Linking promotional activity to the product life cycle Products Essay

BIC was founded in 1950 by Marcel Bich with the introduction of the first high quality ballpoint pen at an affordable price. In 1975 BIC launched the first one-piece shaver and become a market leader within that sector too. In the early days, BIC concentrated on a core range of products which mainly included: BIC Cristal ® and Orange Ball Pen and the Classic Shaver. In the 1990s the company realised it needed to develop its product range to meet changing consumer needs and to compete with new competitors entering the writing and shaver categories. BIC has therefore set about re-shaping itself. It has looked to add value to its products (e.g. by moving from a single blade to a twin blade, then to a triple blade razor) and to develop a range of new products. BIC’s introduction of the Classic one-piece shaver, rebranded as BIC 1, illustrates this process. The re-branding was intended to enhance the brand’s simplicity whilst still maintaining the highly recognisable, orange packaging. BIC has further enhanced this re-branding by launching BIC 2, which satisfies consumers looking for a functional twin blade at an affordable price. Through the launch of BIC 1 & BIC 2, BIC has created a branding synergy. In the twin blade sector, BIC has launched premium products such as Comfort Twin and Twin Lady. These products target consumers demanding enhanced features and benefits while still offering excellent value for money. In 2003, BIC launched its first triple blade shaver for men BIC Comfort 3 and one year later BIC Soleil Lady for women. Both of these products offer greater innovation and technologically enhanced features and benefits at attractive prices. The Boston matrix and BIC products Multi-product businesses like BIC are aware of how products in their entire portfolio contribute to the overall growth of the business. Established profitable lines make a vital contribution that enables a company to invest in the development and promotion of new lines. The Boston Consulting Group developed ‘The Boston box’ or BCG matrix. This relates closely to product life cycles and identifies four classes of  products in an organisation’s portfolio. Problem children – These are newly-launched products. This name is appropriate because many products fail to move beyond this phase. Such products are also referred to as ‘Question Marks’ or ‘Wild-cats’. In order to grow, they require large amounts of investment and promotional support. Wise firms monitor each product’s progress and recognise whether or not on-going support is justified. Stars – These are products that have successfully reached the growth stage in the life cycle. Although they need on-going promotional support, they are already providing high cash returns. They present good future prospects. Cash cows – These products have reached the maturity stage and are now ‘yielders’. They have a high market share in markets that are no longer rapidly expanding. However, they will need on-going marketing support and will need ‘freshening up’ from time to time. Dogs – These are products in decline. These have a low market share in a low-growing or declining market. Because they generate a negative cash flow, they will usually be disposed of. The Boston matrix can be applied to BIC products: The Cristal Ball Pen and Classic Shaver are popular and well established products with very high unit sales. BIC produces them on a large scale. These cash cows provide excellent cash profits for the company. The Cristal Grip and Cristal Gel Pens, and Twin Lady shavers are stars with well-established growth patterns. For example, the Twin Lady filled the gap in the market for shavers for women. Problem Children that have recently entered their respective markets include Cristal Colours and Cristal Pocket Scents in the pen market, and Comfort 3 and Soleil in the shavers market. Currently BIC is investing in these products. Over the next two or three years the company will decide whether these products have succeeded (moved into the star category) and warrant continued support. Products such as Soleil (a shaver for women) are rapidly moving into the star category. Of course, some products fail to take off sufficiently and/or go into decline. The ‘Tough Beard’ shaver has no t warranted further development and BIC has taken it out of production. Developing the product range The Cristal range of pens demonstrates how to inject new life into a product range: BIC’s Cristal Ball pen was launched in 1951. It has over 30% market  share and is the UK’s best-selling ball pen. In 1964 BIC launched BIC Orange. This is a fine-point version of the Cristal pen, easily recognised by its orange barrel. In the 1990s, as the Cristal and Orange Ball pens became more mature and encountered fierce competition from lower priced brands, BIC invested in developing the Cristal range to attract new users and to differentiate itself from the competition. This led to the launch of a range of new products: Cristal Grip, for more comfort Cristal Colours, for fashionable colours Cristal Pocket, for a more convenient size Cristal Pockets Scents, for fun and fruity inks Cristal Gel, for smoother writing. By continually adding to the range, BIC manages to inject new life into the product life cycle of the overall range. BIC now offers a full range of Cristal pens using both ball point and gel ink technology. The range’s development has also helped to support the enhancements of the core brand, and each year sales of Cristal pens increase. The product life cycle and promotional activity BIC analyses its products, and promotes and supports these in line with their stage in the product life cycle. For example, BIC Cristal and the Classic shaver have a long life cycle and although they have had technological improvements over the years and are produced using more advanced manufacturing techniques, the style and design of these products have not changed. They are still recognisable worldwide. Initially, when these products were launched, promotional activity would have focused on generating awareness and encouraging consumers to trial the products. Now that these products have become well established icons, the promotional emphasis is on rewarding loyal customers who continue to buy these products. The illustration shows the way in which promotional activity is tailored to stages in the product life cycle. When BIC launched the Comfort 3 razor, it chose Martin Johnson to represent the brand. BIC invested heavily in outdoor  media such as billboards and conducted national press advertising to raise awareness. With Cristal Gel, BIC carried out a large amount of below the line activity. To build awareness of the new product, BIC supplied existing Cristal Ball pen users with Cristal Gel samples through special promotional packs and other sampling campaigns to office users. This was supported by advertising and direct marketing. During a product’s growth period, BIC continues to use market research data to help it better understand market developments and consumer requirements. It also continues to support the product so that more and more consumers try it out and are converted into regular users. At this stage, advertising and special offers encourage new users to try the product. As a product moves towards maturity, BIC’s marketing experts need to identify ways of injecting new life into it. They must also identify new product developments that can meet similar consumer needs. This explains why, for example, BIC has developed extensions to the Cristal range. Once a product has saturated a market, sales will stagnate. However, it is important to continue to support cash cows because they play a vital role in injecting profits that sustain new product development. Once a product has moved into decline, a company like BIC will look to replace it with new products that meet existing and evolving consumer needs. For example, the razor ‘Tough Beard’ was taken out of the product portfolio because other new BIC razors were better able to meet the needs of customers with ‘tough beards’! Conclusion Businesses that understand the Boston Box and product life cycles are able to target appropriate promotional activities to support the various products in their portfolio. Well established products such as BIC Cristal and Classic shaver are the cash cows that enable BIC to thrive by developing its stars and some of its question marks in line with market needs. BIC is an innovative organisation that uses its technical and marketing expertise to supply consumers with the products they want and need. Questions 1. Using the Barksdale and Harris model that combines the BCG matrix and the product life cycle, consider how useful this might be to BIC when analysing  their product portfolios. 2. Consider the work of Booz, Allen and Hamilton Consultants in relation to the decay curve of new product ideas, and suggest how this might be applied by BIC when bringing new product ideas to the market place. 3. The GE/McKinsey matrix has nine boxes as opposed to the BCG matrix that has four boxes. Consider how it might or might not have been better for BIC to apply the GE/McKinsey matrix on the basis that it might be more accurate? 4. Consider the work of Everett Rogers in relation to product adopter categories. Using his idea, how might BIC adapt their promotional strategy in relation to targeting different adopter categories?

Internal Control and Risk Evaluation

A risk is the chance of a negative event occurring. Internal controls are policies and procedures set in place to reduce the occurrence of an associated risk. Risks are never entirely eliminated; however, internal controls help reduce the occurrence and balance the risk. This brief will discuss the risks of Kudler Fine Food’s current Accounting Information System (AIS). In addition, the internal controls designed to mitigate the risks. Furthermore, this brief evaluates the internal controls for the AIS. Last, this brief addresses other controls, outside of the AIS that Kudler’s may need. Identify Risks According to Hunton, Bryant, and Bagranoff (2004), â€Å"business enterprises face a variety of risks, including business, audit, security, and continuity risks. † Business risk means the company may not achieve its goals and objectives. A review of Kudler’s strategic plan will help determine the business risk. The adoption of the new Just-In-Time (JIT) inventory system would be an IT timing risk. An IT timing risk is an example of an internal business risk that Kudler would face. An audit risk is the likelihood that Kudler’s external auditor would make a mistake in his or her opinion of the financial statements. Audit risks are broken down further into inherent, control, and detection risks. Every business has inherent risk because doing business is risky in itself. Control risks are the likelihood the internal controls the company has in place would not prevent a material error. Detection risks are the likelihood the audit procedure would not detect material errors. Security risks involve data access and integrity. The AIS converts raw data into useful information. To ensure the data integrity, Kudler will need to control the risks associated with collecting and processing the data. By implementing the JIT inventory system and point of sale system, data is processed as soon as something purchased from the stores. This mitigates human error under the old system. Continuity risks are associated with the AIS’ availability, backup, and recovery. Kudler’s will need to implement stronger firewalls and larger servers. This will ensure when Kudler’s does business online, customers will be able to access the website at any given time. Any down time of the website would be potential loss of business. Internal Controls Management must design and implement the internal controls. However, this is just two steps of the control process. Management must evaluate the controls for effectiveness. Kudler’s size would not necessitate an internal auditor; however, an external auditor would be beneficial in testing the effectiveness of the controls. In addition, Kudler’s would need to document policies and procedures to establish an audit trail. According to Bagranoff, Simkin, and Strand, (2008, p. 50-251), these documents should include: 1. â€Å"A chart of accounts (with the purpose of each general ledger account)† 2. â€Å"A complete description of source documents individuals must use to record accounting transactions† 3. â€Å"A comprehensive description of the authority and responsibility assigned to each individual† Controls Outside the AIS Kudler faces other external threats as well. T hese threats can be reduced by securing the AIS with firewalls, anti-virus, anti-spam, and other anti-spyware software. This will deter any potential hacker from accessing confidential information. Whereas, the software will not completely eliminate the risks involved with doing business over the Internet or remotely from each store, the risks will be greatly reduced. Conclusion Risk assessment and internal controls are vital to Kudler’s continued success. Kudler will need to monitor the effectiveness of the internal controls once the new JIT inventory system is in place. In addition, management will need to assess the risks associated with expanding business. However, these risks are balanced out by the expected increase in business transactions to ensure Kudler’s lasting success.

