Learning and Good Manager Essay

Good managers are born, not made. Discuss this idea whilst exploring key characteristics of an effective manager. For a long time, many people have questioned whether a good manager is born naturally, or they can learn and train to become a good manager. For people who think that a good manager is born, they believe that an effective manager is born with some specific skills and characteristics that ordinary people do not have. â€Å"Charisma and trait are qualities which are generated from inside a person† (Junaid 2010). However, a stronger believes in nobody born with perfect competence. In fact, it is rarely to find people who just naturally good at anything. Achievement in life requires hard work, experience, and skills (Lash, J. 2007). Everyone can develop by learning and training to become better. They can change their attitude and acquire appropriate capability and attribute that required for a good manager. It is ambiguous in the aspect of good managers are born, not made, because there are many evidences and researches that explain how ordinary people can become a good manager. First and foremost, people who support the first reason that nature select a specific group of people to be a good manager by giving charisma and trait. According to Weber (1947) as cited by Raktabutr (2007), supernatural and particular forces grant charisma which is a precise quality of a personality to extraordinary person. Charisma and trait are the main factors that can make anyone become a well manager. For example, motivation is one of the key characteristic of an effective manager which is generate from inside, this type of characteristic is difficult to learn and understand. In such circumstance a proficient manager can considered as a leader, they have to know how to motivate other people in workplace. As Edward Deci (n. d. ) as cited by Llewellyn and Holt (n. d. ) write in why we do what we do: Understanding self-motivation. A place that feels connected, independent, and authorized is lead people to be self-motivated. Failure is a part of process that managers have to concede, because they have to encourage risk-taking and creativity. Effective managers have to build up the dynamic atmosphere in workplace to ensure that his co-worker and subordinate have passion to complete their task, and then it will make the outcome of their task effective and efficiency. Whereas, people who do not have this key distinctive, they can get in trouble when they have to motivate other people, because it is inconsistent to motivate to different people. Another key determinant that essential is self-confidence. Manager has to show his confidence to make his underling believe and respect to him, because manager cannot do everything they can only manage and assign task to his subordinate. While people who do not born with this ability, they can face the problem about how to act to other people to gain their trust and respect. These key characteristics are come from aptitude that manager can know immediately how to deal with problem. It could be said that other people who do not have charisma and trait cannot be a good manager, because these attributes ingrained with special people since they were born. There was an early psychological research, which were studied inborn characteristics or traits from successful leaders. The ascription is people can be a good manager if they could be found with these traits. Stogdill (1974) determine the following traits and skills as needful to manager, which consist of intelligence, conceptually skilled, imaginative, sagacious, management ability , convincing , interpersonal relations, adjustable to situations ,active to social environment ,commitment and achievement-orientated ,assertive ,cooperative , decided , trustworthy ,dominant, ardent, relentless, self-confident ,and repressive of stress. In the other hand, there are some evidences that explain how normal people who do not born with inherited specialties can learn and practice to become a good manager. Every person has to learn to acquire skills and cognition. â€Å"The most important skill for everyone is the ability to manipulate their learning† (Mcnamara, C. n. d. ). Everyone can gain a lot of benefit from learning, if they have high level of stimulus and self-directed reader. People can be a good manager by using Management development program, which is include both informal and formal method. For informal method, it can help everyone improve some key characteristics that requisite for a good manager by reading some articles, and discussing management with other people. Taking a course, seminar or workshop is another good opportunity for regular people to develop themselves to be a capable manager. There is an executive education program for manager has been provided by Harvard business school, the length of this course is around three months. This course accepts managers from all over the world. This full time course at Harvard business school offer precise learning experiences that allow managers to learn how to use vision to create effective management decision, and how to see organization as a whole picture. It is also cover all areas of management from accounting, finance, technology, operations, strategy, and marketing, international economy and organizational change. This program offers opportunity to participants to understand the key characteristics of a good manager. Almost 12,000 managers who have gone on to top leadership positions in some of the most well known companies in the world, after they graduated from this course. Therefore, it is clear that good manager can be made by training and learning, since there are plenty of ways to develop skills and characteristics by both formal and informal method. In conclusion, although, the people who born with unique skills and knowledge take advantage more than other people, normal people who want to be a good manager can expand their capability to acquire these requirements, if they have high commitment on their goal and work hard enough. Since nowadays, there are many courses and programs that provide for people to improve their abilities such as training class, which can determine and supply special skills that manager needs, and these type of programs are accepted by most organizations in the world. Thus, in my opinion, it is irrational that good manager is born. Every people can make themselves to become an effective manager, because everyone can define their own destiny.

Astrophil and Stella Essay

For the sake of the cause he also borrows ideas from other poets, but finally he realizes that the only way to tell his feelings is to write his own words from his own heart. The poet relies on the success of his chosen wooing process sincerely. There is a turn after the octave. The sestet starts with the word ‘‘But’’, which suggests some kind of change. In this part, three words, ‘‘Invention’’, ‘‘Nature’’ and ‘‘Study’’, are personifies by the poet. He presents ‘‘Nature’’ to the reader as the mother of ‘‘Invention’’ (‘‘Invention, Nature’s child’’ (Line 10)). With this personalization, these two words get qualities, and this refers to the naturalness of using imagination to create new ideas. These two things are necessary conditions of each other. The third personalized word is ‘‘Study’’. It appears as the stepmother of ‘‘Invention’’. Mother would never be in good terms with stepmother. One reason of it can be jealousy. The poet to act up to this fact gives the ability of breathing to ‘‘Study’’ in order to be able to blow ‘‘Invention’’ away. There is still no inspiration of the poet for writing his ideas and feelings. The personalizations serve the aim to have something that can be the reason of the poet’s inability to write. Around the end of the sonnet the poet shows us a picture of a woman who is ‘‘great with child’’(Line12). He compares his situation with the state of pregnancy. According to him, express his feelings and write down them can be as difficult as giving birth to a child. The pregnant mother has millions of troubles and struggles during the pregnancy such as the poet has during the procedure of writing ‘‘helpless in my throes’’ (Line 12). After all his attempts fails, in the last line his Muse calls him a ‘‘Fool’’ and advises him to ‘‘look in thy 2 heart and write’’. The word ’’Fool refers to the poet. He makes stupid mistakes when he tries to use others love poems to express his feelings. There is some irony in the words of the Muse. The poet should not think so much about his feelings and about how to write them down. He just has to write down what is come from his heart without thinking about it. I think, the testimony of the Muse’s words is that people have to trust in themselves and in their abilities. 3

Arab Sprig Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Arab Sprig - Essay Example One scenario was a successful revolt to a more democratic government, made with less wasted resources. Tunisia perhaps, was the only example of ‘a success story’ from all countries involved in ‘Arab spring’ (Botelho). Historically, Tunisia was also a country where ‘Arab spring’ ideas have started spread from when a 26-year-old Tunisian, Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself on fire protesting against youth unemployment and generally, against a corrupt regime responsible for low level of life in Tunisia (BBC). A revolt succeeded in a form of ‘mostly nonviolent removal’ of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, bringing country to desirable elections in 2011. Totten says that despite the Islamist party Ennahda won this race, a majority of Tunisians were already voting in democratic way, demonstrating their preference to a variety of other parties (Totten 2). Thus, finally Tunisians overthrown a religious Ennahda too, and never again returning to a one party dictatorship, adopted a liberal constitution. Egyptian case when overthrowing President Hosni Mubarak’s nearly 30 years long dictatorship was similar to a Tunisian one. ‘Egyptian activists got their inspiration from Tunisia’, –believes Botelho (Botelho). The resistance was more brutal comparing to Tunisian civil protesting, but finally, Egypt was voting in free President Elections 2011. Similar to Tunisian scenario, firstly choosing the Islamists leader Mohamed Morsi, Egyptians overthrown Morsi in 2013 due to a military support of Egyptian General el-Sisi. However, Egyptian case outcome differs from Tunisian liberation. Totten is skeptical on Egyptian new governmental actions, and points on acts of repressions: ‘Sisi’s regime reeks of Stalinism these days’ (Totten 3). Conversely, ‘Arab spring’ has been a very dramatic and costly enterprise for Libya and Syria, countries drugged into a brutal civil war nowadays. Totten points that because

Police Administration Structures in America Essay

Police Administration Structures in America - Essay Example The principle divergence is in the professional ethos. The early reformers had rallied around the military analogy of conducting a "war on crime." Adoption of the new model of administration structure is viewed as a means of improving the image of police officers and carried with it the more "modest" aim of controlling or preventing rather than defeating crime. The police administration structure is old fashioned based on bureaucratic principles and norms. The pervasive effect of task complexity on structure is highlighted by Newborn (2003). The task is viewed as so complex and variable as to require highly skilled professionals who are able to exercise discretion and interact in a collegial manner and collaborate on solutions. The administration structure that prescribe is spatially differentiated to allow informed neighborhood-level problem identification, and hierarchically undifferentiated to facilitate collegial, participative staff interaction, and has little or no structural specialization (either occupational or functional) in police operations so as to further encourage professional responsibility (Riener, 2000). Span of control, for example, ranges from wide to narrow; number of levels of authority ranges from few to many; degree of centralization in decision-making from low to high; and so on, depending on where the organization is on the organic-mechanistic continuum (Newborn, 2003). These organizational structures are more or less appropriate, depending on the nature of the task and the nature of the community. Mechanistic organizations are better suited to routine tasks performed in stable environments, and that organic organizations are more appropriate when the tasks are less routine and the environments less stable (Riener, 2000). First is the view that the bureaucratic model is presently the dominant form or that police administration organizations tend to be too far out on the bureaucratic end of the continuum.

Effects of Gender on Effective Corporate Leadership Research Paper

Effects of Gender on Effective Corporate Leadership - Research Paper Example This essay declares that  Leadership is a process of collective influence whereby one person solicits the aid and support of followers and from other leaders to get organization’s goals accomplished. Effective leadership requires closer interaction between the leader and a follower, in a way, that they can easily influence the course of action of their followers to achieve a particular goal.  Various studies advocate effective leadership as characterized by intrinsic values and traits possessed by certain groups of people and their efficiency of application in the business environment to achieve desired goals or to solve organization crisis.  Leaders are known to use different strategies and leadership styles of management and, of course, the outcome of their practices differ across the organizations. This study will be focusing on the main differences between male from female their leadership styles by examining leadership traits for effective leadership. The study is based on the assumption that women are more likely to interact freely with their followers and influence their course of action while male impose their ideologies on their followers establishing autocratic leadership in the organizations.  Effective leadership is determined by other underlying factors apart from personal leadership attributes. The document will focus on female competence leadership traits and an assessing of factors limiting effective leadership among the women.     

