Under Treatment of Pain in the Elderly Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Under Treatment of Pain in the Elderly - Essay Example Under Treatment of Pain in the Elderly Roy and Thomas (1986) conducted a survey regarding chronic pain in the elderly. They conducted their study on 132 participants who were either residents of the nursing home or were attending hospital programs. They found that 83% of the patients stated that they, most of the time, suffered from pain which mainly was due to damage in connective tissue. 84% of the participants who reported pain were using analgesics and 16% were not receiving any kind of treatment at all. The participants reported that they had been feeling pain for many years. Researchers found that majority of participants reported low levels of pain accompanied with depression, and none of the participants was being treated for depression. According to the researchers, â€Å"there may be an inclination to underestimate the prevalence and intensity of pain in the elderly† (p.513). Bernabei et al. (1998) studied the treatment of pain and pain management in the elderly patients who were suffering from cancer and were admitted in nursing homes. Theirs was a retrospective, cross-sectional study conducted in 1492 nursing homes located in 5 different states. The population size was 13625 and the participants were 65 years and older. They found that among the total population size, 4003 patients were those who reported daily, regular pain 16% of whom were receiving a WHO level 1 drug, 32% were receiving a WHO level 2 drug, and 26% were those who were being treated with morphine only (p.1880). They also found that as the age grew older, the opportunities for pain treatment became fewer so much so that the patients who were over 85 years did not even receive an analgesic dose. Their study concluded that â€Å"Daily pain is prevalent among nursing home residents with cancer and is often untreated, particularly among older and minority patients† (p.1877). Ahmad and Goucke (2002) conducted their research on the treatment of neuropathic pain in the elderly and pain management strategies. Accor ding to them, neuropathic pain is the hardest to identify and manage in the elderly without inflicting any adverse effects on them, and this leads to its undertreatment. They state that it is important to incorporate non-drug pain management options in the treatment process to reduce the adverse effects that medication inflicts on the elderly. These options may include psychotherapies, exercises, improved life style, and environmental modification. According to them, combined strategies and mixed treatments can prove to be more helpful in treating pain in the elderly. Gagliese and Melzack (1997) also support the fact that the older adults usually receive inadequate pain management. They state there can be three reasons for this: â€Å"lack of proper pain assessment; potential risks of pharmacotherapy in the elderly; and, misconceptions regarding both the efficacy of non-pharmacological pain management strategies and the attitudes of the elderly towards such treatments† (p.3). Supporting the fact that pain treatment becomes less likely because the elderly do not express their pain, there is a research by Manfredi et al. (2002) who studied assessment of pain through facial expressions in the elderly suffering from dementia. They evaluated 9 patients who had â€Å"decubitus ulcers associated with reports of pain during dressing changes†

History and Politics of the Mexican Revolution Essay Example for Free

History and Politics of the Mexican Revolution Essay The Mexican revolution was one of the most significant catastrophe in the twentieth century, which involved four momentous leader by the name of Madero , Diaz , Zapata and Obrengo. According to Alan Knight, author of the article â€Å"The Mexican Revolution†, â€Å"the Mexican revolution started as a protest of the middle class against the dictatorship of Porfrio Diaz†. A small minority of people were control of most of the country’s power and wealth, while the major of the population worked in poverty. According to Dan la Botz, author of article â€Å"The Mexican revolution part1, 1910-1920, â€Å"Tens of thousand of men and women fought in battles in many region of the country to end the dictatorship and overthrow the leader†. The attempt to mold a new generation that would continue the revolution’s efforts for the people into the future. Their campaign included programs for land reform, work protection, widespread literacy, and mandatory schools. The nation fund a mental economic, institution were transformed as a basic Agriculture production unit and the foreign own oil industry nationalized. In the 1910s a politician and military struggle arrived among various rival politicians, economic and social groups, the working class and the peasantry were defeated and subordinated to new master. The revolution began as an attempt to overthrow Porfrio Diaz who was a dictator of Mexico. According to Dan La Batz , author of â€Å"Mexican Revolution part 1 ,1910-1920† , â€Å"Mexico’s liberal who wanted a free market capitalist county like England and United States, battle consecutive who wanted a count more like Spain with its monarchy, powerful catholic church and feudal hierarchy (Botz 26). Diaz revived and expanded the nation economy, generally raising the levels of prosperity in the nation. The administration introduce changes that commercialized agriculture, modernized mining, financed industries, initiated railroads and enticed consumer. During the Porfrio ratio, as railroad construction dominated popular attention, city resident also witnesses the introduction of additional technology such as gas lighting, tramlines and other advances. Railroad transported raw material to the United States and Europe. Ordinary people who supplied the labor and raw materials were tricked to increase the country’s economy and Diaz later exploited domestic workers. Diaz fought alongside Mexican president benito Juarez and then against intervention. Diaz then emerged as a leading general and became president in 1876. Diaz served 34 years as the president of Mexico. Diaz took land from villages until most peasants had been reducing from small proprietors to day laborers. Diaz existence caused destruction upon the economy and social lives of Mexicans. He fought against his opponents and wag war. Diaz promised a free election against Francisco Madero another leader of Mexico who ran for election, after it became obvious he might not win. According to Beezley Williams H author of â€Å"Mexicans in Revolution 1910-1946: An introduction† â€Å"Francisco Madero became a revolutionary by accident, his entire life, his family, his education, his marriage and his early business efforts-marked him as a member of the elite (Williams 36). Madero’s family believed that his campaign was foolhardy if not suicidal. He campaign across the nation of Mexico with the aim of no presidential election. Madero’s movement was soon swelled with people who saw his campaign not only a chance for the politicial democracy but also the opportunity to struggle for more fundamental social change. Madero campaign threatened Diaz which forced him to get Madero arrested on felony charges and jailed in San Luis Potosi under house arrest in the summer 1910. In July 1910 with the help of his wealthy and politically connected family,Madero fled from San Luis Potosi to San Antonio, Texas and transformed the Anti reelection political organization for revolution to begin November 20. Madero issued his manifesto, the plan of San Luis, The plan laid out his vision of polotican democracy emphasizing the no presidential reelection. Madero slogans was â€Å"Effective Suffrage (that is honest voting) No reelection (prevent Diaz pattern of holding office) and Municipoo Libre( local control of issue such as taxes). Madero was elected president and assumed power in November 1911. By November 911 Zapata, another Mexican leader and his troops were at war with Madero’s Government. Zapata movement focuses on four main issues which was lands; which should be given to those who work for it, secondly labor unions; which had been suspended under Diaz, fought for their rights to organize and to strike and demand protective legislation for workers, thirdly education; for the country last battle with Catholic Church, the demand for free public education and finally ownership of oil nd mineral; all natural resources of Mexico should belong to is people. Zapata army was driven out of Mexico in the early 1916 by Carranza’s troop who was a Mexican leader that fought against Zapata. After this shift by Carranza’s troops, Zapata had no hope of fighting back Carranza because he didn’t have as much army as Zapata. According to Micheal Mathes author of article â€Å"Frontier Settlement in Mexican California† , with the help of chief advisor , Gildardo Magana he started an alliance for anyone who will want to fight Carranza (Mathes 503). Venustiano Carranza was the son of a middle class and who had been educated in Mexico to become part of the political elite. Carranza joined Madero’s rebellion and became president after the death of Madero. Carranza and his followers attempted to remodel cities, not by pulling down statues, wrecking monuments, or destroying the house of the old regime, but by creating a new society. The Mexican revolution was then divided into two rival bourgeois and plebian. According to WM. O.  OWEN, author of â€Å"The Mexican Revolution, Its progress , cause , purpose and probable result† Carranza’s constructional forces aimed to create a new nationalist state which could provide stability for Mexican born and foreign investors, while Connectionist led by Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata, desire to carry out the democratic and social reforms demanded by the country peasants and workers. The Constitutionalist would win the civil war because they understand the significant of the labor movement. Carranza’s armies had been successful in defeating the forces of Villa and Zapata. Carranza and his advisors produce a new constitution which settled in law and the principle issue of the revolution. These laws were divided into four articles. Article 27 provided the break up of the haciendas and distribution of land to peasant and indigenous community. Article 123 gave workers the right to organize unions and strike and create legislation. Article 3 ended the Catholic Church’s control of education, creating the free, lay public schools and finally, Article 130 banned the church from Mexican politics and society. Carranza’s forces continue to fight opposition leaders which he eventually assassinating Emiliano Zapata. On may 21 1920 the rebel forces captured and killed Carranza and the general Obrengon took power. Obrengon became president holding office from 1920-1924and Huerta revolt against President Obrengo in 1923. In conclusion lands were given to the working class and peasant, housing and farming territory and also ranching was easier to get. During the decades from 1917 to 1946 revolutionaries initiated a variety of campaign to bring revolution to people. At the same time the revolutionaries initiate campaign that proved to be only partially successful, to remake the symbols of Profrio rian regime in the image of the revolution.

Carol Ann Duffy Essay -- Carol Ann Duffy Biography Poets Writers Essay

Carol Ann Duffy Carol Ann Duffy was born in Glasgow on 23rd. December 1965 .she is widely commended as Britain's leading female poet. She has studied philosophy at Liverpool University. Her mother was Mary Black, an Irish. And her father was called Frank Duffy. She has four younger brothers. She attended St Austin Roman Catholic Primary School, Stafford from 1962 to 1967, after which she attended St Joseph's convent school, Stafford. She was encouraged in poetry by her teacher June Scriven. She decided that she was going to be a poet at the age of 14. At the age of 16 she met a 39-year-old Liverpool poet Adrian Henri and they started going out together. When she was 18, She had her first pamphlet of poems, Fleshweathercock, published by Outposts in 1973. In 1977 she graduated with a BA honours degree in philosophy. She was influenced by the writings of Ludwig Wittgenstein during her studies. After graduating she worked for Granada Television. In 1981 she moved to London where she lived until 1995. In the early 1980s she took up freelance writing, and...

“Briar Rose” by Anne Sexton †Analysis Essay

Anne Sexton completely altered the fairy tale, Briar Rose. The original tale was a straight forward story that can lead the reader to come up with a moral. It was one that also had a happy ending. When Anne Sexton tells us her version of Briar Rose, she immediately begins by giving the reader a view of what Briar Rose’s sleep is like. She tells us of how Briar Rose feels, and gives the reader some what of an introduction to the ways of Briar Rose. After this psychedelic section of a girl, Briar Rose, who keeps â€Å"slipping off into a hypnotist’s trance† (lines 4-6), Sexton begins telling the tale. Once Sexton gets into the tale, most of the lines consist of a summary of what truly happens in the fairy tale. Sexton, however, does add several parts that help the reader understand the story from Sexton’s perspective; † The King looked like Munch’s ‘Scream'† (line 43). Line 100 was the most important line in the poem. After finishing her synopsis of the fairy tale with, â€Å"She married the prince and all went well† (lines 98-99), she immediately adds â€Å"except for the fear – the fear of sleep.† (lines 100-101). After this line, Sexton begins a new stanza on Briar Rose’s future, differing a lot from the fairy tale’s â€Å"†¦ and they lived happily ever after.† Sexton begins telling the reader how Briar Rose will become an insomniac. She also begins applying some of today’s modern day medicine to the story, by saying that Briar Rose would be unable to sleep â€Å"†¦without the court chemist mixing her some knock-out drops† (lines 106-107). From that point on, Anne Sexton slowly applies her life to the poem, and adds the parts of her like that she has trouble with into her poem. It seems as though she does this almost unconsciously and unintentionally. By line 120, Anne Sexton has completely replaced herself with Briar Rose. She continuously uses I in Briar Rose’s place. Now she has completely applied modern day technology, saying things like â€Å"I’m all shot up with Novocain†. She clearly places herself in the novel and tells the reader about her life. She replaces the happy parts of the poem with parts that may have been different in her life. â€Å"Daddy? That’s another kind of prison. Its not the prince at all, but my father, drunkenly bent over my bed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (lines 150-154). This shows that her father may have abused her and may have limited her lifestyle as he was â€Å"circling the abyss like a shark, my father thick upon me† (lines 155-156). He also may have been an alcoholic. She also shows how once Briar Rose had truly died once she was fifteen, even though she was truly just put into a 100 year sleep. Her life of fear and insomnia was now nearly a reincarnation, or a â€Å"life after death† (line 161), of her terrible existence.