Benny, the War in Europe, and Myerson’s Daughter Bella Essay

When Benny was sent overseas in the autumn of 1941 his father, Mr. Garber, thought that if he had to give up one son to the army, it might as well be Benny who was a quiet boy, and who wouldn’t push where he shouldn’t; and Mrs. Garber thought: â€Å"my Benny, he’ll take care, he’ll watch out;† and Benny’s brother Abe thought â€Å"when he comes back, I’ll have a garage of my own, you bet, and I’ll be able to give him a job.† Benny wrote every week, and every week the Garbers sent him parcels full of good things that a Jewish boy should always have, like salami and pickled herring and shtrudel. The food parcels were always the same, and the letters — coming from Camp Borden and Aldershot and Normandy and Hol ­ land — were always the same too. They began — â€Å"I hope you are all well and good† — and ended — â€Å"don’t worry, all the best to everybody, thank you for the parcel.† When Benny came home from the war in Europe, the Gar ­bers didn’t make much of a fuss. They met him at the station, of course, and they had a small dinner for him. Abe was thrilled to see Benny again. â€Å"Atta boy,† was what he kept saying all evening, â€Å"Atta boy, Benny.† â€Å"You shouldn’t go back to the factory,† Mr. Garber said. â€Å"You don’t need the old job. You can be a help to your brother Abe in his garage.† â€Å"Yes,† Benny said. â€Å"Let him be, let him rest,† Mrs. Garber said, â€Å"What’ll hap ­ pen if he doesn’t work for two weeks?†Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Hey, when Artie Segal came back,† Abe said, â€Å"he said that in Italy there was nothing that guy couldn’t get for a  couple of Sweet Caps. Was he shooting me the bull, or what?† Benny had been discharged and sent home, not because the war was over, but because of the shrapnel in his leg, but he didn’t limp too badly and he didn’t talk about his wound or the war, so at first nobody noticed that he had changed. No ­ body, that is, except Myerson’s daughter Bella. Myerson was the proprietor of Pop’s Cigar & Soda, on Laurier Street, and any day of the week, you could find him there seated on a worn, peeling kitchen chair playing poker with the men of the neighbourhood. He had a glass-eye and when a player hesitated on a bet, he would take it out and polish it, a gesture that never failed to intimidate. His daugh ­ ter, Bella, worked behind the counter. She had a club-foot and mousy hair and some more hair on her face, and although she was only twenty-six, it was generally supposed that she would end up an old maid. Anyway she was the one — the first one — who noticed that the war in Europe had changed Benny. And, as a matter of fact, the very first time he came into the store after his homecoming she said to him: â€Å"What’s wrong, Benny’? Are you afraid?† â€Å"I’m all right,† he said. Benny was a quiet boy. He was short and skinny with a long narrow face, a pulpy mouth that was somewhat crooked, and soft black eyes. He had big, conspicuous hands, Thich he preferred to keep out of sight in his pockets. In fact, he seemed to want to keep out of sight altogether and whenever  possible, he stood  behind a chair or in a  light so that  people wouldn’t notice him — and, noticing  chase him  away. When he had failed the ninth grade at Baron Byng High School, his class-master, a Mr. Perkins, had sent him home with a note saying: â€Å"Benjamin is not a student, but he has all the makings of a good citizen. He is honest and at ­ tentive in class and a hard worker. I recommend that he learn a trade.†

The Goblin shark , the retractable jaw, shape and colour of body as Research Paper

The Goblin shark , the retractable jaw, shape and colour of body as well as the electro-sensitive organs for finding prey - Research Paper Example Sharks are mostly found in tropical to warm-temperate waters, and can live in depths as deep as 2000 meters. The most common shape that is associated with sharks is the fusiform shape, such as the one seen in the Great White Shark. However, in reality sharks have various shapes and sizes to suit their prey and environment. The most well-known example of these is the hammerhead shark, from the family Sphyrnidae, which have a flattened structure on their heads that also houses the eyes, making it look like a hammer (Compagno, 1990). There are also other well-known sharks that seem to resemble rays due to their flat bodies, or those that resemble whales with regards to their body and mouth shapes. In this paper, a poorly-known but also one of the most unusual-looking species of sharks, the goblin shark would be discussed as to how its adaptations have lead to its unique body shape, skin color, and jaws. Goblin Shark Descriptions and Physiological Adaptations The goblin shark, (Mitsukuri na owstoni Jordan, 1898) is a deep-dwelling shark that is established as one of the sole extant species of its family, Mitsukurinidae, order Lamniformes, with the rest to be only known from collected fossils (Parsons, Ingram, & Harvard, 2002). It is a poorly- known, elusive deepwater fish, with only around 33 established literatures about its studies, 22 of those are from the vicinity of the Izu Islands, and the rest are scattered across the globe (Duffy, 1997). Thus, until now it is a species that is not well-understood, including its other feeding habits, growth and development patterns, as well as its reproductive cycle. What also makes it harder to study is that once caught off-shore and brought to aquariums, it dies within a span of a week (Compagno, 2000 as cited in Grijalba-Bendeck & Acevedo, 2009; Yano, Miya, Aizawa, & Noichi, 2007). The holotype of the species was captured in 1898 somewhere in the Bay of Tokyo, and most of the other early specimens that were subsequently ca ught were also found near that part of Japan (Jordan, 1898 as cited in Bean, 1905; Dean, 1903; Duffy, 1997; Hussakof, 1909; Parsons, Ingram, & Harvard, 2002). The shark seems to be a well-known species along the coasts of Izu, where the locals call it Tengu-zame, translated as elfin or goblin shark (Bean, 1905). Its large liver is used as an oil source, and the flesh is used as fertilizer. While being seen as rare in most parts of the world, the species seems to be a common bycatch in long line and bottom trawling nets, which suggests that it prefers to live near the meso-pelagic to near-benthic zones (Duffy, 1997; Grijalba-Bendeck & Acevedo, 2009). Other areas where the species are also seen and collected are in Australia, the Indian Ocean, South Africa, French Guiana, Europe, the Gulf of Mexico, and New Zealand (Duffy, 1997; Parsons, Ingram, & Harvard, 2002). The goblin shark has a flat, elongated blade-like snout called the rostrum, small eyes, flabby body, slender teeth and a ca udal fin that has no ventral lobe and resembles that of the thresher shark (Yano, Miya, Aizawa, & Noichi, 2007). This rostral appendage is shorter in adult sharks as compared to younger ones (Bean, 1905; Duffy, 1997; Grija

A Good Man is Hard to Find Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A Good Man is Hard to Find - Research Paper Example The short story, A Good Man is Hard to Find, is written by Flannery O’Connor. The book was written in 1953. The story, A Good Man is Hard to Find is found in the compilation of short stories, A Good Man is Hard to Find. Other individuals perceive all these occurring at once. This paper will look at how both the theme appears in the short story and how the theme appears in society. This is a short story that mainly makes people think about the probability of dramatic change in a person’s life. The old grandmother in the tale is seen as going through a miraculous and sudden change of heart after losing all members of her family and death herself. The old grandmother is tempted to kill the person who eliminated all her family members. Her actions raise a lot of questions; it is difficult to understand such an action  (Bandy 113). One is not able to explain if the grandmother’s action can be understood religiously or otherwise. This also raises questions on how an extreme event can cause such a situation. It raises questions on whether such a situation can occur at all. A Good Man is Hard to Find begins with the old grandmother protesting to her son, Bailey that she wants to go to Tennessee and not Florida, for the family holiday. Nevertheless, the family has its holiday in Florida. The old grandmother shows her family members malice by having an early day and waiting for them in the car. The old grandmother has worn her best clothes for the trip. She is dressed in her Sunday best so that in case of an accident occurs and she becomes a casualty, she will be identified as a lady. The old grandmother talks about her young days and also comments on whatever they see on the way, during the trip to Florida (O'Connor 23). The old grandmother claims that, during her early days, young people showed more respect to their parents and their homes and individuals only indulged in respectable activities. She also comments on a little pickaninny gesturing from a shack’s door. She claims that the Pickaninny almost certainly does not possess any britches. The old grandmother has a conversation with the owner of an old diner in which they were having lunch. The two were talking about a murderer and escaped convict called The Misfit. Both the grandmother and Red Sammy, the owner of the diner agree that it is difficult to find a decent man (Connie 75). Later on, when the family is back on the road, the old grandmother tries to derail the family members from their Florida trip. She tells the children tales of a nearby home she had stayed at as a young person. The grandmother intrigues the children with her stories of the home until they demand to visit the place. The children persuade their father until he accepts to take them to grandmother’s destination. The old grandmother realizes the home she had visited is not in Georgia but Tennessee. This is after they have covered some distance towards the wrong direction. She become s anxious, disturbs the cat, which is terrified, making the father lose control of the car and land in a trench below the road. After the accident, the old grandmother falsifies an internal harm to get sympathy from the family members. In contrast, the children are thrilled and perceive the accident as a quest. As the father, grandmother, and children are waiting for help, a car with three men, all with guns, approach the scene. One of the three men has glasses. He directs his accomplices to examine the car and engages the father, Bailey in courteous discussion. This is until the old grandmother recognizes him as The Misfit, the escaped convict and murderer. The Misfit directs his fellow criminals to kill the family

