other hand, the ontological argument would infer God’s existence through the a priori way of reasoning, wherein the human person can grasp the concept of a God, thus, there must be a God. The four ethical systems are the Aristotelian Golden Mean, Confucian Golden Rule, Natural Law Ethics and Kantian Categorical Imperative. The Aristotelian Golden Mean is all about doing things in balanced measure, never doing any act that is too much or too less but doing what is just enough. The Confucian Golden Rule speaks of doing what is right to others if one were to expect good from others as well. The Natural Law Ethics rules that since nature and the universe moves in an orderly manner, we must act in accordance as such. The Kantian Categorical Imperative asserts that an individual’s morality is absolute and unconditional in any circumstances The Western view of evil is that the existence of Evil is the absence of what is good. That means, an action that is void of any good

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 30

Case Study Example 8). Children rights advocacy in the UK takes the efforts of many stakeholders. Besides the UNCRC, which is implemented in the UK, UK laws recognize the necessity to ensure full protection of children’s rights. A parent serves as the primary caregiver for every child in the UK. There are several organizations together with the government, which ensure that the children live stress-free life. The case entails stressful situations that I undergo as a 16-year-old girl. My mother is in a turbulent relationship that affects the entire family. I rarely contact my biological father. My three siblings belittle me. My mother serves as a nurse at a local nursing home and is rarely available to perform her responsibility as the family’s primary care-giver. Most of the time, I serve as the primary caregiver for my siblings in her absentia. Taking care of my siblings is a challenging task because I must report to the Youth Offending Office every day. The police arrested me for alleged robbery. Besides, I have other duties to perform. Although on a part-time basis, I must attend a specialist educational facility meant for young individuals who exhibit educational and behavioral difficulties. The office arranged for me to start attending a pupil referral unit. I have to balance between the referral unit and my statutory education. I intend to join a catering course after my GSC E, which I am due to complete. At home, I do not get sufficient time for sleep because the house has limited space for the family. I sleep on the sofa, instead. An adult recently raped my sister, Laura, and I feel it is a fundamental concern for me to sacrifice my commitments and help her through the hard times she is undergoing. I, however, have limited support and guidance to help my sister. As the victim, I need help from relevant groups of professionals. CRAE is a key institution mandated to implement the UNCRC and

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Environmental Economics & climatic change Essay Example for Free

Environmental Economics climatic change Essay Many approaches to green house emissions are currently being examined in the United States. In fact members of the 110th Congress (2007-2008) are actually making legislations pertaining to global changes faster than has even been experienced before having made over 235 bills, resolutions and changes by July, 2008. One such proposal is the cap-and-trade system (Paltsev et al. 4). The cap-and-trade is a piece of legislation meant to identify the greenhouse-gas-emitting bodies it incorporates. It refers to those organizations which introduces caps on the emissions they are responsible for and allows trading in the emission allowances which arise therein (Obama Biden, New Energy for America). They basically stipulate a set of accounting periods allocating allowed emissions for all the periods (Paltsev et al. 4). Cap-and-Trade Legislation; SO2 Program The permit trading programs offer pollution permits to organizations which reduce their pollution discharge lower than the target benchmarks. They are then allowed to either trade them or keep them for use in future (Ludwig 1). Following the Clean Air Amendments of 1990 the U. S put in place the Acid Rain Program to gain a reduction in sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx), the main contributors of acid rain (Ludwig 1). The second program was the Hot-spots and acid rain program which basically involves regulatory tiering; embracing more than one regulatory regime at one specific time with the intention of exercising some control on the way permits are made use of (Obama Biden, New Energy for America). The goal of the acid rain program is to reduce SO2 emissions by 50%; a task meant to be accomplished through two stages mandating all organizations to reduce their SO2 emissions (Ludwig 3). The Opt-in program established by the Congress according to section 410 of the Clean Air Act Amendments of the year 1990 was designed with the intention of drawing the SO2 sources with reduced marginal costs of compliance (Ludwig 3). It is important to note however that the permit trading programs are not effectively contributing towards reducing increased emissions. Indeed the acid rain program of the United States has had less and unlikely effects on pollution hot-spots (Ludwig 10). This is quite unfortunate given the main energy challenges facing the U. S, which are foreign oil dependence and global changes in the climate (Obama Biden, New Energy for America). The safeguard the acid rain program makes use of is one of the reasons permit net flows have such a low effect on reducing emission. Alternative Method of Pollution Control It is worth appreciating that carbon trading at the markets was a positive step be it at the global, European or national fronts (NCEP, Ending the Energy Stalemate: A Bipartisan Strategy to Meet America’s Energy Challenges). It was in deed a challenge not only to the government but also to the private sector (Obama Biden, New Energy for America). If the war against carbon emissions is to be worn, a global regulatory framework would be needed (Watson et al 1). This would call for British Government and the World Bank to embrace the same views. This means that the cap-and-trade legislations can no longer offer the best solution to the problem. What is needed is a different approach, an alternative way of reducing carbon emissions. In light of the climatic changes being experienced, carbon emissions should be reduced by all chances (Obama Biden, New Energy for America). This calls for a new trading strategy; an approach which is more inclusive likely to involve all ventures emitting carbon such as aircrafts and ships (Watson et al 1). In the private sector this would call for a wider long-term market approach, voluntary in nature working to achieve public and private interests. The Kyoto Protocol should be strengthened coupled with better implementation of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) (Watson et al 1). Indications of progress are beginning to be seen with incentives for reducing emissions, development of alternative technologies as well as investments attraction (Watson et al 2). There is also the need for better liaison with the UN system more so in helping poor countries with their emission problems (NCEP, Ending the Energy Stalemate: A Bipartisan Strategy to Meet America’s Energy Challenges). This therefore means that carbon taxation is definitely not an alternative solution the emission problems. There is need to invest in fuel-efficient machinery, support domestic energy supply, as well as diversifying the nations’ sources of energy (Obama Biden, New Energy for America). Organizations also need to commit themselves to the course of lowering their energy consumption (Watson et al 2). The Legislation I would Support As an undergraduate in ApEc 3611, I would support the second alternative because it more inclusive, realistic and possibly a better solution since it involves many stakeholders (Watson et al 2). What I imply here is that a new alternative to America’s and indeed the world’s energy problem is an idea whose time has come (NCEP, Ending the Energy Stalemate: A Bipartisan Strategy to Meet America’s Energy Challenges). Energy is a real challenge facing the world and for America, there is even greater need to address the issue because of foreign oil dependence (Obama Biden, New Energy for America). Therefore I support the new alternatives to reducing carbon emissions. The private sector needs to embrace a wider long-term market perspective but within the confines of both the public and the private interests (Watson et al 2). This new perspective calls for more research into the areas of innovative technology as well as new investments. Indeed one of the mid-to-long term proposals to the energy crisis in America is to make investments towards the secure energy future of the nation alongside creating more than 5 million jobs all with the intention of lowering foreign oil dependence (Obama Biden, New Energy for America). Such efforts will greatly reduce carbon emissions besides contributing towards the reduction of the country’s dependence on foreign oil (NCEP, Ending the Energy Stalemate: A Bipartisan Strategy to Meet America’s Energy Challenges). There is need to strengthen the Kyoto Protocol and the implementation of more stringent governance and accountability systems (Watson et al 2). The Emissions Trading System (ETS) needs to be reviewed (Hertel, Global Trade Analysis: Modeling and Applications). This is because for it to be successful, it needs to put caps on emissions. This will create both markets and prices for carbon emission permits (Watson et al 2). I therefore fully support these new alternatives since they offer a more proactive approach to the nation’s energy problems. Cost Benefit Analysis The lake in question is private property if the home owner has the property rights to it. This would mean that as a private good it can only be used by another party if it is paid for. It is the lake owner who would decide whether or not another party uses the lake. For this to happen, the total benefits accrued from the use of the lake will have to supersede the costs of using the same lake thus a Pareto improvement (Oka 18). The lake owner will have to carry out a cost-benefit analysis before he can allow fishing in the lake. This is an evaluation tool to determine if the use of scarce resources will generate efficiency (Fuguitt Wilcox 2). Efficiency is in relation to the lake will be the benefit of peace and quiet at $2,000 per season. It means the benefit of allowing Walleye Wally to use the lake will be $ 2,000. With $ 2,500 he can meet the $2,000 and secure the fishing deal meaning that there will be fishing in the lake. However, with only $1,200 per season, he cannot meet the cost of foregoing the peace and quiet thus there will be no fishing. Assume Walleye Wally had the property rights and the benefits of peace and quiet to the home owner remain unchanged at $2,000. With $2,500 there would be fishing in the lake. The lake owner cannot however pay Walleye Wally not to fish since the cost of paying Walleye would supersede the benefit of peace and quiet, hence there will be no Pareto improvement. If Walleye got $1,200 per season there cannot be fishing in the lake since the benefit of the fishing will be less than the cost and hence no Pareto improvement. This transaction cannot be termed as efficient since one party will suffer loss in the transaction. The principle that by which the concept of efficiency is applied is here is the cost benefit analysis (Oka 19). Conclusion There are factors that would hinder the cost-benefit analysis. For public goods, it is difficult to measure the efficiency concept and the Pareto improvement concept is lost. The consideration of potential value that would be attached to sustainability would make it difficult to make an accurate cost-benefit analysis (Oka 26). In conclusion, cost-benefit is an economic tool used for gauging the efficiency of a transaction in the market economy (Oka 17). With regards to CO2 emissions, there is need for a new direction which will require a more centralized regime; a continual and joint effort between the government, businesses and the people (Obama Biden, New Energy for America). Works Cited Fuguitt, Diana and Wilcox, Shanton. Cost-Benefit Analysis for Public Sector Decision Makers. Accessed 17 February 2009 from http://www. csus. edu/indiv/w/wassmerr/CBAOverview. pdf Hertel, Thomas W. Global Trade Analysis: Modeling and Applications. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, MA: 1997. Ludwig, Lindsay C. The U. S Acid Rain Program and Its Effect on SO2 Emission Levels. Issues in Political Economy 13 (2004):1-11. Accessed on 17 February 2009 from http://org. elon. edu/ipe/Ludwig_Edited. pdf. NCEP [National Commission on Energy]. Ending the Energy Stalemate: A Bipartisan Strategy to Meet America’s Energy Challenges, Washington DC: 2004 Obama, Barack and Biden, Joe. New Energy for America, 2008. Accessed 17 February 2009 from http://www. barackobama. com/pdf/factsheet_energy_speech_080308. pdf Oka, Tosihiro. Effectiveness and Limitations of Cost-benefit Analysis in Policy Appraisal Government Auditing Review 10 (2003): 18- 26 Paltsev, Sergy, et al. Assessment of U. S Cap-and-Trade Proposals. Report number 146, 2007. Accessed 17 February 2009: 1-71 from http://web. mit. edu/globalchange/www/MITJPSPGC_Rpt146. pdf. Watson, Bob. , Grubb, Michael. , and Stuart, Marc. Dinne