Husayn-McMahon Essay

McMahon-Hussein Correspondence refers to an exchange of letters between Sharif Husayn Ibn Ali of Mecca and Sir Henry McMahon of Britain detailing the future of the Arab world in the face of a possible annexation by the Ottoman Turks. The background to this communication can be traced to early 1914 when Sharif Husayn’s son, Amir, paid a visit to the then British Consular in Egypt, Lord Kitchener, seeking British assurance that they would offer their support incase Arabs opted to revolt against Turkey. While at first Kitchner was reluctant to make any commitment, his successor in the region, McMahon, upon sensing the dwindling British fortunes in the Middle East, made hefty promises to garner the Arabs support during the First World War. It is during this period that McMahon would initiate correspondence with Husayn. The Husayn family emerged to be an influential force in the Middle East as it lay claim to be the descendant of Muhammad and held the mantle leadership of a number of kingdoms in the region (Daly 215). The issue of McMahon-Hussein correspondence has emerged highly controversial and is held to be at the core of the crisis in the Middle East. It is regarded as an important correspondence by the Palestinians as it was seen as a commitment by the British of granting them independence. In these series of letters, Husayn had asked for Arabs independence, he outlined these areas to be the Arabian Peninsula, Palestine and Iraq amongst others. McMahon on the other hand made a commitment to ensure the independence of a number of territories which would not damage the existing cordial relations with France. Arabs in the Middle East have maintained that British had promised independence to the Palestinians; on the other hand, Britain claims that this was merely a declaration of intent that was not legally binding and cannot be used to lay claim of independence to the Palestinians (Mack 123).

Death of a Salesman Essay Essay Example

Death of a Salesman Essay Essay Example Death of a Salesman Essay Paper Death of a Salesman Essay Paper Essay Topic: Death Of a Salesman Literature Playwright Auther Millers, Death of a Salesman, uses Willy Loman as a tragic figure. As Willy struggles to be a successful salesman and provide as the man of his house, he causes suffering to his family. His actions have his wife constantly worrying, his sons unsuccessful in life, and tension between his family. The life of Willy Loman is that of a salesman. In his desire to become an American success, he desperately tries to sell a productive image to his clients, his family, and society. Unfortunately, Willys ambition to become prosperous and well-liked by his family and by society overrides his sense of morality when attempting to project a successful image. He uses a great emphasis on his supposed native charm and ability to make friends. He raises his two sons, Biff and Happy, teaching this way to success. He tells them stories of his work in New England, where he is well known and very much liked. The firm Willy had been working at for 32 years has taken him off of salary. Will ends up being fired when it should be his time of retirement. This evokes sympathy towards Willy as he did not die his ideal death of a salesman and seems to live by measuring how successful people are by the size of their funeral and therefore his own funeral reflects truly how unsuccessful his career as a salesman was. In â€Å"Death of a Salesman† Willy suffers a metaphorical death, the death of his dream of financial success. By the plays conclusion Willy is jobless and broke. Willy has a conversation with his brother Ben, who has been dead for some time, and concludes the best future for his family, especially Biff whom Willy is desperate to become successful, would be for him to kill himself as the insurance company would pay out $20, 000, enough to make Biff successful in Willy’s mind, â€Å"you end up worth more dead than alive.† The irony of Willy killing himself is that he is killing himself to give Biff money in order for him to become a successful business man however the insurance company will not make a payout for suicide and Biff has no intention of following in his father’s footsteps. This evokes sympathy for Willy as he is trying to do the best for his family however he still cannot provide for them even through his death. During the play â€Å"Death of a Salesman† the title is significant as there is a physical death of a salesman in the respect that Willy dies and he is a salesman. Through killing himself Willy hopes to provide the financial support, which he has been failing to gain for many years, for his family that is required. The death of Willy is not honourable as he desires and is sorry ending to his unsuccessful life in business. In conclusion the title of the play is significant as it in further understanding of the events, which occur in the play. Miller uses the title to convey both a physical and metaphorical death and in order for the reader to understand the ending to their full capability.

How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others How much of your day do you spend obsessively comparing yourself to your friends or colleagues? Your best friend from college makes more money than you do, even though she’s been at her job for less time. Your cubicle mate always gets complimented by your boss, even though you know she spends half her workday on Facebook. If you’re a frequent player of the comparison game, you know it always leads to you  feeling terrible about yourself. Yes, everyone on LinkedIn is doing better on the ladder than you are. And yes, everyone on Instagram is living their best life. But did you know that without the whole story, you really have no basis for comparison? Here’s how you can make sure to not fall into the trap of needless comparison. The next time you play the â€Å"here’s why he’s better† game, simply remember these tips, take a deep breath, and work on improving yourself rather than holding yourself against impossible standards.1. Realize that c omparisons don’t tell the whole story.Are you comparing what you know to be your worst against what you judge to be someone else’s best? Are you comparing your beginning to someone else’s middle? Your early career to their glory days? Your entry-level salary to their 40-year career? Remember that comparisons require metrics, which are hard to come by even when you aren’t trying to compare apples to oranges or seeds to trees.2. Understand that you’re wasting precious time.Every hour you spend comparing yourself to someone else is an hour you’re not spending doing better, learning more, acquiring new skills, and moving forward. Comparing yourself to someone else shifts your mindset away from where it needs to be- on you- by putting it somewhere else much less productive. Focus on yourself and what you must do to be where you need to be, and cut out the rest of the noise.3. Know that social media is not your friend.The next time you fall down a n Insta-hole of perfectly posed pictures, turn off your device (or at least shut down your app) and force yourself to spend at least one hour without logging back on. If you spend that hour working on a self-improvement project, that’s all the better. Work on building the kind of life you can be proud of. Focus on the present, not on how many â€Å"likes† you got on your last post. Do something for yourself or someone else that will actually matter.4. Turn that frown upside down.Address whatever negative feelings are lurking in the back of your brain and try to turn them into positives. Use your jealousy and insecurity to spur you to grow faster and more. In fact, instead of viewing the person who’s making you feel less-than as competition, you can think of him or her as a muse or an inspiration to do better. You might even reach out to that person in a mentorship or brain-picking capacity!5. Keep your dignity.You have nothing to gain in comparison situations, b ut everything to lose- not just your time and energy, but your drive, your passion, your pride, and your dignity. You’re only in control of one life- your own. Do what you can to make it the best it can be, and don’t become bitter and jealous while forgetting to make something of yourself in the meantime.

Introducing Yourself in English

Introducing Yourself in English Learning how to introduce yourself is an essential  part of learning how to converse in English. Introductions are also an important part of making  small talk  at parties or other social events. Introductory phrases are different than the ones we use to  greet friends, but theyre often used together as parts of the broader conversation, as youll see. Introducing Yourself In this example, Peter and Jane are meeting for the first time at a social event. After greeting each other, they begin by asking simple personal questions.  Working with a friend or classmate, take turns  practicing this role-play. Peter:  Hello. Jane:  Hi! Peter:  My name is Peter. Whats your name? Jane:  My name is Jane. Nice to meet you. Peter:  Its a pleasure. This is a great party! Jane:  Yes, it is. Where are you from? Peter:  Im from Amsterdam. Jane:  Amsterdam? Are you German? Peter:  No, Im not German. Im Dutch. Jane:  Oh, youre Dutch. Sorry about that. Peter:  Thats OK. Where are you from? Jane:  Im from London, but Im not British. Peter:  No, what are you? Jane:  Well, my parents were Spanish, so Im Spanish, too. Peter:  Thats very interesting. Spain is a beautiful country. Jane:  Thank you. It is a wonderful place. Key Vocabulary In the previous example, Peter and Jane are introducing themselves. Several important phrases that they use in this exchange are: My name is...Where are you from?Im from... (city, state, or country)Are you... (Spanish, American, German, etc.) Introducing Other People Introductions in Formal Situations Introductions can occur between more than two people, for example at a party or at a business meeting. When you meet someone for the first time, it is common to greet them by saying, Its a pleasure to meet you, or Pleased to meet you. It is polite to respond by repeating the statement back at them, as Mary does in this example: Ken: Peter, Id like you to meet Mary. Peter: Its a pleasure to meet you. Mary: Its a pleasure to meet you too! Ken: Mary works for... Introductions in Informal Situations In informal situations, especially in North America, introductions are also made simply saying, This is (name). It is also common to just say Hi or Hello as a response in this informal setting. Ken: Peter, this is Mary. Peter: Hi. How are you? Mary: Hello! Pleased to meet you. Ken: Mary works for... Common Introductory Phrases As you can see in the previous examples, there are a number of different phrases that are commonly used to introduce  strangers: (name), I dont think youve met (name).I dont think you know (name)May I introduce you to (name)(name), do you know (name)?(name), Id like you to meet (name) Saying Hello and Goodbye Many people begin and end conversations by saying hello and goodbye to each other. Doing so is considered good manners in many parts of the English-speaking world, and its also a simple way to express friendly interest in whoever youre chatting with. A simple greeting followed by asking about the other person is all that is needed to begin an introduction. In this brief scenario, two people have just met: Jane: Hello, Peter. How are you? Peter: Fine, thanks. How are you? Jane: Im fine, thank you. Once youre finished speaking with someone, its customary to say goodbye as you both part, as in this example: Peter: Goodbye, Jane. See you tomorrow! Jane: Bye bye, Peter. Have a nice evening. Peter: Thanks, you too! Key Vocabulary Key phrases to remember include: Hello... How are you?Im fine, thank youGoodbyeSee you... (tomorrow, this weekend, next week, etc.)Have a nice... (day, evening, week, etc.) More Beginning Dialogues Once youre mastered introducing yourself, you can practice your English skills with more exercises, including telling time, shopping at a store, traveling at an airport, asking for directions, staying at a hotel, and eating at a restaurant. Work with a friend or classmate to practice these role-playing dialogues, just as you did for these exercises.