Health Insurance - Obama Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Health Insurance - Obama Care - Essay Example The law was meant to eliminate the current pre-existing health conditions in the state, stop the insurance companies from getting rid of the customers when they fall sick, protect any form of gender discrimination that exists in the healthcare industry and expand on the existing preventive services and health benefits available (Noonan). Furthermore, the law stipulates that big organizations insure all their employees, create a subsidised insurance in order to lower the cost of insurance and consequently reduce the cost of healthcare spending and the discrepancy. As much as the idea was taken well by many, this was not the case with everyone. This is especially so with the religious community, which believed that the law raised many controversies in terms of the morals and ethics of the religious groups. This was in relation to the laws of the birth control mandate. The ObamaCare plan requires that all for-profit employer’s health plan to provide insurance for up to twenty contraception methods. Among the twenty contraception methods, five of them in the eyes of the religious community was viewed as a form of abortion or sterilization. The basis the religious leaders used in their defence was the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was passed in 1993 (Tate, 106). The statute merely stipulated that if the government at any point interferes in any way with the free exercise of religion, it must narrowly alter its regulations to serve a persuasive concern and inflict the least â€Å"oppressive† option. Most religions are against the idea of the use of contraceptives, especially in an instance when the mod e of contraception seems to be a form of taking away life. This, therefore, necessitated the need for the law to be adjusted such that it suits the needs of everyone in the community.   Consequently, the Health and Human Services was forced to make an exemption for churches from the mandate, which implied that religious non-profits were allowed to apply for quasi-exemption from the rule.

The importance of the quest in Homer's Odyssey and Dante's The Inferno Essay

The importance of the quest in Homer's Odyssey and Dante's The Inferno - Essay Example The damned souls populate the chasm, which Dante classifies under Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics, and thus becomes an amalgamation of Grecian hellish myth and a testimony to Aquinas' appropriation of Christian sensibility in Aristotle's Ethics. Virgil guides Dante through the nine concentric circles of Hell., diving into deeper and graver sins, unrepentant, and culminating into absolute evil, as represented by Satan. The journey begins from the Dark wood, and into the Limbo. It is more of a pagan, unbaptised and a coarse yet virtuous crowd like Homer, Horace, Ovid and Lucan (Canto IV), who only repent their seperation from god. In Canto V, one of the seven cardinal sins appear, which is sin under lust. Inhabited by the adultress Francesca, who proclaims to justify her irresistible attraction to Paolo, in a way that evokes the ideology of the immoral Thirteenth century Italian love sonnets, that challenged the power of love beyond anything. The third realm is possessed by Cerbereus, amonster from greek mythology, but attributed with montrous humanity by Dante, who guards the gluttons. The journey also evokes the political tensions of contemporary Florence and the complexity of the whole Guelf-Ghibelline conflict and Florent ine politics that reached its crest in 1300 (ironically the fictional date chosen by Dante for his Inferno). Hatred for papacy, and the belief that Rome is predestined to be the seat of Empire, disillutions the poet about factionalism (symbolically Florence is shown to be divided by the Arno river of the Hell in Inferno) and party politics and makes him search out a way for Salvation through his poem. The political condition of Florence is mouthed by the sinner Ciacco in Canto VI, in the third realm. IN Canto VII, with the beginning of the fourth circle, Dante sees Pluto stationed, a place damned for the avaricious and the prodigal. In a sysiphean way, the group ofmiserly and the wasteful squanderers push weights against each other and start allover again when it smashes on any of the sides. It is a psychological drama represented by the futility that awaits all materials things that we pursue in life. Entering the land of the sloths, thepoet and Virgil cross Styx with the ferryman, Phlegyas, when tey meet the fury of Filippo Argenti, and denied entry by the fallen angels of the city of Dis, and meeting the hellish monsters and the wrath of the furies are granted entrance due to Heaven's intervention. Thesixth circle burns with consuming flames to torture the heretics. Here he meets the famous Ghibelline Farinata delgi Uberti, who was seen as a heretic for potensial opposition against the political lrole of the papacy. Excluded from any form of amnesty and pardon he is damned. This part seeks to voice the poets contest with his own fears about sin against the papacy. The violent, like those commited against people and property,theirown self i.e. suicice and that against God, nature and the art i.e. blasphemers, sodomites and the usurers are punished in the seventh circle, and guarded by

Managing Public Relations in Nonprofit Organizations Case Study

Managing Public Relations in Nonprofit Organizations - Case Study Example Further secondary research was done on a database of the consumer media and national science. The reason for this research was to broaden the scope of the target audience following the announcement. Consequently, the stakeholders identified were prominent science reporters. However, quantitative research involving telephone interviews with the reporters to ascertain their reliability produced negative results. To this end, a content analysis was undertaken on the BNL website. The purpose was to deliver a high amount of information pertaining to the upcoming conference and public announcement. The evaluation measures employed involved the measuring of communication output. In this case, part of the objective was to achieve a mass advert of their product and elicit positive media reactions. To this end, the company surpassed their expected communication output whereby over 700 million coverage was achieved. In addition, the public relations firm employed the measure of outcomes as an evaluation. Consequently, the whole public announcement aspired to receive positive reviews from the public and media. Moreover, these reviews were supposed to spur the government in increasing budgetary allocation without arousing political aspersions on its public announcement. As a result, the firm was able to receive positive reviews from the media and public. Moreover, these reviews factored in on the increase of budgetary allocations. In addition, the public relation firms employed the measure of institutional outcomes as an evaluative tool. Consequently, BNL had an objective of increasi ng a budgetary allocation for its project. As a result, the institutional outcome was achieved through an increased budgetary allocation of $ 13,400. The planning process entailed developing of a media list in which media outlets were identified. The aim was to achieve target audience for the impending announcement. To this end, the media list developed

State of Personal Computers Market in the UK Assignment

State of Personal Computers Market in the UK - Assignment Example In other words, the portable PC must not necessarily have big memory or storage space since it can retrieve data from the centric server within the company (Gillam, 2010). Several companies adopted this technology, hence increased sale of the portable PC but reduced sales of desktops. A good VDI network may comprise of at least one desktop with over 70 portable PC depending on the size of the company. Other clouding technology also followed and led to a further increase in sales of portable PCs. The graph below shows a non-uniform decrease in PCs’ prices as time (in years) advances. Increase in PCs producing firms There have been increases in the number of mobile PC companies venturing into the market. These include Samsung which manufactured laptops, net books, notebooks, tablets and mini laptops among other portable PCs. Apple manufactures iMacs and iPhones among other portable PCs. These products had advanced and efficient applications and specifications that later attracte d more customers. Majority shipped their desktops to developing nations while some were treated as electronic wastes. The younger generations were compelled to purchase the portable the portable gadgets since they have social media applications like twitter, Facebook and Skype among other applications. The products also came in smaller sizes but attractive shapes and colors to attract more customers (Bradley, 2005). The aspect of compatibility also enhanced increased demand for the products. One can easily connect his/her portable computer with the sound system or flat screen televisions for entertainment purpose. The companies have stiff competition with regular advancement of the portable computers which has kept the demand on a steady growing trend, since majority dump or ship their... This paper offers a comprehensive theoretic economic analysis of high price elasticity of the demand for personal computers in the UK market. In the 2007, the market of personal computers in the UK recorded an estimated net worth of 12.27 billion USD. This increased to 12.81 billion USD in the year 2008 (4.4 % increase). The market PC market continued to depreciate to about 11.77 billion USD by the end of the year 2009. However, the same report indicates the market worth was on a growing trend from 2005 until 2008, from which the PC market worth started depreciating.There are several factors that boosted the increase in the PC market worth between 2005 and 2008. Several companies register an increase in sales of portable or mobile personal computers. The introduction of the portable PC in the markets attracted more customers The law of demand and supply states the demand will increase as the price decreases and other factors held constant. However, this economic principle does not apply in the personal computer business. Since 2005, the price for the personal computers has been on a falling trend despite continuous growth in demand. Different markets have different demand, price and supply relations depending on the prevailing economic status as well as the countries demographic characteristics among some factors. Different nations also have different policies or legislations to control its business. The aspect of a global description of the elastic curve with respect to the personal computers is a challenge.