Health Reform Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Health Reform - Research Paper Example Secondary data or historical data are the kind of data that is previously gathered for some study or project, which built specially for that particular project (Zikmund, 2003, p Nd). In regards to this research, the secondary data used are gathered from the Internet, journals and other publications in order to get basic information about the nature of the health reformation within the organization. The research and the methodologies of this paper are basically qualitative in nature. The primary resources are there in this paper to prove the solid statements. However, the secondary resources are also very much important to prove the practical viewpoints of this particular paper. The data collection method is one of the most important actions in the organizational research work. The primary and secondary data are compiled in a proper blend to fetch the ultimate result. However, in this case the questionnaires were very much prominent. However, the proposed number of questions to be fil led for any research is around 25-30, where minimum 20-25 questions suppose to be answered to get a good result. However, the missing count can be taken as the margin of error, or their stipulated feedbacks could have taken as the average feedbacks. In this particular paper the five major methodologies for the research work are 1: Interview, 2: Surveys, 3: Focus group, 4: observation and 5: internal data. Among all of these the most important method is the interview and the survey. These two methods give the ultimate feedback of the employees towards the improvement of the health related issues within the organization. Data collection is one of the most important part I the research process. The data collection can be taken from the interview process of from the internal data or most of the time for the effective survey within the projected sample size for the research. However, all of the research methods are equally important prove the relevance of the research work and to predict the fruitful outcome of the research for the betterment of the health reform within the organizations. The relevance of the secondary data is very much important to justify this particular paper and that is the reason the selected five methodologies are chosen to collect the secondary data to support the study. All the five methods are discussed bellow. 1. Interview: In rearview has been taken as one of the most effective research method for collecting the secondary data from the focus group. Personal interview with the projected employees within the organization for their expectation and complains about the present health related issues are very much productive in case of finding the proper solution. There are some numbers of factors which are very much important for conducting an effective interview process. These number of factors need to be taken very seriously in designing the interview process. The basic concept of the interview is to exchange the verbal and written expressio n of the participant towards the projected questions (Watson, , p 282). The research interviews must be recorded so they can be analyzed afterwards. Most of the time, these interviews are generally audiotaped. The interviewed data are transcribed into text for the data analysis. In this case the different people from different organizations ate taken under consideration for the interview pro

Marketing Mix Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing Mix - Essay Example All the element s of the marketing mix can affect consumers is multiple ways. Therefore, marketing mix is used by firms to achieve its objectives (Lancaster and Reynolds 2003). This happens when these marketing tools are employed by an organization to pursue the target market marketing of a product entails creating an excellent marketing mix with the right product being matched with the right price, suitable proportions and in the right place. When developing a befitting marketing program for an organization, the marketing manager is required to weigh behavioral forces before juggling marketing mix elements while taking into account the resources at his disposal. The organization must consider itself as a single organism in a world of complex forces. Many other industries are competing with the industry in which the firm is only a part of (Brassington and Pettit 2006). The marketing department must develop a mix of procedures that make maximum use of the available resources. Marketer s are required to look for opportunities in the method of operation. A small organization cannot use procedures from large organizations. Though the two companies may deal with similar products, they are likely to be different in many respects. A compelling example is the industrial goods industry. Small companies go for regional sales as opposed to national distribution that is practiced by large corporations. Small companies go for limited and specialized fields of operation while large organizations seek to patronize full lines. The marketing mix of a company is largely the result of evolution that comes from day-to-day marketing. The marketing mix represents programs that marketers have evolved to meet challenges with which they are constantly faced in a dynamic and ever changing market. They can be referred to as tactical maneuvers. New products are faced with aggressive promotions. Sometimes a price change initiated by a competitor must be met and accurately considered. In cas e of faltering sales must be stimulated while declines must be remedied. Marketing mix helps replace advertising approach, which has lost effectiveness (Lancaster and Reynolds 2003). Marketers need to maintain effective channels for information that relates to the operation of companies. This includes consumer behaviors, trade and competitors. Short range forces contribute a large part of the marketing mix which helps in the allocation of expenditures. Dynamics of the 4Ps Past empiricism and foresight dictate the plans and procedures that contribute to the marketing mix. Marketers need to have an idea as to what should be done so as to be remaining successful in a dynamic market. Long-range plans are vital in economic, technological and natural trends must be successfully managed by marketers in a turbulence market. Marketing mix allocation of resources and planning has taken prominence in many companies whose aim is to optimize spending. Marketers are under intense pressure achieve their targets with the available resources. Marketing mix seeks to strike a balance with regard to strategy and achieving organizational goals (Brassington and Pettit 2006). Marketing mix is both strategy and procedure that facilitates effective allocation of organizational resources with an aim of striking a proper balance. Marketers must use the mix in order to make the goals and organizational progress sustainable. Pricing must take into account the quality of the product and the prices of similar commodities in the market without affecting the profitability of the organization. Marketers can plan accurately when they have a functional marketing mix. Marketing mix concept is relatively simple. The concept reveals facts about areas which should be addressed. They serve as a guide to management

Architecture of the Greek Culture from the Middle Bronze Age through Research Paper

Architecture of the Greek Culture from the Middle Bronze Age through the Geometric Period - Research Paper Example The paper explores how architecture mirrors the political, trade, and military conditions within Greek culture during the Minoan civilizations, Mycenaean Civilization, and Dark Ages of Greece. The Minoan civilizations (2600-1200 BC) The Minoan civilization represented a Bronze Age civilization that emanated from the island of Crete. The Minoan cities had stone-paved roads shaped from blocks cut with bronze saws (Pedley 36). The Minoan period witnessed numerous trade activities and the construction of striking palaces. An analysis of architecture of this period manifests absence of defensive walls. Minoan architecture features several structures that played the role of commercial, religious, and administrative life. Archeologists have successfully unearthed in Crete a Minoan landscape detailing tombs, palaces, towns, villas, and the roads that linked them. The evidence indicates a thriving prehistoric culture capable of surviving and expanding. The Minoans were prominent sea traders o n the Mediterranean and fostered cultural exchanges with other places such as Egypt. At the height of the Minoan civilization, the Minoan trade increased, in which Minoans came to rule over Mediterranean trading routes. Palaces represent some of the prominent architecture during the Minoan civilization. ... 20). The palaces experienced technological advancement with extensive drainage systems, aqueducts, irrigation, as well as wells that were deep and which were the sources of fresh water that could be used by the inhabitants. The palace buildings had multiple stories, which featured staircases (both interior and exterior), massive columns; light wells, outdoor places where people gathered, storage magazines, which represented the theaters of the ancient times. The method used in the construction included ceramic bricks coupled with stones that used to be rough linked by mortar within the interior walls (Biers 62). The Mycenaean Civilization (1600-100 BC) Greeks initially settled on the Greek mainland close to 2000 BC in which geography played a central role in the formation of a society. Mycenaean were equally wealthy as Minoans on Crete but can be described as relatively warlike. The Mycenaean civilization supplanted the Minoan civilization as the dominant sphere of influence on the G reek Islands. The military activity during the Mycenaean period  yielded to the fortification of major towns  such as Athens. The isolated forts served the purpose of militarily control territory (Pomeroy et al. 30). There were also various forms of exits typified by access ramps, monumental gates, vaulted galleries, and hidden doors fashioned to facilitate escaping in the event of a siege (Pomeroy et al. 31). Fortresses, which were built to suit the prevailing military conditions, represent some of the prominent examples of architecture during the Mycenaean civilization. The fortresses detailed massive walled structure built for defensive purposes. The walls of the structures

Live Clean Lives Grant Proposal Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Live Clean Lives Grant Proposal - Research Paper Example Statement of Need Zimbabwe has 45 million people. Out of these, two-thirds are determined to be at the risk of contracting gastrointestinal diseases because of poor hygiene (Pittet et al., 20111). The result of maintaining an ill health in these individuals is that most of them die from the diseases and those that survive live a miserable life because of the agony caused by the illness and the financial problem due to their absence from work as they recover. Moreover, children cannot go to school because they spend most of the time at school dispensaries and rushing to the toilet (Curtis et al., 2011). Program Description The Live Clean Lives Program will enable the people at risk of contracting diseases caused by poor hygiene to improve their health standards and, thus their quality of life. The program will involve massive sensitization of people in the areas concerning the risks they expose themselves to as a consequence of poor hygiene and also offer them what they need to maintain clean, healthy lives (Jayaraman et al., 2014). Sensitization will occur in all sectors of society, and even schools will be requested to squeeze in some time for the project team to show the community how to fight germs and the diseases that emanate from them. People will improve their economic condition because they will be at work most of the time. Also, students’ grades will improve because they will spend most of their time in class (Hayes, 2013).