Microcredit Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Microcredit - Term Paper Example The description of the ways in which access to credit eradicates poverty is also discussed in this paper basing the argument on empirical studies. Usman, Malik and Shafiq (2011) explain that regular banks are generally meant for people with money and thus microfinance becomes very necessary for the millions of poor people across the world. Microcredit institutions offer the small financial loans in form of microcredit to the poor with a premise that these people have financial skills and talents which can be utilized through financing for their own benefit and the society in general. According to Vasanthakumari (2008, p. 137), microcredit is necessary for the poor because it offers them the chance to utilize their capabilities and hence progress both economically and socially. Because dependency on charity only sustains poverty, microfinance becomes necessary to enable the poor to utilize their creativity and potential which is possible if people’s energy is concentrated on bu siness ventures and self development as described by Sin-Yu and Odhiambo (2011, p. 103). Microcredit is described by Madichie and Nkamnebe (2010, p. 301) as a form of finance that provides small loans to poor people which allows them to have an ability of self employment. According to Ghosh and Wright (2005, p. 298), microcredit targets poor people who need it to begin businesses and as a result it charges low interest rates as compared to the regular banking services. The Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank are credited for the introduction of microcredit as an economic innovation which targets poor people with an aim of empowering them and thus lead to a general development of the social systems. As a result of this innovation, Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank received a Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 because microfinance led to the empowerment of poor entrepreneurs, farmers and the unemployed. Durrani, Usman, Malik and Ahmad (2011, p. 138) illustrate that microcredit targets people in the unstable income bracket due to unemployment. Because poor people fail to meet the minimum financial qualification of regular banks before they acquire credit services, microfinance plays a significant in the economic progress of the poor. Poorer People Need Microcredit Lack of credit is attributed to the inability of the poor to progress economically and become wealthy as said by Haque and Harbin (2009, p. 4). Microcredit is therefore the best financial solution to the increased poverty especially in developing nations. The credit market within regular banks is full of imperfections and therefore microcredit acts to combat the problems related to the acquisition of credit from banks such as high collateral requirement. Sharma (2005, p. 288) explains that the difficulty of acquiring a loan from formal credit markets makes poor people to resolve into borrowing money from informal credit markets where they are vulnerable to exploitation. In the informal credit market, moneylenders give loans to the poor who have limited options and exploit them through charging exaggerated interest rates. In the developing economies, money lenders provide alternative credit services to the poor because the regular banks require very high financial qualifications for loans which the poor cannot attain. The role of microfinance in the eradication of poverty is therefore evident through the

Faculty engagement, successful student learning and social integration Dissertation

Faculty engagement, successful student learning and social integration - Dissertation Example According to Umbach and Wawrzynski (n.d., p. 21), teachers play the single most important role in the tendency of students to learn. New materials of teaching and learning have emerged as a result of the revolution in communication technologies. Consequently, the teaching and learning environment has been altogether renewed in a way that was not possible to achieve in the past. The fundamental challenge for the contemporary schools and colleges is to modify its environment so that new technologies can be accommodated and promoted at their best. Faculty engagement is one of the most critical elements in the modern pedagogy and learning that is influenced by technology. Different teachers join this profession because of different motivational structures that vary according to the tasks they are assigned (Blackburn, 1995). â€Å"Few institutions other than colleges and universities permit their members the latitude so much a past of the professor’s life† (Cahn, 1986, p. 3) . This latitude has been accommodated by the tradition-bound academy nature while the gradual change that has occurred in nearly every aspect of the campus life makes this latitude a tolerable piece of the landscape of academia. In a global democracy, higher education must give serious thought to structuring student learning and development in such a way to promote cross-cultural understanding and civic-mindedness. In strong democracies, people have to be able to listen to each other, to understand the places and interests of others in the community, and to achieve compromises and solve problems when conflicts occur. (Hurd, 2006, p. 4). Problem statement: Institutions require an enabling environment in order to change for good. Enabling environments constitute several factors that include but are not limited to reliable networks, universal access for students, increased opportunities with respect to consulting and training as well as a faculty ethos that tolerates falters and values experimentation. Learning spaces can both constrain and encourage students’ attitudes. A whole range of learning attitudes is displayed by the teachers and students particularly when the learning environment is developed with a view to optimize the interaction between the two both outside and within the classroom or when the atmosphere presents education as a â€Å"serious work† to the students and teachers (Hunley and Schaller, 2009). Lack of such preconditions makes the entrepreneurial activity for the self-starters quite cumbersome. Even the existence of such preconditions does not do much to ease the process of transformation. The first-wave of entrepreneurs mark the initial phase of transformation. These adopters tend to find adequate expertise or resources in order to implement their personal strategies for the incorporation of technology as a means of learning. The second wave that indeed concerns us the most is the perception of faculty of the new environment of learning as an opportunity rather than a threat. These teachers are generally wary of the advanced technology but are strongly committed to a high quality of learning. This divides the faculty into two groups, each of which is highly committed to quality learning but differ in their tendency to embrace the new technologies as well as their technical capabilities. Administrators make a big mistake by basing their

Physiology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Physiology - Essay Example This pathway consists of A & A fibers characterised with high velocity (30 to 110 m/sec) of impulse conduction. The dorsal column-lemniscal pathway has also high degree of spatial orientation of the nerve fibres; particularly the medial fibers convey the information from the lower parts of the body while the lateral fibers related to higher segments. The spasticity in the muscles is related to the pyramidal insufficiency. This condition can occur if pyramidal pathways controlling voluntary movements are damaged by the mechanic or other agents. Intoxications, chronic neurodegenerative diseases, traumas, and metabolic disorders can play role in the origin of muscular spasticity. The attenuation reflex is important protective mechanism providing the best sound perception. The contraction of the stapes muscle protects the inner ear from damaging. The role of outer ear structures is important also - they can reduce resonance in the middle ear. Summation is a process of gradual release of the transmitter and the transmission of the impulse from several presynaptic neurones to one postsynaptic neurone (spatial summation) or from only one presynaptic and one postsynaptic neurone (temporal summation). The summation leads to the release of sufficient the impulse is transmitted across the synaptic cleft. The pain control system of CNS is represented by three major components: the periaqueductal grey and the nucleus raphe magnus (in the brain) and the pain inhibitory neurons of the dorsal horns in medulla spinalis. The opioid receptors of these structures are activated by endorphins or exogenous opiates and block the spreading of pain impulses. 3.3 Why is it difficult to localize slow, chronic pain (2) Chronic pain usually irradiate to other areas thus its localisation could be difficult. Furthermore, the efferent pain stimuli are conducted to CNS

September 11, 2001 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

September 11, 2001 - Essay Example wo wars, markets to suffer, travel and tourism to decline and led to America adding security measures to attempt to ensure that a similar attack will never again occur on American soil. Stock prices are indicative of how optimistic individuals feel about the future. Terrorism disrupts the stock market by causing panic, and pessimism, as people decide, in droves, that their money is better off in a more secure institution or investment (Chen & Siems, 2004, p. 349). Chen & Siems (2004) researched the impact of 9/11 on world markets, in comparison to other historical terrorists events that have occurred worldwide, including the sinking of the Lusitania, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the invasion of France, different airline bombings, the invasion of Kuwait, the World Trade Center bombing and the Oklahoma City bombing. 9/11 had the potential for a large impact on world markets, not just because of fear, but because the world trade infrastructure was disrupted because of the destruction of the twin towers (Johnston & Nedelescu, 2005, p. 5). What they found was that, while there was a significant negative impact on the stock market for 9/11, in that it stocks were off almost 8%, compared to almost 3% for Pearl Harbor, less than 2% for the invasion of Kuwait, and an increase of almost 2% for Oklahoma City, the stocks rallied much faster than many of the other events listed. For instance, the stocks did not rally after Pearl Harbor for 232 days, after the invasion of Kuwait there was not a recovery for 134 days, and, after the invasion of France, stocks did not recover for over 2 Â ½ years (Chen & Siems, 2004, p. 354). What they also found was that all 34 world markets that they examined had a negative market impact on the day of the tragedy, with 94% experiencing almost an almost .01% decline, and Helsinki and Austria experiencing a .10% decline (Chen & Siems, 2004, p. 358). However, after 11 days, almost all of the markets had recovered, and that 82% of world

Management (wider environment) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Management (wider environment) - Essay Example e therefore being pressurised to consider the welfare of the communities within the environs of their operations particularly among the economically and physically challenged communities as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Among the developing countries, TNCs are looked upon as the critical stimulus for growth with far more essential impact than local governments often mired in corruption and mismanagement. The Britannica Concise Encyclopaedia defines globalisation as ‘the process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world (Britannica.com, 2009). The Bankingdictionary.com describes it in financial terms as the ‘interdependence of buyers and sellers of financial instruments in financial centres around the world.’ The Small Business Encyclopedia however gives it a broader meaning, describing it as ‘the process by which the economies of countries around the world become increasingly integrated over time. This integration occurs as technological advances expedite the trade of goods and services, the flow of capital, and the migration of people across international borders.’ (Bhagwati, 2004) According to a World Bank definition, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), ‘is the commitment of businesses to behave ethically and to contribute to sustainable economic development by working with all relevant stakeholders to improve their lives in ways that are good for business, the sustainable development agenda, and society at large’ (World Bank, 2001). Marks & Spencer (M&S) is a UK based retailer with 895 stores in over forty countries though only a third overseas. Its main product lines include garments, foodstuff, household goods, hospitality, furniture, apparatus, beauty, banking and energy products (Marks & Spencer, 2009). Although it has in recent years virtually stabilized, it had turbulent times in the 1970s to late 1990s when it

Family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Family - Essay Example ther hand, says the definition of what a family is depends on who is going to provide the definition, a social scientist, the State, a conservative society, or a libertarian society. Anthropologists define family by a cultures biological and marital kinship rules and patterns of reciprocal obligations. Different cultures have different definitions of biological and marital kin, and the obligations kin have to one another. Some cultures use the father’s biological line, or the mother’s or both. Kinship obligations, too, end at different levels for different cultures. As examples, Diem says that brothers, sisters and cousins are distinct in the American culture but not so in African societies. From the point of view of structure-functionalists, families are defined by the needs of the greater society. The definition of family changes when society’s needs change. Examples include those when greater society needs rapid population growth such as after a time of war when procreation is emphasized, as against a period of over population when childless couples are supported. For institutionalists, a family is the "traditional," biological, procreati ve and child-rearing structure. For interactionists, the definition is based on the assumption of family-related role behaviours. For economists, the family is a production and consumption unit, thus defining a household slave in an African or Arabian household or the indentured servant in an early-American household as part of the family. Further, according to Diem, the State’s definition of family follows the structure-functionalist approach, where the State’s needs dictate how the authoritative and legal definition of family shall be formulated. In a Conservative Free Society, as envisioned by Nisbet (1953), where the role of social institutions such as church, economy and educational system, are enhanced and those of the State reduced, the social institutions define family. Church may not recognise an unmarried