“Archetypes for a Contemporary Audience” Essay Example for Free

â€Å"Archetypes for a Contemporary Audience† Essay Myths are an important cultural aspect that were, and are to this day, used commonly to help teach morals and life lessons. Strength, courage, and fortitude are just a few characteristics addressed in mythology. The archetypal layout of an exemplary story is composed of the Twelve Stages. The Twelve Stages of a hero’s journey are the steps every person must take in order to prove one’s self as a hero. Mythical heroes such as Theseus, Sigurd, and Beowulf clearly demonstrate the archetypal qualities of a hero. A typical hero is seen as a morally just individual, with a noticeably ethical intent. An archetypal quality of a hero is moral goodness. The hero is always opposing evil and wrong-doing, while attempting his best to halt it. The hero is selfless always willing to give his life in place of another. A villain, or monster, is the opposed force of the hero, whose intent is solely based around a malicious and self-centered motive. The shadow-self of a character is often portrayed as the villain, or monster, but it has a much greater importance. The shadow-self illustrates the two extremes of a personality. Since the shadow-self is the complete opposite of a character, the good and bad qualities of that character are shown, the shadow self of a character can have both good and bad aspects. When someone is able to control the good aspects of both characters, the individual is able to grow and learn from themselves. The shadow-self is often used in literature, because it is seen as the perfect challenge for the protagonist. An example in literature would be Beowulf and Grendel. Beowulf is a great hero driven by good morals and intentions, while Grendel is a soulless monster living only to cause pain and death. Another example would be Sigurd and Regin. Sigurd is somewhat naive and physically strong, Regin, being the opposite, is extremely intelligent and persuasive, but not physically robust. Monsters are often confused with the shadow-self, but the monster can share similar qualities, values, and goals with the protagonist. Most monsters are shown as creatures, or people, who are not bound by the conforming laws set in place for the average person. In many cases with monsters in literature, there is a figurative veil drawn over them; shrouding them in mystery and uncertainty. These aspects draw people’s fascination by providing the reader with a form of escapism. Thus, allowing the reader to break away from the dull, constant, day-to-day routine of  their lives, and discover a new unfamiliar world. By providing this new reality for the reader the monster’s role in the narrative is greatly enhanced. When combining heroic qualities with villainous attributes, a perfect balance is formed. Most literature contains some manner of conflict between heroes and villains. Without conflict, the story would have no distinguishable design or purpose. Without the purpose or design the story would ramble aimlessly, until a much desired conclusion is reached. This leads back into the balance between hero and villain, because the existence of a hero or villain depends greatly upon the existence of the other. The reason for this is simple, because there is no need for a hero if there is no villain, and the same applies to a villain, who has no hero to rise up against. The voyage and quest of a hero is often riddled with hardship and treachery: Then an old harrower of the dark happened to find the hoard open, the burning one who hunts out barrows, the slick-skinned dragon, threatening the night sky with streamers of fire. People on the farms are in dread of him. He is driven to hunt out hoards under ground, to guard heathen gold†¦ When the dragon awoke, trouble flared again. He rippled down the rock, writhing with anger when he saw the footprints of the prowler who had stolen too close to his dreaming head. So may a man not marked by fate easily escape exile and woe by the grace of God. (Heaney-155) This quote from Beowulf shows that quest for treasure is always challenging. The road to the treasure is filled with tests and confrontations that are put in place to challenge the hero’s skills and knowledge. When the location of the treasure is finally reached, there is always a final obstacle blocking the way of the treasure. A common example of this is a dragon in its lair, sleeping soundly, guarding its treasure from unwanted thieves. Beowulf’s final fight with the dragon is an obvious example. In the story, â€Å"Theseus and the Ariadne Thread† Theseus uses a thread given to him by Ariadne. â€Å"As may be imagined, he made no difficulty about that, and she gave him the clue she had got from Daedalus, a ball of thread which he was to fasten at one end to the inside of the door and unwind as he went on. This he did and, certain that he could retrace his steps whenever he chose, he walked boldly into the maze, looking for the Minotaur.†(â€Å"Theseus† 776) The thread was used to help Theseus remember where he had already been,  and to lead him back to his original starting position, and keep him from getting lost in the maze. A valuable lesson can be learned from this thread, as it symbolizes connection to a person, place, or thing that brings us back to reality, when we are in need of direction. The slaying of the dragon is seen as the overcoming of an obstacle: After what seemed minutes, he thought, I must risk it now. With that he straightened his knees and drove the sword upward with all his force. It tore up through the cloak, through the loose earth, and on with the force of his arm until it buried itself to the hilt. A great cry came from the monster. (Who Are You Quoting Here?) Being able to overcome an obstacle is important, because it allows the person to undergo change and growth. As a contemporary audience we are able to read this, and be able to apply the knowledge gained from reading, in our own lives. The heroic epic poem Beowulf is a remarkable example of archetypes in a story. Beowulf is centered on a Scandinavian hero who is both strong and cunning. Beowulf is the classic hero everyone envisions when they think of a hero. Grendel, Beowulf’s shadow-self, is an obvious archetypal villain. Beowulf’s many quests represent the typical hunt for treasure. Beowulf’s final adventure, which would lead to his death, was by far the most archetypal of all of his endeavors, completing the last few stages of the Hero’s Journey. The poem Beowulf has a lot of psychological depth contained within the story. In preparation for the battle with Grendel’s mother, Beowulf must sink to the bottom of a lake, to get to the underwater lair. Beowulf must sink for hours to get to the bottom, and in doing so, this event displays that Beowulf’s mental strength is just as robust as his physical strength. Once Beowulf reached Grendel’s mother’s lair, Hrunting, a sword that had never failed in battle, was broken when it attempted to pierce the monster’s skin. Beowulf was quick to disarm the sword and reequip with a giant’s  sword, which happened to be conveniently placed in the lair. The significance of this in the story demonstrates the idea that un-useful things should be quickly discarded, as they are only weighing you down. Letting go of things that only slow you down, or hold you back from your true potential, will free you to move forward in your lifes quest. Once an obstacle, or hindrance, in your life is gone, you are able to look for another alternative or way out. The last important archetypal piece in Beowulf is Beowulf’s final fight with the dragon. This fulfills two of the 12 stages: The Resurrection and the Return with the Elixir. When Beowulf defeats the dragon, but is also killed in the process, the resurrection is displayed when Beowulf comes to release his death. When Beowulf realizes his death is upon him he reminisces about his old heroic deeds, and comprehends the valor of his actions. The twelfth stage is exemplified when Wiglaf, the only one of Beowulf’s men who didn’t desert him, retrieves some of the treasure, won by Beowulf, and shows Beowulf the spoils. Finally, when Wiglaf returns to the people and tells them of Beowulf’s death, along with a prediction of the upcoming days, the people fully realize what their leader has done for them, and they feel sorrow and remorse. The works of literature Beowulf, â€Å"Sigurd the Dragon Slayer†, and â€Å"Theseus† still maintain relevance in today’s society. The heroic qualities of these heroes are still admired and sought after by the people of today. Reading these stories will provide the reader with a greater knowledge of how our society bases its morals. The morals of any society are based on the archetype of whom ever that society deems to be the ultimate â€Å"good† example. The age old battle between good and evil is still being fought out in everyday life, and each one of us is a character in the drama of human history. We all need heroes, because we all feel the threat of evil, or villains, in our lives.