Friday, September 20, 2019

Evaluation of a social work practice

Evaluation of a social work practice Evaluation of Social Work Practice with Hispanic Children and Families Example of a practice evaluation A practice evaluation is a review and evaluation of individual practice within program and how the practice affects the person or recipient of services. Within The Place for Hope and Restoration, is the Raid and Rescue program has service practices for the â€Å"outreach workers† is to â€Å"raid† the streets to identify possible victims, such as prostitutes, exotic dancers, and/or service workers, such as cooks, busboys, waitresses, and day laborers. The outreach workers provide information about the other programs of the agency, to include how they can provide a safe place to stay, help the victim learn how to be a survivor, provision of advocacy and legal services, etc†¦ and offer â€Å"rescue† service, to include transportation to the Safe Harbor program and the other programs within The Place for Hope and Restoration. How these service practice affect the person is essential in identifying the impact to the individual, the staff, the agency and the comm unity. Some areas of practice to be reviewed would include: access, safety, effectiveness of outreach, raid procedures, barriers to the raid and rescue process, along with the needs of the individuals and program. Through the use of data, such as structured record reviews, individual case reviews, surveys or other data, the program practices can be evaluated regarding the efficacy, efficiency, and outcomes. Through evaluation of the practices of the Raid and Rescue program, stakeholders will be able to determine the ongoing needs of the practices, identify program deficits and determine if the practices are meeting the defined outcome measures for the target population and the community. This should assist the overall program in determining the need to continue, modify, or discontinue the practice utilized by the Raid and Rescue program to meet the needs of the stakeholders. Example of a Program Evaluation A program evaluation is the systematic review of a â€Å"program’s current (and future) interventions, outcomes, and efficiency to aid in case – and program-level decision making in an effort for our profession to become more accountable to stakeholder groups† (Grinnell, Gabor, Unrau, 2012, p.26). Program evaluations come in a variety of formats, but should include evaluation of the program’s goal(s), mission, program objectives, practice objectives and activities (Grinnell, Gabor, Unrau, 2012, p. 55) to determine if the outcomes and purpose of the program are being met. As noted previously, The Place for Hope and Restoration has multiple departments including outreach, Safe Harbor, fundraising, advocacy and policy, and administrative services. Within each department there are several programs. An example of this is the outreach department has the â€Å"Raid and Rescue† and â€Å"Community Outreach† programs under it. Each program then has s pecific goals to meet the needs and requirements of the stakeholders and funding source(s). A program evaluation is focused on the specific program, not the department nor the specific practices, though they are part of the comprehensive program evaluation. Utilization of the Six-Steps of the Program Evaluation Process The first of six steps of the evaluation process for a program would include the engagement of stakeholders. To evaluate the Raid and Rescue Program, stakeholders would need to be identified and engaged to provide feedback. This will be accomplished through a variety of formats including public hearings, meeting with community service coalition groups, and the use of standardized survey tools. Both internal and external stakeholders should be involved in this evaluation process. Internal stakeholders would include those involved in the operation of the program. This includes, but is not limited to, funders, board members, administrators, staff and volunteers. External stakeholders would include law enforcement, legal services, community service programs, family members, elected officials, and the community-at-large. The recipients of services are also key stakeholders and need to be involved in the evaluation process, both those who are currently participating in the program, those w ho have transitioned into other programs of the agency and those who either refused or did not follow through with accessing raid and rescue. The next step in evaluating the program would be to clearly describe the program. To do this one must identify the expected effects, activities, resources, stage of development, context, and logic model (Grinnell, Gabor, Unrau, 2012, p. 31). This will be achieved through the review of the agencys strategic plan, the mission statement, funding requirements, and various other agency resources that describe what the purpose and goals of the program. The third step of this program evaluation process is to develop a plan of how the program will be evaluated. For the Raid and Rescue program, the Theory of Change will be utilized to determine if the program is effective and what the practices are effective within the program. This will be completed through a retrospective chart review, client and stakeholder surveys, and stakeholder focus groups. Step four is the gathering and evaluation of data (Grinnell, Gabor, Unrau, 2012, p. 32). For this program the data from the surveys, chart revie ws, and focus groups will be gathered, analyzed to determine strengths and areas of need. Data will be presented as both qualitative and quantitative data, to demonstrate success rate, completion rate and other variables, determined by the stakeholders. Outcomes towards program goals will also be evaluated to determine if Raid and Rescue is reaching victims and if their practices are helping victims. Step five is tied directly into step four of the evaluation process as this is the development of conclusions and making recommendations, based upon the data. To complete this step one must â€Å"judge the data against agreed-upon values or standards set by the stakeholders† (Grinnell, Gabor, Unrau, 2012, p. 33) and present the conclusions in a clear and consise manner. Lastly, there is a need for follow-up regarding the program evaluation in order to ensure the process was meaningful. The results should be disseminated, meetings should take place to review the results with key stakeholders, such as advisory committees, management staff, project teams in order to prioritize any needs and outliers of the program and develop action plans, based upon the identified needs or to continue current practices. The stakeholders should also be provided information regarding the successes of the program through focus groups, reporting results back to coalition groups, and through the use of media, such as newsletter articles, social media formats, program reports to funders, and formal reports to board members. References: Grinnell, R. G. (2012). Program Evaluation for Social Workers (Sixth ed.). New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, Inc.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Odysseus as a Leader Essay -- essays research papers