Kodak and Digital Revolution Essay Example for Free

Kodak and Digital Revolution Essay In 1976 Kodak controlled 90% of the film market and 85% of camera sales in the United States. By 1992 the share of film market decreased by 5%. In 1991 they launched the first professional digital camera. In 1998 they spent $1. 2 billion to two joint ventures with the Chinese government and by 1999 became number two in digital cameras in the United States with a 27% market share. In 2001it launched â€Å"Where it all clicks† theme to stimulate digital imaging and in 2002 launched the first mass-market product for digital film processing. By 2003 they controlled most photofinishing transaction in the United States with 15% unprofitable digital camera market. Digital imaging was a disruptive technology that was emerging in early 80’s and Kodak got blind sighted by its extreme focus on existing customers and their needs. They followed a customer focus strategy instead of taking digital imaging as a disruptive innovation. Their focus was to provide products that its existing clients want in a cost effective manner. Kodak’s strategy for digital imaging has been way off and its first digital product, the â€Å"Photo CD† which was a failure. It couldn’t leverage upon world’s first electronic image sensor that they launched earlier that was widely used by computer industry worldwide. They used all strategies to the disposal but its timing was way off. They used Radical to incremental innovation an example is their digital photography compared to Sony’s Then their strategy shifted from convergence of digital and film based imaging to selling hardware such as digital cameras and printers by alliancing with computer and electronic industry. This strategy also failed as competition was too fierce by 1995 and profit margins shrunk. Then strategy was changed to picture business and network consumables with at least 50% market share. These strategies were based to the changing market needs and competition especially from Fuji films Kodak is a showcase for failing to innovate; they missed the digital revolution because they were focused on protecting its core business, traditional photographic film. The reality is different, though. Kodak was in fact one of the first companies to have worked on digital imaging it’s not that they were ignoring the digital revolution! Today, Kodak is still leading digital imaging, as the company holds many patents in this field that are used in products such as HP printers. The painful Kodak factory closures that one can see nowadays are nothing but the price to pay to transition from one era to the other, from the era when Kodak was a chemist to an era when it is a software company. For all its mistakes, Kodak is doing what few companies have been able to do. Lessons Learned No doubt, Kodak was victim of the innovators dilemma. The most immediate takeaway from the fall of Kodak is clear: Don’t be afraid to cannibalize your own business in the name of progress. But Kodak’s inability to make any of its products stand out over the last decade is demonstrative of an overall reluctance to innovate.

Controversial Nature Of The Subject Of Sufism Religion Essay

Controversial Nature Of The Subject Of Sufism Religion Essay Before tenth century there had been started a new emphasis began to develop within the religion of Islam. This emphasis was a reaction against the prevailing impersonal and formal nature of Islam. For many Muslims the sharia, while seen as necessary, failed to satisfy their deepest spiritual longings and desires. The search for deeper meaning led to the development of the popular mystical side of Islam known as tasawwuf or Sufism. The controversial nature of the subject of Sufism becomes evident when one realizes that this short introduction already reveals a viewpoint which the Sufi would strongly disagree with. For, if the Sufi spiritual quest is to be viewed as legitimate, even within Islam itself, it must be rooted in the Quran and the Sunna of Muhammad. (p.b.u.h) In defense of Sufi legitimacy, some Muslims argue that it was simply a response to the growing materialism in the Islamic world. However, this argument skirts the basic reason for Sufism, as during early Islamic times under Muhammads (p.b.u.h) leadership, wealth was enjoyed and served as a great motivation for the military expansion of Islam. Muslims, at the time, followed a legal system allowing unbridled materialism, though they were fully observant of the present religious doctrine. The formal and legal nature of the Islamic system never addressed the issue of materialism, and as a result was seen as inadequate by those who became Sufis in their search for deeper spirituality. Sufism has inclined many Muslims, and is, especially in the West, represent and regarded as a valuable and legitimate part of the Islamic faith. Fazlur Rahman, in his work Islam, says that considerable ink has been spent by modern scholarship on the origins of Sufism in Islam, as to how far it is genuinely Islamic and how far a product, in the face of Islam, of outside influences, particularly Christian and Gnostic. Rahman seems to hint that some of this ink has been wasted, as he concludes that outside influences must have played an accessory role and these no one may deny, but they must have supervened upon an initial native tendency. However, aside from a vague reference to the ideas of trust in and love of Allah as being a result of developments within the intellectual and spiritual life of the community, In reaction to critics, Sufis argue that tasawwuf has been present from the very initial stages of Islam, and profess to find evidence for their claims in the Sunna and the Quran. On this basis they state that tasawwuf is the batin aspect of Islam. According to Sufi principle a number of verses in the Quran provide clear support for their mysticism. Perhaps the most often quoted as a proof is Surah 24:35, Allah is the Light of Heaven and Earth! His light may be compared to a niche in which there is a lamp; the lamp is in a glass; the glass is just as if it were a glittering star kindled from a blessed olive tree, {which is} neither Eastern nor Western, whose oil will almost glow though the fire has never touched it. Light upon light, Allah guides anyone He wishes to His light. Sufism does throw in in the means of spirituality to the religion of Islam. Mounting out of the weakness of the Islamic system of faith and practice, it, however, added a aspect which has varied and further destabilized the structure of Islamic belief and practice. Reflecting on the authentication presented, and ending given, we see that to suppose Sufism, with its important concepts, is a rightful part of Islam introduces definite problems for anyone who then challenge to try to defend Islam as a logically consistent set of beliefs. For Sufism not only points to a lack of spirituality in Islam, but also contradicts orthodox Muslim teachings in the process clearly opening the door to all the worlds religions There have been a lot of aspects which should be discussed and reconsidered regarding this aspect of orthodox teachings of Islam, so I can write it is to be continued Reference Notes: Sufism, Reformed Internet Ministries Andrew Rippin, Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (New York: Routledge, 1990), 118, 119, 120 Fazlur Rahman, Islam (London: Weidenfeld and Nicholson, 1966), 131, 148,149 Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Sufi Essays (London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd., 1972), 11-12, 15, 137, 138, 139, 147, 149 Tara Charan Rastogi, Islamic Mysticism Sufism (New Delhi: Sterling Publishers Private Ltd., 1982), 1.. Titus Burckhardt, An Introduction to Sufism (Wellingborough: The Aquarian Press, 1990), 15, 16 In Arabic Inna liLlahi wa-inna ilayhi raji un. Martin Lings, What Is Sufism? (London: George Allen Unwin Ltd., 1975), 28,32 Haqiqa refers to the inner Truth or inner Reality that Sufis believe is at the heart of Islamic revelation. William Stoddart, Sufism The Mystical Doctrines and Methods of Islam (New York: Paragon House Publishers, 1986), 41, 66,67,83,74 Eisegesis, or the practice of interpreting meaning into a passage, bears a striking resemblance to Sufi methods of Quranic interpretation. Orthodox Muslims opposed to Sufism argue that Sufi interpretations are indeed eisegesis in other words the Sufis are ascribing an inner meaning which the verses themselves do not contain. Fazlur Rahman in his work Islam states, the Sufis, in order to justify their stand, formulated (ie. verbally invented) statements, sometimes quite fanciful and historically completely fictitious, which they attributed to the Prophet. Rahman, 132,133,134.. J. Spencer Trimingham, The Sufi Orders in Islam (Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1971), 246.. Rahman, 140. Other authors also agree with Rahmans position on this point. A.J. Arberry argues that Abu Hamid al-Ghazali brought about Sufisms reconciliation and assimilation with orthodox Sunni theology and religious law, through a number of writings consolidated in the Ihyaulum al-din, which was written between 1099 and 1102 A.D. A.J. Arberry, Sufism An Account of the Mystics of Islam (London: George Allen Unwin Ltd., 1950), 74. . Ibn al-Arabi (1165-1240 A.D.) was one of the great Sufi masters of all time and is referred to as The Greatest Shaikh (al-Shaykh al-Akbar). Muslim opinion has always been split about Ibn al-Arabi: for some he is a great heretic; for others, a great saint. Ian Richard Netton, A Popular Dictionary of Islam (London: Curzon Press, 1992), 110.. Elliot Miller, Sufis The Mystical Muslims, Forward (Spring/Summer 1986), 17-23.. Martin Lings, What is Sufism? (London: George Allen Unwin Ltd., 1975), 84, 85, 99.. Dara Shikoh (also spelled Shukuh) was a Sufi of the Qadiriyyah order and a devout Muslim according to Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Shukuh believed the Upanishads to be the Hidden Books to which the Quran refers (lvi. 77-80) and wrote that they contain the essence of unity and they are secrets which have to be kept hidden. Nasr states that it is enough to read Shukuhs translation of any of the Upanishads to realize that he was not only translating words into Persian but also ideas into the framework of Sufism. However, as usual Nasr follows up with a statement denying that this is an attempt to syncretize, once again revealing a blatant disregard for the evidence presented, not to mention a complete lack of logical thought. The members of one popular order (the Mawlawiyya) begun by Jalal ad-Din Rumi (d. 1273) are the origin of the Western term whirling dervishes John Alden Williams, ed., Islam (New York: George Brazillier, 1962), 155-156.. Idries Shah, Reflections Fables in the Sufi Tradition (Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1972), 1.; Miller, 20..