Vulnerable Subjects Research

Vulnerable Subjects Research PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE SUBJECTS IN CLINICAL TRIALS BACKGROUND Aim: To throw light on the state of vulnerable subjects in Clinical Research. Objective: To understand current provisions and legislations available to protect the rights of vulnerable subjects with special emphasis on plight of sex workers enrolled in anti-HIV trials. VULNERABLE SUBJECTS IN CLINICAL RESEARCH Individuals who are comparatively or entirely inept of defending their own wellbeing are termed as vulnerable research participants. When study includes such subjects additional care has to be taken to protect their rights. It is the investigator and his research team’s responsibility to ensure that these subjects are not exploited in the name of research. The study design team, sponsor, investigator must be aware of the special requirements needed for vulnerable subjects and they should develop the study protocol, informed consent form and the confidentiality agreement keeping the vulnerable subjects’ needs in mind. The different types of vulnerable subjects included in clinical trials are classified on basis of their vulnerability. Some examples are as follows: 1. Cognitive and Communicative vulnerability: This includes children and adolescents. Patient’s suffering from mental retardation, dementia and other kinds of mental illness. Enrollment of people with educational deficits and unfamiliarity with language. Stressful emergency: conditions that do not permit otherwise capable adults to implement their capabilities efficiently. 2. Juridical or institutional vulnerability: Person who is under the official authority of others (egs. Parents, guardians, warders, officers and judges) who may have their own benefits in whether the individual agrees to enroll in the study. 3. Deferential vulnerability: Influence of other people in subjects life, determine their decision to enter the trial. Existence of an informal hierarchy (egs. Relatives, friends, masters, physician) 4. Medical vulnerability: Prospective patients who have a severe medical condition, for which there are no existing efficient or satisfactory regular cure (examples: very aggressive and malignant forms of cancer, last stage AIDS and some uncommon ailments) owing to their unusual medically tricky state, misuse of these patients throughout their hope for remission or improvement is not unusual. 5. Economic vulnerability: Prospective subjects with low economic background may join trial with hope of getting income, housing and healthcare facilities. Payment for participation or free access to healthcare services might constitute unfair inducements to enroll through exploitation of these subjects. 6. Infrastructural vulnerability: Patient is tempted to enroll in trials, as they pre-suppose the availability to them of resources or facilities (egs. a rapid communication system, a reliable dietary intake, skilled healthcare professionals) 7. Social vulnerability: Refers to individuals belonging to undervalued social groups or communities.(sex workers)[R. Colombo, The Most Vulnerable Subjects Of Biomedical Research IX General Assembly PAV – publications] EXPLOITATION OF VULNERABLE SUBJECTS THROUGH HISTORY Exploitation was rampant in the absence of regulations, laws, guidelines and codes. Escalating physician to god-like position with immense faith in them and failure to recognize vulnerable subjects has resulted in horrific incidents in history of research. These major mishaps have convinced the medical fraternity the need for developing ethical guidelines and code for research specifically for the vulnerable populations. The Nuremberg trial The 20th century will always be remembered due to the shocking and upsetting experimentation performed by Nazi doctors. During the World War II, the Nazi physicians took advantage of the prisoners of war; they carried out experiments unparalleled in their range and the level of anguish and harm. Appalling studies such as injecting the poor prisoners with gasoline and live viruses, immersing people in ice water, and forcing them to ingest poisons have gone down in the history books as the most inhuman experiments. The physicians in order to satisfy their scientific curiosity have performed these experiments which were of no use to the participants. These experiments usually resulted in the death of the participants. After the war ended, there was a huge public outburst against these experiments and 23 physicians were indicted at Nuremberg for their willing participation in these experiments. Sixteen were found guilty and sentenced while seven were hanged to death. This resulted in the origin of the Nuremberg Code, which made informed consent mandatory. The Willowbrook study The Nuremberg Code unfortunately did not put to end unethical research as not every researcher honored the Code. The three year long Willowbrook study is another example where vulnerable patients were exploited. Willowbrook State School, an institution for mentally defective children were intentionally infect with the hepatitis virus, by being fed stools from infected persons or later by being injecting with purified virus preparations, to observe the natural history of this disease and then to test the effects o gamma globulin in preventing the disease. Researchers defended the deliberate infection of these children by stating that the bulk of them acquired the infection in any case while at Willowbrook, and possibly it would be better for them to be infected under restricted research settings. What was worse was that during the course of these studies, new inmates were admitted only if they agreed to participate in the hepatitis program! There was obviously no full disclosure ad clearly coercion and undue pressure was used to enroll vulnerable subjects like children and mentally challenged. Jewish Chronic Disease Hospital Study At the other end of life’s spectrum, came the Jewish Chronic Disease Hospital Study where live cancer cells were infused into continually ailing and incapacitated patients. These patients had been told that they were getting a skin examination. The patients were provided oral information about the test but no consent was documented. Syphilis study The most notorious example of prolonged infringement of human rights of a vulnerable faction of research participants was the long-term study of black males performed at Tuskegee by the United States Public Health Service. Initiated in the 1930s to examine the natural history of untreated syphilis, continuing until 1972, this study recruited more than 400 black men suffering from syphilis. These participants were recruited without informed consent and were mislead that a few of the measures taken in the interest of research were essentially â€Å"special complimentary treatment†. Although along the way antibiotics become available, these were not given to the patients and the study resulted in 28 deaths, 100 cases of disability, and 19 cases of congenital syphilis. The Belmont report published by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research on April 18, 1979 was one of the outcomes of the public outcry that resulted when the story of the Tuskegee study broke.[Urmila Thatte, Etical issues in clinical Research chapter 4, of Basic principles of clinical research and methodology by S K Gupta] Guidelines for ethical conduct of research in human subjects that have came into picture: Nuremberg Code, 1947 Declaration of Helsinki, 1964 The Belmont Report, 1979 International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects, 1982, 1993, 2002 The Ethics of Research related to Healthcare in Developing Countries, Nuffield council, 2002 Indian council for Medical Research Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research on Human subjects SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHILDREN Regulations that protect children, so as to prevent their exploitation are: OHRP 45 CFR 46 Subpart D FDA 21 CFR 50 Subpart D Special Considerations for Children are: Research that involves no more than minimal risk can be approved with adequate provisions for obtaining the assent of the child and permission from their parents/guardians. 45 CFR 46.404 The combination of assent by the minor subject and permission (consent) from the parents is deemed appropriate to enroll the child subject in the trial. In case of life threatening events only consent from parents would suffice, as there is expectation of direct benefit. However the child must be given full explanation of the trial. If the research presents an opening to comprehend, avoid or lessen a grave predicament affecting the health or welfare of children, but does NOT provide direct benefit to the subject or societal (indirect) benefit, than the research cannot be approved by the IRB unless HHS Secretary Approval is granted. 45 CFR 46.407 . Extremely rare- both Parent consent + child assent. When parents of the child are deceased, unknown or incompetent then the legal guardian must give is consent. Step parents, Grandparents, Adult siblings, adult Aunts or Uncles may not consent a child to research. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR WOMEN Regulations that protect women, so as to prevent their exploitation are: OHRP 45 CFR 46 Subpart B Research studies involving pregnant women and fetuses must satisfy the following requirements to obtain IRB approval: Preclinical studies have been conducted, including studies on pregnant animals; clinical studies, that include non-pregnant women and provide data for assessing potential risks to pregnant women and fetuses 46.204(a) Risk to fetus is caused solely by interventions or procedures that hold prospect of direct benefit for the woman or the fetus or, 46.204(b) If no benefit, risk to the fetus is not greater than minimal and the research develops important biomedical knowledge not obtainable by any other means. 46.204(b) SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR PRISONERS The voluntary choice of the prisoners must not influenced by any potential advantages entailed to them due to the study, which outweighs the risks. For example, Parole decisions must not be affected for prisoners participating in the trial. The study is ethical, when the risk of participation is acceptable even to a non prisoner subject. Selections of subjects are carried out in a fair manner. When spoilt for choice, randomization techniques must be used. If necessary, adequate follow-up care must be provided to the volunteers. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DECISIONALLY IMPAIRED A combination of assent from the subject and permission from the concerned legal authorities constitute for the informed consent. The risk of participation would be agreeable to general volunteers too. Selection is fair and unbiased Adequate follow up is provided SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR SEX WORKERS Enrolling Sex workers in HIV vaccine trials that are ethical, valid and are not exploitative is a challenge that must be faced. Due to their nature of work, they require additional support. Sex workers are generally from the downtrodden community, they are illiterate and understanding the language in the informed consent is a major issue for them. Hence the informed consent must be in the local language and should be easily understood. The informed-consent must be prepared in such a way that it is in consultation with the community advisory and counsel board to ensure social sensitivity. Confidentiality is an important issue. These women may face physical abuse and abandonment from their clients, if they enter these trials. Supportive counseling should be provided before, during and after the test. Sex workers must not only be given male condoms but along with that they should be provided with female condoms. Proper guidance on safe sex must be dispensed. Clinical trial study team should increase awareness among the sex workers about AIDS. They should provide proper guidance to them, for prevention. Sex workers should be treated equally as general women would have been treated in a clinical trials. Study team should be sensitive towards them and not discriminate and look down upon them. CASE STUDY Health Minister, Urbain Olangnena Awono of the Cameroon government has decided that they may have to put a stop to the Tenofovir trials taking place in the port city of Douala due to various allegations by AIDS activists. The health minister had scheduled an audit for the same. The Tenofovir trial began in September 2004, Tenofovir is a established drug used for treatment of AIDS, manufactured by Gilead pharmaceuticals U.S. This trial was to determine whether Tenofovir can work as a prophylactic to prevent AIDS. The study recruited 400 sex workers free of infection. Half the women took a Tenofovir pill daily and the other half took a placebo. The study is conducted by Family Health and Insurance (FHI) with the support of U.S $ 6.5 million dollars from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. AIDS activists have demanded that this study be completely suspended on ethical grounds. They have said that the volunteers are vulnerable subjects and their rights have been exploited. Activists claim that the subjects have received inadequate counseling and healthcare. They have brought to notice that the sex workers are not fully informed about the risks involved in the trial. They also argue that the Study team has not promised to guarantee free healthcare if the workers become infected, which ideally every volunteer must receive. The FHI have counter attacked and cleared their stand by assuring that free medical checkups and tests have been carried out. Various tests like gynecological, medical care, HIV, pregnancy have been carried out for free. However various Activists have disregarded this claim and said that these are all false promises and haven’t been materialized. Another important issue that has been brought to notice was that, most of these sex workers were illiterate didn’t understand English and very little French, in spite of that the informed consent form were in English. However later it seen that the ICF shown to PlusNews was in French. The study team had provided 96 male condoms to sex workers. However imparting knowledge to prevent the infection of disease would be like a conflict of interest for the researchers. As the trial would be a success only if the women were exposed, become infected. The sex workers are misinformed and they feel that by taking this pill they are now vaccinated against the disease. In order to get their point across, so that the concerned authority would wake up to this injustice, AIDS activists in Paris staged a demonstration in front of the Cameroonian embassy in Paris. This demonstration got full coverage on the French T.V. This resulted in a public outcry against the trials. CRITIQUE The Tenofovir trial case study is an excellent example highlighting the profound impact media can have on the progress of the trial. The complete discontinuations of the trials prove that activists and non- governmental organizations with the help of the media can bring about change. These same activists are also involved in promoting research to combat the disease, but they can hinder the progress too. Hence researchers must be more aware about the ethical issues surrounding enrollment of sex workers. Engaging in discussion and consulting with the participant’s community before the trial begins can avoid such media spectacle. The case study rightly brings to one’s notice that lack of consultation with the support groups and community network was the biggest error on the part of the research team. Extensive discussion with community networks and a good flow of communication would bridge the gap and increase the trust of sex workers in the trials. The activists have rightly questioned why no subjects from general population have been enrolled to test safety of the drug. They have expressed concern and raised another important issue that the same trial would have provided women from Europe and U.S better benefits and adequate healthcare. The burning issue against this trial has been that since the primary outcome is HIV infection, researchers will provide inadequatecounseling to prevent infection. Since there exits a conflict of interest, sex workers will not be encouraged to have safe sex. Another important drawback of the trial has been its failure to provide sex workers with female condoms. They were provided with male condoms but negotiating for the same with their clients does not go down well with their trade. It is shocking that the sex workers were completely ignorant about the drug. They were misguided that the drug is a vaccine for AIDS, which made them more careless and prone to the disease. On the other hand, Tenofovir trials aimed at providing a prophylactic for AIDS, which would be a major breakthrough in combating this deadly disease and would definitely be of great benefit to the sex workers. Such uncontrolled and extreme protest has led to the complete discontinuation of the trial which in turn is bad news for the sex workers. The sponsor company had also promised to market this drug in Cameroon for much reduced prices. The validity of the media reports is doubtful as all the allegations made against the research team have been without any evidence. Activists instead of creating media backlash against the trial should have engaged in constructive dialogue with the research team stating their demands. CONCLUSION Clinical research has given millions of patients’ worldwide assurity that the medicine they purchase and consume, has been completely validated for its safety and efficacy. It ensures that these patients worldwide are getting the best medicine with utmost safety parameters. Investigators along with their research team bear the ultimate responsibility for their work with human subjects. They have the privilege of using human subject to advance scientific research, in turn society expects that investigators will show respect for their research subjects. Unfortunately as history has shown some scientists still continue to value their quest for knowledge and potential for personal fame and financial gain more highly then respect for basic human rights. Hence, various guidelines, regulations, codes and law have come into picture to protect the human subject. Special care and provisions must be made for subjects who are shunned from society. Sex workers live on the fringe of society and can rarely ask for their rights or support from public. In the interest of general health, to conduct trials for AIDS, this section of society must not be used as mere guinea pigs. Particular guidelines and ethical code of conduct for researchers must be drawn in order to protect these oppressed subjects. Providing them information on AIDS is not enough, they must be given free health care and female condoms. They need compassion and justice from us. REFERENCES Deanna Kerrigan et al, Environmental structural factors significantly associated with consistent condom use among female sex workers in the Dominican Republic, AIDS 2003 17:415-423 , Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Arnaud L Fontanet et al, Protection against sexually transmitted diseases by granting sex workers in Thailand the choice of using the male or female condom: results from a randomized controlled trial, AIDS 1998, 12: 1851-1859, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Edward Mills et al, Media reporting of Tenofovir trials in Cambodia and Cameroon, 24 August 2005, BMC International Health and Human Rights. Edward J Mills and Sonal Singh, Health, human rights and the conduct of clinical research within oppressed populations, Globalization and health 2007, 3:10, BioMed Central Ltd. Peter H. Kilmarx et al, Protection of Human Subjects’ Rights HIV- preventive clinical trials in Africa and Asia: Experiences and Recommendations, AIDS 2001, 15 (suppl 5) : S73-S79, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Geeta Yadav et al, Associations of sexual risk taking among Kenyan female sex workers after enrollment in an HIV – 1 prevention trial, J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2005; 38:329-334, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Gielen AC, Fogarty L, OCampo P, Anderson J, Keller J, et al, Women living with HIV: Disclosure, violence, and social support, 2000, J Urban Health 77:480–491 R. Colombo, The Most Vulnerable Subjects Of Biomedical Research IX General Assembly PAV – publications. Urmila Thatte, Ethical issues in clinical Research chapter 4, of Basic principles of clinical research and methodology by S K Gupta Cynthia McGuire Dunn and Gary L. Chadwick, Protecting study volunteers in research, Third edition. Thomson Centerwatch. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD; David Wendler, PhD; Christine Grady, PhD, What Makes Clinical Research Ethical? , JAMA.2000;283:2701-2711. Cohen J. Cameroon Suspends AIDS Study. Science, Science Now 2005 Feb: 4. Singh JA, Mills EJ. The abandoned trials of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV: what went wrong? PLoS Med 2005;2: e234 Atatah C. Douala AIDS drug controversy: medical council says trials violated ethical norms. Post News Line 2005. www.postnewsline.com/2005/02/strongdouala_ai.html (accessed 15 Jan 2008). http://www.actupparis.org/article1734.html?var_recherche=tenofovir (accessed 15 Jan 2008) http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-documentdoi=10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.0020234ct=1SESSID=3b4fdb3c51bc2ee0983c4abb37ad4ffa (accessed 15 Jan 2008) KIPNIS K., Vulnerability in research subjects: a bioethical taxonomy, in NATIONAL BIOETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION, Ethical and Policy Issues in Research Involving Human Participants, op. cit., vol. 2, pp. G1-G13, p. G5. http://www.academiavita.org/template.jsp?sez=Pubblicazionipag=testo/et_ricbiom/colombo/colombolang=english (accessed 15 Jan 2008) www.medscape.com/viewarticle/408956_3