The owner of a show horse has many tasks to keep her horse fit and beautiful. She must spend time cleaning, stroking, and combing his hair to keep its gleaming shine. She must make good choices time after time for her horse, allowing him to be in his best condition. She must also train with him day after day and spend hours after hours with her baby, giving him her unconditional love. Like the dedicated owner to her horse, Odysseus shows wonderful leadership skills towards his men with his wily intelligence, warm compassion, and vast bravery. One of Odysseus’ best traits as a leader was his brilliant mind. Without his continuous wits, Odysseus would have never gotten his crew as far as he did. A great example of this creativity is when Odysseus and his men were trapped in the Cyclops’ (Polyphemus) cave. It was Odysseus who came up with blinding the drunken monster with a sharpened log and it was he who tricked the great Cyclops with his â€Å"Nohbdy† scheme: â€Å"My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends/everyone calls me Nohbdy† (827-828), sang Odysseus to the intoxicated Cyclops. The dazzling intelligence of Odysseus also helped him and his men escape from the evil Polyphemus to safer grounds. He said, â€Å"I drew on all my wits, and ran through tactics, reasoning as a man will for dear life, until a trick came – and it pleased me well. The Cyclops’ rams were handsome, fat, with heavy fleeces, a dark violet† (887-891). With this, Odysseus tied three rams together and â€Å"slung a ma...

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Essay --

â€Å"ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN GOOD GOVERNANCE† GROUP MEMBERS: -Saba naz (51) - Fizza Farrukh (16) RESEARCH ARTICLE According to Etounge Manguella: â€Å"Good Governance implies presence of rule of law, safeguard of human right, existence of honest government, accountability, transparency, predictability and openness† It is a legitimate, accountable, and effective way of obtaining and using public power and resources in the pursuit of widely-accepted social goals. Good governance has got great significance in our state as the problems of corruption, red tapism and inefficiency crept in the internal structure of our country. Today good governance not only occupies central place in our state but also regarded as crucial element in building nation. Nation cannot flourish in the absence of good governance. It is the need of an hour. Without the presence of good governance, no country can play pivotal role in the orb. It is regarded as the soul of country. Governance is very pertinent in every sphere of life, whether it is house or office, good governance is needed to perform effectively. It also provides strong foundation for the developmental process. Accountability: Accountability is one of the major characterstic of good governance. Lack of accountability has been creating tension since independence. Improper usage of funds, increasing rate of inflation, Pakistan is also under debt trap. It is all happening due to absence of accountability. Corruption can easily be removed with proper channel of accountability. Check and balance is very essential for the maintenance of funds This is the age of living transparently. A visible change has been brought in the culture of all financial players – Finance Ministry an... ...many facets of the State machinery, particularly those that have an interface with the public. v) Lack of credibility – the gap between the intent and the actions – of some institutions in society. vi) Inadequate application of rules, evasion of taxes and failure in getting timely justice. vii) Existence of a significant number of voiceless poor with little opportunities for participating. viii) Deterioration of physical environment in the urban and rural areas The World Bank has recently released a report on governance indicators for the period 1996-2004 covering 209 countries. The report, covering six governance indicators including voice and accountability, political stability, government effectiveness, regulatory control, rule of law, and control of corruption, shows that Pakistan’s ratings remain low and have somewhat deteriorated over the period.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The Great Gatsby :: essays research papers

An essay on 'The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness by Erich Fromm. Amount of pages: 478. The book goes on in explaining the ways of aggression and how it reaches into man. Citing aggressive examples in the behavior of necrophilics and Hitler. The author goes into the early life of Hitler and his parents. How it had effect on what he became and his destructive way of life. He was a man that laid half way between reality and his fantasy. He had played war games up until the age of sixteen and after that he commanded his army like they had been a game. Taking risks with soldiers as well as ignoring precise information that would have been critical to his plans; and also the ignorance of British and US tolerance. He was a psychotic man who is a very good example of how far a man with destructive purpose can rise. Trying to explain aggressive behavior, there is focus on a core issue, instincts. Going through animal behavior and comparing it with human behavior and how similar our instincts are. There is also focus on examining primitive tribes. The object of these findings were to find out how warlike the tribes are. In the hunting-gatherers tribes, war is not as popular and profitable as in modern society. Two reasons for this is that these tribes don't have most valuable items and there is no shared type of currency to take. In these tribes, war was infrequent and not lead by permanent leaders. As opposed by modern days. What also differs is the conquest to kill as many of the enemy as possible. Aggression is ruled into several categories, such as Benign aggression which is one of a defensive type and malignant aggression which actually roots into other conditions. Premises, necrophilia, cruelty and destruction. The joy of destruction and abuse of it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Destructiveness rest not only in acts but as worships. There is a case of idolatry, a man totally devoted to the monster of destruction. Kern, von salomon. A man like this and his acts are by no means normal, and supposedly caused by the world he knows, all morally, socially, honor, obedience is lost. The aggression takes control for many reasons. Although an extreme case of aggression, we see what may be societies cause on it's own people. Such a thing is a window to this picture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another focus would be on Milgram's electric experiment.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Nature nurture debate Essay