Management (wider environment) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Management (wider environment) - Essay Example e therefore being pressurised to consider the welfare of the communities within the environs of their operations particularly among the economically and physically challenged communities as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Among the developing countries, TNCs are looked upon as the critical stimulus for growth with far more essential impact than local governments often mired in corruption and mismanagement. The Britannica Concise Encyclopaedia defines globalisation as ‘the process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world (Britannica.com, 2009). The Bankingdictionary.com describes it in financial terms as the ‘interdependence of buyers and sellers of financial instruments in financial centres around the world.’ The Small Business Encyclopedia however gives it a broader meaning, describing it as ‘the process by which the economies of countries around the world become increasingly integrated over time. This integration occurs as technological advances expedite the trade of goods and services, the flow of capital, and the migration of people across international borders.’ (Bhagwati, 2004) According to a World Bank definition, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), ‘is the commitment of businesses to behave ethically and to contribute to sustainable economic development by working with all relevant stakeholders to improve their lives in ways that are good for business, the sustainable development agenda, and society at large’ (World Bank, 2001). Marks & Spencer (M&S) is a UK based retailer with 895 stores in over forty countries though only a third overseas. Its main product lines include garments, foodstuff, household goods, hospitality, furniture, apparatus, beauty, banking and energy products (Marks & Spencer, 2009). Although it has in recent years virtually stabilized, it had turbulent times in the 1970s to late 1990s when it

Chagas infectious disease poster Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chagas infectious disease poster - Assignment Example t the Chagas disease can be treated by using either benznidazole or nifurtimox since the two medicines have proven their ability to kill the parasite. The two medicines are efficient for treating the disease if it identified in the early stages of development. People infected with the disease should be treated before the disease starts to develop since anti-parasitic treatment can aid to stop the disease. The disease is very harmful to the social, political and economic status of the world. An example of the social aspect is that areas that are highly prone to the disease hinder tourism activities. In this regard, the social relationship of people from different parts of the world is curtailed. On the economic aspect, a lot of funds and resources are used to control and treat the disease. For this reason, money that could have been used for profitable economic resources is spent on medication. On the political viewpoint, the disease heightens political temperatures between nations. For instance, when travel advisories are issued on the grounds of controlling the spread of the disease, some countries do not take the motive positively. The WHO has established several mechanisms to eradicate the disease. For instance, the WHO has increased its funding for research into the means of eradicating the disease. In summary, Chagas disease is an issue of global concern and, therefore all countries should join hands in its control and

Stand and Deliver Essay Example for Free

Stand and Deliver Essay In the movie Stand and Deliver, directed by Ramon Menendez, Mr. Escalante who starts teaching math at a poor high school meets several difficulties at the beginning of the movie. When Mr. Escalante is driving down the street on his way to Garfield High School, he begins to notice dirty walls that are full of graffiti, closed shops, gang members, and poor people. When Mr. Escalante arrives at the school, he notices that there is no order in the hallways. Such as students are late for classes, and they are disrespectful to teachers. Mr. Escalante is supposed to be a computer teacher at Garfield High School; however, he is told that this high school does not have any computers. As the result, he becomes a math teacher who is determined to â€Å"change the system and challenge the students to a higher level of achievement. † Mr. Escalante is at first not well liked by students, receiving an immense amount of laughs and tricks. The reason is that students in this high school focus more on entertainment rather than academics. All those tough situations do not defeat Mr. Escalante. He finds his way to solve them step by step. He does not react on the first day, letting the students talk back and throw paper at him. The next day he comes to class with a butcher’s knife and an apron on in order to get the class’s attention. He whacks a huge chunk of an apple out in front of the whole class, which immediately gets the students’ full attention and he begins.

Vanitas :: essays research papers

Vanitas Vanitas, found in many recent pieces, is a style of painting begun in the 17th Century by Dutch artists. Artists involved in this movement include Pieter Claesz, Domenico Fetti and Bernardo Strozzi . Using still-life as their milieu, those artists and others like them provide the viewer with ideas regarding the brevity of life. The artists are giving us a taste of the swiftness with which life can fade and death overtakes us all. Some late 20th Century examples were shown recently at the Virginia Museum of Art in Richmond, Virginia. Among the artists represented in this show were Miroslaw Balka (Polish, b. 1958), Christian Boltanski (French, b. 1944), Leonardo Drew (American, b. 1961), Felix Gonzalez-Torres (American, b. Cuba, 1957- 1996), Jim Hodges (American, b. 1957), Anish Kapoor (British, b. India, 1954), and Jac Leirner (Brazilian, b. 1961). In the poem Vanitas Vanitatum by John Webster, we are given a clear view of this movement in the art world. â€Å"ALL the flowers of the spring Meet to perfume our burying† is a beautiful juxtaposition of the beauty of life and the sorrow of passing away. Actually, any definition of this term would be overshadowed by this poem, it so clearly sums up the meaning and importance behind the word Vanitas. "Vanitas still life with portrait of a young painter " by David Bailly includes such objects as dying flowers, a skull, a painting of musician, musical instruments (recorder, conductor’s baton), statuary of a young, virile man and a young child, a portrait of another young man, and a clean palette hanging on the wall. The meaning behind these articles can be manifold, depending upon one’s point of view, but I think they are all important symbols of the passing nature of vitality and life itself. The flowers, once brilliant and lovely, are now withering in their vase. Music, represented by a man playing a lute in a portrait on the wall and by numerous music related items (a recorder, a conductor’s baton) is itself transient and elusive. Obviously a skull can represent death, but it can just as easily be a reminder of what remains behind. The clean palette hanging on the wall is evocative of a clear start, a new beginning, the option available to us all t o begin again, before it’s too late! In â€Å"Wheel of Fortune†, by Audrey Flack, many objects illustrate the transient nature of this fragile life.

Unspoken Comparison in Tacituss Germania Essay -- Germania

Unspoken Comparison in Tacitus's Germania Tacitus's Germania is a thoroughly itemized ethnographic text detailing the geography, climate and social structure of Germany and its people. Unlike his Histories and Annales Tacitus doesn't offer a story line to be followed, but instead, he nudges forth an unspoken comparison to be made between two cultures. Each of the Germania's 46 passages deals with a particular area of German civilization among which Tacitus develops a two-tiered theme. The two points he tries to make generally clear are the following: A) The Germans are barbaric, savage and stupid†¦but†¦ B) The Germans are quaint, noble and have some redeeming qualities that make them a formidable enemy worthy of fighting. However, these two points don't manifest themselves during the Germania's first passage on physical location. Tacitus lets us know right off the start where Germany is positioned in terms of its bordering territories and informs us among several other geographical details that the rivers Rhine and Danube separate Germany from the Galli, Rhaeti and Pannonii. The name "Germany" according to Tacitus originates from the name of a tribe that drove the Gauls out of what would ultimately become German territory. Ever since those times, the name "Germany" was believed to inspire terror when heard. Tacitus makes mention of the fact that within sections of their mythological and religious structure, Hercules and Ulysses carry significant influence and this contributes to his theory (along with their distinctive looks) that the Germans developed their particula... ...bject of divination. The horse to the Germans is the most trusted species of augury and at public expense they have white horses kept in sacred groves for the taking of auspices which is conducted by noting the horse's various snorts and neighs. Tacitus claims that business was not tended to without being armed and for the younger men, a sword and shield would be bestowed upon them at a certain age which he describes as a seeming equivalent to the Roman toga of manhood. To be surrounded by a large group of picked young armed men was a prestigious and honorable thing, or as Tacitus would put it, "an ornament in peace and defense in war". The Germans according to Tacitus found their nobility through war and felt that it was better to receive from blood and wounds than to receive from hard work and sweat tilling a field. Unspoken Comparison in Tacitus's Germania Essay -- Germania Unspoken Comparison in Tacitus's Germania Tacitus's Germania is a thoroughly itemized ethnographic text detailing the geography, climate and social structure of Germany and its people. Unlike his Histories and Annales Tacitus doesn't offer a story line to be followed, but instead, he nudges forth an unspoken comparison to be made between two cultures. Each of the Germania's 46 passages deals with a particular area of German civilization among which Tacitus develops a two-tiered theme. The two points he tries to make generally clear are the following: A) The Germans are barbaric, savage and stupid†¦but†¦ B) The Germans are quaint, noble and have some redeeming qualities that make them a formidable enemy worthy of fighting. However, these two points don't manifest themselves during the Germania's first passage on physical location. Tacitus lets us know right off the start where Germany is positioned in terms of its bordering territories and informs us among several other geographical details that the rivers Rhine and Danube separate Germany from the Galli, Rhaeti and Pannonii. The name "Germany" according to Tacitus originates from the name of a tribe that drove the Gauls out of what would ultimately become German territory. Ever since those times, the name "Germany" was believed to inspire terror when heard. Tacitus makes mention of the fact that within sections of their mythological and religious structure, Hercules and Ulysses carry significant influence and this contributes to his theory (along with their distinctive looks) that the Germans developed their particula... ...bject of divination. The horse to the Germans is the most trusted species of augury and at public expense they have white horses kept in sacred groves for the taking of auspices which is conducted by noting the horse's various snorts and neighs. Tacitus claims that business was not tended to without being armed and for the younger men, a sword and shield would be bestowed upon them at a certain age which he describes as a seeming equivalent to the Roman toga of manhood. To be surrounded by a large group of picked young armed men was a prestigious and honorable thing, or as Tacitus would put it, "an ornament in peace and defense in war". The Germans according to Tacitus found their nobility through war and felt that it was better to receive from blood and wounds than to receive from hard work and sweat tilling a field.