Outlines of a Value Typology Based on Decision Theorys Social Motives :: Philosophy

Values and their Collisions: Outlines of a Value Typology Based on Decision Theory's Social Motives ABSTRACT: Several years ago, I outlined a project to delineate ideological and scientific elements of our knowledge about values. I began by studying the typical configurations of values, their typical collisions, and some typical world-view-related standpoints as theoretical background. I now present the theoretical premises of my inquiry, the applied methods, and some of the results. I have tried to support the choice of variables used, make sensible the reliable limits of the findings, and underline some interconnections as well as some collisions between moral and/or ideological standpoints. Among values, and apart from the aesthetic (artistic) values, we can distinguish between ideological and moral ones. The ideological values (or social-political ones) concern and/or regulate the coexistence of larger groups of humans, while those considered moral ones are realized in the immediate interpersonal relationships. But there are weighty arguments suggesting their treatment in common or in parallel: (i) In the case of some systems of thought, the separation of moral values from the social political ones seems quite artificial (e.g. Aristotelian, Christian, utilitarian, liberal); (ii) Recent psychological research in the direction inaugurated by Piaget and Kohlberg supports the hypothesis that the lower phases of the moral development are constant across societies and ethic groups, while in the superior phases there is a culture-(respectively, society-) related differentiation. Higher level moral attitudes seem significantly related to the accepted political values (Kurt Bergling, 1981 (1) ). (2) (iii) In the case of many historical systems of thought (philosophies) the moral world-view is axiologically more elaborated than the political one. (The conceptions about the ontology of values, values' social functions and effects or values' acquirement are much more evident in the former.) Further, the moral inquiry is more nuanced in the elaboration of typologies and it is more concerned with the relations between cognitive sphere and values than the social-political thinking is. II I would distinguish 3 levels in approaching the moral phenomena: (i) Moral (of object-language) The level of valuations (good-wrong, just-unjust etc.) and norms, including laic knowledge about rewards and punishments, or about value legitimising and the metaphysical nature of good and evil. This can be considered the everyday moral conscience of the society, the object of anthropological, sociological, historical descriptions. (ii) Ethical (of meta-language) The level of categories introduced by ethics to study and to compare the specificities of moral systems, of the auto-reflection and self-defending argumentation of value hierarchies.

Symbolism of the Sea in Chopin’s The Awakening :: Chopin Awakening Essays

Symbolism of the Sea in Chopin’s The Awakening â€Å"The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation. The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace.† This short quotation from the end of chapter 6 of Kate Chopin’s the Awakening is crucial to understanding the text as a whole and is also a vital example of foreshadowing. In this part in the novel, Edna, the protagonist, has just refused to go for a swim with Robert. However, the very sight and sound of the sea entices her. The sea here is depicted as an invigorating object that gives Edna life. At the time of this novel, women were not viewed highly by their husbands. They were expected to conform to societal norms and remain subservient. They were not to question their husbands and were always expected to do as they were told. Thus, women of this time were not free. In this novel, it is the sea that makes Edna free. In the sea she loses all restraints and all reservations when she finally goes for a swim later in the novel. Being free in the sea and going for a swim is liberating to her, just like seeking out another man since she isn’t happy in her current marriage. In her marriage she can’t be the woman that all women want to be. While her husband is a good man, she still has to conform to his wishes. Thus she cannot be the person she truly wants to be. In order to be this person, Edna seeks out the company of Robert. By giving the sea these life-giving qualities, Chopin shows the sea as an emancipating force in Edna’s life. It sustains her and seduces her with the offers of freedom. The sea speaks to the soul because of what it offers and enfolds the body in its soft embrace for these same reasons. The use of the sea is also a great job of foreshadowing and a valuable contrast.

The Wainscott Weasel :: essays research papers

The Wainscott Weasel   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This book is about a weasel named Bagley Brown Jr. He is a weasel and I noticed that the weasels color is the same as the last name. He is brown and he has a patch on his eye. He lives in the Wainscott Woods. His father is a legend because he made the Double B. The Double B is a quarter mile long tunnel that leads to a chicken farm. It feeds all the weasels in the Wainscott woods. Everybody treats him special and he hates it. All the weasels love to dance and at the spring cotillion a new girl came to the woods. Her name is Wendy Blackish and she is pretty high class. The whitebelly brothers were there too. The oldest, Zeke likes Wendy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They danced and she invited him to a tea dance. She went and got it and then on the way she met Bagley Brown Jr. She was sweating from dancing and asked to go to swim. they swam and then she gave him the invitation instead. After she left Bagley saw a striped fish and fell in love. Zeke found out and him and Bagley got in a fight. Bagley just gave him the invitation because of the striped fish.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The next day Bagley went to the pond and he saw the fish and they talked about bagleys patch. he got it when he was watching his dad make the tunnel. a owl came and got his dad and took his eye out. Bagley told the striped fish how he felt about her and she said they cant be together. She came back and then she said he shouldn’t come back to the pond. He kept his promise and didn’t come back, but he dropped bugs in the stream that led to the pond hoping she got them.

Jesus as a role model

Today I will be presenting my speech to discuss why Jesus is the role model for Christian life. The Christian tradition has viewed Jesus as the perfect role model because he was sinless. Jesus lived his life providing principles, teachings and messages that are to be emulated by his followers. These teachings are evident In all aspects of Christianity and have become the foundation for Christians as to how we are to live our lives.Many texts throughout the New Testament further exemplify the understanding of Jesus as the reflect role model, including John 13:15, â€Å"For I have given you an example, that you also should do Just as I have done to you. † The key components of Christian life include love, forgiveness, prayer and compassion. These components have all been developed from the way Jesus carried out his life Through Jesus' life, he spread teachings of unconditional love and forgiveness.Jesus taught that forgiveness Is central to the relationship between God and human s. Unconditional love and forgiveness are closely related to each other, because without originates, It Is Impossible to love unconditionally. As Jesus suffered on the cross, he asked for the forgiveness of his executioners, which can be found In Luke 23:34, â€Å"Father forgive them; for the know not what they do. † This Is the greatest example of unconditional love and forgiveness, and as Christians, we aspire to be as loving and forgiving as Jesus.Another example of Jesus' teachings of forgiveness can be found in Mark 1 1 :25, â€Å"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins†. Through this quote we are taught to not just act as though we have forgiven someone, but to truly forgive them. What can also be understood from this is that only those who practice this teaching of Jesus can fully receive God's forgiveness.The life of Christians includes the practice of forgiveness in o rder to be able to love others unconditionally, as well as be forgiven by God. Jesus Is also our role model as to how we pray. Jesus' life of prayer consisted of praying before meals, giving thanks, praying for others, shared prayer and praying fore making important decisions, but his most valued form of prayer was private prayer. An example of Jesus' teachings of private prayer can be found in Matthew 6: 5-15.During this, Jesus says â€Å"But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. † It is also within this reference where Jesus teaches us the Lord's prayer. Although he was half divine, Jesus was also half human whilst on earth. Therefore, he was subjected to the same temptations, frustrations and sorrows that Christians are also affected by in our lives everyday. Through all these struggles that Jesus encountered, he prayed to God in private for help and strength to c omplete the task he had been given.We as Christians pray following this example of Jesus life of prayer and teachings of private prayer when we are faced with our own hardships and are in need of guidance. Jesus has taught us how we are to pray through his own to why Jesus is a role model to Christians. In the process of his teachings, Jesus has showed that human beings can be holy wrought their compassion towards the poor, marginal's and dispossessed. Jesus' had immense compassion towards these people of need and reacted through acts of mercy.We as Christians have learnt to be generous, giving and to be empathetic throughout our lives by the examples of Jesus' compassion. Also as followers of Christ, we are encouraged through Jesus' teachings to know our obligations to assist those in need in order to be Christians. This teaching can be found in Luke 18: 22-23, where Jesus told a young, rich ruler that he was to â€Å"Sell all that you own and stubbier the money to the poor, and y ou will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me. But the young man did not have the qualities to be a disciple of Jesus, because he showed that his love for his riches was greater than his love for God and was reluctant to give up his possessions. Jesus' examples of compassion for the poor, marginal's and dispossessed have shaped how Christians practice acts of mercy towards people of need. These acts of empathy are one of the many reasons why Christians view Jesus as the perfect role model.Jesus is the ultimate role model for Christian life because he loved unconditionally, he forgave, he lived a life of prayer, he was compassionate towards the poor, marginal's and dispossessed as well as many other things. As well as living his life practicing these qualities, Jesus has also taught these principles to his followers as a guide to live their life by. These teachings, messages and principles are imitated through the lives of Christians as a way of following the commands of God, and have become the foundation as to how we are to live our lives as his followers.

Ontela Picdeck Essay

Ontela PicDeck creative approach to have cellular customers have the ability to automatically have pictures and videos directly sent to their computer. This reduces time needed and simplifying the strenuous act of doing it manually. The U. S mobile phone service industry earned 150 billion dollars in 2007 and growing. This technology has potential of playing a role in that with critiquing the marketing strategy they have approached the market with. It is essential for a better marketing strategy for Ontela to show customers so they can better understand the benefits and how to efficiently utilize it. The qualitative research segments best defined the customer expectations. Sarah, the parent, loved the fact the pictures â€Å"just appear â€Å"on the computer automatically. Steve, the young professional, looked to not always have to lug around the digital camera. Instead have a phone that can take care of both jobs. Regina, the teen, expectation exceeded both Steve and Sarah, but still within the abilities of PicDeck. Regina wanted to manage her pictures from her phone and monitor the pictures for her social networking sites. Herzberg’s 2-factor theory can be used in this instance. Using this theory to understand and distinguishing what motivates the purchase while staying â€Å"relevant†. In other words you must keep up with the recent trends like the social networking wave. These three segments all produce various expectations but all acknowledged the expectations of a simplified and quicker method to transferring pictures. These segments age groups and lifestyles greatly vary so the solution to market them must be more specified to that target group. The improvement of creating a more knowledgeable customer base will require a critiqued advertising campaign. In the case of Regina, advertising within the social networking programs like Facebook and MySpace. This advertising will catch the attention of these teen and inform them of the product. Specifically push the simplicity, timeliness, and how the pictures are still stored even when your cellular device is lost. For the younger generation and phones being a huge commodity, phones are constantly being stolen and lost. If interpreted right, then the teen will approach their parents to have their plan changed to include PicDeck. Then the parent will be informed and furthering the utterfly effect of a strict advertising scheme to the teenage target customers. This is how Sarah would be notified. Social is a major influence in customer behavior through family, friends, and reference groups. All play as contributors to trusting a buy of a product. Continuously for people who aren’t very tech savvy like Sarah and Steve; they do though always have an email and usually check it frequentl y. So a mass email to the entire customer base informing them of the new product. Steve would be influenced more by the occupation. Besides using this program for personal use, Steve would use this for his real estate job. To be successful in a job market like Steve’s you must influence your work with newer technology so you may keep up with competitors. â€Å"With PicDeck, work assignments are accomplished more efficiently and simply†, statements like this boost the products equity and what customers like Steve would want to hear. For a product to blossom you must target the younger generation first. With constant technology improvements it’s hard for the older generation to keep up. The younger generation is constantly working with the new technologies so you inform the younger generation and it will spread to older generations. Ontela has created an inferior product and now need to raise awareness of the tech advances this product has influenced. The magazine Telephony stated PicDeck to be â€Å"helping the bridge the gap between phone and PC†. Continuous advertising is needed in magazines for the working class people to involve this program into their workplace. For instance putting an ad in the magazine SkyMall. The magazine you see on every flight you’re on. This can target a business class customer base because the individuals who travel most are individuals travelling on business. And this is the only reading material on the plane.