Travel And Tourism Industry Is Growing Tourism Essay

Travel And Tourism Industry Is Growing Tourism Essay Preparation First and foremost, the angle is preparation. Preparation is an important thing for people that want to travel. A good preparation before travel will lead to a much enjoyable trip. These days travel and tourism industry is growing very fast. Firstly, to prepare for the trip, researches are first done to know more about the country. Nowadays, all the travel agencies are well connected to various hotels, airlines, and railway agencies. So, the tourists of tour do not have to spend extra time preparing the itinerary. Besides that, travel agencies serve their clients by providing best tour packages at cheaper rates. Thats why, these tour packages is very much in fashion these days. These packages have their own benefits. On the other hand, if tourist prefers to travel in the FE method, researches regarding accommodation, food, travel spots, or transportation have to be done personally through the internet or by personal experience from others. Other than that, the checklist of that tour and free and easy preparation are different. If go with a tour, travelling agencies has taken the courtesy to come up with a check list of necessary documents and necessities before travelling. Furthermore, travel agencies will always remind the tourist to bring the necessities before go for travel. In this case, tourist may travel comfortably. But for FE, checklist must be created by you, if you remember to create one. One of the benefits of creating your own personal check list is clearly because it would be more personal and intimate. Anyway, tourist that travels with free and easy have to always bear in mind to bring things in the checklist before travelling because no one will remind the tourists unlike tour. Time Second angle would be time. Time is very crucial element. This is because every second wasted during the trip, is every second lost, therefore time management is very important. By following a tour, tourist is guaranteed to enjoy the trip to the fullest extent. The whole trip is scheduled specially for different types of tourist, for example, shopping tours, historical tours, and relaxing tours. But, there is always a price to pay for all this convenience. The scheduled is so packed that sometime, only a short limit of time is applied to each travel spot. Hence tourists do not have the option to stay back or just go. Punctuality is most likely to be favored. However, in the FE tour, the whole trip is literally, prepared and done by the same tourist. Thus, tourists are able to provide a looser schedule or itinerary. Besides that, sudden change to the trip is always applicable. In this case, punctuality is not an effecting variable. Cost Next the third angle would be cost of expense. The cost of these two trips varies greatly. It can be different in two different aspect, flexibility of cost and budgeting the cost of expense. Tour is said to be less flexible because tourist have to pay a fixed amount of money for any relevant package they chose. Example, if a tourist wanted to visit Indonesia, if he is taking a tour he is only had a choice to pay RM2000 to go to Jakarta. As for the FE tour, it is much more flexible. Tourist may cut off and add in any expenditure during the trip and just travel the place they wanted to visit. For example, another tourist that wanted to visit Indonesia and he doesnt want to follow by tour he can choose where ever place to visit other than Jakarta. As for the budgeting of the cost of expense, the tours travelling package has already included everything from accommodation, air ticket, foods and others with a fix amount of money. The only budget to work out is for shopping or emergency use. But if following the FE, all of the above cost included in the tour has to calculated and figured out carefully because of its tight budget so that we wont over spend our money for unnecessary things. Safety Fourth angle would be safety issues. Safety is a very important factor when travelling. Visiting foreign places exposes the tourist into danger constantly because, due unfamiliar with the new place. Travelling by tour is said to be more secured because a tour guide is much more familiar with the trip and is responsible to put their clients safety as first priority. On the other hand, travelling in FE tourists safety is not assured to the maximum. Furthermore, cheaters usually pick on small group of foreign tourist to cheat on for their money, properties, and sexual violations too. Moreover, travel agencies make it a must for every client of theirs to first purchase travel insurance before travelling with them. Normally the insurance fees are already included together with the tour package. Therefore, obviously, there is much more level of protection. For FE insurance is an option to choose. Experience The experiences that tour tourists gain are different from free and easy tourists. Firstly, the people that tour meet are different from free and easy. In a tour, tourists are travelling in a big group, tourists have the chance of making new friends during the trip. Other than that, the fact that they all originated from the same country, communication is not a problem. After the trip, they are possible to become good friends. For free and easy, like hitch hiking it is normally done in a small group and usually good and close friends. Thus, they may not have the opportunity to social actively with the people of the country, but free and easy tourists have more opportunities to interact with the locals. For example, free and easy is more flexible though out the whole trip, they can choose things that they want to explore base on their desire and their time are always adjustable compare to the tour that is fully scheduled by travel agency, so free and easy tourists have more chances to interact with the locals peoples and explore the locals culture. Next, the commercial experience for tour and free and easy are not similar. When travelling with a tour, usually the travel agencies have a contract with local business in the country to make extra income that can lead to a raise in the economy for the particular country. Business for example, restaurants, shopping malls, galleries, local product shops will be a must stop for the tour. But for the free and easy, like hitch hikers normally look forward to the countrys beautiful scenery, local delicacies, local people, local culture and a whole new different experience. Ordinarily, tourist that takes this trip is to escape from the urban stress and not to face commercial promotions. Benefits The last angle is which method of traveling is most beneficial. Most of the time tourist will prefer travelling with the most convenient and discount rates. Convenience is very important when travelling because tourist expect to have least amount of stress and prefers to just sit back and relax. For that result, taking a packaged tour is most likely to be the best choice. By just choosing which country and they wish to explore any time of the year will do the deal, the else are all taken care by the agency itself. Furthermore, travel agencies has already commercialized into franchise retailers. In this modern era, everything can be done with the internet too, simplifying the whole process into just a click from a finger. On the other hand, FE will not be as convenient as the packaged tour. Air ticket has to be book much earlier for a cheaper price, and same goes to the hotel bookings too. All of the transaction have to be made via internet paying through credit card services. Any sud den changes will not be permitted as a fine will be charged. Next, travel agencies have connection all a around the world, hence having special promotions and price rates, according to the season. Tourist which prefers to enjoy everything with a simple decision will prefer it very much. Hence, travelling by tour is much more pocket- friendly. FE also has special promotions but only limited to a very short period of time only. In a nutshell, according to the article is most clearly stated that the benefits of taking a tour are much more compared to FE travelling. From six of the angles in the articles, specifically during the preparation of the trip at the beginning, the time consumed for preparation and processing the transaction, all the cost and expenses for tour package or FE tour, safety measurements for the trip, experience comparison among the methods of travelling and benefits awarded during the trip.

The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs, The Clubfooted Grocer by Sir Arthur E

The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs, The Clubfooted Grocer by Sir Arthur Canon Doyle, The Red Room by H. G. Wells and The Signalman by Charles Dickens Analyse how the writers successfully use aspects of the supernatural to create dramatic tension in the short stories you have read. The nineteenth century was an era of general belief in ghosts and spirituality. This is what made gothic stories even more appealing and successful during this era – the fact that they would be seen as being realistic. One major reason for the rise in spirituality during this era was the fact that many people had started to lose their Christian faith (mainly because the Church was unable to give an explanation as to why ghosts existed) and so they started to search for a new way of understanding and accepting death. I think that the Victorian’s enjoyed reading horror stories because they offer a challenge – to see whether the reader can figure out who the â€Å"ghost† or spectre represents and what they are doing. By involving the reader, the writers were able to keep them interested throughout the story. During the Victorian era, the short story became a very popular genre and ghost stories were well-liked with the readers. It was therefore very important for the authors to build tension and suspense to keep their readers interested. I will be studying: â€Å"The Monkey’s Paw† by W. W. Jacobs, â€Å"The Clubfooted Grocer† by Sir Arthur Canon Doyle, â€Å"The Red Room† by H. G. Wells and â€Å"The Signalman† by Charles Dickens. In this essay, I will be exploring the ways in which the writers use the supernatural to create dramatic tension in the above stories. â€Å"The Monkey’s Paw† is a short story by W. W. Jacobs, written in 1902. The title of a sto... ...cause there is a lot of mystery present throughout the story. The strangest thing is the fact that the Signalman himself is an educated man, yet he sees strange, unexplainable Apparitions which eventually lead to his death. Overall, I believe that these short stories are effective in entertaining the reader and keeping them interested throughout the story. The writers use many different techniques such as personification, metaphors, similes and imagery to create vivid images throughout the stories. The best technique used is when there are many questions which are left unanswered at the end of the story. This makes the readers create their own conclusions about the reasons as to why certain events occurred. Also, the use of the first person narrative is effective in ghost stories because they give a clear view of what happens and how the narrator feels.

St John The Evangelist :: essays research papers

Throughout the human history there have been many saints who have lived among us. They followed Jesus’ principles and they did God’s will. One of the earliest saints was St. John, and he lived during the times of Jesus. His childhood and his date of birth are unknown, but it is well known that he was one of the best followers and students of Jesus. St. John was the son of Zebedee, and the brother of St. James the Great with whom he was brought up to the trade of fishing. While Jesus was spreading his teachings and his miracles St. John entered public ministry. Then in his first year of public ministry our Lord called him to be an Apostle. He was called to be an Apostle with his brother, as they were mending their nets on the sea of Galilee. St. John was the youngest of all the apostles, and outlived the others. It is hard to list in details, all the challenges that St. John faced. His challenges were truly followed by God’s will and helped many people. St. John was one of the first ones who understood and studied how a person should live, how should he behave, and how moral his life should be. He was one of the first to follow those holy principles, and show them to others. One of his greatest challenges was writing a gospel. St. John the Evangelist is mostly known for writing a fourth Gospel. If you would ask any person to list his challenges almost everybody would tell you that he wrote a gospel. It is believed that he wrote a Gospel at the year of 96, after the death of Domitian. His object in writing it he tells us himself: â€Å"These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, you may have life in His name.† In order to write a Gospel you have to be truly involved in holy life by yourself. St. John went threw Jesus’ teachings and he opened himself to Jesus. All of his life he spent by expressing love to others and by implementing Jesus principles. Thus before writing a Gospel, St. John experienced it all on himself. He also wrote three epistles. The first is called catholic, as addressed to all Christians, especially his converts. The other two are short, and directed to particular persons, to Gaius and to local church.