Motorcycle Helmet Laws in America Essay

Motorcycle are not the safest means of transportation but millions of people all across America choose them over automobile for the trill, speed and high performance capabilities they offer in fraction of the price of a automobile. Motorcycle do not provide the protection like automobiles do with their outer body and safety features like air bags and seat belts, therefore in case of an accident the injury sustained by the rider is often very serious. When dealing with motorcycle accidents, majority of the fatalities are due to head injuries which could have been prevented had the rider been wearing a helmet. Helmets are the only method to reduce the head injuries during crashes which is the leading cause of death involving motorcycle accidents. Helmet use law has created a lot of controversies over the years, while some supporting the law and other opposing it. One side who support the law believe that the helmet law protects the motorcyclist from danger in case of an accident and save the nation a good deal of money. While, the other side believes that the law is unconstitutional and it violets their right to freedom. Although helmet cannot prevent motorcycle accidents but greatly reduces the number of deaths caused by head injuries during these crashes as well as helps in lowering taxes, insurance cost and health care cost. According to the federal government estimates, the number of deaths on motorcycle per mile in 2006 was 35 times higher than in automobile. In last couple of years motorcycle deaths have seen considerable increase- more than doubling in 2007 from the record low in 1997. In contrast the passenger occupant death reached a record low in 2007. This paper examines the history of motorcycle helmet use law and also the current state of the law. It also tries to highlight the burden that accident involving riders not wearing helmet impose on the society and also the effect of helmet law on helmet use. BACKGROUND HISTORY OF MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAW: The motorcycle helmets laws in United States has gone through several changes throughout the years. In 1967, in order to increase the helmet use, the federal government required the state government to enact helmet use laws to qualify for certain federal safety program and highway construction fund. The federal incentives was a success and by early 1970s almost all the states had universal helmet laws which covered all the riders of all ages and experience. 1968, Michigan became the first state to repel its laws. This lead to a series of repeal, re-enactment, and amendment of motorcycle helmet laws. In 1976, US Department of transportation (DOT) moved in to assess the financial penalties on states without helmet laws but the congress corresponded to state pressure and stopped DOT from assessing financial penalties on states without helmet laws. By 1980, several states had repealed their helmet laws and some weakened their laws to cover riders under the age of 18 but not older riders. In the 1980s and early 1990, several states reinstated helmet laws applying for all riders. In the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, several incentives were created by the congress for the states to enact helmet use and safety belt use laws. The eligibility criteria for receiving special safety grants was that the state must enact both the laws. Up to 3 percent of federal highway allotment was redirected to highway safety program for all the states that did not enact the laws by October 1993. But again after four years of establishing the incentive program ,congress revised itself. In the fall of 1995, federal sanction against the states without helmet use laws was lifted which paved the way for state to repeal helmet use laws. This lead to many states weakening its helmet use laws. Now 20 states and District of Columbia have helmet laws covering all riders and 27 states have partial helmet use law covering some riders (usually riders under the age of 18). Illinois and Iowa do not have any helmet use laws. PRESENT HELMET LAW STATUS: [pic] NO HELMET LAW: |NO HELMET LAW (2 STATES) | |ILLINOIS |IOWA | PARTIALLY FREE: |AGE REQUIREMENT – PARTIALLY FREE (27 STATES) | |15 & UNDER |18 & UNDER |19 & UNDER |21 & UNDER | | | | | | |MAINE |ALASKA |DELAWARE |ARKANSAS | | |ARIZONA | |KENTUCKY | | |COLORADO | |RHODE ISLAND | | |CONNECTICUT | |SO. CAROLINA | | |HAWAII | |TEXAS | | |IDAHO | |PENNSYLVANIA | | |INDIANA | | | | |KANSAS | | | | |MINNESOTA | | | | |NEW HAMPSHIRE | | | | |NEW MAXICO | | | | |NORTH DAKOTA | | | | |OHIO | | | | |OKLAHOMA | | | | |SOUTH DAKOTA | | | | |UTAH | | | AGE REQUIREMENT & INSURANCE: |AGE REGUIREMENT + INSURANCE (1 STATE PARTIALLY FREE) | |21 & OVER | |FLORIDA | MANDATORY LAW: | | |MANDATORY HELMET LAWS (20 STATES) | |ALABAMA |MASSACHUSETTS |TENNESSE |NEBRASKA | |CALIFORNIA |MICHIGAN |VERMONT |NEW YORK | |GEORGIA |MISSISSIPPI |VIRGINIA |NEW JERSEY | |LOUISIANA. |MISSOURI |WASHINGTON |NORTH CAROLINA | |MARYLAND |NEBRASKA |W. VIRGINIA |OREGON | | | | | | | | | | | HOW DO HELMET LAWS AFFECT HELMET USE: Based on various studies of states enactment, repel and weakening of helmet laws, it was observed that the helmet use reached 100 percent when all the riders were required to wear helmet at all times compared to 50 percent when there was no law or law applied to only some riders. In 2008, according to NHTSA, 97 percent of the riders were observed wearing helmets in states with universal helmet laws compared to 90 percent in 2002. In states without universal helmet law the use of helmet was 52 percent in 2002 and 54 percent in 2008. Based on helmets judged to be compliant with federal safety regulations, use was 73 percent in 2002 and went up to 78 percent in 2008 among motorcyclists in states with universal helmet laws. It rose from 46 to 50 percent among motorcyclists in states without such laws. HOW DO HELMET LAW EFFECT MOTORCYCLIST DEATH AND INJURIES: In states which either reinstates or enacted saw a considerable increase in motorcycle helmet use and motorcycle death and injuries decreased drastically. Whereas the states which repealed or weakened their existing helmet law saw a great increase in motorcycle death and injuries and considerable decrease in helmet use. According to two studies published in 2007 and 2008, motorcyclist fatality rates were modelled based on helmet law type, after controlling for various factors such as per capita income, population density, and annual precipitation. It was observed that the states which had helmet law covering all riders had lowest death rates. Further on, the states which had helmet law covering only some riders had low death rate compared to states with no helmet law, but not as low as the states with universal helmet law. These results held for all three types of rates considered: deaths per 10,000 registered motorcycles, deaths per 100,000 population, and deaths per 10 billion vehicle miles traveled. Some examples of helmet law and its effect on death and injuries:   California enacted universal helmet law on January 1, 1992. The number of motorcycle fatalities decreased 37 percent to 327 in 1992 from 523 in 1991.   Nebraska reinstated a helmet law on January 1, 1989 after repealing an earlier law in 1977. The state saw 22 percent reduction in serious head injuries due to motorcycle crashes.   From 1968 to 1977, Texas had a universal helmet use law estimated to have saved 650 lives, but the law was amended in 1977 to apply only to riders younger than 18. The weakened law coincided with a 35 percent increase in motorcyclist fatalities. Texas reinstated its helmet law for all motorcyclists in September 1989. The month before the law took effect, the helmet use rate was 41 percent. The rate jumped to 90 percent during the first month of the law and had risen to 98 percent by June 1990. Serious injury crashes per registered motorcycle decreased 11 percent. But in September 1997, Texas again weakened its helmet law, requiring helmets only for riders younger than 21. Helmet use in Texas dropped to 66 percent by May 1998, and operator fatalities increased 31 percent in the first full year following the repeal.   Kentucky repealed its universal helmet law in 1998, followed by Louisiana in 1999. These actions resulted in lower helmet use, and quickly increased motorcyclist deaths in these states by 50 percent and 100 percent, respectively. In 2000, Florida’s universal helmet law was weakened to exempt riders 21 and older who have at least $10,000 of medical insurance coverage. An Institute study found that the motorcyclist death rate in Florida increased by about 25 percent after the state weakened its helmet law. A study of the Florida law change by NHTSA found a similar effect; motorcyclist deaths per 10,000 motorcycle registrations increased 21 percent during the two years after the law was changed compared with the two years before. IMPACT OF HELMET LAW ON MOTORCYCLE THEFT: Helmet law has also resulted in decline in reduction in motorcycle theft as potential robbers may not have an access to helmet and not wearing helmet will attract police notice. According to Texas department of public safety, motorcycle theft decreased 44 percent between 1988 and 1998 in 19 cities after enactment of universal helmet law. After enactment of helmet law by Great Britain, motorcycle theft feel 24 percent in London. The Netherlands saw 36 percent drop in motorcycle theft after it enacted helmet laws in 1975. In 1980, when on the spot fine was introduced in former West Germany, motorcycle theft plummeted 60 percent. IMPACT OF HELMET ON HEALTH CARE COST: Unhelmeted riders have higher health care costs as a result of their crash injuries, and many lack health insurance. In November 2002, NHTSA reported that 25 studies of the costs of injuries from motorcycle crashes â€Å"consistently found that helmet use reduced the fatality rate, probability and severity of head injuries, cost of medical treatment, length of hospital stay, necessity for special medical treatments, and probability of long-term disability. A number of studies examined the question of who pays for medical costs. Only slightly more than half of motorcycle crash victims have private health insurance coverage. For patients without private insurance, a majority of medical costs are paid by the government. † According to specific findings of several studies: 1996 NHTSA study found that inpatient hospital charges were 8 percent higher for riders without helmets compared to riders wearing helmets.   Various studies shows that the health care cost associated with head injured motorcyclist decline after the introduction of helmet use law in 1994 by the state of California. The rate of motorcyclist hospitalized for head injuries decreased by 48 percent in 1993 compared with 1991 and the total cost of patients with head injuries decreased by $20. 5 million during this period. †¢ After reinstatement of helmet law by Nebraska, study showed that there has been 38 percent decline in total acute medical charges for injured motorcyclist. A NHTSA evaluation of the weakening of Florida’s universal helmet law in 2000 to exclude riders 21 and older who have at least $10,000 of medical insurance coverage found a huge increase in hospital admissions of cyclists with injuries to the head, brain, and skull. Such injuries went up 82 percent during the 30 months immediately following the law change. The average inflation-adjusted cost of treating these injuries went up from about $34,500 before the helmet law was weakened to nearly $40,000 after. Less than one-quarter of the injured motorcyclists would have been covered by the $10,000 medical insurance requirement for riders who chose not to use helmets. Various studies conducted in Nebraska, California, Washington and Massachusetts indicates that taxpayers are burdened by injured motorcyclist. From January 1988 to January 1990, 41 percent motorcyclist injured in Nebraska lacked health insurance or received Medicaid or Medicare. In Seattle, public fund paid 63 percent of trauma care for injured motorcyclist in 1985. In Sacramento, 82 percent of the costs to treat orthopaedic injuries sustained by motorcyclists during 1980-83 was paid by public fund. Forty-six percent of motorcyclists treated at Massachusetts General Hospital during 1982-83 were uninsured. MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAW ISSUES: Motorcyclist often feel that helmet use law violets their right of freedom. They believe that the rider should have the freedom to decide the use of helmet. According to various motorcycle groups, helmet use law reduces riding which in turn results in less death rates in motorcycle crashes which the government uses to confuse people about the safety benefits of helmet. Many motorcyclist have gone to the court objecting the law. In 1972, a federal court told a motorcyclist who objected to the law: â€Å"The public has an interest in minimizing the resources directly involved. From the moment of injury, society picks the person up off the highway; delivers him to a municipal hospital and municipal doctors; provides him with unemployment compensation if, after recovery, he cannot replace his lost job; and, if the injury causes permanent disability, may assume responsibility for his and his family’s subsistence. We do not understand a state of mind that permits plaintiff to think that only he himself is concerned. † This decision was affirmed by the US Supreme Court. RECCOMENDATIONS TO INCREASE HELMET USE: Law makers should look into other means to increase use of motorcycle helmets other then law. Public campaign to encourage helmet use would greatly reduce the law enforcement cost also restriction to one’s own freedom felt by some riders. But the chances of achieving results through these method is minimal. Subsidies on helmet purchase can shift part of the cost from riders to general public by providing federal money to the motorcyclist purchasing helmets. Subsidies would not motivate riders who value their freedom and convenience over the benefits helmet use. Motorcyclist using helmet should be charged lower insurance premium compared to riders not using helmet to encourage helmet use. This difference in insurance premium would encourage un-helmeted rider to use helmet and other safety gear in order to reduce their premium. When novice riders take rider education course, more emphasis should be laid on the importance of helmet use and not just only the basic operating skills. If they understand the use of safety gear and helmet at early age, it might affect their choice later in their life. Motorcyclist who fail to wear a helmet and sustain head injuries could be denied compensation for injury and damages. however, it would become difficult for the court to determine on case to case basis in which compensation would be denied as head injuries are sustained when helmet are worn. Various studies have showed that when helmet use is not mandatory, 50% of all riders wear helmet but when it is mandatory nearly 100% riders use helmet. So, the only way to increase helmet is to enact universal helmet law in all the states of United States of America. REFERENCES: www. pubmedcentral. nih. gov www. iihs. org www. nhtsa. dot. org.