Natural Fires

When we speak of large scale fires, we often associate it with destructive forces that could burn properties and structures down to ashes or commit many lives. What we don’t realize is that large-scale fires have existed way back in the history of our planet, and that these fires are considered as natural occurrences. It is just our perception that lead us to our conceived meaning of fire, but truly, there are more benefits in it rather than the destruction if brings. Nature utilizes these large-scale fires for various reasons, both destructive and beneficial. We often think of fire as an evil force that consumes both living and non-living things in the environment. But besides this, we are oblivious to the fact that these fires are agents of natural change. These fires are considered as herbivores, because they consume plants and transform them to a more useful material (Bond and Kee). Most plants however, are inedible or just difficult to consume, like towering trees and the like. In order to put this into good use, fires act as herbivores that would devour an entire forest of inedible trees. They are consumed in order to transform the ecosystems into better ones, which the various creatures of our environment could live into (Pyne). No matter how man intervenes with the way the environment works, nature would always find its way with things. This is true for the occurrence of these large scale fires. Man has struggled and was somehow successful in suppressing these fires from devouring trees and other vegetations. Because of this, nature has somehow managed to adapt by increasing the temperature of the environment lately (Westerling et al.). Because of this increase in temperature, the trees in the forests become more susceptible to these fires. They easily get burned with just a little nudge, like a lit cigarette thrown into the woods, or a boy playing with some matchsticks. Works Cited: Bond, William J., and Jon E. Kee. â€Å"Fire as a Global ‘Herbivore’: The Ecology and Evolution of Flammable Ecosystems.† TRENDS in Ecology and Evolution Vol.20.No.7 (2005). Pyne, Stephen J. â€Å"Pyromancy: Reading Stories in the Flames.† Conservation Biology Vol. 18.No. 4 (2004). Westerling, A. L., et al. â€Å"Warming and Earlier Spring Increase Western U.S. Forest Wildfire Activity.† American Association for the Advancement of Science Vol. 313 (2006).      

Deloitte Case Essay

Runway offers existing customers (the â€Å"Existing Customer†) a $25 credit (the â€Å"$25 Referral Credit†) if the Existing Customer refers a friend (the â€Å"New Customer†) to Runway’s Web site and the New Customer purchases merchandise from Runway. After a purchase is made by the New Customer, the Existing Customer receives a $25 credit to be applied to a future purchase from Runway. The $25 Referral Credit represents the fair value of the cost Runway would pay to acquire a new customer from an unrelated third party or marketing firm who is not a purchaser of its products. The program is open to all of Runway’s customers and does not need to be combined with any initial or existing purchases. Required: 1. How should the $25 Referral Credit be recorded in Runway’s Income Statement — as a reduction of revenue or as a marketing expense? Explain your answer and support it using the FASB Codification. Your answer should include the Codification reference where you found the applicable guidance. 2. When would Runway record the $25 Referral Credit? What are the entries Runway would record when the $25 Referral Credit is earned by the Existing Customer? Show entries in proper journal entry form. What are the entries Runway would record when the $25 Referral Credit is redeemed against a $100 purchase made by the Existing Customer? Show entries in proper journal entry form. 3. Runway is planning to adopt IFRSs in the near future. What is the relevant accounting guidance they would follow under IFRSs? State the proper guidance and give a brief summary of it.

The History of Eye Shadow Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The History of Eye Shadow - Research Paper Example Ancient people were limited in the amount of ingredients they could include in their cosmetic recipes. For this cause, the range of eye shadow colors available was very limited. Often, people either did or did not wear this cosmetic. There was no choice of color. However the limitations on eye shadow colors was not to remain. As the focus on beauty is something that has perpetuated though many generations in a variety of cultures, cosmetics were fated to evolve and improved. In many cultures wearing makeup was a status symbol. In the 7th and 8th century Greeks found that they could wear shades of blue and green eye shadow by using lapiz lazuli and Malachite, which are stones, as a main ingredient (An Eye Shadow History, n.d.). Those in Japan during the 11th Century found that they could manipulate the color of their eye shadow by using different color flower petals. Oddly enough, in ancient Japan they used bird droppings as one of the ingredients. The ancient Egyptian’s use of eye shadow is very famous. They are often depicted wearing bold dark liner that surrounds their eyes and flows up to their temple of their heads. The knowledge of the Egyptians’’ makeup practices are so well known that one can be shown a picture of someone wearing Egyptian style eye shadow and quickly identify the person depicted to be Egyptian. In fact, makeup and cosmetics were so important in ancient Egypt that often people were buried with a sizable supply.

Corporate strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Corporate strategy - Essay Example rter’s Five Forces, PESTLE Analysis, SWOT Analysis and Stakeholder Analysis to obtain an in-depth idea regarding the opportunities of the company to prosper in its industry (Johnson & et. al., 2011). Cookson Group PLC is one of the world’s largest ‘materials science group’ which attempts to deliver advanced materials by facilitating innovative technologies to its customers all over the globe. Cookson operates through various branches located all over the world along with 15,500 employees covering more than 40 nations as its production zones and more than 100 countries as its marketing zones. Cookson can be observed to possess highly effective core competencies, which have certainly added to its efficient market position within the current market scenario (Cookson Group Plc, 2012; Wit & Meyer, 2010). Cookson offers its products in six categories; i.e., Joining technologies, surface Chemistries, steel flow control, foundry technologies, advanced factories and fused silica. Cookson is further recognized as one of the largest worldwide suppliers of materials used for PCBs assemblers and the packaging industry semi-conductors. This particular product line is also known as Alpha which is used basically to fasten electronic equipments such as semi-conductors and capacitors with bare boards in order to form essential electrical as well as physical connection among the boards and its devices (Cookson Group Plc, 2012). The product line of surface chemistries is one of the largest suppliers of ‘electro-plating chemicals’ to the international electronics, jewelries and automotive industries. This division is known as ‘Ethone’. This division is also quite popular in terms of technical innovation, where ‘Ethone’ has a track record regarding the delivery of ‘leading-edge’, facility of advanced technology within fabrication of semi-conductor which is demonstrated as ‘Via-Form multi-generation copper damascene portfolio’ (Cookson Group Plc,

Marketing Fundamentals Fall 2012 Midterm Exam Essay - 1

Marketing Fundamentals Fall 2012 Midterm Exam - Essay Example Studies show that it has 50% less fats than Zinger burger of KFC and Subway. It was introduced with different styles to the customer like Mega-MAC, Big-Big-MAC and Maharaja-MAC (India) etc. McDonalds is a dominant company that consumers have trusted in and have the power to change as tastes changes.   Mc Donald’s Offers Valued pricing as its products are much cheaper price as compared to its competitor’s i.e. KFC, Burger King, Subway etc. McDonald’s is viewed generally as a fast food restaurant with low price that they offer. They have â€Å"value meals† for being inexpensive in price provided the amount of the servings and drinks. McDonalds communicates a psychosomatic value to consumers. Competition is tough that’s they have done a great job differentiating from other challenging brands letting them position McDonalds as a Pioneer in fast food Industry. It uses bundling strategy as well by serving combo packs to raise market share in arrangement with competitive pricing. Publicity, branding, promotion, packaging and Advertising are key significant regarding to the marketing tools which are used to create products and services more attractive which causes to increase sales and profits. The Happy Meals are also a fine product strategy that targets kids by providing French fries and chicken nuggets with small toys. They have also â€Å"Play zone† where kids are welcome to place and hang out with other kids with under the supervision of their parents. Toyota Co. Ltd. was established in 1937. In the 1960s and 70s the company stretched speedily, exporting large records of cars to markets. It has assembly plants and distributors in many countries, now it owns subsidiaries that manufacture cars and parts, steel, trucks, synthetic resins, and equipments for numerous industries. Honda and Toyota are prime competitors in the automobile

Islamic Finance Law Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Islamic Finance Law - Dissertation Example The paper would therefore be analysing the role of Islamic finance in the fast transforming environment of global economy with the view that it has brought in more radical but ethical paradigms within financial system of contemporary times. Historical background The Ottoman Empire in the pre WWI era has perhaps been the most prominent exponent of using tenets of Islamic finance in their trade and business transactions. The close trade relationship with their European counterparts, Islamic finance was closely aligned with that of European financial system. The system worked on the basis of sharing of profit and loss (Chachi, 2005). But post WWI and WWII brought into focus the divergent ideologies of two financial system into sharp focus. While the western economy and financial system was based on interest bearing instruments, Islamic finance was rigidly guided by the religious tenets of Islam which forbids transactions based on interests or gains made through unethical means (Ahmad, 1 972)). In the contemporary times, Islamic finance has seen unprecedented growth primarily because of its fundamental principles based on Shariah guidelines (Anwar, 2008; Sundararajan & Errico, 2002). Principles of Islamic law and financial transactions under it Islamic finance is based on Islamic law that conforms to the Shariah guidelines of ethical practices in personal and business arena. Thus, Shariah can broadly be referred as Islamic law that defines the duties of man and the way they should be carried out (Vogel & Hayes, 1998; Hasanuzzaman, 1997). Shariah is part of Quran, the religious scripture of Muslims and is written in Arabic language. The interpretation of Shariah scholars therefore, may differ but the fundamental principle of ethics remains same. But Hadith, qiyas, idjma and fatwas are also key sources which inspire the ethical and moral considerations within the business transactions in Islamic finance (El-Gamal, 2006; Shahrukh, 1997; Pryor, 1985). Shariah principles are based on equity and prohibit financial transactions and activities that incorporate gharar (uncertainty), maiser (gambling) and riba (interest income) (Thomas, 2005; Nienhaus, 1986; Hasanuzzaman, 1994). The shariah compliance is vital element of Islamic finance products. Interestingly in the current times of highly sensitive global market, Islamic finance offers huge incentives in terms of ethically delivered financial instruments in myriad areas of finance (Venardos, 2005; Cooper, 1997; Ariff, 1988). It has made forays into banking, market risks and credit, insurance, liquidity management etc. and is fast emerging as credible alternative investment forum. Main Sharia compliant transaction structure and how they are used in practice All Islamic financial institutions are distinct in their constitution of board that comprises of financial experts and shariah scholars who evaluate the validity of financial instruments as per shariah principles. It uses various financial structure s that conform to shariah but at the same time, adequately meet the needs of people in the contemporary times (Hasanuzzaman, 1971; Saeed, 1995). Some of those financial methodologies can be defined as under: Zakah: It is vital instrument that promotes social justice by ensuring that people who own more than nisab (basic need) must make donation of 2.5% of their yearly assets. The social funds are used to meet the needs of the poor. Murabaha:

Should students be required to take general education course Essay

Should students be required to take general education course - Essay Example specialization courses, understanding of values and cultures goes for a toss (Goessl), till the passed out students realize the pressure of working in multicultural job places. There is more. In 2013, a person trained to be a businessman and an administration manager could not fare well in the post Recession world where he had to revive his father’s business of selling medication. His haste to check the growing debts kept him under stress to the extent that he took to drinking and marijuana that only further worsened his condition. Fact is life after college is filled with challenges. Some of these challenges come up in daily life while some come up in emergencies like the Global Recession. Today’s world is more dynamic and is built on the foundation that economic growth is not possible without an all-round approach to ethical, environmental, and educational investments that society at large needs to undertake. We have ignored the balance long enough, and we are the ones to have paid the price. Children growing up in today’s world understand that unless a multi-dimensional approach to education is adopted then surviving the various pressures of post-education life is not possible. However, by the time college education reckons, the expectations of teenagers and adolescents change and in their impatience to finish studies fast, a concentrated approach is what most students prefer to adopt. Students entering the portals of college life always begin by selecting the subjects of their preference and try to stick to them. However, mid-way through their studies they realize that the subject they have chosen may not be suitable for them and that is when they opt to look for a change in subjects or elective. An irony of the Western education policy is that school life does not offer the general education that empowers students to take a right decision and make a wise choice basing on their own strong points. School curricula are mostly designed to allow the

Apples pricing strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Apples pricing strategy - Essay Example However, after carefully analyzing this issue, it is safe to say that Apple should continue to price its products at a very high level for numerous reasons. One of the key reasons why Apple should continue to price its products high is due to the fact that Apple’s technology is ten years ahead of the technological curve. That enables Apple to not to avoid the pressure of competing with other firms when it comes to price since consumers are willing to allocate their funds to buy Apple products. For instance, the IPAD 2, should be priced at $500. Although other similar types of tablets that are produced by Dell or the Android are available at a lower price, it does not diminish the fact that the IPAD 2 obliterates the market with its functionality. No product in the market currently possessed two cameras, a dual-core chip, and is light-weight like the IPAD 2. Another reason why Apple should continue to price its products and services high is because of price elasticity. Price el asticity is defined as the response by the product when the price of the product is modified. If Apple was to drop the price of its new Iphone 4 from $599.99 to $399, it would be detrimental to the company itself since the demand will not drastically change, but Apple’s profit margin would be lower [1].

CRM and Sales Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

CRM and Sales Management - Assignment Example Secondly, the changes in the business environment may require adjustments in the approaches to the application of the 4Ps, which would mean that it is not the overhaul of the marketing mix that forms the solution to the ever changing business environment, but the approach in its application. Lastly, the continued application of the marketing mix limits the development of further market controllable factors, which are more plausible to suit the current marketing environment. In the light of this, it becomes essential to distinguish what informs the current business environment, and creates the prospective of fulfilling the marketing need; consumer satisfaction (Belohlavek, 2008 p23). In arguing out this case, this discussion supports the proposition that the marketing mix is inadequate in the changing marketing environment, and thus needs revision to incorporate the presently developed, yet vital controllable factors that are influencing the survival and suitability of a commodity in the market. The marketing mix is composed of four business environmental components, namely price, product, place and promotion. These components can be controlled in order to enhance consumer satisfaction, through a product offering that meets customers’ expectation in terms of its affordability, ability to satisfy the existing consumer needs, accessibility of the product to the consumers and the efficient channels through which the consumer is made aware of the product (Bowman & Gatignon, p12). The traditional proposition is that, if the product fulfills all the four aspects mentioned above, then it was suitably placed in the market, and thus would survive the tides of ever changing business environment. However, it has become apparent that the marketing mix is no longer sufficient to enable a product or any brand overcome the waves of the ever-changing business environment, since the customers’ needs, preferences and priorities are also constantly changing (Prenzel, 2010 p56). According to Professor Koichi Shimizu's 7Cs Compass Model, the concept of place is no longer the most relevant aspect of modern day marketing, but rather convenience (Luudicke, 2006 p72). As opposed to ensuring that the supply chain is most appropriate to connect the producer and the consumer, the emphasis is now making the purchasing experience for the consumers more convenient. For example, Amazon.com is one of the organizations that deal in offering its products over the internet, which has placed more emphasis on convenience than on place (Wenderoth, 2009 p87). This is because, such an organization does not rely on a physical distribution channel, but on the internet, which requires complete customer understanding, before a purchase is made from their site. While it would be most beneficial for the organizations offering physical tangible products to improve the supply and distribution chain, it would be more beneficial for the online organizations offering their pro duct over the internet to improve convenience and the purchasing experience of the customers (Burgers, 2008 p11). Therefore, while the distribution channels formed the basis of place as the component of the traditional marketing mix, convenience informs the basis of the digital and online marketing organizations. Therefore, there is a need to include convenience among the component of the marketing mix, to cater for the current growth in digital

Reflection Week Essay Example for Free

Reflection Week Essay Apply ratio, vertical, and horizontal analyses to financial statements Ratio analyses are used by companies to gather information in a company’s financial statement. Ratios and numbers from a company’s current year are compared to previous years and sometimes even the economy to judge the company’s performance. There are several ratios such as profitability ratios, liquidity ratios, activity ratios, leverage ratios and market ratios that can be used to calculate financial information. In vertical analyses, each entry of the assets, liabilities and equities in a balance sheet is represented as a proportion of the total account of the financial statement. In horizontal analysis a company’s ratios are compared in the financial statements over a period of time. Horizontal analysis can be used from revenues to earnings per share. Prepare a statement of cash flows using both direct and indirect methods. When preparing a statement of cash flows, there are two different methods that can be used; there is the direct method, and there is also the indirect method. The direct method shows operating cash receipts and payments, making it more consistent with the objective of a statement of cash flow, while the indirect method adjusts net income for items that do not affect cash. The FASB allows both methods to be used because in the end the results of the total amount for net cash provided by operating activities arrive in the same way. Companies use numerous adjustments when preparing such statements so following a proper guide such as the direct method or indirect method will help to ensure that everything is properly in order the way it should be. Prepare journal entries associated with the issuance of preferred and common stocks and the declaration and payment of dividends The issuance of common stock affects only paid-in-capital accounts. Always record common stock at its par or stated value. Debit Cash and credit Common Stock. Preferred stock has preference over common stock. However, preferred stockholders do not have voting rights. The entry is debit to Cash and credit to Preferred Stock. For a corporation to issue cash dividends there must be: retained earnings, adequate cash, and a declaration of dividends. A company does not pay dividends unless its board of directors decides to do so, then it is deemed declared. When it is declared then it becomes a liability. Three important dates are observed with dividends: declaration date, record date, and the payment date. Declaration commits a corporation to legal obligations.

New Balance Analysis Essay Example for Free

New Balance Analysis Essay Generally, New Balance has done a brilliant job in all aspects. Especially in the aspects of operations and community involvement, it has provided leadership for the apparel industry. Although currently some weaknesses exist, New balance should seize the opportunities and take the responsibility to be a sustainable leader in entire industry. First, for the overall governance, New Balance should committed to being responsible for its employees and the committees. The company should inspire an engaged and committed workforce, and build an emotional bond with athletic consumers. However, there several aspects that the New Balance should enhance or focus on. Communication seems to be the key obstacle. New balance should be more transparent and report, and makes CSR initiatives better connected. Also, the lack of clear leadership appears to be another obstacle, missing of senior-level champion makes the developing of CSR barely impossible. Current definition and organization of RL are not cleared. A clear framework was needed to identify the risks and opportunities of CSR. Second, in the respect of the products and services, company should be very powerful on the market. Social and environmental improvements should be carried out with business benefits through its products and services. For example, green product lines should be adopted. Also, dangerous materials and harmful substance should be eliminated or forbidden. While, the link between products services and CRS seems to be vague, New Balance should increase the impact of environmental and social initiatives on generating business benefits. For both footwear and apparel, evaluation of the life-cycle impacts is absence; for the apparel division, sources are limited and the business growth pressure is extremely high. More effort should be putted on new materials together with their performance, especially the environmental-friendly ones. Moreover, recycles of its own products should be improved by developing industry collaboration and cooperating with other manufacturers. Third, during operations, integration of CSR should be developed both in domestic and overseas. Initiatives should demonstrate clear business value. Reducing costs, increasing productivity should be implemented together with improving worker safety and morale. Besides being responsible in domestic, New Balance should also guarantee the qualities of product and conditions for workers in overseas factories. The two big challenges are the gap between the footwear division compared to apparel, accessories and promotional items, and the gap between CSR management in domestic operations and supplier facilities overseas. Lastly, it is about supporting the community. The company should be the leader in both philanthropy and volunteering. Employees should be strongly involved in volunteering. In addition, community involvement strategies should be aligned with business strategy. There are still some weakness in the last respect. New balance should better leverage its strong community involvement culture to cooperate with business strategies. Rather than containing all respects, the community strategy should be more specific and more globalized.