Home Depot and Lowes Financial Analysis Essay

ANALYSIS: For the past two years (2012-2013) both Home Depot (HD) and Lowes (LOW) appear to be performing companies. However, overall Home Depot is a significantly stronger company. The total sales growth for HD is 3.0% versus 0.3% for LOW. A comparison of the Short-term Liquidity reveals that HD and LOW both have compatible current ratios. However, the Quick Ratio provides evidence that HD has a much stronger operational efficiency. The Days Receivable, Inventory and Payables all validate the efficiency of how HD is managing their inventory and accounts. Based on this simple fact alone, HD is performing well above LOW. The difference of profitability is highlighted at the significant difference in sales growth of HD (3.0%) versus LOW (0.3%). Within all categories of profitability, HD is out performing LOW. The return on assets to generating profits is proving to be very effective for HD. HD has separated itself from LOW in its capability and efficiency. HDs total asset and investmen t returns clearly separate them from LOW. The HD return on investments categories is almost double for HD over LOW. It is this efficiency that gauges hoe much more effective HD is at putting investments to work to generate revenue. The long-term solvency ratios show that HD is also a much more secure company. The interest coverage is comparable to both companies. However, the Long-Term debt to common equity shows the leverage that HD has over LOW. It only has a very conservative 2% reliance on their debt versus a very high 52.9% for LOW. This difference shows the risk factor that could potentially affect the ability of LOW to repay their debts. The market ratio shows similar price earnings for both HD & LOW. The beta is also compatible and highlights the risk that LOW is slightly higher than HD. The HD Common Stock Market to Book Return, illustrates how HD has almost doubled their market value of their stock to the amount invested by stockholders. This is an incredible strength for any company to achieve. LOW also has a solid ratio, just not as strong as what HD has. The cash flow from operation/net income shows a slight higher ratio for LOW. There was definitely a spike for all cash flow for LOW from 2012 to 2013. HD fell slightly behind LOW at the operational/new income ratio. However, HD is considerably stronger in the cash from operations/investment proving their ability of using internally generated cash from operations to expand the company if desired. The overall winner between HD an LOW is no  question: Home Depot! The company is simply performing much better than Lowes in virtually every financial category as a company. Regarding the DuPont Analysis. In the 1920’s the DuPont Corporation developed what became known as the DuPont analysis, a technique which uses basic accounting identities to break down the return on equity into either 3 or 5 component parts. Based on the information within the report, HD has consistently achieved greater success and proves to be secure enough that it will continue this future trend. The overall N et Income/Sales & Earnings to Price Ratio illustrates clearly that operationally HD is a much better company than Lowes.

Effect of Electronic Media on Children Essay

The media has demonstrated otentially profound effects, both positive and negative, on children’s cognitive, social, and behavioral development. Considering the increasing exposure of children to newer forms of media, we decided to review the current literature on the effects of media on child health both in the Western countries and India. It is widely accepted that media has profound influence on child health, including violence, obesity, tobacco and alcohol use, and risky sexual behaviors. Simultaneously, media may have some positive effects on child health. We need to find ways to optimize the role of edia in our society, taking advantage of their positive attributes and minimizing their negative ones. We need to understand better how to reverse the negative impact of media and make it more positive. Key words: Media, Child, India. ne of the notable changes in our social environment in the 21st century has been the saturation of our culture and daily lives by the mass media.

A Comparison of Two World Leaders

Icons of Modern Leadership: Lee Kuan Yew of Modern Singapore vs. Adolf Hitler, a Prominent Aggressor of World War II They say history must not repeat itself especially when it involves loss of lives, destruction of property and disruption in the delivery of basic services to people including relationships. In this paper, former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and Fuhrer and Chancellor Adolf Hitler have been chosen as effective World Leaders whose achievements, whether good or bad, have been identified to greatly impact many lives of people around the world.This paper is not to pass judgment on them whether they have become good or bad leaders of the past. What is being looked into is how effective these leaders have been in carrying out their goals, strategies, etc. and the lessons that must be learned. The strategies, ways and means both used to achieve their goals may have been totally poles apart or different based on their beliefs, manner of doing, choices, etc. But for o ne thing, both leaders dreamed of harmony, peace, unity and progress for their country.The difference is how they executed that dream. Both leaders have left significant different memories, one of which is the unforgettable holocaust initiated by Fuhrer Adolf Hitler and a successful giant leap of economic redemption of Singapore from a Third World country to become an Asian Tiger country within the three decades of Lee Kuan Yew’s rule. Each leader delivered significant changes that deserve to be called great icons in the history of world leaders.Adolf Hitler who was the reason for the outbreak of World War II and Lee Kuan Yew who transformed Singapore from a Third World country to another Asian Tiger country, have been chosen and juxtaposed to learn the similarities and contrasts of their qualities and styles as leaders as well as how their reigns brought impact to the world. Credited to Hitler’s achievements were as follows: â€Å"awarded the Iron Cross, First Class in December 1914 (a rare decoration for bravery in action to a corporal)† (Hitler,A. , 2011); â€Å"annexation of Austria and Sudetenland† (Chen, P. 2012); wrote the book ‘Mein Kampf’ (meaning My Struggle) where it was an anti-Semitic, anti-Communist diatribe outlining his strategy for remaking Germany and becoming a conquering power throughout Europe† (Harkavy, 1996). â€Å"By 1938 Hitler had made Germany the most powerful and feared country in Europe (and perhaps in the world)† (Hitler, A. , 2011). â€Å"Majority of the German people supported him because they saw during his early leadership to his credit how unemployment virtually disappeared, the rising prosperity of the masses, the new social institutions and the increase of German prestige in the 1930’s.All these achievements of Hitler were unparalleled in the histories of other modern totalitarian dictatorship†(Hitler, A. 2011). On the other hand, achievements credited to Y ew include: redemption of Singapore from a Third World Country to become an Asian Tiger country now aligned with other rich Asian countries like Japan, Hongkong, and Taiwan. Singapore is now an envy of many neighboring Asian countries. Of Lee Kuan Yew’s outstanding achievements, eradication of corruption was envied by many ASEAN nations because ‘Corruption’ has always long been associated with Third World Asian nations.Other achievements include the substantial â€Å"increase in the living standards (Loh,K. 2011)† in this country: â€Å"As Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew presided over an exponential increase in Singapore's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from US$704 million in 1960 to US$38 billion in 1990. This figure currently stands at US$222 billion, or over 300 times its level in 1960. Adjusting for cost of living differences, Singapore's GDP per capita was ranked 3rd  globally by the International Monetary Fund in 2010† (Loh, K, 2011).Evidently, e verybody saw the difference of how improved Singapore is today from the 1960’s. Now Singapore will always be equated and associated with the name of Lee Kuan Yew, the father of Singapore. Analyzing closely, the nearest similarity observed from both leaders is that they both embraced the style of totalitarian dictatorship during their reigns. Other similarities noted include: both became inspiring leaders to the millions of their respective constituents.For Hitler, his actions united majority of the Germans and Austrians although some say this holds true prior to his order of mass executions for the Jews. It was also noted that both leaders started their political careers by heading the Popular Party of their masses: Hitler became a prominent leader of National Socialist German Working Party (Nazi) while Yew also became a strong leader of Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP). They also had one dream, that is. to achieve â€Å"peace, harmony and unity as well as progress† not only for their country but also for the whole world.Both have redeemed their countries from economic downturn to economic recovery and continued progress. Both have shown improvements not only on the lives of their people but also on policies, economy and evidently on the overall progress of their respective countries. â€Å"How did Adolf Hitler who, according to Professor Jeremy Noakes, was just a drifter and a failed artist, become one of the most destructive political leaders in the 20th century? † (Noakes, 2011). Hitler did struggle during his early civilian life. When his father died, he and his mother were left with inadequate pension and savings which is the reason why he never advanced beyond his secondary education† (Hitler, A. , 2011). This may be one of the outstanding differences between the two. Yew’s household was better off than Hitler’s because Lee Kuan Yew was able â€Å"to get education at Raffles College in Singap ore and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, England. He started as a lawyer, founded the People’s Action Party in Singapore and became the Secretary General† (Yew, 2010).This paved the way to Yew’s political career. On the other hand, Hitler embraced the military which paved the way to his rise to power. Accordingly, â€Å"He greeted the war with enthusiasm, as a great relief from the frustration and aimlessness of his civilian life. He found discipline and comradeship satisfying and was confirmed in his belief about the heroic virtues of war. He occupied two positions during his reign, as Chancellor (Kanzler) and as Fuehrer of Germany covering 1933 to 1945† (Hitler, A. , 2011).A distinctive difference is the leader’s belief. At the early part of his life, Hitler developed a strong discrimination for the Jews. Certain events in his life have led him to develop strong anti-Semitism or hatred for the Jews. Lee Kuan Yew embraced the teachings of Confucius. Another difference is that Hitler alone had his inherent own unique leadership style while Lee Kuan Yew’s was greatly inspired by Machiavellian virtu as he cited: â€Å"Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right.If nobody is afraid of me, I’m meaningless  (Lee Kuan Yew, 6. 10. 1997)† (Gordon, n. d. ). Comparing the two leaders on the basis of the magnitude and coverage or extent of each leader’s involvement and impact, Adolf Hitler may be considered the most effective leader because one of his greatest achievements among others is having the great majority of Germans and Austrians rally behind him until the end.This is something that historians could not find from any predecessor who could have done or come close to what Adolf Hitler did despite being accused as the war aggressor and a tyrannical dictator killing 6 million Jews during his reign. Yet despite all these, much have been said and written about Adolf H itler who has all the right to be an icon leader of the 20th century. For this purpose, Lee Kuan Yew is chosen to have less impact among these two most effective leaders. Lee Kuan Yew’s achievement, though only involved Singapore’s development, has also become a showcase to the world.Finally, restating what Lee Kuan Yew imparted (not the exact words), â€Å"An effective leader is the one who can be dispensable† which means if you have left your realm or domain without anybody able to take over it, then you are not a good leader. Leading is a continuous momentum whether you are there or somebody takes the helm from you. WORKS CITED Chen, Peter C. (2012) Munich Conference and the Annexation of Sudetenland: 29 Sep 1938 – 10 Oct 1938. World War II Database [Data File]. Retrieved from http://ww2db. com/battle_spec. hp? battle_id=87 Gordon, Uri (n. d. ) . Machiavelli's Tiger: Lee Kuan Yew  and Singapore's Authoritarian Regime. Retrieved from http://www. scrib d. com/doc/38148245/Lee-Kuan-Yew Adolf Hitler. (2012) History Learning Site. Retrieved from http://www. historylearningsite. co. uk/adolf_hitler. htm Loh, Kai H. (May, 2011). Lee Kuan Yew’s Legacy. Dragons and Tigers: An East Asian Perspective. Retrieved from http://www. globalconversation. org/2011/05/15/lee-kuan-yews-legacy Noakes, Jeremy. ( 2011). The Rise of Adolf Hitler.Retrieved from http://www. bbc. co. uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/hitler_01. shtml Hitler, Adolf (2011). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved April 14, 2012, from http://www. biography. com/people/adolf-hitler-9340144 Harkavy, Michael D. ed. (1996) Adolf Hitler. The New Illustrated Home Reference Guide ( p. 499) Trident Press International, Canada: New Webster’s International Encyclopedia (print). Yew, Lee K. (2010). Distinguished Fellow: Lee Kuan Yew. Retrieved from http://www. lkyspp. nus. edu. sg/Faculty_Lee_Kuan_Yew. aspx