Critically compare how the nature/nurture debate has been addressed by three different researchers or schools of thought in psychology and/or philosophy. At least ones of the researchers/schools must have been active before the 20th century. The nature nurture debate has been a traditional argument for centuries between numerous psychologists. The debate questions whether human abilities are innate or obtained through experience. All through history, psychologists have not been able to come to an agreement with the debate of nature and nurture. Even though all psychologists have not been able to agree on the same views, there are several ypotheses that have been tested. This essay will critically compare the relative importance of the debate through defining the key terms nature and nurture, focussing on three schools in psychology- Behaviourism, Psychoanalysis and Cognitive; discussing their findings involved and using evidence to back up arguments used throughout. Nature is defined as human-beings come into the world as intuitive store of knowledge and understanding of reality (Smith et al 2003 p. ). In other words the Nature side of the debate believes that everyone is born with some sort of information. Smith et al (2003 p. ) also defined Nurture as being â€Å"knowledge being acquired through experience and interactions of the world. This suggests that everyone is born as a blank slate and learn everything through the environment around us. Structuralism was one of the earliest schools that came about prior to the 20t h century due to the Work of Wilhelm Wundt. It was the first school of thought to be established. The paradigm of structuralism is primarily concerned with the structure of the human psyche, and it does not address historical aspects or change in culture† (Lett 1987, Rubel and Rosman 1996). Wilhelm Wundt was interested in tudying mental experiences. His psychology relied on the natural sciences, and he believed that psychology was all about conscious experience. The method known as introspection was brought into play with Wundt believing that trained observers could illustrate thoughts, feelings and emotions through the use of this procedure. Cited online: (Kendra Cherry 2012). Wundt defined introspection as â€Å"the examination of one’s own mental state† (Schultz D, P & Schultz S, E. 2008 p. ) This suggests that introspection can be seen as a self examination. In his work of introspection he wanted to identify aspects to do with mental experience. To support this Nevid, J. S (2009 p. 7) proposed that â€Å"Wundt used introspection as a method of elaborating the basic structures of mental experience in the structure of feelings, perceptions and sensations. † What’s more, Edward B. Titchener (1867-1927) who became a disciple of Wilhelm Wundt. Titchener collaborated with Wundt on the method known as introspection and the pair decided together to attempt the construction of Ones mind, in terms of breaking down mental experiences into their component parts (Nevid, J. S 2009). As regards to the nature- nurture debate, some theorists may see Structuralism being slightly more on the nurture side, since Wundt’s explains the experiences within a person. However, Structuralism mainly falls towards the nature side of the debate which he talks about internal reasons, that Wundt proposes the experience of a person and those experiences are caused by the environment. nconscious drives. Initially, psychology should be scientific and should always be able to measure the things you’re studying. Also, introspection could be seen as lacking in reliability and the construction of and individual’s brain can be seen as too subjective (Moore 2011). Therefore, the work by Wundt and his disciple Titchener would not be seen v alid. Another school of thought is Behaviourism. It was introduced in the early 20th century by John B. Watson and was the primary paradigm in psychology around this time. Behaviourism is mostly concerned with observable behaviour as opposed to internal events like thinking† (McLeod, S. A. 2007). â€Å"The emphasis was placed upon identifying the external factors and produce changes in behaviour, learning or conditioning using a ‘stimulus response’ model† (Malim ; Birch 1998 cited in Ingleby et al 2010). John B. Watson (1978-1958) gnored Structuralism views, when he considered that the only area under discussion that psychologists ought to consider was that of behaviour, and he rejected the consciousness theory. ). Watson did not believe in introspection being any part of his school of thoughts. He believed that behaviourism would eliminate all initiatives that Structuralism invented. Supporting this Dewey, R (2007) proposes that â€Å"Watson implied the behaviourists would completely remove introspection from psychology. † Watson strong interest into classical conditioning and controlling the emotions of human behaviour lead to his study of ‘little Albert’ experiment. Previously, in the 1890s Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov was interested in classical conditioning, and lead to him looking at salivation in dogs when they were being fed. The introduction to PavloVs work on classical conditioning influenced Watson to then prepare his study on little Albert. â€Å"Watson was interested in taking Pavlov’s research further to show that emotional reactions could be classically conditioned in people† (Cherry, K. 2012). The study consisted of Watson and Raynor in 1920, exposing an orphan ‘little Albert’ with a series of stimuli, the famous stimuli of all; a white rat, and then observed little Albert’s reactions to it. Little Albert did not show any sign of fear when the rat was exposed. Watson then showed Albert the rat again but making a loud noise. As expected from a youngster, he began to cry after hearing the noise. Each time after that, Watson showed the child the rat and he began to cry automatically. Therefore showing that Watson had conditioned and emotional response of fear with the child when the loud noise was paired with the rabbit cited in (Nicholas, L. 2008). Consequently, Watson was able to show that emotional responses can be conditioned or learned. He then concluded that phobias were most likely conditioned responses. Watson was similar to Freud, that early childhood experiences influenced the adult personality. Watson differed from Freud in that he had behavioural evidence that learned responses in childhood transferred across stimuli and environments† as cited in (Watson et al. 1920). Watson was a proponent of the nurture debate and believed that all individuals’ differences were down to the result of learning. Another psychologist that engages into the nurture debate is Bandura (1961) who conducted a study to investigate if social behaviors can be obtained by imitation. The results supported his Social learning theory. McLeod, S. A. 2011) put forward the results from Bandura’s study as â€Å"Children learn social behavior such as aggression through the process of observation learning – through watching the behavior of another century. This is the school that stresses the importance of the unconscious mind. Psychoanalysis is made up of infantile experiences and for many alongside biological instincts or drives, particularly sexual ones Cones 2001). Therefore thi s takes both nature and nurture perspectives into account. Freud is one of the most endowed and the most complex, figures in the history of psychology Cited in (Glassman & Hadad 009). Freud’s theory can be used to question the behaviourist approach, due to their view that the environment influences and individual’s notion and behaviour. However Freud believes that the human thought and behaviour is more complex than this. â€Å"Freud proposes that the mind is a combination of all conscious and unconscious thoughts† (Malim and birch 1998:9, Cited in Ingleby et al 2010). Freud proposed a three part structure to personality; ‘d, ego and the superego. These three components all have their own individual principles. They are mental processes or systems and not actual physical structures (Griggs 2009). The ld consists of being the source of all basic drives. The ego is the part of the personality that mediates between the ld and the Superego. It is the most pragmatic part of the personality and it finds gratification for instinctual drives within the constraints of norms and society (Griggs 2009). The superego opposes the demands of the ‘d, and is known as the conscience of ones mind. It was the last structure to develop. It is known as the ‘morality principle’ as it represents the moral demands of family and society, and opposes the desire for immediate gratification (Glassman & Hadad 2009). Freud also developed a process that the ego used which is known as the defence mechanism. This is the process which the ego used to protect humans for anxiety. Additionally, moving on from the inequity of the three personality structures, Freud emphasised the importance that childhood experiences impact personality, and this is how he lead to his theory of the psychosexual stages. These stages engaged in the different points that children experienced throughout their childhood. Freud stressed the importance of nature playing a major role throughout each of these stages that children went through (Feshbach et al, 1991). Erik Erikson one of the major neo-Freudian theorists, expanded on Freud’s theory. He developed eight psychosocial stages that he believed each individual came across throughout their life (Glassman ; Hadad 2009). Erikson proposed that an individuals life span , matured throughout their life span, whilst Freud considered that out personality is formed at the age of 5 (Miller 1983). In addition to Freud’s work, psychologist Carl Jung who is best known for his theory of the Collective unconscious established a rapport between the conscious and unconscious. Although Jung agreed with Freud ith the existence of the Unconscious, he believed that Freud failed to explain details about the presence of archetypes within human minds† (Smith 2003 p. 464). Overall, Psychoanalysis accounts for both nature and nurture debate, where Freud and Jung were interested in the unconscious mind; relying on the nature, however Freud also put forward the influence of child experience repres enting the nurture debate. Therefore this school of thought indicates a combination of both nature and nurture. To conclude, there are a number ‘Thoughts of schools† that provide evidence for both Nature and Nurture debate.