Providian Trust Essay

Business Context/Key Business Drivers Providian Trust delivers financial and fiduciary services to clients across 216 branches. In an industry built on servicing clients, many of Providian Trust’s trust officers had 20-30 years of experience with the company and managed clients at a personal level. The trust officers had total control over what was sent to the client, including generation of financial statements. Control of the financial statements often resulted in a 2-3 month lag in statement delivery, a slower turnaround time compared to competitors. Additionally, trust officers often discounted or waived client fees for late or inaccurate statements, costing the company an estimated $2 – $5 million dollars per year. The institutional custody business was becoming technology intensive, and from the client’s perspective, Providian Trust had outdated reporting systems. In response to client demand, Providian Trust embarked on an initiative to upgrade their systems and change the way they serviced th eir clients. Initiative Objectives/Benefits To better serve their clients, Providian Trust started a large information technology project within the trust division. The objective of the project was to convert their outdated information system into a more efficient, trust and custody management system. Initiative leader, Michael LeBlanc, also wanted to address issues between the back office and front office, issues Providian Trust experienced for years. He convinced the Providian Trust board that the new software (Access Plus) would support a redesign of business processes. After board approval, the project scope included a system implementation and business process redesign. Providian Trust expected annual savings of approximately $9.2 million from this project. In addition to the estimated annual savings, the initiative expected the following benefits: Initiative Challenges Leadership * Inadequate member selection for Steering committee * A key leader of the field was not selected, intensifying political tension within the group * Impact: Â  * Ineffective executive sponsorship and lack of leadership guidance for the project * Implementation Committee (made up of junior people) took on Steering Committee responsibility. Implementation Committee was unaware of their role and responsibilities associated with it (e.g. are they responsible for the success of the project?). Unrealistic Timeline * Project timeline to deliver technology infrastructure and train employees was not sufficient * Many employees did not have the proper computer skills to operate a PC. PC skills were a pre-requisite for the success of Access Plus. * Clients were expecting changes as a result of the software implementation, but the field did not even have PCs or PC skills to operate the new technology * Impact: * User audience not prepared for implementation training, adoption is at risk * Risk of not meeting client expectations Project Team Selection * Proper resources were not identified for the project team * The project team was mostly made up of individuals from the Operations department that only represented a portion of the processes the initiative would impact. * The IT group selected to implement the technological changes did not have experience implementing an information technology initiative of this magnitude * Impact: * Lack of implementation experience puts technology implementation at risk * Lack of user group representation affects accuracy of business processes being changed * Employees are not fully supportive of the project since they were not represented Risk Management * Risks not handled appropriately * In multiple instances, the project team was notified of risks by senior management. Project Team did not address risks directly. Instead, they handled the topics one-off. * Project team did not handle risk of insufficient testing * Impact: * Risks not addressed impact success of project * Sufficient testing is not conducted. It is unknown whether the system can handle the information volume Results I do not expect this initiative to be successful. Inadequate planning, poor resource selection and an undefined vision put the project at risk for failure. From the beginning, there was a lack of due diligence across many levels of the project. The employees involved in the project were not selected appropriately. Junior employees who lacked experience were making project decisions, decisions that would have a significant impact on the company and the way they do business. Additionally, user representation on the project team was low, impacting the accuracy of business processes and also impacting user support and adoption of the initiative. It was evident that Providian Trust lacked strong executive leadership on the project which did not send a good message to the field. Lack of executive support will impact the adoption of new business processes. At the end of the day, if the users do not adopt the system or the new business processes, it will impact clients and clients are the central focus in this service-focused industry. Relevance and Analysis In my experience, if the project vision is not defined and the project team selection is not right, the foundation for the project is unstable. Providian Trust was operating with an inexperienced project team that lacked executive sponsorship. Executive sponsorship is a key support component to a project team, especially if the team is inexperienced. Executive support and guidance would have impacted the decisions being made and made this initiative more successful. Providian Trust underestimated the amount of training that was needed for this initiative. Success of the project was highly dependent on user adoption, something that was not addressed adequately. Providian Trust decided to take a Train the Trainer approach for this initiative. Trainers were trained 8 months before the implementation. A lot can change with 8 months remaining in a project and it is likely that training topics covered would have changed in the 8 months left of the project. Further, many employees did not have PCs and others did not have PCs for enough time to learn basic computer skills that would serve as a foundation to learn Access Plus. From a financial perspective, only 3% of the net investment was dedicated to training. In an initiative that introduces so much change into an organization that is historically resistant to change, user training needs to be a top priority. In my experience, Train the Trainer approaches are effective when trainers are sufficiently trained and there is strong leadership support. Both of these elements were missing at Providian Trust. This case reminded me of the importance of a defined project vision, leadership support and proper resource allocation.

Evaluate a Significant Experience, Achievement, Risk You Have Taken, or Ethical Dilemma You Have Faced and Its Impact on You.

â€Å"Time is money†, a truth touted by all. Parents remind their kids of it, teachers preach to their students about it, society reinforces it with wages being paid by the hour; everything we do, every purpose we have, every goal we strive for, every moments we live by, it is what all for. So simply, that we are told thousands of times. But do we believe it live we believe the existence of life itself? Can we see it as we see everything crystal clear around ourselves?It was not too long ago that I went to an optometrist to have my eyes examined. I set aside the entire day, believing that I would leave the exam with dilated pupils and that like last time, I'd not be seeing properly for a solid three hours, three hours that I would never have returned to me. However, unbeknownst to me, in the time between my previous eye exams, a new machine had been developed. This machine called the Optomap Panoramic Retinal Imaging System, and on that day, it stood in the corner of a room an d hummed sonorously.Casting it aside as a non-contact tonometer, I sat down and instinctively braced myself for air puffing, bright lights and minor discomfort or in other words, an eye exam. Passing through the tests in mere minutes, the dreaded moment of pupil dilation was to rear its unwanted head in. However, much to my surprise, I was directed to the corner where the previously sonorous hum now bordered ominous. The doctor proceeded to ask if I would like to use the humming Optomap in lieu of pupil dilation.I asked apprehensively if this would be a simpler procedure and was given an enthusiastic nod in return. Against my better judgment, I allowed for the optometrist to take images of the retina through the Optomap. Amazingly, it was mere seconds per eye and my exam was finished. This machine which at first appeared almost ominous had saved me three hours of my time. I had been by some miracle, reunited with the three hours that I thought I would never be seeing. The feeling I had afterwards was nothing short of euphoria.On top of this feeling of elatedness because time is equivalent to money, by the application of the substitution property of equality it can also be said that this machine, the Optomap, saved me money as well. It was from that moment, I felt that every person and ever time consuming medical procedure could benefit from the effects of advanced technology made available by bridging the gap between the various principles of engineering to the world of medicine. It is this experience, a simple visit to the optometrist for an eye exam that I consider one of the most significant of my life.

International criminal law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International criminal law - Essay Example that has broken out in Asterixia since 1999, there is evidence existing that gross human rights violations have taken place - â€Å"crimes against humanity†6 or crimes committed within the context of a war situation. In assessing the criminal liability that will accrue upon the state of Asterixia, the provisions of various international conventions must be considered while criminal liability of President Killinger and General Nipochet could arise under the ICTY which has clearly spelt out the liabilities of a Commander for atrocities committed by subordinates and be adjudicated through the ICC. The term â€Å"crimes against humanity† was first coined after the massacre of the Armenians by the Turks in 19157 however all such diplomatic initiatives after World War I to â€Å"act on behalf of humanity† proved inconclusive8. The International Military tribunal at Nuremberg was criticized on the basis of it being equivalent to implement of justice by the victor9 however it was the first step to the setting up of an international forum to question State immunity in the case of international crimes.10 But as deGuzman points out, it was only after the establishment of the ad hoc tribunals at Yugoslavia in 1993 and Rwanda in 1994 that international justice has been activated11. The ICTY12 was authorized to bring to justice and prosecute those persons accused of crimes against humanity â€Å"when †¦.directed against any civilian population.†13 The ICTR on the other hand, came into being to tackle the heinous criminal activity generated by the Rwandan conflict13a – however both these tribunals have made it possible to try individuals for their crimes in an international criminal forum. The International criminal Court which came into being in 2002, has jurisdiction over nationals for crimes occurring on the territory of all states that have ratified the Rome Statute.14 Article 98(2) of the Rome Statute is specifically meant to protect against the ICC being used as a basis

A Critical Evaluation of HRM and Organisational Behaviour Theories Essay

A Critical Evaluation of HRM and Organisational Behaviour Theories - Essay Example As such, this essay seeks to critically analyse the influence of HRM practices and organisational behaviour on the performance of the individuals as well as the organization as a whole. The essay starts by explaining the meaning of the key term, organizational behaviour and this will be followed by the evaluation of various factors that can affect the performance of the employees. The last part of the paper will summarize the main points discussed. Basically, organisational behaviour can be summed up as the study of what people do in an organization and how that behaviour affects the performance of the organization (Robbins, 1993). Organisational behaviour is specifically concerned with employment related situations and it emphasizes on aspects such as work, productivity, human performance and management. As such, there is a correlation between organisational behaviour and HRM given that these are employee oriented. In order for the workers to put optimum performance in their operati ons, it is imperative that the leadership of the organization put some measures that are meant to ensure that they are satisfied with their work. This leads to improvement in their performance which ultimately leads to the productivity of the organization as a whole.... Leadership is generally defined as â€Å"the social process of influencing people to work voluntarily, enthusiastically and persistently towards a purposeful group or organisational goal,† (Werner, 2007, p.36). A leader often adds an inspirational and emotional dimension to the organization through creating a shared vision among the members and inspiring people within that particular organization to be passionate towards the achievement of the vision and set goals. It can be noted that change is also inevitable in organisations hence there is need for the HRM to take a holistic approach in anticipating such changes. Given the complexity of the changing human resources management landscape, the leader has to be better positioned to engage the employees through working with them such that they will be in a better position to put optimum performance in their operations. The human resources managers as leaders play a great role in anticipating both internal as well as external fac tors that can affect the operations of the employees. More often than not, certain changes are viewed with mixed reactions by the members of the organisation hence there is need to first identify the aspects that can immediately affect the performance of the workers. Internally, there may be need for the managers to change the roles played by the employees but this strategy requires them to take into consideration the needs of the workers. Individuals in an organization have different needs and aspirations to fulfil hence their efforts have to be catered for by the management (Robbins, 1993). Some situations can emerge within the organization where there will be need to move away from traditional ways of doing