Portfolio: Big five Personality Traits and Oliver P. John Essay

1. Introduction The purpose of this portfolio is to reflect on my experiences and learning’s whilst studying BSB124- Working in Business, particularly what I have learnt about my Intrapersonal and Interpersonal competencies. I will explore my personality trains through the use of the Big Five Inventory (BFI), and explain how they can be beneficial/detrimental to my future career goal. 2. Intrapersonal Intrapersonal effectiveness is defined as â€Å"Understanding yourself (and your goals, strengths, weaknesses, style, biases) and improving self-management skills, such as time management and stress management† (De Janasz, Wood, Gottschalk, Dowd and Schneider 2006, p. 3). 2.1 The Big Five Inventory The Big Five Inventory (BFI) is a personality assessment tool, which has five dimensions including Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism (Costa and McCrae, 1992). Research has been conducted to explain how people with varying levels of these traits will perform within the workplace. Research conducted, shows that conscientiousness and emotional stability are positively correlated with job performance in virtually all jobs (Anderson and Viswesvaran 1998; Barrick and Mount 1991; Salgado 1997; Tett et al. 1991), extraversion has been found to be related to job performance in occupations where interactions with others are a significant portion of the job (Barrick and Mount 1991; Mount et al. 1998), agreeableness is said to be positively associated to ratings of teamwork, and openness to experience has been positively related to training performance (Barrick and Mount 1991; Salgado 1997). As you will see in Appendix 1, I am highest in agreeableness, followed by extraversion then openness to experience, with my lowest ratings being conscientiousness and neuroticism. These results are important, as I see myself working as a Public Relations representative for a large, international corporation within the next five (5) to ten (10) years (preferably for a charity organisation such as Ronald McDonald House  Charities). My personality test scores indicate that I am sympathetic, modest, straightforward, sociable, enthusiastic, imaginative, confident and even-tempered; however, I am not very thorough, and there is definitely room for improvement with my organizational skills (Costa and McCrae 1992). According to the handbook of personality (Oliver P. John et al.), being high in extraversion means that I very sociable and am suitable for positions of leadership. This is relevant to my long-term career goal, as research conducted on seek.com shows that leadership qualities as well as social/networking skills, are valuable within the Public relations industry (see Appendix 2 for job advertisements). Further research into the requirements of obtaining a position within the Public Relations industry would indicate that task and goal directed behaviour; as well strong organizational skills are required. These qualities are consistent with the personality trait of conscientiousness. As mentioned previously, my personality test scores indicate that conscientiousness is an area in which has room for improvement. I feel that my personality profile reflects many strengths as well as weaknesses, especially in terms of my likely workplace performance. As mentioned throughout this section, I am high in agreeableness and extraversion, and low in conscientiousness. These results are consistent with my experiences within BSB124, especially throughout the group presentation, as I believe that I did a good job in motivating my team and helping others. Although our overall grade was a six (6), I feel that we would have achieved better results had I organized my time appropriately and practiced my part of the speech more thoroughly (I did the introduction, and had to start over as I had lost my place roughly thirty (30) seconds in). As mentioned previously, I intend on obtaining a position within a large international organisation. I believe that my low level of conscientiousness will hinder my success in this environment, and therefore, see it as an area that I can focus on to further my professional development. I believe that my high level of agreeableness and openness to experience will be helpful,  especially as I will be working with a wide variety of people from all kinds of backgrounds/nationalities. A high level of agreeableness means that I will work well in a team environment (Oliver P. John et al.) and a high level of openness to experience suggests that I am willing to learn and try new things (Oliver P. John et al.). This is significant when working with people from different cultures, I don’t know how to word this, I am trying to say that I may see something as conventional; however, someone with a different background will see it as strange- hence I will need to be able to adapt my methods when working overseas. 2.2 Learning goal and related activity I intend to develop a number of competencies associated with conscientiousness- mainly organisation, but also self-discipline. I will do this by setting myself S.M.A.R.T goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound). The development of these competencies will help me to achieve my long-term career goal. 3. Interpersonal Interpersonal effectiveness is defined as â€Å"the ability to manage conflict, to build and manage high-performance teams, to conduct efficient meetings, to coach and counsel employees, to provide negative feedback in constructive ways, to influence others’ opinions, and to motivate and energize employees† (Whetten & Cameron 2011, p.130). 3.1 Self-perception Inventory â€Å"A team is not a bunch of people with job titles, but a congregation of individuals, each of whom has a role which is understood by other members. Members of a team seek out certain roles and they perform most effectively in the ones that are most natural to them† (Belbin, 1981). The Self-perception Inventory (SPI) was created to give individuals a â€Å"simple means of assessing their best team roles† (Belbin, 1981). It is difficult to work effectively with people without some reasonable expectations of how  they are going to perform. Based on the results of the questionnaire, the SPI makes each individual aware of their preferred role when working in teams. This then allows them to focus on their strengths and improve on their weakness. During his research, Meredith found that each of the behaviours were essential in getting the team successfully from start to finish. The key was balance. For example, Meredith Belbin found that a team with no Plants struggled to come up with the initial spark of an idea with which to push forward. However, once too many Plants were in the team, bad ideas concealed good ones and non-starters were given too much airtime. Similarly, with no Shaper, the team ambled along without drive and direction, missing deadlines. With too many Shapers, in-fighting began and morale was lowered. A Summary of my SPI results is in Appendix 3. Results of the SPI indicate that my two preferred team roles are Shaper and Company Worker. A shaper can be defined as someone who has a drive and readiness for challenge, can strive under pressure and is seen as a leadership figure; however, they can be prone to provocation and can be seen as rude and impatient (Belbin, 1981). A Company Worker is someone who is hard working, self-disciplined, organized and practical, but be seen as inflexible and unresponsive (Belbin 1981). I believe that these results are an accurate reflection of my personality, and are consistent both with my experiences within BSB124 as well as within the workplace. I will need to focus on my weaknesses, as addressed through the SPI, should I wish to be successful in both university and future career development. As with my intrapersonal learning goals, I will use S.M.A.R.T goals to address the weaknesses above. My results from Belbin’s inventory, combined with my personality profile, and work experience suggests that, in groups I am likely to engage in a confrontational conflict resolution style. Research indicates that Asian cultures tend to prefer non-confrontational conflict styles, and as a result tend to react defensively when confronted in conflict situations (Rahim & Blum; Ting-Toomey et al., 1991). As I hope to work in a large, international organisation in the future and it is likely I will be dealing with individuals from Asian cultures, I therefore need to adjust my conflict  style accordingly. Thus, again using the SMART goals specified in section 2.2, I envisage that a more agreeable, empathetic nature will help me engage in more appropriate conflict resolution styles when necessary. 3.2 SPARK analysis

Effect of FDI on Chinas Technological Status Essay

Effect of FDI on Chinas Technological Status - Essay Example The researcher states that China is an emerging economy and has continued to experience great economic success starting about thirty years ago when the country achieved economic liberalization. China has successfully participated in trade and investments at the global level, thus is well integrated into the economy at the global level. Most importantly, the FDI inflows in China today are considerably high and the many foreign firms in the country continue to enhance its growth economically. Technology being a critical component of any country’s economy remains highly crucial for the development of any country, including China. In China, the policymakers have in the recent years paid great attention to technological development in the country and the major aim is to make China a technologically sophisticated country. Being an important component of the economy, it is no doubt that FDI in China influences the country’s technology. China has experienced a remarkable increa se in its FDI, and this has continued to grow to start from the mid-1980s. The paper shows data on the yearly FDI inflows of China between the year 1985 and 2014 and this exhibits an increase in FDI inflows in China, even as this stood at $2 billion in the year 1985 and grew to reach $128 billion in the year 2014. In all the developing countries of the world, China ranks among the four largest receivers of FDI and in the year 2014 estimates by the United Nations indicated that China was the worlds largest destination for FDI inflows and Hong Kong and the United States followed behind. It is predicted that there will be persistent FDI inflows in China even in the future because currently, they are still modest. Foreign companies contribute immensely to the growth of the economy in China, even as these are the source of FDI in the country. These foreign-invested enterprises remain core to Chinas foreign trade even as they continue to contribute to the growth of foreign trade in China. In the year 2014, foreign companies accounted for 46.3 percent and 45.9 percent of Chinas imports and exports respectively, even though the peak was experienced in the year 2006 when the percentage of imports and exports accounted for by the foreign companies were 59.7 and 58.2 respectively.