Globalizing an Australian Wine Company Essay

The company’s strategic vision is to become the world’s first truly global wine company. As CEO and managing director of BRL Hardy Europe, Carson’s contribution and achievements had been significant with a 10 fold increase in sales volume, in a tenure spanning just seven years. He successfully turned around Hardy’s U. K. business by implementing cost cutting initiatives and ensuring strong systems, policies, and control. Millar, CEO and managing director at BRL Hardy followed a decentralized approach to management. He believed in delegation and adequately integrated culture and management style into the merged corporation. The U. K. market contributed significantly to BRL Hardy’s revenues and represented 40% of Australian wine exports. In U. K. , the fighting brands, namely, Stamps and Nottage Hill, were positioned at price points of 2. 99 and 3. 69 pounds respectively. As low price good quality wines, they accounted for 80% of the value and volume of the Hardy brand sales. As the image of these brands began to erode, Carson decided to relaunch them by relabeling and repositioning the wines. Carson insisted that sales performance in U. K. depended on efficient labeling that should not be completely dictated by the Australian management. Although management was skeptical about local control over branding, labeling, and pricing decisions, the move significantly boosted the fighting brands’ sales. As the fighting brands gradually moved up the price points, there was an opportunity for an entry level wine that could be priced lower than 4. 9 pounds. In line with the company’s vision of becoming an international wine company, Carson decided to tap non-Australian wine sources and develop a line of branded products that could utilize the company’s strong distribution channels. This strategy would provide vital scale economies, minimize harvest risk, capture rationalizing suppliers, and avoid currency-driven price variations. Carson propose d the brand D’istinto, an Italian venture with a Sicilian based winery. He wanted to develop a recognizable brand which was easy to buy and had global potential. The wine would be positioned to the average wine consumer and would help the company leverage distribution. The Australian headquarters believed that D’istinto would eat into the fighting brands’ share as they were positioned at almost similar price points. Carson’s earlier Chilean venture, Mapocho had proven troublesome and Millar was doubtful if the European unit could support another brand. While Millar recognized U. K. s strong performance and wanted to give Carson as much freedom as possible, the reality was that the Italian venture would stretch the tight human resources of the European unit and dilute focus from the overall corporate strategy. While the Italian venture was being proposed, the Australian headquarters had launched Banrock Station, an environmentally responsible product at a similar price point. Australian management believed that the brand had global po tential and had instructed areas to launch it appropriately. Miller, away from the frontline and external demands of the local customers, has to support Carson’s entrepreneurial experimentation and dynamism. However, the proposal to launch D’istinto should not be approved. It is imperative that the business strategy fit within the broader corporate strategy of the organization. Although Carson’s proposal represented strategic interests, it ran counter the corporate strategy of maximizing global efficiency. D’istinto’s launch would certainly come with financial implications and would also stretch the operating capabilities of the European unit. On the other hand, Banrock Station had already established itself in a few markets and a strong launch in Europe would only increase scale economies. D’istinto had an innovative strategy with catchy and attractive labeling and a distinct image capturing the Mediterranean lifestyle. This positioning would definitely appeal to the mature U. K. consumer and also to the U. K. retailers, who represented the majority of sales. However, there is no certainty that this strategy would prove equally successful globally. While D’istinto would provide short term results, it is important to understand the long term viability that Banrock Station offers. Global consumers are increasingly emerging into environmentally conscious populations that expect corporations to take responsibility of natural resources and the environment. Although through D’istinto, Carson aims to build a global brand, Banrock Station appears to be better positioned in a converging global market. In order to build a true global brand, Miller must establish consistency across organizational units and ensure that the vision is shared by all.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Indian Telecom Sector Employability Skills