Climate change and Emission Trading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Climate change and Emission Trading - Essay Example In October 2006, Nicholas Stern, head of the United Kingdom's government economics services presented his report on the economics of climate change to the British Government [Stern, 2007]. The stern Report estimates that "if we don't act, the overall costs and risks of climate change will be equivalent to loosing at least 5% of global gross domestic product (GDP) each year, now and forever. If a wider range of risks and impacts is taken into account, the estimates of damage could rise to 20% of GDP or more. "In contrast, the cost of action-reducing GHG emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change-can be limited to around 1% of global GDP each year". These conclusions are in sharp contrast to the implicit assumptions in public statements on climate change. The stern report finds that climate change is not just a nuisance, but can significantly reduce economic growth. And that mitigating climate change is not all that expensive. The stern report concludes, "The benefits of st rong, early action considerably outweigh the costs". The impacts of climate change are, not evenly distributed. The poorest countries and people will, suffer earlier and most. And if when the damages it will be too late to reverse the process. Thus we have to look ahead. This is because the countries which have less resources to counter their impact of climate change and also because developing countries are often heavily dependent on agriculture-the most climate sensitive of economic sectors. The stern report finds that while "emission have been, and continue to be driven by economic growth; yet stabilization of GHG concentration in the atmosphere is feasible and consistent with continued growth". The report recognizes that achieving large emission reductions will have a cost. The estimated annual cost of stabilization at 500-550 PPM CO2 will be around 1% of GDP by 2050- a level that is significant but manageable. Climate change mitigation normally involves reducing GHG emissions. Mitigation can also involve removing CO2 from the atmosphere, usually through a forestation and reforestation; such activities are called CO2 sinks. Improved efficiency in the use of fossil fuels and increased use of renewable energy sources are among the most promising option for reducing CO2 emissions. The lowest cost mitigation options generally involve energy efficiency improvement. Energy saving opportunities is often higher in developing countries and is especially large for buildings and in transport (Enqvist, Naucler & Rosander, 2007). Climate change first gained significance in 1988. Not long afterwards, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted by various governments in May 1992, and came into force, in 1994, (UNFCCC, 1994). Today the UNFCCC is one of the widely supported international environmental agreements ratified by 188 states and the European community. The ultimate aim of the UNFCCC is to achieve stabilization of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate

Ethic code Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethic code - Essay Example One particular aspect of the code concentrates upon the rights of individual employees to report possible abuses of power and perhaps unethical actions without fear of reprisal. This protection of whistle-blowers. An interesting aspect of the code is that it does not only provide general principles and goals, but also actual examples of what acceptable and unacceptable behavior might be. Thus dealing with the issues of privacy of information, "The identity of customers and potential customers and their personal, business and financial information" (savings, 2006), and for insider information,: This is a very useful method of communicating an ethics code. Employees need to have both general principles of ethical standards and actual examples. If employees do not know whether an act is or is not ethical then tension may occur, and employees may become too worried about what they are doing rather than their job performance. Everyone must avoid any action or situation that conflicts with the interests of the Company or its customers, or which gives the appearance of a conflict. The appearance of a conflict can at times be as damaging as an actual conflict, and can diminish the valuable relationships we have developed with others. The idea that a company and its employees must appear to be e... The appearance of a conflict can at times be as damaging as an actual conflict, and can diminish the valuable relationships we have developed with others. (savings, 2006) The idea that a company and its employees must appear to be ethical as well as actually acting ethically may seem self-evident, but as recent corporate scandals have shown it must be constantly repeated. The Code of Ethics is excellent, but there is some room for improvement. Specific kinds of ethics related to different positions and jobs within the hierarchy might have been included. Thus the Code might have stated ethics that apply to corporate leaders and also to entry level employees. Are they the same kind of ethics or different ___________________________________________ Works

Are woman in the Arab world oppressed Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Are woman in the Arab world oppressed - Essay Example Souheila (2006) is of the firm opinion that Arab women are breaking down barriers to gain greater freedom. They should not be judged by the veil that they adorn. The veil is merely a requirement of the Islamic religion to hide the contours of the body so as not to attract the opposite sex. The west considers the veil as a symbol of religious cruelty or oppression. Our Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan once said, â€Å"I am afraid we are seeing that trend today in the tensions between East and West, with each side encumbered by stereotypes of what the other must be like. To hear some in the West, all Arab women are backward and oppressed†¦.† While woman in the Arab world are seen to be oppressed, they do enjoy political and social rights, and the media should be showing the other side of the Arab woman in our world today. The role of woman varies from one country to the other. In Kuwait women have participated in the country’s elections for the first time ever (Souheila). As far back as 1979 cabinet, the first female minister was appointed in Jordan. In the field of education, about 55% of the college graduates in Saudi Arabia are women while 57% of the university-age women in Tunisia are enrolled for college education. In Syria, women make 15% of lawyers and 13% of judges apart from 20% of university professors. Women hold 34% of all private sector businesses in Riyadh and 25.6% in Jeddah (Ahmed, n.d.). Four thousand Saudi business women hold bank accounts worth $11.5 billion and Saudi women also hold 20% public company shares. A Saudi woman has also been appointed head of an UN agency. According to the Jordanian Constitution, all Jordanians are equal before the law, have the right to assume public office and the right to work. The government of Jordan signed the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in December 1980, which was

Peoples behavior Essay Example for Free

Peoples behavior Essay Whenever I encounter any person from another culture, I am often struck by how much that person represents and is different from the idea I have of that culture. Particularly if the idea I have of that culture’s person is seen from his perspective. A recent conversation with a student of Japanese ancestry highlighted to me this realization. When I first saw him, I assumed that he would speak English with an accent or with some difficulty. To my surprise, it turned out that he was a native English speaker having been born in the United States. Sharing the experience with a friend, she related to me that one of her acquaintances who was born in Hong Kong who had difficulty with being understood in English because of a difference in accent despite having English as a first language. These incidents are prime examples of how cultural stereotypes. Considering the number of foreign students alone, many universities and other social institutions should be developing the competencies to accommodate their communication and cultural assimilation needs. Like in the article written by Brink Lindsey in 2007 titled The Culture Gap for the Cato Institute, culture, statistically and in practice, is an issue that is asserting itself significantly. Without these measures, many people are liable to have negative experiences associated with cultural difference which can motivate them to be ashamed or defensive about their heritage. Having had my own positive and negative experience in being associated with my culture, I know first hand the need to understand culture on an individual level. It has been very helful too that my recent experience with other cultures has been positive and has allowed me to constructively learn from the experience. Had it been otehrwiese, I can easily see myself to develop negative concepts regarding Japanese or Chinese cultures since I believe in positive reinforcement. More than anything else, communication ad technology is creating new dimensions to cultural exposure and exchange. Many of the stereotypes we have of cultures is being challenged not so much because of changes in these cultures itself. Even more importantly, I realize that my culture influences what I see in other in the same way that other peoples cultural backgrounds influence what they see in me.