Issues Involved In Attracting Visitors To Museums Tourism Essay

Issues Involved In Attracting Visitors To Museums Tourism Essay In addition to its collection, preservation and educational role museums must also attract the largest possible audience to survive. Discuss this statement with reference to Heritage Tourism and a major London museum. Heritage tourism is a sector inside the tourism industry that has strong historical importance. It covers an area or object that can symbolize a culture, nature or just a specific environment that is important to remember and preserve throughout history. Widely mentioned in the 1990s the importance of heritage tourism grew becoming one of the most important sectors in the tourism industry, Palmer (1999) Heritage tourism is a very broad and multifaceted. It attempts to preserve the past for the benefit and interest of future generations. It can be represented through many forms such as literature, culture and traditions, architecture, landscapes and a variety of other objects. Heritage tourism is quite a new concept in tourism and it is complex because it differs from person to person depending on their beliefs, culture, traditions and/or nationality. It is easy to understand that heritage tourism is related to museums. Museums have a strong link with heritage tourism. Museums are meant to preserve all kinds of things that are relevant to history and make them available throughout the years. The main purpose of a museum is to sell history through an exhibition, preservation and storage of symbolic objects. Museums attempt to explain the importance of these objects and make it a enjoyable experience to its visitors. Most of the facts and events that we know about our history are because of the role that museums have in preserving history as well as explaining it Marstine (2006). Museums can be owned by the public and private sector and this can influence they way they operate and interact with the public and what they exhibit. Museums focus on many specific areas of history and, as they are business and they are managed in order to make profit, many exhibitions are prioritized according to the visitors interests, Garrod, (2008.) Museums focus primarily on visitors who are interested and are receptive to changes on their views and opinions about the world Langer (1993) Visitors of museums should understand the topic that the museum is trying to cover by questioning and reasoning. There can be two types of museum visitors defined by Langer (1993) and Moscardo (1996): the mindful and the mindless. A mindful visitor accepts information through various interpretations and is able to contextualize them. Being a mindful visitor means that one is able to accept that there is no single correct way to interpret a single historical situation. A mindless visitor finds other interpretations besides the one he or she possesses irrelevant as these visitors are not receptive as the mindful ones. They are not receptive to other interpretations or viewpoints because they are unable to question the information they already possess. Usually they are subject to believe and follow a single definition and/or stereotype. They are usually not interest, do not really know about the exhibition and do not care much about it. A good museum has to be entertaining for both types of visitors. A museum has to consider different morals, cultures, ideologies, traditions and political views from its visitors in order to offer them a good experience and make their visit interesting and worth their time and money spent. The Natural History Museum The Natural History Museum is located in London, England on Exhibition Road, in South Kensington, together with the science museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The museum is sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and has charitable purposes. It has been called The Natural History Museum since 1992 due to the Museums and Galleries Act. The museum has five specific collections related to botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology and zoology. These five collections have around 70 million objects in total. The Natural History Museum is famous worldwide for its dinosaur exhibition that includes a large diplodocus dinosaur skeleton. The Natural History Museum is referred to in many research projects, focusing on areas such taxonomy, identification and preservation. Some of the items are as important scientifically as they are historically since Charles Darwin has worked with them directly. The museum has a large library that holds many scientific research books, articles, hand written documents and art collections. However this library is only accessible by appointment. Geological Museum The Natural History Museum joined the Geological Museum in 1986 from the British Geological Survey. The museum is internationally known for its James Gardiner exhibitions of the active volcano and earthquake devices. The museum has also hosted the first electronically generated exhibition called Treasures of the Earth. The galleries in the museum were redeveloped in 1996 and renamed The Earth Galleries. The galleries in the Waterhouse building were also renamed as The Life Galleries The Geological Museum shows examples from the 19th century of display techniques used in the Waterhouse building. Neal Potter designed the central atrium, where visitors are transported to this area through an escalator made out of plates that symbolize earth. The walls were made out of recycled materials with representations of the major stars and planets. The background has six imagines that demonstrate how older generations viewed earth. Darwin Centre Named after Charles Darwin, the Darwin Centre holds a collection of preserved animals, a work place for scientific researchers and recent educational visitor experiences. It was built in two phases and it is one of the most important ventures in the Natural History Museum. Phase one hosted the zoological items, mainly preserved in alcohol. Phase two holds the botanical exhibits. Phased two opened in 2009 and it is in a shape of a giant cocoon. The Darwin Centre became famous for Archie an eight meter long giant squid that hangs in the middle of the centre. The Attenborough Studio Named after Sir David Attenborough, a prestigious broadcaster and presenter, the Attenborough Studio holds the most important footages on natural History. In collaboration with the British Broadcast Corporation (BBC) the Attenborough Studio has as its main goal to share science education and preservation efforts through multimedia material, becoming a vital part of Darwin Centre. The West side of the building also keeps a wildlife garden, where various types of plants are on display and a possibly new type of insect species similar to the ant was discovered in 2007. The Museum also holds four different galleries that are differentiated by colour and contain different things, they are as follows: Red Zone: Earth Lab, Earths Treasury,Lasting Impressions, Restless Surface, Earth Today and Tomorrow, From the Beginning, The Power Within, Visions of Earth. Green zone: Birds, Creepy Crawlies, Ecology, Fossil Marine Reptiles, Giant Sequoia and Central Hall, Minerals, The Vault, Our Place in Evolution, Plant Power, Primates, Investigate. Blue zone: Dinosaurs, Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles, Human Biology, Marine Invertebrates, Mammals (Blue Whale), Nature Live. Orange zone: Wildlife Garden, Darwin Centre. The Natural History Museum has become incredibly popular with its visitors over the years, because of its range of diverse things to see. It is not only popular for educational school trips but all kinds of people can come and find something they will be interested in. Politics The issue of politics in Museums can show in a clear way the attitude a certain nation may feel toward an issue in history, or how people have different ideas about what happened. For example, visiting a museum that has exhibits and galleries regarding past conflicts, these museums will portray their countries military objectives and assets as positive, this aides in the nations patriotism and makes nationals of the country proud when they visit. The recreation for some galleries and exhibits in the Natural History Museum rely mainly on the accuracy of the way that certain things are shown, as not many exhibits depict conflict in the past but are more focused on science, astrology and the earth as well as its living plants and animals. Dallen and Boyd (2003) say that One persons landmark may be an object of hostility to another Individuals may disagree the way that certain things are explained in the Museum, however the museum has had input from many reliable scientists and professor s over the years whose opinion on some exhibits and galleries cannot be argued. It is important to listen and understand the views that all individuals have regarding how things were in the past. For example issues that revolve around how the Earth came to be formed, some organizations disagree with the well known theory of the Big-Bang. Although not all organizations agree with each other, these are the kind of politics that are relevant to The Natural History Museum. Authenticity Authenticity is very important for museum visitors. According to Halewood and Hannom (2001) museums are appreciated by their visitors due to some of their characteristics, such as: Originality; Workmanship; Cultural and historical accuracy; Aesthetics Functions and use. In order to grant authenticity and organization academic expertise is essential for the success of any museum Shenhav-Keller (1993). The study of authenticity is a critical success factor for museum visitor management. The feeling of being in front of something that has been preserved since its creation is what most museums expect to offer to their visitors Marstine (2006). Visitors expect to see the objects on the museum as they were originally, this provides authenticity and should be prioritized in order to get full satisfaction from the museum visitors. Sometimes authenticity cannot be achieved because objects might not be in their original state and museums should try to restore them or create similar pieces to the originals (replicas). The Natural History Museum contains a number of authentic objects both old and new in its galleries and exhibits. For example the River Thames Whale that managed to get stuck in the River Thames in 2006, this whales bones have been arranged together and are now temporarily on display. The Darwin Centre also holds tens of millions of specimens that were once alive, most famously is the giant squid named Archie that hangs in the middle of the centre. The Museum also contains many authentic ancient fossils that have been found over the years, they are on display in the Green Zone area, as well as a completely authentic wildlife garden in the Orange Zone. A lot of the things to be seen in the Natural History Museum have also been manufactured or been made from originals so they are not entirely authentic. However the fact that they are replicated gives the visitor an idea of what an authentic original would have been like. Visitor Management The Natural History Museum received over 832,000 visitors during the year of 1958, and in 2009 visitor arrivals reached four million. Of course the museum was not so advanced in 1958 and has expanded dramatically since then, but the opening of such areas of the museum as the Darwin Centre and the Geological Museum have increased the amount of visitors over the years. The museum did not allow free entry until 2001, during the year 2000 visitor arrivals were only 1.7million but rose 42% during the month October, 2009, thanks to the help of the new and exciting Darwin Centre, this was the Museums busiest ever month. The following months even more visitors came to visit the National History Museum, this unusually high attendance of visitors was known within the museum as the Darwin effect. Hall McArthur (1996) stated that visitor management is the Management of visitors in a manner which maximises the quality of the visitor experience whilst assisting the achievement of an areas overall objectives The Natural History Museum has a dedicated Visitor Services team that makes sure that the needs of all visitors are adequately met during their visit. It is possible to call the customer services team before you arrive at the museum to find out when a good time to visit might be. For example elderly or disabled individuals may wish to visit the Museum when it is not so busy. The fact that the staff at the Museum can provide information on a good time for the individual calling to visit maximises their experience. The Museum also contains a cafe and other areas where visitors can refresh themselves with a drink or something to eat, as well as numerous bathroom facilities should they need to use them. Most exhibits and galleries are interactive and allow the visitor to get involved with what they are learning making it a more enjoyable experience. Should the visitor speak another language other than English there are also translations in other languages for many of the Museums descript ions and galleries. It is essential for Museum directors to take into account not only the comfort of the visitors who are being welcomed to the museum, but of course the valuable artefacts that are inside the museum as well as the condition of the museum itself. It is important that these museum directors manage their museum so that it remains in a good condition, and does not get damaged by an overflow of too many visitors at a particular time. Enough money must also be spent on restoring any damage that may have occurred due to too many visitors or lack of respect from individuals towards the museum site and its content. For this reason museums must limit the amount of visitors that are inside at any one time, or a daily limit in order to preserve the building for future use. Garrod and Fyall (2000) say that Conceivably, the higher weighting that is generally accorded to conservation might be the result of the particularly strong notion of futurity that is often associated with heritage assets. It is easy for this Museum in particular to become a victim of over-use as the admission is free, so managers must look carefully into the methods they use to control the flow of visitors coming in and out. The Visitor Services team at the National History Museum has many stewards both inside and outside that make sure everyone who is waiting in line is comfortable and aware of the time they must wait. The Museum directors make sure that they let the same proportion of people in the Museum that are also leaving the Museum. Conclusion We can see from this report the issues that are involved when attempting to attract the most visitors possible to a Museum. These issues revolve around Politics, Visitor Management and Authenticity of the contents of the Museum. We have seen that it is very important to control visitor management, not only for the comfort and safety of the visitors but also in order to uphold the quality of the Museum, its galleries and exhibitions. If a Museum becomes too crowded it is not a pleasant experience at all and will deter the visitor from returning. Authenticity is another issue that some visitors find of great importance if they feel that what they are seeing is not genuine, or has not been replicated to look genuine they will feel cheated and not return to the Museum again. Finally the politics involved are something that attracts visitors depending on the nature of the Museum as there are not much politics involved with The Natural History Museum. The Natural History Museum has had a good plan to accommodate visitors when they arrive at the Museum, they have had a very long time over the years to perfect their visitor management plans. The general management of this Museum has made it one of the most popular in the United Kingdom, attracting four million visitors in 2009 and has been very successful in attracting maximum amount of visitors whilst preserving and sustaining the contents of the Museum and the building itself.