( Employability Skills for Indian Mobile Phones Telecom Sector First Author: Rishi Kapal, BE, LLB, PGPM (Vice President-Sony Mobile Communications, India) Abstract It may not known to many that after Alexander Graham bell invented the first telephone, Motorola’s Martin Cooper is understood to have created the first mobile phone, followed by IBM-Bellsouth making the first Smartphone. However, in the present day, not much is heard about the companies that pioneered the mobile and Smartphones revolution.Indian telecom sector story is only getting better by the day, however, the growth sustenance and leveraging technology for better use in only possible if our population could be transformed to a real productive employment asset. In this paper, the important aspect of employability in Indian telecom Sector will be highlighted INTRODUCTION Indian telecom industry underwent a high pace of market liberalization and growth since 1990s and now has become the world's most competitive an d one of the fastest growing telecom markets.The Industry has grown over twenty times in just ten years, from under 37 million subscribers in the year 2001 to over 846 million subscribers in the year 2011. India has the  world's second-largest  mobile phone user base with over 929. 37 million users as of May 2012. It has the  world's third-largest  Internet user-base with over 137 million as of June 2012. [pic] THE RISE OF INDIA MOBILE PHONES INDUSTRY The explosion of mobile phones sector is attributed to the following three factors: 1. Opening up of new technology 2. Convergence of computing and telephony 3. Mobile Phones EnablementOPENING UP OF NEW WIRELESS TECHNNOLOGY Till 2010, India was a pure-play GSM and CDMA technology driven country whereas rest of the world had moved to 3G(HSPA+) and few advanced nations(like Japan) already launching LTE(Long Term Evolution) high speed wireless technologies. Post the 3G and BWA auctions in India, the wireless technology landscape s tarted changing and alongside it brought the need for differently (enhanced) skilled professionals to handle new technology and associated devices. A brief snapshot of the wireless technologies deployed in India is below: [pic]India today is on the forefront of telecom services and related content. This changes the way the telecom products are conceptualized, priced, launched and their life cycle is managed. Not much of this is known to the budding leaders during their academic orientations. CONVERGENCE OF COMPUTING AND TELEPHONY In today’s world, computers are used to make voice calls (Gtalk, Skype) and phones are used for data access. So each device has evolved from its original function and become multi tasked. This convergence of devices ecosystem is happening due to the following:For most time in computing technology, microprocessors were traditionally associated with computers and other IT related products. However, since the last two years, phones are also sold based o n the GHZ speed of processor that makes them run, various related aspects like single core, dual core and quad core processors. Now, this has brought about a major shift in consumer behavior whereby a buyer actually decides about a phone not just by looks and geeks but begins with the processor strengths and data speeds supported.This all comes with perceived compromise on battery life however the mobile phones processor manufacturers are fast gaining ground in terms of optimizing battery life for higher processor power. MOBILE PHONES ENABLEMENT A natural question about why is the mobile phone industry growing at a strong pace is obvious. Firstly, India is now moving to be a strong mobile replacement market. The mobile sales ratio is skewed to replacement buyers as compared to first term buyers as per industry sources. Hence there is a two-fold demand now.Alongside, mobile phones have become the first internet access device for the youth and hence the mobile internet penetration mom entum is making up the volume. Lastly, a mobile phone is no longer a luxury and is affordable by anyone, at a cost as low as $15. All these factors are leading to a strong growth in mobile phone sales. MOBILE PHONES DISTRUBUTION SYSTEM Let us now examine the mobile phones sales and distribution systems to better understand the required skills that need to be acquired by professionals aspiring to work in this sector. [pic]The firs layer does product sell-in to the second layer which in-turn works for shop level product placement and sales. The final sales to end customer is referred to as Sell thru. The mobile distribution model is extremely dynamic and need of the hour may change regularly due to competitive launches and initiatives. Each product has its own merits, positioning and technological implications. Traditional models of distribution don’t always work in realms of the mobile words due to the amount of need-of-the-hour and flexibility mechanisms required to be adopte d. EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS FOR THE MOBILE SECTORROI : Relationship, Ownership, Initiative †¢ Relationship: mobile phone industry is too diverse and needs one on one relationship mapping with the ecosystem stakeholders in product development and distribution. The †¢ Ownership: professionals without adequacy of understanding of ownership will not cut it into the telecom †¢ Initiative: India is a distribution led mobile market, unlike the mature markets like US where wireless operators dominate mobile phones sales channel. Every skilled professional aspiring for working in the Indian telecom sector needs to have self initiative to innovate reach and execution.Alongside the above, the professionals must understand that the mobile phones propositions are undergoing a change: VRS (Value, Range, Service) †¢ Value : value proposition to the customers is fast changing with the advent of Smartphones †¢ Range: Customer associated with brands that have a range(portfolio) a nd not one off products(iPhone is an exception) †¢ Service: Post sales support for sophisticated devices has become a strong reason to buy. As per the nationwide study conducted by MeriTrac, of marks secured by 2264 MBAs who sat for tests by recruiting companies, only 21% were found to be actually employable.The latest figures show a sharp decline – the last such survey done in 2007 placed employability at 25%. Drawn from over 100 B-Schools beyond the Top 25 in the country, the students who were covered by the survey were tested for verbal ability, quantitative ability and reasoning. This despite the fact that more and more B-schools are mushrooming across the country churning out hundreds upon thousands of freshly-minted MBAs every year. There are other cornerstones of employability skills required in the mobile sector that are influenced by †¢ Consumer purchase behavior †¢ Mobiles Operating System CONSUMER PURCHASE BEHAVIOR [pic]The above purchase behaviors d ictate a different skill set required in professionals dealing with individual or a mix of groups above. A person aspiring to work in the mobile sector must know the purchase behavior intricacies that are closely linked to the technology supported by the phones. MOBILE OPERATING SYSTEMS There are few dominant mobile operating systems viz Android, iOS, Symbian and RIM OS that are most dominant in India. Windows is a fast emerging ecosystem supported by Microsoft and Nokia. A professional must know the advantages of each OS so that the right strategy of product and marketing management can evolve.The strength and diversity of operating system is also ensuring that a mobile phone becomes much more than a mere communication device. It now is a gadget that effects and influences one’s lifestyle, something no one can deny or ignore. [pic][pic] A mobile phone does off jobs of a compass, mirror and a rattler as well. These contemporary, un-orthodox applications are becoming a reason to inquire and buying a phone by many. SUMMARY Indian telecom sector will provide employment to around one crore people by 2012, a study by PwC has said.The telecom industry will provide about 28 lakh direct jobs and around 70 indirect jobs by 2012, the study commissioned by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and done by PwC said. While the above aspiration is good to have however the industry is able to attract talent but struggling to get the right one. The employability skills required for mobile sector include a thorough understanding of mobile phones technology, various operating systems, consumer purchase behavior, OEM to Market distribution model and multi screen convergence.There are too many mobbing parts in the Indian mobile phone industry and the same are not evidently addressed as a subject matter in various institutions. It is important for colleges to step up and recognize that lack of employability skills for the telecom and especially mobile phone sec tor leaves the new industry entrants in a very awkward and â€Å" I don’t know much† state of mind. This can definitely be changed with institutions opening up their gates to industry professionals and to consulting companies specializing in transition of classrooms to telecom corporates.Steadily, now certain learning and development organizations are evolving that dedicatedly focus on transition programs for students, aimed at the telecom and mobile phones sector. Organizations like MindActiv Consulting (www. mindactiv. co. in) are pioneering in this critical requirement and having the right industry resources at their disposal. Strong and structured programs by MindActiv and such organizations are going to be much more required in the immediate future when the push back for better employable andidates will come from the telecom industry itself. References: 1. The Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicators June 2012, TRAI 2. Economic Times Article August 2011: Tel ecom sector to provide 1 crore jobs by 2012: Study 3. Times of India, August 7, 2012: Only 21% MBAs in India employable: Survey 4. Industry sources About the author: Rishi Kapal completed his schooling from Delhi Public School, RK Puram in 1989. This was followed by a degree in Electronics Engineering in 1993 from Shivaji university.He started his career with HCL in 1993 and during his ongoing career span of 19+ years, has worked with coveted organizations like Tata Telecom, Ericsson, Castrol, Sony Ericsson and Qualcomm to name a few. Presently, Rishi is a Vice President with Sony Mobile Communications. During his professional tenure, Rishi completed his PGPM from International Management Institute and LLB from CCS University. Rishi is passionate about instilling employability skills in the budding new leadership generation and is closely associated with the academia sector for guest lectures and grooming students for their first corporate interface.He has a strong knowledge of mana gement practices required in students pursuing graduate and post graduate courses and has prepared specific training and orientation modules for employability skills enhancement in students. ———————– The total revenue of the Indian telecom sector grew by 7% to  [pic]283,207  crore  (US$53. 53 billion)  for 2010–11 financial year, while revenues from telecom equipment segment stood at  [pic]117,039  crore  (US$22. 12 billion).The depicted increase in telecom penetration has been facilitated with a strong and every growing mobile phone industry, reaching an unprecedented proportion of more than 12Million handsets sold in India every month. IOIP: Most popular, individual pays for the phone and owns it IOCP: Individual owns the phone, paid by the company COCP: Company purchases and provide the phone to employees LTE TDD and HSPA+ is already launched in India. The country is now neck to neck with the world on av ailability of latest wireless technologies.Alongside, consumers are much more aware of the broadband phenomenon and the benefits this advent can deliver. The access device for the new technologies has to be a mobile phone since other consumer equipments are bulky and more appropriate for inhouse only. With this evolution, the need for skilled workforce in technology, strategy, sales, marketing and operations and much more diverse and unique as compared to that exists today. The Indian handset market is growing consistently with a rate of over 12% annually, of which the Smartphones base is expected to grow at a rate of over 60% year of year.The advent of operating systems like Android along-with new broadband wireless internet access technologies is opening up the mobile phones space in India. The OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) works on three retail engagement models: †¢ Master national distributor: imports the products and then associated with regional partners for place ment and sales †¢ Direct Billing: to exclusive stores and conglomerates of high importance †¢ Entrepreneurial Regional partners: Distributors with strong regional command and those who want to deal directly with the company.With the changing shape of Indian telecom sector and need for the skilled population to keep up with the industry resources requirement, there are six dimensions of employability skills that the professionals must have in order to leap into the telecom sector. Each of these dimensions is unique in terms of the capability build up required in professionals, especially graduates and post graduates. Mobile phone industry is part of a unique eco system and must be studied and imbibed from close quarters.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: Women’s Roles in Umuofian Society