Drivers for adopting public-private construction partnerships in the Term Paper

Drivers for adopting public-private construction partnerships in the US, UK and Australia - Term Paper Example This study also narrows the gap in the literature by collecting primary empirical data from interviews with construction company managers and owners in the US with a view to understanding their perspectives on the drivers for adopting PPPs. The results of this study are discussed and implications for practice and areas for further research are identified. Table of Contents Abstract 2 Introduction 4 Study Scope and Objectives 5 Research Methodology 5 Organization of the Research Report 6 A Review of Literature 6 Conceptualization of Public-Private Construction Partnerships 6 Public-Private Construction Partnerships in the US, UK and Australia 9 Public-Private Construction Partnerships in the US 9 Public-Private Construction Partnerships in the UK 11 Public-Private Construction Partnerships in Australia 13 Summary of Findings in the Literature 14 Empirical Evidence 14 Secondary Data: Australia 14 Secondary Data: The UK 17 Primary Empirical Evidence 19 Analysis 22 Implications for Pract ice 23 Areas for Further Research 23 Bibliography 25 Introduction Public-private partnerships (PPP), also known as P3s are contractual arrangements between governments and private entities/concessionaires for the construction of facilities. Under the P3 contract, the private investor typically funds the construction phase of the facility and is usually entitled to share revenues associated with the facilities (Rowlson, 2012). In addition to sharing revenues, the private entity involved in a PPP also assumes some of the risks associated with the construction project (Hodge, 2004). As a part of a trend toward more privatization of public services, the UK has increasingly adopted PPPs for the construction of government infrastructure (Spackman, 2002). A similar trend can be observed in the US with 23 states legislating for PPPs (Rowlson, 2012). PPPs have also become a part of government public management systems in Australia (English, 2006). Ke, et al. (2009) conducted a review of lite rature on PPPs and examined peer-reviewed articles published between 1998 and 2008. Findings indicate that research into PPPs have steadily increased from 1998 to 2008 revealing an increasing importance to the construction industry. The most popularly researched areas was the â€Å"build-operate-transfer† form of the PPP with some interest in investment conditions, governance and other areas that tend to compliment PPPs (Ke, et al., 2009, p. 1076). It would therefore appear that the drivers of PPPs is under-researched. As, Hodge and Greve (2007) note, although there is intensive interest in the popularity of PPPs, little is understood about these new partnerships in the context of traditional partnerships. Bovaird (2004) argue that although PPPs have become increasingly popular globally over the last 25 years, the definition of PPPs is difficult to conceptualize as it means different things, depending on the country involved and the project to which it applies. Thus further r esearch is necessary for gaining a more profound understanding of PPPs, what the future of PPPs are and how best to model PPPs. This research will therefore add to current knowledge on PPPs by comparing the drivers of PPPs in the UK, the US and Australia. The UK, US and Australia are selected for this study because empirical and

Occupational health and safety Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Occupational health and safety - Essay Example OSH increases workplace productivity. This is because OSH stipulates that all organizations have the duty of care of ensuring that employees and other parties who may be affected by organizations undertaking are safe at all times. Moral obligations in this case involve the protection of the lives and health of employees. Because of measures that are put in place in respect to moral obligations, employees become less susceptible to injuries and harm and thereby making the realization of a more secure, sustainable and healthier workforce. This in turn leads to abated levels of absenteeism, heightened motivation and ultimately, improved productivity. It is against this backdrop for instance that the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EASHW) established the finding that for every Euro that is invested in OSH, the Return on Investment (ROI) that is realized falls between 3 and 5 Euros, due to reduced costs that stem from reduction in absenteeism. In the US, the issue of absent eeism is underscored by the data that released to the same effect. Specifically, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics established that machine-related accidents and injuries alone claimed 64,170 cases that required long sick-offs, in 2008 alone. Similarly, more than a fourth of these injury cases required more than 30 days being spent away from work (Reese, 2008). The fact that following OSH stipulations entails the installation of workplace risk prevention and the enhancement of proper health and safety management means that cases dealing with serious harm and injuries on employees are assuaged. Cases where these injuries are commonly recurrent are concomitant with high employee turnover, as organizations are compelled to look for another source of manpower or skilled labor. Adhering to OSH in turn alleviates cases of terminal injuries and thereby reducing the chances of high employee turnover that would be incurred as an organization tries to replenish the size of its work force. In a closely related wavelength, adhering to the standards and stipulations set by OSH gives organizational productivity the quality of continuity and stability. With the aforementioned abated cases of injuries and harm on employees, a corporate entity is succored from the task of having to retrain and nurture fledgeling personnel to acquire the necessary skills and experiences that an injured team possessed. This is significant, since training and nurturing organizational workforce entails numerous workshop drives and training programs. Reese (2008) points out that an organization also benefits directly when it adheres to OSH regulations and standards. This benefit takes the form of increased security from the ravages of workplace accidents, malfunction and human error. This is because; OSH is broad enough to include interactions with other subject areas such as safety engineering, chemistry and industrial engineering. This is especially more pronounced in industries that ha ve inherently high proclivity to accidents such as mining, construction and crisis management which have over time developed safety procedures and methods as a way of managing physical danger at the workplace. For instance, since 1992, engineering workshops specializing in welding of components are to adhere to the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) regulations, and thereby curtailing high chances for

Multiplier-accelerator models Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Multiplier-accelerator models - Essay Example Keynes argued that level of output will increase due to multiplier relationship between output and autonomous consumption. (Hartley, J. et al. 1998). Change in output due to change in investment can be described in following manner: The Accelerator model is based upon the assumption if current economic activity increases, it will allow entrepreneurs to expand productive capacity by investing into additional capital stock . The Acceleration principle also outlines that there will be an increase in the output level with the increase in investment and there will be an additional investment when output increases. The above relationship suggests that consumption comprises of overall autonomous consumption and the propensity to consume with respect to the past income of an individual. Samuelson’s model therefore outlines different parametric conditions under which economy can move and as such economic cycles can occur. Samuelsson’s model is considered as incomplete as a theory of regular cycles because of its inability to predict regular business cycles however, it is still considered as one of the key advances in macroeconomic theory. Lloyd Metzler’s model was based upon his famous Inventory Cycle principle and suggested that the precise inventory policy as chosen by the producers might have an impact on the economic cycles. This model outlines that the change in output is a relationship between the consumption and investment and investment comprises of the investments made in inventory considering capital stock as constant. (SÃ ¸rensen, and Whitta-Jacobsen, 2010). Hicksian Model was also another attempt to understand the business cycles and how consumption and investment actually have an impact on the income level. Hicks assumed that the consumption is the function of past income while investor attempts to maintain a stock of capital in relation with the income. The combination of income and consumption therefore can generate oscillation in income or

Change of Social Status of women in society Essay

Change of Social Status of women in society - Essay Example The norms differ culture to culture and religion to religion, however no religion in the world commands degradation of any sex physically or psychologically. The underscore of this dissertation is the story "Another evening at the club" by Alifa Rifaat (1983), revolving around a Muslim girl. The writer skillfully uses the body language and gestures to illustrate the traditions and customs of the family therefore highlighting male dominance in the content. It is an excellent example of women being influenced by men, the role changes from father to husband but the prejudice is intact. The society is constructed of cultural norms, traditions and religious beliefs, illustrating a concept of specific roles for men and women, which are widely accepted often unconsciously. All such principles governing the society, often enforced through social institutions like schools, families and workplaces accentuate ascendancy of men over women. In many areas there is no concern regarding womens education, civil rights, the girls are married off young to men double their ages. Families bearing multiple daughters feel indebted to any suitor that might come to them, especially ones that are not financially secure. As depicted in the story where the suitor asserts a dowry priced in accordance to the young girls beauty. The girls family is showed to be obliged by his gesture. According to the article Social Status of Women (ch.2) such practices are common in various communities; a bride price system quite similar to the dowry system is present in areas of Western hills and Indo-Arya n communities. Similarly another custom called Tilak; in which the brides price is conferred and presented to the grooms family before marriage, is practiced in the Maithili communities of Western Terai. In earlier times the dowry used to consist of simple household supplies and clothes, however in recent times the trends are

Evidence base practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Evidence base practice - Essay Example However, in some cases, the wrong prescription may not only make the patient fail to recover from the ailment, it may also lead to a further worsening of the ailment. Determination of the methods of prescriptions is usually significant in the application of treatment strategies aimed at treating mental problems. The treatment of the patient from the ailments is usually highly dependent on the treatment strategies that are employed by the medical practitioner. The medical practitioner therefore needs to clearly understand the effectiveness of the treatment strategies so as to know which strategies to apply in order to lead to the effective and quick recovery of the patients. Moreover, the medical practitioner needs to explicitly understand the different dimensions of the issue that he or she is trying to treat in order to device the treatment strategies effectively. A clear understanding of the dimensions would also help the medical practitioner, to effectively comprehend what the pat ient is going through. Thus, by putting himself or herself in the position of the patient, he or she can apply his medical concepts to achieve excellent results in the application of his treatment strategies. The application of the above practices by medical practitioners and other relevant parties is well defined by what is known as evidence based practice. Evidence based practice Evidence based practice can be simply defined as the use of certain treatment strategies preferentially based on research findings to help solve certain problems, mostly psychological, which the society may be faced with (Gowing, p.27). The use of the treatment strategies is usually backed with statistical evidence of the success of the treatment strategies on different people. Evidence base practice is usually applied in various fields, which include medicine, criminology, psychology and marriage and family therapy. Evidence based practice is a practice which has developed only recently and is necessitat ed by the failure of some of strategies, which are considered effective in helping to treat various psychological and mental conditions in the society. By using the evidence-based practice, the medical practitioners can apply the strategies, which have been proven most effective in their application for the treatments. The strategies used by the medical practitioners do not necessarily have to be the same; they usually vary from one individual to the other. This is because different medical practitioners have their own methods of dealing with different ailments to achieve the desired results. This medical concept is widely acknowledged by many medical practitioners and bodies that deal with medicine as an effective strategy in the treatment of people who suffer from various mental disorders. Evidence based practice in domestic violence Domestic violence is among the most common forms of problems, which psychologists and marriage counselors are usually faced with. Different countries usually have programs to help in treatment of problems, especially on people who have been convicted of the offence. The success of these programs is usually very low as their administration usually disregards the research evidence on the important strategies that the programs must use. The strategies to employ are mainly dependent on the causative factors of domestic violence. Evidence based practice can effectively be used to determine the causes of domestic viol