Detailed Analysis Of John Lewis Partnership Commerce Essay

Detailed Analysis Of John Lewis Partnership Commerce Essay The following report will provide a detailed analysis of John Lewis Partnership. The retailer has been very successful in the UK and has performed extremely well in spite of more negative financial issues and other dynamics impacting upon the retail sector at large, predominantly in light of declining consumer income, technological advances such as the internet and increased competition. The reason the company was able to achieve these was because of their commitment towards their clients in providing innovative solutions as well as improved awareness of customer needs and the significance of creating a reliable customer base which ensures positive word-of-mouth and the company has achieved this due to its commitment to providing innovative solutions to clients as well as a heightened awareness of customer needs and further recommendations to increase new revenue streams through an appropriate CRM system in place. Therefore, the reports provides an evaluation of the companys current marketing environment assessing how the external factors impact the retail sector largely and specifically on the strategies that John Lewis chooses to adopt. The report will also evaluate the strengths and weaknesses as well as the threats and opportunities that the company is presented with and how best it can achieve a match with its own internal capabilities to the dynamics at play. The report will also look at how the John Lewis brand and customer proposition is placed in the UK market in comparison to other competitors, with an attempt to provide understanding in to how the company gains advantage through differentiation from other competitors, essentially highlighting how the company implements a differentiated strategy which allows it to maintain advantage. At the same time, the analysis has drawn attention to how the uncertainty which prevails and the continuous rate of change in the external market highlights the implications of continuous observation and continuous re-evaluation of the strategic options applied. Ultimately, the aim is to provide recommendations as to how the company can increase the probability of its advantage over the longer term. The John Lewis Partnerships 81,000 Partners own the leading UK retail businesses John Lewis and Waitrose. Our founders vision of a successful business powered by its people and its principles defines our unique company today. The profits and benefits created by our success are shared by all our Partners (John Lewis, 2012). Write the report as if you were working for an external management consultancy firm, reporting to the Board of Directors of your chosen company. The report should contain sections that address ALL of the main aspects of the module syllabus: that is the report should cover both strategic analysis (internal and external) and strategy formulation. It is essential that in undertaking your research and writing your report you make appropriate use of the strategic management tools and models to conduct internal and external strategic analysis and strategy formulation that you have encountered in this module. Credit will be given for analysis, evaluation and synthesis, and the appropriate selection and use of strategic management tools and models. 2.0 Introduction This report will discuss the strategic management tools demonstrating skills of analysis evaluation and synthesis of John Lewis. The report includes strategic analysis and an External Environmental analysis. The report also covers the strategy formulation in which the SWOT analysis and BCG Matrix will be discussed. John Lewis Partnership plc is one of the UKs top ten retail businesses. They operate amongst 2 sectors known as John Lewis and Waitrose. The company offers food as well as household products i.e. baked foods, fresh fruit veg, wines, household items, furniture, electronic items etc. The company functions in a chain of 287 Waitrose supermarkets, 39 John Lewis shops that include 30 departmental stores and 8 of them at home John Lewis stores. The company operates throughout the UK and is headquartered in London, they sell their products through retail stores, catalogues, and websites. The companys strategic focus is to accomplish its non-core business strategies through partnership with other firms. There are around 81,000 employees working in John Lewis stores who are partners in the business, they have a share in the companys profits and are given the opportunity to participate in the companys progress and growth. This is their unique source of competitive advantage as it encourages staff loyalty through being business partners (John Lewis 2012) 3.0 Strategic analysis 3.1 Mission statement The mission of an organisation highlights the broad directions they need to follow and provides a brief summary of the values and reasons that lie behind it (Lynch 2012). Like other organisations John Lewis also have a mission statement, it highlights their reputation established through their ownership structure as it is unique and they are very successful in being a profitable business. John Lewis aim to keep their staff satisfied so that their business can be a success. Their strategy is based on three key elements partners, customers and profit. (Refer to appendix 1) to see their full mission statement. 4.0 External Environmental analysis 4.1 PESTEL Analysis The PESTEL analysis examines the macro-environment in which the business exists in. It is a helpful tool for understanding market growth or decline as well as the position, potential and the direction for business. It is also used for evaluating the Political, Economic, Social Technological, Environmental and Legal factors that a business operates in. The Political factors discuss government regulations such as employment laws, environmental regulations, tax policy and political stability. The Economic factors affect the cost of capital and purchasing power of an organisation. These factors also include economic growth, interest rates and inflation. The Social factors impact customers needs, potential market size such as John Lewiss goods and services, population growth and age demographics. Technological factors of John Lewis will discuss barriers to entry, making or buying decisions, investment and innovation and the technological change. Environmental factors include weather, clim ate and climate change. Climate change affects how John Lewis operates and the products they offer. Lastly Legal Factors include discrimination law, employment law and health and safety law. These factors can affect the way John Lewis operate their costs and the demand for their products. 4.2 Macro- environmental Factors It is commonly known, that those prevailing in the external environment of any firm shall have a significant influence in terms of decision making in the strategic options. Such analysis is known as PESTEL analysis and usually suggested as the first stage in the strategic planning process (Lynch, 2006). As Johnson et al (2008, pg.56) rightly declared, The key drivers for change are environmental factors that are likely to have a high impact on the success or failure of strategy. (Refer to appendix 2) to see the PESTEL analysis for John Lewis. It can be concluded that each factor of the PESTEL has had an effect on John Lewiss actions, some of them are now stated in their mission statement. Previous factors are used to analyse different factors, furthermore, these factors can give a prediction for the future, so can be quiet effective if they are applied correctly. There are also some restrictions in this model, e.g. when the procedure of the checklist is applied to John Lewis it may be tough. The emergent corporate strategies may well comment that the future is so uncertain that prediction is useless (Lynch 2012 page 84), however, some may still give words of caution but still predict the future. The PESTEL analysis isnt the only framework that John Lewis take into consideration, their organisation has many other internal and external factors that also have an effect on the strategy formulation, this is why Porters five Forces framework is applied. The PESTEL analysis has a lot of information but yet doesnt offer a detailed analysis of the business. Porters Five Forces (1985) observes factors that have an impact on competition in the organisation. 4.3 Strategic Options The external analysis undertaken has underlined how the focus and the landscape of the UK retail sector has changed dramatically over the last decade or so. Such developments clearly present both threats, primarily from new entrants and modes of distribution, as well as opportunities such as the increasing utilisation of technology within the current offering to customers. As Johnson et al (2008, pg.3) highlights, strategy is about exploiting the strategic capability of an organisation, in terms of its resources and competences, to provide competitive advantage and/or yield new opportunities. However, many competitors in the retail sector at large have managed to expand into other range of products as well as expanding internationally, John Lewis seems to have adopted a more thoughtful approach and stayed loyal to its customers as well as confident in terms of its offering to the market. At the same time it has also developed a wide range of products as a lower price range to attract more customers across a wider range of segments in society. In times of economic uncertainty this also appears to be a sensible strategy in terms of situations where its loyal customer base may be experiencing declines in disposable income, thus enabling John Lewis to maintain their business through customers trading down to less expensive ranges in store. The recent introduction for its Essential Waitrose Range in 2009 was both a reaction to external events including activities of competitors but was viewed as an effective strategy highlighting the companys attention to external research as well as its innovative approach to dealing with such negative events. Furthermore, Porter put forward the idea that there were three generic strategies; cost leadership strategy, differentiation strategy and the focus strategy, which companies follow. It is clear that John Lewis has embraced a combination of these, but essentially, differentiation has remained key to its business model which positions more favourably when compared to other competitors, particularly given the range and extent of the goods and services it provides as well as its highly effective branding and promotional events which appeal directly to customers and incite purchase. Its decision to introduce its Essentials range within its Waitrose stores may have been considered by some as an indication it was lowering its standards, but on the contrary, despite offering a cheaper alternative, quality remained key which ultimately implied that its position in the market would not be negotiated. 4.4 Porters Five Forces Porters Five Forces framework highlights that the environment John Lewis is competing in is constantly changing, (refer to appendix 5). In this model it is believed that customers dont have more importance than any other aspect, however Aker, Baker and Harvey Jones argue that customers are more important than any other aspect of strategy development (Lynch 2012). Porters Five Forces of competition (1985) is a common tool often applied within the strategic management process to firms across several sectors. It is similar to the PESTLE analysis as it takes a predominantly external perspective of the firm within its given industry looking at how it is positioned against other competitors in the same sector. Recently many have criticised the ensuring importance of the framework given the changes that have risen, particularly with regard to the diversification of business which has ultimately created blurring across many previously distinct sectors. This is emphasized by the supermarkets entering into the clothing and electronics sector for example, as well as retailers including John Lewis expanding into financial services through insurance and credit facilities to customers. Barney (1995) and Henry (2008) underlined how Porters model is more helpful when it is applied at a strategic business unit level rather than at higher levels of industry analysis such as the sector at large as it cannot be expected that all competitors will be competing against one another. This tool is also believed to be useful in terms of assessing a companys strengths and weaknesses in light of how it stacks up against competition. As Barney (1995, pg.49) highlights, A complete understanding of sources of competitive advantage requires the analysis of a firms internal strengths and weaknesses as well. The importance of integrating internal with environmental analyses can be seen when evaluating the sources of competitive advantage of many firms. Looking at Porters five forces of competition, it is clear that John Lewis has attempted to not to just react to the external dynamics and actions of competitors, but actively be a step ahead. It has constantly adapted its business model, such as the introduction of store cards, its online offering and the Waitrose Essentials range in order to provide its business with a more appropriate fit to the market in line with Mintzbergs (1994) theory. A major element of its strategy however, is its reputation, branding and subsequent positioning in the market and how consumers view the business in its entirety. It has remained rather committed to its original proposition and further enhanced its appeal through appropriate branding and its reputation for quality and enhanced service to customers. 5.0 Internal Resource analysis 5.1 Value analysis chain The term Value Chain was used by Michael Porter (1985), the purpose of the value chain is to analyse the activities that are performed by the business, linking them to the competitive position. It also evaluates the particular activities to see which add value to the businesses products or services (quickmba 1999-2010) While many critics and leading authorities dispute the validity of Porters earlier theories, many of his ideas do still appear useful from the perspective of strategic analysis, particularly the notion of the value chain. Ultimately, it is within the value chain which John Lewis has created that it has succeeded in terms of sustaining advantage in its market sector. It has created efficiencies and synergies through the interrelationships within (Mintzberg and Ghoshal, 2003). Value Chain Analysis which is often compared to the RBV of the firm as it looks to both internal and external dynamics impacting an organisation. In recent years importance has also been given to joint ventures, collaborations and relationships which add value to the companys positioning. Elements of the chain such as HR which were previously considered as supporting elements are now viewed as core and this is demonstrated by John Lewis in terms of its commitment to and investment in staff. By enhancing the quality of its internal resources it can achieve distinctive competencies which are difficult to emulate by other competitors (Teece et al, 1997; Terwiesch and Ulrich, 2009). As Porter (1985, pg.36) emphasises, the way it performs individual activities are a reflection of its history, its strategy, its approach to implementing its strategy, and the underlying economics of the activities themselves. 6.0 Strategy formulation 6.1 SWOT Analysis: John Lewis Partnership A SWOT analysis is a useful tool for understanding and decision-making, businesses such as John Lewis use this tool in all sorts of situations, a SWOT summarizes the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. This framework covers a crucial part of the strategic planning process a scan of the internal and external environment. Strength, Weaknesses are considered to be internal to the business whereas, Opportunities and Threats are part of the external environment. Looking at the SWOT analysis (refer to appendix 6) it can be concluded that John Lewis take this tool into consideration when making business decisions based on their customers. However, John Lewis need to expand their target audience because at the moment they are only targeting an older audience need to improve the diagnostic power of a SWOT analysis is to define the elements from a customer perspective rather than the organizational point of view. (Baker 2007, pg.267). By doing this they will generate a higher profit margin. If john Lewis wants to stay ahead of their competition they need focus on their weaknesses such as they need to ensure their prices are similar to their competitors. Also John Lewis need to focus on threats the business may have to face but they can avoid such matters by acting upon the threat before it occurs. Although the SWOT analysis tool is useful to businesses when making decisions, it has been criticized due to its simplicity and possible misleading approach to strategic analysis. This is because companies have failed to follow a few simple procedures. The SWOT analysis is a focused methodology (Baker 2007), therefore, when John Lewis the using this tool they need to ensure they are able to follow correct procedures of this tool to ensure they are able to achieve success. 6.2 BCG Growth-share Matrix The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) growth-share matrix was developed by Bruce Henderson, founder of BCG, in the late 1960s (Baker 2007, pg.125). The BCG Matrix is a simple tool used to assess a companys position in terms of its product range. It simplifies how a companys thinks about the products and services and makes decisions about which it should keep and let go and which products to invest in further. It provides a useful way of seeing the opportunities that are open to the company and also helps to consider how the company can maximise the profits in the future. Below is the BCG Matrix for John Lewis, highlighting where in the market the different departments of John Lewis are positioned. John Lewis was voted Britains best retailer in 2009 and have won awards House Beautiful Awards 2008: Online Home Retailer of the Year Gold Award (washerhelp 2012), making them leaders in departments such as House and Garden, Electrical Appliances, Fashion, Gifts and Toys. They now have a high growth and a high market share in this segment, thus putting them in the star category. Further, technology and baby departments are between the star and question mark category this could be due to high growth and market share or high growth and low market share as they are faced with high demands but have low returns. Moving on to the sport department as it is in the cash cow category, as a markets it isnt growing but yet the market share for the products is high. Looking at the final category it can be said that John Lewis are safe as there isnt any products in the dog category. 7.0 conclusion Overall, the company has responded admirably to the changing dynamics impacting upon its market and customers, it is also clear that going forward, more challenges and threats shall be presented to it, particularly given persistent uncertainty relating to the global economy as consumer confidence within the UK. It would appear that in addition to a thorough and consistent approach to its markets in relation to external analysis of those factors deemed to impact most significantly; the company also adopts an internal approach, evaluating its inherent resources and competencies within the business. In line with the resource based view of the firm (Barney, 1991) and subsequent research by other authors such as Grant (2005), this analysis is often viewed as a more appropriate approach to the task of strategic management as ultimately, organisations have much more control over their internal resources than external market variables. Such an approach enables companies to incite the innovat ion process and thus create change in the wider environment as well as improvements to its value chain. This appears to be exactly what John Lewis has done to date through its expansion into other areas, as well as extending its range to customers through on-line facilities as well as credit, insurance etc. Threat of New Entrants This is considered to be fairly low for John Lewis given the original capital investment required as well as the regulations governing the market. At the same time, the fact that discount retailers and the supermarkets who benefit from vast scale economies can offer many of the same goods at substantially lower prices, is a concern and is perhaps indicative of why many retailers such as John Lewis now provide an electronic service in addition to their store offering. More entrants to the online space does seem inevitable though may become increasingly difficult given the variety currently in existence as well as the perception that customer service is often diminished. In this respect, John Lewis is clearly at an advantage given its reputation in the market. Threat of Substitutes The threat of substitutes is low from a product viewpoint yet in terms of suppliers, is high and is underlined by the success of the supermarket chains in their clothing lines as well as the competitive landscape in the online space and the continuing popularity of price comparison websites and similar forums. Over time, online retailers could exert increased pressure on officials such as John Lewis, particularly in terms of pricing as well as sourcing of product ranges. Bargaining Power of Buyers This is considered as being extremely high given the range of suppliers in the market and the realisation that customers are faced with unprecedented choice. Price is clearly a key advantage for the retailers, but at the same time, in the particular segment in which John Lewis manages factors such as location, quality, customer service and atmospherics and added benefits to be derived from the in-store experience are significant. Such variables also assist in terms of differentiating the store from other competitors in the High Street. Bargaining Power of Suppliers Though it was just few years ago the retailers were considered as having a major effect over suppliers, this seems to be fairly changing, particularly with regard to restrictions in supply of some raw materials as well as other concerns in the global supply chain which might put the suppliers in a more favourable position and increase their bargaining power. Degree of Rivalry Rivalry is obviously intense mainly due to the immense choice available as well as the increasing pressure from on-line retailers. On this basis, competitors are ultimately jockeying for position (Porter, 1979) and increasingly retailers challenge themselves to differentiate in some manner through providing expanded ranges as well as complementary goods and other services. The success of John Lewis Christmas promotional campaigns in the last few years highlights how the company attempts to differentiate itself, particularly focusing on those matters which are considered to impact most on subsequent motivation of customers to make a purchase.