Literature and Liberation- Prof. Sicari December 3rd, 2012 Women’s Role in Umuofian Society Chinua Achebe’s â€Å"Things Fall Apart† depicts the downfall of the once great tribe of Umuofia at the hands of imperialistic European white men. However the downfall of this advanced tribe would come to be inevitable due to its numerous flaws, in terms of their â€Å"justice† system, extreme religious interpretations of the Oracle and perhaps most heavily because of their intensely misogynistic views.Umuofia’s harsh and brutal treatment of women in their society reveal the fact that women are not acknowledged to even be human, much rather they are treated as possessions – as property. Men believe women to be powerless, defenseless and ultimately useless but this ignorant belief proves to have detrimental consequences. These misogynistic views in turn become the very foundation upon which this society will unravel. With imperialistic missionaries arri ving with the tempting offer of a different and more appealing lifestyle, the once united Umuofia will wither away.Umuofia is a tribe located in Nigeria, Africa coming from humble beginnings, the means of success in this tribe come through hard manual labor such as farming. Having to start from scratch several times many men have solidified their status because of their persistence, earning themselves many titles. However, a man who earns no titles is referred to as an â€Å"agbala† (p. 13) – which also means women, but when used to refer to a male it is an insult. This exposes to the reader the fact that the word failure is synonymous with women, they are interchangeable, having the same meaning.In â€Å"women† being the choice word to insult a man it also paints the picture under which light women are viewed by men, to be a woman is to be unsuccessful and to carry no value. Another manner in which a man further reinforces his titles is in acquiring several wiv es. The number of wives a man has affects his social status, exemplifying that women are possessions of men. It’s a numbers game with men, using women as their pawns so they can further embody the â€Å"true meaning† of what it is to be a man Further exemplifying the misogynistic views of this society is demonstrated in the domestic abuse females face at the hands of their spouse.Okonkwo, an aggressive being by nature is no different towards his wives. In Chapter 4, Okonkwo violently beats his third and youngest wife, Ojiugo, â€Å"And when she returned he beat her very heavily† (p. 29) because when he arrived home food was not yet prepared and she instead of having a hot meal waiting for him went to get her hair braided. Okonkwo blind in his rage beats her brutally claiming negligence, completely forgetting the fact that it was the sacred Week of Peace – â€Å"His two wives ran out in great alarm pleading with him that it was the sacred week† (p. 9). For beating his wife during the Week of Peace, Okonkwo is punished, the priest demands that Okonkwo sacrifice a nanny goat and a hen and pay a fine of one length of cloth and one hundred cowries. This scene reveals just how corrupt the Umuofian justice system is, Okonkwo is punished not because he laid his hands on his wife but because of the time in which he did it. It is not frowned down on when a male hits a female, in fact it is encouraged and Okonkwo from time to time threatens to kill his wives.It is not viewed as monstrous when a male beats a female in this society and is applauded, they feel as though women must be kept in line and know their duties as well as complete them fully anything less is negligence and physical abuse is their wake up call. Adding to the fact that men can get away with hitting their wives, the very few times in which this justice system does side with women it is very partial – with men relatively receiving a slap on the wrist. This is sho wn in Chapter 10, a dispute that comes before the egwugwu (the clan’s ancestral spirits) that involves a husband and wife.The husband, Uzowulu, states that the three brothers of his wife, Mgbafo, beat him and took her and the children from his hut but would not return her bride-price. The woman’s brothers justify their actions in stating that Uzowulu beat their sister mercilessly. They state that Uzowulu’s punishment if Mgbafo returns with him will be that his genitals be cut off if he ever beats her again. Uzowulu claims that he sees no wrong in his ways, â€Å"I married her with my money and my yams, I owe them no cocoyams† (p. 90) is his defense. He feels as though he owes his in laws no explanation and how he treats his wife is no ones oncern. This statement proves that he views his wife as just another possession of his, he paid the price and he can do as he pleases with her from that point forward. The egwugwu decide in favor of Mgbafo, telling Uzow ulu to take a pot of wine to his in-laws. One village elder complains that such a minimal matter should not be brought before them, again exposing the fact that domestic abuse is not seen as an issue in this society. In Umuofia, there are two types of crimes that can be committed, feminine crimes and masculine crimes.Okonkwo accidentally kills a clansman during a funeral, this crime falls under the category of feminine because it wasn’t a killing on purpose – â€Å"Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. † (p. 124). In categorizing crimes under these two types the reader receives insight as to what characteristics pertain to each gender in the eyes of this society. Feminine crimes are accidental, without intent, inadvertent – these characteristics all associate with the way that men view females, carrying negative connotations that make it seem as though women don’t have strength.Masculine crimes on the other hand lie on the other side of the spectrum; these crimes consist of blunt, direct acts with an intent or purpose to be completed. These characteristics are some of the many males wish to possess in their attempt to fulfill what it is to be a man. Men are strong with a sense of direction and purpose and so are these crimes. Okonkwo agrees with the society’s interpretation of genders, primarily in his wishing that his daughter, Ezinma, were a boy.Ezinma, is Okonkwo’s favorite child, he loves her very much but does not show affection towards her due to his fear of being viewed as weak by the men of his tribe. Any emotion other than anger is a feminine emotion in the opinion of Okonkwo. Multiple times throughout the novel Okonkwo catches himself wishing that Ezinma were a boy, â€Å"If Ezinma had been a boy I would have been happier. She has the right spirit† (p. 66). Okonkwo claims that she would have been the ideal son, strikingly similar in their nature and mindset, Ezinma f ulfills all the qualities her father desires in his children- except for one.As she is a woman all of these talents and qualities will go on unexplored and unused. Society feels as though it is the duty of a woman to bear sons, â€Å"prosperous men and great warriors your daughter will bear us sons like you† (p. 117). Ezinma has proven herself time and time again but will always fail in the eyes of Okonkwo, through the love and fondness he has for her she will never be able to change the fact that she is a female and he will never be able to change his misogynistic views.Okonkwo is very capable of feeling feminine emotions but as for exposing and expressing them he is blind in his immense resentment towards his father, Unoka, and everything he represented. These misogynistic views take a toll on the tribe and prove to become their undoing. Christian missionaries soon arrive to the tribe with the intent of converting as many of the tribe members as possible, presenting them wi th a tempting offer that proves to entice one too many for the liking of Okonkwo.On the surface Okonkwo resist the implementation of Christianity because it is not â€Å"manly† enough, but frankly it is the deep rooted fear of losing societal status that prevents him from embracing this religion. His sense of self-worth is solely based on the traditional standards by which society judges him. The system of evaluation that the Christians introduce causes many of the tribe members embrace Christianity; the evaluation of self, not possessions is what composed one’s worth.Those who were once outcasted, scorned and belittled found value in Christianity. In their new community, these converts enjoy a more elevated status – no longer being the underdog was a more then welcomed change, the biggest underdog of them all being women. Presently, Works Cited Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print. Denny, Frederick Mathewson, Carlos M. N. Eire, Marti n S. Jaffee, and John Corrigan. Jews, Christians, Muslims: A Comparative Introduction to Monotheistic Religions. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2012. Print.

Friday, September 13, 2019

What is History exercise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

What is History exercise - Essay Example Five thousand years ago there may be many gaps in the historical record, fifty years ago there may be so much information that it is virtually impossible for a single historian to digest the material. Physical evidence from the past may provide firm evidence for what "really happened". Thus an archaeological dig of a battlefield may reveal a wealth of information about the type ammunition used, the number of dead and even the type of food that the armies were eating. However, even with a wealth of physical evidence, the historian's task is to place it in context. Thus, what does the type of food that was eaten by an army mean to the overall reality of what was occurring at a time Another difficulty with discovering "what really happened" is that the historian needs to decide from whose viewpoint are the occurrences being seen. The traditional, "great man" view of history, which tells of the happenings that occurred to Kings, Queens, Emperors, Presidents, Prime Ministers . . . . that is very different from a history of the ordinary or poor people. The latter may be virtually unaware of what is happening at the national level, while the former may ignore the plight of most of the people that they rule. So "what really happened" depends upon the point of view being taken. "Happening" is a multiple occurrence and has multiple dimensions according to the different groups and individuals being considered. In more recent history, the historian faces the challenge of having perhaps too much information. For example, a historian studying the assassination of President John F Kennedy will find hundreds of thousands of documents at his disposal. Indeed, a historian could go through a lifetime reading all the documentation and never come to an end. Thus, rather than trying to piece together the past from scattered and incomplete knowledge, the historian needs to select from among that knowledge. A degree of selection may also lead to a degree of bias as the historian is almost bound to choose those documents and sources that are of most interest to him or which support a preconceived notion regarding an event. 2. To what extent can a historian be objective A historian should at least try to be as objective as possible, but absolute objectivity is impossible. Thus the first task is to not 'judge" the historical period or figure being considered by the standards of your own time. Considering a figure such as Henry VIII through the eyes of the ethics and standards of the Twenty-First Century is both futile and debilitating to the historical process. A King (or an ordinary man) should be considered within the context of his time in order to understand what, how and why things occurred. In recent years the so called "new history" has often tried to re-interpret historical events according to the standards of today. Thus Feminist history seeks to explore the subjugation and oppression of women, gay history does the same for gay people etc. While a lot of fascinating scholarship appears within these genres of history, the actual sense of the place and time being considered often becomes lost within the ideological vigor of the historian. Such historians often seem to pride themselves on the fact that they are not being objective. To be fair, those proponents of new history would suggest that traditional historians are just as un-objective through their uncritical analysis of patriarchal, sexist, homophobic societies. The new historians claim that not to

Thursday, September 12, 2019

A Child of Two Worlds Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

A Child of Two Worlds - Essay Example Three key things that I have considered within me whenever am faced with this challenge and these are my physical appearance, family as well as personal values and the place where I am situated at that moment. I must admit that in the past I used to irritated, distressed, anxious and confused whenever such question was about to emerge either from me or from those I was interacting with. My high school life has had a number of challenges especially emerging from my fellow classmates who have formed a negative opinion of me due to my mixed race status. Some are due to their envy as well as their inability to appreciate themselves. They have less information on what it means to belong to the mixed race. This has made me to particularly hate my high school and on many occasions, I have had to come up with a number of excuses so as not to go to school. I remember one day when I had to fake sickness for a whole week so as to avoid going to that school. I must admit that the journey towards acceptance and self-realisation has not been easy and a number of factors have served to make it less easy. However, my family has been of great assistance in this journey as they have helped me to accept myself through several initiatives. My parents have treated me with equality from both sides and I have never been under pressure to conform to one side of the race I really appreciate my parents as they have never dictated to use the people we need to associate with or keep away from. When I tend to identify with Whites, my mother seem less concerned neither is my dad when I associate closely with those of the Asian descent. One cannot change those around them but can change the perception that they have of themselves. I have therefore come to the point of personal acceptance irrespective of the views of those around me. I firmly believe that achieving my personal goals and visions in life is not based on my race but is on the perception that I form of myself.  Ã‚  

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Do we have less face-to-face interaction because of social networks Research Paper

Do we have less face-to-face interaction because of social networks - Research Paper Example These have made it easy for people to communicate with anyone irrespective of their geographical location. Social networks have brought innovative ideas. Currently, social games have taken away the free time that people used to have and share with friends. People especially the young generation are spending much of their time playing games and chatting with friends. Although a certain school of thought argues that this reduces boredom, the role that family members and friends played cannot be replaced by social network. Statistics indicates that the number of stress-related diseases has increased tremendously especially among the young people. This is because they no longer share their feeling which cannot only be done through face-to-face interactions. On the other hand, the number of people suffering from obesity and other diseases related to less physical activities has increased. This is because people no longer walk or jog. Instead, they spend much of the time interacting throug h the social network. A quantitative method was used in order to collect information concerning the topic of study. This was crucial in coming up with an in-depth conclusion on whether the social network has played a significant role in reducing face-face interactions. A sampling method was used to determine the number of people who use social networks to chat with friends and family members. The samples were selected randomly in order to avoid any cases of biasness. This was significant in ensuring that the information obtained was reliable and up-to-date Qualitative research was also conducted. The nature of the problem could not be understood through exploratory research only. The use of sampling ensured a reduced survey bias through the use of focus groups. It also ensured that the ideas from a broad spectrum have been used before making the final findings and conclusion. The wide amount of views was important in ensuring that questionnaire constructed was

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

European Research Center for Information Systems (ERICS) and its Compe Essay - 1

European Research Center for Information Systems (ERICS) and its Competitors - Essay Example In the current systems of globalization where information spread fast, the choice of institution one can join is determined by a number of factors. How an institution structures the systems determines its competitive edge in a highly dynamic market. In this case, ERICS faces competition from such institutions such as PSB Academy in Singapore. PSB is an internationally accredited institution, operating out of two campuses, the Henderson and Delta, Singapore. It was established in 1964 and has seen its name grow taking 30, 000 students annually in Degree, post-graduate and corporate levels programs. For educational programs, this is conducted through its School of Engineering, Business, Information Technology and Physical Sciences. In addition, the institution owns Center for Foundation Studies and Center for English Languages Studies that offer varying programs to cater to the needs and interests of the students. Just as like ERICS, PSB Academy centers in Information Technology with Business, Engineering, Physical Sciences and Mathematics. The infrastructure and lecturers with a vast wealth of experience have kept the institution in high regards. The graduates from the institution have recorded a high absorption rate in the market than any other institution of higher learning in Singapore. The institution is a worthy competitor to the ERICS. PSB Academy has hugely marketed itself through the world of mouth from the high intake of the graduate in the job market. The employers are well versant with the institution from the student who joins the market. The graduate is trained and skills and offer a strong marketing solution for the campus. For instance, in 2014, the institution recorded 95 % employment rate. 85 % of the graduates gained employment within the first 6 months and 3.1 on average manage to find a job (PSB, 2014). These statistics speaks volume of the quality of  education in PSB Academy.  

Monday, September 9, 2019

Administering the Death Penalty to Child Molestors Term Paper

Administering the Death Penalty to Child Molestors - Term Paper Example In a vast majority of cases, child molesters execute these behaviors knowing that they are unlawful but they cannot resist their intrinsic desire to indulge in such acts. There is also a category of offenders who do not consider such acts unlawful particularly when the child enjoys this kind of behavior. Summing up, child molestation is the execution of sexual offence against any child that is below the age of consent for sex. Child molestation is a crime that does not happen quite infrequently. â€Å"According to the U. S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, on any given day there are approximately 234,000 sex offenders who were convicted of rape or sexual assault and are in the custody or control of correction agencies† (â€Å"Sex Offender Statistics†). The U. S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics records that as many as 4300 child molesters have been released from imprisonment in 15 states across the US in just one year, and out of these who have been released, about 3.3 per cent have been rearrested within just three years after the release for having caused another sex offense to a new child (â€Å"Sex Offender Statistics†). This percentage excludes the freed child molesters who did commit the crime after getting released once and did not get caught or imprisoned for the second offence. From these statistics, the ineffectiveness of the current state of punishment for the offence of child molestation is quite evident. This imparts the need for a radical change in the policy of punishment for the child molesters. The current policy that provides the child molesters with an opportunity to be released from punishment after some time is totally unacceptable because harming a child is a heinous crime for which t he offender must not be provided with any opportunity of rehabilitation. A vast majority of the child offenders are habitual criminals and there is little surety, if any, that they would not